Govt fails to pay subs

and Southern Africa (COMESA) next year, has outstanding subscriptions and is now under pressure to clear off its arrears. Zimbabwe has also fallen into arrears with the World Trade Organisation, Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), the Africa Caribbean and Pacific countries and the Group of 15.
Diplomats said Zimbabwe was likely to lose its voice in most of these bilateral and multilateral institutions if it fails to pay up outstanding amounts.
Industry and International Trade minister Obert Mpofu was not immediately available for comment. But an official in the ministry confirmed privately to The Zimbabwean that government was having problems in paying its subscriptions because of a deepening foreign currency squeeze.
“From the ministry’s point of view, payment of subscriptions is a priority – but we appreciate that there may be other areas that are a priority,” he said.
He could not disclose the amount the country owes the organisations. Trade experts warned that apart from losing the right to address the organisations concerned, Zimbabwean citizens could also fail to secure employment at their secretariats.
Mugabe lashes journos
HARARE – President Robert Mugabe last week lashed out at international journalists, accusing them of conveniently ignoring a sex scandal involving a Catholic priest fiercely critical of his rule. But, in fact, the international media reported extensively on the Ncube scandal.
Mugabe, speaking at the launch of government’s Information and Communications Technologies (ICTS) policy, singled out international news media BBC, CNN and Zimbabwean news websites, charging they should keep their “dirty, interfering hands” out of Zimbabwe’s affairs.
Last week’s warning follows an intensifying crackdown on journalists, in which reporters have been abducted and tortured whilst others have been threatened with revocation of their practicing certificates for being critical of Mugabe’s government.
The opposition immediately charged that Mugabe’s comments were part of his efforts to thwart foreign scrutiny from his plan to steal the 2008 vote away from the media glare.
Mugabe said Zimbabweans should not risk being fascinated with new communication technologies, which posed risks due to the content they allowed people to access. The threat was seen as an attack on websites such as TheZimbabwean.co.uk, which tops the list of 42 portals blacklisted by the regime. Mugabe has accused the websites of receiving foreign funding to topple him and install a “puppet opposition government”.
“Mugabe is under siege and therefore hitting out at everyone he perceives to be an enemy,” said MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa.