Saturday, February 18, 2012

(HERALD) UK Journalists nabbed for corruption

COMMENT - My educated guess is that if they start looking into the BBC's reporting on Zimbabwe, especially the original reason they as an organisation were thrown out of the country, they will uncover a lot of illegal and unprofessional conduct, including money having been paid to individuals like Grant Ferret and the likes.

UK Journalists nabbed for corruption
Sunday, 12 February 2012 00:00

Picture editor John Edwards, chief reporter John Kay, chief foreign correspondent Nick Parker, reporter John Sturgis and associate editor Geoff Webster were arrested, the BBC understands. The arrests in the early hours of yesterday are part of the Operation Elveden probe into payments to police. News Corporation confirmed only that five employees of The Sun were arrested.

Five men aged between 45 and 68 were arrested in London, Kent and Essex on suspicion of corruption, aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office, and conspiracy in relation to both offences.

A 39-year-old Surrey Police officer, a 39-year-old Ministry of Defence employee and a 36-year-old member of the armed forces were also arrested at their homes on suspicion of corruption, misconduct in a public office and conspiracy in relation to both.

Those arrested are being questioned at police stations in London, Kent, Essex and Wiltshire, police said.

News Corp said its Management and Standards Committee (MSC) had provided information to the Elveden inquiry which led to the arrests.
The company said in a statement: "News Corporation remains committed to ensuring that unacceptable news-gathering practices by individuals in the past will not be repeated and last summer authorised the MSC to co-operate with the relevant authorities.

"The MSC will continue to ensure that all appropriate steps are taken to protect legitimate journalistic privilege and sources, private or personal information and legal privilege.

"News Corporation maintains its total support to the ongoing work of the MSC and is committed to making certain that legitimate journalism is vigorously pursued in both the public interest and in full compliance with the law."

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: "We do not comment on ongoing investigations."

News Corporation is the parent company of News International which owns The Sun and The Times.

Operation Elveden is running alongside the Metropolitan Police's Operation Weeting inquiry into phone hacking at the now-closed News of the World.

- BBC.


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(SUNDAY MAIL ZW) Intra-party violence rocks MDC-T in SA

Intra-party violence rocks MDC-T in SA
Sunday, 12 February 2012 00:00
Tintswalo Baloyi in Johannesburg

Police in South Africa have launched a manhunt for three top Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) South Africa executives following intra-party violence which led to the kidnapping of the party's Johannesburg district chairman. South Africa Police Service (SAPS) at Hillbrow last week confirmed they were hunting for MDC-T South Africa branch external secretary-general Nhamo Chikowore, organising secretary Shelton Chiyangwa and Johannesburg Youth District chairman Giyani Dube.

The trio, believed to be hiding in Springs, are wanted in connection with the kidnapping and torture of the MDC-T district chairman for Johannesburg, Ishmael Kauzani. Kwanele Moyo is the external chairman for MDC-T South Africa and is suspected to be behind the kidnapping and torture of Kauzani.

"We are investigating a case of kidnapping and torture, but the suspects are on the run," said one of the investigating police constables. Police said the investigations were at an advanced stage adding the net was slowly closing in on the suspected kidnappers and torturers.

A docket on kidnapping and torture was opened on Monday at Hillbrow Police Station against the three MDC-T top officials for South Africa.
In an attempt to cover up the violent nature and lawlessness in the party, the officials issued an unsigned Press statement claiming that they were were being threatened with death.

An internal party memo read: "The leadership of the MDC SA Province has received death threats from some known and unknown assailants.

"Serious threats have been made on the lives of the secretary-general Nhamo Chikowore; the chairperson of the Youth Assembly, Giyani Dube; and organising secretary Shelton Chiyangwa. The leadership of the party is taking these threats seriously and currently consulting widely before appropriate action is taken."

The intra-MDC-T South Africa fighting is believed to be driven by power struggles, tribalism and greed. Early this month, members from rival factions in the MDC-T clashed during a party restructuring exercise for the Zvishavane-Ngezi district assembly.

The skirmishes led to the arrest of Ward 8 assembly organising secretary Mr Maxwell Chipa, who was accused of stabbing district youth assembly secretary Mr Richard Shava with a screwdriver.



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(SUNDAY MAIL ZW) KPCS certifies new diamond mine

KPCS certifies new diamond mine
Sunday, 12 February 2012 00:00
Brezhnev Malaba Editor

In a major boost for Zimbabwe's diamond production, a new mine has been certified to sell gemstones under the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), bringing to four the number of compliant companies in Marange, officials have confirmed.

Diamond Mining Company (DMC), 50 percent owned by the Government through the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) and 50 percent owned by a foreign investor, got the go-ahead following a thorough inspection of the mine's entire production chain by KPCS monitors Mark van Bockstael and Abbey Chikane from January 5 to 9.
Israeli diamond analyst Mr Chaim Even-Zohar estimates that the newly certified DMC could produce at least 2,5 million carats worth US$130 million (at current prices) annually.

He further expects production to be much higher as the mine ramps up operations.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Mr Prince Mupazviriho, told The Sunday Mail in an interview yesterday that the Government received the monitors' report on January 23.

"The report confirms that we met all the requirements, from production to sort house. We have also complied with the requirements pertaining to the relocation of families affected by the mining operations in that area. The systems we have built in terms of diamond mining are robust," he said.

Mr Mupazviriho said the focus now was on boosting production.
"Not only have we met the minimum KP standards, we have exceeded them. Now that we have the compliance certificates, the question is: how do we consolidate production levels?"

The latest issue of Diamond Intelligence Briefs, a leading publication in the industry, quotes the chair of the KPCS Working Group on Monitoring (WGM), Mr Stephane Chardon, as saying the monitors' report was discussed on January 26.

"The KP monitors visited DMC and found it to be compliant. This was discussed by WGM on January 26 and no objections were raised, so it seems to be ‘kosher'. The KP monitors were scheduled to conduct another visit on the occasion of the first export," added Mr Chardon.

DMC, which runs a relatively small alluvial mining operation compared to the other producers, becomes the fourth company in Marange - after Anjin, Mbada and Marange Resources.

The fifth one, Sino-Zimbabwe, ceased operations after claiming that there were no viable diamond deposits in its concession, but the mine has since been taken over by ZMDC.

Anjin, Mbada and Marange attained certification last year following a KPCS plenary session in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was established in 2003 under United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56. It aims to prevent so-called blood diamonds from entering the mainstream market, and seeks to assure consumers that they are not financing human rights abuses by buying conflict diamonds.

But the latest certification of the Diamond Mining Company has brought into sharper focus the extent to which Zimbabwe has been singled out for unfair treatment.

KPCS certification is rarely done on a mine-by-mine basis; it is usually conducted on a country-by-country basis.

Industry analysts say Zimbabwe is being subjected to overly stringent standards which no other member of the 75-nation group is subjected to.
According to projections by diamond industry experts Mr Even-Zohar and Mr Pranay Narvekar of India, Zimbabwe has the potential to produce 20 percent of world supply by value and 30 percent by volume (50 million carats out of 180 million) by the year 2015.


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(TALKZIMBABWE) 51 Zimbabweans removed from EU sanctions list

51 Zimbabweans removed from EU sanctions list
Posted by By Our reporter at 18 February, at 15 : 15 PM

THE European Union has removed 51 people, including journalists and politicians, and 20 companies from the Zimbabwe sanctions list. Attorney-General Johannes Tomana and a team of legal experts in October 2011 mounted a lawsuit against the EU challenging the sanctions.

The suit is now pending at the European Court of First Instance. The United Nations Security Council refused to ratify them, effectively making them illegal under international law.

The bloc will also write to President Mugabe this weekend to facilitate serious re-engagement with Zimbabwe.

EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Aldo Dell’Ariccia said this yesterday while announcing the extension of the illegal economic sanctions on Zimbabwe by six months.

He said the EU had also suspended travel restrictions against Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa to enable the proposed dialogue to take place effectively.

“The European Commission and Council are also informing the President of Zimbabwe, President Mugabe, that the EU wishes to invite Zimbabwe to an intensified political dialogue,” he said.

“In order to define further steps of normalising relations between EU and Zimbabwe, the EU has lifted the travel ban to two Zanu-PF ministers.

“This is a decision that has been taken, which is of immediate application and a letter will be sent to President Mugabe informing him of the decision.”

A six-member committee was set up at the formation of the inclusive Government to spearhead dialogue to normalise relations between EU and Zimbabwe, but its efforts were frustrated by reluctance on the part of the Europeans.

Minister Chinamasa was held up at Frankfurt International Airport for over eight hours on his way to Belgium for the talks over visa issues on two occasions.

Other members of the committee include Finance Minister Tendai Biti, Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma (both MDC-T) and Regional Integration and International Cooperation Minister Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga and Organ of National Healing co-chair Moses Mzila Ndlovu (both MDC).

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said the removal of individuals from the sanctions list was in light of developments in the country.

“It (EU) also welcomes progress made towards the creation of a conducive environment for the holding of free, fair, peaceful and transparent elections through the development of the roadmap sponsored by Sadc.

“It pays tribute to the efforts of Sadc and the South African facilitator (President Jacob Zuma) in accompanying the Zimbabwean people along that road,” she said.

Those removed from the list are General Solomon Mujuru and former Harare Governor David Karimanzira, who are both late.

The two were declared national heroes and are interred at the National Heroes Acre.

Mr Dell’Ariccia attributed the removal of the journalists to improvements in the media, though analysts say this could be a pre-emptive measure to kill the lawsuit lodged by the six in the Supreme Court challenging the legality of the embargo and suing for damages.

When non-constituency Senator Aguy Georgias sued the EU in the British High court, he became part of the 37 individuals who were struck off the sanctions list in 2011.

Sen Georgias described the move as a pre-emptive strike on his lawsuit and pledged to press on with the suit.

Media personalities who were struck off the sanctions list include Zimbabwe Newspapers group editor-in-chief Pikirayi Deketeke, Herald deputy editor Caesar Zvayi, Sunday Mail assistant editor Munyaradzi Huni, ZBH chief executive Happison Muchechetere, chief correspondent Reuben Barwe, diplomatic correspondent Judith Makwanya, and freelancer Musorowegomo Mukosi.

Also struck off the list are Zimpapers board chairman Dr Paul Chimedza and group chief executive Mr Justin Mutasa as well as Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe chairman Dr Tafataona Mahoso.

The embargo that was imposed on Zimbabwe, a decade ago, for embarking on the land reform programme to resettle the landless majority, has brought untold suffering to ordinary citizens.

This also blocked local business from accessing lines of credit from international financiers.

Over 2,2 million Zimbabweans countrywide signed the National Anti-Sanctions Petition launched by President Mugabe in March last year.

The launch drew thousands people from all walks of life.

Sadc, Comesa, the African Union, the Non Aligned Movement and other progressive people and organisations the world over have denounced the illegal sanctions, which precipitated the economic meltdown of the past decade.

Name (and any aliases) and Number in Council

Decision 2011/101/CFSP

Barwe, Reuben 3
Bredenkamp, John Arnold 5
Chimbudzi, Alice 15
Chimedza, Paul 15
Chimutengwende, Chenhamo Chekezha 17
Chinamasa, Monica 18
Chiremba, Mirirai 24
Chitakunye, Eliphas 25
Chiwenga, Jocelyn 27
Chiwewe, Willard 29
Chiwese, George 28
Deketeke, Pikirayi 31
Dube, Tshinga Judge 33
Gumbo, Rugare Eleck Ngidi 36
Hungwe, Josaya (a.k.a. Josiah) Dunira 39
Huni, Munyaradzi 40
Karimanzira, David Ishemunyoro Godi 43
Kazembe, Joyce Laetitia 46
Kereke, Munyaradzi 47
Mahoso, Tafataona 58
Makwanya, Judith 59
Makwavarara, Sekesai 60
Manyonda, Kenneth Vhundukai 63
Matanyaire, Munyaradzi 67
Mavhaire, Dzikamai 72
Mbiriri, Partson 73
Mombeshora, Millicent Sibongile 79
Moyo, July Gabarari 82
Muchechetere, Happison 88
Mudzvova, Paul 96
Mugabe, Leo 98
Mujuru, Solomon TR 101
Mukosi, Musoro Wegomo 102
Mumbengegwi, Samuel Creighton 104
Mutasa, Gertrude 110
Mutasa, Justin Mutsawehuni 111
Mutiwekuziva, Kenneth Kaparadza 114
Muzenda, Tsitsi V. 116
Muzonzini, Elisha 117
Ncube, Abedinico 120
Ndlovu, Sikhanyiso ` 121
Nkala, Herbert 124
Nyawani, Misheck 128
Patel, Bharat 132
Rautenbach, Muller Conrad (a.k.a. Billy 134
Sakabuya, Morris 138
Samkange, Nelson Tapera Crispen 140
Sandi, Eunice Moyo 141
Shumba, Isaiah Masvayamwando 148
Utete, Charles 159
Zvayi, Caesar 163

ENTITIES (20)
Name (and any aliases) and Number in Council decision 2011/101/CFSP
Alpha International (Pvt) Ltd 1
Breco (Asia Pacifi) Ltd 2
Breco (Eastern Europe) Ltd 3
Breco (South Africa) Ltd 4
Breco (UK) Ltd 5

Breco Group 6

Breco International 7
Breco Nominees Ltd 8
Breco Services Ltd 9
Corybantes Ltd 12
Echo Delta Holdings 14
Masters Inernational Ltd 18
Ndlovu Motorways 19
Piedmont (UK) Ltd 21
Raceview Enterprises 22
Ridgepoint Overseases Developments Ltd (a.k.a Ridgepoint Overseas Developments Ltd) 23
Scottle Holdings (Pvt) Ltd 24
Scottlee Resorts Ltd 25
Timpani Export Ltd 27
Tremalt Ltd 28


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(NEWZIMBABWE) EU says keen on ‘serious political dialogue’

COMMENT - With the release of Zimbabwe's diamonds onto the international markets, the EU is partially lifting it's own sanctions on some companies/people in Zimbabwe. For a full treatment of the extent and nature of economic sanctions that destroyed the Zimbabwe dollar and economy, in order to make the people of Zimbabwe so miserable that they would vote for the MDC, the Zimbabwean version of the TEA Party, read more below.

EU says keen on ‘serious political dialogue’
17/02/2012 00:00:00
by Gilbert Nyambabvu

THE European Union (EU) said Friday it is keen for “serious political dialogue” with Zimbabwe as it announced a partial easing of sanctions imposed on the country more than a decade ago over allegations of rights abuses and electoral fraud.

EU Foreign Affairs chief Catherine Ashton said visa restrictions on Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa and his foreign affairs counterpart, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, had been suspended to facilitate the dialogue. “The EU reaffirms its desire to engage in a serious political dialogue with Zimbabwe,” Ashton said in a statement.

“To facilitate this process we have also suspended travel restrictions on the two Zanu PF members of the Zimbabwean Ministerial Re-engagement Team so that the full team can come to Brussels for high-level consultations.”

During a recent meeting, principals to the coalition government urged the country’s EU re-engagement committee to re-approach the 27-nation organisation over the sanctions which Zanu PF blames for the country’s economic problems.

[Not 'merely' the ZANU-PF. Anyone with two working braincells can understand that putting the government on a credit freeze - Section 4C of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 - for a decade is detrimental to the economy. The date of introduction of ZDERA (Jan.1 2002) coincides with the acceleration of the decline of the Zimbabwe Dollar against the US dollar during 2002, when it declined more in 2002 than in the 6 years before, combined. ZDERA came into force on Jan 1, 2002. Only a coward still denies the existence or impact of economic sanctions on the Zimbabwean economy. Ironically, it was ZDERA co-sponsor and so-called 'progressive' Russ Feingold, who tried to extend the credit freeze of the Zimbabwean government beyond ten years, by introducing the Zimbabwe Transition to Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2010, which through Section 4D (Multilateral Financing Conditions) attempted to extend the credit freeze on the Government of Zimbabwe (quote from ZTDERA Sec 4D: "The Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive director to each international financial institution to oppose any extension by the respective institution of any loan, credit, or guarantee to the Government of Zimbabwe..."). Just as puzzling, ironically, it was the hardline Republican senator Jim Inhofe who tried to get this financial isolation lifted, by introducing the Zimbabwe Sanctions Repeal Act of 2010. The Inhofe bill states:

(25) Section 4(c) of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 specifically directs the United States Executive Director to each international financial institution to oppose and vote against any extension by the institution of any loan, credit, or guarantee to the Government of Zimbabwe or any cancellation or reduction of indebtedness owed by the Government of Zimbabwe to the United States or any international financial institution.

(26) In order to restore fully the economy of Zimbabwe and assist in the process of transition to democracy, the sanctions imposed under the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 and burdening the power-sharing government in Zimbabwe must be repealed. "

So clearly it is not merely the ZANU-PF who says so. A fact that Tendai Biti (Finance Minister, MDC) explains (4:40 onwards) and other MDC members in the Wikileaks Cables are on record of complaining about the impact of economic sanctions on the economy. - MrK]


The committee comprises representatives of the MDC formations Tendai Biti, Elton Mangoma, Priscilla Misihairabwi, Moses Mzila Ndlovu as well as Chinamasa and Mumbengegwi.

Meanwhile, the EU said the decision to remove 51 individuals and 20 entities from the sanctions list represented “the most significant amendment to the EU measures since they were introduced in 2002”.

“Whilst we note that the overall situation in Zimbabwe has improved, further political reforms in accordance with the commitments in the GPA are necessary for a democratic and peaceful Zimbabwe,” Ashton said.

“The EU remains ready to reconsider the measures at any time in response to concrete progress in the implementation of the GPA and the preparation of credible and peaceful elections.

“Such elections should allow the creation of a Government reflecting the freely expressed wishes of the people of Zimbabwe. The EU will recognise and work with any government formed as the result of such a process.”

However, the list of those cleared does not include security service chiefs or key members of President Robert Mugabe’s inner circle.

“112 individuals and 11 entities who are still considered to be involved in or associated with policies and activities that undermine human rights, democracy and the rule of law will remain subject to the measures,” the EU said in its statement.

Predictably, Zanu PF was not enthused by the development and demanded that the EU scrap all the sanctions.

"The whole sanctions regime is illegal and racist, and we are not going to celebrate decisions meant to patronise us while they act as lords over our political affairs," party spokesman, Rugare Gumbo – who was cleared – told Reuters.

"It's very tragic that the EU is still being used by some of its members, principally Britain, in pursuing a neo-colonial agenda to remove Zanu PF from power."

Zanu PF claims the sanctions were imposed as punishment for its controversial land reforms and blames them for the country’s near-economic collapse over the last decade.

The party has refused to make further concessions under the Global Political Agreement (GPA), accusing its coalition partners of not doing enough to have the sanctions removed.

The following individuals have been removed from the European Union sanctions list:

· Barwe, Reuben 3
· Bredenkamp, John Arnold 5
· Chimbudzi, Alice 15
· Chimedza, Paul 16
· Chimutengwende, Chenhamo Chekezha 17
· Chinamasa, Monica 18
· Chiremba, Mirirai 24
· Chitakunye, Eliphas 25
· Chiwenga, Jocelyn 27
· Chiwewe, Willard 29
· Chiwese, George 28
· Deketeke, Pikirayi 31
· Dube, Tshinga Judge 33
· Gumbo, Rugare Eleck Ngidi 36
· Hungwe, Josaya (a.k.a. Josiah) Dunira 39
· Hungwe, Josaya (a.k.a. Josiah) Dunira 39
· Huni, Munyaradzi 40
· Karimanzira, David Ishemunyoro Godi 43
· Kazembe, Joyce Laetitia 46
· Kereke, Munyaradzi 47
· Mahoso, Tafataona 58
· Makwanya, Judith 59
· Makwavarara, Sekesai 60
· Manyonda, Kenneth Vhundukai 63
· Matanyaire, Munyaradzi 67
· Mavhaire, Dzikamai 72
· Mbiriri, Partson 73
· Mombeshora, Millicent Sibongile 79
· Moyo, July Gabarari 82
· Muchechetere, Happison 88
· Mudzvova, Paul 96
· Mugabe, Leo 98
· Mujuru, Solomon T.R. 101
· Mukosi, Musoro Wegomo 102
· Mumbengegwi, Samuel Creighton 104
· Mutasa, Gertrude 110
· Mutasa, Justin Mutsawehuni 111
· Mutiwekuziva, Kenneth Kaparadza 114
· Muzenda, Tsitsi V. 116
· Muzonzini, Elisha 117
· Ncube, Abedinico 120
· Ndlovu, Sikhanyiso 121
· Nkala, Herbert 124
· Nyawani, Misheck 128
· Patel, Bharat 132
· Rautenbach, Muller Conrad (a.k.a. Billy) 134
· Sakabuya, Morris 138
· Samkange, Nelson Tapera Crispen 140
· Sandi, Eunice Moyo 141
· Shumba, Isaiah Masvayamwando 148
· Utete, Charles 159
· Zvayi, Caesar 163
The following companies have been removed from European Union sanctions:

· Alpha International (PVT) Ltd 1
· Breco (Asia Pacific) Ltd 2
· Breco (Eastern Europe) Ltd 3
· Breco (South Africa) Ltd 4
· Breco (UK) Ltd 5
· Breco Group 6
· Breco International 7
· Breco Nominees Ltd 8
· Breco Services Ltd 9
· Corybantes Ltd 12
· Echo Delta Holdings 14
· Masters International Ltd 18
· Ndlovu Motorways 19
· Piedmont (UK) Ltd 21
· Raceview Enterprises 22
· Ridgepoint Overseas Developments Ltd (a.k.a. Ridgepoint Overseas Developments Ltd) 23
· Scottlee Holdings (PVT) Ltd 24
· Scottlee Resorts Ltd 25
· Timpani Export Ltd 27
· Tremalt Ltd 28



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Sata hits at critics

Sata hits at critics
By Staff reporters
Sat 18 Feb. 2012, 12:00 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata says grave bitterness and negativity will be left to those with sectional interests to protect. And Vice-President Dr Guy Scott says PF's victory in Msanzala shows that people in Eastern Province are willing to work with the government.

Celebrating PF victories in Msanzala Constituency, two wards in Petauke and another one in Zambezi and in apparent reference to UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, President Sata said the Msanzala and Zambezi victories sent a clear message to the MMD-UPND alliance that the time for misplaced bitterness and unjustified criticism was long gone because Zambians were more interested in messages of hope and assurance such as those enabling the PF to win elections.

"As a broad-based party with a proven national appeal, we will therefore continue to work even harder to gain new ground. We are determined to break all tribal and ethnic barriers just to ensure that our people receive the desired development in their respective regions," President Sata said.

"We are more confident in the collective wisdom, understanding and judgment of the Zambian people now than ever before because they are able to distinguish genuine criticism from sour grapes and mere media stunts by those who do not mean well for this country."

President Sata has since appointed newly-elected Msanzala PF member of parliament Colonel Joseph Lungu as Deputy Minister of Defence in charge of Rural Development and Zambia National Service.

President Sata said the Msanzala victory signified the ruling party's grand entry into Eastern Province and further affirms the people's resolve to endorse and support PF's efforts to deliver the change they voted for on September 20, 2011.

"Indeed, this is a momentous achievement for our party as it has demonstrated to all doubting minds that in fact, our historic victory last September was understated due to the widespread electoral malpractices by the previous regime," President Sata said in a statement released by his special assistant for press and public relations George Chellah.

"With sincerity of heart, I take this opportunity to express my utmost appreciation to our secretariat and the rank and file of our party for this well-deserved victory. You are further encouraged to work harder to mobilise and explain our party programmes across the entire length and breadth of the country."

President Sata commended the PF for decisively winning a ward seat in Zambezi West Constituency in North-Western Province and another two wards in Petauke district.

The President assured that PF will never take the goodwill and support it is enjoying from the Zambian people for granted.

"As custodians of the Zambian people's interests, we will continue to listen, uphold the rule of law and deliver to the best of our abilities to move this country forward. Grave bitterness and negativity will be left to those with sectional interests to protect," said President Sata.

And in an interview yesterday, Vice-President Dr Scott said the victory was a clear testimony that Zambians were displeased with the leadership of MMD.

"I would attribute it the victory to the fact that PF has shown that it is serious and the people also want to work with the government because they know who they are working with. I mean, MMD don't even have an accepted leader at the moment. I mean, who is the president? Who is going to be the leader of MMD? Nobody knows," he said.

Vice-President Dr Scott, however dispelled reports that there was violence in the run-up to the by-election.

"They can say what they want. I was there. I didn't see very much violence and why should there be violence? We don't need violence. Did it help William Banda when he rampaged through Bauleni? It didn't help him, so why should we be following in his footsteps?" asked Vice-President Dr Scott.

The PF resoundingly won its maiden parliamentary seat with cadres bursting into jubilations at the civic centre.

And acting Eastern Province chairperson Ezekiel Mtonga said his party had conceded defeat and congratulated the PF for winning the Msanzala by-election.

Colonel Joseph Lungu polled 7,172, MMD's Peter Daka got 4,065, UNIP's Shadreck Banda got 201 and Usuman Maumba an independent candidate polled 355.

Msanzala has about 29,000 registered voters but only 12,014 cast their ballot.

William Banda won the Lusangazi ward by-election and Col Lungu's young brother James Lungu scooped the Nyakawese local government election on the PF ticket.

Returning officer Madgalene Mutinta declared Lungu winner at 09:52 hours.

In a brief interview after he was declared winner, Col Lungu thanked the
people of Msanzala for voting for him.

Col Lungu pledged to work for the people of the constituency.

"I knew I was going to carry the day because I knew my opponents very well.
Peter Daka is a soft gadget for me. I know how to handle him," Col Lungu said.

When contacted after the official results were declared, Daka cut the line before responding to the question.

Mtonga said the people of Msanzala have selected a leader that they want to preside over their affairs.

He said the democratic rights of the people must always be respected in any election.

"My advice to the member of parliament is that he has to make sure that he serves the people of Msanzala after promising them a lot. You know, people are misled by these promises and I hope he will not serve his pocket but the people of Msanzala. For us in the MMD we always accept defeat and will forge ahead. We will go back to our drawing board and see what exactly could have gone wrong," Mtonga said.

"People went to vote freely yesterday (Thursday) so whether there was intimidation or not people decided to vote for the ruling PF but what is more important is that in future I would like to advise all political parties that this idea of importing cadres should be discouraged."

Meanwhile, Copperbelt PF information and publicity secretary Kabwe Chanda thanked the people of Msanzala for using the ‘Don't Kubeba' method.

He said Peter Daka dishing out huge amounts of money, he had been taught a bitter lesson.

"Msanzala has opened the floodgates in Eastern Province and the new MP should establish how CDF was used in the constituency because there is nothing to show for from the time MMD was in power," said Chanda.

Just before the announcement of the official results, the PF members led by the women started singing solemn songs portraying that the MMD had died in Petauke.

A PF member only described as Mrs Nakayula said the PF was not popular on the ground and that it was ready for any by-election in the province.

All the losing candidates were not at the civic centre when the official results were being announced.

Last year slightly over 15,000 people voted out of over 29,000 registered voters.

And the PF has scooped the Mapachi-Chinyingi ward by-election in Zambezi West Constituency.

PF candidate Peter Mwiila polled 748 votes, beating MMD's Chilila Chinyama who got 230 votes in last Thursday's local government by-election.

PF area campaign manager Christabel Ngimbu said the convincing manner in which the PF beat MMD was a sign that the party was getting established in North Western Province.

"We have won convincingly. This is an indication that people have changed; they are tired of being in the opposition which has not developed the area. They feel that they should belong to the ruling party so that they can have development," said Ngimbu who stood in the same area as PF parliamentary candidate in last year's election but lost to UPND's Charles Kakoma.

Ngimbu said UPND led by Kakoma, who heavily campaigned for the MMD candidate Chinyama, was waning in Zambezi West.

She said Kakoma's impact as area member of parliament yielded little on the ground as the PF had overwhelming support from the local people.

She said PF was anticipating more defections of opposition councillors in Zambezi West that would further dent the UPND's stronghold in the area.

And Timothy Mulusa, North Western PF mobilisation committee chairperson, said PF in the region would not relent in its efforts to marshal support for the ruling party in upcoming elections after spearheading a three-day ground work exercise in the ward ahead of the poll.

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Given gives us hope for a better Zambia

Given gives us hope for a better Zambia
By The Post
Sat 18 Feb. 2012, 12:00 CAT

SELDOM have we heard a Zambian politician present such solid and eloquent reasoning concerning the fight against corruption in our country as Given Lubinda did on Thursday this week.

Given, our country's Minister of Foreign Affairs, told diplomats accredited to Zambia that the government through the fight against corruption is setting a stage for the current leaders to be called to judgment when they leave office.

He explained that they were aware that the fight against corruption they have embarked on would also follow them when they leave government. "Some people have said that by digging up issues of corruption, we must be alive to the fact that he who digs pits falls in them.

We are alive to the fact that we are digging these pits because we ourselves in this government are called by our society to be exemplary. We are aware of the fact that what we are doing now shall also follow us.

So this fight is not against any particular individual, it is against corruption and we are setting a stage for us too, when our times comes to be called to judgment," Given eloquently and with rare simplicity and honesty explained his government's fight against corruption to his audience of diplomats, emphasising that the process of fighting corruption which Michael Sata's government had embarked on was not meant to persecute any particular individual or groups but to restore confidence in the government system.

Given's maturity, seriousness, wisdom, honesty and courage gives us a feeling of security and great confidence in the future of our country. What a wonderful outlook our country has with its future in the hands of political leaders like these! Whereas others are afraid of taking decisive action against corruption for fear of being subjected to the same treatment, Given is saying they should set standards by which even they themselves should tomorrow be judged against.

This is the selfless leadership the Zambian people are seeking and truly deserve. We have seen politicians who have bent backwards, changed roles and practices to accommodate corrupt elements from the previous regime. We have heard politicians who shout on top of their voices against prosecuting leaders from the previous regime and who see this as victimization, as setting a bad precedent and as vengeance.

We have heard some people calling themselves leaders of the people who see something wrong with prosecuting someone for two bicycles that are suspected to be part of a lot that was acquired with stolen public funds. Anyway, probably they are used to stealing big themselves - they themselves are big conmen. But we have politicians like Given who are not seeking protection for themselves, or for anyone else, after leaving public office.

Instead, they are telling us that we should deal with them in accordance with the standards they are setting for the nation today; they are telling us to judge them by their own words.

This is the way things should be because the individual does best in a strong and decent community of people with principles and standards and common aims and values. We cannot protect the ordinary against the abuse of power by leaving them to it; we must protect each other because this can only be done together. For our politicians, there is no choice between being principled and unelectable; and electable and unprincipled.

There have to be values and standards for all to follow. What we are hearing from Given is what happens in a society when values are regained, when principles are once again seen to be valuable.

We have to always strive to do the right thing, to adhere to principles even if it calls for our greatest efforts. And the time is always right to do what is right.

We need leaders who are demanding of themselves because they cannot call others to virtues which they themselves do not make an effort to practice. The fight against corruption must include their own decisions and actions. Justice begins at home and they themselves must be the first to give witness.

They must respect themselves and be exemplary in their daily lives and dealings. They can't lead anyone else further than they themselves have gone. No one is fit to command another that cannot command oneself.

A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not. The standards of honesty and accountability in public life that Given and his colleagues are setting cannot be just for others; they will also cover their own conduct.

They are not exempt. If they engage in corrupt activities they will be dealt with in the same way. The only way they can avoid being prosecuted for corruption is by keeping away from corrupt activities, by not abusing the power they possess to enrich themselves and their associates. And the greatest proof of virtue is to possess boundless power without abusing it. Power is the ability to do good things for others.

The stand taken by Given contrasts very well with that of Rupiah Banda and his allies who believe that to prosecute politicians who had abused their offices and public trust is unacceptable vengeance or retribution.

We saw how Rupiah "cleared" Frederick Chiluba of his corruption charges. We are also today hearing some opposition elements who have been working with Rupiah, who are in a political alliance with him, regurgitating a similar line. This is perpetrating corruption by setting standards and practices that encourage impunity.

The right thing would be to demand the prosecution of every person who has engaged in corruption instead of seeking exemptions for them. But this is what happens to politicians when they have lost their bearings, when opportunism has taken them over and they have lost all principles, values and standards required in a decent society.

The future of this country will never lie in the hands of defenders of corruption and corrupt elements like these. It will always lie in the hands of selfless individuals, those who are willing to be punished for transgressions against the public like Given.

It is leaders like these, whatever their other shortcomings, who deserve our respect and support. Given is right and deserves support. He is truly showing leadership of a very rare and high quality.

This needs to be encouraged. These are the standards, values and principles we should all strive for. This is the only sure way to a more just, fair, humane and prosperous Zambia.


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Corruption fight is setting stage for current leaders - Lubinda

Corruption fight is setting stage for current leaders - Lubinda
By Moses Kuwema
Sat 18 Feb. 2012, 12:01 CAT

FOREIGN affairs minister Given Lubinda says the government through the fight against corruption is setting a stage for the current leaders to be called to judgment when they leave office. And Lubinda has urged Zambian diplomats going to serve the country abroad not to open themselves to any kind of temptations.

Speaking when he met diplomats accredited to Zambia at the new Government Complex yesterday, Lubinda said the leaders in government were aware that the fight against corruption they had embarked on, would also follow them.

"Some have said to us that by digging up issues of corruption, we must be alive to the fact that he who digs pits falls in them. We are alive to the fact that we are digging these pits because we ourselves in this government are called by our society to be exemplary. We are aware of the fact that what we are doing now shall also follow us so this fight is not against any particular individual, it is against corruption and we are setting a stage for us too, when our time comes to be called to judgment," Lubinda said.

Lubinda said there was need to emphasise that the process of fighting corruption which the government had embarked on, was not meant to prosecute any particular individual or groups but to restore confidence in the government system.

He said the government wanted to establish that confidence through all established institutions at all stages in order to attract better investment, both local and foreign.

"That is the only way we can ensure that investors participate in our economy on a level playing field. Our government is aware that a number of genuine investors from some of your countries have shunned the Zambian tender processes in key investment areas due to their lack of confidence in our system and what they believe is a pre-determined result of tender processes. I have come across some potential investors who have said to me they don't dare participate in our tender processes because they fear that these are pre-determined, the tender processes are just a smokescreen, they are just for window dressing," he said.

Lubinda said it was sad to be a citizen of a country whose systems do not generate confidence and was hoping that with the support of the cooperating partners, they could clean the bad image.

He said the setting up of various commissions of inquiries by President Michael Sata was a self-cleansing process that would demonstrate his government's commitment to the fight against corruption.

And speaking earlier at his office during the orientation meeting of Zambian diplomats, Lubinda said temptations for exchanging of envelopes were very high in the foreign missions.

"Some might come to you with what might appear as innocent gifts in the process of lobbying you. Remember, they are lobbying Zambia and you cannot trade Zambia's image in exchange for an envelope. Please don't be tempted. Bear in mind always that when they are lobbying you, it is not you the person, it is Zambia that they are lobbying and Zambia will not make decisions based on the size of the envelope," Lubinda said.

Lubinda urged the diplomats to guard themselves jealously by not opening themselves to such temptations.

Meanwhile, Lubinda said it was government's desire to come up with a Diaspora policy, that would protect the interest of Zambian diplomats abroad and other Zambians who were selling their skills on the international scene.


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Liato in more trouble

Liato in more trouble
By Mwala Kalaluka
Sat 18 Feb. 2012, 12:01 CAT

THE joint team of investigators probing the plunder of national resources on Wednesday cautioned Austin Liato for diverting boreholes and hammer mills donated to Kaoma Central Constituency to his farm.

And the combined probe team comprising the Zambia Police, Drug Enforcement Commission and Anti Corruption Commission has recovered two of the stolen hammer mills from Liato's Mwembeshi farm.

Spokesperson for the joint investigative team consisting of officers from the Zambia Police, DEC and ACC, Charity Munganga-Chanda said yesterday that Liato, a former labour minister, was cautioned on Wednesday.

"He was cautioned on Wednesday around 16:00 hours and he was cautioned over two offences; the first one being abuse of authority of office and the second one is theft," Munganga-Chanda said.

"It is in connection with four hammer mills that were donated to Kaoma community in Kaoma Central Constituency."

Munganga-Chanda said two of the hammer mills were donated by International Drug Company while the other two were donated by Konkola Copper Mines KCM to Kaoma Central where Liato was the member of parliament at the time.

"KCM again donated two boreholes to the same place," Munganga-Chanda said. "They boreholes were supposed to be sunk there Kaoma Central but now they were diverted and sunk on his private property."

Munganga-Chanda said investigations into the matter were ongoing.

And highly-placed ACC sources said the joint probe team recently seized two hammer mills from Liato's farm in Mwembeshi area in Lusaka West.

"They were found at this farm," the source said. "When this information was brought in, the people that were contracted to sink the boreholes were contacted and they took the police to where they sunk the boreholes."

The sources said one of the seized hammer mills was identified as having been donated by International Drug Company and the other was identified as having been donated by KCM.

They said the recovered hammer mills have since been taken to the joint investigative team's offices at the former Task Force on Corruption offices in Lusaka's Woodlands area.

The sources said in total, Liato was being cautioned over four hammer mills and two boreholes.

Liato is already appearing before Lusaka principal resident magistrate Aridah Chulu over the K2.1 billion cash that was found buried at his Mwembeshi farm.

Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito has taken up the prosecution of Liato's K2.1 billion excavation case.


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Kufuna calls for transfer of ‘uncaring' Petauke hospital staff

Kufuna calls for transfer of ‘uncaring' Petauke hospital staff
By Roy Habaalu in Petauke
Sat 18 Feb. 2012, 11:59 CAT

LABOUR deputy minister John Kufuna says health personnel at Petauke District Hospital must be transferred for their bad attitude towards patients.

During an impromptu visit to the hospital after he was informed that a male patient had been lying on a bench for 30 minutes unattended to in the evening Kufuna who was accompanied by Kawambwa member of parliament Lackson Chilangwa said staff at the institution was making government work difficult.

The deputy minister ordered a nurse found on duty to attend to the patient.

"It looks like you are not doing your job. Where is the clinical officer? Even the clinical officer is not here! We didn't find him, what's wrong with you nurses? Maybe you want to be sent somewhere else ba nurse!" Kufuna told the nurse who later run away.

"Where is the clinical officer? You are the clinical officer. Why can't you attend to the patient? What happens here? You operate from your homes, you don't operate from your offices, you are not working on shifts! Who is supposed to be here? You are being irresponsible. There is supposed to be a clinical officer and a nurse to attend to emergencies. Now a patient comes you just let him lie on the bench, is it normal?" Kufuna told a clinical officer who responded that he was not answerable to him.

Kufuna said the staff was reluctant to attend to patients because there were villagers who did not understand their right to health.

"You don't care, you are the people who are letting us down, you are letting the Zambians down, it's not fair. And where is the nurse who was here?" asked Kufuna.

The unidentified clinical officer who arrived 40 minutes later said, "I know how I operate as well, sir. You can't be questioning me."

But Kufuna told him to stop wasting his time and take the patient and attend to him.

Chilangwa said the situation was unacceptable.

"These people have an 'I-don't'care' attitude. For them it is business as usual. It's unacceptable that we find a person hit by a stone lying for 30 minutes. Suppose we (members of parliament and ministers) were not here? And this clinical officer is taking things so casually, laughing it off as if it's not his business! He says 'it's not me who was on duty, I just past through here'! Can you believe a hospital like this! The nurse we found didn't have the number for the doctor on call. What kind of operation is this? What kind of recklessness is that?" wondered Chilangwa.

"We can't accept this kind of nonsense, this is unacceptable and must come to an end. They don't give a damn to people from villages. The Minister of Health should take appropriate action after we give him a full report. This is the neglect MMD took this country to, it's unacceptable," Chilangwa said in an interview at the hospital.

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TIZ calls for thorough probe of Siavonga District Council

TIZ calls for thorough probe of Siavonga District Council
By Allan Mulenga
Sat 18 Feb. 2012, 12:01 CAT

TRANSPARENCY International Zambia has urged local government minister Professor Nkandu Luo to ensure that corrupt allegations over Siavonga District Council are thoroughly investigated and the culprits brought to book. In an interview yesterday, Transparency International Zambia executive director Goodwell Lungu said corrupt practices in local authorities hamper service delivery.

"We call on Professor Luo, just as we did to the former local government minister Dr Brian Chituwo, not to narrow the probe to a few councils as the allegations are not confined to UPND-controlled councils alone, but need to be spread to PF and MMD dominated councils as well," he said.

Lungu urged the government to roll out the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Policy to prevent the occurrence of such malpractices.

"TIZ recommends a much broader probe into malpractices in local authorities and we call upon all citizens to report such malpractices to relevant authorities in a bid to root out such bad practices. What has been reported may just be a tip of the iceberg. While this is a worthwhile undertaking, we would like to caution Prof. Luo to handle the matter professionally by avoiding the temptation of pursuing a political agenda which will not help to resolve the problems," said Lungu.

On Thursday, Prof Luo suspended Siavonga district council for allegedly corrupt activities with immediate effect .



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Chingola PF councillors differ with mayor over plots

Chingola PF councillors differ with mayor over plots
By Mwila Chansa-Ntambi in Kitwe
Sat 18 Feb. 2012, 11:59 CAT

IT had to take the intervention of Rebby Chanda, the Patriotic Front Copperbelt Province chairperson, to thwart Chingola PF councillors' attempt to impeach their mayor Ventor Kalebaila for allegedly not giving them plots, The Post understands.

According to well-placed sources in Chingola, PF councillors were up against Kalebaila and had even collected signatures to the effect that he should be impeached for not only failing to give them plots but also allegedly siding with management on a number of issues.

The sources disclosed that Chanda counselled the councillors against impeaching the mayor on trivial grounds because the mayor was just a law-abiding citizen who was following the law in the discharge of his civic duties.

The source added that some PF councillors in Chingola were after plots as could be evidenced by the disagreements that had began emerging in some wards in the district over illegal allocation of plots.

"The councillors are saying the mayor is not giving them plots and that he is weak because he is siding with management, so they wanted to impeach him. But the mayor insisted that the councillors should also follow the same process other citizens are subjected to; as in plots should be advertised and then people should apply," the source said.

"Recently, there was even a meeting at Chingola Basic School on instruction of the provincial chairman to the district officials to discuss the same issue. The councillors were told that the mayor is on the right path."

When contacted, Chanda confirmed his intervention in the disagreements over plots.

"That's right. You can't know, maybe it's overzealousness on the part of our people councillors," Chanda said.

Chanda added that Chingola residents expected a lot from the councillors in terms of addressing the many social challenges the district was faced with and not fights over plots.

He however said all the issues had been resolved.

Chanda said plans were underway to sensitise the councillors on the duties of a civic leader.

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ECZ should monitor media coverage of polls - Samasumo

ECZ should monitor media coverage of polls - Samasumo
By Moses Kuwema
Sat 18 Feb. 2012, 12:01 CAT

ZAMBIA Episcopal Conference spokesperson Father Paul Samasumo says the Electoral Commission of Zambia should institute some reliable mechanism for monitoring effectively how the media houses cover elections.

Speaking when he appeared before the parliamentary committee on information, broadcasting services and tourism on Thursday, which was looking at media coverage of elections in Zambia, Fr Samasumo said between now and the next general elections in 2016, the ECZ could start by strictly monitoring media coverage of any by-elections that take place.

"The ECZ should hold public media briefings and embark on exposing media offenders of the Electoral Code of Conduct regulations, in the same way that the Drug Enforcement Commission does when drug mules are nabbed," said Fr Samasumo who also spoke as Catholic Media Services executive director.

Fr Samasumo said the ECZ should also consider framing short and clear messages targeted at encouraging media houses and practitioners to strictly adhere to the Electoral Code of Conduct Regulations.

Fr Samasumo further urged the ECZ to explore possibilities of using various media associations and the Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC) to educate media houses and practitioners about the need to comply with the Electoral Code of Conduct regulations.

He said the Electoral Code of Conduct regulations provided adequate basis to guide the desired level of professional media coverage of elections in Zambia.

"In virtually all instances of non-compliance with the regulations, experience has shown that authorities such as the Electoral Commission of Zambia failed to enforce the regulations," Fr Samasumo said.

He said there was need to double efforts to ensure that in future the Electoral Code of Conduct was effectively enforced.

Fr Samasumo further added that it was important for the PF government to reaffirm its assurance of liberating the public media by a clear media and information policy as well as by enacting media friendly laws.

And chairman of the House of Chiefs, chief Mazimawe proposed that in future elections, the public and private media should give equal access to all political parties.

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Friday, February 17, 2012

(GLOBALRESEARCH) Netizen Journalism, Libya and the UN

Netizen Journalism, Libya and the UN
by Ronda Hauben
Global Research, February 17, 2012

The Special Issue (vol 21 no 1) of the Amateur Computerist on Netizen Journalism and the story of the resistance to the NATO aggression against Libya is now available at the ACN website.The url is: http://www.ais.org/~jrh/acn/ACn21-1.pdf

This issue is a collection of articles documenting what happened in Libya in 2011. It presents a critique of the inaccurate reports that were used to justify the NATO war against Libya.

The focus in this collection is on the role played by the UN in making possible the aggression against Libya. The actions taken by the Security Council and other United Nations bodies like the Human Rights Council were contrary to the obligations of the UN charter and other principles of international law. The articles in this issue document the process by which the UN became an accomplice in a NATO war against a sovereign nation that is a member of the United Nations.

These articles serve to argue that starting in February 2011 there was a media blitz supporting the NATO actions, largely based on unverifiable claims by the opposition against the government of Libya. The story that emerged is based on broadly circulated falsifications of what was happening on the ground. The media blitz was accompanied by a rush at the UN Security Council to authorize force against the Libyan government, military, infrastructure and civilians under Article 7 of the UN Charter. The resulting Security Council resolution gave NATO and special forces the pretext to support an armed insurrection inside Libya. This armed insurrection was supported by a military campaign of bombing and other aggressive acts on the part of the U.S., France, the U.K. and several other NATO nations. The harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure was ignored by those supporting the NATO aggression.

There were however a number of journalists, websites and independent news sources which provided an alternative account and critiqued the false narrative being presented to justify the NATO war. Such a form of journalism, contributed to online by many netizens, has been described as “netizen journalism.”(1) Netizen journalism takes as its mission to independently investigate situations, seek out the accurate story, and challenge the fact that much of the mainstream western media is but a media presenting the dominant viewpoint of those in power. Whereas the western mainstream media most often acts to reinforce this power, netizen journalism takes as its mission to challenge the abuse of power.

A number of independent journalists and journalists working for alternative media like TeleSUR covered the struggle in Libya against the NATO aggression and the damage inflicted on the civilian infrastructure and the civilian population. This issue includes not only articles documenting what happened in Libya but also contains references to some of the many independent news reports and analyses that explore the long term goal of the NATO war and the injustice done by that mainstream media which used unverified reports by opposition sources to spread a phony rationale for the invasion of a sovereign nation.

A list of journalists who provided this alternative coverage would include, among others, Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya, Thierry Meyssan, Lizzy Phalen, and Franklin Lamb.

Some of the websites that have been part of this broader collaborative effort to understand what happened in Libya and to present it to the world include:

Center for Research on Globalization
Voltaire Network
Global Civilians for Peace in Libya
Libya360
Strategic Culture Foundation
Mathaba – Independent News Agency

Investig’Action
teleSUR
Concerned Africans
April Media
American Everyman

In his article in this issue, “From Munich to Tripoli,” Yoichi Shimatsu refers to the resistance offered by the fighters of the Spanish Civil War and the work to spread the story of their resistance by the writers and commentators who conveyed this story to the world. In this issue of the Amateur Computerist we want to pay tribute to both the resistance offered by those in Libya who fought against the foreign intervention and to the journalists, websites, and other forms of netizen journalism around the world that have helped to spread the story of the resistance to the NATO war against Libya and to the destruction of Libya that it wrought.



Note



1) See for example, Ronda Hauben, “The Need for Netizen Journalism and the Ever Evolving Netizen – News – Net – Symbiosis”
http://blogs.taz.de/netizenblog/2011/05/01/need_for_netizen_journalism/

This article appears on my blog at taz.de



http://blogs.taz.de/netizenblog/2012/02/16/netizen-journalism-libya-and-the-un/

Global Research Articles by Ronda Hauben




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(HERALD) Bring back funds in offshore accounts, local banks told

Bring back funds in offshore accounts, local banks told
Friday, 17 February 2012 00:00
Hebert Zharare and Victoria Ruzvidzo

TREASURY has ordered all banks to repatriate 75 percent of funds held in offshore accounts with effect from March 1 as part of measures to curb liquidity challenges.
Foreign banks operating in Zimbabwe are believed to be sitting on over US$500 million of local depositors' money kept in the United Kingdom and South Africa among other countries.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti yesterday said the move follows consultations with the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe. This came as the central bank also moved in yesterday to suspend cash withdrawal limits from next month following the improvement in the liquidity situation and the need to encourage savings.

In his monetary policy statement on January 31, Reserve Bank Governor Dr Gideon Gono put a US$10 000 ceiling on cash withdrawals while transactions above the limit required notice periods of up to five days depending on the amount needed.

Minister Biti said after consultations with the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe, Government and RBZ concluded that there was need for the repatriation of all other Nostro Account balances in excess of banks' needs, pending international payment obligations and for the purposes of taking positions in the international market.

Said Minister Biti "With effect from March 1, 2012, banks will, therefore, be required to maintain in their Nostro Accounts a maximum of 25 percent of their balances offshore.

"The maximum rises to 30 percent from June 1, 2012," he said.

Banks would still use their Nostro Account balances to meet some obligations such as lines of credit, trade and project finance support.

Minister Biti and Dr Gono reiterated the need for businesses and the general public to broaden the use of plastic money and other electronic means of payment.

"Government is in consultation with the Reserve Bank and the Bankers Association, considering introduction of measures and fiscal incentives deemed necessary to promote broader use of plastic money," he said.

Efforts to restore the central bank's lender of last resort status will receive a major boost next week with the injection of US$23 million from Treasury.

Minister Biti said his Ministry was working with local and international financial institutions to finalise the mobilisation of an additional US$73 million.

Dr Gono said the central bank will need at least US$150 million to effectively play its role in the financial market.

"For the smooth operation of the financial services sector, there is need for the lender of last resort function to be adequately funded. Based on the size of the country's GDP (Gross Domestic Product), it is estimated that an amount of US$150 million is required for the smooth functioning of the lender of last resort," he said.

RBZ will soon co-ordinate the establishment of a Special Purpose Vehicle where financial institutions and other investors will contribute towards the LoLR Fund.

This is expected to improve low deposit rates prevailing in the market.
Banks were implored to take a cue from the apex bank's overnight accommodation rate in terms of lending rates charged on loans.

On statutory reserves owed by the Reserve Bank to local banks, Minister Biti said Treasury will issue Discountable and Tradable Instruments to willing participant banks.

The banks are collectively owed up to US$83.583 million.

He said the issuance of discountable paper instruments against the Reserve Bank Statutory Reserve liabilities was against the background of the country's limited fiscal space.

The maturity of the instruments will range from two to four years with features such as Prescribed asset status; Liquid asset status; Half-yearly coupon; Tax exemption; Tradable and Lender of Last Resort security status.

Institutions not willing to participate in the above scheme will have the option of being issued with 15-year bonds at 3 percent per annum.

Treasury will immediately establish a Sinking Fund for servicing of interest payments and maturities.

Furthermore, instruments will be introduced to fund large infrastructure projects which Government could presently not finance from the current levels of fiscal revenues.

"Hence, notwithstanding the prevailing challenges in the financial system, Treasury will be issuing Infrastructure Development Bonds to complement Budget resources set aside for the financing of the rehabilitation of infrastructure.

"Given the need to abide by our cash budgeting principles, the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe will be mandated to issue Infrastructure Development Bonds to the tune of US$50 million."

"Once an agreement has been reached, I will announce the operational framework for the disbursement of these funds."

Furthermore, to strengthen and deepen the financial sector, Treasury, the Reserve Bank, the Insurance and Pensions Commission and the Securities Commission will be reviewing the existing legislation governing the various financial sub-sectors.

This review will cover the following legislation:- Banking Act, Securities Act, Microfinance Bill, Insurance Act, and Pension and Provident Funds Act.

The review of the Banking Act will focus on capital adequacy of banks and governance deficiencies, which have characterised the banking sector.

Notable examples include the need to ensure that shareholders have no role to play in the management of financial institutions.

This will limit the prevalence of incidences of insider loans, abuse of depositors' funds and conflicts of interest.

The review on capital adequacy requirements should result in the streamlining of the number of banks operating in the economy through mergers and the injection of new capital by investors.

Twenty of the 25 operational banking institutions complied with the capital requirements, with the remainder still under-capitalised in spite of moving deadlines for compliance several times.

"Given the importance of having a strong and secure banking sector that is immune to systemic risk, I have mandated the Reserve Bank to develop a framework for mergers between the banking institutions. Modalities of this Framework will be announced in due course," Minister Biti said

Yesterday, Dr Gono confirmed that the central bank was in receipt of recapitalisation proposals by undercapitalised banks as he stressed that no undercapitalised bank will be allowed to operate after March 31.

"It is the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank's expectation to have adequately capitalised banks that are able to play a meaningful financial role in the economy," said Dr Gono.

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(HERALD) President reads riot act to mines

President reads riot act to mines e
Friday, 17 February 2012 00:00
Takunda Maodza in ZVISHAVANE

PRESIDENT Mugabe has read the riot act to foreign-owned firms that are refusing to comply with Zimbabwe's indigenisation and empowerment laws, saying the door for negotiations has been closed.

Speaking at the launch of the Zvishavan Community Share Trust at Mimosa Platinum Mine yesterday, the President directed Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere to urgently implement the programme without hesitation.

The directive follows indications that Mimosa was reluctant to cede 51 percent stake to indigenous Zimbabweans in line with the law, offering 30 percent.
But the President would have none of it.

The Zvishavane Community Share Ownership Trust becomes the third such scheme after President Mugabe launched the Chegutu-Mhondoro-Ngezi Zvimba Community Share Ownership Trust at Zimplats and the Tongogara Community Share Ownership Trust at Unki Mine in Shurugwi.

"All these companies which yesterday belonged to outsiders like Implats, Zimplats and others must now be subjected to the law of indigenisation and empowerment that requires that at least 51 percent of shareholding should belong to Zimbabweans.

"That must be complied with. There is no going back on this matter. Let them be told, let the Press tell them, let the relevant ministry finally tell them to comply."

President Mugabe added: "Hapasisina hurukuro (No more discussions). The ministry should take action. Ndanga ndichiti zvandauya kuno (Mimosa) ndinowana zvagadziriswa (I thought I would find everything in place)."

He was referring to Mimosa chief executive Mr David Brown and the company's foreign officials who did not attend yesterday's event.

The President hailed Mimosa for donating US$10 million to the Zvishavane Community Share Ownership Trust, but said it was not enough.

"Asika muchiri chikara chesango. Ngachive chikara chemumba (You still belong to the wilderness. We hope you will be back home). You must belong to us," he said.
President Mugabe said the challenge before the Government was to make it possible for Zimbabweans to participate in the mainstream economy.

"It boggles the mind that while Zimbabwe is well endowed with natural resources that are of a finite nature, particularly in the mining sector, since the onset of colonialism, Zimbabweans have not benefited from the exploitation of these resources.
"Instead, they continue to be under threat not to benefit now and in the future, mainly because of the neo-colonial forces currently threatening the African continent," he said.

President Mugabe said no meaningful income will accrue to local communities without meaningful participation in economic activities taking place in their areas.

"Consequently, communities are bound to lose confidence in themselves and continue to always look towards Government and the donor community for social, economic and infrastructure development and a general improvement in their livelihood," he said.

The President said corporate responsibility programmes have not responded to the needs and priorities of the people.

He said such programmes have instead created and reinforced the dependency syndrome.
"Genuine empowerment begins with making own decisions as opposed to being perpetual observers or by-standers and recipients of charity acts," he added.

President Mugabe said it was now a legal requirement that all foreign-owned mining companies dispose of at least 50 percent equity to indigenous Zimbabweans.

In principle, community share ownership trusts are allocated 10 percent shareholding.

"I note with gratitude that the Deed of Trust for Community Share Ownership Trust has been registered and Mimosa has already made a deposit of US$2 million in the trust account to enable it to commence its operations," President Mugabe said.

Mimosa is also in the process of establishing a five percent employee share ownership scheme.

President Mugabe said such a trust results in a win-win situation for the people of Zvishavane and the country in general.

"Community and Employees Share Ownership Trusts are vehicles for broad based participation in shareholding in various businesses by our communities and the employees of the businesses.

"The proceeds from such participation by Community Share Ownership Trusts shall be used for the provision of social and economic infrastructure in line with the priorities of the communities concerned such as roads, water works, sanitation, soil conservation and the conservation and prevention of environmental degradation.

"Today's programme is therefore a giant step towards the consolidation of my Government's efforts to rid rural population of poverty."

He said proceeds from the trusts shall be properly accounted for and used for projects that benefit communities.

President Mugabe said all trust accounts should be audited annually to ensure transparency and accountability.

He said partnerships between indigenous Zimbabweans and non-indigenous investors guarantee security of foreign investment.

Mimosa managing director Mr Winston Chitando expressed his company's desire to work with the Zvishavane community in uplifting their lives through such programmes as the Community Share Ownership Trust and corporate social responsibility.

The company has engaged in various social responsibility projects covering education, health, sanitation, among others.

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(NEWZIMBABWE) Banks targeted as dollar crunch bites

Banks targeted as dollar crunch bites
16/02/2012 00:00:00
by Nelson Banya I Reuters

ZIMBABWE will limit the amount of cash local banks can hold in offshore accounts, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said on Thursday, in its latest move to ease a dollar crunch in the wake of the collapse of its own currency. The country has been battling a dollar shortage since the start of 2012 due to a lack of dollar inflows on foreign investor concerns over government policies.

[Source? Worldwide banks are reluctant to lend to eachother. But in Zimbabwe, it is because of indigenisation? Prove it. - MrK]

The country gave up using the Zimbabwe dollar in February 2009 after it was destroyed by hyperinflation that peaked at 500 billion percent. It switched to using foreign currencies instead, mostly the U.S. dollar.

Biti said on Thursday that banks will have to repatriate from March the bulk of funds they hold in so-called Nostro Accounts, or offshore accounts used for international payments and forex trades.

"With effect from March 1, 2012, banks will, therefore, be required to maintain in their Nostro Accounts a maximum of 25 percent of their balances off-shore," Biti said in a statement, adding that the ratio of offshore balances would be raised to 30 percent from June 1.

Last month the central bank set limits on cash withdrawals and urged banks to inject some of their foreign cash holdings into the economy to help avert a dollar crunch. It also warned them that the government could compel them to do so if they did not comply.

The central bank says local lenders, mostly those with international holding companies, have about $450 million in offshore accounts. Barclays Bank Plc, Standard Chartered Plc and the Standard Bank groups are some of the major international firms operating in Zimbabwe.

Last month, Biti said Zimbabwe would draw down $110 million from its allocation of a 2009 $500 million IMF emergency fund in a bid to ease the foreign exchange shortage and bolster the country's $4 billion 2012 budget.
Biti also said the government would soon launch a $50 million bond to raise funds for infrastructure projects.

Since 2009, Zimbabwe has toyed with the idea of issuing bonds to raise funds for projects it cannot fund through its meagre budget, but it has not followed through. Analysts say such plans would have limited success mainly due to the country's risk profile.

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(NEWZIMBABWE) Draft constitution fudges devolution

COMMENT - I am all for decentralisation to the local government level, because it increases democratic accountability. However, in the hands of traitors like the MDC, devolution is mere balkanisation, and only puts local elites in charge.

Draft constitution fudges devolution
16/02/2012 00:00:00
by Lovemore Fuyane

THE drafters of Zimbabwe’s new constitution are involved in a complex process which is without precedent.

The process began with an odd outreach process where workshops were soon overrun by the political types. Armed only with blank sheets of paper, we are told outreach teams captured every point of view from these sessions and these are now being distilled into constitutional language by a small minority of three drafters.

That is not the end of course. The draft constitution must still be taken through various vetting and consensus building stages, followed by numerous revisions no doubt, and ultimately the envisaged referendum.

That said, I finally received a copy of what has been reported widely as the so called draft constitution which the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (COPAC) has thus far compiled.

Like all interested Zimbabweans, I also went through it and did indeed note that it is in fact a very rough draft. The first error I picked up on was in the title where it says “Constitution of Zimbabwe” which I presume ought to read “Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe”.

Perusing through the document, one picked up numerous other errors including typos and spelling mistakes. However, the purpose of this article is not to critique the cosmetic issues but rather the substance of what is currently contained in sections of the document and hope that whoever reads this article, including the drafters themselves, takes this in the positive light it is intended.

My first and most important criticism of the documents as it stands, particularly in Chapter 4 “Declaration of Rights” – normally referred to as a Bill of Rights in other constitutions – is that it makes very little attempt to definitively identify and recognise Zimbabwe’s multiple and distinct ethnic and language groups or make their languages official in any shape or form.

While I appreciate that one of the key stated objectives is to foster unity, the truth of the matter is that there is in fact greater unity in diversity. Apart from making vague mention of the need to protect people’s rights to communicate in their chosen language (Chapter 4.13), the document makes no provision or undertaking that the speakers of these languages will be supported by the state in order to promote and grow their identity where they live.

One also does not have any sense that the state will ensure there is equitable access to state resources by geographic location and therefore local demographics in virtually the entire document. Taking a hypothetical example, this may well all mean that a government administrator can still be employed to work in an area where he or she cannot converse in the local language and be perfectly entitled to speak in his own language to the detriment of the local population he is deployed to serve.

The right to belong to an ethnic group is simply not guaranteed in this draft constitution. It does not recognise that certain languages in specific geographic locations can in fact be considered official, neither does it commit the state to support such ethnic identities through appropriate support via the education curriculum, the media or deployment of state resources and administrative employees in support of local demographics.

As far as local employment practices favouring demographics are concerned, the document is completely silent yet all these are rights enshrined in international statutes. Under founding values, the draft refers to “the fostering of national unity, peace, and stability, with due regard to diversity of languages, customary practices and traditions” yet in practice this is really nowhere in the body of the document.

My second and most important concern with the draft document is that as far as it deals with devolution of executive powers, in Chapter 5, it completely fails to define what such devolution entails. It makes no mention of the proposed geographic divisions over which it will apply, how the people administering such devolved divisions will be appointed, whether by direct election or party deployment or via the executive as is the case with the current group of provincial governors.

My reading of the draft is that the drafters have currently left this wide open to parliament to finalise such definitions, completely disregarding the fact that the idea did not originate in parliament but with the people themselves. Why indeed was further input not sought from the source of the idea?

It is partly the failing of the Zimbabwean national parliament that has given rise to the grievances that brought the idea about in the first place. How then can you return this delicate issue to the same house of parliament that has failed to represent the people as far as the issues they want devolution to solve are concerned?

The document goes to great lengths to define the role of the executive, how they will be elected and does exactly the same as far as the national parliament and senate are concerned but when it comes to devolution, it effectively defers this back to parliament via the powers it assigns parliament.

All the various clauses do is explain the need for devolution of the different spheres of government as well as emphasising the power of parliament as far as conflicts may arise in locally promulgated legislation and the constitution. It says that parliament can nullify provincial legislation without making reference to any attempt to resolve disputes amicably in the interests of the affected people. In South Africa this is known as cooperative governance.

It would appear all the drafters did was to mention devolution, then spent the bulk of their time on this chapter emphasising the supremacy of the national parliament over the devolved structures as if this was not already obvious elsewhere.

The drafters commit an entire two sub sections 5.6 and 5.7 dealing with conflict between parliament and the provincial legislature, but make no attempt to define the subordinate structure. In fact it is in these sub-sections that one gets the hint that the devolved structures may well comprise some kind of legislature.

It is well and good that parliament has overriding authority over the provinces, but why not provide a straw-man model of exactly how such provincial governing authorities would come about, or what their powers ought to be so that the people can at least have something to work with and critique?

At the moment I am afraid what the drafters have produced amounts to a reproduction of the simple verbatim words from the outreach calling for devolution. I am certain that as far as the people who called for it are concerned, should they read through the document, they too would likely share my sentiments.

Indeed, there are many other aspects that still require beefing up in the document, many which I have no doubt other commentators will also touch on as we forge ahead.

Let us collectively build a secure, peaceful, economically vibrant and just Zimbabwe that is able to respond to the needs of all its citizens.

Lovemore Fuyane is a Zimbabwean who is resident in South Africa

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(NEWZIMBABWE) Sanctions lifted on Reutenbach, Bredenkamp

COMMENT - It is a lie that economic sanctions are not disastrous for the economy that is being targeted. They can weasel around about 'targeted individuals' all day long, but if hundreds of 'individuals' are being targeted, that alone puts a lie to the 'no economic impact' lie. However, economic sanctions against Zimbabwe go much farther, see here for the impact of ZDERA. Billy Rautenbach and John Arnold Bredenkamp are Afrikaners, whose companies have been the main target of these 'targeted sanctions' all along, mainly because they are in the diamond mining business.

Sanctions lifted on Reutenbach, Bredenkamp
17/02/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

THE European Union announced on Friday it has lifted a travel ban and asset freeze on 51 Zimbabweans previously accused of aiding and abetting human rights abuses. The EU also cleared 20 companies in a review of the sanctions first imposed in 2002 in response to claims of electoral theft and human rights violations by President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party.

Now removed from the sanctions list are six journalists, including the Herald’s editor in chief Pikirayi Deketeke, the paper’s assistant editor Caesar Zvayi, the Sunday Mail’s political editor Munyaradzi Huni, ZBC boss Happison Muchechetere, reporter Judith Makwanya and chief reporter Reuben Barwe.

The EU also lifted sanctions on several senior Zanu PF figures, wives of senior Zanu PF politicians and military chiefs, and two white businessmen who were accused in the past of bankrolling Mugabe.

Former Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, former Midlands governor July Moyo, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa’s wife, Monica, and army commander General Constantine Chiwenga’s ex-wife, Jocelyn, join billionaire businessmen Conrad Muller ‘Billy’ Rautenbach and John Arnold Bredenkamp who now have restrictions lifted on their travel and business activities.

Reacting to the announcement, Zanu PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo said the EU should scrap all sanctions, calling them "illegal" and blaming them for damaging Zimbabwe's economy.

"The whole sanctions regime is illegal and racist, and we are not going to celebrate decisions meant to patronise us while they act as lords over our political affairs," he told Reuters.

"It's very tragic that the EU is still being used by some of its members, principally Britain, in pursuing a neo-colonial agenda to remove Zanu PF from power."

More follows

Name (and any aliases) Number in Council Decision 2011/101/CFSP

· Barwe, Reuben 3
· Bredenkamp, John Arnold 5
· Chimbudzi, Alice 15
· Chimedza, Paul 16
· Chimutengwende, Chenhamo Chekezha 17
· Chinamasa, Monica 18
· Chiremba, Mirirai 24
· Chitakunye, Eliphas 25
· Chiwenga, Jocelyn 27
· Chiwewe, Willard 29
· Chiwese, George 28
· Deketeke, Pikirayi 31
· Dube, Tshinga Judge 33
· Gumbo, Rugare Eleck Ngidi 36
· Hungwe, Josaya (a.k.a. Josiah) Dunira 39
· Hungwe, Josaya (a.k.a. Josiah) Dunira 39
· Huni, Munyaradzi 40
· Karimanzira, David Ishemunyoro Godi 43
· Kazembe, Joyce Laetitia 46
· Kereke, Munyaradzi 47
· Mahoso, Tafataona 58
· Makwanya, Judith 59
· Makwavarara, Sekesai 60
· Manyonda, Kenneth Vhundukai 63
· Matanyaire, Munyaradzi 67
· Mavhaire, Dzikamai 72
· Mbiriri, Partson 73
· Mombeshora, Millicent Sibongile 79
· Moyo, July Gabarari 82
· Muchechetere, Happison 88
· Mudzvova, Paul 96
· Mugabe, Leo 98
· Mujuru, Solomon T.R. 101
· Mukosi, Musoro Wegomo 102
· Mumbengegwi, Samuel Creighton 104
· Mutasa, Gertrude 110
· Mutasa, Justin Mutsawehuni 111
· Mutiwekuziva, Kenneth Kaparadza 114
· Muzenda, Tsitsi V. 116
· Muzonzini, Elisha 117
· Ncube, Abedinico 120
· Ndlovu, Sikhanyiso 121
· Nkala, Herbert 124
· Nyawani, Misheck 128
· Patel, Bharat 132
· Rautenbach, Muller Conrad (a.k.a. Billy) 134
· Sakabuya, Morris 138
· Samkange, Nelson Tapera Crispen 140
· Sandi, Eunice Moyo 141
· Shumba, Isaiah Masvayamwando 148
· Utete, Charles 159
· Zvayi, Caesar 163

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Name (and any aliases) Number in Council Decision 2011/101/CFSP

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· Breco (Asia Pacific) Ltd 2
· Breco (Eastern Europe) Ltd 3
· Breco (South Africa) Ltd 4
· Breco (UK) Ltd 5
· Breco Group 6
· Breco International 7
· Breco Nominees Ltd 8
· Breco Services Ltd 9
· Corybantes Ltd 12
· Echo Delta Holdings 14
· Masters International Ltd 18
· Ndlovu Motorways 19
· Piedmont (UK) Ltd 21
· Raceview Enterprises 22
· Ridgepoint Overseas Developments Ltd (a.k.a. Ridgepoint Overseas Developments Ltd) 23
· Scottlee Holdings (PVT) Ltd 24
· Scottlee Resorts Ltd 25
· Timpani Export Ltd 27
· Tremalt Ltd 28



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(TALKZIMBABWE) Maintain sanctions against Zimbabwe, EU urged

COMMENT - Since when is 'Human Rights Watch' in the business of calling for economic sanctions on a country? This is what happens when you let foreign (government) controlled NGO's into your country.

Maintain sanctions against Zimbabwe, EU urged
Posted by By Our reporter at 16 February, at 13 : 25 PM

THE European Union should maintain sanctions on Zimbabwe until the country follows through on promised political reforms, Human Rights Watch said Thursday. The EU is conducting its annual review of its sanctions against Zimbabwe which include personal sanctions on President Mugabe and selected individuals in the Zanu-PF party.

The sanctions were imposed in 2002 with the Western bloc citing widespread violence and intimidation, although it is widely believed that the Labour Party of British Prime Minister Tony Blair drafted the measures in response to the land reform programme which redistributed land from minority whites to majority blacks.

“EU concessions on sanctions will not get Zanu-PF to end its abuses,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

“To the contrary, removing sanctions will give (President) Mugabe and his party free rein for continued repression ahead of elections.”

“(President) Mugabe’s Zanu-PF is committing grave human rights abuses against all perceived opponents,” Bekele said.

“Easing the sanctions now would send the wrong message and reinforce the repression and impunity in Zimbabwe.”

Zimbabwe is in the process of drafting a new constitution to clear the way for new polls.

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45% of our children are chronically malnourished

45% of our children are chronically malnourished
By The Post
Fri 17 Feb. 2012, 12:00 CAT

ACCORDING to Save the Children, 45 per cent of children in Zambia are chronically malnourished and there has been no significant improvement in reducing the rate in the last few years. Again, according to Save the Children, Zambia is one of the 10 countries in the world with the slowest annual reduction of stunting between 1990 and 2010.

The cold eloquence of these figures is in itself terrifying enough. But beyond them lies the tragic situation of hunger, abject poverty and neglect that is individualised hundreds of thousands of times over. This is an affront to our collective conscience.

[And the government's unwillingness to collect a billion dollars in taxes from the mines. - MrK]


It is an imperative need of our times to be aware of these realities, because of what a situation affecting over 45 per cent of our children entails in terms of human suffering and the squandering of life and intelligence.

Hunger, poverty, disease, ignorance, unemployment, lack of opportunity, insecurity, inequality, hopelessness are the terms that could well define the living conditions of more than 45 per cent of the children of this country.

The total failure of our endeavours to achieve the basic and essential objective of supplying our children with enough food to develop their potentialities for enjoying a full life is today more evident than ever. Malnutrition, hunger must be considered by the majority of our people as a secular, permanent condition of their precarious life.

For them, the hypothetical high growth of our economy has almost no meaning, since it has not been able to prevent or reduce the presence of hunger and under-nourishment. For the millions of hungry people living in our country today, hunger, poverty, malnutrition are not mere conceptual references, but rather tragic daily experiences, disgraceful reality.

The truth is that, despite all the utterances and promises to eradicate it, hunger persists and tends to grow in our country today. There are still many people, especially children, in this country who each day cannot meet the basic needs necessary for a decent human life.

But as we have repeatedly stated, it is a strict duty of justice and truth not to allow fundamental needs to remain unsatisfied. Economic justice requires that each individual has adequate resources to survive, to develop and thrive, and to give back in service to the community.

A society which values its future affords the highest priority to providing food and adequate healthcare for all its children. Whatever efforts are made today to protect them, to prevent their death and illness, to provide them with food, housing, medicine, clothing and education, will shape the basic human qualities of that decisive percentage of the future population of our country.

And yet, in view of the present trends, what sort of country will we handover to those children? What sort of life lies ahead for these children who will struggle for a decent life, worth at least of human condition? What will their quality of life be like?

Squalor, disease and lack of healthcare are other basic aspects - together with hunger - characterising the dramatic situation in our country. As shown by Save the Children report, the analysis of some indicators and figures is revealing.

As long as nutrition and health fail to be considered as a fundamental right of every child and a duty of the community; as long as the responsibility of the state and of society in regard to healthcare and nutrition fail to be recognised; as long as inequalities in the distribution of health resources and food fail to disappear; as long as poverty, hunger, ignorance and squalor fail to be directly fought against, little will be achieved in improving the lives of our people.

And this is first and foremost a political fact, a political issue. A comprehensive approach is required to fight this situation and to struggle for diminishing or eradicating malnutrition, hunger. The existence of such a large number of hungry and malnourished children in our country constitutes an affront to all of us. A stable, permanent solution must be found for this serious problem.

Children are the most valuable citizens in any society and the greatest of our treasures. Children must no longer be tortured by the pangs of hunger or ravaged by disease or threatened with the scourge of ignorance.

The value of what Michael Sata and his colleagues are trying to do will be measured in how far it goes to ending malnutrition and hunger and will be measured by the happiness and welfare of our children. The more than 45 per cent of our children who are chronically malnourished is a testimony to an unfinished job.

It is said that there can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats, looks after its children. The true character of a society is revealed in how it looks after its children.

There is need for us to invest more resources in nutritional programmes to reduce malnutrition and stunting levels among our children. We are today trying to invest more resources in infrastructure but this investment will not be fully utilised if most of our children are stunted and malnourished and cannot go to school.

Stunted growth is a primary manifestation of malnutrition in early childhood, including malnutrition during foetal development brought on by the malnourished mother. Once established, stunting and its effects typically become permanent.

Stunted children may never regain the height lost, and most children will never gain the corresponding body weight. It also leads to premature death because vital organs never fully develop during childhood. Many of them will also face challenges in school as a result.

Malnutrition in early life is linked to deficits in children's intellectual development that persist in spite of schooling and impair their learning ability. Of course, stunting does not directly cause poor intellectual development in children.

Rather, the same underlying factors that cause stunting are also likely to impair children's intellectual growth. We should also be aware of the fact that nutrition is just one of several causes of growth stunting. Other contributors to stunting include chronic or recurrent infections, sometimes in combination with intestinal parasites.

For this reason, improving healthcare for children is extremely important. We therefore have no sensible alternative to waging a war, without respite, against malnutrition and poor health services to children.

This must be a priority for Michael and his government. If they fail to make progress on this score, everything else they are doing will be of very little value.


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