Hardly any work done as Zimbabwe deadline looms

http://www.nation.co.ke

By KITSEPILE NYATHI, NATION CorrespondentPosted Wednesday, November 18 2009
at 18:55

HARARE, Wednesday

Zimbabwe's feuding political parties look set to miss a monthend deadline
set by the Southern African Development Committee (SADC) to conclude
outstanding issues of their power sharing agreement as negotiators are yet
to meet.

SADC averted a political meltdown on November 6 when it convinced Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to end a three week boycott of the unity
government.

But the regional body gave the squabbling parties a 30-day deadline to
resolve a slate of thorny disputes.

An emergency SADC mini summit in Mozambique to tackle the Zimbabwe crisis
gave the parties 15 days to kick start negotiations.

The deadline is fast approaching without any signs of movement signalling
the parties' seriousness to end their disputes, including the arrest and
harassment of Mr Tsvangirai's loyalists.

On Monday, some of the negotiators from President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF
and the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) factions met the PM, in
what officials said was a brief meeting to set the tone for the talks.

Two minutes

The meeting only lasted about two minutes as some of the negotiators were
said to be out of the country.

This means that negotiations will not start until Friday, a senior official
in Mr Tsvangirai's office said.

"They will work from Friday right into the weekend to deal with the matters
as brought on the table through the SADC troika summit," said Mr Gorden
Moyo, the Minister of State in the PM's office.

"The principals themselves have met and agreed on a programme.

"On Monday the Prime Minister was then implementing the agreement in as far
as their meeting was concerned."
The main MDC's chief negotiator and Finance Minister Mr Tendai Biti was
however, optimistic the negotiations were on course.

"PM Tsvangirai implored us to start the negotiations but the meeting did not
go far because there was no representation from the other party (small MDC
faction) whose negotiators are out of the country," he said.

"We are hoping to start the negotiations as soon as the other negotiators
are back and we will work hard to make sure we meet the stipulated time
frame."

Last week, Mr Mugabe, Mr Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur
Mutambara - the three principals in the unity government formed in
February - met and referred all the outstanding issues to their negotiators.

The former foes are still wrangling over the appointment of provincial
governors, ambassadors, permanent secretaries and lack of progress in
political reforms.

Mr Tsvangirai's MDC also wants Mr Mugabe to reverse the unilateral
appointment of his cronies to head the central bank and the attorney general's
office and also swear in its deputy agriculture minister designate who is
facing terrorism charges.

On the other hand, Zanu PF says it will not move on the demands until the
MDC calls for the lifting of sanctions against Mr Mugabe's inner circle and
the closure of pirate radio stations.

Mr Mugabe also accuses his coalition partners of setting up parallel
government structures to try and topple him from power. Zanu PF says MDC is
working with Western powers on a regime change agenda. Analysts say the
parties are unlikely to meet the SADC deadline because they are poles apart
on a number of fundamental issues.

But Mr Moyo was confident the weekend meetings will produce a result and a
report will be sent to the new facilitator, South African President Jacob
Zuma.

Mr Zuma who takes over from his predecessor Mr Thabo Mbeki - the key
facilitator of the dialogue that led to the historic power sharing agreement
signed on September 15 last year - will then visit Zimbabwe to assess
progress.

His entry was welcomed by many Zimbabweans who felt that he would be tougher
on Mr Mugabe than Mr Mbeki.

Incessant squabbling between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai has left many
wondering about the Harare coalition's long term viability.

Major investors appear to have adopted a wait and see attitude before they
can consider making any significant investments in the country.

Chances that the coalition will collapse are increasingly becoming remote as
the parties now agree that they cannot survive without each other.
The marriage of convenience has undoubtedly done a lot to restore the
country's severely battered economy.

But the major concern is that many investors now fear Zimbabwe's new found
stability is threatened by the unresolved issues.

During Mr Tsvangirai's brief withdrawal from the unity government, Zimbabwe's
stock exchange that had found its vibrancy on the back of the new
dispensation, crashed overnight.

Foreign investors who had rushed in to cash on the new order were also quick
to take a back seat.

Zimbabwe parliament passes bill to reform Reserve Bank

http://www.swradioafrica.com

18th November 2009
Gerry Jackson

Parliament on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill to reform the central
bank. In theory this should reduce the powers of bank governor Gideon Gono.

This is the first major law to be passed by parliament since the unity
government was formed.

According to the bill, Gono's powers will be reduced by appointing an
independent chairperson and board for the bank.

Reuters news agency quotes Paul Mangwana, a ZANU PF member of the
parliamentary legal committee, saying: "There have been extreme discussions
with the Minister (Biti) that there be amendments ... and we have agreed on
these amendments."

The bill has to now be debated by the Senate. If approved Mugabe would then
have to sign it.

ZANU-PF legislators had last week threatened to block the bill, but
an agreement was reached between Biti and the ZANU-PF lawmakers to make
changes to the Bill.

One of these changes was a clause giving immunity to the bank governor and
employees "for anything done in good faith and without negligence".

So it would appear that once again ZANU PF loyalists, who stand accused of
helping to completely destroy Zimbabwe's economy, will get off scot free.

Chinamasa seeks better pay for judges

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=25165

November 18, 2009

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - The Minister of Justice, Patrick Chinamasa, yesterday said his
ministry was working on improving the services of the country's judiciary.

Chinamasa held a meeting yesterday with the country's judges at the High
Court Chambers in Harare.

"We held a meeting to discuss about the judges conditions of service which
are very bad," said Chinamasa.

The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti.

"We wanted the minister of Finance to listen to the judges concerns and
appreciate the problems that they are facing," said Chinamasa.

Chinamasa said the improvement in the conditions of service of the members
of the judiciary was dependent on the performance of the country's economy.

"We are not happy with the money that they are receiving but the
improvements in service conditions are only depended on the performance of
the economy," said Chinamasa.

The salaries and perks are not among the worst within the civil service.
Last year, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor, Gideon Gono,
incurred the wrath of the public last year when he splashed on judges,
buying luxury Mercedes Benz sedans, plasma television sets and generators.

The move sparked outrage and the MDC party accused the central bank chief of
bribing the judges through largesse.

The judges were also allocated four-wheel drive Toyota and Isuzu trucks.
Responding to the public outrage Master of High Court, Charles Nyatanga said
it was "not desirable" for judges to have to drive their Mercedes Benz
vehicles over rough ground to get to their farms. The judges joined the
swelling ranks of instant commercial farmers when farms were allocated to
them free of charge under the controversial land reform programme.

But analysts argued that the disbursement of these resources of patronage by
President Robert Mugabe was a strategy to buy the allegiance of the country's
judges.

Zimbabwe To Flush Out Ghost Workers

http://www.radiovop.com

     
      Harare, November 18, 2009 - The Zimbabwe government has embarked on a
head count of its workforce to flush out ghost workers, Public Service
Commission minister Eliphas Mukonoweshuro told the media on Wednesday.

      The first ever comprehensive payroll and skills audit since
independence, is expected to cost US$4 million and ends in December. There
are an estimated 200 000 civil servants in Zimbabwe, excluding the police,
army and prisons departments. The bulk of these civil servants are teachers
and nurses.

      "We are not going to do a paper or file audit. We want to see
physically the civil servants," said Mukonoweshuro. "If on file, there is
John James, John James must come to the pay station on that given day on
that appointed date, with...all the information that we want, birth
certificate, academic certificates, letter of appointment, police clearance
so that we can be able to tick, it's a body count."

      The audit comes amid reports that government has been paying 10 000
youth from the infamous Border Gezi Youth training programme, the same
salaries being given to civil servants.  They were recruited en-masse in May
last year ahead of the disputed presidential run-off between president
Robert Mugabe and his rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement
for Democratic Change who later withdrew due to violence that left at least
200 of his supporters dead.

      One youth based in Makonde rural in Mashonaland West province, about
200 kilometres north-west of Harare, confirmed that he did not possess the
five Ordinary Level passes as required by the government law.

      ''Besides not having education qualifications, I am still yet to
submit my medical report to the ministry although I am getting my monthly
salary but for virtually nothing as there are no developmental projects to
talk about,'' the youth told Radio VOP.

      Mukonoweshuro denied the exercise was a witch-hunt and refuted reports
in the State-owned Herald that the exercise had been sanctioned by the World
Bank. He said the exercise, although funded by the World Bank,  had been
approved by cabinet in April.

      "The skills audit is intended to ensure that we have a clear profile
of the status of skills across the board in the public service. Because of
the economic hardships that enveloped this country over the past 10 years,
there has been a lot of movement of skilled personnel from the civil service
to greener pastures," he said.

      His ministry has just completed the preparation of a computerised and
reliable filing system for all government workers while streamlining the
payroll which was still being managed manually resulting in inconsistencies.
Before the exercise there was no central source of data for all civil
servants. Data was scattered across the board.

Civil service audit to begin November, but will exclude army

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Lance Guma
18 November 2009

Public Service Minister Eliphas Mukonoweshuro has announced that the
coalition government will this month begin an audit of the civil service, to
weed out ghost workers. The audit follows reports over the months that tens
of thousands of workers were on the public service payroll, despite not
doing anything.

In an interview with Newsreel, Mukonoweshuro said the audit would not cover
members of the security forces because they did not fall under his ministry.
The Public Service Ministry had sought permission from cabinet to carry out
the audit and this would be restricted to the state workers covered by his
ministry.

In April Newsreel broke the story that 29 000 youth militia loyal to ZANU PF
were still on the payroll and listed as civil servants. Youth Development
Minister Savior Kasukuwere was quizzed in parliament over the matter and
claimed most were youth officers, employed to work in the different wards
around the country.

This was despite clear evidence the youths were used during election time to
harass, beat up and torture opposition activists. Receiving US$100 a month
per head, the militia were draining US$3 million each month from the budget.

In May it was then revealed that other civil servants were receiving
multiple salary payments. The revelations led to a freezing of payments to
hundreds of civil servants while some had their contracts terminated. An
audit, started by Public Service Commission Inspector General,, Clifford
Matorera, exposed how some nurses, soldiers and other civil servants in the
Youth, Foreign Affairs, Justice and Legal Affairs Ministries, were paid up
to 5 salaries each month. Some of the civil servants implicated say their
names were used, but they never received the money themselves.

The new minister Mukonoweshuro, who is from the MDC, promised a
clean-up of the payroll to weed out the ghost workers. He said the audit
would begin on the 23rd November and end on the 18th December.

"The idea is that government can vouch for the integrity of the payroll,
audit staffing levels and eradicate irregularities if any. The audit is not
in any way or in any form a witch hunt. If mistakes are found we want, as
government, to stand up and have the courage to look up to those mistakes,"
he said.

Money for the audit is coming from a multi-donor trust fund administered by
the World Bank. With over 200 000 people employed by government, most of
them teachers, the auditors have their work cut out trying to root out ZANU
PF functionaries deliberately put on the payroll under a patronage and
reward system.

But Mukonoweshuro told us they had put in place an instrument that would
ensure no name appeared twice on the payroll.

Police admit falsifying evidence

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=25134

November 17, 2009

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - A police state witness in MDC treasurer general Roy Bennett's
ongoing terrorism trial admitted Monday that police falsified evidence when
they added weapons which were not recovered from Peter Michael Hitschmann,
Bennett's co-accused.

Sipho James Makone, a Chief Superintendent in the police force, made the
startling admission when he was testifying in the high profile trial.

Bennett's trial opened Monday with the deputy minister-designate denying the
charges both charges levelled against him.

He is being accused of possessing dangerous weapons as well as inciting acts
of insurgency.

On Tuesday, Makone, the investigating officer in Bennett's case, showed the
court an assortment of weapons which were allegedly recovered from
Hitschmann's house.

They included one FN rifle, an MP5 sub machine gun, an AK rifle, 8 Uzzi sub
machine guns, a one-inch signal pistol and some 3000 bullets of different
sizes and types.

Also recovered were 19 anti-riot hand grenades, 6 Stun MIA3 hand grenades, 2
Schermuly signal smoke hand grenades, 1 illuminating hand grenade and a
rocket flair illuminating hand grenade.

But Makone told the court during cross examination by Bennett's lawyers that
two Uzzi sub-machine guns were not among the weapons recovered from
Hitschmann's Mutare house.

Makone, who looked bamboozled by the plethora of questions fired at him by
Beatrice Mtetwa, the lead defense counsel, blamed his juniors for the
oversight.

He said they were recovered from a Masvingo house belonging to Major Israel
Phiri, an army officer who was Hitschmann's co-accused. Two other army
officers were arrested.

Charges against the army trio were dropped before plea leaving Hitschmann, a
firearms dealer, to face the charges on his won and be convicted for two and
a half years.

Bennett is alleged to have been the chief financier in the arms purchasing
plot.

Makone was leader of an operation that involved state security agents and
army officers.

He told the court he led the arrest of Hitschmann and his co-accused who
were taken to the Zimbabwe National Army's Adams Barracks for interrogation.

At the army barracks, Makone said, Hitschmann was given a piece of paper
where "he was allowed the opportunity" of writing everything he knew about
the weapons.

Asked why police would take accused persons to an "army establishment"
instead of a police station, Makone said he feared some of the explosives
would explode while in the custody of the police.

"We are not experts (on explosives)," said Makone, "We also did not want to
separate the accused persons with the exhibits."

He also said the input of the army and state security agents was necessary
at that stage of the case as they were the ones who had unearthed the crime.

Makone further denied police took part in Hitschmann's torture at the army
barracks.

Hitschmann later told police he had admitted to charges against him after
being severely tortured.

The torture included being burnt with cigarette stubs and kicks on his
private parts, leading to his making "extracural statements" implicating
Bennett in the alleged conspiracy. He has since disowned the statements.

Makone, who was also involved in the trial of Hitschmann, denied ever
hearing of any complaints of torture by Hitschmann. He said he has only
learnt of the claims during Bennett's trial.

"My Lord, I am not aware of any torture against Hitschmann," he told the
court.

On Monday, Makone was barred by presiding judge Chinembiri Bhunu from
continuously referring to Hitschmann's "confessions" to buttress his
evidence.

Bhunu said that it was unprocedural for a police officer to base his or her
evidence in a trial on statements extracted from an accused person through
torture.

The trial was adjourned to Thursday morning.

Makoni Labels Zanu PF "Murderers And Thieves"

http://www.radiovop.com

     
      Harare, November 18, 2009- A losing Presidential hopeful in Zimbabwe's
March 2008 presidential elections, former Finance Minister and Zanu PF
politburo member, Simba Makoni, has labeled his ex-colleagues in Zanu PF as
"murderers and thieves."

       Makoni, who came a distant third in the election widely believed to
have been won by Prime Minister and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
leader Morgan Tsvangirai, said this on the social network Face book on
Wednesday.

      "Ladies and gentlemen we have not arrived just yet; this is not the
Zimbabwe we want. This message needs to reach our colleagues who happen to
be in the inclusive government," he said. "They are content to rub shoulders
with murderers and thieves, as long as some of the proceeds from the plunder
of our nation are given to them in the form of luxury cars, luxury offices
and lavish travel."

      Makoni, who last year took President Robert Mugabe by surprise when he
announced his decision to enter the Presidential race in February, also
questioned the performance of the inclusive government.

      In his critic Makoni urged ordinary Zimbabweans to start criticising
all parties within the inclusive government not just Zanu PF.

      Zimbabwe's three main political parties led by Mugabe, Prime Minister
Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara signed a Global
Political Agreement (GPA) last September which led to the formation of the
inclusive government in February.

      "Who monitors the monitors? Who polices the police? Who ministers the
ministers? Who governs the government? The people: you and I, we cannot
afford to shirk from this our duty as citizens of Zimbabwe. Some have said
do not criticise MDC others are saying stop saying these things about ZANU
PF and I say when the inclusive government starts delivering, then and only
then will I seal my mouth and thank heavens," wrote Makoni.

      Makoni formed his own Mavambo/ Kusile/Dawn party early this year in
the high density suburb of Mbare. He intends to run in the country's next
elections. The party members have already split, with some having formed
another political party in protest of Makoni's leadership style.

      Makoni is also a former executive secretary of Southern African
Development Community (SADC) as well as former head of the state-owned
Zimpapers group which owns The Herald, among other Daily Newspapers in
Zimbabwe.

Over 30 000 cases of child rape reported in Harare

http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/

Eyewitness News | 3 Hours Ago

Horrific child rape figures were uncovered in Zimbabwe on Wednesday.

The Family Support Trust Clinic at Harare Central Hospital said more than 30
000 cases of child sex abuse were reported in the last four years.

Experts said this was only the tip of the iceberg.

Zimbabwe has only around five million children and Harare Central has not
been functioning for some time.

Police told state media there had been a 42 percent increase in child rape
in the last three years.

There have been newspaper claims President Robert Mugabe's controversial
programme of slum clearances in 2005, known as Operation Murambatsvina, was
partly to blame.

This is because families who lost their homes may have had to crowd into
houses with other families or send their children away, having devastating
consequences.

Inyathi residents rally behind invaded farm owner

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell & Lionel Saungweme
18 November

Residents of Inyathi have rallied behind a local farmer whose land has been
forcibly seized by a Bulawayo High Court Judge, signing a petition for the
farm to be left in peace.
Farmer Glen James has faced renewed attack on his farm by men working for
Bulawayo High Court Judge, Maphios Cheda. Cheda has been trying to force
James to leave the land since August, and the Judge's hired thugs have been
using government equipment, including tractors and weapons, to plunder the
land and stop farming there. The thugs, believed to be CIO operatives, have
caused a number of disturbances on the farm over several weeks, including
firing shots at James' staff last month. James meanwhile has also been
issued with various offer letters, dated the 21st September, despite Cheda
and his men starting their seizure of the land in August.
SW Radio Africa correspondent Lionel Saungweme joined an Inyathi residents
meeting on Saturday where the locals showed their support for James, calling
him an integral part of the community. Last month the residents had resolved
to support James, by writing a petition to the Minister of Lands and Land
Resettlement, the district administrator and Judge Cheda himself. The
petition, signed by the community, was hand delivered to Cheda on Saturday,
and was also sent to the other recipients, although there has been no
response as of yet.

Saungweme explained that James is a vital part of the local community,
helping with development projects and even allowing local cattle herders to
water their animals on his land. Even local members of the War Veterans
Association, who have notoriously led farm invasions over the years,
expressed their support for James, who they say is part of the community.

James had been trying to seek legal protection against Judge Cheda, and
Saungweme explained the farmer already had the law on his side. In Inyathi,
a local Lands Act prevents farms of less than 1000 hectares in size from
being considered for forced acquisition. James' 608 hectare farm falls into
this category, and by law cannot be acquired for 'resettlement' or 'land
reform'.

But Saungweme explained further that James has now decided not to challenge
the courts, acknowledging that the legal route is of no value in Zimbabwe.
The farmer explained at the residents meeting that their support speaks
volumes, adding he is putting his faith in the strength of their backing for
the protection of his land.

Students arrested over 'gun'

http://nehandaradio.com

Published on: 18th November, 2009

In a dramatic event at Great Zimbabwe University this afternoon, seven
students were arrested for possession a gun in their room.

The students had gathered in Blessing Dubi's room, one of the aspiring
ZINASU National Executive Member candidate to try and caucus before the
scheduled ZINASU National Bi- Annual congress on the 5th of December 2009.

The students were surprised when 15 college security guards pounced on them
accusing them of holding an illegal meeting. The guards started beating
them up and the students left the room in a rush.

The students quickly dispersed but to their surprise one hour after the
disturbances, three students namely, Blessing Dubi, Robson Ruhanya and
Zivanai Muzorodzi (SRC President) were picked up by police citing that they
had found a fire arm in Blessing Dubi's room after searching.

Zimbabwe National Students Union

At first, the three students thought the police were joking but were shell
shocked when four other students were picked up on similar allegations and
were quickly whisked away to Masvingo Central Police Station.

Security guards and the police have been on a rampage of harassing student
activists and selected politicians on trumped up charges evidenced by the
charges levelled on the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Designate, Hon Roy
Bennet who is being charged with possession of fire arms.

These abuses should stop forthwith as it violate on the right to freedom of
association and expression.

ZINASU

Muchadehama removed from remand

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=25130

November 17, 2009

By Our Correspondent

HARARE - A Harare magistrate on Tuesday removed from remand human rights
lawyer Alec Muchadehama who is charged with contempt of court.
Muchadehama is charged over the release of three of his clients from
custody.

Magistrate Archie Wochiunga took over the matter from magistrate Chiwoniso
Mutongi after she resigned citing interference.

Wochiunga directed the State to proceed by way of summons if it intended to
continue with the trial of Muchadehama.

The lawyer is charged with contempt of court for allegedly causing the
unlawful release from custody of his clients, Kisimusi Dhlamini, Gandhi
Mudzingwa and Andrison Manyere.

However, Wochiunga remanded Constance Gambara, the clerk of Justice
Chinembiri Bhunu, to December 9 for possible trial.

Gambara is jointly charged with Muchadehama.

This is the second time that Muchadehama has been removed from remand.

In June, Harare magistrate Catherine Chimanda granted Muchadehama's
application for refusal of further remand after determining that the State,
represented by prosecutor Tapiwa Kasema, had failed to show any reasonable
suspicion that the lawyer had committed the alleged offence.

The magistrate also found that the State had failed to prove that
Muchadehama had an intention to commit the offence.

On Monday, Wochiunga removed Pasco Gwezere, the Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) transport manager from remand on one count but further remanded
him on the other count.

He ruled Gwezere could not be remanded on the count of undergoing military
training at Soroti Training Camp in Uganda. The magistrate said the State
had placed insufficient facts linking Gwezere to the commission of the
offence.

However, Wochiunga ruled that the facts presented, with regards to the first
count of unlawful entry and theft of firearms at Pomona Barracks, linked
Gwezere to the alleged commission of the offence.

Meanwhile High Court Judge Justice Charles Hungwe will on Wednesday consider
Gwezere's bail application filed by Muchadehama.

Zimbabwe to host SADC parliamentary session

http://www.afriquejet.com

Zimbabwe said Tuesday it had been selected to host the 26th Plenary Session
of the Parliamentary Forum of the Southern African Development Community
(SADC), according to a PANA report. It said the session, to be held next
week, would cover issues such as regional trade, investment, integration and
gender.

Officials said regional business executives and leaders of civic
organisations were also expected to attend the session, to be held in the
resort town of Victoria Falls.

The SADC Parliamentary Forum was established in 2007 to debate common
regional goals, particularly integration.

Officials said most of the group's 14-member countries were expected to take
part in the session.

Harare - 17/11/2009

Critics: U.N. food summit wasteful, ineffective

http://www.msnbc.msn.com

192 participating countries unanimously rebuff appeals for aid
Associated Press

Nov. 17, 2009
ROME - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, blamed for plunging his people into
starvation, used his platform as Tuesday's opening speaker at the U.N.
anti-hunger summit to decry what he called his neocolonialist foes.

Another longtime African strongman, Moammar Gadhafi, held another nightly
soiree at a villa in the Italian capital in the company of hundreds of young
ladies selected by a "hostess" agency.

Tunisia's first lady and her bodyguards blocked traffic on roads leading to
Via Condotti, a glamorous street of designer boutiques near the Spanish
Steps. Rome daily Il Messaggero ran a photo of Leila Zine in front of luxury
jewelry store Bulgari.

The images bolstered criticism that the summit called by the U.N. Food and
Agriculture Organization is long on rhetoric and extravagance and short on
solutions for the world's 1 billion hungry.

The meeting was branded a failure within a couple of hours of its start
after the 192 participating countries unanimously rebuffed the United
Nations' appeal for commitments of billions of dollars in yearly aid to
develop agriculture in poor nations.

'A clear disconnect'
None of the leaders of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations
attended except for Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi.

"There is a clear disconnect between what governments are saying, at least
the rich governments, and what in fact they are doing," said Flavio Valente,
an activist participating in a forum of NGOs held in parallel with the
summit.

The G-8 meeting in L'Aquila, Italy, essentially set the agenda for this
latest summit by endorsing a strategy shift in fighting hunger: helping
farmers in poor country to produce enough food to feed their own people,
moving away from decades-long reliance on handouts.

While the G-8 leaders in July approved $20 billion in agricultural
development aid in a three-year package, the countries at this U.N. summit
rejected FAO's call to commit themselves to earmark 17 percent of their
foreign aid budgets for agricultural development, which U.N. officials
estimated would cost $44 billion yearly.

Ertharin Cousin, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. agencies in Rome, said the
summit wanted to establish the principle that donors should listen to the
needs of each country and not decide aid policies on their own.

FAO director-general Jacques Diouf expressed "regret" and frustration that
the summit rejected his call to members to fund the new shift in
agricultural development policy.

About an hour after the decision, Pope Benedict XVI delivered a speech to
the summit condemning opulence and waste in a world where the numbers of
hungry have multiplied despite international efforts to combat chronic
hunger.

Mugabe lashes out at West
Some of the assembly-room chairs were empty when Mugabe opened Tuesday's
proceedings by lashing out at the West and defending land reforms blamed for
plunging his people into starvation. He described the policy, which led to
thousands of white-owned commercial farms being violently seized in 2000, as
a quest for "equity and justice."

He blamed the subsequent meltdown of Zimbabwe's economy on "hostile
interventions" by "neocolonialist enemies" that have imposed sanctions on
his regime.

Western countries have slapped travel bans and asset freezes on Mugabe and
his top aides. The ban does not apply to United Nations summits and Mugabe
has attended several Food and Agriculture Organization meetings in the last
years.

While last year's FAO summit on soaring food prices rang out with
denunciations of Mugabe's showing up at forums aimed at slashing hunger, the
Zimbabwe president's speech on Tuesday was widely greeted with silence.

Germany protests attack of priest by soldiers

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
18 November 2009

The German government has sent a written protest to Zimbabwe over the attack
on a German priest by soldiers over the weekend.

Father Wolfgang Thamm, who is a priest in Banket, was on a mercy mission in
Darwendale on Sunday afternoon when he was attacked. The priest, who has
worked in Zimbabwe for the past 12 years, was on his way to fetch an ill
child from Darwendale clinic, and take him to Banket hospital for better
care. But, about half way there, he was flagged down by a group of soldiers
when he passed a local farm building that has been commandeered by the army
as an informal barracks. Father Thamm did not notice the soldiers trying to
wave him down, and when he eventually slowed his car and reversed back to
the uniformed and armed soldiers, he was met with a hail of abuse.

One of the soldiers ripped off the priest's glasses and punched him in the
eye, which was already damaged from a vicious beating he sustained in the
2002 elections. He was then hauled out of the vehicle, punched again and
shoved into a large muddy puddle, where he was kicked in the stomach twice
and beaten again. The soldiers then used a container to pour muddy water
over him from head to toe, until even his shoes were full of mud. He was
then ordered to leave. Father Thamm then drove to Darwendale clinic where he
was treated and clothed.

The German embassy has since expressed its outrage for the treatment of one
of its citizens, writing in a letter to the government that it expressed its
"utter consternation about the violent attack." The embassy, which described
the attack as 'unacceptable' and 'particularly despicable said in the letter
to Zimbabwe's Foreign Affairs Ministry that it expects Harare to take
"appropriate action against the perpetrators and urges them to do their
utmost to prevent this kind of incident from happening again".

Meanwhile, Robert Mugabe's whereabouts on the day that the priest was
attacked by his armed forces, has shocked observers. The dictator, who flew
to Italy for a UN Food Summit over the weekend, was in Rome attending a
Catholic mass, overseen by the Pope. Observers say it is 'obscene' and
'cynical' and paints a true picture of the crisis in Zimbabwe, where
innocent people are daily becoming victims of Mugabe's enforcers of power.

Ghosts, infants on Zimbabwe's voter's roll

http://www.timeslive.co.za

Nov 18, 2009 12:22 AM | By Moses Mudzwiti

A Zimbabwean MP shocked parliament when he produced evidence that the
voter's roll used in last year's elections had names of hundreds of dead
people who had been registered to vote.
MP Tongai Matutu said the anomaly showed "the extent to which the voters'
roll should represent the graveyard".
"Of those 503 (dead voters), the surprising thing is that they all have a
similar date of birth which is 1 January 1901," said Matutu.

Matutu is a member of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for
Democratic Change.

"I have the list of those people who are 107-years-old still appearing on
the voters roll," said Matutu.

He said he had copies of the voter's roll used in the disputed elections,
which resulted in the formation of the unity government.

"We have 144,202 [people] over the age of 90 on the voters' roll," said the
fiery MP, adding that the average life expectancy of Zimbabweans was about
44 years.

"There were 115 voters who were below the age of 18 (legal voting age) with
the youngest being one-year-old at the time of 2008 elections," said Matutu.
''So what it simply means is we are going to have more ghosts than
registered voters.''

Zimbabwe is expected to hold fresh elections next year.

New Water Shortages in Zimbabwean Capital Prompt Cholera Outbreak Fears

http://www.voanews.com

     

      By Patience Rusere
      Washington
      17 November 2009

Water shortages have resurfaced in parts of Harare, raising fears of another
outbreak of cholera with seasonal rains washing contaminants into
alternative local sources.

Sources said Harare suburbs including Glen Norah, Budiriro, Warren Park and
Glen View have been without water for a week and residents have been drawing
water from shallow wells.

Harare Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Chiroto told VOA Studio 7 reporter Patience
Rusere that current shortages are due to electric power outages, not water
system failures.

 from VOA's Studio 7

Global Fund Extends Life of Zimbabwe Funding for AIDS, Other Diseases

http://www.voanews.com

     
      By Sandra Nyaira
      Washington
      17 November 2009

The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria has extended the
availability of some US$38 million in unused grants to the country aiming to
speed implementation of programs not rolled out due to the political and
economic crisis of recent years.

VOA Studio 7 correspondent Sylvia Manika reported from Harare that the
Global Fund took the action after the government appealed the looming
rescission of the funds for nonuse.

A Global Fund spokesman said the organization is satisfied with how its
funds are being used in Zimbabwe, though the country lags behind most
countries in grant disbursement due to the slow rollout of programs and
problems in the oversight of Global Fund monies.

The country now has a lot to do in less than two months to reach agreed
targets.

Global Fund Senior Communications Officer Nalin Mehta in Geneva told
reporter Sandra Nyaira that although Zimbabwe was not awarded grants under
the recent Round Nine of funding, it still has ample unused funds in the
pipeline from earlier rounds.

Zimbabwe's National Aids Council, replaced as principal recipient of Global
Fund monies by the United Nations Development Program, expressed
satisfaction with the extension.

National Aids Council Director Tapuwa Magure told VOA that all programs will
be scaled-up to fulfill the targets agreed with the Global Fund by a January
deadline.

 from VOA's Studio 7

FAO Brings Hope To Zimbabwe's Rural Farmers

http://www.radiovop.com

     
      By Naume Muza

      Hurungwe, November 18, 2009 -  Tinashe Mavhondo aged 16 years old,
dropped out of school to look after his four siblings following the death of
both his parents in the last three years. Besides household chores, Tinashe
has to plan for the family's next meal as well as the next planting season.

      Food security has eluded Zimbabwe for close to eight years now. This
has brought untold suffering among the majority of Zimbabweans, especially
orphans like Tinashe.

      Lead Trust, set up in 2004, in collaboration with the Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO), launched an 18-month project in May 2009
through the EU Food Facility to provide agricultural inputs to Zimbabwe's
small-scale communal farmers in an effort to boost cereal production and
livelihood prospects.  The two organisations came to the rescue of the
Hurungwe folk because in the past they have been sidelined by government.
The majority of the people here had not benefitted from any of government's
inputs schemes. Since the chaotic land evasions of 2000, government have
been assisting newly resettled black farmers with inputs so they could
produce enough for the nation. However, this has not been the case as the
inputs have been mis-used resulting in low yields each year.

       In Hurungwe district in Mashonaland West province, the FAO/Lead Trust
scheme is covering communal farmers from seven wards. Sengwe area is in the
remote areas of Hurungwe that has virgin land and has the best soils for
maize, cotton and small grains. This project might just prove how communal
farmers can easily feed the nation.

      Recently Tinashe was among the beneficiaries of the inputs at Sengwe.
This is set to make a difference in Tinashe's life together with his three
brothers aged between nine and 13 years as well as their six year old little
sister.

       '' We are getting the seed maize before the rains and can easily
prepare for the next farming season on time,'' he told Radio VOP recently.

      According to FAO: ''Zimbabwe's protracted socio-economic crisis has
taken its toll on the country's agricultural sector, hitting the country's
poorest farmers the hardest. About 70 percent of the population makes a
living from agriculture. However, steep declines in production over the
years - brought on by high costs and a shortage of inputs, adverse weather
conditions and policy constraints - have seen farmers' earnings dwindle and
food insecurity rise.''

      FAO is this week holding a world conference on food security in Rome.
Zimbabwe is represented at the highest level, with President Robert Mugabe
and his wife, Grace attending.

      According to a recent FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment, an
estimated 2.8 million people in rural and urban areas of Zimbabwe may be in
need of external food assistance during the 2009/2010 marketing year.
Zimbabwe had a 1.5 million tonnes food deficit of maize production pegged at
1.5 million tonnes this year. According to government estimates,  the
country needs 1.8 million tonnes to feed its people annually.

      ''I had lost hope of feeding three orphans I am looking after for the
past three years as I could not afford to buy seed maize, let alone
fertilizer. It was expensive for us rural folks and was hardly available in
the shops," says 71 year old Ethel Kaimbanemoyo of Kaimbanemoyo village.
"After getting the seed maize enough for a hectare and fertilizer, I am just
waiting for rains. For me hope has been regained.''

      Lead Trust Programes Manager, Personel Sithole said, ''With funds from
European Union worth over Euro 15million, at least 176 000 vulnerable rural
farmers, which is about 10-15 percent of country's communal farmers will
receive seed and fertilizer packs... in time for the planting season. We
have non-negotiable entry point for beneficiaries that include land, labour
and those who do not have four beasts of cattle''

      'By cultivating 0.5 hectares of land, each household is expected to
produce between 300-600 kg of cereal grain, which is the equivalent of about
five to ten months of food for a family of six,'' according to FAO.

      Seventy year old Winnie Zirima of Baradzanwa village says she is
hoping for a good harvest if there are enough rains. She looks after three
orphaned grandchildren and a mentally challenged son aged 42 years as well
as a disabled man of 34 years. The orphaned children aged between three
years and ten lost their parents due to HIV and Aids related illness.

      Zimbabwe accounts for at least 1 million orphans under 17 years,
according to UNAIDS report of 2008. This has since affected food security in
the country.

      ''We are assisting the farmers before the rains start so that they are
well prepared for the farming season. We hope the farmers will not abuse the
seed and fertilizer...,'' adds Sithole.

      For hundreds of communal farmers here, their hope is not only centred
to feed their families,  but to contribute to the nation's food security in
a small way as the country braces to regain its lost pride in agriculture
sector.

Government of Zimbabwe urged to take necessary steps to ensure establishment of media boards complies fully with set standards

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

     
      Written by MISA
      Wednesday, 18 November 2009 16:28
      The African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) Special
Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa
Advocate Pansy Tlakula has expressed concern over the appointment process
employed in the setting up of the Zimbabwe Media Commission which she said
did not guarantee that the appointed members of the commission are
independent and adequately protected against interference. She expressed
this concern in her activity report, which she presented on the 4th day of
the 46th session of the ACHPR, which is underway in Banjul, Gambia.
      Her concerns she said, were in line with her mandate to "analyse
national media legislation, policies and practice within member states,
monitor their compliance with freedom of expression and access to
information standards in general and the Declaration of Principles on
Freedom of Expression in Africa in particular and advice member states
accordingly."
      Further to her concerns, she said that she had gone ahead to express
these concerns in writing to the government of Zimbabwe in a letter in which
she says she; "....expressed her concern that neither the Act nor the
Constitutional Amendment 19 provides specific measures guaranteeing the
provisions of Principle VII (1) of the Declaration which requires that any
public authority involved in broadcast or telecommunications regulation is
independent and adequately protected against interference, particularly of a
political or economic nature.."
      Her concerns on the need for independent media bodies were also echoed
by MMPZ through Ms Fadzai December, in their statement to the ACHPR on the
14th of November 2009 in which they called on the commission to urge the
government of Zimbabwe to "complete reform of the public service broadcaster
and its re-establishment under an independent representative body that will
safeguard its editorial independence and ensure that it fulfils its public
mandate.....". MMPZ also expressed their concern on the delay in the
constitution  of  the  ZMC  and  the  lack  of  implementation  by  the
government of Zimbabwe, of the 4 June decision by the commission for section
79 and 80 of AIPPA to be repealed.
      Following her concerns on the appointment process of the media bodies,
the commissioner made another important call to state parties to create an
environment where the media can exercise their right to freedom of
expression without political interference or fear, a call that was also
expressed by Misa-Zimbabwe in their statement to the 46th ordinary session
of the ACHPR, wherein it raised concern over the effects of threats to the
media by public officials. Commissioner Tlakula also stated that media
regulatory bodies should without question have independence and autonomy
from government. To this, she said her call was ".on States Parties to allow
the media to be free from political control in order to serve public
interest. Furthermore, she also recommends that bodies with regulatory
authority over the media should be fully independent from the government."
      In concluding her remarks on Zimbabwe, Commissioner Tlakula went on to
urge the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe,"... to take necessary steps
to address her concerns, in order to ensure that the establishment of the
Zimbabwe Media Commission complies fully with applicable regional standards
on Freedom of Expression."
      Aside  from  the  analysis  of  media  legislation  and  policies
across  the continent, the commissioner was also involved in writing letters
of appeals to different countries such as Gambia, Kenya, Niger and Sierra
Leone amongst others, following reports of violations to the right to
freedom of Expression and access to information. Regarding upcoming events,
she also stated that the African Commission on Human and People's rights is
set to introduce an annual award to commemorate World Press Freedom Day on 3
May of each year which  she  said  "...  seeks  to  recognize  journalists
and  media practitioners who have made outstanding contribution to the
advancement of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information on the
continent, "
      She further made a call on States Parties that have received her
appeal on the situation of Freedom of Expression in their respective
countries to provide responses and clarifications to the concerns raised as
this will go a long way to show their commitment in promoting human and
peoples' rights in general, and freedom of expression and access to
information in Africa.

Up to 2,700 Zimbabweans displaced in S.Africa attacks

http://af.reuters.com

Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:22am GMT

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Up to 2,700 Zimbabwean asylum seekers have set up a
temporary "safety camp" at a rural South African town following xenophobic
attacks on their shacks, a human rights group said on Wednesday.

South African police fired rubber bullets on Tuesday to disperse a mob who
attacked shacks belonging to hundreds of migrants following several days of
simmering tension over jobs.

The attacks in De Doorns, a town 150 km (90 miles) from Cape Town, was
reminiscent of 2008 xenophobic riots in which at least 42 people died and
tens of thousands were displaced across South Africa.

"At the moment between 1,300 and 2,700 people, mostly Zimbabwean asylum
seekers, have set up an internally displaced persons camp site or safety
site, at De Doorns sports ground," Braam Hanekom, co-ordinator of People
Against Suffering Suppression Oppression and Poverty (PASSOP) told Reuters.

Hanekom said the asylum seekers were housed in two large tents. There was
limited water, poor security and a few portable toilets, he added.

"Today all the displaced asylum seekers refused to go to work for fear of
being attacked," Hanekom said.

The attacks flared over competition for seasonal jobs at farms in the area,
with the community arguing that Zimbabweans were "stealing jobs" by agreeing
to work longer hours for less pay than locals were prepared to do.

De Doorns police station commander, Superintendent Desmond van der
Westhuizen, told Reuters the displaced migrants would probably be held in
tents for the next week, as discussions about their future continued with
authorities.

"The were no new incidents reported over the last 24 hours," he said, adding
that "there were... in the last 24 hours," he said, adding he estimated some
3,000 were affected by Tuesday's attacks.

In 2008, a wave of xenophobic attacks in and around Johannesburg led to
15,000 migrants, most of them Zimbabweans, being forced into settlement
camps.

The violence also spread to Cape Town, swelling the overall numbers of
displaced, and was aimed mainly at the millions of Zimbabweans who fled
their homeland in search of work and a better future.

A global economic downturn and the first recession in two decades have
caused massive job losses in Africa's largest economy. Unemployment is
officially close to a quarter of the country's population of 49 million.

South African and Zimbabwean authorities behind attacks on refugees - Sources

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

     
      Written by Zimbabwe Mail
      Wednesday, 18 November 2009 17:54
      CAPE TOWN - South African and Zimbabwean governments are behind the
latest attacks on Zimbabwean asylum seekers on farms as part of a security
plan to drive them out before the 2010 FIFA World Cup, our source revealed.
      The plan is coordinated by the South African and Zimbabwean
governments and it was drafted by both countries' military and security
organs that are providing logistical support to bands of ANC hooligans and
thugs driving out Zimbabweans from farms.
      Sources said the Zimbabwean government has ropped-in its members of
the Central Intelligency Organisation (CIO) and War Veterans to assist South
African authorities on identifying Zimbabweans.
      South African government has made it a pre-condition to finacially
support Zimbabwean unity government, that Zimbabwe has to assist in the
repatriation of refugees before the 2010 World Cup.
      In the last 24 hours, there have been scenes similar to the war torn
Great Lakes regions where huge numbers of refugees fleeing war between Hutu
rebels fighting DRC forces.
      On highway roads there have been long lines of desparate Zimbabwean
men and women on foot, clutching at anything from babies, big luggages,
cooking utensils. Traumatised and starving young children crying and forced
to walk long distances to safety.
      Yesterday, a reporter for The Zimbabwe Mail based in South Africa
drove to the troubled area and witnessed unusual activities at a police camp
where hooligans in private vehicles were chanting war-cry slogans and
signing the Jacob Zuma's trademark song, Mshina wami.
      A white farmer and his wife who had come to report violence on his
foreign labourers was roundly booed by hooligans, and warned he would be the
next target after the 2010 FIFA World cup.
      A member of COPE, an opposition party in South Africa told our
reporter of a secret plan by the ruling party, ANC and coordinated by its
Senior leaders and it will be implemented by ANC Youth Wing, together with
the country's security forces to drive out foreigners from all levels of
employment and Springboks Rugby player Tendai Mutawarira is the high profile
victim of the plan.
      The plan also coincides with the Zimbabwean State media trying to
distablise MDC-T South African branch.
      The source said Zimbabwe's ruling party Zanu PF and the country's
security and intelligentsia are aware of the South African plan.
      On Thursday, 13 November 2009, in Harare Zimbabwe Defence Minister
Emmerson Mnangagwa met with his South African counter-part, South African
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu who was leading a
delegation of Ministers from his country for the fourth session of the
Zimbabwe-South Africa Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security.
      The Permanent Commission evaluated progress made by both countries
since the third meeting held in South Africa in November 2007.
      The Commission looked at common issues of Defence and Security, among
them progress on de-mining the Great Limpopo Transfonteir Park, coordinated
patrols along the border, preparation and launch of the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) Standby Brigade, exchange programmes and
cooperation during the 2010 World Cup and efficient border management.
      The Commission also looked at counter drug trafficking measures,
prevention of stock theft, joint operations to stop armed robberies,
management of deportation and Beitbridge border post efficiency.
      The South Africa delegation also included the Ministers of
Correctional Services Nosiviwe Maphisa Nqakula, Minister of Police Nathi
Mthethwa, Minister of State Security Dr Siyabonga Cwele, Deputy Minister of
Justice A Nel and Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thabang
Makwetla.
      Emmerson Mnangagwa led the Zimbabwean delegation and he was joined by
Security Minister Sydney Sekeramayi, Didymus Mutasa and Security forces
Generals.
      Senior officials and Military Generals from both countries had met
prior to the Ministerial session which was held under high security.
      South African government of former President Thabo Mbeki, over the
years, refused to declare Zimbabwean asylum seekers as refugees, rather
calling them economic migrants, in order to keep out United Nations
involvement in the affairs of Zimbabwe, and hence own up to the situation
whenever the matter came up for discussion in the Security Council.
      Up to 2,700 Zimbabwean asylum seekers have set up a temporary "safety
camp" at a rural South African town following xenophobic attacks on their
shacks, a human rights group said on Wednesday.
      South African police fired rubber bullets on Tuesday to disperse a mob
that attacked shacks belonging to hundreds of migrants following several
days of simmering tension over jobs.
      The attacks in De Doorns, a town 150 km (90 miles) from Cape Town, was
reminiscent of 2008 xenophobic riots in which at least 42 people died and
tens of thousands were displaced across South Africa.
      "At the moment between 1,300 and 2,700 people, mostly Zimbabwean
asylum seekers, have set up an internally displaced persons camp site or
safety site, at De Doorns sports ground," Braam Hanekom, co-ordinator of
People Against Suffering Suppression Oppression and Poverty (PASSOP) told
Reuters.
      Hanekom said the asylum seekers were housed in two large tents. There
was limited water, poor security and a few portable toilets, he added.
      "Today all the displaced asylum seekers refused to go to work for fear
of being attacked," Hanekom said.
      The attacks flared over competition for seasonal jobs at farms in the
area, with the community arguing that Zimbabweans were "stealing jobs" by
agreeing to work longer hours for less pay than locals were prepared to do.
      De Doorns police station commander, Superintendent Desmond van der
Westhuizen, told Reuters the displaced migrants would probably be held in
tents for the next week, as discussions about their future continued with
authorities.
      "The were no new incidents reported over the last 24 hours," he said,
adding that "there were... in the last 24 hours," he said, adding he
estimated some 3,000 were affected by Tuesday's attacks.
      In 2008, a wave of xenophobic attacks in and around Johannesburg led
to 15,000 migrants, most of them Zimbabweans, being forced into settlement
camps.
      The violence also spread to Cape Town, swelling the overall numbers of
displaced, and was aimed mainly at the millions of Zimbabweans who fled
their homeland in search of work and a better future.
      A global economic downturn and the first recession in two decades have
caused massive job losses in Africa's largest economy. Unemployment is
officially close to a quarter of the country's population of 49 million.

Zimbabwe weekly update

Mugabe's lies

http://www.timesonline.co.uk

Leading Article

November 18, 2009

Tsvangirai and the West must stand up to the dictator's continuing abuse of
power
Inflation has been tamed, a few goods have reappeared in the shops and a
little more food is available to a hungry nation. But President Mugabe has
lost none of his venom or readiness to hound, torture and repress his
enemies. Nor has he ceased trying to thwart and isolate Morgan Tsvangirai,
the Prime Minister and bitter Mugabe opponent, with whom the Zimbabwean
President has been forced to share power after last year's rigged elections
.

Even as Mr Mugabe was railing yesterday against the "hostile interventions"
against Zimbabwe by "neocolonialist enemies", his prosecutors were
attempting to secure the hanging of one of his political opponents, Roy
Bennett, who is facing treason charges in a Harare court. Mr Bennett, the
white treasurer of Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change, is
accused of providing $5,000 to buy arms for plotters planning to topple Mr
Mugabe. His trial, the latest of several attempts to convict him of various
charges, is a blatant piece of political theatre to intimidate other white
farmers resisting Mr Mugabe and to undermine Mr Tsvangirai and the MDC.

When Mr Bennett was arrested in February after returning from South Africa,
where he had fled after an earlier jail sentence, Mr Tsvangirai pulled out
of the power-sharing Government. He saw, rightly, that it was impossible to
govern in tandem with a man still ordering his cronies to beat up MDC
supporters and concoct charges against serving ministers. After only three
weeks Mr Tsvangirai returned to his job.

The charitable explanation is that he thought Mr Mugabe and his Zanu (PF)
supporters would use the boycott as an excuse to scrap the power-sharing
deal and resume their persecution of the Opposition. A more cynical
suggestion is that Mr Mugabe has comprehensively outfoxed the honest but
politically naive Prime Minister, and has forced him into the position of
being almost an apologist, especially abroad, for a regime that he loathes.

Mr Mugabe, meanwhile, has been relishing the trappings of power, reluctantly
accorded to him in Rome, where he is attending a United Nations food
security summit. A ban on visits to the EU does not cover UN meetings, and
Mr Mugabe is exploiting his platform to renew his accusations against the
West and blame his country's food shortages on sanctions.

It is high time the world took firmer steps to destroy this malign dictator's
continuing grip on power. It needs to send a clear message to two men in
particular: Mr Tsvangirai and Jacob Zuma, the President of South Africa. Mr
Tsvangirai should be told that there will be no large-scale Western help for
his suffering nation unless his power-sharing Government halts police
repression, curbs the violence of Mr Mugabe's "veterans" and ends the
judicial hounding of opposition leaders. Mr Tsvangirai may be unable to
deliver this message to the embattled President; in which case, he should
resign.

President Zuma, however, has a far easier task. With an estimated three
million Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa, he has a pressing need to end
the violence and repression north of the border. He promised, while
campaigning, to take a tougher line than former President Mbeki. It is time
now to unplug the power, turn off the fuel lines and force a change in
Harare.

Diary of a traveller: an emotional lunch

 

17/11/2009 00:00:00
	by Scott Ramsay

 

Thankless job ... Zimbabwe Tourism Authority staff

Day two from our travel writer Scott Ramsey's Zimbabwe diary. CLICK HERE to read Part One of Five:

Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October

THE Sanganai travel trade show is termed “World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair”, and its tagline is: “Where the World Meets Africa”.

The show occupied several small halls. A variety of enthusiastic local exhibitors were showing off their tourism products and services.

It was clear that everyone there was desperate to do business, and to boost the tourism sector. But, unfortunately, it lacked any big-name international tourism operators, and unsurprisingly – given the massive knock that tourism has taken in Zimbabwe - the show wasn’t up to international standards.

The exhibitors that were present were passionate, but several told me that they were not doing enough business with the 234 buyers, more than half of whom were flown into the country on a freebie trip.

The show also needed a spruce-up. The area in which it took place was dilapidated, and the quality of the stands at the show was poor. And public turnout was minimal.

The Chief Executive of ZTA Karikoga Kaseke “admitted that organisers had not done much to encourage people to visit the stands,” according to this Global Travel Industry News article.

All this is to be expected though, as the Tourism Authority hasn’t had an easy job promoting the country.

According to a BBC article from March 2001, in 1999 more than 1,4 million people visited Zimbabwe. By 2001, numbers had dropped by 75%. The reason? “At least 30 opposition supporters and eight white commercial farmers have been murdered by suspected independence war veterans who have forcefully occupied more than 1,600 farms,” says the BBC article published in the same year.

And even the World Heritage Site and world famous Victoria Falls (usually comparatively immune from controversy) was targeted, where tourists were systematically harassed by “a group of ex-combatants."

Since 2001, there have been many more reports of farm repossessions and physical abuse of local farmers and opposition politicians. Most major airlines have pulled out of the country. Hundreds of tour operators have had to close down, and of course thousands of jobs have been lost.

I spoke to a ZTA official and asked her about the number of visitors to Zimbabwe. She told me the official figure was 2,5 million a year, mostly from SA, UK, Germany and USA. But a BBC article from 2008 quotes a ZTA official as saying that visitor numbers that year were only 218,000. Then other sources quote figures of roughly 900 000 a year.

The United Nations’ Geoffrey Lipman’s task of improving tourism statistics is a definite requirement.

A perusal of Zimbabwean news websites makes for unhappy and disturbing reading. It’s clear that even though the MDC and Zanu PF have entered into an agreement of sorts, things aren’t changing fast enough.

So against all this, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority is to be commended for trying to do something in its own sector to make a positive contribution. It’s a pity that the country is far from ready to promote itself, especially considering that the surrounding countries of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique have comparatively paradisiacal status quos.

Yes, South Africa has a frightening crime rate, and yes, Mozambique is still a long way from being completely safe, but the overall scene in each of these countries is much more stable than in Zimbabwe.

Working for the ZTA must be one of the most thankless and difficult jobs in world tourism. If one can market Zimbabwe successfully in this political climate, then they have achieved the seemingly impossible. Good on them for trying!

Walking around the show, I met up with Sally Wynn, the founder of Wild Zambezi, an independent association which “promotes travel opportunities to the wild areas of the Zambezi River and Lake Kariba.” Check out the website: www.wildzambezi.com.

The organisation she runs is purely non-profit, and she’s determined to boost tourism – in her own little way – to Zimbabwe. She was inspirational, and someone who is utterly passionate about the country.

She and her husband Dick Pitman run a successful 4x4 tour company called Zim 4x4 (www.zim4x4.co.zw). Dick has also spent decades running the Zambezi Society, an influential conservation organisation that endeavours to look after the lower Zambezi valley, which takes in the spectacular wildlife areas of Chizarira, Matusadona, Mana Pools and Lake Kariba. They are a passionate couple, determined to make the most of Zimbabwe’s bad situation. If you’re looking for a guided 4x4 adventure in the country, drop them a line.

Then I ended up talking to Tonderai Shamurayira, owner and manager of www.magicalzimbabwe.com, a new tourism website that is promoting the country as a whole. He’s just starting out, and is establishing himself in the industry. He told me that Zimbabwe is going to get back on its feet one day, and when it does, he believes his website will hit the ground running.

I also bumped into Major Moyo, one of the army men who is leading the anti-poaching efforts in Zimbabwe’s National Parks. His team is deployed in the south of Zimbabwe, at Gonarezhou, where most of the time they work to clear the area of landmines. He was ostensibly determined to make sure that poaching was eradicated in the area, but he did remark how much work they still had to do.

I went over to the Zimbabwe Parks stand, which, I thought, would be one of the more elaborate ones, given the enormous value of the parks to Zimbabwe’s economy. But I was disappointed. There was precious little information, and not much to keep you there. But fortunately I did find Padgewell Mazoyo, one of the marketing managers, and he was very enthusiastic about me doing an article on the parks in Zimbabwe. He seemed very keen to get more people to visit the parks. And more people should visit the parks!

Zimbabwe has some of the best wildlife areas in Africa. Hwange is the largest in the country, hosting almost 30,000 elephants, Lake Kariba is a water paradise for a variety of big game, as is Mana Pools, where birdlife is particularly prolific. And the remote Gonarezhou is part of the massive transfrontier park, bordering Zimbabwe and South Africa. I looked forward to our delegation’s upcoming stop in Hwange.

On Sunday, we headed to lunch with our ZTA host’s family in Harare. It was her nephew’s graduation from medical school, and the extended family and his friends had gathered to mark the occasion. It was an emotional event, with speeches from family members that left a number of ladies in tears.

The speakers spoke of the hardships of growing up in Zimbabwe, and the great odds that they had to beat. Underlying everything was their praise of God, and how good He had been to their family. It was a privilege to be there, and I came away even more endeared to the Zimbabwe people.

After the lunch, I went to meet up with an English couple, who had started a primary school near Victoria Falls. A few years ago, their son had died suddenly at home in the UK while they had been on holiday in Zimbabwe. They decided to start a charity fund to build a primary school in Zimbabwe -- in honour of their son.

Today, that fund contributes most of the money required to run Chidobe Primary School near Victoria Falls. The couple comes out regularly to Zimbabwe to help at the school, and it was inspirational to chat to them. They remarked how so little can go so far in Zimbabwe, where people desperately need – more than ever - decent education, clothes and food.

I realised what I had always suspected: how all people – local and foreign – cared deeply for Zimbabwe and its people.

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PEACE WATCH of 18th November 2009 [Abuse of Law toHarass Unionists]

PEACE WATCH

[18th November 2009]

"If there is to be forgiveness and national healing, then the truth must be acknowledged."  [Wellington Chibebe, Secretary-General of ZCTU]

Continued Abuse of Law to Harass Civil Society

The police have again misused the Public Law and Security  Act  [POSA] by arresting trade union leaders in what seems like a deliberate effort to deny civic society organisations the right to go about their legitimate business peacefully.  This police action is also in open defiance of the widespread outrage provoked by the arrests on similar charges less than two weeks previously of two senior officials of the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations [NANGO] in Victoria Falls and two staff members of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network [ZESN] in Dete in the same police district.  [Outlined in the last Peace Watch of 8th November].  The NANGO and ZESN cases are still pending before the courts, but many legal observers consider that these cases involved blatant misuse of POSA and police powers of arrest.

ZCTU Leaders Arrested – Further Misuse of POSA

On Sunday 8th November Lovemore Matombo, president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions [ZCTU], was arrested by police while addressing members of the organization at Victoria Falls.  Also arrested were four other union officials, Michael Kandukutu, Percy Mcijo, Dumisani Ncube and Nawu Ndlovu.  Police alleged they had contravened the Public Order and Security Act [POSA] by holding a public meeting without having notified police.  The five were detained in custody until Thursday 12th November when a magistrate threw out the charges and ordered their release, saying the police had failed to specify facts suggesting the accused had committed the offence alleged.  The magistrate pointed out that trade union meetings are not covered by the POSA provisions regulating meetings, and advised the police to acquaint themselves with the law.  But meanwhile the unionists had the indignity of being arrested and detained for 5 days and nights in disgusting conditions.  The police cells were low-roofed with poor ventilation, dirty [thought not as filthy as some in Harare] and for the first few nights so overcrowded their was no room to attempt sleep; no blankets or mats were issued, and sanitation facilities consisted of a bucket.  And these are respectable and respected citizens, who had no cause to be detained.  The unionists were holding the first of a country-wide series of meetings, and their whole itinerary and work schedule was interrupted.  The arrests caused grave concern to their families and anxiety to the unionists, knowing that on previous occasions when unionists were detained they had been beaten or tortured.

POSA and Trade Union Meetings

As the magistrate said in throwing out the police case against the ZCTU officials, the POSA provisions on notifying meetings do not apply to trade union meetings.  Section 26A of POSA states that the relevant sections do not apply to gatherings listed in the Schedule to the Act, and paragraph (j) of the Schedule lists “[gatherings] held by a registered trade union for bona fide trade union purposes for the conduct of business in accordance with the Labour Act”.  Police cannot credibly plead ignorance, because this is not a new exemption; it has been part of POSA from the start in 2002, and before that it was in the corresponding provisions of the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act. 

The unionists had with them a copy a High Court declaratory order which clarified the fact that, under the Schedule as read with 26A of POSA, unions do not have to seek police permission for their meetings.  They also had a copy of POSA indicating this, which they showed to the police.  They say the police told them that they had to arrest them nevertheless, as orders had come “from above”.  Not only was the whole “incident” a gross violation of people’s rights to go about their lawful business but it was a huge waste of the resources of the police and the justice system.

In their comment Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights [ZLHR] accused the police in this case of malicious and unjustifiable action in using POSA as a tool of repression, and drew attention to police awareness of the fact that the High Court had declared that POSA does not apply to ZCTU meetings.  ZLHR accordingly called for a Parliamentary committee of inquiry into the unlawful actions of the police, particularly in the north-western region of the country, the scene of this and other recent arrests under POSA.  ZLHR also called for an inquiry into the role of the Attorney-General and Director of Public Prosecutions, accusing them of failure to execute their constitutional and professional duty to advise the police of their continued misinterpretation and misapplication of the law. 

International condemnation of ZCTU arrests

The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) wrote to President Mugabe pointing out that the arrests amounted to improper interference in legitimate trade union activity protected by International Labour Organisation Convention 87, which Zimbabwe has ratified.  The Presidency of the European Union expressed its concern and called for the early release of Mr Matombo and his colleagues and for a halt to all state violence and intimidation of members of civil society and political activists in Zimbabwe.  Messages of solidarity condemning the arrests poured in from other unions, including COSATU and the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

Targeting of Unionists Subject to UN Probe

Zimbabwe is already been investigated by the International Labour Organisation [ILO], a United Nations organ, for alleged violations of trade union rights by the Government, including breaches of the ILO conventions on freedom of association and collective bargaining, the banning of peaceful protests by workers, and the prohibition of the holding of workshops and Workers Day’s celebrations.  A three-member team of ILO officials was in Zimbabwe in August to conduct an official ILO probe into the allegations, the most serious of which was that ZCTU leaders, labour and workers rights activists were brutally assaulted in 2006 after staging protests aimed at forcing the government to improve working conditions.  Lawyers representing the union leaders alleged at the time that their clients were tortured while in police detention at Matapi Police Station in Mbare.  The ILO report is not yet out, but Zimbabwe could face blacklisting from the ILO if it concludes that trade union rights have indeed been violated.  The arrests and detention of the ZCTU officials at Victoria Falls not only damage Zimbabwe’s reputation but also increase the chances of that risk becoming reality. 

The Constitution [section 21] and the Labour Act [section 4] expressly recognize the right of workers to form and belong to trade unions as a fundamental right, and to engage in the lawful activities of their unions for the advancement and protection of their interests.  Unfortunately the  ZANU-PF government has for many years perceived the ZCTU as a political opposition force, an attitude that has translated into frequent police harassment of ZCTU and its affiliated unions and their officials.  As recent events demonstrate, in spite of the inclusive Government and MDC-T and ZANU-PF co-Ministers of Home Affairs, there has been no fundamental change of heart by police. 

Urgent Need to Retrain the Police

These latest incidents once again underline the need for effective action to change the police mindset towards the rights of freedom of assembly and association.  As long as POSA remains on the statute book it must be implemented fairly and impartially.  The GPA states in Article 12(1)(b) “that the Government shall undertake training programmes, workshops and meetings for the police and other enforcement agencies directed at the right of freedom of assembly and association and the proper interpretation, understanding and application of the provisions of security legislation” and in Article 13 that “State organs and institutions do not belong to any political party and should be impartial in the discharge of their duties.”  The inclusive government is being very dilatory in ensuring that police are retrained to observe basic rights, to understand the laws they are entrusted to enforce and to enforce them impartially.

In a statement after the unionists were released, ZCTU Secretary-General Wellington Chibebe said that comments made by the police that the ZCTU should have sought police clearance before holding the meeting smacked of a police force that acts on political decisions and not on whether one has a case to answer or not.  "This is not the kind of police that Zimbabweans want, but unfortunately we have to live with such.  This points to the fact that we definitely need to reform the police so that we have a professional non-partisan force. The infamous POSA clearly does not cover trade unions but the police continue to disrupt trade union activities in the name of POSA. The police should be undoubtedly ashamed of their actions."  

Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot take legal responsibility for information supplied.