Monday, 31st May 2010

Howzit

Foreign currency mid-rates updated...

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A new book, "Blood Lily" by Mason Cranswick...

"Scott is facing bankruptcy amid the turmoil that grips the financial markets of 2008. He is saved when money is transferred to his account from an unexpected source. We flash back to war-torn 1970's Rhodesia where Scott is growing up as a privileged white boy alongside his best friend, Simba, a black boy, on his parents' farm...

A sweeping tale of naivety, treachery, war and genocide, of love and friendship... and ultimately of hope and regeneration."

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I receive emails from all over the world, and sometimes these include photographs. So, when an email arrived a few days ago with 2 photographs of a 'toll gate' on the Bulawayo-Plumtree road, my interest was piqued. I have travelled this road hundreds of times during my service in the ZRP and as a prosecutor in courts...

A couple of coloured cones, a minute desk, a torn chair and a hi-viz jacket - when I had a look at these snaps, it crossed my mind that at least Dirk Turpin had the decency to wear a mask...

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If you look at the photos above, you will note that the vehicle are reasonably new and in good condition. But the ZRP are obviously more interested in pursuing political ends than doing simple checks on the highway and, as a result, vehicles in non-roadworthy condition are permitted to travel the highways, which themselves are in shocking condition.

"Six people died while 16 others were injured when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in burst one of its rear tyres and overturned along the Harare-Bulawayo road yesterday afternoon.

Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka confirmed the accident saying four of the victims died on the spot.

He however, said the 16 survivors sustained minor injuries."

The toll gates have been in place for quite a while and the government has been hopefully banking the money. Why aren't they looking at improving the state of the roads - I am not suggesting this accident was caused by the road's condition - or stepping up the campaign to ensure that vehicles on the roads are roadworthy?

It is a sad day in Zimbabwe when we read of accidents on the highways that result in any number of deaths.

Mugabe, his apologists, Tsvangirai and his people need to start doing something to improve the quality of the roads in Zimbabwe and to prevent non-roadworthy vehicles from travelling within the country.

"The commuter omnibus suddenly burst the left rear tyre and veered off the road, overturning once and killing four spot.

"The driver and another passenger later died after they were admitted at Chegutu Hospital," said Chief Superintendent Mandipaka."

Wasn't their a report quite a number of years ago that Mandipaka had been confined to a wheelchair after an accident? Or is my brain playing tricks on me?

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Mugabe is decidedly unhappy with the idea that his trading in diamonds should be monitored and regulated by the Kimberley Process - even more so that it seeks to limit the obvious enrichment of individuals rather than the country.

So, when the KP monitor visits Zimbabwe, it is not surprising that his paperwork should be surreptitiously copied and then published in an attempt to belittle the process.

"The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) monitor, Abbey Chikane last week made sensational revelations about how state security agents managed to open his bag without his consent and photocopy some correspondences, which were later publicised through the state media.

Halfway through his visit which ended on Friday, Chikane came under fire from government officials through the state media where he was accused of working under instructions from the United States government.

The unnamed sources said on the basis of the emails, it would be difficult for Chikane to present findings that would favour Zimbabwe.

Chikane told journalists in Harare on Wednesday that when he came into the country, "some naughty intelligent person" opened his bag and photocopied some printouts of his emails."

Diamonds are a national resource and belong to the people of Zimbabwe - yet Mugabe treats the find as if the precious stones are his and his alone.

With the correct management, the find could conceivably finance the rebuilding and restructuring of Zimbabwe. But Mugabe is not interested in helping the population - but is interested in personal enrichment. This, we know, is nothing more than grandiose theft - but Mugabe sees no reason to change the habits that he has had for the last thirty years.

"In this particular case, what happened is that I had copies of emails in my bag," said Chikane, shortly after meeting members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy.

"The emails were photocopied by someone. They (the people who photocopied the emails) basically copied and pasted the content from different email messages.

"These are messages from different countries - Canada, the European Union, and even some African countries…

"But I think some naughty intelligent person decided to photocopy and make use of the emails," said Chikane."

In Zimbabwe, if it is within the borders, then Mugabe and his apologists believe that it is public domain - everything, except, of course, their own communications..

"In one of the photocopied emails, US State Department special advisor on conflict diamonds Brad Brooks-Rubin reportedly advised Chikane to "endeavour to meet with the representatives of the Parliamentary Committee", as well as civil society organisations.

Chikane’s meeting with the committee on Wednesday, according to sources, followed a conditional request by the monitor put to the Zimbabwe government through the Minister of Mines, Obert Mpofu.

Chikane however said all the business he carried out in Zimbabwe was according to the programme, which he developed himself and was approved by the government of Zimbabwe.

The KPCS monitor’s visit reportedly attracted a lot of interest from state security agents. On Thursday, the police in Mutare reportedly raided the offices of the Centre for Research and Development (CRD), an organisation that has exposed rights abuses at the Chiadzwa diamond fields in Marange.

After failing to locate the organisation’s director Farai Maguwu, the police allegedly proceeded to his home, where they arrested his young brother, who could not be immediately identified."

The younger Magawu's whereabouts are now unknown.

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"President Robert Mugabe said on Friday Zimbabwe had voluntarily agreed to comply with the requirements of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme but can break ranks with the body if it continues to be a stumbling block to the country’s ability to sell diamonds. Opening the 71st annual general meeting of the Chamber of Mines Mugabe said: “We entered voluntarily and we can get out voluntarily.

"I haven’t seen a single diamond from Chiadzwa but we are obeying the rules set for us to obey since we went in voluntarily."

He said if the KPCS "comprising some countries which are not friendly to us continue to hinder us then we might have to do some rethinking".

"Countries like Britain and Australia want to take advantage of us so that the process creates the same effect as sanctions are doing," he said."

Here we go again. What is it about Mugabe that he attempts to impart the falsity that their are economic sanctions in place against Zimbabwe? There are targeted travel sanctions against Mugabe and his motley crew, and these also include a ban on doing business with companies associated with these people.

The Kimberley Process seeks to ensure that diamonds sold by participating countries are not being sold to fund wars and conflicts.

Mugabe may have entered KP voluntarily, but now he decides he doesn't like the limitations and will move along if he wants. This is just like his signing agreements that he never had any intention of fulfilling in the first place. Mugabe uses his threats and statements to buy him time. Time which is now permanently etched on the faces of the surviving Zimbabwean population.

"Abbey Chikane, the KPCS designated monitor was in the country last week to assess if Zimbabwe was ready to release gem stones from the controversial Chiadzwa diamond fields to the international market.

Human rights groups want the country banned from selling the diamonds citing alleged human rights abuses and rampant smuggling by security forces.

On indigenisation, Mugabe said he was shocked by the level of opposition to the new regulations being pushed by ZANU PF.

Government is reviewing legislation that would have seen foreign-owned companies ceding 51% of their shares to locals within the next five years.

"I am just amazed by the ruse of negative publicity towards this policy of indigenisation when in fact its regulations provides for flexibility where necessary," he said."

Diamonds are Mugabe's best friends right now, and he will use them any way he wishes - but with his and ZANU PF's objectives in mind before he considers the population of Zimbabwe.

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Take care.

'debvhu