Friday, 10th July 2009
Howzit
Foreign currency mid-rates updated...
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"Workers at President Robert Mugabe’s farm, Gushungo Dairy Estate Holdings, have poured cold water on recent reports that the veteran president and his wife Grace, a former typist, are model farmers. They said this after Mugabe commissioned a new state-of-the-art milking parlour sourced from South Africa
The farm in Mazowe, formerly known as Foyle Farm, was seized from Ian Webster and was at the time one of the best dairy estates in the world.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, workers told The Zimbabwean this week that the Mugabes’ "success" was based on free money acquired from the Reserve Bank ofZimbabwe
A former manager at Gushungo Dairy Holdings, told this newspaper that over the last four years and on the instruction of Grace Mugabe, he and other managers applied for loans amounting to several million South African Rands from the Reserve Bank ofZimbabwe
"When we asked Grace if we would not end up being saddled with her personal debts, she would always tell us that she had already spoken to people at the Reserve Bank and that the money was awaiting collection," he said."
What a surprise! Mugabe is a no good farmer as well as a no good African leader!
And, if this report is anything to go on, his wife, the Amazing (Dis)Grace, has been using RBZ money to feather her own nest and half the goods she buys are rubbish and the other half is not for farming...
Several employees had accompanied Grace toSouth Africa Africa .
"The highlights of our visit toSouth Africa
"So really for the politicians to mislead the nation that the First Family are good farmers is simply not true. For quite a long time we provided free labour at the expense of the taxpayer, while money was being taken from the RBZ."
A current employee at the farm said the trend had not changed. Agricultural experts from state enterprises were still being seconded to work at the estate.
"It is so crude to the point that agriculture minister, Joseph Made, is essentially the President’s farm manager. He spends most of his time supervising workers from government agricultural institutions," said the employee."
Isn't Joseph Made the Zimbabwean MP that can assess and quantify an annual crop from the air?
And this is just one of Mugabe's farms - so much for his 'one man - one farm'...
The farm in Mazowe, formerly known as Foyle Farm, was seized from Ian Webster and was at the time one of the best dairy estates in the world.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, workers told The Zimbabwean this week that the Mugabes’ "success" was based on free money acquired from the Reserve Bank of
A former manager at Gushungo Dairy Holdings, told this newspaper that over the last four years and on the instruction of Grace Mugabe, he and other managers applied for loans amounting to several million South African Rands from the Reserve Bank of
"When we asked Grace if we would not end up being saddled with her personal debts, she would always tell us that she had already spoken to people at the Reserve Bank and that the money was awaiting collection," he said."
What a surprise! Mugabe is a no good farmer as well as a no good African leader!
And, if this report is anything to go on, his wife, the Amazing (Dis)Grace, has been using RBZ money to feather her own nest and half the goods she buys are rubbish and the other half is not for farming...
Several employees had accompanied Grace to
"The highlights of our visit to
"So really for the politicians to mislead the nation that the First Family are good farmers is simply not true. For quite a long time we provided free labour at the expense of the taxpayer, while money was being taken from the RBZ."
A current employee at the farm said the trend had not changed. Agricultural experts from state enterprises were still being seconded to work at the estate.
"It is so crude to the point that agriculture minister, Joseph Made, is essentially the President’s farm manager. He spends most of his time supervising workers from government agricultural institutions," said the employee."
Isn't Joseph Made the Zimbabwean MP that can assess and quantify an annual crop from the air?
And this is just one of Mugabe's farms - so much for his 'one man - one farm'...
-o00o-
Mugabe spent some time over the past couple of weeks complaining that the West wouldn't give him the money that was needed to rebuild the country. The West said that they needed to see more by way of reforms before they would release any money.
And whilst he is complaining, he is adamant that his government will pay no compensation for the seized farmlands.
What happened to the "willing buyer - willing seller" agreed to in the Lancaster House agreement? What happened to the £144 million given to the Mugabe administration to pay for farms?
"President Robert Mugabe said Thursday his government will not pay any compensation for land seized by his government over the past 10 years.
Mugabe accused the largely white Zimbabwean commercial farmers of siding with the British at a time his government was trying to apply pressure on the British government to disburse funds to buy land for resettlement to the previously disadvantaged black population.
"The responsibility for compensating the farmers rests on the shoulders of the British government and its allies," Mugabe said.
He was responding to a question by Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) President, Trevor Gifford, during the plenary session of an ongoing International Investment conference being held inHarare
Gifford asked the Zimbabwean leader when his government would start paying farmers who have lost their source of livelihoods through farm takeovers.
According to the CFU, 175 farmers are due to stand trial for refusing to vacate their land to make way for the new farmers."
Before any sort of payment is made, surely the priority is to attend the the breakdown of law and order? What of the killings of workers and farmers? Do they not warrant any justice.
And it is more than apparent that Mugabe is going to attempt (again) to hoodwink the international community that the land was destined for the 'landless blacks' and then, once secured, he gives it to his senior party faithfuls!
"I told Blair to keep his money and we were going to keep our land," Mugabe said.
He was adamant it is enshrined in the Zimbabwean Constitution that compensation for land repossessed by government shall be paid by the British government.
"We did pay compensation for improvements and developments… we have honoured that part. This is our stand. It is a British responsibility," he said."
Any 'compensation' paid was based upon Mugabe's valuations, and any money paid was in useless Zimbabwean currency and is reportedly about 3 to 10% of the true value.
"Zimbabwe
Eish! And he said that with a straight face!
-o00o-
And whilst he is complaining, he is adamant that his government will pay no compensation for the seized farmlands.
What happened to the "willing buyer - willing seller" agreed to in the Lancaster House agreement? What happened to the £144 million given to the Mugabe administration to pay for farms?
"President Robert Mugabe said Thursday his government will not pay any compensation for land seized by his government over the past 10 years.
Mugabe accused the largely white Zimbabwean commercial farmers of siding with the British at a time his government was trying to apply pressure on the British government to disburse funds to buy land for resettlement to the previously disadvantaged black population.
"The responsibility for compensating the farmers rests on the shoulders of the British government and its allies," Mugabe said.
He was responding to a question by Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) President, Trevor Gifford, during the plenary session of an ongoing International Investment conference being held in
Gifford asked the Zimbabwean leader when his government would start paying farmers who have lost their source of livelihoods through farm takeovers.
According to the CFU, 175 farmers are due to stand trial for refusing to vacate their land to make way for the new farmers."
Before any sort of payment is made, surely the priority is to attend the the breakdown of law and order? What of the killings of workers and farmers? Do they not warrant any justice.
And it is more than apparent that Mugabe is going to attempt (again) to hoodwink the international community that the land was destined for the 'landless blacks' and then, once secured, he gives it to his senior party faithfuls!
"I told Blair to keep his money and we were going to keep our land," Mugabe said.
He was adamant it is enshrined in the Zimbabwean Constitution that compensation for land repossessed by government shall be paid by the British government.
"We did pay compensation for improvements and developments… we have honoured that part. This is our stand. It is a British responsibility," he said."
Any 'compensation' paid was based upon Mugabe's valuations, and any money paid was in useless Zimbabwean currency and is reportedly about 3 to 10% of the true value.
"
Eish! And he said that with a straight face!
ZANU PF continue to prosecute MDC legislators under charges that actually are so fanciful that they are hard to believe. This is Mugabe undermining the election results so that he can overturn the slender majority held by Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC faction.
"A member of parliament forZimbabwe
Magistrate Samuel Zuze pronounced the sentence against Meki Makuyana, 44, member for the Chipinge South constituency of Manicaland province in the House of Assembly.
Makuyana was the fourth MDC lawmaker to be convicted and sentenced this year.
Mutare West MP Shuah Mudiwa was recently handed a seven year sentence for kidnapping.
Chipinge East member Mathias Mlambo got 10 months for committing public violence, and lawmaker Lynette Karenyi of Chimanimani West was found guilty of electoral fraud.
Karenyi, Mudiwa and Mlambo have appealed their convictions, and lawyers for Makuyana are also filing an appeal. The MDC issued a statement calling all the charges "trumped up."
Mugabe is enraged with the idea that his party is no longer the people's choice. Instead of targeting the voters, Mugabe has targeted the elected MPs and is intent on putting them all away. And under the Constitution of Zimbabwe - that document that Mugabe has rewritten and changed on a whim - any legislators imprisoned for longer than 6 months (and I stand to be corrected here), loses their seat...
"MDC Manicaland spokesman Pishai Muchauraya told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri of VOA's Studio 7 forZimbabwe
"A member of parliament for
Magistrate Samuel Zuze pronounced the sentence against Meki Makuyana, 44, member for the Chipinge South constituency of Manicaland province in the House of Assembly.
Makuyana was the fourth MDC lawmaker to be convicted and sentenced this year.
Mutare West MP Shuah Mudiwa was recently handed a seven year sentence for kidnapping.
Chipinge East member Mathias Mlambo got 10 months for committing public violence, and lawmaker Lynette Karenyi of Chimanimani West was found guilty of electoral fraud.
Karenyi, Mudiwa and Mlambo have appealed their convictions, and lawyers for Makuyana are also filing an appeal. The MDC issued a statement calling all the charges "trumped up."
Mugabe is enraged with the idea that his party is no longer the people's choice. Instead of targeting the voters, Mugabe has targeted the elected MPs and is intent on putting them all away. And under the Constitution of Zimbabwe - that document that Mugabe has rewritten and changed on a whim - any legislators imprisoned for longer than 6 months (and I stand to be corrected here), loses their seat...
"MDC Manicaland spokesman Pishai Muchauraya told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri of VOA's Studio 7 for
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What happened to the idea that a vote is private and confidential?
"Nine villagers were fined by their village head for supporting an MDC representative during village development committee elections held here last week. According to a letter written to the local MP, Festus Dumbu, the local village head, Gilbert Mujakachi, demanded that the villagers pay R20 for their defiance.
Dumbu had reportedly advised the villagers not to back the MDC candidate during the elections. Although The Zimbabwean could not establish the name of the candidate, it is understood the village head imposed the fine as a measure of disciplining the villagers."
It beggars belief that a voter should be beaten, abducted, incarcerated or fined for their choice of political support. Mugabe is always telling the world that Zimbabwe is a 'democracy'.
Well, it isn't...
"Nine villagers were fined by their village head for supporting an MDC representative during village development committee elections held here last week. According to a letter written to the local MP, Festus Dumbu, the local village head, Gilbert Mujakachi, demanded that the villagers pay R20 for their defiance.
Dumbu had reportedly advised the villagers not to back the MDC candidate during the elections. Although The Zimbabwean could not establish the name of the candidate, it is understood the village head imposed the fine as a measure of disciplining the villagers."
It beggars belief that a voter should be beaten, abducted, incarcerated or fined for their choice of political support. Mugabe is always telling the world that Zimbabwe is a 'democracy'.
Well, it isn't...
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In Zimbabwe, there is a huge difference between what is agreed and what actually happens. My question is simple... Why wait until next month? What is going to happen in the interim that will change things?
"MDC-T treasurer-general Roy Bennett will be sworn in as Deputy Minister of Agriculture alongside six new provincial governors next month, the Zimbabwe Independent learnt this week.
This is contrary to claims that Bennett's case had been referred to SADC as one of the outstanding issues of the global political agreement (GPA) after President Robert Mugabe refused to swear him in arguing that he was facing serious terrorism charges.
Gorden Moyo, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, confirmed to the Independent this week that Bennett would take the oath of office alongside five governors from the MDC-T and one from the MDC-M in August.
"Contrary to what some sections of the media have been saying, the issue of the swearing in of Bennett is not an outstanding issue," Moyo said. "There was an agreement reached on the issue by the three principals and he is likely to be sworn in as deputy minister in August when the new governors are sworn in."
Hang on! It was Mugabe himself that said that Bennett would not be sworn in until the court process was complete. Mugabe's people are suggesting that the failure to swear him in was due to reports in the media.
Rubbish!
"He said the only outstanding issues of the GPA were the appointment of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor Gideon Gono and Attorney-General Johannes Tomana.
"As far as outstanding issues are concerned we are now left with the Gono and Tomana issue that has been referred to SADC," Moyo explained. "Bennett will be sworn in with the new governors and the current governors were allowed to complete one year of service before the new governors are appointed."
And here's the stinger. The governors that are being replaced are all Mugabe appointees, and the unity government is to pay them compensation for only having served one year! This is totally wrong! The error was Mugabe's and therefore his party should pay, not the inclusive government.
"Bennett is facing terrorism charges in that he plotted to procure weapons to overthrow Mugabe’s government.
Bennett was arrested before he could be sworn in along with other deputy ministers in February.
He was released on bail a month latter and since then he has not taken the oath of office despite the fact that he was sworn in as a non-constituency senator upon his release from remand prison.
Bennett will serve as deputy to Joseph Made, who oversaw the country’s chaotic land reform programme and sanctioned the takeover of Bennett’s coffee farm in Chimanimani.
During his time as a member of parliament, Bennett shoved Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa to the floor during a heated parliamentary debate, an episode that led to him being jailed for eight months for the offence."
-o00o-
'debvhu
"MDC-T treasurer-general Roy Bennett will be sworn in as Deputy Minister of Agriculture alongside six new provincial governors next month, the Zimbabwe Independent learnt this week.
This is contrary to claims that Bennett's case had been referred to SADC as one of the outstanding issues of the global political agreement (GPA) after President Robert Mugabe refused to swear him in arguing that he was facing serious terrorism charges.
Gorden Moyo, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, confirmed to the Independent this week that Bennett would take the oath of office alongside five governors from the MDC-T and one from the MDC-M in August.
"Contrary to what some sections of the media have been saying, the issue of the swearing in of Bennett is not an outstanding issue," Moyo said. "There was an agreement reached on the issue by the three principals and he is likely to be sworn in as deputy minister in August when the new governors are sworn in."
Hang on! It was Mugabe himself that said that Bennett would not be sworn in until the court process was complete. Mugabe's people are suggesting that the failure to swear him in was due to reports in the media.
Rubbish!
"He said the only outstanding issues of the GPA were the appointment of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor Gideon Gono and Attorney-General Johannes Tomana.
"As far as outstanding issues are concerned we are now left with the Gono and Tomana issue that has been referred to SADC," Moyo explained. "Bennett will be sworn in with the new governors and the current governors were allowed to complete one year of service before the new governors are appointed."
And here's the stinger. The governors that are being replaced are all Mugabe appointees, and the unity government is to pay them compensation for only having served one year! This is totally wrong! The error was Mugabe's and therefore his party should pay, not the inclusive government.
"Bennett is facing terrorism charges in that he plotted to procure weapons to overthrow Mugabe’s government.
Bennett was arrested before he could be sworn in along with other deputy ministers in February.
He was released on bail a month latter and since then he has not taken the oath of office despite the fact that he was sworn in as a non-constituency senator upon his release from remand prison.
Bennett will serve as deputy to Joseph Made, who oversaw the country’s chaotic land reform programme and sanctioned the takeover of Bennett’s coffee farm in Chimanimani.
During his time as a member of parliament, Bennett shoved Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa to the floor during a heated parliamentary debate, an episode that led to him being jailed for eight months for the offence."
'debvhu
posted by Robb WJ Ellis at 6:09 AM
Union Jack (1963 - 64, 1998 - ??)
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