IEC Warns Parties Over Monday Deadline

Cape Town - When the Independent Electoral Commission says five o'clock, it means five o'clock - even in the Western Cape.

That was the warning given to political parties in the province on Friday, ahead of Monday's deadline for submission of candidate lists for the coming general election.

"All political parties are requested, those who have not yet done so, to submit all their lists of candidates by the second of March, at five o'clock. Sharp," IEC chief electoral officer Pansy Tlakula told guests at the commission's provincial election launch in Cape Town.

"And the time that we go with is the IEC time, and in particular the watch of the chief electoral officer," she added, to laughter from her listeners.

If a political party came with a watch that was two minutes slow, it would be "out".
"We can meet in court, of course: we live in a democracy. This has happened before."

Last year the ANC in the province suffered major embarrassment when it narrowly missed the 5pm deadline for its list of candidates for municipal by-elections, handing the seats to rival Cope and other parties.

Among the politicians in Tlakula's audience on Friday was ANC provincial chairperson Mcebisi Skwatsha, who took her warning in good spirit.

Tlakula said that by lunchtime on Friday three parties had already submitted their lists.
She appealed to parties not to leave it to Monday, saying IEC offices would be open on Saturday to receive them.

* News 24

IEC Warns Parties Over Monday Deadline

Cape Town - When the Independent Electoral Commission says five o'clock, it means five o'clock - even in the Western Cape.

That was the warning given to political parties in the province on Friday, ahead of Monday's deadline for submission of candidate lists for the coming general election.

"All political parties are requested, those who have not yet done so, to submit all their lists of candidates by the second of March, at five o'clock. Sharp," IEC chief electoral officer Pansy Tlakula told guests at the commission's provincial election launch in Cape Town.

"And the time that we go with is the IEC time, and in particular the watch of the chief electoral officer," she added, to laughter from her listeners.

If a political party came with a watch that was two minutes slow, it would be "out".
"We can meet in court, of course: we live in a democracy. This has happened before."

Last year the ANC in the province suffered major embarrassment when it narrowly missed the 5pm deadline for its list of candidates for municipal by-elections, handing the seats to rival Cope and other parties.

Among the politicians in Tlakula's audience on Friday was ANC provincial chairperson Mcebisi Skwatsha, who took her warning in good spirit.

Tlakula said that by lunchtime on Friday three parties had already submitted their lists.
She appealed to parties not to leave it to Monday, saying IEC offices would be open on Saturday to receive them.

* News 24

SADC to Hold Extraordinary Summit to Discuss Zimbabwe Aid

HARARE – Southern African Development Community (SADC) finance ministers have recommended that the regional bloc holds an extraordinary summit to consider an appeal for financial support by Zimbabwe.

The finance and investment ministers met this week in Cape Town, South Africa to examine ways to help Zimbabwe raise US$2 billion from donors needed to kick start the country’s collapsed economy.

Zimbabwe needs the cash to help stimulate to economic activity and to restore basic services such as health and education.

South African foreign affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on Friday said a venue and date for the summit had yet to be agreed but it would most likely be held before the upcoming G20 meeting on April 2 in London.

* Zimonline

Tsvangirai to Attend Mugabe's Birthday Bash

Harare - Zimbabwe's new Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will attend a lavish birthday celebration for President Robert Mugabe this weekend, his spokesperson said on Thursday.

"He was invited and he is attending. It's courteous on (the part of) his party and it's in the spirit of national unity," Tsvangirai's spokesperson James Maridadi said.

Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, turned 85 on February 21, and his supporters are throwing him a gala public party on Saturday in the town of Chinhoyi, north of the capital.

Last year Tsvangirai railed against Mugabe's birthday celebration as "a gathering of the satisfied few" in a nation crippled by food shortages.

The annual event is organised by the February 21st Movement, a youth movement in Mugabe's Zanu-PF party, and attracts hundreds of people.

However, this year they appear to be struggling to collect on promised donations to fund the party, in a nation battling against world-record hyperinflation and one of the worst cholera epidemics on record.

Organisers resorted to running an advertisement in the state-run Herald on Thursday, urging benefactors to pay up on their pledges.

* AFP

ANC's Zuma Targets Johannesburg Train Commuters

Johannesburg - ANC leader Jacob Zuma distributed party pamphlets to train commuters at Park Station in Johannesburg on Friday morning, the SABC reported.

Thousands of commuters had gathered to get a glimpse of the ruling party leader who urged them to vote for the African National Congress in upcoming elections.

He was accompanied by Fekile Mbalula, head of the ANC's election campaign.


* SAPA

UN: Zimbabwe Humanitarian Crisis Still Critical

Johannesburg - The humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe remains a grave concern, a United Nations official said in Johannesburg on Thursday.
"Despite tremendous efforts by both the government and the humanitarian community in Zimbabwe to contain the cholera epidemic, major challenges remain," Catherine Bragg, UN assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs told a press briefing.

She said some of the most serious manifestations of Zimbabwe's complex humanitarian crisis included one of the world's worst cholera outbreaks and millions of people in need of food.

A United Nations delegation visited Zimbabwe from on Saturday until Wednesday.

Bragg said there was a need for continued assistance and resources to help Zimbabweans improve food security.

"We have to ensure farmers have all the agricultural inputs they need for the next planting season which begins in September. If we do not act now we could end up next year with a situation similar to what we have today," she said.

She said there was a need to start planning for early recovery, explaining that rehabilitation of the basic infrastructure was required.

* News 24

Civic Groups Set up Committee to Monitor Unity Govt

HARARE – Civic society groups have set up a committee to monitor implementation of the power-sharing agreement between President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF party and the two MDC formations of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai ZANU PF leader and his deputy Arthur Mutambara.

The groups said the Civil Society Monitoring Mechanism would focus on how the political parties implement the agreement in five areas of the economy and development, constitutional reforms, political transition and justice, institutional transformation and upholding human rights.

Some of the groups that formed the monitoring committee include Bulawayo Agenda, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CZC), ZimRights, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the National Association of Non Governmental Organisations (NANGO), MISA Zimbabwe and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ).

The groups said they would also monitor reforms at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) that critics have blamed for fuelling inflation through the printing of money to fund Mugabe’s populist projects.

* Zimonline

Two Weeks Into Power-Sharing, Zimbabwe's Mugabe Hints At Elections In Two Years

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said the country could have a new constitution within 18 to 24 months, after which new elections will be held, state media reported Thursday.

The state-controlled Herald newspaper said Mr. Mugabe commented on the election timetable during a birthday interview. Mr. Mugabe turned 85 on Saturday, Feb. 21, but celebrations are to be held this Saturday in Masvingo, capital of the province by the same name.

Responding to statements yesterday by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, his partner since Feb. 13 in a unity government, Mr. Mugabe said he would not reverse his appointments this week of 31 ministerial permanent secretaries, or of Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana, to which Mr. Tsvangirai has objected.

The president said the appointments had been made legally and the individuals holding those offices had been vetted by the responsible authorities to ascertain their suitability.

"I do not see any reason why those people should go and they will not go," he said.

* VoA

Zimbabwean Court to Rule on Bennet Bail Bid

Harare - Zimbabwe's High Court will rule on Tuesday on a bail application by a senior Movement for Democratic Change official facing terrorism charges, the party said on Saturday.

Roy Bennett, the MDC's treasurer-general, was arrested on February 13, shortly before a unity cabinet appointed by President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC was sworn into office.

On Wednesday, a magistrate ruled Bennett had a case to answer and remanded him in custody, prompting his lawyers to lodge a bail application at the High Court.

If convicted, Bennett faces life imprisonment.

"Roy Bennett's bail application will be heard in the Harare High Court on Tuesday 24th of February 2009," the MDC said in a statement.

* Reuters

Mugabe Turns 85 But Has Little to Celebrate

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe marked his 85th birthday Saturday, but his beleaguered people had little reason to celebrate.

Zimbabwe's once thriving economy has collapsed and official inflation is at 231 million percent. About one quarter of its population has fled, and most of those who remain are dependent on food handouts.

Poverty and AIDS have slashed life expectancy to 37 years for men and 34 years for women.
Mugabe was expected to spend the day quietly. Lavish celebrations are scheduled for next Saturday for ruling party faithful.

The state Herald newspaper carried a five-page birthday supplement, most of it taken up with color advertisements with gushing birthday messages from bankrupt government ministries.
The message from the Military and Defense Ministry wished him many more birthdays and hoped his wisdom and courage would be protected from "all your enemies."

"We should never forget that for 50 of the 85 years, Comrade Mugabe has been in the trenches slaving so that you and me could live a life of dignity," said an editorial.

"If everyone gives just a fraction of what Comrade Mugabe has given this country, we will be up there with the most advanced countries in the world," the Herald said.

* News 24

Zuma: ANC Will Win The Western Cape

Cape Town - African National Party president Jacob Zuma said the party was confident it would win the general elections in the Western Cape, SABC news reported on Saturday.

"I still believe we are going to win and we are going to win with sufficient majority," said Zuma as he began a two-day visit in the Western Cape by visiting households in Delft and Mfuleni.

"It is a challenge that says to the ANC the challenge is forecast here in the Western Cape.
"Therefore partly the reason why we are here, we are partly [here] to ensure that the ANC puts its weight in the Western Cape. It's not a secret, we've got to pull out all the stops here."

The Western Cape remains a highly contested province in which the ANC has never achieved an outright victory.

On Saturday, Zuma went on a door-to-door campaign and also addressed a gathering at the taxi rank in Mfuleni.

The party said in a statement that residents raised concerns such as the amount of money given to pensioners, problems with accessing grants and job creation for the youth.

One resident asked Zuma to autograph her white T-shirt. "I am very happy he obliged and will not wash this T-shirt again," the woman, Freda Fortuin said afterwards.

* SAPA

Official: Obama Wants to Halve Budget Deficit

WASHINGTON – Barack Obama wants to cut the federal deficit in half by the end of his first term, mostly by scaling back Iraq war spending, raising taxes on the wealthiest and streamlining government, an administration official said Saturday as the president worked to finalize his first budget request.

Obama's proposal for the 2010 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 projects that the estimated $1.3 trillion deficit he has inherited from former President George W. Bush will be halved to $533 billion by 2013. That's a difference of 9.2 percent of the overall economy now vs. 3 percent in four years.

"We can't generate sustained growth without getting our deficits under control," Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address that seemed to preview his intentions. He said his budget will be "sober in its assessments, honest in its accounting, and lays out in detail my strategy for investing in what we need, cutting what we don't, and restoring fiscal discipline."

He's expected to outline some broad themes of his budget request Monday at a White House summit on fiscal policy and touch on it during his first speech to Congress on Tuesday evening. He is slated to officially send at least a summary of it to Congress on Thursday, barely a week after his $787 billion economic stimulus plan becoming law.

Obama's budget also is expected to take steps toward his campaign promises of establishing universal health care and lessening the country's reliance on foreign oil.

* AP

Dandala to Address Soweto COPE Rally

Johannesburg - Newly appointed Cope president Mvume Dandala was expected to attend an election rally in Jabulani on Saturday morning, officials at the Soweto venue said.

Mvume, 57, was elected as the party's presidential candidate ahead of the upcoming elections.

The Jabulani amphitheatre remained relatively empty on Saturday morning with just Cope officials and sound engineers setting up the venue.

The rally is expected to be addressed by Cope leader Mbazima Shilowa, but officials at the amphitheatre said Dandala would be attending the event as well.

There was a strong police presence in and around the amphitheatre. There were police vehicles outside the front entrance, flanking each side of the amphitheatre.

* SAPA

Zimbabwe Now Trading in US Dollars

JOHANNESBURG — Zimbabwe's stock exchange is ditching the country's collapsed local currency and is trading in U.S. dollars.

Zimbabwe is trying to combat the world's highest inflation by expanding the use of foreign currency.

The longtime opposition has been given control of much economic policy in the coalition government with President Robert Mugabe. Finance Minister Tendai Biti reopened the stock exchange on Thursday after three month of inactivity.

The exchange suspended trading in November after a central bank crackdown on banks and brokers who were accused of using fraudulent methods to acquire shares.

The Herald newspaper reported Friday that trading got off to a slow start with little activity being recorded.

* AP

Zimbabwe Faces Emergency - PM Tsvangirai

Harare - Zimbabwe's new unity government is having to take emergency action in every state sector to counter years of collapse, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said on Thursday.

"We are in an emergency situation," Tsvangirai told top businessmen in the capital, two days after Zimbabwe's new cabinet held its inaugural meeting.

The new government on Wednesday took its first steps to revive the economy with foreign currency payouts to encourage civil servants to return to work in what Tsvangirai said were emergency measures.

"This is firefighting we are doing. We are talking of emergency interventions in various sectors," said Tsvangirai.

Outlining massive skills flight in government departments, Tsvangirai said he had already been told horror stories by cabinet members.

"The ministers have just been in office for two days," Tsvangirai said. "Some of them are telling me horror stories about the state of their ministries.

"The ministry of public works is supposed to have 60 engineers but they only have two. The ministry of mines has 96 posts but they only have 20 people including those who make tea," he said.

"How do you effectively discharge your mandate with such limited resources?"

Tsvangirai vowed to act on fresh farm invasions and corruption to promote investment to the country's tanked economy.

* AFP

Govt is Broke, Education Minister Tells Striking Teachers

HARARE – Zimbabwe Education Minister David Coltart has told teachers that the new unity government is “very broke” and unable to meet their pay demands, union leaders told ZimOnline on Thursday.

Coltart met leaders of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) on Wednesday to plead with the two unions that represent the country’s teachers to call off a strike for more pay that has been going on since last year and has grounded the school system.

The Education Minister was not immediately available for comment on the matter.

The ZIMTA and PTUZ leaders said Coltart had been frank with them telling them government could not afford to give teachers more than the US$100-monthly allowance awarded all civil servants because it had no money.

* Zimonline

ANC: Pta, Tshwane Can Co-Exist

Johannesburg - Pretoria and Tshwane can co-exist as the names of South Africa's capital city and its metro, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe told an Afrikaner audience this week.

"The two could co-exist," Mantashe said.

This emerged from a statement by the African National Congress on Thursday.

It said Mantashe addressed "a packed meeting mainly of Afrikaners" in Centurion on Tuesday night as part of the party's "inclusive South Africa programme".

Mantashe also sought to assure his audience that the Springbok emblem was not under threat.
"The Springbok remained the official emblem and the trademark of the national rugby team; the Protea is the official national sporting emblem," he said.

"There was no reason why the two could not co-exist."

On the Pretoria/Tshwane issue, the party said: "Mantashe said that his understanding was that the city of Pretoria remained; the change is on the name of the municipality, which is called Tshwane Municipality, because it extends beyond the boundary of the Pretoria town."

Efforts to rename the city of Pretoria to Tshwane has raised the ire of the Afrikaner community who wants the name preserved as part of their heritage.

* News 24

Tsvangirai to Seek Help From South Africa

HARARE -- Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will travel to South Africa today to seek an immediate rescue package to stabilise Zimbabwe’s comatose economy.

Tsvangirai’s spokesperson James Maridadi confirmed yesterday that the prime minister would lead a delegation that includes Finance Minister Tendai Biti and Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi to Pretoria.

Maridadi said the delegation would meet South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and central bank chief Tito Mboweni.

The delegation would not include officials from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, he said.

Zimbabwe urgently needs financial support to stabilise the economy and deal with the humanitarian crisis.

Earlier this month Motlanthe said his government would help Zimbabwe "so that the coalition government works" and that it might be practical to enter into an agreement with the South African central bank to use the rand as the standard currency.

Addressing business leaders in Harare yesterday, Tsvangirai said his week-old government was engaging its neighbour for emergency support.

"I don't want to pre-empt this, but we are really engaging the South Africans to make sure we can discuss (using the rand) ... to provide relief," Tsvangirai said. "We are in an emergency situation, a fire-fighting situation. For now we are talking of an emergency plan."

Zimbabwe has over the past 10 years received financial assistance from South Africa, the latest being the R300 million agricultural package extended to it last year to buy inputs.

In 2006, however, South Africa turned down a request from Zimbabwe for a US$500 million loan to pay for imports and settle international debts after Mugabe’s government declined to institute political and economic reforms – conditions that were attached to the loan. -- ZimOnline

Bishop Dandala Tops COPE Election List

Johannesburg - The head of the Methodist church of Southern Africa, Bishop Mvume Dandala, has been nominated as the presidential candidate for the Congress of the People (Cope), SABC news reported on Thursday.

In its Thursday evening news bulletin, the public broadcaster announced that it had "reliably learnt" that Dandala came out on top of the party's national list.

But party spokesperson Palesa Morudu would not be drawn to verify this on Thursday night, saying "a formal announcement will probably be made on Friday".

"We really haven't made a formal announcement. What we said is that we have agreed on the presidential candidate," she said.

It was initially thought that the race for the top position would be between party president Terror Lekota and his deputy, Mbhazima Shilowa.

But Dandala emerged victorious following Cope's national committee meeting which discussed the party's national and provincial nomination lists in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Dandala was recently involved in peace talks in Kenya following that country's post-election violence.

He also played a crucial role in talks in South Africa before the 1994 transition.

SAPA

Zimbabwe Cabinet Filled Out Amid Alleged Offer For Opposition Figure's Freedom

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Thursday swore in five ministers of state and 19 deputy ministers at State House in Harare, nearly completing the ministerial lineup for the new national unity government but conspicuously lacking Roy Bennett, the former white farmer named deputy agriculture minister by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Correspondent Thomas Chiripasi reported for VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe.

Despite reports Bennett might be sworn into office, he remained in police custody in the eastern city of Mutare having on Wednesday been remanded to March 4 on charges he had possessed firearms with the intent to engage in "terrorism, banditry and insurgency."

Bennett's lawyer, Trust Maanda, and officials of the Movement for Democratic Change wing led by Mr. Tsvangirai declared the charges fabricated and political.

Elsewhere, sources said officials of Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party offered Bennett his freedom in exchange for a blanket amnesty for whatever abuses members of the long-ruling party might have committed since ZANU-PF came to power with independence in 1980.

Bennett’s wife, Heather, told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri in an interview from Johannesburg that her husband related to her the offer from an unnamed "appointed official" and said he had immediately rejected the allegedly proffered deal as improper.

Observers meanwhile noted that Bennett is only the latest individual to be snared in the web of the state justice system for what man consider to be political reasons.

* VoA

Biti: Zimbabwe to Pay its Civil Servants in Forex

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- Zimbabwe's new finance minister says soldiers, teachers and civil servants will be paid in U.S. dollars as the coalition government tries to kick-start the shattered economy.

Tendai Biti, a member of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's opposition party, says some 130,000 government employees will receive $100 a month tax-free, replacing their local currency salaries.

There were enough foreign currency reserves to pay wages for February and March, Biti said Tuesday as he called for the country to get "working again."

Soldiers were paid in vouchers redeemable at selected banks Tuesday, while teachers and were to be paid Wednesday and Thursday.

Zimbabwe has the world's highest official inflation because of the country's economic meltdown.

Upstart COPE Has no Strong Leaders - ANC

Durban - The Congress of the People is using names of ANC stalwarts to campaign for the election because its leaders have no strong foundations, the ruling party in KwaZulu-Natal said on Wednesday.

ANC spokesperson Nomfundo Mcetywa called on the breakaway party not to use Inkosi Albet Luthuli's name in its "desperate" campaign.

"Cope is using the names of ANC stalwarts to campaign because they realise that the leaders they currently have in their ranks have no strong foundations and history to build good legacies for themselves," said Mcetywa.

She said African National Congress stalwarts like Luthuli, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, Chris Hani and Joe Slovo lived and died as ANC members.

"As the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal we say hands off to our leaders and stalwarts. We say hands off to our legacy and heritage," said Mcetywa.

"Cope must now stop laying claim to our heritage and legacy of our stalwarts and build their own legacy."
Cope spokesperson Siyanda Mhlongo was not immediately available to comment on the matter.

* SAPA

HIV Prevention Advocates Welcome Promising News on Microbicides

Today, the US National Institutes of Health announced promising results of a multi-site clinical trial of two candidate microbicides, topical products designed to reduce the risk of HIV when applied vaginally before sex.

Known as HPTN 035, the trial was conducted by the NIH-funded Microbicide Trials Network and led by Salim S. Abdool Karim, Ph.D. from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa. Dr. Karim headed a team of leading African and U.S. researchers working at trial sites in South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the United States.

The trial found that women who were offered PRO2000 gel plus condoms had 30 percent fewer HIV infections than those offered only condoms or condoms plus a placebo gel. Reported adherence to the gel was high at 81 percent.

In another analysis that accounted for the time that women did not use product because they were pregnant, the study found PRO2000 to be 36% protective against HIV compared to the control arms. The other candidate microbicide tested, BufferGel, did not reduce HIV risk among women.

“The results on PRO2000 are a ray of hope for women,” observed Lori Heise, Director of the Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM), an advocacy organization that has been campaigning to expand women’s HIV prevention options for over a decade. “This is the first time that we have had human data actually showing that a vaginal gel can work to reduce infection. It’s not a home run, but this “proof of concept” should invigorate the field.”

Another effectiveness trial of PRO2000, conducted by the UK-funded Microbicide Development Programme (MDP), is currently in its final stages in South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. This trial—known as MDP 301--has enrolled over 9,000 women, three times the number enrolled in HPTN 035.

“This second trial should help us refine our estimate of how effective PRO2000 actually is,” noted Dr. Samu Dube, GCM’s Africa Program Leader. With three times the number of women, the MDP trial will yield an even more precise estimate of effectiveness. We will need such data before deciding whether it makes sense to move this product forward toward licensing and distribution.”

On Wednesday, GCM will host a global conference call for prevention advocates to discuss the new microbicide findings as well as promising data simultaneously released by the CDC on the ability of both oral pills and vaginal gels containing the anti-retroviral drug tenofovir to fully protect monkeys from HIV infection.

Significantly, the next generation of microbicide trials will focus on candidates that incorporate the same highly potent anti-retroviral drugs that have been successfully used for AIDS treatment. Already a trial evaluating a tenofovir-based microbicide is underway in South Africa.

“Much remains to be done before we will have a viable product to distribute,” notes Dube, “But as an African woman, a physician, and a mother, my message is that this is a great day for women and for prevention research.”

Bodyguards: Lekota to Fight Government

Johannesburg - Congress of the People (Cope) leader Mosiuoa Terror Lekota is considering a legal challenge against Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa's decision to take away his bodyguards, the party said on Tuesday.

"We are considering taking legal action against the minister," party spokesperson Phillip Dexter told Sapa.

Mthethwa made an announcement on Monday that there was no need for the government to provide Lekota with bodyguards as his life was not in danger.

"Based on the report that I received it is clear that Mr Terror Lekota is not under any threat and this therefore does not justify the continuation of this service. However if the need may arise, this decision may be reviewed," Mthethwa said in a statement.

* SAPA

Britons in Zimbabwe are Offered Cash to Flee Mugabe's Regime

Hundreds of British families living in Zimbabwe are to get financial help to escape Robert Mugabe's regime in a repatriation programme ordered by Gordon Brown.

The Government expects around 750 households deemed particularly vulnerable to take up the offer of assistance to resettle in the UK.

Those over 70 or who have medical conditions or care needs, or are unable to afford resettlement themselves will be targeted, sources say.

Local government minister John Healey will co-ordinate the 18-month programme.

'The situation in Zimbabwe continues to make it hard to access food and medical care,' he said.
'That's why we are offering help to older and vulnerable British people who are unable to support themselves in Zimbabwe and want to resettle in the UK.'

There are an estimated 40,000 British passport-holders living in Zimbabwe, of whom about 25,000 are registered with the British High Commission.

The initiative comes amid mounting concern about the deteriorating situation in the country.
Elderly people have been reduced to penury either because Zimbabwe's bankrupt regime has stopped paying their pensions or because hyperinflation has wiped out their meagre entitlement.

* Daily Mail

Biti to Announce Civil Servants Forex Salaries Today

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s new Finance Minister Tendai Biti will today announce foreign currency salaries for civil servants in line with a pledge made by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai after his inauguration last week.

Sources said the new government tasked Biti after its first Cabinet meeting yesterday to announce how much civil servants would be paid beginning this month-end. \

This, the sources said, was after Tsvangirai convinced the Cabinet that he had sourced substantial funds to pay civil servants.

"The Cabinet was satisfied that Tsvangirai had secured the money from donor organisations," one of the sources said. "Biti will hold a press conference tomorrow (Wednesday) to unveil the civil servants packages."


The sources declined to reveal how much Tsvangirai had in the kit and the identity of the organisations where the money came from.

However, speculation was rife that the money would come from UNICEF and USAID.
Biti yesterday confirmed that he would address a press conference to deal with "civil servants remuneration and other pressing issues.

* Zimonline

New Zimbabwean Cabinet Meets Amid Tension

Zimbabwe's new cabinet met for the first time on Tuesday in the Munhumutapa government building in Harare, chaired by President Robert Mugabe, but political sources said that a more critical test of the executive powers of Mr. Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai would come in the first session of the national security council created by parliament.


The panel was created to coordinate and control security agencies whose leaders are hostile to Mr. Tsvangirai, long in the opposition, and, say observers, to power-sharing itself.

Tsvangirai spokesman James Maridadi says his boss met separately later with Mr. Mugabe followed by a discussion with Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengenwi on re-engaging the international community and refurbishing Zimbabwe's national image.

Maridadi told reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the first cabinet meeting went well and lasted for two hours, but he declined to disclose the agenda.

Political observer Earnest Mudzengi, a senior official of the National Constitutional Assembly, said the first cabinet meeting showed that there is no going back on the deal.

* VoA

Tsvangirai Meets Teacher Unions, Seeks To Revive Schools

Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai took first steps this week toward getting the country's teachers, on strike for months, back to work, education sources said.

Mr. Tsvangirai met on Monday with organizations representing teachers and followed that up with a meeting with Education Minister David Coltart, a member of the rival formation of the Movement for Democratic Change which Mr. Tsvangirai founded in 1999.

Meeting leaders of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Teachers Association, Mr. Tsvangirai was reported to have reiterated his inaugural commitment to paying teachers, like other civil servants, in hard currency so they can get back to work.


Mr. Tsvangirai has since disclosed that he has not yet lined up a source for the estimated US$40 to US$50 million a month that would be needed to make good his promise.

The meeting with teachers also focused on political violence, frequently directed at teachers in the 2008 post-election period, and the 2009 academic calendar, education sources said.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association President Tendai Chikowore said the representatives would meet Wednesday with Coltart after he has been briefed by Mr. Tsvangirai.

* VoA

Mugabe Buys a $5.6 Million Mansion in Hong Kong

London - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has bought a $5.6m (R56.5m) home in Hong Kong, Britain's Sunday Times reported.

Citing unnamed sources in Zimbabwe, the newspaper identified an intermediary who it said had helped arranged the purchase of the three-storey property, in a walled and gated complex in an exclusive area of Hong Kong.

It was bought last year, as Mugabe's 20-year-old daughter began studying at the University of Hong Kong, the newspaper said. The paper said it was one of several properties the Mugabes own in Asia, but the first to be documented.

Speculation intensified during last year's election turmoil that Mugabe may be looking for a way out of office after he lost the first round to Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

But he formed a unity government with Tsvangirai last week, resisting Western calls for him to step down.

Once prosperous Zimbabwe is facing total economic collapse including widespread poverty, high unemployment and crippling hyper-inflation.

* news24

GZF Welcomes New Zimbabwe Unity Govt

GLOBAL ZIMBABWE FORUM

PRESS STATEMENT

RE: GZF Welcomes the New Zimbabwe Unity Government

At its last General Council meeting held on 14th February 2009, the Global Zimbabwe Forum (GZF) discussed the appointment of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Governors and all other various issues related to the official launch of the government of national unity in Zimbabwe and resolved to issue the following statement:

The GZF would like to express its welcome to the official launch of the new government of national unity in Zimbabwe.

This is a positive but only the first step forward as we continue with the process of seeking a lasting and decisive solution to the nation’s crisis.

The setting up of the new government must be viewed not as an end in itself but more of as a means to the ultimate objective of attaining a truly democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe.

However, until all outstanding issues on the equal sharing of power are resolved, and until there is measurable evidence of an irreversible process toward a truly democratic dispensation, the return of the rule of law, among other issues, the targeted sanctions regime against the political elite in Zimbabwe must be maintained.

The GZF also calls for an immediate release of Roy Bennet, Jestina Mukoko and all other political prisoners and for the true establishment of an enabling environment for democracy, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

The GZF would like to once again raise its concerns at the secretive and exclusionary nature of the process that culminated in the setting up of the new government. It must be emphasized yet again that the political parties alone cannot be able to fully resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe. There is thus a need for an all inclusive public process of constructive national engagement in order to take the nation forward.

In particular, the GZF insists that the Zimbabwean Diaspora community needs also to actively participate specifically with regards to the process of adopting the new Zimbabwean Constitution and holding of fresh elections as proposed by the provisions of the global political agreement.

The GZF pledges to mobilize the Zimbabwean Diaspora community to actively support and participate in the entire transitional process and ensure that the nation moves forward from both a socio-economic and political perspective.

To this end the GZF will undertake the following measures:

1. To initiate a process of consulting the Zimbabwean Diaspora community over the implications of the GNU starting with a series of public meetings. The first one will be held in Johannesburg on 21st February 2009.

2. To meet with various new government leaders and officials especially the office of the Prime Minister, Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs and the various diplomatic representative offices across the world. To this end, the GZF Co-ordinator is expected to travel to Harare by the end of February to meet the various new government leaders.

3. To fully participate in all the forums set up by various civil society movements both in Zimbabwe and abroad that seek to actively promote the successful implementation and monitoring of the key aspects of the global political agreement.

4. To develop a policy proposal document that will help to give a clear guideline on the broad expectations and fears of the Zimbabwean Diaspora community during this period of political transition.

May God bless our beautiful Zimbabwe!

Issued at Johannesburg, South Africa on Tuesday 17th February 2009

For any other queries or details, please feel free to contact the following persons:

Mr. Daniel Molokele
globalzimforum@yahoo.com +27 72 947 4815

Mr. Promise Mkwananzi
pmkwananzi@yahoo.co.uk +31 612 697 629

Prof. Stan Mukasa
mukasa@iup.edu +1 72 435 730 97

HSRC: ANC is in a Self Destruct Mode

Johannesburg - The ANC is typical of parties across Africa that start out as liberation movements who reward themselves with comfortable lives, the Human Sciences Research Council said on Monday.

Historian Kwandi Kondlo said the ANC is like many political parties across Africa that started as liberation movements fighting oppressive governments, when loyalty was of great importance, and risk-taking paid off.


Too often, once liberation was won, former guerrillas kept taking risks - only now the prize was ensuring themselves a comfortable life after sacrificing so much, said Kondlo, who directs research on democracy at the independent Human Sciences Research Council.

* News 24

Scientists Succeed in Human Trials of HIV Microbicide in Zimbabwe

HARARE (Xinhua) -- Scientists have had the first successful human trials on a gel-PRO 2000 microbicide intended to prevent HIV infections in women in Zimbabwe, local media New Ziana reported on Monday.

Zimbabwe's principal investigator with the University of Zimbabwe working in collaboration with the University of California San Francisco and Professor Mike Chirenje said research proved that PRO 2000 microbicide is 30 percent effective.

"Ideally, we would have wanted a 100 percent effectiveness. But this is a starting point for us considering that there are several researches on other gels done in the past and none of them proved such effectiveness," Chirenje said during a presentation of trial results.

The other microbicide Buffer Gel, which was tried concurrently with PRO 2000, however failed to protect women from contracting HIV from positive partners.

Microbicides are substances intended to prevent the transmission of HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections when applied inside a woman's private parts. They come as gels, creams or a film. When applied to the private parts, microbicide inhibits the virus from entering the human body.

The microbicide research conducted between 2005 and 2008 involved 3,099 women drawn from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and the United States.

In Zimbabwe, the trials were conducted at Spilhaus in Harare and Seke South Clinic in Chitungwiza and 484 women participated.

'Disgruntled Security Chiefs Blocking Bennett’s Release’

MUTARE – Police and military chiefs disgruntled by the new unity government have blocked the release of Roy Bennett, a top ally of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, sources told ZimOnline.

Bennett was arrested as President Robert Mugabe swore in the new unity Cabinet, immediately raising fresh doubts whether the government could withstand pressure from hardliners in the security establishment opposed to it for fear it will corrode their power and privilege.

A stalwart of the MDC and its treasurer, Bennett was first charged with leaving the country illegally which was changed to treason before being changed once more to conspiring to acquire arms of war with a view to disrupting essential services.

He was due to appear in court on Monday but did not after police apparently obtained permission from the court to detain him for another 48 hours.

The MDC and his lawyers say the changing of charges against Bennett and delays to bring him to court were because the state knew it had no case against the politician but just wanted to keep him in jail.

"Clearly they are on a fishing expedition, clutching at straws and know fully well that there is no basis, even suspicion, at law to charge Roy Bennett," the MDC said a statement on Monday.

* Zimonline

Journalists Atacked at Mugabe's Hong Kong Home

Hong Kong - Two journalists were attacked as they investigated a report about Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe owning a luxury property in Hong Kong, a photographer said on Sunday.

Two men and a woman at the exclusive house attacked the journalists and seized a camera, Tim O'Rourke told AFP.

Britain's Sunday Times reported Mugabe and his wife Grace have secretly bought the $5.8m property in the city's Tai Po district, which the report said was the first in the Far East to be identified as the Mugabes'.

O'Rourke was attacked by Grace Mugabe and her bodyguards when he was with another photographer last month as they reported that Mugabe's daughter was studying at the University of Hong Kong.

O'Rourke said the latest attack happened on Thursday as he and Colin Galloway went to the property to deliver a letter on behalf of the Sunday Times.

They were questioned by a black man and a woman, and when O'Rourke went to take photographs of the house, he was attacked.

"She started shouting 'He has got a camera. He is taking photos.'

"(She and another man) both grabbed me. They were trying to rip the camera out of my hand," O'Rourke said.

Another man appeared and O'Rourke was able to pass the camera to Galloway, who was then set upon and held in a headlock, before the attackers were able to seize the camera.

O'Rourke then called the police and made a formal complaint of assault. They were examined for injuries under police supervision at a city hospital.

The attackers were questioned but have not yet been arrested, he added. The camera was returned.

A police spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.

The Sunday Times said the Mugabes have stashed away millions of dollars in Asian bank accounts.

* AFP

New Finance Minister Biti Banks on SA's Support

Harare - Zimbabwe's new finance minister said on Sunday he would reform the central bank and that help from regional power South Africa was crucial for recovery.

Tendai Biti, appointed finance minister last week under a power-sharing government, said he would present a new budget to parliament and urged Western donors to help rebuild the country.

"The Reserve Bank has totally discredited itself," he told Reuters in an interview.

"We must accept that the Reserve Bank is at the core of this economic decay. I make no apologies for those statements."

He said Zimbabwe was looking to South Africa, the continent's biggest economy, for help.

"South Africa is going to be key in the support it will give to Zimbabwe either as budgetary support or lines of credit," Biti said

* Reuters

Zimbabwe Govt Starts Work Under Ominous Shadow of Bennett’s Arrest

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s unity government begins work today to rebuild the shattered country, but the arrest of a top ally of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and continued imprisonment of scores of activists from his MDC party have cast fresh doubt on the durability of the new administration.

Mugabe’s decision to appoint old guard allies and hardliners from his ZANU PF party to work with the MDC in the new power-sharing Cabinet was as much a sign he was yet to fully embrace change as it was a recipe for friction between his ageing team and the young new comers from the MDC, according to analysts.

"Mugabe's actions show that he is still insincere. The MDC will try to fuse in new ideas but Mugabe has picked an old guard that will try to safeguard its territory,” said Gabriel Shumba, a lawyer and political commentator, who fled Zimbabwe to South Africa after he was severely tortured by state security agents.

“It is certainly not the new era that Tsvangirai has been talking about," said Shumba, referring to both Mugabe’s selection for Cabinet and the move by police to arrest Roy Bennett who is treasurer in Tsvangirai's MDC party.

Bennett, who fled Zimbabwe three years ago fearing arrest by the police and only returned to Harare a few days ahead of Tsvangirai's inauguration, was arrested as Mugabe swore in the new unity Cabinet. A top farmer, Bennett is his party’s choice for deputy agriculture minister in the new unity government.

* Zimonline

ZINASU Petitions China to Deport Bona Mugabe

Hong Kong - A Zimbabwean students' union was on Sunday calling for Hong Kong to deport the daughter of President Robert Mugabe, who is studying at the city's top university.

The Zimbabwe National Students Union petitioned Chinese diplomats in Africa after learning that 20-year-old Bona Mugabe is an undergraduate student at the University of Hong Kong.

Students in the impoverished African nation, which is in the grip of a spiralling economic crisis and political turmoil, say Mugabe's daughter should be made to study back home.

Bona Mugabe has been allowed to study in Hong Kong despite sanctions and travel bans against her father and members of his regime by many Western countries.

In a letter sent to the Chinese embassy in Harare and published in Hong Kong's Sunday Morning Post newspaper, students' union spokesperson Blessing Vavu said Mugabe's daughter should be deported.

The president's daughter should return in order to "suffer with other patriotic students studying in the state universities," Vavu argued.

She wrote: "It is disheartening to note that the first family insolently sent daughter Bona Mugabe under an assumed name to the University of Hong Kong, China to further her studies while students in Zimbabwe suffer.

"The state of our education system is so deplorable that the president has seen it fit to trust the Chinese for the education of his daughter whilst ordinary students are failing to get decent education."

Bona Mugabe's presence in Hong Kong, where she enrolled in university under an alias last autumn, emerged after her 43-year-old mother Grace allegedly assaulted a freelance photographer who took pictures of her shopping in the city in January.

According to London's Sunday Times, the Mugabes secretly bought a 5.7-million-dollar luxury home in Hong Kong's Tai Po district.

* SAPA

Bennett Now Faces Terrorism, Banditry and Sabotage Charges

JOHANNESBURG – Zimbabwean police have dropped treason charges against ministerial nominee Roy Bennett and are now charging him with attempting to commit terrorism, banditry and sabotage, his lawyer told reporters on Sunday.

The latest change is the second time police have changed charges since arresting Bennett on Friday afternoon at Charles Prince airport, just outside Harare, shortly before President Robert Mugabe swore in a new unity Cabinet.

The Movement for Democratic Change treasurer was whisked away to the eastern border city of Mutare, 270km from Harare, where he was on his arrival initially charged Bennett with attempting to leave the country illegally.

Police later changed the charges to treason and detained him before changing the charges again to conspiring to acquire arms with a view to disrupting essential services.

"The police must have realised that they had no leg to stand on. Their case would not hold water," said Trust Maanda, Bennett’s lawyer, adding; "Bennett is currently being interviewed by the police. He is now appearing in court on Monday facing fresh charges."

There was no confirmation from the police or justice officials that the charges had been changed.

* Zimonline

Nelson Mandela Endorses the ANC Campaign

Johannesburg - Former president Nelson Mandela on Sunday endorsed the African National Congress's election campaign, the party said.

Mandela arrived at a rally in Idutywa, Eastern Cape with the party president Jacob Zuma. He was accompanied by his daughter Makaziwe and grandson Mandla.

African National Congress spokesperson Lindiwe Zulu said Mandla spoke on behalf of the Mandela family and said that he and his grandfather were "there to confirm their ANC membership and support for the party".

"He (Mandla) said they were here (in Idutywa) to dispel any notion by anybody, anywhere who thinks that anybody within the Mandela family, particularly Nelson, were not supporting the ANC."

According to Zulu, Mandla told the crowd that Mandela has always fought for the struggle of South Africa within the ANC, and would continue to do so.

"He said they would continue to support the ANC towards winning the upcoming elections."

Mandela's appearance was the first at a political event in some years since he retired from active politics.

* SAPA

Biti Attacks Mugabe Over Bennet's Arrest

Harare - Zimbabwe's new finance minister said on Saturday the arrest of a ministerial candidate hours before he was to take oath in a unity government showed President Robert Mugabe's party was not ready to share power.

Following Roy Bennett's arrest on Friday on what his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party says were treason charges, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said the move was an ominous start for the unity government sworn in the same day.

"Bennett's arrest proves what we have always argued: that Zanu-PF is not yet ready to work with anyone," said Biti, referring to Mugabe's party.

However Biti, who has been the Zimbabwe opposition MDC party's number two and faced treason charges himself in the past, ruled out a pull-out.

"Sadly we are forced to stay in this arrangement for the sake of the people of Zimbabwe," he said.

The MDC said in a statement that "the police are now saying they cannot lay formal charges for now and will try and work out formal charges on Monday".

* news 24

Tsvangirai Blames Detractors Over Bennet's Arrest

Harare - Zimbabwe's new prime minister on Saturday blamed the arrest of one of his top aides on factions who want to destroy the country's coalition government.

Morgan Tsvangirai told The Associated Press he would meet with President Robert Mugabe later on Saturday to discuss the arrest of Roy Bennett, who was due to be inaugurated as deputy minister of agriculture in the coming week.

Bennett was detained by police on Friday while Tsvangirai and Mugabe were presiding over the inauguration of senior Cabinet ministers.

Bennett's arrest illustrates the deep gulf of mistrust Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change must bridge.

A pro-Mugabe newspaper reported on Saturday that Bennett was arrested because of an alleged plot from 2006 to overthrow Mugabe, resurrecting a long-discredited claim.

The arrest was a test for Tsvangirai, who had hesitated to join the government for fear he would be in the position of having to answer increasingly desperate calls by Zimbabweans for help, with little power to affect change.

* News 24

Mugabe Promises Sincerity on Zimbabwe Unity Govt

Harare - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said he will work "sincerely and honestly" with members of the national unity government, including those of the opposition, that he swore into office on Friday.

"When I say, I am committed I mean it. When I say I want to work with you sincerely and honestly, I mean it. I want to believe when my colleagues say the same, I should believe it," he said shortly after inaugurating the cabinet.

"Let's know each other more. When we get to know each other, we start feeling for each other, having faith in each other having confidence among ourselves," he said.

"The people will expect a lot from us. Let's never let them down. It should never be forgotten that the suffering of our people is our suffering. Our failure hurts them and our success yields benefits to them,' he stated.

Mugabe, 84, who has been in office since independence from Britain in 1980, was speaking of a national unity government headed by long-time foe Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

"Today has proved that in spite of all the quarrels we are one people. We have one goal, one destiny," Mugabe said.

Mugabe's seeming conciliatory remarks came after security agents arrested a top aide to Prime Minister Tsvangirai.

* AFP

Bennet's Arrest Overshadows Zimbabwe Inauguration

The inauguration of Zimbabwe's new cabinet of national unity has been overshadowed by the arrest of the proposed deputy agriculture minister Roy Bennett.

He was detained at an airport in Harare on charges of treason.

Mr Bennett, a former white farmer, recently returned to Zimbabwe from South Africa where he fled in 2006 after being charged with plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe.


In 2004, the MDC politician also came to blows with ZANU-PF's justice minister in parliament over the seizure of his farm and spent months behind bars as a result.

MDC supporters who demonstrated at the police station where Mr Bennett is now being held were driven away by police officers, some of whom fired warning shots.

The inauguration of the new cabinet went ahead despite the arrest. The new ministers face the task of governing a country in the throes of an unprecedented economic crisis and a major cholera epidemic

ANC Pledges to 'Help' Carl Niehaus

Johannesburg - South Africa's ruling ANC said on Friday its official spokesperson would step down after admitting to fraud in the latest corruption scandal to hit the party ahead of an election in April.

Reuters reported the African National Congress said it had agreed with Carl Niehaus that he would vacate his post as media spokesperson and an alternative role would be found for him within the party.

Niehaus told South African radio stations he forged letters in a former government job and racked up hundreds of thousands of rand in debts to fund a lavish lifestyle.

He said ANC leaders were aware of his financial dealings when he was appointed party spokesperson in November and were helping him work out a plan to repay his debts.

In a statement released by the ANC, the party said that whatever his personal difficulties, Niehaus remained a loyal and valued cadre of the movement.

The statement said the ANC would "stand by him" and "assist him during this difficult period".
However, it was agreed that Niehaus step down as an ANC media liaison officer. The ANC would find an alternative role for him in the organisation.

* News 24

WHO: Zimbabwe's Cholera Outbreak Still a Threat

GENEVA (Xinhua) -- The cholera death toll in Zimbabwe is still increasing, showing that the epidemic is still not under control, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

From Feb. 11 to Feb. 12, 280 new cases and 11 new deaths were reported, and the total number of cases increased to some 73,000 with 3,524 deaths, according to latest figures released by the UN agency.

WHO said the current fatality rate of Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic, which has been spreading since last August, was as high as 4.8 percent.

In order to say that cholera is under control, the fatality rate has to be below 1 percent.

Despite the increasing number of cholera treatment centers opening in Zimbabwe, risks of flooding linked to the current rainy season would make areas difficulty accessible, WHO spokesperson Fadela Chaib told a news briefing in Geneva.

The lack of food and transportation and the fact that health workers are underpaid are further challenges for the humanitarian community, she said.

Let's Forget About Mugabe, Says Zimbabwe's New PM

Zimbabwe's new prime minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, has called on the world "to get over" Robert Mugabe and stop seeing him as the country's principal problem.

Speaking to the Guardian shortly before ministers in the new power-sharing government were sworn in yesterday, Tsvangirai said that his immediate challenges - from paying government workers to purging the system of some of its worst crooks - now have little to do with the man who has ruled Zimbabwe for 29 years.

"Unfortunately people are preoccupied with Mugabe as a person. They need to get over it. This has gone beyond Mugabe. People need to stop talking about him as the only issue. Mugabe is part of the problem but he is also part of the solution. He is not the obstacle we are now facing," he said.

Hours later, Tsvangirai received a sharp reminder of another more sinister challenge his administration faces when one of his new ministers, Roy Bennett, was arrested.

The detention, along with the continued imprisonment of dozens of opposition supporters who have been tortured, reflects deep divisions within the upper echelons of Mugabe's power structure, with some military chiefs apparently attempting to sabotage the power-sharing agreement that brought Tsvangirai in to government.

* Guardian

Tanzania Experts Say Zimbabwe's Unity Govt Will Work

The coalition government in Zimbabwe must work if the country is to recover from its current political, economic and humanitarian quagmire, experts have said.

Reacting to Wednesday`s swearing-in of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister in Zimbabwe`s newly-formed national unity government, they said it would also be a good thing for Tanzania and other countries, especially in the SADC region.

"When these things (the problems in Zimbabwe) happen to one of us all of us suffer. And so when things get better we are all happy. It is in our best interest to see a stable and peaceful Zimbabwe," Prof. Rwekaza Mukandala, vice-chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, said.

He noted that the coalition would work only to the extent to which the different parties were committed to making it so. Given the current situation in Zimbabwe and the level of suffering of the people the parties have no alternative but to make the coalition work. I think it can work, I think it will work and it must work, he said.

In last year's presidential election Tsvangirai won in the first round but pulled out of the race ahead of the run-off because his supporters were being victimized. The 84-year-old Mugabe went through the run-off anyway and declared himself president of Zimbabwe for the twenty-eighth year.

The two parties have since been engaged in a power-sharing deal that was dogged by numerous stalemates.

* IPP Media

UN Mission Expected in Zimbabwe This Month

HARARE (Xinhua) -- A United Nations humanitarian mission will visit Zimbabwe this month to assess the country's needs and how the world body could provide assistance, The Herald reported on Friday.

The mission, to run between February 21 and 25, follows a meeting between Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines of the 12th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of heads of state and government held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, recently.

According to a statement released by the world body, the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs would lead the mission that will also include participation of the World Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund and World Food Program.

Mugabe has said the mission is free to visit the country.

Zimbabwe is facing a number of challenges like the outbreak of cholera and shortage of essentials like drugs and foreign currency.

MDC's Roy Bennet Detained by Zimbabwe Police

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean security agents arrested a leader of the opposition MDC on Friday ahead of a swearing-in ceremony for a new unity cabinet in which he was due to take a post, a party official said.

The arrest did not stop the ceremony from going ahead.

But it could increase tensions between President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF and new Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC soon after they ended months of deadlock in negotiations and agreed to implement a power-sharing deal.

"Roy Bennett was arrested a few minutes ago at Charles Prince Airport. I am not sure whether he was arriving or leaving," Ian Makone, a senior MDC official told Reuters.

Police were not immediately available for comment.

Bennett, the MDC Treasurer General, was nominated as deputy minister of agriculture by Tsvangirai.

Bennett has been living in exile in South Africa after fleeing the country about two years ago because police wanted to question him in connection with the discovery of an arms cache in eastern Zimbabwe.

Britain Says More Reforms Needed First in Zimbabwe

Britain cannot treat Zimbabwe as an "ordinary country" until it makes a series of reforms, despite opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai joining the government, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said.

Testifying to a parliamentary committee, Brown made clear Tsvangirai's appointment as prime minister would not lead to an immediate change in relations with Zimbabwe that might open the way to large-scale aid to help rebuild its ravaged economy.

Tsvangirai was sworn in on Wednesday by President Robert Mugabe following months of wrangling since they agreed last September to share power.

Brown said he feared Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980, would still block change.

The British prime minister said he had told Tsvangirai Britain wanted to see humanitarian aid getting to people in distress, such as those affected by a cholera outbreak.

* Reuters

Tsvangirai to Swear in Zimbabwe's New Cabinet

HARARE (AFP) — Zimbabwe's new Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was set to swear in a new cabinet Friday, bringing his party into a fragile union with long-time adversary, President Robert Mugabe.

Mugabe has yet to name the ministers that he will bring to the 15 portfolios reserved for his ZANU-PF party under the unity accord, which is hoped will end nearly a year of political turmoil.
Tsvangirai, who took office on Wednesday, faces the monumental task of forging ties with a man he long derided as a dictator, while pulling the country from an economic collapse driven by world-record inflation.

"This process has to involve a democratisation process, national healing and respecting the rights of citizens," said Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

"There is also need to address the urgent humanitarian crisis in the country," he added.
Zimbabwe's crisis almost defies comprehension: nearly seven million people need food aid; up to three million have fled the country; unemployment is at 94 percent; and only 20 percent of children are going to school.

* AFP

Zimbabwe New PM Meets With Political Prisoners

HARARE, Zimbabwe (CNN) -- Zimbabwe's former opposition leader spent his first full day as prime minister of the deeply troubled African nation Thursday, and called it "hectic."

Morgan Tsvangirai speaks to supporters after he became prime minister Wednesday.

Morgan Tsvangirai, of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), met with union leaders and political detainees at a maximum-security prison, and planned to talk later to donors, he told journalists.
He was sworn in as head of government Wednesday under a power-sharing agreement with the country's long-time president, Robert Mugabe who he was also scheduled to meet Thursday.

Tsvangirai met the media in an office with new furniture and freshly painted walls, while painters and carpenters down the hall were still busy renovating the offices of his deputy prime ministers.

His meeting with Mugabe later in the day was to finalize government appointments, he said. The Cabinet is due to be sworn in on Friday.

"I'm going to hand over our list to the president for the Cabinet for tomorrow," he said.
He visited Chikurubi maximum-security prison, where a number of human rights activists and his MDC supporters have been held since December, facing charges of planning to topple Mugabe.

They were taken from their homes by state agents from October to December.
Asked whether the political detainees will be released soon, Tsvangirai said the legal process would take its course.

"But those who are not in good health have been allowed to go to Avenues Clinic for medical attention," he said.

Zimbabwe's New PM Tsvangirai's First Day in Office

HARARE – Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had a hectic first day at the office ranging from visiting political detainees in prison and vital meetings with donor officials whose help he needs to save more than half of Zimbabwe’s population from starving.

“My diary today was quite wide ranging,” Tsvangirai told ZimOnline during a brief visit to his office at Munhumutapa building.

Tsvangirai, who was preparing to meet some officials from donor groups later in the day, said he would officially start work on Monday after a Cabinet is constituted today.


He said he had spent most of the day on Thursday familiarising himself with his new office as well as holding series of consultative meetings.

He said: “I’ve been dealing with a number of consultative meetings. I have met the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), I went to see the prisoners in Chikurubi and I went to see the mother of our vice president (Thokozani Khupe) who was involved in an accident and is recovering.

“This afternoon I had a brief with the Chief Secretary (to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda) on some of the work with the public service and security,” said Tsvangirai.

He was due to meet President Robert Mugabe later on in the day to finalise on the Cabinet.
“I’m going to hand over our list to the President, our list for Cabinet for tomorrow (Friday). So, it has been quite a hectic day,” he said.

Asked about fate human rights campaigner Jestina Mukoko and scores of activists from his MDC party detained at Chikurubi, Tsvangirai – who on his inauguration called for the activists’ immediate release from prison – said they would be freed but the legal process had to take its course.

* Zimonline

US Cautiously Welcomes Swearing-in of PM Tsvangirai

WASHINGTON (Xinhua) -- The United States on Wednesday welcomed the inauguration of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister of Zimbabwe while urging Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to show he is sharing power with opposition leaders.

"We certainly congratulate Morgan Tsvangirai on assuming the position of prime minister," State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood told reporters.

"However, we will reserve our judgment on the new government until we see what types of actions it takes," he added.

"We need to see evidence of good governance and particularly real, true power-sharing on the part of Robert Mugabe before we are going to make any kind of commitment ... to provide further development assistance or to easing sanctions."

Tsvangirai, leader of the Zimbabwe opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was sworn in on Wednesday as prime minister in a unity government.

Relations between the United States and Zimbabwe have soured in recent years, with former U.S. President George W. Bush and his administration accusing Mugabe's government of rigging parliamentary and presidential elections since 2000.

ANC Rebukes Malema Over Pandor Attack

Johannesburg - Comments by Julius Malema that Education Minister Naledi Pandor "must use her fake accent to address our problems" were unacceptable and disrespectful, the ANC said on Wednesday.

"Malema's comments are uncalled for and unacceptable. They suggest a lack of respect for the dignity of the individual concerned and the important work they have been entrusted to undertake," party spokesperson Jessie Duarte said.


The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) president was addressing protesters at the Tshwane University of Technology's (TUT) Pretoria campus when he accused Pandor of not taking action to resolve the ongoing salary dispute at the institution.

His comments came after management on Tuesday announced that the institution would be closed due to ongoing protests by both students and staff over salary negotiations.

"The ANCYL is entitled to express its own positions and views. However, this should be done within the norms and culture of the ANC," Duarte said.

She said the ANC leadership will take up the matter with the youth league.

"There can be no excuse for the kind of utterances attributed to Malema," Duarte said.

* SAPA

Zimbabwe Allocates Guards to New PM Tsvangirai

HARARE – Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was on Wednesday allocated four state security agents to keep him guard, in an ironic twist of events for the man who was on several occasions victimized and even brutally assaulted by the same security forces before assuming his new role.

As Tsvangirai addressed thousands of supporters at Harare’s Glamis Stadium, hours after being inaugurated at State House, the four bodyguards, who have formed part of President Robert Mugabe’s close security in the past, stood beside him.

A source from Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party said the four bodyguards were offered to him soon after the inauguration and will complement the team that he already had.

The move however did not go down well with some of the bodyguards who had been part of Tsvangirai’s security team over the past 10 years and are now being sidelined.

* Zimonline

New PM Tsvangirai Vows to Rebuild Zimbabwe

Harare - Morgan Tsvangirai vowed to rebuild Zimbabwe's shattered economy and to end political violence, as he became prime minister on Wednesday in a unity government with long-time rival President Robert Mugabe.

Tsvangirai spoke to more than 10 000 cheering supporters who filled a stadium and hung from trees and light towers, as he laid out ambitious priorities to turn around a country mired in economic and humanitarian crisis.

His speech was an indictment of Mugabe's record after 29 years in power, highlighting the vast challenges facing a unity government whose very existence raised doubts within his own party as well as overseas.

"Political violence must end today. We can no longer afford brother against brother, because one happened to have a different political opinion," Tsvangirai said to cheers.

"The transitional government will make food available and affordable," he said. "No Zimbabwean will ever go hungry again."

"Our hospitals must be places of healing... On Monday, all schools must reopen. This Monday."

* News 24

UN's Ban Ki Moon Urges Release of Zimbabwean Abductees

The United Nations Secretary General says the new unity government in Zimbabwe should respect human rights and release all political prisoners including those secretly detained.

Ban Ki Moon was reacting to the much anticipated government of national unity agreed to by Zimbabwe's political leaders.



The unity government is meant to end months of political turmoil which has left the country mired in political violence and a deepening humanitarian crisis.

The situation was also made worse by chronic food shortages and a cholera epidemic. In September last year when Zimbabwe's political leaders signed a power-sharing deal, brokered by the former President Thabo Mbeki.

* SABC

EU Hails Tsvangirai’s Swearing in, Pledges to Assist Zimbabwe Recovery

HARARE – The European Union presidency, the Czech Republic, has welcomed the swearing in of former opposition leader Morgan Tsvangrai as the country's prime minister, pledging to assist in the recovery of the country.

"The EU presidency in Harare welcomes the swearing in of Mr Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and congratulates him and his deputies," the EU said in a statement.

"This is an important step on the way to democratic rule in the country. The EU hopes the formation of the new government will lead to an immediate end to political violence and intimidation, and to a condition that will contribute to the stabilisation and recovery of Zimbabwe.

"The EU reiterates its commitment to the people of Zimbabwe through its substantial and long humanitarian aid programme.

"It also stands ready to support the economic and social recovery of Zimbabwe once the new government shows tangible signs of respect for human rights, the rule of law and macroeconomic stabilisation."

Last month, the EU tightened its screws on President Robert Mugabe’s government for the next 12 months.

Since 2002, the EU has tightened its political stance against the Mugabe administration, which it accuses of human rights abuse, political intolerance and mismanagement. Mugabe however denies the charge accusing the West of trying to overthrow him.

Brussels again appealed for the release of 32 human rights and opposition activists held in jail.

* Zimonline

King Mswati to Lead SADC's Delegation For Tsvangirai's Swearing in Ceremony

HARARE – Swaziland's King Mswati 111, the chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ for Defence and Security, will lead a cast of regional leaders attending today’s swearing in of Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, a Zimbabwean government official said on Tuesday.

"The King is set to arrive in Harare sometime today (Tuesday). The swearing in will be taking place at State House and there will only be a limited number of places available so coming there will be strictly be invitation," said the official speaking on condition that he was not named.

Tsvangirai will be sworn in today as Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister in a unity government with President Robert Mugabe. Tsvangirai’s deputy in the MDC Thokozani Khupe will also be sworn in as one of the two deputy prime ministers while Arthur Mutambara who heads a rebel faction of the MDC takes up the other deputy premiership post.

South African Foreign Affairs Minister and SADC Chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will lead a South African delegation to Harare for the swearing in ceremony.

SADC facilitator of the Zimbabwean deal former president Thabo Mbeki will also be in Harare to witness the swearing in ceremony.

* Zimonline

Tsvangirai - 'The Road Ahead Will be Long'

Harare - Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who is due to become prime minister on Wednesday, acknowledged the high levels of concern about his decision to share power with President Robert Mugabe.

"The road ahead is long but we believe we must and can succeed while learning from our sad past which has devastated our people," he said.

"The best we can do is that democracy, peace and prosperity is achieved in our life time," the former trade union leader said a day before his swearing-in in Harare.

The MDC leader was speaking to reporters after announcing his choices to fill his party's share of 13 seats in a 31-ministry cabinet. Apart from finance and health, which went to the MDC, Zanu-PF has retained most of the important portfolios.

Tsvangirai named MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti, a lawyer by training, as finance minister.

* News 24

Tsvangirai Names His Cabinet Nominations

Zimbabwe's main opposition leader and prime minister-designate, Morgan Tsvangirai, has named Movement for Democratic Change Secretary-General Tendai Biti to be his finance minister.

A day before being sworn into office, Prime Minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai announced his cabinet of ministers and deputies.

The cabinet is almost equally divided between the two factions of the Movement for Democratic Change and President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF.

Tendai Biti will be the finance minister, who many analysts say is tough and principled enough to take on the powerful governor of the reserve bank Gideon Gono, who usurped most of the finance ministry's powers in the last five years.

Mr. Mugabe re-appointed Gono for an additional five years, despite the fact he has been in office while Zimbabwe suffered record - breaking inflation and complete devaluation of its currency.

Mr. Tsvangirai also named Roy Bennett as deputy agriculture minister. The white Zimbabwean politician is a former commercial farmer whose coffee farm was taken from him several years ago.

* VoA

SA's Motlanthe Says Zimbabwe Can Adopt Rand

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Sunday Zimbabwe could adopt the South African rand as its standard currency to help fight hyperinflation and make a unity government between President Robert Mugabe and the opposition work.

"We have to help them with this regard to ensure that the inclusive government works,” said Motlanthe during his state of the nation interview with South African television.

“It may be practical for them to enter into an arrangement with the reserve bank here and allow the rand to become the common currency," he added.

The South African leader chairs the Southern African Development Community (SADC) which two weeks ago directed Zimbabwe’s rival political parties to urgently form a unity government by February 13.

Motlanthe also urged the international community to help the new power-sharing government, due to be installed this week, after the African Union called for sanctions against Zimbabwe to be lifted.

Plagued by the world’s highest inflation and a collapsing banking system, Zimbabwe is battling unending cash shortages mainly because the government is bankrupt and cannot import special paper required to print banknotes.

The national currency, the Zimbabwean dollar, has been repeatedly devalued and restrictions on the use of foreign currencies including the US dollar and the rand have been lifted.

* Zimonline

Cholera Cases Soar as Zimbabwe Readies for Unity Govt

JOHANNESBURG – A cholera epidemic has infected more than 69 000 Zimbabweans, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday as the country’s political leaders prepare to form a unity government to halt a humanitarian and economic crisis threatening the lives of millions of people.

The WHO, leading efforts to combat cholera in Zimbabwe, said the disease had killed 3 397 people out of 69 317 cases recorded since the start of the epidemic last August.

The international health watchdog, which described Zimbabwe’s cholera epidemic as the deadliest outbreak of the disease in Africa in 15 years, had previously said its experts expected that up to 60 000 people could be infected with cholera in the worst-case scenario – which is turning out to have been a gross underestimation of the extent of the epidemic.

In addition to cholera, Zimbabweans also have to grapple with the world’s highest inflation of 231 million percent as of last July, acute shortages of food affecting seven million people or more than half the country’s entire population, deepening poverty and crumbling infrastructure after nearly a decade of recession.

* Zimonline

Freedom Front Plus Applies to Delay Vote Date Notice

Pretoria - The Pretoria High Court will hear on Wednesday an application by the Freedom Front Plus to delay the presidency from announcing the date of the national elections.

On Monday, Judge Aubrey Ledwaba stood the matter down to Wednesday.

The FF Plus had brought an application on behalf of Willem Richter, a South African living in England, to interdict the presidency from proclaiming the election date.

This was to give the Constitutional Court time to consider whether it would confirm Monday's Pretoria High Court ruling that all registered South Africans living abroad be given an opportunity to vote.

Quintus Pelser, legal council for Richter, told the court that he had received "assurance" from the presidency that the proclamation of the election date "was not with government printers".

The court ruled that the Electoral Act "limited" the casting of votes to people temporarily living abroad.

It referred the judgement to the Constitutional Court for confirmation.

* SAPA