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SW Radio Africa News Stories for 22 November 2007

admin — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:00:47 +0000

NCA activists try to ambush Mbeki entourage
By Lance Guma
22 November 2007

Over 400 activists from the National Constitutional Assembly took to the streets of Harare for the second day in a row, protesting constitutional Amendment 18. On the day South African president Thabo Mbeki arrived in the country riot police reportedly moved swiftly to disperse the protestors.

The marchers led by chairperson Lovemore Madhuku had wanted to march near Mbeki’s motorcade and denounce the compromise agreement between Zanu PF and the MDC which led to the bill that harmonised elections.

An NCA statement said their members arrived at the main post office from the Copacabana bus terminus, when Mbeki was less than 400 metres away along Julius Nyerere Way. The group say they whistled and chanted songs denouncing the constitution making process, including Amendment 18. No arrests were made on Thursday in stark contrast to Wednesday when 5 were arrested and 7 injured in skirmishes.

A defiant Madhuku said, ‘As long as Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (Number 18) Act is there, we will continue to show our displeasure over it. We want this Act repealed and then have a people-driven and democratic constitution.’

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New health report on Zimbabwe paints bleak picture
By Tererai Karimakwenda
19 November, 2007

A recent report by the International Federation of Health and Human Rights Organisations, has revealed the tragic extent to which Zimbabwe’s health sector has deteriorated. Representatives from 24 countries met at the group’s annual meeting in Harare October and looked at ways to attain a high standard of health in Zimbabwe and the rest of the world.

Given the worsening political, economic and human rights crisis in the country, it is not surprising that they raised serious concerns about human rights abuses and linked the economy to the destruction of the health infrastructure and declining access to medical care for most Zimbabweans.

The representatives heard presentations and met with community members and health providers in both public and private sectors and non-governmental organizations. Also participating at the event were the Zimbabwe Medical Association, the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare and the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights, who hosted the event.

The report compiled after the meeting concluded that the people in Zimbabwe are suffering from the effects of widespread poverty and deprivation. This has created high rates of malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/Aids, a very high maternal mortality rate and many infectious diseases. State-sponsored violence also featured in the report. It said there were more than 1200 cases of unlawful arrests and detentions by police, military and security forces between January and August of 2007. 750 assaults and more than 500 instances of torture inflicted by the government were documented.

Food shortages and poor salaries are also depriving people of access to health care. Salaries for civil servants, including teachers, nurses, and doctors in the public sector,have dropped to less than US$20 a month. There were stories about nurses who sleep in the parks because they could not afford to pay for transport to work. Qualified medical staff continue to leave the country in large numbers.

The report said the lack of safe drinking water and constant power cuts contribute to the health crisis. The blood bank in Harare had to destroy its entire supply when power outages affected their refrigeration. The participants heard of one young woman in labour, who died at Harare Hospital after arriving to find there was no power, no water and no doctor. The report confirmed cases of dysentery in all suburbs of Harare. Unsafe water has increased the risk of diarrhoeal diseases. Also of great concern were the long waiting lists reported for anti-retroviral treatment.

Operation Murambatsvina, the government’s so-called clean up exercise which displaced nearly a million people, featured large at the conference. The report said the victims have received no form of justice or compensation. Many still sleep in the open, even during the rainy season which is approaching. Displaced individuals who are living with HIV/AIDS had their treatment disrupted and may develop strains resistant to their usual medication.

The health organisations urged the government of Zimbabwe to stop the use of violence, respect freedom of expression, fulfil the right to health for all members of the community, provide quality training of health professionals and ensure sustainable agricultural production.

They called upon regional and world leaders and their governments to condemn the actions of the government of Zimbabwe that violate the human rights of their citizens, and ensure that claims of sovereignty are not used as an excuse for escaping accountability for imposing suffering on the people.

The full report can be found on our website at www.swradioafrica.com

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Malawi faces grain shortages after giving Mugabe maize
By Henry Makiwa
22 November 2007

Malawi faces severe food shortages after the government of President Bingu wa Mutharika gave thousands of tonnes of maize to the Mugabe regime, which are yet to be paid for.

Our investigations reveal that maize has become scarce on the Malawian market and where it can be found, prices have increased three-fold despite last year’s good crop yield. Last year Malawi declared a bumper harvest but now people are angry with Mutharika for emptying the country’s grain reserves by giving the food to Zimbabwe.

But grain shortages have brought increases in maize prices. A 50 kilogram bag of maize has shot up in price from 600 kwacha ($US 4) to
2 800 kwacha ($US 17) in the past two months.

Details of the maize deal are shrouded in secrecy, as Zimbabwe is not listed on the debtors’ records of the body responsible for grain provisions, the Malawi National Food Reserves Agency. This is despite obvious evidence that grain was exported to Zimbabwe.

The development has sown much public resentment for Mutharika, after further revelations that he was secretly supplying fuel to Mugabe. The fuel deal has reportedly led to severe diesel shortages in the midlands and northern parts of Malawi. The price of fuel has also recently risen by 20% with subsequent similar increases in public transport fares.
Most of Malawi’s 11.9 million people earn less than $US 1 a day.

Public opinion is swelling against Mutharika, after revelations that oil tankers destined for Malawi are being diverted to Zimbabwe in a top-level deal between the two leaders. The arrangement is meant to provide a cushion to Zimbabwe’s acute fuel shortages. Mugabe’s poor economic and political policies have meant that the country faces serious food and fuel shortages.

Kamlepo Kalua of the Malawi Demcratic Party accused Mutharika of jeopardising the welfare of his countryman in support of the tyrannical dictatorship of Mugabe.

Kalua said: “If all the progressive forces of democracy in the world are opposing Mugabe’s corrupt governance, abuse of power and disregard of human rights, what duty is it for a poor little country like Malawi to support him.

“The people here are starving and suffering from fuel shortages because their leader has taken it upon himself to aid a pariah state. We are obviously angry especially because this is being done in secrecy without the knowledge of parliament or the public at large, so the people need answers from Mutharika.”

Mutharika’s late wife was Zimbabwean and the couple owned a farm in Zimbabwe. A known ally of Mugabe, Mutharika launched an anti-corruption drive when he came into power in 2004 but the opposition in Malawi now accuse him of being as crooked as Bakili Muluzi and Kamuzu Banda before him.

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Mbeki flies into Harare to attempt to revive stalled negotiations
By Tichaona Sibanda
22 November 2007

South African President Thabo Mbeki flew into Harare Thursday on a mission to break the stalemate surrounding the SADC sponsored talks between the MDC and Zanu PF.

MDC Secretary for International Affairs Professor Elphas Mukonoweshuro confirmed that Mbeki plunged directly into the negotiations by heading straight into consultations with the political leadership in the country, both from Zanu-PF and the two factions of the MDC.

Mukonoweshuro said Mbeki’s visit was part of an attempt to provide a kiss of life to the seemingly endless mediation talks. Amid concern that only weeks are left to save the talks, the MDC chief of Foreign Affairs told us he believed Mbeki’s stopover mission was to put pressure on the main protagonists to settle their differences, before he headed off to the Commonwealth summit in Uganda.
Despite intense negotiations in the last month, the negotiators from both parties have failed to reach a concrete outcome on electoral rules, security legislation, and the overall political climate.

With pressure mounting on Mbeki to push the two sides to reach a settlement before next month, the negotiating teams now have a matter of weeks to agree on the modalities that would meet the standards required for a free and fair election in 2008.
Later at a press conference Mbeki said he was confident the mediation efforts between Zanu-PF and the MDC would produce a solution to the country’s political crisis.

He said the talks went well despite the differences between the two parties. Tendai Biti the secretary-general of the Tsvangirai MDC said they told Mbeki Zanu-PF were not serious in coming up with a solution to the country’s crisis.
In a separate press conference Biti said; ‘We told him Zanu-PF is in denial about the need for change in the country and that they have not bothered to reign in their supporters in so far as violence is concerned.’

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai revealed in Kampala, Uganda on Wednesday that the talks had stalled over the ruling party’s reluctance to repeal repressive laws like POSA and AIPPA. The opposition in turn threatened that its participation in next year’s elections would be subject to the repealing and implementation of key agreements concerning the voters’ roll and the reform of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

Other key demands by the opposition include international monitoring and observation of the elections by SADC, the African Union and the United Nations and a transparent delimitation exercise of all constituencies.
The SADC process, already five months behind schedule because of the continued intransigence of the Zanu-PF negotiators, has forced the South African President to become directly engaged in the talks.

Eddie Cross, the MDC’s policy co-coordinator, believes Mbeki is anxious to try and get a final agreement before the European Union-Africa Summit in Lisbon, Portugal next month. Sources say Mbeki wants to attend the December EU-Africa with a comprehensive and positive report on the talks.
‘This is a very strategic moment in the whole process, any further delays will put the March election date in jeopardy,’ Cross said.

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UK tribunal to decide fate of failed asylum seekers
By Lance Guma
22 November 2007

The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in the UK will on Friday decide the fate of thousands of failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers who argue they risk persecution if deported back home. A temporary ban on deportations is in place, pending finalisation of the case which has dragged on for a long time. Initially called the AA test case the matter has now been renamed HS following on the initials of a new applicant. The only deportations taking place are targeting those who have over-stayed their visas, plus failed asylum seekers on voluntary return schemes and people who entered the country using foreign passports.

Rumbidzai Bvunzawabaya, an immigration lawyer with RBM solicitors, told our Behind the Headlines program that the tribunal will look at the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe since last summer and use that to deal with the refugee status of Zimbabweans. The circumstances surrounding HS and his case are considered more appropriate for use as a test case. This is because the initial AA case involved old country guidance criteria and events in Zimbabwe have since changed. In September this year judgment in the long running matter was reserved, adding to the frustration of countless appeals and counter-appeals by both the UK Home Office and the applicants.

Any judgment on Friday will determine new country guidance criteria for Zimbabwe and will be used to assess the vulnerability of deported failed asylum seekers. The UK Home Office has argued against blanket immunity for everyone, saying it should be allowed to decide each case on its own merits. Campaigners however say returnees, irrespective of background, are classed as agents of regime change and face possible arrest, torture and other forms of ill treatment.
Meanwhile the body of asylum seeker Adonis Musati is still stuck in South Africa. The former policeman died of hunger after spending 5 months in Cape Town trying to appeal to the Home Affairs Department for asylum. Most of that time was spent in a queue. His friends and relatives now need to raise over 19 000 rand in order to repatriate his body back to Zimbabwe. His death was covered extensively by the South African media but observers say despite the shock felt by many people over the welfare of asylum seekers not much has changed. Many have nothing more than a piece of cardboard as a shield as they queue in all weathers, sleeping on the ground and desperate not to lose their place in the endless queues that hardly move.
NB: For the full interview between Lance Guma and Rumbidzai Bvunzawabaya tune in to Thursday’s Behind the Headlines programme.

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Behind the Headlines Promo
As thousands of failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers await the determination of the AA (now called HS case) by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in the UK this week, Lance Guma speaks to immigration lawyer Rumbidzi Bvunzawabaya and asks what the implications of the case are. A solicitor with RBM Solicitors in Coventry (UK) Bvunzawabaya answers the questions raised by concerned Zimbabweans.

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Callback
Mandisa chats to Chipo, a young Zimbabwean woman who discusses the difficulties of day-to-day life for young people, especially young women. She describes how some young women are being forced to rely on sexual favours to survive.

Then John catches up with Manu who chats about the ill-preparedness of government to plan for successive drought seasons, and the disturbing indication that some of this may have been deliberate, as punishment against perceived pockets of opposition. This comes at a time when the rains may have started falling, but it is still very sporadic.

Richard - SW Radio Africa
+44 0208 3871417
http://www.swradioafrica.com

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SW Radio Africa News Stories for 21 November 2007

admin — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:49:35 +0000

Corruption and economic crisis mar voter registration
By Henry Makiwa
21 November 2007

Rampant corruption and the economic crisis hampered the much-vaunted mobile voters’ registration exercise, an independent electoral body has said. The latest report by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) points to numerous discrepancies in the registration process, heightening doubts over the transparency of next year’s crucial elections.

According to findings of a ZESN report that came out Wednesday, chances of a free and fair election under prevailing conditions in the country are slim.

Chief among the disparities identified by ZESN are allegations that registration officials were demanding bribes from the rural poor before recording them on the voters roll. The report attributes the corrupt practices of the officials to the low allowances the registrars receive.

The report also notes that the country’s general economic crisis, characterised by power outages and fuel shortages, also affected the mobile voter registration process. In addition findings of the ‘Mop-up Mobile Voter Registration Report’ state that posters advertising the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission were barely seen in public areas.

ZESN head Noel Kututwa said most people did not participate in the process as lack of publicity and poor selection of the registration centres brought adverse effects.

He said: “Very few people learnt about this process. We observed that the majority of the people were unaware that there was voter registration going on but were aware that national ID cards were being issued. There was little enthusiasm in the people to register as voters and most of them instead appeared content only to get the ID cards.

“The government should ensure that adequate resources are set aside for such an exercise. There is also a need to conduct a continuous, exhaustive, comprehensive and all-inclusive mobile voter registration exercise to enable all aspiring voters to register.”

The mobile voter registration process was run by the government’s Zimbabwe Electoral Commission between the 26th October and 15th November. The commission has been largely dismissed as an appendage of Zanu PF party, as known ruling party sympathisers presently lead it.

Ian Smith dies
By Tererai Karimakwenda
21 November, 2007

The man who imprisoned Robert Mugabe for 10 years, after defying the British and resisting majority rule in Zimbabwe has died. Ian Smith, who ruled what was then Rhodesia from 1965 to 1979, died in Cape Town aged 88. The word “unrepentant” has featured in most obituaries on his death, and ironically there is consensus that Smith and Mugabe are very much alike.

He declared unilateral independence from Britain and went on to blame the British for what he called interference in Rhodesia’s domestic affairs. Likewise, Mugabe rants against Britain and western powers at every turn. He blames them for the economic mess that exists in Zimbabwe, claiming they are after regime change through sanctions.

Smith imprisoned Mugabe and many others claiming they were terrorists. Members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change have suffered the same fate under Mugabe. Several MDC officials were jailed earlier this year on terrorist charges.

Press censorship, oppressive legislation and selective application of the law also feature in the legacy of both men. Smith said there would never be majority rule in his lifetime. Mugabe has said Zimbabwe will never be a colony again, and so-called Western puppets in the opposition will never rule.

Geoff Hill, writer and correspondent for the Washington Times in South Africa, was the last journalist to see Smith alive, when he visited him in his hospital bed last Friday. He described him as just another African head of State who ruled during an era of tyrants and one-party states. But he singled out Smith for managing the economy better than his peers.

On their similarities, Hill said Smith and Mugabe were both paranoid about British intentions and did not like being challenged from within their own parties. Both used the same brutal tactics and Mugabe adopted legislation used by Smith to maintain his grip on power.

Hill said this should be a warning to Zimbabweans that they should never again inherit leftover pieces of legislation, but instead they should rewrite the Constitution completely.

Hill said he believes Mugabe has become impervious, after the Gukurahundi massacres and the bull dozing of homes and businesses during Murambatsvina, and he would be surprised if he felt any emotion at all over Smith’s death.

Mbeki to meet MDC and Zanu-PF negotiators in Harare
By Tichaona Sibanda
21 November 2007

South African President Thabo Mbeki will fly to Harare on Thursday to meet with the ruling Zanu-PF party and the opposition MDC negotiating teams. He is also expected to brief his counterpart, Robert Mugabe.

A statement from his office said the visit is part of efforts to break a political deadlock between the country’s feuding political parties. Mbeki, who was appointed by regional leaders earlier this year to mediate between the two sides, will be making a stop-over in the capital on his way to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Uganda, Kampala.

A South African based political analyst told Newsreel the visit was a follow-up by Mbeki to the meeting he held last week in Pretoria with the leaders of the divided MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara.

Glen Mpani said it seems Mbeki, with the help of SADC, wants to ensure that his image as the mediator is not blemished by the failure to resolve the Zimbabwe crisis. The ANC leader is reportedly pushing for a negotiated settlement that would give the country an opportunity to show it can hold elections that work.

Mpani argued that the 2008 polls are key to the country’s recovery after the disputed elections in 2002 and 2005 descended into violence that led to the current political and economic crisis.

‘The efforts of the SADC bloc and the support of the international community have afforded Zimbabwe the opportunity to recover,’ saidMpani.

He added that the country’s economy is struggling against powerful headwinds: political mismanagement, corruption, inflation that is out of control, food shortages and a destroyed agriculture sector that used to be the backborne of the economy. These are all likely to intensify, rather than weaken, in the year ahead especially if there is a disputed election.

‘It is really important for Zimbabwe, with the help of SADC and the international community to organise transparent, objective, free and fair elections, and to avoid contestation of results. That is why the international community is keeping a close watch on the mediation talks,’ he said.

There is consensus that Mbeki should not let Zanu-PF dictate the pace, outcome and the implementation of agreements that will come out of the talks. This comes after the ruling party insisted elections be held in March next year, despite overwhelming evidence that opposition parties would not be ready.

Mpani explained that by sticking to March Mugabe and his party want to capitalise on the disunity and internal wrangling currently ravaging the MDC, making it difficult for them to mobilise their resources to fight the well-oiled machinery run by Zanu-PF.

‘Why the ruling party is reluctant to push the elections forward is they will give the opposition ground to regroup and I don’t think they want to face either a united or organised MDC. This is where Mbeki should stand up and be counted. He should not allow any particular party to have pre-conceived ideas that will turn out to be detrimental to the entire country,’ Mpani said.

Seven injured as police crush NCA demo in Harare
By Lance Guma
21 November 2007

The National Constitutional Assembly say 7 of their members were seriously injured on Wednesday after police crushed their demonstration in Harare’s city centre. The group was marching to Parliament in an attempt to denounce constitutional amendment 18 which harmonised presidential and parliamentary elections. Teera Musiya, one of their activists, sustained a deep cut on the head and blood was said to be ‘gushing’ out as he was ferried inside an NCA truck.

Over 300 NCA activists gathered in the city centre, holding up placards criticizing the MDC and Zanu PF for voting together in passing the bill through parliament. An NCA statement said 10 armed riot police rounded them up as soon as they approached Africa Unity Square from the Fourth Street Bus terminus. NCA National Youth Chairperson Alois Dzvairo told Newsreel 5 of their activists were arrested during the commotion. He said they mobilised about 500 activists to demonstrate and these were positioned in groups at various entry points onto Jason Moyo Street.

One by one the groups joined the march until the number reached 300 before the police intervention. The other 200 were not able to join in the march as police fought running battles with the first procession Dzvairo told us. Chairperson Lovemore Madhuku condemned the police action saying, ‘It shows that they act on instructions and they do not reason. This kind of brutality is not acceptable in a country that claims to be a democracy. We will see the intensity of the injured with a view to sue the police.’ In a telephone interview he confirmed that all those arrested have since been released.

Once strategic partners with the MDC, the NCA has since distanced itself from its former ally and accused the party of betraying demands for a new people driven constitution. The MDC say the concessions to Zanu PF were necessary to build confidence in the talks and remain confident the process will deliver the repeal of repressive legislation like POSA and AIPPA amongst other targets.

Tsvangirai reveals talks stalled over freedom of assembly
By Tichaona Sibanda
21 November 2007

MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai revealed on Wednesday that talks between his party and the ruling Zanu-PF party have made progress, but have been held up over the issue of freedom of assembly.

Speaking in Kampala, Uganda ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting that begins on Friday, Tsvangirai said while he was happy the talks had made some ground, the crucial test will come during the implementation phase.

He told journalists that besides the setback on the issue of freedom of assembly, he was nonetheless confident that the agenda set through the South African led mediation would address the fundamental concerns around holding free and fair elections.

Fambai Ngirande, an advocacy officer with the National Association for Non Governmental Organisations, said it was clear Tsvangirai meant Zanu-PF were reluctant to repeal repressive laws such as POSA and AIPPA. Demonstrations in the country are always violently broken up by the police under the cover of these two oppressive pieces of legislation.

Activists are barred from holding consultative or political meetings and authorities in the country have lately cancelled all opposition political rallies, especially in the last two months.

Ngirande, who attended Tsvangirai’s press briefing, said elections in Zimbabwe could never be held under such laws, where people are not allowed to gather as a group.

‘When people talk of Zanu-PF having a big advantage over the opposition, they would be referring to such instances. There is no way the opposition can go into an election with such restrictive laws,’ Ngirande said.

During previous elections in the country, opposition supporters have been tortured and killed by government forces and supporters of the ruling party. The country’s economy is in meltdown, with the highest rate of inflation in the world, and millions have fled abroad.

Reporters Forum Promo
Reporters’ Forum has shaken up its structure to accommodate more divergent views. In addition to the resident panellists Itayi Garande, Brilliant Pongo and Mduduzi Mathuthu, each week we will invite a guest analyst who will bring in a new dimension to the debates. Political commentator Msekiwa Makwanya joins the programme. Issues under the microscope include the death of former Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith and alleged violence in the MDC. The programme ends with the question, where is Professor Arthur Mutambara?

Callback
Nozipho is a young student in Cape Town where he is pursuing a degree in accountancy, explains why he feels he could not carry on his studies in Zimbabwe, and highlights some of the problems facing his counterparts at home. And Mandisa chats to Walter in Botswana who says that xenophobia is still rife there, fuelled by the belief that many Tswana have that Zimbabweans are taking their jobs. He also hopes that by some miracle, next year’s elections will be conducted in an atmosphere free of violence and intimidation.

In Cathy Buckle’s Letter from Zimbabwe she describes the nightmare of living with runaway inflation where “people are being forced to juggle with priorities” to consider what can they do without for another day. Join Lance as he teams up with journalists Mduduzi Mathuthu, Itayi Garande and Brilliant Pongo for Reporters’ Forum. The top stories in the week are previewed and analysed in depth. This is no holds barred commentary where the journalists get the chance to air their views and offer professional assessments of coverage done by other media.

In The Balance this week Tererai talks to Geoff Hill, writer and correspondent for the Washington Times in South Africa, who was the last journalist to interview Ian Smith when he visited him in hospital last Friday. He died in Cape Town on Tuesday, aged 88. Hill said Smith had lost a lot of weight and looked like a shadow of his former self.

Richard - SW Radio Africa
+44 0208 3871417
http://www.swradioafrica.com

SW Radio Africa News Stories for 07 November 2007

admin — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 05:30:31 +0000

Theatre Company takes the police to court
By Henry Makiwa
7 November 2007

One of the leading theatre groups has applied for a court order to bar the police from interfering with its work.

Bulawayo-based Theatre Company, Amakhosi has applied to the High Court seeking the courts to prevent the government and the police from constantly meddling into its work.

In a landmark case, Amakhosi director, Cont Mhlanga wants the courts to specifically stop the police from demanding play scripts or editing such scripts. He also argues that the police should be prohibited from stopping theatre works if they have not been informed of the productions.

Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi, Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri and three Bulawayo-based senior police officers are cited as respondents in the application.

The case was filed on October 31 and is yet to be set down for hearing.

Mhlanga said: “The police and the government seem unaware of the expenses we incur in the course of producing our work. They don’t understand that they are repeatedly denting the confidence of our market by continuously banning our work.

“They simply need to give artists some breathing space and that’s what we want to get with our court order. Let them deal with their political paranoia while we do our work.”

Mhlanga’s latest legal battle comes after the police last month cancelled the premiere of the controversial and provocative political satire titled Overthrown. Police banned the play which information minister, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu intended to watch on the day of its premiere. The police argued that the play attacked Robert Mugabe and was meant to embarrass the veteran Zimbabwean leader.

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Cash shortage worsens despite increase in cheque withdrawal limit
By Henry Makiwa
7 November 2007

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on Tuesday raised the cheque limit that can be accepted for clearing by 150 percent to a maximum Z$500 million in its latest bid to tackle the cash shortages.

The move is the latest in a series of measures by the Zimbabwean authorities to alleviate the cash crisis, which many blame on President Mugabe’s controversial policies.

In his latest attempt to curb the world’s highest inflation, Reserve Bank chief Gideon Gono announced the new measures which analysts and economists swiftly rubbished as cosmetic. The country has been experiencing a widespread cash shortage that the government has attempted to curtail by printing more bank notes to no avail.

Daily cash withdrawals have been limited to Z$20 million for individuals and Z$40 million for companies which, to many, is too little for business.
Proposals by Gono to introduce higher note denominations or introduce a new currency in the past months have been scrapped demonstrating the government’s indecision at addressing the crisis.

Economist Daniel Ndlela said the government had run out of ideas.

He said: “The new cheque limit will not change much because in itself it is very little. It is worth some US$415 on the black market rate and that is what many are using these days. It cannot buy you much if you are a businessman.

“Gono cannot change much until the politics change. The cash shortage is because the deposit base has rapidly declined even when the central bank is disbursing cash into the banking system. We have a situation where deposits are failing to satisfy withdrawals because very little deposits are taking place,” said Ndlela.
Gono has been printing trillions of dollars and pumping them into the manufacturing sector in an effort to revive the supply side of the economy. His intentions, observers have noted, have been to reverse the damage done by the government since June when it imposed price cuts across every economic sector, resulting in the shortage of essential goods, and many company closures.

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Post-mortem results on MDC activist reveal he was also beaten
By Tichaona Sibanda
5 November 2007

A post-mortem carried out by a police pathologist in Bulawayo on the late MDC activist Clemence Takaendesa revealed that his body showed signs of physical beating, his family claimed on Wednesday.

Takaendesa, who will be buried in Gokwe on Thursday, was shot dead last week Wednesday by retired army Brigadier Benjamin Mabenge on his KweKwe farm that he grabbed in 2001. Although the post-mortem confirmed that Takaendesa died from wounds caused by a single gunshot, his family said they were shocked by revelations that he had signs of beatings on his body.

John Mupfura, a family spokesman said they have been able to piece together minute-by-minute events leading to and after the fatal shooting but have not found anything suspicious.

‘We know for sure he was not assaulted before the fatal shooting. We also know that for a while after the shooting there were people next to him tending to his brother who was injured in the same incident. Whatever happened to him, must have been during the period when the now deceased Takaendesa was left on the spot until the following day,’ Mupfura said.

He advised the family would not be drawn to speculate on the post-mortem results amid suggestions Takaendesa may have been ‘finished off’ after surviving the initial shooting.

This theory is seemingly supported by the fact that he was certified dead 16 hours after the shooting. His friends, who left him on the scene of the shooting, may have mistaken him for dead when he may have fallen unconscious and regained it later on.

Meanwhile there are unconfirmed reports that the retired army officer charged with Takaendesa’s murder was granted bail on Tuesday by a Gweru magistrate. Mabenge would be requested to report to the police once every week.

‘If this is true then it confirms our fears that someone high in government will do everything possible to protect him from prosecution,’ Mupfura said.

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Over 90 WOZA activists arrested and released in Tuesday demo
By Lance Guma
07 November 2007

Over 90 activists from women’s pressure group WOZA and its male wing MOZA were arrested on Tuesday in Harare before being released the same day in the evening. The group was protesting over a variety of issues including unaffordable school fees, power and water shortages and escalating state sponsored violence against pro-democracy activists. Human rights lawyer Alec Muchadehama confirmed the arrest of at least 98 activists by lunchtime on the day. The protesters marched from First Street along Nkwame Nkrumah until police intercepted them at the corner of Nelson Mandela and Sam Nujoma avenues.

The protesters held up placards and distributed fliers to motorists and pedestrians in the city centre. Anti-riot police then converged on the marchers and ordered them to sit on the pavement outside Standard Chartered Bank, which is opposite the Anglican Cathedral.
Some of the placards had quotes from Steve Biko, ‘You can put out a candle light, but once the light becomes a blaze it is difficult to extinguish.’

Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa reports that only two protesters a man and a woman were assaulted for protesting alone after their friends had been arrested. The male protester was immediately whisked away with 17 others in a B18 police truck leaving the rest seated. The others who included WOZA leader Jenni Williams walked all the way to Harare Central Police station under the watchful eye of the police. By 1400hrs Aleck Muchadehama a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers For Human Rights was at the station trying to ascertain the condition of the arrested.

In a surprising development however a Chief superintendent Madzingo (Acting Officer Commanding CID Law and order) at Harare Central police station ordered the release of the activists saying they had a right to demonstrate. Madzingo is said to have angrily reprimanded his officers in front of the WOZA/MOZA activists branding them overzealous. Muchadehama also confirmed to Newsreel that Madzingo said the women had genuine grievances, which merited attention. Madzingo however told WOZA leader Jenni Williams to seek permission from the police the next time they intended to protest.

This defence lawyer Muchadehama says is the problem. Under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) political parties are required to seek permission from the police whereas WOZA and its MOZA wing were not a political party. The group has in the past vowed to ignore repressive laws and demonstrate all the same.

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In the Balance
Lawyer Sternford Moyo from the Law Society of Zimbabwe joins guest presenter Tererai Karimakwenda on the programme In The Balance to explain the court case that the Society, along with the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, have brought against the Police and the Minister of Home Affairs. On numerous occasions lawyers have been blocked from seeing their clients by police officials. A group of lawyers was also assaulted by police officers after they tried to deliver a petition at parliament. Because the case is still subjudice, Mr Moyo was not at liberty to give too much detail, but you can the hear the basics In The Balance.

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Reporters’ Forum Promo
With Itayi Garande and Mduduzi Mathuthu locked in various engagements this week, Lance Guma looks at the top stories in the week with journalist Brilliant Pongo on Reporters’ Forum. The forum looks at the murder of an MDC activist in Kwekwe, the reported postponement of elections next year from March to June and the flopped show by reggae artist Luciano. Government was banking on Luciano’s backing of its controversial land reform programme to try and pull off a propaganda coup. In the end they were left with egg on their face.

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Richard - SW Radio Africa
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