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

Zimbabwean dollar sinks further as forex dries up
Dumisani Muleya

Harare Correspondent

THE Zimbabwean dollar, probably the weakest currency in the world, has
fallen further in the foreign exchange market against base currencies,
reflecting worsening forex shortages in the country.

The latest fall of the Zimbabwean currency shows a deepening foreign
exchange crisis and a further dislocation of economic indicators.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said last week Zimbabwe needed a
"comprehensive and coherent economic adjustment programme as a matter of
urgency, in the areas of fiscal, monetary, and exchange rate policies and
structural reforms".

The collapse of the local currency is also a sign of a deepening economic
crisis.

The Zimbabwean dollar slid from last week's rate of US$1: Z$24 522,03 to
US$1: Z$26 000,18 on the official market. There was a corresponding drop in
its value against other major currencies.

In the parallel market the fall was bigger. The Zimbabwean dollar, which is
no longer convertible outside the country, fell from US$1: Z$45000 to US$1:
Z$52000.

Independent economic consultant John Robertson said the crash showed "the
foreign currency crisis was deteriorating".

"The Zimbabwean dollar is losing value because of the scarcity of foreign
exchange and this shows a growing mismatch between demand and supply," said
Robertson.

"The formal and parallel market rates are increasing because of that
mismatch. Companies and individuals now have to pay a premium of about 100%
to get forex in the parallel market."

Robertson said that although government had been adjusting the exchange rate
lately "this will not help much as long as the supply side is not addressed".

"The problem is actually the supply side. What we need is to revive the
export sector. We also need to rebuild agriculture, the mainstay of the
economy, and other export sectors," he said.

"We also need to attract foreign investment, revive tourism, mining and
other sectors that bring in forex. We also need to fix our international
relations to get balance-of-payments support and aid inflows."

Zimbabwe's foreign currency position remains critical, largely as a result
of poor export performance. The situation is worsened by the drying up of
international balance-of-payments support and donor aid.

This has adversely affected the country's capacity to import fuel, power,
drugs, grain, raw materials, machinery, equipment and spares.

Thousands of companies have closed in the past five years due to the current
political and economic crisis.

A Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries meeting last week urged the
government to take urgent measures to stave off economic collapse.

The Harare government has said it is working on a new economic blueprint.

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Business Day

Mugabe to hold talks on blitz
Dumisani Muleya

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

Harare Correspondent

ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe will meet United Nations (UN)
Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the sidelines of UN summit this week to
discuss Harare's demolition blitz.

The meeting will be the first face-to-face encounter between Mugabe and
Annan since the UN chief's envoy released a damning report on the blitz that
drew worldwide condemnation in July.

After the negative report Mugabe angrily telephoned Annan to explain his
campaign and invited him "to see the situation on the ground for himself".

A meeting between Mugabe and Annan could pave the way for international aid
for Zimbabwe to help victims of the state-sanctioned destruction. The blitz
affected 700000 people directly and 2,4-million indirectly, including
HIV/AIDS patients and other vulnerable groups.

Zimbabwe's UN envoy Boniface Chidyausiku, said yesterday Mugabe and Annan
would meet "anytime" during the three-day summit.

"If there are issues they would want to discuss regarding Operation
Murambatsvina (the demolition blitz) they will do so in New York,"
Chidyausiku said.

Mugabe and Annan have outstanding issues to tackle over the UN report, which
condemned the campaign in Zimbabwe as "profoundly distressing".

Zimbabwe has dismissed the report as biased.

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Mail and Guardian

      Mugabe hits out at 'coalition of evil'

      United Nations

      15 September 2005 07:40

            Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday blasted what he
called a "coalition of evil" as he accused powerful countries of using
humanitarian intervention to meddle in the affairs of small and weak
nations.

            Mugabe, whose country has been dubbed an "outpost of tyranny" by
Washington, cited instances in which "the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of small and weak countries have been violated by the mighty and
powerful in defiance of provisions of the United Nations charter, even on
the basis of contrived lies".

            Those powerful countries are telling "lies told in order to
create a basis for aggression", he told the summit of world leaders that
opened at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday.

            "We have seen that aggression occurred even in the context of
the so-called coalition ... A coalition that defies international law
becomes an aggressive coalition. It becomes, indeed, a coalition of evil,"
he added.

            "The vision that we must present for a future UN should not be
one filled with vague concepts that provides for an opportunity for those
states that seek to interfere in the international affairs of other states,"
Mugabe said.

            "Concepts such as humanitarian intervention and the
responsibility to protect need careful scrutiny in order to test the motives
of their proponents," he added.

            He was referring to a plan adopted by the UN General Assembly on
Tuesday to enshrine the world's collective responsibility to protect peoples
threatened with genocide and to create a new Human Rights Council with real
teeth.

            "The current skewed power structures in the world body cannot be
condoned on any conceivable ground of democracy. Organs of the UN, including
the Security Council, must be restructured to reflect the full will of
nations, great or small."

            He warned against allowing wealthy and powerful countries to
"dictate the agenda for everybody else".

            A UN report last July estimated that 700 000 people had been
left homeless in the Harare government's drive to demolish shacks and homes,
market stalls and other buildings mostly in townships and other poor areas.

            The demolition campaign has compounded the country's economic
problems including food and fuel shortages, hyperinflation and unemployment
at about 70%.

            Relief arrives at last
            Meanwhile, after a six-week delay, Zimbabwean families displaced
by Operation Murambatsvina will now receive relief, with 37 tonnes of food
and nearly 5 000 blankets having arrived in the country.

            "The last of the supplies arrived on Monday ... after being
delayed by six weeks due to agricultural and customs restrictions," the
South African Council of Churches (SACC) said in a statement on Wednesday.

            Zimbabwe's Christian Care will now work through Zimbabwe's
churches to distribute the relief to families that have been scattered by
the forced removals.

            The statement said Christian Care expressed thanks for the
SACC's "efforts and resilience" in pursuing the documentation required by
the Zimbabwean government.

            As a result of these obstacles, Christian Care has suggested
future relief supplies be procured within Zimbabwe, with only goods
unobtainable in the country being imported. -- Sapa, Sapa-AFP

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JAG OPEN LETTER FORUM
Email: jag@mango.zw; justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw

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

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

I read this in Aidan Hartley's "The Zanzibar Chest" and thought it applied
to Zimbabwe:

The farms lie broken down on hill and plain
Skulls, bones and horns remain.
No shouts, no songs of fighting, or of love.
But from the bare thorn tree above
So sadly calls the mourning dove
Was this your ravaged land,
The work of God, or was it man's own hand?

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

Letter 1:

Dear JAG

Kate Hoey MP (Lab), with whom I am in contact, chairs a House of Commons
All party Select Committee concerning Zimbabwe.  I am also in contact with
Lord Hunt of Wirral who sits in the House of Lords, a former minister in
John Major's cabinet.  Both have declared an interest in Zimbabwe.  They
will welcome constructive recommendations.  I hope to appear before the
Select Committee.

It will be recalled that Kate Hoey recently visited Zimbabwe.  Her visit
was widely published on her return to Britain.  She passionately spoke
about her visit in the House of Commons, highlighting the consequences of
Operation Murambatsvina in particular.  For about a week Channel 4, in
particular, with some coverage on BBC 1 and BBC 2, ran several programmes
highlighting 'the plight of Zimbabwe'.  Most of the newspapers,
particularly The Daily Telegraph, regularly publish articles about
Zimbabwe.  Websites about Zimbabwe abound on the Internet.

The Western World is concerned.  Many NGOs, including human rights
organisations, are monitoring the situation and seemingly trying to do
something.  The issue is not about an awareness of tyrannical rule, but
what to do about it.

One perceived avenue of relief is for the Western World to make charitable
donations.  In general terms the British public are charitably minded.
Those with a knowledge of Southern and Central Africa often suffer from a
colonial hangover of remorse - we stole the land, we treated the blacks
like slaves, etc.  Some appease their consciences simply by donating money.
So Western Governments make money available for humanitarian relief.  They
assert that they cannot watch from the touchline whilst people starve to
death, have no shelter, etc.  Bob Geldof and Live 8 is evidence of this
approach and who reject Roy Bennett's approach - "Mercs for jerks". Should
the western world continue providing humanitarian relief, which is seen by
some as maintaining Mugabe in power?

Given a number of criteria, cynical or otherwise, and mindful of the
aftermath of the Iraqi War, careful consideration must be given to the easy
recommendation that Zimbabwe be invaded.  Britain alone, if it were of a
mind to do so, which it certainly is not, will not alone invade Zimbabwe to
bring about a regime change.  [It didn't do so when UDI was declared.]

Please help me prepare submissions to be made to the All Party Select
Committee, in the autumn, as to what the British Government, EU, UN and the
Commonwealth should do.

This email has been addressed to 53 individuals/organisations.  Some of you
may consider it inappropriate to reply.  However I will be pleased to hear
from all of you, should you be of a mind to assist.  I have no objection to
this email being passed on to interested persons with an invitation to
write to me.

Aluta continua and best wishes.

Jeremy Callow

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

Letter 2:

Good Day to the Jag team,

I thought you might perhaps be able to advise this woman's rights and let
all your other readers know.  I too am a single lady and having been mugged
at 2nd Street Extension and Churchill robots in the month of May 2005, have
been advised by a lot of folk, not to stop at red robots at night, so would
like to know where I stand.

Regards,
Dee Phillips
Secretary

Subject: The Life We Live

Before I go any further let me just say I AM FINE (disillusioned, angry,
weary, wary) but fine! I would like to thank everybody who helped and was
ready to come to my rescue. At about 11.45 on Friday night on my way home
from Flat Dogs (sober, thank goodness!) I went through 2 red robots, very
slowly and carefully but as there was only one car a long way behind me I
felt it was safer than stopping.  That one car turned out to be an unmarked
police car which started my 3 hours of hell. Before I had even started
accelerating away from the 2nd robot, the blue light was flashing and I was
being pulled over.  There were 3 uniformed officers and 1 plain clothed CIO
officer all with rifles in that vehicle. The shouting started the minute I
stopped.  I did not have my handbag on me so no form of ID (my 2nd
mistake!!!).  Off we went to Rhodesville Police Station where I was to be
locked up until Monday.  I was not allowed to use my phone to contact
anyone but as I drove off with the one police officer in my car I took the
risk and phoned the first person in my call list as I knew the crowd was
still at Flat Dogs and closest to the Police Station.  On arrival at the
station the verbal abuse and threats continued and I was made to sit next
to an unconscious robber who had been shot and was bleeding all over the
floor.  I was informed that would have been my fate had I failed to stop. I
finally, having messaged and stopped anyone coming to the Station (having
angry drunk people descending on a group of aggressive police officers
would have just made it worse) persuaded them to take me home to collect
money and my Drivers' License.  As I had fuel in my car this task was
accomplished after a 2 hour drive through Harare via Central Police
Station, the Fife Avenue Pubs and assisting them in stopping a truck they
wanted to search along Enterprise Road. By the time we got to the house the
officer (2 uniformed and the CIO Officer) were in a better mood and a lot
more friendly.  I had managed to phone everyone when we stopped the truck
and let them know what was happening as whilst I was driving there was no
way I was taking the risk of answering my phone which was ringing
constantly. My ordeal was still not over as we now had to go back to the
Police Station so I could be officially charged.  I was once again a
jibbering idiot.  At the station initially they had informed me my fine
would be at least $500 thousand dollars and I only had about $300 thousand
on me so I asked if I could wake friends up to borrow more.  The Officer in
Charge said not to worry we would sort it out at the station.  I calmly
explained there was no way I was going near the station if there was a
chance I was going to be locked up for not having enough money.  He then
explained that the fine for going through a red robot was $25 thousand
dollars!!!! I wanted to throw up - all this anguish for $25 grand!! Oh and
the half tank of precious petrol I used driving them around! The trip back
to the Station went smoothly with the CIO Officer and Second Uniformed
Officer not leaving my side once we got inside and the CIO Officer even
trying to persuade them not to even charge me at all.  I was charged the
$25 thousand dollars and let go but with the advise that my ordeal was not
over as the Officer in Charge had noted an 'irregularity' on my Driver's
License and would be investigating further.  He asked me point blank if I
had 'bought' my license.  I explained that it was issued over 17 years ago
at the Kadoma VID and certainly was not 'bought'.  I don't think that was
possible then but didn't go into that with them!!!!! I finally got home at
3am!!!!! Having been told by people over the week-end what I 'should have'
and 'could have' done.....(Guys trust me - when you are a woman alone with
4 aggressive police officers with guns breathing down your neck (not to
mention the other 3 bored antagonistic ones at the cop shop!) you do as
you're told and don't even think to be clever!) please can someone try to
answer the following: 1.  Is there and 'unwritten' law in Zimbabwe that
says women on their own may proceed through red robots `with caution' late
at night? 2.  I know it's law to carry your driver's license but is there a
24 hour period you are supposed to be given to produce it? 3.  Is there
anyone a woman alone can call should they find themselves in a situation
like I did on Friday...... my stress was doubled as not only was I
terrified of what these guys could do to me but what they could do to my
friends if they came to help - I think the best thing I did was stop anyone
coming to my rescue until I knew exactly what was happening! PLEASE ladies
learn from my experience - DO NOT DRIVE ALONE AFTER DARK - EVER!!!! If you
have to, stop at the robots - I didn't even see these guys coming!!!! I
also didn't know exactly what was happening as it was an unmarked car and I
didn't know whether to stop or keep going. They say drive straight to a
police station - I will NEVER go near one of those again ... and also
please believe me when I tell you that in a situation like that - as level
headed as I think I normally am - everything I had learned or heard - went
straight out of my head!!!! Nobody can possibly know what it's like unless
they've experienced it.  You live what you learn - and I've learnt two
things - never drive alone after dark and never argue with someone who may
have the power to hurt you - be humble, be apologetic, know your rights but
trust me - I don't think knowing my rights would have really helped me -
they had the power and briefly held my fate in their hands and there was
NOTHING I could have done. I did learn my own strength of character on
Friday night though.  I pray none of you ever has the experience I did.....
ever! I WON'T BE A VICTIM.....to the 3 officers I would like to say - thank
you for eventually changing your tune and having the decency to apologise
for what you put me through!  To my friends who want to take this further -
it's not going to happen - it was a lesson and that's it - I want it over
with - yes someone needs to stand up to those who think they have the power
of God - but it won't be me - they know where I live!!!!! The Mail &
Guardian's headline this week-end was - "Laws in Zimbabwe Change Daily" -
aint that the truth !!!! If anyone can advise what our rights are I would
be very grateful.

Take care and be safe.

NAME REMOVED FOR OBVIOUS REASONS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Letter 3:

I live at 48 Marlborough Drive, Marlborough and yesterday (12th) our White
(with grey canopy) F1300 Mazda was stolen at about 5pm.  I was giving the
gate key to the gardener when this single black male in a blue shirt jumped
into the car and drove off.  He was on foot and I must admit I never saw
him, although as I was driving to the gate I did pass two black females and
there was a male in a blue shirt a little way behind them - perhaps it was
him.

We chased it around Marlborough and it seems that the driver knew the area
as he went onto Lomagundi Road, into Harare Drive up into New Marlborough,
onto Mazoe Road, back into Harare Drive and then he was lost as he turned
left into Golden Stairs and the "bods" said they did not pick it up as
there were too many cars going past..  It was suggested that maybe he is
resident in Marlborough and the car is in some yard here.

The matter has been reported to Marlborough Police. Please can you help, It
is a 1992 model and if the canopy it is quite distinctive as the canopy has
on it several stickers i.e."Pay the ZIMNAT way" poster on one side and on
the other a row of badges i.e. SPCA, ZKC, Zambezi Assoc, Ornithological
Society etc.  The canopy has a door in the centre and windows on either
side there are (one mind goes blank when thinking) two windows - one which
slides open and the other stays shut.  Chassis No. F13002753 - Engine No.
TCW00119.

I have heard conflicting stories - one says they that mostly vehicles are
found abandoned, another says it is used for spares and another says they
no longer do that but use it and then leave it.  Then another says they
change the number plates so it looks different and someone else it may be
in Epworth.  I am so upset about the whole thing.. Please God may I find it
in one piece so that I can use it again.  I am offering a reward for
recovery or information leading to recovery of the vehicle as I do need the
truck - it also has sentimental memories as it is my mothers truck she used
when here.

I pray that the Mazda F1300 pickup will be found and returned to me in one
piece as I admit I WILL NEVER be able to buy another.  The usual story with
these bloody thieves, they steal from people and those people can NEVER
replace what has been taken.

Thank you for your help and perhaps you can spread the word so that if
anyone sees a F1300, even if it is not the one, as the number plates
differ, and they stop it just to check.  If the number plates have been
changed and it is the one then at least we have found it - if not we just
have to apologise - I am sure people will understand the stress and trauma
when one has their vehicle stolen from them.

Once again thank you for your help

S. Skilton
(after hours) 300105

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

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Brainwaves

Mugabe and the white psychiatrist

Paul Arendt
Thursday September 15, 2005
The Guardian

Fraser Grace was flipping through the Sunday papers four years ago when he
came across an article claiming that Robert Mugabe was undergoing
psychiatric analysis. Apparently, the president of Zimbabwe believed he was
being haunted by a malevolent spirit. The psychiatrist assigned to the case,
who was white and thus had to tread carefully, diagnosed depression and
departed as swiftly as he could.
Grace is a playwright. He has no connection whatsoever with Zimbabwe - he's
never been there. He's white and he lives in Cambridge. However, he has long
been fascinated by African politics, and Mugabe in particular. He is a kind
of devil figure to us, Grace suggests, and yet a substantial proportion of
people in Zimbabwe and Africa see him as a hero.

"It struck me as a wonderful situation. The problem was how to write it
down. Nobody except Mugabe and his psychiatrist knew what was said in those
meetings."
Grace was also keen to dispel the "monster" label that is so often applied
to Mugabe in the west. "It's a comforting myth. If we say: this guy is a
monster, then we can just dismiss him."

In his early attempts at the script, Grace opened out the story to include
events in Zimbabwe. But as draft followed draft, the focus narrowed
inexorably to four people in a room. "The play is about people with power,"
he says. "A president, his wife, a bodyguard and a psychiatrist - about what
they choose to do with their power."

The toughest challenge he faced was to somehow carry the flavour of the
actual man into the theatre. And, of course, there is always the faint
chance that the play will be seen, or at least read, by its subject."I hope
that he would recognise himself," says Grace.

· Breakfast With Mugabe opens the RSC's New Work Festival on October 17 at
the Swan Theatre, Stratford upon Avon. Box office: 0870 609 1110.
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Independent, UK

Zimbabwean is sent back to die. (not the one who just won the Ashes)
By Oliver Duff
Published: 15 September 2005
The two men once lived just miles apart. Both fled Zimbabwe to escape the
brutal regime of Robert Mugabe and sought new lives in England. But the
reception each exile has received from his adopted home could not be more
different.

Duncan Fletcher, the coach of the victorious England cricket team, and a
resident of the UK since 1997, has finally been given British citizenship.
Further sporting and financial riches beckon as the unsung hero of England's
Ashes triumph receives the acclaim he has never sought.

Hainy, 37, an asylum-seeker with HIV, will be sent back to Zimbabwe, where
he will likely die because of a lack of treatment.

Fletcher received the news on Tuesday that his 14-year wait for a British
passport was over - it was a "happy coincidence" that Charles Clarke, the
Home Secretary, reviewed his application a day after England won the Ashes,
the Home Office said. But while Fletcher celebrated in Trafalgar Square,
Hainy sat in the Staffordshire home of a friend holding the latest letter
from immigration officials, reiterating their intent to deport him
regardless of the repercussions.

"Good luck to Duncan Fletcher," said Hainy yesterday. "As a Zimbabwean I'm
proud of what he has done and it is right he can stay here. But the system
seems so fake. Some are allowed to stay for sport but others are not, even
for health. I would like to go back to Zimbabwe but I wouldn't get treatment
and I'd die. I don't want to die." Although Zimbabwe has the world's
fourth-highest rate of HIV/Aids - about a quarter of all adults are
infected - it has a tiny anti-retroviral drugs distribution programme.

The World Health Organisation has said that 295,000 Zimbabweans need
anti-retroviral therapy to survive, but only 8,000 receive it, almost all
self-funded. Treatment costs up to 400,000 Zimbabwe dollars (£13) a month -
but the average annual income is Z$270 and falling. "In Zimbabwe you buy
your own drugs, you buy your own drip to take to the hospital and then you
pay to be admitted," said Hainy. "They [the Home Office] seem to be saying
that treatment is available. But it is only available for people who have
money."

The former anti-Mugabe activist, who fled to the UK in 2001 after receiving
death threats, has twice nearly died from HIV-related meningitis. British
doctors have submitted evidence to the authorities on his behalf, warning it
would be "life-threatening in the very short term if he were to be denied
treatment".

The Home Office has rejected the fresh evidence from Hainy's solicitor,
however, and plans to deport him at the earliest opportunity. In a recent
letter, it said that access to medication in Zimbabwe was improving and it
had faith in the Mugabe government not to discriminate against people with
HIV/Aids.

Fletcher's own longer (if less critical) battle with immigration authorities
is over. His parents and grandparents are British, but he was denied a
passport because he spent more than three months a year out of the country
on England cricket tours. Born in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe)
in 1948, one of five brothers, the then-computer programmer played one-day
cricket for his country part time, famously upsetting Australia at the 1983
World Cup. In 1984 he emigrated to Cape Town, not taking up full-time
coaching for another nine years. He moved to the UK in 1997 to coach
Glamorgan and led them to the county championship. Two years later he became
England's first foreign coach.

Hainy, formerly a resident of Norton, about 20 miles south of Harare, is
applying for a judicial review in the High Court, accusing the Home Office
of failing to properly consider his case. In Zimbabwe the harassment,
imprisonment and torture facing some returnees continues.

Hainy's wife died two weeks ago in Norton from an as-yet-undiagnosed
illness; his mother is looking after his two young sons.

The two men once lived just miles apart. Both fled Zimbabwe to escape the
brutal regime of Robert Mugabe and sought new lives in England. But the
reception each exile has received from his adopted home could not be more
different.

Duncan Fletcher, the coach of the victorious England cricket team, and a
resident of the UK since 1997, has finally been given British citizenship.
Further sporting and financial riches beckon as the unsung hero of England's
Ashes triumph receives the acclaim he has never sought.

Hainy, 37, an asylum-seeker with HIV, will be sent back to Zimbabwe, where
he will likely die because of a lack of treatment.

Fletcher received the news on Tuesday that his 14-year wait for a British
passport was over - it was a "happy coincidence" that Charles Clarke, the
Home Secretary, reviewed his application a day after England won the Ashes,
the Home Office said. But while Fletcher celebrated in Trafalgar Square,
Hainy sat in the Staffordshire home of a friend holding the latest letter
from immigration officials, reiterating their intent to deport him
regardless of the repercussions.

"Good luck to Duncan Fletcher," said Hainy yesterday. "As a Zimbabwean I'm
proud of what he has done and it is right he can stay here. But the system
seems so fake. Some are allowed to stay for sport but others are not, even
for health. I would like to go back to Zimbabwe but I wouldn't get treatment
and I'd die. I don't want to die." Although Zimbabwe has the world's
fourth-highest rate of HIV/Aids - about a quarter of all adults are
infected - it has a tiny anti-retroviral drugs distribution programme.

The World Health Organisation has said that 295,000 Zimbabweans need
anti-retroviral therapy to survive, but only 8,000 receive it, almost all
self-funded. Treatment costs up to 400,000 Zimbabwe dollars (£13) a month -
but the average annual income is Z$270 and falling. "In Zimbabwe you buy
your own drugs, you buy your own drip to take to the hospital and then you
pay to be admitted," said Hainy. "They [the Home Office] seem to be saying
that treatment is available. But it is only available for people who have
money."

The former anti-Mugabe activist, who fled to the UK in 2001 after receiving
death threats, has twice nearly died from HIV-related meningitis. British
doctors have submitted evidence to the authorities on his behalf, warning it
would be "life-threatening in the very short term if he were to be denied
treatment".

The Home Office has rejected the fresh evidence from Hainy's solicitor,
however, and plans to deport him at the earliest opportunity. In a recent
letter, it said that access to medication in Zimbabwe was improving and it
had faith in the Mugabe government not to discriminate against people with
HIV/Aids.

Fletcher's own longer (if less critical) battle with immigration authorities
is over. His parents and grandparents are British, but he was denied a
passport because he spent more than three months a year out of the country
on England cricket tours. Born in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe)
in 1948, one of five brothers, the then-computer programmer played one-day
cricket for his country part time, famously upsetting Australia at the 1983
World Cup. In 1984 he emigrated to Cape Town, not taking up full-time
coaching for another nine years. He moved to the UK in 1997 to coach
Glamorgan and led them to the county championship. Two years later he became
England's first foreign coach.

Hainy, formerly a resident of Norton, about 20 miles south of Harare, is
applying for a judicial review in the High Court, accusing the Home Office
of failing to properly consider his case. In Zimbabwe the harassment,
imprisonment and torture facing some returnees continues.

Hainy's wife died two weeks ago in Norton from an as-yet-undiagnosed
illness; his mother is looking after his two young sons.
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News24

Mugabe blasts 'rich countries'
15/09/2005 07:28  - (SA)

United Nations - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe blasted wealthy
countries for monopolising power at the expense of the developing world,
saying that for his country and others, "all things have not been equal."

Mugabe said on Wednesday that aid to developing nations had suffered a
"significant and clearly calculated decline" in recent years and urged
richer countries to substantially increase their assistance.

United Nations development goals adopted after the Millennium summit in 2000
call for governments to cut the number of people living in absolute poverty
by half before 2015, but only a handful have met a UN target set 35 years
ago to raise annual foreign aid spending to 0.7 percent of their economic
output.

Mugabe also called for reform of the United Nations to give poor countries a
bigger voice.

Coalition of evil

"It is important to ensure the existence of an inclusive process of
decision-making in which developing countries can play a meaningful role,"
he said in his speech on the opening day of the UN summit.

In a thinly veiled criticism of the US-led war in Iraq, Mugabe said "the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of small and weak countries have been
violated by the mighty and powerful" in defiance of the UN and international
rules.

"The coalition to defy international law becomes an aggressor coalition. It
becomes indeed a coalition of evil," he said, calling on the international
community to return to the drawing board to reform the United Nations.

Mugabe told world leaders that "the current skewed power structures in the
world body cannot be condoned on any conceivable grounds of democracy."

"Organs of the United Nations including the Security Council must be
restructured to reflect the full will of nations great or small," he said.

Mugabe's government has allowed the seizure of 5 000 white-owned commercial
farms in recent years, wrecking agricultural output and exports and causing
widespread food shortages.

He blames US and European Union sanctions - imposed for alleged human rights
abuses - for putting the Zimbabwean economy into free fall. Inflation now
runs at 255% a year and 80% of the work force is idle.

"Our efforts have been seriously affected by recurring droughts and floods,
HIV and Aids and of course unilateral sanctions imposed on us by countries
that do not wish us well," he said.

He also defended his land policies, saying Zimbabwe had committed itself to
"addressing extreme poverty and hunger by redistributing land to the
majority of our citizens who have been condemned to conditions of squalor by
years of colonialism and its vestiges."
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The Herald

Diesel shortage grounds buses

Herald Reporter
MOST of Harare's large buses are off the road waiting for diesel with no
indication yet as to when Noczim will be able to supply fuel.

The fuel shortage has caused acute transport problems in the capital with
most commuters now having to rely on private motorists, trucks and lorries
for transport.

Noczim yesterday could not disclose when it would be able to deliver fuel to
the buses, most of which have exhausted their modest reserves.

Zimbabwe has not had diesel supplies for almost two weeks although supplies
released to private suppliers last week in Beira are now arriving, allowing
many companies to get their trucks back on the road.

At Royal Oil Service Station in Msasa yesterday, more than 50 buses were in
the queue waiting for diesel deliveries expected since Friday last week.

Some of the bus drivers said they had been told that fuel would be delivered
any time but lamented that they had been waiting in the queues for days in
vain.

"I came here on Wednesday last week and there have been promises that diesel
would be delivered any time but nothing has been forthcoming," said one
driver, who preferred anonymity.

In Mabvuku, the situation was the same with scores of stranded passengers
jostling at bus terminuses for the few commuter omnibuses that were on the
road.

The situation was tense at a service station in Sunningdale where buses in
the past have been receiving allocations of fuel to ease the transport
problems in Harare.

"We have not been allocated fuel for the past two weeks and that is one of
the reasons why the City-Highfield route has been facing transport problems.
Most of our buses on that route do not have fuel," said Mr Christopher
Mapanzure, a driver from Munenzwa Bus Company, who was waiting in the queue.

Officials at the filling station said they had run out of diesel and were
not sure when supplies would arrive.

The situation was the same in other suburbs such as Glen View, Glen Norah
and Budiriro with commuters spending hours before they got transport.

At High Glen Shopping Centre, a single file of more than 100 commuter
omnibuses could be seen.

Fuel attendants at the service station said there had been word that
deliveries were on the way from Mutare but nothing had arrived.

Recently, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Commuter Omnibus Services (COZCOS)
warned unscrupulous public transporters in Harare against illegally hiking
fares.

COZCOS secretary-general Mr Clever Tongogara said those found overcharging
would be dealt with according to the laws of the country.

He said although public transporters with approved routes accessed fuel
through a special fuel facility, some transporters were overcharging against
the spirit of the facility.

The fuel crisis in the country has been worsened by the continued increase
in prices on the international market.

The foreign currency crunch in Zimbabwe and rising international fuel prices
have made it difficult to import adequate supplies to meet the country's
requirements.
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The Herald

13 villagers accused of invading farm

From George Maponga in Masvingo
THIRTEEN villagers from Mushandike resettlement area in Masvingo yesterday
appeared in court for allegedly invading Acton Farm which is owned by the
President of the Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs, chief Fortune Charumbira, last
week.

The villagers who were represented by Mr Phillip Shumba of Mwonzora and
Partners were not asked to plead when they appeared before Masvingo
magistrate Mr Crispen Mberewere for contravening the Miscellaneous Offences
Act.

Mr Mberewere remanded, Aaron Tagarira (40), Magreth Ratidzai (37), Knowledge
Chimbwanda (26), Michale Chinyoka (39), Fabian Muwandi (64), Wilson Sekeni
(23) Nyasha (22) and Jeffrey (23) Tunhira, Tavona Marambire (25) Dorian
Nyevedzanai (20) Agnes Mahachi (23), Simbarashe Mutsaro (51) and Samson
Mahachi (30) all from Mushandike resettlement area out of custody on free
bail to October 17 this year.

Charges against the villagers arose on September 8 this year when under the
leadership of one Muwandi they allegedly proceeded to chief Charumbira's
farm and started demarcating pieces of land amongst themselves.

The state alleges that the villagers used tree branches which they had cut
to demarcate the pieces of land amongst themselves and were spotted by the
farm foreman around 7 am in the morning.

The foreman alerted chief Charumbira, who then reported the matter to the
police leading to the villagers' arrest.

Mrs Kumbirayi Tauya appeared for the State.

This is not the first time that villagers from Mushandike have been
arraigned before the courts for invading Acton Farm.

Last year 31 villagers from the same area were arrested and appeared in
court after they had invaded chief Charumbira's farm.

However, they were placed on bail and the court ruled that it was going to
proceed by way of summons.
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The Herald

New maize seed, fertiliser prices announced

Herald Reporter
GOVERNMENT has announced new prices for maize seed and fertiliser in a
development that will see a 25kg packet of seed costing between $493 000 and
$1 million, depending on the hybrid variety.

The latest round of price increases also leaves a 50kg bag of fertiliser
selling at between $252 000 and $505 000, depending on the type.

The new seed prices are three and half to almost seven times last year's
prices, depending on variety, while fertiliser is roughly four times last
year's prices.

The Ministry of Industry and International Trade yesterday said a 10kg
packet of maize seed would be sold at a wholesale price ranging from $112
000 to about $415 000 while the retail price would be between $123 000 and
$456 400 depending on the hybrid.

The wholesale price of a 5kg seed bag would range from $56 000 to $204 000
and retail prices between $61 600 and $224 000.

Last season, a 25kg bag of maize seed sold at between $137 000 and $144 231
depending on the variety.

New prices of fertiliser unveiled saw a 50kg bag of Compound D now selling
at a wholesale price of $385 500 and a retail price of $424 000.

The wholesale price of a 50kg bag of Ammonium Nitrate is $229 000 and the
retail price $252 000 while the wholesale and retail prices of a bag tobacco
fertiliser (compound C) are now $459 500 and $505 500.

A 50kg bag of cotton fertiliser is selling at a wholesale price of $455 500
and retail price of $501 000.

Last year the official retail price of a 50kg bag of Compound D was pegged
at $91 557 while that of Ammonium Nitrate was $68,482.

However, the price of fertiliser had surged to between $200 000 and $500 000
on the black market.

The approval of the new maize seed and fertiliser prices comes in the wake
of calls by the Government that farming inputs be made available to farmers
on time for the forthcoming agricultural season.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Cde Sylvester Nguni on Tuesday said the
Government was working with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on how to release
funds to the seed producers so that they could import more seed to meet the
national demand.

The Government, Cde Nguni said, was also working flat out to ensure that raw
materials used in the manufacturing of fertiliser were imported to meet the
high demand in the country.

Local companies have the capacity to produce about 26 000 tonnes of maize
seed, but this falls far below the national requirement of at least 51 000
tonnes.

The country needs about 800 000 tonnes of Compound D and 700 000 tonnes of
Ammonium Nitrate every season but the local industry produces about 450 000
tonnes of either commodity.
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The Herald

Zim, China in wildlife exchange programme

Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE is set to receive, by the end of the year, four Siberian tigers -
the largest cat in the world - from China for captive breeding in an
exchange programme.

In an interview yesterday Environment and Tourism Minister, Cde Francis
Nhema said Zimbabwe would receive its first four tigers for captive
breeding.

"We do not have the tiger in this country and we would like to benefit from
the exchange programme with China.

"We have also given them various animals for breeding purposes in China that
include the zebra, impala and elephants," Cde Nhema said.

Cde Nhema said three Chinese wildlife experts from the World Wildlife
Limited are currently in the country to assess whether the country's
environment is conducive for the breeding of the tiger.

"We are happy that the three experts found our animal habitats friendly to
the requirements that are compulsory for tiger breeding and we expect the
animals would be here as soon as possible," Cde Nhema said. The tigers would
be placed in protected areas where they would be used for educational
purposes and for sight seeing.

Cde Nhema said the country owing to illegal hunting in protected areas and
poaching by local communities, has in the last four years lost some of its
wildlife in various areas.

He said with the sector's new thrust and legislation, his ministry expected
the wildlife population to grow significantly to the immense benefit of the
country.

Cde Nhema said Zimbabwe had benefited a lot from the exchange programmes
with other countries in Africa and beyond.

He said there is an amazing realisation by most countries that wildlife
conservation and concern for natural resources yielded huge benefits for the
world's economies.

"We shall always try to come up with new strategies to conserve our natural
resources because like I always say, our economy revolves around these
resources."

Parks and Wildlife Authority Manager, Retired Major Edward Mbewe yesterday
said the authority has taken the three Chinese experts in zoology to
Antelope Park in Gweru, Chipangali in Bulawayo, which are privately owned
and Hwange National Park where they expect to place the tigers.

He said the Chinese experts were impressed by captive breeding activities
being conducted by the two private safari operators who are into the
breeding of lions and leopards.

"As an authority we would like to focus on large scale captive breeding for
the first time to protect our endangered species that include the painted
dog, lions, leopards and the rhino," Rtd Maj Mbewe said.

He said the authority would like to adopt the concept of zoos, which is
associated with Asia and other European countries to enable the country to
breed more of the endangered species before they are released back into the
wild after they have significantly multiplied their numbers
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Africa: Weather hazards assessment 15 - 21 Sep 2005

Weekly Introduction:

Update of El Niño:

Synopsis: ENSO-neutral conditions are expected during the next 3-6 months.

By early September, equatorial SSTs were near average in most areas between 180°W and the South American coast. The SST departures in the Niño 3, Niño 3.4, and Niño 1+2 regions were near zero, while positive departures (+0.4°C) persisted in the Niño 4 region. The general decrease in surface and subsurface temperature anomalies, observed during the last three months, has been accompanied by stronger-than-average easterly winds and near-average convection over the central equatorial Pacific.

The large spread of the most recent statistical and coupled model forecasts (weak La Niña to weak El Niño) indicates considerable uncertainty. However, current conditions and recent observed trends support a continuation of ENSO- neutral conditions for the next 3-6 months.

This discussion is a consolidated effort of NOAA and its funded institutions.

Locust Update:

The FAO on September 9 provided the following update- "The Desert Locust situation is generally calm in the summer breeding areas in the Sahel in West Africa. Despite unusually good rainfall and ecological conditions, only isolated adults have been detected by intensive surveys in Mauritania, Mali and Niger."

http://www.fao.org/ag/locusts/en/info/info/index.html



Weather Hazards Text Explanation:

1. In Kenya and southern Somalia, dry and localized drought conditions continue to reduce water resources and degrade pastures. During the March -- May wet season precipitation totals were low as a result of erratic rains. The previous period saw continued rains in western Kenya, however rainfall within the negatively impacted area will not begin to until October.

2. Significant rains continued to fall on Lake Victoria. Up to and exceeding 30 mm of rain fell on the lake itself during the past week. As of August 30th satellites measured the lake at 85 mm below normal. The low lake levels have caused a reduction in hydroelectric power generation in Uganda. It is unclear what other consequences this may have in the future. The coming week will likely see continued precipitation over Lake Victoria.

3. Light rains have moved back into Gabon, however more moisture is needed to recharge degraded pastures. An early end of the rainy season is responsible for the current conditions in Gabon. The coming week will bring continued light rains, potentially slightly heavier than last weeks precipitation. Steady precipitation normally begins this time of year with heavier totals arriving in October.

4. Much of Mozambique, southern Malawi, eastern Zimbabwe and extreme northeastern South Africa, continue to suffer from low drinking water, degraded pasture and a general lack of available water. This is the result of an erratic and abbreviated 2004-2005 wet season. The next chance for recovery is when the rains return in late October or early November.

5. Saturated soils around Bangui, Central African Republic continue to pose the threat of more flooding. While there has been no flooding in the area during the past week, more than 50 mm of rain fell and similar totals are expected during the coming week. The continued rainfall is preventing the Mbali, Mpoko, and Pama Rivers from returning to normal levels and all three pose a risk of localized flooding.

6. Seasonal rainfall in Darfur, Sudan, and adjacent portions of Chad, is coming to an end as the ITCZ continues to slip further to the south. Even so, rainfall in the area will continue to hamper the humanitarian relief efforts in the area by making travel by road nearly impossible. Conditions have continued to improve in the northern areas as the rains retreat southward. As much as 20 mm of rain fell in the area, with isolated locations receiving around 50 mm of precipitation. Rainfall totals will continue to drop over the next few weeks.

7. In Liberia, and central portions of Ivory Coast there are conflicting reports of current conditions. It is possible, that below normal precipitation has caused some short term dryness in the area. It should also be noted that this area does receive in excess of 3 meters of rain annually and the possible deficits are on the order of less than 20% of this regions' annual total. If these deficits are having an impact, the missing rain could be easily made up in the coming weeks.

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