weekly anb03237.txt #7

[anb-bia <anb-bia@village.uunet.be>]

In the Weekly News we dispatched yesterday we made a mistake in the file
anb03237.txt. Here is the correct file. Please delete the old one and
replace it with the following.
With our apologises.
Paolo

Dans l'envoi des Weekly News de hier, par erreur le document anb03237.txt
etait le double du anb03236.txt. Veuillez trouver ci-dessous le document
correct et effacer le anb03237.txt recu hier.
Avec toutes nos excuses
Paolo
_____________________________________________________________  
WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 23-03-2000      PART #7/7

* Zambia. Contributing to Mozambique  -  A number of Mozambique's immediate neighbours are making positive contributions to help Mozambique in that country's hour of need. Zambia, despite her numerous economic problems, has contributed 120 tonnes of relief food and medicines worth US $1.2 million, to help those displaced by the devastating floods. Mozambique's ambassador to Zambia, Dr Christopher Jamo, has praised Zambia for providing the assistance. The Medical Stores in Lusaka, against a backdrop of reported drugs' shortages in some hospitals, has donated 55 tonnes of medical supplies worth US $450,000. The Medical Stores donated quinine, antibiotics, injections, dressings, bandages and surgical items. A chartered DC8 aircraft, airfreighted the food and medical supplies to Maputo. It should be noted that the donated medical supplies, formed part of excess stock which had been lying in the warehouses for some time, and will have no effect on drug distribution to Zambia's hospitals. The Managing Director of the Medical Stores, Davis Storey said there is no shortage of drugs in Zambia, rather, there is irrational use of drugs by hospital managers, devoid of prudent skills in distribution techniques.   (Fred Chela, ANB-BIA, Zambia, 9 March 2000)

* Zambia. Final sale of ZCCM  -  The Zambian government and the Anglo American Corporation (ACC) will finalise the sale of Konkola Copper mines and the remaining shares of the mining conglomerate, Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) on 31 March. This was stated in a joint statement released in Lusaka on 15 March. The statement was signed by the ACC and its subsidiary Zambia Copper Investment (ZCI). "The release of this circular is an important step in the process of completing the transactions and reflects the significant progress made towards the fulfilment of the remaining conditions, which include the approval of the ZCI shareholders. Completion of the transaction is now scheduled to occur on 31 March.   (Gideon Thole, ANB-BIA, Zambia, 16 March 2000)

* Zambia. Cooperation pacts signed with Cuba  -  On 16 March, Zambia and Cuba signed two separate agreements to facilitate improved bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation between the two countries. The two agreements are on promotional and reciprocal protection of investments and cooperation between the foreign affairs ministries of both countries. The agreements were signed by visiting Cuban foreign minister Felipe Perez Roque and his Zambian counterpart Keli Walubita and Finance and Economic Development Minister Katele Kalumba. Mr. Walubita said the signing of agreements would enhance relations between the two counties. "Let us therefore look to the future with renewed hope and determination towards greater co-operation between our ministries both at bilateral and multi- lateral levels," he said. Mr. Walubita said both countries should rededicate themselves to the universally agreed principles to effectively contribute to the global efforts of world peace, international understanding and co-operation.   (The Times of Zambia, 16 March 2000)

* Zimbabwe. "Business a usual"  -  Britain's High Commissioner was back in Zimbabwe on 16 March promising "business as usual" one week after being recalled to London in the dispute over diplomatic bags. Peter Longworth said that Britain rejected Zimbabwe's attempts "to justify its unjustifiable actions", adding that the opening of the crates of anti-bugging equipment had been a "grave and unprecedented breach" of the Vienna Convention. But he emphasised that he hoped relations with President Mugabe's government could return to normal. He said: "This has been a very unfortunate incident, it is unprecedented, and I hope it won't put anything in the way of our dealings with the government, but it's a very serious event. The High Commission is open for business as usual and I am back to conduct that business. We are in contact with the Zimbabwean government." His return came as evidence mounted of government backing for the escalating wave of invasions of white- owned farms. Thousands of squatters who claim to be veterans of the independence war against white rule had occupied 612 farms by last night, and their leaders threatened a war if the ruling Zanu-PF party lost next month's elections. Mr Longworth said that Britain was very concerned by the invasions and "the potential for violent confrontation they cause". But he said that Britain remained ready to discuss land reform with the government.   (David Blair, Daily Telegraph, UK, 17 March 2000)

* Zimbabwe. From crisis to crisis  -  19 March: Zimbabwe is on course for a constitutional crisis as thousands of President Mugabe's supporters disobey a High Court ruling to quit the white- owned farms they are occupying. "We are not moving off the farms. If anything we are going to move on to more farms because we are on a mission to reclaim the land of our forefathers," says Joseph Chintimba, a spokesman for the Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association. "We fought for this land and we are getting it now. Anyone who wants to deny us the land of our forefathers will have to fight us and we are ready for that fight". 20 March: The Land and Agriculture Minister, Kumbirai Kangai, has been arrested as part of an investigation into multi-million dollar fraud at the state-run Grain Marketing Board. The widely publicised arrest is a political bombshell in Zimbabwe. In the squatter crisis, police say they have not yet received orders to evict the squatters. In the world of communications, Internet service providers are drawing up a petition to try to persuade President Mugabe not to approve a new law giving him powers to monitor and intercept electronic mail and other communications. The Posts and Telecommunications Bill, which has just received parliamentary approval, is awaiting presidential assent before becoming law. 21 March: Kumbirai Kangai appears in court charged with two counts of violating the Prevention of Corruption Act by flouting tendering procedures at the state-run Grain Marketing Board.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 22 March 2000)

* Zimbabwe. Ordre d'evacuation des fermes  -  Le 17 mars, les milliers d'anciens combattants qui occupent les grandes proprietes agricoles appartenant a des Zimbabweens blancs ont recu l'ordre de la Haute Cour du Zimbabwe d'evacuer les lieux dans les 24 heures. Selon la decision de la justice, le juge Paddington Garwe a donne satisfaction au syndicat des fermiers blancs CFU en qualifiant cette occupation d'"illegale" en depit de l'approbation donnee au mouvement par le president Mugabe. Il a donne 24 heures aux squatters pour quitter les quelque 500 fermes occupees au cours de ces dernieres semaines. - Selon l'agence PANA, le 20 mars, les veterans de la guerre d'independance n'ont toujours pas quitte les fermes, defiant l'injonction de la Haute Cour. Rejoints par des milliers de paysans ordinaires, ils ont meme occupe d'autres fermes. La police a refuse d'expulser de force les envahisseurs, proposant que les politiciens trouvent une solution a cette affaire.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 20 mars 2000)

weekly news anb0323 - End of Part 7/7
THE END


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