Media Monitor, Friday 28 November 2008

AS THE festive season draws nearer, strike action looms at South African Airways over the outsourcing of the airline’s reservations and Voyager call centre.

SAA wants to transfer about 250 call-centre staff to specialist IT services company Dimension Data, which outsources call-centre workers.

The staff have also been offered an option of voluntary retrenchment packages by SAA.

The SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union this week received permission to strike from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, but has suspended the action “to allow negotiations to take place”, said Israel Mphahlele, Satawu’s Gauteng chairman.

But Mphahlele warned: “If we don’t reach an agreement by this weekend, we will then re-issue a notice for strike and it will definitely start next Wednesday.”

The union is opposing a move by the company to outsource the call-centre operations because that would mean permanent positions being replaced by casual jobs.

“SAA is trying to compromise quality jobs with casual labour and this will affect workers.”

SAA said in a statement yesterday it would “approach the Labour Court to review the issuing of the certificate” by the CCMA to Satawu.

Stanlib economist Kevin Lings said: “It is not favourable for a firm to experience strike action in the current economic conditions.

“But it is important to understand that there is more tension in the labour markets because of the retrenchments in big industries, and this has broadened the negotiating scope beyond mere wage negotiations.”

Mphahlele said the dispute also comprised other factors that SAA did not mention in its statement.

“We are also fighting for the extension of the retention bonuses to ordinary employees because management gave themselves bonuses under mysterious circumstances as they didn’t explain the criteria.

“Another problem we are facing at SAA is the use of labour brokers [recruitment agencies] because they are paid millions of rands, but they exploit employees by underpaying them.”

SAA said it had lost many skilled people in the past year through resignations, which were over and above the voluntary severance packages that were offered. These included resignations of technical, ground staff, cabin crew and managers.

“Payment of a retention premium is normal business practice in companies faced with the potential loss of experienced, skilled, dedicated and knowledgeable individuals while undergoing a process of restructuring,” said Bhabhalazi Bulunga, SAA’s general manager for human resources.

1.2 Thousands of workers march at Lonmin mine – union

Esmarie Swanepoel, Mining Weekly, 27 November 2008

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) - The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), South Africa’s largest mining union, on Thursday stated that about 18 000 mineworkers had partaken in a march at platinum producer Lonmin’s Rustenburg operations.

NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said that the workers were protesting about the possible retrenchments, as well as the company’s inability to supply exact figures to the number of jobs on the block.

“The company is sending confusing messages and saying that they are going to do restructuring at the top. But at the same time, they are talking about retrenchment, and there are talks that they would close their Limpopo operations.”

Another issue contributing the general feeling of discontent, said Seshoka, was that workers at Lonmin’s Limpopo operations were not being kept abreast of operational decisions.

The strike at the Limpopo operations had entered its third week, and Seshoka said it was likely to continue until next week. “We have requested the Council for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration for a quick intervention, and we hope that they will get involved.”

However, Seshoka added that no date for remediation efforts had been set.

Lonmin CEO Ian Farmer had previously reported that the company would cease all opencast mining operations by the end of the year, in a move to only produce value-adding ounces, in the light of the current global market turmoil.

Given the company’s focus on cash management, as well as the current state of the credit markets, Lonmin might place its Akanani and Limpopo projects on care-and-maintenance for the short term.

Trade union Solidarity previously reported that about 1 600 workers might be retrenched.

1.3 DJ Simmer & Jack May Cut 500 Jobs at Buffelsfontein Mine

Robb M. Stewart, 27 November 2008

South African gold producer Simmer & Jack Mines Ltd. (SIM.JO) Thursday said it could cut about 500 jobs at its Buffelsfontein mine as it aims to meet production targets.

"We are experiencing unprecedented increases in the costs of materials required for mining and milling," Chief Executive Gordon Miller said. "In the current economic climate it's essential that all sections produce optimally."

The Johannesburg-based company said that the jobs could be cut within the next two months if it fails to conclude an optimization plan at Buffelsfontein.

Simmers earlier this month said the mine would be focusing on margins and taking a "far stronger line" on sections of the mine that didn't contribute to cash flow.

Trade union Solidarity late Tuesday said it had received notice from the company of plans to ax almost 10% of the mine's 5,440 employees. It said about 300 jobs at the number 12 shaft could go, and the rest from other shafts.

It said the notice pointed to the economic situation, an increase in the costs of materials and the fact Buffelsfontein couldn't reach production targets as the main reasons for the planned cuts.

1.4 Death threats as strikes continue in Bay today

Nomahlubi Sonjica, Gareth Wilson, Herald, Port Elizabeth, 28 November 2008

AS Nelson Mandela Bay braces for another transport strike today, reports have emerged of violence and death threats in the chokka industry strike.

The third round of the violence- marred taxi strike against the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system will go ahead again today and continue on Monday and Tuesday next week.

The strike in the Eastern Cape fishing industry over demands for a fixed minimum salary has dragged on for three months with no end in sight.

After a meeting of taxi associations at Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton last night, Port Elizabeth district taxi association chairman Melekile Hani said they were continuing with the strike, despite an earlier meeting they had with the regional business chamber.

“We won‘t engage in negotiations when the mayor is still being arrogant and continuing with the BRT system.”

Hani said the strike dates remained unchanged and they would meet with other associations in the province to decide on further action.

“It is possible that the strike will continue for a month, but this depends on the provincial steering committee that has been elected.”

Hani added that there was a possibility that they could embark on a strike during next year‘s elections. “If nothing happens after that, we will even disrupt the 2010 World Cup.”

If mayor Nondumiso Maphazi wanted to talk to them, she should stop the BRT process altogether.

“What we are saying is, we don‘t want to be employees in the system. We want to take ownership of it. There are old men here who retired from work a long time ago. They cannot be expected to work for another person again.”

PE Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Odwa Mtati met with ANC alliance members and some representatives of taxi associations early last night to get them to negotiate with the municipality.

“What is distressing about the situation is the impact on an economy that is battered,” he said. “We are insisting that a resolution can only be found by people willing to negotiate.”

He said there was willingness from both parties to consider alternative forms of engagement.

“The next step is to bring the parties to negotiate and we are hoping we can avert any further action.”

Superintendent Sandra Janse van Rensburg said police had brought in reinforcements from other centres for today.

“All stations will also deploy necessary people as we did last time. The crime combating unit will also be assisting.”

Algoa Bus Company buses will also not operate today or on Monday and Tuesday next week.

Meanwhile, several non-striking chokka fishermen have reported intimidation to police but have declined to lay charges for fear of retaliation.

In a statement to police, a fishing company says a skipper was told its vessels would be “blown up and dealt with” if they entered the harbour.

The Herald received copies of statements provided by a fishing company whose crew had been assaulted in Walmer Township. As a result, the crew and their families have moved to the Transkei.

Another source, who did not want to be named, said a group of fishermen threatened a non-striker‘s family at their home in Missionvale yesterday.

“They told his family that if he did not return home they would burn the house down. The police went there and the family was too scared to say anything, so they left without opening a case.”

In another incident in Humansdorp, a group of fishermen en route to St Francis Bay were hauled out of a taxi and assaulted.

“They beat all the men up and then threatened them with their lives. They also did not (lay charges) as their families will be killed.”

Police spokesman Superintendent Priscilla Naidu said about 200 strikers had held a meeting yesterday. “No problems were reported throughout the day, but police are remaining on high alert to stop any unlawful acts,” she said.

The employers‘ organisation, meanwhile, is to take legal steps after its head, Nanda Nieuwoudt, appealed in vain to the Food and Allied Workers‘ Union yesterday to address the intimidation.

“This is really becoming ridiculous and we just want to get this under control,” she said. “The police are really trying everything they can, but there is only so much they can do.”

She said Fawu had replied that it was unable to do anything without dates, times and names of the people involved. “I have handed the matter over to our legal adviser to take steps.”

1.5 Top SAMWU officials ditch union for COPE

Alex Matlala, Sowetan, Johannnesburg, 27 November 2008

The South African Municipal Workers Union in Limpopo has been caught by surprise by the resignation of two of its senior officials – apparently to align themselves with the Congress of the People.

The two bigwigs – Percy Thobejane, who was the union’s chairman, and Mokgadi Mamabolo, the secretary – dropped a bombshell yesterday when they resigned from the union.

They broke the news at an emotional meeting attended by management and union members.

Their unexpected resignations come barely two weeks after they resigned from the ANC, in their branches at Sekororo, after reports of soured relations with party members.

Sowetan has been reliably informed that the two had since joined COPE.

Their resignations left the municipality baffled and prompted the union leadership to elect an interim structure to lead until a fully-fledged structure had been elected.

Fourier Maake and Petrus Ngobeni were elected as interim chairman and secretary of the union respectively.

“It’s true. I’ve resigned from the ANC and joined COPE,” Thobejane said yesterday.

He said he could no longer serve in a union affiliated to Cosatu, which is in alliance with the ANC. “I’ m waiting for a new union to be launched by Willy Madisha, which will be independent and not affiliated to any political organisation. ”

1.6 Now nearly 5m in informal sector

Kea Modimoeng, Dispatch, East London, 26 November 2008

ABOUT 99 percent of all private household employees, mainly domestic workers, are employed informally, with no formal employment contracts, according to the latest labour force survey report.

Stats SA said these workers have no entitlement to medical aid or pension plans from their employers.

In the second quarter of 2008, the construction industry had the second highest percentage of people employed informally – amounting to 54.8 percent.

During the same period, the agriculture industry had the third highest percentage, about 50.1 percent.

Kevin Lings, an economist at Stanlib, said: “The labour market will come under pressure, including the informal sectors. Generally businesses and informal employers might try to work with temporary staff as it might improve flexibility.

“This is because companies don’t want to end up with a lot of permanent staff, especially in these economic conditions.”

Jaco Kleynhans, of trade union Solidarity, said: “We have said it many times in the past that the quality of jobs is a determinant factor of the general quality of people’s lives. All the people in so- called informal employment work extremely hard and most of them work for long hours but they don’t get much out. It is fundamentally important that the quality of jobs created must give better rewards than social grants.”

The trade and private households industries together account for over 2.5 million of the 4.9 million employed people who are categorised as working in informal employment.

Dennis George, general secretary of Fedusa, said: “We agreed with the Department of Labour that the wages of domestic workers should increase on an annual basis with an inflation rate plus 2 percent. Unfortunately, the same is not happening with agriculture and construction workers and this makes them vulnerable to exploitation.”

He said some household employers pay their workers, especially domestic workers, more than the minimum wages because of the closeness of their relationships.

On unemployment, the report showed that in the second quarter of 2008, women accounted for 2.2million jobs and men 1.9m.

Men accounted for 33.8% of job losers against only 23.9 percent of women.

1.7 Cosatu warns of bumpy ride

Reporter, IOL, 27 November 2008

The Congress of SA Trade Unions warned on Thursday of the potential for violence and disruption in the short term amid attempts by an ANC breakaway group to form a new union federation.

"The [Central Executive Committee] agreed that they will never succeed in breaking up our unity and creating an alternative federation, that we should be concerned [about] the potential for violence and disruption in the long term," its president Sdumo Dlamini said in a media briefing in Johannesburg.

His deputy general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said many people were grumpy "one way or another and are trying to settle scores."

Their comments come amid debate over the right of workers to choose their own political affiliation. Cosatu is traditionally affiliated to the ruling ANC as a partner in an alliance with the SA Communist Party, as opposed to Solidarity which is not politically aligned.

Dlamini said the union body felt betrayed and embarrassed by its former president Willie Madisha, who began working with COPE after a succession of sackings stripped him of top posts in Cosatu, the SA Communist Party and the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu).

He fell out of favour when he expressed support for former president Thabo Mbeki over Jacob Zuma for the presidency of the ruling ANC, which was out of step with a Cosatu resolution.

"Madisha wants to form a labour federation forgetting you need many unions," Dlamini said.

"He does not have one, because definitely he is not going to take Sadtu into that thing," he added.

He said workers had lost money and jobs defending people like Madisha, former SACP treasurer Phillip Dexter and civic organisation leader Moses Mayekiso when they were doing good things for workers, but they would not support them now.

"Those comrades have actually embarrassed us. Workers trusted those comrades."

Workers would have died for former Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa, also a former Cosatu president, who resigned as premier and an ANC member after Mbeki was recalled by the ANC.

"I would die for that man," said Ntshalintshali. But, he felt that Shilowa had changed his lifestyle after being appointed premier of Gauteng, even shunning the red socks he wore as a badge of support for the SA Communist Party.

The union body believed Cope was trying to undermine the "national democratic revolution" and is producing a booklet which will "unpack the class agenda and the class forces" behind what it regards are efforts to weaken the ANC.

It accused the media of open bias towards Cope, saying it had dedicated a day's coverage to their convention in October and rushed off to cover every announcement of new members.

At the press conference, devoid of the pro-Zuma statements that characterised many briefings over the last year, it also explained why people never spoke out at ANC meetings when they felt former chairman and COPE co-founder Terror Lekota was being autocratic.

They said Lekota had told Arbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and "our icon" Nelson Mandela to shut up.

Even though there were other senior ANC officials present, if they had objections they had to note them with Lekota himself. – Sapa

South Africa

Election; Energy; Treasury; Zuma matter

2.1 COPE’s leaders accused of stoking violence among workers

Amy Musgrave, Business Day, Johannesburg. 28 November 2008

THE Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has turned up the heat on the Congress of the People (COPE), issuing a stiff warning yesterday that its leaders were stoking violence and lambasting them for failing to deliver when they were leaders of the African National Congress (ANC).

Cosatu’s top brass told reporters that former Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa, former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota and former Eastern Cape premier Nosimo Balindlela had a bad service delivery record.

Cosatu deputy general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali warned that COPE’s efforts to recruit workers could lead to violence.

Ntshalintshali’s sentiments were echoed by National Union of Mineworkers general secretary Frans Baleni, who has accused COPE of starting a campaign of misinformation among workers concerning their pension funds in an effort to recruit new members. COPE has denied the accusations.

The warning of violence follows COPE’s moves to recruit Cosatu members in the mining and motor industry.

“The CEC (central executive committee) agreed that they (COPE) will never succeed in breaking up our unity and creating an alternative federation. We should be concerned about the potential for violence and disruption in the short term,” Ntshalintshali said.

Cosatu leaders said workers had in the past lost their lives when “lies” were peddled to them by people attempting to form alternatives to Cosatu. The federation is throwing its weight behind the ANC’s election machine.

However, Cosatu is insisting on an active role on the ANC’s national list committee, which will finally ratify the ANC’s list of election candidates.

“The CEC agreed that Cosatu must be represented on the ANC national list committee. The meeting endorsed proposals that should guide Cosatu’s interaction with the process,” Ntshalintshali said.

Cosatu leaders cautioned that its assistance to the ANC should not lead to a vacuum in its ranks. The federation should learn from previous occasions when key unionists were “deployed” to the government and were not accountable to the trade union movement.

On service delivery, Cosatu criticised COPE, blaming Balindlela and Shilowa for not delivering to the poor and being “enemies of the workers”.

Cosatu treasurer Alina Rantsolase did not mince her words, accusing Shilowa of never providing free basic services such as water and electricity to the indigent. Balindlela was accused of having wasted resources during her tenure in office.

But it was Lekota who came in for a special grilling over his treatment of former president Nelson Mandela.

Lekota, according to Cosatu, told Mandela to “shut up” at an ANC national executive committee meeting when he tried to take on former president Thabo Mbeki over his HIV/AIDS denialism.

More articles on the election:

· Zuma seeks religious leaders’ blessing

· Performing artists strike loyal ANC note

· Unhappy voters ‘do not swap parties’

· Entertainers voice their concerns to the ANC’s Zuma, Malema

2.2 Cosatu encourages affiliates to ‘invest in Eskom’

Amy Musgrave, Business Day, Johannesburg, 28 November 2008

THE Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has asked its affiliates to consider investing in power utility Eskom, which needs billions of rands for its capital expansion programme.

Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini told reporters yesterday that affiliates were being asked to look at what was at their disposal to help Eskom.

“Rather than investing offshore and creating jobs somewhere else, what about changing mindsets and investing in this utility that we need?"

The state has lent Eskom R60bn, but it needs R344bn over the next five years for its capital expansion. Cosatu has been critical of proposed electricity price hikes which would be carried by consumers to offset the shortfall.

Cosatu held a central executive committee meeting this week. Matters discussed included the threat of huge retrenchments in SA because of the global financial crisis.

Deputy general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said Cosatu wanted urgent action from the government to protect jobs. Companies in the mining, vehicle, leather and textile industries have announced retrenchments and Cosatu has estimated that 20000 people could lose their jobs.

“We want the government to come out with some bail-out. The pain needs to be shared equally. It’s not going to be a short-term issue, we are affected in a big way. We need to find a solution so we cannot depend on the book of the west. The Latin American countries have not been that affected,” he said.

It was imperative that large-scale infrastructure projects in power, transport and water continued to be rolled out in order to stimulate demand and employment , with increased emphasis on local content for these projects, he said.

The matter will be discussed at a presidential working group meeting with labour next month.

The Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) has called for a moratorium on retrenchments so that alternatives can be looked at first.

Fedusa will present a proposal called Weathering the Storm which will contain recommendations on how to alleviate the effects of the global crisis at next month’s meeting.

Ntshalintshali said the plight of the poor and workers could also be eased by cutting interest rates and buying local products.

Cosatu would hold a “buy South African" campaign on December 6 and 7.

“One of the best ways to turn the tide and reduce the cost of living is to buy local. This will boost the domestic economy by increasing demand for locally produced goods and thus save and create jobs in the firms that manufacture them.

“This will be helped by the falling value of the rand, which will make local goods cheaper than imports here and more competitive overseas which will enable SA firms to offset the worldwide decline in demand,” he said.

Cosatu’s members would picket at shopping malls to encourage shoppers to buy locally produced goods and stave off retrenchments.

More articles on energy:

· Cosatu bats for Eskom

· Cosatu calls on affiliates to help eskom

2.3 Cosatu: ‘We want Manuel gone’

Nkululeko Ncana, the Times, Johannesburg, 28 November 2008

Federation calls for new minister after elections

TRADE union federation Cosatu wants Finance Minister Trevor Manuel gone, but says it will respect the ANC’s decision if he should return to cabinet after next year’s general election.

The federation’s president, Sdumo Dlamini, told journalists yesterday that Cosatu would like to see a change in the finance ministry when a new cabinet is appointed next year.

“The ANC list is a democratic process and we can’t say that person should not be on the list. But this does not deter us from [criticising] him. If they [choose] Trevor, we will not be happy, but what can we do,” asked Dlamini.

He was addressing journalists at the end of a three-day Cosatu central executive committee meeting during which the federation discussed its support for the ANC during next year’s polls, as well as union representation in the new government and parliament.

Cosatu has been Manuel’s greatest critic and has constantly blamed him and former president Thabo Mbeki for the government’s macroeconomic policies, which, the federation claims, have resulted in a high unemployment rate and growing poverty.

Dlamini said Cosatu would participate in this weekend’s ANC election manifesto conference, with the objective of influencing the programme of the post-election government.

“The core message is that, if democracy is to have meaning to the majority of our people, the manifesto needs to address the underlying structural problems of South African society: unemployment, poverty and inequality.”

2.4 Mbeki application ‘misconceived’

Franny Rabkin, Business Day, 28 November 2008

FORMER president Thabo Mbeki’s application to intervene in the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA’s) appeal of Judge Chris Nicholson’s judgment in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) was “misconceived”, African National Congress president Jacob Zuma’s lawyers said yesterday.

Nicholson’s judgment in the Pietermaritzburg High Court set aside the NPA’s decision to prosecute Zuma. Nicholson also implied Mbeki and former justice ministers Brigitte Mabandla and Penuell Maduna had politically interfered in the work of the NPA.

The NPA’s appeal against Nicholson’s judgment and orders will be heard in the SCA today. After a failed Constitutional Court bid to appeal Nicholson’s findings of political interference, Mbeki then sought leave to join the SCA proceedings either as a party, with a “direct and substantial interest”, or as a friend of the court. Mbeki only sought to intervene on the political meddling findings.

But in heads of argument filed at the SCA by Zuma’s counsel, Kemp Kemp said Mbeki was not a party in the Pietermaritzburg High Court and should not be allowed to intervene.

Kemp said the conduct of non-litigants featured in litigation “extremely frequently” and it did not mean that they should be given the rights of a litigant.

Kemp also said that an appeal did “not lie against findings, reasons or opinions”. Only judgments or orders may be appealed.

He said the purpose of Mbeki’s entry into the case was not “aimed at a change in the orders Zuma seeks to defend”.

International

Zimbabwe; Zambia

3.1 ZCTU calls for mass action against central bank

Alex Bell, SW Radio Africa, 27 November 2008

Zimbabwe’s labour leaders have called for mass public action to protest against the central bank’s restrictive cap on cash withdrawal limits – amid a worsening food, health and cash crisis.

Zimbabwe has the world’s highest official inflation of 231 million percent, but experts say the rate has reached far beyond the quintillion mark. The daily withdrawal limit of Z$500,000 was recently increased from a mere Z$50, 000 but still does not buy even half a loaf of bread. A 2 kilogram pack of sugar bought in local currency means Zimbabweans must spend four days in line at a bank or automated teller machine to get enough money. The withdrawal limit coupled with the general refusal to accept cheques or cards, means Zimbabweans cannot physically purchase even the most basic necessities.

Most concerning however is that amid a national cholera crisis that has claimed thousands of lives, Zimbabweans cannot withdraw enough money to pay for critically needed medication or even the transport to get the sick to hospitals and clinics. The situation has led to the call by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) for Zimbabweans to try and withdraw more than the Z$500,000 limit next Wednesday.

“Hundreds, if not thousands, of us have died not because of anything other than the imposed cash withdrawal limits,” said the head of the ZCTU Lovemore Matombo in an interview on Thursday.

Earlier this week, Mugabe reappointed central bank governor Gideon Gono for another five-year term at the Reserve Bank – a move that has sparked outcry across the country.

Meanwhile trade unions from across Southern Africa will meet in Gaborone, Botswana on Friday to discuss ‘regional matters and joint actions’ in a meeting where Zimbabwe and Swaziland are said to be high on the agenda.

“We note that in Zimbabwe the cholera crisis threatens the whole region and this is a result of the political and economic crisis in that country and postponing the problem or avoiding it has not helped anyone, but worsened the suffering of the people,” a statement by South Africa’s trade union federation COSATU said on Thursday. “We also note that the inability of the political crisis in that country to be resolved has exposed SADC’s challenges and the need for more political will by the leaders of Zimbabwe to do all within their power for their people.”

COSATU has been a driving force behind various protests against the undemocratic regimes in both Zimbabwe and Swaziland. The South African union federation has organised demonstrations and blocked the borders to both neighbouring countries, and has also pressured South Africa’s ruling ANC government to take action.

3.2 Zim crisis deepens as MDC quits talks

Peter Fabricius, The Star, Johannesburg, 28 November 2008

Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change says it has officially withdrawn from negotiations with Zanu-PF until Thabo Mbeki is replaced as the official Zimbabwe facilitator of the Southern African Development Community.

MDC announced this on Wednesday in response to a letter which Mbeki wrote to Tsvangirai on Monday. Mbeki wrote the letter in response to a letter which MDC secretary general Tendai Biti wrote to him on November 19.

In his letter Biti described the recent SADC decision calling on MDC and Zanu-PF to share the disputed Home Affairs Ministry, as a "nullity".

He said the MDC could not proceed this week - as Mbeki and Zanu-PF wanted them to - with negotiations for Constitutional Amendment 19 which would create the position of prime minister for Tsvangirai in a unity government as this would legitimise the SADC ruling.

He also complained that the Zimbabwean state had completely collapsed, that the government was unable to provide basic amenities such as food, education and health to its people and that it was viciously attacking MDC members.

Mbeki responded, in great detail, in his letter that MDC had already agreed to meet on November 19 and 20 to finalise Amendment 19 and that he believed that the best way to solve the collapse of the state which Biti referred to was for the MDC to help pass Amendment 19 to get into government as soon as possible to tackle the problems Biti identified.

Mbeki also took exception to Biti's dismissal of the SADC decision on sharing the Home Affairs Ministry as a "nullity".

Mbeki added that perhaps MDC believed the Southern African region and Africa were of little consequence to the future of Zimbabwe, and that others in Western Europe and North America were more important.

The MDC took this last remark as Mbeki implying that it was doing the bidding of Western powers - an accusation often levelled against it by Zanu-PF - and said this was further evidence of Mbeki's anti-MDC bias which it had complained of often before. It said it would therefore appeal to SADC to remove him as facilitator.

3.3 Zimbabwe appeals for aid as cholera toll nears

AFP, 28 November 2008

HARARE (AFP) — Zimbabwe appealed for aid on Thursday to fight an epidemic of cholera, warning that the outbreak could worsen with the onset of the rainy season as the official death reached nearly 400.

Only a day after the government insisted it had the outbreak under control, deputy health minister Edwin Muguti said it would welcome outside help but again blamed veteran President Robert Mugabe's Western critics for the crisis.

Speaking on state television, Muguti said 386 people had died of the disease while 9,363 cases had been reported. The government had previously said 281 people had been killed although the UN put the toll at 366 earlier this week.

"With the coming of the rainy season, the situation could get worse," said Muguti.

"Our problems are quite simple. We need to be assisted."

Zimbabwe's rainy season began earlier this month and should continue until February.

The minister again blamed a limited package of sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union, which include a travel ban on Mugabe's inner circle and a freezing of their assets, for the mounting death toll.

"Maybe the ones who created this situation have decided to kill us softly," he said.

The explosion of cholera is the latest sign of the collapse of the country which was regarded as a post-colonial success story in the first two decades after independence from Britain in 1980 but is now burdened by the world's highest rate of inflation -- last put at 231 million percent.

The nation's dilapidated infrastructure has left sewage flowing openly in the streets while drinking water goes untreated.

The disease has spread to neighbouring South Africa, where six people, including two nationals, have died of cholera after returning from Zimbabwe over the last week.

South African Health Minister Barbara Hogan slapped down Muguti's comments on Wednesday that "the situation is under under control", instead calling it a humanitarian crisis and promised not to turn away anyone who crossed the border for treatment.

According to a report Thursday in Zimbabwe's state media, the Chinese government has pledged to donate vaccines worth 500,000 dollars to help Zimbabwe contain the cholera epidemic.

"We are sympathising with the Zimbabwean people and we want to help as best as we can to stop the spread of the cholera disease that has killed many people in this country," said He Meng, deputy head of China's mission to Zimbabwe, according to The Herald newspaper.

The cholera epidemic has added to pressure on Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to implement an agreement in September to share power after disputed elections earlier in the year.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has said that Zimbabwe is now facing the worst crisis in its history.

However Tsvangirai has grown frustrated at regional mediation efforts and has called for chief mediator Thabo Mbeki, the former president of South Africa, to be axed after the latest session of talks broke up on Wednesday without any progress.

Meanwhile Mugabe, the 84-year-old who has ruled uninterrupted since independence, has flown out to Qatar to participate in a weekend UN conference on international development, according to The Herald.

3.4 1,000 mine jobs coming

Mukula Mukula, Zambia Daily Mail, 28 November 2008

THE Chambishi Copper Smelter is next month expected to employ 1,000 additional workers when construction of the U$ 300 million structure is completed.

And Lumwana Copper Mine (LCM) Limited managing director Harry Michael says his company will not retrench workers despite the low copper prices on the international market but will instead employ 200 additional workers.

The Chambishi Smelter is part of the U$ 900 million investment in the Multi-Facility Economic Zone which is expected to house 50 to 60 enterprises with the capacity to employee 6,000 Zambians when the project is completed in five years time.

Company deputy chief executive officer Yang Jiabing said yesterday that the smelter had the capacity to process 400,000 metric tonnes of copper concentrate annually with an out put of 150,000 metric tonnes of Copper.

Mr Yanga said this yesterday in Kalulushi when Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Jennifer Musonda toured the smelter.

Already the company has signed a five year multi million agreement with Lumwana mine for the processing of the copper concentrate while Non Ferrous Company Africa Mining Plc (NFCA) is another major partner that would process its concentrate at the smelter.

The smelter is expected to rake in an average U$ 50 million dollars annually and was expected to recoup its expenditure after seven years of production.

Mr Yang said the 1,000 additional workers would be employed to replace some Chinese staff who are expected to leave before Christmas since they were engaged in the construction of the smelter and not production.

He said the world economic recession would not affect Chambishi Smelter because its job was to process copper concentrate and that it was not involved in the mining of copper.

Mr Yang said the smelter plant had the capacity to produce fertilizer and that this may be considered in future if there was enough market for the commodity.

He said the environment would be protected during production because most of the wastes would be captured during production for the manufacture of acid.

Mr Yang assured that the company would not engage in the retrenchment of workers because they were not affected by the economic recession.

Mrs Musonda said government wanted to ensure that as many Zambians as possible were employed in the mining sector instead of retrenching them.

She said government was against the retrenchment of workers because the low copper prices had just been experienced for two months and yet the copper prices remained high for a long time.

Mrs Musonda said it was not possible that the mines would begin to feel the impact of the low copper prices within a month and opt to retrench workers when the copper prices remained favourable at the international market for a long time, “It’s unfair for the mines to institute measures such as retrenchments because they enjoyed a long period of good copper prices at the international market.

During that time they made huge profits,” she said.

Mrs Musonda said government was delighted that the Chambishi smelter would be in production next month because that would boost economic activity on the Copperbelt.

And Mr Michael said although his management was concerned about the low copper prices, his company would not retrench workers.

He said this in an interview from Solwezi yesterday.

Mr Michael said Lumwana was still employing more workers in different sections of the mine.

Mr Michael said LCM would in the next three or four months employ an additional 200 workers in different sections of the mine.

“In fact in the next three or four months, we will be employing about 200 workers needed in different sections of the company. We are still building and constructing the mine. We need labour at all costs,” he said.

Mr Michael however said the low copper prices on the international world market was worrying and hoped that the situation would soon be resolved.

He said the policy of the mine was to employ local people and train them so that they attain the necessary skills to work in a mine.

Mr Michael said LCM worked with the local chiefs in employing workers from the local communities.

He said labour was an important factor in the construction of Lumwana mine.

Some mining companies on the Copperbelt and in the North Western provinces have retrenched more than 360 workers because of low copper prices on the world market.

Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) president Rayford Mbulu on Tuesday said Bwana Mkubwa Mine Company had retrenched 286, while Chambishi Metals had sent 26 workers on forced leave.

He said the action taken by the mining companies to retrench workers because of the low copper prices was unjustifiable.

Mr Mbulu called on the Government to work with the unions in finding a lasting solution to the problems surrounding the mining sector.

Meanwhile, the Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has accused some mining companies of using the global financial crisis to retrench workers as a way of expressing displeasure over the new mineral taxes in Zambia.

Acting ZCTU secretary general Ian Mkandawire said in Kitwe yesterday that although it was true that the economic recession had affected mining operations the world over, mining companies in other countries have not rushed into shedding off labour.

“We are concerned because the retrenchments will contribute to high unemployment levels and help increase poverty in the country,” Mr Mkandawire.

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