Messages From Zimbabwe

The cost of living increased by an average of -0,1 percent in May gaining 0,1 percent from last month’s figure of -1,1 percent, according to data released by the Central Statistical Office yesterday.

This is the first time for the inflation figures to increase for the past four months, when the inflation rate was pegged in foreign currency denominated figures.

This is because the South African rand rate gained more than the American dollar.

The month-on-month food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation stood at -0,84 percent gaining 2,07 percentage points on April’s rate of -2,91.

Month-on-month non-food inflation stood at -1,05 percent, gaining 0,07 percentage points on the April rate of -0,22 percent.

Between the end of March and the end of April, the cost of living as calculated by the Central Statistical Office fell by 1, 1 percent — less than the record 3,0 percent seen in March, but enough to mean the cost of living fell by just over 9,2 percent in the first quarter of the year.

Deflation means if prices continue falling as they did in the first quarter, prices will be almost 29 percent lower at the end of this year than they were at the end of last year.

Inflation in minus figures is often called deflation.

Deflation was seen in the past four months.

Last month’s drop in the cost of living of 1,1 percent follows a 3 percent, 2,3 percent fall in January and a 3,1 percent dip in February, the CSO has reported.

Zimbabweans have seen prices fall since the Government allowed manufacturers, suppliers and retailers to price goods and services in hard currency.

The fall in prices for the first quarter of the year was due to two factors: first and foremost, the stiff competition in the market that has arisen — forcing all suppliers of goods and services to refine their distribution chains and see where they can cut margins.

The steadily rising output from Zimbabwean manufacturers, plus improved productivity and growing economies of scale across all sectors as the economy expands again, have made such decline in margins possible while still retaining profitability and viability.

Secondly, there is low level of money supply.

Zimbabwe is seeing the classic cause of deflation that of little money chasing too many goods.

Money supply can only grow as the economy grows, and higher output is likely to result in greater productivity, so the deflationary pressure is likely to continue for a while.

Economists predict inflation rates will remain negative due to increased competition.

(Source)

Members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA/MOZA) marched through the streets of Bulawayo today to mark International Refugee Day, commemorated annually on 20th June. Four simultaneous protests began at 12.30pm under the theme – real people, real needs. The four different protests began at different locations, one of which was outside Bulawayo Central Police Station, converging on the offices of the state-owned Chronicle newspaper to test if media freedom exists in Zimbabwe today.

Three of the four simultaneous protests, including the one that had started outside the police station, arrived at the offices of the Chronicle at which point they were attacked by uniformed police officers who brutally beat them, arresting many. The fourth demonstration was stopped en route by police who also viciously beat the peaceful protestors. At this point, we are still trying to verify how many people have been arrested and how many require medical treatment.

WOZA traditionally marks International Refugee Day as we believe Zimbabweans are refugees in their own country – displaced, unsettled and insecure. Government is still targeting informal trading, the only means of survival for most people and so many find themselves unable to provide for themselves and their families. Informal traders are harassed by police, their produce often looted and stolen. In a country where all goods and services are now charged in foreign currency, the inability to earn forex places the vulnerable even more at risk and forces more and more Zimbabweans to flee their country of birth to try and provide for their families. Through these peaceful protests, WOZA is reminding the inclusive government and the world that the people of Zimbabwean remain the victims of this crisis – it is time to put the needs of the people first. ALL Zimbabweans deserve to enjoy the full rights of citizenship; amongst others, the right to earn a living, the right to personal security and the right to adequate shelter.

(Source: via Skype)

For those who have not experienced the peculiar perspective of Zimbabwe’s state-controlled media, here’s an example in the form of  ZBC coverage of the  legal struggle for Mount Carmel farm (published on Friday 12 June). Please note, this farm is protected by a SADC ruling. Follow the links at the end of this blog for full details and background on the Mount Carmel situation.

White farmers cause chaos at Dr. Shamuyarira’s farm

White farmers have regrouped themselves at Mount Carmel, a farm allocated to Zanu-PF Politburo member Dr Nathan Shamuyarira in Chegutu where they are causing chaos in clear desperate attempts to reverse the land reform programme.

The situation at Mount Carmel and Tyford farms in Mashonaland West Province was tense when ZBC News arrived.

The white farmers Bruce Campbell, Ben Freethe and Meredith had regrouped in their battle to try and evict ZANU PF politburo member Dr Nathan Shamuyarira and the party’s Central Committee member Cde Jimayi Muduvuri.

Dr Shamuyaria’s farm manager Cde Landmines Madongonda said on different occasions, the white farmers escorted by foreign journalists came to the farm to provoke the farm workers so as to create ugly scenes which could then be used to create false stories.

He said on Thursday the white farmers came and took away the farm workers’ food, clothes and a DDF tractor which was later recovered in Chegutu after being dumped there.

Cde Muduvuri who is facing the same problem said he is now worried about the constant visit and resistance by the white farmers and foreign journalists and says they are bent on stage managing events within the farms so as to come up with stories that tarnish the inclusive government.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Justice National Co-ordinator Advocate Martin Dinha warned the white farmers to stop playing games reminding them that the Global Political Agreement signed by the three political leaders has clearly stated that the land reform is a closed chapter that cannot reversed.

The new wave of farm disturbances by white farmers who are now working in cahoots with hired foreign journalists have been described by observers as blatant attempts bent on discrediting the inclusive government by stage managing some form of chaos within the farms.

Some sections of the western media have claimed that there are fresh farm invasions in Zimbabwe reports which have been dismissed as untrue by the inclusive government.

(Source)

The warm Western welcome Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has been receiving is rankling some of his governing partners, state media reported Monday.

Tsvangirai is on a three-week trip through Europe and the U.S. that included a meeting with President Barack Obama last week.

His coalition partner, Zimbabwe’s longtime ruler Robert Mugabe, is barred by travel restrictions from visiting the stops on Tsvangirai’s itinerary, and the leaders with whom the premier has had cordial talks accuse Mugabe of trampling on democracy and ruining a once vibrant economy.

Zimbabwe’s state-run Herald newspaper reported there were concerns among some officials aligned to Mugabe over Obama’s reference to building a new partnership not with the coalition government as a whole, but with Tsvangirai, a former opposition leader who has been beaten and jailed by Mugabe’s regime.

Tsvangirai and Mugabe formed their coalition in February, pressed by neighbors to end violent political confrontation and cooperate to address their country’s economic crisis. The political marriage of convenience has been rocky from the start, and Western leaders say progress toward reform has been slow.

After meeting Tsvangirai on Friday in Washington, Obama praised the premier for persevering in trying to lead Zimbabwe out of a “very dark and difficult period.” Obama accused Mugabe of resisting democracy.

The Herald quoted Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi, a Mugabe appointee, as accusing Obama of being “overtly biased” and lacking “diplomatic courtesy.”

Tsvangirai has said his three-week trip is aimed at re-engaging with the West, while officials linked to Mugabe have tried to portray it as an attempt to persuade the international community to lift sanctions.

Tsvangirai started in the Netherlands and the U.S., where officials demanded more progress on reforms by the coalition before aid and investment could resume. Tsvangirai was headed to Britain, Germany, France, Norway, Sweden and Belgium.

State radio in Zimbabwe reported over the weekend that Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, another Mugabe appointee, had planned his own outreach visit with EU officials in hopes of discussing normalizing relations, but was told Tsvangirai should take the lead.

The EU said Monday it was unaware of any plans for a meeting with Mumbengegwi, while talks with Tsvangirai Thursday and Friday had been scheduled for weeks. EU spokesman John Clancy said it was too early to put normalization on the agenda.

The talks will focus on hearing out the Zimbabwe premier and how the unity government intends to meet commitments to reform and turn the country around, Clancy said.

Clancy says the EU remains ready to offer more humanitarian aid but wants to see “good progress” made by the unity government before any decision can be made to lift sanctions.

(Source)

Zimbabwe, whose economy has been hit by frequent power cuts, risks being cut off by regional electricity suppliers over $57 million in unpaid debts, state media reported on Sunday, dimming prospects of a quick recovery.

A new unity government formed by President Robert Mugabe and rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai seeks to raise industrial output, now below 20 percent due to shortages of foreign currency and electricity, to boost the economy after years of hyperinflation and contraction.

The country’s factories and mines have been hit hard by power shortages.

Zimbabwe imports about 35 percent of its power requirements from Mozambique, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but has regularly failed to pay for supplies.

The head of state power utility ZESA told the official Sunday Mail newspaper that Zimbabwe could soon be cut off if it fails to pay for power imports.

“The threat is very real that the suppliers have run out of patience,” ZESA chief executive Ben Rafemoyo is quoted as saying.

“If we do not pay, the consequences would be so dire. The danger is that the power that we are importing is being sought by other utilities and if we are cut off, wrestling it back would be a big problem.”

The Mail said ZESA owed Mozambique’s Hydroelectrica Cahora Bassa $40.3 million, the DRC’s SNEL $9.8 million, Zambia’s ZESCO $1.7 million, while power distribution company EDM of Mozambique was also owed $5.1 million.

The country imports 500 MW from the region, spending $5.5 million per month, Rafemoyo said. Zimbabwe has a peak demand of 2.200 megawatts, but generates a maximum of 1,000 MW due to ageing equipment and coal shortages for its hydrothermal plants.

Production at the Hwange thermal plant has been reduced after ZESA failed to pay for coal supplies, the paper said.

ZESA has previously relied on state funds to import power, but the cash-strapped government, which needs about $10 billion to rescue the economy, is unable to provide funding and, in a country where unemployment exceeds 94 percent, the utility does not get much tariff revenue.

The new government has said it has secured more than $1 billion in credit lines for private firms, but has not yet registered a breakthrough in getting budgetary support.

Tsvangirai is currently on his first trip abroad since becoming Prime Minister in February, in a bid to woo Western donors who remain sceptical of the power-sharing government’s ability to deliver broad political and economic reforms.

(Source)

President Obama has offered to extend a hand to repressive rulers who unclench their fists. On Friday, he will meet Morgan Tsvangirai, the Zimbabwean politician who is trying to loosen the grip of an autocrat whose party’s very symbol is the clenched fist: Robert Mugabe, 85, in power now for 29 years and counting. Mr. Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe’s prime minister, received more votes than President Mugabe in an election last year but was pressed by regional leaders into an unsatisfactory power-sharing deal four months ago. It left Mr. Mugabe in control of the police, the spy service, the media and the criminal justice system, and he has used his power to countermand Mr. Tsvangirai’s recent efforts to re-establish the rule of law and freedom of the press. Therein lies the puzzle for Mr. Obama and the leaders of other wealthy Western democracies whom Mr. Tsvangirai is meeting during a three-week tour of the United States and Europe: How do they help Mr. Tsvangirai and Zimbabwe without bolstering Mr. Mugabe?

Mr. Tsvangirai has insisted that he is not walking around with a begging bowl, but clearly he and his party hope that the United States and other Western democracies will provide more aid to help rebuild Zimbabwe’s devastated health, education and sanitation systems. If they are successful, they would be strengthened for the next election. Most acutely, Mr. Tsvangirai needs to find a way to pay teachers and other civil servants more than the $100 monthly allowance that is all the government can now afford. The teachers have been threatening to quit, and public employees have talked about going on strike. “There’s more need to move from humanitarian to recovery support for the government,” Mr. Tsvangirai said Wednesday in a telephone interview. “The government needs resources to fulfill its obligations.” Western diplomats have said recently that they want to help, but they remain reluctant to directly aid a government in which Mr. Mugabe still retains so much power.

For his part, Mr. Mugabe, who has for decades won plaudits in Africa for poking a finger in the eye of the West, seems determined to belittle Mr. Tsvangirai and sabotage his international tour. The Herald, the state-owned newspaper Mr. Mugabe still controls, reported this week that the president had “tasked” Mr. Tsvangirai with getting the United States and Europe to lift travel and financial sanctions on Mr. Mugabe and his inner circle, a report that Mr. Tsvangirai said misrepresented the facts. “The removal of restrictions depends on what we do back home,” Mr. Tsvangirai said. “We have to earn the confidence of the international community.” Since Mr. Tsvangirai left the country, Mr. Mugabe has flaunted his affinity for autocrats. The Herald published a two-part defense of North Korea’s nuclear tests. And Mr. Mugabe welcomed Sudan’s president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court, to a summit meeting attended by African heads of state.

The government then blocked Zimbabwean journalists from covering the meeting, though they were armed with a High Court order that they be allowed to attend - and despite Mr. Tsvangirai’s own insistence that journalists no longer needed government accreditation. In recent months, journalists have continued to be arrested after writing articles that Mr. Mugabe’s allies did not like. And despite an order by a tribunal established by the 15 nations of the region that the government halt evictions of white commercial farmers - a ruling Mr. Mugabe dismissed as nonsense - the government has proceeded with prosecutions of the farmers, some of whom have been subjected to violent land invasions. On June 5, the same tribunal ruled that Zimbabwe’s government had breached its order.

Mr. Mugabe rarely meets privately with Americans, or gives them a chance to challenge his autocratic ways, but he recently spent three hours with Representative Donald M. Payne, the New Jersey Democrat who leads the Africa subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Mr. Payne said Mr. Mugabe struck him as astute, sharp and “pretty pleasant.” But when Mr. Payne brought the conversation around to the contemporary human rights violations of Mr. Mugabe’s security services, Mr. Mugabe began to shift uncomfortably on the couch, according to aides who accompanied Mr. Payne. When Mr. Mugabe said he wanted sanctions lifted on him and other members of his party, Mr. Payne said he replied that first the suppression of people’s rights had to stop.

Some months ago, shortly before Mr. Tsvangirai joined Mr. Mugabe in the government, he mused in an interview on the confounding question of how to deal with Mr. Mugabe and what Mr. Obama could do to help. He essentially acknowledged that he had not found the answer - and expressed a hope that Mr. Obama might have some ideas. “The choice is: Do you re-engage Robert Mugabe, or do you continue to alienate him?” Mr. Tsvangirai said. Neither had worked, he conceded. Mr. Tsvangirai himself has been beaten, jailed, subjected to assassination attempts and tried on treason charges during the long years of Mr. Mugabe’s rule. He is now trying to get along with Mr. Mugabe. But that comes with risks to Mr. Tsvangirai’s credibility. Civic leaders, journalists and some diplomats are increasingly critical of Mr. Tsvangirai for trying to be nice to Mr. Mugabe instead of speaking out more boldly and consistently when the repressive state security forces Mr. Mugabe controls abuse their power.

They also say his Movement for Democratic Change, which has a majority in Parliament, needs to use that power more aggressively to try to repeal laws that suppress the freedom of the press and the right to assembly. “There are energetic measures he could be taking, and instead he seems to be propitiating Mugabe,” said Iden Wetherell, a senior editor at two of Zimbabwe’s few independent newspapers, The Standard and The Independent. But analysts here also say that despite Mr. Tsvangirai’s tactical missteps as he tries to outmaneuver Mr. Mugabe, one of Africa’s most cunning political survivors, he benefits from a reservoir of support and even devotion from Zimbabweans. That sympathy has only deepened since his wife of 30 years was killed in car crash not long after he became prime minister, followed by the drowning of his 2-year-old grandson, who had come to Zimbabwe with his parents to attend his grandmother’s funeral. “He’s clearly seen as a savior,” said Eldred Masunungure, a political scientist at the University of Zimbabwe. “And the deaths of his wife and grandson have raised his profile as someone who can endure suffering and still try to assist those he serves.”

(Source)

The car crash in March this year which caused the death of the Zimbabwean prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s wife Susan was not an accident, says Dutchman Peter Hermes, an independent advisor to Tsvangirai.

“I think that the judiciary in Zimbabwe is very busy covering up what happened. Also the police didn’t investigate what happened. They were destroying forensic evidence immediately after the accident. They left the car for a couple of days upside down by the side of the road so it was very hard for independent investigators to find evidence,” says Hermes who has worked closely with Tsvangirai ever since he was a union leader.

Hermes’ comments come just days after a magistrate in the town of Chivhu postponed judgement in the case of the driver accused of causing Susan Tsvangirai’s death as a result of her being thrown out of the car following the collision. Chinowona Mwanda maintained that he had hit a concrete lump in the road, lost control of his vehicle and hit the prime minister’s Land Cruiser as it travelled in convoy along the Harare-Masvingo highway.

While Tsvangirai himself has always maintained it was an accident, rumours surrounding the crash have persisted. It has been widely publicised that Deon Theron, the vice-president of Zimbabwe’s commercial farmers union, happened to be at the scene of the accident and took photographs that the police could have used as evidence. Instead, according to media reports, the police arrested him and destroyed the evidence.

“There has been an investigation by the MDC [Tsvangirai’s party Movement for Democratic Change] people itself. The report has not been released and I haven’t seen the report, but information leaked out,” Hermes explains. He says the circumstantial evidence indicates that there is more to the story than came out during the trial of Chinowona Mwanda.

“Firstly of all, he [the truck driver] was not an employee of the company that hired the car to US Aid, which had hired the car for food transport. The person who normally drove it was not driving that day. It has also been shown that he was a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation – like the two people in the cars in front and behind Tsvangirai. They were appointed by Robert Mugabe to protect the prime minister – but at the moment of the accident both those cars were far away from car of Tsvangirai. Which is also very suspicious, you could say.”

So how can Hermes speak with such conviction, when the evidence is only circumstantial? While he has no concrete proof that there was an actual conspiracy, he remains certain he is right.

“I am convinced [it was not an accident] but I can’t prove it. There have been many accidents in the past for political reasons in Zimbabwe in which many people have died. There has never been any proof that the government was involved. However everyone believes it has been the case. Another surcomstantial piece of evidence is that arrangements for Mugabe to visit the hospital after the accident had been made before it actually took place. Like I say, I have no proof, but this is my opinion.”

Prime minister Tsvangirai himself has always denied it was anything more than an accident. “He also can’t prove it. If he were to begin to stress the opinion that it was not an accident it would put pressure on the inclusive government - and possibly cause that inclusive government to fall apart. In the interests of the people of Zimbabwe he thinks it is better to express the opinion that it was an accident.”

(Source)

The Netherlands government yesterday turned down Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s request for the lifting of economic sanctions and a financial package, saying they wanted to see “more reforms”.

PM Tsvangirai was in the Netherlands on the first leg of a six-nation tour that will take him to the United States, France, Britain, Sweden and Belgium on a brief from President Mugabe and Cabinet to call for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Radio Netherlands reported that PM Tsvangirai met his Dutch counterpart Mr Jan Balkenende yesterday but came out empty-handed as The Dutch Premier, who acknowledged the inclusive Government’s commitment to reforms, asked for political, economic and social reforms before his country can release any assistance.

Asked whether going back home empty-handed would not cause tension within the inclusive Government, PM Tsvangirai said the purpose of his visit was to educate “our partners” on political developments in Zimbabwe.

“The objective is to educate, educate, and educate our partners. It’s not about going around with the begging bowl, because we believe that the country has been isolated the last 10 years and it is time to normalise relations and that doesn’t come cheap. It has to be reciprocal. We have to do something which we said we are going to do.”

Government has, however, already instituted a number of reforms by launching the Short-Term Emergency Recovery Programme and embarking on a constitution-making process.

Parliament is also in the process of recruiting persons to serve on four independent commissions, namely the Zimbabwe Media Commission, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.

Radio Netherlands said PM Balkenende told journalists after meeting PM Tsvangirai that financial aid to Zimbabwe would not resume until the new Government demonstrated “progress” on economic, political and social reforms.

“We are convinced that if they go in the right direction, then it will be much easier for us to support Zimbabwe,” Radio Netherlands quoted PM Balkenende as saying.

He, however, acknowledged that the inclusive Government had demonstrated commitment “to improve things”.

On Sunday, PM Tsvangirai met Dutch Development Co-operation Minister Mr Bert Koenders and assured him that the problems the country was facing were not “insoluble”.

From Netherlands, PM Tsvangirai’s next stop is Washington, DC, where he is expected to meet US President Barack Obama.

(Source)

A niece of prime minister Tsvangirai is involved in an attempt to grab a farm in the Chegutu district. Dr. Arikana Chihombori, who lives in the United States and practices family medicine in Antioch, Tennessee, has been actively trying to seize De Rus Farm from Mr L J Cremer since late last year. Mr Cremer was first contacted in November 2008 by the local Lands Officer, who produced an offer letter dated August 2007 showing that De Rus farm had been allocated to Dr Chihombori. In January this year, Dr Chihombori’s sister sent a group of unemployed youths to take the farm, but the occupation only lasted three days, after which the youths left, complaining of not being paid enough. In April, Dr Chihombori applied to the courts for an application to evict the Cremer family, producing the same offer letter as evidence, this time dated December 2008. Dr Chihombori visited De Rus Farm in May to see her ‘new’ property.

Mr Cremer was born on the farm, which was originally 716 ha in extent. In 2002, 650 ha were taken away and given to new farmers. The De Rus family were left with 60 ha, on which are the homestead and outbuildings. Mr Cremer lives on the farm with his wife - a third generation Zimbabwean - their two daughters, their husbands and five grandchildren. De Rus Farm employs 300 staff, some of whom also live on the property. The state has paid no compensation for the seized land. The Cremers used to run cattle, and produce food and cotton on the seized portion of the farm. Since 2002, production on that land has been minimal, with no more than 20 ha under crops, and many parts now covered in thorn trees five metres tall. In 2003, that part of De Rus Farm still in the Cremers’ hands was granted Export Processing Zone status, later turned into an Investment License. The status of Investment Licence gives legal protection against seizure by the state. The Cremers also have letters from the local land committee and the provincial governor recommending that they be allowed to continue farming. They grow cutflowers for export, as well as vegetables for the local market. There are also plans to produce vegetable seedlings for the outgrowers of a processing company. The Cremers’ neighbour, who used to produce the seedlings, has been evicted.

“It is very obvious that this acquisition is not about land reform,” said Mr Cremer in a statement. “How can this government ask for food aid while they are busy removing food producers from their farms? How can they justify the unemployment rate while they are removing 300 people from employment under the guise of Land Reform? A small productive farm is being taken from Zimbabweans and given to someone who resides in America. It is about greed, people stealing our homes, land, jobs and livelihood and hiding behind politics. The only reason for evicting us must be race.” Dr Chihombori came to prominence in May when she was seen accompanying Tsvangirai at the inauguration of Jacob Zuma as South African president. She was born in Zimbabwe, but was educated in the US and has practiced there for the past 30 years. She is married to a Ghanaian, also a doctor in the US. In 1992, she founded the Bell Family Medical Centre in Tennessee, of which she is the CEO. She is also co-owner of the Mid-Tennessee Medical Associates, which is a multi-speciality clinic with 16 physicians. In 1999 her company received US$750 000 from the World Bank to fund its involvement with the Torwood Hospital and Redcliff Medical Center in Kwekwe, which her company had taken over from Zisco, the troubled steel producer in the town.

(Source)

The Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Gideon Gono, has reimbursed foreign currency looted from university accounts in a development that has also seen him fall out with the country’s Finance Minister Tendai Biti. Gono has accused Biti of being behind threats to have his children expelled from foreign universities.

University World News reported on 3 May that the Reserve Bank had raided foreign currency accounts belonging to three universities as well as those of foreign non-governmental organisations last year. The money was used to prop up the regime of President Robert Mugabe, who was on the verge of losing power following a political and economic crisis that had brought the country to its knees.

In April, the central bank chief conceded he had raided university and NGO foreign currency accounts but defended the move as necessary to save Mugabe’s cash-strapped government from collapsing.

Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Stan Mudenge, told parliament last month the central bank had repaid all funds taken from university accounts. He said he had documentary proof of the money’s repayment but did not reveal the amounts involved.

One of the institutions whose funds were looted was Africa University, a Methodist-related private institution. It did not respond to questions on the funds stolen.

The looting of the funds and other quasi-fiscal activities by Gono led to public clashes between him and Biti, who was appointed under a power-sharing agreement between Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai, now Prime Minister. Biti, a lawyer, is Secretary-General of the MDC.

The clashes prompted Gono to write a letter to Tsvangirai seeking his intervention in the matter. Gono claimed that verbal attacks on him by the Finance Minister had resulted in foreign universities his children were attending had threatened to expel them.

Gono alleged that at a campaign rally in Masvingo last year Biti had called him names and accused him of “being at the epicentre of the Zanu-PF terror machine…an economic saboteur, terrorist and number one Al-Qaeda who deserves to be shot by a firing squad”.

He said in the letter that after his three children were “unceremoniously expelled” from Australia before Tsvanvirai’s visit to that country in 2006, they lost two years of university education.

When his children enrolled in new universities, “they found themselves being called on to explain how their father is allegedly associated with the Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation, with the threat of further expulsion from their new university if the allegations were not refuted”.

“Who among us parents can stomach such misfortune if directed at their own children?” he said.

Gono’s children were expelled from Australian universities after the Australian government decided to deport all children whose parents had close links with Mugabe. Also expelled were the children of the Commissioner General of Police and the Defence Minister.

Mugabe and his inner circle, including Gono, are subject to travel restrictions and an asset freeze by the European Union, Australia and the United States because of their appalling human rights record.

Tsvangirai’s response to Gono’s letter was that he would continue to push for the central bank governor’s removal from the post. His and Biti’s calls for Gono to step down have been emboldened by donor agencies and the decision by countries such as Britain not to channel aid through the central bank or any other government system before reforms are initiated - at a time when the Zimbabwean government desperately needs external funding to function.

Last week, Mugabe said Gono would not be relieved of his duties as he had saved the country during a difficult period.

(Source)