China-Africa ties grow and tip global balance

FreshPlaza, Netherlands

Beijing imports oil, metals and agricultural products too. It makes funds
available and exports merchandise, manpower and technical expertise.
Political ties are intense, even in the face of opposition from Europe and
the US. More than 700 Chinese companies are at work in 49 African countries.

Links between China and African countries are growing fast and making an
impact on global equilibrium. China, as hungry for raw materials as ever, is
keen on Africa, not least because other industrialized states pose only
minor competition. Africa is desperate for overseas investments and
technical expertise.

Western firms consider investing in Africa to be a risky business, because
of the weakness and corruption of governments and frequent wars. China,
however, wants raw materials (oil, diamonds, gold, platinum, iron and also
cotton and tobacco.) Besides, it is looking for markets for its products and
even exports manpower and technical expertise, all contributing to
increasing political impact. In 2003, trade between Beijing and the
continent amounted to 18.5 billion US dollars, an increase of more than 50%
over 2002. In 2004, China imported African merchandise worth 15.7 billion US
dollars and exported products for 13.8 billion.

More than 700 Chinese firms operate in 49 African countries.

In 2004, 25% of oil imported by Beijing came from Sudan, Chad, Libya,
Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Angola. China imports a quarter of
Angola's oil, and 60% of that in Sudan. In these countries, oil is a major
chunk of their gross domestic product and its trade has important
consequences on internal policy and social development. In the agricultural
sector, China acquires merchandise and exports technical expertise and
capital. In Zambia, for example, the fruit and vegetable market is
practically covered by products of agricultural firms run by Chinese.

African countries appreciate Beijing because of the seriousness and rapidity
with which it follows through trade agreements, and because they need
everything. China supplies the money to set up infrastructures: trains,
roads, buildings, electrical and telephone lines, and also mining prospects
and oil refineries. In exchange, they often ask that works are undertaken by
Chinese firms.

Political influence is considered necessary to safeguard one's economic
interests. In international organizations, Beijing often supports lesser
developed countries rather than industrialized states. In Sudan, where more
than 10,000 Chinese work, it is said that Beijing, to "protect" its oil
wells, gave economic and military aid to the government during the civil war
and genocide in Darfur.

China opposed sanctions called for by the United Nations (UN), threatening
to use its power of veto. In Angola, Chinese aid allowed the government to
refuse a proposal of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which asked for
international verification of oil contracts and political reform in exchange
for loans. Angola's corrupt system of power benefits the restricted elite
leaving 13 million people in poverty.

Experts say that between 1998 and 2000, Beijing sold arms worth one billion
dollars to both Eritrea and Ethiopia: the war between the two countries
killed tens of thousands of people. Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe
turned to China when he was isolated by western countries: in 2004, Beijing
invested 600 million dollars in the country and supplied military radio
equipment used to block transmissions by opposition parties.

Many analysts said Beijing does not concern itself with the use made by
States of money it gives them, allowing corrupt governments to siphon off
sums received, while western states would often expect to know how the money
is used.

Beijing sent peace contingents to the Democratic Republic of Congo and
Liberia, and supplied Mali and Angola with helicopters, Namibia and Sierra
Leone with arms and Mozambique with army uniforms. African countries, said
Olusegun Obasanjo, the Nigerian president, during a visit to Beijing in
April, would appreciate the intervention of China to resolve their disputes,
as well as "to increase collaboration in trade, investments and agriculture".

China is active in setting up bodies to implement trade links with African
states. At the first China-African Cooperation Forum, held in Beijing in
October 2000, 80 ministers from 46 out of 53 African states participated. At
the end, China announced that it wanted to reduce the debt of African
countries by 10 billion yuan (around 1.2 billion dollars). The sum was
negligible (0.3% of the total African debt) but the gesture had a great
impact. China also removed import taxes on merchandise from 25 poor African
countries.

It even has commercial links with countries which recognize Taiwan. In
November 2004, the China-Africa Trade Council was set up, promoted by
Beijing and by the UN Development Programme, to help private Chinese
investments in Cameroon, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa and
Tanzania. In 2006 the third Cooperation Forum will take place in Beijing,
with many heads of state attending.

Since 2003, South Africa has become the favorite tourist destination of
Chinese tour operators. Chinese firms are active on the continent to set up
hotels, restaurants and other tourist and recreational structures.

Opposition hails AU report on Zimbabwe

Mail and Guardian

      Cape Town, South Africa

      04 January 2006 05:55

            An African Union (AU) report condemning Zimbabwean President
Robert Mugabe's human rights record has been hailed by South Africa's
official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA).

            The report of the African Union's Commission on Human and
Peoples' Rights -- meeting in Banjul, The Gambia -- has urged Mugabe to
allow an AU delegation to go on a fact-finding mission to his country.

            It also expressed concern at the continuing violations and the
deteriorations of the human rights situation in Zimbabwe. It said there was
a "growing culture of impunity".

            The report referred to the violations of fundamental and
collective rights resulting from forced evictions being carried out by the
Zimbabwe government.

            The commission found that Mugabe's government was responsible
for violating the African Union charter -- which Zimbabwe had signed -- and
the United Nations declaration of human rights.

            In a statement on Wednesday, DA national chairperson Joe
Seremane, a member of Parliament, said there was a growing consensus among
the African community of nations "that human rights, accountability and good
governance must be placed above the politics of tyranny".

            Seremane noted that the report called for an end to internal
displacements caused by government evictions, the repeal of several
repressive laws and free access for international aid groups.

            The DA said South African President Thabo Mbeki must take stock
of these findings and adjust South Africa's strategy for dealing with
Zimbabwe accordingly.

            "We must use whatever diplomatic means are at our disposal,
whether multilaterally through the AU and United Nations, or unilaterally,
to pressure the Mugabe regime into ceasing its attacks on human rights and
the rule of law. South Africa must unequivocally condemn the human rights
abuses as well as the muzzling of the media and free political activity in
Zimbabwe, even if only to affirm our own democratic values. If we fail to do
so we will have failed the people of Zimbabwe, as well as ourselves," said
Seremane. - I-Net Bridge

Zimbabwe fails to attract Chinese

The Australian

Gavin du Venage, Johannesburg
January 05, 2006
THE hordes of Chinese visitors that Zimbabwe was counting on to save its
tourism industry have not arrived, despite efforts to lure them with
Mandarin-speaking tour guides and subsidised flights from Harare to Beijing.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority figures for last year, released this week,
show few visitors from Hong Kong and China made the trip, compounding the
tourism woes created by the country's political instability and the fall-off
in its traditional Western markets.

Zimbabwe was pinning its hopes on Asian visitors after receiving approved
nation status from China in 2004 and following the launch of its "Look East"
policy the previous year.

The aim of Look East was to replace Zimbabwe's Western trade partners with
the massive Chinese market. With the release of the tourism figures this
week, ZTA chief executive Karikoga Kaseke admitted the initiative had
yielded little.

"We have been misleading ourselves, as if we are the only ones who have the
favoured nation status," he said.

Twelve African countries have approved destination status, which means China
encourages its nationals to visit.

The latest figures show China and Hong Kong contributed only 2 per cent of
tourist arrivals in Zimbabwe from July to September last year, which overall
were more than a quarter lower than the previous year.

"A total of 336,971 tourists came into the country in the third quarter of
2005, representing a 27 per cent decrease compared with 463,471 tourists who
came during the same period in 2004," the ZTA said.

Most tourists are still from Britain and the US, in spite of Zimbabwe's poor
relations with those countries. At its peak, Zimbabwe enjoyed more than two
million tourists a year.

Declining economic performance and increased political instability, blamed
on President Robert Mugabe's reform program, now in its sixth year, have all
but destroyed tourism as visitors are scared away by anti-white rhetoric and
chronic fuel shortages that leave tour buses stranded on the road for days.

Air Zimbabwe introduced twice-weekly flights to Beijing last year as part of
efforts to boost tourism.

The ZTA has begun encouraging tour guides to learn Mandarin in anticipation
of large numbers of Chinese tourists.

However, it seems other African countries such as Kenya and neighbouring
South Africa, which have sound infrastructure and political stability, are
drawing away Zimbabwe's clientele.

Bleak new year for embattled Zim 

IOL

   Basildon Peta
          January 04 2006 at 09:37AM

      While 2006 has started on a highly optimistic note for South Africa,
it's predictably gloom and doom for its northern neighbour as a cholera
outbreak, a shortage of seed to plant new crops, worsening food shortages
and a major rush to return "expiring" bearer cheques started off the new
year for embattled Zimbabweans.

      With shortages of fuel and anxious queuing for basic commodities now a
permanent part of Zimbabwean life, citizens began the new year in long,
winding queues of a different kind - to return the artificial currency,
known as bearer cheques, to banks ahead of the expiry of its circulation
deadline this week.

      The bearer cheques were put into circulation in 2003 as a temporary
measure because the government had no foreign exchange available to import
the special paper required to print banknotes. The bearer cheques are
printed on one side, but are largely blank on the other.

      Because the Zimbabwean currency had become so worthless that the
government itself complained that it needed to invest ZIM$2 000 to print a
Zim $500 note, the highest denomination note at the time, the bearer cheques
came in handy. With denominations of up to ZIM$20 000, the cheques made life
a bit easier for Zimbabweans who needed to fill an entire car boot with
banknotes just to buy a tank of petrol.

      But the cheques were only meant to be a temporary measure. Now, three
years later, President Robert Mugabe's government has still not introduced
the new banknotes because it still lacks the foreign currency needed to
import the required paper. This has forced it to extend this week's deadline
of the expiry of the circulation of the bearer cheques by another six
months.

      But because the six-month circulation extension was poorly
communicated to banks and newspapers, tens of thousands of Zimbabweans
besieged banks around the country to cash in their bearer cheques. People in
Harare said some Zimbabweans had slept in bank queues in their efforts to
return the cheques.

      "I only knew of the extension of the deadline when I was already in
the bank queue," said Charles Muchagonei, an engineer, in a telephone
interview from Harare. "I had been queuing for four hours when bank staff
announced that the rush to return the bearer cheques was no longer necessary
because of the extension."

      In a notice finally published in the Government Gazette on Tuesday,
Finance Minister Herbert Murerwa announced the extension of the lifespan of
the bearer cheques until June while efforts were being made to introduce a
new currency. While Zimbabweans queued to return the bearer cheques, others
scrambled to get seed to plant crops, especially maize.

      Zimbabwe is receiving good rains, but in the words of one farmer, John
Kinnock, "these rains are only helping to grow grass" on once-productive
commercial farms. An acute shortage of seed and fertilisers has meant that
newly resettled black farmers are unable to farm effectively. They are also
hamstrung by persistent fuel shortages and a lack of basic commodities.

      Meanwhile, the ministry of health announced that a cholera outbreak
had killed 14 people in eastern Zimbabwe and that more than 100 cases of the
disease had been detected.

      "The New Year should probably have never arrived for Zimbabwe. It
promises more misery for all of us," said Kinnock.

      This article was originally published on page 2 of The Mercury on
January 04, 2006

ZANU PF faction moves to ring-fence Mugabe in succession war

Zim Online

Thu 5 January 2006

      HARARE - President Robert Mugabe will have a new spokesman and
security staff appointed by his ruling ZANU PF party in what insiders was an
attempt by a faction of the party controlled by powerful former army general
Solomon Mujuru to consolidate influence on the ageing President.

      Mugabe's present state-employed spokesman George Charamba, security
and other support staff would retain their jobs with those appointed by ZANU
PF chiefly serving to ring-fence the 81-year old President and control
access to him as jostling for his job intensifies ahead of his expected
retirement in 2008, sources told ZimOnline.

      "The party will appoint its own presidential spokesman, while General
Mujuru has been tasked to head a team that will scout for a presidential
security team that shall report to ZANU PF," said a source, who is a member
of the ruling party's inner politburo cabinet.

      He added: "The government presidential staff will be required to
liaise with the party appointed presidential support staff."

      The ZANU PF official, whose name we cannot reveal, said it was not
clear when exactly the full complement of ZANU PF-appointed presidential
staff will be in place.

      But the official said Mugabe had, just before going on his annual
leave at the beginning of this month, rejected proposals by ZANU PF
information secretary Nathan Shamuyarira to appoint the ruling party's
deputy director, Gadzira Chirumhanzu, as presidential spokesman. Mugabe is
said to have told Shamuyarira to look for a better candidate.

      Mujuru, who is said to be behind the plan to virtually construct a
wall around Mugabe to blockade his rival for influence in ZANU PF - former
parliamentary speaker Emmerson Mnangagwa - from easy access to the
President, could not be reached for comment on the matter yesterday.

      But Shamuyarira confirmed the planned appointments although he denied
these were linked to the silent but vicious battle to control ZANU PF after
Mugabe's departure.

      Shamuyarira told ZimOnline: "I can see you want to pry in on our
internal affairs. We are simply strengthening our security and yes we will
have a separate spokesman for the President who will report to the party.
That's all I can say at the moment."

      Mujuru's wife, Joyce, is ZANU PF and Zimbabwe's second Vice-President
and is well positioned to succeed Mugabe when and if he steps down in two
years' time.

      But there remains no guarantee Mujuru's wife will succeed Mugabe
especially because Mnangagwa - for long considered Mugabe's heir apparent
before being beaten to the vice-presidency by Joyce at the eleventh hour -
is not yet totally vanquished as a contender for the top job.

      Another worry for Mujuru and his wife is the fact that Mugabe,
although aged and clearly weaker than before, remains too strong both within
ZANU PF and the government and could still hand over the baton to anyone
else besides Joyce.

      According to our sources, Mujuru's faction sponsored the resolution to
restructure ZANU PF's security and information departments during the
party's annual conference last month. The resolution was however not made
public.

      "Besides monitoring access to Mugabe the idea is also to dilute the
growing influence of the President's inner staff especially people like
Charamba and the security guys," said another senior ZANU PF official, who
also cannot be named.

      Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain 25 years
ago, first as Prime Minister and as Executive President from 1987.

      Critics blame repression by his government and wrong policies such as
its chaotic land reforms for plunging Zimbabwe's once vibrant economy into
the abyss.

      Mugabe, who masterminded a gruelling guerrilla war in the 1970s to
force the British to grant his country independence, denies ruining Zimbabwe
and says his country's problems are because of sabotage by Western
governments opposed to his seizure of farmland from whites for
redistribution to landless blacks.

      The veteran President has said he is ready to give up power when his
term expires in early 2008. - ZimOnline

Zimbabwe opposition faction says party infiltrated by state agents

Zim Online

Thu 5 January 2006

      HARARE - A faction of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) party loyal to Morgan  Tsvangirai yesterday said claims by a
rival faction of the party that elections were the only means to oust
President  Robert Mugabe were proof that the bickering opposition party had
been infiltrated by state agents.

      A spokesman of the pro-Tsvangirai MDC wing, Nelson Chamisa, said
elections had over the past five years proved a  futile exercise that only
benefited Mugabe and his ruling ZANU PF party because they routinely rigged
the process to  ensure their victory.

      "Every Zimbabwean knows that the past five years have given us one
paramount lesson on the futility of elections as  the sole strategy to
remove this dictatorship from power," Chamisa said. He was reacting to
statements last week by  MDC secretary general Welshman Ncube and his deputy
Gift Chimanikire that elections were the only way to oust  Mugabe's
government.

      Ncube, Chimanikire and MDC deputy president Gibson Sibanda are leading
a faction of the opposition party pushing to oust Tsvangirai as leader.

      Chamisa added: "Ncube seems to have learnt nothing and forgotten
nothing from the political events of the past five  years . . . a revealing
pattern is fast emerging showing a heavily infiltrated MDC leadership at the
top since 1999.

      "The two former officials are coming out of the closet. They were
never with the people, nor did they attempt to mirror the national sentiment
on the ground."

      Both Ncube and Chimanikire could not be immediately reached for
comment on the matter.

      But Ncube on New Years' eve told a meeting of supporters of his
faction of the MDC in Harare that there was "no other  way" of removing
Mugabe from power except through elections and said his group would contest
whatever poll  Mugabe called.

      The MDC split into two factions after disagreeing on whether to
contest last November's senate poll.

      Tsvangirai opposed the election saying it was pointless to contest an
election certain to be rigged by Mugabe and his government. He also argued
that the poll was a waste of resources in a country which should better be
directing all efforts towards fighting hunger threatening a quarter of its
12 million population.

      But Ncube and his group disagreed saying the MDC should contest
because boycotting the poll would be to surrender political space to Mugabe
and ZANU PF. They also accused Tsvangirai of being dictatorial and of
violating the MDC constitution by refusing to abide by a vote of the party's
national council to take part in the senate poll.

      The MDC has publicly bickered since then, with both factions claiming
to have expelled the other from the party. The rival factions of the
opposition party are expected to formalise their split in February when they
are expected to hold  separate congresses.

      But political analysts have said Tsvangirai, who has a more national
appeal than any of the other MDC leaders, is likely  to walk away with the
bulk of the party's supporters, although they say whoever wins the
intra-party battle shall find the  fight against Mugabe even harder than
before. - ZimOnline

Zimbabwe battles to raise Z$70 billion for national soccer team

Zim Online

Thu 5 January 2006

      HARARE - Zimbabwe has been battling to raise Z$70 billion the Warriors
national soccer team needs to cover costs of participation at the African
Cup of Nations finals starting later this month in Egypt.

      The Warriors have already left for a friendly match in Egypt today
before proceeding to France for a training camp and then returning to the
Pharaohs' land for the tournament.

      By Tuesday, only about $40 billion had been raised with barely a
fortnight to go before the biennial continental tournament kicks off on
January 20.

      The Warriors need $70 billion to cater for travel, accommodation, food
and allowances as well as bonuses.

      Top striker Benjani Mwaruwaru is bankrolling the Warriors' training
camp in France, where he plies his trade with Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre.

      President Robert Mugabe's government, hamstrung by a serious economic
decline, has in the 2006 national budget  allocated a paltry $10 billion to
the Warriors' cause. The other $30 billion in place so far has been raised
by a national  fundraising committee set up by Vice President Joseph Msika
at the eleventh hour to avert the embarrassment of failing  to send the
Warriors to the tournament.

      "So far we have managed to raise $30 billion towards our target of $60
billion," Harare businessman Tendai Savanhu, chairman of the fundraising
committee, said on Tuesday before the Warriors left for Egypt.

      "Although time seems to be running out, we are confident we will be
able to raise the remaining $30 billion. We are still appealing to the
corporate world and well-wishers to chip in and help the Warriors and future
development of football," said Savanhu

      The fundraising committee includes politicians, with Transport and
Communications Minister Chris Mushowe, Deputy Information Minister Bright
Matonga and Deputy Youth Minister Stan Kasukuwere joining hands with local
businessmen.

      Savanhu was hopeful figures from a musical gala and soccer match -
pitting top-flight rivals Dynamos against  Highlanders - on Monday would
boost the Warriors' budget for the Egypt excursion.

      The national fundraising committee has been holding dinner dances as
well as soccer matches and musical galas to reach its target of $60 billion.

      Meanwhile, the fundraising committee on Tuesday saved the day for the
Zimbabwe Football Association after the Warriors staged a sit-in on the bus
that took them to Harare International Airport before they left for Egypt.

      The national team players were demanding their outstanding bonuses
before they could embark on the Nations Cup tour of duty.

      The striking players delayed their flight by close to two hours before
the fundraising committee chipped in with $2 billion cash which was
immediately paid out to the players. - ZimOnline

Zimbabwe doctors hike fees by 100%

Mail and Guardian

      Harare, Zimbabwe

      04 January 2006 05:15

            Doctors in Zimbabwe have hiked their fees by a staggering 100%,
putting them well out of the reach of many, state radio reported on
Wednesday.

            It will now cost around three million Zimbabwean dollars ($37)
to visit a general practitioner, the report said.

            Most Zimbabweans earn less than five million Zimbabwean dollars
a month and some teachers earn only three million.

            Specialist doctors' fees have gone up to around Z$4,4-million
($54) according to the new figures announced by the Zimbabwe Medical
Association (Zima), the radio said.

            "The increase in medical tariffs has been necessitated by the
increase in inflation which is currently pegged at 502%," the radio station
said.

            Zimbabwe's health service has been crippled by shortages of
foreign currency needed to buy drugs and other medical supplies, an exodus
of trained staff and high rates of HIV infection. At least one in five
Zimbabweans in the productive age group -- which Unicef puts at 15-49
years -- is believed to be HIV-positive.

            The radio said the fees would go up again in March. - Sapa-DPA

Ambulance fees now 5 million Zimbabwe dollars as health crisis continues

      By Tererai Karimakwenda
      04 December 2006

      The demand for ambulances is now more critical than ever, yet those
who need this service the most cannot afford it. As of January 1st, the city
of Harare raised ambulance fees to 5 million Zimbabwe dollars per trip.
Those fortunate enough to make it to a hospital in an ambulance still have
to deal with medical shortages and the lack of basic supplies. And at a time
when all sorts of diseases are affecting entire families, calling an
ambulance is no longer an option.

      The Zimonline news site reported that an outbreak of cholera killed 14
people in the Chivhu area over the holidays with a further 100 cases being
reported during the same period in Chikomba district. These are the reported
cases. Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa told us Wednesday that no official
numbers can reflect the true nature of the current health crisis. He said
many cases go unreported because people are seeking alternative methods of
treatment that they can afford. Traditional and spiritual healers are doing
brisk business, and so are fake so-called prophets taking advantage of the
situation.
      Muchemwa said skin diseases and stomach problems are the most common
symptoms that people are complaining about. In many families it starts with
one child getting sick, and before long the whole family is ill. He has
noticed that although more families are boiling their water before drinking,
it still has an oily sediment that many Harare residents are talking about.
It is widely believed that the heavy rains that fell this last week got
mixed up with raw sewage and wound up in the drinking water. Without much
choice, people are forced to drink the water anyway.
      On the lighter side, Muchemwa said there is a joke making the rounds
that government officials knew that ambulance fees would sore to 5 million
dollars, this is why they introduced the ox-drawn ambulances last year.

      SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news

Five Zimbabweans killed in clashes in S Africa

Reuters

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 4 (Reuters) Five Zimbabweans were killed today in clashes
between South Africans and foreigners at a squatter settlement in the
capital Pretoria, police said.

Police reinforcements were sent to the Olivienhoutbosch area after renewed
violence erupted between South Africans and foreigners returning home after
they fled an earlier outbreak of fighting there last week, police
spokeswoman Katlego Mogale said.

''A group of foreign nationals returned to the settlement after the December
26 incident and were met with resistance from the locals. A fight erupted,''
Mogale said in a statement.

''We have confirmed 5 dead and 11 seriously injured,'' she told Reuters by
telephone from Pretoria.

Public broadcaster SABC radio said Zimbabwean and Mozambique nationals were
involved in the fighting against South Africans in the squatter settlement.

It was not immediately clear how many people were involved in the violence
but calm had been restored and police patrols had been beefed up, Mogale
said.

More than a million Mozambicans and Zimbabweans have fled poverty in their
own countries for South Africa, attracted by a booming economy and the
prospect of jobs.

Many of the immigrants, without work or residency permits, are forced into a
life of squalor in settlements where local South Africans resent their
presence, accusing them of taking scarce jobs and depressing wages.

Cholera Outbreak Contained

The Herald (Harare)

January 4, 2006
Posted to the web January 4, 2006

Harare

THE cholera outbreak in Chikomba District and Chivhu is under control with
no more new cases reported, a Cabinet Minister said yesterday.

Health and Child Welfare Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa said the two health
camps established in the affected areas to deal with the outbreak had been
successful.

"The health camps have been successful and there are no increases in the
number of those who died of the disease so far," said Dr Parirenyatwa.

At least seven people died of cholera in Chikomba and Chivhu over the past
few days following the outbreak.

Health authorities have urged people in the affected areas to temporarily
shelve plans to visit other parts of the country to stem the spread of
diarrhoeal disease.

Gaddafi Launches Project to Assist Poor People

The Herald (Harare)

January 4, 2006
Posted to the web January 4, 2006

Harare

LIBYAN leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has, with the advent of this new year,
launched a new ambitious strategic international project aimed at assisting
disadvantaged and vulnerable people on the continent.

The project, targeting African children, youths, and women is aimed at
mitigating the plight of poor Africans.

Libyan Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Mahmoud Yousef Azzabi said the time had
now come for the continent to unite to fight problems plaguing it.

"This strategic project will establish all possible means of co-operation
with the entire international organisations and institutions such as
governments, non-governmental organisations, and the media among other
stakeholders to participate in this noble project," Mr Azzabi said
yesterday.

"We call upon communities, lending financial institutions among others to
come forward with donations meant to establish educational, health, cultural
and training institutes for youth, children and women in all parts of
Africa."

He said the project came about after the realisation by the leader of the
oil-rich African country of the marginalisation of women and children in
many African societies.

Mr Azzabi, who is also co-ordinating the project in Zimbabwe expressed
optimism about the success of the project.

"This is a historic project meant to change the face of life for these
perennially under-privileged members of society in our midst," he said.

"In Zimbabwe, those willing to participate in this noble project can contact
me in writing or come to our offices at number 124 Harare Street or fax
774888. People can also call on 04 774885/6."

Libya helped Zimbabwe when the Southern African country was facing a
critical shortage of fuel -- both petrol and diesel -- a few years ago.

Where is our Mandela?

New Zimbabwe

By David R. Katerere
Last updated: 01/04/2006 23:41:39
MAYBE we are cowards. And we must walk around with our heads bowed in shame
for not standing up to the school ground bully.

Some would like to say that there hasn't been revolt in Zimbabwe because we
are educated (and civilised?) and therefore know when not to provoke Mugabe's
wrath. Those that are indeed educated and have been using this excuse,
Zimbabwe's middle-class, have not done badly in the maelstrom of life in
Zimbabwe: in the midst of chronic severe shortages of fuel, bread and
everything else between, they still drive in their Japanese recons and do
groceries at the re-launched Spar with it's ridiculously inflated imported
goodies.

Others say that we are a peaceable and peaceful people. But this was
disabused during the farm invasions and in the subsequent elections when
untold violence was visited upon perceived opposition activists by these
peaceful people. So, we are quite capable of violence, thank you.

It is going on to six years since the crisis in Zimbabwe started and yet we
are no nearer a solution, the situation continues to deteriorate and the
citizens continue to be hapless, helpless and paralysed. There is no
leadership that can unite the disparate ranks of civil and political
opposition and no evidence of strategic resistance to the demented dictators
course to destruction.

When we delve into the heart of Zimbabwe's problems, we can finally and
truthfully confront the fact that, as a country, as a people we have a
dearth in leadership. Wherever we look, whether in the opposition ranks, in
civil society or in ZANU PF, we appear to be deficient in good, humble,
compassionate and gracious leaders. Put another way, where is our Nelson
Mandela when we are most in need of him (or her)?

I am more and more convinced that our problems mainly stem from the lack of
leadership. But the lack of leadership is not an exclusively Zimbabwean
problem. Political and social scientists have pointed out that Africa's lack
of economic development has more to do with a dearth of leadership than with
colonial exploitation. And this shortage of good leaders is probably not
because of a shortage of disciples. Indeed if you throw a stone (as the late
Masipula Sithole used to like saying) in Harare, Bulawayo or any other
village or town in Zimbabwe whoever it hits could be the next president!

However, like anywhere else in post-colonial Africa, the Big Man has so
discouraged any ambition among his followers and quashed any dissent that
the populace believes that only he can and must rule - no-one else can be
better than VaMugabe. This mantra has been so oft been repeated that
Zimbabweans cannot actually identify good leadership qualities - we do not
actually know the attributes of a good leader and continue to believe that a
good leader must be Mugabe-like. So we associate the qualities that we see
in Mugabe with leadership qualities - a university education, first and
foremost, great fluency in English and a measure of arrogance and aloofness.
Anyone who does not have a university degree, who cannot speak good English
(or speaks in Chinua Achebe's words, the simple English of "is" and "was")
and who does not act "educated" we immediately see them as unable to lead.
To a large extent Morgan Tsvangirai has been subjected to denigration even
by his supporters and others in the opposition on this account.

While it helps to be eloquent in speech and have a populist and even
non-conformist touch (read Bill Clinton), leading people involves much more
and it is something that is learnt through experience rather than
instinctive and innate. Gold becomes pure through fire.

Leading is like taking people on a journey. To get from point A to the next
level requires that the leaders have a vision to achieve the mission.
Leading is not an end in itself as many good leaders have shown us through
history. One only needs to look at the biblical Moses, or in more recent
times, to Nelson Mandela. Once their vision had been achieved, they then
handed over the reins to the next generation of leaders. Leaders influence,
they direct, they inspire. Leaders are contingency planners, they have a
good ear, they are consensus-builders (not brinksmen), they are altruistic
and they are tolerant of divergent views. Good leaders cultivate, groom and
grow their followers to one day be leaders too. Good leaders are like good
gamblers - in the words of that Kenny Rogers song, they "know when to hold
'em, know when to fold 'em .and know when to walk away" because good leaders
should not be Machiavellian and scheming, but rather strategic in their
thinking and actions. Leaders should be concerned and driven by legacy
because when all else is gone, it is legacy that remains.

A reading of our history shows that we have in fact not lacked leaders. Many
of these are the very people who founded the nationalist movement. Many
names come to mind from Chaminuka to Burombo, Nkomo, Muzorewa and many of
those who continue to play important roles in the media and civil society in
present day Zimbabwe. Herbert Chitepo, supposedly stands head and shoulders
above them as the great intellectual mind of the liberation struggle. But we
will never know how he would have turned out as a statesman.

Eddison Zvobgo has been called one of the great minds to come out of
Zimbabwe. Yet he lacked the courage of his convictions. Here was a man
steeped in the same liberation history, burnished in the same revolutionary
flame as Robert Mugabe, an eloquent and witty orator, but alas, he lacked
courage; that which would have saved Zimbabwe for the state it finds itself
in. If he had found himself that sterner stuff to stand up to his erstwhile
comrade, he had the power to have changed (perhaps for the better) the
course of the country. In private, he like other in Zanu-PF to-day,
expressed reservations on land reform, human rights issues and general
governance. But his actions and his public utterances betrayed a man who
confused loyalty to Mugabe and Zanu-PF with loyalty to Zimbabwe and
patriotic fervour. For a man who gave up a huge part of his life fighting in
the struggle, his legacy is tainted with this misplaced loyalty to the point
of tragedy.

A greater tradegy still is that many other stalwarts of the liberation
struggle, reasonable men and women have suffered the same Zvobgo-type
syndrome. Many years ago, Margaret Dongo made rather unparliamentary remarks
when she called the compliant Zanu PF parliamentarians, "Mugabe's wives".
This stirred up a hornet's nest in the House of Assembly and she was
threatened with physical assault. One can say that from what has
subsequently taken place over the years, that Dongo's remarks were apt and
spot-on.

It appears therefore that apart from all the qualities of leadership
outlined above, courage is the cornerstone. In fact we don't need leaders
for now, we actually need heroes. Brecht said "Unhappy is the land that
needs heroes", and Zimbabwe is the unhappiest of places right now.

Dr DR Katerere lives and works in South Africa. He is reachable on
dimeric@gmail.com

Zimbabwe Situation - 2006

Brooklyn , NY 11213
USA.

January 3, 2006

To : South African Government

Re : Zimbabwe

Its pointless as  a Zimbabwean to say  Happy New Year when there is
nothing happy and new about it.500% inflation.70% unemployment.22 % HIV
incidence.A country where everyone is a millionaire ! (with useless cash)

I keep this brief , precise and to the point.

Summarily you are pretending that there is no crisis no problem in
Zimbabwe , which we all know you deliberately turning a blind eye.Its
shocking to see your disgusting behavior considering that only 12 years
ago and beyond you were struggling under apartheid and we had so much
sympathy and helped you where we could.Now you have gained independence
you are hosting World Cup 2010 and suddenly you are not applying the
pressure to Mugabe that you should be.

Well some of us know some of the reasons why.You are better off with an
economically dead Zimbabwe than a vibrant one.Well as we speak Zimbabwe
imports more than 50 % of its stuff from SA.So naturally removal of
Mugabe will not work in your favor.

Not only that , your benefitting form highly skilled , trained and
experienced professionals coming to SA as refugees.You getting cheap
labor and highly educated people coming to teach in your rural schools
just as an example.

Get serious.People are starving , oppressed and now your home affairs is
alleging that some Zimbabweans are planning to use SA as a spring board
to train people for  military operations in Zimbabwe.While this can not
be verified , your continued blind eye attitude will eventually force
that kind of a scenario.Which of course is undesirable.If people are
left with no solution , South Africa provides the best platform to bring
necessary change in Zimbabwe.This naturally will create security
concerns in light of the fact that you are hosting World Cup 2010 , you
don't want word to start spreading that SA is not safe and unstable for
the event.

Chances are Mugabe is not going anywhere soon naturally.So chaos will
prevail and SA will have to deal  with the spill over effects.In fact
some Zimbabweans based abroad are now campaigning to  soccer nations ,
soccer journalists , soccer lovers and soccer authorities  of  what is
happening across the Limpopo where the World Cup would be hosted.In fact
a well funded campaign is being planned to ask FIFA to think twice about
hosting the next world cup in SA because of the inevitable melt down
that will happen.Its a question of time.And ignore it at your own expense.

There is disaster across the border and some of us feel its in your best
benefit.Why are you not acting decisively ? The sad truth is that this
year alone year 2006 will spill so much economic and political refugees
across Limpopo to SA.Its obvious there is no light at this moment for as
long as Mugabe is in power.You know it and of course you do not want to
hear about it.But well laws of physics and nature always set things
right.Gravity has never made a mistake.Who had an idea that SA was gonna
be free in 1994.As I said its pathetic that you seem to have very short
memories.

The pressure that will be placed on your natural resources by hungry ,
angry and ill Zimbabweans might make you think twice.

Some groups are going to be encouraging as many Zimbabweans to leave for
SA.Of course the rate of cross-border jumping will far out weigh the
rate at which you can deport them.This will bring social , health chaos
in already tricky situation.

While your country is advancing in Telecoms , GPRS , Manufacturing ,
Agriculture , Medicine , Education , Astrology etc Zimbabwe has no room
to develop because of  one person who has decided that no other person
can lead Zimbabwe in 25 year !

Those who do nothing like SA government are equally as guilty as those
committing the crimes.

Ndabezinhle Ndlovu
ndlovu@comcast.net

SA must act for human rights in Zimbabwe: DA

SABC

January 04, 2006, 16:00

South Africa has to review its strategy for dealing with Zimbabwe in light
of an African Union (AU) report on human rights abuses there under Robert
Mugabe's rule, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said. The time for South
Africa's quiet diplomacy towards its northern neighbour had ended, said Joe
Seremane, the acting DA leader.

South Africa has to unequivocally condemn the human rights abuses and the
muzzling of the media and free political activity in Zimbabwe, even if only
to affirm South Africa's own democratic values, said Seremane.

According to the AU's commission on human and peoples' rights, the Mugabe
government had violated AU charters and the UN declaration on human rights.
"It (the report) also criticises the Mugabe regime for allowing the rule of
law to be eroded in Zimbabwe and for a 'growing culture of impunity,"
Seremane said.

The report called for an end to internal displacements caused by government
evictions, the repeal of several repressive laws and free access for
international aid groups, and an AU fact-finding delegation. "The DA fully
supports all these appeals," said Seremane.

South Africa has to act in the interests of human rights and with more
transparency in its dealings with Zimbabwe, especially following the AU
report, Seremane said. - Sapa

The Economy : How can growth enhance values?

Philadelphia Enquirer

Posted on Wed, Jan. 04, 2006

By Andrew Cassel
Inquirer Columnist
Some people think economic growth is just about making or buying more stuff.

Tell them gross domestic product rose 3 percent or 4 percent last year, and
they shrug: So what? We made a few more widgets, bought a few more SUVs,
consumed a few more Tastykakes. Maybe a few lucky folks got richer. Is that
progress?

Some even take it a step further, arguing that the additional widgets and
SUVs equal more pollution and congestion - while more Tastykakes just make
us fatter.

In this view, that kind of growth is either irrelevant or detrimental to the
social or moral values we ought to cherish. But Benjamin Friedman says
that's exactly wrong.

To Friedman, a Harvard economics professor, the moral and political benefits
of economic growth far outweigh its material rewards.

Civic virtues such as tolerance and democracy thrive when societies prosper,
and are jeopardized whenever incomes stagnate and unemployment rises.

Another way to put it paraphrases an old bumper sticker favored by liberals:
If you want peace and justice, work for growth.

A compelling case

Friedman makes his case - a compelling one, backed up impressively by
historical evidence - in his recent book, The Moral Consequences of Economic
Growth. It's a lengthy tome (570 pages) but a fascinating one that belongs
on the required-reading list of anyone hoping to improve the world.

"Economic growth - meaning a rising standard of living for the clear
majority of citizens - more often than not fosters greater opportunity,
tolerance of diversity, social mobility, commitment to fairness, and
dedication to democracy," Friedman writes.

"But when living standards stagnate or decline, most societies make little
if any progress toward any of these goals, and in all too many instances
they plainly retrogress."

He sees examples all over the world. Nations that have advanced economically
in the last few decades - South Korea, Mexico or Poland are examples - have
also achieved significant gains toward democracy.

Those whose economic progress has been spotty or negative - from Argentina
to Zimbabwe - have seen civil rights and civic institutions erode as well.

Friedman's formula isn't limited to less-developed nations, moreover. In
Europe and the United States as well, you can see the economic ups and downs
of the last century reflected in the lurching progress made toward tolerance
and the acceptance of diversity.

It's not a coincidence, for instance, that America's civil rights movement
gained critical momentum during the 1950s and '60s - years when the U.S.
economy posted its greatest gains of the 20th century.

A social backlash

Conversely, Friedman argues, the economic "stagflation" of the 1970s and the
deep recession of the early 1980s helped fertilize a social backlash - one
that produced, at its fringes, overtly racist groups such as Aryan Nation
and overtly racist politicians such as David Duke.

The key isn't how affluent a nation is, in absolute terms; it's whether
people can sense economic growth. "Merely being rich is no bar to a
society's retreat into rigidity and intolerance once enough of its citizens
lose the sense that they are getting ahead," Friedman writes.

This may all seem obvious. But often, policy issues are framed as a choice
between prosperity and progressive civic or moral values. That's "the wrong
way to think about economic growth," Friedman said during a visit to
Philadelphia last fall. "It's not a trade-off of moral negatives for
material positives."

This doesn't make Friedman an unalloyed free-marketeer. To work its moral
magic, economic growth needs to be spread around - and that requires strong
civic institutions and occasionally government intervention in the markets,
he believes.

"Public policy does matter for economic growth," Friedman writes. "The
challenge is to seek growth-promoting policies that are consistent with a
fairer, more open society."