Posted on 05/06/2002 4:13:32 AM PDT by Clive
Harare - Zimbabwe has been called a "colony of Libya", and now faces a typical colonial bankruptcy after the oil company Tamoil, which supplies a staggering 70 percent of Zimbabwe's total fuel imports, last month unilaterally cut supplies to the troubled country.
As in the mid-April interruption of fuel imports, non- payment was the reason for Tamoil's step.
The sudden move coincided with the unrelated closure of Zimbabwe's fuel pipeline from the port of Beira in neighbouring Mozambique. It was closed so a new pump could be installed, said industry insiders.
Libya has imposed controversial conditions on its sale of fuel to Zimbabwe, including payment in cash, investment opportunities in Zimbabwean businesses and property acquisitions.
So far Libya has acquired a 25 percent stake in Zimbabwe's Jewel Bank and 15 percent in the country's Rainbow Tourism Group.
Libyan demands that the Mugabe regime hand over valuable farms as part of the deal have yet to be met, prompting fears from fuel-hungry consumers that the north African country will soon grow impatient with Zimbabwe.
It is understood that groups of Libyan businessmen have been to Zimbabwe and visited vast commercial farms around the country. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi also toured some big commercial farms and identified some for his country's expropriation last year.
However, the mechanics of delivering this land to the Libyans seem to have been delayed, prompting cries of impatience from the Libyans.
Zimbabwe is now so heavily reliant on the Libyans that the country will cease to function if Gaddafi puts brakes on oil supplies. Mugabe has paid a dozen visits to Libya in the past year to maintain Gaddafi's patronage.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says Zimbabwe has virtually become a "colony of Libya". Libya's cut supplies have only been resumed after interventions at the highest level.
"This isn't safe because there's no guarantee the interventions will always succeed. It is like signing your own death certificate," said an industry source.
While Libya supplies 70 percent of Zimbabwe's fuel, the other 30 percent comes from Kuwait's International Petroleum Group and from Sasol in South Africa. But they have been inconsistent with supplies, also due to non-payment.
The country has experienced intermittent fuel shortages over the past two years, with fuel queues often snaking through city streets for more than a kilometre as frustrated motorists wait for the precious commodity.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean government has plunged itself into further turmoil over the issuing of broadcast licences.
Applicants for licences are threatening to sue the beleaguered government, claiming delays have cost them millions.
Industry insiders are also questioning the issue of a broadcast licence to Transmedia, a wholly owned state company set to become a satellite broadcaster.
The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has refused to say who else will be given licences. Thomas Mandigora, the chief executive, said the BAZ had processed all applications and made its recommendations to the department of information, which has to decide whether to accept or reject the BAZ recommendations.
The department of information falls under Jonathan Moyo, Mugabe's chief spin doctor.
Zim goes from being a Brit colony to being an Arab colony in less than a quarter century.
BUMP!
When it was Rhodesia, that benighted land was the second-richest of all Africa, just behind Kenya -- and blacks shared in the pie. Their major beef with the white regime was that voting rights were conditioned on land ownership.
If one could somehow assure them that Mugabe and his Zanu-PF enforcers would never learn their answers, what percent of Zimbabweans would today prefer to return to the days of Rhodesia and all-white rule?
Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit The Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com
There are not that many who remember it, the lifespan having shrunk dramatically.
I wonder what the typical 'Shona-in-the-street' thinks of his so-called 'black nationalist' leadership cutting deals with a new colonial boss.
Headsonpikes, the people are not fooled.
That's why they stood in line for days to vote Mad Bob out.
As was expected, he stole the election.
From whom are these people to get help ?
Since the Cold War proxy conflicts are over, it won't happen until the disaster which is Zimbabwe, destablilizes surrounding regimes.
The only one of these with any muscle is South Africa.
So we are seeing something which has't been seen, at least not in this form: Arab colonization of an African nation.
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