Deadlock over ministers threatens Zimbabwe deal - MDC

Reuters

Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:58pm EDT

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's main opposition party warned on Monday a
deadlock over the allocation of cabinet posts threatened a fragile
power-sharing agreement it reached with President Robert Mugabe earlier this
month.

A meeting over the weekend between negotiators from Mugabe's ZANU-PF, Morgan
Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and a breakaway MDC
faction to sort out who gets which posts failed to break the impasse.

Tendai Biti, secretary general of the MDC, said disagreements remained over
the allocation of ministries and posts for 10 provincial governors and said
this might require renewed mediation.

"Fundamentally, we have a deadlock threatening the whole process, not only
over the ministers but the governors as well," Biti told Reuters.

ZANU-PF officials were not available for comment.

The MDC said that while it did not oppose Mugabe taking charge of the army,
he insisted on keeping control of all key ministries, including home
affairs -- in charge of the police -- finance, foreign affairs, justice,
information and local government which oversees local councils.

Tsvangirai's party is expected to get 13 cabinet posts in the new
government, Mugabe's ZANU-PF 15 and Arthur Mutambara's breakaway MDC faction
three.

The landmark political deal was mediated by the ousted South African
President Thabo Mbeki and millions of Zimbabweans hope it will be the first
step towards rescuing a nation shattered by economic collapse.

Under the deal, Mugabe retains the presidency and chairs the cabinet while
Tsvangirai becomes prime minister, chairing a council of ministers
supervising the cabinet.

Biti said the MDC did not expect Mbeki's resignation as South African
president to affect the unity agreement.

(Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe and Nelson Banya; editing by Serena
Chaudhry and Mariam Karouny)

Mbeki's offices says Zim power-sharing talks stalled, new admin to takeover

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk


Monday, 22 September 2008 06:00
PRETORIA, PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki's spokesperson, Mukoni Ratshitanga, on
Sunday told CAJ News in Pretoria that the expelled South African leader
automatically ceases mediating in Zimbabwe's power-sharing negotiation
following the ouster by his party of the African National Congress (ANC).

Gwede Mantashe, ANC's secretary-general announced the sacking on
Saturday in Johannesburg.

In an exclusive interview with CAJ News, Ratshitanga said the new ANC
administration would takeover from president Mbeki, but without giving any
specific dates when the Zimbabwe's power-sharing talks would resume
following a deadlock last week in Harare.

"The mediation in Zimbabwe's power-sharing talks will be definitely
affected, but it is a fact that the new administration will takeover.

"Remember when president mbeki mediated in the Zimbabwe power-sharing
talks was doing so in his capacity as head of state, and the new
administration will definitely replace him to that regard," said
Ratshitanga.

He said president Mbeki had since accepted the call to step down, but
refused to shed more details on what course of action Mbeki would take after
the sack considering the fierce in-house fighting within the ANC.

Ronnie Mamoepe, South Africa's Foreign Affairs spokesperson, refused
to comment on the matter referring all issues to Ratshitanga.

CAJ News wanted to know the fate of the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) chairmanship position, recently given to Mbeki if this
would not affect the day-to-day tackling of regional problems.

Whilst president Mbeki had accepted the call by the party's National
Executive Council (NEC) to quit his post, millions of his supporters and
almost half of the cabinet vowed to go with him when he leaves office.

First to confirm the move to quit with the president was the Foreign
Affairs Deputy Minister, Pahad Aziz, who said there was nothing worth
staying for.

"I was appointed by president Mbeki, and as such, I am quiting with
him. I do not think the decision to fire him was correct," said Pahad.

South Africa's Deputy President, Pumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, is also
believed to be leaving the government in sympathy with the sacked president.

CAJ News could not get her comment by the time of going to press on
Sunday, but several ministers, including defence, home affairs, foreign
affairs, and local premiers (governors) are believed to be against the
sacking.

ANC supporters, majority of them in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape,
Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces have vowed to form a rival African National
Congress splinter group in an attempt to express dissatisfaction over the
harsh and cruedly decision to expel president Mbeki.

President Mbeki is expected to issue a statement tomorrow (Tuesday) in
parliament when he tenders his resignation.

Since the elections in Polokwane, Limpopo province to choose the new
ANC leadership, there is always fierce rift between president Mbeki and his
former deputy president, Jacob Zuma, who convincingly won the party's
presidency last year.

Zuma is being backed by both the Congress of South Africa Trade Unions
(COSATU) and the South Africa Communist Party (SAC)

--CAJ News

'Mbeki the only candidate for Zimbabwe mediator'

http://www.sabcnews.com

September 22, 2008, 17:15

According to researchers at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS),
President Thabo Mbeki remains the only person who will be able to ensure the
successful implementation of the Zimbabwean power-sharing agreement.

The ISS held a seminar on the power-sharing agreement in Tshwane today.

The latest stumbling block in the implementation of the agreement is the
division of cabinet posts among the parties in Zimbabwe. The agreement
allows for Zanu-PF to have 15 posts, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC),
under Morgan Tsvangirai, will hold 13 and the MDC breakaway faction, under
Arthur Mutambara, will hold three cabinet seats. The parties are yet to
reach agreement on which party will get which portfolios, and the matter has
been thrown back and forth between negotiators and principles.

Meanwhile, a call to have Mbeki step in to bridge the impasse has been made
but it is feared that Mbeki's resignation as President of South Africa casts
doubt on his credibility as mediator. Researchers at the ISS, however,
believe that it could have the opposite effect.

Negotiations around the cabinet posts will resume once President Robert
Mugabe returns from the 63rd General Assembly of the United Nations.

Cabinet formation talks halted...until Mugabe returns

http://www.hararetribune.com

Monday, 22 September 2008 07:33 Tawanda Takavarasha

Robert Mugabe opted to leave for some United Nations summit instead of
resolving the issue of the allocation of posts in the new cabinet that was
expected following he signing of the GNU deal September 15.

Sources within the MDC-M and MDC-T told the Tribune that the issue of the
allocation of cabinet posts has temporarily been put on hold, to resume when
Mugabe comes back from the UN.

MDC officials fumed at what they called Robert Mugabe's holding of the talks
to form the cabinet 'hostage,' arguing that Mugabe shouldn't have left
before the talks had been concluded.

The two MDC formations and ZANU-PF have been deadlocked over the division of
cabinet posts for six days. Sources said Mugabe got fade up with the lack of
progress in talks to form the that he decided to leave Zimbabwe for New York
for the MDC leadership to 'reflect' on their unwillingness to compromise.

It is unreasonable for the MDC formations to expect to be given any key
cabinet posts like Home Affairs or Finance, aides to Robert Mugabe told the
have said.

"Why should we give them those posts? It is enough that we will give them
positions in cabinet, what more do they want?" ZANU-PF officials asked.

A document that has been circulating on the internet indicated that the MDC
had been given the positions of Finance and Home Affairs. Following the
publication of the document purporting to show the agreement on the division
of cabinet posts by the Hon. Eddie Cross, the Tribune picked up the story,
but a closer follow up showed the document was counterfeit. The Tribune
respectfully pulled down the two stories on the agreement.

The matter of the allocation of cabinet posts, following the lack of
progress when Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara met last
week on Tuesday and again on Friday, has been referred back to the teams
that hammered the GNU deal.

No meetings are expected today nor tomorrow, Welshman Ncube, the MDC-M said
on Sunday.

Earlier last week, Patrick Chinamasa, the former Minister of Justice and
ZANU-PF's chief negotiator, told the media that it could take up to two
months for the new cabinet to be sworn in.

The euphoria that had been generated by the signing of the GNU deal seven
days ago has been replaced by hopelessness among Zimbabweans.

Many had hoped the deal would finally lead to an end to the economic crisis,
marked by an inflation rate put at 300 000 000 %, that has ravaged the
Southern African country for the past decade.

Analysts have said it is unlikely that the GNU deal would work, while
Zimbabwean labour unions led by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
have called the deal an 'elitist pact.'

Western nations led by the United States and Britain have said they will
help rebuild Zimbabwe, only if the GNU deal is implemented to its fullest.

As MDC and ZANU-PF refuse to compromise, analysts say it is unlikely an
agreement on the formation of the cabinet would be reached soon.

The lack of progress following the signing of the GNU has seen a spike in
reports of violence across certain parts of the country.

If the cabinet is not formed soon, Zimbabwe might descend into chaos again,
human rights advocates have warned.

Now that Mbeki has resigned as the President of South Africa, analysts say
if the GNU fail, it is unlikely it could be resuscitated.

Mudzuri says MDC and ZANU PF need to bury the hatchet

By Tich aona Sibanda
22 September 2008

Elias Mudzuri, the former mayor of Harare famously hounded out of office by
Robert Mugabe's regime, said he's prepared to forgive and extend an olive
branch to his tormentors, for the sake of rebuilding the country.

He told Newsreel on Monday the country has suffered incalculably because of
ZANU PF's intransigence towards the country's opposition political parties.
The popular organising secretary of the MDC said that following the
power-sharing deal, there should be no reason to deprive millions of
Zimbabweans of their basic rights to food, security, health and education.

'I know it might take long to put everything in place, including cabinet,
but I urge Zimbabweans to be patient because we are dealing with people who
are afraid, who have been in power for the last 28 years,' Mudzuri said.

Commenting on the current stalemate over the distribution of cabinet
portfolios, Mudzuri explained that certain segments within ZANU PF circles
were against change because they want to serve their nefarious interests.

'But a good majority of people from ZANU PF are now tired of these people's
evil designs. History teaches us that we can't afford perpetual
confrontation with each other. We have to resolve our problems through
dialogue and not through hostile intentions,' said Mudzuri.

The former mayor, who is heavily tipped for a cabinet post in the inclusive
government, said the country has gained nothing from hostilities of the past
eight years. On the contrary, the MDC has managed to push for change from
dictatorial tendencies.

'Hostility has affected our energy, creativity and resources. Having
experienced economic loss, political subjugation and social disintegration,
we are now at the stage when we should abandon policies of hatred and bury
the hatchet and concentrate on improving, reforming and strengthening our
society internally,' he said.

To develop good and friendly relations with ZANU PF, Mudzuri said the regime
should first of all correct its ideology that contains poisonous
anti-Tsvangirai and anti- MDC rhetoric.

'ZANU PF has created a mindset, which believes in confrontation rather than
tolerance and friendship. This mindset has to be changed and allow for a
peace making process to hold,'

Mudzuri said the MDC , as a party were not being greedy or seeking
retributive measures in demanding certain ministerial portfolios from the
negotiations.

'We can never benefit anything from retribution. We are human beings, so we
are saying yes we were wronged and we are the victims but we can never
forget. But certainly we can forgive and move ahead. We can benefit from
realizing that we are now one government and should stop the divisions,'
Mudzuri said.

He added; 'We are lucky we still have the infrastructure. Now what we need
is a good leadership, a leadership that can deal with corruption and bring
back trust from the international community.

Mudzuri acknowledged the MDC were pushing to get the ministries of Finance,
Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs and Local Government `not as a way of pushing
ZANU PF into oblivion but to ensure 'we bring back the faith of everyone to
building a new Zimbabwe .'

'I think it s time enough for Mugabe to cleanse his mind of all such
prejudices. Let us compare ourselves with other countries, which won their
liberation much after us. They are managing their affairs so skillfully to
consolidate their gains. These countries have gained in strength and
prosperity and they don't need to go to any other country with a beggar's
bowl,'

He added; 'if you analyze the causes behind our backwardness, you will
discover that mutual hatred, apprehensions and intolerance on the part of
ZANU PF have taken us to the verge of destruction. These tools of self
destruction should be buried deep. It is time to promote love between the
two parties and not hatred.'

SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news

Farm invasions continue across Zimbabwe, fueled by GNU accord

http://www.hararetribune.com

Monday, 22 September 2008 15:42

The conventional thinking across Zimbabwe by ZANU-PF supporters is that it
is better to invade farms now, for if the new cabinet is formed, the door to
invading farms will be shut.

And so, since the signing of the GNU deal September 15, there has been a
spike in the number of farms being invaded.

In Zimbabwe, invading farms is increasingly becoming a lifestyle, where one
invades a farm, loot its assets and move on to the next farm, a commercial
farmer battling against farm invaders said in Mashonaland East Province.

"Invading farms is not an art, a tradition that is being passed from one
generation to the next," the tobacco farmer said.

Below is the complete log of farm invasions across Zimbabwe.

FARM DISRUPTION REPORT - DAILY LOG

NB Please note that the numbers below relate to those in Volumes I to XII
and are a continuation of reports in Volume I to XII of the Farm Disruption
Reports.

Also please not that all farm disruption and post election disruptions and
violence have also been included in an amalgamated version, which is updated
every month.

FROM AUGUST ONWARDS NO MORE SEPARATE REPORTS WILL BE COMPILED ON POST
ELECTION INVASIONS AND DISRUPTIONS AND FARM DISRUPTION REPORTS AS ALL WILL
BE INCLUDED IN THIS SINGLE REPORT.

SUMMARY

In some provinces a few farmers were living in a 'comfort zone' where they
were protected by their governors who were more business minded and
production orientated, but at least one of the new governors have now
started evicting, or prosecuting farmers, who have previously been allowed
to continue farming.

Update 11 September

There is a definite upsurge in the increase of offer letters being issued by
Minister (or ex-Minister?) Mutasa, with a high percentage of the new
beneficiaries being military men. The newest offer letter which has been
seen was dated 2nd September 2008.

A further threat to productive farmers could come from the recent promise to
give land to the Chiefs who have so far (apparently) not benefited from the
land reform programme.

All the above is having a detrimental effect on the already reduced level of
production of strategic crops this forthcoming season - which in fact is
already upon us. At the moment no remaining farmer appears to be safe from
this, what appears to be, a final cleanup of any remaining "white" owned
land in Zimbabwe. Although the legality of this, considering there has not
been an active government for 6 months, is questionable, it is having a huge
destabilising effect on confidence and hence production.

Update 17 September

Since the signing of the historic political agreement there has been an
increased number of disruptions on farms with new alleged beneficiaries
arriving on many properties and claiming immediate access to the homesteads
and crop lands despite the fact there is no vacant possession.

One report coming in was that a "contact" quoted ex-minister Mutasa as
stating, yesterday, that he had not issued a single offer since the
Goromonzi meeting (presumably the ZanuPF Congress there 18 months ago). This
is contrary to what we are seeing on the ground, especially since the March
29 harmonised election, from which time there has been an absolute flood of
offer letters being produced.

Update 19 September

Since the historic signing of the Political Agreement there has been an
upsurge in the number of prosecutions for alleged offences concerning the
Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act. In the Rotten Row Court in
Harare there will be at least 4 farmers facing prosecution for being on
their farms. All summonses were issued after the signing of the recent Power
Sharing agreement.

24. FARM 30 HVE - CHIREDZI - 1 SEPTEMBER

Mr Digby Nesbitt reports that one of his workers reported that he overheard
that Mr Veterai has vowed to remove Mr Nesbitt from his house tonight and
that there would be a fight. He reportedly told the workers that they can
help themselves to the furniture in the house.

The South African Embassy has sent a diplomatic note to the government and
was copied to the Commissioner General of the Police.

Update 2 September

Mr Veterai is alleged to have arrived at the homestead "fully armed" last
night at midnight and preceded to the room he has allocated for himself.
Nothing further happened. However this is in contempt of 3 court orders
against him as well as the interim relief order granted by the SADC
Tribunal.

Update 8 September

The following report was received from the South African Embassy in Harare:

"This morning I accompanied Ambassador Makalima to Deputy Minister
Marumahoko of Foreign Affairs. We took a letter to him wherein we pleaded
for intervention in the cases of D Nesbitt and Louis Fick. We also attached
all the diplomatic notes that we had done during the last 6 months on both
these farmers. The letter was copied to the Minister of Land Affairs,
Governor of the RBZ as well as the two relevant provincial governors. Let's
hope this will bear some fruit. Please inform D Nesbitt as well. I did send
a sms to Louis Fick."

Update 9 September

Mr Nesbitt reports that he is missing a number of items from the homestead
since Mr Veterai's guards have been occupying the house with him since
January 2008. On the list of the latest missing articles are an
entertainment centre hi-fi and a television set. The matter was reported to
the Chiredzi Police who refused to accept the report and instructed him to
make the report to the Hippo Valley satellite station.

Update 10 September

It is alleged that Mr Veterai continues to reside (on and off) in the
homestead in disregard of 3 court orders which prohibit him from doing so.

It is further reported that the strategically important 30ha of seed cane
which Mr Nesbitt planted at great expense is being cut and harvested and
sold to the Hippo Valley Estate mill by Mr Veterai. This seed cane crop was
vitally important for the entire local industry as it was the only field of
its kind and should have been used as part of the rotation of the cane
fields. After 8 years it is common practice to renew cane fields, partly as
a disease control and most importantly to increase the national yield of
case (sugar).

During the past 8 years of the land reform programme none of the cane has
been replaced, which is one of the reasons that the national yield has been
lower every year. This 30ha of seed cane was to have been used to increase
the national yield of sugar, but has now been turned into sugar instead.

This irresponsible action can only be described as economic sabotage to the
sugar industry.

Update 12 September

Mr Veterai once again slept in Mr Nesbitt's home, but it was reported that
when he left at 6am this morning that he was unusually subdued.

342. SCOTSDALE - CHEGUTU - 2 SEPTEMBER

It has been reported that both Mr Joubert and Mr Stein are now both back in
their homes after being evicted on 15th August. They both had no other home
to go when they were unlawfully evicted so they moved to a lay-by on the
national highway, where they resided until the final orders came from the
High Court of Zimbabwe which allowed them to return home.

148. BON ACCORD - MASVINGO - 1 SEPTEMBER

Mr Rob Cunningham reports that following consultation with the District
Administrator of Masvingo he was advised to regain possession of his
property by applying for an eviction order through the courts. The papers
were duly granted but the Messenger of the Court complained of having no
transport. Mr Cunningham will collect them tomorrow to deliver the papers to
the illegal settlers.

Update 15 September

Mr Cunningham is away overseas on holiday but a neighbour reported that a
group of about 30 people were involved in a constant jambanja against the
property and refused to leave saying they had now taken over the property.
The matter was reported to the Officer-in-Charge, Masvingo, Dispol Matange,
who apparently refused point blank to get involved. When the matter was
referred to Propol Tanyanyiwa he said that he was in Harare and the matter
should be referred to Dispol. He was politely informed that Dispol had
refused to intervene.

374. CRAKE VALLEY - MUTARE - 1 SEPTEMBER

Mr Hugh Boswell Browne reports that the beneficiary on the property is now
planting maize in between his coffee crop. Legal advice is being sought.

346. NYAHONDO - TRELAWNEY - 1 SEPTEMBER

Mr Kim Birketoft reports that during his Urgent Chamber Application on 24
July 2008 he was made to feel like a criminal during the very polished
arguments delivered by Mr Gerald Mlotshwa, who appeared for the respondent.

Although the case has been filed on appeal with the Supreme Court he feels
so intimidated and insecure that he cannot plant a tobacco crop this
season - also his Dimon contract has not been renewed as a result of the
failed High Court application.

Although he has been concentrating on his export rose production he has been
unable to retain the services of his highly experienced manager following
the visit by Lands officials on several occasions to measure up the
buildings on the property and to record equipment, etc., allegedly for
valuation purposes.

Therefore, unless there is a speedy resolution the farmer (and nation) will
be prejudiced of an annual turnover of at least US$500,000 this season.

Update 4 September

The appeal against the failed application in the High Court has been filed
with the Supreme Court in Harare which in effect should suspend the
operation of the new beneficiary. Mr Birketoft is considering using
publicity as part of his defence because the alleged beneficiary is a senior
military person who already enjoys the allocation on a similar property
nearby. The export flower project which was on that particular farm when
they moved on is now rendered totally unproductive.

Update 10 September

Mr Birketoft reports that the beneficiary is now interfering with his work
programme and has warned his staff not to work for him. He allegedly insists
that he wants to take over the rose project within the next few weeks so
that he can show the new government of Mr Tsvangirai what an efficient and
productive farmer he is. It is alleged that he has a murder charge against
him.

Update 12 September

Received letter of support from Ministry of Foreign Affairs via Danish
Embassy, below:

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Zimbabwe presents its
compliments to the Royal Danish Embassy in Lusaka and has the honour to
refer to the latter's note 001/2007 dated 22 January 2007. May the Embassy
be advised that the Acquiring Authority has confirmed the position that even
though some Danish properties were gazetted it will not affect the Bilateral
Protection of Investment. The Acquiring Authority will abide by the BIPA and
allow the Danish property owners to remain on their properties. Should the
Acquiring Authority wish to take over the properties it will do so as per
Agreement.

Attached here, for ease of reference, is a copy of the Guidelines for the
Implementation of the gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act CAP 20:28
MO. 8/2006 from the Ministry of Lands, Land Reform and resettlement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the republic of Zimbabwe avails itself of
this opportunity to renew to the Royal Danish Embassy, in Lusaka, the
assurances of its highest consideration.

HARARE

21 March 2007"

Notwithstanding this assurance from the Government of Zimbabwe, the opposite
has occurred under the alleged directive of the Minister of Lands, (etc.)
through the issuance of offer letters to the property.

Update 18 September

Still no court date has been set for the urgent matter. In the mean time the
beneficiary has started ridging the lands in preparation for planting. He is
also alleged to be intimidating the labour and constantly stopping work and
holding meetings in an attempt to select who will stay and who would go.

43. ROMSEY - CHINHOYI - 2 SEPTEMBER

Mr Doug Tayler-Freeme has investigated the Friday visit by Chief Nemakonde
and 30-man entourage. The group had been visiting properties under his
control and evicting all illegal settlers on those farms.

Although there was a threat to evict Mr Tayler-Freeme by Sunday, there have
been no further visits from the team which visited him on Thursday last
week.

Mr Tayler-Freeme has been summonsed to appear in the Chinhoyi Magistrates
Court on Thursday, 4 September, for trial on allegations of malicious damage
to property. This case was heard several months ago but was thrown out due
to lack of evidence. The allegations rise from an incident which occurred
when youth from the local township prevented Chief Nemakonde's tractor from
planting over Mr Tayler-Freeme's soya bean crop last year.

The prosecutor has told his legal practitioner that he has been subjected to
political pressure to resuscitate the case against Mr Tayler-Freeme.

Update 4 September

Mr Taylor-Freeme arrived at the court as ordered but spent the whole day as
Prosecutors and Magistrates argued who should prosecute and preside over the
unpopular case. Although Chief Nemakonde was also there nobody wanted to
touch the controversial case that had already been thrown out once before.
The case was postponed to an unknown date.

Update 8 September

Despite all the problems (and prosecutions) recently experienced by this
farmer he has just ad a visit from the Provincial Administrator who wants
him to become a strategic seed producer during the coming season.

152. MARIKANGO - MWENEZI - 2 SEPTEMBER

Mr Gerry Whitehead has sent the following report on the incident which
occurred in his house in Chiredzi, where he now resides:

"Lowveld News 2nd September

Five police officers came to my house in Chiredzi at 8.0 am this morning and
said that they were from Harare and wanted to see my rifles and permits.
After they had finished checking all the permits and relevant rifles, they
then said that they have been instructed to confiscate all rifles of 308
calibre and over with the ammunition plus all reloading equipment. I asked
them for paper work showing their instructions. They said that they did not
have this paperwork and did not require it to take my rifles and equipment.
I even battled to get them to sign a receipt for the equipment taken, but
managed it after threatening to call my lawyer.

I believe that the ZANU PF government is disarming citizens in Zimbabwe of
arms that could be used against them; we have been left with virtually
peashooters to protect ourselves against their army and militia who are
mostly armed with the AK rifle.
The indication here is that Mugabe's government has no intention of
surrendering authority to Morgan Tsvangirai and will fight to stay in power.

Gerry Whitehead"

156. WASARA - CHIREDZI - 3 SEPTEMBER

Mr Gary Warth reports that he had a visit from policemen who wanted to check
his firearms licence. Once produced, they asked him to justify why he needed
the heavy hunting weapons. They then confiscated all the weapons and
shotguns, and ammunition, bar a .22 rifle.

The two policemen came in a metal grey twincab, registration No ABD 1664.
They refused to identify themselves, merely flashing their IDs.

Update 15 September

It has been reported that there has been a constant theft of wire from the
game fence on the property. Mr Warth has gone to the Police to collect more
details to react as the satellite station on the farm appears to be unable
to investigate the matter.

278. CLAREMONT ESTATE - CHEGUTU - 1 SEPTEMBER

It has been reported that Mr Campher Pasque has been visited by an alleged
beneficiary, who wants to take over the remaining portion of the farm. Mr
Pasque is a French national who should have protection through the
country-to-country BIPPA. He is also one of the 77 farmers who enjoy the
protection of the SADC Tribunal Interim Relief Order.

82. STIRLING - BEATRICE - 4 SEPTEMBER

The Government took Mr Bruford to court to justify the seizure of his
farming equipment in the first case of its kind. The matter was thrown out
of court.

However, Mr Bruford was informed outside court that his dairy and poultry
farm was to be acquired and that he would be prosecuted if he did not vacate
the property.

Update 5 September

Reported to Beatrice Police Station. Threatened with arrest and
incarceration should he not leave farm within 2 weeks. Aggressive Police
Sergeant (Munundupeyi) said he would go to court, but unlike Theron and Fick
he would be remanded in custody and taken to court every day. The sergeant
allegedly said that a precedent had been set by Theron and Fick so all
farmers were guilty for still being on the farms.

Mr Bruford described the situation at the police station as a "kangaroo
court".

Update 8 September

Mr Bruford reports that he set up an appointment with the ex governor, Mr
Ray Kaukonde, who still holds a fairly senior political position. He was
very concerned about the situation and suggested he met with Provincial
Administrator Mr Ndurukwa, who immediately telephoned Lands officer
Muwamburodzi and severely reprimanded him in Mr Bruford's presence. He said
that he should withdraw all charges against Mr Bruford and that he should be
allowed to continue farming undisturbed.

In analysis it would appear that the two beneficiaries on Stirling and
Alicedale East, Mr Farai Chengeta and Mr Brian Mate have been working
together to harass and evict both farmers from their properties. Mr Mate
works for CIO and Mr Chengeta has a granite business as well as being
accused of having multiple allocation of land on Gemini and Joyce Mine.

Update 10 September

Mr Bruford reports that the beneficiary is now starting to disrupt his work
programme and will be seeking legal advice on the matter.

Update 18 September

Mr Bruford has received a summons to appear in the Rotten Row Magistrates
Court on 22 September to answer charges related to Gazetted Land
(Consequential Provisions) Act.

94. ALICEDALE EAST - BEATRICE - 4 SEPTEMBER

Mr Angelo Parachronophoulos was called to Beatrice Police Station where he
was threatened with prosecution should be fail to vacate his property within
7 days. This is an illegal order.

Update 10 September

Mr Angelo Parachronophoulos has been again called to the Beatrice Police
Station to answer enquiries as to why he has not moved off the property and
why he has moved off farm equipment.

Update 11 September

It has been reported that the owner has now left the property with all his
household effects and livestock following continued threats from the
Beatrice Police and Lands officers. It is further reported that he went to
speak with Minister Mutasa who merely advised that he has no choice but to
vacate his property. It is understood that in terms of the law that the
Minister has no direct powers of eviction. This can only be done by a court.

29. GLEN ELLIN - KAROI - 2 SEPTEMBER

Mr Neil Saywood was away on holiday for 2 weeks and when he returned he
heard that the main homestead had been taken over and occupied by a new
beneficiary, who claims to be the director of either Lands or Parks, named
Rhararas. The same (mercenary) team of war veterans led Mr Jethro Ncube,
which succeeded in evicting farmers off Chiltington and Sangalalo, were used
on this farm.

Update 3 September

Mr Saywood reports that about 500 villagers, from the neighbouring Chief
Dendere's area, armed with axes, sticks and pangas, stormed the homestead
and physically removed the alleged beneficiary. The insisted they would not
stand for the farm being taken over because Mr Saywood gets on well with the
people and employs over 300 people from the communal area for his extensive
export flower project.

It is even alleged that a senior Police officer, Assistant Inspector
Chaguta, who is alleged to be sympathetic towards farm invaders, was also
chased away in his Police vehicle by the large crowd.

Update 4 September

The would-be beneficiaries laid a complaint with the Police saying they were
forced off their allocated land. The Police went back to the farm in an
attempt to resolve the issue but when they confronted the farm workers they
were outnumbered and backed down.

59. BATTLEFIELDS - MWENEZI - 8 SEPTEMBER

Although gin-traps have been banned in Zimbabwe for many years an A1
beneficiary on this ranch was found to be using one to snare game around an
exclusive watering point in the dry Mateke Hills. When he was arrested by
farm security he was found with many copper wire snares which had obviously
been stolen from the many kilometres of vandalised telephone lines in the
vicinity.

CHIPIMBI - CHIREDZI 6 SEPTEMBER

Mr Lloyd Yeatman reports that during the period of civil unrest his
exclusive game lodge was taken over by about 300 people when the farm was
used as a militia base. Following this the newly elected MP for Chiredzi
tried to take over the homestead and farm. However, Mr Yeatman moved one of
his business partners into the house and the situation quietened down.
However, the lady occupant is now suggesting that because the new MP is a
cousin to the newly appointed Governor Maluleke that they should quickly
apply for an offer letter from Minister Mutasa before the political
situation changes. She claims to also be related to the Minister. At stake
is the 1200ha buffalo-boma which contains many valuable FMD-free buffalo.

296. NUANETSI RANCH - MWENEZI - 8 SEPTEMBER

Ranch manager Mr Chris Bester reports that an Army brigadier has come to the
Nuanetsi Ranch sugar cane project at Chitsaka, claiming to be in possession
of an offer letter. The Ranch has recently been bought by Zimbabwe Bio
Energy P/L managed by business mogul Mr Billy Rautenbach.

86. FRIEDAWIL - CHINHOYI - 8 SEPTEMBER

Mr Louis Fick reports that the main gates to his livestock have once again
been locked thus preventing food being delivered to the pigs, cattle and
crocodiles.

Update 8 September

The following report was received from the South African Embassy in Harare:

"This morning I accompanied Ambassador Makalima to Deputy Minister
Marumahoko of Foreign Affairs. We took a letter to him wherein we pleaded
for intervention in the cases of D Nesbitt and Louis Fick. We also attached
all the diplomatic notes that we had done during the last 6 months on both
these farmers. The letter was copied to the Minister of Land Affairs,
Governor of the RBZ as well as the two relevant provincial governors. Let's
hope this will bear some fruit. Please inform D Nesbitt as well. I did send
a sms to Louis Fick."

Update 10 September

Mr Fick appeared in the Chinhoyi Magistrates Court on charges under the
Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act. It is alleged that throughout
the country all other prosecution dockets for cases against farmers under
the above regulations have been withdrawn by the Attorney General pending
the outcome of the SADC Tribunal case - of which Mr Fick is an intervener.

It is a mystery why this South African citizen's case is still continuing
under such circumstances.

192. SOUTH END B - MHANGURA - 8 SEPTEMBER

Mr George Kriel reports that they are having huge difficulties obtaining
cash to pay farm workers as well as finance for the forthcoming season. They
are contracted to grow tobacco with Tribac P/L, who have suggested payment
for last season's crop in the form of fuel. Unfortunately no fuel is
available at the moment. There are also many power cuts with the last one
continuing for several days following some serious fires in the district
which burnt down ZESA poles.

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH TRUST FARM - ZVIMBA - 5 SEPTEMBER

Mr Nick Brook, manager of ART Farm reported that on Friday he was approached
by Mr M Kaduko claiming he had an offer letter, dated 2 September 2008, for
subdivision C of Teviotdale, which is 12.5ha in extent. He was accompanied
by his brother, a Police officer and a young Army trooper. The offer letter
was described as being green and on Government paper and signed by Minister
Mutasa, but was unstamped.

He was reported as being extremely aggressive and wanted to move into the
allocated area immediately. It is alleged he works for ZanuPF and is
possibly a driver for Mr Shamurirwa or Woman's Affairs. He also has a
history of unpleasantness.

Update 6 September

The alleged beneficiary arrived in two Isuzu double cab vehicles with ZanuPF
logo on them and was accompanied by between 8 and 10 youth. He first wanted
to know who had destroyed his maize + two years ago. Mr Charles Nyandoro
(Senior Technical Advisor for ART Farm) advised that due to bad germination
he had planted another crop over that crop.

Mr Kaduko thereupon set upon assaulting him with sticks etc. Mr Nyandoro
suffered a dislocated kneecap, stab wound in the leg, head injuries and a
fractured leg. He was transferred to Dandaro Clinic. The Police were called
and they stabilized the situation.

About two years ago Mr Kaduko tried to settle the area and arrived with a
group of about 26 people who were to live there together with him. The
manager tried to resolve the situation amicably through the Police and DA,
who were ineffectual and insisted that Mr Kaduko was give a room in the
staff compound as he had no other accommodation. He has resided there for
the last two years and the powers that be have never resolved the situation.
He was only in the house on the piece of land he was allocated for about 10
days, during which time he planted, literally a few pips of maize seed on
unsuitable land.

Meanwhile one senior staff member has vacated his home for the beneficiary
and ART Farm stands to lose 12 - 15 general labour houses and one senior
staff house. This accommodation is essential for use by the farm workers who
are presently employed at ART Farm.

The designated area is not really agricultural land and has a separate title
deed. It consists of an old mine and the old Campbell Brickfields area where
old mine houses were converted into staff quarters.

194. CHISANGWE - KAROI - 8 SEPTEMBER

Mr Gary Hobbs was approached by an Army Colonel who allegedly had an offer
letter for the rest of the property, including the homestead. Gary Hobbs,
Paul Stidolph and Neil Saywood went to see Deputy Minister for Foreign
Affairs Mr Marumahoko to seek a resolution. However, he said there was not
much he could do to assist because the governor was now gone and that we
would probably end up fighting again because the MDC refuses to sign the
power sharing agreement. He said he, the Cabinet and the Politburo was also
extremely cross with Mr Stidolph because he had taken his case to the SADC
Tribunal because it was a smear against the credibility of the government.
He said he could not understand why because the matter would have eventually
been resolved without taking the dispute to a court outside the country. Mr
Stidolph said he had exhausted all legal remedies in Zimbabwe so has no
choice.

382. PLUMSTEAD - BEATRICE - 10 SEPTEMBER

Mr Stephen Mumford reports that another lady beneficiary has arrived on the
property and wants to know where she can build her quarters. His farming
operations are now being severely disrupted by the new beneficiaries on the
farm.

He has received information that if he paid Chief Lands Officer Joseph
Munyanye some money "the problem would go away". Mr Munyanye has previously
been investigated for corruption in the Masvingo Province, where he was
accused of accumulating as many as 8 properties for himself. This is alleged
to be the reason why he was transferred away from Masvingo after such a
short term in office.

308. FRIEDENTHAL - BEATRICE - 9 SEPTEMBER

It is debatable whether this property should be listed under Zanka or
Friedenthal, because this is where Mr Deon Theron moved his dairy herd and
business to once he was evicted from Zanka by the court earlier this year.

Since he has been here he has had to restructure and in fact rebuild a small
existing dairy and lives in a two-room cottage amongst the cardboard boxed
containing the rest of his personal possessions. He and his family have not
been the only ones suffering as this property does not have nearly enough
grazing for his cattle. So far he has lost, from poverty, 47 head of cattle
and 8 crocodiles, from his once highly productive herd which was always
maintained in good condition.

Today the property was visited by 3 Lands officers who went ahead to
subdivide the small property into 3 subdivisions, which they want to
allocate 3 new beneficiaries. This would effectively leave Mr Theron and his
mother, to whom the property belongs, no land to run their business and no
doubt the rest of the once highly productive dairy herd would also succumb
to poverty and die.

2. UPPER ROMSEY - CHINHOYI - 10 SEPTEMBER

Mr Reinier van Rensburg appeared in the Chinhoyi Magistrates Court to answer
accusations against him with regard to damaging a centre pivot left on his
property when he was evicted.

VALMARK ESTATE - NYAZURA - 8 SEPTEMBER

Mr Loubser reports that a new beneficiary arrived at the property and
claimed that the 41ha tobacco crop which he had just planted was now his as
it fell within the land he had just been allocated. When he heard that Mr
Loubser had consulted his lawyers his remarks were, "that was totally
unnecessary as we could work things out together".

MOLLYVALE - SHAMVA - 9 SEPTEMBER

It has been reported that Mr Hildebrandt is presently under pressure as an
Army officer is trying to move in and evict him.

161. WESTHEIM - CENTENARY - 1 SEPTEMBER

Mr Uys van der Westhuizen had a visit from two alleged beneficiaries saying
they had been allocated the sections of the property where the pigs were
being run and the maize and soya lands. He told them that their offer letter
did not constitute occupation so they left.

158. MASAPAS RANCH - CHIREDZI - 11 SEPTEMBER

It has been reported that the poaching of the endangered rhino species
throughout the Save River Conservancy. This matter is of extreme concern
indeed as large numbers of animals have been slaughtered for their horns.

115. WOLVERHAMPTON - CHIPINGE - 15 SEPTEMBER

Mr Trevor Gifford reports that he was confronted by a small group of people
came in a Chipinge RDC vehicle, accompanied by a Sergeant from ZRP Junction
Gate, who was probably just seconded to be a witness or to legitimise the
visit, and probably under duress. The group consisted of Mr James Mandoma -
CEO of the Chipinge RDC; Mr Mavuvu - ZanuPF office Chipinge; Mr Magocha -
orderly at Chipinge District Hospital; Mr Dhlawayo - Chipinge Lands office.
They insisted they had come to the property to start cutting the timber. Mr
Gifford has a court order to protect the timber and has also been approved
by the previous governor to be allowed to remain in possession of a section
of his property. The policeman witnessed Mr Gifford being physically pushed
around (assaulted) and was shown copies of the court order but failed to
react. Mr Gifford subsequently walked away and left them talking. They said
they would be back today to cut the timber.

Update 17 September

It is reported that Mr Mavuvu has started to cut the timer for harvesting.

15. CHIDZA - MASVINGO - 15 SEPTEMBER

Mr Borland reports that the untenable situation on the ground just has not
stopped and people are continuing to build huts and stump his grazing lands
to prepare to plant crops. He has spoken to the District Administrator Mr
Madziviza and Provincial Administrator Mr Felix Chikovo many times, but they
continue to refuse to assist in any way at all.

Update 17 September

Mr Borland reports that his farming operations are being daily interfered
with as the new settlers are forcing his pedigree cattle out and pushing in
their cattle. There is therefore huge competition over the limited grazing
resource.

FOLIOT - KAROI - 15 SEPTEMBER

This property changed hands, legally, a few years ago when it was bought by
Mr Simba Sakutukwa, who was a successful commercial farmer. A year or so ago
the property, crops in the land and farm equipment were forcefully acquired
by Brigadier General Mtisi. Mr Sakutukwa took the matter to court and won
his case with the court ordering the General to restore possession of the
property to its rightful owner. He refused point blank.

Over the weekend it is alleged that Brigadier General Mtisi and General Dube's
manager from Grand Parade, Colonel Mkandhla, called public meetings that
were used to try to gather support against the ongoing Unity Talks. It is
alleged they are against the talks because they fear they would lose the
land they have forcefully acquired.

Both Brigadier General Mtisi and General Dube (on Grand Parade) are
allegedly in contempt of court orders against them to return possession to
the owners of Foliot and Grand Parade respectively.

190. GREYCOURT - BANKET - 12 SEPTEMBER

Mr Roy Sinclair has been leasing the above property from Mr George Watson
following his order issued by the Administrative Court which allowed him to
continued farming on a portion of the property.

This week Ms Mushangaidze came to the property claiming to be in possession
of an offer letter, saying that she was going to take over the property and
therefore Mr Sinclair had to move out.

180. LIONS DEN - SHAMVA - 15 SEPTEMBER

Mr Aiden Bruk-Jackson was visited by the newly elected MP, Mr Ziteya, and
the Officer-in-Charge ZRP Shamva, Inspector Chitekwa and enquired why he was
still on his property. Both individuals have a personal interest as alleged
beneficiaries of the property. They insisted that he stopped operations and
moved off immediately.

However, during the discussions they tried to negotiate a deal in which they
would become partners in his farming operation. He is also having constant
requests to meet with another alleged beneficiary Colonel Garira who is
allegedly trying to also extort some form of partnership in the productive
property.

Update 17 September

MP Ziteya arrived on the farm with a Police vehicle and escort as well as
village head and war veteran Mr Masora. They demanded the keys to all the
houses on the farm as they said that the new beneficiaries were becoming
restless and needed to move in immediately. They claim to have offer letters
on the table but as yet none have been seen. Colonel Garira the other
alleged beneficiary is believed to be behind the visit continues to call for
a meeting with the owners.

Last night at 7pm a ZanuPF vehicle from Shamva arrived to demand the keys
again but none were handed over.

Mr Chiwenga has taken over the citrus together with his 20-odd wives and
continues to reap the remaining crop.

Inspector Chitekwa, who is officer-in-charge Shamva, is also assisting to
move the beneficiaries around in a Police vehicle because he has common
interest as he is also a beneficiary on Lions Den. District Lands Officer Mr
Kadzere is busy allocating new A1 plots on the back end of the farm to un
known plot holders at this time.

372. SPITZKOP LOTS 12 & 14 - ZVIMBA - 12 SEPTEMBER

Mr Sherriffs reports that the beneficiary attempted to argue his way out of
the court order against him. The Police had to intervene, albeit reluctantly
at first.

259. MANDALAY - CHEGUTU - 16 SEPTEMBER

Mr Andrew Ferreira reports that he has been under siege since July. He has
had about 3 people living within his homestead area all this time. The
alleged beneficiary is Mrs B F Nhandara who is a senior commissioner with
the Anti-Corruption Commission. She has taken over one of his tobacco
seedbeds and planted rape. She has also prepared lands to plant other crops
but Mr Ferreira has tobacco seedbeds ready to plant out his crop. It would
appear that the alleged beneficiary is trying to broker a sharing agreement
with him. The matter has been filed with the High Court and has been heard
as an urgent matter by Mr Justice Uchena. Unfortunately he went on leave
before delivering judgement and the Clerk of the Court is attempting to
delay matters further by saying that the matter has been filed in the normal
court queue and no date has been given.

8. CHINGFORD - SELOUS - 15 SEPTEMBER

Mr Colin Cloete has been ordered to vacate his home at Selous Sports Club
within 30 days by Minister Webster Shamu. Mr Cloete has been utilising the
club as his home since he was evicted by alleged beneficiaries some time
ago. It is alleged that the so-called caretaker letter issued to Minister
Shamu is fraudulant. Mr Cloete wrote (on file) to the Lands Committee which
he has copied to the powers that be. It has been suggested that the move has
been taken as retribution for the perception that the farmers had failed to
support the ruling party during the recent elections.

EXCELSIOR - NYAZURA - 16 SEPTEMBER

It has been reported that Mr Dolf du Toit has been cornered in his house at
3pm this afternoon by Mr Miripiri, who is an alleged beneficiary on the
property. He has managed to lock himself into one of the rooms but has been
unable to telephone the Police. This has been organised through other
farmers.

Update 17 September

Local farmers collected the police from Rusape and drove with them to the
property. They arrived at the same time as a Police contingent from Nyazura.
The matter was resolved but it is reported that the alleged beneficiary Air
Marshal Chishishi was behind the attack. Although the matter has been
resolved a group of youth, allegedly employed by the beneficiary have
remained at the homestead.

There is almost no communications with the district due to power problems.

228. MONTLAVINA - BEATRICE - 15 SEPTEMBER

An unconfirmed report has come in that Mr and Mrs Mitchell were assaulted
over the weekend. They have been discharged from hospital. An attempt is
being made to contact them and confirm the report.

Update 18 September

The following report on the incident was copied from the Herald dated 17
September:

"Four suspected thieves poisoned and killed five dogs before getting away
with two revolvers, cash and goods worth $800 000 at a farm in Beatrice on
Monday. The suspects also vanished with $100 000 cash, US$250, 150 rand, a
photocopier, a CPU and various clothing items. Mashonaland East provincial
police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Godfrey Mubaiwa said the incident
occurred at around 3am at Montilavilla Farm. He said the four suspects cut
the security fence to gain entry into the yard.

"The four poisoned the complainant's five dogs that died instantly before
breaking a window to gain entry into the house," Asst Insp Mubaiwa said. He
said once inside the house, the four assaulted the complainant who was
sleeping in his bedroom with clenched fists and booted feet before tying him
with electrical codes.

The four, he said, went on to open the gun cabinet and took two revolvers,
jewellery and some travelling bags before fleeing from the house. The
complainant later managed to untie himself and made a report to Beatrice
Police Station. Asst Insp Mubaiwa said police acted swiftly and managed to
recover the photocopier CPU, three pairs of shoes and travelling bags that
had been dumped in the bush at the farm.

Asst Insp Mubaiwa said investigation were still in progress and urged anyone
with information that might lead to the arrest of the suspects to report to
the nearest police station."

30. GRAND PARADE - KAROI - 12 SEPTEMBER

Mr Stidolph reported to the Karoi Magistrates Court to face trial over
allegations under the Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act. He was
forced off his property by the beneficiary on the farm, with the use of the
Army, several months ago. This is despite the fact that his bail condition
(for the as yet unheard case) was that he should remain in his home on Grand
Parade. His trip to court in Karoi meant he had to drive, with his lawyer,
from Harare, where he now resides in rented accommodation. When he got to
court the case was merely remanded to 28 November 2008.

All this is in disregard of the Interim relief granted by the SADC Tribunal
in Windhoek in March 2008.

175. SIMAPIRI - CENTENARY - 14 SEPTEMBER

Mr Zietsman reports that the alleged beneficiary and Police broke into his
elderly mother's house, which she had recently vacated following threats.
The house is now reported to be occupied by the beneficiary's team of
tractor drivers and their families.

345. PRESTON COFFEE ESTATE - CHIPINGE - 15 SEPTEMBER

Mr Angus Preston reports that the alleged beneficiary, Mr Mundete, ID No.
13-001672B-13, who is the District Administrator for Chipinge has returned
to the property following his recent absence after a successful case against
him. The property is mentioned as being Whole of Lot 2 of Lot 4 Ngungunyana.
He has come with an offer letter, which he did not have before and was only
issued on 25 August 2008, after his original attempt to invade the property
in July. The following extract is taken from a written update:

"Two days ago on the 15th of September 2008, Mr Noel Mundeta arrived back at
the farm, with Mr Sithole from the Lands Department. Mr Mundeta told the
farm manager, Mr Munyaradzi Vutete that he had been allocated the farm and
left Mr Vutete with a copy of an offer letter.

We do not believe that this letter is a genuine offer letter and we believe
this is the start of another attempt by Mr Mundeta to occupy the farm
illegally.

The occupation of the farm by Mr Noel Mundeta on 7th of July 2008 was
reported to the police in Chipinge. We requested a report and RRB number
from the police; however they were not willing to issue us with the RRB
number. The police insist that the matter must be taken up with the Civil
Court".

370. LOT 19 WELSTON - ZVIMBA - 15 SEPTEMBER

Mr Derek Duffy reports that he was visited by the Police from Borrowdale and
served with a summons to appear in Rotten Row Magistrates Court to answer
alleged charges related to section 3 of the Gazetted Land (Consequential
Provisions) Act.

What is initially apparent with this case is that the beneficiary is
attempting to subvert justice. Mr Duffy has been given a provisional draft
order, 1685/08, against the alleged beneficiary Assistant Commissioner
Nyakasukwa, who is also based at Borrowdale Police Station. The beneficiary
has filed against the provisional order and is due to appear in court on the
23rd September, 2008, which is the day after the attempted (court) eviction
of Mr Duffy through the on the 22nd September, 2008.

This appears to be a personal agenda to attempt to rectify, or justify his
previous alleged unlawful activities on the property. Several other
neighbouring small-scale farmers (8) have also been ordered to report to the
court to face similar charges.

LOT 25A WELSTON - ZVIMBA - 15 SEPTEMBER

Mr Douglas Higgins of the above property was also served with a summons to
appear in court on the same day as Mr Duffy to also appear in Rotten Row
Magistrates Court to answer alleged charges related to section 3 of the
Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act. His statement is copied below:

"STATEMENT

I Douglas Robert Higgins of Nanette (Pvt) Limited measuring 14 hectares have
been asked to make a statement regarding my position on the abovementioned
plot.

I have never been served with or signed for an eviction notice to be off my
land at any time. I have however, been constantly harassed over the past two
years. This prompted me to visit the Vice president the Hon. J. Msika on the
10 December 2007. I explained my position to him and he stated that in no
uncertain terms was I to move off my abovementioned land and that I should
never have been put in this position anyway as I am not a farm but a plot.
The Vice president then phoned the Governor for mash east, Mr R. Kaukonde
and organised a meeting between the Governor and myself for later that day.
Following on from this Vice President phoned the Police Headquarters and
asked for them to retrieve all the dockets pertaining to the Welston area
from Borrowdale Police Station and to have those on his desk by 4.30pm that
very same day. I then continued to my meeting with Mr Kaukonde who agreed
with everything that Vice President Msika had said and again reiterated that
I was not to move off my property but to continue living here.

On my return to Harare that day, I went to Borrowdale Police Station as I
had been requested to do. I spoke to the member in charge there and he
conformed that all dockets for the abovementioned plot and the whole Welston
area had been transferred to Head Office.

Thus signed in Harare on this 4th day of March 2008."

25. PLOT 10 OF WELSTON - ZVIMBA - 15 SEPTEMBER

Mrs Zilla Batchelor of the above property was also served with a summons to
appear in court on the same day as Mr Duffy to also appear in Rotten Row
Magistrates Court to answer alleged charges related to section 3 of the
Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act.

381. PLOT 21A OF WELSTON - ZVIMBA - 15 SEPTEMBER

Mr Malcolm Clarke of the above property was also served with a summons to
appear in court on the same day as Mr Duffy to also appear in Rotten Row
Magistrates Court to answer alleged charges related to section 3 of the
Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act. He was not present and did not
personally sign for the summons as required by law.

380. LOT WELSTON - ZVIMBA - 9 SEPTEMBER

It has been reported that Mr Basil Rolands is presently under pressure as an
Army officer is trying to move in and evict him.

Update 15 September

Mr Basil Rolands of the above property was also served with a summons to
appear in court on the same day as Mr Duffy to also appear in Rotten Row
Magistrates Court to answer alleged charges related to section 3 of the
Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act

379. SUN VALLEY - ZVIMBA - 15 SEPTEMBER

Mr Rob Underwood of the above property was also served with a summons to
appear in court on the same day as Mr Duffy to also appear in Rotten Row
Magistrates Court to answer alleged charges related to section 3 of the
Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act

WELSTON PLOTS - ZVIMBA - 15 SEPTEMBER

Several other plot owners in Welston were also served with a summons to
appear in court on the same day as Mr Duffy to also appear in Rotten Row
Magistrates Court to answer alleged charges related to section 3 of the
Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act.

Some are unknown as yet but another is listed below:

Mr Mike Glen-Williams

299. BALCLUTHA - CHEGUTU - 17 SEPTEMBER

Mr Barry Lenton reports that 4 people arrived at the property in his absence
and claim they have been issued with offer letters to take over the rest of
this highly productive property. Previously the owner Mr J J Odendaal had
Balclutha, Goodhope, Jamaica and Aquirius farms, totalling over 2000ha in
extent. Since 2001 he has surrendered 1600ha of this to government for
resettlement and has remained with the present 600ha on which he is
presently growing, or planning for the present season:

100ha seed maize for Seed Co +650 tonnes
180ha seed soya for Seed Co +650 tonnes
15ha paprika +45 tonnes
180ha seed wheat for Seed Co +1100 tonnes
20ha potatoes +600 tonnes
120 breeding cows.

This is obviously a highly productive property of strategic importance.

Update 17 September

The one offer letter was stamped on 11 September, 2008, made out to a Mr
Kenneth Mushanyuri, ID No. 27-086819T-27, who is allegedly the
brother-in-law to the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. He is also
employed by Mr Gono at Timeless Stability. He was apparently shocked to see
the owner of the farm actually there and still operating as he apparently
thought that this was vacant and undeveloped land. He was allocated 400ha,
which included the dam, homesteads and irrigation lands.

Another offer letter was dated 1 April 2008 and was made out to Mr N
Gundani, 63-589821V-22, and was for 75ha of the remaining property.

The other offer letter produced was dated 9 April 2008, for 113ha, was made
out to Chegutu Lands Officer Mr M Chikadaya, ID No. 63-759196Y-80. All the
offer letters were accompanied by the green copy.

It is reported that the group wanted people to help do an inventory of farm
equipment but when they were refused assistance they did not carry this out
and they were only on the property for about 30 minutes.

WITCHWOOD - BVUMBA - 17 SEPTEMBER

Mr Preston reports that the homestead on this small retirement plot is
presently under siege by an angry crowd of youth. Mr and Mrs Peter Hall are
barricaded in the house but we do believe the police have been alerted. More
details are awaited.

ERMELO - KWEKWE - 16 SEPTEMBER

Mr Schalk Burger that he is away at the moment but received a report that
the alleged beneficiary Mr Barrington Mawere has broken the security fence
locks at the homestead and he and a group of youth have moved into the yard.
Fortunately his brother assisted and moved the group out and relocked the
premises. They are now sitting outside the fence but refuse to leave the
property.

The alleged beneficiary tried to force his way onto the property in 2006 but
a court order was served against him. He is alleges that he is now in
possession of a new offer letter.

64. FARM 5 HVE - CHIREDZI - 12 SEPTEMBER

The following letter was forwarded by the legal practitioners for the above
property which is owned by a Mauritian national and should be protected by
BIPPA as well as an Interim relief Order issued by the SADC Tribunal in
Windhoek. The letter is from the Office of the Attorney General:

"RE: YOUR CLIENT MLEME ESTATES (Pvt) LTD: HIPPO VALLEY SETTLEMENT HOLDING 5
PLOT 9

We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 8th August, 2008 in connection
with the above.

We confirm that we have discussed with officials from the Ministry of Lands,
Land Reform and Resettlement, and also confirm with them of the need to
abide by the interim order issued by the SADC Tribunal in favour of your
client.

Please accept our apologies for the late acknowledgement.

Yours faithfully

Advocate P. Machaya
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
CIVIL DIVISION."

344. CHITALA OF NIDDERDALE - TRELAWNEY- 17 SEPTEMBER

Mr Filippo Marucchi-Chierro is an Italian citizen who farms on the above
property, which has never been listed for acquisition. He sent the following
letter to the Italian Ambassador:

"Dear Ambassador

On the 12th of September at around 11:00 Mr Andrew Muzonzini, ID No.
63-447595B-18, (who claims to be the director of Internal Affairs for the
CIO), arrived at the above address with his driver. When he came out of his
vehicle he said to me: "I thought you were a gentleman" and I replied "why"
and he said that I did not stick to his agreement (Mr Muzonzini's agreement)
and I did inform him that I did move some of the equipment off the farm as
requested by him at the beginning of July 2008.

I was then told I should carry on farming operations by the Political
Commissar (Mr Caleb Chigomararwa) and Mr Muzonzini asked who is the
Political Commissar telling him what to do. I did ask Mr Muzonzini to speak
to the Political Commissar on my mobile but Mr Muzonzini was not interested
to talk to him because as far as he was concerned, the Political Commissar
has nothing to do with the issue. The letter came directly from the Ministry
of Lands, Land Reform and resettlement in Harare.

At one particular moment, while I was trying to get in touch with the
Political Commissar, Mr Muzonzini went to his car and grabbed an AK-47 and
said: "The only thing you guys (the white farmers) will understand is if we
use this" and that is when he showed me his weapon.

After showing me the weapon Mr Muzonzini gave me an ultimatum and he said
that he will give me one week to be off the farm - and if not he will come
back mid week to check on the progress and depending on what I have managed
to do he will bring his people and reinforcements by this coming Sunday,
20thSeptember to take over the farm.

I would like to point out that before Mr Muzonzini left he called my manager
to the vehicle and told him that the fertilizer (+5 tons) must stay."

351. HOMEFIELD - BANKET - 17 SEPTEMBER

Mr Patrick Stooks reports he is having continued farm disruptions and has
reported the matter to the police which they have recorded on RRB 0329492.

Update 19 September

New beneficiaries are constantly arriving on the farm and are becoming
rather aggressive. They are fencing off their allocated areas, which is
restricting the grazing and water supply of Mr Stooks' cattle. They are also
threatening to burn the wheat stover which he requires for feeding of his
livestock. He is presently harvesting the wheat crop, from which he expects
700 tonnes. The beneficiaries insist they want to burn the valuable crop
residue so they can prepare the lands for planting of their own crop to
follow the wheat.

The matter has been reported to Inspector Kondo and Assistant Inspector
Maparakedzwa at Banket but they said they could not do anything because they
did not understand the law. Mr Stooks then got a letter from his legal
practitioner to give to the police, which explained the legal position
appertaining to him and the beneficiaries. The two police officers said
there was nothing they could do because the beneficiaries' offer letters had
been issued from a higher level.

Mr Stooks then went to see Propol in Chinhoyi, Senior Assistant Commissioner
Chihuri. His OC (Crime) and OC (Admin) were also available to listen to the
problems and they both agreed that the correct process was not being
followed. They promised to telephone the Banket authorities to instruct the
beneficiaries not to burn the valuable stover. And to allow Mr Stooks' 250
head of cattle to graze unrestricted.

The Lands officer is telling Mr Stooks to be off the farm by the end of the
month to give way to the beneficiary who is with the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in Japan.

HIPPO VALLEY INTERPLEADER CASE

The Supreme Court ruling for the above case was reported in the Herald
newspaper on 17 September 2008 and a copy of the judgement is being sought
in the view of seeking further legal opinion and guidance on this extremely
important case that has set an unfortunate legal precedent. See Annexure 1

GOOIE HOOP - BEATRICE - 18 SEPTEMBER

Mr Trevor Greaves was visited and threatened by a group consisting of
Police, Lands and an alleged beneficiary. He was given a few days to vacate
the property on which he farms.

WHITEHOUSE - BEATRICE - 18 SEPTEMBER

Mr Mike Certees was visited and threatened by a group consisting of Police,
Lands and an alleged beneficiary. He was given a few days to vacate the
property on which he farms.

ROWENA - ZVIMBA - 19 SEPTEMBER

Mr Tim Jackson reports that an alleged beneficiary, Mr Francis Mukanganyira,
says he has an offer letter for the farm as named above but also known as
S/D E of Jonker. He is already known to have another offer letter for Mead
Farm of Gwebi Junction. Mr Jackson has been told that his property was
subdivided into 3 sections and one of the beneficiaries recently passed away
so Mr Mukanganyira is alleged to have taken advantage to grab his plot as
well.

Mr Jackson is a contract grower of tobacco for BAT and has already planted
24ha of the 48ha crop under irrigation. At this stage he has already
borrowed US$85 000 for the present crop. The farm only has a total of 70ha
which is arable.

ANNEXURE 1
THE HERALD 17 September 2008

EX - COMMERCIAL FARMERS LOSES APPEAL

Court reporter

The Supreme Court has dismissed with costs, an appeal by white former
commercial farmer claiming proceeds from sugarcane milled by Hippo Valley
Estates Limited and Triangle Limited in Chiredzi at the formative stages of
the land reform programme between 2002 and 2005.

Fantaisie Farms Private Limited and 14 other farmers who cultivated and
produced sugar cane in the Lowveld had appealed to the Supreme Court
challenging and earlier High Court decision awarding part of the proceeds to
more than 200 resettled farmers.

According to the court papers, the dispute arose after the two giant milling
companies wanted to make payment for the sugar can delivered for milling at
the two companies.

This resulted in the companies, which were represented by Mr Sternford Moyo
of Scanlen and Holderness approaching the courts seeking an inter-pleader
order directing who of the two parties should be paid for the crop that had
been delivered to the two milling companies.

The dispute also prompted Hippo Valley and Triangle to deposit an
undisclosed amount running into billions of dollars with the High Court in
terms of the court rules.

The money would be paid to the party, which would have successfully proved
its claim in court.

After a hearing the dispute, the High Court ruled that the small holder
farmers were to be paid for the sugar cane delivered before the acquisition
orders were nullified, while the commercial farmers were entitled to payment
for the cane they had delivered for milling.

The new farmers after being allocated land under the land reform found sugar
cane on the farms, which they looked after, harvested and delivered to mills
in Hippo Valley and Triangle for milling.

The two companies then milled the sugarcane.

However, commercial farmers claimed that they were entitled to payment for
the sugar cane on grounds that it was their crop.

The small holder farmers' counter argued that the crop they delivered to
millers came from the land allocated to them.

The commercial farmers were not happy with the High Court ruling and
appealed to the Supreme Court.

In a judgment handed down this week, Justice Misheck Cheda threw out the
appeal by the former large-scale farmers.

Justice Cheda rejected the argument by the commercial farmers saying that if
the acquisition of their farms were nullified then the new farmers should
not benefit from the proceeds of the sugar cane.

"There is nothing on record to suggest that the settlers knew, or were aware
that in settling them on the sugar cane farms the Minister (Lands,
Agriculture, and Rural Resettlement) was not acting in accordance with the
provisions of the relevant law," said Justice Cheda.

"It was not for them to question the legality of the Minister's actions.
They were being settled by the Government Minister unlike where persons
invaded and occupied the land on the own."

The judge further ruled that if the Minister had failed to observe the
provisions of the law that was a matter to take up with him and not the new
farmers.

"They were not aware of anything wrong. They were therefore bona fide
occupants of land regarding its fruits.." he said throwing out the appeal
for lack of merit.

In this case Hippo Valley and Triangle had no interest in the dispute, but
simply wanted the fighting parties to settle their dispute and pay the
deserving party the proceeds of the sugar cane.

Advocate Adrian de Bourbon represented Fantaisie Farms and 14 others.

"We will keep attacking MDC supporters until Mugabe tells us to stop."

http://www.hararetribune.com

Monday, 22 September 2008 05:49

Berison Bvirivindi, a street vendor, thought the peace deal signed by
Zimbabwe's leaders last week meant it was safe to wear a T-shirt showing
support for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
He ended up in hospital.

Still in severe pain from his injuries, Bvirivindi said he had been seized
at his stall in Harare's Road Port bus station by a gang from Robert
Mugabe's Zanu-PF youth militia - the same organisation which terrorised
Zimbabweans earlier this year to such an extent that the MDC leader, Morgan
Tsvangirai, quit the second round of a presidential election he was leading
to spare his followers further violence.

"They told me that they were going to continue attacking MDC supporters
until Robert Mugabe tells them to stop and acknowledge Morgan Tsvangirai's
role as prime minister," Bvirivindi said in his hospital bed.

But the 84-year-old president has said no such thing in public since he
signed last Monday's accord, and talks this weekend on how cabinet jobs
should be shared out were deadlocked.

Zimbabwe and the international community are waiting to see whether Mugabe
meant what he said when he agreed to yield some of his power for the first
time in his 28-year rule.

Tsvangirai's trump card is that foreign donors will not stump up the money
the country desperately needs unless he is seen to be in charge on a
day-to-day basis, as the peace deal provides.

The world has never seen such rampant inflation - even the government admits
to 11-million percent a year, independent economists estimate the actual
rate is 40-million percent.

Last month the central bank cut 10 zeros off the currency, so that
ZIM$10-billion became ZIM$1.

But the new dollar has already fallen by nine-tenths against the US dollar.

Reserve Bank runs out of cash

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=4634

September 22, 2008

By our correspondent

BANKS are failing to meet the demand for cash by the public as the Reserve
bank has failed to satisfy the demand.

The Reserve bank last week reviewed the maximum cash withdrawal from $500 to
$1000 for both individuals and companies but this has not reduced the number
of people queuing to withdrawal money.

Today, Monday, many people failed to access their cash as most banks said
they had not received any cash from the Reserve bank.

This is happening despite claims by Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono to
have put in place "pro-active and appropriate" strategies after the
withdrawal of Giesecke and Devrient, the German company which was the main
supplier to Zimbabwe of paper to print money since 1952.

Reserve Bank officials, however, blame the banks, saying the cash shortages
will persist as banks have inadequate Treasury Bills (TB) to use as
collateral when collecting money from the Bank.

According to the Reserve Bank, the shortage of TBs had resulted in stringent
conditions for the release of money onto the market.

Although the Reserve Bank has introduced a higher denomination note, long
winding queues of people waiting to withdraw money continue to be a common
feature around the central business district of Harare.

Banks are required to lodge Treasury Bills at the Reserve Bank as collateral
before being allocated cash that meets the daily requirements of their
clients.

Bankers said Treasury Bills which are issued at 340 percent against official
inflation of 11,2 million percent will compromise their earnings and force
them to scale down on the amounts they have been procuring in cash in
relation to deposits.

While the Reserve Bank has kept the accommodation rates very high,
annualised at 1,5 decillion (33 zeros) percent, depositors are languishing
with interest rates below 250 percent per annum.

The Reserve bank also demands 45 percent of statutory reserves from banks
and this according to officials has seen most financial institutions
"hurriedly" offloading their securities portfolios to improve their
liquidity positions.

Banks have become victims of abrupt policy changes and disposing of their
stocks thus becomes the only option to improve liquidity.

Confronted with high inflation, depositors see little incentive to leave
money in the banks, especially now when the interest rates on savings and
current accounts are generally below 10 percent per annum.

Commercial banks are now citing general preference towards Bankers
Acceptances over TB's which no longer have the "all important liquidity
status".

Presently, 30-day Bankers Acceptances are being drawn in the market at
yields around 1 000 percent, which, when annualised, leave banks raking in
returns of about 147 731 percent.

These returns are well above the TB returns of 340 percent. Banks have had
few TBs accumulating on their balance sheets.

Gono has however accused banks of creating "artificial" cash shortages by
failing to collect money from the country's main bank to distribute it to
clients.

"Notwithstanding the high levels of cash stocks sitting at the Reserve Bank
ready for dispatch into the market, banking institutions have been noted to
be engaging in imprudent and unethical practices which are creating
artificial queues for cash," Gono told journalists and bankers recently.

Hunger begins to take its toll

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs -
Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN)

Date: 22 Sep 2008

BONDOLFI MISSION, 22 September 2008 (IRIN) - Five children have died in
Zimbabwe's southern drought-prone Masvingo province from severe
malnutrition-related illnesses, according to members of a faith-based
mission.

"The children died of starvation last week," said a member of the
Catholic-run Bondolfi Mission, a member of the Holy Cross Convent, who did
not want to be named. The mission is located in Chivi district. Two of the
children died in the Mapanzure area near the mission, and three at a clinic
in Mukaro Mission in the neighbouring Gutu district.

"There was nothing the clinic could do to help them - they were severely
malnourished," said the mission staff member. The children had not had eaten
for a week.

Members of the Bondolfi Mission said they had last seen such levels of
malnutrition in the severe drought of 1991/1992. "During that time,
humanitarian organisations helped to alleviate the shortages by distributing
food aid in communities so the impact was not as severe as were a witnessing
now," pointed out the staff member.

Nongovernmental organisations in Zimbabwe are in the process of resuming
food distribution after a government ban on their operations was lifted on
28 August. The ban had been imposed ahead of a second round of voting in the
presidential ballot on 27 June because of the alleged collective
anti-government bias of NGOs.

The most recent data from 2006 showed that 29 percent percent of Zimbabwean
children below the age of five were stunted or suffering chronic
malnutrition, indicating a lack of nutritious food for a long period of
time.

Every evening, children from villages around the mission arrive at the
boarding school run by the convent to wait for leftovers. "The situation is
very bad," said a nun, and described tear-jerking scenes of children
scrambling for scraps and running back home to share with siblings.

"You feel helpless because there is not enough food to go around. You can't
do much. Even adults sometimes join the scramble for the food scraps and
leftovers. Just yesterday, an entire village arrived begging for food," she
said.

The mission has tried to help, at times inviting mothers to do some work at
the mission station. "Only last week we offered six women some work to do in
return for grain and one of them fainted because she was too weak to finish
the task," said a nun at the mission.

"We have witnessed hunger and food shortages in the past, but this one is
the worst. Our teachers cannot also afford to buy food even when they have
been paid," commented another member of the mission. "Food costs three times
as much as it costs in South Africa and their salaries are too low to buy
enough for themselves and their families as it has become too expensive."

A government-sponsored programme to distribute basic commodities at
affordable prices is expected to begin this week, according to the mission.
Under the Basic Commodity Supply Side Intervention (BACCOSI), government
provides food hampers at reduced prices to rural communities.

Expectant villagers

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC),
unaffected by the government's ban on NGOs, has announced the start of a
food distribution drive targeting those infected or affected by HIV and
AIDS, which will continue for the next nine months.

Trucks loaded with 383 metric tonnes of maize, beans and cooking oil have
been dispatched to feed 24,000 people in eight provinces: Masvingo,
Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands, Manicaland, Mashonaland
Central, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West. The IFRC announced that
distributions would take place on a daily basis, reaching 260,100 people
with monthly food support.

For most of the villagers whose crops failed because of patchy rains and
lack of farming inputs such as seed and fertiliser, the arrival of food aid
trucks is long overdue as they have struggled for months without aid. A crop
assessment forecast by a joint Food and Agricultural Organisation and World
Food Programme mission, released in June 2008, projected that about 5.1
million Zimbabweans out of a total population of 12 million would suffer
food insecurity by early 2009.

Peter Lundberg, the head of the IFRC delegation in the capital, Harare,
appreciated the Bondolfi Mission's concerns. "This is a critical period for
these communities. They have faced months without enough food and, for many
families, the situation has deteriorated drastically in recent weeks."

Françoise Le Goff, head of the IFRC's Southern Africa zone, said people
infected or affected by HIV and AIDS were particularly vulnerable to food
shortages. "Many of these people are on antiretroviral medication (ARVs).
For these drugs to work effectively, people need food. Without a full
stomach, many of those on [ARVs] are now choosing to default on their
treatment as they can't cope with the debilitating side effects."

The IFRC said according to health authorities in Masvingo province, one of
the regions worst affected by the food crisis, 70 percent of people on ARVs
have defaulted in recent months because of food shortages.

A little over 15 percent of the country's population is living with HIV.
According to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), approximately 1.3 million, or
one fifth of all Zimbabwean children have lost a parent; most have been
orphaned by AIDS.

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or
its agencies

Small scale farming seen as only alternative for food security

Photo: IRIN

Small is good

JOHANNEBSURG , 22 September 2008 (IRIN) - Zimbabwe's fledgling unity government cannot agree on much, but when it comes to the land issue President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF and Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) share common ground - any return to the pre-2000 pattern of land ownership is non-negotiable.

In 2000 Mugabe launched the fast-track land reform programme, a chaotic and at times violent redistribution of about 4,500 white-owned commercial farms to landless black Zimbabweans; a policy big on patriotic exhortation, but limited in terms of direct assistance to the new small-scale farmers.

"Jambanja" (direct action) was officially aimed at correcting the colonial imbalance in landownership, which after independence in 1980 still left white farmers with the best land, while millions of black Zimbabweans remain crowded onto arid communal areas. But the multiple farms owned by the well-connected, in breach of the government's own guidelines, seemed to undermine the government's position.

ZANU-PF and the MDC, which disagrees with the way that the land redistribution was performed, but not the end result, has called on Britain to compensate white farmers for the loss of their land, based on the Lancaster House agreement which ushered in majority rule. Britain, the former colonial power, has yet to respond to the demands.

Commercial farmers ran Zimbabwe's agro-based economy, producing cash crops such as tobacco and paprika and although they generated foreign currency, they were not major contributors to food security.

That, in the main, was the responsibility of communal farmers. The access enjoyed by small scale farmers to a vibrant agriculture support industry spawned by commercial farming provided access to cheap inputs like fertiliser and seeds.

The 2000 land reform programme saw these businesses crash, and along with successive years of drought, helped tip the country into recession. The UN estimates that more than 5 million people - nearly half the country's population - will require food aid at the beginning of 2009.

South Africa's University of the Western Cape's Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) has been quick to point out that over the past eight years small-scale farmers have been particularly robust in weathering Zimbabwe's political and economic turmoil, as well as drought.

Professor Ben Cousins, director of PLAAS, told IRIN that to kick-start Zimbabwe's recovery and to achieve food security, small-scale farmers should have access to some form of subsidised agricultural inputs, rather than any attempt to rollback land reform. The country's main planting season starts in November.

Ian Scoones, a Professorial Fellow at Sussex University's Institute of Development Studies, and a PLAAS partner, warned in a recent paper that "the new government will be offered advice from all quarters - consultants from around the world will arrive by the plane load, and the donor community and foreign think-tanks of all persuasions will forward their preferred plans and programmes".

But Scoones said in his paper: A New Start for Zimbabwe? that research conducted since 2000 in Zimbabwe's southern Masvingo Province "has revealed some important insights that challenge the 'conventional wisdoms' dominating media and academic commentary alike" over the impact of land reform.

About 1.2 million hectares of land in Masvingo Province has been resettled by about 20,000 households, ranging from A1 schemes, or smallholder farms, to A2 schemes, providing for small-scale commercial agriculture. The old agriculture economy, "the inheritance of the colonial era, [was] gone for good", the report said.

Zimbabwean myths

The change of land tenure has created five myths, the paper noted: Land reform has been a total failure; the beneficiaries of land reform has largely been political cronies; there is no investment in the new resettlements; agriculture is in complete ruins and the rural economy has collapsed.

Small-holder farmers have done reasonably well, particularly in wetter parts of the province. Households have cleared land, planted crops and invested in new assets, many hiring labour from nearby communal land

Despite low capital investment, small-holder farmers have done "reasonably well, particularly in wetter parts of the province. Households have cleared land, planted crops and invested in new assets, many hiring in labour from nearby communal land."

A2 schemes, or small-scale commercial farms, have felt the constraints of the economic meltdown, but there were "notable exceptions" where new farming enterprises have emerged "against all the odds".

While not denying that political patronage was at play in the allocation of "high value" farms close to the capital, Harare, 60 percent of beneficiaries in Masvingo were "ordinary farmers" originating from nearby communal lands.

"This was not a rich, politically-connected elite but poor, rural people in need of land and keen to finally gain the fruits of independence," the report said.

Scoones told IRIN that resuscitating Zimbabwe's agricultural industries, that slumped after the 2000 land reforms, was "just a matter of packaging".

He said that while previously agricultural businesses had catered for commercial farming, and were geared to that scale, there were now more farmers in the market who collectively had the same volume of demand.

Zimbabwe's Manicaland Remains Trouble Spot Despite Peace Deal

VOA

By Jonga Kandemiiri
Washington
22 September 2008

The Zimbabwean province of Manicaland remains a trouble spot despite the
recently signed power-sharing agreement between the long-ruling ZANU-PF
party of President Robert Mugabe and the Movement for Democratic Change.

MDC sources in the province said Monday that suspected ZANU-PF militia in
the Buhera South constituency on Sunday shot and wounded MDC activist Chido
Maenzanise in the leg when he fled after being accosted alongside a local
highway.

The MDC sources said Maenzanise was being treated at Murambinda General
Hospital.

Buhera South lawmaker Naison Nemadziva of the MDC formation led by Morgan
Tsvangirai told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that Maenzenance fled because
local residents no longer trust strangers in light of the political violence
in April-June this year.

Also in Buhera South, police arrested 36 MDC members Friday for making noise
celebrating the power-sharing deal. They remained in detention Monday at
Muzokomba police station with lawyers trying to obtain their release,
sources said.

Meanwhile, police in Mutare on Monday released 10 MDC activists from Mutare
South constituency who were arrested on Tuesday, Sept. 16, for celebrating
the deal. They each posted Z$500 bail and were due to appear in court on
Dec. 3.

In the Midlands province capital of Gweru, meanwhile, leaders of the
Tsvangirai MDC formation urged local party members to set aside past
differences, accept former adversaries into the party and work with them to
uplift the nation.

Correspondent Taurai Shava of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe reported...

Grateful MDC chair thanks Britain for Zimbabwe support

http://www.politics.co.uk

Monday, 22 Sep 2008 16:55
Labour's conference gave a standing ovation to Lovemore Moyo, the chairman
of Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), this afternoon.

Mr Moyo, addressing the conference in Manchester with prime minister Gordon
Brown and foreign secretary David Miliband looking on, thanked Mr Brown for
his "personal commitment" in the struggle against Zanu-PF.

"You spoke for us. We thank you for that," he said, to applause.

"There can be no finer example of what Britain can do in the world than your
support for democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe."

A power-sharing deal reached last week between the MDC and Robert Mugabe's
Zanu-PF is being seen as a landmark moment in the country's history.

Many fear Mr Mugabe will continue to oppress the MDC through campaigns of
violence and intimidation, but Mr Moyo was upbeat.

"It is not easy to fight a dictatorship through democratic means. I dare to
hope we have prevailed," he added.

Mr Moyo was elected speaker of the Zimbabwean parliament in August and
becomes the first non-member of Zanu-PF to hold the post since Zimbabwe's
independence since 1980.

"Zimbabwe's struggle for freedom has been the story of my life," he
continued.

"We look to our friends and comrades around the world. to help us rebuild
our institutions. Prime minister, your international leadership and support
for democracy in Africa will always be celebrated. Thank you."

Moyo to engage British authorities on failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers

http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com

21st Sep 2008 23:36 GMT

By Selbin Kabote

BIRMINGHAM - The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) national chairman,
Lovemore Moyo says he will talk to British authorities during his visit
about the failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers and the on-going process to form
an all inclusive government in Zimbabwe.

Responding to questions after attending a rally here, Moyo, who is also the
Speaker of Parliament, he intended to discuss with the British the need to
come up with a "humane approach" in dealing with failed asylum seekers who
may be repatriated home, if all goes well back home.

He was responding to a question on whether the MDC had any plans to approach
authorities here to discuss the plight of many failed Zimbabwean asylum
seekers who have been living in limbo in the UK for many years.

Moyo said he had been informed by MDC leaders in the UK about the plight of
many failed and destitute Zimbabwean asylum seekers who have not been able
to work or go to school because the system here did not allow them to do so,
resulting in many living in near poverty.

Some survive on handouts, others squat on friends' and relatives floors
during the night, an issue Bishop Sentamu had been trying to stop by asking
authorities here to give the failed asylum seekers permission to work until
the political and economic crisis back home was resolved.

The MDC leadership here told Moyo the best policy to adopt would be to
empower the failed asylum seekers first before sending them back home. This
would in turn ensure they positively contributed to the turn-around process
the MDC is trying to implement in Zimbabwe if Zanu PF does not balk out of
the power-sharing agreement signed last week.

Many of the failed asylum seekers are reported to be mentally and
emotionally unprepared for immediate repatriation, according to the MDC-UK
leadership.

Before the news conference Moyo urged Zimbabweans from many parts of the UK
who attended an MDC rally Saturday at the same venue to mobilize resources
in order to assist individuals back home whose homes and properties were
destroyed during the struggle for democracy, especially in the run-up to the
June presidential election in which Mugabe stood as the only candidate.

The MDC, he said, had tried its best to respond to the humanitarian crisis
with its limitations hence the need for every Zimbabwean to help in the
reconstruction and healing process.

Zimbabwe risks sliding down agenda

Financial Times

By Tony Hawkins in Harare and William Wallis in Johannesburg

Published: September 21 2008 23:15 | Last updated: September 21 2008 23:15

Thabo Mbeki's departure from office could hardly come at a worse time for
the Zimbabwe settlement negotiations.

It appeared likely on Sunday that he would retain the mandate - from both
the ruling African National Congress in South Africa and the regional
Southern African Development Community - to mediate in the talks, at least
in the short term. But Mr Mbeki would have less clout, if he were no longer
president of South Africa, to break the logjam already threatening to
unravel last week's deal.

The two main parties - Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF and Morgan Tsvangirai's
Movement for Democratic Change - are deadlocked over the allocation of
cabinet portfolios, with President Mugabe determined to retain control of
strategic ministries after facing dissent from within his party last week
for giving too much away.
George Charamba, his spokesman, insisted in a newspaper column that the
Zimbabwe president would choose ministers, pointing out that last Monday's
power-sharing agreement merely required him to take advice from Mr
Tsvangirai, which the president is free to ignore.

On Friday, both parties were saying that Mr Mbeki would have to return to
Harare to break the deadlock. But amid the leadership turmoil there are now
fears that Zimbabwe will slide down Pretoria's political agenda.

Reward Mugabe? Not yet

http://www.chicagotribune.com

The people of Zimbabwe needed to see him driven out
  September 22, 2008
There are many things that the power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe between
President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai won't do.

It won't bring back Tonderai Ndira, the opposition activist whose lips and
tongue were cut off before he was killed by government-sanctioned thugs.

It won't bring back Abigail Chiroto, the wife of the mayor of Harare,
bludgeoned to death and dumped in a mortuary outside the capital city.

It won't bring back Gibson Nyandoro, the former war veteran whose body was
left near an army barracks, used as bait by military men trying to lure his
friends and family to their own deaths.

It won't bring back Emmanuel Nelson, who was slashed in the face and stabbed
with a screwdriver.

It won't bring back any of the dozens, if not hundreds, of Zimbabweans who
have been killed in government-sanctioned violence since the country's March
29 election. And it won't remove Mugabe, who used a terror campaign to force
Tsvangirai out of a June 27 runoff election and maintain his 28-year grip on
power.

Here's what it will do. It will create a chance, only a chance, of weakening
Mugabe. It might start to dilute his influence.

Zimbabweans, battered by spiraling inflation and soaring violence, needed
much more than that. They needed to see Mugabe driven out of the country he
has destroyed. They didn't get that.

Mugabe remains president under the agreement that was signed last week.
Tsvangirai becomes prime minister. Power is to be shared between the
president, the prime minister and the Cabinet.

The 20-page agreement is long on vague goals and short on specific
solutions. It promises "to give priority to the restoration of economic
stability and growth in Zimbabwe." It promises Zimbabweans freedom of
assembly and the right to engage in political activity without fear of
violence. And it promises to allow non-governmental organizations doing
humanitarian work and food distribution to carry out their work without
state interference.

That's what's on paper. We'll see what happens on the ground.

Zimbabwe desperately needs help. Inflation is at 11 million percent. Store
shelves are empty, money meaningless. So scarce are basic foodstuffs that,
the Los Angeles Times reported, civil servants by day are reduced to begging
for food by night. More than four out of five Zimbabweans are unemployed. A
failed land reform effort, begun by Mugabe in 2000, has reduced the country,
once the breadbasket of Africa, to a continental charity case.

The governing coalition, the agreement says, "Shall seek the support and
assistance of the [Southern African Development Community] and the [African
Union] in mobilizing the international community to support the new
government's economic recovery plans and programs together with lifting of
sanctions taken against Zimbabwe and some of its leaders."

Not so fast. Africa and the West have to keep the pressure on Mugabe to make
this agreement work. That he shook hands with Tsvangirai and signed a
20-page document, isn't enough.

The U.S. and Europe shouldn't lift the sanctions they've imposed on Mugabe
and his cronies until he has proved that he has committed to building a
free, fair and democratic society. His signature on a piece of paper doesn't
do that. He's a despot and he still controls the army, the police and the
secret service. The world has to keep squeezing him. It's a language he
understands.

Workers Body Dismisses Zimbabwe's Power Sharing Deal

http://www.radiovop.com/


Harare - Zimbabwe's biggest labour representative body, the Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU), has dismissed the recently signed power
sharing deal between the ruling ZANU PF party and the two formations of the
opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

It described the deal as a mere power sharing arrangement devoid of
any solutions to the mounting political and economic problems facing the
country.

It said it was a "far cry," from the expectations of the people at the
end of a weekend meeting of its governing council, called to discuss the
deal signed by the two political parties last week.

"After deliberating on the issue and taking a closer look at the deal,
the General Council noted that the deal is a far cry from the ZCTU
expectations and that it is an outcome of a flawed process," said Wellington
Chibhebhe, ZCTU secretary general.

"The General Council noted, the deal is all about power sharing
between Zanu PF and MDC, leaving out primary causes of the dispute which has
created the current political and economic impasse currently prevailing in
the country."

The labour body also made it clear that it was not happy with the deal
and its non inclusive stance. It accused the negotiating parties of not
including the views of the wide spectrum of the Zimbabwean society
particularly the civil society.

 "The exclusion of such critical sectors as labour, the general
council noted, and the secretive manner in which issues were discussed, do
not give credence to the outcome of the deal," said Chibhebhe.

The labour body said it treats the deal as a stop gap measure not a
panacea to the country's mounting woes and gave a timeline to meet with the
MDC leader and Zimbabwe's Prime Minister elect Morgan Tsvangirai to express
their views on the power sharing arrangement.

A number of other Zimbabwe civic bodies have cautiously welcomed the
deal calling for the inclusion of more people and the immediate drafting of
a new constitution.

The wait and see game

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-09-22-the-wait-and-see-game

JASON MOYO AND MANDY ROSSOUW - Sep 22 2008 06:00

Zimbabwe's political settlement will not lead to an immediate transfusion of
Western economic assistance -- the MDC's main lever in the settlement talks.

Despite promises of significant aid from the European Union and the United
States once a deal was signed, they are now cautious about committing
themselves.

Political players in Zimbabwe have discussed the sourcing of credit on
global financial markets but, given the current world market turmoil, there
is limited appetite for new risk.

The International Monetary Fund's Dominique Strauss-Kahn said this week the
fund was ready to talk to Zimbabwe, but aid from this quarter will be slow
in coming.

US sanctions against Zimbabwe are underpinned by the Zimbabwe Democracy and
Economic Recovery Act, which bars US representatives on financial
institutions from voting for financial support to Zimbabwe and prohibits any
American company from doing business with it.

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries estimated this week that the
country would need $5-billion to kick-start the economy by stabilising the
Zimbabwe dollar and shoring up business confidence.

Diplomats"conservatively" estimated that about R255-billion was available in
Europe to fuel recovery. More could be supplied if the European leaders were
satisfied that it would not be used to prop up Robert Mugabe.

European Union heads of state are due to meet next month to discuss an aid
programme and its conditions, but they are taking a "wait and see" attitude.

Speaking in Brussels this week British foreign secretary David Milliband
said: "What matters now is not the words of the agreement but the way it
functions and the actions the new government takes on the ground.

"We hope the new government will now reverse the tragic policies and decline
of recent years."

The EU funds Zimbabwe to the tune of €200-million a year for distribution
among NGOs.

A survey released in July showed industry was operating at 19% of capacity
and that only 2% of Zimbabwean business people believed a short-term
recovery is possible.

The future of the Zimbabwean dollar was under discussion in political
circles before negotiations started, but no decision has been taken on
whether it will remain the official currency.

Zimbabwean sources say South Africa has offered R2-billion to help
reconstruction, but this could not be confirmed.

This week has seen intense debate in Zimbabwe over the future of Gideon
Gono, the country's Reserve Bank governor. Under Gono the bank became
central to Mugabe's power by bankrolling Zanu-PF's expansive patronage
system.

Mugabe also strengthened his authority over economic policy, sidelining the
treasury.

The MDC made Reserve Bank reform a major campaign issue in March, pledging
to sack Gono and give the bank more autonomy.

But any radical reform plan is likely to spark conflict in the new
government as agreeing to let Gono go will be a major concession for Mugabe.

In his trade union days Morgan Tsvangirai called the IMF and the World Bank
"devils". He has since warmed to international capital, saying on Tuesday
that the assistance of the two multilateral lenders will be key to economic
recovery.

However, his top advisers have cautioned him against rushing to take on
fresh debt. Zimbabwe's foreign debt stands at $4-billion and there are plans
to push for debt relief as a preliminary measure.

With the economy's heavy reliance on agriculture there is also intense
discussion of how the unity deal approaches the emotive land issue.

Despite the hopes of foreign diplomats that confiscated land will be
returned, the settlement provides only for an audit to block ownership of
multiple farms.

The large size of the new government may also weigh down recovery. If each
of the 46 ministers receives the standard trappings of office, including
luxury vehicles and hefty allowances, potential donors are likely to hang
back.

With three million citizens having emigrated, recovery will be slowed by a
lack of critical skills. Many expatriates will be eager to return, but only
if the fragile coalition holds for long enough to achieve sustained
stability.

Foreign capital has been sniffing around Zimbabwe even while the crisis has
deepened.

Through its Citi Venture Capital International Citigroup, the world's
largest bank by assets, recently invested $25-million in locally owned bank
ABC Holdings. The International Finance Corporation, an arm of the World
Bank, also increased its stake in ABC.

British investor Lonrho announced it had raised $100-million from private
investors to fund investments through a special purpose vehicle, LonZim.
Russian investors, represented by British fund Renaissance Capital, last
year acquired a stake previously held by Absa in CBZ, one of Zimbabwe's
biggest banks.

The Mail & Guardian understands that South Africa's Peregrine Capital,
Investec and Nedbank Capital have explored possible investments on the
Zimbabwe stock exchange, which is valued at $7-billion.

A product of painful compromise
Zimbabwe's power­sharing document

Who signed it:
Robert Mugabe
Morgan Tsvangirai
Arthur Mutambara
Thabo Mbeki (facilitator)

What it says:
(1)
Mugabe remains head of
army and chair of Cabinet
and the new national security
council. May declare war,
grant pardons, proclaim
martial law, accredit diplomatic agents
and appoint independent commissions

(2)
All blame for the political
crisis is placed on the
international community,
particularly Britain

(3)
A land audit will take place but
distributed land will not be returned

(4)
Sanctions must be lifted

(5)
A referendum on the Constitution must be held in 18 months

(6)
A mechanism for national healing must be set up

(7)
No outsiders may call for regime change

(8)
Army to be retrained in human rights

(9)
National youth­training programme to be established

(10)
No by­elections for a year

(11)
Public media must provide fair and balanced reporting

(12)
Government will immediately process journalists¹ applications to work in
Zimbabwe

(13)
Foreign­funded radio stations should be discouraged

(14)
Expats to be encouraged to return

(15)
Gender parity must prevail in all spheres of government, especially Cabinet

Source: ZIMBABWE AGREEMENT

Call For Sharing Of Ministries

http://www.radiovop.com

BULAWAYO - ZIMBABWE'S leading political analysts are urging President
Mugabe and Zanu PF and the Morgan Tsvangirai led MDC to share equally the
ministries which forced the stalling of a process to set up a new cabinet.

The three negotiating parties failed to reach a compromise over which
party gets which ministry position under the new Government of National
Unity (GNU).
The cabinet posts allocation meeting ended abruptly on Thursday last
week after the parties failed to agree on which party controls the
Ministries of Home Affairs, Media and Information, Finance, Foreign Affairs,
Defence and Local Government.

Political commentator and National Constitutional Assembly (NCA)
chairman, Lovemore Madhuku said the parties are aware that whichever party
controlled the ministries under dispute will wield real power and hence the
need to share the disputed ministries equally.
"It is obvious that there are some powerful ministries than others and
this deadlock will not end without any compromise to share the disputed
ministries equally," Madhuku said. "It is obvious that any party that will
control the Ministry of Media and Information, Finance, Home Affairs and
Foreign affairs is the one that will be in charge of the government and both
MDC and Zanu PF are aware of all that."
Harare based political analyst, Eldred Masunungure, however said in
any government there are key ministries that are pillars of governance and
said what the MDC and Zanu PF were fighting for are the key ministries but
said it was not possible for one to get all the powerful ministries while
the other kept softer ministries.
"The power balance in terms of the ministries is tricky because all
the parties are aware that there are elections coming in a few years times
and whichever party controls Home Affairs ministry will control the police,
the Registrar-General's office which is responsible for voter registration
and that party will cleanse the voter's roll to its advantage and the same
applies for the party which controls the Ministry of Finance it will control
the general running of the country," Masunungure said.

MDC Mourns About Hate Speech

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare - THE Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Morgan
Tsvangirai has warned that the just signed power-sharing deal might collapse
following use of hate speech and propaganda by the state media which
undermines the opposition.

In a statement the MDC accused the Herald and the State Owned Zimbabwe
Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) of using hate speech and propaganda despite
political developments on the ground.

"The Herald, through its spiteful political columnists such as
Nathaniel Manheru, continues to use hostile language that is out of time
with the political developments on the ground...Manheru used uncivilized
language, peddling falsehood that the MDC is full of imaginary puppets of
the whites and that Zanu PF should be careful as the nation navigates
towards an inclusive government," the MDC said.

"Even with the best political agreement, they cannot constitute a
Government merely on the strength of what they signed on September 15,"
wrote Manheru on his controversial column in the Herald. "The agreement of
September 15 cannot create a Government, let alone one of national unity. If
anything, the agreement subordinates itself to the historical quest for
national unity."

"A more sophisticated view is one that sees the agreement as a major
step in by the MDC in its British-inspired long but unremitting campaign for
Mugabe's eventual ouster," he said.

Nathaniel Manheru is believed to be George Charamba,the permanent
secretary in the Information and publicity ministry. Before Charamba
contributed on the column,former Information minister,Jonathan Moyo who is
credited as the creator of the column penned as Manheru.

"The ZBC and The Herald continue to give acres of space to analysts
who want to poison the spirit of dialogue instead of giving coverage to
critical national isues such as HIV/Aids, national development and economic
transfomation," the MDC said.

State media played a crucial role in retaining President Robert Mugabe
as head of state after the March 29 elections as opposition campaign
advertisements were banned from both electronic and print media.

Zimbabwe's three main political leaders, President Mugabe, Morgan
Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara signed a power-sharing deal to solve the
current economic and political crisis that has troubled the country for the
past decade.

However,the three parties are failing to agree on how they will share
ministries and have referred the issue back to SADC which had fired South
Africa president,Thabo Mbeki as the chief negotiator.

Germany doubles aid to Zimbabwe

Agence France-Presse (AFP)

Date: 22 Sep 2008

BERLIN, Sept 22, 2008 (AFP) - Germany said Monday it will double
humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe after the country's president and the main
rival opposition leader agreed on a deal to share power.

"Even after the power-sharing deal between President Robert Mugabe and prime
minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai the situation with supplies for the
Zimbabwean population remains desolate," the German foreign ministry said.

German aid is being doubled to around two million euros (2.9 million
dollars), the ministry in Berlin said in a statement.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai signed the deal September 15 after months of tough
negotiations.

The agreement comes after the international community widely condemned the
Zimbabwe's presidential elections as unfair. Tsvangirai pushed Mugabe into
second place in the March first round vote, but he pulled out of the June
run-off vote after a wave of deadly attacks against his supporters.

Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
and a smaller MDC opposition faction have yet to agree on who will hold
certain key ministries in the new cabinet.

Norway said Friday it would give Zimbabwe 40 million kroner (7.02 million
dollars, 4.86 million euros) in aid to help the country deal with a lack of
food and clean drinking water and a cholera outbreak.

Britain's ambassador to the United Nations, John Sawers, said the same day
that his country would only support Zimbabwe's recovery if there was
"genuine" sharing of power.

Zimbabwe's economy has been in decline for a decade with sky-high
unemployment, devastating food shortages, crippling poverty and the world's
highest rate of inflation.

The European Union has so far left sanctions in place since last week's
deal, saying it wants to see democratic improvements.

ZANU-PF minister, a cattle rustler by night

http://www.hararetribune.com

Monday, 22 September 2008 08:50 RVOP

Matabeleland North Zanu PF heavy weight Obert Mpofu, is being accused of
stealing a neighbour's beast and diverting maize from the Grain Marketing
Board to Zambia.

It has emerged that Mpofu was the official being referred to by President
Mugabe recently, when he accused some senior Zanu PF officials in
Matabeleland North of diverting maize to the black market.

Senior police officers in Matabeleland North revealed that they have opened
a docket against Mpofu, who is being accused by a neighbour of rebranding a
beast after it strayed into his farm, despite warnings from his workers that
it did not belong to him.

The politician has also been accused to diverting tonnes of maize to Zambia.

"We have contacted him and we are waiting for him to come to the police
station to give us a statement. If he does not show up, we will be forced to
look for him and then lock him up until he goes to court," a senior police
officer said.

Thabo Mbeki resigning in South Africa may aid Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe power grab

The Telegraph

Thabo Mbeki's departure as South African president will give Zimbabwe's
President Robert Mugabe an opportunity to stall on power sharing talks with
his political opponents.

By Sebastien Berger in Johannesburg
Last Updated: 4:59PM BST 22 Sep 2008

However, the rise of another faction in the African National Congress with
fewer ties to Zimbabwe's ruling party could spell more trouble for Mr Mugabe
in the months ahead.

The talks, brokered by Mr Mbeki, have reached deadlock over the allocation
of key ministries between the ruling Zanu-PF party and the opposition
Movement for Democratic Change.

Zimbabwe's octogenarian president has shown every sign that he will try to
dominate the unity government if it is formed, and is exploiting loopholes
in an existing agreement to do just that.

The disappearance of the South African president from the negotiating table
could delay the talks even longer, weakening the power-sharing momentum.

"It's typical of Mugabe to pull a rabbit out of his hat," said Chris
Maroleng, Africa news editor for the e-news television channel. "The
political gods have often smiled on this guy."

But with the ANC leader Jacob Zuma growing more powerful, South Africa's
approach to its northern neighbour may now become more assertive, he added.

"Jacob Zuma, because of his background in the liberation struggle as a
member of the ANC's armed wing would not feel the need to prove his
pan-African credentials," he said. "He is more likely to stand up to
Mugabe."

Mr Zuma has in the past openly criticised Mr Mugabe's mismanagement, and his
left-wing allies in the trade unions instinctively support the MDC leader
Morgan Tsvangirai, a former labour activist.

"If I was his spin doctor I would be looking for a very sexy issue to
present him as tough on abuse of power and dictatorship in Africa that would
mollify critics saying South Africa is going down the same path," said Mr
Maroleng. "It would be an easy foreign policy score for him."

Analyst says Mbeki's resignation "tragedy" for Mugabe

Violet Gonda
22 September 2008

Thabo Mbeki who has been at the heart of the Zimbabwe crisis as the mediator
and also the President of the major power in the region, resigned at the
weekend after receiving an ultimatum by his political party the ruling
African National Congress (ANC).

The South African leader has been the point man in trying to find a peaceful
solution to the Zimbabwe crisis but his departure, just a week after the
deal was signed, still leaves the Zimbabwe issue up in the air, as it is yet
to be implemented.

Last Monday Mbeki successfully brokered a power sharing deal between ZANU PF
and the two MDC formations, but the new Zimbabwe government has already hit
a serious snag because the Mugabe regime is refusing to share the key
ministries.

So what does Mbeki's exit mean for Zimbabwe?

In an article in the UK Financial Times, economist Tony Hawkins said Mbeki's
departure could hardly come at a worse time for the Zimbabwe settlement
negotiations. He said although in the short term it appeared likely that he
would retain the mandate to mediate from both the ANC and SADC, he would now
have less influence.

The MDC has in the past complained about Mbeki's mediation and analysts
predict these latest developments may work in Morgan Tsvangirai's favour, as
the South African leader has been accused of favouring Mugabe. ANC President
Jacob Zuma who has openly criticised Robert Mugabe before is strongly tipped
to take over the South African Presidency when elections are held.

Sydney Masamvu a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group told
Newsreel the new South Africa leadership is very hard nosed and has fairly
supported the 'opposition' in Zimbabwe. He said Mbeki's exit is a "tragedy"
for Mugabe coming at this particular juncture when he is finding very few
friends in the Southern African region.

Masamvu said the departure of Mbeki and the reconfiguration of the
leadership in the region would see Mugabe coming under increasing pressure
as the balance of forces weigh against him. "It is a development that is
going to force President Robert Mugabe to revise his exit strategy and to
depart the political scene in the not too distant future," the analyst said.

SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news