CATHY BUCKLE'S LETTTER FROM ZIMBABWE!

Dear Family and Friends,

As the Minister of Finance presented what he called a "people orientated" budget this week, two senior executives from the country's biggest bakery were starting a four month prison sentence. The two men, the CEO and Operations Manager were found guilty of putting the price of bread up by 50% in September without government permission. The bread price is controlled by government here but is set at sub economic levels which has left most bakeries cutting their staff, blending flour with maize meal, switching off slicing machines and reducing the number of hours that their ovens work. Bread has already become a luxury for most Zimbabweans but none of this was mentioned as the propaganda in the state media whipped the issue into a frenzied witch-hunt. There was talk of "economic saboteurs"and a state prosecutor called the men "leaders in a criminal enterprise." The sentencing of two men from the biggest bakery will undoubtedly have only one result - shortages. At first it will be bread and then other goods whose prices are controlled by government - sugar, margarine, cooking oil, milk, salt, soap and so the list goes on and on.

One can only imagine what words a prosecutor would use to describe the government officials who this week approved an increase in the cost ofwater in Harare from 8 to 130 dollars a cubic metre. It doesn't take aneconomist, mathematician or even primary school arithmetic to know that this is more than 50%. The double standards in Zimbabwe are so staggering that you are left in no doubt that it is all about control, plain and simple control.

This first week of December 2006 also saw control being exercised in the streets against the protesting voices of women. Waving placards and singing songs, unarmed women belonging to WOZA were arrested in Bulawayo. Calling for affordable housing, education and healthcare, the women were arrested by riot police. Some of the women had babies on their backs. When ordered to pick their placards up off the street WOZA said police beat the women on their backs and buttocks with batons. Can you imagine beating a woman with a baby? Several people were hospitalized, including a baby. 63 women, 4 men and 6 babies were arrested. Perhaps they will meet the two bakery officials in prison.

It is hard to see sense in Zimbabwe this December. In the mayhem there is almost no sign of the opposition MDC - both factions seem to have gone quiet. The odd individual raises their head and their voice but the party as a whole seems rudderless and lost having spent almost the entire year fighting themselves rather than the oppression. Zimbabweans are cowed and need brave, decisive and united leadership. People generally are scared to act, scared to speak out and scared to protest. This week as people were called on to bang pots every evening for two minutes at 8 pm, to bang for an end to hunger, the night air was quiet, deathly quiet. My pot sounded awfully loud, alone out there every night.

Until next week, thank you for reading and for caring.
Love cathy.

Copyright cathy buckle 2nd December 2006.http:/africantears.netfirms.comMy books "African Tears" and "Beyond Tears" are available from:orders@africabookcentre.com