Saturday, March 19, 2011

Col Panji endorses Sata for President

Col Panji endorses Sata for President
By Misheck Wangwe
Sat 19 Mar. 2011, 04:02 CAT

COLONEL Panji Kaunda yesterday said that although he is a UPND member, he will support Michael Sata and the PF in this year's elections.

Speaking on Radio Phoenix's Let the People Talk programme, Col Panji said the situation on the ground was showing that PF leader Sata had a greater chance of winning the elections than UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema. He said he would campaign for Sata in this year's elections despite being a UPND member because he was being realistic.

Col Panji said it would be difficult to uproot the MMD government from power if the opposition did not unite in supporting Sata who is more popular.

He said Sata was a mature leader who could lead the country to prosperity.

“We should not attach emotions and political affiliations. Let's rise above party lines, put our interests aside and support Sata. The way things are on the ground is that Sata is more popular,” Col Panji said.

“My mathematics show that he (Sata) may fall short of some votes. That's why it will be important for the people who are saying they are neutral to vote for him so that he can have the required numbers.”

Col Panji said he knew that the PF-UPND pact would not work because it was driven by the people while its leaders failed to agree on who could lead the Pact.

He said the most contentious issue in the Pact was nothing but the presidency but that Sata would have led the Pact. Col Panji said all well-meaning Zambians should rally behind Sata with or without the Pact. He said Sata's age did not take away anything from him but made him to become a wise leader. He said Zambians should change government this year because President Rupiah Banda had failed the country.

He said President Banda lost it the time he started associating himself with corrupt people like former president Frederick Chiluba who plundered national resources.

“The day he embraced Chiluba is the day I lost confidence in him. I drew the line between Rupiah Banda and I the time he embraced corruption and thieves,” Col Panji said. “That's why we need to unite if we are to uproot the MMD from power because they have the machinery and it is a fact that the ruling party tampers with elections.”

Col Panji said the opposition parties had continued to lose elections because they split votes.

“I believe in my principles and we are not doing this for our own benefit but for the future of the country and our children. What happened in 2008 when the votes were split should not be repeated because Zambians want change,” he said.

And responding to one of the callers who accused him of supporting Sata because he wanted a ministerial position, Col Panji said he was not interested in any position.

He said time for him to be in government or to become a parliamentarian had passed. Col Panji said he was interested in securing the future of the country.

And commenting on the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT), Col Panji said the exercise was about enhancing transparency in the electoral process.

He said PVT was important because it was clear that government had a tendency of manipulating votes.

"We know that the MMD would do anything to retain power. That's why we need PVT for transparency," said Col Panji.

Labels: , , , ,


Read more...

Kunda defends Chiluba

Kunda defends Chiluba
By Mutale Kapekele and Kombe Chimpinde
Sat 19 Mar. 2011, 04:00 CAT

Vice-President George Kunda says the Task Force on Corruption misled the government into believing that former president Frederick Chiluba had hidden assets abroad.

Vice-President Kunda told Parliament on Thursday that Zambia spent a lot of money searching for Chiluba's assets outside the country based on alleged false information from the Task Force on Corruption.

He was responding to a question from PF Roan member of parliament Chishimba Kambwili who wanted to know how the Attorney General intended to proceed with the registration of the London High Court judgment in the case of Chiluba and others.

He said although the government managed to recover some assets from Chiluba's co-accused, there were no assets abroad that belonged to the former president.

“We received instructions from the Taskforce that the defendants had assets outside the country and we engaged asset trackers to find them. We also obtained a worldwide asset freeze. We received some assets as a result which included some blocks of flats which belonged to some of the defendants but there was nothing for the person you are interested in (Chiluba),” Vice-President Kunda said.

“If you have any evidence to the contrary, you can still bring it forward. We have done what we can but the information from the Taskforce (on Chiluba's assets) was not correct. To date we have not recovered anything and in your PF camp, you believe that he is innocent. You welcomed him at the airport. The courts of law also found him innocent. We were wrong, that's it. I can confirm that we failed to recover anything. We carried out diligent searches, nothing!”

Vice-President Kunda also explained that the refusal by the High Court of Zambia to register the London judgement means that it could not be enforced in Zambia.

“As the judgement remains in force in the United Kingdom, it will be enforced in the United Kingdom as and when any of the defendant's assets are traced.”

Vice-President Kunda also told Parliament that the government had no intentions of tabling Chiluba's immunity before the House adding that the issue was catered for in the new constitution.

Chiluba's presidential immunity was stripped off to pave way for investigations for alleged theft of public funds.

Labels: ,


Read more...

Kunda is a defender of criminals and corruption

Kunda is a defender of criminals and corruption
By The Post
Sat 19 Mar. 2011, 04:00 CAT

Who can George Kunda fool on the issue of Frederick Chiluba’s corruption and corruption in general in this country? George has been a defender of corruption and corrupt elements, and of everything that is wrong.

It does not surprise us that today George can stand up to tell the Zambian people that they were wrong about Chiluba’s corruption. It is this same George who, up to this day, has failed to justify his foolish defence of Kashiwa Bulaya’s corruption.

It was George who told his boss then, Levy Mwanawasa, that Bulaya was innocent and that the Task Force was wrong to prosecute him for corruption.

George put up a spirited fight to defend this criminal. George was even prepared to break the Constitution in order to achieve this evil goal.

This is why to this day, George has failed to tell the nation what was contained in the opinion of the then acting Director of Public Prosecutions Caroline Sokoni.

When he accused this newspaper of misleading the nation on Bulaya’s fraudulently obtained nolle prosequi which his hand-picked Director of Public Prosecutions Chalwe Mchenga signed, George even released classified government documents to try and cheat the nation.

Conveniently, he left out one letter which was key to understanding his criminal scheme; this is what came to be known as ‘Sokoni’s letter’.

To this day, George does not have the courage to show the public what was contained in that letter.

This is the character who today is trying to launder Chiluba, claiming that he is innocent.

He forgets that there is a judgment passed in the United Kingdom which found Chiluba liable of embezzling government funds.

If Chiluba is as innocent as George will now have us believe, why did an independent court find him guilty?

We are not surprised that George continues his attempt to malign the decent and honest work of all those officers and other distinguished citizens who served in the Task Force.

And some of these officers are still in service in our intelligence services, Anti Corruption Commission, Drug Enforcement Commission, Zambia Police and other public service institutions. George cannot insult them in this careless and uncaring way.

These are honest people, more honest than George himself, who have served our country with sufficient honour and integrity.

We know that throughout this process, George was on the side of the corrupt and of corruption.

The case of Bulaya is not the only example of George defending the corrupt and corruption.

Maybe this is why Rupiah has found him so useful.

He seems to have no scruples about defending criminals, corruption and everything that is wrong.

We do not think it will be very long before we all begin to understand why George is so determined to defend corruption.

It is not normal for a person who is otherwise honest in his life to so consistently defend that which is wrong.

Where one observes such behaviour, there is need to conclude that such a dogged defender of wrong may himself be a wrongdoer, which is why they find it difficult to stand on the side of what is right.

Although, the buck stops at Rupiah Banda, we all know that it is George who championed the removal of the abuse of office offence from our Anti Corruption Commission Act to entrench corruption and protect the corrupt.

It is also the same George who championed the defence of the scandalous acquittal of Chiluba and his tandem of thieves. George made sure that these clearly outrageous decisions were not appealed.

And today he wants to tell us that Chiluba is innocent.
If Chiluba is innocent, who is guilty? George?

It is nonsensical for George to tell the nation that Chiluba does not have any assets and that the Task Force misled the government. What does he take our people for?

We have been reporting about Chiluba’s attempt to repossess properties that were seized by the state.

Through his lawyers, Chiluba even tried to have a public servant from the Bank of Zambia imprisoned for refusing to hand over these looted properties.

To this day, Chiluba is still trying hard to get those properties.

These are not cheap properties.

The building that houses the South African High Commission is owned by Tedworth, a Panamanian registered company, which Chiluba used to launder the money he had stolen from the Zambian people.

This company also owns the building that houses the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

Both these properties are in Lusaka’s Kabulonga area which has some of the most expensive properties in our country today.

Not far from a government business area, Tedworth also has blocks of highly sought after flats.

These are properties that we have told them are owned by Chiluba.

The Task Force seized them but today George is trying to give them back to Chiluba using all sorts of corrupt schemes and abuse of power.

If George was honest, he would know that Chiluba did not register the assets that he plundered in his name.

He had seasoned crooks like Faustin Kabwe to hide his loot.

The only trouble Chiluba may have is that these crooks may have even hidden some of the things from himself.

There were so many properties that were recovered, registered in all sorts of front companies allegedly coming from outside Zambia.

Even the house where Chiluba is today, along Kabulonga’s Serval Road, is part of this same loot. So what is George talking about?

We know that George wants to defend criminals and their crimes but he should not try to demean the honest work of very honest officers who helped this country not only to recover but also to know the extent to which their political leaders can go to steal from them and pretend all is well.

Chiluba and his tandem of thieves even bought properties in Belgium which were recovered by the Task Force.

But George’s criminal government is not interested in those properties because it makes their political consultant look bad. This political engineering that they are trying to do will not help them.

The truth of Chiluba’s crimes is now well known the world over.

No amount of lies, deceit, calumny, manipulation will cleanse Chiluba of his crimes and the tag that he has earned of being a thief.

Labels: ,


Read more...

Kunda accuses The Post, Caritas and SACCORD of fanning chaos

Kunda accuses The Post, Caritas and SACCORD of fanning chaos
By Ernest Chanda
Sat 19 Mar. 2011, 04:00 CAT

VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda has accused The Post, Caritas and SACCORD of trying to bring chaos in the country by advocating the parallel vote tabulation (PVT) system in this year's general election.

Responding to a question from Lukashya member of parliament Elfridah Mwamba during the Vice-President's question time in Parliament, Vice-President Kunda said he knew what the three organisations were up to.

Mwamba wanted to know why the government was jittery about the PVT system.

“We have got information about it PVT. It's about announcing results based on sample results. When you look at The Post newspaper, Caritas and SACCORD Southern Africa Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes, they are all birds of the same feather. We know what they are going to say,” Vice-President Kunda said.

“And as a responsible government, we are not going to allow such organisations to cause chaos in the country; we can't allow illegality.”

And responding to a question from Zambezi West member of parliament Charles Kakoma on whether the government would have the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) audited by the Auditor General's office, Vice-President Kunda answered in the affirmative.

He said the institution was subject to audit since its funds were appropriated by Parliament.

Asked by Lusaka Central parliamentaraian Guy Scott if Zambia would contribute planes to countries fighting the Libyan government now that the United Nations had declared Libya a ‘no fly zone’, Vice-President Kunda said he would not engage in what he termed as speculation.

Labels: , , , ,


Read more...

Musonda insists on challenging Kunda

Musonda insists on challenging Kunda
By George Chellah
Sat 19 Mar. 2011, 04:01 CAT

MMD national youth chairman Patrick Musonda has refused to step aside for Vice-President George Kunda for the position of party vice-president at the forthcoming convention in Kabwe.

Well-placed sources within the MMD yesterday disclosed that Musonda, who is also former member of parliament for Kabwe Central, has vowed to challenge Vice-President Kunda for the MMD vice-presidency.

“With the suspension of Mike Mulongoti from the party pending expulsion at the national convention, we thought people would learn a lesson and stay away from contesting the party vice-presidency, which has been reserved for Vice-President Kunda, but that doesn't seem to be the case,” the source said. “It appears some people within the party, such as Patrick Musonda are still determined to fight for the position of MMD vice-presidency despite what recently happened to Mulongoti.”

The source revealed that Musonda had even defied a request from a very senior party member for him to step aside.

“We all can't understand what is propelling the young man because on Wednesday this week, he had a meeting with acting party national secretary Mr Chembe Nyangu at the party secretariat. If you want you can ask Mr Nyangu if Musonda hadn't been to his office this week,” the source said. “We understand Mr Nyangu tried to advise Musonda against challenging Vice-President Kunda at the forthcoming party national convention but Musonda totally rejected Mr Nyangu's advice. He remained adamant and vowed to proceed with his intentions.”

The source disclosed that Nyangu explained to Musonda that the party had resolved to back Vice-President Kunda's candidature because he had delivered.

“But the young man totally refused to give in and clearly indicated that he would go ahead and contest,” the source said.

The source said Musonda is believed to have been mobilising and campaigning for the party vice-presidency for sometime now.

By press time, Musonda's phone was off.

And when contacted for comment, Nyangu rudely refused to be drawn in the matter before hanging up the phone.

“Please, don't bother me I am in a meeting,” Nyangu said.

During the last MMD membership and card renewal exercise at Lusaka's Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC), President Rupiah Banda fired Mulongoti as works and supply minister and revoked his nomination as a member of parliament.

This was after Mulongoti declared his candidature for the MMD vice-presidency.


Labels:


Read more...

Friday, March 18, 2011

(HERALD) Imperialism at work in Libya

Imperialism at work in Libya
Tuesday, 15 March 2011 21:50

Who defines true liberation? Watch out for the role of the global elite in manipulating the outcome of the Middle East and North Africa revolutions, writes Nicholas H Tucker.

Putting forward progressive views in these times can be a veritable mine-field for any individual or organisation who attempts to formulate a clear, well-reasoned analysis of the real facts on the ground.

Asking the question, " . . . are the rebellions across North Africa and the Gulf merely ‘colour revolutions' or are they the real thing?" will guarantee that you are labelled as ‘something' and invariably the label will be unsavoury.

In order to make the point I need to make I will start with a home-grown situation, or more accurately an imported problem - that being Wal-Mart.

Quite correctly, from the perspective of all progressive organisations in support of the unions, and in defence of workers' rights, we need to oppose the very existence of this rapacious capitalist monolith that rapes the workers of every country - including those that it may not have a physical presence in.

Now, in our opposition to Wal-Mart we have found ourselves some strange bedfellows in the form of Shop-Rite and other capitalist entities, who have for years been plundering and exploiting Africa and today express concern that Wal-Mart will contribute towards massive inequality and food insecurity.

Yes, I see it in your eyes, you do recognise the dilemma we face if we find our slogans being chanted by the very exploiters that have looted and plundered our people for so long.

If we do not analyse that particular situation smartly, we could find ourselves fighting for the ‘rights' of our exploiters.

All of which brings me back to the ‘Arab' revolts throughout North Africa and the Gulf States, and the shameless lies emanating from the global elite and their mind-washed mouthpieces in the mainstream media around the world.

The current situation in Libya presents a most complex and tricky situation to unravel, but unravel it we must if we are to prevent workers' struggles for true liberation from being subverted and controlled by the global elite.

The sudden rebellion taking place in Libya is no accident as it follows hotly on the heels of Egypt and the clamorous anti-Mubarak uprisings, the dismissal of the government of Jordan, students clashing with police in Sudan, protests in Yemen, opposition to Lebanon's ‘new' prime minister, protests in Algeria, the fleeing of Tunisia's Ben Ali and the more recent wide-scale protests in Bahrain and Oman.

As things stand, Egypt is not yet in the bag and requires that the situation be kept in check by a ‘friendly' military junta to ensure that the Suez Canal remains open at all costs.

The inherent value to be protected in all other countries where ‘pro-democracy' is out on the streets so happens to coincide with the fact that they are oil producing countries, as well as the fact that they lie along the shores of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Libya, Tunisia and Algeria on the other hand, all share a Mediterranean shoreline and contribute some seven per cent towards global oil thirst.

The newest country on the block is Southern Sudan, which has appreciable oil reserves. All of this presents a delicate balancing act for America to keep the sea-lanes clear - and have the oil as well, hopefully with not too much ‘blow-back'.

Libya's Gaddafi, for the greater part of 40 years, refused to succumb to the threats or the inducements of imperialism like the puppet Mubarak of Egypt. The nationalisation in 1969 of Libya's oil for the benefit of the Libyan economy was a situation that rankled the imperial order.

It was after all their oil and gas - who was this ‘dirty Bedouin' to squander ‘their profits' on bettering the lives and conditions of an even bigger bunch of Bedouin's.

They determined that he would be immortalised like Gamal Abdel Nasser, such that by 1986, after numerous covert attempts, the US actually launched major air strikes on Tripoli and Benghazi, killing 60 people, including Gadhafi's infant daughter - an event that is never mentioned by the corporate media.

This was followed by devastating sanctions, imposed by the US and supported by its puppet the UN, in a desperate effort to wreck the Libyan economy and sink Gaddafi in the process.

Their failure to get Gaddafi inspired them to pin the Lockerbie slaughter on Libya - a cruel and murderous CIA/Mossad plot that led to vicious sanctions and embargoes against that country for some 15 years.

In 2003, the world got a taste of ‘shock and awe' and an objective lesson in ‘. . . nobody walks away from us, unless we say so . . . ' when America flattened Baghdad with a horrific bombing campaign and an invasion that has resulted in the slaughter of some 1,5 million Iraqi civilians.

This was enough to make Gaddafi reconsider his anti-imperialist stance by making big political and economic concessions to the imperialists in order to avoid an ‘Iraq' being pulled on Libya.

In 2004, Gaddafi reluctantly agreed to pay $2,7-billion for the Lockerbie bombing and then proceeded to open the Libyan economy to foreign banks and corporations.

He agreed to IMF demands for ‘structural adjustment', privatising many state-owned enterprises and cutting state subsidies on necessities like food and fuel.

The net result is that the Libyan people are suffering from the same high prices and unemployment that underlie the rebellions elsewhere and that flow from the worldwide capitalist economic crisis.

There can be no doubt that the struggles sweeping the Arab world for political freedom and economic justice have also struck a chord in Libya.

There can be no doubt that discontent with the Gaddafi regime is motivating a significant section of the population.

However, it is important for progressives to know that many of the people being promoted in the West as leaders of the Libyan opposition are long-time agents of imperialism.

The BBC on February 22 this year showed footage of crowds in Benghazi pulling down the green flag of the republic and replacing it with the flag of the overthrown monarch King Idris - who was a puppet of US and British imperialism some 40 years ago.
The deliberate distortion of reality to suit imperial agendas has become evident in the western media, who base a great deal of their reporting on agendas, using ‘spokespersons' drawn from the National Front for the Salvation of Libya, a group trained, armed and financed by the CIA.

On the 23 February 2011, the Wall Street Journal editorial literally demanded that, "The US and Europe should help Libyans overthrow the Gaddafi regime."

Cold, indifferent silence from the same media sources as well as their controllers in the ‘corridors of power' about similar interventions to help the oppressed and exploited people of Kuwait or Saudi Arabia or Bahrain or Oman to overthrow their dictatorial rulers.

Of course we know that it would be unthinkable to make such utterances, even if it was to simply create the impression that, ‘all things are equal'. Worse yet, how about them calling on the US to intervene to help the Palestinian people of Gaza by lifting the Zionist blockade or demanding that reparations be paid for the Dresden style bombing of Gaza?

In fact the very opposite occurred. On February 18 2011, the US vetoed a UN resolution condemning the Zionists - a resolution that was supported by no less than 130 Nations.

We do not have to scratch too deeply to find out what imperialism's interest is in Libya. As Africa's third-largest producer of oil, it has the continent's largest proven reserves - 44.3 billion barrels.

It is a country with a relatively small population, but the potential to produce huge profits for the giant oil companies. That's how the imperialists look at it, and that's what underlies their professed concern for the people's democratic rights in Libya.

It was not enough to stick Libya with a massive reparations claim for Lockerbie, or to squeeze concessions out of Gaddafi by allowing the imperialist oil barons entry into Libya.

What they want is a straight-up government that they can own heart and soul, lock, stock and oil-barrel. Of course they have never forgiven Gaddafi for overthrowing the monarchy and nationalising the oil.

Former-president of Cuba Fidel Castro, in his column ‘Reflections', takes note of imperialism's hunger for oil and warns that the US is laying the basis for military intervention in Libya.

Such an intervention means the murder of millions of Libyans, in the same way that intervention in Iraq lead to the murder of 1,5 million and the displacement of over four million killed and displaced by US intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Socialist Party of Azania is in sympathy with the rebellions spreading across North Africa and the Gulf states.

Their success is dependent upon us supporting the justifiable struggles in whatever form they take, while rejecting imperialist intervention. - Pambazuka News.
Nicholas H. Tucker is from the Socialist Party of Azania.

Labels: , ,


Read more...

(HERALD) Let’s reassert our self-worth

Let’s reassert our self-worth
Wednesday, 16 March 2011 21:57
By Tichaona Zindoga

IT has become apparent that the current Government programme of economic empowerment and indigenisation, just like the land reform before it, is a matter beyond mere economics, politics and attempts at righting an ugly historical milieu.

It has also emerged that underpinning the attempts at so righting the politics, the economics and the history on one hand, and on the other the resistance and indifference to the same, are deep psychological dynamics.

For, can the once formerly deprived group come to terms with its own rehumanisation; getting to believe in the self and that the black self is capable of doing what the white one has done and succeeded, often on the back of oppression of the black man?
And can this latter group that exploited, deprived and denied the other come to terms with the other's call for equality, advantage even?

It is a fact of history, especially that of Africa, that the rape and plunder of the continent by Europeans manifest in both slavery and colonialism was preceded and accompanied by the racist devaluation of the African people.

This racist devaluation implied the negation of African rights to human dignity and to the resources that abounded in their locality.

The dispossession and disenfranchisement of the African race was carried out in the name of "enlightening" the "dark continent" and with the racist assumption that Africans had, and would have, no use for their resources, which resources were then carted to the Western metropolis.

That the continent has suffered underdevelopment due to the siphoning of its human and natural resources is a stated historical fact.

Africa is scarred economically, geographically and politically.

The effects of this multi-faceted scarring, which can be quantified with relative ease in some cases and otherwise in others, are still being felt today, and will continue to be so felt way into the future, perhaps eternally.

The above is captured by a perceptive African writer who says that "Imperialism is total: it has economic, political, military, cultural and psychological consequences for the people of the world today. It could even lead to a holocaust".

Having been able to identify the other dimensions, namely economic, political and military, the psychological aspect has not had adequate attention.

And even if it had, with the help of the forces that spearheaded the liberation of the continent in the other fronts, there are chances that left with the deep psychological scars of colonial subjugation many Africans would not believe in their own worth.

Award-winning Cameroonian literati Dr Peter Wuteh Vakunta demonstates this in one essay on "Manichean stigmatisation".

He says in part: "The assumption (by Eurocentric Westerners) is that the rest of the world is primitive, savage, barbarian, and underdeveloped, and that the West is civilised and developed . . . Teleologically (or ultimately) stigmatisation cretinises non-Westerners, especially Africans.

"The result is that Africans start to doubt themselves . . . have nothing to be proud of."

Already, in the past couple of years that the concept of indigenisation has been in the fray, talk about how black people cannot manage to own big business, just like what was said of the "new farmer", have abounded, not as fact but racial slur. (And connected with this the allegations of corruption and the so-called cronyism.)
One local columnist demonstrated this doubting of the black Zimbabwean in an article, "What indigenisation?"

"The benefits of indigenisation are outweighed by the long-term destruction of private firms as people lose jobs, goods are scarce, and costs go up because you don't know what capricious act in the name of the people is next," the writer told his audience.

The notable aspects from the first part of this excerpt are that the writer does not believe that Africans who stand to benefit from indigenisation constitute real business minds.

Rather, they are vandals who will lead the destruction of "private firms".
That the same private firms - usually foreign owned - have been making profit out of the country's resources for private gain and that of their mother countries, does not seem to matter to the writer.

In fact, their making profit at the expense of locals, according to the writer, represents a holy efficiency that the locals cannot match, least so deserve.
In the same vein, the locals should be the ones to be employed, not employ; consume goods not produce; and be charged for goods and services but never to be the ones to produce, and charge for products and services.

This attitude speaks of someone who likes to be a perpetual recipient of "enlightenment" brought by foreign-owned companies and personalities.

Such attitude believes that the continuum of liberation from the yoke of colonialism and imperialism, of which the African people are at the centre is an act of senseless courage and breeds uncertainty and discomfort. And, according to such reasoning, colonialism and imperialism, and global capitalism should not be upset!

However, the fear that a "few" people might tend to benefit is not unfounded. This situation, which however, should not take away the inherent justice in empowering the formerly deprived (after all still fewer foreigners are in control), has played out in different parts of the continent.

Basically, what is needed in Zimbabwe and other developing countries, as has been pointed out by many analysts, is a genuine wealth-creating middle class that should drive the economy.

This entails that the class is grounded in the developmental aspect of the economy rather than growth.

This class should not be driven by the need for profit or supplanting the foreign business to the extent of selling out to the former elites and get nominal, but quick profits.

The externalisation of funds, and the "fronting" by certain business people in the current scenario in Zimbabwe is evidence of this malpractice.

On the other hand, cases of certain individuals - and they are a handful - plundering already established companies and farms riding on the wave of revolutionary programmes have also been encountered.

The creation of a genuine middle-class, which stems out of indigenous people getting equity in big businesses, and the creation of businesses to rival, and if possible buy out foreign businesses, is a process.

And it should be viewed as such.

Just as the 1980 Independence was not achieved in a day, so shouldn't this envisaged economic independence through what a certain analyst has called the Fourth Chimurenga.

It is only too daft or mischievous to want to see the fruits of indigenisation only too soon.

This is the quick-buck mentality which would see someone wanting to own a plantation of oranges because he admires the fruit and the money that comes with selling them instantly - and never wanting to, or capable of cultivating such a project.

As middle classes form painstakingly slowly, a false middle class of quick-buck meets its downfall quickly, mired in its own contradictions.

And in Zimbabwe's hastening such a downfall serves a purpose of negating the necessity and desirability of indigenisation.

Zimbabwe has the brains, and the resources and a genuine, self-believing, wealth-creating middle class - helped by the policy of indigenisation - should set the country on course for industrialisation.

That takes many years of genuine work, underpinned by the right psychology.

tichaona.zindoga@zimpapers.co.zw

Labels:


Read more...

(HAITI) New Zambia-DRC post proves effective

New Zambia-DRC post proves effective
Friday, 18 March 2011 00:00
By Fortious Nhambura in Kasumbalesa, Zambia

CONSTRUCTION of a new border post at Kasumbalesa between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo has significantly reduced the time truck drivers take to ferry goods into central Africa.

The post is one of the busiest ports into central Africa for trucks from Durban into the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa. It was holding up traffic to the region, thus increasing the cost of transportation of goods.

The upgrading of the border post complements the improvements and the one-stop border concept introduced at Chirundu last year.

Constructed at a cost of US$25 million, the post is equipped with high-tech machinery that automatically records registration numbers, type of cargo and the length of the truck.

Since the post's commissioning early this month, the equipment has reduced the turnaround time for truckers from seven days to three hours maximum.

Hauliers into central Africa from Durban, the region's biggest seaport, pass through Beitbridge, Chirundu and Kasumbalesa into the DRC and the rest of the Comesa region.
Most of the trucks supply Katanga Province in the DRC.

The mineral-rich province is heavily dependent on road transport through Zimbabwe and Zambia for imports and exports.

Zambian Border Construction Company, a joint venture between the government of Zambia and an Israeli company, Baran Borders, built the border post.

Kasumbalesa border post has three entry and two exit lanes on either side and can handle 600 trucks a day.

Truck drivers interviewed said although there were still hitches, the new system had drastically reduced lag time.

"The upgrading of Chirundu and Kasumbalesa border posts has improved the flow of traffic and has reduced time spent on the roads," said Luckmore Muzhingi, a Zimbabwean truck driver delivering fuel to the DRC.

"Imagine, from spending a month on the road to 20 days. This gives us more time to be with our families. You saw that queue of trucks? It used to stretch for four to five kilometres. But it now ranges between 500m and one kilometre."

The new arrangement comes in handy at a time the region is battling to harness the potential of the transport sector on the continent, which the World Bank says is growing at a rate of 10,3 percent a year.

Labels: , ,


Read more...

(HERALD) Government hails diamond mines

Government hails diamond mines
Friday, 18 March 2011 00:00
From Tendai Mugabe in Marange

Government has hailed mining operations being conducted by the three companies that have been licensed to exploit diamonds in the Chiadzwa area of Marange. Mbada Diamonds, Marange Mineral Resources and Anjin Operations have established state-of-the-art machinery to mine the diamonds.

Speaking after a tour of the three companies facilities by a delegation of Permanent Secretaries from various Ministries yesterday, Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Retired Colonel Christian Katsande said Government fully backed the mining houses.

The visit was directed by the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda.

"We are on a mission of the Chief Secretary, visiting important developments such as this one. Yesterday (on Wednesday) we were in Chisumbanje where we visited the ethanol plant. Now we are here in the mining sector and we are looking at visiting other key productive sectors - the idea being that we want to follow through on major economic developments that can generate resources that can help us to deal with the economic sanctions.

"Clearly this (mining) sector is key and this is why you see Government being very supportive in this area.

"We are delighted to witness the effort you are doing on the ground. Expectations are high from the nation from this sector."

Rtd Col Katsande urged mining companies to capacitate local institutions that can manufacture presently imported spare parts as a way of dealing with the illegal Western sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Mbada Diamonds manager Mr Gerald Sithole said: "We are committed to fighting the economic sanctions."

Assistant to the president of Anjin Operations, Mr Bai Xiangqian, said he was happy with the support they were getting from Government.

"We got support from various ministries and I want to thank you for that," he said.

Among the delegation are Mr George Charamba (Media, Information and Publicity), Mr Killian Mupingo (Local Government, Rural and Urban Development), Mr Ngoni Masoka (Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development) Mr Martin Rushwaya (Defence) and Mrs Sophia Tsvakwi (Lands).

Labels: ,


Read more...

(HERALD) War vets out against US ambassador

COMMENT - Zimbabwe doesn't needs gifts of textbooks, it needs to have ZDERA lifted. End economic sanctions against Zimbabwe, mr. Ambassador.

War vets out against US ambassador
Friday, 18 March 2011 00:00

Demonstrators hold anti-sanctions placards and banners at Mupfure College in Chegutu yesterday, where US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray had come to donate textbooks.
Herald Reporter


A group of war veterans yesterday demonstrated against the illegal Western sanctions against Zimbabwe during the handover of textbooks to Mupfure Self-Help College by Washington's Ambassador in Harare Charles Ray.

Cde Shadreck Dzepasi, the Chegutu District chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, said America's handouts were meant to mask the effects of the illegal sanctions.

"We came here to make a clear message to the US Ambassador that we have illegal sanctions in the country and we want them removed.

"All these donations are not genuine because how can they tighten screws on one side and on the other side seem to be loosening them?

"If these sanctions persist then we might not welcome them into our areas in future because we believe these donations are not genuine," he said.

The war veterans were clad in T-Shirts denouncing the illegal embargo and urging Zimbabweans and other progressive individuals and institutions to sign the National Anti-Sanctions Petition recently launched by President Mugabe.

Cde Dzepasi said it was ironic that Ambassador Ray had made the donation soon after the US had extended its illegal embargo by another year.

US President Barak Obama last week extended the widely-discredited embargo by another year, citing alleged human rights violations.

Another war veteran, Cde Charles Gurure, said Britain had induced the US to impose sanctions.

"Our dispute is with the British over the land reform exercise we embarked on and do we do not see why the US has joined in by imposing illegal sanctions on us.

"We were saying no to the illegal sanctions as said by President Mugabe," Cde Gurure said.

In an interview, Ambassador Ray said: "I was not here to talk to them; my reason to be here was educational."

He handed over books worth more than US$1 000 to the college that was established to assist ex-combatants, ex-refugees and school dropouts with vocational training.

Labels: , , ,


Read more...

(RACEANDHISTORY, HERALD) WikiLeaks cable - US controls IMF

WikiLeaks cable: US controls IMF
Posted: Monday, December 20, 2010
Herald Reporters
December 20, 2010

THE West's claim that its sanctions are targeted at the Zanu-PF leadership in Zimbabwe have been exposed for the sham they are by a WikiLeaks cable released yesterday that shows that the US government directed the IMF not to restore Zimbabwe's voting rights and lines of credit.

The IMF has over the years masqueraded as a multilateral institution that operates independently of the whims and caprices of its host, the US government.

One of the cables, dated September 2005, from New Zealand, titled "New Zealand: Response to demarche on Zimbabwe Vote in IMF," and directed to the New Zealand Agency for International Development, which handles issues related to the IMF, shows that the US controls the IMF and played a lead role in blocking the IMF from reinstating Zimbabwe's voting and borrowing rights.

"On September 2 (2005), a representative of New Zealand's Treasury noted Zimbabwe's decision to pay back US$120 million of the US $290 million it owes the Fund. The representative asked whether the US government would now consider Zimbabwe to be in compliance with its IMF obligations, or whether the United States still believes Zimbabwe should be expelled from the Fund.

"Post seeks Department guidance on how it should respond to these questions. Post also notes that the Treasury representative is due to deliver a recommendation on the issue to New Zealand's Finance Minister on September 5 (2005) and that a response by COB September 2 (Washington) would be very helpful," reads the cable signed by one Burnett.

Analysts say the cable is disturbing given that Finance Minister Tendai Biti has received many "technical experts" from the IMF and only recently wanted Zimbabwe declared a "Highly Indebted Poor Country" at the behest of the IMF, a development that would have seen the IMF, and consequently the US by proxy, take over and direct not only the country's economic affairs but also the exploitation of its natural resources.

HIPC status would have served the US well in "smuggling" people into Government, disguised as technical experts, observers say.

The US and its other Western allies including Britain have been pursuing regime change in Zimbabwe.

The latest revelations also come at a time when Minister Biti's budget has raised a storm given its attempt to use Government processes to realign power centres to MDC-T ministers part of which was Minister Biti's attempt to transfer executive powers from the President to himself through amending the Exchange Control Act through the Finance Bill that was recently rejected by Senate and sent back to the Lower House for review.

Minister Biti, consequently, came under fire from the three principals to the GPA and inclusive Government; President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara; as well as fellow Cabinet ministers over his bid to usurp executive powers.

The WikiLeaks report also said a response from Washington would be very helpful before treasury representatives delivered recommendations to New Zealand's Fina-nce Minister on September 5, 2005.

The report also said on September 2, 2005 representatives of New Zealand's trea-sury asked the US if Zimbabwe should remain expelled from the fund after noting Zimbabwe's decision to pay back US$120 million of the US$290 million it owed.

This came at a time when the Bretton Woods institution had instituted compulsory withdrawal procedures against Zimbabwe, again at the behest of the Anglo-Saxon alliance.

The representatives asked whether the US Government would "now consider Zimbabwe to be in compliance with its IMF obligations, or whether the US still believes Zimbabwe should be expelled from the fund.

The New Zealand Treasury also reportedly sought the US guidance on how it should respond to the questions raised.

Efforts to get comment from Minister Biti were fruitless at the time of going to press.

Labels: , , , ,


Read more...

(TALKZIMBABWE) Text - Draft resolution for no-fly zone on Libya

Text: Draft resolution for no-fly zone on Libya
By: FT-TZG
Posted: Friday, March 18, 2011 12:51 am

THE United Nations has authorised airstrikes against forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi to begin immediately after the United Nations Security Council narrowly approved a resolution late Thursday stating “all necessary measures” can be taken to protect Libyan civilians — short of a military occupation of the country.

We publish, in full, the draft resolution drafted by France.

The Security Council,

Recalling its resolution 1970 (2011) of 26 February 2011,

Deploring the failure of the Libyan authorities to comply with resolution 1970 (2011),

Expressing grave concern at the deteriorating situation, the escalation of violence, and the heavy civilian casualties,

Reiterating the responsibility of the Libyan authorities to protect the Libyan population and reaffirming that parties to armed conflicts bear the primary responsibility to take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of civilians,

Condemning the gross and systematic violation of human rights, including arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, torture and summary executions,

Further condemning acts of violence and intimidation committed by the Libyan authorities against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel and urging these authorities to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law as outlined in resolution 1738 (2006),

Considering that the widespread and systematic attacks currently taking place in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya against the civilian population may amount to crimes against humanity,

Recalling paragraph 26 of resolution 1970 (2011) in which the Council expressed its readiness to consider taking additional appropriate measures, as necessary, to facilitate and support the return of humanitarian agencies and make available humanitarian and related assistance in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,

Expressing its determination to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian populated areas and the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance and the safety of humanitarian personnel,

Recalling the condemnation by the League of Arab States, the African Union, and the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference of the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law that have been and are being committed in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,

Taking note of the final communiqué of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference of 8 March 2011, and the communiqué of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union of 10 March 2011 which established an ad hoc High Level Committee on Libya,

Taking note also of the decision of the Council of the League of Arab States of 12 March 2011 to call for the imposition of a no-fly zone on Libyan military aviation, and to establish safe areas in places exposed to shelling as a precautionary measure that allows the protection of the Libyan people and foreign nationals residing in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,

Taking note further of the Secretary-General’s call on 16 March 2011 for an immediate cease-fire,

Recalling its decision to refer the situation in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya since 15 February 2011 to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, and stressing that those responsible for or complicit in attacks targeting the civilian population, including aerial and naval attacks, must be held to account,

Reiterating its concern at the plight of refugees and foreign workers forced to flee the violence in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, welcoming the response of neighbouring States, in particular Tunisia and Egypt, to address the needs of those refugees and foreign workers, and calling on the international community to support those efforts,

Deploring the continuing use of mercenaries by the Libyan authorities,

Considering that the establishment of a ban on all flights in the airspace of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya constitutes an important element for the protection of civilians as well as the safety of the delivery of humanitarian assistance and a decisive step for the cessation of hostilities in Libya,

Expressing concern also for the safety of foreign nationals and their rights in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,

Welcoming the appointment by the Secretary General of his Special Envoy to Libya, Mr Abdel-Elah Mohamed Al-Khatib and supporting his efforts to find a sustainable and peaceful solution to the crisis in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,

Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,

Determining that the situation in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security,

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

1.Demands the immediate establishment of a cease-fire and a complete end to violence and all attacks against, and abuses of, civilians;

2.Stresses the need to intensify efforts to find a solution to the crisis which responds to the legitimate demands of the Libyan people and notes the decisions of the Secretary-General to send his Special Envoy to Libya and of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union to send its ad hoc High Level Committee to Libya with the aim of facilitating dialogue to lead to the political reforms necessary to find a peaceful and sustainable solution;

3.Demands that the Libyan authorities comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, human rights and refugee law and take all measures to protect civilians and meet their basic needs, and to ensure the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance;

Protection of civilians

4.Authorizes Member States that have notified the Secretary-General, acting nationally or through regional organizations or arrangements, and acting in cooperation with the Secretary-General, to take all necessary measures, notwithstanding paragraph 9 of resolution 1970 (2011), to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory, and requests the Member States concerned to inform the Secretary-General immediately of the measures they take pursuant to the authorization conferred by this paragraph which shall be immediately reported to the Security Council;

5.Recognizes the important role of the League of Arab States in matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security in the region, and bearing in mind Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, requests the Member States of the League of Arab States to cooperate with other Member States in the implementation of paragraph 4;

No Fly Zone

6.Decides to establish a ban on all flights in the airspace of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in order to help protect civilians;

7.Decides further that the ban imposed by paragraph 6 shall not apply to flights whose sole purpose is humanitarian, such as delivering or facilitating the delivery of assistance, including medical supplies, food, humanitarian workers and related assistance, or evacuating foreign nationals from the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, nor shall it apply to flights authorised by paragraphs 4 or 8, nor other flights which are deemed necessary by States acting under the authorisation conferred in paragraph 8 to be for the benefit of the Libyan people, and that these flights shall be coordinated with any mechanism established under paragraph 8;

8.Authorizes Member States that have notified the Secretary-General and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, acting nationally or through regional organizations or arrangements, to take all necessary measures to enforce compliance with the ban on flights imposed by paragraph 6 above, as necessary, and requests the States concerned in cooperation with the League of Arab States to coordinate closely with the Secretary General on the measures they are taking to implement this ban, including by establishing an appropriate mechanism for implementing the provisions of paragraphs 6 and 7 above,

9.Calls upon all Member States, acting nationally or through regional organizations or arrangements, to provide assistance, including any necessary over-flight approvals, for the purposes of implementing paragraphs 4, 6, 7 and 8 above;

10.Requests the Member States concerned to coordinate closely with each other and the Secretary-General on the measures they are taking to implement paragraphs 4, 6, 7 and 8 above, including practical measures for the monitoring and approval of authorised humanitarian or evacuation flights;

11.Decides that the Member States concerned shall inform the Secretary-General and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States immediately of measures taken in exercise of the authority conferred by paragraph 8 above, including to supply a concept of operations;

12.Requests the Secretary-General to inform the Council immediately of any actions taken by the Member States concerned in exercise of the authority conferred by paragraph 8 above and to report to the Council within 7 days and every month thereafter on the implementation of this resolution, including information on any violations of the flight ban imposed by paragraph 6 above;

Enforcement of the arms embargo

13.Decides that paragraph 11 of resolution 1970 (2011) shall be replaced by the following paragraph : “Calls upon all Member States, in particular States of the region, acting nationally or through regional organisations or arrangements, in order to ensure strict implementation of the arms embargo established by paragraphs 9 and 10 of resolution 1970 (2011), to inspect in their territory, including seaports and airports, and on the high seas, vessels and aircraft bound to or from the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, if the State concerned has information that provides reasonable grounds to believe that the cargo contains items the supply, sale, transfer or export of which is prohibited by paragraphs 9 or 10 of resolution 1970 (2011) as modified by this resolution, including the provision of armed mercenary personnel, calls upon all flag States of such vessels and aircraft to cooperate with such inspections and authorises Member States to use all measures commensurate to the specific circumstances to carry out such inspections”;

14.Requests Member States which are taking action under paragraph 13 above on the high seas to coordinate closely with each other and the Secretary-General and further requests the States concerned to inform the Secretary-General and the Committee established pursuant to paragraph 24 of resolution 1970 (2011) (“the Committee”) immediately of measures taken in the exercise of the authority conferred by paragraph 13 above;

15.Requires any Member State whether acting nationally or through regional organisations or arrangements, when it undertakes an inspection pursuant to paragraph 13 above, to submit promptly an initial written report to the Committee containing, in particular, explanation of the grounds for the inspection, the results of such inspection, and whether or not cooperation was provided, and, if prohibited items for transfer are found, further requires such Member States to submit to the Committee, at a later stage, a subsequent written report containing relevant details on the inspection, seizure, and disposal, and relevant details of the transfer, including a description of the items, their origin and intended destination, if this information is not in the initial report;

16.Deplores the continuing flows of mercenaries into the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and calls upon all Member States to comply strictly with their obligations under paragraph 9 of resolution 1970 (2011) to prevent the provision of armed mercenary personnel to the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya;

Ban on flights

17.Decides that all States shall deny permission to any aircraft registered in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya or owned or operated by Libyan nationals or companies to take off from, land in or overfly their territory unless the particular flight has been approved in advance by the Committee, or in the case of an emergency landing;

18.Decides that all States shall deny permission to any aircraft to take off from, land in or overfly their territory, if they have information that provides reasonable grounds to believe that the aircraft contains items the supply, sale, transfer, or export of which is prohibited by paragraphs 9 and 10 of resolution 1970 (2011) as modified by this resolution, including the provision of armed mercenary personnel, except in the case of an emergency landing;

Asset freeze

19.Decides that the asset freeze imposed by paragraph 17, 19, 20 and 21 of resolution 1970 (2011) shall apply to all funds, other financial assets and economic resources which are on their territories, which are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Libyan authorities, as designated by the Committee, or by individuals or entities acting on their behalf or at their direction, or by entities owned or controlled by them, as designated by the Committee, and decides further that all States shall ensure that any funds, financial assets or economic resources are prevented from being made available by their nationals or by any individuals or entities within their territories, to or for the benefit of the Libyan authorities, as designated by the Committee, or individuals or entities acting on their behalf or at their direction, or entities owned or controlled by them, as designated by the Committee, and directs the Committee to designate such Libyan authorities, individuals or entities within 30 days of the date of the adoption of this resolution and as appropriate thereafter;

20.Affirms its determination to ensure that assets frozen pursuant to paragraph 17 of resolution 1970 (2011) shall, at a later stage, as soon as possible be made available to and for the benefit of the people of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya;

21.Decides that all States shall require their nationals, persons subject to their jurisdiction and firms incorporated in their territory or subject to their jurisdiction to exercise vigilance when doing business with entities incorporated in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya or subject to its jurisdiction, and any individuals or entities acting on their behalf or at their direction, and entities owned or controlled by them, if the States have information that provides reasonable grounds to believe that such business could contribute to violence and use of force against civilians;

Designations

22.Decides that the individuals listed in Annex I shall be subject to the travel restrictions imposed in paragraphs 15 and 16 of resolution 1970 (2011), and decides further that the individuals and entities listed in Annex II shall be subject to the asset freeze imposed in paragraphs 17, 19, 20 and 21 of resolution 1970 (2011);

23.Decides that the measures specified in paragraphs 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 and 21 of resolution 1970 (2011) shall apply also to individuals and entities determined by the Council or the Committee to have violated the provisions of resolution 1970 (2011), particularly paragraphs 9 and 10 thereof, or to have assisted others in doing so;

Panel of Experts

24.Requests the Secretary-General to create for an initial period of one year, in consultation with the Committee, a group of up to eight experts (“Panel of Experts”), under the direction of the Committee to carry out the following tasks:

(a)Assist the Committee in carrying out its mandate as specified in paragraph 24 of resolution 1970 (2011) and this resolution;

(b)Gather, examine and analyse information from States, relevant United Nations bodies, regional organisations and other interested parties regarding the implementation of the measures decided in resolution 1970 (2011) and this resolution, in particular incidents of non-compliance;

(c)Make recommendations on actions the Council, or the Committee or State, may consider to improve implementation of the relevant measures;

(d)Provide to the Council an interim report on its work no later than 90 days after the Panel’s appointment, and a final report to the Council no later than 30 days prior to the termination of its mandate with its findings and recommendations;

25.Urges all States, relevant United Nations bodies and other interested parties, to cooperate fully with the Committee and the Panel of Experts, in particular by supplying any information at their disposal on the implementation of the measures decided in resolution 1970 (2011) and this resolution, in particular incidents of non-compliance;

26.Decides that the mandate of the Committee as set out in paragraph 24 of resolution 1970 (2011) shall also apply to the measures decided in this resolution;

27.Decides that all States, including the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, shall take the necessary measures to ensure that no claim shall lie at the instance of the Libyan authorities, or of any person or body in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, or of any person claiming through or for the benefit of any such person or body, in connection with any contract or other transaction where its performance was affected by reason of the measures taken by the Security Council in resolution 1970 (2011), this resolution and related resolutions;

28.Reaffirms its intention to keep the actions of the Libyan authorities under continuous review and underlines its readiness to review at any time the measures imposed by this resolution and resolution 1970 (2011), including by strengthening, suspending or lifting those measures, as appropriate, based on compliance by the Libyan authorities with this resolution and resolution 1970 (2011).

29.Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Labels: ,


Read more...

With or without Pact, we’re going to win - Lubinda

With or without Pact, we’re going to win - Lubinda
By Patson Chilemba
Fri 18 Mar. 2011, 11:10 CAT

GIVEN Lubinda says he is very confident that with or without the Pact, PF will win this year's general election. Lubinda, who is now PF chairperson for local government and housing, said he was confident that party leader Michael Sata and PF would win this year's elections.

“I am very confident that a combination of Michael Sata and myself in Kabwata Constituency will deliver Michael Sata even better than he had in 2006 and 2008. And obviously I, too, will get much better votes than I got in 2006. There is no question about it,” Lubinda said.

“I have always said that the Pact was a very safe way of winning. That does not mean that without it we cannot win, no. It was just a safety measure to make sure you don't have too many competitors. Now, with or without the Pact, I am confident both at national level for president Michael Sata and for myself in Kabwata Constituency. I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever.”

Lubinda said when he stood on the UPND ticket in 2001, he defeated his closest rival Major Richard Kachingwe by a mere 300 votes. He said when he stood on the PF ticket in 2006, he overwhelmingly defeated his closest rival by close to 40,000 votes.

On President Rupiah Banda's move to change the law so that he could qualify for payment before three years in office, Lubinda said President Banda would not manage to stay in office for three years since the elections would be held before November, 2011.

He said President Banda was preparing for his exit.

Lubinda said President Banda had the trappings of a tyrant because he thought he was a law unto himself. He said time had come for Zambia to emulate Scandinavian countries where some laws could only take effect after a new parliament was in place.

Lubinda said those in President Banda's regime had no public shame because they could go with impunity to Parliament to implement a law to suit one person.

On President Banda's fears over the parallel voter tabulation (PVT), Lubinda said the Electoral Code of Conduct was very clear in regulation 14 which allowed the media to announce election results that were declared by the returning officer.

Lubinda said the code also allowed for updating the people on the progress of counting votes.

“It's only tyrants who think that way,” said Lubinda.

On the systematic take over of council institutions by MMD cadres in Lusaka, Lubinda said what was happening was a replica of events when President Banda and MMD Lusaka Province chairman William Banda reigned as governors.

He said it was the same President Banda who instructed ZANAMA to take over the operations of some markets on the Copperbelt in complete disregard of the Markets’ Act.

Lubinda said it was not surprising that William Banda was now demanding to be paid K1 million by MMD structures at Intercity Bus Terminus because he had failed to outlive the UNIP mentality.

Labels: , ,


Read more...

Changing law to give Rupiah early gratuity is criminal - Panji

Changing law to give Rupiah early gratuity is criminal - Panji
By Ernest Chanda
Fri 18 Mar. 2011, 14:30 CAT

COLONEL Panji Kaunda says it is criminal to change laws in order to suit an individual and if Michael Sata wins they will ask him to bring back that law. Commenting on President Rupiah Banda's attempt to change the presidential emoluments Act so that he qualifies for gratuity, Col Panji said such a move should be rejected.

" If Sata wins we shall ask him to bring back that law," Col Panji said. "We shall take it back, no matter what. Law is law and you can't just change it to suit an individual.

That's a criminal act which should not be allowed in this country," Col Panji said.
"People have worked for 30 years and they are still waiting to get their pension benefits. And one person can't just jump the line and say they want gratuity; no, we shall not allow that."

Col Panji urged parliamentarians to reject the bill and maintain the status quo.

According to the Presidential Emoluments Amendment Bill presented to parliament on Tuesday by Vice-President George Kunda, President Banda wants to do away with the three-year specified period of service prescribed in the current Act.

Section 3 of the presidential emoluments Act 12 of 2005 states that: ...Provided that where a person who holds office of President ceases to hold office - (a) by reason of his death; or (b) when a new President assumes office after an election following the dissolution of Parliament before its full term; that person shall be deemed to have served as President for the specified period of three years for the purpose of this section."

But the proposed bill has overlooked the specified three-year period by remaining silent on the matter.

Section 3 (2) of the proposed bill states that: "Where a person who holds office of President ceases to hold office- (a) by reason of death; or (b) when a new President assumes office after an election following the dissolution of Parliament before its full term; that person shall be deemed to have served as President for the purpose of this section."

President Banda was sworn in on November 2, 2008 and is expected to clock three years in office on November 1, 2011.

However, elections are expected to be held before this date which disqualifies him from gratuity if the status quo stays.

Labels: ,


Read more...

Rupiah is acting with impunity, says Simuusa

Rupiah is acting with impunity, says Simuusa
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Fri 18 Mar. 2011, 04:00 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda's leadership has exhibited a lot of arrogance and leaves much to be desired, says Wilbur Simuusa. In an interview, Simuusa, who is PF Nchanga member of parliament, said President Banda (left) was acting with impunity.

“His leadership has been dogged by scandals such as the Zamtel issue which was reddled with corruption, the US $15 million NAPSA land scandal and yet he turns around as if nothing has happened. The leadership of President Rupiah Banda leaves much to be desired as it shows high levels of arrogance,” he said.

Simuusa said President Banda was taking Zambians for granted.

“There is the issue of the windfall tax, which even the donor community has commented on in support yet he remains stubborn, he is acting with much impunity of Boma ni Boma (government is government),” Simuusa said.

He also expressed shock at President Banda's statement that anyone who would compute and tabulate results of the forthcoming elections would be committing a crime.

He is taking us for granted. He is insulting our intelligence. He thinks we are docile. What is wrong with PVT (Parallel Vote Tabulation)? The ECZ would be collecting and announcing the results from various centers and we shall also be collecting our own data and verify it with their announced results by ECZ,” Simuusa said.

He said ECZ chairperson Ireen Mambilima knew that PVT was not criminal and accused President Banda of painting a picture which did not exist.

Simuusa said President Banda's pronouncements on economic gains and development did not match with what was on the ground.

Labels: , ,


Read more...

Catholics to conduct PVT

Catholics to conduct PVT
By Abigail Chaponda in Ndola and Chibaula Silwamba in Lusaka
Fri 18 Mar. 2011, 11:10 CAT

THE Catholic Church is advocating the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) and will stand by it, says Ndola Diocese Bishop Alick Banda. CARITAS Zambia has said President Rupiah Banda’s position on PVT has revealed that either his legal advisors are incompetent or he does not listen to their advice.

Launching the 2010-2012 elections strategy at the Diocese in Ndola yesterday, Bishop Banda said there was nothing criminal about the PVT.

“If we have the PVT in place, it is going to answer all the questions that people have over elections. I don’t see anything criminal about the PVT. We are going to dialogue with government and stakeholders so that when we come to the election days, issues should be clear,” he said.

Bishop Banda said the Catholic Church was not going to take over the running of the elections but that the Church would work with established institutions to make sure those underhand methods such as dribbling, rigging, manipulation and intimidations were not there.

“The 2010-2012 election strategy is an initiative of the Catholic Church in Zambia in line with the Church’s resolve to actively participate in contributing to the attainment of a credible electoral process,” he said. “You will agree with me that in Africa in general, Zambia in particular, we suffer from unclear electoral processes that cast a dark cloud on free and just elections, underhand methods such as dribbling, rigging and manipulation and intimidation are not uncommon,”

Bishop Banda said the notion that the Church should busy itself with incense and votive candle or better retire in the sacristy showed only parsimonious (lack of generosity) of those who champion such a cause because electoral decisions, good or bad equally affected the Church which was part of the community of Zambia.

Bishop Banda said as the Church, they did not seek political power or control but the opportunity to intensify, argue, protest or affirm something adding that the Church was playing its part in the public debates of the society.

He said the 2010-2012 election strategy was an attempt to provide a transparent, credible, and a non-partisan electoral process to complement the government system.

The Bishop said strategy would include dialogue on electoral policies, the legal framework and electoral-related procedures.

He said elections strategy would endeavour to lobby and advocate for a meaningful and comprehensive participation of all stakeholders in the electoral cycle (pre-voting, voting and post voting periods).

“The Catholic Church of Ndola has so far managed to monitor the issuance of National Registration Cards (NRC) and voter registration exercises. I am glad to note that our parishioners have to obtain NRCs and register as voters,” he said.

Bishop Banda hoped that the Church would contribute towards bringing about credible, free and just elections and subsequently usher in an authentic democracy which respects constitutionalism.

And commenting on President Banda’s criminal offence threats against advocates of PVT, Caritas Zambia executive director Sam Mulafulafu said it was extremely embarrassing for President Banda to threaten that tabulating and computing results already announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is a criminal offence. He was convinced that either government had very incompetent legal advisors or those being advised choose not to listen to their technocrats.

“It is difficult to fathom how our President can make such a legally incorrect statement in the presence of our very senior judges who also seem to find it convenient to keep quiet even when they know that the President was wrong,” stated Mulafulafu in a press release. “No wonder ECZ chairperson justice Ireen Mambilima refused to comment on the statement, categorically stating that she is not the legal advisor to government. My interpretation of her statement is that she did not want to be associated to the falsehood and politically convenient statements.”

Mulafulafu said when he was FODEP president, during the tenure of both judge Bobby Bwalya and justice Mambilima as ECZ chairpersons,they carried out the PVT.

“The President must be sincere in his criminalisation of the PVT. It is common knowledge that his own party, the MMD, will tally results as forwarded by the party agents from polling station all over the country. It is, in fact, folly for any political party participating in the elections not to place agents at polling stations and tally results,” said Mulafulafu.

Labels: , ,


Read more...

(NEWZIMBABWE) 'Sinister' forces now in charge of Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai

COMMENT - More posturing by the MDC for the upcoming 2011 elections. Their first instinct is to attack the country. Mark my words, when they lose these elections, they will blame SADC.

'Sinister' forces now in charge of Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai
by Eddie Chihwape
18/03/2011 00:00:00

PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai returned home from a tour of regional countries to claim that Zimbabwe was now under military rule. The MDC leader told journalists at his private residence on Friday that “sinister” forces have taken control of the government.

“While I was away in the last four days, it appears the civilian authority is no longer in charge and dark and sinister forces have engaged in a hostile take-over of running the affairs of the country, with or without the blessing of some leaders of the civilian authority,” Tsvangirai said.

“Together with civic society and other democratic forces, we had planned to hold a major peace rally in Harare on Saturday to pray for peace in the country. We had duly notified the police as required by law.

“I was told on Thursday that the police have refused to allow that peaceful rally to proceed, against the provisions of the law and the letter and spirit of the Global Political Agreement. There has been an instruction from the Police Commissioner-General to effectively ban meetings when there is a Cabinet decision that no meetings should be banned.”

The decision to bar the MDC rally was upheld by Harare magistrate Mercy Chimbodza on Friday. Police say Zanu PF is also holding a rally nearby and thehy can't guarantee the security of both sets of supporters.

Tsvangirai engaged regional leaders including presidents of South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia in a bid to bring pressure on President Robert Mugabe to agree to minimum conditions before elections are held in Zimbabwe.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC)'s politics and security arm has called an emergency summit in Tanzania later this month, to discuss among other things an MDC plan for an election “roadmap”.

Tsvangirai wants SADC to act quickly, even before an election date is announced, to stop what he says are growing human rights abuses in the country led by the pro-Mugabe loyalists in the security services.

“The MDC notes that unless the region nips this tension in the bud, we could easily slide back to the dark days of 2008, a development that is not welcome to any Zimbabwean across the political divide,” Tsvangirai said.

“SADC, as the guarantors of this agreement, has to play a critical role in ensuring that we all respect the signatures that we appended to the GPA. We have to implement all the agreed issues and usher in political, economic and media reforms as stipulated in the GPA in order to enable the country to transit peacefully to a credible and legitimate government whilst SADC should monitor every step of this process.”

He said the three main political parties which formed a coalition in February 2009 agree that the tenure of their power sharing deal will have to lapse at some point and an election is inevitable, “but it has to be a free and fair election devoid of the violence that has characterised electoral processes in the country for the past three years.”

“The SADC troika summit due to take place soon has to seriously address the issue of the roadmap so that all political players are bound by time-bound milestones and rules ahead of the next election. It is my sincere and fervent hope that the SADC region will not stand back and allow this impunity to graduate into full-fledged chaos.”

Zanu PF says it wants elections later this year as soon as a new constitution is adopted, but Mugabe's opponents say there is not enough time to create conditions for a credible poll.

Labels: , , ,


Read more...

(NEWZIMBABWE) Gwisai freed after bail money delays

Gwisai freed after bail money delays
by Staff Reporter
18/03/2011 00:00:00

FORMER Highfield MP Munyaradzi Gwisai and five others charged with treason finally walked free from prison on Thursday after failing to secure bail money on time Thursday.

The six were granted US$2,000 bail each by High Court judge Samuel Kudya on Wednesday, but their lawyers were unable to secure the funds before the Clerk of Court’s office closed.

Gwisai, clutching a couple of books and donning his trademark beret and a T-Shirt written “World at a crossroads”, smiled as he left prison with his lawyer Alec Muchadehama.

His two wives were on standby along with a dozen supporters who broke into song and dance at the sight of the International Socialist Organisation’s Zimbabwe coordinator and his colleagues arrested on February 19.

Despite the weakness of the evidence against the six – who were arrested with 39 others, who were later released, for attending a lecture and for watching a video of the pro-democracy revolts in Tunisia and Egypt – the charges of treason are serious and they could receive the death penalty if they are found guilty.

The six have been required to hand over their passports and must check in at their local police station three times a week until their trial begins on March 21.

When issuing bail, High Court Judge Samuel Kudya said the state had failed to make its case that the accused were a threat to the Zimbabwean state.

"I see no iota of evidence that any Zimbabwean ever contemplated any Tunisian or Egyptian revolution," the judge said.

Labels:


Read more...

(WIKILEAKS CABLES) SUBJECT - TONGOGARA REFUGEE CAMP TRIP REPORT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL ZI
SUBJECT: TONGOGARA REFUGEE CAMP TRIP REPORT

--------
Summary
--------

¶1. Representatives from the Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration (PRM) Mary Lange and Nancy Jackson, accompanied by EmbOff, visited Tongogara refugee camp on September 29. Despite harsh economic conditions in Zimbabwe, the nearly 2,700 refugees in Tongogara camp are receiving adequate shelter, food, and water, and have access to basic health care, social services, and education. Most of the refugees in the camp have been there for years, and while many could probably return home, or at least find their way to better opportunities in Zimbabwe's neighboring countries, they remain in Tongogara, holding out for resettlement. To bolster their claims for resettlement, refugees complain about food rations and camp living; these complaints appear largely unsubstantiated. While it is unlikely the majority of the population will be resettled, there may be some vulnerable individuals, particularly among the Somali community and among the young female heads of household, who could be good candidates for third country resettlement. End Summary.

----------------- Refugee Caseload -----------------

¶2. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are 4,311 refugees and asylum seekers in Zimbabwe, of which 2,673 are living in the Tongogara camp located in southern Zimbabwe along the border with Mozambique. The remaining 1,638 refugees are living in urban areas, primarily in Harare. The Zimbabwean government has an encampment policy for refugees. Only those with valid reasons for remaining in urban centers, such as employment, education or medical treatment, are granted permission to live in urban centers. The majority of refugees are from the Great Lakes region. Refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are the largest single group, totaling 2,792, followed by Rwandans (651) and Burundians (597). The remaining 271 refugees are from numerous other countries, including Somalia, Ethiopia, Angola, and Uganda.

¶3. Despite Zimbabwe's deteriorating economic situation, asylum seekers from the DRC and Somala continue to arrive at the Harare Waterfalls Trnsit Center. Many wind up leaving Zimbabwe for etter economic opportunities in South Africa. Whle the Tongogara camp population has remained relatvely stable over the past five years, Zimbabwe'surban refugee population has dramatically declind as hyper-inflation, rampant unemployment, government-induced displacement as a result of Operation Restore Order, and food and fuel shortages have made living and working in Zimbabwe increasingly difficult. (Prior to 2006, urban refugees totaled more than 8,000.) Aside from registration and issuance of an ID card, urban refugees receive no material support from UNHCR. Food rations and non-food items are distributed only to camp-based refugees.

--------------------------------
General PRM/Embassy Observations
--------------------------------

¶4. Tongogara camp was established in 1984 to house Mozambican refugees. At the time of the Mozambican repatriation operations in 1994, the camp was home to some 58,000 refugees. After more than 20 years of operation, the camp has more of a village character than a camp fell. There are permanent housing structures with electricity, schools, churches, a mosque, a police station, shops, a clinic, and at least two bars. The camp is fairly isolated, however, with the nearest major city (Mutare) about a two-hour drive away. The area is very dry, and heavily dependent on irrigation, which in turn is dependent upon increasingly scarce power and fuel supplies. Few prospects exist for refugee self-sufficiency in the area.

¶5. Refugees appear to be in good health. UNHCR has done an excellent job in supplying the camp in the face of the economic crisis in the country. Food rations meet or in some instances exceed minimum standards (more than 2,100 kilocalories/person/day), and the warehouse is full of both food and non-food items, many of which are nearly impossible to find in the rest of Zimbabwe. In fact, local Zimbabwean officials who accompanied us were amazed by the abundance of HARARE 00000952 002 OF 003 such staples as sugar and maize, none of which can be found now on the local market.

¶6. Supplies must be trucked in from South Africa, and this poses a significant drain on operating funds. UNHCR has creatively managed to obtain six months worth of food rations from the World Food Program (WFP) in 2007, despite the fact that WFP does not typically provide food for refugee camp populations of less than 5,000 people. Firewood is scarce in this dry area, and UNHCR should consider including in non-food distributions some alternative sources of fuel, such as energy bricks.

¶7. Refugees report receiving their full rations, but complain that rations are insufficient. However, when we asked our Zimbabwean driver about the amount of rations an average Zimbabwean family would consume in a month, it was clear that the refugee rations exceed this average. Since the refugees have better access to food than the local population, some refugees trade or sell their food to the local community for other commodities. Refugees also supplement their monthly food rations by maintaining household gardens and livestock. Some also run small scale trading businesses with the surrounding rural areas. Children seemed well fed and energetic, and all were clothed and shoed. All the children we spoke with were enrolled in school, and camp administrators report that some 500 children are attending primary school. Due to the high number of students, the primary school operates in shifts. Sixty-nine students attend secondary school at the camp, and UNHCR sponsors another 49 students at boarding schools.

¶8. The camp clinic is clean, well organized, and well stocked with drugs, supplies and equipment. It is staffed with two nurses, two nurse elders and one general helper, although refugees complained about the lack of regular access to a medical doctor (another shortage in Zimbabwe in general). The nurses treat from 60 to 120 patients per day, 30 percent of whom are Zimbabweans from the nearby town, Chipinge. Malaria, acute respiratory infection, and skin disease are the most common illnesses, followed by diarrhea, injuries, and sexually transmitted infections. There have been no reported cases of malnutrition in the camp.

¶9. Refugees have access to sufficient shelter, latrines, and potable water. Although part of the camp has electricity, some generators are awaiting repair and newer sections of the camp have no access to electricity. With the relocation of some urban refugees to the camp in the wake of the government's 2005 Operation Restore Order campaign (that destroyed high density housing areas in and around Harare and displaced hundreds of thousands of people), UNHCR has expanded Tongagara Camp's capacity. Twenty-five new huts have been added to the camp and new latrines have been constructed with FY06 Ambassadors Fund for Refugees support to World Vision. The primary school will also be expanded with FY07 Ambassadors' Fund support to the Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA).

¶10. In consultation with refugee leaders, UNHCR has formed refugee committees to discuss gender-based violence (GBV), child protection, education, and HIV/AIDS. The GBV committee is working to promote the identification and reporting of cases, but work on combating GBV should be expanded. The HIV/AIDS committee is promoting voluntary counseling and training and working to combat the stigma of the disease. Surprisingly, the camp's HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is extremely low (3 percent of those tested are positive). Those who do test positive are referred to Zimbabwean social services where they receive free anti-retroviral medication and counseling.

----------------- Durable Solutions -----------------

¶11. Most of the camp-based refugees have been living in Tongogara since the mid 1990's. Single males and young girls under 16 years of age make up the majority of the camp population. Most of this protracted caseload desires third country resettlement. Some resettlement is occurring: UNHCR Zimbabwe has resettled some 280 refugees in the past year, mostly DRC refugees to Australia, and anticipates similar figures for 2008. UNHCR's resettlement criteria include victims of torture and/or violence, women at risk, and refugees lacking another durable solution. In November, the US/Joint Voluntary Agency (JVA) in Nairobi will travel to HARARE 00000952 003 OF 003 Tongogara to pre-screen UNHCR resettlement referrals for the US refugee resettlement program. PRM indicated that they would recommend possibly increasing resettlement opportunities for Somalis (who clearly cannot return to their country of origin) as well as many of the refugee women in the camp who could be at risk given the predominately young (and very aggressive) male refugee population.

¶12. While resettlement may be an option for some of the refugees, repatriation is possible for many other groups including the Rwandans, Burundians, Angolans, and Congolese (with the exception of those from the Kivu Provinces). However, these groups have resisted repatriation, despite intensive information campaigns, "go and see" visits and tripartite agreements, choosing to remain in Tongogara with the expectation that they will eventually be resettled to Australia, the US, Canada or the Nordic countries. Greater efforts could be made, perhaps following the JVA visit, to explain resettlement procedures to refugees and ensure that their expectations are more in line with reality.
DHANANI

Labels: , ,


Read more...

Thursday, March 17, 2011

(LUSAKATIMES) You can’t have my land -Chief Musele tells First Quantum minerals

You can’t have my land -Chief Musele tells First Quantum minerals
Thursday, March 17, 2011, 14:53

Senior Chief Musele of the Lunda people of Solwezi district in North western Province has said he would not sign the surface rights for the development of the Trident project by First Quantum Minerals if the 750 square kilometres being asked for is not revised.

Senior Chief Musele said he would not go ahead and sign because the land being asked for by the mining company is too much and suggested that they take up only 500 square kilometres.

He expressed fear that if the mine was given that much land his people would have no where to settle and do their farming activities from because the whole
area would be taken up.

The traditional leader was speaking during a meeting organised by the Environmental Council of Zambia at Wanyinwa Basic School in Solwezi on Wednesday.

Senior Chief Musele bemoaned gaps in the way information flowed between the two parties, citing the non availability of the map which clearly stated boundaries and where the mining activity starts and ends.

He added that information on a number of families to be affected by the mining activities through displacement had also not been disclosed.

Meanwhile, the senior chief has appealed to the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) to consider translating the Environmental Impact Assessment draft report for the Trident project into local languages to enable locals have a clear understanding of its contents.

The chief also appealed for more time from ECZ to enable him study the draft report thoroughly.

Speaking at the same meeting, acting Senior Chief Sailung’a of Mwinilunga district observed that development brought about both a negative and positive impact on the people and environment hence the need to work out modalities on how to mitigate the negative impact.

Senior Chief Sailung’a said the coming of the Trident project would tamper with nature as trees and rivers that have been sustaining people’s livelihoods would be disturbed adding that the mine should try to protect these in every way possible.

ZANIS

Labels: , , ,


Read more...

(GLOBALRESEARCH) Wikileaks reveal U.S. conspired to retaliate against European nations if they resisted GMOs

Wikileaks reveal U.S. conspired to retaliate against European nations if they resisted GMOs
Global Research, March 10, 2011
Natural News - 2010-12-10
by Mike Adams

Wikileaks continues to rock the political world by shedding light on conspiracies, corruption and cover-ups. The latest batch of diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks reveals what can only be characterized as a U.S.-led conspiracy to force GMOs onto European countries by making those countries pay a steep price if they resist.

The cable reveals the words of Craig Stapleton, the US ambassador to France, who was pushing the commercial interests of the biotech industry by attempting to force GMOs into France. In his own words (below), he expresses his frustration with the idea that France might pass environmental laws that would hamper the expansion of GMOs:

"Europe is moving backwards not forwards on this issue with France playing a leading role, along with Austria, Italy and even the [European] Commission... Moving to retaliation will make clear that the current path has real costs to EU interests and could help strengthen European pro-biotech voice."

Got that so far? His own words: "Retaliation" as a way to "make [it] clear" that resisting GMOs will have a price.

Stapleton goes on to say something rather incredible:

"Country team Paris recommends that we calibrate a target retaliation list that causes some pain across the EU since this is a collective responsibility, but that also focuses in part on the worst culprits. The list should be measured rather than vicious and must be sustainable over the long term, since we should not expect an early victory..."

As you read these words again, remember that these are the words of the U.S. ambassador to France who is suggesting the US "calibrate a target retaliation list" in order to "cause some pain across the EU" that must be "sustainable over the long term."

The global GMO conspiracy is no longer a theory

Need we say anything more? This cable proves, once and for all, that there is a global GMO conspiracy where government operatives work in secret to push Monsanto's GMO agenda while punishing opponents of GMOs and adding them to a "target retaliation list."

This cable also proves that NaturalNews has been right all along about the GMO conspiracy, and that GMO opponents such as Jeffrey Smith are battling what can only be called an evil conspiracy to control the world's food supply. It also proves that when Alex Jones talks about the global conspiracy to control the world food supply, he's not just ranting. He's warning about the reality of the world in which we now live.

As Jeffery Smith said today in a Democracy Now interview:

"We’ve been saying for years that the United States government is joined at the hip with Monsanto and pushing GMOs as part of Monsanto’s agenda on the rest of the world. This lays bare the mechanics of that effort. We have Craig Stapleton, the former ambassador to France, specifically asking the U.S. government to retaliate and cause some harm throughout the European Union." (Source: Democracy Now)

Military terms

Do you notice something about these words used by the US ambassador to France? "Calibrate a target retaliation list" sounds eerily familiar, doesn't it? It's the kind of language you might find tossed around in a military bombing war exercise.

That's no coincidence: These government operatives quite literally consider themselves to be at war with the world, and they intend to conquer the world with their genetically modified poisons. They will do anything, it seems, to force-feed their deadly crops to the public.

Eight important realizations from these leaks

This Wikileaks cable brings up all sorts of issues that each might deserve a separate article, but here are the highlights of what comes to my mind on this issue:

Realization #1) Wikileaks is valuable for exposing the government lies in our world. Without Wikileaks, we never would have known about these cables which prove the existence of this GMO conspiracy.

Realization #2) US government diplomatic officials are working for the corporations! It's just as we've described here on NaturalNews numerous times -- Big Government is really just an extension of the most evil and most powerful corporations that now dominate our planet: The drug companies, the weapons manufacturers, the agricultural giants and so on. Here's what Jeffrey Smith had to say about governments conspiring with Monsanto:

"In 2009, we have a cable from the ambassador to Spain from the United States asking for intervention there, asking the government to help formulate a biotech strategy and support the government -- members of the government in Spain that want to promote GMOs, as well. And here, they specifically indicate that they sat with the director of Monsanto for the region and got briefed by him about the politics of the region and created strategies with him to promote the GMO agenda."

Realization #3) The US is willing to retaliate against European countries if they try to block GMOs. This brings up the question: Why is the US so desperate to push GMOs on Europe? Clearly there is another agenda behind all this (maybe we'll learn more in future Wikileaks releases).

Realization #4) No wonder the US government has declared war on Wikileaks because these dark secrets and "conspiracy notes" are never made public through any normal means. It takes a whistleblower to expose the true government corruption taking place in our world today.

Realization #5) The GMO conspiracy reaches to the highest levels of global control. This US ambassador Stapleton wasn't just a nobody. He was, in fact, the co-owner of the Texas Rangers with former President George W. Bush! His wife, by the way, is George Bush's cousin. This is a conspiracy involving the highest-ranking officials across multiple countries who are pushing a GMO agenda that's poisoning people across the planet.

Realization #6) Governments are literally trying to kill their own people. It is widely known in the inner circles of power that GMOs are deadly, but governments keep pushing them anyway. As Jeffrey Smith explains in his interview with Democracy Now:

"...the person who was in charge of FDA policy in 1992, Monsanto’s former attorney, Michael Taylor, he allowed GMOs on the market without any safety studies and without labeling, and the policy claimed that the agency was not aware of any information showing that GMOs were significantly different. Seven years later, because of a lawsuit, 44,000 secret internal FDA memos revealed that that policy was a lie. Not only were the scientists at the FDA aware that GMOs were different, they had warned repeatedly that they might create allergies, toxins, new diseases and nutritional problems. But they were ignored, and their warnings were even denied, and the policy went forth allowing the deployment GMOs into the food supply with virtually no safety studies."

Realization #7) The GMO conspiracy is always reframed as "science". At one point in the leaked cables, Stapleton warns that in opposing GMOs, France would "roll back established science-based decision making." The GMO conspiracy, you have to remember, is always hidden behind the term "science" so that anyone who opposes GMOs can be characterized as being somehow against "scientific thinking."

All this gives science a bad name, of course, but I suppose that since the history of science is filled with arrogant scientists poisoning people in the name of science (mercury, vaccines, radiation, plastics, medications, etc.), we shouldn't be all that surprised to observe this.

Realization #8) Spain has been a key co-conspirator to push the U.S. GMO agenda. Much of the conspiring taking place in the EU has been spearheaded by Spain, whose officials met personally with the head of Monsanto to plot their push of GMOs into Europe.

All of a sudden the Blackwater story adds up

This all reminds me of a story published a few months back by The Nation in which Jeremy Scahill exposed a link between Monsanto and the military contractor known as Blackwater. His article claimed that Monsanto had hired Blackwater spies to "infiltrate activist groups organizing against the multinational biotech firm." (http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/16/disney-monsanto-discovered-blackwaters-hidden-clients/)

Monsanto vehemently denied the allegation. I looked hard at covering that story at the time but could not substantiate the accusations to my satisfaction. However, given the new information gleaned from these leaked diplomatic cables -- which blatantly state that the GMO conspirators plan to "calibrate a target retaliation list" -- all of a sudden the Blackwater story adds up.

This is the verbage of a military-style retaliation campaign, and that's exactly the business of Blackwater. Remember how Stapleton said the US needed to "cause some pain?" That's Blackwater's calling card!

Although these cables don't prove any connection between Monsanto and Blackwater, they do lend credence to the idea that such a link is not only possibly, but perhaps even probable. It clearly deserves additional investigation.

Regardless of whether the Blackwater / Monsanto link is ever proven, what's crystal clear from all this is that the global GMO conspiracy is very real and that GMO conspirators plot retaliatory actions against any nation that refuses to allow GMOs into their country.

The whole thing is then disguised as "science" so that anyone who opposes it can be branded as "non-scientific." This is the same sick way in which vaccines are pushed, too: They're called "scientific" even when they're based entirely on scientific fraud (as are GMOs).

How governments really operate

Above all, what these Wikileaks cables really reveal is that government conspiracies are, of course, not only real but that they are taking place right now. Diplomats and ambassadors are, in effect, government thugs who engage in the most unethical actions, full of threats and retaliation, in order to serve the financial interests of their corporate masters.

That's how the world really works, despite the Disney-like image portrayed by the mainstream media. Behind the scenes, the U.S. government is literally plotting with Monsanto to take over the world's food supply. That is not an exaggeration. It's not conjecture. It is a statement of fact based on the words of the government's own operatives (who obviously didn't know their words would ever be made public).

Through Wikileaks, we have been given a glimpse into the truth behind the Great Wall of government lies. And that truth, it turns out, is a lot uglier than most people could have imagined. (It's no surprise to me, because I've seen things that most regular people have never witnessed. But to a regular Joe Blow working his J.O.B. and watching the evening news, the hard-core truth about the world is a bit too much to handle...)

Personally, I can't wait to see what other dark secrets are buried in these Wikileaks cables. And it all makes me wish we had a Wikileaks for the FDA, too. Can you imagine all the dirty secrets that would come out of the FDA's offices if we could read their emails? We need an FDA leaker.

The other thought that comes to mind is how much I wouldn't want to be Julian Assange right now. His head is now the world's most powerful bullet magnet... especially when government rifles are anywhere nearby. If the U.S. government would conspire to create a "retaliation target list" of nations that are merely resisting GMOs, can you imagine what they will do if they ever get their hands on Assange?

Read the leaked cables right here:

http://213.251.145.96/cable/2008/02/08MADRID98.html

and

http://213.251.145.96/cable/2009/05/09MADRID482.html

(Note: These links may not be active for very long because the governments of the world are obviously trying to shut down all the websites that post this information. The truth, it seems, is just too dangerous to allow it to be openly published.)

How to turn all this around

Don't let all this get you down. You can take action to help turn this around!

Action Item #1) Don't buy GMO foods! Look for the non-GMO "Project Verified" label on foods.

Action Item #2) Urge lawmakers to oppose GMOs or require honest GMO labeling of foods.

Action Item #3) Help support the Institute for Responsible Technology and other non-profits working to oppose GMOs.

Action Item #4) Stay informed! Read NaturalNews and our Facebook GMO Dangers page (www.facebook.com/GMO.dangers) to stay up on this issue. The IRT (above) will keep you even more deeply informed on GMOs.

Action Item #5) Share what you know! Share videos, cartoons, articles and websites with your friends and family members who also care about protecting their health from GMOs.

Action Item #6) Don't trust the government! They are pushing a GMO conspiracy. They don't want you to have natural food, and the FDA is now being unleashed under the new food safety bill to destroy small farmers who tend to use non-GMO crops. Fight against government encroachment of our natural right to grow honest food. Support food freedom!

Global Research Articles by Mike Adams

Labels: , , ,


Read more...