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

Editor's Memo

The road to ruin

THERE has been an endless flow of statements in recent weeks in the
government media suggesting President Mugabe has "set the record straight"
with his crude demagoguery on the land issue at conferences in Johannesburg
and New York. In fact the only people impressed with his posturing were the
usual fawning columnists in the state newspapers.

Neither UN secretary-general Kofi Annan nor President Thabo Mbeki, who
hosted the recent meetings, have been cited as among those applauding
Mugabe's performance. Nor for that matter has a single African - or any
other - head of state, with the notable exception of President Sam Nujoma of
Namibia, a leader not known for his searing intellect!


A group of fringe activists in the US demonstrated outside the UN
headquarters in New York, but as our story today reveals, these are not the
sort of people you would want to be stuck in an elevator with.


Tony Blair very sensibly kept to his script at the Earth Summit and declined
to become entangled in an ugly brawl with Africa's most accomplished street
fighter. Anybody with Blair's experience of the Byzantine politics of the
Labour Party with its internecine ideological feuds will know that Mugabe
poses less of a challenge. After all, how do you respond to a government
whose best shot is to compare you to a toilet?


In another article carried in this paper today, we report on Blair's speech
at the Trades Union Congress annual conference in Blackpool attended by the
ZCTU's Wellington Chibhebhe. While he dealt with Zimbabwe in his address,
Blair is obviously preoccupied with the unfolding crisis over Iraq. Like it
or not, Zimbabwe is well down Britain's and the US's agenda at the present
time.


It is partly for this reason, and the dearth of accurate information carried
in this country on Britain's policy on Zimbabwe, that I have decided to
publish the recent comments by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw below. I
understand that this sort of thing opens us up to accusations of being
"British puppets". But they will say that anyway so who cares! Anyway,
nobody believes a word Zanu PF says anymore and those accusing the British
and others of not doing anything may find some of Straw's remarks useful.
They are taken from an interview he gave to The Observer ahead of the recent
Earth Summit in Johannesburg.


'Robert Mugabe is leading his country to ruin. The decline in Zimbabwe's
fortunes has been swift and devastating. In the name of his 'land reform'
policies Mugabe is reducing his people to starvation. A fraudulent election
earlier this year was characterised by murder and intimidation. His
continuing use of state-organised violence since then underlines his
determination to hold on to power at all costs.


"Zanu PF has consistently portrayed the crisis as a bilateral dispute with
Britain. It has claimed that the outcry in the UK and beyond is based solely
on concerns about the plight of white farmers.


"This is nonsense. While their plight is real, the indictment is wider:
human rights abuses, violations of the rule of law and economic illiteracy
have made Zimbabwe an outcast regionally and globally. It is a self-made
pariah, not a colonial victim. The scale of the suffering inflicted on
Zimbabwe's black population is especially shocking. At a time when drought
has provoked a humanitarian crisis across the region, Zanu PF is withholding
food aid from opposition supporters. The United Nations estimates that up to
six million people in Zimbabwe will soon be unable to meet their minimum
food requirements.


"The European Union and United States have called for an end to the madness
and imposed a range of sanctions targeted at the regime. Earlier this year
President Mbeki of South Africa, President Obasanjo of Nigeria and Prime
Minister Howard of Australia voted to suspend Zimbabwe from the councils of
the Commonwealth. Mugabe can be under no illusion about the extent of his
international isolation. Is their more we can do?


"The (Conservative) Opposition is proposing that we force countries in the
region to take further action against Mugabe by threatening to suspend our
support for a vital new programme. The New Partnership for Africa's
Development (Nepad) marks a different approach to Africa's problems. African
leaders developed the plan recognising that they - not the outside world -
must resolve the continent's problems. In return for increased development
assistance, more debt relief and greater opportunities for trade, African
governments are embarking on political and economic reform. The case for
Nepad is overwhelming: a child in Africa dies of disease, famine or conflict
every three seconds. This shames the civilised world.


"It is scarcely credible that the Opposition suggests we qualify our support
for this plan. In doing so, we would in effect hold an entire continent
responsible for the sins of one man. Our aim must be to isolate Mugabe, not
his neighbours.


"Writing in the Guardian this week, Michael Ancram urged the Prime Minister
to put Zimbabwe at the centre of the World Summit on Sustainable Development
which opens in South Africa tomorrow. This summit is not about events in any
specific country - it's about the future of the entire planet. Mugabe's
record is the epitome of unsustainability. He is seeking any opportunity to
deploy his rhetoric about the bogus dangers of ex-colonial powers
undermining the sovereignty of African states. We must not elevate his
reckless agenda to the centre of the stage at the summit.


"So what is Britain doing to ease the crisis?

"We are providing £32 million of assistance this year. Clare Short is
rightly insisting that all official food aid is distributed outside Zanu PF
or state channels and is properly monitored to ensure the most needy are
helped irrespective of their political views.


"Britain will remain in the vanguard of international efforts to increase
the isolation of the Zanu PF regime. With countries in the region, the
Commonwealth, the EU and the US, we will review the impact of the current
sanctions regime.


"The actions of Zanu PF undermine the fundamental principles that underpin
Britain's foreign policy: respect for democracy, human rights and the rule
of law. Mugabe is learning that when these principles are violated, it
provokes an international response.

"Mugabe can only defy world opinion at tremendous cost to his own people.
Africa and Zimbabwe deserve better. We will continue the path of tough
sanctions and generous aid, and work resolutely with the region, Europe and
the US to ensure Zimbabwe gets the legitimate and democratic government it
so desperately needs."

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MDC Press Statement

19 September, 2002
PRESS STATEMENT BY HONOURABLE RENSON GASELA THE MDC SHADOW MINISTER FOR
AGRICULTURE

The Movement For Democratic Change (MDC) will on Friday 20 September 2002
bring in 1 800 bags (90 tonnes) of maize bringing to total a tonnage of 120
tonnes held at Beitbridge under the Feed Zimbabwe Trust, which will be
distributed equally between Chikomba, Chivi and Gweru.

The maize comes in under the MDC mandate to feed starving Zimbabweans, and
will offset the ravages of the calculated Mugabe-induced famine on the
helpless and starving majority.

The illegitimate government of Mugabe has denied the masses of food in a bid
to subjugate the masses and bow them to his will, and has systematically
ensured that supporters of MDC do not get any food aid.

Although the regime is failing to come up with a food deficit of 1.1 million
tonnes to avert the crisis, it inhumanly and selfishly refuses for anyone
else with the capacity to bring in food.

FZT recognizes and sympathises with the plight of the majority of
Zimbabweans facing starvation and will bring in more maize despite the
regime's attempt to force Zimbabweans to submission by maintaining the GMB
monopoly as the sole company with a permit to import maize.


It is sheer hypocrisy for the government to make a u-turn and allow
genetically modified food which it had previously condemned in the worst
manner, simply to outdo the fact that FTZ had brought in maize.

Clearly the regime has outdone itself in terms of policy failure and at
times employs the most absurd way of dealing with a crisis if Made's going
around the country in a helicopter to assess the food situation is anything
to go by.

This has proven beyond any reasonable doubt that the regime does not have
the interests of the ordinary Zimbabweans at heart, but seeks to meet its
own selfish needs.
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Zim Independent

NY councillors boycott Mugabe reception
Vincent Kahiya
A RECEPTION for President Mugabe organised by New York City councillors last
week was boycotted by the mayor and other senior officials. At the same time
it has emerged that some of Mugabe's American supporters have an unsavoury
past.

In an attempt to score a diplomatic coup, Mugabe used his trip to New York
last week to meet with the Black Caucus in the New York city council. This,
however, backfired when Mayor Michael Bloom-berg, Council Speaker Gifford
Miller and many other council members and city officials steered clear of
the event in protest at what they called Mugabe's "deeply troubling" human
rights record.


The New York Times reported that Mugabe was invited to City Hall by
councillor Charles Barron of Brooklyn and was greeted by about a dozen
council members, mostly members of the Black and Hispanic Caucus.


It emerged this week that many of the groups expressing support for Mugabe
are fringe extremists with no significant following. Two of his most notable
supporters, Coltrane Chi-murenga and Viola Plummer, together with six
others, were reportedly arrested in October 1984 and charged with conspiring
to commit prison breakouts and armed robberies and possessing weapons and
explosives. They were acquitted in August 1985. Nine people were jailed for
refusing to serve on a grand jury in connection with the case.


Political analysts this week said it was becoming difficult for Zimbabwe to
use formal lobbyists like Cohen & Woods or Andrew Young to spruce up the
country's image when its head of state mixes with groups perceived in the
United States to be, like the Black Panthers, apostles of violence locked in
past struggles.


Last month, in response to inquiries from the Zimbabwe Independent, lobbyist
GoodWorks International, fronted by Ambassador Andrew Young, a vocal
apologist for Mugabe's policies, said it was not doing any lobbying work for
Zimbabwe.


"Neither GoodWorks nor Ambassador Young is a lobbyist for Zimbabwe,"
spokesperson Sika Awoonor said.


US sources said the government had turned to political extremists -
themselves desperate for an African political identity - for moral support,
which is being peddled as international recognition for Mugabe's leadership.


Louis Farrakhan, leader of the US Nation of Islam, endorsed Mugabe's
agrarian revolution and leadership style while on a fleeting visit to Harare
in July. He is banned in several countries, including Britain, for preaching
race hate.


Reuters reported that a small but noisy group led by Mugabe's American
allies fronted by Chimurenga held a demonstration in support of Mugabe
outside the United Nations headquarters.


Press reports said Barron was planning to visit Zimbabwe next month as part
of a "fact-finding mission" to counter allegations of human rights abuses by
Mugabe's government.

The New York Times reported Council Speaker Miller said he let Barron use a
conference room in deference to free speech. The paper said the speaker
stayed away because of "deeply troubling" reports of human rights violations
in Zimbabwe, but allowed Barron to proceed because quashing free speech is
"a terrible mistake".


Mugabe's cheerleaders in the US are generally regarded as extremists and in
some quarters as outright racists. Barron, during a demonstration in New
York in August declared: "I want to go up to the closest white person and
say, 'You can't understand this, it's a black thing' and then slap him, just
for my mental health."


Chimurenga and Plummer, who head a group called the December 12 Movement,
have been to Zimbabwe on several occasions to show their support for Mugabe.
It is thought their visits are underwritten by the Office of the President.

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Walter Kansteiner on Monday
said the United Nations treaty allowed Mugabe to hold such meetings.


"There's a provision that allows him to be in a 22-mile radius.of the UN
General Assembly, so he has certain freedoms and liberties," said Kansteiner
during an on-the-record-briefing in New York.


Asked if the US government had raised any objections to the New York council
hosting Mugabe, he said: "I'm not aware of any messages sent to the New York
City Council."

However, US officials say privately that third world leaders abusing the
privilege of attendance at UN meetings to show support for local political
groups opposing the US government is not unusual since Fidel Castro's visit
to Harlem in 1960.


"The United States is a democracy and we value freedom of speech, even when
it is used

against us," an official said this week.


In addition to the Friends of Zimbabwe and Black Liberation Army, Mugabe
enjoys the support of the Black Panthers and the National Coalition of
Blacks for Reparations in America - Ncobra.
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Zim Independent

'Bank of England orders asset freeze on 'war cabinet
Vincent Kahiya
THE Bank of England has instructed British banks to freeze all assets held
by the newly-appointed members of President Mugabe's "war cabinet" who have
just been added to the targeted sanctions list.

The move by the UK central bank follows the European Commission's extension
of targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe to include members of the war
cabinet, new deputy ministers and senior party officials passed over in the
original list.


The sanctions include the freezing of assets held by those targeted and a
travel ban.

In a statement, the Bank of England said: "On behalf of HM Treasury (the
bank) therefore announces that all funds, other financial assets and
economic resources belonging to the persons listed.must be frozen.


"No funds, other financial assets and economic resources are to be made
available directly or indirectly to, or for the benefit of, them. Financial
institutions must check whether they maintain any account for the
individuals named and, if so, they should freeze the accounts and report the
accounts and amounts frozen to the Bank of England."


The European Council imposed sanctions against individual members of the
Government of Zimbabwe and persons associated with them on February 21. The
list was first extended on July 25 and last week's extension, which added 15
more names, was the third. There are now 79 names on the composite list.


The list, in which Mugabe holds pole position, now includes the whole of
cabinet, the Zanu PF politburo, service chiefs, First Lady Grace Mugabe and
other senior party functionaries.

Also included on the new list are Mugabe's sister Sabina who is the MP for
Zvimba South and politburo members Tsitsi Muzenda, Angeline Masuku and
former Harare executive mayor Solomon Tawengwa.


The government has often scoffed at the targeted sanctions as a non-event
but was quick to condemn the deportation from London of Joshua Malinga,
politburo deputy secretary for the disabled and disadvantaged last month.


Speaking at the burial of former Finance minister Bernard Chidzero at
Heroes' Acre, Mugabe said Zimbabwe would not be moved by the sanctions.


"Let Europe's list grow by another 50, another 100, another thousand,
another million. But we shall not budge, we shall not be deterred on this
one question. The land is ours. We are not an extension of Britain," Mugabe
told mourners.


Observers said this and other statements by Zanu PF officials have suggested
that the sanctions have hit a nerve.


Apart from the EU countries, the United States has also imposed targeted
sanctions on Mugabe and a number of his officials but has declined to
publish the names.


List of persons on the EU sanctions list


1. Mugabe, Robert Gabriel, President.

2. Buka, Flora, Minister of State for Land Reform Programme (former Minister
of State in Vice President Muzenda's Office).

3. Charamba, George, Information Minister's Permanent Secretary and
Spokesman.

4. Charumbira, Fortune, Deputy Minister for Local Government,

Public Works and National Housing.

5. Chigwedere, Aeneas, Education, Sports and Culture Minister.

6. Chihuri, Augustine, Commissioner (Police).

7. Chikowore, Enos, Secretary for Land and Resettlement.

8. Chinamasa, Patrick, Justice Minister.

9. Chindori-Chininga, Edward, Mines and Energy Minister.

10. Chiwenga, Constantine, Lt Gen (Army).

11. Chiwewe, Willard, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Senior Secretary.

12. Chombo, Ignatius, Local Govt Minister.

13. Dabengwa, Dumiso, Senior Central Committee Member.

14. Goche, Nicholas, Security Minister.

15. Gumbo, Rugare, Deputy Minister, Home Affairs.

16. Hove, Richard, Secretary for Economic Affairs.

17. Karimanzira, David, Secretary for Finance.

18. Kasukuwere, Saviour, Deputy-Secretary for Youth Affairs.

19. Kuruneri, Christopher, Deputy Minister, Finance and Economic
Development.

20. Lesabe, Thenjiwe, Secretary for Women's Affairs.

21. Machaya, Jaison, Deputy Minister for Mines and Mining

Development.

22. Made, Joseph, Agricultural Minister.

23. Madzongwe, Edna, Deputy-Secretary for Production and Labour.

24. Mahofa, Shuvai, Deputy Minister for Youth Development, Gender and

Employment Creation.

25. Makoni, Simbarashe, former Minister of Finance.

26. Malinga, Joshua, Politburo Deputy Secretary, Deputy-Secretary for
Disabled and Disadvantaged.

27. Mangwana, Paul, Minister of State for Enterprises and Parastatals
(former Deputy Minister, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs).

28. Mangwende, Witness, Minister for Transport and Communications (former
Deputy-Secretary for Administration).

29. Manyika, Elliot, Youth Minister.

30. Manyonda, Kenneth, Deputy Minister for Industry and

International Trade.

31. Marumahoko, Reuben, Deputy Minister for Energy and Power

Development.

32. Masuku, Angeline, Politburo Secretary, Secretary for Disabled and
Disadvantaged Person's Welfare.

33. Mathuthu, T, Deputy-Secretary for Transport and Social Welfare.

34. Midzi, Amos Bernard Muvenga, Minister for Energy and Power Development.

35. Mnangagwa, Emmerson, Parliamentary Speaker.

36. Mombeshora, Swithun, Transport and Communications Minister.

37. Mohadi, Kembo, Minister for Home Affairs (former Deputy

Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing).

38. Moyo, Jonathan, Information Minister.

39. Moyo, July, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister.

40. Moyo, Simon Khaya, Deputy-Secretary for Legal Affairs.

41. Mpofu, Obert, Deputy-Secretary for National Security.

42. Msika, Joseph, Vice President.

43. Muchena, Olivia, Minister of State for Science (former Minister of State
in Vice-President Msika's Office).

44. Muchinguri, Oppah, Secretary for Gender and Culture.

45. Mudenge, Stan, Foreign Minister.

46. Mugabe, Grace, Spouse of Robert Mugabe.

47. Mugabe, Sabina, Politburo Senior Committee Member.

48. Mujuru, Joyce, Minister for Rural Resources and Water.

49. Mujuru, Solomon, Senior Central Committee Member.

50. Mumbengegwi, Samuel, Higher Education and Technology Minister.

51. Murerwa, Herbert, Minister for Finance and Economic Development (former
Minister for Industry and International Trade).

52. Mushohwe, Christopher, Deputy Minister, Transport and

Communications.

53. Mutasa, Didymus, Secretary for External Relations.

54. Mutiwekuziva, Kenneth, Deputy Minister, Small and Medium

Enterprises Development.

55. Muzenda, Simon Vengesai, Vice-President.

56. Muzenda, Tsitsi, Senior Central Committee Member.

57. Muzonzini, Elisha, Brig. (Intelligence).

58. Ncube, Abedinico, Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs.

59. Ndlovu, Naison, Secretary for Production and Labour.

60. Ndlovu, Sikhanyiso, Deputy-Secretary for Commissariat.

61. Nhema, Francis, Environment and Tourism Minister.

62. Nkomo, John, Special Affairs in the President's Office (former Home
Affairs Minister).

63. Nkomo, Stephen, Senior Central Committee Member.

64. Nyoni, Sithembiso, Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises

Development (former Minister of State, Informal Sector).

65. Parirenyatwa, David, Minister, Health and Child Welfare (former Deputy
Minister).

66. Pote, S M, Deputy-Secretary for Gender and Culture.

67. Rusere, Tinos, Deputy Minister for Rural Resources and Water

Development.

68. Sakupwanya, Stanley, Deputy-Secretary for Health and

Child Welfare.

69. Sekeramayi, Sidney, Defence Minister.

70. Shamuyarira, Nathan, Secretary for Information and Publicity.

71. Shiri, Perence, Air Marshal (Air Force).

72. Shumba, Isaiah, Deputy Minister, Education, Sports and Culture.

73. Sikhosana, Absolom, Politburo Secretary, Secretary for Youth Affairs.

74. Stamps, Timothy, former Health and Child Welfare Minister.

75. Tawengwa, Solomon, Politburo Deputy Secretary for Finance.

76. Tungamirai, Josiah, Secretary for Employment and Indigenisation.

77. Utete, Charles, Cabinet Secretary.

78. Zimonte, Paradzai, Prisons chief.

79. Zvinavashe, Vitalis, General (CDS).

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Zim Independent

Libyans eye Hartley Mine
Blessing Zulu
THE Libyans are eyeing the country's biggest platinum producer, the Hartley
Platinum Mine, opened by Australia's BHP in Selous but now owned by Zimbabwe
Platinum Mines (Zimplats), as part of their oil barter deal.

The Zimbabwe Independent has learnt that this was raised in Tripoli last
week where a US$360 million oil deal was renewed by President Robert Mugabe
and his Libyan counterpart, Muammar Gaddafi. The Libyans, who are owed US$60
million by Zimbabwe for fuel deliveries, are now calling the shots due to
Zimbabwe's lack of creditworthiness.


Authoritative sources said this week the Libyans had shown keen interest in
securing a stake in the mine, a flagship investment before its Australian
owners pulled out two years ago.


"Zimbabwe is believed to have one of the largest platinum reserves in the
world and the Libyans apparently want a stake in them," said a source in the
mining sector. "They also want to enter into joint ventures with Zimbabwean
firms to engage in new mineral explorations as envisaged under the oil
deal."


The source said it was, however, not clear how the Libyans would acquire the
stake in Zimplats.


"The Libyans and South African bank Absa are partners in the Jewel Bank,
with a 14% and 25% shareholding respectively, and Absa holds a 15% stake in
Zimplats. There is talk of a share swap," the source said.


However, market analysts said the likelihood of this happening was slim as
South African platinum miner Implats (36%) and Absa have 51% management
control in Zimplats they would not be keen to forego. The source said the
most likely option open for the Libyans was through the National Investment
Trust (NIT) which was struggling to raise funds required for a 15% stake -
or 13,25 million shares - in Zimplats.


"NIT was offered the shareholding last year and is struggling to raise the
money," said the source. "This is the avenue the Libyans will most likely
take, with some indigenous people as fronts."


NIT chairman Dr Mthuli Ncube confessed ignorance on the deal, saying they
were busy raising the required funding for the stake.


"We have commissioned six banks, led by Trust Bank Holdings, to raise the
US$12 million required for the stake," Ncube said.


Platinum is generating a lot of interest in the world and is set to be
Zimbabwe's major foreign currency earner ahead of gold and tobacco by the
end of 2004. Mines and Mineral Development minister Edward Chindori-Chininga
said he was aware that the issue of mines had been discussed in Tripoli but
said he doubted that BHP had been singled out.


"I am not sure since I was not part of the delegation," he said. "I
understand George Charamba is issuing a statement on that matter and you can
call him for more information."


Efforts to get a comment from Charamba were not successful as he was said to
be attending a series of meetings.


The Libyans have to date acquired a 14% stake in the Rainbow Tourism Group,
vast tracts of prime land whose identity government is keeping under lock
and key, and barter deals with a number of businessmen. It is also eyeing
stakes in the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe's fuel storage tanks in Msasa
and Mabvuku, and the pipeline from Mozambique.
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BBC
 
Friday, 20 September, 2002, 15:29 GMT 16:29 UK
Miner bemoans Zimbabwe's decline
Queen Elizabeth II in gold carriage at golden jubilee celebrations
Mr Teeling believes demand for gold will rise again
An Irish gold mining firm has outlined the extreme difficulties of doing business in Zimbabwe, but has vowed to struggle on.

African Gold, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, has invested more than £4m over the past 15 years in developing gold mines in Zimbabwe.


Africa's best investment location is in ruins

John Teeling
African Gold chairman
But, in a frank statement, African Gold's chairman admitted there was very little to show for the money.

"The reality is worse than our worst fears," John Teeling said.

"Africa's best investment location is in ruins."

Violent invasion of mines

In 1997, the firm had four mines and looked well on the way to a profitable future.

But the combination of falling gold prices and rampant inflation in Zimbabwe proved devastating.


It is hard to envisage a lead or plastic engagement ring

John Teeling
In order to survive, the firm sold off three mines, placing all its hope for the future in the Inez mine.

But, as the political situation worsened, the Inez mine has been invaded three times during the past year, with senior management intimidated, threatened and physically abused.

"This mine, which has a modern plant capable of handling 250 tonnes of ore a day, is tottering along, barely making ends meet by mining between 15 and 20 tonnes a day," Mr Teeling said.

Struggling on

Despite the crisis, the company is determined to keep its Zimbabwean operations going as long as possible.

Mr Teeling says he believes demand for gold will continue to grow and that Zimbabwe's mines have a future once the political difficulties have been resolved.

"It is hard to envisage a lead or plastic engagement ring," he comments.

African Gold says it will keep going as long as its local management and 100-strong workforce are willing to keep running it.

Because of recent difficulties, the firm has investigated completely new areas of business, including telecoms and South American oil.

"In the end we decided to stick to the knitting - we are gold miners," Mr Teeling concluded his statement.

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Lewisam Riding School (off Kent Road, Highlands) currently stabling over
50 horses many of which have been rescued from farming districts in last few months has run out of BALED HAY and their normal supplier has left the country.  Is there anybody who can help either with the supply (and we will arrange transport) or deliver (transport costs to be paid).  We need 1000 bales urgently or any part of that which we will pay for.  Our last price paid was $ 120 per bale.  Without hay, these horses cannot survive so we appeal to you to assist if possible.
 
Contact Nan Shephard 494286 or 091 262961 or Peter Dobson 746623 or 091
237411.
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Dear Editor, Lowveld News,


I reference to you report of 15-30 August on Chiredzi South, I would like
to clarify the following points.

The United Nations World Food Programme distributes food in Zimbabwe
strictly according to need and without regard to political affiliation. WFP
has made it clear that it will not tolerate any attempt to politicize the
distribution of its relief food.

Editor, permit me to clarify the various channels used to respond to the
current food crisis. Unfortunately, all them are termed as 'food aid' and
references to any of these mechanisms is often identified only with WFP.

In Zimbabwe, there are currently three main channels of food distribution
in Zimbabwe:

 1. The Government's subsidized food for sale through the Grain Marketing
Board.

2. National and international nongovernmental organizations distribute food
purchased with their own resources or through bilateral funding.

3. The World Food Programme supported emergency relief food.

In addition, the Government implements a Drought Relief and Social
Protection programme, often referred to as 'food for work', but which is in
fact a cash-for-work  programme in support of public works.

World Food Programme assistance in Zimbabwe is therefore completely
separate from government-funded initiatives and programmes.  Since February
this year WFP has distributed 42,000 mt of food to over 800,000
beneficiaries in 21 districts. These numbers are expected to increase four
to fivefold before the end of the year provided sufficient donor resources
and a significant increase in the implementation capacity of WFP's partner
NGOs.

In Zimbabwe, WFP works in partnership with national and international NGOs
(World Vision International, Christian Care, Care International, HelpAge,
Plan International, Lutheran World Federation and ORAP) to identify the
households most in need of relief food. All WFP provided food is
distributed to individual households through a public and transparent
process.

The first step of the process is a vulnerability assessment exercise
carried out jointly by several organisation including UN agencies, NGOs and
donor representatives. A team of experts cover the country to identify the
hardest-hit areas. Based on the results of this assessment, WFP then
prioritizes districts and wards within districts with food going first to
the worse-off.

 Once districts and wards within districts have been identified, the next
step is to determine  those households most in need within the hardest-hit
areas. This selection process is then carried out by the NGOs and overseen
by WFP. Public meetings are held at ward and village level to explain WFP's
selection criteria. WFP's implementing partners, together with the entire
community, pinpoint the most vulnerable households that have no access to
food other than relief food. Priority is given to the elderly, the
terminally ill, the disabled, those with no or little harvest as well as
households headed by women or children.

Once the selection of aid recipients has been completed and the
distribution process is underway, WFP deploys a team of its own national
and international monitors to ensure relief food is always distributed to
the most vulnerable households without regard to any criteria other than
food security. A complaints committee is formed at each distribution site
to record any problems and bring these to the attention of the NGO
implementing partner and WFP. When complaints do arise, we investigate them
vigorously and when necessary we restart the entire selection and
registration process until all are satisfied. Monitoring and verification
of beneficiaries continues on an ongoing and permanent basis. Again, WFP
will not tolerate the politicization of its food distribution. And WFP has
the necessary controls in place to ensure its policies and standards are
respected nationwide.

Editor,  WFP and its donors remain receptive to any feedback that is well
documented to allow proper investigation of the facts. Only by such
constructive information can we ensure that the WFP policy of zero
tolerance of politicisation is respected by all sides in the current
climate in Zimbabwe.

Please contact me any time if you need any information, or have specific
incidents that you feel WFP needs to clarify.

Best regards,

Makena Walker.

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Daily News

      New ministers on EU blacklist

      9/19/02 8:04:10 PM (GMT +2)


      By Pedzisai Ruhanya Chief Reporter

      AMOS Midzi, the Minister of Energy and Power Development, and six
other newly-appointed ministers and deputy ministers, among them a chief,
were on Monday slapped with travel sanctions by the European Union (EU).


      This brings to 79 the number of Zimbabwean leaders banned from
travelling to Europe and doing business within the 15-nation group.

      Chief Fortune Charumbira is the new Deputy Minister of Local
Government, Public Works and National Housing. He becomes the first
traditional leader in Zimbabwe to be blacklisted for alleged human rights
abuses, torture and murder, allegedly associated with President Mugabe's
regime.

      The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, decided last
week to expand the list of banned persons to reflect the recent Cabinet
reshuffle.

      The original list includes Mugabe himself, his wife Grace, all Cabinet
ministers, deputies, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, and politburo
and central committee members of Zanu PF.

      The other new faces are Kenneth Manyonda, the Deputy Minister of
Industry and International Trade, Reuben Marumahoko, the Deputy Minister of
Energy and Power Development, and Kenneth Mutiwekuziva, the Deputy Minister
of Small and Medium Enterprises Development.

      Tinos Rusere, the Deputy Minister of Rural Resources and Water
Development, and Selina Pote, the deputy secretary in the Ministry of Youth
Development, Gender and Employment Creation, are also on the new list.

      The new list is contained in Commission Regulation (EC) Number
1643/2002 of 13 September, 2002 amending, for the third time, Council
Regulations (EC) Number 310/2002 concerning certain restrictive measures in
respect of Zimbabwe.

      The EU banned Mugabe and his inner ruling elite after it ruled that
the controversial March presidential election was rigged. It called for a
fresh election to be supervised by the United Nations and the Commonwealth
within 12 months, which the government rejected out of hand. As a result of
the alleged flawed election, the Commonwealth, to which Zimbabwe has
belonged since 1980, suspended the country's membership. The United States
government imposed its own sanctions on Mugabe and his close associates,
including business people and church leaders, for allegedly condoning
lawlessness in the country. Among them is the head of the Anglican Church in
Zimbabwe, Bishop Nolbert Kunonga, a staunch Zanu PF supporter.
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We Were Doing Fine Until We Started Listening to IMF



The Post (Lusaka)

September 19, 2002
Posted to the web September 19, 2002

Larry Moonze


WE were doing fine until we started listening to the International Monetary
Fund and the World Bank, Zimbabwe High Commissioner to Zambia Cain Mathema
has said.

High Commissioner Mathema said the IMF and World Bank were tools used by the
USA to open up local economies to its multinational companies. "Even the
NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) will not achieve anything
unless we own it and our companies play a role in it," he said.

High Commissioner Mathema wondered why it had to be poor countries and not
any developed countries to take instructions from IMF and World Bank. He
said Third World countries should not apologise for the aid they received
because western countries stole all the wealth from Africa.

"They are what they are because they slaughtered our people, killed our
cultures and stole from us," High Commissioner Mathema said. "We demand to
be compensated just like the Jews have been considered for atrocities
committed by Adolf Hitler."

High commissioner Mathema said he was opposed to privatisation per se
because it deprived states ownership of means of production to the detriment
of economic development.

He said it was folly for IMF and World Bank to recommend privatisation of
strategic industries in Africa when Norway and France ran the oil industry
as state enterprises. He said western nations must instead advise African
governments to run such enterprises on commercial lines.

"They tell us to be transparent when we don't know how many nuclear weapons
they have," High Commissioner Mathema said. "The US subsidises its steel
industry and farmers but if President Mwanawasa or Mugabe does the same we
are sanctioned."

Citing current economic upheavals in Argentina, High Commissioner Mathema
said the IMF and World Bank are not interested in development but crippling
economies.

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ZIMBABWE: Amendment to land reform law closes loopholes

JOHANNESBURG, 19 September (IRIN) - Zimbabwe's parliament has passed an amendment to the country's land reform law to close loopholes previously used by white farmers to challenge eviction orders.

Last month, farmer Andy Kockott successfully launched a precedent-setting court challenge to his eviction on the grounds that his bank, which holds his bond, had not been informed of his pending eviction, as required by law.

This meant the government had to notify the banks of farmers affected in this way, then reissue eviction notices.

The government-controlled Herald newspaper reported on Thursday that Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa acknowledged the bondholding banks should have been informed of the intention to evict farmers. He said it was a mistake which came to light through Kockott's challenge.

Under the amendment passed on Wednesday, the government's failure to notify bondholders would not render eviction notices invalid.

Bondholders would, however, receive the notices and would have 30 days to react to the eviction order.

The Land Acquisition Bill also said that reissued eviction notices would only give farmers seven days' notice to leave if their previous order had already expired. If the order had not expired, the notice period would be remainder of the unexpired order.

The bill has to be signed into law by President Robert Mugabe.

Jenni Williams, spokeswoman for Justice for Agriculture (JAG), which advocates challenging evictions through the courts, told IRIN she considered the new bill a victory, because the test case had made the government accountable for its own laws.

The next step, she said, was to challenge the evictions on the basis of constitutional infringements.

Under the "fast-track" resettlement programme, 2,900 commercial farmers have been ordered to leave their properties, which would be redistrubuted to landless cultivators.

[ENDS]
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ZIMBABWE: UNICEF provides funding to help control cholera epidemic

JOHANNESBURG, 19 September (IRIN) - With a cholera death toll in Zimbabwe's Masvingo province rising to 19, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has provided US $210,000 to the minstry of health for urgent measures to control the spread of the epidemic.

Since August, 400 people have been affected by the waterborne disease, which is spread by poor sanitation.

The death toll for the epidemic, which is centred in the remote Zaka and Bikita districts, rose from 10 to 19 in one week after nine people died last weekend.

A statement from UNICEF said the funds would be used to bring in epidemiologists within the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to strengthen cholera control activities, including awareness programmes. 

UNICEF would also provide five water bowsers and environmental disinfectants to improve access to safe water. 

"These efforts will go a long way towards controlling the epidemic and ensuring that the epidemic does not spread to neighbouring districts," said Dr Festo Kavishe, the UNICEF representative in Zimbabwe.

The epidemic comes as overstretched aid organisations struggle with the impact of food shortages affecting up to six million people in Zimbabwe. Health officials have warned that poor nutrition complicates conditions like cholera and HIV/AIDS, making recovery more difficult.

UNICEF has appealed for US $7.8 million in emergency funding for health, nutrition, water and sanitation, HIV/AIDS and education programmes for the worst-affected children in Zimbabwe.

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Zim Independent

Blair commends ZCTU
Mthulisi Mathuthu
BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair has described President Robert Mugabe's
outbursts against Britain and the West as an attempt to divert international
attention from his appalling human rights record.

Blair, who lumped Mugabe together with veteran dictator Saddam Hussein of
Iraq, was speaking in Blackpool at the official opening of the just-ended
annual conference of the Trades Union Congress (TUC).


Zimbabwean trade union leaders were present when Blair delivered his
blistering criticism of Mugabe on the eve of the first anniversary of the
terrorist attacks on the United States. The TUC is an umbrella body for
trade unions in the UK. It is affiliated to the Labour Party.

Blair praised the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) for standing firm
in its defiance of Mugabe's undemocratic conduct. He said the ZCTU's
perseverance in the defence of democracy exposed Mugabe's ant-imperialist
rhetoric.


"Today we welcome Wellington Chibhebhe of the ZCTU," Blair said. "Your
opposition to the regime of Mugabe is the ultimate riposte to his fraudulent
nonsense about fighting colonialism."


Mugabe has repeatedly blamed Britain and other Western countries for
allegedly meddling in Zimbabwean affairs. He repeated the claim at the Earth
Summit in Johannesburg where he lashed out at Blair for mobilising other
European states to impose sanctions on Harare.

"People here, including myself, fought the detestable apartheid system of
South Africa and we know the difference between the cause of freedom and a
leader abusing that cause to conceal incompetence and corruption on a
catastrophic scale," said Blair.


"The key characteristic of today's world is interdependence," he said. "Your
problem becomes my problem. They have to be tackled collectively.Africa, if
left to decline, will become a breeding ground for extremism. Terrorism and
weapons of mass destruction combine modern technology with political or
religious fanaticism."
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State Acts On Citizenship



The Herald (Harare)

September 18, 2002
Posted to the web September 18, 2002

Harare

PEOPLE born in Zimbabwe but whose parents originate from Sadc countries -
particularly Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia - may soon be accorded special
treatment to be recognised as Zimbabweans under amendments being proposed by
the Government to relax the Citizenship of Zimbabwe Act.

Currently, the Citizenship of Zimbabwe Act bars the holding of dual or
multiple nationality by Zimbabweans.

It provides that Zimbabwean citizens who are also citizens of any foreign
country shall cease to be citizens of Zimbabwe unless they effectively
renounce their foreign citizenship within certain specified periods.

The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Cde Patrick
Chinamasa, said yesterday a large number of Zimbabwean citizens by birth
were persons whose parents originated from countries within Sadc.

It was probable that many such persons were also citizens by descent of Sadc
countries in terms of the citizenship laws of those countries.

"Given the dearth of official records, both in Zimbabwe and elsewhere, it is
difficult if not impossible to establish the foreign nationality status of
such persons with any legal precision," he said.

"Moreover, most of these persons may be wholly unaware of their foreign
citizenship and the need to renounce that citizenship in order to retain
their Zimbabwean nationality.

"If this situation is not effectively addressed, it may result in many
Zimbabweans with Sadc parentage being denied their Zimbabwean citizenship
status and effectively being rendered stateless."

Under these circumstances, it was being proposed that such persons be
accorded special treatment under the Citizenship of Zimbabwe Act to enable
them to be recognised as Zimbabweans, despite the possibility that they may
also be citizens, by descent, of one or more Sadc countries.

The justification for such treatment was that the vast majority of these
people had been permanently resident in Zimbabwe since birth and had always
regarded Zimbabwe as their established home.

"The justification for applying such treatment to all Sadc countries stems
from the recognition of our political, economic and social affinity with
these countries and the need to maintain equality, reciprocity and good
neighbourliness in our foreign relations within the region," said Cde
Chinamasa.

The Government had proposed a criteria, which would be applied in
determining eligibility for such special treatment.

According to the criteria, the applicant must be a person who was born in
Zimbabwe at any time.

Any one of the applicant's parents must have been born in a Sadc member
state, and such parent must have entered Zimbabwe on or before April 18,
1980 and continuously resided in the country from that date until the date
of birth of the applicant.

Except for temporary absences from Zimbabwe for the purposes of study,
holiday or State services, the applicant must have continuously resided in
Zimbabwe from the date of his or her birth.

The applicant must not have acquired any foreign citizenship or foreign
passport, whether voluntarily or otherwise, and must not have enjoyed the
protection of any foreign country at any time after the date of his or her
birth.

Cde Chinamasa said in order to give effect to the proposed special treatment
for eligible persons, Government was proposing to amend the Act so that
every eligible person shall be entitled at any time to obtain confirmation
of his or her Zimbabwean citizenship status upon applying in the prescribed
manner and upon proof of his/her eligibility in terms of the stipulated
criteria.

An eligible person shall be exempt from having to comply with the relevant
renunciation requirement of section 9 of the Act, but only in so far as it
may apply to his or her citizenship of a Sadc country.

Section 9 of the Act provides that a Zimbabwean citizen who is also a
citizen of a foreign country shall cease to be a citizen of Zimbabwe unless
he has effectively renounced his foreign citizenship by January 6, 2002.

However, these provisions have created difficulties of interpretation and
application, resulting in many claimants being denied their Zimbabwean
status and the privileges of holding a Zimbabwean passport.

Hundreds of people of foreign descent who intended to become Zimbabweans
early this year thronged embassies of their former countries in last minute
attempts to renounce their foreign citizenship.

This was after the Registrar-General Mr Tobaiwa Mudede had set a January 6,
2002 deadline for them to renounce their foreign citizenship in line with
the Citizenship of Zimbabwe Amendment Act, which was passed by Parliament
last year.
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Zim Independent

Mudede can't stem passport queues
Blessing Zulu/Loughty Dube
THE hike in passport fees has not deterred Zimbabweans desperate to escape
economic hardships from queuing for hours to secure travel documents.

Demand has outstripped supply causing chaos at Makombe Building, home of
Registrar-General Tobaiwa Mudede's office. When the increase in fees was
announced earlier this month the official press claimed it would ease the
congestion.


On Wednesday thousands of people jostled for positions in the queue to get
their much-sought-after passport. A kilometre-long line snaked from the
government complex entrance along Harare Street, into Herbert Chitepo Avenue
and then into Leopold Takawira Street as far as the Girls High School
entrance.


With unemployment hovering at around 70%, people interviewed said they
wanted to leave the country to seek employment elsewhere.


"There is no employment to talk of in Zimbabwe and ever since I was
retrenched in 2000 I have not been able to get another job," said Maxwell
Munemo, who was part of the long queue.


Most people had slept in the queue and those who came at around 3am found it
already winding its way around the neighbouring streets.


"I asked for a day off from work to try and process my passport," said
Rosemary Mano. "The country has gone to the dogs and we have no choice
except to seek for greener pastures in the UK."


Amos Mundawarara, a street kid, said the chaos at the Registrar-General's
Office was a financial windfall.


"We sleep in the queue every night and sell our positions for $1 500 to
those not keen to spend the whole night waiting," said Mundawarara.


Ordinary passports for adults and children under 12 years now cost $1 500
and $700 respectively, up from $600 and $300. The executive passport
processed within 24 hours now costs $30 000 for adults and $15 000 for
children.


Meanwhile, police in Bulawayo have arrested two policemen and several
government registry officers implicated in a birth records scam in the city.


The two policemen based at the Bulawayo Central police station were arrested
early this week after it emerged they were part of a syndicate that involved
government registry officers, hospital clerks and police officers.


The policemen join eight other suspects arrested last week in connection
with the birth certificates scam.

In the scam hospital clerks and government registry officers solicited
thousands of dollars from people in need of birth confirmation records
thatthey then used to obtain long birth certificates needed to acquire a
travel document.


Some of the people whopaid for the birth confirm-ation records were
foreigners who wanted to use these to acquire national identity cards and
subsequently passports.


Other beneficiaries of the scam are believed to be locals deported from the
United Kingdom and other European countries who wanted to assume false
identities to enable them to return to those countries.


Bulawayo police spokesperson Smile Dube confirmed the arrests of the
policemen and the government registry officers and said police have widened
investigations into the matter.


"Police are still investigating the scam and measures are being taken to see
that more people who could have been involved are investigated," said Dube

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Zim Independent

DDF lacks capacity to service resettled farmers
Blessing Zulu
THE District Development Fund (DDF) does not have the capacity to service
resettled farmers, throwing President Robert Mugabe's much-vaunted land
reform exercise into disarray.

According to a United Nations humanitarian report, capacity at DDF was far
short of the requirements.


"Only 50% of the tractor fleet is operational," the UN report said. "Most
model A1 farmers do not have animal draught power, and in some provinces
foot-and-mouth disease has incapacitated most of the oxen used in the
communal areas."


The report raised concern at the slow uptake of farms by beneficiaries of
the A2 model.

"A2 model uptake has been low and hence land preparation is not proceeding
rapidly," the report said.


"Concerted efforts by relevant stakeholders is urgently required to improve
the tillage programme since the season is fast running out for land
preparations, especially in the agro-ecological regions 1, 2 and 3, which
have heavy red and black soils that could be difficult to work once the
rains have set in."


An agricultural expert said the new farmers were also likely to face an
uphill task in harvesting wheat and subsequently preparing the land for
other crops.


''It promises to be a financial nightmare for the new farmers because to
hire one combine harvester alone costs $40 000," said the expert.


He said the money set aside for agricultural implements was not enough.

"The government has set aside $8 billion for inputs and this will cover only
15% of the area normally grown," he said. "This at most will cover only one
hectare per farmer and what will happen to all those with 10 or 15
hectares?"


In the model A2 only half of the 54 000 proposed plots are understood to
have been demarcated and just 20% of the pegged plots taken-up.


In Mashonaland West province, which used to produce an estimated 40% of the
country's major crops such as the staple maize, tobacco and wheat, vast
fields lie idle with no land preparation taking place despite the fact
planting is now due.


Makonde Rural District Council assistant administrator Dan Zvobgo told the
Zimbabwe Independent recently that land preparation in the district was
being hampered by the unavailability of draught power.


"We only have 10 tractors running in the whole district and these will not
get to all farmers in time for the planting season, reducing the intended
hectarage under crop," Zvobgo said.

He said the DDF has now resorted to hiring tractors from private individuals
to offset the shortage.
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Zim Independent

Sadc defence organ retains democratic proposals
Mthulisi Mathuthu
IN what is seen as an attempt to restrain President Mugabe's adventurism
representatives of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc)
presidential troika, who met in Harare last week, have retained most of the
democratic proposals set out in the original document outlining the
operations of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.

Called the "Draft inception paper for the development of the Strategic
Indicative Plan for the Sadc Organ (SIPO) on Politics, Defence and Security
cooperation", the document cites approaches which are very different to
those employed by Zimbabwe's leader. Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Tanzania
comprise the current troika. Diplomats this week said the document's outlook
was a departure from Mugabe's view of operations as it proposed "consensus
on coalition-based conflict resolution". This has been South Africa's
policy, in particular on ending the Congo war.


At the organ's inception in 1996 other Sadc states were concerned that
Mugabe, its first chair, could use it as an instrument for regional
dominance. South Africa has refused to ratify the 1996 Gaborone protocol on
the grounds that the organ's chair should not be empowered to convene
summits independently of Sadc heads of state. Mozambique's Joaquim Chissano
is the current organ chair.


"There were just minor changes in terminology and in a few areas. Most of
the democratic proposals in the first document were left like that," a
source said. It notes that "the consolidation of democracy and good
governance constitute another important undertaking for the achievement of
peace, security, stability and a sustainable development in an environment
of regional co-operation and integration based on equity and mutual
solidarity".


It further proposes the "protection of people and the safeguarding of the
development of the region against instability arising from the breakdown of
law and order, intra-state conflicts, interstate conflicts and aggression."


The paper also outlines the objectives, modus operandi and structure for the
functions of the organ.


The meeting, which started last Tuesday at a local hotel and ended on Friday
afternoon, had been convened to spruce up an earlier draft tabled on April
25 in Maputo. Zimbabwean representatives to the meeting were this week said
to be briefing government officials on the document which is yet to be
approved by the foreign ministers ahead of the September 26 Sadc summit in
Luanda, Angola.
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Daily News

      Bodies of soldiers killed in DRC start arriving

      9/20/02 8:58:24 AM (GMT +2)


      By Precious Shumba

      MBONISI Gatsheni, the Zimbabwe National Army spokesman, said yesterday
the bodies of soldiers killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) war
have begun to arrive in the country and relatives have been informed.


      He declined to give figures, saying that would be made known only when
the Minister of Defence, Sydney Sekeramayi, speaks at a parade to mark the
return of all the soldiers.

      About 11 000 Zimbabwean soldiers were despatched to the DRC on 2
August, 1998 to assist the tottering regime of President Laurent Kabila
repel an attack by rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda.

      Commenting on reports that the bodies of many soldiers killed in the
four-year-old civil war had been brought to Manyame Airbase, Gatsheni said:
"The position is that there are repatriations of bodies. What your sources
told you is true.

      "The Commander-in-Chief will let the public know what exactly happened
in the DRC. We do not need to hurry."

      He said President Mugabe, the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe
Defence Forces, would make a public announcement on the number of casualties
in the DRC since the deployment in 1998.

      Gatsheni said the public had to be aware the repatriation of bodies
took place whenever soldiers died from natural or other causes.

      Asked how and where the bodies were kept all these years since the
conflict began, Gatsheni said he could not give details, as all that would
come out in due course.

      He said the repatriation would be completed soon.

      Yesterday, relatives of deceased soldiers said there was a parade held
at 1 Commando Barracks in honour of the fallen soldiers of the DRC conflict.

      A relative of Corporal Harrison Mapuranga, who witnessed the
proceedings at 1 Commando said there were scores of bodies at the parade,
witnessed by relatives of other dead soldiers.

      The relative said Mapuranga went to the DRC on 19 March 1999 but was
killed in combat on 21 March the same year.

      Since then, the relatives had been informed by the army that Mapuranga
was missing in action. But the relative said they were shocked on Tuesday
when an army official told them Mapuranga had been confirmed dead.

      Mapuranga's wife received her husband's monthly salary for that period
because the army had reportedly not confirmed his death.

      Mapuranga was expected to be buried today at his rural home in Rusape.
      The relatives said the funeral arrangements would be handled by the
Tsanzaguru-based 3.2 Infantry Battalion in Rusape.

      A relative of Corporal Harrison Mapuranga, who witnessed the
proceedings at 1 Commando said there were scores of bodies at the parade,
witnessed by relatives of other dead soldiers.

      The relative said Mapuranga went to the DRC on 19 March 1999 but was
killed in combat on 21 March the same year.

      Since then, the relatives had been informed by the army that Mapuranga
was missing in action. But the relative said they were shocked on Tuesday
when an army official told them Mapuranga had been confirmed dead.

      Mapuranga's wife received her husband's monthly salary for that period
because the army had reportedly not confirmed his death. Mapuranga was
expected to be buried today at his rural home in Rusape. The relatives said
the funeral arrangements would be handled by the Tsanzaguru-based 3.2
Infantry Battalion in Rusape.
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Daily News

      Warrants of arrest issued against NCA members

      9/20/02 9:26:32 AM (GMT +2)


      Staff Reporter

      Warrants of arrest were issued against six members of the National
Constitutional Assembly (NCA), including Munyaradzi Gwisai, the MP for
Highfield, after they failed to appear in court on Tuesday.


      Gwisai and 12 other NCA members face charges of contravening section
26 (5) of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) in February when they
demonstrated outside Parliament to press President Mugabe to adopt the NCA's
draft constitution.

      Joyce Negonde, the Harare provincial magistrate, however, cancelled
the warrants against Gwisai and Tonderai Nyahunzvi, who eventually turned up
at the courts. The two told the magistrate they had not arrived on time
because they thought the matter had been set down for 25 September.

      The warrant of arrest, however, remained in force against Rusike
Chadenga, 45, Mavis Giriya, 34, Julius Mutyambizi, 26, and Fungai Chabata.

      Meanwhile, Raymond Majongwe, 34, Manasa Masunda, 26, Mary Joy Blair,
50, Loveness Zaranyika, 25, McDonald Mangauzana, Innocent Sibanda, 32, and
Ann Norsman, 52, who are on bail, were remanded to 20 November.

      Mehluli Tshuma prosecuted. They were represented by Andrew Makoni of
Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni legal practitioners.

      In an interview after the remand hearing, Makoni said they were
challenging the constitutionality of Section 26 (5) of POSA in the Supreme
Court and were still to be informed of the date for the hearing.

      Makoni said: "We are certainly going to consult the Attorney General's
Office on the possibility of them being removed from remand pending the
hearing of the Supreme Court matter. It is taking too long to be set down."

      About 367 NCA women activists facing the similar charges, will appear
in court next Wednesday.
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Daily News

      Cost of DRC war to be disclosed after total pull-out: Sekeramayi

      9/20/02 9:14:11 AM (GMT +2)


      By Luke Tamborinyoka

      Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi has assured Parliament that the
full cost to Zimbabwe of the government's military adventure in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will be disclosed once all troops have
been withdrawn from that country.


      In August 1998, Zimbabwe, despite its ailing economy, sent 11 000
soldiers to prop up the government of the late DRC leader, Laurent Kabila,
who was fighting rebels backed by his neighbours, Rwanda and Uganda.

      Sekeramayi skirted questions in Parliament from the opposition MDC's
shadow minister for defence, Giles Mutsekwa, on the number of troops killed,
the total cost the country incurred and the number of troops still in the
DRC, after the recent partial withdrawal of the soldiers.

      Sekeramayi said only 2 300 Zimbabwean troops remained in the DRC, but
refused to disclose the human and financial cost of the war.

      "After the complete withdrawal of Zimbabwean troops, a grand parade
will soon be held to commemorate the end of our military campaign. It is
only at that parade where the human and financial cost will be made public,"
Sekeramayi told Parliament.
      "That information will only be given after our total withdrawal. We
will not give the information in tranches."

      He could not say, however, when the remaining troops would return
home.
      "While the number of casualties will be announced at the appropriate
time, the next of kin and immediate families of those who have died have
been informed accordingly."

      He said there was no way he could divulge the costs of the war because
these were not conclusive since some of the troops were still in the DRC.

      On whether the cost was borne by the taxpayer alone, Sekeramayi said
while some of the expenses came from the Defence vote, the DRC government
had assisted in sustenance and other expenses of troops in that country.

      Despite Sekeramayi's silence on the costs, the former Finance
Minister, Simba Makoni, told Parliament in 2000 that Zimbabwe had spent $10
billion in scarce foreign currency in the DRC.

      Makoni admitted then that Zimbabwe could not sustain the war, but two
years later, the troops are still there.

      Earlier media reports linked senior government and army officials to
massive looting in the war-ravaged DRC, an allegation the government denied.

      The withdrawal comes amid calls by the DRC government for the United
Nations to speed up the deployment of peacekeeping forces to that country to
ensure peace and stability.
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