By John Mokwetsi

ZIMBABWEAN artists have failed to champion the fight against prejudices and are not forthcoming when it comes to disclosing their HIV status to their fans and the public in general.

Last month Exposing the World spoke to music unions and musicians who all said culture and respect for their privacy were at the centre of how they treat HIV issues.

But new ground seems to have been broken — albeit on a regional level — when artists representing five SADC countries signed a declaration of commitment to the cause of helping artists who are affected.

A workshop held recently by artists culminated in the establishment of the SADC Artists AIDS Support Network (SasNet).

Headed by the Founder and Director of the SADC Artists AIDS Festival (SAAF), Eugene Marillier-Malotana, the SADC Artists AIDS Support Network (SasNet) aims to network with HIV and AIDS Service Organisations in the region, and individual member states of the regional body SADC.

It will also undertake research and provide statistics and data on artists that are living with HIV and AIDS who need Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART), provide information, services and support to artists in general and in particular to artists living with AIDS.

The organisation will seek funding from SADC, national governments and the international community, corporate companies, foundations and individuals to assist artists in dealing with the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

The regional body of SasNet is chaired by Virginia Phiri, a well-known Zimbabwean based author, while Stephen Chifunyise — also popular throughout the SADC region as a leading playwright — serves as committee advisor.

SasNet has already established an artist’s support group which meets regularly to discuss the impact that HIV and AIDS has on the arts industry in general.

"We are very excited that this initiative has taken off in Zimbabwe," said Phiri, chairman of the committee. "Often artists meet and recommendations to carry out such initiatives are initiated, but usually nothing happens when everyone has gone back to their work and their countries. This creates a white elephant of brilliant initiatives that could change the lives of many people, in this case artists who are devastated by the AIDS pandemic" she said.

The director of SasNet has already travelled to Malawi to continue preparations for the festival in that country — which is tentatively scheduled for November/December this year — and negotiations with various leading organisations championing the cause for HIV and AIDS in Malawi have begun.

"We have great work on our hands" said Marillier-Malotana. "Apart from ensuring that the festival takes place in Malawi, we need to ensure the sustainability of the project in Zimbabwe, and the onus is on every single artist to become involved and ensure that this happens."

Marillier-Malotana last month travelled to Tanzania and Zanzibar to discuss the possibility of Tanzania and Zanzibar co-hosting the festival in 2009. Reports are positive and negotiations are underway

Passport problem: Botswana mulls diplomatic help

Zimbabwe’s continued refusal to grant Morgan Tsvangirai a passport has forced the Botswana government to mull plans to give the MDC leader a diplomatic passport.

An official in the department of immigration and citizenship revealed that they have received instructions to look into the issue of how they can give Tsvangirai a diplomatic passport.

“We were instructed to see how we can help ease Mr Tsvangirai’s travel as a civic leader in his country after obvious travel restrictions from the government of Zimbabwe – the legal and other aspects of it,” says the official.

However, an official in the ministry of foreign affairs professed ignorance on the matter, but was quick to add that “the right to travel is basic and personally I don’t know of any crime Tsvangirai has done to be denied that right”.

“If anything some people who have committed worse crimes in Zimbabwe are free to gallivant all over the world to the extent of taking up prestigious jobs in other countries,” the official adds in an obvious reference to Mugabe’s scribe Caesar Zvayi, who was deported from Botswana three weeks ago.

The Botswana government has since responded to Zimbabwe state media’s claims that Zvayi’s deportation was a publicity stunt.

“Caesar Zvayi, a Zimbabwean national, was declared a prohibited immigrant in terms of Section 7 (f) of the Immigration Act.

“We trust that the information provided will alleviate possible public misunderstanding about the matter.”



These developments come after Tsvangirai’s emergency travel document was seized on Thursday as he was about to leave Harare International Airport on his way to a SADC summit in Sandton this week.

But Mugabe’s spokesperson, George Charamba, denied that Tsvangirai’s passport was seized.

He says Tsvangirai was not allowed to leave the country because his travel documents were invalid.

He claims that Tsvangirai’s passport had expired and had not yet been replaced.

“We are not going to waive the rules for a politician who is merely forgetful,” he said before the travel documents were returned.

He accused Tsvangirai of knowingly going to the airport with invalid travel documents to provoke authorities “to secure one or two sound bites” and gain political mileage. – zimbabwemetro.com

Confusion Marks Currency Reforms

By John Mokwetsi

CONFUSION marked the first day of new money on Friday as many found it difficult to understand the value of the old coins, brought back into circulation as part of the central bank’s currency reforms.

The MDC immediately criticised the latest measures, saying they will cause serious confusion among the public.

"We believe that any central bank should know the amount of money that is in circulation and, clearly, allowing people to scrounge for old money from their drawers will make it impossible to know how much currency is on the market," the MDC said in a statement.

"It could further push up inflation. Moreover, the token increase of withdrawal limits from $100 billion (now $10) to $2 trillion (or $200) will not bring any relief to the public at a time when that amount can hardly buy you two bars of soap."

The MDC said no amount of tinkering with currency denominations will address the Zimbabwean crisis.

"As long as there is no production, we will continue to move in circles as a country," the MDC said. "The supply side of the economy should be addressed by confronting Zimbabwe’s real crisis, which is the crisis of governance and legitimacy."

On Wednesday, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor Gideon Gono lopped off 10 zeros from the country’s battered currency in a bid to smoothen the operations of the financial IT system.

He re-introduced the old coins $5, $2, $1, 50 cents, 20 cents and a 10 cents. Two new coins — the $10 and $25 — were also introduced.

But for many people, particularly those who never used the coins as currency, the new changes meant confusion rather than convenience.

For others who had kept the old coins in their homes and store-rooms the reintroduction of the money by the RBZ has meant a small windfall.

A snap survey carried out by The Standard on the day the new currency went into circulation in Harare revealed most banks by midday had long queues because they were still waiting for cash from the Reserve Bank.

The pattern was the same yesterday at banks in Harare’s city centre.
In commuter omnibuses there were heated debates as operators refused to accept the coins or found themselves arguing over how much commuters should fork out.

In supermarkets, till operators confessed the new monetary system was giving them headaches and causing numerous arguments with impatient customers.

On Friday and Saturday many shops and supermarkets were still struggling to update their systems and many swipe machines were not operating.

Shoppers warned that the problems were not by any means over as the authorities were refusing to own up to the current problems facing the economy.

But it was not all gloom. The Standard spotted Chrispen Munyoro from Glen View excitedly purchasing an ice cream from a vendor with his old coins.

"I last ate this long back because I could no longer afford it, but now I am going to use my coins to buy some luxurious things like ice cream to spoil myself."

In Glen View, Budiriro and Highfield there were unconfirmed reports of youths seen digging in their gardens for the coins.

"I remember throwing some coins in this garden but because I can use them now I am going to search till I find them all," said Sekuru Rusere from Gazaland in Highfield.

Reacting to the new measures by the RBZ the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions ZCTU said the change of currency and cutting of zeros was not the panacea to Zimbabwe’s problems.

ZCTU also expressed concern over calls by the RBZ to freeze salaries and wages for workers for a period of six months in order to curb inflation, saying many workers were already struggling to make ends meet with current salaries.

The governor is very much aware that freezing salaries has nothing to do with the spiralling inflation. He is also aware that productivity can only be matched with proper remuneration, which is a living wage for Zimbabwe’s workers," the ZCTU said.

ZCTU president Lovemore Matombo said: "RBZ has caused confusion among people especially with the issue of coins. I also think by that by December 31 the zeros slashed will be back unless there is an urgent economic revival."

Net Closes on Fuel Facility Abusers

By John Mokwetsi

THE net is closing in on senior Zanu PF and government officials who abused the subsidised fuel facility meant for the agricultural sector.

Manicaland war veteran, Enock Saidani, yesterday became the first A2 farmer to face charges of selling subsidised fuel on the black market.

Saidani allegedly sold 17 600 litres of diesel on the illegal parallel market between June 2005 and 10 February this year.Saidani owns Mazonwe Farm 4 in Mutare and was arrested last week after the government launched a probe to establish how fuel meant for farming activities had been used.

The Standard last week exposed a list of several high-ranking Zanu PF and government officials under investigation for abusing the fuel facility.

The government, anxious to ensure the success of its "agrarian revolution", provided subsidised petrol at $11 000 and diesel at $13 500 a litre to A2 farmers, most of them Zanu PF stalwarts. However the facility was widely abused as the fuel was immediately sold on the black market.

The abuse is partly responsible for Zimbabwe's food crisis.Saidani appeared before a Mutare Magistrate, Fabian Feshete, facing charges of abusing 17 600 litres of diesel valued at $193.6 million at the subsidised price.The State alleges that from 1 June 2005 to 10 February 2006, Saidani acquired diesel from NOCZIM Mutare ostensibly for ploughing his fields.

Court documents, however, show that he sold the diesel allocated to him on the black market.Saidani applied for bail but the magistrate reserved the ruling to tomorrow.

The State argued, through acting area public prosecutor Levison Chikafu, that Saidani was not a suitable candidate for bail and was most likely to abscond. "There is a possibility for a conviction in this matter given the evidence against the accused.

Prospects of a lengthy custodial sentence will induce the accused to abscond," said Chikafu during his submissions against granting of bail.Defence lawyers, said the accused was a respectable citizen since he is a war veteran who fought for the liberation of the country.

The prosecution is likely to send shivers among other Zanu PF and government heavyweights, who were beneficiaries of the fuel facility, but whose questionable agricultural production is the subject of an on-going probe.

Investigations have already been instituted countrywide, starting in Manicaland, where senior government officials and well-connected individuals allegedly abused the fuel facility by re-selling the scarce commodity.Zimbabwe has been reeling from acute fuel shortages which have brought the former vibrant economy to its knees.

Mugabe's Murderous Plan

By John Mokwetsi

Mugabe's murderous plan

The next steps in the elimination of the MDC opposition in Zimbabwe

While the laughable "talks" about a peaceful solution to the political crisis stutter on, and while the general level of violence and fear ratchets up across the country, the military junta behind Mugabe move on remorselessly.

At the end of last week the five main Junta leaders - Constantine Chiwenga, Augustine Chihuru, Perrence Shiri, Emmerson Mnangagwa and Paradzai Zimondi - held a secret meeting with their President.

Details of that meeting have been passed on to me by a sympathetic source close to the junta. They reveal a comprehensive plan to, and I quote, "target and eliminate the MDC from the political map of Zimbabwe".

The plan covers all levels of government - cell, ward, district, province and national - and is backed by a general order to the security forces and the militia to increase the every-day level of violence against opposition supporters.

One specific measure is designed to wipe out the victory which the MDC secured in the recent elections, when they achieved a majority of seats in Parliament. This is how it will work.

Successful MDC candidates are to be targeted, attacked and threatened until they retreat into hiding or exile. When they have been absent from Parliament for 21 days their seats can be declared vacant, and a new by-election held. This time round MDC supporters will be cowed into voting for Zanu-PF.

Part of the new plan also takes into consideration the unfavourable stories that independent journalists have been leaking to the western media from inside Zimbabwe. The solution to that problem, the Junta leaders told Mugabe, is a simple one. Death - or the threat of it - to the journalists.

Action against some reporters has already begun, and several have taken steps to protect their families, then gone into hiding. A colleague who worked for the Zimbabwe Independent was recently abducted, beaten, and threatened with death unless he revealed his sources within Zanu-PF. Temporarily freed, he managed to cross the border to comparative safety in South Africa.

Meanwhile, on the international scene, Britain and America are still considering their options following the failure of their optimistic approach to the United Nations Security Council. Britain is now expected to ask the European Union to bring pressure on Zimbabwe.

Somehow I don't believe any action by the EU is going to have our dapper president trembling in his made-to-measure shoes.