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

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The Telegraph

Notebook
By Sam Leith
(Filed: 05/11/2004)

Being panhandled by crackheads is not completely unusual on the route
between my house and Brixton Tube, so, when an exhausted-looking black guy
caught my eye as I was passing Windrush Square on Saturday, I was wary. But
once we got talking, it was apparent that he wasn't stoned. His story -
which I can't vouch for, but believed - was this.

He was a member of the Zimbabwean opposition Movement for Democratic Change,
was tortured by the regime and fled, via South Africa, to seek asylum here.
He was given a work permit, but a quirk of the system prevents him - for a
period of time - from collecting benefits, so he is forced to sleep rough.
His belongings were stolen, and he said he hadn't slept for three days,
because he didn't want to lose his shoes, too. When he asked me, learning I
was a journalist, to pass his regards if I could to Andrew Meldrum - "He
knows me; my name's Andrew Matisa" - I was convinced. Mr Meldrum, a Guardian
correspondent, is admired but hardly famous.

I gave Mr Matisa a bit of money and my phone number. I hope he gets in
touch. We're always reading about happy asylum seekers living in
taxpayer-funded mock-Tudor mansions.

It would be interesting to learn, then, what sort of one-in-a-million
administrative error has landed a torture victim from a former British
colony on the streets in Brixton, hungry and in fear of having his shoes
stolen from his sleeping feet.

`Good for shares, bad for houses, was my instant reaction to George W Bush's
re-election," wrote my strange colleague George Trefgarne yesterday. My own
instant reaction was: "Nnnnnnrrrrgghghhh! Gaaahd I HATE that guy!"

That is perhaps why Trefgarne gets to write the grown-up stuff. But watching
Bush's victory speech - which was, yup, gracious to a fault; and interrupted
by the terrible noise of me grinding my teeth to powder - I was struck by
the way he thanked his election strategist. "Karl Rove," he said. "The
Architect." Applause going off everywhere.

I asked the American writer Carl Hiaasen last week about the received idea
that in US elections - dirty fights by tradition - Republicans fought
dirtier than the Democrats. Surely, I said, they're all as bad as one
another. "No!" shouted Hiaasen (OK, I paraphrase). "The Democrats' problem
for years and years is that they have never learnt to be as low-down skunky
and evil as the Republicans, who are Satan." (I paraphrase a lot. Sorry,
Carl.)

In this department, Karl Rove is very highly estimated. He does little to
discourage his image as the Sauron of Republican skulduggery: such a guy
as - in the phrase used by a friend of mine during a row with her boss -
"eats babies for breakfast . with salt on!"

"The Architect." Spinal shiver. That's a moniker used in weirdo Freemason
theology, for God; and by the Wachowski Brothers, in the Matrix films, for a
creepy old guy in a white suit who spends all eternity in a room full of
televisions.

Crossing Hungerford footbridge in the lovely winter sunshine yesterday, I
was stopped by a Japanese tourist. He had, until I approached, been looking
up the river towards the very appealing view of the dome of St Paul's, and
the many other pleasing sights available from that vantage, with an
expression of deep anxiety.

"Excuse me," he said. "Is this Hungerford Bridge?" "Yes," I said. He pointed
down at a postcard he was holding. On it was written: "Stand on Hungerford
Bridge. North bank of river. Panoramic views." "North," I said, pointing to
the view he had been looking at. "Panoramic."

He beamed with relief. I left him staring at the dome of St Paul's with a
look of - more than appreciation - almost Bodhisattvic contentment.
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Business Report

      Zimbabwean reality comes home to roost

      By Terry Bell

      The Cosatu fact-finding mission deported from Zimbabwe this week did
not go without the knowledge and consent of the other members of the
governing ANC-led alliance.

      The ANC was, in fact, one of the parties to the decision, made in
September last year, to send the delegation.

      "Not that we require any permission, but the decision was taken at our
congress, at which the other alliance partners were present," says Cosatu
president Willie Madisha.

      He points out that Cosatu delegations have visited many countries and
have protested at conditions in countries such as Nigeria and Swaziland
without any adverse comments.

      This is the reason he and other unionists have expressed
disappointment at some of the statements made this week by ANC and
government members.

      For Ronnie Mamoepa, the foreign affairs spokesperson, "to say Cosatu
goes into other countries at its own risk is simply stupid", says National
Union of Mineworkers general secretary Gwede Mantashe.

      "We must ensure that we stop supporting the Zimbabwe state and assist
the workers," he says.
      Cosatu is well aware that Zimbabwe relies on South Africa for
electricity and on the revenue from platinum that is processed in South
Africa.

      But this decision to press for action is not a knee-jerk reaction to
the deportation this week. Cosatu has been handed dossiers detailing the
ill-treatment and harassment of trade unionists and others deemed by the
Zimbabwe government to be "enemies".

      This week's deportation was not the first case of its kind. Last week
Mpho Mkhatso, national researcher of the National Union of Metalworkers of
SA (Numsa), was held at Harare airport and put on a plane back to
Johannesburg. His offence - wearing a Cosatu T-shirt and Numsa cap.

      "They said he was staging a demonstration and that this was illegal,"
says Colin Gwiyo, the deputy general secretary of the Zimbabwe Congress of
Trade Unions (ZCTU).

      Numsa spokesperson Dumisa Ntuli adds: "He was also told that the
Zimbabwe government had an antagonistic relationship with Cosatu, so he was
not welcome."

      Neither Numsa, Cosatu nor the ZCTU protested, as they considered the
incident to be irrelevant
      . Besides, two other Numsa officials, not wearing identifying
clothing, were allowed into the country, where they held a week-long
workshop for Zimbabwean trade unionists.

      "That's the irony of the situation. We've been visiting and working
with ZCTU unions for years," says Madisha.

      ZCTU president Lovemore Matombo says: "What has happened to our South
African colleagues is what is happening to us in Zimbabwe almost daily."

      Madisha says: "We have reports of meetings of five or more people
being declared illegal and broken up. They are employing the same tactics as
Josef Stalin did in Russia - terrorising the population."

      According to leading Zimbabwe lawyer Tendai Biti, who is an executive
member of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Zimbabwe now
qualifies as "a paranoid state that is prepared to operate outside the rule
of law".

      He points out that when the South African unionists were bundled out
of the dining room of their hotel as they sat down to lunch, the ZCTU
immediately applied to the high court for an interdict to stop the
deportation.

      "It was granted - and simply and arrogantly ignored," says Biti.
Gwiyo, who stresses that the ZCTU is not part of the MDC, says: "By treating
our colleagues in this way, the government here has shown clearly what kind
of regime it is."

      In fact, at the time of the initial arguments about land
redistribution in Zimbabwe, many ZCTU members favoured a policy of handing
farms to the workers who laboured on them.

      This stress on co-operatives or collectives did not find favour with
the mainstream of the MDC. But it was a logical stand for the ZCTU, which at
the time had some 15 000 farm workers organised into the General
Agricultural and Plantation Workers' Union (Gapwuz).

      Today, there are barely 5 000 Gapwuz members left. Many have died and
others are landless and unemployed.

      "In a country that does not even respect its own courts, how can we
even talk about African Union, Nepad and SADC protocols promoting civil
rights?" asks Madisha. "We have to act."

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The Herald

Top cop killed in accident

Herald Reporter
THE Acting Officer Commanding Mashonaland East province Assistant
Commissioner John Masimba Machakaire died yesterday morning in a road
accident near Mabvuku along the Harare-Mutare Road.

Asst Comm Machakaire who was coming from a function of officers who had
graduated at the 2004 Superintendents Promotion Parade held at Morris Depot
died yesterday at around 2am.

Police said on approaching the Mabvuku turnoff, he lost control of the
police vehicle, a Mazda Etude. The vehicle veered off the road and stopped
after hitting a big rock about 40 metres from the road.

Asst Comm Machakaire, who was alone, died instantly from serious head
injuries. His body was taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital mortuary for a post
mortem.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka yesterday said burial
arrangements for the senior police officer were in progress.

"The ZRP has lost a diligent and dedicated commander, barely a day after we
lost one of our other senior officers (Superintendent Tafireyi Mukoki) in a
fatal road accident," said Supt Mandipaka.

Mourners are gathered at Number 33 Arcacia Groove, Paradise Park in
Marondera. Born on July 11 1959 in Wedza, Asst Comm Machakaire did his
education at St Mary*s Primary School in Dorowa and Holy Family School in
Nyazura.

Before joining the police, he worked for the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe.

He joined the force in 1980 and rose through the ranks to become a patrol
officer in 1985 and in 1989 he became a section officer, a rank that has
since been phased out in the force. Asst Comm Machakaire obtained several
certificates at the ZRP Staff College and was also a holder of a Bachelor of
Education degree.
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The Herald

Harare Council, workers union headed for showdown

Herald Reporter
CONFRONTATION looms between the Harare City Council and the Harare Municipal
Workers' Union, which has now instructed its lawyer to file an urgent
chamber application over council's failure to remit deductions amounting to
about $600 million due to the union in the last three months.

The money is for membership subscriptions to the union and contributions to
the employees' housing scheme.

The union is also unhappy with council's delay in paying employee salaries.

It alleges that most employees did not get their salaries by October 28 as
stipulated by Statutory Instrument 390 of the 1992 Collective Bargaining
Agreement which states that "Harare Municipal Undertaking has it that
employees should be paid their salaries no later than the 28th of every
month".

Some council employees received their salaries on Monday afternoon.

"We have received our salaries, but there are some who bank with other
building societies who are yet to receive their salaries," said one woman
who did not want to be named.

Union officials charged that council unilaterally deferred the payment dates
for the October salaries without the employees' consent as stated in the
statutory instrument.

Harare Municipality Workers' Union lawyer Mr Joel Mambara confirmed that he
had filed an application with the Labour Court and was awaiting the court's
decision on the way forward.

Council has acknowledged its failure to remit the union subscriptions, but
said it had problems meeting its obligations owing to the garnish order
imposed by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority recently over unpaid staff income
tax deductions.

"The little that we are making is being swallowed as soon as it gets to our
bank. Some of these union members work at the treasury department and we
expect them to understand the difficult circumstances we are under," said
town clerk Mr Nomutsa Chideya.

Council has of late been struggling to pay its employees on time and
recently had to defer the dates for the payment of salaries by a week as it
tried to raise the money.

The union deducts a certain percentage directly from their salaries every
month for its operations and other labour-related administrative costs
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The Herald

Streak's involvement irregular: Chingoka

By Lawrence Moyo
ZIMBABWE Cricket Union chairman Peter Chingoka says the Matabeleland Cricket
Association had jumped the gun in involving Heath Streak in the coaching
set-up of their team for the Logan Cup match against Manicaland.

Streak, a former captain for both the national team and Matabeleland, is
reported to have offered to assist coach Mpumelelo Mbangwa but Chingoka said
yesterday Streak*s involvement was irregular as it breached the union*s
protocol.

Appointments for provincial teams are made at the ZCU, a procedure that was
breached by MCA who have since apologised to the union.

"The Logan Cup provides the only opportunity for the Zimbabwe Cricket Union
to build capacity at first class level. The enhancement programme is for
everyone concerned with the match: the players, coaches, umpires and
scorers. Its success depends on adherence to appointments within existing
structures otherwise one risks having those who should benefit not being in
place at the right time.

"For example, the appointments of the four provincial coaches were
well-structured and done in consultation with the national team coach and
national selectors. Heath Streak*s involvement was irregular as it did not
go through this process. The protocol was breached and the person who made
the ad hoc appointment has since apologised to the Union for the breach.
Because of the irregularity, we did ask Heath not to be involved but he was
not replaced by Phil Simmons.

"The national coach had a prior arrangement to divide, starting from
Tuesday, his time and that of national team fitness trainer Dean Woodford,
between Kwekwe and Bulawayo so that he could watch as much action as
possible in the two Logan Cup matches underway there," said Chingoka.

He was reacting to a story that the ZCU had snubbed Streak.

"Hopes of reconciliation between the Zimbabwe board and the rebel cricketers
were dealt a blow with the board*s tetchy reaction to the news that Heath
Streak had been drafted in to help with coaching at Matabeleland.

Streak, a former captain of Matabeleland, offered to assist Pommie Mbangwa,
their bowling coach. But as soon as ZCU officials were made aware of the
situation, they ordered Phil Simmons, the national coach, to the ground at
Bulawayo to replace Streak.

"Streak involvement was as an unpaid assistant, and given that he has other
priorities - his wife is heavily pregnant - the ZCU*s action appears
unnecessarily provocative," read the story on leading cricket website
Cricinfo.

Chingoka added that they were in the process of appointing an assistant
coach to Mbangwa.

"You may also want to know that the issue of an assistant coach for
Mpumelelo Mbangwa is one that the Union is working on. An offer was made a
fortnight ago to a qualified coach to take up the post and we await his
response," said Chingoka.

Meanwhile, holders Mashonaland and Matabeleland cruised to easy victories on
the third day of the inter-provincial Logan Cup tournament yesterday.

Mashonaland crushed Midlands by 188 runs at Kwekwe Sports Club 30 minutes
before stumps while Matabeleland posted a convincing nine-wicket win over
Manicaland in just 56 minutes of the third day at Bulawayo Athletic Club,
losing just one wicket in pursuit of a mediocre target of just 70.

Opening batsman Wisdom Siziba scored an unbeaten 40 as the hosts bounced
back from the heavy defeat suffered against holders Mashonaland in the first
round of matches last week and given the fact that there was still the whole
day available the teams played a limited overs match.

At Kwekwe, Mashonaland had set Midlands an impossible target of 532 and
although the hosts put up a brave fight, they were bowled out for 343.

Captain Alester Maregwede led the Midlands resilience with a gusty century,
which is only the second in his first-class career and he reached his 50 of
35 balls and his 100 in 88 balls. Mashonaland, who had resumed the day on
343/3, declared their second innings at 448/4 with captain Tatenda Taibu
unbeaten on 76 while Elton Chigumbura smashed 64 runs off just 46 balls.

Scorecard

Manicaland 1st innings: (Ebrahim 46, Nkala 4-33, Mpofu 3-59) 157

Matabeleland 1st innings: (Vermeulen 102, Mahwire 7-64) 253

Manicaland 2nd innings: (Ebrahim 59, Mupariwa 3-14, Nkala 3-32). 165
Matabeleland 2nd innings: (Siziba 40*) 71

Mashonaland 1st innings: (Taylor 54, Taibu 73, Rainsford 4-36), 277

Midlands 1st innings: (Ervine 55, Hondo 4-25, Cremer 3-52), 194 Mashonaland
2nd innings: 448/4 declared (Taylor 166, Rogers 97, Taibu 76*, Chigumbura
64*), Midlands 2nd innings: 343 (Maregwede 107, Utseya 88, Ervine 67, Cremer
6-147)
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The Herald

Two bodies found in Greendale well

By Freeman Razemba
POLICE yesterday recovered two bodies of men - both believed to be white -
from a drilled well more than 11 metres deep in Harare's eastern suburb of
Greendale.

One of the bodies had a building block tied to the neck, while the other had
a rope tied around the neck.

The bodies were facing downwards in disused well or borehole.

Police suspect that the two were murdered and thrown down the well. No
arrests have yet been made.

The bodies were discovered by a security guard with Knight Security Company,
whose offices are housed at the plot, on Wednesday at around 1pm.

According to the security guard, who spoke on condition of anonymity, he
chanced upon the bodies after he had walked over to warn women who were
cutting reeds near the grass-covered well, which is about 60m away from the
house, of the danger of falling into it.

"As they were cutting the reeds near the well, my fear was that any or
several of them might fall into it. So I decided to go and warn them," he
said.

On reaching the area, he said, he decided to have a look into the well,
which was covered with small pieces of asbestos.

"I just wanted to see whether there was still any water because we used to
draw water to drink from the well," said the security guard.

He said he saw a shape that had what looked like human features and became
suspicious.

The security guard informed his colleagues and a report was made to the
police.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Homicide went
to the scene but failed to retrieve the bodies.

The Fire Brigade and officers from the police Sub-Aqua Unit were also
informed.

Police called in an excavator from the Fire Brigade to help them in digging
up the well.

At around 3pm, a truck company which operates near the plot offered to help
the police by offering its excavator which, however, developed mechanical
problems before the task was completed.

At around 5pm, an excavator from the Fire Brigade was brought in and started
digging up the well.

The police finally managed to retrieve the bodies at around 7pm.

The Officer-in-Charge at Rhodesville Police Station Inspector Zebron Manyame
said police were still carrying out investigations.

"We can confirm that, we as the police, have managed to retrieve two naked
bodies of two male adults, but we are still carrying out investigations on
what might have caused their death," he said. said Asst Comm Bvudzijena.

He said the five suspects prevented the money from being remitted to
Zimbabwe and it was deposited in offshore accounts.

Details of how Econet earned the money were not immediately available.

So far this week alone, eight bosses of mobile phone service providers have
been arrested on allegations of externalising and illegally dealing in
foreign currency.

Businessman and politician James Makamba, who is Telecel chairman, and two
other Telecel Zimbabwe bosses were also picked up on Tuesday on allegations
of externalising over US$70 million.

The other two Telecel officials taken into custody are managing director
Anthony Carter and secretary Edward Mutsvairo.

The Telecel bosses are still in police custody while investigations continue
before they are brought before the courts.

Telecel Zimbabwe is alleged to have sold 40 percent of its shares worth over
US$70 million outside the country without the authority of the Reserve Bank
of Zimbabwe.

It also suspected to have externalised more than US$1,2 million earned from
roaming services.

In April, the telephone service provider was fined $374,2 million, the
Zimbabwe equivalent of hard currency involved, by a regional magistrates'
court for illegally dealing in foreign currency.

Telecel was convicted on its own plea of guilt on three counts of illegally
dealing in foreign currency amounting to US$1,3 million, R1,3 million and
over 22 000 British pounds.

Makamba was in September convicted on his own plea of guilt on six counts of
breaching the Exchange Control Act by a Harare regional magistrate for
illegally dealing in foreign currency amounting to US$133 000.

In September, Makamba, who had spent about seven months in prison, was fined
$7,3 million, the equivalent of the hard currency he had illegally dealt in,
by Harare regional magistrate Mrs Virginia Sithole.

This week police arrested the owner of Malilangwe Estate in Chiredzi, Dereck
Andrew De la Harpe, on allegations of externalising billions of dollars in
foreign currency.

Between January 2002 and August this year, De la Harpe is alleged to have
externalised US$4 527 000, R6 783 000 and 33 600 euros.
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News24

WFP ready to help Zim
04/11/2004 23:13  - (SA)

Johannesburg - The World Food Programme (WFP) said on Thursday it was ready
to provide 100 000 tons of food aid to Zimbabwe over the coming three years
if President Robert Mugabe's government makes the request.

"There is belt-tightening going on in Zimbabwe," said WFP regional director
for southern Africa Mike Sackett.

"Between now and the next harvest, it is unlikely to improve."

The WFP is appealing for $404m to provide 657 000 tons of food aid in
Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia beginning in January up to
December 2007.

While Zimbabwe is not among the five southern African countries targeted for
relief, the WFP said it had set up an "emergency window of 100 000 tons" to
help the needy in the southern African country.

"We are keeping a very close eye on the situation," said Sackett, citing
concerns over rising food prices that he said were causing hardship, in
particular in the southern Masvingo area.

"We are in discussion with the government" about the impact of high prices
on low-income families, he said.

Mugabe's government announced early this year that it had produced enough
food from last year's agricultural season to feed its own people.

But the state-run Grain Marketing Board (GMB), the country's sole grain
purchasing agency, said in September that it expected to receive 750 000
tons of maize this season, way below the country's needs.

Zimbabwe's food shortages have been partly attributed to the government's
land reform policy launched in 2000 that saw the seizure of white-owned
commercial farms for redistribution to blacks.
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New Zimbabwe

Mugabe erases opposition constituencies

By Staff Reporter
Last updated: 11/05/2004 08:19:19
A GOVERNMENT appointed delimitation commission has considered abolishing at
least two constituencies held by Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC), it emerged last night.

The party's shadow minister for foreign affairs Priscilla Misihairabwi told
Zimbabwe's London-based internet radio station Afro-Sounds last night that
the delimitation commission wanted to erase her Glen Norah constituency and
Gwanda North, currently held by party spokesman Paul Themba Nyathi.

The four-man commission was tasked with re-drawing constituency boundaries,
paying attention to shifting population patterns. It is chaired by George
Chiweshe, a High Court judge, and includes Job Whabira, a former defence
secretary in the Zanu PF government.

When the commission was sworn in by President Robert Mugabe last month, the
party's secretary general Professor Welshman Ncube said it could be "relied
upon to do the bidding of Zanu PF".

Writing on this website, Ncube said: "This is particularly worrying if one
has regard to the fact that the MDC has documentary evidence that the
process of re-drawing constituency boundaries, ahead of the March 2005
parliamentary elections, has already been carried out, under the
instructions and guidance of officers from the notorious Central
Intelligence Organisation.

"By appointing new personnel to the Delimitation Commission, in order to
provide it with a veneer of independence, and tasking them to carry out the
process of amending constituency boundaries ahead of the parliamentary
elections, the government is clearly attempting to legitimize and
rubber-stamp the discriminatory boundary changes that it has already carried
out unlawfully. This is not in the spirit of the Mauritius agreement."

Meanwhile, Misihairabwi said the MDC was detecting a change of heart from
Sadc leaders following MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai's tour of the region
after he was cleared of high treason.

"Initially, the Sadc leaders thought it was sour grapes because the MDC had
lost an important election," she told Afro Sounds' Ezra Tshisa Sibanda. "But
they are now realising that we are a genuine movement trying to raise world
attention to a governance crisis which they all now acknowledge.

"As the MDC, we are happy that it's no longer the West talking about the
situation in Zimbabwe, but the whole of Africa is now noticing that there is
something wrong and they are all urging reform."

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JAG JOB OPPORTUNITIES: Updated 4th November 2004

Please send any classified adverts for publication in this newsletter to:
JAG Job Opportunities jag@mango.zw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.  Advert Received 29th October 2004
KARIBA - KAPENTA COMPANY

We are looking for a Manager with some mechanical experience to run our
Kapenta Company. If you are interested please contact (04)213 501 - 2,
(04)213 552, (04)212 692 / 7
 ____________________________________________

2.  Advert Received 31st October 2004

Farm Manager required.

Graaff Reinet . 12000 Ha Game farm , 2000 sheep , irrigation , Stud section
, growing out weanlings bred in the Western Cape. The Stud section could be
managed by a seperate person . Please contact ; ROSS FULLER . on cell 82
8262127
                                                  e-mail :
ross@lormarins.co.za
______________________________________________

3.  Advert Received 1st November 2004

Dear Sir / Madam,

I was given your e-mail address by a Zimbabwean now working up here. We are
a large-scale rain-fed wheat and barley growing farming company based on
West Kilimanjaro, Northern Tanzania.  We are currently looking for two
young recent Agricultural College graduates to strengthen our management
team.  One should have "field" interests, whilst the other should have
machinery interests.

I would be grateful if you could let me know if there is any possibility of
advertising on your website.

Yours,
Luke Edwards."--"
THIS IS RADIO E-MAIL.  PLEASE LIMIT MESSAGES TO 10kb.
DO NOT INCLUDE ATTACHMENTS OR ORIGINAL MESSAGES.
Mountainside Farms Co. Ltd.
P.O. Box 14664
Arusha
TANZANIA
_______________________________________________

4.  Advert Received 1st November 2004

Am looking for a trustworthy gardener who can also do the swimming pool
without munching through the tools. If you know of anyone out there who
does not need to be followed around in order to work please contact me on
Grace Mutandwa 091 252 544 or my partner Andrew Moyse on 091315063.
_______________________________________________

5.  Advert Received 1st November 2004

SINGLE MAN OF 28 LOOKING FOR A FARMING RELATED POSITION IN ZIMBABWE. WENT
TO CIRENCESTER COLLEGE AND HAS WORKED ON VARIOUS FARMS.

CV AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

PLEASE CONTACT 091320149 (ALEX)
______________________________________________

6.  Advert Received 1st November 2004

Ex-farming couple, 50-65 yrs., required for business in Ruwa area.
Mechanical knowledge and workshop ability essential for the man. 3-4 days a
week in the office for the wife. Salaries negotiable. House provided with
usual perks. Need to start end of November. Please contact 073 - 2777, or
073- 22595.
_____________________________________________

7.  Advert Received 3rd November 2004

We're looking for a retired couple / person to assist in the general
management of an ongoing restoration project at the Prynnsberg Estate
outside Clocolan - Eastern Free State South Africa.

On the one hand we're looking for a highly practical and organised farmer
to assist in re establishing some arable land plus a herd on a profit share
basis. On the other hand we have a large garden and building restoration
job to do.

Kindly contact me via email at rick@unplugged.co.za.

Rick Melvill
Johannesburg, SA.
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest listings of accommodation available for farmers, contact
justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
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JAG COMPENSATION COMMUNIQUÉ 4TH NOVEMBER 2004

Email: jag@mango.zw; justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
Internet: www.justiceforagriculture.com

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

THE VALUATION CONSORTIUM NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER 2004

In this issue:

· Compensation Coalition

· Two months left

· Perceptions

· Verification goes well

· Certificates

· Gay gangster (1)

· Contacts

THE COMPENSATION COALITION

The most significant move on the farm acquisition/land grab scene in the
last few months has been the formation of the Compensation Coalition.
Initially it seemed that the coalition would be a little toothless.
However, the two committee meetings in September and October have been very
productive.  A Memorandum of Understanding has been agreed and the
committee will be a lot more proactive than envisaged.  For the first time
different camps with very different ideas are being forced to consider
their positions on a one to one basis.

If you have concerns on the compensation issue you can now require the body
or group you feel most comfortable with to pose questions of the other
groups directly.

The Chairmanship of Alan Burl and John Laurie, both former C.F.U.
presidents but with very different styles is a great combination. We now
understand where everyone is coming from and are in a position to combine
efforts productively, minimizing overlap and by communication cut friction.

TWO MONTHS REMAIN

Landowners who have not yet registered with Valcon now only have two months
left in which to do so. Clients reading this please pass this information
urgently to fellow farmers both here and abroad and refer them to our web
site: www.compensation.co.zw or email: valuers@zol.co.zw The Consortium,
which is following closely its own long term plan, hopes to conclude both
the registration and verification exercises by 31st December this year. To
date 1300 farmers have registered more than 2000 farms.

HOW THEY SEE IT

There seems to be a perception in some countries that Zimbabwe's
large-scale commercial farmers have received compensation for the loss of
their farms. Please could our clients let as many people as possible know
that this is not the case. What happened in the 1990s was that some farmers
after initially resisting acquisition decided to cede and were paid out -
in many instances - a fair price. Since 2000 however, farmers have been
forcibly evicted from their properties and subsequent offers of payment for
those farms have been inadequate largely due to rampant inflation. Some
farmers have nevertheless had to accept offers at the government's
valuation and the handing over title deeds before receiving inadequate
cheques. Recently a third compensation committee has been formed by
government. We await events and in the meantime have made them aware of our
existence.

Several database clients have asked us to represent them before the
Compensation Committee. This we are prepared to do but it has proved
fruitless so far. The major problem is that the Secretary of the Committee
is demanding a Power of Attorney from the client in a Valuer's favour
before they will allow representation. This is highly irregular and
inconvenient and we hope to resolve the issue. Lawyers for example, do not
need a Power of Attorney before representing a client so why should a
valuer or other professional.

VERIFICATION PROCESS UNDERWAY

Valcon's verification process is in full swing and to date there have been
no major hitches. The cost of verification is now increased to $500 000 (up
from $46 000 when we started two years ago). The company will try to
maintain this fee for as long as possible but can guarantee nothing with
the continuing inflation. If you know of anyone who has not yet registered,
please pass this newsletter on to them.

COLLECTION OF CERTIFICATES

It is important that you phone or email us before coming to our Harare
offices in Eastlea to collect your registration certificates. Due to the
considerable increase in postal charges we are no longer able to post
certificates. If you know of friends who have registered with us but who
are now living abroad please pass this newsletter on to them so that they
can make a plan to have theirs collected.

DOWN THE LINE with Martin Redfern

News is that here in Matabeleland there has been a surge of new Valcon
registrations. Like those in Manicaland, Matabeleland farmers were slow in
coming forward and although for all the wrong reasons, it is pleasing that
registrations are continuing before the "deadline" (although how the end of
December deadline is to be enforced nobody has yet advised). Suffice to say
there is not a lot of obvious commercial agriculture in Matabeleland, nor
is there for that matter anywhere else in Zim and I am afraid this reflects
the success, or otherwise, of the government's programme.  Regarding the
aerial photographic survey exercise which Valcon is embarking on - to
validate details of improvements, arable land etc. on the ground -
significant assistance has been received from two local sources. The
exercise is important, and not only to convince donors of the accuracy of
the workings and figures, it is also mighty expensive and the assistance
offered is greatly appreciated. All at Valcon are pleased with progress
made to date. I am making an unwelcome trip to the UK to celebrate my
Mother's 90th birthday and have no doubt that at the age of 56, I shall be
on the receiving end of criticism re smoking and drinking habits, length of
hair etc, etc. Joy. Apart from dreading the flight, UK is just too full of
everything: people, cars, buildings and narrow minded parochial attitudes.
But at least I will see some agriculture and from my last visit to stay
with a daughter in Cornwall I can confirm that more maize is grown in that
one county than in Zim, so the Gay Gangster must be doing something right.

CONTACTS

The Valuation Consortium: Harare (04) 746926, valuers@zol.co.zw
Redfern Mullett & Co.: Harare (04) 746654,
graham@redfernmullett.co.zw;allan@redfernmullett.co.zw
Holland & Redfern: Byo. (09) 882944/5/6/, redhol@mweb.co.zw
GRL Farm Sales: Harare (04) 776255 farmsale@mweb.co.zw
Burgoyne Estate Agents: Marondera (079) 24133, burgest@mweb.co.zw
J. Pocock & Co.: Byo. (09) 70753, pocock@mweb.co.zw
Purkis & Co.: Harare (04) 570203, purkis@icon.co.zw
Holland & Redfern: Mutare (020) 64303, holred@mutare.mweb.co.zw
CC Sales Harare: (04) 252253, kevin@ccsales.co.zw
CC Sales Gweru: charles@gwt.ccsales.co.zw

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JAG OPEN LETTER FORUM 4th November 2004

Email: jag@mango.zw ; justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
Internet: www.justiceforagriculture.com

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

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
JAG OLF 309
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

"You just don't luck into things as much as you'd like to think you do. You
build step-by-step, whether it's friendships or opportunities."

BARBARA BUSH
______________________________________________

OPEN LETTER FORUM

Letter 1.  Subject Justice

Justice Perverted.

Roy Bennett is a rough diamond - he is very much a self made man who left
school early and came from a poor background. He worked hard and eventually
created his lifetime ambition - a farm in the Chimanimani Mountains. For
those who do not know the area, it is approached by a road that goes
through dry and harsh land in the Save valley up to a range of mountains
that straddle the eastern highlands and then you travel down through lush,
well watered land to the village of Chimanimani. Here you break out of the
hills and there in front of you is a magnificent range of rocky mountains
straddling the border with Mozambique. It is a very beautiful sight and in
the sweeping valley that lies between the Village and the mountains is a
stretch of country that would rival any other place in the world. A decade
after independence, Roy got all his resources together, borrowed some money
and he bought Charleswood Estate. Not an outstanding bit of farmland - it
only had a few hundred hectares of arable land, but it was where he wanted
to live and make a living. Before he bought the farm he was given a
certificate of "no interest" by the Ministry of Lands, which confirmed they
did not require the land for resettlement. Roy had married Heather and they
had two children - a boy and a girl. Roy and Heather worked hard. Roy,
being the kind of man he is, did everything he could to ensure that his
entry to the community was acceptable. He visited the local Chief and said
that he would work with the local community. He recognized that he could
not prosper if his neighbors did not do so as well. The result was the slow
creation of a coffee farm with cattle on the rough grazing and a lodge to
exploit the local tourist potential. He worked to get the local peasant
farmers to join him in the coffee project and extended to them credit and
know how. Eventually he built a coffee mill on the farm and established a
market for local coffee beans in Europe. In 1998 he was asked by the people
to stand for Parliament to represent the community. Asked by the local
peasant farmers - not the handful of local commercial farmers and timber
companies. He accepted and was duly nominated to run under the banner of
the only party operating effectively at the time - Zanu PF. However when
MDC was formed in 1999, the people asked him to switch sides and to run for
the new party. He investigated MDC and eventually agreed. MDC accepted him
into their ranks and in 2000 he ran against the Zanu PF candidate who had
taken his place, beating him by a huge margin. It was the start of a war
against Roy in every respect. He was an early target for the illegal farm
invasions and demands that he gives up his land for "resettlement". He
fought back hard and was given the full support of the people in the
District. His own staff supported him - several with their lives. Heather
had a miscarriage after a violent incident on the farm and the family began
a three-year fight to hold onto what was theirs by law. It should be noted
that the Courts who consistently ruled supported Roy in this protracted
fight in his favor. It was to no avail and this year he was eventually
forcibly evicted from the farm - his life's work. He lost everything he
owned in this exercise - the farm, all his equipment, vehicles, the coffee
mill, 350 hectares of coffee, and several hundred tonnes of raw coffee
beans and over 800 head of beef cattle. The combined value of these losses
is almost impossible to estimate - the land and buildings, perhaps Z$3
billion, the cattle, at least Z$1,6 billion, the coffee operation at least
another Z$4 billion. Add in the incidentals and you could come to a total
of Z$10 billion. That is about US$1,7 million. His 350 staff and their
families were evicted and are today destitute and living in an informal
squatter camp. His out growers in the local peasant-farming district are
without guidance or credit and have lost their market outlets in Europe. A
State controlled company has stolen the coffee, cattle and other moveable
assets and is trying to run the farm. The lodge is derelict. Roy and his
wife moved to a rented property outside Harare but even there they faced
harassment and intimidation. They were forced to move several times and
experienced further losses in the process. Roy continued to represent his
constituency and to secure development funds for the absolute poor in the
area. He rebuilt an irrigation scheme destroyed by a cyclone in 2002 and he
helped many individual families. When the time came for him to be
renominated by the people for the elections scheduled for March 2005 - he
received a unanimous nomination and was honored by the local community with
a "totem". A symbol of his acceptance in the community and a rare gesture.
In Parliament he steadfastly stood up against the lawlessness and thuggery
of Zanu PF. His fluent knowledge of Shona made him a formidable debater and
to say that he was hated and feared is not to put it too strongly. In a
speech to the House the Minister of Justice said that Roy was a "thief" and
that his forefathers had robbed the community. Faced with this slander and
coming after the years of harassment and violence directed against him and
his family and his community at large, Roy's restraint broke, he leapt over
the seat in front of him and strode over to the Minister and pushed him -
knocking him down in the process. Another Zanu Minister (Mutasa) a nasty
bit of work, came up behind Roy and kicked him - Roy turned and knocked him
down and then left the building. Now a committee of Parliament has sat and
sent Roy to Prison for 15 months with hard labor. It means he will loose
his seat in the House and his right to run as a candidate next year if the
MDC fights the election. It leaves his wife and two children without a
breadwinner and alone in a hostile environment for the next year at least.
If this had been an ordinary case of violence heard by a Magistrate, Roy
could not have been given a fine of more than Z$8000 (US$1.00). This, like
the treason charges against Morgan Tsvangirai, are purely political acts
designed to hinder the MDC's ability to fight the next election. There is
no justice in this act and there are no valid grounds for this decision.
This is just another sign that Zanu PF has run out of ideas and is
desperate and feels pressed against the wall politically. The incident with
COSATU also points in this direction. In Prison Roy will be regarded as a
hero - which he is and when we eventually win this struggle, you can be
sure the prisons will be packed with those who have flaunted the law in
defense of their own crimes.  People who look at this incident should not
lose sight of the fact that there have been over 400 political murders in
this country since the war on Roy began - not one has been prosecuted and
none of these culprits have been brought to book. Eddie Cross

Bulawayo, November 1st 2004.
______________________________________________

Letter 2.  Subject: Tesco/OLF

Dear sirs

Further to the correspondence about Tesco - I am interested in Sue
Shearer's reasons for defending Tesco's policy to buy produce from
Zimbabwe.

If I were to openly steal property or goods from Tesco, would they ( having
reported the fact to the police who then refused to take action because
they condoned the theft) accept that I be allowed to sell these goods if my
customers didn't care that they had been stolen from Tesco?

Let's face it - Tesco are dealing in stolen property and show themselves to
be gullible fools if they are hoodwinked into believing that the "Land
Issue" was anything to do with "Land-hungry masses." John Davey has hit the
nail on the head when he points out that profit margin is all that seems to
matter. What has happened to good old-fashioned moral ethics?

Mike Mylne
______________________________________________

Letter 3.  Subject: Mangetout

Dear JAG

While I totally agree with various sentiments regarding produce off invaded
farms, I have to point out that there are several farms still operating
under their legitimate owners, and these farms have been exporting
mangetout.  So before anyone climbs on a high horse, please take time out
to investigate, and get your facts straight before you put legitimate
people out of business. Thanks.

Ann Hein.
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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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE JAG TEAM

JAG Hotlines:
(091) 261 862 If you are in trouble or need advice,
(011) 205 374
(011) 863 354 please don't hesitate to contact us -
(011) 431 068
                                we're here to help!
263 4 799 410 Office Lines
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Zim Online

ZANU PF GURUS PLUNDER $50 BILLION AGRICULTURE FUND
Fri 5 November 2004

      HARARE - Senior government and ruling ZANU PF party officials have
looted a Z$50 billion state fund intended to assist poor black peasants
settled by the government on former white-owned farms, ZimOnline has
established.

      The fund was being administered by Agribank, a wholly state-owned bank
created by the government last year specifically to raise funds and
resources for black villagers resettled on white-owned farms under President
Robert Mugabe's often violent and chaotic land reform programme.

      The fund, created under the 2004 national budget, is now penniless
after ZANU PF and government officials, their relatives and friends helped
themselves to most of the money.

      A list of some of the senior government and ZANU PF officials who
looted the fund includes, Information Minister Jonathan Moyo, Local
Government Minister Ignatius Chombo, and Transport Minister Chris Mushowe.

      Air Force of Zimbabwe Commander Perence Shiri, Matabeleland North
Governor Obert Mpofu, Mashonaland West ZANU PF chairman Philip Chiyangwa and
former governor of the province, Peter Chanetsa, also feature prominently on
the list.

      A senior Agribank manager, who spoke anonymously for professional
reasons, said: "In addition to these, there are several other junior
government and ZANU PF officials who obtained various amounts of money from
the fund."

      Agribank chief executive officer Sam Malaba refused to discuss the
issue when contacted by this reporter citing bank/client confidentiality.
But sources at the bank said Malaba had already told the government that he
was unable to finance farmers this season because the fund was broke.

      But Agriculture Minister Joseph Made, under whose ambit the fund
falls, said the government had already ordered a probe into the fund. He
said: "There are investigations into the issue of money allocated to
Agribank and it is after the process has been completed that we will be able
to identify the culprits."

      Some of the senior politicians contacted by ZimOnline yesterday
admitted receiving money from the fund but said this was above board.

      Chiyangwa, who heads the quasi-government National Economic
Consultative Forum's anti-corruption committee, said: "Whatever I have
benefited was done above board."

      Air Force chief, Shiri admitted benefiting from the fund but said he
was unaware that the fund had been looted dry.

      Government and ZANU PF officials have also seized most of the best
land acquired under the land reforms with some of them taking as many as six
farms each. They have so far largely ignored pleas by Mugabe to return the
excess land.

      Meanwhile, agricultural production has plummeted by about 60 percent
since the farm invasions four years ago, chiefly because black families
resettled by the government on former white farms do not have funds to
acquire resources to maintain commercial production on
      the farms. - ZimOnline
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Zim Online

Protesters besiege SA deportation centre
Fri 5 November 2004

      JOHANNESBURG - A group of Zimbabweans and local sympathisers yesterday
demonstrated against the "appalling treatment" of asylum seekers at the
Lindela Deportation Centre just outside Johannesburg.

      Close to a 100 protesters, who gathered outside the centre, said an
increasing number of Zimbabweans were dying at the centre because of
beatings and other abuses at the hands of centre officials.

      The demonstrators, who accused both ordinary South Africans and
government officials of xenophobia, also alleged routine torture of
immigrants at the centre in breach of international conventions on the
treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.

      But South African Home Affairs officials denied the allegations saying
deaths at Lindela were because of illnesses inmates carried before they were
brought there.

      "While we cannot deny deaths at Lindela, allegations that these are
caused by torture are just not true," said South African Home Affairs
spokesman, Nkosana Sibuyi.

      The protests, which come after a series of reports carried by local
papers earlier this week detailing ill-treatment of detainees at Lindela,
were organised by the Southern African Women's Institute for Migration
Issues and the Solidarity Peace Trust, a Zimbabwean NGO based in
Johannesburg.

      According to the demonstrators - who marched to Lindela carrying a
coffin draped in a Zimbabwean flag symbolising the death of detainees at the
centre - pregnant women and those with children bore the worst at the centre
where they were being forced to share
      overcrowded cells with other inmates.

      They said once locked up at Lindela, asylum seekers would never have
an opportunity to have their cases properly evaluated as they were denied
access to immigration officials.

      Zimbabwean detainees, some of them fleeing their home country because
political violence, were also denied access to food and health care.

      Detainees were routinely loaded onto a train and taken to Beitbridge
border post where they face further harassment and torture by militias of
Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU PF party.

      A South African activist, who helped organise the demonstration,
Emilly Welman, said most Zimbabwean immigrants being deported out of South
African were legitimate asylum seekers.

      She said: "We have come here to remind South African officials that
the same Zimbabweans they are treating so shabbily sacrificed a lot for the
freedom that we South Africans are now enjoying.

      "It is therefore simply inhuman for South Africans to treat these
asylum seekers this way. Zimbabweans are coming here not because South
Africa is a land of milk and honey. They are being forced into exile because
of obvious political reasons."

      The protesters marched to Lindela carrying a coffin wrapped in a
Zimbabwean flag to symbolise people who have either died in detention at
Lindela or as a result of the general crisis in Zimbabwe.

      Asylum seekers who claimed to have undergone dehumanising treatment at
Lindela gave their testimonies. Family members of an asylum seeker who died
at the centre were also among the crowd.

      The protesters handed a petition demanding appropriate treatment of
asylum seekers to a Mr Norris, understood to be an official at the centre.

      Sibuyi said South African Home Affairs Minister Nosibiwe
Mapisa-Nqakula had given instructions that women who are pregnant should not
stay at Lindela for seven days as well as those with kids.

      He said the directive was being followed. He also said the grievances
raised by the protestors would be looked at and an appropriate response
formulated.

      But Sibuyi dismissed some of the grievances saying they were baseless.
He insisted conditions at Lindela were habitable and in line with
international conventions on the treatment of refugees. - ZimOnline
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Zim Online

No evidence of mass starvation in Zimbabwe, says SA
Fri 5 November 2004

      CAPE TOWN - South Africa said it would intervene in Zimbabwe with food
assistance only if it got evidence that people "are falling dead due to
starvation in the streets of Harare."

      Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad told the South African
parliament that his country would only wait for "concrete information" about
the starvation of Zimbabweans before considering any intervention.

      Such evidence would be the visible starvation of people in the streets
of Harare.

      "Our high commissioner has not reported that hundreds of people are
falling dead due to starvation in the streets of Harare," said Pahad adding
that there was hence no need for anyone to panic.

      Pahad said the South African government would also intervene "if and
when" it got evidence that President Robert Mugabe was manipulating food for
electoral purposes.

      He was responding to questions by the opposition Democratic Alliance's
chief whip Douglas Gibson who referred to a recent Amnesty International
report which warned of massive food shortages in Zimbabwe  and accused the
Zimbabwean government of using food as
      a political weapon to punish opposition Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) supporters.

      "There are millions of our brothers and sisters there (in Zimbabwe)
who are on verge of starvation - 5.5 million Africans. I care about them,"
Gibson said.

      While acknowledging Gibson's concern for the people of Zimbabwe, Pahad
nonetheless said there was "no indication" that President Mugabe's
government was interfering with the food situation by using it as a weapon
to punish opponents.

      If such evidence came to light, SA would intervene.

      "I'm happy that the honourable Gibson is concerned about people. I
didn't think he had it in him....," said Pahad.

      "There is however no concrete information that there is mass
starvation and that people in Zimbabwe are dying in their thousands because
there is government manipulation of food policy.

      "If and when there is mass starvation in Zimbabwe and our high
commissioner is able to report that, then obviously we will expect him and
the Zimbabwean government to ask for further assistance," Pahad said.

      He said the SA government would however monitor any allegations raised
by non-governmental organisations.

      "If we are given some concrete evidence about these allegations that
the Zimbabwean government is denying access to grain to supporters of the
opposition MDC, we will then consider what to do.

      "Zimbabwe is not the tenth province of South Africa and therefore if
we want to help the Zimbabweans find a Zimbabwean solution, there is a way
we must act and get involved." - ZimOnline
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Zim Online

UN warns of impending food crisis in Zimbabwe
Fri 5 November 2004

      JOHANNESBURG - The United Nations (UN) said yesterday the food
situation in Zimbabwe remained critical despite the Zimbabwe government's
claims that it has enough food to see it through to the next harvest.

      "There is belt-tightening going on and we think that between now and
the next harvest, it is unlikely to improve," the UN's World Food Programme
(WFP) regional director for southern Africa Mike Sackett said.

      He said food prices were already rising sharply in the southern parts
of the country - a possible sign of tough times to come, particularly for
the poor.

      Sackett said the WFP was ready to provide 100 000 tonnes of food aid
to Zimbabwe over the coming three years but only if President Robert
Mugabe's government makes the request.

      Sackett spoke as the WFP launched a US$68 million appeal to feed
hungry people in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia beginning
next January up to December 2007.

      While Zimbabwe was not among the five southern African countries
targeted for this relief aid, the WFP said it had set up an "emergency
window of 100 000 tonnes" to help the needy in Zimbabwe.

      "We are keeping a very close eye on the situation," said Sackett,
citing concerns over the rising food prices that he said were causing
hardships, particularly in the southern Masvingo province.

      "We are in discussion with the government about the impact of high
prices on low-income families," he said.

      Mugabe said early this year that Zimbabwe had produced enough food to
feed its own people. He spurned food aid telling donors to take their food
elsewhere because "we will choke with this food".

      But analysts insist that the country has not produced enough food
since most of the farms seized from white farmers are lying fallow. The
Grain Marketing Board (GMB) said in September that it expected to receive
750 000 tonnes of maize this season, way below the
      country's annual needs of nearly two millions tonnes.

      It is widely suspected that the government has inflated the harvest
projections because it wants to be in charge of the distribution of the
maize it is surreptitiously importing to cover any shortfalls, to buy votes
ahead of the March parliamentary elections. - ZimOnline.
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Zim Online

Econet bosses still in custody
Fri 5 November 2004

      HARARE - Two top executives of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and a lawyer
for the company who were arrested on Wednesday were still in police custody
by late last night.

      Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena told state television that Econet
chief executive officer, Douglas Mboweni, customer services director, John
Pattison and legal consultant, Anthony Eastwood, were being detained at
Harare central police station over allegations they failed to remit US$4
million to Zimbabwe.

      Econet is owned by Johannesburg-based businessman, Strive Masiyiwa,
who also owned Zimbabwe's biggest and only privately-owned daily paper, the
Daily News. The Daily News and its sister publication, the Daily News on
Sunday, were shut down by the government last year.

      Masiyiwa could not be reached for comment last night on the arrest of
his workers.

      Econet, which was awarded a licence to operate by the High Court after
a gruelling five-year legal battle against the government, is Zimbabwe's
biggest GSM mobile network.

      Police earlier this week also arrested the chairman of another mobile
phone network, James Makamba, for allegedly externalising foreign currency.
Makamba was picked up at Harare international airport as he prepared to
leave Zimbabwe.

      Two other Telecel officials Anthony Carter and Edward Mutsvairo were
also arrested.

      Finance Minister Chris Kuruneri is in jail awaiting trial after he was
also arrested by police under an anti-corruption crackdown by the government
launched at the beginning of this year. - ZimOnline
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Zim Online

New ZANU PF membership card to boost party coffers
Fri 5 November 2004

      HARARE - The ruling ZANU PF party, which is understood to be
desperately looking for cash to pay for its congress next month, has hiked
membership fees by more than 6 000 percent, ZimOnline has learnt.

      Registered members of the party will be required to renew their
membership by paying a Z$5 000 fee. Those joining the party for the first
time will also pay the same amount. Previously it cost only $82 to buy the
ZANU PF membership card.

      The party had raised close to $2 billion for its watershed congress
but cannot recover the money as it is trapped in three financial
institutions which collapsed earlier this year.

      ZANU PF finance secretary David Karimanzira told party members from
the various provinces that the party had decided to replace its old
membership card with a new one which all supporters had to purchase to
retain their membership.

      Asked by ZimOnline whether the move was not just a ploy by the party
to raise money for its congress from ordinary Zimbabweans, Karimanzira
retorted: "The party has always been raising money and this is one way of
doing so."

      Several thousands of Zimbabweans mostly in rural areas, including
those who do not support ZANU PF, have been forced to buy the party's
membership card in order to save themselves from the party's militia who
beat up and torture anyone not holding the card.

      And the party could reap a financial windfall as many Zimbabweans
fearful of increasing political violence ahead of next year's general
election are most likely to buy the new ZANU PF membership card for safety
and security. - ZimOnline

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