Friends:

I thought this might be an interesting way to comprehend the rising costs in Zimbabwe.

Jack Shepherd

NETGO 28 August 2005

RADAR METAL INDUSTRIES:HAPPY IN ZIM, even though...

A Vienna sausage costs more that a three bedroom house cost 25 years ago

Fuel has increased by 59,000% in the last 18 months

If you want fuel you have to buy foreign currency on the black market
(illegal) drive 120 kms, smuggle your cash through an international border,
and fill a container. On return you have to pay duty in Zim $ on the fuel
you have purchased but you ...   more »

Friends:

A very interesting news report regarding the occupation of prime land along the prop[osed Zambezi water project.

Jack Shepherd

FinGaz

Chefs in fresh land grab orgy in Mat North

Njabulo Ncube
8/25/2005 10:05:17 AM (GMT +2)

SENIOR ZANU PF politicians and army officers have grabbed prime
wildlife-rich farms along the route of the Zambezi Water Project in
Matabeleland, as they strategically position themselves to benefit from the
stalled project, which is expected to create a 450-kilometre greenbelt.

Government sources privy to land redistribution in Matabeleland North
told The Financial Gazette yesterday that the majority of the farms and
safaris ...   more »

Friends:

Here is Cathy Buckle's weekly column. Of most interest to me is her last section on the South African food donations, now sitting in the spring sunshine at the border, prevented from moving into the country by the Zimbabwe government.

Jack Shepherd


--- Forwarded Message from Cathy Buckle ---

...   more »

Friends:

It looks like Zimbabwe is going to import food continuously from the region.

Jack Shepherd

Reuters

Zimbabwe to import 120,000 T maize monthly - paper
Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:27 AM GMT

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe plans to import 120,000 tonnes of maize every
month and has bought 300,000 tonnes in the past three months to stave off
food shortages after poor rains, the official Herald newspaper reported on
Monday.

President Robert Mugabe's government has said it will not formally ask the
United Nations World Food Programme for help despite a devastating drought
last season. Aid agencies say around ...   more »

Friends:

A great column from Eddie Cross tracing the "implosion" of Zimbabwe.

Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message from "NETGO" ---

...   more »

Friends:

Some good news out of Zimbabwe.

Jack Shepherd

Zim Online

Zimbabwe opens up grain market
Wed 17 August 2005

HARARE - The Zimbabwe government on Tuesday opened up trade in maize
and wheat and waived duty on grain imports in a desperate bid to facilitate
greater inflow of the two key staples into the country, battling worsening
food shortages.

Finance Minister Herbert Murerwa announced the new measures when he
presented a Z$6.6 trillion supplementary budget and his mid-term fiscal
policy review statement to Parliament.

Murerwa said the state-owned Grain Marketing Board would no longer
enjoy a monopoly in maize ...   more »

Friends:

Another interestingt account of Zimbabwe's "poker game" with South Africa over a possible loan. The brazenness of the begger-state, especially since Zim is facing expulsion from the IMF next mont, does remind one of a high-stakes poker player.

Jack Shepherd

Mail and Guardian (South Africa)

Zimbabwe loan: Who will blink first?

Nic Dawes | Johannesburg, South Africa

12 August 2005 07:26

President Thabo Mbeki and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe are
locked in a high-stakes poker game over the conditions attached to a South
African plan to stave off the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy.

Each has considerable leverage: the ...   more »

Friends:

Sorry for a third offering. Here is a very interesting historical perspective on Zimbabwe's economic collapse.

Jack Shepherd

Zim Online

Zimbabwe 's economy back to 1953 levels, says report
Thur 11 August 2005

HARARE - Zimbabwe, in its sixth year of bitter economic recession, is
now worse off economically than it was 52 years ago with the poorest in the
country virtually condemned to sickness and death, according to the
Washington-based Centre for Global Development (CGD).
The CDG is an economic and development think-tank which tracks
economic trends across the globe.

The group said Zimbabwe's economic collapse was unusual ...   more »

Friends:

I found this a very interesting analysis from the Financial Gazette in Harare of possible Zimbabwe stock market and investment strategies. If anyone can explain why the government would allow speculation in the "non-conventional market" -- fuel and foreign currency -- I would appreciate it.

Jack Shepherd

FinGaz

Govt takes over FSI Agricom

Rangarirai Mberi
8/12/2005 8:02:09 AM (GMT +2)

GOVERNMENT has completed a disputed takeover of Mutumwa Mawere's
controlling shareholding in FSI Agri-com, a key subsidiary of SMM Holdings,
after cre-ditors agreed a debt-to-equity swap Tuesday.

The vote was taken mostly by representatives of a string of
quasi-government ...   more »

Friends:

Sorry, but this also caught my eye and suspicion: Is this being done (the
China weapons purchase sent a minute ago and this distribution of "goodies")
because Mugabe is feeling a restless military around him? Or merely to
assure and solidfy protection?

Jack Shepherd

Zim defence forces given land and housing

Harare, Zimbabwe

09 August 2005 02:12

Members of Zimbabwe's armed forces have been given farm land and
housing plots in a government effort to boost morale among troops, President
Robert Mugabe said on Tuesday at an address to mark Defence Forces' Day.

In a colourful ceremony at a ...   more »

Friends:


The word "disgusting" rushes upward in me with regard to this article. There
are, according to the World Food Programme, perhaps 4 million Zimbabweans
needing emergency food aid, with some 500,000 - 1 million internal refugees.

Jack Shepherd

Mugabe pledges to buy more weapons from China
Wed 10 August 2005

HARARE - President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday said his government would
buy more weapons from China and other Asian allies despite a crippling
economic crisis threatening Zimbabwe with total collapse.

Addressing thousands of mostly supporters of his ruling ZANU PF party
during celebrations honouring the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), ...   more »

Friends: A very interesting article out of southern Africa regarding Zimbabwe's economy and remittances from the Zi,mbab we diaspora. In recent weeks, I've sent other articles about this indicating that overseas remittances are nows Zimbabwe's largest source of foreign currency. And, if the government can crush the informal sectgor trade in hard currency, it can "capture" this market. Do note in paragraph #3 the official vs. parallel market for the US dollar. My sources indicate that this author is correct. Jack Shepherd Emigrants Boost Zimbabwe's Parallel Economy Inter Press Service (Johannesburg) August 8, 2005 Posted to the web August 8, ...   more »

Friends: Very interesting article, forwarded by Rebecca Heller, about Zimbabwe's effort to obtain a loan from South Africa. Jack Shepherd Article Type : News Given a week to sign up to a series of reforms, including a new constitution and fresh elections Mbekiís radical ultimatum to Mugabe Brendan Boyle, additional reporting by Prega Govender and Sunday Times Foreign Desk South Africa has given Zimbabweís President Robert Mugabe a week to sign up to a series of reforms, including a new constitution agreed to by the opposition and fresh elections, if he wants to unlock up to $500-million in aid. And ...   more »

Friends: Here is Cathy Buckle's weekly email from inside Zimbabwe. Jack Shepherd --- Forwarded Message from Cathy Buckle --- ...   more »

Dear Friends: Here is a very excellent idea, published today in the Boston Globe. Jack Shepherd Boston Globe Opportunity seen for change in Zimbabwe South Africa could tie aid to greater freedom By John Donnelly, Globe Staff | August 5, 2005 PRETORIA -- During more than two years of South Africa's policy of ''quiet diplomacy" toward embattled Zimbabwe, there probably was never a scene like the one yesterday: senior Zimbabwean finance officials asking their South African counterparts in a private meeting here for an economic bailout that could reach hundreds of millions of dollars. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has ...   more »

Friends: A very worrisome article about Zimbabwe not requesting food aid from the WFP. This is identical to a year ago, when Mugabe kicked the WFP out of Zimbabwe, and then in January asked them to come back in before the elections. No elections this coming year, but hunger nonetheless. Jack Shepherd Zim Online Harare's failure to appeal for food aid worries World Food Programme Thur 4 August 2005 HARARE - The World Food Programme (WFP) on Wednesday said it was "difficult and problematic" to raise relief for millions of hungry Zimbabweans because of Harare's failure to make a formal ...   more »

Friends: Not wishing to flood your email, I still send this largely because of the very interesting economic figures. Look at the cost of fuel in US$, for example, and the economic decisions being made by Zi,mbabweans. Jack Shepherd [ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations] JOHANNESBURG, 3 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - The National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (NOCZIM) says it plans to sell fuel for hard currency in cities across the country, despite the poor response to the experiment at the pilot filling station. Management at Arcadia Filling Station in the capital, Harare, ...   more »