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Movement For Democratic Change
Weekly Briefing Note
02 December 2002
For Further Information, Please Contact:
Nkanyiso Maqueda, Director of Information – 00263 91 248 570
BRUSSELS, Grace Kwinjeh – 0032 494 1 81 621
LONDON, James Littleton – 00 44 7771 501 401
Collapse of ACP-EU Talks
"The Cotonou Agreement is built upon principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law – these are principles which must be respected and understood, because they are fundamental to building a prosperous and secure world, where equity and social justice are shared by all. These are principles that cannot be applied to just some, but must apply to all.
"The Mugabe regime has faced criticisms on many fronts, not least in relations to elections, which were deeply flawed. And the view of the European Parliament is that it was an act of clear provocation by Zimbabwe to include, in their delegation to the JPA, two ministers who are on the EU’s travel ban list."
Excerpts from the statement by Glenys Kinnock MEP, Co-President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, following the collapse of the talks.
Proposed talks between the European Union (EU) and the 78-nation Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group collapsed at the beginning of last week following a decision by the Zimbabwean regime to send two ministers on an EU travel ban list who were subsequently barred from entering the Parliament’s premises in Brussels.
Contrary to reports in the Zimbabwean state-owned press, ACP states did not unanimously agree to boycott the talks in a display of solidarity with the illegitimate and illegal Zimbawean regime. Notable exceptions were Botswana, Mozambique and Ghana, with Ghana’s Osei Prempeh instructing Zimbabwe to "put its house in order". Sudan and Haiti, two countries with appalling human rights records, identified themselves as friends of the Zimbabwean regime by leading the move to boycott the talks.
The actions of the Zimbabwean regime and the irresponsible position of Zimbabwe’s friends in the ACP group have thus postponed numerous investment initiatives and talks on a wide range of issues of concern to the ACP group, a group which comprises some of the poorest countries in the world.
Food Crisis
"We are very, very close to famine here."
Gawaher Atif, World Food Programme Country Director
"We would be better off with only six million people, with our own people who support the liberation struggle. We don’t want all these extra people".
Didymus Mutasa, Zanu-PF Organising Secretary, 10/08/02
The World Food programme warned last week that the food crisis in Zimbabwe had deteriorated to the point where "we are very, very close to famine". According to the WFP, a total of 6.7 million Zimbabweans will require food aid in the coming months leading up to next year’s harvest. The situation is already critical, with reports that levels of malnutrition are worsening and hunger-related diseases are becoming more frequent. Reports of death from hunger have also started to emerge.
Recognising that the international community’s assistance is now crucial if an utter catastrophe is to be avoided, the regime agreed last week to allow the British charity Save The Children’s Fund (SCF) to resume feeding operations in Binga. SCF and Oxfam were banned last month from distributing WFP-supplied food aid.
Lands and Agriculture Minister, Joseph Made, finally admitted that the regime has failed to provide food security for the Zimbabwean people. This is contrary to his statements of last year, in which he continually rebuked established authorities when they warned of the early signs of a famine. Referring to the state’s monthly maize deficit of 13,000 tons (an underestimate according to reliable sources), he admitted, "we don’t know where we will be able to get these remaining stocks".
Nevertheless, the regime in Harare, through the state-owned Grain Marketing Board, has maintained a monopoly on maize imports and distribution, a position that was challenged in the Supreme Court last week by a private importer. Referring to the GMB’s monopoly, Renson Gasela, MDC Lands and Agriculture spokesman, said, "they (the GMB) should support anyone who wants to bring in maize".
Amid reports that food aid continues to be abused for political ends, there is no guarantee that donations alone will save the most vulnerable of the Zimbabwean people. Reports emerged this week that Zanu-PF supporters and war veterans have intensified their campaign of reprisals against MDC supporters in Nkayi district in Matebeleland North by denying them food donated by the WFP. One villager quoted in The Daily News said:
Zanu-PF is starving us saying we are supporting the wrong party. Food is distributed at their rallies at which no suspected opposition supporter is allowed."
Despite the regime’s imposition of a blanket price freeze two weeks ago, prices of basis commodities have increased dramatically. The Financial Gazette reported that the cost of such essentials as cooking oil and soap had increased by as much as 100% since the imposition of the controls.
Economy
Zimbabwe Sinks to Bottom of Index of Economic Freedom
"Overall, economic freedom in sub-Saharan Africa has improved in the last year. The scores of 19 countries are better." The Heritage Foundation
Zimbabwe’s desperate economic situation was further confirmed last week with the publication of the Heritage Foundation’s 2003 Index of Economic Freedom. The index, which ranks countries using a number of political, economic and social variables, classified Zimbabwe as one of the most economically repressed countries in the world.
Of the 156 countries rated in the index, Zimbabwe achieved the dismal position of joint 153rd (shared with Laos), with only Cuba (155th) and North Korea (156th) being classed as more economically repressed. Zimbabwe achieved the worst possible assessment in four of the ten categories used to judge countries and is listed as one of the countries showing the greatest decline in economic freedom since 1995.
Fuel Situation Set to Deteriorate
The Zimbabwe Independent has reported that fuel queues of up to half-a-kilometre long have resurfaced in Harare due to a serious petrol shortage. On Thursday there was estimated to be no more than one week’s supply of petrol in the country. Any improvement to this crippling situation looks almost impossible with the Zimbabwean regime’s decision to supply fuel to only indigenous companies, many of whom – like the regime itself - lack the foreign currency to purchase fuel from international suppliers.
Meanwhile, filling station owners in the Limpopo region of South Africa have reported a loss of business as Zimbabwean black marketeers have begun to sell Zimbabwean fuel at knockdown prices.
General News
Hungry Farmers Abandon Fields in Search of Gold
There are reports that recently ‘resettled’ farmers are abandoning their land to pan for gold, further undermining food production in Zimbabwe. One farmer interviewed by News24 said: We could be farming but the government hasn’t distributed seed and fertiliser yet so we have to look for gold to make a living." The Central Bank has recently increased the price of gold and set up a trust fund to buy gold from the panners.
Of the land marked for ‘redistribution’ by the regime, it is estimated that less than a third has been taken up by formerly landless farmers, the vast majority of whom lack the financial backing and infrastructure to engage in serious agriculture.
International
Mogae Berates Mugabe
The Botswanan President, Festus Mogae, recently condemned the Zimbabwean regime, noting that Zimbabwe’s "drought of good governance" was having serious repercussions for its neighbour. Speaking in the magazine Africa Business, President Mogae said his country was paying a growing price as a result of the crisis in Zimbabwe and the subsequent influx of refugees into Botswana. Referring to his frustration at attempts to engage the Zimbawean authorities in addressing the problem, he said: "What can we do? This is a humanitarian crisis. We are trying to handle it as humanely as possible."
Bank Accounts Frozen in Australia
As part of the sanctions against the Zimbabwean regime announced last month by the Australian government, the Reserve Bank of Australia last week ordered the country’s banks to freeze any accounts opened in the names of some 80 Zimbabwean officials.
British Sports Journalists Refused Entry
Despite having signed an agreement that they would only report on matters relating to the visit of the International Cricket Council, two British journalists accompanying the international body on its inspection of Zimbabwe were last week refused visas to enter the country. The ICC was in Zimbabwe to assess whether it would be safe to stage matches for the Cricket World Cup in the country at the beginning of next year. Reacting to the decision, Richard Caborn, the British Sports Minister, said: "If they are going to ban journalists in this way, then I think the ICC should consider whether this is a fit and proper place in which to run international cricket matches."
AFP Chief forced to leave Zimbabwe
Agence France-
Presse’s regional office has been forced to move from Harare to South Africa following the regime’s decision not to renew the work permit of its chief, Stephane Barbier. AFP has maintained a regional office in Harare for 22 years.
END
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