Mrs. Joyce Mujuru, Vice-President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. She campaigned all over the country for the ruling ZANU-PF Party to achieve victory in the June 27, 2008 elections.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Herald Reporter
ACTING President Joice Mujuru signed a book of condolences at the Indian Embassy in Harare yesterday following the death of that country’s former Prime Minister Mr Vishwanath Pratap Singh.
Mr Singh died on Thursday last week aged 77.
"It is with profound sorrow that I have learnt of the death of Mr V.P. Singh, former Prime Minister of India. On behalf of the Republic of Zimbabwe and on my behalf, I would like to extend to you our heartfelt condolences. May his soul rest in peace," she wrote in her message.
Mr Singh was Prime Minister from December 2, 1989 to November 10, 1990.
Born on June 25, 1931 at Allahabad, he was educated at Allahabad and Poona universities.
He was a member of All India Congress Committee, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) 1971-1974, Member of the Legislative Assembly (Uttar Pradesh) 1981-1983, Congress Legislative Party whip 1970-1971 and held various other posts.
RBZ unveils new notes
Herald Reporter
THE Reserve of Bank of Zimbabwe has unveiled new $10 million, $50 million and $100 million notes that go into circulation tomorrow.
The release of the new notes follows the recent review of cash withdrawal limits to $100 million and $50 million for individuals and company account holders per week respectively.
Some of the security features on the new notes include a colour shift stripe with RBZ on it, the Zimbabwe Bird colour shift on the front and a see-through 10 000 000 on either side which are in perfect register on the $10 million note.
The see through 50 000 000 and 100 000 000 also appears on either side of the $50 million and $10 million notes respectively.
Before the recent increase the withdrawal limit for individual account holders was $500 000 while companies were allowed to withdraw $1 million a day.
The new family of notes join the $20 000, $50 000, $100 000, $500 000 and $1 million notes introduced during the course of the year.
The introduction of the new notes comes at a time when depositors have been spending hours in long queues at banking halls and ATMs to withdraw cash.
RBZ Governor Dr Gideon Gono recently announced that the central bank was working to ensure workers have enough cash during the festive season.
Govt warns rogue soldiers
By Peter Matambanadzo
Zimbabwe Herald
GOVERNMENT has strongly warned those behind the violence perpetrated by rogue soldiers who have been beating up illegal foreign currency dealers and looting shops in Harare since last week saying the coincidence of the incidents and the call for a nationwide stayaway and demonstrations raises a lot of questions.
Groups of unarmed soldiers in full military gear started beating up suspected illegal foreign currency dealers and seizing their money as well as mobile phones on Wednesday last week after failing to access cash from banks.
They also targeted illegal foreign currency dealers at Mupedzanhamo Flea Market in Mbare and Makoni Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza.
On Monday this week, the largest group of soldiers — numbering about 100 — who had failed to withdraw money from various banks in the city went on the rampage, attacking suspected foreign currency dealers along Chinhoyi Street and looting shops.
The group also attacked suspected illegal foreign currency dealers at Ximex Mall before stoning buildings, including Herald House and an Econet Shop in the First Street Mall.
Popular clothing shops such as House of Kumali, Country Road and Brenton along Jason Moyo Avenue also fell victim to the rampaging soldiers.
Infuriated suspected foreign currency dealers engaged the soldiers in a war of stones before joining them in the looting spree as the group stampeded along Jason Moyo Avenue towards Fourth Street bus terminus where they were dispersed by alert policemen.
Addressing a Press conference yesterday, Defence Minister Cde Sydney Sekeramayi said the incidents were being investigated and those found culpable would be brought to justice.
He said measures had been put in place to ensure that such acts of violence would not recur.
The minister was flanked by the Commanders of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Constantine Chiwenga, Zimbabwe National Army Lieutenant-General Phillip Sibanda, Air Vice Marshal Henry Muchena, Police Deputy Commissioner-General (Operations) Innocent Matibiri and other senior officials from the President’s Office and Cabinet.
Cde Sekeramayi’s condemnation comes after two top army officers — Chief of Staff Major-General Martin Chedondo and army spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Simon Tsatsi — castigated the behaviour of the soldiers saying the army did not tolerate such behaviour, which he described as an act of mercenarism.
The minister said during the last five days, Harare had experienced disturbances perpetrated by unruly elements from the defence forces.
"As a result, a number of properties were damaged, innocent people injured, money, and property stolen. These acts are unacceptable, deplorable, reprehensible and criminal," Cde Sekeramayi said.
He said the incidents would be thoroughly investigated and those responsible would be brought to book.
Cde Sekeramayi said it was regrettable that these incidents coincided with a call for a nationwide stayaway and demonstrations by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and some anti-Government civic organisations.
"The coincidence of the above-stated incidents and the call for a nationwide stayaway and demonstrations raises a lot of questions. While it is the right of citizens to demonstrate, it must be done within the context and confines of the laws of this country," he said.
He said the security forces had already put in place the necessary measures to ensure that peace and tranquillity prevails and that peace-loving citizens are allowed to carry on with their normal activities without fear.
"Let me also emphasise that those who may try to incite some members of the uniformed forces to indulge in illegal activities will equally be found culpable," he said.
He urged all Zimbabweans across the political divide, social affiliation or ethnic groups to shun violence, desist from the destructive actions and allow the political process to follow its course in peace.
Cde Sekeramayi said the defence forces and other security forces have a mandate to protect citizens and would continue doing so without fear or favour.
He commended the vast majority of the defence forces for the discipline and loyalty they continued to observe despite the serious challenges the country was going through.
Lt-Col Tsatsi said some arrests had been made but was yet to establish the numbers last night.
President, UN meet riles US
From Caesar Zvayi in DOHA, Qatar
THE United States government is reported to have censured United Nations Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-moon following his meeting with President Mugabe on the sidelines of the International Conference on Financing for Development, prompting the UN boss to explain himself in the Western media.
Cde Mugabe held one-on-one talks lasting about 30 minutes with Mr Ban.
Details of the meeting were not disclosed to the media, apparently at the discretion of the two leaders.
Though, by his own admission, Mr Ban held confidential talks that saw him refuse to entertain questions from Zimbabwean journalists at the venue, he later discussed the meeting with the New York-based Bloomberg News minutes after US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Ms Jendayi Frazer released a scathing statement condemning the meeting that just fell short of openly censuring the Secretary-General.
"It’s extremely ironic and unacceptable for (Cde) Mugabe to be going to the UN Conference on Financing Development in Doha while you had the implosion of his economy and the crisis of his population taking place," Ms Frazer said in a statement.
Sources at the UN office said Washington took Mr Ban to task for meeting President Mugabe, which is why he went out of his way to explain himself in the media.
"I met with him (President Mugabe) about the deteriorating humanitarian situation and we discussed power-sharing," Mr Ban told Bloomberg News.
"I agreed with him not to talk publicly about what was said. It was one-on-one."
Mr Ban’s readiness to discuss an apparently confidential meeting raised eyebrows.
It later emerged that the State Depart-ment had not been amused by the meeting and also by Cde Mugabe’s address to the conference, shortly after the official opening on Saturday.
In his speech, President Mugabe catalogued the genesis of the prevailing socio-economic problems in Zimbabwe, at a time the US wanted the world to believe the problems stemmed from misrule and poor Government policies.
Though the Western countries have imposed a raft of economic sanctions on Zimbabwe, among them travel bans on Government leaders, the sanctions do not apply to UN forums and other multilateral gatherings, which is why President Mugabe attended last year’s EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon, Portugal.
More so, the conference is taking place in a Middle Eastern country, over which the sanctions regime has no force or effect.
Most importantly, the UN is supposed to be a sovereign institution not answerable to any member state.
The State Department statement and Mr Ban’s readiness to explain himself raised concerns about the hold the US has over the world body and added impetus to calls for a reform of the institution.
President Mugabe is on record as advising Mr Ban against allowing his office to be abused by London and Washington in their fight with Zimbabwe.
Soon after meeting the Secretary-General on the sidelines of the 62nd General Assembly in New York last year, President Mugabe advised Mr Ban to safeguard the integrity of his office. This followed attempts by London and Washington to get the UN to send a humanitarian envoy to Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, the International Conference on Financing for Development to review the Monterrey Consensus ended yesterday with leaders expected to draw up a concrete plan of action to end the prevailing global recession and ensure that the developing world is insulated from the trickle-down effects of the financial crisis.
The Doha meeting drew over 40 heads of state and government from various parts of the world, though leaders of the developed world, which was expected to play a significant role in facilitating the implementation of the development targets set at the 2002 Monterrey Conference, were conspicuous by their absence.
The Group of Eight most developed countries was represented only by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, while the heads of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organisation did not turn up, raising concerns about the developed world’s commitment to the development agenda.
The UN, under whose auspices the follow-up conference is being held, has called for a new global deal of co-ordinated, massive stimulus measures aligned with sustainable development and systemic reform of world finance, to address development challenges.
Unicef launches relief emergency programme
Herald Reporter
THE United Nations Children’s Fund yesterday launched a 120-day emergency response to intensify relief efforts in the country’s educational and health sectors.
In a statement, Unicef acting country representative Mr Roeland Monasch said the emergency response would see the organisation focusing on relief efforts in the provision of basic social services.
Under the 120-day plan, Unicef said it would increase health outreach services; provide nutritional supplements; boost school attendance; and scale up access to safe water.
Unicef said it would further procure essential medicines for 70 percent of the country’s population and support community-based therapeutic feeding centres by providing ready-to-use nutritional foods across the country.
The children-centred organisation will also roll out a nationwide campaign on cholera prevention and reach out to at least 1,5 million children with immunisation.
In collaboration with Government, the emergency plan will also provide incentives for teachers and nurses countrywide to enable them return to work.
"Women and children face immense risk in Zimbabwe. Schools and hospitals are closing, while teachers, nurses and doctors are not reporting for duty.
"It is Unicef’s top priority to ensure that Zimbabwe’s children get vital life-saving interventions at this critical time," Mr Monasch said.
He said high HIV prevalence rate (currently 16 percent), food shortages with 5,1 million people in need of food by January, and a decline in social services had compounded the Zimbabwean situation for the past five years.
"Children in Zimbabwe are on the brink and everyone’s focus must now be on their survival," said Mr Monasch.
The net effect on Zimbabwean children has been no schooling, a serious threat to their life, lack of health care, safe water and reduced number of meals.
According to Unicef, the country has so far recorded more than 11 735 cases of cholera and 484 deaths were reported.
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