"Mass flushing set to unblock sewers
HARARE — City authorities in Zimbabwe’s second largest city appealed to homeowners to flush their toilets at a specified time as a way to unblock sewers after days of severe water rationing. Bulawayo City Council asked its more than 1 million residents to flush their toilets simultaneously at 7:30 p.m. Saturday when water supplies were restored. City officials said ‘‘synchronized flushing’’ was needed to clear waste that accumulated in sanitary facilities (AP)."
"Zimbabwe conservationists: wildlife threatened" Associated Press, August 27, 2012
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Tens of thousands of wild animals face annihilation in a wave of land takeovers in southeastern Zimbabwe by politicians of President Robert Mugabe’s party, a consortium of wildlife ranchers charged Sunday.
That's why Mugabe is on the outs with world leaders.
The Save Valley Conservancy said thousands of people’s livelihoods also are threatened in the 1,000-square-mile nature preserve and surrounding districts after hunting permits and land leases were granted to 25 leaders of the ZANU-PF party under a black empowerment program.
In Sunday newspaper advertisements, the consortium said ‘‘greedy individuals’’ — including a provincial governor and a Cabinet minister — wrongly said it was white-dominated. The conservancy said Mugabe had used color as ‘‘a racial tool’’ to collapse world-renowned conservation efforts for short-term gain.
‘‘When humans behave like animals, we destroy not only each other but generations to come,’’ the group said.
Honestly, a lot of times it seems that the animals behave better.
The advertisements, the most strongly worded statements in the dispute so far, said politicians ‘‘want to destroy agreements and policies that have made Save the world leader in conservation management.’’
Save, pronounced Sa-veh in the local Ndebele language, is a habitat for elephant, zebra, giraffe, and the nation’s second-largest surviving population of endangered black rhinoceros. The area also supports an array of African antelope and most species of birds and small animals.
‘‘We as humans can help stop using color as a racial tool to destroy the very people who are working for our common good,’’ said the advertisements, under the heading: Animals don’t see in color.
The same should be said to our elite rulers that attempt to divide us over race when we agree on so much.
--more--"
UPDATE: Elephant poaching deaths rising
I thought blood diamonds were the issue.
"American diamond official urged to resign" by Gillian Gotora | Associated Press , November 14, 2012
VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe’s diamond conference was rocked by controversy Tuesday over the Kimberley Process, the world diamond trade regulatory body, whose chairwoman was publicly asked to resign because she is American.
Gillian Milovanovic, the American chairwoman of the Kimberley Process, came under a barrage of criticism from African delegates at the Zimbabwe Diamond Conference for allegedly not doing enough to persuade the US government to lift trade restrictions on Zimbabwe’s state-owned diamond mining companies.
South Africa’s Kimberley Process monitor, Abbey Chikane, accused Milovanovic of having a conflict of interest because she is American. Chikane alleged Milovanovic has failed to follow African delegates’ wishes to promote the trade of diamonds dug up from Zimbabwe’s notorious Marange field in Europe and the United States.
The state-run Zimbabwe Mining Development Company and Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe are on the US sanctions list, because of evidence of the Mugabe government’s state violence and human rights violations.
The U.S. government isn't in a position to lecture or sanction anyone anymore since they are guilty of such crimes themselves.
‘‘There is a danger of having a chairmanship that will fragment the organization because you are conflicted . . . you are then supposed to recuse yourself,’’ Chikane said to Milovanovic in front of the conference.
‘‘When South Africa takes over the chair next year, we will solve these issues,’’ said Chikane, who is chairman of the South African Diamond Board.
--more--"
The hunger and cholera crises are not even mentioned anymore.
UPDATE:
"Zimbabwe leaders say deal reached on constitution" by Angus Shaw | Associated Press, January 19, 2013
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe’s political leaders say they have reached agreement on a new constitution after more than two years of delays and bickering over changes to reduce the sweeping powers of President Robert Mugabe and his ruling party.
No details of the deal were released but a coalition of democracy activists said Friday that ‘‘sticky issues’’ were resolved, paving the way toward finalization of the draft.
The Crisis Coalition said in a statement that without further hitches a referendum on the document could be held as early as April, followed by elections later in the year.
State radio on Friday quoted Mugabe saying there were some ‘‘t’s to be crossed and i’s to be dotted.’’
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s office said he described the agreement as a defining moment for the nation’s future.
--more--"
I remember way back when Mugabe was a monster, and maybe he still is or will be again someday, but...
That's why Mugabe is on the outs with world leaders.
The Save Valley Conservancy said thousands of people’s livelihoods also are threatened in the 1,000-square-mile nature preserve and surrounding districts after hunting permits and land leases were granted to 25 leaders of the ZANU-PF party under a black empowerment program.
In Sunday newspaper advertisements, the consortium said ‘‘greedy individuals’’ — including a provincial governor and a Cabinet minister — wrongly said it was white-dominated. The conservancy said Mugabe had used color as ‘‘a racial tool’’ to collapse world-renowned conservation efforts for short-term gain.
‘‘When humans behave like animals, we destroy not only each other but generations to come,’’ the group said.
Honestly, a lot of times it seems that the animals behave better.
The advertisements, the most strongly worded statements in the dispute so far, said politicians ‘‘want to destroy agreements and policies that have made Save the world leader in conservation management.’’
Save, pronounced Sa-veh in the local Ndebele language, is a habitat for elephant, zebra, giraffe, and the nation’s second-largest surviving population of endangered black rhinoceros. The area also supports an array of African antelope and most species of birds and small animals.
‘‘We as humans can help stop using color as a racial tool to destroy the very people who are working for our common good,’’ said the advertisements, under the heading: Animals don’t see in color.
The same should be said to our elite rulers that attempt to divide us over race when we agree on so much.
--more--"
UPDATE: Elephant poaching deaths rising
I thought blood diamonds were the issue.
"American diamond official urged to resign" by Gillian Gotora | Associated Press , November 14, 2012
VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe’s diamond conference was rocked by controversy Tuesday over the Kimberley Process, the world diamond trade regulatory body, whose chairwoman was publicly asked to resign because she is American.
Gillian Milovanovic, the American chairwoman of the Kimberley Process, came under a barrage of criticism from African delegates at the Zimbabwe Diamond Conference for allegedly not doing enough to persuade the US government to lift trade restrictions on Zimbabwe’s state-owned diamond mining companies.
South Africa’s Kimberley Process monitor, Abbey Chikane, accused Milovanovic of having a conflict of interest because she is American. Chikane alleged Milovanovic has failed to follow African delegates’ wishes to promote the trade of diamonds dug up from Zimbabwe’s notorious Marange field in Europe and the United States.
The state-run Zimbabwe Mining Development Company and Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe are on the US sanctions list, because of evidence of the Mugabe government’s state violence and human rights violations.
The U.S. government isn't in a position to lecture or sanction anyone anymore since they are guilty of such crimes themselves.
‘‘There is a danger of having a chairmanship that will fragment the organization because you are conflicted . . . you are then supposed to recuse yourself,’’ Chikane said to Milovanovic in front of the conference.
‘‘When South Africa takes over the chair next year, we will solve these issues,’’ said Chikane, who is chairman of the South African Diamond Board.
--more--"
The hunger and cholera crises are not even mentioned anymore.
UPDATE:
"Zimbabwe leaders say deal reached on constitution" by Angus Shaw | Associated Press, January 19, 2013
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe’s political leaders say they have reached agreement on a new constitution after more than two years of delays and bickering over changes to reduce the sweeping powers of President Robert Mugabe and his ruling party.
No details of the deal were released but a coalition of democracy activists said Friday that ‘‘sticky issues’’ were resolved, paving the way toward finalization of the draft.
The Crisis Coalition said in a statement that without further hitches a referendum on the document could be held as early as April, followed by elections later in the year.
State radio on Friday quoted Mugabe saying there were some ‘‘t’s to be crossed and i’s to be dotted.’’
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s office said he described the agreement as a defining moment for the nation’s future.
--more--"
I remember way back when Mugabe was a monster, and maybe he still is or will be again someday, but...
