Z I M B A B W E  
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Zimbabwe court to rule in November on land seizures   9.27.00 CNN
Zimb. police arrest suspect in slaying of first white farmer   9.26.00 CNN
Zimbabwe war veterans attack white farmer   9.26.00 CNN Harare, ZIMBABWE   It appears that the govt of Zimbabwe has at last realized the enormous financial implications of the invasion of white owned farmlands. Govt of President Robert Mugabe has announced that it would increase efforts at the eviction of illegal black settlers on white owned farms. Those to be evicted are blacks that invaded white owned farmlands after the govt launched a resettlement scheme in July.
Minister of Home Affairs John Nkomo disclosed the govt's determination to evict liberation war veterans. He said that the govt had approved the evictions, aimed at ending what it termed, "corruption & violence in the land redistribution process." On Monday, and as part of the govt's determination in ending the invasion, armed policemen destroyed shacks. They also drove away hundreds of black squatters & their supporters from five farms outside the capital city of Harare.
Nkomo said that it is only the govt that has the authority to allocate lands. He said, "There are too many criminals now on the farms who are inviting people in and selling land to them. Our stance is that no one, except the central govt has authority to allocate land," Nkomo said. The statement of the Home Affairs Minster was the first official comment on the govt's use of force against land invaders. President Mugabe had initially said that the govt would not force the veterans out of the farms.
    War vets wreak havoc in Bulawayo
    2.14.02   Thabo Kunene BBC
Bulawayo   Hundreds of self-styled war veterans and supporters of the ruling Zanu-PF party went on the rampage in Zimbabwe's second largest city of Bulawayo on Wed. evening. Dozens of people, amongst them late night shoppers, were injured in a further escalation of political violence ahead of presidential elections next month. Earlier this week, petrol bombs struck a printing press and a newspaper office in Bulawayo, following warnings from Zanu-PF supporters. Trouble started when the mob left the ruling party's provincial headquarters in the south-western city and marched into the city centre beating up anyone they came across. Taxis were stoned and drivers beaten up. People fled in different directions. Those who tried to seek protection from the riot police were chased away.

Police role
The riot police, according to eyewitnesses, said they were not there to protect MDC supporters. The police watched and did nothing as the war veterans beat up passers by and sang revolutionary songs glorifying president Robert Mugabe. Some wore ruling party T-shirts. The mob also forced their way into one restaurant where they beat up those having dinner. One group then went to Emakhandeni township, another group to Emganwini, where they went house to house asking people to surrender their national identity cards. Without their identity cards, people cannot vote. The elections are on 9-10 March, with President Robert Mugabe facing his strongest challenge in 22 years.

Former Nigerian head of state Abdulsalami Abubakar is to lead a Commonwealth mission to Zimbabwe to monitor the forthcoming presidential elections. The announcement came as an advance party of Commonwealth officials arrived in Zimbabwe on Tuesday to pave the way for the main group. Last week, the 54-nation Commonwealth rejected British calls to suspend Zimbabwe from the organisation, but decided to send monitors to oversee the elections. Commonwealth SecGen Don McKinnon said the first observers would arrive in Zimbabwe later this week, followed by a main group of about 40 monitors later this month. General Abubakar, who was Nigerian head of state until 1999, previously led a Commonwealth mission which oversaw parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe in June, 2000.

Mugabe conditions
After coming under international pressure, Zimb. pres. Mugabe has said he will allow Commonwealth & European Union observers, as long as they do not include any British members. General Abubakar headed observers at Zimbabwe's June 2000 elections. Mr Mugabe has accused Britain of supporting the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The EU says it is still awaiting an official invitation from Zimbabwe to send observers and will impose selective sanctions on Zimbabwe if it does not allow its monitors to deploy. The first of a group of 150 European observers is expected to arrive in Zimbabwe later this week.

Commonwealth demand
The Commonwealth has insisted that all political parties must be allowed to campaign freely in the run-up to the elections on 9-10 March. The Zimbabwean govt recently pushed a series of laws through parliament stifling opposition to President Mugabe and restricting the freedom of the media. Mr Mugabe faces the toughest challenge to his 22-year rule from the MDC. The MDC says about 100 of its supporters have been killed in the past 2 years by activists from Mr Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party.

    Zimbabwe forces out top EU observer
    2.17.02   BBC
The Zimbabwean govt forced the head of the European Union's election observer mission to leave the country, raising the prospect of EU sanctions against President Mugabe's regime. Pierre Schori, who was in Zimbabwe on a tourist visa having been refused accreditation by the country's govt, flew out of the country on Saturday night to London. Mr Schori's departure came as Zimbabwe's state TV reported a visit by Mr Mugabe to Mozambique on Sunday to discuss the elections and the "situation in the country" with regional leaders. Mr Mugabe is expected to hold talks with President Joaquim Chissano and Bakili Muluzi, president of Malawi and chairman of the South African Development Community (SADC). The SADC is on Monday expected to start sending observers for the presidential elections, but analysts say the organisation lacks the political will to enforce Mr Mugabe's assertions that the poll will be free and fair.

Mr Schori's visa, which had a week left to run, was cancelled on Saturday and he was given another visa set to expire at midnight. "Leaving Harare today my feelings are more of sorrow than of anger," he said before boarding his flight out of the country. The BBC's Barnaby Phillips says the EU now faces a difficult dilemma: whether to impose sanctions and pull out its 30 monitors, or stay in the hope their presence may reduce violence in the run up to the 9-10 March poll. The EU is due to consider the issue on Monday. Mr Schori refused to comment on the chances of sanctions being applied, saying the issues would be decided by EU foreign ministers when they meet in Brussels on Monday. It was not immediately clear what, if anything, Mr Schori had done wrong. But he had been warned by Zimbabwean officials that his tourist status meant he should not talk about the upcoming election. He called Zimbabwe's demands that he not talk with journalists "surprising and unacceptable". Zimbabwe's Home Affairs Minister, John Nkomo, told the BBC that Mr Schori had violated the conditions under which his visa was granted.

Challenge to Mugabe
Zimbabwe's govt says it will not be bullied into accepting observers from countries deemed hostile to Mr Mugabe. The govt has already said that six European countries are not allowed to send observers. The government accuses Britain, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden of supporting the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, is set to pose the toughest challenge yet to Mr Mugabe's 22-year hold on power in the March election.

    EU sanctions move 'baffles' African nations
    2.19.02   BBC
African nations have expressed surprise at the EU's decision to impose sanctions against Zimbabwe and withdraw its election observers. Neighbouring S.Africa described the move as "difficult to fathom." "We're really surprised at this decision, because if there are allegations that elections might not be free and fair, then it is important to ensure that as many neutral, objective, impartial observers are in place," Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad told SABC radio. Observers from S.Africa & the Commonwealth are still in Zimbabwe. The S.African head of the election observer team from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Samuel Motswaynarnay, contests the view prevalent in Europe that Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party is preventing free & fair elections through violence. Mr Motswaynarnay attended a Zanu-PF rally at the weekend.
"It was quite big," he said. "I think there was an attendance of anything up to 20,000 people at the rally." "Everything proceeded in a very orderly way, and there was no evidence of any coercion or harassment caused by the police who were there in large numbers. "We also attended a rally of the opposition party, in Harare, and that also proceeded quite smoothly, with no evidence of violence at all."

Nigeria
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who brokered an agreement between Britain and Zimbabwe last year, also challenges the EU assertion that Mr Mugabe is using unacceptable means to ensure his re-election. "What are the democratic principles that he is flagrantly abusing?" Mr Obasanjo asked. "He says he is going into an election. He has parties other than his own that are allowed freely to contest and participate. "He has asked for observers from all over the world to come. He has asked for the foreign press from all over the world to come. "He has worked with other political parties and civil society and religious leaders in his country, to reduce the level of violence."
Joel Kibazo, spokesman for the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, said that its mission would go ahead as planned. "Our observers are now in Zimbabwe, he said. "We've got 10 on the ground, and by the end of the week, we will have a large group of observers. We hope to have more than 40 in total." "The Commonwealth has decided that what it wants to do is observe the elections, and we are continuing with that."

    Japan sending election monitors to Zimbabwe
    3.1.02   BBC
Japan says it is sending 5 observers to Zimbabwe for the presidential elections beginning on 9 March. The mission will include Japan's former ambassador to South Africa. According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, the monitors will observe the preparation, voting and ballot-counting of the election in tandem with other international observers.
    MDC opposition offices raided, officials picked up
    9.15.00   F. Maisokwadzo Independent
Zimbabwe   In the first major confrontation between the govt & the Movement for Democratic Change in the post-election period ( other than an anonymous hand grenade lobbed in the party HQ week before ), police yesterday raided the party's three offices in Harare, arrested four party officials and ransacked the home of the party's Zengeza MP, Tafadzwa Musekiwa. $400 million civil lawsuit filed in US court (Manhattan) against Mugabe for alleged human rights abuses against political enemies, alleging that Mugabe & 2 associates in his ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriot Front (ZANU-PF) orchestrated a campaign of violence against opposition parties.
    Evicted farmers sue for breach of contract
    9.12.00   IRIN
JOHANNESBURG   About 13 farmers, evicted in July from state farms they were leasing in the Sessombia area to make way for a resettlement pgm, have sued the govt for breach of contract, news reports said on Tuesday. According to the reports, the farmers were on 5 year contracts which were set to expire 5.5.02. Their leases were terminated to allow top govt officials allocated land under the controversial commercial farming resettlement scheme last year, to begin work. Reports said that the scheme was publicly criticized for benefiting cabinet ministers, high court judges, two senior journalists, university lecturers & army generals at the expense of farmers.

8.3.00   Mugabe vehemently opposed offers of aid conditioned on a restoration of the rule of law or a review of his land reform policies, saying: "The donors can stay with their money if their condition is that that money can only come if we give up the demand on land we are pursuing."

Since June 2000 elections, due to President Mugabe's insane push to retain power at all costs, as a result of the farm invasions & acquisitions, it is estimated that over 500,000 black Zimbabwean farm workers & their families will end up jobless & poverty-stricken. Inflation is now around 70%. Unemployment stands at over 50%. Petrol & diesel are in short supply. One in every 4 people has AIDS. The Zimbabwean people voiced their rejection of Mugabe's Zanu- PF party at the June elections, and despite internationally-reported violence & intimidation, and proven "electoral irregularities", Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change party succeeded in gaining an effective majority of votes. I say effective because if it weren't for Zanu's secured 30 seats, the MDC would now be the governing party. The next step for Zimbabwe is the 2002 Presidential Elections. But in the meantime the world has forgotten.

1919: Birth of Ian (Douglas) Smith, Rhodesian PM who advocated white supremacy and unilaterally declared independence (UDI) from Britain in 1965. After the transfer of power to the black majority in 1979, he was elected a member of parliament in the govt of Robert Mugabe. In 1998, Mugabe said that they could have beheaded Ian Smith who still lives in the country & authored The Great Betrayal.   more history

late April 2000 of many attacks of armed poor Africans against white landowners. Violence commenced in Feb. 2000 when President Robert Mugabe & his party first lost a vote on a constitutional referendum. In one case about 200 attackers beat dogs to death and burned down workers' homes only one day after a leader of the attackers promised a cease-fire. The native squatters occupied more than 1600 white-owned farms across Zimbabwe. President Mugabe promised peace but continued to incite the natives to violence, apparently to gain their support in the national elections.

The political campaigns were violent, as in early June 2000, and the opposition party was more popular in some parts than the ruling party that instigated the violence against white farmers. President Mugabe declared on June 17 that, although whites would be permitted to live in Zimbabwe, never again would they be allowed to have power over the native south African blacks. Mugabe called the whites "the greatest racists in the world." Elections were scheduled for June 24 & 25. About 31 members of the opposition party have been killed since February, and many more have been beaten.
As the election neared, by June 23, 14 oppostion poll watchers had been detained by the Mugabe govt, and one was not released. Although Mugabe, whose party has ruled Zimbabwe for 20 years, was not on the ballot, his term runs to 2002, his party & a popular opposition party were, but increasing violence seemed aimed at intimidating the opposition. Mugabe promised to redistribute the white farms to landless blacks after the election.

    Mugabe tells Britain: 'Go to hell'
    3.1.02   BBC
Continuing the war of words with Britain, Pres. Mugabe has accused Zimbabwe's former colonial power of supporting the opposition in next week's election. Mr Mugabe told supporters at a rally in eastern Zimbabwe that UK Prime Minister Tony Blair had shown bias towards the opposition in comments to the UK Parliament. On Wednesday, Mr Blair said the actions of Mr Mugabe were "completely undemocratic and wrong and dictatorial". Britain & other countries have accused the Zimbabwean president of using intimidation and violence to secure his re-election.

Homes destroyed
Mr Mugabe said Mr Blair could "go to hell", adding: "It's not the right or responsibility of the British to decide on our elections." The speech comes amid rising tensions in Zimbabwe. On Friday, suspected supporters of Mr Mugabe's Zanu PF party destroyed 10 homes, accusing the owners of supporters of backing the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Earlier this week police detained 30 MDC supporters in a raid in the capital, Harare. The MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, poses the greatest challenge to Mr Mugabe's 22-year rule.

Plot allegations
In a related development, Zimbabwe's Supreme Court upheld new election rules, which the MDC says will deprive hundreds-of-thousands of people of their votes in the presidential election. The govt created 120 constituencies, overturning traditional election rules that allowed voters to cast their votes anywhere in the country. The MDC says this will make voting impossible for people driven from their homes by Zanu-PF militants. In another earlier ruling Wed., the Supreme Court threw out a law, signed by Mr Mugabe, which his opponents said aimed to boost his election chances. It stipulated that only observers accredited by the govt could monitor the poll, and prevented foreign aid being used for voter education programs. Mr Tsvangirai has started legal action against an Australian television station after it broadcast allegations that he plotted to kill President Robert Mugabe. The state-owned media in Zimbabwe seized on the footage and broadcast it repeatedly.

'Lawful opposition'
A spokesman for Mr Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti, said the allegations in the film were false, and that the SBS television station had been "duped" by Mr Mugabe's supporters. He said the Movement for Democratic Change was pursuing legal action "to vindicate our name and to vindicate the truth. We are a lawful and loyal opposition in Zimbabwe, and there is absolutely no way that ourselves as a party or our leadership would ever contemplate... these sort of heinous allegations that have been made in those tapes," the spokesman said. 2 weeks ago, SBS broadcast video footage of a secretly filmed meeting which allegedly showed Mr Tsvangirai discussing "eliminating" Mr Mugabe. The allegations and subsequent police action were condemned by the U.S., Britain and human rights groups as a ploy to influence the elections and cement Mr Mugabe's rule.

S.2677 Sponsor: Sen Frist, introduced 6/6/2000 Latest Major Action: 7/20/00 Referred to House subcommittee Title: A bill to restrict assistance until certain conditions are satisfied and to support democratic & economic transition in Zimbabwe.

legislation affecting Zimbabwe
H.R.4091 Sponsor: Rep Waters, Maxine introduced 3/23/00 Latest Major Action: 3/23/2000 Referred to House subcommittee Title: To provide debt relief & reconstruction aid to Mozambique & the other countries severely damaged by the recent flooding in southern Africa.

H.RES.500 Sponsor: Rep Gilman, Benjamin A. (introduced 5/10/2000) Latest Major Action: 6/19/2000 Passed House Title: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives concerning the violence, breakdown of rule of law, and troubled pre-election period in the Republic of Zimbabwe.
S.RES.314 Sponsor: Sen McCain, John introduced 5/25/00 Latest Major Action: 5/25/2000 Referred to Senate committee Title: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate concerning the violence, breakdown of rule of law, and troubled per-election period in the Republic of Zimbabwe.

 H.R.3519 Public Law: 106-264 (8/19/2000) Text, PDF Sponsor: Rep Leach, James A. (introduced 1/24/2000) Latest Major Action: 8/19/2000 Became Public Law No: 106-264. Title: To provide for negotiations for the creation of a trust fund to be administered by the International Bank for Reconstruction & Development of the International Development Association to combat the AIDS epidemic.
H.R.2765 Sponsor: Rep Lee, Barbara introduced 8/5/99 Latest Major Action: 8/5/1999 Referred to House committee Title: To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to establish a program to provide assistance for HIV/AIDS research, prevention, and treatment activities in Africa.
H.R.5085 Sponsor: Rep Sanders, Bernard introduced 7/27/00 Latest Major Action: 8/16/2000 Referred to House subcommittee Title: To reduce the long-term lending activities of the IMF & its role in developing countries, and for other purposes.
H.RES.431 Sponsor: Rep Meeks, Gregory W. introduced 3/8/00 Latest Major Action: 3/14/2000 Passed House Title: Expressing support for humanitarian assistance to the Republic of Mozambique. 		H.R.2700 Sponsor: Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. introduced 8/4/99 Latest Major Action: 9/1/1999 Referred to House subcommittee Title: To require that United States supported clinical research that is conducted in sub-Saharan African countries be conducted in accordance with the most protective ethical standards regarding the use of human research subjects, and to prohibit the revocation or revision of intellectual property or competition laws or policies of sub-Saharan African countries that are designed to promote access to pharmaceuticals or other medical technologies.
H.R.772 Sponsor: Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. introduced 2/23/99 Latest Major Action: 3/18/1999 Referred to House subcommittee Title: To authorize a new trade, investment, and development policy for sub-Saharan Africa that is mutually beneficial to the majority of people in sub-Saharan Africa & the United States.
funding
H.R.434 (Major Legislation) Public Law: 106-200 (5/18/2000) Text, PDF Sponsor: Rep Crane, Philip M. (introduced 2/2/1999) Related Bills: H.RES.250, H.RES.488, H.RES.489, S.CON.RES.112, S.1387 Latest Major Action: 5/18/2000 Became Public Law No: 106-200. Title: An act to authorize a new trade & investment policy for sub-Sahara Africa, expand trade benefits to the countries in the Caribbean Basin, renew the generalized system of preferences, and reauthorize the trade adjustment assistance programs.
S.666 Sponsor: Sen Lugar, Richard G. introduced 3/18/99 Latest Major Action: 3/18/1999 Referred to Senate committee Title: A bill to authorize a new trade & investment policy for sub-Saharan Africa.
H.R.2489 Sponsor: Rep Crane, Philip M. (introduced 7/13/1999) Latest Major Action: 8/6/1999 Referred to House subcommittee Title: To authorize a new trade & investment policy for sub-Sahara Africa.

H.R.4811 (Major Legislation) Sponsor: Rep Callahan, Sonny (introduced 7/10/2000) Related Bills: H.RES.546, S.2522 Latest Major Action: 7/18/2000 Resolving differences / Conference -- Senate actions Title: Making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, and for other purposes.
S.1387 Sponsor: Sen Roth, William V., Jr. (introduced 7/16/1999) Related Bills: H.R.434 Latest Major Action: 7/16/1999 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 212. Title: An original bill to extend certain trade preferences to sub-Saharan African countries



New York   Southern African foreign ministers have expressed deep opposition to proposed US legislation to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe if democratic reforms & changes to a controversial land reform program are not implemented. In a meeting here with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the foreign ministers from the 14 members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said the bill would not achieve its aim and that it sought to impose an American solution to Zimbabwe's problems. … "Several ministers spoke out on the reasons they opposed the bill, saying they thought it would be counterproductive to the cause of democracy in Zimbabwe," a senior State Department official said after the meeting.
Albright told the ministers … the White House & State Department "share the goals of the bill to support democracy and consensual land reform in Zimbabwe," the official said, adding that Albright did, however, express some reservations about the sanctions the law could impose. "We are not keen on the issue of sanctions and we would have to consider their views and consider our position as we try to work with Congress on this bill," the official said. … In a statement released after a meeting in Namibia in August, 14 SADC heads of state vowed to fight the Zimbabwe 2000 Democracy legislation, calling it "punitive," "counterproductive" & "unjust." HARARE (AFP)   Zimbabwe is seeking support from the regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) to ward off threatened US sanctions that would bar aid & debt relief, press reports said Friday. Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge left for Windhoek on Thursday ahead of a SADC summit this weekend to urge his SADC counterparts to oppose pending US legislation aimed at punishing the Zimbabwe govt for failing to curb lawlessness hurting the white farming community & opposition supporters. Known as the Zimbabwe 2000 Democracy Act, the bill would also instruct US executive directors of the multinational lending institutions to oppose credits to Zimbabwe. It was passed by the US Senate in June and is now before two committees in the House of Representatives, currently in recess. The ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) on Thursday introduced a motion in the new parliament seeking bipartisan support for a condemnation of the draft law but met with resistance from the new opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
ZANU-PF MP Eddison Zvogbo called the bill a "vicious assault upon our common nationhood." The proposed legislation cites "deliberate & systematic violence, intimidation and killings ... orchestrated & supported by the govt of Zimbabwe & the ruling ZANU-PF party against ... the democratic opposition, farmers and employees." Among other measures, the legislation would authorize funds to finance individuals & organizations challenging electoral outcomes.

The opposition MDC, which won 57 seats in June's parliamentary elections, has mounted a legal challenge to 39 of the 62 seats won by ZANU-PF on the grounds of irregularities during the polling as well as pre-election violence & intimidation of MDC supporters. In effect, this would require the Zimbabwe govt to reverse the forcible acquisition of hundreds of white-owned farms this year after President Robert Mugabe invoked presidential powers to enable the seizures without paying compensation to the owners. Mudenge told the Zimbabwe Independent weekly published Friday: "The Americans want to recolonize Africa and make Zimbabwe their protectorate. ... That is outrageous." Mugabe on Thursday vehemently opposed offers of aid conditioned on a restoration of the rule of law or a review of his land reform policies, saying: "The donors can stay with their money if their condition is that that money can only come if we give up the demand on land we are pursuing."

Situation in Zimbabwe
I first visited Zimbabwe some 33 years ago, at about the time when the national liberation war against minority rule was getting started. I've been there many times since then. Shortly after independence in 1980 there were other bloody episodes as the governing ZANU-PF party consolidated its rule, using foreign troops to smash the power base of another, rival political party. While the country's political life has featured the trappings of democratic practice, the reality of its elections has frequently included the arbitrary use of official power, an uneven playing field for opposition candidates, and the occasional resort to tactics of intimidation.

But until the late 1990s, these practices remained within certain limits. Gradually, it seemed that a semblance of tranquility & decency came to Zimbabwe. This may have been due, in part, to the fact that until recently Zimbabweans have not been in a position to mount a serious challenge to the de facto one-party rule they have lived under for the past 20 years (a situation reflected in the parliament where ZANU-PF controls all but 3 seats out of 150). The situation today is quite different. I said earlier that it is dramatic: we are some 10 days away from one of the most important elections in modern African history. Opposition candidates will run in all 120 open constituencies. Hundreds if not thousands of local & foreign observers will be watching.

The upcoming election will take place against a backdrop of govt-sanctioned & sponsored violence directed against farm workers (that is rural African voters), farm owners, and opposition leaders in which there have been some 28 deaths and a widespread pattern of brutal intimidation by so-called "veterans" of the struggle for majority rule. The situation is so severe that one stands in awe of the sheer courage & conviction of unarmed oppositionists who have the guts to stand up to a regime which increasingly lives by the gun. These impressive leaders have come together from a wide range of backgrounds--the free trade union movement, the law, journalism, grass roots human rights advocacy, women's groups, united in the belief that it is possible for Zimbabwe to have peaceful, democratic political change. Yet, as Amnesty International has reminded us in recent days, there is "a pervasive atmosphere of fear & intimidation which in turn is hampering the rights to freedom of assembly, association, movement & expression"; the National Democratic Institute has declared that conditions for a credible democratic election do not now exist.

Zimbabwe's industrial & commercial farming sectors have, until recently, been a source of regional dynamism, making the country a significant commodity & food exporter and a key economic partner for all its neighbors, including South Africa. Zimbabwe's political leadership which has been in power since 1980 also had a record of some accomplishment, at least until recently. While economic growth has been uneven during these 20 years and the govt has never been what we would call "market friendly," there was a pragmatic streak to govt policies in the political & economic arena. We are talking, after all, about the second most important economy in the subregion, a pivot for regional integration & development, and a nation whose institutions have at times played an important & constructive regional role. Sadly, those legacies have gone out the window. Zimbabwe's policies of pragmatism, reconciliation and regional cooperation have been replaced by the politics of greedy adventurism in the region,--most notably, of course, in the Congo, and the politics of envy & racial scapegoating at home.
The problem is not land ownership or colonial legacies or the continuing place of whites in the agricultural economy. The problem is that Mugabe & his key associates (more below) fear losing power in a democratic election in which their adversaries are fellow black Zimbabweans. Everything else is a pure & simple cover story, the playing of race cards by an embattled regime. This is not the way Robert Mugabe began his career as Zimbabwe's first elected leader in 1980 when he sent signals of reconciliation to all his fellow citizens. I have known Robert Mugabe and have met with him on & off over these 20 years. I respect him. He has made substantial contributions to his nation's liberation, its development, and that of the Southern African region. We have often differed on some major issues. But this is a man of substance, intelligence, and deep conviction. It is tragic that his fear of losing power is crowding out those other qualities.

Zimbabwe's intervention in Congo appears based on a mixture of classic state motivations in a power vacuum situation and the motives of an adventurous, greedy & somewhat isolated regime. What are we doing about it?
One press for an open & fair election process but resign ourselves in practice to the likelihood of a stolen or substantially bent outcome. Assuming that violent intimidation and police state tactics work, we could accept that reality and decide to work with it. This would mean actively engaging Mugabe & his team with a conditional strategy, using both stick & carrot to move them back from the edge of their self-destructive orgy. This will not be easy to do and it may not be pretty to watch. The goal, of course, would be to salvage a regionally dangerous situation and move the country's leadership back within the pale of minimally acceptable conduct. However unappealing such a strategy in terms of our political values, this course is strongly to be preferred to one of self-isolating, petulant ostracism which only marginalizes our own voice & influence.

The other choice is to work through all appropriate channels for a change in power in Zimbabwe after a flawed election, resigning ourselves to the likelihood that Zimbabwe is slated to become Africa's Romania and Mugabe its Ceausescu. That regime, it will be recalled, was ended by the actions of the people of Romania, and the same may ultimately happen in Zimbabwe if the recent patterns of official conduct continue. Hence, our role under this approach ought to be maximally discreet & low-key in order to avoid giving the Mugabe regime the sort of external adversary which dying, authoritarian regimes crave in order to stave off their inevitable demise. Under this approach, we would treat Zimbabwe like the pariah it appears almost to want to be, disengage from official relationships and govt-to-govt programming of any sort, and wait for the pressures to mount ... helping where we can without distorting the political equation.
This is a case where the current American penchant for sloppy unilateralism and photo-op foreign policy making needs to be brought under some semblance of control so that we can work effectively with others.


JOHANNESBURG   Mugabe made a rare concession on Monday on his plan to confiscate farms for redistribution to landless blacks, telling one of the country's biggest corporate landowners, Anglo American, that it could keep its properties, state television reported. Anglo American owns a large sugar estate in southern Zimbabwe's Hippo Valley and 50,000 hectares of cattle ranches in western Matebeleland. "We were concerned to notice that in the told us a mistake was made and that agro-industrial estates were not intended to be gazetted for resettlement and that the govt is going to rectify this matter, and that was very encouraging," Oppenheimer told state television. ZIMBABWE is set to run out of beef next year as commercial farmers who own about a quarter of the national herd have embarked on a massive destocking exercise in reponse to the accelerated land resettlement exercise and the pressure from skewed economic fundamentals, the Zimbabwe Independent established this week. JOHANNESBURG   Zimbabwe's 'Financial Gazette' reports that mainly-white commercial farmers have abandoned their softly-softly approach to the govt's seizure of farms. They've unanimously agreed to take President Mugabe to court again over the 3 000 farms gazetted for takeover in the new fast-track land resettlement program. The Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU) last month applied to the High Court & the Supreme Court to order Mugabe, war veterans' leader Chenjerai Hunzvi & Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri to remove self-styled independence war veterans and ZANU-PF supporters from more than 1,600 farms they have occupied since the start of the year.
The CFU later withdrew the applications to appease the govt in the hope that dialogue would precede the fast-track land reform programme. The govt has, however, continued to seize land, targeting more than 3,000 farms for seizure so far to resettle ruling ZANU-PF supporters & landless peasants. The CFU's decision to withdraw litigation against Mugabe & some of his top lieutenants had created a huge rift in the farming community, with most farmers threatening to dump its top leadership at a union congress that began in Harare on Wednesday.

Addressing the congress, CFU director David Hasluck said his union would now challenge the acquisition of 3,000 farms without compensation, as well as the validity of temporary presidential powers used in the process to seize them. Meanwhile, the CFU says the situation on most occupied farms was still tense, with the veterans continuing to cause work stoppages, a development likely to derail farming activities this year. White farmers vow to battle on against Mugabe Zimbabwe's beleaguered union of mostly white commercial farmers is reported to have issued a defiant message to President Robert Mugabe's govt on Wednesday. The union urged members not to give up in the face of state-backed lawlessness.
"Today we are still on the land, limping maybe, but not down and definitely not out," Tim Henwood, president of the Commercial Farmers' Union, told about 450 representatives at an emotionally charged opening of the union's annual congress. At the start of the meeting, the congress observed a one-minute silence for the six farmers murdered during recent violent land grabs. At the meeting, farmers said invaders had launched a new tactic to try to drive farmers off their land by starting dry season veld fires. They said hundreds of thousands of hectares of pasture, crops and forest had been torched in the last 2 weeks.
Henwood added that the lawlessness on commercial farms and Mugabe's land-grab bid "is not only affecting the agricultural industry, it is threatening the future of every Zimbabwean and is guaranteed to bring about the collapse of our nation".

680 properties affected by farm occupations since 6/2000 elections. The extent of the break down of law & order is illustrated in two reported cases of farm invaders retaliating against arrests by lighting veld fires. The damage to grazing through deliberate veld fires country-wide is of extreme concern to the cattle industry. Invaders on Crewkerne Farm in Mutepatepa have threatened farm irrigation workers with axes and have cut the main irrigation pipeline in an attempt to prevent irrigation. The foreman has received a death threat. In Beatrice, a labourer on Bhara Bhara Farm was assaulted after he attempted to recover a water cart that the owner had lent to illegal occupiers.

Wedza continues to be subjected to mass lawlessness, with reports of a car-jacking, widespread theft, fence- cutting and deliberate fires. On Fair Adventure Farm, invaders retaliated to the arrest of poachers by lighting a veld fire. In Bromley / Ruwa farm labourers on Mara Farm assaulted illegal occupiers and were arrested for inciting violence. The invaders have threatened retribution. On Stewartonia Farm in Chegutu / Suri Suri, the owner was threatened by a war veteran with a spear and tractor drivers were told to get out of the lands that they were ridging for tobacco or else the tractors would be burnt.
Also in Chegutu / Suri Suri, the DA is settling 70 settlers on Katawa Farm today in the clear knowledge that this farm has not been conceded. There has been no valuation, no agreement of sale and the farmer has already committed considerable investment to the forthcoming season. There has been serious stock-theft in the Zvishavane area of the Midlands, with 6 bills & 7 head of cattle stolen in the last few days. Successful arrests by the police for previous stocktheft has resulted in deliberate fires.

Soon after a rancher had received assurances from the provincial governor of Masvingo that the Save Conservancy was not identified for resettlement, 20 new invaders moved into the middle of the ranch. There is an increase of invaders in Gona Re Zhou Game Park. No regional reports were received from Manicaland & Matabelelend.
Regional Reports
Mutepatepa: On Crewkerne farm, invaders have threatened the irrigation gang with axes and have cut the main irrigation pipe in an attempt to prevent irrigation. Police have made several arrests. The owner has impounded cattle that have consistently been driven onto wheat fields. The farm foremen has received a death threat via one of his children. Police are investigating.
Mazowe / Concession: Police are now investigating the hut-building, tree-cutting and verbal abuse reported at Amatola Farm. A deliberate fire has burnt out 800 ha on Mazowe Ranch.
Marondera: On Carolina Farm, electrical goods were stolen last night. At Barrowdale Farm, a cow was slaughtered on Tuesday night.
Marondera North: Agritex, DDF and the Governor are expected to start pegging and allocating Rupture Farm.
Beatrice: A labourer on Bhara Bhara Farm was assaulted after he attempted to recover a water cart that the owner had lent to illegal occupiers. Police are investigating. A war vet visited Argyle Farm and warned the owner that they should expect similar treatment to Stoneridge Farm, which has experienced serious work stoppages.
Harare South: The Daily News correctly reported yesterday that the owner of Blackfordby will no longer be farming this farm. The problems at Stoneridge Farm have decreased since field work has been suspended. The harassment on Dunottar Farm continues - there are now about 20 brick houses built in this season's tobacco land & brick-making continues.
Wedza: On Rapako Farm, game fences are being cut & repaired on a daily basis. On Wednesday, illegal occupiers attempted to drive game out of the fence. Trees are being cut for hut building and to sell for firewood. Police in Wedza have told the owner that they cannot react to the tree cutting for hut building but will react to timber being carted off the farm for sale. The arrest of poachers at Fair Adventure Farm on Wednesday triggered a reaction from invaders, who started a veld fire that night. At Nelson Farm, a pump was stolen but recovered. Maize theft was reported from Chakadenga Farm; tagging materials and dip was stolen from Lifton Farm and a borehole motor was stolen from Imire. An extensive veld fire burnt out large portions of Mt Arthur, Mandy, Plymtree and Raleigh farms and affected some neighbouring farms. A white Mazda pick up was car-jacked two days ago from an individual on his way back to his communal area in Wedza.
Enterprise: There are strong suspicions that two fires which broke out last night on Olympus Farm were started deliberately.
Bromley/Ruwa: Some of the farm labourers on Mara Farm assaulted illegal occupiers and were arrested for inciting violence. The invaders have threatened retribution. There have been deliberate fires on Belmont & Luwande farms. Hut building continues and police are not reacting to any reports at all.
Macheke/Virginia: Work stoppages continue in the district.
Mashonaland West (North): Game & fish poaching is rife in the province and there have been numerous veld fires.
Banket: The roof was stolen from a farm store in the area.
Lions Den: Police and Tredar arrested twenty five fish poachers at the Pondoro dam.
Selous: Hut building continues on several properties.
Chakari: On Newbiggin Farm there has been another work stoppage due to war vet interference.
Chegutu / Suri Suri: On Stewartonia Farm the owner was threatened by a war veteran with a spear and tractor drivers were told to get out of the lands that they were ridging or else the tractors would be burnt. On Farnham there has been another pig stolen. On Leny farm there was five hundred metres of four strand fence stolen last night and another impala shot. This property has been conditionally conceded, but no govt valuation has been undertaken. In the meantime, improvements continue to be stolen or vandalised by the invaders. On Tiverton Farm, war veteran Gilbert Moyo continues to occupy the old homestead.
Kadoma / Battlefields: There is severe poaching on Damvuri & Rockbar farms.
Zvishavane: Six bulls were stolen from Zimasco plus another animal and all were slaughtered at Maglass Village. 6 head were also stolen from Kinsale Ranch - one person has been arrested. Stolen cattle have been recovered from the Mziwa District and members of a syndicate have been arrested for receiving stolen cattle. In apparent retribution to the arrest of poachers, 4 veld fires were caused by arson. Charcoal burners are starting fires on ranches as are people clearing land by slash & burn methods. On Kinsale, the owner's son has been unable to return to the property for over 5 weeks due to a death threat.
Masvingo East & Central: On Fomax Dairy, which borders Mucheche Township, 16 000 residential stands have been issued and agricultural stands have been demarcated under the supervision of the DA & Agritex. 20 more invaders have moved on to Beauly Farm and a new invasion took place on Heathcote Farm.
Chiredzi Area: Soon after a rancher had received assurances from the provincial governor that the Save Conservancy was not identified for resettlement, 20 new invaders moved into the middle of the ranch. There is an increase of invaders in Gona Re Zhou Game Park. Veld fires were reported last night on Mukwasi & Hammond Ranches. On Ruware Ranch, a re-inforced game scout patrol has had some success in containing poaching.


 First, African leaders have failed to provide a business-friendly environment. They are revolutionaries whose mission was to destroy colonialism. They are hostile to business in general & foreign investors in particular. They have a deadly attraction for the failed "economics" of 19th century theorists like Karl Marx, and have failed to notice that the "exploited workers" of the capitalist world, like my friend Themba, have become capitalists themselves. Businesses have a difficult time even in stable countries, so Themba & his British friends cannot risk their savings here.
Second, because of the lack of investment, Africans have very little disposable income to purchase anything other than the basics of food, shelter & clothing. Existing capacity is underutilised, so there is no need for further investment in these sectors. In theory, Sadc provides a market of 400 million people, but they are unable to purchase the high-technology consumer goods which are the mainstay of developed economies. There is little point in building a computer manufacturing plant, or something similar, in Zimbabwe. The tiny regional spending power could not justify the investment in a highly mechanised, low-cost manufacturing unit which depends on high sales volumes for its success.
Third, business in a prosperous economy is a partnership between entrepreneurs, financiers & customers. In a subsistence economy like ours, business is a battle between producers & consumers. Our culture has not adapted to the concept of partnership. Our businessmen & women want the gains for themselves alone. It hurts them to be forced to share.
They want sharing to be voluntary and to enhance their esteem by demonstrating their generosity in ostentatious ways. So my friend Themba, and the millions of small savers like him, will continue to play safe and let the other continents exploit their hard-earned savings, leaving Africa to fall further behind. We need to change our ways.
Frequent shifts in policy direction have made economic forecasting a nightmare for researchers in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) has said. The industrial representative body said in its monthly Eco-Flash bulletin to kick start the economy would be taxing. "Economic growth will stagnate further from a minus 1% recorded in 1999," the ZNCC said.
The body said the country's economic solution lay in national reconciliation and the re-establishment of the rule of law, adding that the new parliament should be an opportunity to build upon consultation & dialogue. "These are the vital ingredients to the flourishing of democracy, transparency & accountability, vital aspects whose absence have led to the demise of a once vibrant economy," said ZNCC. The industrial representative body said a short-term solution for the country's ailing economy was necessary to try to woo back donors who had become increasingly frustrated by govt's lack of commitment to economic reform, including land reform.

Eco-Flash said donors were crucial to the country's thirst for foreign currency injections, estimating that the economy needed at least a billion United States dollars to kick-start, otherwise "it is certain to virtually collapse within weeks". ZNCC said for the donors to return, the govt had to start working immediately. "In, particular, there is an immediate need to for a drastic restructuring of govt so as to reign in on excessive expenditure. The restructuring should include trimming of govt ministries to manageable levels, say 16, and the abolition of non-essential posts such as the deputy ministers & provincial governors," said ZNCC.
ZNCC called on the govt to reduce its diplomatic missions abroad which it accused of failing to justify their existence. "Politics of patronage that have characterised the past should no longer be allowed as these have contributed much to the wayward govt expenditures & their horrible consequence over the past 20 years," ZNCC said. The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange has come back to life over the last 2 weeks, with several counters starting to show their resilience, bringing to mind the almost forgotten saying that there are opportunities in every situation. Investors were woken from hibernation, brought on by the offering of early pickings as returns in several stocks heated up.

Several key counters led the way forward as the industrial index headed towards the all time high of 17 600 points achieved in mid-January this year. One has to ask though, with listed companies having to comply with IAS 29, whether the stock exchange is going to inflation-adjust the industrial & mining indices in the same way as changes in equity are calculated? Despite these gains, the industrial index has shown a negative return in real terms since January. Year to date CPI inflation (based on actual to July and estimates for August & September) is 39%, meaning that to derive a positive real return, the industrial index should have gained at least 5 626 points since the beginning of the year, bringing the desired level to 20 052 points! The share market however is volatile, with some counters yielding returns of over 70% or more in one week while others can show a negative return of close to 100% in the same brief period.

... Unusually the main source of the group's income was the contribution from non-interest income. At $491,7m for the six months under review, it was 237% higher than that achieved last year, & accounted for 80% of total income. The main drivers of non-interest income appear to be net profits on investment securities, net dealing income from securities, and net profits earned from dealing in foreign currencies. The investment income is attributed to the bull run on the stock exchange during the first quarter. Interestingly, foreign exchange related income grew by a surprising 195% in an economy facing a catastrophic shortage of foreign currency! NMB has launched its commercial bank in spite of market sentiments indicating that Zimbabwe is now becoming over- banked. In that regard, NMB is placing strong emphasis on a high level of quality service & innovative products, tailor- made for corporate entities and high net worth individuals. So far, branches have been established in Harare & Bulawayo.
Economic conditions in Zimbabwe have, however, recently been particularly difficult. Attributable earnings were significantly down from Pounds601m ($44,9 billion) to Pounds39m ($2,9 billion). By late May National Foods had issued a profit warning outlining several issues that had negatively impacted the group's performance. Farm occupations and fuel shortages as well as the economic environment reduced sales volumes in all divisions with the exception of the general trading division. The good maize harvest and reduced disposable income shifted demand away from refined products to hammermilled & home-grown maize meal. High inflation & the managed Zimbabwe dollar negatively impacted exports with increased import competition in the flour & edible oil divisions.

Probably where the 2 accounting standards differ in principle is where inflation adjusted accounting tends to "reward" companies for being in debt despite the interest charges. This can be seen with National Foods where although the interest paid is slightly higher under inflation-adjusted accounting, there is an $88m monetary adjustment as a result of the gain in purchasing power from net liabilities exceeding monetary assets. However, when depreciation changes are subtracted from the operating profit, inflation adjusted accounting charges are doubled in the case of National Foods, more than outweighing any monetary gain from being indebted. Just how investors read this new standard of accounting is uncertain. Only when all companies comply will it be fully applicable in making valid comparisons.


Congolese President Laurent Kabila has engaged the services of North Korean military instructors to strengthen his army and wean himself from President Mugabe, hitherto his main backer.

Rwanda role in Congo

The ostensible reason why the Office for Serious Economic Offences (OSEO South Africa) swooped on Zimbabwean businessman Billy Rautenbach this week was his alleged economic crimes. But the real purpose of the raid was to remove a central cog in the war machine of Zmb Pres.Mugabe & his Congolese counterpart in the ongoing conflict in DRCongo. A source close to the investigation said the swoop was aimed at curtailing the activities of a mover & shaker in Congo, who is believed to be "bankrolling the war". "When a list of major criminals was drawn up in the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Rautenbach was identified as one of the key sponsors of a war that was not only tearing the region apart but also having a detrimental effect on the South African economy," the source said. "That is why he was included on the priority list." The source was referring to a shortlist of 20 alleged organised criminals drawn up by the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions earlier this year in consulation with President Thabo Mbeki.
S.African officials reportedly seized three truckloads of documents from Rautenbach's Johannesburg mansion in the raid last Thursday. The papers detail the tangled activities of about 150 companies controlled by Rautenbach, 50 of them registered offshore in the Virgin Islands. Approximately a third of Rautenbach's companies are registered in the name of his cousin Helgaard Muller Rautenbach, others in the name of his aunt, Elsa Walkinshaw. As chair of Congolese parastatal mining group Gecamines and the major operator in a cobalt & copper mining enterprise in Katanaga, Rautenbach has been accused of siphoning off profits from huge quantities of cobalt & copper to fund the involvement of the Zimbabwean army in the year-long conflict in Africa's third-largest country.

Rautenbach was appointed as head of Gecamines in September 1998 in a deal whereby, it is alleged, Gecamines's copper & cobalt would be used to underwrite & guarantee Zimbabwe's military involvement in the Congo war. His appointment was apparently made as a result of intense pressure from the Zimbabwean govt, notably its Minister of Justice, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Rautenbach denies being backed by, or in partnership with, the Zimbabwean govt. However, attempting to reassure the International Monetary Fund & the World Bank that the Congo war was not bankrupting the Zimbabwean economy, govt officials admitted last month that the country was being reimbursed, through mining concessions & partnerships, and other business opportunities, by the Laurent Kabila govt.
The Zimbabweans revealed that a consortium of govt ministers & military commanders, operating as Osleg Private Limited, has been set up to deal in diamonds & gold in Congo, to generate revenue for Zimbabwe's military adventures. Named as the man at the centre of the deal is Mnangagwa, who was also allegedly the architect of Rautenbach's ascendancy in Congolese mining. Mnangagwa is widely tipped as the heir apparent to Mugabe. Zimbabwe currently has between 11 000 & 13 000 troops in Congo (a third of its army) at a cost of $30-million per month.

Rautenbach's mining concession in Katanga is held via a company called Ridgepointe Overseas. In terms of agreements struck with the Congolese authorities in 1998, Ridgepointe would take 80% of profits from the mine, and the Congolese govt 20%. This could have changed recently, with sources putting Ridgepointe's slice of the Katanga pie as low as 35% in terms of an adjusted contract. According to the Wall Street Journal, Ridgepointe was represented in meetings setting up the original mining deal by Rautenbach & Mnangagwa. The signature of Congo's Minister of State, Victor Mpoyo, a close advisor of Kabila, is one of those appearing for Ridgepointe on contracts formalising the deal. This has fuelled speculation that the company, registered offshore in the Virgin Islands, represents a joint kleptocratic venture, where the resources of Congo were siphoned off into the private accounts of senior Zimbabwean and Congolese politicians & their associates.
It was a deal that went sour in recent months, as Rautenbach failed to live up to his promise of turning the Gecamines operation around within six months. Only days before the OSEO raid, Rautenbach was replaced as Gecamines chief by Belgian mining operator George Forrest. His removal came amid claims by Gecamines executives that it was difficult to distinguish between Ridgepointe & Gecamines in Rautenbach's books. There were also allegations that six cobalt-bearing trucks belonging to his transport company had disappeared. This was apparently one of the spurs to the presidential decree which fired Rautenbach from Gecamines.

According to Africa Energy & Mining, Rautenbach was forced to sell shares in South Africa in June to cover revenues of $10-million owed to Kabila's govt for mining partnerships. Kabila was apparently in urgent need of the money to pay for the deployment of Angolan troops in Kananga & Mbuji Mayi. The investigations into Rautenbach's activities centre on allegations of fraud & theft. Among other things, Rautenbach is alleged to have been guilty of "double discounting" -- using lines of credit opened up by banks as though they were assets in order to raise additional loans from other banks.


3.27.99   From: talkafrica (Geoff Hill)
I can't think of any country that hasn't been taken over. But I think my country, Zimbabwe, must be close to a record for battles & invasions. The original inhabitants were buehman or San aborigines - short, caramel-coloured people who hunted & moved around. They painted on the walls of caves - and those ancient paintings can still be seen in Zimbabwe. The black Shona people came from the north about a thousand years ago and forced out the San who are now extinct. Five hundred years ago, the Portuguese & Arabs plundered Zimbabwe for slaves & gold. Then in 1840, the Matabele (Zulu) people invaded from the south, killing thousands of Shona.
The white colonists arrived in 1890 and fought with both the Shona & Matabele before settling the country which they called Rhodesia and made it a British colony. The white colonists rebelled against the British in 1965 and were only the second people in history to declared themselves independent from London (the first was the USA in 1776). Finally, after a civil war from 1972 to 1980, the country found peace and was renamed Zimbabwe.
My country's names have been Agasymba (San), Monomatapa (Shona), Gubulawayo (Matabele), Southern Rhodesia (Colonists), Rhodesia (Rebels 1965-79 ), Zimbabwe (since 1979 interim govt)

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