HARARE - Scores of MDC supporters, harassed by police and Zanu (PF) elements, are fleeing to Malawi to seek political asylum.
The Zimbabwean heard that scores of party supporters have fled to Dzaleka refugee camp, run by the Jesuit priests of the Catholic Church, located outside Lilongwe. The refugee camp contains political refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia and the Sudan.
There are an estimated 3,000 inmates at the camp, a former prison.
An MDC refugee at the centre told The Zimbabwean that he was trying to adjust to life at the camp after he fled Harare following indications that police were looking for him.
He called The Zimbabwean after reading a copy of the paper. The refugee, who cannot be named for security reasons said there were more and more refugees being admitted into the centre every day.
"The conditions here are bad and one has to put up one’s shelter. Each one of us receives a ration of 12kg rice, 1kg sugar, 100 grammes of salt, three tablets of soap, and 1kg of beans. They don’t supply blankets and I would very much want to return home, but I understand the political situation is still very tense," he said.
He said he could not go to SA and Botswana because those places was teeming with intelligence operatives.
"It was so tense and we escaped via Mozambique. My colleagues became jittery at Nyamapanda border post and were detained," he said.
"I made good my escape and was helped by an international truck driver who drove me into Malawi," he said.
But he is concerned about the safety of his wife and two children he left in Zimbabwe.
"Every day that passes I think of home," he said. "I desperately want to return home, but I fear for my life. I also fear that publication of your story will lead to harm for members of my family and that my hide-out will be discovered."
Showing posts with label Zimbabwe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zimbabwe. Show all posts
Friday, 27 April 2007
Zimbabwe: Country Barters Sugar for Malawi Maize
AS food and foreign currency shortages intensify, government has devised a plan to barter sugar for maize with Malawi.
The strategy conceived by the Joint Operations Command (JOC) food taskforce -- which brings together the army, police, intelligence service and ministries of Agriculture and Industry -- came into force last month as government desperately tries to stave-off starvation.
The barter project has resulted in a countrywide shortage of sugar which is now only available on the informal market where it is fetching up to $20 000 a kg. The price of sugar is controlled by the state and a 2kg packet should cost $8 000. Price wars between government and producers have in the past created intermittent shortages but the latest stockouts are as a result of major exports to Malawi, industry sources said.
The Zimbabwe Independent this week heard that the sugar was being transported to Malawi in 30-tonne trucks which then came back into the country with maize.
While it is not clear how much sugar will be exported to Malawi, Zimbabwe is set to receive two tonnes of maize for every tone of sugar exported. A tonne of maize is fetching US$155 compared to US$348 for a tonne of sugar.
Sources at the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) said a team made up of the taskforce and the parastatal's operations department officers has already shipped two consignments of sugar to Malawi, one in March and another two weeks ago in exchange for maize. The source said the group was in the process of putting together further sugar consignments to cover the huge grain deficit in the country.
"About 100 000 tonnes of maize have already been discussed and will be on their way to Zimbabwe once the shipment arrangements have been finalised," the source said. "However, considering that an estimated 400 000 tonnes are likely to be produced locally, that leaves a huge deficit that needs to be filled."
Zimbabwe requires 1,8 million tonnes of grain to bridge two farming seasons, excluding 500 000 tonnes for strategic reserves.Government is understood to be getting the sugar directly from the mills in Chiredzi.
Farmers in the area said it was possible for government to commandeer sugar ahead of any other customer and where they would send it is entirely up to them.
"Government often commandeers sugar which it buys at ridiculous prices," one farmer said. "Last year export consignments destined for Namibia had to be stopped to allow government to get 10 000 tonnes of sugar they required."
Malawi, swamped with surplus maize from two bumper harvests, said it was prepared to export 400 000 tonnes of the staple to cash-strapped Zimbabwe.
Nasinuku Saukila, general manager of the National Food Reserve Agency, recently said Malawi has had two years of bumper maize harvest and is in surplus of about 1,1 million tonnes. He was also quoted as saying that Zimbabwe has been shopping around for maize and they will be exporting 400 000 tonnes of maize following a demand from Zimbabwe.
Over the past six years government has resorted to barter trade in minerals, land and other natural resources with any country that has the potential to provide fuel. Recently government hatched a plan to use diamonds mined from Marange in exchange for fuel from Equatorial Guinea.
Controversy around the discovery and exploitation of diamonds in Marange where the government has kicked out the owners of the claim, a British company, African Consolidated Resources (ACR), is likely to scupper the fuel deal.
Government is said to have already received fuel worth US$24 million from Equatorial Guinea, which it is unable to pay for, and now wants to use part of the diamond loot to amortise the debt.
Similar barter trade facilities put in place by government previously collapsed as government failed to honour its promises on time.
The strategy conceived by the Joint Operations Command (JOC) food taskforce -- which brings together the army, police, intelligence service and ministries of Agriculture and Industry -- came into force last month as government desperately tries to stave-off starvation.
The barter project has resulted in a countrywide shortage of sugar which is now only available on the informal market where it is fetching up to $20 000 a kg. The price of sugar is controlled by the state and a 2kg packet should cost $8 000. Price wars between government and producers have in the past created intermittent shortages but the latest stockouts are as a result of major exports to Malawi, industry sources said.
The Zimbabwe Independent this week heard that the sugar was being transported to Malawi in 30-tonne trucks which then came back into the country with maize.
While it is not clear how much sugar will be exported to Malawi, Zimbabwe is set to receive two tonnes of maize for every tone of sugar exported. A tonne of maize is fetching US$155 compared to US$348 for a tonne of sugar.
Sources at the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) said a team made up of the taskforce and the parastatal's operations department officers has already shipped two consignments of sugar to Malawi, one in March and another two weeks ago in exchange for maize. The source said the group was in the process of putting together further sugar consignments to cover the huge grain deficit in the country.
"About 100 000 tonnes of maize have already been discussed and will be on their way to Zimbabwe once the shipment arrangements have been finalised," the source said. "However, considering that an estimated 400 000 tonnes are likely to be produced locally, that leaves a huge deficit that needs to be filled."
Zimbabwe requires 1,8 million tonnes of grain to bridge two farming seasons, excluding 500 000 tonnes for strategic reserves.Government is understood to be getting the sugar directly from the mills in Chiredzi.
Farmers in the area said it was possible for government to commandeer sugar ahead of any other customer and where they would send it is entirely up to them.
"Government often commandeers sugar which it buys at ridiculous prices," one farmer said. "Last year export consignments destined for Namibia had to be stopped to allow government to get 10 000 tonnes of sugar they required."
Malawi, swamped with surplus maize from two bumper harvests, said it was prepared to export 400 000 tonnes of the staple to cash-strapped Zimbabwe.
Nasinuku Saukila, general manager of the National Food Reserve Agency, recently said Malawi has had two years of bumper maize harvest and is in surplus of about 1,1 million tonnes. He was also quoted as saying that Zimbabwe has been shopping around for maize and they will be exporting 400 000 tonnes of maize following a demand from Zimbabwe.
Over the past six years government has resorted to barter trade in minerals, land and other natural resources with any country that has the potential to provide fuel. Recently government hatched a plan to use diamonds mined from Marange in exchange for fuel from Equatorial Guinea.
Controversy around the discovery and exploitation of diamonds in Marange where the government has kicked out the owners of the claim, a British company, African Consolidated Resources (ACR), is likely to scupper the fuel deal.
Government is said to have already received fuel worth US$24 million from Equatorial Guinea, which it is unable to pay for, and now wants to use part of the diamond loot to amortise the debt.
Similar barter trade facilities put in place by government previously collapsed as government failed to honour its promises on time.
Thursday, 26 April 2007
Zimbabwe: Kingdom Takes Over Malawi Company
Harare
KINGDOM Financial Holdings Ltd has wrested control of Malawi firm First Discount House after it beefed up its shareholding to 40,16 percent.
Until then, Kingdom held 25,1 percent of FDH before acquiring part of Press Corporation Ltd's 30 percent stake, officials said this week.
PCL shares were bought for K90 million and shared between Kingdom and TF Mpinganjira Trust, which is now the second largest shareholder with 39,84 percent.
Old Mutual, at 20 percent, is the third largest shareholder.
It was not immediately clear if Kingdom's acquisition had received the blessings of the two countries' central banks.
Earlier reports from Malawi, however, indicated that PCL had sold its stake with the green light from the Malawi central bank.
Kingdom spokesperson Ms Farayi Mpofu yesterday confirmed the transaction.
In a previous interview, KFHL chief executive Mr Nigel Chanakira was quoted as saying his group was looking at consolidating its regional presence using every means possible.
He said then: "We are seriously looking at spreading local risk by expanding into the region."
FDC contributed $11,9 million to group income in the half-year to June 2006, as business continued to grow.
KFHL also runs a commercial bank in Botswana -- Kingdom Africa Bank Ltd -- which suffered teething problems before rebounding after a capital injection of US$1 million earlier last year.
The unit struggled between 2005 and 2006 after a serious run on deposits before being placed under curatorship by the Bank of Botswana.
Kingdom has this year remained strong, releasing forecast-beating full year to December 2006 results in which net profit surged to $17,8 billion from $188 million in 2005.
KINGDOM Financial Holdings Ltd has wrested control of Malawi firm First Discount House after it beefed up its shareholding to 40,16 percent.
Until then, Kingdom held 25,1 percent of FDH before acquiring part of Press Corporation Ltd's 30 percent stake, officials said this week.
PCL shares were bought for K90 million and shared between Kingdom and TF Mpinganjira Trust, which is now the second largest shareholder with 39,84 percent.
Old Mutual, at 20 percent, is the third largest shareholder.
It was not immediately clear if Kingdom's acquisition had received the blessings of the two countries' central banks.
Earlier reports from Malawi, however, indicated that PCL had sold its stake with the green light from the Malawi central bank.
Kingdom spokesperson Ms Farayi Mpofu yesterday confirmed the transaction.
In a previous interview, KFHL chief executive Mr Nigel Chanakira was quoted as saying his group was looking at consolidating its regional presence using every means possible.
He said then: "We are seriously looking at spreading local risk by expanding into the region."
FDC contributed $11,9 million to group income in the half-year to June 2006, as business continued to grow.
KFHL also runs a commercial bank in Botswana -- Kingdom Africa Bank Ltd -- which suffered teething problems before rebounding after a capital injection of US$1 million earlier last year.
The unit struggled between 2005 and 2006 after a serious run on deposits before being placed under curatorship by the Bank of Botswana.
Kingdom has this year remained strong, releasing forecast-beating full year to December 2006 results in which net profit surged to $17,8 billion from $188 million in 2005.
Friday, 20 April 2007
Zimbabwe and Malawi: the eternal bond that binds us
By Daniel Fortune Molokele
Last updated: 04/19/2007 23:49:59
THIS past week, I took some time to reflect on the common heritage that Zimbabwe shares with the people of Malawi.
This rather rare special focus on the Malawi was occasioned by the mere fact that I visited the Thyolo district of southern Malawi recently as part of a field team sponsored by an international NGO I now work for that has medical relief support projects in Malawi.
This was my second ever visit to Malawi. My first visit was in September 2003 as part of the MISA Zimbabwe team that was dispatched to Blantyre and Dar es Salaam, in the aftermath of the unjust closure of the Daily News.
Historically speaking, Malawi and Zimbabwe converge at the level of
colonialism. Both countries were colonised by the same European imperial power, Britain.
Specifically, it was during the controversial years of the central African federation of between 1953 and 1963 that our colonial history was at its closest. This was during the days of the ill-fated triple partnership between Nyasaland, Northern Rhodesia and Southern Rhodesia. It was thus after the collapse of the federation that the two countries' destinies somehow diverged in terms of political direction.
It then happened that Nyasaland became the independent Malawi under Kamuzu Banda and Northern Rhodesia became Zambia under Kenneth Kaunda. Sadly for Southern Rhodesia, things had to go the longer route. Unlike the other two countries, it had its own unique experience of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in November 1965.
Thereafter it became known simply as Rhodesia under the leadership of Ian Smith. It was not until after the bloody liberation struggle that the country also got its full independence in April 1980.
Thereafter it became known as Zimbabwe under the leadership of Robert Mugabe. Sadly for most of us, he remains the only post-independence leader the country has ever known.
But it is also trite to mention that both Kaunda and Banda ruled their respective countries for almost three decades each until they were swept out from power. Mugabe somehow appears to have learnt two clear lessons from those two founding presidents.
Firstly, one can stay in power as long as they can, as long as it is at least thirty continual years. Secondly, be prepared to sacrifice your country at the altar of self aggrandisement, a feat he appears to have really learnt from Banda who allowed a lot of talented Malawians to leave the country leaving it to continue to suffer as one of the world’s poorest countries.
Mugabe, like Banda, appears to believe that it is okay to allow the country to continue to sink deeper into the abyss, as he remains the captain of the ship. It is no wonder that Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has recently likened Zimbabwe to a sinking Titanic!
Last updated: 04/19/2007 23:49:59
THIS past week, I took some time to reflect on the common heritage that Zimbabwe shares with the people of Malawi.
This rather rare special focus on the Malawi was occasioned by the mere fact that I visited the Thyolo district of southern Malawi recently as part of a field team sponsored by an international NGO I now work for that has medical relief support projects in Malawi.
This was my second ever visit to Malawi. My first visit was in September 2003 as part of the MISA Zimbabwe team that was dispatched to Blantyre and Dar es Salaam, in the aftermath of the unjust closure of the Daily News.
Historically speaking, Malawi and Zimbabwe converge at the level of
colonialism. Both countries were colonised by the same European imperial power, Britain.
Specifically, it was during the controversial years of the central African federation of between 1953 and 1963 that our colonial history was at its closest. This was during the days of the ill-fated triple partnership between Nyasaland, Northern Rhodesia and Southern Rhodesia. It was thus after the collapse of the federation that the two countries' destinies somehow diverged in terms of political direction.
It then happened that Nyasaland became the independent Malawi under Kamuzu Banda and Northern Rhodesia became Zambia under Kenneth Kaunda. Sadly for Southern Rhodesia, things had to go the longer route. Unlike the other two countries, it had its own unique experience of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in November 1965.
Thereafter it became known simply as Rhodesia under the leadership of Ian Smith. It was not until after the bloody liberation struggle that the country also got its full independence in April 1980.
Thereafter it became known as Zimbabwe under the leadership of Robert Mugabe. Sadly for most of us, he remains the only post-independence leader the country has ever known.
But it is also trite to mention that both Kaunda and Banda ruled their respective countries for almost three decades each until they were swept out from power. Mugabe somehow appears to have learnt two clear lessons from those two founding presidents.
Firstly, one can stay in power as long as they can, as long as it is at least thirty continual years. Secondly, be prepared to sacrifice your country at the altar of self aggrandisement, a feat he appears to have really learnt from Banda who allowed a lot of talented Malawians to leave the country leaving it to continue to suffer as one of the world’s poorest countries.
Mugabe, like Banda, appears to believe that it is okay to allow the country to continue to sink deeper into the abyss, as he remains the captain of the ship. It is no wonder that Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has recently likened Zimbabwe to a sinking Titanic!
Friday, 13 April 2007
Zimbabwe: International Tobacco Buyers Jump Over Land in Malawi
Paul Nyakazeya
ZIMBABWE stands to lose millions of dollars in potential earnings from tobacco as international buyers are flocking to Malawi, shunning the local auction floors where a dispute over prices and the exchange rate have delayed the selling season.
This comes as it also emerged that local farmers are smuggling their tobacco out of the country to get better prices. The farmers say they will hold on to their crop until the central bank agrees to their demands for a special exchange rate.
Farmers who spoke to businessdigest this week said merchants who had arrived a week after the scheduled opening of auction floors on March 14 left the country for Malawi a fortnight ago where auction floors opened last week. Some former commercial white farmers displaced by the land reform programme are now based in Malawi.
The Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association (ZTGA) confirmed that international buyers had become impatient with the prolonged deadlock and are seeking better deals in Malawi.
"Zimbabwe stand to lose millions of dollars to Malawi if the stalemate continues. The country's traditional international buyers are flocking to Malawi whose crop production has been increasing over the years," ZTGA said.
ZTGA said farmers are also smuggling tobacco to Malawi to seek better returns to remain in business and to prepare for the next season.
Farmers who had harvested their crop in January and early February said they now feared that their crop's grade would decline.
"By the time international buyers return to Zimbabwe, prices might have gone down which is a loss to both government and the farmer," a farmer said.
China is also reducing tobacco imports from the country.
According to Tobacco China Online China is planning to increase production of its import-substitute leaf tobacco to about 55 500 tonnes this year.
That will reduce its reliance on tobacco imported from Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe has lost its place among the world's top five tobacco exporters due to dwindling output largely caused by disturbances on farms, lack of critical inputs and a fixed exchange rate.
According to January's global production figures from the US Department of Agriculture, the top five exporters are now listed as Brazil, the United States, India, Malawi and China.
ZIMBABWE stands to lose millions of dollars in potential earnings from tobacco as international buyers are flocking to Malawi, shunning the local auction floors where a dispute over prices and the exchange rate have delayed the selling season.
This comes as it also emerged that local farmers are smuggling their tobacco out of the country to get better prices. The farmers say they will hold on to their crop until the central bank agrees to their demands for a special exchange rate.
Farmers who spoke to businessdigest this week said merchants who had arrived a week after the scheduled opening of auction floors on March 14 left the country for Malawi a fortnight ago where auction floors opened last week. Some former commercial white farmers displaced by the land reform programme are now based in Malawi.
The Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association (ZTGA) confirmed that international buyers had become impatient with the prolonged deadlock and are seeking better deals in Malawi.
"Zimbabwe stand to lose millions of dollars to Malawi if the stalemate continues. The country's traditional international buyers are flocking to Malawi whose crop production has been increasing over the years," ZTGA said.
ZTGA said farmers are also smuggling tobacco to Malawi to seek better returns to remain in business and to prepare for the next season.
Farmers who had harvested their crop in January and early February said they now feared that their crop's grade would decline.
"By the time international buyers return to Zimbabwe, prices might have gone down which is a loss to both government and the farmer," a farmer said.
China is also reducing tobacco imports from the country.
According to Tobacco China Online China is planning to increase production of its import-substitute leaf tobacco to about 55 500 tonnes this year.
That will reduce its reliance on tobacco imported from Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe has lost its place among the world's top five tobacco exporters due to dwindling output largely caused by disturbances on farms, lack of critical inputs and a fixed exchange rate.
According to January's global production figures from the US Department of Agriculture, the top five exporters are now listed as Brazil, the United States, India, Malawi and China.
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