Zim News Roundup – 31/3/06

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The company’s chief executive, Sam Sipepa Nkomo, told The Zimbabwean that he had sought a meeting with the minister, Tichaona Jokonya, but had received no response. “We have been forced to go to court again, as we want finality in this matter. We are seeking another court order to compel the minister to issue us with a licence,” said Nkomo, adding that several attempts to meet with the Jokonya had proved fruitless. – Own correspondent

Gold panners arrested

MAZOWE – After years of turning a blind eye to gold panning, which has caused massive environmental damage, the police have at last taken action, rounding up 85 gold panners here last week and impounding 40 kg of gold ore and some mining equipment.

A police spokesman has confirmed the launch of ‘Operation Environment Friendly’ which will target illegal panning.

The Officer commanding Harare Suburban, Chief Superintendent Mbeko Kunene,

Said first offenders would be fined while those with previous records would be sent to court.

Zanu (PF) has in the past encouraged illegal panners on the grounds that the existing legislation is ‘colonial’ and people should benefit from the natural resources in their area. Senior party members have profited massively from the industry, with a gram of gold selling for about Z$2,5 million. – Own correspondent

Govt U-turn on food aid

HARARE – After years of denying people food, the government has at last made a u-turn and asked for international assistance. So far an appeal to the United Nations has raised US$3 million and a promise of US$6 million more.

In the past, Mugabe has insisted that Zimbabwe has enough resources to feed its people, telling the world media “we don’t want to choke” and “the world should take its food elsewhere”. After six years of mass hunger, during which time the average life expectancy has dropped from 65 to 37, the Zanu (PF) dictatorship can no longer feed its own supporters and has asked for help.

Despite the fact that the recent rainy season has been excellent, NGOs here say food aid is urgently needed if mass starvation is to be averted. The lack of seed, fertiliser, chemicals, draught power, large-scale farming expertise and extension advice has reduced the former breadbasket to a dust bowl.

Despite importing 800,000 tonnes of maize from South Africa during the past 12 months, has slashed distribution to hungry people and deliveries to private millers, with households in the southern provinces being worst affected.

At least four million Zimbabweans out of a 12 million population are in need of food aid, according to United Nations agencies. – Own correspondent

Military rumblings of discontent

HARARE – Rumblings of discontent within the Zimbabwean military are increasing. Soldiers at the headquarters of 2 Brigade here last week allegedly sabotaged their vehicles in protest at poor conditions of service.

Soldiers allegedly removed batteries from several vehicles, including a bus and some Chinese trucks.

Junior soldiers and policemen have seen their meagre salaries eroded by inflation, officially at 800%, while their senior officers have been taken care of by Mugabe’s elaborate system of patronage. Most of them have two vehicles, a home of their own and a farm somewhere. Corruption, which has been rife for many years now, has enabled them to feather their nests very comfortably. Many have benefited from the mining spoils from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where the army and Zanu (PF) are in partnership in several mining interests. – Own correspondent

Police/army officers can’t quit

BULAWAYO – Officers in the police and army are being forced to stay in the forces against their wishes as the Zimbabwe government desperately battles to stem the tide of young officers leaving because of poor pay and working conditions.

All those with less than 10 years service have been banned from resigning. Some 3,000 are reported to have left in the first two months of this year.

In a memo to police provincial commanders dated March 6, 2006 Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri instructed that “only those members (of the police force) who have served for 10 years and above should be allowed to leave.”

Chihuri also ordered his provincial commanders to thoroughly check and verify the stated reasons for resignation and said junior officers wishing to go for further studies either in Zimbabwe or abroad should provide proof.

Several police officers and soldiers have in the past duped their commanders into

granting them temporary leave of absence to study abroad but once outside the country have refused to return after finding menial but better paying jobs in countries such as Britain and the United States.

A soldier or policeman who has just finished training takes home about Z$9 million which is many times less than the Z$28 million the government’s Central Statistical Office says an average family of six people needs for basic goods and services per month.

Chihuri last year told a special committee of Parliament that dissatisfaction was rising among his officers because of poor pay and warned legislators that the country was running a huge security risk by underpaying its police. – ZimOnline