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Zimbabwe News Official Organ of ZANU PF Contents EDITORIAL (1) (II) 3 LEI ERS: COVER STORY: TALKING POINT: CHURCH NEWS: SPECIAL FEATURES: BUSINESS: LAW AND CRIME: VIEWPOINT: NEWS UPDATE: Priests have nothing to offer ...... The agenda for the next six years ...... Two priests on a journey to hell ...... Our leaders m ust show good example ...... Th e people's choice ...... Policy for sustainable econom ic growth ...... What property rights do settlers have? ...... Girl's contact with the Virgin M ary ...... Youth League National Assem bly ...... Structure of global capitalism ...... Capitalism dies at birth in Russia ...... City of Gold loses lustre ...... Drugs setting pace ...... Law and Order - SA police com m issioner .speaks out ...... The 1996 Presidential Election analysis ...... Foreign M inister Nzo in SA Parliament ...... Constitutional hurdles over new SA ...... Child soldiers urged to disarm ...... Zimbabwe to be leprosy-free by year 2000 ...... Rural Development - a government priority ...... The poor South Africans ...... Zimbabwe Newsls the official organ of the ZimbabweAfrican National Union (ZANU PF) and is produced on the authority of the Central Committee by the Department of Information Iand Publicity, Jongwe Printing and Publishing Co., No. 14Austin Road, Worldngton, Harare. World Copyright, Central Committee (ZANU PF) Editorial Council: Cde. N.M. Shamuyarira, Cde. C.C. Chimutengwende, Cde. C. Ndhlovu. Cde. S. Kachingwe, Cde.A. Sikhosana, Ode. M. Munyati. ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3 -C lAi MM

The Editorial Priests have nothing to offer THE Presidential Election Campaign for 1996 has shown a number of important facts to the voters. They are now in a position to know who to vote for on March 16 and 17. One of the salient facts is that the two priests are bankrupt of any ideas. They have learnt nothing from their political blunders of the past, and they continue day-dreaming, and playing with the people's lives. They should return to their pulpits to pray for themselves first, and then their folk. Firstly, the Rev. Ndabaningi Sithole, has absolutely nothing to offer to the voters. His plan of establishing 61 governments in Zimbabwe is ludicrous. It could never work and the nation would simply disintegrate. His other plan of giving every person $600 per month is also ludicrous and impossible to implement Secondly, Bishop Abel Muzorewa, the promoter of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, offered nothing then, and still has nothing to offer the people now. He proposed free education with monies he dreams to be in Switzerland. There is no money of any ZANU PF Minister outside our borders. We can show him their huge personal debts. You cannot balance the budget with funds that do not exist. The integrity that the Bishop claims to have is the one thing he does not have. None at all. Thirdly, these two priests were the promoters of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia government which betrayed our people and the so-called iternal settlement in 1978 which tried to undermine the liberation war. During their term of office, they did nothing for the black indigenous people. No powers were given to local District Councils or Chiefs by Sithole, and no free education was given by Muzorewa. We are glad that the two misguided priests have published their election manifestos and also that they have stated their policy positions in the mass media. Nothing new is offered therein. That explains why the broad masses do not attend any of their meetings. That also explains why they have no support. The agenda for the next six years THE agenda of the ruling Party, ZANU PF, in the next six years has emerged from the Presidential Election Manifesto, and the speeches of the First Secretary and President, Comrade R.G. Mugabe. In sharp contrast with the opposition paries, the programme is bold and imaginative. The picture that emerges shows that priority will be given to the following issues: LAND AND RESETTLEMENT: There must be finality on the question of the distribution of the land, and its efficient utilisation, Much land is being wasted, under-utilised, and even abandoned. There are many abandoned farms in the large-scale commercial areas of the country. There are also some commercial farmers who own too much land of several farms each. One Kadoma farmer is reported to own eight farms. On the other hand, there are many good communal peasant farmers who are crying for more land, and are able to put it to very good use of production. Therefore, the land resettlement programe will be stepped up considerably. Not surprisingly, the opposition paries have nothing or little to say about this very important issue. INDIGENISATION OF THE ECONOMY: A related factor is the distribution of the economic wealth of the country. The indigenous entrepreneurs will be given access to capital in the banks and pension funds, and they will be assisted to buy shares in key industries. The national cake should grow by at least five percent annually and the indigenous people should increase their share of it. There is no economy that can flourish and grow continuously when it is owned by foreigners. The new government led by President Mugabe will take steps to reduce and remove the imbalances in this economic sphere. WATER CONSERVATION: The severe droughts of 1987, 1991, and 1995, are indicative of the drastic effects in our region of the world climatic changes. Whenever these droughts have occurred, we have mobilised all our resources to feed our people. What is required now is a long-term strategy to combat droughts and poverty. High priority will be given to the construction of small, medium-sized, and big dams. As a nation, we should try to conserve as much of the rain-water that we get as possible. REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT: The drift to the cities must be reversed by stepping up the development of the rural areas. Unemployment and urban poverty can also be reduced by building small-scale industries which absorb more labour, while producing local goods. The basic requirement is training and acquiring basic skills. Therefore, the new government will continue to invest heavily in the education and health of the young people. Demands from international financial institutions to reduce expenditures on these social services will be resisted. GOOD AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING: The long waiting list for urban accommodation must be eliminated. Those working and living in towns should have good and affordable housing of differing sizes. Rural housing should also be transformed from huts to brick houses, with corrugated iron roofs. High" priority will be given to the building programmes of the Ministry of National Housing and Public Construction. The formidable programme covering the topics above, and others, requires the support of every voter, and every Zimbabwean.O ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3

Two'priests on a journey to hell! Dear Editor, The significance of this month's presidential election is the foregone conclusion made by every political analyst here and abroad that incumbent President Robert Gabriel Mugabe is facing no meaningful opposition from the two rival candidates. The universal question on every observer's mind is why there is no meaningful opposition to Cde. Mugabe's presidency? The answer to this question is complicated for those who want him out of office but very simple among all his legion of supporters. Among President Mugabe's supporters, there is unanimity of enthusiastic approval for his examplary leadership under all conditions of hardships, uphill struggles and trials because experience has shown that he is always with the people in the unshaken belief that victory is certain when he is at the head. The confidence of the masses in President Mugabe's leadership is rooted in their practical experiences under his wise guidance. in the minds of the masses, opposition to President Mugabe's leadership is the worst exhibition of opportunistic malice extant. In their conviction, President Mugabe is like Moses and his two deputies are like Joshua and Aaron leading the Israelities from Pharaohic bondage across and the Red Sea into the promised land of the future. Any opposition rivals to this leadership troika are satanic heretics who must be kept at bay always. The masses are solidly behind their messianic hero and this is why Bishop Muzorewa and Rev. Sithole are baying and howling like hungry hounds frustrated at -being kept at bay by the unflinching vigilance of grassroot masses guarding the unchallengeability of their hero's leadership. Local presidential pretenders and their mentors in the West want President Mugabe out of office but do not know how to do their job. In frustration, they resort to scurrilous, scandalous and malicious attacks on his blameless character in the forlon hope that these personal attacks may have the effect of ridiculing and down-grading the President's integrity in the minds of millions of his ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3 supporters. Instead, the masses whose loyalty to their esteemed President view these ludicrous attacks as justification for them to rally behind their hero in face of the irrational stance taken by his opportunistic rivals. The failure of opposition parties to penetrate into grassroot masses is due to the glaring bankruptcy of their aims and objectives. The absence of clear policy ob jectives reflects the truth that the ZANU PF leadership has outlined its own comprehensive policy programme covering the promotion and protection of the interests of all sections of the community. This leaves opposition parties with no uncovered area in which they can base their imagined alternatives. The only remaining reason for the existence of opposition parties is the selfish greed gnawing at the heart of their leaders to put themselves into power. Self- ANU PF domestic problems cannot be solved through the press. The ruling party has the majority support throughout the country. The party, with no opposition to match it has the potential to rule this country. It is evident that through personal differences our top leaders have often tried to dwarf each other using corrupt tactics. The ordinary person got confused and as a result lost direction. According to my close observation, problems begin at provincial level in many areas right to the top (the Politburo), which appear to be fed with false information by the imposed leaders who are loyal to their big bosses who put them to power to pursue their intended personal goals. Eggeration of District Committees which is used as defensive weaponry at elections by those chasing top positions, contribute to the weakness of the party. Our leaders should never deviate from ish greed for power alone does not give the aspirants enough ammunition on which to formulate policy alternatives to those already presented by the ZANU PF leadership. The carpet has been pulled away from under their feet and their cold feet are standing on a cold floor. The two opposition presidential candidates, Bishop Muzorewa and Rev. Sithole, have self-damaging political profiles going back to their counterrevolutionary roles during the Chimurenga War for national liberation. The memory of the masses is still fresh on their collaborative activities with the fascist regime of Ian Smith. This is a major hindrance to their opportunistic presidential aspirations. Fanuel Nhika Maphosa, Marondera. the party constitution in pursuit of their own interests. Our leaders must be honest and loyal to the party. They must accept this responsibility. The leaders are crippling our ruling party. it has become common within ZANU PF framework that to get to the top one has to negotiate, or to be more precise, pay a bribe to the top brass who will in turn mobilise the masses to support their personal interests and not the party. Elections conducted in such a manner can never yield desirable results. This can only lead to the downfall of the party. The weakness of our leaders should be re-examined as this is ruining the party grossly. It is most important to note that the President of the ruling party, who is also President of Zimbabwe Government is a human being like us all. Once he is furnished with false information this may lead to wrong decision making. * Continued on next page Our leaders must show good example

The people's By Zvenyika Kambizi Part of the crowd t the Kachuta rail in Guru ve teC .ieond stop in the President's nationwide campaign tour * Continued from previous page Most of those members suspended as Independents during the past parliamentary and council elections (not all) were only caught in cross fire. It was leadership wrangles caused by those who already hold high offices in both the ruling party and indeed the Government of Zimbabwe. ZANU PF leaders must put pride in their pockets and love on their faces for the good of the nation and growth of the people's party. It is high time our leaders buried their personal differences as we look forward to the forthcoming Presidential elections. Only ZANU PF has the answer for the nation's problems. ZANU PF must continue to demonstrate to the world its spirit of unity of purpose and extend further a spirit of reconciliation to those who are receptive. Unlike money mongers who have chosen to act as agents of the Boers, the Highest Ornamental, who is also the President of the ruling party, and First Secretary of ZANU PF has, in the near past, demonstrated his prominent statesmanship. He made a breakthrough towards creating lasting peace in Zimbabwe that the world has never seen before, by amalgamating the two major political parties. A 'structure of peace that can last not merely for his time but for generations to come. It is timely that I appeal to all our leaders to shelve personal differences and use their positions of influence for growth of the ruling party, and development of the entire country. Divisionalism, factionalism, nepotism and tribalism has often blocked development and sometimes led to wanton civil wars. This should not occur in Zimbabwe. It is most disappointing to note that our leaders who hold high offices of influence and of supreme trust by the masses, and indeed ZANU PF Government, are on a spree of destroying their own party. These positions of supreme trust should not be used to mislead the nation. Remember, we got indepen dence under very difficult conditions I do not hesitate to point out that some of our leaders will not. be happy with those allegations, but facts remain so. Such documents afford you plentiful opportunities to engender a common out. look of the situation prevailing, hence access to assessment and planning programmes. Thanking you, Yours faithfully, Signed: N.S SEKEYA Deputy District Secretary (Chiredzi South) choic he twin issue of land and blac powerment have been the cen topics in the campaign messa of the ruling ZANU PF's Presidential ci didate in the March 16-17 election, Q Robert Gabriel Mugabe. In his nationwide campaign tor a date from the people to run the co try at its Executive President for the six years, the First Secretary and P of ZANU PF, Cde. Mugabe has toldl sands of people at each of the over thi rallies that he had addressed at thie t of writing that his Party has the intere of the people at heart and is unequiv' ( ly determined to see to the upliftment their' living standards through theJ plementation of peopleoriented polid Nominated by over 4 000 delegates the first National People's Conference h last December 15-16 as the Party's s candidate for the March 16 and Presidential Election, President Mugab assured of a landslide victory as no ot party commands as much supp as his party. Add to that his integri foresight, fairness and honesty, and have a candidate for whom some mf bers of the opposition parties have I heard to have said they will vote for ral than flogging dead opposition horses Rev. Ndabaningi Sithole of ZAJ (Ndonga) and Abel Muzorewa of Unil Parties who are contesting the March and 17 Presidential Election are pol cians whose credibility with the el torate is Deyona redemption because the counter- revolutionary activities t got involved in during the liberati struggle. The climax of their ill-fated s out conspiracy was the internal set' ment of 1978 After independence, the two continL to persue a political course bankrupi any ideas that they could offer the el torate as alternative to the policies z programmes of ZANU PF. Mashonaland Central Cde. Mugabe started his campaign t in the Mashonaland Central Province February 7-8, with a rally at Muzara ni Business Centre. Attended by an e mated 5 000 crowd, he told the ri that it had been agreed by all in the Party leadership that the election ci paign programme took off from wh *Continued on next page ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 N

Men at work: Cdes. Chen Chinutengwende and Moven Mahachi at Nzvimbo Growth Point where Cde. Mugabe had his fourth rally in Mashonaland Central *Continued from previous page the armed liberation war began in earnest in 1972. The President told people in Mashonaland Central that his government was commited to the resettlement programme. In this regard. he tasked the Party's Provincial Councils throughout the country to establish land commissions to speedlily identify farms in their areas for the purpose of resettling thousands of the landless. Saying the Party had the plight of its people at heart, Cde. Mugabe criticised some of his Cabinet ministers whom he said appeared reluctant to acquire land for resettlement. Cde. Mugabe noted that there were vast tracts of underutilised land and that some of the farms were being used to keep game while millions of people had no land. Such a situaticn, he told the rally, could not be allowed to continue. He did ne was going to see to it personally, that more farms were identified for resettlement purposes. Cde. Mugabe then asked the Party Provincial Council to start discussing with local commercial farmers as the government did not want to grab farms but wanted commercial farmers and the local people to cooperate. Cde. Mugabe also stated that the reset tlement programme was being slowed down because of lack of finds but assured the gathering that his government would be torced to grab land for its people if the British government did not provide funds to buy the farms. About Abel Muzorewa and Ndabaningi Sithole, Cde. Mugabe said the two were "very reverend gentlemen" and wondered why they wanted to participate in politics when church doors were open for them to preach the Word of God. He said Muzorewa had decided to pluralise the name of his party 'United Parties' thinking that it will be greatly honoured, while Sithole had worked with the ruling Party during the liberation struggle but later gave up when things got tough for him. The President told the people that the two later joined hands and worked with Rhodesian UDI (Unilateral Declaration of Independence) rebel leader, Ian Smith, and were responsible for the deaths of thousands of Zimbabweans. Cde. Mugabe asked why the two were leaving God alone at a time when sin was growing in the country. "They have not been supported by angels in their politics and now want the people's sup- port. This is the very reason why the two are leaving theyhurch and running into politics," he said. In response, both the ZANU PF Provincial chairman and Provincial Governor for Mashonaland Central, Cde, Border Gezi and Joyce Mujuru, assured the President of the province's support. .At another star rally at Kachuta Business Centre in Guruve, Cde. Mugabe said that educating all children to at least, the ordinary level was an important need. Because the ZANU PF government wanted to see the standard of living raised, work to build more dams, schools and hospitals among other infrastructure in all provinces would continue and will be intensified. On the announcement by the Grain Marketing Board that it will close some of its grain depotA or just operate seasonally because of economic reasons, Cde. Mugabe said the government was never informed about that and was not aware of it.-He said a lot of money had been spent in the building of these depots thus there was no way these would be closed. He castigated some junior government officers for misinterpreting government intentions as some of them sold some shares in state-owned companies without the knowledge of the government. Cde. Mugabe wound up his campaign in the province at Nzvimbo Growth Point in Chiweshe where over 7 000 people attended the rally by urging all ZANU PF supporters to turn up in their thousands during the election days to ensure him not only a win but an emphatic victory. Earlier, he had addressed another star rally at Mt. Darwin where he said Zimbabwe needed a lot of skilled people and these could only be produced by setting up more institutions of higher learning. The President said since it has been seen that Mashonaland Central needed more of these than any other province, the Zimbabwe-Cuba teacher training programme has been transferred to Bindura with plans to upgrade the college into a University. oContinued on next page ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3

The people's choic *Continued from previous page Mashonaland East From Mashonaland Central, the ZANU PF President and First Secretary moved to Mashonaland East for another four star rallies at Mutawatawa Business Centre in the Uzumba-MarambaPfungwe, Murehwa Business Centre, Sadza Growth Point in Chikomba and Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera. It was while in this province that the President called for a review of some aspects of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s structural adjustment programme which he said were causing a lot of suffering among the people, Addressing more than 8 000 people at Rudhaka Stadium, he said some sectors of the economy were collapsing, adding that there was need to review the government's position with regards to the IMF policies. In the same breadth, Cde. Mugabe expressed concern at the reduced government expenditure which he said had resulted in "many things going down". Cde. Mugabe observed that the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (ESAP) had given too much power to business people some of whom abused it to destroy the country. He said his government had been urged to cut down on expenditure to avoid borrowing from banks, leaving little money for business. However, that policy has failed, said Cde. Mugabe, because things have really gone down. As such, he said, he was starting to doubt the sincerity of some of the IMF Ideas while at the same time, urging his Cabinet not to take everyting from the Fund. Cde. Mugabe also observed that some businesses were simply retrenching to make maximum profit with the motives behind some of the job cuts in serious doubt. He said: "I am bf the opinion that we should draw measures to take that power back because the unscrupulous business people are destroying the country." The President cited that Malaysia has been a success story despite having central control after having rejected IMF ideas. He stated that it was proving dangerous to take everything from the IMF because in 1980, the government was urged to scale down expenditure on The Marondera rally at Rudhaka Stadium had a capacity crowd in President Mugabe education but the government refused and went out of its way to expand the education system for which the IMF was later to praise. Cde. Mugabe told the rally, the last in the province, that people should vote for ZANU PF becauv it was democratic and had the interests of the people at heart. He said ZANU PF's democracy was shown by the existence of cells, branches, districts and provinces that facilitated communication between the grasstoots and leadership. As such, the Party held four Central Committee meetings every year, two consultative meetings, one national conference and a Congress every five years to enable it to attend to the needs, issues and problems affecting the masses. No other party in the country, he said, held congresses. Cde. Mugabe advised, much to the laughter of the crowd, that should they meet Muzorewa and Sithole at church services, they must urge them to come to ZANU PF. He, however, doubted if the two were still attending such services. He reiterated his commitment to the resettlement programme and repeated his call to the Party Provincial Councils to form committees to identify farms for resettlement, adding that farms belonging to notorious and racist commercial farmers should be targeted first. Mugabe had told the people thai wanted the land question to be dressed conclusively before the 2000. He said he was not only sa, this to win votes but because the] issue was close to his heart. Mashonaland West Then the President took his lively, c paign trail to the West of Mashonaland Provinces where he it was imperative that Party, leader mained rooted in the people in orde them to appreciate the conce desires, and aspirations of the majc that they represent at the various els of the Party and government. He also had harsh words for scd authorities who fail to take life-sa, measures to avert disasters. His attack before an estimated 6. crowd at Karoi's Chikangwe Stadiun lowed a tragedy in which 22 pupils I Moleli Secondary School drowned Lake Chivero, near Harare last Dec ber, when their boat capsized. Two more children drowned at thE ginning of February while taking a r swim at Jameson High in Kadoma. I schools are in Mashonaland 'i Province. Also, he told his opening star rally ir province that community leaders council employees chosen into res Earlier at Sadza Growth Point'Cde. eContinued on next page ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27

'he people's choice ,hiefly welcome for Cde. Mugabe at his rally in Karoi tive positions should be dedicated ana accountable. "Some of the leaders we put into positions are bad leaders. Some of those elected to councils are now taking turns to squander money. They are doing that instead of carrying out development projects. Their leadership is fraught with thieving." Some of this small town's councillors are being accused of squandering public funds. Cde. Mugabe took a swipe at Abel Muzorewa who, together with Ndabaningi Sithole are contesting the March 16-17 Presidential election for asserting that he (Muzorewa) had been called by sympathisers to come from "the land of milk and honey" in America, to come and lead the nation. The rally was preceded by a minute's silence in honour of the late Member of Parliament for Hurungwe East, Cde. Ngonidzashe Mutyambizi who died in a road accident in January. And addressing a capacity crowd in the 10000-seat Chinhoyi Stadium, Cde. Mugabe told his second star rally in the province that Sithole and Muzorewa were traitors who could not stand the heat during the liberation war hence they reneged on the struggle for national independence. The President said Sithole had, at the height of the struggle, made an aboutturn and renounced the ideals of the war ZIMBABWE NEWS IOL. 27 NO. 3 of liberation and joined hands with colonial forces. "I am not a man of violence and do not support violence," Cde. Mugabe quoted Sithole as saying then. "We were all shocked by Sithole's denunciation of the Party's ideals and the armed struggle. You can imagine what impact this had on the guerillas fighting in the bush and some of us who had been imprisoned at the time," he told the capacity crowd. and Mubayira Growth Point, Cde. President Robert Mugabe reasserted his commitment to see thousands of landless blacks resettled. Addressing about 6 000 people at Mubayira Growth Point, his fourth and last in the Province, Cde. Mugabe said most blacks who Were driven from their land through colonial legislation should be resettled by the year 2000. He said Zimbabwe's independence would not be meaningful unless there was firm restitution and equitable redistribution of land. He attacked two pieces of colonial legislation: The Land Tenure Act and the Land Apportionment Act - two major laws that condemned blacks to live in arid areas. Cde. Mugabe also attacked the Lancaster House Constitution, which ushered independence in 1980, saying some of its clauses took away the powers of traditional chiefs in dealing with land issues. He took the opportunity to officially open the Mubayira-Featherstone Road which was constructed by the government this year. At the ceremony, he said the road would spur development in the area as it would facilitate economic activities. In Sanyati, a predominantly cotton- At Hozheri Business Centre in Sanyati eContinued on next page Party of the racially mixed crowd at the same Karoi rally in Mashonaland West

The people's choic * Continued from previous page growing area, Cde. Mugabe told well over 7 000 people that he wanted Party leaders to remain closer to the povo because it was from the povo that policies originated. He said it was the desire of his government to see all rural areas developed, thus enabling the upliftment of the quality of life in these areas. Over the past 15 years, he said, the government had embarked on development projects throughout the country. However, he noted, last year was a difficult period as a result of the drought. Among other projects affected by the drought had been the child supplementary feeding scheme for the under-fives. Cde. Mugabe said, however, that he hoped that this year, with the coming of normal rains, things would change and a number of projects would be taken up again with more initiated. The President was nonetheless, concerned with the rising problem of illegal gold panning saying that this was resulting in massive siltation and damage to the country's river system. Thus he urged the local community to use contour ridges to avoid environmental degradation. He told the Sanyati rally that he was concerned that one -commercial farmer in the area had as many as eight estates while there were hundreds upon hundreds of landless people desperate Tor resettlement. Midlands On Friday 16, Cde. Mugabe took his now established four star rallies per province to the heart of the nation - the Midlands Province where top of the agenda on his opening speech at Mataga Business Centre in Mberengwa was the need to award nore mining rights to the indigenous people so that the ownership of the country's mineral wealth could be in their hands. Addressing more than 10 000 people at the'centre, Cde. Mugabe said most of the mineral wealth in the country was still owned by multinational companies while only a few blacks had mining cliims. He said it was time the indigenous people took over the mining claims to ensure indigenisation of such enterprises. Cde. Mugabe receiving a gift after addressing a rally at Mbizo Stadium in Kwekwe He said most businesses were still being managed by a few whites while black businessmen were lagging behind due to very little capital and high interest rates which had resulted in the closure of some of their ventures. The President told the rally that his government would build more hospitals in each province. He added that the ZANU PF government would build more dams throughout the country but urged the people to form joint ventures with foreign firms to establish more dams in their provinces. Cde. Mugabe sighted Masvingo as an example, saying the province had a successful joint venture with Japan. He told the crowd that Muzorewa and Sithole should be grateful to the ruling Party's national reconciliation policy adding that the two should otherwise have been arrested. At his second star rally in the province at Gweru's Mkoba Stadium, Cde. Robert Gabriel Mugabe told a plus-S 000 crowd that Muzorewa and Sithole were not at all serious leaders. He wondered how Muzorewa expected Zimbabweans to accept him as leader when he hadi Rhodesian rebel prime minister, Smith, in killing freedom fighters dur the liberation struggle. Turning to Sithole, Cde. Mugabe pressed surprise that a man claimed be a national leader could appear on tional television urging his supportr! be violent. "Sithole," he said, "is instigatin youths to be violent and this is wh are against as a government." Back on development issues, the Fr dent and First Secretary of ZANU PFs that the Midlands Province was very portant because of its central posid He observed that the provincial capi consequently, deserved to have more vestment. In this regard, the Preidi said his government was work towards bringing investment to the c adding that recently, a decision I1 been made to establish a Chinese ment manufacturing company in Gwc After addressing another rally at N( budziya Business Centre in Gokwe, C Mugabe rounded up his Midlands i ings with a star rally at Kwekwe's N zo Stadium where he urged people prioritise the establishment of the in mal sector as a means of reduc unemployment. He said he wanted to see a situat where informal sector products wo end up being exported. To facilitate si projects, Cde. Mugabe said the gove ment had put'aside a total of $500 ! lion to help the medium and small-sc business people. The President said the government a intended to establish the Zimbabwe vestment Trust which he said will E loans to people in the informal sec in the form of a revolving fund. He also urged headmasters to bear v those families who cannot afford to I school fees for their children. He sai was unwise for school authorities to t children away for lack of school fees cause the same children held the fut for Zimbabwe. Then the all-important news for crowd. That the government was Ic ing into granting the town of Kwek city status. "From the look of thin eContinued on next page ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 ME

The people's choice I *Continued from previous page he said, "there should be no problem in doing so." Matabeleland North Next on the itenerary came Matabeleland North, where the Presi-dent revealed that there were substantive plans to allocate more loans and grants to the indigenous business people. Addressing thousands of ZANU PF supporters in Hwange, Cde. Mugabe said this year's allocation to indigenous businesses would be more than last year's $400 million, and repeated that more money would be put into the proposed Investment Trust that would assist local investors to enter the large scale manufacturing sector. He stated that government would find the informal sector with particular 'nphasis on women's dubs and cottage industries like Harare's Siyaso industries. The President noted that the ZANU PF leadership and government wanted to sustain the informal business sector because it had the capacity to create jobs and that it produced affordable basic necessities. And while on his Matebeleland North tour of duty, Cde. Robert Mugabe turned 72 on 21 February. As such, the Hwange community congratulated the President and wished him many more by performing traditional dances. In the precedings, the local Roman Catholic Church choir sang and prayed for the well-being of the President before the Member of Parliament for Hwange West, Cde. Alan Elliott welcomed him with a Ndebele Chart, reserved for kings. He was also presented with a birthday cake and a hand-made birthday card at the rally. He had nonetheless, been showered with gifts at each and every one of the star rallies. At his kick-off rally, in the province, at Binga Growth Point, Cde. Mugabe acknowledged the struggle of the Tonga people against the 1958 displacement effected by the colonial government to make way for the construction of the .Kariba Dam which he said symbolised the overall African struggle against colonialism which in turn sparked off bitter wars of liberation. guage in schools but said the government had instructed that it be taught to foster their culture. He was then surprised to learn from the people that it was not being taught in schools in preference to Ndebele. Thus Cde. Mugabe apologised and promised to rectify the situation. At Jotsholo Growth Point, the President said that although his government was committed to providing permanent water resources in the drought-prone region, the implementation of the $6.5 billion Matebeleland- Zambezi Water Project would have to wait since consultations with neighbouring countries have not been done conclusively. instead, he said before thousands of people, the construction of the Gwayi/Shangani Dam would take precedence. There are about five southern African countries that share the Zambezi River and South Africa has also laid claim on water from the Zambezi although the river does not go through that country. Since water was a priority in Matabeleland North, the President said more dams would be built to catch the water that went to waste in the Zambe/ zi River while people and livestock suffered. He said dam construction would be complimented by the acquisition of more land to resettle thousands of landless Zimbabweans scratching a living from barren lands, adding that these goals should be achieved conclusively by the year 2000. Cde. Mugabe also promised to instruct relevant authorities to build a composite government complex at Lupane Growth Point as a matter of urgency as part of a process to develop it into a provincial capital. Matabeleland North is at present, being administered from Bulawayo as it has been duly agreed that Hwange, built on private land, cannot function as the provincial capital. The President wound up his campaign in the province with a rally at Tsholotsho Growth Point where the government will soon examine possibilities of setting up a technical college and more A-level schools in the province. He also acknowledged the concern of He said technical colleges were necesthe locals over the non-use of their lan- sary because not all school leavers could proceed to university or get jobs. The province has no technical college and it has only one A-level school - Inyathi High in Bubi. Matabeleland South Then Cde. Mugabe moved south of Matabeleland where he once again, reiterated his unwaivering commitment to the resettlement programme, the construction of dams, the provision of more schools, hospitals and clinics. At the Dulibadzimu Stadium in Beitbridge, Cde. Mugabe, addressing one of the biggest crowds ever to attend in the province, he said he was aware that the rains came late to the Beitbridge area thus his government was considering suspending the repayment of the grain provided to the locals under the Grain Loan Scheme. He said the food situation would be examined with a view to assessing the scope of the assistance needed by all areas that did not receive enough rains this season. And at Guyu Training Centre in Gwando, where Cde. Mugabe had his fourth and last assignment in the province, he told thousands of people that he will personally convince the Treasury to allocate money for the construction of the much-awaited Gwanda Zintec College. Cde. Mugabe said it was vital that the College be constructed now to train school le.avers from the area who could not make it to the university. This he said, will also enhance the quality of education in the area. Masvingo Switching his campaign trail to Masvingo, another drought-prone province, Cde. Mugabe commended the province for striking a joint partnership with Japan in the construction of dams. On its part, he said, the government would set aside funds to assist self-help income-generating projects. He said this fiscal year, over $3 million would be set aside for projects involving women while those women in small to medium-scale businesses will benefit from the over $400 million to be allocated the indigenous businesses. Moving on to his next stop at Tshovani Stadium in Chiredzi, Cde. Mugabe noted that his government respects the e Continued on next page ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3

The people's choi eContinued from previous page right of workers to engage in industrial actions over better salary packages and living conditions but said what the government condemned was indiscriminate destruction of property. In an apparent comment over recent problems at Triangle Sugar Limited, the President said the rights of workers to fair wages arrived at through collective bargaining, should be respected by all - the management and shareholders. He however, derided the imposition of trade unions n workers, saying that such tendencies were a recipe for dis-. harmony at workplaces which in sohe cases disrupted production. In February, Triangle Sugar Limited was hit by a week-long strike as the employees/and management failed to agree on a new wage structure and the relevance of the Zimbabwe Sugar Milling Industry Workers' Union, which the workers say was imposed on them by management. On the second day of his two-day campaign in the province on March 2, the President told a rally at Neshuro Growth Point in Mwenezi that it was to the detriment of the rural majority that young graduates shunned communal areas in preference of urban areas. He did not hide his disappointment with the present situation common at most rural hospitals where expatriate doctors were in-charge. Cde. Mugabe told the gathering that an .agreement had now been concluded between the government and large-scale sugar producers to pay for the big Tokwe-Mukosi Dam. Rounding up his Masvingo campaign, he addressed a star rally at Mucheke Stadium where he told a sea of people that it was time foreign- owned businesses changed their policies and accommo- Cde. Mugabe shake hands with Party supporters at Maphisa Growth Matebeleland South date black people whom he said they currently view as a threat to their establishment. He said that skilled locals could be allowed to buy their way into specialised businesses in areas of their choice - be it in mining, manufacturing or agro-based. In this regard, explained the President, graduates of say, Chibero College of Agriculture could be afforded the chance to practice their skills on small-scale farms to be opened up during the second phase of the resettlement programme. Cde. Mugabe unveiled plans to open dialogue with multi-nationals with a view to have these big international business concerns selling shares of their employees and the indigenous businessmen. This, said Cde. Mugabe, was one way of empowering the indigenous peo. ple economically. He noted that there were inadequi higher learning institutions in the coi try, adding that this resulted in ma talented students failing to acqu university education despite their bei in possession of entrance grades. As such, said the President, the Gove ment would shortly start monitoring i progress of school- leavers with a vi to helping them continue their educat by correspondence. Other rallies Cde. Robert Gabriel Mugabe who is' ing accompanied in his country-w cqmpaign tour by the Secretary for i Commissariat, Cde. Moven Mahachi a other members of the Politburo and C tral Committee was scheduled to dress more rallies in the *Manicalai Bulawayo and Harare Provinces. He was expected to be in Manicala on March 6-7, in Bulawayo on 8-9 a in Harare from 13-15 March. ZIAt HERALD ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 N( Policy for sustainable economic growth p e South African Economy is cur. rently experiencing a robust cy£ ical upswing. Nonetheless, its potential growth performance is feared will revert once again to a level of between 2-3 percent per annum after the post-apartheid dividend has been exhausted. However, to maintain the upswing, President Nelson Mandela announced the appointment of a special Cabinet Committee about August last year, to assess which shortto- medium steps could be taken to enhance growth performance of the economy. In this article, DR. A.S. JACOBS, former senior deputy Governor of the South African Reserve Bank and special economic advisor to the Minister of Finance, looks at what exactly is being done to improve the South African economy. The challenges facing the South African economy are vast and complex. The greatest of them all is the high rate of unemployment- The task to be performed by the Reconstruction and De. velopment Programme (RDP) will be so much easier if the growth performance and labour absorption capacity of the economy can be raised. The country's economically active population totals about 14 million, of which at least 33 percent is unemployed. The labour force is increasing by approximately 400 000 per annum and although employment is nonetheless still on the economic upswing, total unemployment is nonetheless still on the increase. This state of affairs is not conducive to social and political stability. Additional initiatives, apart from the more effective implementation of the RDP, are therefore, essential in order to improve the situation - in which respect the private sector and organised labour will have to play key roles. The solution for the economic problems facing South Africa is not to embark on higher public sector expenditure programmes. What is needed is to implement policies aimed at strengthening the supply-side of the economy and hence increasing its international competitiveness. We should not merely tinker with the symptoms of our structural defects, but directly tackle their causes - such as increasing the producZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3 tion capacity of the economy by productive investment, promoting small enterprises, training of workers, technological enhancement, higher productivity and better industrial relations. There is no easy or quick fix to overcome these structural defects. Macro-economic vision The National Economic pevelopment and Labour Council (NEDLAC), with its four chambers can play a constructive role in tackling the bottlenecks that inhibit the growth performance and labour absorption capacity of the economy, but it cannot usurp the function of government to devise a macro-. economic vision for South Africa and to co-ordinate policies in pursuit of these objectives. The main shortcoming of the original RDP was that it was not properly coordinated within the context of a cohesive and realistic macro-economic strategy. This shortcoming was vividly exposed when the demands which the projected RDP would impose on the country's fiscal and other resources were quantified and aggregated. It became obvious that proposed standards would have to be scaled down, that priorities would have to be determined and that the RDP would have to be implemented over a longer period. It is, however, in many respects, a blessing-in-disguise that the implementation of the RDP has thus-far been sluggish in certain areas, for this has given the government the opportunity to reassess policies, targets and priorities and to eliminate possible mistakes. What steps have been and are being taken to improve the coordination of policies and the growth potential of the economy? Various investigations aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the South African economy have been conducted in recent years (for example those funded by a grant received from the Japanese government in 1 q94 and the report of tie Monitor Company 1994). The report of the Commission that investigated competition policy in the South African economy should also be released in the near future, although this may give rise to serious differences of opinion between government and business leadeis. The economy, in compliance with South Africa's World Trade Organisation commitments, is being opened up to sterner foreign competition which is bound to affect the country's future pattern of investment, as well as the composition and destination of its exports and sources of imports. Budget plan The Department of Finance is currently engaged in compiling a medium term budget plan for South Africa. This forms part of a broader national economic vision, in which the RDP Will obviously also figure prominently. A concern in this regard is that finality has not as yet been reached about the future fiscal relations between the various tiers of government - which is also inhibiting the functioning of the Financial and Fiscal Commission. South Africa's development financial institutions (Development Bank, Land Bank, Industrial Development Corpora. tion, Small Business Development Corporation and the National Housing Corporation) are currently being restructured in order to enable them to upgrade their expertise and to augment their capital resources. This will enhance their capacity to access private sector funds to be used to finance socioeconomic infrastructural development programmes, which may extend beyond the country's borders - for example, the proposed corridor project linking the Lowveld (Mpumalanga) with Maputo. The proposed programme for the restructuring (privatisation) of state enterprises (such as Telkom) will lend further support to the envisaged socioeconomic infrastructure programme. The restructured state enterprises will be, able to solicit domestic and international partners which can provide them with expertise and capital resources which are essential in international and regional trade activities. The point that needs to be stressed, however, is that the resources of the restructured development financial institutions and state enterprises will be harnessed to finance a vast socio-economic infrastructure *Continued on next page he Zimbabwe Constitutional Amendment No.14 has the effect of making settler ownership of land a justiceable right under the Bill of Rights. In South Africa, constitutional negotiators are moving closer to reaching agreement on a property clause defining land ownership within the broad scope of Human Rights. This school of thought is both a moral injustice and a justification of past racism. In South Africa, Boer settlers seized the Cape from its indigenous owners in 1652. After 1830, the Cape Boers trekked into the hinterland to escape from British rule following the seizure of French and Dutch colonies after the Napoleonic Wars. Classification The racial greed of settler whites over the land issue knew no moral bounds. South African Boers and their fellow racist Britons followed a general land classification which gave them all the areas with the natural endowments of fertility and mineral Wealth. The Britons took the diamondiferous areas in and around the town of Kimberly. They later claimed the whole mineral-nch Witwatersrand and laid claim to any other area in which some mineral were discovered. The Boers took large tracts of farm lands which they proceeded to map out as their own private farms. At no time did The Boers clashed with indigenous com- these invading robbers give moral munal owners of land. Modem weapons' thought for the plight of the indigenous won the land for the invading Boers. The people whom they were driving into arid outcome was that 87 percent of South areas. In fact, the white invaders African land became the seized property -proceeded to designate "bantustans" for of only 16 percent of the population the black ethnic groups whose land they ,while 84 percent of the population was had seized. forced to share only 13 percent of the A parallel and similar form of land rob. land. In time, Asians and Coloureds be- bery was implemented in Zimbabwe afgan to claim their own land rights from ter its occupation in 1890. Between the white land grabbers. 1893 and 1894, and again between Policy for sustainable economic growth hance prospects of a lonQ-term orowth eContinued from previous page programme envisaged for the whole ot Southern Africa. Social Accord The publication towards the end of 1995 of a draft framework for a possible social accord (on the lines of similar accords in other countries, such as Australia and Mexico) to be entered into by Government, business and labour, marks an important breakthrough in the quest to find policy options that can help improve the growth performance of.the economy. This initiative is still in its infancy, but the mere fact that the parties have agreed to identify the structural weaknesses of the economy and to cooperate in tackling them gives rise to greater optimism that progress is being made to pursue policies that will en- of the economy. Conclusion The gradual shift in economic policy from a predominant demand to a supply-side growth strategy is to be applauded. This is the only lasting route that can induce higher sustainable economic growth, which is so essential to underpin the implementation of the RDP. It is furthermore essential that business-friendly policies be implemented as this will help to attract direct foreign investment which we badly need. South Africa needs a sustainable growth rate of about four percent per annum to provide employment opportunities to the annual new entrants into the labour market. Our aim should at least be to realise this target - which will require a marked increase in multi-factor productivity. [D] 1895 and 1908, Zimbabweans we anti-settler wars to free the country I the grip of settler invaders. AItho these liberation wars ended in fall the indigenous owners of land did for one moment stop laying daM their inalienable right to land ownen This justified claim to land is true for indigen6us people of Zimbabwe as also true for the black people of Africa. The white settlers of Zimbabwe, their settler counterparts in South ca, divided the land into classes responding to rainfall patterns and fertility. The classes, called "regions", regions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The classif tion is in the order of soil fertility also defines annual rainfall. For ex, pie, regions 1, 2 and 3 correspond that order, to the degree of soil fert Consequently, white settlers occur regions 1 and 2 as their exclusive ra reserve. They shared region 3 with indigenous population but regions 4 5 were racially reserved for indigen blacks. The Land Apportionment Act of 1 gave white settlers 45 percent of country's total land area when th whites were only one percent of population. Blacks were apportioi another 45 percent when they consti ed 99 percent of the population. The maining 10 percent was reserved towns and national parks. Land Reforms It can be seen from the foregoing t indigenous people were given a raw c in the racial disposal of land from time of settler occupation. Land hun wa§at the centre of the struggle for tional liberation. The attainment of bi majority rule was therefore expectec fruitify with the effecting of far-reach land reforms. However, political diplomatic considerations called for extremely cautious approach to the h question. Moreover, the settler comi nity in both countries has been quid exploit this politico-diplomatic cautic ness in a calculated manoeuvre to tract "rights" from the blatant injusti of the past. Colonisation There are many moral questions ariE aContinued on next page ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27

What property rights do settlers have' *Continued from previous page from the land question in Southern Africa. Among these questions are: does humanity approve the assumption that colonisation of blacks by white settlers was justified? Does settler colonial booty attain legality with the passage of time? If so, after how long can this alleged legality be claimed? Do victims of racism and colonialism forfeit their natural rights at some time during the course of their victimisation? Colonisation was started by ancient Greeks when they annexed neighbouring territories and acculturated the people who inhabited those colonised lands. Later, Romans did the same and, at one time colonised the whole of Western Europe. Modern colonialism started in the 15th century in the form of the TransAtlantic Slave Trade. This form of colonialism continued until slave trading was abolished in the 1830s after the industrialisation of Europe. However, another form of colonisation - settler colonisation - began in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. This form of colonisation spread to South Africa after the end of Napoleonic Wars and the abolition of slave trading in the 1830s. Unlikie -imperial colonisation, settler colonisation established its. Headquarters in the occupied territories and the settlers themselves became both agents and owners of the system. As we have seen above, the system was founded upon the philosophy of racial discrimination which dehumanised the indigenous black majority. Thus, successive racist regimes in both South Africa and Zimbabwe were founded upon the spoils of colonial conquests. The booty robbed from its indigenous owners include, above all, land and its natural wealth of resources. Should this colonial booty be legitimised by incorporating it into a justifiable Bill of Rights? Why? Constitutional Legality Politics being the art of the possible, it may be political expediency to leave the status quo undisturbed but it is not wise to confer constitutional legality upon ownership of colonial booty. Paul Kruger and Hendrik Potgieter rewarded their followers, the voortrekkers, with large tracts of farms in the Orange Free State, the Transvaal, the Cape Province and Natal. This was their pay in the form of apportioned' colonial booty. Similarly, Cecil John Rhodes and Leander Starr Jameson rewarded their followers, the Pioneer Column, with large tracts of land in Zimb61we's regions 1, 2 and 3. This most fertile area was parcelled into commercial farms for mercenary soldiers who had no farming skills. With large farms on their hands and no. farming skills nor resources in their possession, the mercenary soldiers subsequently sold their fertile farms to new settler immigrants for about 5 cents for a hectare. This was selling and buying for a song! These transactions had no legal validity by any stretch of jurisprudence. In fact, this issue could be brought before the judges at the Hague International Court of Justice for arbitration. Similar cases were brought before this court by the indigenous people of Australia, New Zealand and the AmeriIndians of the USA. Colonial wars were waged by colonial invaders against patriotic resistance by nationalist forces. The wars were aggressive and therefore unjust. The nationalist resistance was defensive and therefore justified. The invading aggressors applied barbaric force to usurp the property rights of the indigenous people. Time after time, the indigenous people have demanded the restoration of their rights. This demand eventually translated itself into a victorious war of national liberation. It is only logical that the victorious war of national liberation should become the occasion for the restoration of property rights to the indigenous owners. The current attempts by white settlers or their descendants in Zimbabwe and South Africa to incorporate usurped booty into justiceable clauses in a Bill of Rights are both satanic and impermissible on points of natural law and common law. it appears that the descendants of white colonisers are misinterpreting the philosophy of national reconciliation to mean black acceptanice of post injustices by their forebearers. This misconception would not have been possible had black government demanded court trials for crimes committed in promoting the interests of past racist regimes. Black governments made an error of theif magnanimity when they failed to institute court proceedings against settler criminals. The white race has no vocabularly for reconciliation in post-war situations. In Britain, a Polish who is now a British citizen is facing a court case in which he is alleged to have been implicated in the murder of three Jews in Belarus (formerly Byelorussia) between November 1941 and March 1942. The accused is now 85 years old and was a Nazi policeman during World War II. The crime is alleged to have been committed 52 years ago but the accused must still be put on trial. If the white race cannot leave criminals who are suspected of having murdered three Jews 54 years ago why should the black governments of Zimbabwe and South Africa not demand punishment for the massacres of Chimoio, Nyadzonia, Tembwe, Mavonde, Lusaka, Mukumbi, Shapperville, Soweto and the murders of Dr. Edson Sithole, Steve Bhiko and others? After all racist murders in Southern Africa were committed only yesterday compared to Nazi murders of more than half a century ago. White settlers and their descendants should be made individually and severally accountable for their crimes against humanity during the course of their discriminatory oppression of the indigenous owners of the land. The degree of culpability should be determined by their preparedness to repent for past crimes. When this is legislated for and becomes law, the white settlers and their descendants will recognise the futility of attempting to claim land rights under any so-called Bill of Rights. El ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3 Telephone 790148/9 ALWAYS THERE TO SERVE AND SAVE, YOU NOW: ADVERTISE

Girl's contavt with the Virgin If proven, the claim by a 1 5-year-old Nigerian pupil to have seen apparitions of the Virgin Mary could turn her obscure Aokpe Village in northern Nigeria into a world pilgrimage centre. Christiana Agbo's story is akin to that of St. Beneditte of Lourdes whose apparitions transformed her village in France into a renowed holy land drawing thou!sands of grace-seeking visitors annually. Aokpe is an agrarian hamlet of about 50. houses with an estimated population of 1 000 people. Recent press reports on the alleged vision has turned Christiana into an instant celebrity with her village swarming with pilgrims. Her father, Christian Agbo is a devout Roman Catholic. He recalls that Christina occasionally takes other members of the family to the apparition site near the family house. Christiana says she communicated with the Virgin Mary during the encountei. According to her, initially, this claim drew the wrath of skeptical villagers who thought she was possessed by the evil spirits. "Many times they (the villagers) have threatened to attack me but each time they will get near, but will not enter the house," she said. Congregation January 27 was another apparition day. It turned out a carnival-like event in previously lonely Aokpe, which saw the largest gathering in its history. An estimated 80 000 people from across the country thronged the village in private and commercial transport to catch a glimpse of Christiana and be part of the unusual spiritual event. Many civil servants in and around the area took the Friday before Saturday 27 off for the "apparition vigil" while food hawkers and landlords cashed-in, hiking their prices. At least four bishops led by the Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, the Nigerian capital, and some 600 Catholic Priests were part of the crowd, which included Tom Adaba, director-general of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission. The event was screened on the follow-. ing Sunday, January 28, on a prime-tim- programme, Newsline of Nigeria's National Television Network. After a pre- apparition mass celebrated by Archbishop Onaiyekana and the other bishops, Christiana, clad in a special green attire in company of four of her agemates, moved to the area she claimed she normally received the apparition. Doubts In apparent confirmation of the Biblical saying of "more are called but few are chosen", some members of the congregation did not hide their disappointment. To complicate matters, just at the appointed time for the apparition, a youngman from nowhere was seen climbing a tree in the vicinity to remove his white shirt. He said he had forgotten it there. Controversy then ensued. While some said they saw the apparition, others said they only saw the movement of the white shirt. One disappointed man told the television crew: "People are being sentimental. There was no apparition but a white shirt." The reason the youngman chose that particular moment to climb on the tree to retrieve his shirt added to the mystery of the occasion. But Christiana insisted the apparition took place. She claimed to have had a private audience with the Holy Mary, who asked her "to seek more knowledge and understanding" in making enquiries durine subseauent visits. For those who care to listen, C ,also has a vision for the wor!d: gin Mary has warned about ank ing "three days of darkness" acr earth. "God's anger will be visited c world. On those days, to separE sinful from the righteous," she i Christiana's story has doubaroused the curiosity of both ti gious and unbelfevers in the co tionally secular 1 O0-million-I Nigeria. Caution Christiana is a Catholic, and the C has shown a special cautious inte her case. In a statement, it made it cle Aokpe event was still an alleged rition to be subjected to religiou according to laid-down guidelinf It added: "Not all unusual occui are miracles from God. Some ar ply unusual but natural while ca devil playing on human sences mL be discounted." For his part, Archbishop Onaiyeki been quick to explain that the pr( of a large number of Catholic cler not authenticate Christiana's neither did it diminish the grace d by Christians from the emma Mary the Mother of Jesus Christ 'Christiana's experience and the CY recommendations are expected communicated to the Pope, hE world Catholics in the Holy s ZIANA-PANA ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27

Z ANU PF Youth League held its first national conference this year on February 23 at the Party's edquarters in the capital, Harare. The decision to hold the conference at the beginning of the year was arrived at to afford the league the opportunity to take a closer look at the various affairs related to its activities. Most importantly, the youth wing of the ruling Party wanted to review its activities in relation to the Presidential election campaign programme, such as the door-todoor exercise. The one-day conference was thus opened by the First Secretary and President of ZANU PF, Cde. Robert Mugabe. In his address, Cde. Mugabe noted that the League's decision to take a closer look at its affairs and activities at the start of the year was both commendable and far-sighted. He said he was happy to notice that the League's proposals focussed on strengthening and improving the Party machinery through the introduction of new criteria for various procedures. Amongst the proposals put forward by the Youth League to the First Secretary are: the proposal that Unity Day (December 22), should be declared a national holiday, that the Ministry of Youth be resuscitated and that more time be allowed between Party primaries and main elections. Unity Day is when former ZANU PF and PF-ZAPU signed the Unity Accord that merged the two parties on 22 December, 1987. Thus, observed the Party President, suggesting that Unity Day be declared a public holiday was a noble idea sure to gain support in the Central Committee ,,as this is a very important day in the history of this country". Resuscitating the Ministry of Youth was, however, not likely in the foreseeable future. He explained: "While I fully appreciate your request for a Ministry for Youth, I would like to remind you that our country is going through a very difficult period that has necessitated that we scale down our operations in some areas and condense and consolidate certain activities rather than implement them separately. Cde. Josiah Tungamrai "Therefore, for the foreseeable, the Department will operate under the Ministry of National Affairs, Employment Creation and Co-operatives until such time that activities involving the youth have grown to an extent where the creation of such a Ministry Would be clearly warranted." Besides, noted the President, creating a Ministry for Youth would also give rise to the necessity of a Ministry of Women's Affairs. Nonetheless, Cde. Mugabe stated that he took note of the League's recommendations regarding the election procedures, particularly as they refer to the short time lag between the Party primaries and the main elections. He agreed that the time in-between did not allow for a full investigation of any irregularities. "You will recall that the last National People's Party Conference (held in December last year) tasked the Central Committee to look into the entire election process and institute corrective measures. "I would like to urge the Youth League to articulate its views on the matter and communicate them to the Central Committee, after which exercise we will emerge with a more transparent electoral system" On the concerns regarding factionalism, Cde. Mugabe observed that "the use of youths by the faction leaders to fan this destructive element" deserved the full attention of the Party. He said Party cadres who were involved in factionalism must be advised that they are not acting in the best interests of the Party. He added: "They are in tact, tarnishing the image of the Party as has happened in certain provinces. I commend those provinces where the leadership has dilligently and deliberately worked to improve working relations througlout the various organs of the Party. "The youths, as the vanguard of the Party, should spearhead total elimination of factionalism in order to protect the cherished goals and the good image of the Party for which so many patriots have sacrificed their lives. "Indeed, as we address the issue of factionalism, we do so in accordance with one of the resolutions of the last National People's Conference." Last December's 15- 16 National People's Conference in Resolution One, says: "Congress reaffirms the Party's commitment to the Unity Accord of 1987 to national unity in all spheres of life, to democracy within the Party and upright leadership in accordance with our Code; and, condemns divisive tendencies, corruption, favouritism and unethical behaviour during elections to Party or State positions " The Youth League also requested that the First Secretary and President of the Party should attend provincial meetings from time to time to which Cde. Mugabe said the suggestion implied he had not been doing so. "Yet, whenever I have undertaken country tours, I have always made it a point to meet with the provincial leadership and discuss its local concerns. Maybe we could institutionalise such gatherings inorder to meet the observations that you have made. "I will discuss the idea within the Presidency and give you feedback on the issue in due course. To start with perhaps a member of the Presidency could lead a delegation investigating problems such as those threatening unity and the smooth running of our Party," said Cde. Mugabe. He however asked the assembly if his presence at such meetings could not hinder fair debate and criticism of the top leadership of the Party. "Will you still be free to criticise me andl my top leadership when I am there?" eContinued on next page ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3

Youth League National Assembly *Continued from previous page While commending the Youth League for drawing up what he said were important proposals, he said these proposals should be transformed into firm recommendations that can be submitted to the Central Committee for consideration before implementation to ensure that they truly reflect the wishes and views of the totality of the Party membership. He urged the League to encourage other youths who were not members of the Party to participate in viable and useful projects so that they may also benefit from them and perhaps join the Party. "This is how organisations such as church, social and sports clubs recruit the membership. ZANU PF," said Cde. Mugabe, "should be no exception." He also urged the Youth League to continually evaluate its programmes with a view to assessing the extent to which it has achieved the goals that it has set for.itself for the year 1996. "Being the pillars of the Party, the youths should be hard-working and illustrate, through the League's programmes, that they still have the advantage of age on their side to accomplish whatever they will have set for themselves to achieve. The League should strive to attain values that will create a good image for the Party, thus endearing us to the society within which we operate," the President pointed out. "Ladies and gentlemen, it would be amiss of me not to commend the'sterling work being done by the Party cadreship during this period of the Presidential election campaign. I feel very happy and encouraged by our performance so far. This is as it should be, for ZANU PF is the people's Party; hence the national support it enjoys. "That our opponents are gaining, no ground is in no doubt. What is left now is for the entire Party cadreship to turn out in their thousands on the election days (16-17 March) and demonstrate their support for the Party candidate decisively, so that they leave the opponents and enemies ip no doubt of the level of support ZANUJ PF enjoys in the whole country." The First Secretary so reminded the youth leaders present that they should prepare themselves for the leadership of the Party. "We all must accept this simple rule of nature that as we, in the top leadership of the ,Party grow bolder, our bequeathing leadership positions to the youth becomes more and more inevitable. It is a fact, that the youth of today is the leadership of tomorrow. This is regardless of what views we at the top may have." In response to the Party's First Secretary address, the deputy secretary for Youth Affairs, Cde. Kembo Mohadi, said while they had the manpower, drive and will to carryout such exercises as the doorto-door campaign, the League did not have the resources to execute its duties fully. He said the allocation accorded his department in the Party budget was just too little to cater for any other activities other than administrative needs. He told the President that while there was total unity within the Youth League, some top-ranking politicians were creating divisions in the lower ranks in their bid to satisfy selfish personal interests. He also said that while they were prepared to assume the top Party leadership, the youths did not want to inherit a legacy of division hence the urgency needed in uprooting all factional tendencies within the Party. Earlier on, Retired Air Chief Marshal and Secretary for Youth Affairs, Cde. Josiah Tungamirai had, in his welcome address, promised the President of an overwhelming victory in the Presidential election saying that his department had done its best in this regard. He said: "As we are in the midst of the presidential election campaign, we want to assure you that we are intensifying our door-to- door programme to ensure a thunderous victory for you and ZANU PF. We are very confident that the nation, in its wisdom has faith and trust in your leadership. "We hope that they will turn out in their hundreds on the 16th-17th March to declare this fact to the whole world." Cde. Tungamirai took the opportunity to reaffirm the Youth League's "solid support, loyality and allegiance to your Excellency as the leader of the Party, State and nation". The one-day conference culminated in the President's 72nd birthday and 21st February Movement's 10th anniversary celebrations. The latter ran from the 23rd- 25th February at the Party's national headquarters in Harare. Stture o glSbl A we approach the end of this century and enter into the beginning of the 21 st century, human ity is more divided by past international injustices than it is united hopes for future interdependence and equality in international partnerships. Omens for the future character of international relations are discernible on the horizon. Stronger nations of North America, Western Europe and Japan have already occupied high ground in international trade arrangements. They have established a stratified structure to facilitate their hegemonic dictatorship over the existing international economic order. This structure guarantees and harmonises the supremacy of their collective policies over the aspirations of the Third World nations. Their structure is pyramidal. At the apex is the group of five (G-5) whose members are: the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain and France. The G-5 is the innermost circle of the most advanced capitalist countries. Immediately below the G-5 and also including its totality is the group of seven countries (G-7). The G-7 is an extension of the G-5 by the simple addition of two more advanced capitalist countries: Italy and Canada. At the base of the pyramid is the group of twenty-four developed capitalist countries (G-24) in which both the G-5 and G-a7 are included and constitute the G-24 core. The G-24 is also known as the Organisation for Economic Co- operation * Continued on next page ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3

Structure of global capitalism *Continued from previous page and Development (OECD). This umbrella capitalist club is an extension oi the G-7 to include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The collective policies of the G-24 are formulated by the G-5 and approved by the G-7, or the "Paris Club", and are then passed onto the OECD or G-24 for implementation. This clubbing together among the advanced capitalist countries is not an innocent synchromesh. Its one and only purpose is for the co-ordination of capitalist policies for the permanent marginalisation of Third World nations and peoples. The new reality The collectivity of capitalist countries is already practising the philosophy of dictating and monopolising decisionmaking processes in international trade transactions. Their unilateral licence to ,dictate the present international economic order has been extended to cover blantant interference in the internal economic policies of Third World countries. These marginalised non-white ruled countries are being told to make economic reforms which open doors for the entrance of goods manufactured in G-24 countries, for the uncontrolled looting of Third World wealth under the guise of exporting "profits" by capitalist "investors" from G-24 countries and the control or ownership of locally privatised parastatals by shareholders from the G-24 countries, et cetera. Third World peoples are being misled into believing that "there will be light at the end of the tunnel." Examples are given of Asian "tigers", Brazil, Argentina and Mexico as testifying to the latent potential for transition to the stage of industrialisation provided the "right" macro-economic policies are followed. Brazil, Argentina and Mexico have all been independent and struggling to industrialise their economies for more than 150 years. Their failure to achieve the goal of industrialisation during one and half centuries of trying is directly attributable to their status as neocolonies of the USA and other G-24 countries. The Asian "tigers" owe their limited successes to the anti-communist guardianship of the United Statess and other G-24 countries during the cold war generaZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3 tion. Anxious to make these countries success stories in competition against the spread of communist ideology from China, North Korea and the then North Vietnam, the United States and other G-24 countries poured money in billions into South-East Asia. This did not only bring unprecendented boost to the economies of these countries but also propped up other tottering neo-colonists of the region like Campuchea, Laos, Thailand, Burma and the Philippines. The truth is that the vaunted over the successes of the Asian "tigers", Brazil. Argentina and Mexico are historically the outcome of a fortuitous accident and not a vindication of the capitalist path for economic development. These "tigers" are now joining the countries of post-communist Eastern Europe as "middle income" countries whose further advancement is dependent on the nature of calculations and policy strategies the G-24 have in store for them. Third World future The future of Third World countries as as whole is pitiable. Lacking in collective solidarity in their reactions to externally imposed problems, disunited by a bewildering confusion of riational ideologies and each country internally seething with ethnic and regional conflicts, Third World countries are too weak to formulate, co-ordinate and implement strategies for countering the onslaught of hostile machinations by G-24 countries in control of the present interna tional economic order. rhird World countries face the divisive prospect of having the most advanced among them strategically co-opted into the G-24 to weaken their bargaining positions. The Asian "tigers" are already on the threshold of being co- opted in the next decade or two. Brazil is too racially divided to qualify in the foreseeable future. Mexico is facing a developmental anti-climax inherent in the economics of a neo-colony sharing a common border with its predator - the USA. Argentina has not put its post-Peron house in order and there are signs of political rivalries simmering in the cauldron. Other Third World countries that may be potential candidates for co-option into the G-24 are: post-apartheid South Africa, India, and perhaps, Egypt and Israel or Syria, or Iraq. But, all countries in the Middle East have first to reap the dividend of a durable peace before their potentially for economic development can be fully exploited- India is faced with the endless problems of peaceful co-existence with both Pakistan and China, and that of religionethnic violence. One can add the factor of population pressure and the *chasm between an affluent minority and a pauperised majority as a negative one in the country's efforts at reaching out towards sustainable economic development. Perestroika The capitalist path of perestroika in the former Soviet Union replaced socialist gains and turned-the country backwards towards its tsarist past. This Russian version of ESAP spilt over into other East European countries which immediately abandoned the socialist path of economic development in favour of capitalist experiments. These experiments inevitably dislocated the productive capacity of the former socialist countries. Each country's Gross Domestic Product was reduced by a large percentage. The dignity of socialist labour was overtaken by individual rivalries for selfish amassment of wealth. Now, only the strongest and most ruthless among individuals have any chance for survival. Even among the strongest and most ruthless, some are shot dead by Chicago-like gangsters, Nevertheless, former socialist countries of Eastern Europe are the most likely candidates for co-option into the G-24. The racial and geographical factors are in favour of their co-option. The restraining factor is the uncertainty regarding the irreversibility and sustainability of their unstable reforms on the capitalist path of economic development. Although all of them are now open markets for G-24 manufactured goods, some of them like Poland, Slovakia, Czekia, Hungary, Russia. Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, Byelorussia, and Kazekhstan are making joint ventures with G-24 countries, especially with the most advanced among them. The joint ventures are directly recruiting these former socialist countries into partnerships for the exploitation of Third World countries and the exacerbation of their marginalisation. Russia and some of the former socialist countries of Eastern Europe have applied for admission into capitalist controlled international financial institutions. Some of their formerly nationalised enterprises have been privatised and capitalist in. eContinued on next page

Capitalism dies at birth in Rus By Malachia M. Basvi Madimutsa . enin once said that capitalism is L parasitic and feeds on its young ones. Lenin's successors in present Russia were led by Gorbachev to believe that they could reform their path to communism by experimenting with Western-type capitalism. Their experiment met with unforeseen difficulties and-thgy turned to a tipsy Yeltsin With zeajloes hopes of copying from the Americans how to transform Russia into a capitalist super power. Hopes for a Russian capitalist superpower are now lost in the confusion unleashed by individual greed, rampant corruption, and the national stupidity to face modem problems with primitive solutions. Whichever way Russia goes, its past glory as a country which the communist managed to haul up to the status of a superpower will never be attainable in the foreseeable future. Russian Pre.sidew. Boris Yels ti der commuhist discipline left Russsians vulnerable to the cut-throat operations among individuals in a capitalist system. Consequently, the unemployed who ideological wildernesi used to be cared for by a cdmprehenSeven decades of living and working un- sive social welfare system under socialStructure of global capitalism eContinued from previous page vestors at home and from abroad have bought controlling shares. These enterprises are now being towed onto high ground on the unlevelled playing field in international economic arrangements. Third World peoples are being excluded and the future is bleak for them. Ineffective reactions Faced with the possibility of a bleak future, Third World countries responded ineffectively. Their first attempt was the ineffective reaction of forming the NonAligned Movement (NAM). The ineffectiveness of NAM was accompanied by the formation of a score of regional alliances covering some but not all the countries of Latin America, Africa and Asia. Like NAM, these regional alliances were inadequate counter-balances to the c'apitalist G-5, G-7 and G-24 structures. As they gained more experience in the conduct of international diplomacy, Third World countries belately set up their own G-74. However, the G-74 is a loose, weak and ad hoc gathering of heads of state, ministers and officials who meet on reactive impulses and not from pro-active strategies. As a result, their agenda is dragged over a fait accompli ground which will have been tactifully run over by the G-24. Meanwhile, transnationals, from G-24 countries are collectively marginalising Third World industrialisation programmes. The G-24 countries apply an array of trade restrictions aimed at disadvantaging developing countries and promoting their own collective bargaining positions. These tactics take the form of imposing quotas on Third World" commodity exports, preferential tariff rates designed to punish Third World countries deemed ideologically out of G-24 contents of the capitalist syllabus. According to the Bank for International Settlements, capital flows into developing countries rose from an annual US$45 billion in 1986 to US$180 billion last year. These colossal sums of money are not gifts. They are loans which must eventually be paid with compounded interest. This indebtedness - more than anything else - effectively reduces the independence of the recepient countries and makes them neo-colonies of, the donors 0 ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. v 4s-ihave now become gangsters like the Sicilian mafia - though more ruthless and harmfully brazen. All Russians, including the political leaders, are in a kind of ideological wilderness in which peopIe accuse one another for lost direction of the individual and the nation. All great nations achieved their greatness from attachment to a national ideology moulding the people together into a cohesive entity. Americans have their market economy for whose defence everyone holds a big stick. The Japanese have a cultural xenophobia which impulsively lifts up the head of every Japanese above the heads of foreigners. This xenophobic and selfcentrism distinguishes Japan from other nations. Britons are united by a common tradition of having been -at the epicentre of global imperialism and having bequeathed Western civilis tion and parliamentarians to the rest of the world. This is the national ideologof all Britons and they are very proud of it. On the other hand, Russians were once held together by the ideology of communism. After the collapse of communist ideology in their country, they are now left with nothing to hold them together except a confusing imagination of what capitalism is all about. Such an ideological wilderness is a yawning void into which the great Russia nation was thrown, and from which every hussian is attempting to take hold of any available straw in a flooding torrent of conflicting ideologies. Every nation, and the Russian nation especially, dies in this miasma of ideological confusion. Attempts The economic and political malaise currently associated with the on-going capitalist experiment in Russia is a logical consequence of capitalist experiments at this time when the system has become the order on the global scene. Like any athletic track race, capitalism gives all advantages only to those nations which had the chance to begin run, ning first. Others who join at later dates and times are correspondingly left behind with no chance of catching up. In fact, the capitalistic race gives no room for new comers to catch up with the original starters. All attempts to level the playing ground are blocked air-tightly by e Continued on next page

Capitalism dies at birth in Russia *Continued from previous page the mechanism of the system of capitalist accumulation. Capitalism exists on the philosophy of laissez-faire, or individual commercial enterprises outside government intervention and control. This capitalist philosophy emanates from the law of the jungle where survival of the fittest is the rule of the game. This law works well among wild beasts which have no recognised governments or obedience to public authority. Human beings are endowed with the quality. of rationality and mutual obligations to the collective development and social welfare for all. Every human being has the inborn obligation to survive on natural resources in social relationships with the members of one's society and with humanity internationally. When this natural social relationship is abandoned in pursuit of the beastly impulsqs of individual greed, the originator always has the advantages associat- ed with the experiences of the starter. Others who follow the starter have no choice except to tread on the trail first blazed by the starter. This lack of choice is both a disadvantage and a non-starter. The present Russian experiment with American-type capitalism is a national non- starter. Russia has become a sad replication of 17th and 18th century frontier capitalism in the United States. As in the USA 200 years ago, imitating Russia is not building a capacity economy but is a lawless territory for the survival of the fittest. The fittest are surviving today in Russia but they will never become global billionaires like the Americans they so fervently wish to imitate, Instead of using American technology to promote their own kwvas soft drink, all Russians are now drinking coca-cola. Moskovskaya vodka is now an alcoholic beverage for the poor while Scotish Whisky is now the standard drink for the oppor- tunistic few who regard themselves as having Westernised themselves. International competition We have stated that Lenin once said that capitalism is parasitic and feeds on its young ones. American capitalism is now feeding on its adopted Russian infant American transnationals are in global joint vent tres with other transnationals from the developed capitalist world. They have left no market room for emerging Russian capitalism just as they left no market room for Third World countries. They had more than a head start on the global market and no new comer has a dog's chance in hell to cover the kilometres they already covered before the new comers started. Russian and other former socialist campers of Eastern Europe can only be contented with the knowledge that they may have to favourably compete with leading Third World countries for the position of second fiddles to established capitalist countries. 0 ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3 Zimbabwe News Subscription Form (Please Tick a box to select your term) Zimbabwe 0 12 issues (1 year) $22.50 0 6 issues (6 months) $11.25 Regional 012 issues (1 year) US$30.00 0 6 issues (6 months) US$15.00 Overseas (Europe) 012 issues US$40.00 0 6 issues (6 months) US$20.00 N am e: ...... ,;;; ...... Address: ...... :...... Signature:...... THE RATES INCLUDE POSTAGE AND HANDLING I enclose my cheque 03 Postal Order 0 for the amount indicated above

I City of Gold. loses lustre nce the rich heart of South Africa's city of gold, Johannesburg's central business district is dying, falling prey to crime and grime. "To Let" signs hang on dirty buildings which used to house many of the country's engines of commerce before they left for the suburbs. Even the landmark 30-storey Carlton Hotel, catering for the business elite, has been forced to close floors because of lack of guests. The final blow could be closure of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange's (JSE) century-old trading floor as brokers move to a screen-based trading system later this year. Departure of the ISE will send a message to the rest of the international business world that will certainly be interpreted in only one way, said Keith Beavon, Professor of Human Geography at the University of the Witwatersrand. "Almost certainly it will be perceived that South Africa, of which Johannesburg and its region are the very heart, is dying". Neil Carter, director of operations at the JSE, acknowledged that introduction of automated trading from March 8 would mean much dealing could take place outside the city centre. But he denied the exchange was abandoning downtown Johannesburg, poilting out that it would keep its headquart. ers in the centre and brokers would have to be based there for share settlement. "The JSE will stay here," he said. Nevertheless, the trend is to leave the city and despite some of the cheapest rents in the world, more than 15 percent of its prime office space lies vacant. With muggings, car hijackings and shootings every day, property analyst Erwin Rode believes the old commercial centre will never return to its glory days. "The central business district is not going to pull right in the short or the long term. Especially not now that the deathly twins, crime and grime have gotten hold of it," he said. -By Melanie Cheary The Greater Johannesburg Transitional Metropolitan Council (TMC), trying .to breathe life back into Johannesburg which sprang ip 110 years ago when gold was discovered, is looking to new projects to revitalise the area. A Z$367.5 million revamp is planned for the railway station and private sector projects with a value of some Z$7.7 billion are in the pipeline. The Reserve Bank (Central Bank) is constructing a building in the centre as part of the Newton venture expected to take years to complete. But the city skyline shows these ventures pale into insignificance against frantic construction in suburbs like Rosebank and Sandton north of the city centre. A TMC spokesman admitted it was an uphill struggle to revitalise the centre, with crime deterring even those commuters still travelling into it each day from entering into city life. "You have these super-block developments with their own policing and management structures where employees drive straight into the basement and never actually breathe the city air," said -the TMC spokesman. Some temporary reprieve may come from the Gueteng provincial government's recent move into Johannesburg. Most of the 105 000 square metres taken in the year to the end of November was due to the provincial administrators renting premises. But Rode said: "It's like an asprin, bringing little more than short-term relief to the decentralisation trend." In a desperate bid to find tenants, city landlords are offering bargain-basement rates. Johannesburg rents average just 10.20 per square foot, while London charges 59.70 and Paris 61.70, according to commercial property agent JHI. But many businesses prefer to pay twice as much in Johannesburg's northern suburbs where rentals nearly doubled to 263 000 square metres in the year that ended last November. - REUTERE] ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3 The People's Voice Subscription Rates Pie tick a box to select your tom) Zimbabwe 0 52 issues (I year) $73.00 [1 26 isues (6 months) $39.00 Regionsl 0 52 issues (i yeaw) US$.4003 26 issues (6 months) US$44.20 OV1ene"(1 perqI) 1 52mMUS$135.400 26 issues (6 muh ) US$67.70 N am e ...... :...... A ddress: ...... i...... Signeture- ...... THE RATES INCLUDE POSTAGE AND HANDLING I enclose my cheque 0 Postal Order Q for the amount indicated above Mail to: eCrdhb Aw a .,M MAM rVOW*,144 UI/ob Aw , NA,... r/. 'oiE&9 Business News

Drugs setting pace From Gramma International Weekly The lucrative but illegal and most condemned smoking business - drugs rug trafficking, only surpassed in profitability by the arms trade, has an annual turnover of around Z$4 000 billion, a figure which exceeds the-total value of oil transactions. It became a major Latin American issue in 1995, following the capture of leading cartel figures, hefty seizures, the eradication of plantations, and pressure from the United States which bordered on interference. The issue seems set to remain in the spotlight this year. Three main weapons will be used in the onslaught against drug traffickers in 1996: a joint initiative against money laundering and against corruption in certain power circles; and US tactics to exert control over Latin America countries via threats of withdrawing. At a ministerial meeting held in Buenos Aires, 34 nations of the continent pledged to unite in the fight against money laundering, as one of the ways to put to an end to this illicit business, a problem of ever increasing proportions in the region. In Chile, for example, where the United Nations International Drug Control Programme is sponsoring a project to ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3 generate proposals in this context, capital derived from drug trafficking amounts to billions of dollars every year, equaling the national income for one month of exports. Countries such as Colombia, Peru and Bolivia, additionally plagued by drugrelated violence and US pressure, showed great concern over rising penetration of drug cartels at high levels of power. During the 5th lbero-American Summit in Bariloche, Argentina, participants reiterated their firm commitment to the fight against drug consumption and production, illegal trafficking and related crimes, but also warned of the grave threat this problem represents for Latin American societies and democracy in the region. The United States lays full responsibility for the drug problem on the Latin American cartels, ignoring the intermediaries that deal in large quantities in its own territory. It publicly condemns drugs, but does not prevent their growth as a business and at the same time, distances this war from its own borders. While Latin American drug barons become famous until their capture or death in flight, their colleagues in the US enjoy complete privacy, along with the advantages of their huge earnings. Suffice it to say that over 70 percent of world drug consumption is concentrated in that nation. At the same time, the United States uses its power to endorse or reject countries' access to financial credits or material aid on the basis of their pprticipation in the fight against drugs. Its demands grow as its rewards diminish, and this power is used to manipulate opinions and to exert control over sovereign and independent governments. Past examples should not be forgotten, such as the invasion of Panama, and the capture, arrest and sentencing of Noriega, in defiance of international law, using "the fight against drugs' as a pretext. The drug phenomenon cannot be eradicated by more or less accurate blows effected' by countries on an individual basis. it is a global issue, increasingly complex and intertwined which requires rapid, strong and coordinated responses, in conjunction with the tasks of prevention and education, and the treatment of drug addicts. A decisive summit with genuine commitment is urgently needed; the proposal is there, but drug trafficking is still setting the pace.

Law and Order - SA police Commissioner speaks -By Derek Rodney The National Police Commissioner outlines challenges and priorities facing the police in 1996. ational Police Commissioner George Fivaz will walk into his wood-panelled Wachthuis office with a little more spring in his step on Monday, secure in the knowledge he has survived his first year in office. It was on a warm Sunday afternoon outside the President's residence Mahlam ba' ndlopfu a year ago that Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi promised that 1995 was going to be a year of "real change" in the police, and he introduced General George Fivaz as the first member of the new South African Police Service. Mr. Fivaz also promised a "clean break with the past" and immediately set out to develop a new culture of fundamental rights in the police. In a wide-ranging interview, Mr. Fivaz reflected on the priorities of the year to come; spoke of his views on tokenism; of the need for better police salaries and of his concern about the politicisation of community police forums. And he said that with the support of his staff and his Maker, he planned to "make life hell for criminals" for the rest of his term of office. Mr. Fivaz recalled how he had to negotiate the minefields of old guard generals at first. "I can't really say I've been in office for a full year as the first three months were a bit of a messy situation, the old commissioners were still in place and they had their owrn will. It was a difficult time to manoeuvre yourself between all those landmines. It was really a time of being caught between old end. ings and new beginnings." Mr. Fivaz said top structure resistance to the changes has shifted dramatically in the past few months. 'I don't feel resistance any more. There is an atmosphere of co-operation and participation although I wouldn't be so naive as to say all members are absolutely cooperative - after all we're all human and these feelings cannot just be turned on or off. But I must add that what resistance there is, is limited to a very, very small minority." One of the main reasons for the turnaround, he believes, is the fact that the SAPS is fast approaching the last round of appointments - at senior superintendent and station commissioner levels which should be completed by the end of February. "Once these appointments have been made we will finally be in a position of certainty. All incumbents will know exactly what is expected of them and there will be a greater degree of peace of mind among senior officers." Mr. Fivaz said it had been difficult to work with people who were not certain of their future. "Many are still in prerationalised posts which means they still have to be appointed in the SAPS. It's a time-consuming process and I would like to see the process completed as soon as possible," he said. Once the last round of public appointments were completed the rest of the police force will be taken en masse into the SAPS. The most frustrating aspect to his first year in office was the high level of political rivalry in areas such as KwaZulu-Natal which made the police's task there impossible. Mr. Fivaz said improved community/police relations was the one shining highlight during an otherwise difficult year of transitinn. "I can feel that police/community relations are improving day by day and it's an unforgettable feeling to walk around amid large gatherings'of black people'and hear their support for the police." It was heartwarming to see that in spite of being left out in the cold for a long time, many communities were developing a sense of civil responsibility. But he was concerned about the politicisation of community police forums. "It is with grave concern that I note that political groupings are vying for control of Com munity Policing Forums (CPF). We are trying our level best to root out structures and interest groups bent on politicising the forums because these will have a direct impact on the credibility of the police." Mr. Fivaz said police were continually informing and negotiating with provincial commissioners and legislators to educate people that forums were not political structures. The concept would not work if run along party political lines, because this could cause grassroot resistance and create destructive tension and uncertainty within the police minds. "Fortunately the majority of forums are not political and we wil be working hard this year to develop these structures. A sum of R5Om has been set aside in the 1996/97 financial year for this purpose. We are serious about making forums work. They are a vital means to mobi. lise the community against crime." Another positive sign for 1996 was that the service was finally getting its act together. "We are putting structures together that will deal with crime and are already reaping some benefits from our new scientific approach to dealing with the problem. We have identified priority crimes and I am confident we are going to make breakthroughs soon in connection with hijackings, robberies and murders, but politicising crime makes our job difficult." Mr. Fivaz expressed hope for the year ahead. "I think that by the year's end we will start seeinethe first signs of a decline in the crime rate, especially as the Community Safety Plan gains momentum and pays dividends. With all the structures finally in place we will also be able to tackle the priority crimes more effectively, and once we have broken the hijack rings we have similar plans for the other targeted crimes such as drugs, gun- smuggling, taxi violence and gangsterism," he said. Mr. Fivaz also plans to tackle internal crime and corruption within the service. "Without a clean administration we cannot hope tO win the war and the community will never trust you. For this reason the Anti-Corruption Units win be given wider powers to investigate corruption throughout the judicial system, with Justice Minister Omar's approval." The ludicial system and in particular the eContinued on next page ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3 I Iaiv and Crinie i

Law and Order- SA police Commissioner speaks out Department of Justice had a pivotal role to play if SA's democracy was to survive. "I think the justice department plays a more important role than the police in the judicial system, and as such the department must be able to cope with the result of police action - if not it will be a disaster for the countrys entire judicial process." Mr. Fivaz expressed sympathy with his justice department colleagues who had similar problems to the police. "it's the age-old adage that if you pay peanuts, you can expect monkeys. But if we are to succeed we have to look at the total environment, in which the first step towards reconstruction and develop. ment is safety and security. We have to get SA's judicial system working and I can guarantee support from the police side in every way possible." Restructuring his own organisation had not been an easy task, and there were still growing pains ahead. "We still have a long way to go to ensure representatively at senior level and I hope that soon senior management will also reflect the current 35 percent white to 65 percent black ratio in the service. "But I must make it clear I oppose tokenism. if I'm pushed for tokenism, I'll hand over the reins immediately because although I'm an ardent advocate of equality and free opportunity for all I am strongly opposed to tokenism; I will not let the SAPS slip into a banana republic police service scenario." Mr. Fivaz said internal communication within the police would become a priority. as some lower ranked police officials possibly felt the service was moving too fast. "POL-TV, an internal television channel, has been initiated to take these people along with the changes. All the larger police stations have been fitted with the channel which provides information to all officials on transformation, rationalisation and naturally the course we are taking." Mr. Fivaz conceded that poor salary structures and working conditions in the SAPS were a major dermotivating factor in the, organisation. '"The SAPS is involved in a desperate struggle to break away from the ordinary public service structures. "We have to realise that the police is not part and parcel of the larger public service. The nature of job dictates that we need a new pay structure and we are still in negotiations with the Public Service Commission. Police officials will receive better remuneration packages but at this stage we (top management) are not satisfied with the recommendations made by the Public Service Commission and although we understand the financial constraints of the economy, we will continue to strive towards a phased new dispensation for policemen and women. The bottom line is that there are positive signs of an improved salary deal for the police this year." Mr. Fivaz believes that 1996 will be a more productive year for the police-and he expressed confidence in his management team to do the job that all South Africans demand. "With their help and that of the Maker, I believe I will have the strength to make the lives of criminals hell for the remainder of my term," he said. - ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL, 27 NO. 3 There are no birds of our feather Because we offer the truly definitive example of the printer's art. The total job: typesetting, origination, printing and binding utilising the latest technology and completed to the highest international standards. Our very competitive prices will also give you something to crow about JONGWE PRINTING & PUBLISHING CO. (PVT.) LTD. 14 Austin Road, Workington, Harare Telephone 664749, 668428, 668431

A the curtain comes down on the country-wide campaigns by the ZANU PF top hierarchy and other election strategists to drum up support for the party's presidential candidate, Cde. Robert Mugabe, who is also the incumbent Executive Head of State, there is manifestly overwhelming unanimity among Zimbabweans of all walks of life, that he is poised to romp to victory without so much as dropping bead of sweat. The views of the majority are that all that is at stake now in so far as the ruling party is concerned, is to ensure that the voter turn-out is a massive one. Observers feel that the tribal bases of the other two contestants, men of God the Rev Ndabaningi Sithole and Bishop Abel Muzorewa - ought to be razed to the ground this time around so that the nation may enjoy political tranquility based on shared principles, functional democracy and mutual trust among the people. If anything, the presidential election campaigns have served to afford President Mugabe the opportunity to appraise the population of his government's achievements in the spheres of economic development and sociopolitical advancement as well as the burning problem of land acquisition and its distribution to the landless. President Mugabe is seeking a second term in office as Executive Head of State. His opposition is so mediocre that some analysts fear voter apathy could characterise the election. This fear comes into sharp focus when it is considered that the Rev Sithole and Bishop Muzorewa are now regarded as aging political hasbeens. Indeed they have become perennial failures on the political scene as to be considered a liability to national peace and stability. National elections, particularly those which involve heads of state, are supposed to create a highoctane atmosphere. This can only be when the candidates are of high calibre, commentators contend. what riles some observers is the amount of money involved in conducting the election. According to the figures released by the Registrar General recently, a whopping $78 million is needed. An irate writer to one of the local newspapers had this to say: "Is there By Martin mObart any possibility of persuading the two op. position candidates to withdraw their hopeless nominations and save the nation this huge amount of unnecessary expenditure?" The correspondent's view is shared by millions of Zimbabweans, who are only too aware of the economic hardships the country is going through presently. A local educationist who himself has: been involved in domestic politics for quite sometime now but seems to have taken a back-seat of late, recently took a broad side at the oppositions' obssession with removing ZANU PF from power. "There is no clear articulation by the opposition of the system they would put in place in the event of being made government". He went on to add, rather tersely ".. the parties are also not democratic". Surely the observation should serve as an indictment to the so-called opposition parties of Zanu-Ndonga and the United Parties. However, on the question of the colossal expenditure involved, some highranking cadres within the ruling party, ZANU PF, while conceding that the election was a "waste of state funds", expressed the view that "the nation has to cough up this huge expense because the world's eyes are focused on us" (Zimbabwe). Muzorewa and Sithole, because of their involvement with the Rhodesian Front government in wroughting up the infamous internal settlement which culminated in the creation of the bogus State of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, are seen as hav,ing "over-played" their hand in contemporary progressive politics of Zimbabwe. Their Machiavelian exploits in the field of politics are doing this country more harm than good. Opposition for the sake of it is anathema to contemporary progressive politics. What we need is not quantitative but qualitative opposition parties. The latter is conspicuous by its absence. The Rev Sithole and Bishop Muzorewa surround themselves with their obsequious tribal coteriestwhose deference gives the two gentlemen ephemeral delusions of grandeur. During the course of discussions with the various people in this country, it t been pointed out that the presence Muzorewa and Sithole on the politi scene militates against the emergen -of an effective opposition party. Con! quently, the absence of an effective c position party ir our politics does n augur well for the country's future in far as transparency, democratic govi nance and accountability are concerne Instead of incessantly accusing government of making mistakes, real or perceived, the academics, the intellectuals and the "illuminati" ought to expend their energies to bringing about democractic and effective opposition, an opposition which is capable of playing a facilitative role in shaping the economic future of Zimbabwe. There ought to be a confluence of national goals between the ruling party and whatever opposition there is. Since attaining majority rule 16 years ago, the cauldron has been busy churning out very dubious political parties. This, some commentators believe, is tantamount to abuse of democracy. With so many parties around, it is difficult even for the most shrewd thinkers, to gauge the thinking of public opinion in an objective manner, particularly where elections are concerned. The tribal affiliations tend to take precedence over national considerations. For the proliferation of parties is invariably linked to tribal attachments and/or primordial considerations. It woula be worth their while if the exponents of democracy inculcated in the minds of their clientele these rudiments of true democracy. The opposition parties lack political engineers, which ZANU PF possesses in abundance. As things stand, time to learn is running out fast for Sithole and Muzorewa. For dinosaurs have never been known to possess a malleable intellect or a pervious mind. For all their Machiavelianism, the two clerics have never been able to rise to a plateau in politics. And now all they must contend with is the involuntary realisation that the range of perception, call it the horizon, is receding with alacrity before them. What their eyes behold are chimeras. Isn't it time for the two to vacate the stage with dignity and honour . . . or what's left in them of these two virtues. I] ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3 i1n Minister Nzo in SA Parliament Full text of Alfred Nzo's speech Through the leadership of our President and Government of National Unity our new naion has been engaged in consolidating our democratic achievements and through the process of genuine reconciliation a new emerging patriotism is forging a united nation deter.mined to promote peace and national development. For South Africa and the SADC region, as well as for our continent and the world, we need peace and stability in order ,to' promote development. Thats why we place a high priority on conflict prevention and the maintenance of international peace and stability. At a historic meeting of the SADC Foreign, Defence and Security Ministers in Gaberone last month, it was agreed to recommend to the Heads -of State of SADC the establishment of a SADC organ to deal with political cooperation, peace and security. We look forward, through this mechanism, to develop a cpmmon security framework in Southern Africa. Madam Speaker, in less than two years our new democratic state has been fully integrated into the world community and we today play an active role in promoting new south/south relations. Together with others we are also working for more equal and just north/sbuth rela- tions so as to promote global development and build lasting peace. indeed, consistent with our new patriotism we are developing a new internationalism based on the equality of states and working with others to restructure global economic and political relations. We are participating in discussions aimed at reforming multilateral institutions so as to enable the world to lay the foundation for the 21st century. There is a yearning across the world to promote sustainable development and establish lasting peace. We are friends with all countries in every region of the world and are in a unique situation where South Africa enjoys universal goodwill and support for its national endeavours. However with this also come high expectations and we do not have the resources or capacity to meet them all. Within our region, together with our SADC partners we are evolving a new pattern of relations intended to promote equitable and sustained development for all our peoples. Based on the primacy of our national and regional interests we are also negotiating a new trading relationship with the European Community. jUnfortunately there has been some delay fn negotiations but the recent decision by the European Union Council to specify a timetable should bring the negotiations to an early conclusion. The delay has meant that valuable opportunities for the South African economy have been lost at a time when it is critically important to South Africa where one third of the work-force is unemployed and needs upliftment. Once agreement is reached it will form an important component of our economic programme in the context of South Africa's national Reconstruction and Development Programme. An early agreement is all the more important since South African products still face discrimination in'the existing (GSP) trading relationship. We are due to host the 9th Ministerial session of the UN Conference on-Trade and Development (UNCLAD) towards the end of April to be followed by the Global lnforn ation Society Conference. These conferences will provide a unique opportunity not only to promote south/south relations but also for the south, together with the north, to work out a new pattern of more equitable relations. Madam Speaker, Tyranny and dictatorship is the enemy of peace and development and that is why our foreign policy places a high priority on promoting democracy and respect for human rights. I wish to quote the words of President Mandela in his January 8, 1996 statement: "Our own freedom as a people is diminished when another people are not free. Thus we have a continuing responsibility to make whatever contribution we can to the struggle for the birth of the new world order that is spoken of, so that the peoples of the world, including ourselves, live in conditions of democracy, peace, prosperity and equality among nations. In pursuing these objectives, we must be careful to avoid great power arrogance and conferring on ourselves a misplaced messianic role. As a liberation movement we have always insisted on our own right to determine our future. When we act in solidarity with other peoples, as we will continue to do, we must bear these principles in mind, consistently acting in a manner that takes into account all factors and not merely what may seem fashionable on a particular day." Our experience of national reconciliation also convinces us of the great value of reconciliation within nations as well as between nations. However, it is not always easy in foreign relations to chart a precise and defined course since we live in an uncertain world. Events all too often turn from mild confrontation to violent conflict and a small crisis can easily develop into war. Violent upheavals and war not only prevent development but all too often leave legacies and consequences which can take decades and even generations to overcome. It is because of these considerations that *Continued on hext page ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3

Constitutional hurdles over new By Themba Molefe of the Sowetan Cde. Ramaphosa and an ANC supporter celebrate the Party's victory in local government elections This should be a decisive year in Ramaphosa's crunch year, a decisive constitution-making, during which polit- moment in the country's transition from ical discord and walkouts by those in compromise governance to total government should be buried and for- democracy. As chairman of the Constitugotten. Ostensibly, 1996 is Cde. Cyril tional Assembly (CA), Cde. Ramaphosa Foreign Minister Nzo in SA Parliament * Continued from previous page we are playing a role within the Com monwealth to assist Nigeria in its democratic transformation. We shall continue to endeavour through bilateral and multilateral efforts to prevent and manage conflict in order to establish peace in Africa and the world. We are deeply committed to nuclear disarmanent and have played an.important role in nuclear non-proliferation. South Africa has been actively engaged in negotiations to conclude the draft Pelindaba Treaty to establish the African Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone ard we look forward to the nuclear weapon states signing the relevant protocols when the African States sign the Treaty in Cairo in April this year. Madam Speaker, President Mandela set out the agenda for the year ahead and we will do our utmost to achieve the new challenges to * develop our economy and create jobs * improve the quality of life for all * expand the frontiers of freedom; and * ensure the safety and security of all South Africans The discussion documents of Foreign Policy will be finalised soon and we trust that they will help to stimulate wider discussion on how the Government and people of South Africa can in partnership respond to the challenges outlined by the President. 0 and his deputy, Leon Wessels, are charged with delivering the new Constitution by May this year. Cde. Ramapho0 sa has already presented Parliament with the final working draft. It should be noted that even naming the CA was a compromise decision in the multiparty negotiations process. In fact the main objection of white parties such as the National Party (NP) and the Freedom Front (FF) in the negotiations was "constituent", was too revolutionary. The. CA reconvened in Cape Town last January to begin work, with the aim of producing a final Constitution by 1 May. But Cde. Ramaphosa's crew will first have to jump some political and technical hurdles. The hurdles There is, firstly, the Buthelezi factor if not dealt with once and for all, it could push this all-important final lap towards total democracy to precipice. Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Inkatha Freedom Party legislators walked out of the CA during its last session last year to back their demand for international mediation over the constitutional powers of provincial governments. As the third member of the Government of National Unity - the African National Congress and NP are the other two - the. IFP is still part of the GNU, at least. More ominous, though, is that by its antics the IFP would be giving the opportunity of finalising constitution-making to parties with lesser representation in Government, such as the Pan Africanist Congress, the rightwing FF, the insignificant African Christian Democratic Party and the NP, which has yet to gain the confidence of-most South Africans. Alternatively, the IFP's stance could see the party playing into the hands of the majority ANC in the CA. The ANC has said the IFP's departure would be unfortunate but it would not be missed. Deadline The deadline for public submissions on the working draft was February 20. Between then and 1 May, the public will witness the battle between the seven p0litical parties which constitute the Constitutional Assembly. , The parties' ideological positions will come to the fore as the debate height* Continued on next page ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3

Child-soldiers urged to disarm Searly three years after the start of a project to get child soldiers out of Sierra Leone's rebel war, aid workers say thousands are still fighting - not all of them voluntarily. Local aid organisation, Children As-, sociated with the War (CAW), says it knows of hundreds of young fighters seeking help to give up their weapons. "We receive daily reports of youths wanting to demobilise as they're tired of fighting, but some are being prevented from doing so and others who have demobilised are staying in the bush because they are afraid to move," said Sahr Mbriwa, CAW's administrator in the southern town of Bo. Since the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) took up arms in March 1991, thousands of boys and girls, some as young as eight have joined both the army and the rebel Revolutionary United Front - some conscripted, some voluntarily. "When the children arrive here, many are severely traumatised and display very aggressive behaviour," said CAW senior administrator Alusine Kamara. "We have a six-month programme during which the children are given professional psychiatric counselling and engage in a variety of activities such as football, gardening and dancing. Basically the aim is to help the child become a child again." The former fighters are also taught bas- By Ckaudia McElroy ic literacy as three quarters have never .been to school. After six months at the project, most children leave for further education or job training in areas such as carpentry, mechanics or tailoring. Usman Sillah, now 17, had already left the army when he was told about the project by his aunt, who had heard it advertised on the radio. "At the time I enjoyed fighting in the army because I was determined to get revenge for my father who had killed by rebels," he said. "But I knew.if I didn't get any education I would suffer in the future." The government of Brigadier-GeneJulius Maada Bio, who seized power in a bloodless coup on January 16, was due to start peace talks with the RUF in Ivory Coast at the end of February. There was no direct contact between the rebels and the previous military government of Captain Valentine Strasser, but Sankoh is less hostile to Bio, whose sister Agnes Jalloh is an RUF member. Both men are from the Mende tribe. The fighting, which began as a low-level guerrilla campaign in the southeast, intensified in late 1994. The rebels hold no towns for long, but ambushes make much of the interior inaccessible and have led to widespread hunger in the interior. Mbnwa, who is now helping 100 severely traumatised children but no exfighters, said lack of cooperation from the army was preventing young fighters from coming forward. , Not all child soldiers are boys. In August 1994, a 17-year-old girl private was con. victed of manslaughter for killing a comrade. She was freed after intervention from the United Nations Children's Fund. which said she had no business being in army. When CAW started work in 1993. the army was responsible for demobilising child fighters and handing them over to the project. Now demobilisation if voluntary and children come directly to.CAW. "Those children who return to combat are usually motivated by acts of banditry - the ability to get whatever they want by looting - and its difficult to convince such children to stay here," said Mbriwa. "When the war ends, however, this project may be their only hope." Sixteen-year-old Momoh Brima is an excombatant who was rehabilitated by CAW and works as a motor mechanic in Bo. "Many of friends returned to the bush to fight after they finished the programme here - mainly because they had no parents to go back to and did not want to live with stranger,'" he said. " know most of them would rather not be fighting, but they're scared of how they'll manage on their own." - REUTERII Constitutional hurdles over new SA oContinued from previous page ens on the final outcome of the Constitution. The country will see the "truecolours" of those vying for the final say in the country's most important legal documents. :,Politically, the IFP is unlikely to accept the powers of the Central Government, which would override certain provincial powers. Self-determination is another issue that will bog-down constitutional negotiations as the FF is likely to invoke volkstaat. Furthermore, the NP's call for the continuation of the GNU is unlikely to be heeded and the PAC is unhappy about constitutional restrictions on land restitution. ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3 At issue is clause 24 of the draft, which invalidates claims pre-dating 1913. The organisation insists on full-scale restitution or compensation for land. Another problem area is whether the country should have a Senate or a Coun. cil of Provinces, which would have less powers than the Senate. In terms of the draft, both the Council and the Senate would represent the provinces. However, the Council will not act as an effective second house like the Senate. The council's powers are interwoven with those of the National Assembly and, in the case of a deadlock in passing legislation, a Mediation Committee comprising members of the Council and the National Assembly may be established. Composition All 490 members of the National Assembly and the Senate are members of the CA. These members proportionally represent political parties in accordance with the results of the April 1994 election: Party ANC NP IFP FF CA members 312 99 48 14 DP 10 PAC 5 ACDP 2 Leaders Nelson Mandela FW de Klerk Mangosithu Buthelezi Constand Vilioen Tony Leon Clarence Makwetu Kenneth Mashoe

Zimbabwe leprosy-free by yi imbabwe is on the way to eradicating leprosy as a major disease by the year 2000, while the focus will shift to the rehabilitation programmes. Towards the close of the nation's five year plan for the leprosy control programme in 1995, there had been 54 new cases detected during 1994 and only 22 in 1995. The incidence of new cases in 1995 was two in 100 000 people and no mortality was reported as having been linked to the disease. A total of 14 out of 54 cases had the World Health Organisation (WHO) disability grade 2 in 1994 and one out of 22 cases in 1'995. The secretary for the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Dr. Rufaro Chatora, says leprosy has now reached the eradication stage. "The'cured cases with permanent disabilities continue to need care and support through the provision of special footwear, vaseline and rehabilitation to prevent deterioration," says Chatora. "The disability prevention programme aims to find new leprosy cases early before they develop disabilities like blindness, loss of digits, claw hands, loss of feet and paralysis." The programme seeks to provide care for those with loss of sensation to prevent them from damage by objects, which is why footwear is given to those with logs of sensation on the feet. There are 379 cumulative cured cases with disabilities registered for follow-up and care by the health staff. "The target to eliminate leprosy by the year 2000 is on course -as there is a gradual fall of the number of cases diagnosed each year," says Dr. Chatora. Leprosy Mission national director, Stella Rouse, has deployed 10 leprosy scouts to the provinces countrywide irt, a bid to achieve this goal which has been set by the World Health Organisation. She says numbers of leprosy cases have fallen to low levels as a result of a very successful control programme. "Thousands of cured patients who are disabled need training so that they can look after themselves," says Rouse."Many of these people are sensitive about their disabilities and need -By Chemist Mafuba help to become fully accepted and independent members of their communities." Leprosy Mission's prevention of disability officer, Cde. Fariyi Mariga, is going round the country training staff to teach people to look after themselves. "We have come through the curing stage now to rehabilitation," says Rouse. "In terms of figures we are on top compared with other countries in Africa, except South Africa. By the year 2000 we may have eliminated leprosy before the end of this century. The global plan of action set up by WHO is seeking to cure about five million cases by the year 2000 at a cost of Z$3 780 million. "A person can be completely cured," says optimistic WHO leprosy specialist, Dr. Shalk Noordeen. "But if there has been severe damage to the limbs, that damage cannot always be put right. "So there will be a long-term problem of rehabilitation and cure for people disabled by the disease." Zimbabwe Self-reliance Leprosy Trust director, Caterina Savini, helps cured patients with inputs such as a house, seeds, fertiliser, ploughs and farm animals to help them re-integrate into society. As of June 1995 a total of 3 500 cured patients had benefitted from the Trust's training programme which involves sewing, shoe-making, carpentry, blacksmithing, building and others. "If the patient is too elderly or too disabled to benefit directly from skills trainovernment's efforts in the next six years will continue to be focussed on rural development, because most of our people still live there. The gap in the provision of social services between the urban areas and the rural areas must be narrowed, and even closed. The whole thrust of the Manifesto for the current Presidential election campaign is on rural development - the land issue and the resettlement programme, the conservation of water, and the con- ing, another member of the family be selected to undergo training , port the family," says Savini. "This creates improved relationsh community members, and a great ap preciation of their contribution, enlai ing their integration and acceptance jt society." Graphs released by Dr. Chatora s that Mashonaland East Province ha highest number of cumulative curl cases with disabilities of about 180 in 1995, followed by Mashonaland West which had 62 and Matebeleland South which had 48. Manicaland, Masvingo and Matebeleland North had slightly less than 40 each and Mashonaland Central had about 20 while Midlands had the least with four The trend ot leprosy cases in Zimbabwe is that in 1985, there were 150 new cases diagnosed, dropping down to 100 in 1988. But the figure rose again in 1989 when 125 new cases were diagnosed. Since then there has been a steady decline to the present 22 new cases which were diagnosed in 1995. There is fear among experts that if leprosy is neglected it might resurface again. Health and Childwelfare Minister Dr. Timothy Stamps says people who start feeling numbness and have their, skin going pale, especially on the hands and feet, should see a doctor. "Leprosy is easily treatable at that stage," he says. "The best for leprosy patients is for them to have a hot glass of milk which helps them to relax. It is just as effective as drugs." - ZIANA I] tinued investment in schools and clinics. The Manifesto spells out some of the measures President Robert Mugabe plans to take after his re-election. One of them is the stepping up of the expansion and growth of rural growth points. On the rural growth points, the Manifesto says: "Some of these points have grown in the last 16 years, but others have remained as small shopping centres with a few OContinued on next page ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. Z7 N.5

LIIII sApae; ThporSuhArcnByJoia I I I he inflation rate might be on the decline and the economy experiencing an upswing, but more than half of South Africa's 38 million citizens - 95 percent of whom are black - live in poverty, earning less than R300 a month, according to shocking statistics revealed by Minister without Portfolio Jay Naidoo in Pretoria recently. The report said South Africa's average total monthly wage was between R281 a month among the "poorest of the poor" in black households and more than $5 000 a month among white households. Blacks were, at 38 percent, the majori- ty of the unemployed. Unemployment among whites was recorded at 4 percent, 21 percent for coloureds and 11 percent for Indians. Launching the Indicators of Poverty Report - a study commissioned by the RDP Office and conducted jointly with the World Bank and the Southern African Labour Development Research Unit - Naidoo said South Africa had the worst poverty record in health, education, safe water and fertility compared with other middle-income countries. The country also had one of the highest income inequality rates in the world. According to the report, poverty in South Rural development- a government pr *Continued from previous page general dealer's stores. What is conceived is a thriving industrial centre, with new factories to produce goods for the local population, and an infrastructure for grain depots, storage space et cetera. Government has put a number of institutions at each one of the 55 designated growth points - such as schools, clinics, grain depots, post offices, et cetera. "In order to give'impetus to the rural growth points the new government will ensure that electrical power will be taken to all of them in the next 6 years. ZESA will be assisted to complete the rural electrification programme. After that government will establish industrial estates consisting of large halls that are sub- divided into several smaller units to be rented out to business entrepreneurs... These estates will stimuZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 3 late industrialisatio the rural areas. In tu the lives cf those w areas." On the social servic: the Manifesto says mitted to the educ babwean child, an reasonably good cl (including Mission h the country. Both dary schools, as we within the reach of lager. Not only mu be kept, but it will b phasis being place vocational educatio be taken to improv cation, and the he Infact, one of the ii independence was of the social service the people. * Africa has strong racial, regional and rural dimensions. About 75 percent of the country's rural and poverty stricken are concentrated in the former TBVC homelands, with Transkei being the worst off. "Africans have nearly twice the unremployment rate (38 percent) of coloureds (21 percent), more than three times the unemployment rate of Indians (11 percent) and nearly 10 times the unemployment rate of whites (4 percent). The apartheid era has left a legacy of poverty and inequality in spite of the wealth of the country," Naidoo said. He added that the report provided indicators to address SA's social and economic priorities. The report said another way to express the degree of inequality in a country was to examine the expenditure shares of households. o e Acordig to this measure, the lowest lY 40 percent of household incomes, equivalent to 53 percent of the population, accounted for less than 10 percent of total consumption. The top 10 percent of households, representing 5,8 pern and create jobs in cent of the population, accounted for rn that will improve more than 40 percent of consumption. ho reside in the rural The poorest household sector account for only 1,2 percent of total expenditure. es in the rural areas, The report defines poor people as those "The Party is com- whose cut-off expenditure level is less ation of every Zim- than R301 a month per "adult equivaid the provision of lent", and the poorest or ultra-poor as linics and hospitals those whose cut-off monthly expendiospitals) throughout ture is below R178 per "adult primary and secon- equivalent". I1 as clinics, must be avery village and vil- Naidoo said 37 percent of South African st this commitment households headed by women were e expanded with em- among the poorest. About 61 percent d on technical and of South African children, the majority n. Vigorous steps will of whom were black, lived below the a the quality of edu- breadline. alth services.", While jobs were a priority for everyone, mmediate results of housing and peace were more pressing the rapid expansion for the metropolitan poor. For the rural s to the majority of poor, piped water has as important as ] job creation, he said. limbabwe News Subscription Form (Please Tick a box to select your term) Zimbabwe o 12 issues (1 year) $22.50 o 6 issues (6 months) $11,25 Regional o 12 issues (1 year) US$3000 o 6 issues (6 months) US$15,00 Overseas(Europe) o 12 issues US$40.00 o 6 issues (6 months) US$20.00 N am e: ...... A ddress: .... i Signature: ...... THE RATES INCLUDE POSTAGE AND HANDLING * I enclose my cheque o Postal Order o for the amount indicated above Mail to: The Circulation Manager, The People's Voice 144 Union Ave., Harare, Tel: 790148/9

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