Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe Refugees - Interest Rates - Cancer Inquiry - Last Knights And Dames - League Fines Disputed
ZIMBABWE: President Robert Mugabe today told white farmers they were an "enemy of the state". Another farmer killed.
Martin Olds, shot dead on his doorstep. Silverstream Farm attack described. The farmer shot back at more than 100
attackers. Police arrived too late to do anything. House and truck fire-bombed. There had been hope that the farm crisis
would be at an end. Today's events suggest however that the violence from the War Veterans is far from over. Robert
Mugabe says farmers have behaved as enemies of Zimbabwe. Meanwhile the driver of the leader of the opposition has also
been murdered.
ZIMBABWE REFUGEES: NZ prepares for refugees. Foreign Minister Phil Goff says NZ will accept refugees and will consider
applications from whites and blacks. Farmer Tony Lubbe however says he will not be leaving. 140 NZers are known to be
living in Zimbabwe. Goff wants them to contact the NZ High Commission. Shelly Grieve has begun an appeal for the
children of the dead farmers. Phil Goff says NZ has offered observers for the upcoming Zimbabwe elections.
INTEREST RATES: Mortgages look set to rise again after another rise in the official interest rate. The Official Cash
Rate has now risen from 4.5% to 6% in six months. Mortgage rates of around 8.4% are forecast. Economists are defending
the rises in mortgage rates.
CANCER INQUIRY: Today the inquiry held evidence that successive governments were reluctant to set up a national cancer
register. Documents show alarm bills were ringing 10 years ago. Then Health Minister Helen Clark said she was not in
favour of a national register. Fourteen regional registers were created instead, against officials advice.
LAST KNIGHTS AND DAMES: The last NZ Knights and Dames have been invested at Government House.
LEAGUE FINES: Four players suspended following an ugly brawl on the sideline of a Cowboy's Warriers league clash. David
Moffat of the NRL is being accused of arranging the $30,000 fine. Both clubs are opposing the suspensions and the
$30,000 fines.