March 20, 2002 - March 29, 2002
Journalist jailed in Zimbabwe 'may soon be freed'
Posted: Friday, March 29, 2002
By Mark Wilkinson Independent UK
Hopes were raised yesterday that a national newspaper reporter being held in prison in Zimbabwe would soon be freed.
Peta Thornycroft, of The Daily Telegraph, was arrested on Wednesday and led to believe she had been charged with "publishing false statements prejudicial to the state" under the widely condemned new Public Order Security Act.
But the newspaper today said she had been charged only with two lesser offences – possessing a car with an incorrect number plate and working illegally as a journalist. MORE
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Zimbabwe strips former PM Smith of his citizenship
Posted: Wednesday, March 27, 2002
By Basildon Peta Zimbabwe Correspondent Independent UK
Ian Smith, the former white minority leader of Zimbabwe, accused the country's government yesterday of illegally stripping him of his Zimbabwean passport and citizenship.
"They have cancelled my nationality. It is illegal and I'm not going to let them get away with it," Mr Smith said. Officials at the Harare passport office refused to see him after telling him his passport was not being renewed before a trip to Britain and the US next week.
Mr Smith, the son of a Scottish immigrant, was born in western Rhodesia, as Zimbabwe was then known, and was prime minister when the government unilaterally declared independence from Britain. Although he renounced his British citizenship in 1984, four years after Zimbabwe became independent with black majority rule, he has not renounced it again as required under new rules introduced last year by President Robert Mugabe's government. MORE
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Australia cancels Zimbabwe tour over security fears
Posted: Wednesday, March 27, 2002
The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) cancelled Australia's two-test tour of Zimbabwe next month due to player safety concerns in the troubled African nation.
ACB chairman Bob Merriman told a news conference that the decision to cancel the tour was based on the latest security reports which showed the situation in Zimbabwe would not improve in time for the tour's scheduled start.
"It is now clear that travelling to Zimbabwe will compromise their safety," Merriman said. "The security of our people is our first priority."
Merriman said the ACB and the Zimbabwe Cricket Union had discussed the possibility of playing matches on a neutral ground, but that Zimbabwe had wanted the tour to take place at home. MORE
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Australia's Zimbabwe tour under review
Posted: Tuesday, March 26, 2002
MELBOURNE: Australia's planned two-Test tour of Zimbabwe next month is still on but is being reviewed daily because of safety concerns, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) said on Tuesday.
Media reports on Tuesday had suggested the ACB was on the verge of cancelling the tour following advice from the Australia government that Australians should avoid Zimbabwe because of the risk in being caught up in violent incidents.
"We review it on a daily basis," ACB Public Affairs General Manager Brendan McClements said on Tuesday.
"We'll have no hesitation in pulling out if it becomes unsafe, at any stage during or before the tour.
"In the ideal world, if it becomes clear that it is unsafe, that decision will be made sooner rather than later. I don't think there's a question of compromising player safety." MORE
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Mugabe launches fresh round of farm seizures
Posted: Friday, March 22, 2002
INDEPENDENT.CO.UK - The Government of Zimbabwe has said it will seize hundreds more white farms, despite rising international pressure on President Robert Mugabe after his controversial election victory.
The government has published a list of 388 farms, including ranches owned by South Africa's wealthy Oppenheimer family, for seizure.
Early yesterday hundreds of white farmers and black farm workers attended the funeral of a white farmer, Terry Ford, who was shot on Monday at his farm west of Harare. He was the 10th white farmer to have been killed since farm occupations by war veterans began two years ago.
The Government also announced plans yesterday for massive food imports. The country is facing starvation due to drought and the chaos which has followed the occupation of white-owned farms. MORE
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US Blackmails Africa to Ditch Zimbabwe
Posted: Friday, March 22, 2002
The Herald (Harare)
By Philip Magwaza
March 23, 2002
THE United States government has now resorted to blackmail in an effort to force African countries to isolate and condemn the Zimbabwean Government for winning the just ended presidential election.
In a desperate bid to build consensus on its anti-Zanu-PF and President Mugabe campaign, the American government has promised massive aid to African countries if they ditch Zimbabwe. The American administration has already slapped the country with sanctions.
According to Reuters news agency, a senior US official told African countries on Thursday that US aid to Africa could suffer if they did not take a stand against this month's presidential elections in Zimbabwe.
The United States, Britain and the Commonwealth say the election, won by incumbent President Robert Mugabe, was not free or fair because of violence and intimidation by President Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party.
But African governments have rallied behind President Mugabe and declared the election free and fair. Most of these governments felt that Western outrage is driven in part by sympathy for the white farmers who control most of the arable land that Mugabe is redistributing.
Charles Snyder, a deputy assistant of state for African affairs, told a gathering at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington that Zimbabwe had become a test case for attitudes toward governance in Africa.
He said: "We have begun a bargain with Africa in general, a new day in Africa in which we are looking for this new Economic Partnership for African Development.
"The rules of the game call on the Africans to provide good governance, peer review and, if you want, neighborhood watch."
"If Africa doesn't step up here it's going to cripple our ability to provide the kind of economic development assistance we want to provide - not the humanitarian aid, but serious economic assistance," he added.
"The Commonwealth has stepped up and we are gratified by that but we are looking forward to the rest of Africa stepping forward on this," he said.
Snyder said the Bush administration would impose financial sanctions on Zimbabwean leaders, on top of the US visa ban it has already slapped on Mugabe and about two dozen associates.
US officials have said for days they are moving in that direction but have not explained a delay in announcing a freeze of any assets the Zimbabwean leaders may have in the country.
Snyder said: "How that will come out is a matter of bureaucratic infighting, but stay tuned. There will be action on that front as well."
The US official repeated Washington's complaints about the conduct of the presidential elections, which ran from March 9 to March 11, and added that he doubted the authenticity of a tape purporting to support treason charges against the defeated opposition candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai.
"Those of you who have seen the tape, it looks doctored to me, speaking personally, and I've been in the Africa business a long time," he said.
"It's that kind of accusation that goes beyond the norms of politics. That's why we are so outraged."
The Zimbabwean ambassador to the United States, Dr Simbi Mubako, disputed the allegations that the election was rigged.
He said the voting was not perfect but the imperfections could not have changed the outcome.
Although there was a lot of pressure from the United States, the European Union, Britain and other members of the Commonwealth for the imposition of sanctions, the Commonwealth troika on Zimbabwe resisted this pressure resulting in a symbolic suspension of the country from the councils of the 54-nation grouping.
However, this has triggered a new frenzy from Western capitals threatening to impose individual sanctions, which unfortunately were already in place and are unlikely to cause any new damage.
Zimbabwe has survived for over five years now under unofficial sanctions from most European countries that had diverted their funding to promoting opposition politics and civic organisations opposed to the Zimbabwe government.
Canada a long time ally of Zimbabwe was expressing mixed signals following the one year suspension with critics of Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien arguing that the suspension was inadequate. Keith Martin a foreign affairs spokesman for the opposition Canadian Alliance Party, said the suspension was an inadequate slap on the wrist.
He called for tougher sanctions, which include an arms embargo and travel ban on President Mugabe and Government ministers. Chretien resisted moves in Australia at the Commonwealth Summit for harsh punitive action. Canada though has already suspended most of its development aid to Zimbabwe and extended its ban on travel to include most Government officials or people with connections to Zanu-PF.
Australia irked by the symbolic one-year suspension was urging its citizens not to come to Zimbabwe.
Without any tangible proof of violence breaking out in Zimbabwe, foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer called on Australian citizens to defer holiday and normal business to Zimbabwe.
Analysts wondered whether Australia was going to fuel unrest and create a chaotic state of affairs.
However, its cricket team due to tour Zimbabwe has refused to cancel its trip.
In London gay rights activist Peter Tatchell told Reuters that Zimbabwe human rights watchdog Amani Trust had documented hundreds of incidents of what they called state sanctioned torture which should be used to arrest President Mugabe.
However, it has since been revealed that the Amani Trust was just a front for the MDC used to document alleged cases of violence against the opposition party and to shelter alleged victims of political violence who were used for demonstrations and political attacks on the ruling party.
British foreign secretary Jack Straw is dying for stiffer penalties against Zimbabwe.
He is hoping that this weekend's European Union meeting in Barcelona should review sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Denmark because of its close links with MDC since its formation has openly shown its dislike for the Zimbabwe Government. The Danish Government has gone to the extent of closing its embassy in Harare and relocated to South Africa.
Switzerland according to reports is proposing travel and financial restrictions against Zimbabwe. New Zealand, the home country of the Commonwealth secretary general, Don McKinnon is advocating for the barring of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth Games.
The agenda, it has since emerged, is not about elections which have been described as legitimate by African countries, China and other progressive nations but, the removal of President Mugabe because of his land reform programme which threatens the lavish lifestyles of white farmers in Zimbabwe.
Reprinted from:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200203230233.html
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Zimbabwe Election Reignites Argument
Posted: Friday, March 22, 2002
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa –– The re-election of another autocratic African leader in a vote dogged by accusations of rigging and violence has reignited an argument between Western and African leaders over democracy, colonialism and the continent's future.
President Robert Mugabe's purported victory in the first competitive presidential election in Zimbabwe's history was quickly welcomed by African leaders such as President Daniel arap Moi of Kenya and President Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania.
"You have been firm defending the inalienable right of the people of your country to free, democratic and sovereign governance," Mkapa wrote Mugabe. "Your firmness was good for all of Africa." MORE
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Zimbabwe Crisis Threatens Aid
Posted: Friday, March 22, 2002
A senior US official told African countries on Thursday that US aid to Africa could suffer if they did not take a stand against this month's presidential elections in Zimbabwe.
The US, Britain and the Commonwealth say the election, won by President Mugabe, was not free or fair because of violence and intimidation by Zanu PF.
But African governments have not been so critical, partly because of the feeling that Western outrage is driven in part by sympathy for the white farmers Mugabe wants to evict.
Charles Snyder, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, told a gathering at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington that Zimbabwe had become a test case for attitudes toward governance in Africa. MORE
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Stayaway a Big Flop As Workers Ignore Strike Call
Posted: Friday, March 22, 2002
THE planned Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions three-day stayaway has been a big flop after workers and industrialists did not heed the call to stay at home since Wednesday.
The ZCTU had called the strike over what it said was harassment of workers during the presidential election and attempts by the Government to weaken the unions.
During the three-days since Wednesday, life was as usual in towns and cities throughout the country.
Harare was yesterday functioning normally on the third and last day of the planned stoppage, with most workers putting their livelihoods ahead of politics. MORE
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Most businesses on Thursday ignored the national strike
Posted: Friday, March 22, 2002
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - Most businesses on Thursday ignored a national strike organized to protest disputed elections and remained open, and labor leaders blamed government intimidation.
Meanwhile, white farmers accused ruling party militants of attacking them as part of a new campaign of violence intended to punish them for perceived support of the opposition in the elections. MORE
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On the knife-edge
Posted: Thursday, March 21, 2002
AFRICA CONFIDENTIAL - Quietly, within days of the widely-criticised 10-12 March presidential election, the outline of a deal between Zimbabwe's warring political parties emerged. After two years of rising tension, with one of Africa's most hopeful economies heading for the abyss, it looked like the last chance for political peace. Brokered by South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki and Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo, the deal proposes: a coalition government with ministers from all parties and some non-partisan figures; a review of recent oppressive laws on public assembly and the media; full implementation of the Abuja agreement stipulating orderly land redistribution, to be financed by Britain and international financial institutions. Also under discussion is the dropping of treason charges against Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, and its Secretary General, Welshman Ncube. Tsvangirai was formally charged on 20 March in a move that will make negotiations even more problematic. MORE
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Tsvangirai charged with high treason
Posted: Thursday, March 21, 2002
MORGAN Tsvangirai, the MDC president, was yesterday arrested and, in an unprecedented move, quickly hauled into the Harare Magistrates' Court where he was granted bail of $1,5 million on allegations of plotting to assassinate President Mugabe.
Later, the MDC secretary-general, Professor Welshman Ncube, described the arrest and appearance in court of the MDC top brass as "an attempt to continue harassing the MDC leadership in order to stop us from resisting an illegitimate election process". MORE
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Howard: We can't stop Zimbabwe from Commonwealth Games
Posted: Wednesday, March 20, 2002
ANANOVA - The Commonwealth cannot bar Zimbabwe from attending the Commonwealth Games, Australian Prime Minister John Howard says.
Mr Howard says the Commonwealth does not have the power to keep it away.
The Commonwealth suspended Zimbabwe's membership following accusations of corruption and intimidation during the recent presidential election.
"Under the rules that we are operating under, we didn't have the capacity to prevent Zimbabwe from competing. That is a matter for the Commonwealth Games Federation," he told Australia's Channel Nine television network. MORE
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Charges against Tsvangirai based on videotape
Posted: Wednesday, March 20, 2002
The charges, based on a videotape which shows Mr Tsvangirai discussing the assassination of Mr Mugabe with a political consultant.
The allegations against Mr Tsvangirai were made by a Canadian political consultancy, Dickens and Madson, headed by former Israeli intelligence officer.
The Canadian political consultancy claims that someone representing Mr Tsvangirai approached it in order to have Mr Mugabe killed.
The head of the consultancy, Ari Ben-Menashe, who had previously worked for Mr Mugabe says he was shocked by the proposal and immediately contacted the Zimbabwe Government.
Mr Tsvangirai admits meeting Mr Ben-Menashe, a former intelligence officer in the Israeli army, but stresses it was to carry out lobbying work in North America.
In one of the exchanges broadcast on Australian television, Mr Tsvangirai allegedly says:
"We can now definitely say that Mugabe is going to be eliminated?"
Mr Ben-Menashe replies:
"Are you in a position basically to ensure a smooth transition of power?"
"Yes, I have no doubt about it," replies Mr Tsvangirai.
Some reports claim that the tape was doctored.
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Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai in Court on Treason Charge
Posted: Wednesday, March 20, 2002
HARARE, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's defeated presidential challenger, Morgan Tsvangirai, appeared in court on treason charges Wednesday and was granted bail. MORE
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