News, Vol. 29, No. 11

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Aluka is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to creating and preserving a digital archive of materials about and from the developing world. For more information about Aluka, please see http://www.aluka.org Zimbabwe News, Vol. 29, No. 11

Alternative title Zimbabwe News Author/Creator Zimbabwe African National Union Publisher Zimbabwe African National Union (, Zimbabwe) Date 1998-12-00 Resource type Magazines (Periodicals) Language English Subject Coverage (spatial) Zimbabwe, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Coverage (temporal) 1988 Source Northwestern University Libraries, L968.91005 Z711 v.29 Rights By kind permission of ZANU, the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front. Description Comment: Zimbabwe economy alive. Cover Story: Stay-away by both workers and investors—who benefits? National News: Land slowly returning to the people and to the tillers. Medicine for the ailing Zimbabwe dollar. Why Zimbabwe is in the DRC. Constitutional changes satisfactory but. Self-reliance is the key. Activities of the Party in 1998. Regional File: DRC negotiations advance. File: Displaced Rwandans seek safety in numbers. Feature: Sanctions face steady erosion from Iraqi trade. International Briefs. International News: US to bolster efforts to replace Saddam. Regional Briefs. Format extent 28 page(s) (length/size)

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http://www.aluka.org ZANU Zimbabwe News

ZANU Zimbabwe News Official Organ of ZANU PF . ,Department of Information and Publicity, 144 Union Avenue, Harare Tel: 790148 DECEMBER1998 Volume 29, No. 11 1998, Registered at the G.P.O as a Newspaper $4.00 (incl. sales tax) i5tayaway by-, both'! workers and invtors -who benefits! 4'edicine for the ailing Zimbabwe dollar~

Zimbabwe News Official Organ of ZANU PF Contents Comment: Cover Story:. National News: f Regional File: Africa File: Feature International Briefs International News Regional Briefs Zimbabwe economy alive ...... Stay-away by both workers and Investors - who benefits ...... Land slowly returning to the people and to the tillers ...... Medicine fol the ailing Zimbabwe dollar ...... Why Zimbabwe Is In the DRC ...... Constitutional changes satisfactory but ...... Self-reliance Is the key ...... Activities of the Party In 1998 ...... DRC negotiations advance ...... Displaced Rwandans seek safety In numbers ...... Sanctions face steady erosion from Iraqi trade ...... US to bolster efforts to replace Saddam ...... \ ZMBABWE NEWS VOL. 29 No. II Zimbabwe News in the official organ of the Zimbabwe African National Union ZANU PF and is produced on the authority of the Central Committee by the Department of Information and Publicity, Jongwe World Copyright, Central Committee (ZANU PF) Editorial Council: Cde. N.M. Shamuyarira, Cde.C.C. Chimutengwende, Cde. C. Ndlovu, Cde. S. Kachingwe, Cde. A Sikhosana

EDITORIAL Zimbabwe Economy Alive The views of economists can be misleading. Many of them characterise the economy of Zimbabwe as sick, and on the verge of collapse. They blame this trend on what they call the mismanagement of the economy by the government. But,, nothing could be further from -the truth, the economy is alive, and even growing. Look at the amount of building construction going on in Harare, , Gweru, and Mutare. Dwelling houses, office blocs, and factories are springing up in many parts of the city, and in large numbers. There is a significant amount of growth taking place. in the area of mining, the indigenous and smallscale miners have greatly increased their share of mineral production. intact, their production of chrome and has exceeded that of the large companies and corporations. in the area of , the indigenous peasant farmers have vastly increased their production of , and even .The commercial farmers have increased production of horticultural products. if the Heavens give us good rains this year, we are poised for record agricultural production. The so-called 'economic fundamentals' are being addressed. The budget deficit has come down and borrowings have been reduced. The most serious challenge, however, is the low value of the Zimbabwe dollar. The Governor of the Reserve Bank, Mr. Leonard Tsumba, admits that the Zimbabwe dollar has been under- valued by 50 percent. That issue is now being addressed by the government, so that the dollar can be given its proper value, and can be harnessed. Therefore, there is no Justification for the talk of gloom, ruin, and collapse that one hears from several of our economists.The negative talk by the prophets of doom is not based on the facts on the ground, or in the mine, or on the field. it is based more on their wish and their view of what should happen. But, the ruling party, ZANU-PF, and its members have to work hard to defeat the prophets of doom. But, how? We haveeto go back to the policy and philosophy of self-reliance. We have to rely on our own resources, and the resources of our-people, for our development. We have to stop looking over our shoulders to Washington for the promised capital from the IM and the , and create our own capital based on our rich natural resources. We have the capacity to borrow our own capital, put it to good use by producing many products, and paying it back in good time. if our government, our parastatal institutions, our private sector, our trade unions, and all our people put their shoulders to the wheel, and in the right direction, we will win and prosper. ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 29 No. 14

Stay-away by both workers and investors - who benefits! By Our Industrial Correspondent he ZCTU is a young trade un .) ion that was started and nur I. tured by the party, ZANU-PF. t independence there were no trade ions because the Smith regime had uppressed them ruthlessly. After independence, ZANU-PF felt at the workers should have a trade ion that would help them to bargain higher wages and better working conditions. After forming several unons for different industries, it was furher decided to form a larger Confederation or Congress of unions that would coordinate the activities and representations of the various unions. That is how the ZCTU came into existence. The labour Relations Act was enacted giving the workers and their unions wider powers on the shop floor; and making collective bargaining a reality. In recent'years, the collective bargaining process has worked reasonably well, yielding high percentage in6reases of salaries and wages than ''before. Wrong Turning But, over the years that ZCTU took a 0ong turningand started gong in the ,ong direction. It has started mobiusing the workers into a force to opPose the government that brought ,em into existence in the first place, and not fight for better wages and conditions of service. For the whole year ,of 1998, they have been agitating for political eforms, wanting to change the iconstitution, and for fiscal reforms in ithe budget. But those reforms would require investments of very large amounts of foreign capital which are ,not available in the international market at the present time. Africa's share of dct foreign investment is no more than 5 percent. But, furthermore, Zimbabwe's efforts to attract more investment is being hampered by theZCTU, ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 29 No. 11 Cde Laos Cko wore - Minister of Ransport and Energ. calling workers out for strikes or to stay-away from work, and the violence that follows. Stay-aways and strikes mean the same thing. In Chitungwiza, add Mabvuku township near Harare, there was stoning of buses and commuter buses. In Mutare one person was killed in the stay-away incidents; and in Bindura there was damage to property also. When incidents like that occur, investors stay away also. The stay-away of both investors and workers does not benefit anybody, but it does tremendous harm to the economy. It draws the economy. It draws the economy of Zimbabwe backwards. A few years ago Kenya had a thriving tourist resort area of Mombasa. Lawlessness can bankrupt an economy very quickly. Employers and the government have made that clear to the ZCTU and its backers. Tripartite dialogue fruitfull The tripartite partners (Government, Bussiness, and Labour) have been engaged in discussions which have been useful, especially for the lowlypaid workers. Only last month (November) the minimum wages came up, and the wages of domestic workers (cooks, waiters, gardners, childminders etc.) were increased Zc7J Seretay -generli Morgan Tsvnngiai. substantially. Domestic work is the second largest employer of labour (after agriculture). Discussions have also been taking place in the context of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum on the proposed re-adjustment of allowances in view of steep increases in prices of basic commodities. This matter has been referred to the appropriate organ for negotiating wages, the National Employment Councils (NECs). An emergency meeting of the 36 NECs was held last month, and the results are to be implemented this month (December). Discussions have also taken place on the 67 percent increase in the price of fuel announced recently by the Ministry of Transport and Energy. The Minister, Comrade Enos Chikowore, went to the ZCTU and to the employers, EMCOZ, soon after the announcement, and explained that NOCZIM could not continue buying oil at higher prices than it was marketing it. Government was subsidising NOCZIM, the oil companies, and the motorists. He underlined the fact that our price of fuel 3

'C ve Str was the lowest in the region, inspite of the fact that we are landlocked. While the minister's arguments are very strong, the blow could have been made much lighter on the consumers by staggering the increases of 67 percent over a period of 6 months or 9 months. Choosing confrontation The tragedy of the current position .being taken by the ZCTU is that they have chosen the route of confrontation rather than cooperation. Confrontation will inevitably lead to violance, loss of life, and loss of property, as we have seen in the last month (November). Although the question of a labour contracat is a matter between the employer and the employee, it is hoped that employers will respond to any future stay-aways by terminating that contract. Workers should not be allowed to stay-away from work on their full salaries. In particular, the Public Service Commission which controls the civil servants, should take firm action against any public servants who stay-away from work. Some employers are demanding that those who stay-away work on Saturdays. It is not a bad idea to make Saturday a working day. At least- the stay- away will have contributed to making the working week longer. The Democratic route The ZCTU position is being influenced by many external forces, and former supporters of colonial regimes in Zimbabwe. That is why the ZCTU cannot and will not support the government's progressive policies on the land orthe policies against monopolies, and curbing capitalist tendencies. What the ZCTU wants is to assume power in Zimbabwe and use it to strengthen capitalism. Where have you ever seen or heard of a labour movement that AutozoanlQ )I SUPPLIERS (PVT) LTD 72 Harare Street Cnr, Bute Street, Harare Tel: 707074 Cell: 604667 Home of Motor Spares and Accessories, Oils & Additives, Mazda + Peugeot Nissan + Toyota Hub Caps Service and Smile Tinazvo Zvose Zvemota never mentions socialism, or Advocdl I any of the well known principles i socialism. In Europe now, people are mov)', away from capitalism, and lookinj01 what they call the "third way". In soil cases they are going back to soci/ ism, or left-of- centre. Out of thit states of the European Union, 110 now governed by socialists or socO democratic parties. Recent eleciia in Britain, France, , and 140 returned to power political partiespi the left-of-centre. They vary in tha degree of commitment to socialism1, a philosophy for equal distributionio property and wealth, but they all ject capitalism. In Zimbabwe, ZANU-PF is comi, ted to its own variety of socialism th is deeply rooted in our culture, p tion, and historical experience. ZCTU are a front capitalism. ThilO have now sharpened their propagant in that direction, by saying the re problem in Zimbabwe is bad govei ment and what they call mismanaWq ment of the economy. All attempts; equal distribution of wealth are se i by the ZCTU and its supporters#0 'mismanagement'. The newspaperstI the rightwing, such as 'The indepen ent', are calling on the ZCTU to fol# a political party, and to call for es elections. If that advice is taken, one good thn it will do is to force the ZCTU to cou out into the open with its policy c capitalism.The truth is that the 8f eral elections are not far awayare only 13 months away to Feb 2000. We want these issues to go fore the people of Zimbabwe, theh@ est court of the land. If the 'Indel1 ent' could urge the ZCTU to stick the constitutional route, and seek p litical power in the ballot box and n on the streets, it will have made aCA tribution to the democracy of the ! tion of Zimbabwe. 01 ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL 29 No."ij and slowly returning to the people and to the tillers By our Agricultural Correspondent !1 lowly but surely the prom ,ise given by our leaders to the thousands of the delites at the Mutare Annual Peo's Conference in December last Lrhas been and is being fulfilled. ire are many problems and buucratic difficulties, but solid igress is being made as more and ire villagers and tillers settle on w land. The Chairman of the ad Acquisition Committee and tional Chairman, Comrade J.W. ;ika, has been taking The Presiat and First Secretary, Comrade 5. Mugabe, round the provinces iching one land scheme after other, and urging people to utie the newly acquired land propY. August, the Government and the Ity organised "An International inference" on land and land distrition in Zimbabwe. It was a sucisfu conference. The distinguished itors were taken to the rural areas see the pressure on land for themres. They returned home with a nviction for that Zimbabwe's land policies were right and just. The usual critics of Zimbabwe, especially the so- called "Independent" weekly newspapers cried 'foul' saying the conference was a flop. But, to prove them wrong, the donors who attended the conference are now pledging and pouring money into the programme for land resettlement. The line Ministries are now putting in place the concrete proposals for implementation. The Invaders and Squatters Unfortunately, a number of our people have moved onto certain farms without the permission of the government. This trend started in Svosve Communal area near Marondera in August, and it has continued in many parts of the country. Peasant farmers and villagers have moved onto farms that had been designated for resettlement, but had not been allocated. Obviously, the necessary paper work for transfer of the land to the new owners had not taken place, and the chiefs and headman had not identified the persons who will be resettled so that there is no favouritism, or movement of persons from far off districts or regions. The message of the party and government to those villagers and tillers who have invaded certain farms is that they must go back to their communal villages until the new land is troperly and legally allocated to them. The National Chairman, Comrade J.W. Msika, speaking on behalf of the party and government, has made it abundantly clear that invaders must go back. Bureaucratic delays too However, the three Ministries that are charged with the heavy responsibility of resettling people - Lands and Agriculture, Rural Development and Natural Resources, and Local Government and National Housing - must streamline their procedures, and cooperate fully with each other at every level. There is a tendency of in-fighting among officials, and unnecessary bureaucracy. There is no time to lose. It may also be advisable to set up a Land Resettlement Board, under the Chairmanship of Comrade J.W. Msika, so that all the work of land resettlement can be done under one roof. 0 ers from Mhondoro sing revolutionary songs outside Buttercombe Farm which they tried to invade in mber.

Naioa NeW Medicine for the ailing ZimI By Our Economic Correspondent ust like the doctors and sci entists who are looking for a drug that can cure HIVAIDS virus, the economists are also looking for a theory or scenario that can stabilise the exchange rates. In the wake of currency traders and large movements of capital, the exchange rates ofcurrencies throughout the world have dropped sharply. This new virus of weak exchange rates first hit the South-East Asia nations in 1997. For example, Malaysia, one of the most prosperous of the industrialising 'Asian tiger', lost half ofits entire national wealth in six months. The national wealth or the income per capita just dropped by half. A similar trend was registered in countries like Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. This trend has continued in Russia, and Ukraine in Eastern Europe, and in Latin American countries. In Africa, the Francophone countries were the first to be hit, and then the Republic of . Zimbabwean importers started to take advantage of the South African situation by forward purchases of the goods they needed. That put pressure on the which began to slide also. The black Friday Zimbabwe first experienced a sharp drop in the value of the dollar on November 14, 1997, now known as the black Friday. On that day the dollar fell from around $18 to around $28 per one American dollar. That trend has continued in 1998 when the dollar fell to $37 Minister of Finance - Cde Murerwa. to the American dollar, and $45 to the British pound. The devaluation of the dollar has been the main cause of the steep rise in prices of goods and services, and especially for essential commodities like fuel and electricity. Those commodities that are imported, or those dependent on imported inputs, rise in price in accordance with the rate of devaluation. The sharp rise in the price of fuel by 67 percent announced by the Ministry of Transport and Energy last month was a direct result of the devaluation of the Zimbabwean dollar. Therefore, if one is to find a solution to the overall economic problem, one must address the question of the value of the dollar first. Many theories have been advanced on how this can be done. The first is the one proposed and implemented by the Government of Malaysia. Their currency is called Ringit. Before their devaluation it was roughly 2 Ringit to an American dollar. And, that seems to be working because the Malaysian economy has started to recover. Zimbabwe should look carefully at babwe dollar that example, and see how it ca be applied to our situation. Private sector input The other solution worth consi4ering is the one offered by the ZimA babwe Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC). They say: "Zimbabwe has, national assets worth billions dollars, which viewed from a business perspective, comprise incredible collateral. Therefore, the negligible sums of money we are hurdling over with the IMF are not, worthy the bother, the humiliation, and conditions attached to them. With this collateral, we should borrow money off- shore on short term basis to deal with the Zimbabwean .dollar crisis and stabilise the macroeconomic environment. The ZNCC is proposing that the Goveminent borrow about two months of import cover to enable us begin on a sound footing. With a month's import cover generally at about US 180 million dollars, the countrI requires an immediate injection of US360 million dollars from international financial institutions. Once we have managed to secure these fids, the monetary authorities can then move to a managed exchange rate policy where the dollar should be allowed to fluctuate within a narrow range of 18 to 22 to the. American dollar." A common factor inthe Malaysian and the ZNCC models is the strong recommendation for a managed exchange rate. In their memorandum on the "Dollar Crisis" the ZNCC says the advantage of managing the exchange rate is that "itA will enable the business community ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 29 No. 111 make sound plans as they will i sure of the exchange rate gge". ort performance odoubt, a stable dollar will help generate confidence among busimen and women, and hopefully generate positive supply rense from the private sector. If were to be a careful managed hange rate, two other fundaentals must be addressed if gress is to be made, and the ecomic recovery to be sustained. se refer to exports and imports. export incentives announced a the Minister of Finance, Dr. rbert Murerwa, in the budget ement of 1999 has gone a long to encourage manufacturers to di uce more value- added goods r the external market. However, lre is need to widen these incenyes, and broaden the markets into we Free Trade Areas (FTA). performance of our 1998 exrts to the European Union was st, registering a growth oftwo ant only. It could be much more and greater efforts need to be e to increase it. Our exports to uth Africa are still dismal and Sd to be improved by lowering tariff barriers. The recent dismation by south Africa to SADC Snomics may help some of our ort items. What is needed is a -ajor revision of the Trade Agreeoat and a rationalisation of the otor industry. Our exports to or SADC couiitries also need to reviewed and revamped. ome Import Controls e bill of imported goods is too $ig, and growing all the time. The 1easures announced by the Minis:fof Finance, Dr. Herbert 11BABWE NEWS VOL. 29 No. I i Why Zibaw is in thCng (DRC M any people are asking the question why Zimbabwean troops are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the DRC). The straightforward answer to that question is that Zimbabwe is there to defend the legitimate government of the Congo, and toprevent a situation ofchaos and civil wars that would spread to many other countries in the region. That is the only reason. Some would retort that the government of Cde. Laurent Kabila is itself not legitimate having come to power by military force. The answer to that question is that it was the governments of Great Lakes region themselves who supported Cde. Kabila, and introduced him to the leaders ofSouthernAfrica. Specifically, it was President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, and Vice-President Paul Kagame, the ruler of Rwanda, who introduced Kabila to the SADC leaders, saying he was the right man to replace the ailing, corrupt, and neo-colonial leader ofZaire (now the DRC) for 32 years, Colonel Mobutu Sese Seko. And, after his lightning military victory. Kabila was accepted and his government was recognised by the SADC, the OAU, and the U.N. He was le,gitimised by the present leadership of Africa and the world. Therefore, it was quitb wrong for Museveni and Kagame to turn around at Victoria Falls and try to persuade the leaders of Southern Africa to ditch Kabila, and support their plan to invade the Congo. Infact when the Victoria Falls meeting was going on, they were pouring soldiers into the southern part of the Congo, preparing to invade Kinshasa, and remove Kabila's government fiom power. At that point, Zimbabwe, Angola, and Namibia were right to be alarmed, and rush to Anal Nevvs ¢ Murerwa, in the 1999 budget, of increasing tariffs on luxury cars and other luxury goods, has helped to reduce the size of this bill, but that is not enough. What is required is a limitation of goods that can be imported (what our critics would call ('import control'). Whatever it may be called, it does not make sense to allow Zimbabwean manufacturers to import products that are produced and manufactured right here. Machinery has been brought in, fac\ tory established, and labour employed to produce an item which we then promptly undercut on the market by allowing the same products from other countries to come and take the market. Call it what you may, a certain amount of rationalisation (or control) of those goods is required. In addition, all import and export procedures should be streamlined. There are just too many forms to be filled and stamps at points of entry and exit; and considerable incompetence on the part of some of the Customs officials. Businessmen and women have complained about the way their forms and applications are handled by Customs. 0

Nai' a~ w i the rescue of the legitimate government of the Congo. No Financial Deals There were no financial deals o ver the affairs of the Congo. The country of Zimbabwe, and its leader, President and first Secretary, Comrade R.G. Mugabe, have no financial interests whatsoever in the Congo. When Cde. Kabila came to power he joined the 14-nation sub-regional economic organisation, SADC. Since then businessmen from many of the other SADC have shown interest in doing business in the Congo. South African Airways have three flights a week to Kinshasa, which are loaded with businessmen from Johannesburg wanting to do business there. Similarly, some Zimbabweanbusinessmen are also seeking business opportunities in the Congo. The recent contract involving pivotal cobalt and mining concessions in the DRC was a straightforward business transaction. The contract is in the southern province of Katanga. It was signed between the Congolese state, the state mining company, Gecamines, and Ridgepoint, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands but run by an independent Zimbabwean businessman, Mr Billy Rauenbach. This white Zimbabwean also runs transLetters to the Editor should be brief and to the point. Writers should use their real names although pen names may be used on request. The Editor has the right to make corrections. Write to: The Editor Zimbabwe News 144 Union Avenue Harare port companies in Zimbabwe, notably the Wheels of Africa, and Cargo Carriers, which locked out its black drivers some three years ago. He has been at loggerheads with the government in the manner in which he runs his business in Zimbabwe. Lately, he assisted the Botswana government to set up an assembly plant for motor vehicles in direct competition with Zimbabwe motor companies. President Mugabe has no personal or financial interests in Ridgepoint, and in any of the businesses of Mr. Billy Rautenbach. The contract between Gecamines, the biggest mining company in the Congo, and Ridgepoint was a purely business transaction. Other companies have signed comparable agreements with Congolese companies. For example, the Angolan Oil Company, SONANGOL, signed an agreement with the Congolese Government to setup Sonangol-Congo in Kinshasa. But, the Belgian Company, Petronila, has vast interests in Congolese and in Angolan oils. No one ever suggests lhat there is anylhing unusual or wrong about these business deals and connections. Another company in Namibia has acquired shares in a mine in the Congo at Miba in Mbuyi-Mayi But, the Belgian Company, Sibeka, also has 25 percent shares in this mine. It is reported to be expanding its share-holding there. The South African giant mining company, Anglo-American Corporation, is developing a mining project at Kolwezi in the Katanga Province. South Africa has other vast interests in the infrastructure ofthe Congo. Invasion still sticking point We are glad that at long last the U.N. and the OAU are getting involved in the negotiations for ceasefiring and peace in the Congo. After all, the problems of the Congo today, do stem from the unfinished business of the UN in theCongo in the 1960s.) The meetings being held in Pretorid this month (December) may succeed if the invaders are clearly identified (namely Uganda and Rwanda), and their troops told or ordered to leave Congolese territory. Uganda long admitted that it has 2 battalions theM, although it may have muchmore. The Rwandan Government has now ad-' mitted that it has troops inthe Congo assisting the rebels. In any negotia. tions conducted by the UN and thee OAU the first item that should be, agreed is the unconditional withdrawal of the invading forces of Uganda and Rwanda. The forces of, Zimbabwe, Angola andNamibia (and now Chad) are not in that categoyA because they came at the request of the legitimate Government ofCom-'t rade Laurent Kabila. They came to help the Congolese state, not to de- j stroy it The rebel Arm(ies) -1 The rebel army in Goma is aotch"potch ofdisaffected,'disappointed, I and discontented people. Some are Tutsis who ran away from genocide ' of 1994 in Rwanda; some are Congolese who were inMobutus armJ but fled when Kabila tookover. The., leadership is a group ofdisgruntled Professors and professional who,.. have never lived in the Congo for decades, and have no grass-roots support. With the assistande of the Rwandese and Ugandans, they pro-1 vide leadership to this motley mixtue' of men and women who are sup-:. posed to fight in Rwanda, Burundi, Eastern Congo, and Uganda. Some of the more ambitiotis ones among! them want to revive the old Hima Empire which was ruled by Tutsi, kings for over a century around the Great Lakes region. If the negotia-, tors made the mistake oflandingover powerto these tribalists theywill have ignited numerous tribal wars in that region, and inthose countries. 0 ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 29 NO. II )nstitutional changes satisfactory but... Staff Writer 9henamendments that have so far been made to the Zim babwe constitutionhave gone g wayto satisfy the aspirations e people, but more changes d continue to he made because w is dynamic, a cabinet minisId Members of Parliament rey. V Minister of Justice, Legal and jamentary Affairs, Cde tason Nangagwawhowasreding to Masvingo Central MP, )AzImaiMavhaire'stmotionon xdto reviewthe country's contion, said he was proud that the ng decisions ofthe courts were made under the provisions of imbabwe Constitution and not so called Lancaster Constituingthe past 17 years, the contion has gone through the dm111 and no doubt our courts decided numerous cases, which chartered the course of our lend constitutional history," the t-er said., loagghoweverpointedot :imbabwe's constitution would e influenced by universal legal Oleswhich ate enshrinedin any ry's constitution be it Canada, hAfrica or Jamaica. He felt that ,calling for ahome grown con.on, Zimbabwe, as amemberof BWE NEWS VOL, 29 No. II the will not throw awaywhatthepresentconstitufionbas enshrined. Turningto the governance ofthe stW CdeMhangVasaidthegovemment hasthree branches, the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. The executive and the legislature have sound relationship which requires cabinet ministers to be members of the legislature (Parliament). "Our constitution also enhances the principle ofconstitutionalism which rests not only the existence of an independentandimpartialJudiciarybut also on the protection of its powers and jurisdiction from interference or exercise ofcontrol by the Executive andLegislature. The exclusiveness of these powers flow from the constitation,"CdeMnangagwasaid. He felt that the significance of the constitution is on the election of the President, who is elected by all the people of Zimbabwe. He said his rightto govern therefore comes from all the people who elect him and that itis only correctto say thatthe President represents the whole nation as one constituencywhile Members of Parliamentrepresent single constituencies. Because oftheir smaller constituencies, he said, MPs emphasise particularinterests. He addedthatthe aggregate representation offered by Parliament does not equal that ofthe Presidency. Cde. Emmerson Mnangagwa. Cde. Mnangagwawent finrther to say that the President enjoys a national mandateto rule andthatonly the electorate can denyhimihat mandate. On the other hand, he said, both Parliament and the Executive have no power to interpret the constitation. He added that by separating the three organs ofgovernment, the Zimbabwe Parliamentary system avoids the clash of interests, the conflict of authority and the weakening of leadership by collective power. Cde. Mnangagwawas surprised that people were calling for the limitation of the tenms of office of the President without doing the same for Members of Parliament. It was his understanding that elections are the barometer of the popularity of MPs and that the constitution should provide a positive feature for the maintenance of elections. "We should be aware that the future generation would accuse us of failure to provide them with a power structure that is answerable for its own decisions. Ifwe amend our constitution to suit the few who have some ulterior motives, we may be accused by our children for having swayedtothewinds and disturbedthe rootofour independence and democracy.

.3*ina Nesd Sefrelianceithe k he year 1998 has been a very difficult one. The harsh eco nomic circumstances that we experienced brought many problems to our people. For the first time in our short histor, our people were driven to riots, as the value of the dollar dropped, and prices of commodities continued to rlse.The question is what are we going to do about this situation in 1999. There are many options, scenarios, formulae, and theories about how an economy that is underdeveloped and under-ndustrialised can be transformed and can "take off". But, the first requirement to achieve any kind of development is to be self- reliant, meaning that you rely on your own resources, both material and human.Even if those resources are limited at the beginning, they are the foundation stone of meaningful developmentTo put it n another way, one should not depend on the generosityor on resources of other people. states, or institutions. Dependency leads a nation to demorallsation and de- nduslialisadon. In Zimbabwe, we have received assistance from donours for our land reform programme, and for other developmental programmes too, but these are short- term measures intended to get us over the intial hurdies of our Independence. However, we must never put ourselves In a posiion of dependenceon this donor aid. Of particular Importance Is our relationship with the BrettonWoods Ilstitutions (the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund). While we negotiate for large amounts of money from them to support our dollar, we should never be dependent on that money. Rathe we should depend on our own natural resources. We can borrow money on the natural resources. We can borrow moneyon the open market on the collateral of our own economic and Inadal nstumons. Constitutional changes satisfactory but... "While the initial part of the Hon. member, Mr Mavhaire's contribution was constructive, his subsequent discourse is so repugnant, destmctive and uncalled for. He has pleaded that it was a slip of the tongue - a slip of the tongue cannot cover several pages of the Hamard," the Minister said. Although the privileges and immunities granted to Parliament are upheld through the Privileges and Immunities Act, he explained, it does not provide members with a platform to denigrate or attack the Head of State and founding father ofthe Party andNation. He stressed that most of the provisions enshrined in the constitution are also found in all the CommonWealth countries including the UN Charter on Human Rights and the constitutional guarantees are universally applicable. He said what is needed is to create an enlightened awareness and atmosphere amongst the people so that their rights and fieedoms are not imipededL 0 1 N/ For example, the PTC has prope valued in billionsofdollars, and b ness potential in more bimons. were sold, and some of the mo, invested in productive ventures, repayment should not present a ous problem. A further example NOCZIM, the national oil com which could be sold so that the vate oil companies operating in babwe buy their fuel directlyfrom suppliers,, and seil directlyto the sumers. Such a step may end up ducing the price of fuel for the mot ist, and more importantly reduc state expenditure, and narrowi% budget deficit Another important area is the scilnip of food supplies for our people. If tkp rains are adequawehavepeasar;i commercial farmers who can gro;j enough food to feed the nation, an. even to export. Self -sufficiency 1 food is an important requirementIl achieving self-rellance. We are ga that our Party and governmenta placing large amounts of our resm and skills in the expansion of fooei production. The storing, marketinkr and pricing, of some of these basl commodities needs to be rm and properly organised.Some of h institutions set up to do this wkara doing a sterlingjob, and need our uoi finued support. The ditor Of de Peoples ' Voice & Tle Zimbabwe News & SfAff Wish teir Readers a happy Chrisfimas &a Prosperous New Year ZIMdBABWE NEWS VOL. 29 No. I V I ivItiOS for th in 1998 ., s,,, tlement was speeded up. Speeding up the resettlement process had earlier on been decided at the highly successful Mutare Third Annual People's Conference held in December 1997. This shows that the idea of resettlement had a popular foundation supported within the Party. ident Robert Mugabe. he year 1998 has been very eventful for the country as a whole. Several significant witiprofound influences onthe ial, political and economic well g of the nation occurred. The arty and government were key playin the unfolding of such events, g to the occasion and giving dit'on and vision to Zimbabweans. settlement e land issue was arguably the most eging and topical throughout the ar, with impatient land-hungry taking the law into their own and invading commercial finns. though the Party and government d the invading peasants imience, it could not tolerate people ttling in an unplanned disorderly 'y. The Party and government was, and still is very much in favour of proper orderly resettlement of all landless people, even if this system may seem to take time. However, the land invasions did manage to putpressureongovemrmnent thateventuallythe land redistribution process and reset,IMBABWE NEWS VOL. 29 No. I I In order to make land redistribution acceptable to all sectors of society the government organised a Land Conference in August. The Conference brought together private landowners, bureaucrats, and interested citizens to discuss honestlythis prickly national issue. The Conference fostered dialogue amongst people, and did wonders to dispel unfounded suspicions especially between black and white citizens of Zimbabwe. It brought mutual understanding and general agreement that land redistribution was essential if peace and stability is to be sustained in this country. The Conference once again clarified government's stance that we will never grab land, but will always compensate accordingly all those whose land is designated for resettlement. The First Secretary and President of the Party Cde. R.G. Mugabe also played a crucial role in giving correct information to foreigners about the land question in our country. He used every available opportunity to enlighten potential investors about our situation, and moves we were taking to redress decades of land- ownership inequalities across races. His tour to Germany and Britain is notewor- e Party PnepoIndent thy given that he won supporters where mischievous retrogressive elements had earlier on misinformed people and tried to discourage potential foreign investors from bringing their money to Zimbabwe. Malcontents were alleging that the Zimbabwean government was nationalising privately owned land, hence all investments were at risk. The President vehemently reiterated that the govemment was onlytaking for resettlement: (a) Derelicit and under-utilised land, (b) Land with absent landlords, (c) Farms of farmers who own more than one farm, (d) Commercial farms close to communal lands. In all these cases the affected current owners would be compensated, and in the case of farmers with land close to communal areas, the farmer would be relocated elsewhere as long as what he had lost was his only single farm. The President showed great insight when he explained to foreign business-persons and politicians that if land redistribution was not done in a planned orderly way spontaneous land invasions would occur. He was vindicated when peasants from across the country invaded private farms on their own, even though government discouraged such a move and was at times forced to use the police to bring legality in the redistribution process. President Mugabe was so convincing in his argument for land redistribution that the Secretary General of Commonwealth Chief Emeka Anyeuko publicly declared that the Zimbabwean venture was justiffed for moral reasons. !!

Devaluation of the Zimbabwean Dollar On November 14,1997 - what has come to be known as the notorious Black Friday - the Zimbabwean dollar fell heavily against major international cuecies. The current world recession as well as unscrupulous speculation by money dealers caused the fall. Government intervened by beefing up the local currency with the available foreign currency reserves. However, the devaluation of the dollar had its lasting repercussions on the general standards of living of our people, especially that, prices of basic commodities increased. Price increase led to the food riots in January These riots left amassive trail of destruction, nearlyall of which was unwarranted as it adversely affected our own indigenous business who hardly have a meaningful say in the pricing of commodities. Some indigenous shopowners in high density surburbs have still not recovered from the losses incurred during the unfortunate riots, and others were forced to close down altogether. The Party and government have f-ied to give financial and emotional support to all those affected, albeit in a situation marked by limited resources and an economic climate that does not permit govemment to offer substantial loans and subsidies as much as we used to do in the past. The government appointed a Task Force to deal with the pricing of the six most essential basic commodities which are maize-meal, bread, cooking oil, milk, meat and sugar. Besides these basic commodities, the prices of commodities such as fertiliser, seed and fuel were also of great concern. Since January up to August prices of basic commodities werekept at the same level. When the prices eventually increased they did not rise beyond 22%, with bread going up by 22% and maize-meal by 17%. The policy of keepingprices of basic commodities low was largely successful until the price of fuel was increased. Fuel and NOCZIM The National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (NOCZIM) has been paying more money for buying fuel than it - ,i1 Oceanarium PIL, IEG Plaza, 72 Greengrove Drive. Greendale, Harare, Tel 492935/54/59 Cell: 111 200 803 B~eef Jerk4 Zimbabwe's newest, most delicious meat snack. Made from Zimbabwean Topside Beef smoked to perfection according to traditional African recipes. Ask for it at your favourite bar or sports club. Trade Enquiries Welcome Call Us Today 492935/54/59 Fax 492905 was getting from selling.he opera 0 tions of the company were heavill1. subsidised by the government to1 point where NOCZIM was fina. P cially unavailable. Besides the fa that NOCZIM was not makingan profit from its operations, and was , 01 timately more of a liability than a asset, conuption within the paata aggravated an already bad system Some executive officers were sus pended because of corruption an mimnaeent. In future the Party and governmenF should pay special attention to th price of fuel as this is a crucial sensitive commoditywhich has showii its potential ofaffecting the pricing o" virtually all othercormmodities, includ-4a ing the six basic commodities cited', above. The rise of the price of fuel resulted intheescalatingofothercomJ" modities' prices through a ripple ef- I fect. Eventually, people could nom longer stand the rising cost oflivinoO and this resulted in the wave ofjob*F stay-aways which were organised byid the Zimbabwe Congress of Tradeg Unions(ZCTU). Job Stay-aways At first the government's policy over* stay-aways was to leave employers h and employees to discuss and reach h an amicable agreement betweeni them. The government still genuinly believes that employees.can withhold their labour through strike action in order to win some concessions from it their employers. This is part oftheir I fundamental human rights. Howevra the same rights carry their duties and . responsibilities, and responsible action should be taken by governmentil especially in situations were certainmisguided elements have proceeded to destroy private property in the name of strikes or stay-aways. ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL 29 No. I NEW National News

JUovemment has then found it necesY to publish regulations meant to ip violence during stay-aways [led by the ZCTU in order to pro,tboth private and public property. sidential Powers have also been yoked for the same purpose. Zimbwean workers should not be odwinked by malcontents with litical agendas during these times ien countries throughout the world suffering from the impacts of the rrent world recession. ostproblemswhichpoliticalopporities are placing squarely on our vernment's shoulders are being ex*ienced throughout-the world, inx*ng in European and Asian counes that are considered to have unger economies than ours. Te National Economy The Party and Government are unpressure to produce a new econic policy that progressively admsthe general well-being of all the zens of this country. In order to w together all the best brains of tis country the government decided to form a National Economic Coniltfive Forum-(NECF) where peole from diverse backgrounds can pwol their ideas together for the benoftpe nation. The private sector adthe labour union were invited to cussions which are currently takplace. re sname effort several Task forces created to address issues of an omc nature. These include Task rcSon: a) Incomes ind Prices - this Task has also contributed to the forOllation of Industrial Policy, I Task Force on a Social Contract this was requested by the ZCTU, ) Black Empowerment, and Health and the HIV/AIDS PanBABWE NEWS VOL 29 No. I I deric. HIV/AIDS Pandemic Zimbabwe is one of the cotmtries with the highest levels of infection in the world. Other countries are succeeding in reducing the spread of HIV/ AIDS. For example, Uganda has made meaningful strides in reducing the spread of the killer disease, and Zimbabwe had to send a delegation to that country to learn and copy how they have managed to curb the disease. At the moment Zimbabweans are dying at the rate of 100 people per day or 700 people per week from the disease. In Europe people are no longer dying as much from HIV/ AIDS due to effective information campaigns that result in positive behavioural change amongst people, as well as to effective treatment. A full course of treatment and medication per individual costs as much as US$23 000.00 in Europe, which is approximately $805 000.00 Zimbabwean dollars. This is just too expensive and unaffordable for the majority of Zimbabweans. The Chinese have developed medicine which is effective in treating HIV/AIDS and it costs about US$3 000.00 (Z$ 105 000.00). Again this price is still far beyond the reach ofthe majority of our people. The second problem associated with procuring medicine from is that the Chinese are not on the patent system of the World Trade Orgarisation, hence it is difficult to trade with them in drugs and pharmaceuticals. Given this discouraging situation the Ministry of Health has to come up with solutions as well as educate people on avoiding infection. Road Accidents Road accidents especially those involving public transport are proving to be a major killer. We urge drivers to be more careful and not to overspeed or drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Transport owners should also service their buses more frequently to avoid mechanical faults that can lead to fatal accidents. The same owners should also cease from making unrealistic demands or setting profit targets which compel drivers to speed on the roads. The country should not continue to lose breadwinners and loved ones through negligence and recklessness. Passengers in public transport must also learn to caution over- speedjng or drunken drivers, and to report such drivers to the police at road- blocks when travelling. Proposed New Zimbabwean Constitution Zimbabwe is working on a new national constitution to replace the Lancaster House Constitution. Many groups from civil society and opposition political parties are producing constitutional proposals as we are all agreed that there is need for a constitution which is home-grown, formulated on the spirit of a free sovereign Zimbabwe. The Party has made a draft constitution through the initiative and coordination of the Legal Department headed by the prominent lawyer Cde. E. Zvobgo. All citizens of the country are free to make their input into this grand effort. What the Party wants shaped out eventually is a constitution which not only respects the democratic rights of the majority whilst respecting the opinions and cultural integrity of the minority, but one wholesome document which respects human rights 13 :Iational News

(economic rights included) and equality ofall citizens. A Commission of Enquiry will be set up to collect all evidence from Zimbabwean. The Commission will then present the evidence to Parliament for deliberations and the eventual enactmerit ofthe final constitution. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Zimbabwe's involvement in the DRC is a major development of the year. Zimbabwe together with Namibia and Angola responded to the call for assistance of the DRC government under Laurent Kabilaafter it had been invaded by rebels supported by Rwanda and Uganda. The Zimbabwean government heeded the call for assistance by the DRC government more-so because this was a legitimate sovereigngovement under threat from invaders, and also because it is a regional neighbour and member of SADC. Our armed forces in the Congo have done the nation proud because of their consistent record of bravery, discipline and commitment. We have lost 9 soldiers, 6 of whom were killed in action, 2 in a helicopter accident, and one succumbed to malaria. The rebels captured 16 of our soldiers and we hope they are being kept according to the require- ments of international convention war,just as we are doing to pris4 ers of war captured from the rebe side. Peace talks on the DRC are current being brokered in Paris after seve have failed due to the intiansigeti, ofthe rebel leaders. As a peace-lot ing nation who genuinely love to se tranquillity pevail in the whole regio we hope the latest efforts for Pea1 will succeed. The Chairmanship of the OAU w we held for the past two years handed over to Burkina Faso t.h year. This was not before Preside5 Mugabe had mediated betwei Ethiopia and Eritrea who were atxv% Make a date with HARARE WHOLESALE CENTRE HARARE HOME STORES 103 Cameroon Street Cnr. Speke Avenue Where low prices are bom and raised elsewhere!!! 'ff~ We are open Monday-Friday from 7.30 a.m.-5.30 pm. Saturdays: 7:30 a.m-2.00 p.m. Zvarohwa Nechando Wasara Wasara 11 rAAND WE STOCK bI Kids, Male and Female ,All SIZES 00 Traveilg bags, suitcases, materials, Java At"Low, Low, Prices" Harare Wholesale Centre 75 Charter Road/Leopold Takawira Street P.O. BOX 3826 larare 26 Speke Avenue Tel: 790148/91 Cnr Angwa Street Fax: 790483i TeL:726216 I Harare 1 ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 39 NO. I6 NationajNew,

DRC negotiations advance By Phyllis Johnson he iln aWdle in afour-palt les on regional securty and the RC egotiations for a "Peaceful" solution to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of o (DRC) have now begun in earboth on the battlefield and off. oamatic sources in southern Africa te the significant advances by a umber of plays in what the Organition of African Unity (OAU) SecreWy-eneral, Salim Salim, has debed as a "process" toward peace. Onesource described the "process" as a poker game, in which bluffs are aled and the stakes are raised, but he noted that a significant difference s the presence of a number of negolators or mediators Intent upon enuring that all players are winners. kcording to the diplomats, who are hvolved in the process, the scenario Pes something like this. Uganda and ada militarily backed the removal fthe dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko ,m power in Zaire, and installation Laurent Kabila as President. They ught and received diplomatic suprt In southern Africa for Kabila's vemment, and members of the uthem African development Comunity (SADC) accepted DRC as a W er and economic partner in the egion. Vhen Kabila fell out with his ersthile backers, President Yoweri luseveni of Uganda and Vice-Presilnt Paul Kagame of Rwanda, over Itsl and Rwandan domination of ower and decision-making in DRC nd expelled the Rwandans from his HBABWE NEWS VOL. 29 No. I i Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. DRC President Laurent Kabila. mlitary Uganda believed that it could simply replace what it had put in place, using the same tactical plan. The plan backfired because Kabila was already familiar with the tactics of flying Rwandan soldiers across the DRC to land in the west of the country and capture Kinshasa in a pincher movement, and he called in military support from other SADC members to prevent tis. The allies who responded - Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe - had a number of reasons for doing so that include regional security and economic development and adherence to the principle adopted last year by OAU Heads of State including Rwanda and Uganda, that theywould not allow the change of government by military meaam But their main reason was to ensure that there would be two parties at the negotiating table, which could not have occurred if the government had been overthrown. That was the first round of the poker match in which the sides were now even, and players had to decide f they would raise the ante. ltwas a moment for a negotiated settlement but this failed, because the stakes weren't hgh enough and the original bidders still thought they held better cards. Uganda and Rwanda decided to raise the stakes, with heavy backing for the rebels on an offensive in the eastern part of the country, in which they committed ever more of their own troops and logistics, advancing south and taking the key town of Kindu, whose airfield the government had been using as a forward base. Both sides, meanwhile, had taken pris oners, including the Zimbabwean advance team captured at Kindu, and the Rwandans captured in the west during the fight for Kinshasa. A number of the Rwandans cut off in the west after theyocaipled the giant lnga dam, melted across the border into Angola, into the territory held by the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita), where they were dispersed from Maquila do Zombo after having been joined by reinforcements sent by air. Now the allied players had to determine their response With government forces vulnerable in the face of heav- illy armed cOUnter-advance in the east, would they stick with what they held around Kinshasa, or raise the ante themselves with a serious commitment to gain, balance of the forces at play They chose the latter. The strategic diamond-training centre of Mbuji Mayl was under threat from rebel ad- vances bent on sweeping south to Lubumbashi, when the allied forces raised the stakes sending a large number of troops and logistiws, IndudIng heavy artillery from Angola, to support government forces in a new offensive to re-take Klndu. Negotiations off the field have kept pace with those on the battlefield, as GLOBAL ELECTRICAL SUPPLIERS DISTRIBUTORS FOR: TELEMECANIQUE HY MAG MERLIN GERIN MASTERING ELECTRICAL POWER GRAPE SCHNEIDER 101 S. MACHEL AVENUE P.O. BOX 7068, HARARE TEL: 263-4-735936 TELEFAX: 263-4-703754 CELLPHONES:111 402 717 111 402718 SUPPLIERS OF: 1. Electrical Motors 2. Electrical Cables 3. Telemecanique Switchgear 4. Merlin Gerin Switchgear 5'. Flourescent Tubes and Fittings 6. Circuit Breakers Sarahuku Butchery Situated W/Park 1, Kuwadzana 6, 223752 212341-5/49 Glen View(2) Banket, Township Cell 011601145 023 400 495 Beef from $28/kg to $35/kg Chicken $30/kg Pork $30/kg All offals available regionpl and international concern Increases over escalation of the conle Tanzania and South Africa have held talks with the DRC rebels to seek so. lutions, while a number of African heads of state met in Vicoria Falls, in Gabon, and most recently In Lusaka, in an attempt to find common ground bapgahln point and srateM plgcs for diplomatic intervention. Diplomatic sources who were in the Zambian capital for the most recent summit note that there are two levels of negotiations, national and international. For the first one, the DRC government and rebels both need to have an Inte. est in joining in, and this will only', occur If they believe that they have something to gain. The rebel strategy has been to conduct a two-pronged, offensive, of taldng peace while waging war, a strategy which has been used most successfully by Unita In Angola for the past 3o years. The SADC allied forces were angered bywhat they saw as a breach of good faith, after negotiations In early September when a troop standstill was,( agreed to by external forces, but the rebels continued with their miitary advance. The raising of United States interest was signalled in September In a statement from the new US ambassador to Kinshasa, William Swing (a previous ambassador to South Africa), when he upheld the right of the DRC government to call for military support, sayIng that a government under theat has the right to summon external forces to its assistance. The US raised the stakes again durng the recent visit to the region by Assistant Under-Secretary of State for African Affairs, Susan Rice, when, speakingIn Harare she reinforced that position, while stressing the need to address Rwanda's fearsdof genocide -(SARDC). 131 ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 29 No. It _____- I Regional News

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Authorities say the camp, which overlooks a lake and a spectacular vista of volcanic mountains, has poor health and sanitary conditions; little access to water and rampant disease that Is killing around five people a day. "Conditions areverybad here but people feel very secure because they are closer together. And no matter how bad It gets, It's still better than fle in the hills, where there Is no security and where anyone can disappear," Alphonse Sharanmanzi, the local administrator said. Insurgency pushes civilians Into safe camps The United Nations says that some 630 000 civilians have moved to camps like Mucaca across northwest Rwanda, where HutU nterahamwe militia and soldiers from former Rwandan army are waging a guerrila war against the government. The two groups of rebels led Hutu extremists in the bloody genocide of an estimated 800 000 Tulsis and moderate Hutus In 1994 before the Rwandan Patriotic Army, which f Invaded from netghbouring Ugand 1990, seized power and stopped massacres. Operating In fertile te of forests and deep valleys, the re often call on civilians to provide th with food, shelter and cover "Everybody wants to go home I everybody Is afraid," said Gabriel, a camp resldentwho s he fled his home in July becaust rebel actity in the area. Mucaca camp was set up In April a its numbers have increased stead jumping bymore than 20 000 In S tember and 10 ooo In Octob Sharanmanzl said. The governmi said those living In the carol growing Increasingly weary of 1 Insurgency, have "disassoclate themselves from the rebels, depi Ing them of vital support. Hutu Rwandan refugees 'eave the Rwandan border town of Gisenyi for the inland territories. ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL 29 me aid Workers say the camps a counter-insurgency function, -e at separatng Hutu c"iams llutu rebels, thus giving the a free hand to conduct operaagainst insurgents and avoid l causalties. 1 iucaca, camp,. most people, 0 under the watchful eye of tgers, said they had come volh but were not free to leave security was restored in the [ are here because of the lsewhich is all around us," said Sanzumuhire, who comes N f Koga hill, 15 klolmetres (nine away. "But It's not I who deto go home, it's the authorities." enent to group farmers in l ofidals saythe camps are only '1 ary and displaced will leave he rbel threat is eradicated. But e people go back they will live '.ether in newly built villages, not el~endently, Sharanmanzi said: lion" would change the face northwestem Rwanda, the counSb~eadbasket, where the tiny huts I lependent farming families are ed across the valleys. future plan is to have all these gle o back to the sectors they nie from when the security Is ," Sharanmanzi said. 8 when they go back, they'll no live as they used to, everyone his hil. hey will be put in groups houses because that wayIt is safer" said. added that local authorities had didentified nearby sites where rs would be allocated new land rwhch to build houses. don't want to leave our homes ilt would be more agreeable to in villages and have the secu- IBABWE NFWS voL ZQ N,- L rh problems resolved than to stay where we were," said Sebasten, another camp.inhabitant, but not all agree. Hundreds of empty houses along the roadside in the north stand as silent testimony to previous attempts by the authorities to move farmers into government-planned villages. In the peaceful bustle of Mucaca camp, women ducked into the orderly array of makeshift huts to cook beans over charcoal fres or mix for their families. On a floor of baked red soil, a group of women sat laughing and smoking pipes in a circle while boys nearby kicked around a soccer bail made of debris tightly bound with string. 3 It pays to advertise In The Zimhabwe Pews Rosam Marketing No. 64 Rezende Street PO. Box 2923 Harare Cell: 091-225 773 For all your Households goods, Solar products, Videos and all electrical goods Callus or visit us now! iiica File

Sanctions face steady erosion from Iraq t While Iraq and UN officials continue their tug-of-war over arms inspections, growing traffic with Iqs neighbours shows that the sweeping trade sanctions intended to force Baghdad's compliance are steadily eroding. Diplomats have seen Hyunda cars carried over the border from Jordan and Iraq oil tankers appear on roads in Syria. in the north of Iraq, long lines of Turlsh trucks cross the border with Iraq diesel. In the south, Iraq oil flows down the Gulf disguised as Iranian production. "After eight years there's a general loosening," said a diplomat who has watched the sanctions regime for much of the time since Itwas Imposed after Iraqi forces were driven from Kuwait n 1991. There is going to be a constant erosion. There is a general sanctions fatigue and how long can this go on? We're heading towards an end game because sanctions are getting less and esstenable." The original sanctions, which prohibited all Iraq exports and required United Nations approval - frequently withheld - for Imports, were supposed to force Iraq to eliminate all of its weapons of mass destruction. This was supplemented two years ago by an agreement that Iraq could export some oil under UN supervision to raise funds to buy food and other necesside But after years of patchy cooperation from Iraqi authorities, the UN body supervising the arms controls says It still cannot certify banned weapons have been eliminated. Without that clean bm of health, the United Nations wil not let Iraq resume normal exports of oil, its only source of hard currency Oil flows out, goods pour in Iraq's decision virtuallyto shut down the UN arms Inspections - reversed in mid - November, for the moment at least, under the threat of imminent U.S. attack-- seems to have galvanised Western thinking that the sanctions regime is nearing the end of its useful life. Iraq leader Saddam Hussein. So far the embargo has impoverished most Iraqis but done little to shake President Saddam Hussein, whose family Is said to control the smuggling. The amount of legal trade has risen sharplywith the oil-for-food deal reduce the Impact of sanctions. Iraq is nowauthorised to export more than $5 billion of oil in a six- month pedod, more than it can produce.. There has always been smuggling. The sanctions were a blow not only to Iraq but also to neighbours who once had lucrative trade with Baghdad. it tookJordan, under intense US pressure, more than a year to tighten its border. ButWashington has acquiesced in Jordan's purchase of Iraq oil at discount rates, about $500 million worth last year, as the indebted desert kingdom has no other viable supply Jordan's oil imports come under a trade protocol under which Its off exports to Iraq have risen from s US$135 milion in 1990 to US$ million last year. Among illicit 10 heading over the border at the on gal crossing point was a truckth diplomat saw carrying new Hyur cars - now driven by Baghdad lice. The volume of Iraq diesel flowig Tukey, via Kurdish middlemen in autonomous north of Iraq, has ebi and flowed, disrupted bylghftngi politics but not sanctions.. Since 1992, up to 1 500 trucks a have canied Iraq diesel acrass theI derin Iargetaifweldedbeneath frames. The flow was dismpte( November when the region hove on the brink of new US - led att on Iraq, but it resumes after each sIs. Iraq oil has also been trucked acr the border into former enemy ft where it can disappear into the Iranian production. More Iraq heads south along the Gulf invem that claim to be carrying Iranian Syria, another long-time foe wt fought alongside US forces in 1I resumed trade in May 1997,1 7ye after the two countries severed in tions. Rateb Shallah, president of Syrian chambers of commerce, I Reuters that Syria has done A US$ 0o million worth of trade v Iraq since then. Neighbours want a piece of the a Syria is also studying how to resu a pipeline to cany iraq oil to the Mi terranean, a shorter mute than the rent UN-supervsd flow through key, Deputy Prime Minister Sa Yassin sai. He was confident with agreement / Shallah and Yassin emphasise I ZI NEWS VOL. 29 No.

.1. Bif 'srdpidlygrowing trade with Iraq Suthosred by UN officals, who lantain an office at the main crosspoint Into Iraq. But lucrative, untsedtradtebyotercox ow not gone unnoticed In Damascus. over the world and at times, the of the pwishment will with _ wither and decrease," Shallah of the indefinite period of sancsIt's a law of nature." mats who a year ago said Syria rigidly folowing UN sanctions, say they see Iraq oil tankers on roads. Foreign newspapers have of a deal to smuggle Iraq oil ugh northern Syria, though- the UNauthorsed romutes are through and Iraq's Gulf port of Umm bohboudng Lebanon the busie nit is anxious to gain a share the Irade it thinks others, regardof sanctions, are enjoying. Lebao has just taken the first step tod restoring diplomatic relations Iraq and Lebanese businessmen v/be been visiting Baghdad. ,eb non used to export 20 percent its turnover to Iraq. It was a big 1e," Jacques Sarra, head of ason of Lebanese Industrialists, Reuters. and Syria don't liv agreements wifh Iraq but Ihyare paqg, We should at least geta peace uls cake-rl For the latest in news, sport and entertainment get a copy of The People 's Voice PIRIBWE NEWS VOL. 29 NO. I I Forest damage could cause second Asian crisis sia could face a second eco omic crisis if the region's in reasingly high level of forest destruction is not reversed, the World Bank has warned. World Bank senior environment adviser Ken Newcombe urged Asia to focus on sustainable natural resource use as the financial crisis forced increasing numbers of people into . He said a return to subsistence slash-and-burn farming by thousands in Asia would threaten the long term economic growth of many of the region's agriculturally based countries. "What's happening behind the scenes is what you could call the dark side of the Asian miracle - the silent crisis that goes on unnoticed as people are thrown back onto the natural resource Us news shows base, back into subsistence economy. "It is more insidious and damaging in the long run because you cannot restore this natural capital. Once lost, it's not available for the next generation and it undermines the capacity of these economies to reach for a truly sustainable development. Massive fires in Southeast Asia in 1997, sparked by slash-and-bum farming and logging companies, devastated 4.5 million hectares (11.1 million acres) of forests. Newcombe was in Australia for a series of meetings with government ministers and industry representatives aimed at encouraging Australia to take a leading role in sustainable natural resource use in Asia - Reuters. 0 program Kevorkian he CBS News program "60 Minutes" on November 22 aired a dramatic videotape of euthanasia advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian administering a lethal injection to a patient suffering from a terminal disease. Kevorkian, a 70-year-old retired pathologist, had previously acknowledged assisting the suicides of as many as 130 people, but said this was the first time he inserted the needless and killed a patient himself. He has been tried and acquitted three times on charges of assisting suicides and took the videotape to CBS News in an attempt to force a legal showdown and move the public debate to mercy kill- ing from doctor-assisted suicide. The "60 Minutes" programme was only the second time that death by such means has been shown on the national television in the United States. In December 1994, the ABC News programme Primetime Live showed segments of a Dutch television documentary, Death on Request. When reporter Mike Wallace asked him whether he killed the patient, Kevorkian said: "I did, but it could be manslaughter, not murder. It's not necessarily murder. But it doesn't bother me what you call it. I know what it is. This could never be a crime in any society which deems itself enlightened." 0 killing patient

U.S to bolster efforts to J. WY ¢tI W CL By Randall Mikkelsen Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz, In an Interview on CNN television, denounced Clinton's statements as a violation of international law. "I have to condemn stronglythe statement of President Clinton regarding the plans of his government to overthrowthe government of Iraq. This is a flagrant violation of the UN Security Council resolution as weli as the international law," he said. White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said the effort began to take shape early tis year after a showdown with Iraq over UN arms inspections was averted through the last-minute intervention of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Asked whether the United States had concluded Saddam was "Irredeemable," Lockhart said, "We believe, no matter what he says, Saddam is someone who doesn't respect international law, he doesn't respect the rights of his own people, and Is a threat to his neighbours in the region." U.S. officials briefing reporters after Clinton spoke, sought to temper the president's remarks. They said he was not explicitly calling for an overthrow of Saddam and stressed that the US alms for the long term. But the nonbinding Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, which Clinton signed in October, says, "It should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime." The Act authodses the spending of US$97 million to arm and assist Iraqi opposition groups. President Clinton said he would work with Congress to implement the Act as the United States US President Bill Clinton. The United States spared Iraq's President Saddam Hussein a military pounding but made clear it would intensify efforts to remove him from power President Bill Clinton's cal for a "new govenment" inBaghdad was the most emphatic statement ofthe U.S desire to see Saddam replaced and comes backed byrecently passed legislation approving a nearly $ 100 million campaign to remove him. "Saddam Hussein remains an impendiment to the well-being of his people and a threat to the peace and the security of the word," Clnon said when he announced that Iraq had averted Imminent military strikes by agreeing unconditionally to let U.N. weapons Inspections resume. "Over the long, the best way to address that threat Is through a government in Baghdad - a new government - that is committed to representand respect its people, not repress them; that is committed to peace in the region," he said The president said the United States had worked during the past year to bolster the opposition forces in Iraq and "we will intensify that effort". L.LILL tightens the screws against President Saddam. AWhite House official said later there were "no immediate plans" to gie opposition forces surplus military equipment as authorised in thebc arming the rebels could not be out An earlier milestone lin the eli was a US-brokered reconciliation tween two leaders of opposii Kurdish factions n northern Lockhart said. in September, Massoud Bat president of the Kwilstan Part, and Jalal Tablabani, alai the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, for the first time in four years at State Department and co themselves to holding elections a unifying the administration ofterritories they control. The commnander of US forcs n the Gulf, Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni, criticised the anti.Saddaft measure before itwas signed into lw sayng he saw no viable opposiio i Iraqi and an abrupt overthrow of i Saddam could split Iraq and destabilse the opposition. Asked about the criticisms, the White House official said the United States remained committed to "teterritorial intergrity of Iraq" but "we the region will be far better off wih a different regime n aghdad." Clinton's goal of remongada was praised by Reulca 8 Ale Specter of Pennysyana "That's easier said than doe ibut ! think that's, candidl the net bjt tive, and I am glad to hear thle president talking about it openly and forcefully," Specter said on CNN ZIANA-REUTERS. 0] ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL. 29 No

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-e_naIBiil O II outh Africa is likely to ratify the Southern African Devel opment Community's (SADC) trade protocol next year to give impetus to regional trade intergration, Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin has said. Speaking at a-two-day Institute of International Affairs conference in South Africa on regional intergration in the South, Erwin said there was a misperception that South Africa was deliberately delaying ratifying the protocol and that ratifying would necesarily result in economic intergration in the region. He said there were many complexities to the resolved, including 'the issue of tarrifs before South Africa ratified the trade protocol. "We are committed to the trade agreement agreement and we think it will be ratified in 1999," he said. He criticised SADC members for the amount of time they have spent on "diplomat waffle" and urged. them to focus on productive issues, as had been the case with the Maputo Development Corridor. However, South Africa firmly believes hat such regional organisations as SADC are not options,but imperatives for long-term growth and developement of the countries in the south - SARDC. 03 E/ South Africa to ratify ..,trade protocol A report presented by Zimbabwe at the third African Range State Dialogoue meeting suggests that, to date, there is very insignificant demand for live elephants offered under the translocation option. At the 10th Conference of Parties (CoP) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Zimbabwe offered to pursue the option of live translocation before reverting to culling. According to a wildlife official, letters were sent to potential range states in this regard. Acceptable destinatins and conditions of translocation as recommended by the CITES technical committee and approved by the Zimbabwe Wildlife Department include: 0 availability of range and suitable habitat; SACU appoints task force Ministers of Finance and Trade from five member states of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) resolved to appoint a joint task force team that will look into the setting up of the organisation's secretariat. The countries - Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland -' met in Botswana to revive the stalled SACU re-ne: gotiations. The re-negotiations have been suspended since 1995, when four trading partners of South Africa mooted the idea of an indepedent secretariat. The aim of the meeting was to quicken the process of re negotiations as the process is ex pected to end by April next year a the latest. SACU's intention to build the sec retariat comes at a time when thi organisation was expected "to giv way to SADC" in the next sevei years. Some members of SACU are un derstood to be in favour of an enlarged organisation comprising 01 all SADC member countries whik others prefer the two organisatio to co-exist side by side until SADC's free trade'protocol is implemented in full - SARDC. [ ZIMBABWE NEWS VOL 29 NO. II * sufficient capacity to protect td elephant and genetic integrity oftl species; * encouraging the translocation i entire groups; * due consideration on to CITE guidelines and recommendatioi onranslocation from translocatic IUCN and TRAFFIC. It would appear that, under tt given criteria for translocatioi there is limited demand for substai tial numbers of live elements. According to the report currer deamand is from countries thi want to stock their zoos but this i insignificant and is discouraged. I view of this, future elephant man agement strategies may be force. to revert to culling - SARDC.

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