e in many places. An outbreak of measles has already hit the town but something more serious could develop if no running water is made available soon. The residents of Shackleton were moved there from a nearby farm where cholera had started to spread. At the time the small mining compound was owned by The Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation. There was running water when the Chinhoyi council took over but no maintenance work has been done on the pipes. The council has told the residents there is no money for spare parts either. – SW Radio Africa
Ex-detainees allege discrimination
BULAWAYO – A former political prisoner and war veteran who split from the ruling party has accused the government of favouring ex-detainees who support Zanu (PF) and rewarding them financially. Ernest Malandu said all former political prisoners in the country were supposed to be receiving monthly payments from the government as stipulated in the Ex-Detainees Bill, which became law last year. But he has not been paid at all and neither have many other ex-detainees in Matabeleland. Malandu said the vetting exercises to determine who gets benefits were held at Zanu (PF) offices and ex-detainees in the rural areas of Matabeleland were never told.
He believes they are targeted on many levels because it is no secret they do not support Mugabe. – Tererai Karimakwenda
Inflation figures ‘do not reflect reality’
HARARE – Zimbabweans will have to contend with rising prices of goods and services in the foreseeable future amid warnings by analysts that the June slowdown in the rate of inflation is only on paper and not supported by major improvements in economic conditions.
The country’s annualised rate of inflation, the highest in the world, trekked backwards to 1 184.6 percent in June from an all time record high of 1 193.5 percent in May.
But analysts immediately dismissed the latest decline in the rate of change of prices as not reflective of the real situation on the ground and called for a major review of the government’s skewed foreign exchange policy as well as far-reaching political and economic reforms to address the economic meltdown.
“Judging by the rate at which prices have been going up, the new (inflation) numbers are a world apart from the reality on the ground,” said respected Harare economist James Jowah.
Massive price increases during the past month were recorded for fuel, urban commuter fares and basic foodstuffs like drinks.
The price of some brands of orange syrups leapt from about Z$425 000 per two-litre bottle to more than $800 000 for the same quantity while commuter fares rose from an average $60 000 a trip to between $100 000 and $120 000 for the same trip. – ZimOnline
Mirror Group in trouble
HARARE – The Mirror Newspaper Group, secretly bought out last year by the spy agency CIO, is experiencing serious viability and operational problems. Editor Tendai
Majoni and acting Chief Executive Tichaona Chifamba have both been removed from their posts and the print run of the Daily Mirror has been slashed to 1,000 a day in a desperate effort to cut costs.
Since the CIO take-over, several journalists have been dismissed for various reasons. The new owners are still embroiled in a court battle with the group’s founder Ibbo Mandaza who was dismissed as chief executive when the CIO took over.
The paper has been experiencing problems paying salaries and suppliers, despite the fact that CIO has unlimited access to unaudited government funds. – Staff reporter