(STICKY) (NEWZIMBABWE) Sanctions don’t create potholes, US envoy
Shame, shame, shame to the United States! ... Mugabe berates US over sanctions
13/02/2014 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
COMMENT - This is the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe - what a lying lawyer. Admit to the existence of economic sanctions, so you can admit to the effects of your economic sanctions. They are still lying about the existence and effect of economic sanctions, rather than repeal them. Shame on America for being used to implement Rockefeller/Rothschild/British Crown/Dutch Crown neo-colonial system (Rothschild Bank funded De Beers in 1887, after which the renowned imperialist Cecil Rhodes became it's Founding Chairman of the board of directors in 1888), shame on the MDC. However, in the la-la-land narrative of Ambassador Wharton, Zimbabwe is free from outside influence. Free to set it's own domestic and foreign policy. Liars, thieves and murderers.
On the various statistics surrounding the economic sanctions against Zimbabwe, see my April 2010 post here, which includes a statement from then Georgia Representative Cynthia McKinney, who had it right from the start. - MrK
ZIMBABWE’S economic and political problems are self-made and a shift in policy could assist in developing a new trajectory for the country, US ambassador to Zimbabwe Bruce Wharton said Thursday.
“My fundamental point in all of this is that Zimbabwe has the right and the power to make policy decisions.
Just not redistribute the land that was stolen under the colonialism and UDI, both of which the American government supported, land that should have a) never been stolen in the first place and 2) should have been given back in 1965. How about some back rent? - MrK
"Some of these have had significant demonstrable effects on the economy, effects far greater than the targeted sanctions,” Wharton told a Southern African Political Economy Series (SAPES) meeting in Harare.
Still lying about the existence of economic sanctions, like ZDERA. And pray tell, what are the 'economic effects' of 'targeted sanctions', you lying hypocrite?
Here is what is in ZDERA, and you can tell for yourself whether the objective of the sanctions are 'individuals' or 'the Government of Zimbabwe' as a whole. From the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001, S.494 of the 107th US Congress:
SEC. 4. SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
(c) MULTILATERAL FINANCING RESTRICTION- Until the President makes the certification described in subsection (d), and except as may be required to meet basic human needs or for good governance, the Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive director to each international financial institution to oppose and vote against--
(1) any extension by the respective institution of any loan, credit, or guarantee to the Government of Zimbabwe; or
(2) any cancellation or reduction of indebtedness owed by the Government of Zimbabwe to the United States or any international financial institution.
So, what do your lying eyes tell you - are these sanctions against individuals (targeted or otherwise), or against 'the Government of Zimbabwe'?
Talking about 'targeted sanctions', blaming War Veterans' pensions, SHAMEFUL.
- MrK
President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party insist sanctions imposed by the US and European countries are responsible for Zimbabwe’s economic problems.
They are, and were intended to. As economic sanctions always are. If anyone is naive or ignorant enough to doubt the genocidal effect of economic sanctions, let's ask Madeleine Albright (of the Albright Stonebridge Group, which is co-chaired with Sandy Berger, who is also on the International Crisis Group), and Bill Richardson (former Sr. Managing Director at Kissinger & Associates, and executive at Citi Bank).
(YOUTUBE) Madeleine Albright Says Deaths Of 500,000 Iraqi Children Is Worth It
And in case you thought you misheard that, or she misspoke, here is fellow clintonite, the Kissinger Associates employee Bill Richardson:
(YOUTUBE) Richardson: 500,000 dead kids OK in pursuit of U.S. policy
Admit it, Bruce, a couple of tens of thousands of dead Zimbabweans is more than acceptable in the pursuit of US policy in Zimbabwe, after all, they own 20% of the world's known diamond reserves, and De Beers wants it. Over 60,000 dead Libyans, including the lynchings of Black Libyans, was more than acceptable in pursuit of Libya's 47.1 billion barrels of known oil reserves - just ask Susan E. Rice and her 'responsibility to protect'. - MrK
The sanctions were imposed over allegations of rights abuses and electoral fraud which the Zanu PF strongman denies.
Economic sanctions were imposed because De Beers wants to get hold of Zimbabwe's diamonds, and the MDC is their ticket. The MDC wants to privatise everything, except the diamond fields, so they can create a PPP with De Beers, like De Beers has in Namibia (NAMDEB) and Botswana (DEBSWANA), a ZIMDEB or DEBZIM. ("We will nationalise diamonds and ensure that government goes into partnership with genuine investors." - source: MDC’s plan for the mining sector, Saturday, 13 July 2013, from the very MDC friendly SW Radio Africa website.) - MrK
But President Barack Obama’s top man in Harare said blaming sanctions for Zimbabwe’s problems was a diversionary tactic by Mugabe's administration.
“The US takes great care to minimise any unintended consequences from targeted sanctions and I can tell you that my embassy works hard to try to resolve any that may arise. But, blaming targeted sanctions for Zimbabwe’s serious economic challenges or for issues such as potholes and road accidents is diversionary,” he said.
“Worse, such statements do not acknowledge Zimbabwe’s agency, its ability to address its challenges and to mobilize its magnificent natural resources and human capital.
Like, sell it's diamonds, which the United States has attempted to prevent at every turn? - MrK
“Zimbabwe is tremendously blessed in human and natural resources, and the narrative that targeted sanctions are the reason for economic woes undermines and obscures this nation’s vast capabilities.”
And you obscure the role of the United States, and the MDC in the creation of economic sanctions, like the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001. If it is so insignificant - REPEAL IT. If economic sanctions were so insignificant, why did they destroy the national currency the year they came into force - in 2002, not 2000 ('farm invasions'), or 1997 ('pensions for War Veterans')? And apologize to the Zimbabwean people for the economic sanctions that were imposed on them, just because they made the choice to exercise "Zimbabwe’s agency", by taking their stolen land back. They are the ones who should be compensated for a century of foreign occupation and theft of their land, cattle, labor and freedom. An occupation and harassment that goes on to this very day. - MrK
The US is willing to work with the Zanu PF government.
“We are also willing to work with members of the Zanu PF government that are willing to work with us,” Wharton added.
He means 'divide and rule'. - MrK
“As a Zanu PF-supporting friend of mine said … yes, I do have those … the burden of diplomacy is to keep seeking engagement until all conflict is ended. I agree with that and I am willing. The US government is willing”.
Wharton said decisions including the unbudgeted 1997 cash-pay-outs given to war veterans and the economic turnaround witnessed between 2008 and 2010 provide insight into the positive and negative effects of critical policy decisions by government.
Did the 'unbudgeted 1997 cash-pay-outs given to war veterans' have a worse effect on the Zimbabwean government, than the implementation of austerity through ESAP, from 1991 to 1996? And he is blaming the highly predictable and monotonously repeated destructive effect of structural adjustment on the economies of the world (job losses, reduction in healthcare and education, destruction of local businesses in favour of transnational corporations) - on pensions for War Veterans? What a neoliberal scumbag. - MrK
“There were no sanctions in 1997 and they had not been varied in 2008. Zimbabwe’s sovereign policy decisions are the primary drivers of its economic performance,” he insisted.
From 1991 to 1996, there was ESAP. Own up to THAT.
From Antonia Juhasz "The Tragic Tale of the IMF in Zimbabwe.", March 7th, 2004:
" An IMF-sponsored study of its policies in Zimbabwe concluded that it "radically underestimated the social consequences," of its policies and that the "social hardship was avoidably severe because of poor program design." In other words, the IMF is to blame for the deadly impacts of its policies in Zimbabwe. "
In essence,
In essence, Zimbabwe was forced to implement every radical economic policy in the Fund’s arsenal immediately, without any concern for the impacts of those policies on the populace.
As a result,
The impacts were devastating.
Both employment and real wages declined sharply. During 1991-1996, manufacturing employment fell by 9 percent and wages dropped by 26 percent. Public sector employment fell by 23 percent, with wages dropping by 40 percent. While pocketbooks shrank, food prices soared, increasing by 36 percent. Private consumption levels declined by about one-fourth with urban households being particularly hard-hit. Worse still, the economy did not respond as the Fund had hoped and the government deficit increased. This put the country into a "debt trap" where it was losing money while simultaneously having to pay interest on its loans owed to the Fund and the World Bank. This created a losing spiral of increasing indebtedness and poverty.
However Ambassador Wharton is going on about a few 'pensions for War Veterans'? Is that neoliberal 'code', because it doesn't make sense in dollar terms.
- MrK
“Zimbabwe’s economy has been through dramatic ups and downs in the last 15 years. You all know that better than I do. But the idea that targeted U.S. sanctions have caused Zimbabwe’s economic woes simply does not hold up to critical analysis, the evidence is clear,” he said
Oh, the evidence is clear alright. In Jan 1st 2002, ZDERA 2001 came into force. This is the effect on tobacco exports - notice that from 2001 to 2002, after the 2000 'farm invasions', long after the 1997 payments to War Veterans, tobacco exports grew, and in 2002, the year ZDERA came into effect, they dramatically fell.
Tobacco Exports in million US$:
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
548.8 594.1 434.6 321.3 226.7 203.8
Trade Deficit in million US$ (a negative deficit is a surplus):
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
-295.6 -322.5 18.2 108.3 305.2 387.9 231.3
Source: Special Report, FAO/WFP Crop And Food Supply Assessment Mission To Zimbabwe, 5 June 2007
Table 1: Zimbabwe - Key economic indicators, 2000–2007
It is also in 2002, that the Zimbabwe Dollar started it's hyperinflationary decline against the US Dollar - see chart here.
Hey, the evidence is in, Bruce.
- MrK
“Now, this fact ought to be encouraging to Zimbabweans because it means that Zimbabwe need not wait until real or imagined external forces create the conditions needed for economic growth.
So repeal ZDERA, you jerk. - MrK
“Zimbabwe’s economy is in the hands of Zimbabweans. While businesses, labour unions, trade associations, courts and schools all have important roles, economic destiny starts with decisions made by the government of Zimbabwe.”
Sure, because unlike every other government in the world, the Zimbabwean government exists in a vacuum, free from external forces, even though their economy is heavily dependent on exports. - MrK
Mugabe had hoped that his victory in last year’s violence-free elections would lead to the immediate removal of the sanctions but the EU and the US have backed claims by the opposition that the vote was fraudulent, infuriating the Zanu PF leader.
However, the EU has indicated it will lift its remaining sanctions next week, although not on Mugabe and his wife Grace.
Labels: AMBASSADOR, BRUCE WHARTON, LYING, SANCTIONS, ZDERA
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'UPND needs to change'
By Editor
Fri 29 Nov. 2013, 14:00 CAT
The UPND must begin by recognising the scale of their poor electoral performance and of their problem. Why has the electoral performance of the UPND been declining since 2001? Honest answers to this question will help the UPND move forward and see a reversal of political fortunes.
The advice Dr Katele Kalumba is giving the UPND, albeit for free and unsolicited, is very valuable. The UPND needs to change its ways - its strategies, tactics and also probably do a bit more work on principles.
Katele says "there is need for a lot of effort and change in the way one relates to people, especially the grassroots. Unfortunately, I don't see a major change in the culture of the UPND.
With due respect, I think the UPND has a lot to do to change the image that they are an inward-looking party rather than an outward-looking party. They have concentrated too much on Lusaka politics, but we in rural areas don't listen to the politics of Lusaka. So I don't see radical change in popular views of their status as a political party in Northern or Luapula provinces".
What has been the discernible political strategy of the UPND over the last seven years of Hakainde Hichilema's leadership of the party? Failed pacts! Regionalisation of the party! Preaching the same worn-out message of being discriminated against every day!
In 2006, the UPND tried to forge an opposition pact that took it nowhere. That pact was beset by hostilities towards them from their partners. In 2009, the UPND initiated another pact with the Patriotic Front. It also failed. Why?
The UPND has been very much on radio in Lusaka. Its cadres are every day on phone in radio programmes literally dominating them. But what is their impact? Nothing. It is the same chaps every day singing the same song and people are simply fed up with them. Of course, this can be misleading and it makes the UPND feel it has an impact in Lusaka. Yes, they easily get excited with small things and exaggerate their support base. Before the 2011 elections, they used to claim they were the most popular political party in Lusaka and the Copperbelt. But like in 2008, they performed very badly in Lusaka and on the Copperbelt.
Hakainde spends more time in North Western, Western, Southern provinces and the lower parts of Central Province. And with this, he thinks he can win the presidential election. How? As Katele correctly observes, Hakainde hardly spends any serious time in Luapula, Northern and Muchinga provinces. For the Eastern Province, he seems to think that his alliance or relationship with Rupiah Banda will secure him the necessary vote. This is a fallacy. Things don't work that way.
When one listens to Hakainde and his followers, the message is always the same regardless of where they are. It is a repeat of the same message all the time and everywhere. They are all the time crying about being discriminated on account of tribe and trying to assert themselves politically on the basis of tribe.
They seriously lack creativity politically. And when Hakainde tries to be humorous, it is about demeaning women, it's about marriages and sex. Who wants to listen to that all the time?
There is need for the UPND to take stock of its politics and revise its strategy and tactics. It doesn't make sense to hang on to strategies and tactics that have repeatedly failed in successive elections.
Without touching on the suitability of Hakainde as a presidential candidate of the UPND, there is a lot, as Katele observes, that needs to change if the UPND is to be taken seriously as a political party seeking power. At the next elections, the Zambian voters would have known the UPND as a political party for 15 years and Hakainde as a politician seeking to be president for 10 years. There will be no surprises - people now know who they are and what they stand for. They may not vote for them as they have done in the past, but they know them. They know their identity. They know their character as a political party. And without changing their ways, the result will almost be the same.
Change is a necessity for the UPND to move forward. For them to win in 2016, a lot of things will need to change. They may not be able to change their presidential candidate but they will certainly need to change his ways, his approach, his political strategy and tactics. And they may have to force him to adhere to principles.
As we have repeatedly stated, political parties that do not change die. And if the UPND does not change, it will not survive for long; if it survives, it will be just in name like UNIP.
Many things are changing in our politics. And if things are changing in the way politics is conducted in this county, and they don't, then they will become of no value or consequence to our politics.
In advising them to change their ways, we are in no way implying that they should lose their identity. We are simply urging them to keep their relevance and gain the nation's trust.
Their reading of politics has been very poor. In 2011, they strongly believed that without a pact, no opposition party could defeat the MMD. When they failed to assume hegemony over their pact with the Patriotic Front, they pulled out and joined forces with the totally discredited and corrupt MMD of Rupiah. And together, they were defeated by the Patriotic Front.
What strong message do Hakainde and the UPND have for Zambians to convince them to vote for them? Insulting, trying to humiliate and belittle Michael? Is that a message that will enable Hakainde and the UPND to gain the trust and confidence of the Zambian people? We doubt it!
They need to improve their understanding of things. It is well known that when you do anything, unless you understand its actual circumstances, its nature and its relations to other things, you will not know the laws governing it, or know how to do it, or be able to do it well. This is what dialectics teaches us. That is, if a man wants to succeed in his work, and achieve the anticipated results, he must bring his ideas into correspondence with the laws of the objective external world; if they do not correspond, he will fail in his practice. After he fails, he draws his lessons, corrects his ideas to make them correspond to the laws of the external world, and can thus turn failure into success. Concrete analysis of concrete conditions, as Lenin said, is the most essential thing in politics, the living soul of politics. In this world, things are complicated and are decided by many factors. We should look at problems from different aspects, not just one. In approaching a problem, we should try to see the whole as well as the parts. A frog in a well says, "The sky is no bigger than the mouth of the well."
That is untrue, for the sky is not just the size of the mouth of the well. If it said, "A part of the sky is the size of the mouth of a well", that would be true, for it tallies with facts. And this is probably why Katele is urging the UPND and its leadership "to change the image that they are an inward-looking party rather than an outward-looking party".
In seeking an electoral victory, those deciding the political strategies and tactics of a political party cannot overstep the limitations imposed by the objective conditions; within these limitations, however, they can and must play a dynamic role in striving for victory. Their stage for campaign must be built upon objective possibilities, but on that stage they can direct the performance of many a drama, full of sound and colour, power and grandeur.
People must adapt their thinking to changed conditions. Of course, no one should go off into wild flights of fancy, or make plans of action unwarranted by the objective situation, or stretch for the impossible.
We should always use our brains and think everything over carefully. A common saying goes, "Knit your brows and you will hit upon a stratagem." In other words, much thinking yields wisdom. In order to get rid of the blindness which exists to a serious extent in their party, the UPND leaders and members must encourage their comrades to cultivate the habit of honest analysis of politics. If they don't, they will keep on getting things wrong, coming to wrong conclusions from correct premises like they did in the 2011 elections and the elections before. What is needed is an enthusiastic but calm state of mind and intense but orderly work. We hope they will not dismiss all this as insults on their intelligence. Like Katele, we are simply sharing our views with them. If they find anything valuable in what is being said, let them take it for free. If everything that is being said is crap, let them graciously ignore it.
Labels: KATELE KALUMBA, UPND
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Canisius refuses to give UPND details
By Kombe Chimpinde-Mataka
Fri 29 Nov. 2013, 14:01 CAT
UPND Kalomo member of parliament Request Mutanga says it is wrong for Dr Canisius Banda to go to State House and have a meeting with President Michael Sata without clearance from party leader Hakainde Hichilema.
And Dr Banda, who is UPND vice-president for politics, says he cannot divulge what he discussed with President Sata to UPND members because he holds the office of the President in very high esteem.
Meanwhile party deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says he understands the speculation generated by Dr Banda's visit to State House as he (Mweetwa) had faced similar circumstances.
Muntanga, who is also UPND chairman for agriculture, said yesterday that Dr Banda was a senior member of the party who was aware of the party's position on such matters.
"Banda is a very senior member for our party and he knows that for him to go to Nkwazi House, he must inform the party. I want to hear from him. Why did he do that? He was telling the party only after they had known about it. He didn't tell us," Muntanga explained.
"Now if senior members like a vice-president can go to State House without clearing with his immediate boss,and report back, it is a problem. I have not spoken to him yet, but what I am saying is that he is causing this (speculation) on himself. You see, someone must be able to state clearly why they are going there. That is the problem."
Muntanga said that the PF, while in the opposition, did not tolerate such matters and that members that would even be seen receiving dignitaries from the government, would be punished.
"He has caused speculation because he knows our stand that if you are going to start going to State House,it would appear as though you have some links. It is very bad. Even during the time when the PF where in the opposition, them even the mere receiving of dignitaries at the airport, members were disciplined," he explained.
"You know this issue, is an issue of trust. We should be able to trust one another. It is a question of being clear what one is doing and them (party) to be sure of what you are doing. The question of clearance cannot be ignored. Mind you in government,even for the minister to leave Lusaka, they must seek permission from the President that they are travelling from Lusaka. Even at home, the husband will have to tell the wife that I am going this side. If everyone was to go to any party every time or to State House to consult, it is going to be a disorderly thing."
And Dr Banda said that he had resolved the issue of him going to State House where he met President Sata.
"I hold the office of the President in very high esteem. I cannot divulge the contents of the report that I submitted. I trust the Republican President, in his own time will act on it as he deems fit," Dr Banda said. "As far as I am concerned,this matter was discussed thoroughly at various levels and resolved."
Meanwhile Mweetwa, who is also UPND Choma member of parliament said Dr Banda's issue should be an internal matter.
"Many of us find ourselves insituations that from the perception of a by-stander or on-looker, appears to beat variance with the party position and what some members would have loved to see or not to see. It is normal," Mweetwa said. "For me who is in the media,there are several times I have issued statements that I have been accused of issuing because I am supporting PF. Out of parliament or within parliament and the party has called to enquire of statements that appear to be putting the party into ridicule. I have on several occasions been a subject of that."
Mweetwa said that he was not worried because he knew what he stood for.
"That has not dampened my morale because my role again requires me to defend the party while others are quiet. Those who keep quiet just evaluate what I say. I think this is also a time to also understand party philosophy. I am also aware that Dr Banda is a doctor, he has a profession. Now it is just a question of marrying professional undertaking by somebody and wearing a party gown," said Mweetwa.
Dr Banda met President Sata on November 15 to discuss national issues.The UPND leadership wants to know why Dr Banda did not inform them of the visit and what he discussed.But Dr Banda said he would not tell them.
Dr Banda recently ditched MMD for UPND where he was given the portfolio of vice-president for politics.
Labels: CANISIUS BANDA, MICHAEL SATA, UPND
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UPND hopeful of scooping Malambo seat
By Peter Sukwa in Chipata
Fri 29 Nov. 2013, 14:00 CAT
OPPOSITION UPND in Mambwe district says it is hopeful of scooping the Malambo parliamentary seat despite losing the Nsefu ward to PF last week. And PF Malambo Constituency candidate, Jacob Shuma, says he is not a political novice and should not be demeaned.
In an interview on Wednesday, UPND Mambwe district coordinator, Mike Phiri, said the party had realised the mistakes that led to its defeat in the recent Nsefu ward by-election.
He said UPND's loss in the Nsefu ward by-election was not an indicator of another defeat in the forthcoming parliamentary by -election.
When asked what would happen if Maxwell Mwale, the UPND candidate, is stopped from contesting the seat by the Supreme Court, Phiri said the party would pick a replacement.
"Mwale is the sole candidate for UPND and if anything happens, the party is not short of capable leaders. At the moment, we cannot disclose what measure we have put in place, but to tell you the truth, UPND is on the ground and UPND is winning Malambo seat," he said.
Phiri further said that the violence which took place in Nsefu ward by-election was not on the party's postmortem agenda and was not the cause of the loss.
He explained that MMD was no longer on the ground.
Phiri said provincial MMD chairperson Alexander Miti was in the district to assess his party's popularity and had seen for himself that the former ruling party did not stand a chance of winning the seat.
But sources in Mambwe said that Mwale was for the idea that Phiri should contest the seat if the Supreme Court barred him.
And Shuma said he came second to Mwale in 2011 elections when he stood as an independent candidate.
He said standing on the ruling PF's ticket would give him an advantage.
Shuma further said it was not true that UPND had entrenched itself in Malambo, but that Mwale had media influence.
"I am not new in politics, Maxwell had his party…he should not think he commands the valley. I am popular and confident of winning the election," he said.
Shuma, however, called on residents of Mambwe district to remain united and support government if the area was to develop.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, JACOB SHUMA, MIKE PHIRI, UPND
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KK appeals against High Court judgment
By Namatama Mundia
Fri 29 Nov. 2013, 14:01 CAT
DR Kenneth Kaunda has appealed to the Supreme Court against the Lusaka High Court's refusal to set aside a judgment in default that ordered him to pay over US $1.2 million (about K6 million) to five Lusaka law firms who represented him in civil and criminal cases.
This is in a matter in which Sakwiba Sikota's Central Chambers, Lukona Chambers, Patrick Mvunga and Associates, Lighthouse Chambers and Dove Chambers, the plaintiffs in the matter, sued Dr Kaunda and Sebastian Zulu as representatives of UNIP, claiming payment of US$1,208,026.25 plus interest and costs.
This related to the misprision of treason case, citizenship case, Black Mamba case, Kabwe assassination attempt and a presidential petition in which Dr Kaunda retained them.
The plaintiffs stated that Dr Kaunda failed to pay the money despite numerous reminders.
However, Dr Kaunda in his affidavit in opposition had stated that the plaintiffs volunteered their services and at no time during their conduct of the matters did they disclose that they were going to charge him legal fees.
But the Lusaka High Court deputy registrar on December 8, 1998 entered a judgment in default of appearance in favour of the plaintiffs in the sum of US1,208,026.25 with interests and costs.
Soon after the judgment, Dr Kaunda and Zulu applied that the default judgment be set aside.
The defendant appealed to the High Court and judge Dominic Sichinga on November 18, ruled that after considering the grounds of appeal, he found that Dr Kaunda's evidence that he thought the lawyers who sued him were retained on pro bono basis flew in the teeth of the averments he made in his affidavit that he instructed them to represent him personally and Zulu.
But judge Sichinga stated that Dr Kenneth had admitted in his affidavit that he instructed the plaintiffs to defend him but that he was now denying it.
"Further, it has been 15 years since the default judgment was made. I have considered the prejudice which would be occasioned as against the plaintiff. I am of the view that that prejudice is quite real," judge Sichinga ruled.
"In view of the fore stated, this appeal fails. I decline to set aside the default judgment entered on 18th day of December, 1998 as it lacks merit and I find that there has been inordinate delay. Leave to appeal to the Supreme Court is granted. Each party to bear their own costs."
According to a grounds of appeal filed in the Supreme Court, Dr Kaunda and Zulu have filed five grounds against the whole judgment of judge Sichinga.
The duo stated that judge Sichinga erred in law and in fact when he refused to set aside the default judgment and held that the application lacked merit without adjudicating on the evidence adduced before him that the basis of filing the action in issue was meant to help them raise money from well-wishers and that the amounts indicated in the action were based on estimates.
The appellants further stated that the judge erred in law and fact in not appreciating the fact that the alleged admission by Dr Kaunda to have instructed the respondents was contextualised and had to be read with other affidavits explaining the background and issues surrounding the matter in their entirety.
The appellants also stated that the admission was not an admission as to the amounts claimed.
Dr Kaunda and Zulu stated that the judge also erred when he refused to set aside the ruling without adjudicating on whether the action by the respondents was in compliance with the legal practitioners Act Chapter 30 of the Laws of Zambia.
In ground four, the appellants stated that the evaluation of the evidence by the court below was not balanced because only evidence against the appellants was analysed and relied on while evidence in favour of them was not analysed in the ruling such as the fact that the filing of the action was not used as a fundraising venture.
The appellants added that judge Sichinga erred in law by finding that there was inordinate delay.
Labels: COURTS, KENNETH KAUNDA, SAKWIBA SIKOTA
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KCM refunds wrongly deducted PAYE
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Fri 29 Nov. 2013, 14:00 CAT
KONKOLA Copper Mines has refunded all affected employees PAYE deductions that were wrongly effected in the month of October.
Recently, the KCM payroll system was marred with irregularities and salary discrepancies of its mineworkers, with stakeholders and the government blaming the new Systems Application Products-Human Capital Management (SAP-HCM) technology that was introduced by management.
Mineworkers from different Integrated Business Units (IBUs) of KCM complained that they were getting little money as salary, sometimes just half of their usual salaries due to irregularities in the payroll system.
In a memo addressed to all KCM employees, acting vice-president for Human Capital Management, Eve Banda, said the refund was with effect from November 2013 and the balance of Pay As you Earn (PAYE) would no longer be deducted.
"This is to advise that the PAYE deducted under the Code 526D from employees in the month of October 2013 had been refunded to all affected employees...This will be displayed on the deduction side of the statement under the payroll Code 526D-PAYE recovery which would show a negative deduction and negative balance amount signifying total reversal," the memo read in part.
In September, deputy minister of Mines Richard Musukwa said KCM was expected to show seriousness regarding the issue of pay anomalies, as it was a responsibility of the company to demonstrate competence and proficiency in the management of salaries for its employees.
Labels: KCM, PAYE, RICHARD MUSUKWA, TAX EVASION
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L/stone has highest HIV cases countrywide - AIDS council
By Brina Siwale in Livingstone
Fri 29 Nov. 2013, 14:00 CAT
THE National AIDS council says Livingstone has the highest cases of HIV infections in the country with the prevalence rate standing at 25.3 per cent as of 2010.
And Livingstone mayor, Aggrey Njekwa, says he is alarmed by the high prevalence rate, adding that the carefree attitude regarding HIV amongst the youths was not giving him peace.
After a German Society for International Cooperation organised HIV/AIDS awareness programme for councillors in Livingstone, District AIDS coordination advisor, Stephen Ndebele said that as of 2010, about 18,667 people were living with HIV in the district.
"As of 2010 Livingstone's prevalence rate stood at 25.3 which is the highest in the country. About 12,300 people are actively accessing ART. Out of all these statistics, women living with HIV have been on a high percentage," Ndebele said.
And Ndebele said out of all the townships in Livingstone, Sakubita had the highest levels of people infected with HIV, an issue which area councillor, Simasinti Simasinti was trying to address through sensitisations and free distribution of condoms.
"We thought we could work with councillors so that they can be very active in sensitising people in their wards because this is where activities are taking place. They are the people who know the hotspots in their wards," he said.
"Sakubita is an area that is very bad in the prevalence rate because every time we do HIV tests, that side the number of those that are reactive is high. So if we worked with the councillors, the better because they will be able to help in addressing the challenge."
And Njekwa said he was alarmed by the high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Livingstone. He said he was saddened by the lifestyles of young people at night.
"Livingstone prevalence rate is very high and this is a concern to me as the mayor of the city of Livingstone. The activities that go on, especially during the night, do not give me peace. Young people need to protect themselves from HIV by abstaining or condomising," said Njekwa.
Labels: HIV/AIDS, WORLD AIDS DAY
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(LUSAKATIMES) Delay to deliver farming inputs is a sign of lack of political will- CSPR
Time Posted: November 28, 2013 9:29 am
The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) says the delay to deliver the 2013/2014 farming inputs in some areas by government shows lack of political will.
CSPR Information and Communications officer Diana Ngula told Qfm News that it is unfortunate and sad to note that many farmers have not yet received their farming inputs.
Ms Ngula said there is need for the ministry of agriculture to hear the cries of the farmers in rural areas who have not yet received the inputs.
She said that the delay in delivering farming inputs especially to rural areas is worrying as it poses a threat to household food security.
Meanwhile the chiefdoms of Chitungulu and Mwanya in the valley areas of Lundazi district have been severely hit by hunger with villagers surviving on wild fruits and raw mangoes.
Chief Chitungulu has expressed worry about the delayed farming inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to the valley area.
The traditional leader appealed to government to immediately send farming inputs for the 2013 to 2014 farming season before the area is completely cut-off from the district due to poor roads.
Chief Chitungulu told Lundazi District Commissioner Janet Mvula who was visiting chiefs palaces over the weekend to inspect government funded projects, that his subjects were surviving on wild fruits and raw mangoes due to hunger that has rocked the area.
Chief Chitungulu mentioned Nthumbe, Zokwe, Chutwa, Lumimba, Mbuzi, Kataba, Matizi and Chitungulu as most affected villages that require immediate relief food.
In response Lundazi District Commissioner Janet Mvula told Chief Chitungulu that government was aware about perpetual hunger situation in the three chiefdoms of Chitungulu,Mwanya and Kazermbe due to the wild animals that destroy crops and draught experienced in the last farming season.
The DC f6urther informed Chief Chitungulu that her Office has since written to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit in Chipata to urgently send relief food to the three affected chiefdoms before the rainy season gains momentum as the area is prone to being cut-off from the rest of the district.
Labels: CSPR, DIANA NGULA, FISP
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(LUSAKATIMES) Over 100 Nakonde farmers demand FRA payment
Time Posted: November 28, 2013 12:20 pm
Livestock and fisheries Minister Bradford Machila checking on quality of maize for FRA at ATZ plant in kafue 2
Over one hundred small scale farmers have stormed the office of Nakonde district commissioner James Singoyi demanding immediate payment of money for the maize they supplied to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
The district commissioner told Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Chinsali in a telephone interview today that over 100 small scale farmers stormed his office this morning demanding the immediate payment of their dues.
FRA owes small scale farmers in Nakonde in Muchinga province about K5 million.
Mr. Singoyi said the small scale farmers have vowed not to leave his office until they are paid their money.
” They have camped at my office and they are saying that they will only leave after receiving their dues,” said Mr. Singoyi.
He said that the small scale farmers have complained that delays in paying them their dues have affected their plan for farming activities.
Mr. Singoyi said that FRA had promised to pay the farmers in Nakonde by yesterday adding that a check at the local bank this morning revealed that money to pay the farmers is not yet in the bank.
The district commissioner has since appealed to the FRA to expedite the payments and ensure that the small scale farmers get their dues as soon as possible.
ZANIS
Labels: BRADFORD MACHILA, FRA, JAMES SINGOYI
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(NEWZIMBABWE, AFP) Blair denies plotting Mugabe military ouster
27/11/2013 00:00:00
by AFP
FORMER British prime minister Tony Blair denied Wednesday putting pressure on South Africa while he was in office to help remove Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe in a military operation.
South Africa's ex-president Thabo Mbeki claimed in an interview that Britain had urged it to topple Mugabe when a political and economic crisis escalated in the late 2000s.
But Blair's spokesman denied this had happened.
"Tony Blair has long believed that Zimbabwe would be much better off without Robert Mugabe and always argued for a tougher stance against him, but he never asked anyone to plan or take part in any such military intervention," he told AFP in London.
The statement contradicted the account Mbeki gave to Al-Jazeera news channel.
"Tony Blair... was saying to the chief of the British armed forces: 'You must work out a military plan so that we can physically remove Robert Mugabe,'" Mbeki said in the interview published on November 23.
"We knew that because we had come under the same pressure, that we need to cooperate in some scheme. It was a regime-change scheme even to the point of using military force," he added.
Mbeki's spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga told AFP the statesman stood by his words.
Mbeki, who led South Africa from 1999 to 2008, was the head mediator between Mugabe and his arch-rival Morgan Tsvangirai after violent attacks followed disputed polls in 2008.
The pair formed a power-sharing government which ended with Mugabe's election victory on July 31 this year.
Mbeki had always called for a negotiated solution, resisting in particular Western interference in African affairs.
"Why does it become a British responsibility to decide who leads the people of Zimbabwe?" he told Al-Jazeera.
In November 2007 Zimbabwe put its military on high alert after retired UK army chief Lord Charles Guthrie said London had discussed invading its former colony during Tony Blair's premiership.
Blair stepped down in 2007.
That year, when Tsvangirai was assaulted and imprisoned, Foreign Office Minister Lord David Triesman told the British parliament's upper house an invasion was not on the cards.
"I don't think there is a prospect of the invasion of Zimbabwe and I don't want to encourage the thought," Triesman said in the House of Lords at the time.
Mugabe, 89, has governed since Zimbabwe won its independence in 1980.
Relations with Britain soured after he launched controversial land reforms in 2000, seizing farms from white farmers - the majority of them of British descent - to give to black farmers.
The two leaders often had strong words for each other. Mugabe frequently accused Blair of trying to force regime change and once told him to "keep his pink nose" out of Zimbabwe's internal politics.
Labels: ROBERT MUGABE, THABO MBEKI, TONY BLAIR
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Zimbabwe opposition rising from ground zero
Hopes dashed ... Opposotion MDC-T party still dazed from its July 31 defeat
26/11/2013 00:00:00
by Farai Mbira
GOOD day my fellow Zimbabweans. I am happy that God created all of us equal before him and put love in all our hearts to live in peace and harmony and has called us to be interested in the wellbeing of others.
Many might ask why ZUNDE at this juncture. The answer is simple; the opposition movement has virtually surrendered to Zanu PF. After promising, quite boldly, that “this time we will not let Zanu PF steal another election”, Zanu PF did just that. When the opposition movement failed and declared that there was no other way, it was time to look to the future hence, Zimbabweans United for Democracy (ZUNDE).
ZUNDE is an African philosophy; a robust, tested and proven methodology for community engagement, participation, coordination and resource pooling to address a community issue. In ZUNDE, best intentions are at play, the best of innovation is tried, love is exchanged and the motivation is ennobled. This model does not work where self-interest rules. This is why, at ZUNDE, unlike elsewhere, we will not provide a safe haven for corruption and self-aggrandisement. As Team ZUNDE, we will listen, act and deliver.
At ZUNDE we are committed to the finalisation of our struggle for freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe. We are proud of all the forerunners in this struggle from the days of occupation, the days of the liberation struggle to the current movement for democracy. We are proud of what they have achieved and are challenged to take on what is still to be done. The fight for democracy, human dignity and economic prosperity is a continuous process that every generation must pursue vigorously.
Even though 31 July 2013 was our midnight, now the sun, ZUNDE, is rising. The manipulation of law and justice system, fraud, and intimidation has proven incapable of killing the people’s resolve to be free. Force did not turn into loaves of bread. Zimbabweans may be quiet but they are strong, they are patient but observing – you cannot fool them forever. Abusing our civil service and security institutions served for a while but not forever – our sons and daughters in these institutions have human hearts too. They love their country and they yearn for an end to this quagmire.
We are under no illusion about the task before us. It’s not just the justice, security and politics that are broken. The entire national fabric, national pride and service delivery needs restoration. It’s tragic when poor villagers are not paid for their produce delivered to the state. What cruelty is worse than this? When they are lucky to be paid, they get as little as 20c for a kilogram of cotton, how cruel? We have much to do from the grass root villagers, the urban dweller and homeless, and to the millions scattered abroad. ZUNDE is well aware of the magnitude of this State House-made disaster but are committed and ready for the challenge.
As an update, I’m humbled to report that our work is progressing tremendously. We are living in the most exciting times of our freedom and democracy journey, that after the deadly wound of July 31 2013, we are now rising up to our feet. Our global team is shaping rapidly. You might be happy to know that we are making steady and strategic progress at home. Very soon we will be making announcements to this effect. The message is spreading and I can tell you the haters of freedom are quaking in their boots. The bubbles for freedom are vibrating in the hearts of our youth.
Our journey framework requires us to consult our people. Our team is developing an engagement framework to gather your views and establish a shared understanding of the work ahead of us. So check our website, www.zunde.org, and be ready to participate. We will soon be releasing a paper on our proposals on governance, policy formulation and rule of law. I am sure you are eagerly waiting to receive updates on this development. Friends, always remember that this is not about someone else but you.
If ZUNDE is in competition with anyone, it is only those that want to take us backwards and keep our people in the dark past. We are urging the democracy movement not to surrender to intimidation and fraud. We are saying that it is possible to go forward; we have not exhausted our energy or our innovativeness. We can’t give up now otherwise all those that perished since colonisation, the liberation struggle and during the recent years will have died for nothing. That should never be and we should never think like that, even for a single moment. We are saying wake up from the slumber, from hopelessness and feeling defeated because ZUNDE is knocking on your heart and conscience.
At ZUNDE we are determined for the next round – a complete departure from the dark days of the past where politics was based on individuals and personalities, where aspiration for the highest office was considered treasonous, where character assassinations, insults and personality degradation was the method of choice. We have done this for the past 33 years and all the insults and name calling have not produced even a single hospital bed. ZUNDE is proposing politer, kinder and gentler politics.
Our message is simple and straight and we come in peace. We are only asking for what our ancestors and freedom fighters have always asked for. We are asking for what our people are asking for. ZUNDE is saying “Mugabe, let our people free”. We are not asking for a pound of his flesh, we are not asking for his cattle in Zvimba; but only our freedom. We are asking that we fulfil the aspirations of our ancestors who lived under the shame of colonisation, our parents who had to be slaves in their own land, and our people who are being forced to run away from their own homes fearing their very own son.
To the workers and operatives in public service we have a simple call. Don’t waste time trying to locate our leaders and intimidate our people. We are not dark-goggled night riders who move in shadows and night. We have announced ourselves in the open. All we are asking is for you to do the right thing – serve the people with all your heart and integrity, and not individuals. ZUNDE sympathises with our people scattered all over the globe who want to return home and be among their own people, our communities who are terrorised and want peace and our young people tired of chasing for none existent jobs and opportunities.
To our spiritual leaders ZUNDE is appealing that they advise President Mugabe that a home without peace is not liveable, that it is inhuman and un-African to abuse your own people and that if he ignores the blood of fallen heroes and the cry of his people, God will reject him soon and anoint his successor.
ZUNDE is saying the fight is not yet over. It’s not time yet to return to our fields, jobs or occupations. No matter how disappointed, we have enough reserve to push on. We were selfish and ignored other people and thought we could do it as small groups. We privatised the struggle and fought with one hand in the pocket thinking we were too smart for the devil. If we unite under this tried and tested ZUNDE model of our ancestors, we will surely succeed. We extend our invitation to all progressive forces and minds.
At ZUNDE we are not ignorant that people have lost trust in politicians. This is why we are promoting values and not people. We are not coming in excellence of business, social or academic achievements. We are offering enduring values which we can embrace and proudly pass on to our children. We are not forgetting the past as I have alluded in the opening remarks. We stand for fairness, accountability, inclusiveness and respect (FAIR).
Let’s go Team ZUNDE. This time we mean it. Don’t be left behind and let others decide your future. I thank you. May God bless Zimbabwe?
Labels: MDC
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(NEWZIMBABWE) South Africa angry on the brink: Graca Machel
26/11/2013 00:00:00
by Agencies
THE wife of former president Nelson Mandela has warned that South Africa has become an angry nation, as it is refusing to deal with its apartheid past.
Human rights activist Graca Machel, 67, said the nation is on the brink of “something very dangerous” which it may not be able to stop.
The Mozambican third wife of ANC icon Mandela was speaking at the memorial service of a taxi driver who died in police custody after officers tied his hands to the back of their van and dragged him to this death.
Taxi driver Mido Macia is alleged to have argued a traffic violation after which police handcuffed the 27-year-old to their vehicle in front of a horrified crowd.
He was found dead two hours later in a police cell in the Daveyton township of Johannesburg, last Tuesday.
At the memorial Machel said South Africa’s anger came from “unaddressed issues” referring to the nation’s history of apartheid.
Machel said a reluctance to deal with the nation’s past has resulted in an ‘increasing institutionalisation of violence and a police force which is ‘actively aggressive’ towards the public.
“South Africa is an angry nation,” she said. “We are on the precipice of something very dangerous with the potential of not being able to stop the fall.”
She said: “The level of anger and aggression is rising. This is an expression of deeper trouble from the past that has not been addressed.
“We have to be more cautious about how we deal with a society that is bleeding and breathing pain.”
She spoke out as South Africa’s justice system has grown increasingly synonymous with police brutality.
In 2011 a man was beaten to death by police during a peaceful protest in the Free State and last year, police opened fire on workers during a miners strike, killing 34 people.
Another recent case highlighting the nation's culture of violence and high number of private gun owners is that of fallen Paralympic hero Oscar Pistorius’s fatal shooting of his partner Reeva Steenkamp.
Pistorius, who is currently out on bail, argues that he accidentally shot his model girlfriend believing her to be a burglar, using one of several firearms he kept at his mansion.
Machel’s comments are likely to rattle ruling party ANC, which has been at the helm of the nation since the abolition of apartheid.
Both Machel and her husband Nelson Mandela have refrained from commenting on the running of South Africa since he left his position as president 14 years ago.
President Zuma, speaking to traditional leaders in parliament last Thursday, said that despite the events of recent weeks, it was wrong to paint his country as an “inherently violent place to live in”.
“South Africa is not (a) violent country. It is certain people in our country who are violent. By and large we are not, we are peace-loving people.”
Meanwhile South Africa's Independent Police Investigative Directorate reported 232 deaths in police custody and another 488 deaths as a result of police action from early 2011 to early 2012, a ten per cent drop over the previous year.
Labels: APARTHEID, GRACA MACHEL, POLICE BRUTALITY, SOUTH AFRICA
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(HERALD ZW) UK invasion plot exposed
November 27, 2013
Takunda Maodza Assistant News Editor
SOUTH Africa was under pressure from the Labour regime of British premier Tony Blair to co-operate in a military invasion of Zimbabwe to depose President Mugabe and Zanu-PF, but Pretoria refused, former South African president Cde Thabo Mbeki has revealed.
Cde Mbeki made the revelations in an interview with Aljazeera on Saturday, saying the British wanted to replace President Mugabe with their cat’s paw, MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, who is on record pledging to violently unseat President Mugabe.
The three main British political parties – Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats – mooted the MDC under the ambit of the Westminster Foundation, and have been sponsoring the party since its launch on September 11 1999 in a bid to effect regime change in Zimbabwe, but the move has failed with Zanu-PF’s resounding victory in the harmonised elections touted by executive director of the Royal African Society Richard Dowden as the heaviest defeat for Britain’s Africa policy in 60 years.
Speaking on the programme “Talk to Al Jazeera”, Cde Mbeki said: “There is a retired chief of the British Armed Forces (Lord Charles Guthrie) who said he had to withstand pressure from then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair who was saying to the chief of the British Armed Forces you must work out a military plan so that we can physically remove Robert Mugabe.
“We knew that because we had come under the same pressure that we needed to cooperate in some scheme. It was a regime change scheme, even to the point of using military force and we were saying no.”
Lord Charles Guthrie was quoted in some sections of the British media as saying he had warned the blundering Blair that it would be suicidal to pit British troops against ‘‘the tried and tested veterans of the Congo,” in apparent reference to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces’ exploits during Operation Sovereign Legitimacy in the DRC that helped repel US-backed Ugandan and Rwandan rebels to usher peace that enabled the DRC to hold its first elections in 45 years.
Cde Mbeki, who facilitated inter-party talks that led to the formation of the now defunct inclusive Government made up of Zanu-PF and the MDC formations in 2008, took a swipe at the West for interfering in the domestic affairs of sovereign nations, particularly in Africa and the Middle East in a veiled bid to effect illegal regime change.
“Then we said no. You are coming from London you say you don’t like Robert Mugabe for whatever reason, people in London don’t like him we are going to remove him then you are going to put someone else in his place. Why does it become a British responsibility to decide who leads Zimbabwe?” he asked.
“We were saying no. Let Zimbabweans sit down. Let them agree what they do with their country. Our task is to make sure we stay with them. We work with them. So, the GPA they signed in 2008 was negotiated by the Zimbabweans. We facilitated. We chaired the meeting and so on, but it was them who negotiated the agreement.”
Cde Mbeki said the Syrian crisis and other similar global conflicts could only be resolved through negotiated settlements as opposed to the West’s regime change template.
He said the West believes that the Syrian crisis could only be resolved by removing the government of president Bashar al-Assad and warned such an approach was bound to fail.
“Let the Syrians get together,” said Mr Mbeki. “We will assist them to get to a solution which sorts out the Syrian thing, no different to a position we took with regards to Zimbabwe. Let Zimbabweans sort out their problem. Let Syrians do the same.”
Retired Lieutenant-General Mike Nyambuya described Tony Blair’s military ploy as naive.
“It just shows how naive the British are. Zimbabwe is a very unique country that has a crop of soldiers which is very seasoned, well trained and well experienced in fighting wars. Not only do we have people who participated in the liberation struggle, even after independence we fought in Mozambique and participated in peace operations in Somalia and the DRC, among other countries. We have shown that the country does not have a rag-tag army but a professional army that can stand up to anyone including the British. It could have been a miscalculation by the British,” he said.
Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association leader Cde Jabulani Sibanda said the British still habour those intentions even today and urged the nation to remain vigilant.
“What Mbeki is saying is true. What is happening in North Africa and the Middle East is the same strategy that they want to employ in southern Africa. The only difference is that the strategy has worked in the northern side of the equator judging by the history of coups in North Africa, on the southern side of the equator they have a problem with the strategy because most of the parties that are running governments are former liberation movements and they have been resisting such moves,” he said.
Cde Sibanda said Zimbabweans must remain on high alert politically and militarily as the enemy was not giving up on his intentions.
Political analyst and Midlands State University lecturer Mr Christopher Gwatidzo yesterday said Mr Mbeki must be applauded by all Zimbabweans for his Pan Africanist values and urged the country to remain vigilant as the West still habours intentions to effect illegal regime change.
“He is an example of a Pan Africanist. We must also awaken to reality, the Western world still habours regime change intentions and as we engage them through our foreign policy or through tourism or any other forum, we must always doubt their sincerity. We must not trust them. When on the table with them, we must use a long fork because anything is possible with them.”
University of Zimbabwe political scientist Dr Charity Manyeruke slammed the British government for trying to install a puppet regime in Zimbabwe.
“Behind the closed doors are big regime change agendas. We are Africans and even if you become friends with the British prime minister you will never become a British. We appreciate a lot of what Mr Mbeki has done.”
Labels: TONY BLAIR, WAR CRIMES
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(STICKY) (NEWZIMBABWE) UK wanted Mugabe out by military force:Mbeki
27/11/2013 00:00:00
by Agencies
COMMENT - Also see:
(YOUTUBE, AL JAZEERA) Talk to Al Jazeera - Thabo Mbeki: 'Justice cannot trump peace' (10:52 to 16:20)
President Mbeki: "There is a retired chief of the British armed forces, who said that he had to withstand pressure from the then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair. Tony Blair, who was saying to the Chief of the British armed forces,"You must work out a military plan so that we can physically remove Robert Mugabe." We knew that, because we had come under the same pressure, that we need to cooperate in some scheme, it was a regime change scheme, even to the point of using military force. And we are saying no."
Also read: (HERALD ZW) UK invasion plot exposed - MrK
FORMER South African president Thabo Mbeki has made startling revelations about how the British government was determined to depose Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe using military force.
Speaking during an interview with Al Jazeera, Mbeki said South Africa was under pressure from the UK to participate in a regime change scheme to depose Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party, a move which Pretoria refuted.
Mbeki helped broker a now defunct power sharing agreement between the Movement for Democratic Change and Zanu-PF following a disputed election in 2008 which left at least 200 people dead.
"There is a retired chief of the British armed forces [Lord Charles Guthrie]... he had to withstand pressure from the then prime minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair... Tony Blair who was saying to the chief of the British armed forces you must work out a military plan so that we can physically remove Robert Mugabe," said Mbeki.
"We knew that because we had come under the same pressure that we need to co-operate in some scheme. It was a regime change scheme, even to the point of using military force and we were saying no." Mbeki criticised the manner in which Britain wanted to take the responsibility of choosing a leader for the people of Zimbabwe.
".... You are coming from London you say you don’t like Robert Mugabe for whatever reason, people in London don’t like him... we are going to remove him then you are going to put someone else in his place. Why does it become a British responsibility to decide who leads Zimbabwe?" he said.
Labels: ROBERT MUGABE, THABO MBEKI, UK
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The PF and its shortcomings
By Editor
Tue 26 Nov. 2013, 14:00 CAT
A revolution calls many. But to succeed, it has to continually purify itself. And the Patriotic Front is no exception. To achieve its goals, the Patriotic Front will have to change many things. It cannot continue to be the way it was two, three or four years ago when it was in opposition.
Some of the cadres and leaders of the Patriotic Front in opposition will not serve the party well in government and may fall by the wayside. Being in government entails having a lot of responsibilities and calls for a different type of behaviour. When in opposition, the attitude is generally that of trying to undo, to destroy. This cannot be said to be an easy undertaking, but it's nothing compared to the challenges and difficulties a political party faces when in government. To build anything, let alone a country, has never been an easy undertaking anywhere.
If those in the Patriotic Front do not change their approach and behaviour from the way it was when they were in the opposition, they will not achieve much. And moreover, change is an important part of politics and life in general.
President Michael Sata's approach to politics has changed a lot since he got into government. And he has the right to change. Politicians who don't change when circumstances have changed become irrelevant. Political parties that do not change die, and the Patriotic Front is a living movement and not a historical monument.
If the world changes, and we don't, we become of no use to the world. Our principles cease being principles and just ossify into dogma.
However, in saying this, we are not in any way implying that people and political parties should change their principles. They should change but not to forget their principles; they should change to fulfil their principles. They should change not to lose their identity but to keep their relevance.
Moreover, change is an important part of gaining the people's trust. But change doesn't come that easily and without friction. Contradictions give rise to change.
We shouldn't also forget that wherever there is power, that power is always contested for. The Patriotic Front today holds power and that power is being contested by many forces within and outside the ruling party itself. People are today trying to reposition themselves in the leadership of the Patriotic Front.
There were people who were not sure if the Patriotic Front would win the 2011 elections and wanted to play it safe. Some of them didn't want to be openly associated with the Patriotic Front in case things did not work out. And there are some who didn't want to be part of the Patriotic Front's leadership structures because it was too risky, politically and otherwise, for them to do so. And now that this risk is gone, they are trying to reposition themselves. They want to be incorporated in the leadership structures of the Patriotic Front. This in itself is a source of political struggle within the party.
Wherever there is repositioning, a fight erupts because rearranging things results in some people being displaced. Some people don't take demotions or marginalisation quietly or without a fight.
When the Patriotic Front was in opposition, the risks were high. Those who offered themselves to lead took the risks of being denounced, insulted, scandalised, humiliated in all sorts of ways. Look at the insults, humiliation, slander that Michael and some of his close and effective followers and supporters were subjected to! Recall the Chanda Chimba programmes!
Some of the people who are today claiming ownership of the Patriotic Front and trying to chase their friends were not subjected to any of such things. How many in the leadership of the Patriotic Front can claim to have been subjected to the attacks, hatred, malice, calumny that Michael and, to a relatively lesser extent, Wynter Kabimba were subjected to. Some of these people making a lot of noise today were actually friends of Rupiah Banda and the MMD. They also enjoyed good friendship with the anti-Sata and Wynter elements in UPND. Today after things are easy, the risks have been removed, the slander has reduced, they want to appropriate everything, all the power the Patriotic Front won in the last elections to themselves.
This is the situation the Patriotic Front finds itself in today. But is this a permanent state of things? The answer is a categorical no. This is a passing phase as Dr Alex Ng'oma correctly observes. And truly, the key leadership of the Patriotic Front will eventually put an end to this phase. It has no alternative but to put an end to this destructive but important phase if it has to retain the respect and support of the people. The key leadership of the Patriotic Front have to show the Zambian people that politics is not a Byzantine game but a real and meaningful part of their lives. Today's politics is about the search for ways of improving and securing people's lives. And the Patriotic Front, as the governing party, has to build a strong and active leadership that can keep that hope alive.
To some in the leadership and membership of the Patriotic Front, this is eating time; this is time for reaping of rewards. Few see it as a time for intensifying the struggle to liberate our people from the yoke of poverty, ignorance and disease. Very few people fight over work, sacrifice, risks or rewards. Very few people fight to stand in front or in the way of the bullet, of fire, of attacks. People fight over benefits of work, of struggle. And in part, this is what we are seeing in the Patriotic Front among those calling for the removal of Wynter as secretary general of the party. And, in fact, they have been very brazen about it. One of their complaints is that Wynter is not looking after them well; he is not giving them jobs; he leaves them out on trips abroad and so on and so forth - it's all about eating, benefits, rewards, positions. That's all they are fighting Wynter for. That is the source of friction, intra-party fights within the Patriotic Front.
Is Michael capable of resolving this? The answer is a categorical yes. And as Dr Ng'oma says, Michael "is a pragmatic politician with vast experience to end the intra-party struggles in the Patriotic Front". Michael has overcome many serious political challenges and went on to win an election. Michael expelled almost all his members of parliament for not obeying party orders. The expelled members of parliament started working with the MMD in government but still, Michael defeated their combined force.
But we know that a decent political party is not based on benefits, rewards, positions. It is based on duty. Duty to the people, the nation. Duty to each other. The duty to show respect and tolerance to others; civility in discourse and disagreements. One cannot claim they want a strong party when they ignore its very foundation: duty, respect and tolerance to others.
Progress and justice are the two rocks upon which the Patriotic Front will rise to the heights. Should they lose either, they will come crushing down until they are just another average political party, scrambling around for salvation in the ebbing tide of our national politics.
Michael, whether one likes or hates him, is a great leader. And it's this quality that made him win where others have failed. He knows how to lead in crisis by bringing people together through values and by the strength of his character. Actually, and in truth, the crisis that faced the Patriotic Front over the last two months is over. The losing side can be seen by all. And the winning side seems to be surrounded by humility, modesty and tolerance such that it's not difficult to see it for what it is. Again, this is the type of leadership Michael is providing. We are confident, we are sure there will be further realignment of forces within the Patriotic Front to keep it and make it remain what Michael wanted it to be.
Labels: PF
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Govt to take bold decisions on KCM
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe and Henry Sinyangwe in Lusaka
Tue 26 Nov. 2013, 14:01 CAT
COMMENT - How on earth can KCM claim their costs are $7500 per tonne? That is about the market price of copper. They are lying. - MrK
WYLBUR Simuusa says courageous decisions will be made by the government to end the mismanagement of Konkola Copper Mines and protect people's jobs.
And Simuusa says the 10-man team that has been appointed by the government would only highlight the wrongs in the operations of KCM and make recommendations on how to protect jobs, as well as make the company viable again.
Meanwhile the Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) says there is need to come up with an optimal mineral tax system desirable to both the government and investors.
In an interview yesterday, Simuusa, who is foreign affairs minister, said there was no doubt KCM had been mismanaged by the majority shareholders, Vedanta Resources.
Simuusa, a mining engineer by profession, said it was poor management at KCM which resulted in high operational costs adding that the upper ore body at Nchanga had more reserves of copper that could increase the lifespan of the mine.
"KCM has unnecessarily attracted more costs standing at US$7,500 per tonne, but if the company can reduce the costs to about $3,500 per tonne, production will continue," he said.
Simuusa, who is also PF Nchanga member of parliament, said stakeholders in the mines, including the major shareholders in KCM, Vedanta Resources, needed to acknowledge that every decision over the running of the mine would be made in the interest of Zambians, the workers and their investments.
"I am anticipating some hard decisions to be made for this situation at KCM. We need to protect people's jobs and we have made it clear as government and President Michael Sata said it, no one should be retrenched. We need to find other solutions and we all need to be courageous, explore other means of making KCM viable and we believe that this company would be viable again," Simuusa said.
He said KCM had the most de-motivated workforce because of the announcements of retrenchments and irregularities in the payroll system that had persistently rocked the mining company.
Simuusa said there was no mine that could meet targets with a demotivated workforce.
"Mining is the industry of targets, which requires proper care of the human capital which is the most valued asset of any country," he said.
Simuusa said KCM owed contractors and suppliers huge sums of money, a situation which he said was killing local business.
Meanwhile, Simuusa said the 10-man committee appointed by the government to look at impeding job losses at KCM was expected to do a professional job.
"This committee for me will not be able to solve problems, but at least they will be able to crystallise and show where the problem is so that together, we can sit and find a lasting solution. We don't want our people to suffer and we will not allow that to happen," he said.
Earlier this month, KCM announced plans to lay off over 1,500 workers in the next three years, as it migrates towards automation and mechanisation at Nchanga Underground, a move which displeased President Sata.
And the EAZ has challenged members of the technicalcommittee appointed to help ZRA optimise policing of the mining sector, to beobjective.
EAZ president Isaac Ngoma said the current tax system needed to be relooked at and find an optimal moderate tax that would create a win -win situation, both for the investors as well as for the government.
He said going the route of the windfall tax immediately, was something that was contentious.
"Ultimately, there is need for a study to be done and look at various operational issues of the investors in the mining sector and also look at government's position with regard to the sector. With good analysis, we would be able to come up with an optimal tax which is desirable and acceptable to both parties," he said.
And Ngoma said there was need to ascertain the challenges facing the mining sector.
"We need to ascertain the challenges that the mining industry is facing as well as try and review the working relationship with KCM.It is very important that both parties have a clear understanding of the issues at hand so that there is a harmonious relationship between the government andthe investor," he said.
Ngoma said EAZ hoped that the technical committee would work diligently in a timely manner and come up with solutions to issues that had been of concern.
"If you constitute a committee that is going to do such kind of work, you have to look at people that have diverse skills depending on the nature of the undertaking. Those that have interest, it is important that they declare interest so that they don't compromise the task at hand. You cannot get someone who is maybe a supplier to the mine in question, whose contract has either been terminated or are looking up to something from the same, it will compromise the process," Ngoma said.
He said there was need for an environment where government does not feel that the investors were cheating and investors do not feel that they were being ostracised or coerced by the government.
"The investment must be rewarding to the nation. It is important that whatever is done is done in a professional manner and at the end of the day we come up with a win, win situation," said Ngoma.
Labels: CORRUPTION, KCM, WINDFALL TAX, WYLBUR SIMUUSA
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PF to have strong edge in 2016 over opposition, says Mpombo
By Allan Mulenga in Lusaka and Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Tue 26 Nov. 2013, 14:01 CAT
GEORGE Mpombo says PF will have a strong edge in the 2016 general elections over the opposition if UPND and MMD continue to massage their egos.
In an interview yesterday, Mpombo, who is leader of the People's Democratic Party and former defence minister in the MMD regime, observed that the two main opposition parties were in a state of "dungeon disarray".
"The by-election in Mansa has demonstrated that the opposition political parties continue to be in a dungeon of disarray by splitting votes. Even if we have general elections, there is a re-run and these political parties like UPND and MMD are not able to forge that unity of purpose, then you know that you are giving way to the ruling party," he said.
Mpombo said alliances were futile on the political landscape due to the egoistic nature of leadership in the opposition.
"Egoistic nature of our Zambian leadership in politics today has made alliances to be futile. No one is ready at the moment to give way to anybody at all. These alliances will continue to be futile, unworkable and unproductive because there is a tendency in the Zambian political camp, especially in the opposition, for people trying to massage their ego," he said. "They the opposition are not ready to give way to anybody at all. That is the biggest road block to any productive or working alliance."
Mpombo said the alliance between the UPND and the MMD was out of question.
"Because each one of these political parties think that they are within reach of State House on their own as separate political entities. So, on the basis of that, it technically cannot work; it is out of question," he said.
Mpombo said the opposition was not ready to form a formidable force ahead of 2016 presidential elections.
"Obviously, the PF is dilly-dallying on 50 per cent plus one because they know that it is not possible to get 50 plus one outrightly. They would want to maintain the status quo. If the status quo remains in force, naturally, the ruling party will have a strong edge over the opposition because it will be simple majority," he said. "If the 50 plus one constitution requirement is not enacted and these differences continue to manifest; splitting of votes; opposition political parties standing individually, naturally the PF will have a strong edge over the opposition."
Mpombo said the future of the opposition in the country was cloudy.
"If this simple majority continues to prevail, but even if 50 plus one was enacted, again it will depend on whether the two big political parties can come together. You could see a situation where one big opposition political party is going to join hands with the PF…because they could not agree to work with others in a unity of purpose arrangement. It is little bit cloudy," he said.
Mpombo advised the UPND and the MMD to be sincere with one another.
"For now, I don't foresee any workable and productive alliance in Zambian context, especially which can produce a formidable political force. Little guys can come up and gang up; amalgamate, but I am talking about big political players that can create some impact on the political landscape," said Mpombo. "I don't see that in the foreseeable future. Political alliances in Zambia cannot work as long as leaders continue to massage their egos; as long as leaders continue to perceive themselves as being more capable or being more winnable than others."
And Fr Richard Luonde said the opposition is getting embarrassing results in by-elections because the leaders are too weak to compete with President Michael Sata, says Fr .
And the Democratic Governance and Human Rights Advocates (DEGHA) national coordinator Gerald Mutelo says it will be difficult for the opposition political parties to get the much needed public support when it has exhibited serious lack of direction.
Commenting on the poor results recorded by the candidates of opposition political parties in last week's Mansa Central parliamentary by-election, Fr Luonde said President Sata was a political heavyweight and opposition leaders were finding it difficult to challenge him in PF strongholds countrywide.
The PF candidate in the Mansa Central parliamentary by-election, Dr Chitalu Chilufya, emerged victorious after getting 9,671 votes while FDD candidate, Alfred Mwape came out second with 1,279 votes.
MMD's Alfred Kapolyo got 1,103 votes, Rosemary Chikonde of the UPND got 388 and UNIP's Charles Mwelwa was at the bottom with 162 votes.
Fr Luonde said the election results were a disaster for the opposition and there was need for their leaders to re-strategise and ensure that their parties become more relevant to Zambian's politics.
"For democracy to thrive in Zambia, we need a genuinely competitive opposition and not the current situation where some leaders are so much pre-occupied with getting personal with the Head of State. President Sata is known by Zambians, they know his character, his strength and he speaks their language, he gives hope. This could be evidently seen by what happened in Mansa where he spoke what people wanted to hear, and they voted for the PF candidate. He is a clever and experienced politician who cannot compete with Nevers Mumba or Hakainde Hichilema," Fr Luonde said.
He said the opposition had concentrated much on attacking President Sata as an individual and have abandoned their primary responsibility of raising genuine issues of governance.
Fr Luonde said victory would be guaranteed for the PF and President Sata in 2016 if the opposition fail to come up with issues that would convince Zambians to vote for them.
And Mutelo said the biggest problem with the opposition was that their leaders had failed to understand their role in terms of providing checks and balances.
"There is even what is called positive criticism but we don't see it in Zambia. Our opposition leaders have concentrated much on negative things and about President Sata every time. Zambians are able to read politics and they cannot vote for the opposition with the disunity that they have exhibited so far. The opposition must re-organise themselves because they are very critical to our democracy," Mutelo said.
Labels: GEORGE MPOMBO, MMD, UPND
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Indigenised mine ups dividend 20pc
25/11/2013 00:00:00
by Business Reporter
CALEDONIA mining has confirmed a 20% hike in the ordinary dividend for next year and a new quarterly payment policy.
The Canada-based miner, which owns 49% of the Blanket gold mine in Zimbabwe, has announced a dividend of six Canadian cents for 2014 with a first quarterly payment of C1.5c to be paid in January.
Caledonia announced a C5c payment for the 2013 trading year in April, which followed a C5c per share special payment in February. The special was the company’s maiden dividend.
Caledonia is currently debt-free and had gross cash of over C$25m outside Zimbabwe at the end of September.
The company expects Blanket’s production to expand to 48,000 ounces of gold in 2014 and 52,000 ounces of gold in 2015. Future dividends will depend on its performance and its capital investment requirements, it added.
The planned pay-out represents a yield of 7.4% at current prices and it makes Caledonia something of a rarity among the junior miners; an income stock.
“To increase the dividend is a major show of confidence, particularly in the current gold price environment,” said one analyst.
Labels: DIVIDENDS, INDIGENIZATION AND EMPOWERMENT ACT (ZIMBABWE)
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(HERALD ZW) ‘Indigenisation Act necessary for reluctant companies’
November 26, 2013 Musah Gwaunza Local News
Lloyd Gumbo Herald Reporter
THE Indigensation and Economic Empowerment Act must be amended to give it compliance enforcement power to deal with foreigners who are reluctant to comply with the law, Parliamentarians heard. Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Mr George Magosvongwe said some foreign businesspeople stalled the indigenisation exercise as a result of compliance gaps in the Act.
Appearing before a joint meeting of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment and the
Thematic Committee on Indigenisation and Empowerment last week, Mr Magosvongwe said there was need to expedite the indigenisation exercise as enshrined in the law.
The committees were co-chaired by Zanu-PF legislator for Gokwe-Nembudziya Cde Justice Mayor Wadyajena and Harare Metropolitan Senator Cde Cleveria Chizema respectively.
“Some businesses have been slow to react to the instruction to indigenise,” said Mr Magosvongwe. “This is a legal instruction. It is legislated. There are certain gaps in our legislation, particularly in relation to enforcement that need to be rectified perhaps by this
Parliament so that we are able to ensure that all our companies comply with the indigenisation requirement.
“What we are basically saying is: the existing company must indigenise to the extent of 51 percent. The investing company must come through with indigenisation formulae that guarantee that 51 percent will be achieved for Zimbabweans in a given time-frame that they agree with the Minister. And the Minister is just acting on behalf of this House, Mr Chairman.
“There are a number of businesses that have reneged or refused deliberately to comply with the indigenisation law. These businesses take advantage of compliance enforcement gaps in the law to refrain from disposing 51 percent shares to indigenous Zimbabweans.”
Mr Magosvongwe said the Ministry had processed 1 434 applications on indigenisation transactions since 2010 with most of them tilted toward the manufacturing and mining sectors.
He said 481 applications in the mining sector were processed between 2010 to date, while 431 have been processed in the manufacturing sector.
In finance and tourism, the ministry, Mr Magosvongwe said, has processed 118 applications.
He said 59 Community Share Ownership Trusts have been registered in each administrative district of the country.
Mr Magosvongwe bemoaned underfunding of the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board and the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Fund.
“Lack of adequate financial resources continues to be a major impediment to the fund in executing its mandate of indigenising the economy and undertaking broad-based economic empowerment programmes,” he said.
“As a result, the Board has over the years relied heavily on overdraft facilities with CBZ, First Banking Corporation and Agribank,” said Mr Magosvongwe.
He said his ministry was owing over US$560 000 to its creditors with service providers demanding their outstanding bills, while others were threatening to stop providing their services to the ministry.
Mr Magosvongwe said the ministry urgently needed extra US$2 million before year-end to clear debts and finish planned programmes.
In terms of staff establishment, he said, 15 971 employees were approved, but only 6 948 were employed.
Labels: GEORGE MAGOSVONGWE, INDIGENIZATION AND EMPOWERMENT ACT (ZIMBABWE)
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Land reforms liberated Zim agriculture
25/11/2013 00:00:00
by Ian Scoones
IN 2000 large areas of Zimbabwe's commercial farm land were invaded by land-hungry villagers, led by war veterans. What has happened since? What did the new settlers do with land? What are the future prospects?
These are questions that have been explored in research over the past 13 years, and published in the 2010 book Zimbabwe’s Land Reform: Myths and Realities, and updated in the new book Debating Zimbabwe’s Land Reform, published this month.
Changes since 2000 have resulted in a radical change in Zimbabwe's agrarian structure. At the time of independence in 1980, over 15 million hectares were devoted to large-scale commercial farming, comprising around 6,000 farmers, nearly all of them white. This fell to around 12 million hectares by 1999, in part through a modest, but in many ways successful, land reform and resettlement programme.
Since 2000 land reform has resulted in the transfer of around ten million hectares of land across 4,500 farms to over 175,000 households. If the 'informal' settlements, outside the official 'fast-track' programme are added, the totals are even larger.
In the international media and beyond, the accepted wisdom has been that land reform in Zimbabwe has been a tale of unmitigated disaster. Images of chaos, destruction and violence have dominated the coverage. However research into the controversial policy, and its effects, challenges this view.
We have looked in detail at the story of land reform across 16 sites and 400 households in Masvingo province in the south-east of the country. What comes through is the complexity, the differences, almost farm by farm: there is no single, simple story of the Zimbabwe land reform as sometimes assumed by press reports, political commentators, or indeed much academic study.
While not downplaying the violence, abuses and patronage that have occurred, we argue for a more balanced appraisal of the land reform, and encourage looking forward to the opportunities created by a new agrarian structure.
Our research, for example, shows that the agricultural economy has changed dramatically. Production of wheat, coffee and tea has all declined, as has the export of beef. The production of maize, the staple food crop, is now more variable, and imports have been frequently required. However, other crops, notably tobacco and cotton, have boomed, while small grain and edible bean production has also increased.
Nationally it is a mixed picture. Yet there is substantial agricultural production happening on the new smallholder farms, with substantial marketed surpluses are being produced especially in good rainfall years.
In the new land reform areas, there is a core group of 'middle farmers' - around half of the population in the Masvingo study areas - who are generating surpluses from farming, and so are able to 'accumulate from below'. This represents an important economic momentum which needs to be capitalised upon.
With land reform there has been a restructuring of markets too. New connections are being forged, unleashing a dynamic entrepreneurialism in the rural areas. This needs support if the economic multiplier effects of smallholder land reform are to be fully realised.
There has also been significant investment in the new land, including the clearing of plots, the purchase of farm assets, the digging of wells and the building of homes. In addition, schools have been built, roads cut and dams dug. Nearly all of this has been through the effort of new settlers, as external assistance has been virtually non-existent.
If the new resettlements are to contribute not only to local livelihoods, but also national food security and broader economic development, they unquestionably require external investment and support - just as was done from the 1950s for white agriculture. This means infrastructure (dams, roads), financing (credit systems), input supply (fertilizer, seed), technology (intermediate and appropriate) and coordination mechanisms (institutions and policy) that allow agriculture to grow and be sustained.
Major future policy challenges include the guaranteeing of tenure security embedded in an effective land administration system, following a land audit to root abuses and corrupt practice. Investment in smallholder farming as a driver of economic growth must be a major priority.
The story of land reform in Zimbabwe is complex and varied. But it is often not what the standard media narratives suggest. There is much potential, as yet unrealised. For other southern African countries that inherited a highly skewed land ownership structure from the colonial period, there are many lessons to be learned.
Ian Scoones is a Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, UK, and has worked in Zimbabwe for over 25 years.
Labels: IAN SCOONES, LAND REFORM
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