Harare - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe issued a stark warning on
Friday to critics of his government, saying "enough is enough".
In what
appeared to be a threat to implement his government's threat to confiscate
passports from opponents, the 81-year-old president told his ruling party's
central committee that critics were trying to "wreck the country".
"Those
who have been treasonously calling and campaigning for sanctions and illegal
pressures against our country and people are now the most scared," Mugabe said
in comments carried by state television.
"They would rather we let them
free to exploit our democratic disposition so they can continue to wreck our
country. Let them now be warned, for enough is enough," he said.
Last
month the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF)
pushed through amendments to the country's constitution that will allow the
government to confiscate passports from those deemed to threaten the "national
interest".
Government critics, civil rights leaders and members of the
opposition are considered the most likely to be targeted by the new travel
restrictions.
Mugabe and members of his governement and party have been
stung by travel bans and asset freezes imposed on them by Britain, the United
States and the European Union for their alleged rights abuses.
The
longtime Zimbabwean president says his government is being punished for
launching a land reform programme five years ago that has seen the seizure of
thousands of white-owned farms for redistribution to black
farmers.
Another controversial change to the constitution made last month
makes it impossible for whites to challenge the takeover of their farms in
court. - Sapa-dpa
Zimbabwe c.bank chief slams new farm seizures - papers
Fri Sep 30, 2005 3:22
PM GMT
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's central bank governor has slammed a
new wave of farm seizures in the country, branding the invaders "criminals" and
warning their actions may hurt its already struggling economy, newspapers said
on Friday. Government-backed seizures of white-owned commercial farms for
redistribution to landless blacks largely halted a year ago, but there have been
unconfirmed reports of new farm invasions in eastern Zimbabwe in recent
weeks. In the past few months, Central bank governor Gideon Gono has spoken
out against what he describes as the under-use of land by some black farmers who
benefited from the controversial land reform programme. But it is not clear
how widely his views are held in President Robert Mugabe's government, which on
September 18 nullifed more than 4,000 court cases brought by white farmers
challenging the forced acquisition of their land. "Those invading farms now
are criminals," Gono was quoted as saying by the privately-owned weekly Zimbabwe
Independent during a tour of agriculture projects just outside Harare. "Where
were they when others were being allocated land? The invasions are totally
unacceptable and should be stopped forthwith by whoever is doing it," he
said. The constitutional changes signed into law two weeks ago also
effectively nationalised all white-owned farms. Gono told the official Herald
daily that the new invasions may have a negative impact on Zimbabwe's economy,
which relies heavily on agriculture and has shrunk by about a third in the past
six years. "This would cause some disruptions in agriculture activities and
as central bank, we do not condone such action," he said. In May, Gono called
on the government to allow some white farmers back on land seized for
redistribution to blacks, to help revive an economy on the brink of
collapse. Critics say the land expropriation is partly responsible for waning
commercial agriculture and food shortages since 2001, as new black farmers
battle to raise production amid lack of funding, agricultural inputs and
commercial farming skills. Gono told the Independent the government would
repossess land not used properly by the new farmers. "Under-utilisation of
the land knows no status," Gono said. "It cuts across the board, but
government will not hesitate to repossess land not being used
productively." Mugabe has defended farm seizures as necessary to correct
colonial imbalances that left 70 percent of the richest land in the hands of a
few white farmers. The veteran 81-year-old leader says the economy, in its
sixth year of recession, is a victim of sabotage by foes opposed to the land
reforms and says the changes to the constitution will finally settle any dispute
over the farm seizures.
Zimbabwe's central bank chief has called for a halt to farm invasions,
calling those who try to seize land "criminals". Gideon Gono, the reserve bank
governor, is quoted in a newspaper report as saying the invasions are totally
unacceptable and should be stopped immediately.
Gono's comments come in
the wake of at least two land seizures in the small town of Chipinge in
south-eastern Zimbabwe last week. Five farmers have been forced off farms in the
past weeks in Manicaland province. In one case, Dave Wilding-Davies, a Canadian
coffee-farm owner, said he was leaving his farm after his farm manager was
assaulted by an armed mob. Since 2000, Zimbabwe has seized some 4 000 farms and
redistributed them to landless blacks under its land reform programme.
The reserve bank governor's major worry is generating foreign currency
from agricultural exports. With the growing season just beginning, he believes
farm invasions are uncalled for.
End of an era Gono says the
era of land allocations and farm invasions is over. He says it is now time for
Zimbabwe to concern itself with productivity. Gono says anyone involved in
invasions is working against economic stability and foreign currency generation.
He said he was commenting not as a politician but as an economist and manager of
Zimbabwe's foreign exchange.
However the government does not share his
views. Patrick Chinamasa, the justice minister, has stressed that there will be
a mopping-up exercise to draw in those farms he says 'escaped the net'.
Chinamasa says all such farms will be accounted for and gazetted for
acquisition. - Sapa
Movement for Democratic Change President Morgan Tsvangirai, stopping just
short of declaring himself on whether the opposition should take part in the
senate elections set to be held by the end of the year, is articulating
arguments against doing so.
The leading opposition party is seeking the views of members around the
country on the matter, and its national executive council will meet next week to
consider whether to field candidates for the 50 senate seats to be filled by
direct election.
Another 15 upper house seats will be directly filled by President Robert
Mugabe.
The MDC faces something of a quandary in the decision it must make on the
senate: participate in an institution whose legitimacy it challenges, or boycott
senate elections and leave the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic
Front a clear field.
The senate has been reinstituted by one the constitutional amendments rammed
through parliament in August by the ruling party over MDC objections using the
two-thirds majority secured in March general elections amid charges of
vote-rigging.
Other constitutional amendments contained in the same legislation, signed
into law by President Mugabe September 9, swept aside judicial recourse for
those from whom the government has seized farmland, disenfranchised hundreds of
thousands of voters of foreign origin, and empowered the government to bar
foreign travel.
Mr. Tsvangirai tells reporter Carole Gombakomba of VOA’s Studio 7 for
Zimbabwe that he doesn’t consider it necessary to contest the senate elections,
but in any case will leave the final decision in the matter to the party’s
members and executive.
Despite having legalized the use of U.S. dollars and other hard currencies to
purchase fuel amidst critical shortages, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor
Gideon Gono has stated his opposition to full dollarization of the national
economy.
The government-controlled Herald newspaper reported that Mr. Gono spelled
this out to a group of traders from the country's Asian community, explaining
that making the dollar legal tender for fuel purchases was an exceptional
measure.
The Herald quoted Gono as saying that "to extend (the policy) to other
products and services would be tantamount to dollarization of the economy."
But the central bank's decision to authorize certain outlets to sell gasoline
or diesel for dollars or South African rand - also in wide circulation along
with the pound sterling - made the dollar the currency of choice among fuel
sellers and accelerated the depreciation of the Zimbabwean dollar against the
U.S. dollar.
Even government agencies are reported to have been obliged to acquire fuel on
the parallel market, and official flows have further weighed on the local
currency.
Currently the U.S. dollar is trading on the street at around Z$75,000, three
times the official rate of $26,000 set by the central bank in its weekly forex
auctions. This has heightened expectation of yet another official devaluation of
the currency.
Reporter Patience Rusere of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe spoke with analyst
Dennis Mandudzo, a Zimbabwean now based in Stanford, California, who concludes
that dollarization of the economy is already taking place and should be
formalized.
Zimbabwe to import more maize seed from South Africa
Relief Web
HARARE, Sept 30, 2005
(Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The Seed Traders Association said on Friday to date
it has imported more than 3,500 tons of maize seed out of the 15,000 expected to
be procured from neighboring South Africa to supplement local supplies.
"We are still in the process of importing more seed but the shortage of fuel
is affecting our operations since most of the truckers are Zimbabwean," said
Seed Traders Association Chairman Themba Nkatazo.
He called on farmers not to panic as the situation was under control, adding
however that the distribution of seed throughout the country was slow due to
erratic fuel supplies.
Pannar and Pioneer seed companies pledged in July this year that they would
import 15,000 tons of seed from South Africa to augment local production as the
country has been failing to produce enough seed due to persistent droughts over
the past few years.
The country requires more than 60,000 tons of seed every year to meet the
requirements of farmers and seed houses have resorted to imports to reduce the
deficit.
Zimbabwe's coach Charles Mhlauri is determined to beat
Nigeria
Zimbabwe coach
Charles Mhlauri has vowed to ruin Nigeria's hopes of qualifying for next year's
World Cup finals when the two teams meet on 8 October.
The Warriors face the Super Eagles in their final Group Four qualifier in
Abuja - a tie for which Mhlauri on Friday named a squad of 24, three of them
based in Europe.
Zimbabwe's World Cup dreams have long been extinguished but the Nigerians are
still in the frame although their fate is not entirely in their own hands.
The Super Eagles must win the Abuja encounter and hope that Angola draw or
lose in Rwanda on the same day.
But Mhlauri told BBC Sport all he wants is a win against Nigeria.
"It's not my business to worry about who will go to the World Cup from our
group," the 36-year-old coach said.
"All I want and the nation wants is a positive result in Nigeria. There's no
doubt about it - we're going flat out for a win."
Ironically, Mhlauri took over as national coach after Rahman Gumbo was sacked
last year - a move triggered by the Warriors' 3-0 defeat to the Super Eagles in
Harare.
"National pride is of paramount importance when we play. We're using the game
to prepare for the future and assess our team ahead of the Nations Cup finals so
there'll be no reason to relax.
"The hostile atmosphere in Nigeria will give my players a good idea of what
to expect in Egypt next year. Nigerians will only underrate us at their own
risk."
Although the Warriors are playing only for their pride, Mhlauri has called up
a strong squad dominated by players based in South Africa.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Energy Murambadoro (CAPS United), Gift Muzadzi
(Buymore), Tapuwa Kapini (Highlanders)
Defenders: Dumisani Mpofu (Bush Bucks, South Africa), Zvenyika
Makonese (Santos, South Africa), James Matola (Buymore), Method Mwanjali
(Shabanie) Charles Yohanne (Wits University, South Africa), Obert Moyo (Whange),
Cephas Chimedza (Germinal Beerschot, Belgium)
Midfielders: Ronald Sibanda (AmaZulu), Joel Luphahla (SuperSport,
South Africa), Ashley Rambanepasi (CAPS United), Francis Chandida (Buymore),
Esrom Nyandoro (Sundowns, South Africa), Clement Matawu (Motor Action), Leo
Kurauzvione (Dynamos), Honour Gombami (Highlanders)
Strikers: Peter Ndlovu (Sundowns, South Africa), Shingi Kawondera
(unattached), Leonard Tsipa (CAPS United), Sageby Sandaka (AmaZulu), Brian Badza
(Germinal Beerschot, Belgium), Benjani Mwaruwari (AJ Auxerre, France).
ZIMBABWE: Price of ARVs rockets in declining economy
Reuters/IRIN
30 Sep
2005 15:26:21 GMT
JOHANNESBURG, 30 September (IRIN) - HIV-positive
Zimbabweans are reeling from a dramatic increase in the price of anti-AIDS
drugs, which has quadrupled the cost of the life-prolonging medication in the
past three months. In July, a month's supply of a fixed-dose combination of
antiretrovirals (ARVs) went up from Zim $200,000 (US $7.70) to Zim $450,000 (US
$17) and now costs up to Zim $1.2 million (US $46) in most pharmacies.
Activists have warned that in the current economic climate, these price
hikes could have critical repercussions for patients on treatment. Zimbabwe,
which has the world's fourth highest rate of HIV infection, is going through a
severe economic crisis with serious fuel and food shortages due to recurring
droughts and the government's fast-track land redistribution programme, which
have disrupted agricultural production and slashed export earnings. "People
are giving up [their] drugs - they have to choose between feeding and educating
their kids or taking ARVs. It's becoming more of a struggle to get the basic
necessities ... ARVs are way down on their list of priorities," said Lynde
Francis, who runs The Centre, an HIV/AIDS NGO with 4,500 registered clients.
Francis warned that people who were forced to interrupt their treatment
regimen because they could no longer afford to buy the drugs were putting their
health at risk. "These drugs need to be taken continuously ... any kind of
hiccup can cause resistance [to the ARVs]," she noted. Nevertheless, David
Parirenyatwa, Zimbabwe's Minister of Health and Child Welfare, told IRIN that
the government's treatment programme continued selling the drugs at the same
price - Zim $50,000 (US $2) - and would continue to be heavily subsidised by the
state, protecting patients from price fluctuations. Although the price of
ARVs remained constant in the state-run treatment programme, Francis pointed out
that the same could not be said of transport fees, the cost of drugs for
opportunistic infections and laboratory exams. "There's a huge amount of hidden
costs [in the national treatment programme], and these things have become
cripplingly expensive," she said. Parirenyatwa noted that the public rollout
of ARVs would also feel the pinch. "I anticipate that patients in the private
sector will be jumping over to the public sector, so we need to expand our
capacities to be able to absorb them," he added. While it was difficult to
quantify the number of people accessing ARVs in the private sector, "it should
be a significant amount - you cannot ignore the companies [providing drugs to
employees] and the people who prefer to use pharmacies," Parirenyatwa said.
A source in the pharmaceutical industry, who asked not be named, admitted
that "it is the private sector which is currently facing a crisis" because it
was experiencing shortages and had to use stock loaned from the public
programme. In 2002 the government declared a state of emergency over
HIV/AIDS, allowing the importation and local manufacture of cheaper generic
drugs. According to Douglas Shoniwa, president of the Retail Pharmacists
Association, even local generic drug manufacturers were being hamstrung by the
scarcity of foreign currency. "They need to import raw materials to make the
ARVs, but they lack foreign currency," he said. The country also had to face
this added economic burden with very little external financing. Western donors
froze aid to Zimbabwe in response to its controversial land reform programme and
reports of violence and intimidation during the 2000 and 2002 elections.
"The criminal politicisation of AIDS by the Global Fund, PEPFAR [US
President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief] and other donors [has resulted in
an] obscenely low amount of aid coming in," Francis commented. Last year the
Global Fund rejected Zimbabwe's request for US $218 million over five years for
"technical reasons". Parirenyatwa accused the Geneva-based agency of political
bias, which the Global Fund strongly denied. Despite these setbacks,
Parirenyatwa was optimistic that the country's application to the Global Fund
would be successful. "If we can't get money from the Global Fund or PEPFAR, we
will have to do as much as we can on our own," he commented. According to
the World Health Organisation's (WHO) progress report on its '3 by 5'
initiative, an estimated 15,000 of the 295,000 Zimbabweans who need treatment
are receiving it. The government has declared a national treatment target of
55,000 people by the end of 2005.
JOHANNESBURG - South
African and Zimbabwean government officials are set to meet next week to resume
talks on a US$500 million loan to the embattled Harare authorities.
A senior South African government official Logan Wort told the Press that
officials in Pretoria were constantly in touch with their Harare counterparts on
progress concerning the loan deal.
The South African government agreed in early August to extend a US$500
million loan to Harare to avert economic collapse in its troubled northern
neighbour.
But Pretoria also attached a set of tough conditions on the loan. Among the
conditions, South Africa insisted that President Robert Mugabe engages the main
opposition Movement for Democratic Change party in talks in search of a
negotiated solution to Zimbabwe's five year political and economic crisis.
The Zimbabwean leader has however rejected talks with the opposition party
which he labels a puppet of Western governments which is out to reverse the
gains of the liberation struggle.
Pretoria has also demanded that Mugabe repeals harsh pieces of legislation
used to silence the private media and other divergent voices.
Mugabe needs hard cash to pay off a US$175 million debt to the International
Monetary Fund after making a surprise US$120 million payment last month that
helped save the country from being expelled from the Fund.
The country also needs the South African money to pay for badly needed fuel
and food. The country is facing serious fuel and food shortages with at least
four million Zimbabweans, a third of the country's population, in need of food
aid this year or they will starve. - ZimOnline
While Robert Mugabe is downplaying the unfolding humanitarian crisis in
Zimbabwe, we have received reports that there are people dying from hunger in
the Midlands province. Two children allegedly died from hunger in Silobela three
weeks ago. It is reported that people in that area have resorted to eating
mujumbura (roots) as there is virtually no food in the Midlands North. An MDC
Information Officer for the province, who prefers to remain anonymous, said some
members of the Zebron family who live in the Dambridge area of Silobela were
rushed to hospital when they fell ill as a result of having no other diet except
for tree roots. Three family members survived except for two children, Jabson
and Sandiso Zebron. Their funeral was attended by the MDC MP for Kwekwe Blessing
Chebundo. Areas worst affected are Chiundura, Mbizo, Zhombe, Sanyati and Gokwe.
Most people who are in these areas are victims of ‘Operation Murambatsvina" and
they are living in the bushes. The MDC Information officer alleges that some
Zanu PF councillors are still politicising the little amount of food that is
being distributed. He said Robert Mugabe’s recent utterances at the United
Nations summit outraged many people. Mugabe told journalists that people are not
hungry in Zimbabwe, they just don’t want to eat other foods like potatoes. The
information officer said only those who can afford it buy potatoes and rice. But
these people are in the minority because potatoes are so expensive they are a
luxury. A 2kg bag of rice costs Z$ 175 000, and bread
The Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), which has wrested control
of private newspapers in a publicly funded covert operation, has forced out
Zimbabwe Mirror Newspapers Group CEO and editor-in-chief Ibbo Mandaza.
Intelligence sources said yesterday Mandaza - after weeks of determined
resistance to remain entrenched in the media house -had eventually been muscled
out. He is expected to quit the company he founded in 1997 on December 31. An
evaluation of the Mirror group, whose assets are in dispute, would be done and
Mandaza would get his terminal cheque. "Mandaza is expected to quit on December
31 after he lost the struggle for the Mirror papers," a source told the Zimbabwe
Independent. "The issue has now been settled and he will be paid off. He could
have gone earlier but said he wanted to remain for the sake of the over 100
staff members." Mandaza's ejection came after he was summoned by State
Security minister Didymus Mutasa on September 19 for an emergency meeting at his
office. The meeting was also attended by CIO director-general Happyton Bonyongwe
and disputed Mirror chair Jonathan Kadzura. Sources said Kadzura told the
meeting the Mirror "board" - dominated by former CIO officers Thomas James Meke,
John Marangwanda, Charm Ndaba Mukuwane and Alexander Kanengoni - had adopted
Ernst & Young's forensic audit. He said the report uncovered siphoning of
money from the Mirror to Mandaza's origination firm, Pre-Print Services, and
other companies. At least $507 million was paid to Pre-Print and $1,7 billion to
Southern African Research Consultancy (Sarc). It was claimed Mandaza had
diverted as much as $10 billion. However, Mandaza confronted Kadzura, saying the
report did not say what he claimed. Mandaza said the report was just a draft and
it never mentioned any misappropriation of funds. Ernst & Young presented
its report to the Kadzura faction on September 12 and to the Mandaza camp, which
includes Ambassador Buzwani Mothobi and Amy Tsanga, last Friday. Ernst &
Young told the Mandaza faction yesterday its disputed report had not yet been
finalised. A document compiled by a former Pre-Print employee was attached to
the Ernst & Young report to back allegations against Mandaza. But Mandaza
dismissed the document, allegedly drafted in Mukuwane's office, as false.
Mothobi said yesterday the Ernst & Young report was the product of a
fraudulent board meeting which purportedly resolved on a forensic audit. "The
report was triggered by a purported board resolution when in fact there was no
such meeting nor resolution," Mothobi said. "Consequently, in retrospect, the
whole thing was clearly contrived to achieve certain objectives either of a
group or particular individuals. The haste with which it was claimed the report
had been finalised and adopted - when in fact this wasn't the case at all -
further proves there were hidden agendas being pursued." Kadzura said two
weeks ago he would issue a "comprehensive statement" on these issues. The
Kadzura and Mandaza factions were said to have worked well with each other until
a highly-charged October 25 2004 meeting attended by former State Security
minister Nicholas Goche, Bonyongwe, Mandaza and Kadzura to discuss the media
deal. After a series of dramatic events, Mandaza was said to have informed
Mutasa on September 20 following their meeting the day before, he was prepared
to leave as demanded by the CIO but only if they paid for the 70% shareholding
secured under dispute. Mandaza put his message to Mutasa in writing on September
21. A reply to Mandaza's letter was understood to have come on Tuesday. The CIO
accepted his departure date. Prior to that, there had been battles over the
issue of the CIO presence at the Mirror, "board" meetings, and company assets
and debt guarantees. On September 14, Marangwanda wrote to Mandaza on the Mirror
shareholding structure and Shareholders' Agreement of Intent, still a sticking
point. Sources said Mandaza replied to Marangwanda on September 16, saying
the CIO had not complied with a provision of the agreement because it had
refused to sign the Deed of Indemnity prepared by AMG Global and lodge
securities with the Jewel Bank, the Mirror's bankers. It was said the CIO had
tried to force Jewel Bank last year in June to cancel his sureties guaranteeing
the company debt of $20 billion. Jewel Bank refused to do so. The sources said
Mandaza was forced out in a chaotic hostile take-over after his efforts to use
shark repellent tactics failed. The CIO would now keep an effective 70% majority
control, while a new consortium of local tycoons will grab Mandaza's 30% stake.
The allotment of Mirror shares by AMG Global was done in mid 2002. Unique World
Investments got 51%, Zinstabel 19% and Mandaza 30% through Southern African
Printing and Publishing House (Sappho), now split into printing and publishing
entities. However, payment took much longer. Unique - based at 23 New Africa
House on Kwame Nkrumah Avenue - signed and paid $500 million on November 28 2003
and then $124 million on January 28 2004. Zinstabel paid $150 million on August
4 2003 and $100 million in November 2003. The agreement was supposed to have
been signed on July 31 2003 - the day Mandaza signed and payments done the
following day, August 1. When the fight for control erupted, Mandaza wanted
to pay back the $824 million injected by Unique and Zinstabel, but the CIO
reminded him the $17,7 billion to the Mirror from the central bank also came
courtesy of them. About $10 billion was released to the Mirror in July after a
meeting attended by Mutasa, Bonyongwe, central bank governor Gideon Gono, and
officials of the Mirror board and management. The money was paid to printers who
were owed $6 billion. About $2 billion went to the Mirror and $400 million to
Kadzura for newsprint and other costs. About $300 million paid August salaries
(September salaries are still due), $300 million to Sarc, $1 billion to
Pre-Print, $650 million for newsprint, and $224 million to meet other expenses.
But Mandaza - who claims to have subsidised the Mirror to the tune of $875
million lately - wants billions for services rendered from January to June.
Sources said signs Mandaza was not wanted actually started at the July meeting.
However, events took a dramatic twist on August 19 when Mutasa decided the CIO
had no business in newspapers. He later changed his mind. Chronology of
events July 2002, allotment of Mirror shares: Unique World Investments 51%,
Zinstabel 19% and Sappho 30%. July 31 2003, Mandaza signs Shareholders'
Agreement of Intent. August 1, 2003, Unique and Zinstabel expected to pay for
equities. August 4, 2003, Zinstabel pays $150 million before paying $100
million in November the same year. Zinstabel signed agreement in November
2004. November 28, 2003, Unique pays $500 million as first
instalment. January 28, 2004, Unique pays a further $124 million after
signing the agreement. February 10, 2004, Unique and Zinstabel refuse to sign
Deed of Indemnity prepared by AMG Global. May 5, 2004, letter to Mirror from
Gollop & Blank on Deed of Indemnity. May 6, 2004, Unique and Zinstabel
again refuse to sign Deed of Indemnity. May 7, 2004, first Mirror board
meeting. Gollop & Blank letter discussed and a resolution made that Unique
and Zinstabel should provide requisite securities and indemnities. June 23,
2004, Kadzura writes to Jewel Bank to cancel Mandaza securities. June 25,
2004, Jewel Bank CEO responds to Kadzura's letter, stating the bank could not
cancel Mandaza's securities. October 25, 2004, meeting between Goche,
Bonyongwe, Mandaza and Kadzura. January 3, 2005 Kanengoni comes in as Mirror
deputy editor-in-chief to Mandaza after being deployed by the CIO. He is paid
$23 million in allowances a month without an employment contract. Kanengoni
suspended on August 18 in the wake of mediagate disclosures before being fired
on August 30. July 2005, meeting between Mutasa, Bonyongwe, Mandaza and
Kadzura. Central bank releases $10 billion. Resolved to call for a forensic
audit of Mirror finances. August 12, mediagate story broken by the
Independent. August 19, Mutasa decides the CIO had no business in
newspapers. August 22, Mutasa tells a Mirror official during lunch the CIO
has no business in the media but changes later. September 12, Ernst &
Young presents audit report to Kadzura faction. Report presented to Mandaza camp
on Friday last week. September 14, Marangwanda writes to Mandaza over Mirror
shareholding structure and securities. September 15, Mandaza invited to a
"board" meeting by Kadzura faction. He refuses. September 16, Mandaza replies
to Marangwanda's letter. September 19, Mutasa summons Mandaza for a meeting
also attended by Bonyongwe and Kadzura. Mandaza told to go. September 20,
Mandaza informs Mutasa he was prepared to leave on December 31 if paid
off. September 21, Mandaza puts his message to Mutasa in
writing. September 26, Mandaza meets Gono for the first time since
disclosures. September 27, Mutasa replies to Mandaza's accepting his decision
to quit due to pressure. September 29 (yesterday), Mutasa/Mandaza meeting
called off.
Harare - President Robert Mugabe was quoted in the state media this
week as saying Zimbabwe would accept grain from the United Nations, but he wants
it distributed by traditional leaders. The president made the statement as the
summer heat was beginning, and many communities are crying out for food aid. The
Zimbabwe government has admitted in the state media that by December people in
some areas of the country will need food aid. But officials are insisting, in
public at least, that traditional leaders distribute the food aid, which is
being donated mainly by the United States, Britain, and the European Union.
President Mugabe told the Herald newspaper, that traditional leaders were best
equipped to handle the distribution. He said non-governmental organizations had
political agendas and he had relayed his views to UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan during their recent meeting in New York. Opposition member of
parliament Welshman Ncube, from Southern Zimbabwe, says food aid is needed now.
He says it is not only rural people who need food, but those in urban areas like
second-city Bulawayo in the dry Matabelaland Province. Mr. Ncube says hunger is
obvious in the streets of Bulawayo, and in particular in the high density
townships. He says people have no food in their homes, they have no resources
for medical treatment, or even funds to bury their dead. Mr. Ncube says many
traditional leaders were part of the ruling Zanu PF and would not distribute
food fairly when, and if, it is allowed into the country. "Our view is clearly
that Mugabe is forever playing politics, dirty, wicked politics," he said.
"Mugabe has appropriated the institution of traditional leaders and is using it
as an instrument of coercion against people, which is why he is so determined to
ensure that they are the ones who distribute food, they are the ones who produce
lists of Zanu PF members they give food to, only Zanu PF, they are the front
line soldiers today of Zanu PF wickedness in the communities." The opposition
leader says non-governmental organizations would be better positioned to
distribute food aid because they are professional and have a reputation in
Zimbabwe for being fair. "The reason Mugabe does not want food to be distributed
by the NGOs is precisely because he will not control that food in order to
manipulate the rural communities, people will then be free to exercise their
political choice," he added. "The international community must continue to
insist that if there is to be any food aid that food has to be distributed
through non partisan NGO communities who are blind to political affiliation of
individuals and give food to every Zimbabwean who is hungry, MDC, Zanu PF or
apolitical." The United Nations estimates up to four million people, or a third
of the population of Zimbabwe will need emergency food aid between now and
harvest time in April. Most humanitarian agencies have refused to speak on the
record to journalists in Zimbabwe, saying privately that if they do the
government might be offended and limit their ability to alleviate suffering.
Foreign donors say the United Nations is busy preparing for food aid to be
distributed beginning at the end of October, a month later than planned
earlier.
Mutare – Former ruling Zanu PF party secretary general Edgar Tekere has
rejoined the party almost 16 years after he was dismissed by President Robert
Mugabe. Tekere, expelled from Zanu PF in 1988 after opposing plans by Mugabe to
turn Zimbabwe into a China-style one party state, told Zim Online he had
rejoined the party as an ordinary card carrying member. "I have resumed my
membership to the party (Zanu PF)," said Tekere, who together with Mugabe walked
several hundred kilometres from white-ruled Rhodesia (Zimbabwe’s name before
independence) to neighbouring Mozambique to prosecute the independence struggle
from there. I am a card carrying member although I participate in major
activities especially issues that relate to the war veterans because I am the
patron of war veterans in Manicaland - I enjoy a lot of respect within the party
(Zanu PF)," he said. Tekere, who formed the Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM)
opposition party after his expulsion, would not elaborate on the reasons he was
rejoining Zanu PF. But insiders said Tekere, who remained close to most Zanu PF
politicians even after his dismissal, was rejoining the party after being
promised a position in the new Senate the government wants in place by year-end.
"What I know is that Tekere has been promised a place in the senate . . . with
the perks that come with being a senator, it would have been unwise for him to
refuse the offer," said a Zanu PF official from Tekere’s Manicaland home
province. The third most powerful person in Zanu PF during his heyday and at one
time one of Mugabe’s closest allies, Tekere clashed with the Zimbabwean leader
after he openly accused government leaders of corruption and of amassing wealth
at the expense of ordinary citizens. But the final straw to break the two
allies’ relationship was when the firebrand Tekere strongly opposed moves by
Mugabe to make Zimbabwe a one-party state. A known critic of Mugabe’s leadership
style, Tekere has also criticised the main opposition Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) party for its lack of ideas on how to wrestle power from Zanu
PF.
Free white maize for Zimbabwe's senior UK citizens
By Business
Reporter Last updated: 09/30/2005 12:06:58 AS PART of New Zimbabwe.com’s
2nd Anniversary Celebrations, we have today teamed up with Mwanaka Fresh Farm
Foods in London to offer a free bag of white maize and other Zimbabwean fresh
farm produce for senior citizens. The special also benefits Zimbabweans going
to the farm to buy maize in the company of an ‘over-sixty’. They get a free
bag of white maize – a product not grown in the UK until enterprising Zimbabwean
farmer David Mwanaka started experiments on his farm in Enfield,
London. Mwanaka said last night: “New Zimbabwe.com has been Zimbabwe’s home
on the internet and we are proud to be associated with it. We have opened our
gates to the senior citizens to come and have a feel of the countryside at the
farm. “Besides, anyone who comes to buy maize and is accompanied by a senior
citizen gets a free bag of maize.” Mwanaka also sells pumpkin leaves
(muboora/bhobola) and choumoellier. New Zimbabwe.com is celebrating its 2nd
Anniversary, having grown to be the biggest and most visited Zimbabwean website
on the world-wide web since launch in June 2003.
The special celebrations are set for Bradford and London on October 14
and 15 respectively, with top South African Afropop group, Mafikizolo,
headlining (see details). For details on offer please visit MWANAKA FRESH
FARM FOODS or call 01375841360, 01375402283, 07888839507 or 07708572914. Offer
valid until 31 October 2005. DIRECTIONS: They are in Enfield, North London,
(junction 25 off the M25 which is the A10), and about five minutes drive from
the M25. If you are coming from the M25, turn into A10 towards Enfield London.
Immediately turn right at the traffic lights into Bullsmoor Lane. If you are
coming from London along the A10, turn left at the last traffic lights before
approaching M25 into Bullsmoor Lane (signs Crews Hills, Capel Manor). End of
Bullsmoor Lane turn right into Bulls Cross. Bull Cross changes to Whitewebbs
Lane EN2 9HL after about 75m metres. Keep following Whitewebbs Lane for about
600 metres until you get to Lay-By on left side of road. That's where they are.
Give them a call and gates will be opened for you!
