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Zimbabwe on edge as inflation hits 1,000%

The Scotsman

CRIS CHINAKA IN HARARE
ZIMBABWE'S annual inflation rate topped 1,000 per cent in April, underlining
the severity of an economic crisis analysts say could trigger protests
against Robert Mugabe's government.

Zimbabwe, in its eighth year of recession, has the fastest shrinking economy
of a country outside a war zone, according to the World Bank, and the
highest inflation rate in the world.

The official statistics agency said yesterday the annual inflation rate hit
a record 1,042.9 percent in April after rising 913.6 per cent in March.

"As expected, it's more doom and gloom," said John Robertson, a private
economic consultant. "How do you start to explain a situation where you wake
up to a new price almost every day? Many families are barely getting by;
they are in a survival mode," he said.

Analysts say the president has dented Zimbabwe's investment image with his
seizure of white-owned farms for blacks, and that government plans to
acquire a 51 per cent stake in all foreign-owned mines will keep external
funding at bay.

That has undermined the currency, fuelling an inflationary spiral which
shows no sign of abating. Economists say the inflation rate could end the
year at around 1,800 per cent.

Some shops no longer put prices on commodities, saving themselves the
trouble of changing them every day. With a carton of orange juice costing
500,000 Zimbabwe dollars (£2.70) and a kilo of beef up to a million dollars,
people carry their money in large bags even for simple shopping trips.

Analysts say most Zimbabweans are cutting down on basic necessities, with
some families living on one meal a day.

"There is a lot of anger over the economic hardships, and if you combine
this with the political conditions, we have an explosive social
environment," said Eldred Masunungure, from the political science department
at the University of Zimbabwe.

"We are right on the edge, and, politically, what is going to be interesting
is how the government and the opposition are going to play the game."

The main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says it
is organising peaceful anti-government marches to protest at Mr Mugabe's
policies.

Mr Mugabe has warned MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai that he would be "dicing
with death" if he tried to force a coup.

Mr Mugabe, 82, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, has used
tough security laws to curb protests and says the economy is a victim of
sabotage by opponents of his seizures and land redistribution.

Critics blame the land reform programme for a 60 per cent drop in
agricultural output since 2000, leading to a 35 per cent fall in gross
domestic product.

In the first major violent protests over a sharp rise in college fees,
police said students burned down a computer laboratory and classroom block
at Bindura University in north-east Zimbabwe.

Mr Mugabe put his security services on high alert early this year over fears
that bitter wage disputes, and school and consumer price rises amid the
deepening economic crisis might spark demonstrations.

And in a measure clearly aimed at forestalling protests against his ruling
ZANU-PF party, Mr Mugabe recently awarded civil servants, including security
forces, a 300 per cent pay rise.


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Civic leader urges co-ordinated protests in Zimbabwe



      By Lance Guma
      12 May 2006

      Within days of police warning him about engaging in 'subversive' acts
Bulawayo Agenda leader Gordon Moyo has defied the threats by calling on all
civic groups to unite for coordinated protests in the country. He says the
current sporadic demonstrations by women's groups, students and NCA members
were good for building momentum but there is need in the near future to
conduct them simultaneously.

      Moyo insists the security forces in the country do not have the
resources and manpower to deal with countrywide protests. He cited fuel
shortages as another factor that could reduce their capacity to deploy in
response. Asked when the protests should be organised he said 'Issues of
democracy are not for sprinters, these are issues for long distance runners.
If you sprint in a marathon you will faint.' Bulawayo Agenda believe people
should allow the process to shape itself and not force things.

      'The current demonstrations taking place are tributaries flowing into
a bigger river.' That bigger river Moyo argues will be when 'the entire
population stands up.' He says soldiers and policemen are also suffering in
Zimbabwe and their stance should not be taken for granted by any of the
power brokers. Bulawayo Agenda say they received figures from the Public
Services Commission last week which showed that police and soldiers were
amongst the lowest paid civil servants in the country. 'Only those at the
helm are enjoying the cake Mugabe has provided.'

      He believes Zimbabwe should learn from the anti-apartheid movement in
South Africa where student demonstrations against Bantu education ended up
combining with worker and consumer protests. According to Moyo these groups
played a decisive role in ending apartheid. 'In the past months people had
coiled back but now they are flexing their muscles,' and Bulawayo Agenda
believes the day everyone stands up at the same time, will be the day their
freedom comes. Opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has called for what
he terms 'a cold season of short sharp democratic resistance.' It remains
unclear when and how this will be effected but the euphoria continues to
build in the country.

      SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news


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Parents to suffer most from Education Bill signed by Mugabe



      By Tererai Karimakwenda
      12 May 2006

      It has been revealed that Robert Mugabe signed The Education Amendment
Bill on Monday this week. This legislation gives the government the power to
determine the fees charged by private schools and gives the minister special
powers to make decisions for them. The Associated Schools Trust (AST), which
represents private institutions, had negotiated a practical deal with the
education minister, but before Mugabe signed the bill Minister Aeneas
Chigwedere added 2 clauses that had not been discussed. AST chairman Jameson
Timba told us the clauses will mean that schools have to re-adjust their
fees to meet the new standards put forward by the government. But the
government is reserving the right to limit fee increases and inflation may
force schools to shut down. Timba said AST explained this to the minister
yet the bill got signed with the clauses intact. With Mugabe's signature,
the bill will become law once it is gazetted. Timba said the new rules will
not apply to this current term.

      The schools have been dreading this moment because the government
believes they are overcharging. But the AST negotiated a deal with the
education minister which stipulates that by percentage, the fee hikes should
not exceed "the increase in the cost of living from the beginning to the end
of the preceding term as indicated by the Consumer Price Index published by
the Central Statistics Office". This is what private schools were fighting
for. But AST chairman Timba is concerned about the adjustments contained in
the clauses added by Chigwedere. He said boarding schools will be forced to
increase fees above inflation to meet government standards. Yet the
government will punish any school that does this. Parents will suffer the
most by having to pay the adjusted fees.

      Public schools have no resources, the classes are overcrowded and the
quality of education is now inferior. Experts say this could be the end of
education in Zimbabwe.

      According to the Zim Online news site Education Minister Aeneas
Chigwedere said: "We are going to deal heavily with all those schools that
are charging exorbitant fees. We are aware that there are some schools
already charging Z$300 million a term, some Z250 million, others Z$200
million a term. This is outrageous and unacceptable."

      Education has become the focus of demonstrations by civil groups and
student leaders in the past few weeks. There have been several arrests and
brutal assaults on students who did nothing but peacefully express their
concern at the state of education in the country under the Mugabe regime.
And nearly 200 activists and school children were arrested in Bulawayo last
week after a peaceful protest march. Several student leaders are currently
in police detention nursing serious injuries and denied access to any
medical treatment.

      SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news


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Tsvangirai to address Budiriro campaign rally on Sunday



      By Tichaona Sibanda
      12 May 2006

      With less than a week to go before the crucial Budiriro by-election in
Harare MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai is visiting the constituency on
Sunday to drum-up support for their candidate, Emmanuel Chisvuvure. He will
round off his visit there by addressing a rally at Budiriro 4 grounds in the
afternoon.

      Chisvuvure is standing against Gabriel Chaibva from the Mutambara
faction and Zanu (PF)'s Jeremiah Bvirindi in a by-election set for the 20th
May. The Budiriro parliamentary seat became vacant after the death of
Gilbert Shoko, a pro-Tsvangirai supporter who died early this year.

      Chisvuvure, a founder member of the MDC who worked under the late
Shoko in the constituency is confident of retaining the seat for his
faction.
      He described his challengers as opportunists 'people without
credibility' as they have never been involved with Budiriro before.

      His election manifesto urges residents in the constituency to shame
the criminals who destroyed their homes under murambatsvina. He has pledged
to fight for the freedom of all people in Budiriro as well as defend the
rights of all vendors and people selling their vegetables and wares to look
after their families and children.

      'All what I am telling people is I believe the final solution to the
national crisis lies in having a new democratic constitution and a new
Zimbabwe. As such let's all vote MDC. Let's vote for food and jobs and let's
vote for security and freedom,' Chisvuvure said.

      He said it would be hard for Zanu (PF) to win in Budiriro considering
all the hardships and torment faced by the residents at the hands of
soldiers and intelligence operatives in the last six years. The late war
veteran leader Chenjerai Hunzvi used his surgery in Budiriro as a torture
house. In the period leading to and after the parliamentary and Presidential
elections in 2000 and 2002 respectively, the CIO and green bombers invaded
nightclubs and public bars to terrorise and rape innocent victims in the
constituency.

      SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news


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Lawyer: Bindura students tortured in police custody



      By Violet Gonda
      12 May 2006

      Andrew Makoni, one of the lawyers representing the students from
Bindura University, reports that all 15 students who were first arrested
earlier this week were tortured in police custody. He said Zimbabwe National
Students Association (ZINASU) Secretary General Beloved Chiweshe had visible
injuries as a result of the assaults and went on to say; "In fact all the
students who were arrested on Monday were all assaulted and tortured in
various forms. "

      Makoni and his colleague Alec Muchadehama had missed a bail hearing
for the students on Thursday as a result of threats by ZANU PF sponsored
thugs. He said, "We received information that some party activists were
gathered at the court house and had threatened that they were going to deal
with the lawyers who were coming over to note the ruling in the afternoon.
Having heard that, we then decided to delay our visit to Bindura and we only
got to Bindura after 3pm and by then the youths had been dispersed and the
ruling had been delivered."

      The lawyer said the students were also unfairly denied bail by a
Bindura magistrate after being linked to the violence that took place at the
University on Wednesday, although the riot took place while they were in
police custody.

      Other students, responding to police brutality and the denial of their
right to demonstrate hikes in tuition fees and inadequate allowances, ran
amok on Wednesday and torched a computer lab at the university. The computer
lab is believed to be worth billions of dollars. This led to the arrest of
39 more students.

      On the latest arrest, Makoni said it has not been easy to ascertain
exactly how many students have been arrested or are in need of urgent
treatment as the lawyers have not had access to their clients.

      Analysts say it is clear that the students are being victimised by the
state which has failed to run the state institutions properly. Inflation has
been galloping so fast is pegged at more than 1 000 % and life has become
basically unmanageable for the majority of the population. The rise in
school fees has also affected school children in primary and secondary
education. It is reported that half the population of children from
government schools are now out of school because the rise in school fees is
simply unaffordable.

      The government has in turn dealt with the general discontent in the
country by attacking and arresting members of the pressure groups, Women of
Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) and the
student movements. At least 200 WOZA activists including 73 primary school
children were arrested last week, 50 NCA activists were arrested on Thursday
and at least 54 students from Bindura University are behind bars.

      Also this week, the increasingly militant ZINASU reported that the
entire newly elected Students Executive Council (SEC) at the University of
Zimbabwe was suspended in a government clampdown.

      SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news


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Millionaires' in Zimbabwe are not rich enough

Financial Express, India

      Posted online: Saturday, May 13, 2006 at 0341 hours IST

      HARARE, MAY 12:  A joke doing the rounds in Zimbabwe's capital Harare
is that shop assistants have never been so busy. Their hands are sore from
adjusting price tags to keep up with skyrocketing inflation.
      Some shops no longer put prices on commodities, saving themselves the
hassle of changing them every day. Consumers too find a trip to the
supermarket dizzying and exhausting.

      Pen and paper in hand, Tawanda Rwazemba scours stocked shelves at a
shop in central Harare, trying to add up the prices of the most basic
commodities to take him through the month.

      For a 2-litre pack of orange juice, Rwazemba must part with Z$500,000
(US$5), the same price for 2 kg of rice, while a kilogram of beef costs
anything from Z$300,000 to Z$1 million depending on the quality. "This is
unbearable. Can you imagine we are millionaires but we can't afford much,"
remarked 24-year-old Rwazemba, an accounts clerk who earns a net monthly
salary of $193, double what many others take home.

      "It can't be a life where you just wake up to find that prices have
gone up, how do you plan for that?" he asks.

      -Reuters


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Zimbabwe to review price of bio-diesel seeds

People's Daily

      The Zimbabwean government is set to review the price of bio-diesel
jatropha seeds as the current price is not sustainable in view of increasing
input and labor costs, the Biosafety Board has said.

      Abisai Mafa, the registrar of the Biosafety Board, said on Friday that
the current price of 7,000 Zimbabwe dollars (one U.S. dollar equals about
101,000 Zimbabwe dollar) per kg of the bio- diesel producing seeds set at
the beginning of the farming season was not sustainable and attractive to
jatropha farmers.

      However, he said the Biosafety Board was now concerned with the
technology side of bio-diesel from jatropha, a shift from monitoring and
encouraging its cultivation.

      The National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (NOCZIM) and the Forestry
Commission had been tasked with producing jatropha seedlings to be
distributed to farmers.

      Jatropha is a drought resistant succulent plant that produces seed
with a high oil content of 37 percent that can be refined to produce
bio-diesel.

      The plant is common in Murewa, Uzumba Maramba-Pfungwe and Mudzi where
it is grown as a hedge a round homesteads and fields.

      The Zimbabwean government has identified bio-diesel as a long- term
solution to the country's fuel problems.

      It has since specified the jatropha curcas plant and banned its export
and last year declared it tree of the year.

      It is expected that the country will save the money in fuel imports by
using bio-diesel from jatropha curcas.

      The plant can yield at least 350 liter's of oil per hectare, while 12
tons of seed can be obtained from one hectare.

      Bio-diesel is a clean burning alternative fuel produced from readily
available resources such as sunflower, groundnuts and other oil rich plants.

      Source: Xinhua


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Coal in short supply in Zimbabwe

People's Daily

      Zimbabwe's biggest coal producer, Hwange Colliery Company, is
operating under serious financial challenges that have seen production
decline by up to 40 percent, local media reported on Friday.

      Mandla Mangena, Hwange sales and logistics manager, said the company
was currently loading 40 wagons for consumption daily against a demand of
120.

      "Production has fallen because of a shortage of financial resources to
repair our equipment," he said, adding however that Hwange expected to
operate at full capacity when it received new equipment from China soon.

      Most tobacco farmers last year ended up importing coal from South
Africa as it had become cheaper to import than to buy locally.

      Coal is one of the essential inputs in the processing of tobacco,
which is one of the country's largest foreign currency earners.

      Meanwhile, the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has assured farmers
for efficient movement of coal to various areas in the southern African
country.

      Source: Xinhua


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State will not tolerate farm disturbances - Mujuru



      May 13, 2006,

      By ANDnetwork .com

      GOVERNMENT will not tolerate farm disturbances as it moves to ensure
agricultural production on farms, Acting President Joice Mujuru has said.

       Addressing a National Economic and Consultative Forum planning
conference in Harare on Thursday, Cde Mujuru said: "For the avoidance of
doubt, a policy of zero tolerance of farm disturbances will be implemented
by law enforcement agencies. Zimbabwe has sufficient legal institutions and
legal remedies to deal with any outstanding land ownership or utilisations
disputes without disruptions." Turning to the agricultural pricing policy,
Cde Mujuru said the pricing for agricultural products remained tense, partly
because of disagreements regarding pricing policies as well as their timing.
She, however, said most of the pricing difficulties seem to derive from
general conditions of macro-economic instability, thus strengthening these
policies would put the economy on a sustainable growth path in which
agriculture would play a locomotive role. Farmers have been calling on the
authorities to put up pricing mechanisms in time for the next agricultural
season. Cde Mujuru said the Government would introduce pricing and marketing
arrangements, which would stimulate agricultural production. She added that
this would be done in a holistic view of the national economy. The Acting
President also said that numerous subsidies and other support initiatives
would be put in place for the agricultural sector in preparation for next
season. "Beyond land acquisition and distribution, numerous subsidies and
other support initiatives continue to be directed towards agriculture
although performance, however, remains disappointing." Players in the sector
have also been reprimanded for blaming the Government on the delay of
inputs. Outgoing Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Mr Davison
Mugabe said farmers were working towards setting up a strong agricultural
body that would work closely with Government.

      -Herald-


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Zimbabwe to spend more on refurbishing water reservoirs

People's Daily

      The Zimbabwe National Water Authority has started refurbishing all
water reservoirs in Harare, the country's capital city, at a cost of 390
billion Zimbabwe dollars (about 3.8 million U.S. dollars.)

      The move is aimed at increasing supplies to avert persistent water
cuts that have dogged the city and its satellite towns, officials with the
authority said on Friday.

      The refurbishment began with the claiming of a section of the Morton
Jaffray Water Works and has since moved to the Alexandra Park reservoir
where work is scheduled for completion at the end of this month.

      In the past two years, residents in Harare and its satellite towns
have endured intermittent water cuts, forcing some of them to rely on
unprotected water sources.

      Source: Xinhua


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ICC urged to deal with Zim sternly

India Times Cricket

      PORT-OF-SPAIN, May 13: Former Zimbabwe cricket coach Phil Simmons, who
left the job under contentious circumstances last November, is the latest to
call on the International Cricket Council to be stronger is dealing with the
African country's federation.

      Simmons, a former West Indies batsman of the 1990s who coached
Zimbabwe from 2004 until late last year, said the situation would only
improve "if the ICC take their finger out and get things sorted out."

      Simmons is in his native Trinidad to attend the weekend's final two
one-day internationals between Zimbabwe and the West Indies, who lead the
seven-match series 4-0.

      "The ICC has taken it upon themselves to go to Australia to
investigate racial things against South Africa (by the crowds), but yet you
have a (Zimbabwe) board put in with all blacks and all the Asians and the
whites were knocked off of the original board. Is that not racism too?"
Simmons asked.

      "Things like that are the things that are not going to help Zimbabwe
cricket," he said.

      Simmons was replaced by current coach Kevin Curran in the middle of
New Zealand's tour of Zimbabwe last year, a situation that helped contribute
to an eventual players' strike.

      The loss of close to 20 experienced players led the Zimbabwean board
to voluntarily withdraw from test cricket and send a hugely under-strength
team on the current touring the Caribbean.

      Simmons said that the problem lay with Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Peter
Chingoka and its managing director Osvais Bvute.

      "The biggest problem with Zimbabwe administration is that there are
two people, (Peter) Chingoka and (Osvais) Bvute who have been accused of
mismanagement of funds," Simmons said. "You have nobody in Zimbabwe who can
really touch them because of the fact that they have connections."

      "So until the ICC decides that we are going to investigate all this
mismanagement of funds, it's going to continue and the two people are going
to stay there and nothing is going to happen," he added.

      Simmons said that he was still in a legal battle with Zimbabwe cricket
but said he had no intention of going back to the country. "It is in my
lawyer's hands now," he said.

      Simmons said it was difficult to see any light at the end of the
tunnel for the Zimbabweans.

      "Same coaching structure, same administrative structure, they will
remain right where they are," Simmons added.

      Simmons called on the players to express themselves more and play
their natural game rather than just try to make the innings last all 50
overs.

      Zimbabwe has been beaten badly in all four previous matches in the
series.


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JAG Open Letter Forum No 418

Please send any material for publication in the Open Letter Forum to
jag@mango.zw with "For Open Letter Forum" in the subject line.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Letter 1

This is a copy of a letter that I have sent to:
Amanda Vanstone(minister for immigration)
Peter Lindsay (North Queendland member of fedral parliment)
A current Affair (TV show) 60 Minutes and last but not least John Howard
(Prime Minister of AUS)
I have sent this letter 7 times in total. Still waiting for a response

WHITE ZIMBABWE

Dear Jag

I am an Australian citizen who has proudly served my nation for the better
part of 16 years. I have recently discharged from the Australian Army and
continued my professional career as a private security contractor within the
private security sector. Whilst being employed in this vocation I have had
the good fortune to work with a large cross section of peoples from
the commonwealth and other allied countries.

It was during my work as a private security consultant that I first learnt
the plight of the white Zimbabweans. I have listened to their tales of woe
and the disgusting treatment that they have received from their country. I
can honestly say that I have not heard of such degradation, oppression and
simple mistreatment of a minority group since the days of the White South
African apartheid government. These are a proud people who have worked hard
to support their country in the farming industry, (something we Australians
can relate to) only to have it stolen by the Mugabe government with
absolutely no recourse or reparation commensurate to the value of the
property, or the pain and suffering this caused to their respective family
units simply because they are WHITE!

Zimbabwe was once known as the food bowl of Africa, this was due mainly to
the hard work, dedication and love of homeland that these very people who
have been displaced brought to their country. It cannot be ignored the
social and economic impact the decisions made by the Mugabe government has
had on Zimbabwe. The inflation rate of this country is now to a point that
it would be comical if it weren't so tragic.

The other net effect that displacing the white farmers from their
properties is one of society, people from a low socio-economic background
with little to no chance of advancing themselves or their family
financially, vocationally or scholastically were given the means for this
opportunity for enhancement.  This was achieved by employment on the very
farms that the Mugabe government took away. 90% of the farms that have been
stolen have gone from a thriving, productive property to at best subsistence
farming only.

Should this situation have occurred in reverse or in Australia, then the UN
and the rest of the world would have condemned the Mugabe government with
more than mere harsh words and simple expulsion from the commonwealth.

In the last few years, the Australian government has welcomed oppressed and
mistreated peoples from Bosnia, Afghanistan and more recently Sudan, and
justly so. However; we still continue to turn our backs on a country that is
of the commonwealth, instead of welcoming them to our shores as
future Australians, we treat them as pariah's to be forgotten about, simply
because the situation is too hard to deal with or is it because they are
white and don't fit the media/worlds view of an oppressed African? This is
hardly congruent with the Australian way of life, i.e.  "fair go for
everyone"

I would like to know what my government is doing to rectify this deplorable
situation. What can I personally do to assist in the transition of these
people to become a productive
Member of Australian society?

I am happy to discuss this subject in any medium at your convenience.

Regards

Scott Walker
07 47756250
0439 747 981
maxwalker73@hotmail.com

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2

Dear Jag,

Your email (below) is a timely reminder to people and its contents are well
received. To some, it seems their memories are short and in this regard, it
is hope that those who lead the CFU will read your email. Make no mistake
about this, they need your guidance if what we have all read in the papers
is correct.

My one concern is that there is a continual use by many of the word
"government". The reality is that this is not a government. It is a group of
predatory thugs who have illegally hijacked Zimbabwe. They are a "regime",
not a "government". In a normal world, government implies governance and, by
implication, respectability and legitimacy. This zanuPF regime has none of
these attributes. I respectfully request that we all consider using more
accurate terminology to describe Zimbabwe's predicament correctly. I know
that this is a small thing, but, as they say in advertising, the more you
say it, the more people believe it. It's all about perception.

As for the CFU, they are a bloody disgrace.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3

Dear Jag

I hope that, for once, white Zimbabwean farmers will stick together and not
be lured back by this evil government. Farmers have nothing to gain by going
back on the land, and if they go onto someone else's farm, they have
everything to lose because they will be sued by the real owners, hated by
all displaced farmers and will probably end up being kicked off again
anyway! For once, can we all stick together on this one?

Sarah Chapman

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

4

Having read Cathy's letter I have to agree with her. Going back to farming
is supporting the very people who have ruined our livelihoods, parted
families by those having to go survive abroad and this regime is willing to
murder its own people using violence or starvation and CFU wants to support
this. Its ridiculous!!!! It is because of this evil Government that we are
in this situation. Who's to say that if you went back farming and as your
crop is ready to harvest some fat greedy Zanu-pf minister comes along and
helps himself to the farm? As what happened to a relative of mine in the
Gweru area.

One cannot live by the word or Mugabe, come on 26 years down the line and
you still believe him? How dare a minister tell me that I could go back
farming as long as I stay out of politics!!! It is supposed to be a
democratic country and if I want to vote or get involved then it should be
my choice. I refuse to accept any olive branch from a murderous regime, it's
too far gone and too many evil things have happened. I guess I am like a
vulture waiting for nature to take its course on these old cronies who want
to rule forever but cant! Sorry but I am too bitter and will never ever
forgive Zanu-Pf for taking our small farm away and making my Mother work to
her grave as she has had to start all over again at her age.

We are Zimbabweans whether Mugabe, Mutasa and the boys like it or not. The
struggle goes on and we find ways to help those suffering there.  As for you
CFU, think carefully about your decisions or your actions will make you part
of the oppressive regime of which would be a stain on your organization.

Don't be hood winked by liars and thieves.

Stuart

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

5

Dear Jag

Does anyone know Beryl Smith who has recently been in the Ramsgate/Shelly
Beach area in Natal?

A handbag containing car keys and cheque book was found and is being kept
by:

Pat Wright
Wakefields Estate Agents
110 Main Marine Drive
Shelly Beach
Tel: 039-3150555
Cell: 0842073500

Zim Ref:  Gail Tiernan - 091351363

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
All letters published on the open Letter Forum are the views and opinions of
the submitters, and do not represent the official viewpoint of Justice for
Agriculture.


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Black empowerment hijacked by Zim's elite

Zimbabwe Independent

            Iden Wetherell

            Iden Wetherell, then assistant editor and now group projects
editor, contributed the paper's first opinion piece, on the subject of
indigenisation, in its inaugural edition of May 10 1996, reproduced below:

            WHILE South African trade unions join black entrepreneurs to
wrest control of key chips on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange as part of an
energetic economic empowerment process, Zimbabwe's approach appears to
favour the instruments of racist rhetoric and back-door favours which
effectively obstruct meaningful transformation.

            Working through the National Empowerment Consortium, a number of
South African trade unions are proposing to link their pension funds to the
bid by New Africa Investments Ltd's Dr Nthatho Motlana for Anglo-American's
stake in the Johnnic industrial conglomerate. Now with Cyril Ramaphosa at
the helm, this R4 billion inititative could see workers becoming
shareholders in glittering performers such as South African Breweries, OK
Bazaars and the Times Media Ltd newspaper group.

            Commentators in Johannesburg point to this and similar
initiatives as reflecting the adaptability of the country's political
players to changing circumstances. Transparency both in regard to objectives
and conduct is fundamental to the success of these projects.

            With dynamic developments underway south of the Limpopo, we
should be asking how far Zimbabwe has progressed to black economic
empowerment and wondering whether the country's leadership is capable of
responding adequately to market requirements?

            President Mugabe has said he is opposed to divestment of state
holdings via the stock exchange. His fear is that black Zimbabweans will be
excluded from bidding by a lack of resources. Surprisingly, no effort has
been made to bring financial resources closer to black business people. If
anything, state profligacy has made it difficult for black entrepreneurs to
break into major-league business.

            In the absence of a genuine black empowerment strategy, what has
emerged is a network of entrepreneurial operators who depend for their
success, not upon the normal workings of a market economy, but upon their
intimate ties to the ruling party.

            With all the characteristics of a clientelist elite, a new class
of business predators is jockeying for privileged access to other people's
capital. When the state eventually gets around to divesting itself of key
assets, these well-connected individuals will be there with their palms
outstretched.

            The government has invented an ideology to camouflage this
economic scam. All the resources of the party and the state which were once
organised to enforce socialist transformation and the one-party state have
now been mobilised to transmit the new creed of "indigenisation".  Bereft of
the certainties which flowed from the gospel according to Marx, Zanu PF has
now seized upon the gospel according to Philip Chiyangwa.  This states that
"too large a proportion of the economy continues to be controlled by a
minority which is actively marginalising the majority of the indigenous
population". And what is the Affirmative Action Group's solution to this
disparity? "The thing to do is to take what they have no right to possess
and to restore it all to the rightful owners".

            This statement neatly summarises the simplistic theorising and
confiscatory impulses of this politically-driven elite. The AAG and IBDC, we
need to remind ourselves, are agencies of Zanu PF actively involved in
fund-raising and campaigning for the ruling party.

            This of course explains why neither organisation is capable of
supplying a useful critique of the country's real economic problems. Enoch
Kamushinda is on record as saying the challenge facing the government was
not reducing its deficit but that of indigenisation.

            The deficit is currently fuelling inflation which in turn
inspires draconian interest rates preventing established businesses from
expanding or new ones from starting up. It also of course diverts funds from
the entrepreneurial side of the economy to the non-productive side. But none
of this worries Kamushinda or the IBDC. Having joined the government's gravy
train they are determined to stay aboard, remaining, like their cabinet
associates, blind to the functional failings of an economy which
marginalises black businessmen.

            And what of those entrepreneurs like Strive Masiyiwa who have
resourcefully applied themselves to building businesses and expanding the
frontiers of economic activity? They have been blocked at every turn by
ministers determined to get their snouts in the trough without a word of
complaint from the self-appointed spokesmen of  indigenous business groups.

            Isn't this what much of the indigenisation thrust is really
aimed at: the redistribution of business opportunities into the hands of a
well-connected minority? What names are behind the diversion of telecom
contracts, airport contracts or the acquisition of multiple farm properties?
The same names that have been part of this country's political elite for the
past 16 years, the new "rightful owners" of whole swathes of the country's
economy.

            The Reserve Bank recently issued licences for private purchases
of alluvial gold. The beneficiciaries? Roger Boka and Johua Nkomo's
Development Trust of Zimbabwe.

            Nkomo has been telling rural audiences that they should not
blame the government for the lack of development in the country when the
economy is owned by whites. But at no stage has he explained why the DTZ has
been sitting on tracts of land leased from town councils where there has
been no development whatsoever. As proprietor of the Nuanetsi Ranch, Nkomo
is in every sense the countrty's largest landowner.  What exactly has he
done to solve distortions in the pattern of economic ownership?

            So long as indigenisation remains a smokescreen behind which the
political establishment diverts resources into the eager hands of its own
rich and powerful followers there will be a continuing prejudice to the
ordinary people of this country who can't hope to benefit from policies that
actually disable them economically. Vulgar racist rhetoric is no substitute
for effective programmes of enablement.

            Meanwhile, it is the function of the Press to adopt resolutely
sceptical attitudes towards ideologies of any sort, including attempts to
set up bogus media organisations beholden to rich and powerful businessmen.
Minister of Information David Karimanzira recently said that while the
government supported a free Press this should not encourage "irresponsible
journalism". The media did not operate in a vacuum and should therefore
respect Zimbabwe's "cultural values, attitudes and practices".

            But what if those attitudes have been incorrigibly reactionary
and damaging over 16 years? What if ministers have been hopelessly
irresponsible? We cannot have discredited politicians who have blocked
democracy and economic empowerment prescribing to the media what they can
and cannot write about.  The media should question any attempt by the
political class to sell us their latest panacea when every other brand has
failed. Beware of failed leaders calling for a "second revolution" or party
organs misleadingly referring to "the real struggle".

            The real struggle is against endemic corruption and nepotism
that hike the cost of business; against clientelism and cronyism that
distort black empowerment; against facile revolutionary rhetoric and racial
scapegoating that provide targets for dishonest leaders seeking to divert
the public's gaze from the real problems underlying the economy's dismal
performance - and their own responsibility for those problems.


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Village of Colliding International Forces



Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)

May 12, 2006
Posted to the web May 12, 2006

Oarabile Mosikare and Laura Hanson
Francistown

The village of Matsiloje is a humble manifestation of colliding
international forces. Situated 44km from Francistown and flanking the
barbed-wire Zimbabwean border, no resident can escape the acute effects of
economic and political conditions in Botswana's neighbour to the north.
Trans-national movement of people and goods accompanies an inevitable
exchange of cultures and challenges.

All of this occurs within a context where both governments struggle to
address the situation and locals cope with a host of issues ranging from
crime to sympathy for illegal immigrants. Regardless of their perspective,
every residents' daily life is affected by the infamous electric fence.
"This place is becoming Zimbabwe," grumbled a passenger aboard a bus en
route to Matsiloje yesterday.

Undoubtedly, in a village of about 5,000 Batswana, mostly Barolong
tribesmen, the daily influx of legal and illegal Zimbabweans is hugely felt.
Some locals perceive this as a genuine threat, and many attribute rising
crime to the influx of Zimbabweans. "(Zimbabweans) are not good," said
Manyaapelo Mokopanele. "They are criminals who cross at ungazetted points
and bring Foot and Mouth Disease." He has often seen people crossing the
border illegally and alleged that patrols fail to adequately protect the
cordon fence. He complained that some people use Batswana names to illegally
hire cheap Z imbabwean labourers, while local unemployment remains high.

Mokopanele is currently unemployed. Another resident, Lucky Sebitlo claimed
that Zimbabweans cut the cordon fence to steal Batswana donkeys. They use
the animals to plough their fields on the other side of the border. Sebitlo
and other affected residents say they have been forced to cross the border
to reclaim the animals. Many villagers attributed rising theft and violence
to Zimbabweans. The village headman, Moipolai Seleke said there have been
several incidences of crime. However, he noted that petty crime in the
village is rare compared to places like Matshelagabedi. Other residents
spoke of the dilemma caused by their desire to assist those experiencing
oppressive poverty in Zimbabwe. In some cases, they are willing to risk a
fine to employ illegal Zimbabwean immigrants.

Some have offered food or shelter to those in need. A few said there have
been discriminatory behaviour by Batswana who assume that all Zimbab weans
are criminals. They blame Zimbabweans for rising crime. "It's easy for
Batswana to blame Zimbabweans," said one Motswana who declined to be
identified. "They are our neighbours," said another. "We must always extend
a helping hand." Some business people in the area have been reaping rich
profits because of the chaos in Zimbabwe. For example, since petrol is
unavailable in Zimbabwe, many people trek across the border to purchase it
from Botswana. Upto 80 percent of clients at a local filling station are
Zimbabweans as Batswana in the area prefer to refuel in Francistown.

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