[Prec. per data] [Succ. per data] [Prec. per argomento] [Succ. per argomento] [Indice per data] [Indice per argomento]

Weekly anb0612-6.txt #6

_____________________________________________________________
WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 12-06-2003      PART #6/6
* Zambia. 1,000 oil tankers go missing in fuel controversy - One thousand oil tankers with US $13.5 million worth of fuel destined for Zambia's oil refinery from neighbouring countries never reached their destination between 1999 and 2000, said an auditor general's report tabled in parliament earlier this week. The report also noted that an examination of the supplier's records showed that more than double the amount of oil approved by the Zambia National Tender Board was sold to procurer the Zambian National Oil Company (ZNOC). There was also a discrepancy in official records between the amount of oil loaded by the supplier and the amount actually received in Zambia, news reports said. ZNOC, the national oil purchaser, was put into receivership in 2001 with vast debts. Zambia's oil procurement procedures have become part of a wider anti-corruption probe by President Levy Mwanawasa. Donald Chanda, former president Frederick Chiluba's economic advisor, who is currently being questioned by parliament's public accounts committee on the contents of the report, was previous board chairman of ZNOC, the Indeni oil refinery and transporter Tanzania Zambia Mafuta. The auditor general linked Chanda to the irregular supply of oil. In April this year, Zambia faced serious fuel shortages as a result of procurement problems. The crisis was attributed to Mwanawasa's decision to cancel a fuel supply contract with Trans Sahara Trading (TST), a subsidiary of the Canadian mining firm, Diamondworks. Mwanawasa cited unnamed irregularities when he ended the deal with TST as the sole supplier of fuel to Zambia in March. The then vice-president, Enoch Kavindele, awarded the supply contract to TST in August last year, cutting out TotalFinaElf, the main company supplying crude in the region. Kavindele's son, Junior, has reportedly been linked to TST, but Kavindele denied any personal connection to the firm. The controversy led to Kavindele's sacking last week for ignoring Mwanawasa's decree terminating TST's supply contract. He also allegedly failed to follow accounting procedures when he received a US $100,000 donation from TST for the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy. (IRIN, Kenya, 5 June 2003)
* Zambie. Chiluba dans de sales draps - Le 6 juin, la police zambienne a failli procéder à l'arrestation de l'ancien président Frederick Chiluba, qui doit répondre de nouveaux chefs d'accusation de détournement de plus de 32 millions de dollars américains du gouvernement qu'il a dirigé pendant 10 ans. Toutefois, la procédure a été suspendue à la dernière minute après que les enquêteurs ont fourni une nouvelle pièce importante permettant de reconstituer le puzzle et d'accéder à un faisceau d'indices essentiels susceptibles de révéler comment l'argent public a été détourné. Chiluba est accusé avec six autres complices. Deux d'entre eux ont été arrêtés en mai, mais libérés sous caution, en attendant que Chiluba et les autres soient obligés eux aussi à rendre des comptes. (PANA, Sénégal, 6 juin 2003)
* Zambia. Chiluba facing new corruption accusations - Zambian authorities plan to re-arrest former President Frederick Chiluba over allegations he used public funds to buy an apartment block in Belgium, a government anti-corruption taskforce said Monday. Chiluba already faces dozens of counts of theft under a wide-ranging crackdown launched last year by President Levy Mwanawasa, Chiluba's chosen successor who turned against his sponsor once voted to power in the poor southern African state. "There is one block of flats (apartments) which has been discovered in Belgium and seized which we suspect belongs to Chiluba and was bought using public funds by (former intelligence chief) Xavier Chungu,"Betty Mumba, spokeswoman for the Anti-Corruption Taskforce, told Reuters. She said the Belgian property had been valued at $1 million, but gave no further details. (CNN, USA, 9 June 2003)
* Zimbabwe. Human rights conditions have deteriorated - In a new briefing paper published on 9 June, Human Rights Watch says that human rights conditions have deteriorated markedly in Zimbabwe over the last few months. The briefing paper, "Under a Shadow: Civil and Political Rights in Zimbabwe", details the government's policy of repression and the harassment of opposition party members by state institutions and supporters of the rulung party. The direct involvement of ranking government officials and state security forces marks a new and worrisome trend in Zimbabwe's ongoing political crisis. (Human Rights Watch, 9 June 2003)
* Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai en garde à vue - Le vendredi 6 juin, au dernier jour d'une semaine de manifestations contre le régime du président Mugabe, la situation était plutôt calme au Zimbabwe. Les partisans du Mouvement pour le changement démocratique (MDC) ne sont pas descendus dans la rue, comme l'avait demandé leur parti, craignant la répression de la police et de l'armée. Par ailleurs, le leader du MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai, a été arrêté pour la seconde fois dans la semaine, inculpé d'avoir violé les lois de la sécurité nationale en appelant au renversement de M. Mugabe. Selon son avocat, il devra passer le week-end dans les locaux de la police. -- Par ailleurs, le même jour, le FMI a décidé de suspendre le Zimbabwe de ses droits d'adhérent. A la fin mai 2003, les arriérés de paiement du Zimbabwe auprès du FMI se montaient à environ 200 millions d'euros. L'organisation a déclaré qu'elle étudierait à nouveau la situation dans six mois. -- Le 7 juin, Morgan Tsvangirai a été présenté devant un tribunal pour trahison, mais l'audience a été reportée à lundi. Washington a condamné l'arrestation de Tsvangirai et appelé le pouvoir au dialogue avec l'opposition. - Le lundi 9 juin, le secrétaire général du MDC, Welshman Ncube, a été arrêté, mais il a été relâché dans l'après-midi. Par contre, le tribunal a ordonné le maintien en garde à vue de M. Tsvangirai jusqu'au 10 juillet. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 10 juin 2003)
* Zimbabwe. MDC under pressure - 6 June: The main Zimbabwe opposition party has urged its supporters to turn out in force on what it calls D-Day, the end of a week of protests against President Robert Mugabe. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) called on its supporters to stage the biggest mass demonstrations in the country since independence, despite state repression. The five-day general protest called by the MDC was billed as an attempt to end President Mugabe's authoritarian grip on power and address the country's deep political, economic and social crises. But planned street protests failed to take off as government security forces cracked down, arresting about 500 MDC supporters, according to the opposition. The United States State Department has described Mr Mugabe's response to the protests as an ongoing wave of intolerance and brutality. However, there has been some criticism in Zimbabwe of the opposition's alleged lack of a credible strategy. -- In Harare, police, the army and ruling party militants are deployed throughout the city. Police arrest opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai. 7 June: The United States has condemned the Government's decision to charge opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai with treason. A spokesman for the US State Department said "continued intimidation and repression" was not conducive to the dialogue between President Robert Mugabe and his opponents which he said the country needed. Mr Tsvangirai spent the night of 6-7 June in a police cell, and his lawyer believes he will appear in court today. He is already facing another treason charge over an alleged plot to assassinate Mr Mugabe. 9 June: Morgan Tsvangirai appears in court today, charged with a second count of treason. The charges related to recent protests, which Mr Tsvangirai and his party described as the final push against President Mugabe's government. The MDC has threatened to renew the protests unless its leader is released. But Mr Mugabe says he is determined to serve his full term and face down the demonstrators. The MDC leader will spend a fourth night in jail after failing to be released on bail. MDC secretary-general, Welshman Ncube, is also arrested today and has been charged with treason for encouraging the protests. Mr Ncube is also already on trial for plotting to kill Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe. 10 June: Morgan Tsvangirai has been remanded in custody for a month. A magistrate tells him to remain in police custody until 10 July although he will be able to seek bail from a higher court later tomorrow. -- Welshman Ncube is released today. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 10 June 2003) 


Weekly ANB0612.txt #6/6 - THE END