The ZIMBABWE Situation Our thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe
- may peace, truth and justice prevail.

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The Herald

Grisly murder
By Tsitsi Matope
THE Allanson couple, reported missing since January, was axed to death and
the bodies were concealed in a metal box before being burnt to ashes,
allegedly by their domestic workers.

Police have since arrested the female domestic worker aged 40, her son 19
and her nephew aged 21 at Mr and Mrs Hillary Kenneth Allanson’s Marlborough
home where they were still staying after the murder and had moved into the
main house.

Hillary Allanson 52 and her husband Kenneth Allanson were reported missing
for several weeks in the Press and their disappearance had remained a
mystery.

Police homicide chief spokesman, Chief Superintendent Shepherd Maruta
yesterday described the murder as one of the classical murders of the decade
where all evidence had been cleaned out.

He said after an intense interrogation, the two young men had confessed to
having plotted with their female relative to get rid of their employers and
inherit their property since they had no known relatives in the country.

"They led us where they buried their remains which only consisted of the
skulls and other bones," he said.

Also recovered was a metal box where the two bodies were concealed and later
burnt with firewood and petrol the whole night.

In the metal box, police detectives identified some strands of hair which
surprisingly were not completely burnt out.

The Allansons’ are believed to have children based in the United States and
another distant relative who lives in the country.

Chief Supt Maruta said investigations carried out so far have revealed that
on the Wednesday of January 8, Kenneth left his wife at home and went to
play golf.

While he was away, their female domestic worker and her two accomplices
attacked Mrs Allanson with an axe on the head and killed her instantly.

They dragged her body to an empty swimming pool and placed it in a two metre
metal box.

At around 8pm, Mr Allanson returned from playing golf and the female worker
allegedly opened the gate for him and walked him into the house.

While they were still in the passageway, the two cousins came from behind
and attacked him with an axe before dumping his body in the metal box where
they had placed his wife’s body.

"This was indeed a well-plotted murder case because according to the two
young suspects and from what we saw in the house, all the evidence linking
the suspects to the crime had been wiped clean.

"The lounge carpet which we believe was smeared with blood was burnt the
same night," Chief Supt Maruta said.

After placing the bodies in a metal box, the three suspects placed the metal
box in a bonfire and placed some burning charcoal on top of the metal box.

The Allansons’ had more than 30 litres of petrol reserved in their garage,
which the trio took and poured onto the fire to burn the bodies to ashes.

The two male suspects indicated that they had buried the ashes and other
remains in a bush where they were recovered on Thursday.

Chief Supt Maruta said at the time when the couple went missing, the workers
were interviewed by the police and were not suspected of any involvement in
the disappearance.

"They had continued to stay in the house and they even had the nerve to move
into the main house," Chief Supt Maruta said.

He said a team of nine detectives was set up to intelligently monitor the
situation at the house and it came out that this month, the trio had relaxed
and thought the case was water under the bridge.

"They started selling some household goods that belonged to the couple
obviously aware that they were not ever returning home."

Household goods that included a television set, VCR, a motor boat, firearms,
clothes and other utensils had already been sold at the time of the arrest.

Police approached the suspects on Thursday and arrested them after they had
failed to explain why they were selling the household goods.

One detective who was in plain clothes had gone to the house during
investigations wanting to buy the lounge suite and was told by one of the
suspects to return the following day with the deposit.

"We are convinced this was a well-orchestrated gruesome murder whose motive
was to steal the property or even permanently stay at the couple’s premises.

"There were no bodies, there was no evidence that they were killed until
now," Chief Supt Maruta said.

The female domestic worker who was shaking and could hardly stand on her
feet yesterday professed ignorance about the murder.

"I arrived at home that evening and found the boys burning the bodies, I was
not involved in the murder," she stammered.

"I saw smoke and smelt something was being burnt. Vana vakandiparira zvimwe
ava kupisa varungu (The boys did a terrible thing by burning the whites),"
the woman said before she was constrained to say more by her defence
counsel.

According to the police, the woman could not explain why they were selling
the couple’s property if she knew nothing about the murder.

"If they had taken over the house to protect it from the thieves, why were
they selling the household property?" Chief Supt Maruta queried.

Last year, several white elderly couples were killed while others were
maimed by armed robbers especially in the Avondale suburb.

The Phelps brother and sister were strangled to death at their Avondale home
after some armed robbers broke into their house at night.

It is suspected their gardener who came once a month was also involved in
the murder.

None of the suspects were arrested.

Another elderly man in his late 70’s was attacked and killed by his gardener
and his son at his Mazowe Mansions flat in October last year.

The gardener was arrested after his son was seen by neighbours loading part
of the dead man’s property onto his vehicle.
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News24

Massive protests in Zim?
15/03/2003 14:25  - (SA)


Harare - Police raided a print shop and seized fliers calling for a
nationwide strike and anti-government protests next week, Zimbabwe's
opposition party, MDC, said on Friday.

Paul Themba Nyathi, spokesperson for the Movement for Democratic Change,
said police alleged the fliers were "subversive material" likely to incite
violence.

Managers at the private printer in Harare were summoned to the Central
Police station for questioning, but were released without charge.

About 120 000 printed sheets, some still to be cut into fliers, were
confiscated.

Police were not immediately available for comment. The government has said
it will not tolerate protests that breach stringent security laws banning
political demonstrations.

Nyathi said a meeting of opposition leaders on Tuesday agreed to go ahead
with national protests, known as "mass action", against the government. An
announcement on the timing of the protests is expected to be made over the
weekend.

Opposition officials said privately, however, a national work stoppage will
be called on Tuesday, the first of several days of protests.

At least 4 million fliers had been ordered.

Many were being distributed before the police raided the Harare printers on
Tuesday.

One complained that Zimbabweans were tired of economic mismanagement and
state oppression and said: "The time for action is up".

Others referred to disputed presidential elections last March that gave
President Robert Mugabe another six-year term.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai narrowly lost that poll which
independent election observers said was swayed in Mugabe's favour by
political violence, intimidation and vote rigging.

As Zimbabwe suffers its worst economic crisis since independence in 1980,
with massive shortages of food, fuel and essential imports, the opposition
has been under growing pressure to stage mass demonstrations.

Another flier said: "We continue to experience hardships everyday under
Mugabe's government which we did not elect."

Tsvangirai, as head of the main labour federation in 1998, organised a
series of national strikes that shut down the economy.

The opposition has called for new internationally supervised elections, and
says it does not recognise Mugabe's victory by a slender 400 000 votes of
about 2.8 million ballots cast last year.

Prominent South African church leader, the Njongonkulu Ndungane, the
Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, on Thursday announced a new mediation
initiative aimed at restarting dialogue on a settlement in Zimbabwe.

But the state media on Friday accused him of bias against the government.

"The so-called political and human rights crisis only exists in the eyes of
the opposition and its legion of clerics," the state Herald newspaper said.

A month of talks between Mugabe's ruling party and the main opposition
collapsed in acrimony over human rights violations and curbs on democratic
rights.

An often violent campaign launched by the government in 2000 to confiscate
95% of farmland owned by white farmers, disrupted the agriculture-based
economy.

Erratic rains slashed harvests of corn, the staple food. At least 7 million
people, more than half the population, need emergency food aid.

The opposition accuses the government of stifling its activities through
violence, police torture, intimidation and stringent security and media
laws.

In the past month at least 300 people, including church clerics on a peace
march, have been arrested for staging political demonstrations declared
illegal under the security laws. - Sapa-AP
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Editor Meets Moyo in City



The Herald (Harare)

March 14, 2003
Posted to the web March 15, 2003

Harare

MANAGING editor of Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) Mr Obi
Anyadike yesterday paid a courtesy call on the Minister of State for
Information and Publicity, Professor Jonathan Moyo, to explain the role of
the news agency.

IRIN is a United Nations agency under the UN office for the co-ordination of
humanitarian affairs. Mr Anyadike refused to speak to the Press after
meeting Prof Moyo, but it is understood that his visit is a follow-up to the
one held between the Minister and the director of the United Nations
Information Centre in Zimbabwe recently.

At that meeting Prof Moyo expressed concern over the nature of IRIN's
reporting, which was seen as biased against the Government. During
yesterday's meeting Prof Moyo reiterated his concern at the ideological
stance of the news agency.

The news agency is supposed to be inter-governmental under the UN and to
have a reconciliatory tone.

But its reportage of Zimbabwe is viewed as not so different from other
foreign news agencies that denigrate the Govern-ment. As an organisation
born out of the experience of the problems in the Great Lakes region
particularly after Rwanda's genocide, IRIN was expected to promote dialogue
and unite nations instead of dividing them, observers say. It is understood
that Mr Anyadike took note of the Government's concerns and promised to
present them to the director of IRIN.
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Zim Standard

      Well said Patrick Chinamasa
      TheStandardcomment

      THE Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Patrick
Chinamasa deserves a lot of credit for clearly and eloquently demonstrating
a distinction between committing a criminal offence rendering one liable to
prosecution on the one hand and an act of misbehaviour or misconduct
rendering a person liable to disciplinary inquiry on the other.

      We are, of course, referring to the sharp exchanges about a week ago
between Chinamasa and 10 High Court judges who had queried the
constitutionality of the arrest of their colleague Justice Benjamin Paradza,
at his chambers on February 24.

      Justice Paradza was arrested on allegations of having tried to
influence a fellow judge to release the passport of his business partner
which was being held as part of his bail conditions. The judge's business
partner is facing murder charges.

      Justice Paradza did not himself help matters by wanting to appear as a
judicial monarch above the law. His emotional outbursts regarding his so
called status in society and of being "humiliated and degraded as a sitting
judge", was uncalled for and most unfortunate. Silence is golden, Justice
Paradza. Keeping one's cards close to one's chest is a virtue. You should
have let your colleagues fight the case on your behalf which they did in a
signed public statement. Your conduct, then, cannot be other than
counter-productive.

      By going public the way you did and before investigations had been
completed, you were taking a real risk Your Lordship. The consequences may
be significant. Your remarks and those of your colleagues boil down to the
defensiveness of a closed institution. The 10 judges who sprang to your
defence appear to have this innate belief that the traditions and practices
of this hallowed institution cannot be called into question.

      You are wrong, pure and simple. And Patrick Chinamasa is right-only
this once in almost three years of bungling, assaulting and bastardising a
judicial system, once the envy of the world.

      We had always mistrusted your motives Chinamasa. This time we must
give credit where it is due. You really put your finger on the shortcomings
and weaknesses of the 10 judges who put out a public statement in defence of
Justice Paradza.

      Like you rightly pointed out: "I am not aware of any domestic or
international legal instruments which provide that judges can commit
crimes-serious crimes for that matter-with impunityS Judges, like all of us
are mere mortals and as mortals we are prone to committing all sorts of
crimes including murder, rape, corruption and drug trafficking".

      Well said Patrick. How we wish the ruling Zanu PF party had all along
applied this ideal in both word and deed. You went on to agree with the 10
judges "that arresting a judge in his chambers or within the precincts of
the court building is not sensitive to the need to uphold the independence
of the judiciary".

      We agree. And we also agree with you that "to preserve the integrity,
stature and independence of the judiciary, we should mend our law to provide
for the protection of judges from arrest from their chambers or from within
the precincts of the court building".

      But, of course, this must relate only to arrests in the judges'
chambers. Anywhere else, including in their homes, judges must be arrested
if they commit serious crimes. Not even for one minute should the police
take into account their status or standing in society. We are all equal
before the law and the judges who are the guardians of our constitution must
be in the forefront of emphasising equality before the law.

      Otherwise, if we become two nations (which is in fact what we are now)
in terms of the law, then the entire judiciary will be brought into
disrepute. Judges must be fair game as everyone else and our judiciary must
be severely criticised for the good of the country. No one, not even the
sitting president, must consider himself or herself above criticism.

      Indeed, there was constitutionally nothing wrong with the police
arresting Justice Paradza at his chambers. It is just a matter of how the
judiciary will be perceived by the public both nationally and
internationally if a sitting judge is arrested in his chambers. It is an
issue of appearance rather than of substance.

      The 'learned' judges should have known that Section 87 of the
Constitution which has procedures laid down for handling allegations of
misconduct against a judge, does not preclude criminal procedures running
parallel with disciplinary processes. If the 10 judges accept as they do
that they are not above the law and are not immune from arrest by the
police, then they must not at the same time think that whenever they commit
serious crimes, they must be subjected to a special process outside the
country's criminal justice system.

      Clearly, this will be an affront to true law.

      What the whole Paradza saga also shows is the masterly and trickery of
Zanu PF in coopting and seducing people into their system and the ease with
which one is discarded once their purpose has been achieved.

      There is no straight line in Zanu PF. Where were you Justice Paradza
when some of the judges in the team of the former Chief Justice Anthony
Gubbay were forced to relinquish their positions because they had become a
major obstacle to the machinations of Zanu PF? Did you ever think that once
coopted you would be treated this way several months down the road?

      That's Zanu PF for you-Comrade! Zanu PF Chiwororo.
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Zim Standard

      A shocking total lack of shame
      By Chido Makunike

      THE long queues of unhappy people in fuel and public transportation
queues, the shortages of all kinds of basic goods, and prices that continue
to rise beyond the means of the majority of people are just some of the most
obvious signs of the breakdown of what had been a reasonably working
society.

      Garbage piles up in the cities, it takes commuters hours instead of
minutes to get to and from work, and productivity is vastly reduced as the
fuel shortage takes its toll. This problem alone will make nonsense of the
umpteenth economic plan currently being marketed by the government.

      The self-serving politicians, and the hopeful romantics among the rest
of us, say the decline is all a necessary part of a revolution that will
empower the majority tomorrow, even if it impoverishes them and robs them of
dignity today. To try to make us forget that the upheavals that have
negatively affected every facet of life in Zimbabwe began with President
Robert Mugabe's reaction to the first real prospect of him losing power at
the last election, the word "revolution" is bastardised at every turn.

      There are many other less obvious signs of the decay of Zimbabwe as a
society that functions for the benefit of its people, but whose effects will
be just as dire.

      One of those signs is the utter lack of a sense of shame and
embarrassment among our rulers. Apart from the fear of punishment for doing
wrong, most people are kept in check in what they say and do by an internal
sense of wanting to do what is right, to keep a good name and image before
their peers.

      When we lapse in that effort, most of us will feel and show guilt.
That alone, even in situations where we are not able to undo whatever wrong
we have done another party, or to make amends, is recognised as at least a
mild form of saying "I am embarrassed by what I said/did, and I am sorry for
it."

      The ability to experience the uncomfortable feeling of shame, and the
consequent efforts we put to avoid putting ourselves in situations where we
have to experience it is therefore a lubricant that helps smoothen out human
interactions. It can be considered a sign of one's development as a human
being, the extent to which he avoids bringing shame on himself, and also the
extent to which he shows contrition when he does something he knows to be
wrong, and therefore shameful.

      All religions and cultures try to foster this quality, and respect is
given to those who have a highly developed sense of it.

      One of the ways in which the Zimbabwe of today is remarkable is in the
seeming total lack of the feeling of shame in the highest levels of its
government. Even if one bought the lie that all our great and worsening
problems are simply because much of the world has turned against us for
wanting to correct colonial injustices and economically empower ourselves,
one would still be turned off by how our rulers downplay the real day to day
crises that many Zimbabweans are dealing with. There is simply no sense of
urgency in trying to solve the escalating problems, regardless of what you
consider to be their cause, that one would expect from a government that
constantly assures us is people centred.

      I think I would be ashamed to be the haughty, grand-standing,
loud-mouthed president of a country that the whole world can painfully see
is not working very well. For the normal person who is capable of feeling
shame, surely the embarrassment of widespread official violence, hunger,
shortages, worsening poverty and unemployment would make that person draw
more into himself to seek ways of grappling with those problems.

      Instead, in Zimbabwe we have the fascinating situation of a ruler who
wants to be more noticed by the world, in direct proportion to the growing
evidence of his failures and lack of concern at the plight of his subjects!
No sense of shame is evident at all at this dichotomy.

      When we cheat, most of us do it furtively, trying to make sure what we
are doing that we know to be wrong is not discovered. Our conscience may
bother us, but at least we hope to save ourselves the shame of being
publicly discovered. None of this seems to bother the regime ruling over
Zimbabwe.

      Huge electoral and financial scandals are committed right out in the
open. The system of every kind of corruption in the highest institutions of
the land has become entrenched and commonplace. Where before there would be
pretences of "crackdowns on corruption" or commissions of inquiry, albeit
just to fool the public, now there is none of that.

      The attitude of the rulers, and the powerful minority of their
appendages who are benefiting from the misery being experienced by the
majority of Zimbabweans is now "we know you know we are stealing and
cheating, but so what?" That is how bald-faced the lack of shame has become
in Zimbabwe.

      One minister talked about licensed money changers being the major
cause of foreign currency not flowing into the system, when it was public
knowledge that his ministerial colleagues were the major players in that
sector. The government introduces fines for merchants exceeding price
controls that are universally agreed to be unrealistic and ineffective,
worsening shortages and the viability of companies. Yet officials of that
same government ignore price controls themselves, as was recently shown by
one minister who was caught contravening them, as are all the others who
have just not been similarly publicly embarrassed yet.

      There is no longer any effort to try to maintain some consistency
between what makes sense and that which is politically expedient, or between
what government says and what it and its officials do.

      Some of the ministers who craft, explain and selectively apply
partisan and oppressive laws are themselves of shady backgrounds and in a
normal, fair society in which the rule of law applied would be behind bars,
and certainly not serving in the country's cabinet. There is no longer any
sense of embarrassment about appointing mercenaries to positions of power
and responsibility.

      Now that the euphoria of being seen to be telling off the British is
evaporating amidst starvation, shortages and international isolation, our
tough regime goes to virtually anybody in the world, and grabs at any straw
to "mend ties" with the British. Strong statements are issued, conditions
are made as if it is we who have the upper hand in the diplomatic standoff.
There is no shame at all at the evidence that despite all the shouting, the
life of the average Zimbabwean is affected far more and far worse over the
childish diplomatic behaviour of our government than that of any resident of
Britain.

      Instead of showing toughness and being "right" in the methods it chose
to show off its "sovereignty" by then making a success of those methods, we
get the continual whining and finger pointing. There is no shame expressed
that drought or no drought, a country that is not only sovereign but boasts
about it at every turn, must now depend on food handouts from those it says
are its enemies.

      This lack of shame is one of the worst ways that the decay of Zimbabwe
manifests itself.
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Zim Standard

      Comrades, countrymen and patriots ...


      WELL dear countrymen, patriots and people of our dear government, the
government of the people takes great delight in informing you about our Dear
Leader's recent visit to France and other pertinent issues.

      Comrades, it has come to our attention that our enemies are at it
again, attempting to assassinate the indomitable, impeccable character and
stature of our Dear Leader. The foreign funded opposition press, working in
cahoots with the British is spreading vicious and malicious rumours about
our Dear Leader's recent visit to France where he was accompanied by our
vivacious and gracious First Lady. Elements in the opposition press, which
is not even worth the paper on which it publishes its lies and falsehoods,
allege that the president and his stately, regal entourage were met by angry
protesters.

      Nothing could be further from the truth comrades, countrymen and
colleagues. Contrary to these malignant rumours comrades, our Dear Leader
received a red carpet welcome from the French people. In fact, hundreds of
those people who waited patiently at the airport were eagerly awaiting the
arrival of the world's Dearest Leader.

      You should have been there for yourselves to see the glee on the faces
of the French people when they caught site of His Excellency and the
adorable First Lady by his side. It was only a few malcontents led by that
gay gangster, Peter, What's His Name, who attempted to disrupt an otherwise
overwhelming reception. Chave Chimurenga comrades, right there on the French
soil.

      Some mischievous elements in the foreign funded opposition press
actually allege that our Dear Colleague, Jacques the Dear Leader of the
French people, did not give our Dear Leader the traditional Gaelic kiss.
Comrades, what a lamentable act of cardinal mischief of the first capital
order. Do they not know our Dear Leader's position on public expressions of
affection between people of the same sex? Besides, Jacques did give His
Excellency a most hearty handshake, which is our African way of expression
filial gratitude. Hugs and kisses comrades, are totally un-African and not
befitting of a self-respecting African leader. They are actually a mark of
colonialist cultural slavery and imperialism originating straight from
Downing Street. Our French colleague, Jacques understands only too well that
our Dear Leader prefers our own ways of expressing affection, our own
handshakes and, yes comrades, the virtues of our own homegrown Chimurenga.

      Chave Chimurenga comrades, right there in Paris. An African handshake
right there in Europe, what more could we have asked for?

      The opposition press, no doubt in cahoots with foreign spy agencies,
also decided to focus on trivial issues such as the hotel accommodation of
our Dear Leader and his esteemed entourage, as if that was an issue at all.
Did they not see the First Lady's outfit? Did they see how immaculate our
Dear Leader was in his designer suit? Indeed the first couple were the envy
and admiration of all. Was that not a revolution in itself? The First Lady
caused a stir in Paris, the fashion capital of the world comrades, Chave
Chimurenga!

      Our detractors went on to lambast, lampoon and lacerate the First
Family for revelling in the lap of the luxury of Paris's best hotels. Why is
it that our detractors make such an issue when not a single Zimbabwean cent
was spent and not a dollar was used of our taxpayers money? Our taxpayers
are too valuable to be burdened with such expense when their money can be
put to good use by ensuring that our Dear Leader is still able to visit
important destinations such as Thailand and Malaysia.

      His Excellency travels with large contingents and huge finances are
required for this, seeing that our Dear Leader will be promoting and
protecting the sovereign interests of the people's government and the people
of the government.

      In actual fact, what is wrong with the First Family occasionally
enjoying a bit of comfort, here and there? Is it not an undeniable fact that
when our Dear Leader and His Dear Wife are enjoying the luxuries of Paris,
they are actually doing so on behalf of the entire Zimbabwean nation? How
many people complain about the opulence of Queen Elizabeth and her consorts
at Buckingham Palace?

      Our detractors seem keen on undermining the inimitable leadership of
His Excellency just because he is African. If it were Blair or Howard the
coward, then that kind of luxury would be justified. It is quite clear even
to those who are not rocket scientists that the British are out to reverse
the gains of our struggle. They make noise when our Dear Leader is treated
like the king that he is and yet keep quiet when their own leaders revel in
the lap of luxury.

      By the way comrades, His Excellency actually had the best hotel in
Paris reserved for him and his worthy entourage. Our Dear Leader was a cut
above the rest. Is that not a revolution in itself comrades? In actual fact,
it's not that Our Dear Leader enjoys luxury, he would rather stay in Mbare
or Makokoba but the dictates of his office forbid that.

      Dumisani Nkomo

      Harare

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Zim Standard


      Strange goings on


      AS the days draw nearer for the Kuwadzana by-election, strange things
are happening.

      Zanu PF is taking advantage of the shortage of maize to try and steal
the election from the MDC. First of all, where are they getting the maize
from? Secondly, why are the Zanu PF youths and their seniors asking people
to produce their IDs before they can buy mealie meal, and then noting their
names down?

      Is it their way of getting Zanu PF thugs from other areas other than
Kuwadzana to cast their votes using the names of some Kuwadzana residents?

      It is painful to see how our mothers and fathers are treated by the
Zanu PF youth whenever they need to buy mealie meal. These arrogant youths
are perpetrating violence. The elections will not be fair.

      Taurai Chokwadi

      Harare

      wavadread@hotmail.com

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Zim Standard

      Insiza picks up the pieces
      By Cynthia Mahwite

      BULAWAYO-The people of Insiza are slowly picking up the pieces after
last year's by-election, characterised by an unprecedented reign of terror
which wreaked havoc on their lives.

      Insiza, a once peaceful communal area largely forgotten by the
authorities, suddenly bounced into the spotlight when the ruling Zanu PF
party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) squared up for
a parliamentary by-election which transformed the area into a mini war zone.

      The Zanu PF militia invaded Insiza and caused havoc in the area by
beating up suspected opposition supporters and destroying their property.

      Hundreds of MDC activists were forced to flee their homes as the
militia rampaged through the constituency.

      To make matters worse, thousands of Insiza residents suddenly found
themselves staring starvation in the face when the World Food Programme
decided to suspend its relief programme to the area because of the
politicisation of food aid.

      Zanu PF supporters had looted a food consignment belonging to the WFP,
prompting the agency to stop its activities in the area.

      But a visit by The Standard to the Sanali area has revealed that the
Insiza people, some of whom were forced to flee their homes at the height of
the terror campaign, are putting their past political differences firmly
behind them and are uniting in an attempt to improve their lives through
community projects.

      Last week, thousands of people from Sanali came together to witness
the commissioning of a project which will see the community using biogas as
an energy source.

      The biogas project was funded by the Canadian International
Development Agency and will benefit families from Mpumulelo, Kutula,
Bamabanani and Sanali villages.

      The project consists of 20 biogas digesters whose number is to be
increased to cover more areas.

      Sibusiso Ncube of Saneli ward said she was pleased that life was
slowly returning to normal. "Most people still find it hard to speak about
the terrible things they experienced during the by-election. But we are all
focused on rebuilding our lives and developing the community."

      At the same function, 20 families who had initiated successful farming
projects received cattle and seed from Heifer Programme International and
Funds for Development Cooperation.

      The biogas digester project was handed over by the Canadian High
Commissioner, John Schram, who said his office was prepared to fund projects
that were environmentally friendly and of benefit to the poor and the
disadvantaged.
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Zim Standard

      Police brutality on women slammed
      By Loughty Dube

      BULAWAYO-Women's pressure groups have criticised the heavy-handed
manner in which police in Bulawayo broke up a demonstration to commemorate
the International Women's Day in the city, two weeks ago.

      Armed riot police, wielding baton sticks, assaulted over 500
women-some of them with children on their backs-and arrested 15 organisers
of the demonstration, leaving scores injured.

      Women of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza) spokesperson, Jenni Williams, said some
women suffered facial injuries after the unprovoked attack by riot police.

      Last month, police arrested 47 women in Harare and dozens of others in
Bulawayo for taking part in a protest march against violence on Valentine's
day.

      The women's organisations said the action by the police showed that
women in Zimbabwe were far from being emancipated and could not freely
celebrate a day recognised worldwide and set aside for their commemoration.

      Provincial co-ordinator of the Federation of African Media Women in
Zimbabwe (FAMWZ), Qonda Moyo, told The Standard that Saturday's action by
the police was cause for concern for women.

      "The police are not clear on how people should conduct themselves when
it comes to demonstrations. The women in Bulawayo were assaulted and
arrested despite the fact that they were granted permission to hold the
demonstration by the very same police," said Moyo.

      Women's Action Group spokesperson, Abigail Dube, said it was now
evident that women in Zimbabwe had no rights and it was the police and men
who held those rights
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Zim Standard

      Mugabe urged to lift Nyarota's arrest order
      By our own Staff

      PARIS-The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and the World Editors
Forum (WEF) have asked President Robert Mugabe to rescind an arrest order
for Golden Pen of Freedom laureate Geoffrey Nyarota, who is currently at
Harvard University on a fellowship.

      In a letter to President Robert Mugabe, the Paris-based WAN and the
WEF said the media law under which Nyarota has been charged "contravenes the
basic principles of freedom of expression."

      Nyarota, the 2002 winner of the WAN Golden Pen of Freedom and former
editor-in-chief of Zimbabwe's independent daily newspaper, The Daily News,
is being charged with "abusing journalistic privilege and publishing
falsehoods".

      The letter to the President reads :

      "The charges of abusing journalistic privileges and publishing
falsehoods arose after a report appeared in The Daily News last April
describing how a woman had allegedly beheaded in front of her daughters by
pro-government militias. The story later proved false and The Daily News
then printed a retraction of the story.

      "We respectfully remind you that the media law under which Nyarota has
been charged contravenes the basic principles of freedom of expression,
including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

      The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper
industry, defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 18
000 newspapers. Its membership includes 71 national newspaper associations,
individual newspaper executives in 100 countries, 13 news agencies and nine
regional and world-wide press groups.
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Zim Standard

      More convicted at Zimsec
      By our own Staff

      THE saga at the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) took
another twist last week when two more employees of the beleaguered
examinations body appeared before the Harare Magistrates court and were
found guilty of contravening the Prevention of Corruption Act.

      Simon Mbeu (34) and Begun Nhendere (27), pleaded guilty to charges of
breaching the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Act by forging 'O' level results
for six individuals who neither registered nor sat for the examinations
concerned.

      Mbeu was slapped with a $70 000 fine or seven months imprisonment and
Nhendere with a $25 000 fine or four months imprisonment. They opted to pay
the fines and were given up to 19 March to raise the money.

      The two, both clerks in the Department of Examination and
Administration at Zimsec, forged and printed 'O' level results for six
people last year, in return for cash.

      The court heard that the six, whose names were not readily available
yesterday, had neither registered nor sat for the examinations in question.

      A few weeks ago, two other Zimsec staffers, Jeffres Chawaguta and
Beven Kuimba, were convicted of forging 'A' level results and were slapped
with a $100 000 fine or eight months imprisonment.

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Zim Standard

      Cholera outbreak feared
      By our own Staff

      A HEALTH time bomb is ticking away in Harare as refuse collection has
been abandoned in many areas owing to the shortage of fuel.

      The situation has become desperate in many high density suburbs where
rubbish has not been collected for about two weeks. City council officials,
however, attribute the problem to the current fuel shortage.

      Health officials fear that the lack of transport for the collection of
refuse might cause an outbreak of diseases such as dysentery and cholera.

      This week, The Standard found that refuse had not been collected for
days in suburbs such as Glen Norah A and B, Warren Park, Braeside and the
overcrowded Mbare, among many others.

      Some residents, impatient at the non-appearance of the refuse trucks,
were emptying their bins at street corners and storm drains.

      Said a middle-aged woman at Mbare Musika who identified herself as
Amai Moyo:

      "For how long can the bins remain like this? What has become of our
once clean and shiny city? City fathers-where are you?"
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Zim Standard

      D-Day for Zimbabwe
      By Itai Dzamara

      THE president of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan
Tsvangirai yesterday confirmed that mass action against the worsening
political and economic situation in Zimbabwe will be from Tuesday, setting
the stage for a showdown with the ruling Zanu PF party that could have far
reaching consequences for a country riven by conflict since 2000.

      In an interview with The Standard, Tsvangirai disclosed that after
much consultation with the ordinary people, trade unions, civil society and
the business community, his party had decided to embark on mass action to
register people's anger against Mugabe's regime.

      Said Tsvangirai: "We have planned mass action for Tuesday. However, we
can't disclose the form it will take. The people know what they are supposed
to do to register their anger. We have been preparing for this mass action
over a long period and have been consulting with the people."

      Although Tsvangirai refused to disclose the forms the mass action will
take, The Standard has it on good authority that people will be asked to
stay away from their work places to force a shut down in all the major
cities.

      This action is intended to be a replica of the historic stay aways
called by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) in 1998 when
Tsvangirai was its secretary general, and which almost paralysed the
country.

      Documents in the possession of this paper reveal that the MDC has
consulted widely over the past month and gained the support of captains of
industry as well as civil society for its intended mass action.

      Ordinary Zimbabweans have demanded action from Tsvangirai every time
that he has gone on his meet-the-people tours, setting the stage for a
possible popular uprising against President Robert Mugabe's government.

      In an advert carried in this issue, the MDC had this to say on its
planned mass action: "This is a call for peaceful action carefully
calculated to express discontent and disgust with the state of affairs
within our nation. We therefore ask all Zimbabweans to register their anger
against the oppressive system and show the regime that you have power to
determine your destiny. We must take up the challenge and engage in the most
visible form of democratic resistance until our rights, freedom, dignity and
the right to live in peace are won back.

      "On Tuesday, 18 March 2003, and Wednesday, 19 March, 2003, and
thereafter people must demand change through action if we are to survive in
these trying times. "

      Yesterday, Anthony Mandiwanza, the president of the Confederation of
Zimbabwe Industries, (CZI) would not be drawn into saying whether or not his
organisation supported the mass action.

      Said Mandiwanza: "We will respond to the issue when we have been
formally approached. Right now, I can't give a definite position."

      Wellington Chibhebhe, the secretary general of the ZCTU could not be
reached for comment yesterday, but insiders said the labour body fully
supported the move.

      Raymond Majongwe, the secretary general of the Progressive Teachers
Union (PTUZ), said the union would give its blessings to members who engaged
in the mass action.

      Said Majongwe: "We honestly believe that Zimbabweans are quite free to
exercise their right to ignore such laws as POSA. We will therefore not
stand in the way of members who wish to participate in the mass action. The
situation we find ourselves in is terrible and people must be free to
express their opinion or demand some action."

      Runaway inflation, the unavailability of basic commodities such as
fuel, mealie meal and sugar as a result of Mugabe's chaotic land reforms,
and an acute shortage of foreign currency, have pushed the nation to the
brink of collapse.

      Anger has been swelling against Mugabe, who was controversially
reelected last year, because despite numerous promises, the aging president
has failed to pull Zimbabwe out of its economic quagmire.
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conservatives.com

Ancram: The real risks and real threats we cannot ignore



Speech to Conservative Party Spring Conference

This session has inevitably centred on Iraq. It has been a serious debate.
Iain Duncan Smith set the scene for us. Bernard Jenkin and Caroline Spelman
have enlarged upon it.

It has also rightly ranged wider.

We must never forget the war against international terrorism. The Chairman
reminded us of the horrors of September 11 last year. We must continue to
work with the international community to hunt down the terrorists and to
ensure that they have nowhere to hide.

We welcome the recent arrests in Pakistan even if they are only the tip of
the iceberg.

We have seen from recent alerts in Britain that the threat to us is real.

The first responsibility of government is the protection of its citizens. We
will ensure that the Government does not take their eye off this ball.

Iraq however is the immediate priority. I make no excuse for returning to it
again.

Of course we are concerned.

None of us want war. Some of us have spent significant parts of our lives
working for peace. War must always be the last resort - when there is no
better way of achieving what must be done.

That sad reality now stares us in the face. I still pray that Saddam Hussein
will finally see that he has run out of road, and that even at this late
date he will disarm.

His attitude has to change. If it does not, then the international community
must act.

There are many questions and doubts. I take them very seriously. I believe
the Government should have done much more to answer the questions and to
meet the doubts from the outset.

They have not. So let me share with you our view.

Does Saddam really pose a risk to international peace and security?

The UN certainly thinks so - and has done so for the last 12 years.

All 17 resolutions passed against Iraq fall under Chapter VII of the UN
Charter which specifically and exclusively deals with threats to internation
al peace and security and in Article 42 specifically permits the use of
military force if necessary to deal with it.. Indeed Resolution 1441
deliberately replicates the language of Article 42.

Nobody who signed up for it, including France, can be in any doubt as to
what it means. They knew at the time they signed, and they still know it
now.

So is that the threat a danger to us? There may be no obvious smoking gun
yet. But I learned in Northern Ireland the value and importance of
intelligence advice. They are our eyes where we cannot see and our ears
where we cannot hear. They have told the PM that the threat is real, present
and endangers us. We would be unwise to seek to second-guess them.

And even if the smoking gun is not there, there is certainly smoke is.

There is the further evidence produced in written form by Dr Hans Blix a
week ago. It lists a blood-chilling number of unaccounted for weapons and
biological and chemical stockpiles. Tonnes of anthrax and the nerve agent VX
were present four years ago. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, we
can only assume that they are still there. Today's Iraqi letter at first
sight seems once again a propaganda device, too little and too late.

These weapons are simple to use either in Iraqi hands or in the hands of
terrorists, particularly those who are careless of their own lives. They can
be easily developed into even more lethal agents. They are easily
transported and easily hidden.

These are the real risks and real threats we cannot ignore.

So why now?

There can never be an absolutely right time. But history teaches us that
action delayed or postponed is rarely action avoided;

that putting off what needs to be done almost always leads to worse
challenges later on.

If we leave Saddam Hussein armed with WMD now, he will still have to be
dealt with later when the risks will almost inevitably be much higher and
the dangers infinitely greater.

I do not believe we have a right to pass this lethal buck on to those who
will come after us. It would be contemptible, and as Conservatives must
never tread that dishonourable path.

We support efforts to achieve a Second Resolution to implement Resolution
1441 within a given timetable. But a second resolution is not, and has never
been, a legal prerequisite for military action.

We therefore will support whatever action - in conformity with international
law - is necessary to remove Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction.

There is another aspect we should not ignore.

There are inevitably feelings of destabilisation throughout the Gulf. We
should not underestimate how much of a running sore the unresolved problem
of Israel/Palestine remains.

If we are to demonstrate that this is not a war against Islam we must
support President Bush in his call for real progress on achieving two states
west of the Jordan, a secure Israel and a viable Palestinian state, and the
ending of settlement activity.

We must applaud his decision yesterday to publish the long-awaited
'road-map' to achieve this. We must add our weight, and press an ending of
violence and a resumption of talks.

And as Caroline Spelman has said we must not lose sight of our obligations
to help Iraq get back on its feet once this is all over.

We support the Prime Minister on Iraq. That support is not unconditional.
Nor does it come easily. How politically tempting it would be to ride public
opinion and oppose. It would also be dishonourable, irresponsible and wrong.
As have been the Liberal Democrats throughout this crisis, facing in all
directions at the same time. Their behaviour has been despicable. It has
even outdone their own usual low standards.

Hostile to Saddam at one moment, sympathetic at another. For the UN route
last September, against the UN route in February, back in favour of it now.
Against military action yesterday, apparently morally supporting it to day.
What will his position be tomorrow?

He claims to have been consistent, when their only consistency has been
their inconsistency. Kennedy makes the Grand Old Duke of York look like a
paragon of decisiveness.

The Liberal Democrats are the 'weather-vaners', swinging with every shift of
the popular wind.

Well we will not take that easy and dishonourable path. We will support Tony
Blair on Iraq as long as he is acting in the national interest and is doing
what is right.

But that is as far as we will support him.

Where he's wrong as he has been on Gibraltar we will oppose him. We will
stand by the people of Gibraltar and their rights to remain British. We will
not betray them. And nor should the Prime Minister even for a moment think
that he can trade Gibraltar's sovereignty tomorrow for Spain's support today

And then there is the government's desertion of Zimbabwe. I cannot help
feeling a profound sense of shame at how Britain under the lily-livered
leadership of a government transfixed by its post-colonial guilt has
abandoned that once great land.

Tony Blair told us that it was his moral duty to act in Zimbabwe. In
practice he has done nothing.

On the cricket world cup he disgracefully tried to walk by on the other
side. I hope he felt ashamed in the face of the courage of the Zimbabwean
cricketers Andy Flower and Henry Olongo in their black arm-banded protest on
the field against what is being done to their land. I salute those two brave
cricketers.

Tony Blair may have abandoned the people of Zimbabwe in their hour of need.
These two brave men did not. And nor shall we.

And we will oppose this Government on the future shape of Europe.

How many of us here are really aware of what is happening in Europe at this
time?

How many of you know that the firm recommendations emanating from those
charged with recommending the future shape of Europe are:

a legal personality which is the first prerequisite of a European state,

a fully fledged constitution complete with legally enforceable fundamental
rights which is the second prerequisite,

and the subjugation of our foreign and defence policy to the jurisdiction of
the European Court of Justice which is the final prerequisite?

These together form a Rubicon between the original and acceptable concept of
a Europe of Nations - the Europe we joined - and a European political union
which ultimately will sound the death knell of our rights of
self-determination.

I am horrified at the speed in which this Europe is being developed.
Ministers who originally told us that they would resist such moves are now
busy preparing the ground for a shameful volte-face and a despicable
surrender.

Sadly Parliament with its overwhelming government majority can't stop it.
But it must be totally against the spirit of the unwritten British
constitution that basic sovereignty can in this way be surrendered without
the democratically expressed consent of the British people .

That is why I have demanded, and demand again today, a referendum before any
treaty embodying such surrender is ratified.

Let me make this clear. We are not anti-Europe. We believe in a Europe built
from the bottom up, with power flowing from the nation states - as was
always originally intended.

We believe in a partnership of sovereign nations within which the single
market is completed, where directives are framework rather than specific,

where there is far greater parliamentary accountability over Euro-decisions,
where we retain our own currency,

where we cooperate on matters of mutual interest, but where we accept and
indeed value our differences

And where we retain our basic rights of self-determination not least on
Foreign policy and defence.

We must now go out and fight for this Europe as a genuine option.

Indeed when this current crisis is over there will be much restructuring to
be done, much weakness to be repaired - on Europe, on Nato and on the UN. We
will have a crucial role to play in all of these exercises. We must be
ready.

And while Iraq inevitably preoccupies us, we must make sure that it does not
allow this wretched government to get away with it on other international or
European fronts.

And we will do so as part of that wider campaign to see this discredited
bunch on their way.

New Labour has failed. Their much-vaunted pledges of standing up for Britain
and their ethical foreign policy are now in tatters. They have not only
failed domestically. They have failed in the international arena as well.

They are a derelict government, a government with no purpose. A government
that should go.

I am sick and tired of living in a Britain that is being inexorably
undermined by a Government that has lost its way.

I am sick and tired of a government that has lost all sense of national
pride and which settles for the second rate.

I am sick and tired of a government that seeks to make us ashamed of our
history, our traditions, our culture, our currency and our very Britishness.

As Conservatives we believe in Britain. We long for a country where people
matter again, where values and standards once more count for something.

We want to be proud of our country without being called extremist, proud of
our history without being labelled anachronistic.

We long for a country where freedom, nationally and internationally, means
what it says rather than what political correctness tells us it means.

We are starting the march back to power.

We will need self-confidence. We will need self-belief. Above all we will
need to work together as one, loyal to each other, and true to our leader
Iain Duncan Smith.

We owe it to our country to send this rotten Government packing.

It is time for us to take them head on. The surrenderers in Europe, the
betrayers of trust in Zimbabwe and of loyalty in Gibraltar. And the
destroyers of national pride here at home. It is time they were gone.

Our resolution must be clear. To have strength, to have conviction, to have
hope. To stand firm in defence of our national interests. And when this
crisis is over, to go out and win.

15/03/2003
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Cricket365

      Olonga "scared" into retirement 15/03/03
      Bowler gets threatening e-mails after protest
      Zimbabwe fast bowler Henry Olonga followed team-mate Andy Flower into
retirement from International Cricket Saturday, saying he feared being
persecuted for his anti-government protests.



      The 27-year old Olonga made the announcement at the conclusion of
Zimababwe's last World Cup match against Sri Lanka, which Zimababwe lsot by
74 runs.

      "It is with great sadness that I am officially announcing my
retirement from international cricket," the 26-year-old said in a statement.

      "I have been receiving threatening e-mails since the protests which I
believe have made it dangerous for me to return to Zimbabwe," Olonga said.

      Olonga and team-mate Andy Flower, who has also announced his
retirement from International cricket, wore black armbands "to mourn the
death of democracy"  during their first World Cup match in Harare.

      Olonga also said he ethical objections to playing for Zimbabwe as he
did not want to be seen as supporting the current government by playing for
his country.

      "I was never under the illusion that my stand would have no
consequences but I believe that one should have the courage of one's
convictions in life and do all one can to uphold them.

      "I believe that if I were to continue to play for Zimbabwe in the
midst of the prevailing crisis I would do so only by neglecting the voice of
my conscience."

      Olonga was reprimanded for his criticism of Mugabe's governement and
played just two World Cup matches. He was also rejected by his domestic club
in Bulawayo after refusing to abandon his protest.

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News24

Mbeki not turning up heat on Zim
JIMMY SEEPE


SOUTH Africa is not adopting a tough stance and turning up the heat on the
government of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, nor is the goverment
abandoning its approach of quiet diplomacy.

This is the message from President Thabo Mbeki's office, as early
interpretation suggested that South Africa was likely to abandon its
long-held position of quiet diplomacy for what many describe as "megaphone
diplomacy".

The suggestion that government was likely to change its position came
following Mbeki's three-day state visit to Botswana this week, where he was
seen to have blasted the Zimbabwean government for its handling of its land
redistribution programme.

Mbeki said Mugabe's government was not handling the situation correctly.

Mbeki's pronouncements also came after Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu
Buthelezi also turned up the heat regarding developments in Zimbabwe,
raising concern about the government and Mugabe's human rights record.

Mbeki said he together with other leaders "have seen for some time now that
the matter (land redistribution) is not being handled correctly.

"(Botswana) President Festus Mogae and myself have been in Harare and said
directly to the government of Zimbabwe, privately and publicly, that it
needs to be handled in a way that is not confrontational; in a way that
addresses the land needs of both black and white Zimbabweans," Mbeki said.

"It is now a matter of how to conclude the situation of land distribution in
Zimbabwe; and we continue to discuss it with them. We must establish what
remains to be done so we can come to a situation of normalcy in that country
as soon as possible."

But presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo said there was nothing new in
Mbeki's comments.

"What the president said in Botswana is the kind of message he has been
saying all along. Unfortunately nobody wanted to listen to what the
president was saying."

Khumalo said the government would not abandon its position on engaging the
Zimbabwean government.

"We are once again reiterating government's message to promote dialogue
among political parties in Zimbabwe to resolve their political problems. We
will not be forced to adopt megaphone diplomacy as there is no other option
than to engage them."

He said government continued to hold the view their position was correct one
and there was no need to change it.

In a joint statement following their meeting, both Mbeki and Mogae
"expressed the need to work together to assist the people of Zimbabwe in
addressing the problems confronting their country".

Mbeki, meanwhile, applauded Botswana for upholding the principles of
democracy, good governance and economic development on the African
continent.

"Botswana is a living example of what Africa can achieve on these
principles. The world should be made aware that Africa had role models such
as Botswana that we can all be proud of," he said.

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Zim Standard

      Those ungrateful French
      overthetop By Brian Latham

      IT is inevitable that the French will cause trouble. It's in their
genes. Last month, they were toadying to the troublesome dictator of a
troubled central African nation-and this month, they're making life
difficult for the British and Americans.

      It all seems a little ungrateful. Had it not been for soldiers from
the English-speaking world, the French would now be speaking German.

      Predictably, the Germans are also making life difficult for the Brits
and the Yanks, but that's their job and no one expects anything different
from them.

      For those who're out of touch with events beyond the borders of the
troubled central African regime, the French, the Germans and those ludicrous
Russians are trying to stop the English-speaking world from bombing Iraq
back into the Stone Age.

      It's all nonsense, of course, and if Messrs Blair and Bush have any
sense they'll dismiss the whining Euros and get on with the business of
separating Mr Sadly Insane's head from the rest of his body.

      And if they're really clever, they'll postpone that gratifying job for
a week and bomb France first.

      History has shown that overrunning France takes a couple of days. The
French are generally too busy filling their faces with garlic-flavoured
frogs or producing more French people to put up much of a fight.

      While they're about it, they might as well take a swing across Germany
as well.

      It's 60 years since they last raised their ugly heads above the
parapet, so they might as well be cut down to size now before they try their
funny business again.

      As for Russia; well, it's a bit of a nonentity. The only difference
between Russia and the troubled central African nation is that Russia is
intolerably cold.

      Both are Third World countries with chaotic economies, though Russia
does have a few rotting nukes in its arsenal.

      Either way, these mewling Euros are depriving the rest of the world
from some excellent TV. Billions of people across the planet are waiting
impatiently for pictures of powerful American aeroplanes dropping bombs on
Iraqi orphanages and hospitals. And themselves.

      They also want to see Sadly Insane's head on a stake outside the
Baghdad city walls.

      All this wonderful voyeurism is being denied us because the French
have decided to flex their feeble muscles. This appalling nation, having
fouled much of Africa (a job it continues to do with zealous disregard for
common sense), now wants to do the same to the Middle East.

      Even more extraordinary, the French have veto powers on the United
Nations' Security Council. Quite how this happened is a mystery, but no
doubt in the 1940s someone optimistically assumed the French would overcome
their phobia for soap and water and join the rest of the civilised world.

      You might as well give veto powers to Funafuti-and yes, there really
is such a place and you can be sure the residents there wash regularly and
don't reek of stale cheese, garlic and armpits.

      A brief survey by OTT revealed that residents of the troubled central
African country were all for war in Iraq, hoping the subsequent blood lust
might cause attentions to be diverted to their own region.

      Mind you, despite reports to the contrary, OTT can reveal that most
Brits are also very keen to see Sadly Insane meet his maker. While 500,000
Poms may have taken to the streets of London to protest against the war, a
quick survey reveals that 53,5 million people didn't-figures that indicate
overwhelming support for some good old-fashioned blood letting.
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Zim Standard

      Foot and mouth disease proves stubborn
      By our own Staff

      THE Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services critically needs
about US$4,375 million (Z$5,2 billion at the parallel market) to contain the
outbreak of the foot and mouth disease which is threatening to spread to the
Mashonaland provinces, Standard Business has learnt.

      Stuart Hargreaves, the principal director in the department, told
Standard Business that the outbreak of foot and mouth in Manicaland province
was threatening to spread to nearby areas.

      Hargreaves said although his department had secured about 590 000
doses of vaccine last month, it still fell short of what was needed to
contain the infectious disease.

      Last month, the Botswana Vaccine Institute released 250 000 doses to
Zimbabwe after the Reserve Bank paid about US$400 000. The Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO) also came to the department's rescue by
releasing about 340 000 doses of vaccines.

      "It is still short of what we require. We have made a strong appeal to
the Sadc region. We had initially appealed for 2,5 million doses but we now
require 3,5 million doses. We have also appealed for discounted rates of
vaccine from manufacturers," Hargreaves said.

      Problematic areas where the department is battling to control the
disease are Mutare, Buhera, Bikita and parts of Gutu in Masvingo.

      Hargreaves said of all the areas, Buhera was the most difficult
because it was a massive communal area and cattle movement was linked with
areas such as Zaka and Bikita.

      "We need millions of doses to vaccinate all areas. If dairy herds get
infected, it will be devastating and catastrophic. We must prevent the
disease getting to the Mashonaland provinces because we export some beef
from this area. So it is important for us to control the disease," he added.

      Last year's outbreak of foot and mouth was blamed on the violent farm
seizures as the new settlers cut down fences at ranches and game parks thus
exposing livestock to carriers of foot and mouth disease such as buffaloes.

      Zimbabwe has been battling to combat the disease since last year and
has already lost millions of dollars through cancelled beef exports to the
European Union and South Africa.

      Last year, Colcom Holdings, the country's pork processor, lost some of
its market share in the region owing to weak demand for the group's products
following the outbreak of the disease.
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Zim Standard

      Flawed NERP doomed to fail
      By Kumbirai Mafunda

      AS long as government designs economic blueprints that do not address
the restoration of ties with key international development partners, these
policies are doomed to fail, economic experts said this week in reaction to
government's recently announced National Economic Revival Programme (NERP).

      "The 'parallel market' will not disappear until a holistic economic
revival programme, encompassing all sectors and markets of the economy, is
put in place," said Kingdom Holdings chairman, Richard Muirimi, in the
group's review of the economic climate.

      "In tandem with the implementation of a comprehensive economic revival
programme, a parallel initiative to stabilise the political environment
needs to be undertaken to lure foreign investors," he said.

      "Likewise, a re-engagement of the Bretton Woods institutions needs to
be done as a matter of urgency. Once these issues are comprehensively
addressed, we believe that our economy will be in a position to commence its
journey to recovery," Muirimi added.

      Another bank chief, NMB's Paddy Zhanda, called for the strict
monitoring of money supply and the restoration of relations with the World
Bank and the International Monetary Fund as some of the main initiatives the
government should embark on.

      "To salvage the economy from the current crisis and encourage growth
the following key factors are necessary: Arresting money supply growth and
the resultant runaway inflation S (and) mending the country's relationships
with the international community, including the IMF, World Bank and other
multilateral lending agencies," said Zhanda.

      Zimbabwe severed ties with the IMF and the World Bank in 1999 after
failing to arrest its appetite for spending. Since then, the country has
defaulted on its loan repayment obligations to the Bretton Woods
institutions, further denting the country's credit rating and its ability to
access offshore credit lines from international lenders who take a cue from
the two institutions.

      Exports have also tumbled from US$3,1 billion in 1996 to about US$1,2
billion last year, resulting in a severe foreign currency squeeze. External
arrears, which stood at US$800 million early last year, have since soared to
about US$1,5 billion.

      "This accumulation of arrears is discouraging foreign investment as
corporates are struggling to repatriate their dividends," Trust Holdings'
chairman, Tichaendepi Masaya, said in the group's end of year results
statement.

      "Efforts should also be made to improve relations with the
international community and enhance international partnerships," Masaya
added.

      Economic analysts concurred with the bankers, saying the government's
new economic recovery plan was doomed to fail unless it began to engage to
key international partners.

      "That programme (NERP) is just for public consumption. Any economic
policy has to recognise the whole system of recovery and adjustment. There
is no country that isolates itself from the rest of the world. The more you
isolate yourself the more you dollarise," said Daniel Ndlela, an economic
consultant with Zimconsult.

      The opposition Movement for Democratic Change has also dismissed NERP
as "high sounding".

      "This export led growth strategy will not revive the economy because
the measures have come too late after the export capacity has been decimated
by a prolonged period under a fixed exchange rate," said an MDC official.

      Other experts say NERP, which is based on agrarian reforms, would
naturally take longer-if it were successful-to become effective because of
the government's chaotic land reforms.

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Daily News

      UZ student finds bullets, death threat at doorstep

      3/15/2003 9:07:14 AM (GMT +2)


      By John Mokwetsi

      NKULULEKO Nyoni, the secretary for the University of Zimbabwe (UZ)
Student Executive Council (SEC), was shocked on Wednesday night when he
found an envelope with two bullets and a note at the doorstep of his hostel
room.

      Nyoni said he discovered the khaki envelope, addressed to him, as he
returned from the dining hall with fellow SEC member Tafadzwa Machirori.

      Nyoni said: "The envelope contained two bullets numbered PMP 10.380
and ASC 73-1 and a note written: 'Tshomi: your excesses are too much, start
praying for the next world'."

      Elizabeth Karonga, the UZ director of information yesterday said: "I
can confirm the incident. The security and the dean of students have all
confirmed that the student received the bullets and the note. The matter is
now in the hands of the police at Avondale Police Station."

      A Constable Mugadza of Avondale Police Station said a docket was
opened but the case had been referred to the CID homicide department which
deals with cases involving firearms.

      Nyoni said: "I fear for my life. This institution is riddled with
State security agents bent on silencing the voice of reason. I don't
underestimate their capabilities."

      He alleges that at one time Machirori's room was ransacked by unknown
people "who were probably looking for SEC documents".

      Nyoni said the death threat against him was an intimidation tactic to
stop him from representing students on issues affecting their academic life.

      He accused the authorities and the government of failing to run the
institution in a transparent manner.

      The UZ was closed indefinitely as the strike by 700 lecturers
continued with no resolution of their pay demands in sight.
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