Links ~ 29 July 2008

Zimbabwe talks set to resume Sunday: Mbeki (AFP / Reuters)
South African President Thabo Mbeki said, after meeting with Robert Mugabe, that power-sharing talks between the MDC and Zanu-PF would resume on Sunday. Mbeki said that talks were “progressing”. He said that he had come to brief Mugabe on how far negotiations have gone. The meeting between Mbeki and Mugabe lasted an hour.

Tsvangirai denied new passport (The Zimbabwe Times)
Morgan Tsvangirai leader of the MDC has again been denied a new passport by the Zimbabwean authorities. Tsvangirai was given an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) instead, which confines his travel to Africa. The ETD is only valid for six months.

The Zimbabwe Times reports that the decision to deny Tsvangirai a new passport was made at a Joint Operations Command (JOC) meeting, held at the Mukwati Building on June 16. Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede was allegedly summoned and instructed to withhold Tsvangirai’s passport for “security reasons”.

Tsvangirai used the ETD to travel to South Africa on Monday to meet with his negotiators after inter-party talks reportedly became deadlocked over disagreements over power-sharing arrangements.

Makone ejected from power sharing talks over leak (NewZimbabwe.com)
Theresa Makone a top MDC official has been ousted from inter-party talks after allegedly being exposed as a media mole on Monday. Makone is a MP-elect for the MDC faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai. Sources said that Makone caught out after negotiators of the MDC and Zanu-PF decided to feed her false information on suspicions that she was leaking details the talks to the international media. Makone was told that negotiations have collapsed over Zanu-PF’s inflexibility and that the Zanu-PF negotiators were returning to Harare. The story was ‘sold’ to the international media within minutes, despite the fact that all parties have agreed to a media blackout during the talks.

Diplomatic sources said that Makone’s behaviour left the MDC team with no choice but to act decisively, especially as they are the guests of a foreign government. The unruly behaviour of Makone could cause tremendous damage to the integrity of the party and its leadership.

Mugabe says talks on track, wants speedy conclusion (NewZimbabwe.com)
Robert Mugabe told guests at a Central Bank function that talks were going well.

“We are still negotiating, we want to succeed, and negotiations are negotiations of course, they are different from gambling… You find room for compromise, sometimes compromise is difficult, and you stand by your proposals as presented. You debate again and again and reach a compromise. I understand the talks are going well.

“We would like to see the speedy conclusion of the talks … and successful outcome so that we can focus in the future our attention around our economy.

“We want to see a turnaround for our economy, we want to see a turnaround on our political front,” said Mugabe. He expressed his “total commitment” to a successful conclusion of the talks.

Mugabe said that in such negotiations, “there is no winner or loser. Things are not easy all the time.”

UN council may have to take up Zimbabwe again – Britain (Reuters)
British Deputy UN Ambassador Karen Pierce said that the UN Security Council had received a “sober” report on the situation in Zimbabwe and an update on power-sharing talks from Haile Menkerios UN special envoy to Zimbabwe. Pierce said that Menkerios did not use the word ‘deadlock’ in his briefing but had said that the negotiations were difficult. She said that Menkerios had made it clear to the Security Council that the humanitarian and economic crisis in Zimbabwe was worsening.

Pierce said that if there were not signs of progress soon, the council would have to take up the issue of Zimbabwe again.

Zimbabwe redenominates currency to ease crisis (Reuters)
‘Zimbabwe’s central bank governor took steps to shore up the country’s worthless currency and stem the economy’s collapse on Wednesday, announcing a redenomination of the Zimbabwe dollar by cutting 10 zeros from the currency.’

Gono unique way of dealing with hyperinflation (The Zimbabwean)
Economists said that the decision of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to lop of 10 zeros from all bank notes will have little effect on economic reconstruction.

Gono announced that a new Z$500 bank note will be launched, along with a Z$100 note, a Z$20 note, a Z$10 note and a coin, a Z$5 note and coin, a Z$2 coin and a Z$1 note. The 50 cent, 20 cent and 10 cent coins will be returned into circulation.

The cash withdrawal limit will be raised to Z$200 (new money) per day.

Mugabe warns Zimbabwe business against profiteering (Reuters)
Robert Mugabe warned the business sector on Wednesday to stop profiteering from the economic crisis or face emergency measures.

“If you drive us more than you have done we will impose emergency measures, and we don’t want to place our country in a situation of emergency rules, they can be tough rules you know,” Mugabe said.

Mbeki off to Zim for talks with Mugabe (Sapa)
South African President Thabo Mbeki will fly to Zimbabwe on Wednesday to meet with Robert Mugabe and Professor Arthur Mutambara leader of the breakaway faction of the MDC. Mbeki will reportedly meet with the leaders in two separate meetings. Mbeki had a meeting with Morgan Tsvangirai leader of the MDC and his team of negotiators on Tuesday in South Africa.

Chinese take over Manicaland mining (The Zimbabwe Times)
Concerns have been raised over Chinese companies that seem to have unfettered access to the mineral resources of Manhicaland province. It raises the question if those companies are given preferential treatment ahead of local indigenous companies. Rumours would have it that Chinese companies are also linked to a possible take-over of the Chiadzwa diamond fields in Marange, south west of Mutare. Mining sources said that as many as 20 Chinese companies were exploiting gold and copper resources in the Odzi and Nyazura areas.

The latest take-over by a Chinese mining consortium is that of the Inyathi Mine near Headlands, north of Mutare. The Inyati Mine belonged to the Lonrho Group before the take-over. Sources said that it was easy for Chinese companies to obtain prospecting and mining rights whereas it was a nightmare for local companies to obtain such rights. China has in return for the access to Zimbabwe’s mineral resources given the Zanu-PF government its full support.

South africa- Net Beneficiary of Zimbabwe Crisis (The Zimbabwean)
The Zimbabwean has launched an investigation into the undeclared reasons for Thabo Mbeki’s controversial stance on Zimbabwe, while he clings to an untenable mediation role.

The Zimbabwean reveals the Thabo Mbeki Agenda for Zimbabwe.

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