VOA标准英语2009年-South African President to Make First Stat

Many Zimbabweans are looking with anticipation¹ toward South African President Jacob Zuma's planned visit to Harare Thursday. Many are hoping that President Zuma, as outgoing chairman of SADC, will help unblock many outstanding issues in the political agreement which brought the inclusive government to power.
　
South Africa President Jacob Zuma (file photo)

Mr. Zuma's visit comes at a crucial time for the inclusive government with many Movement for Democratic Change leaders saying President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF ministers and senior civil servants are blocking political reforms that stand in the way of international aid and investment.

In turn, ZANU-PF leaders say E.U. and U.S. sanctions, mainly travel restrictions² against Mr. Mugabe and his colleagues, are responsible for Zimbabwe's dire³ economic situation.

But many in the MDC are concerned about Mr. Zuma's chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community, or SADC, coming to an end next month when he hands the position over to Joseph Kabila, president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, seen by many Zimbabweans as an ally of President Robert Mugabe.

Austine Moyo, MDC chairman in South Africa, expressed fears about President Zuma's chairmanship coming to an end.

"And now with Zuma coming in, getting the baton⁴ stick towards the end of the race, where he is actually to hand it over to Kabila, it is worrying, because we have a lot of confidence in the presence of South Africa currently, to be able to move things in Zimbabwe. But his time is not enough," said Moyo.

Many in the MDC say there is no progress in writing a new constitution, or establishing an independent electoral authority or several other governance issues. MDC legislators are regularly arrested and more than a dozen human rights activists⁵ are awaiting trial on terrorism charges. Their lawyers say police have no evidence against them.

In a statement, President Zuma's office said he will, in his capacity as SADC chairman, hold talks with Mr. Mugabe, Mr. Tsvangirai and deputy prime minister Arthur Mutambara on implementation⁶ of the agreement. SADC and the African Union guaranteed the so-called global political agreement, and Mr. Zuma's visit comes just three weeks after Mr. Tsvangirai visited him in South Africa.

Mr. Zuma will also officially open the Harare Agricultural Show on Friday. The show was once the showcase of a vibrant⁷ commercial farming sector⁸ which produced 40 percent of Zimbabwe's exports.

The sector collapsed⁹ with seizure¹⁰ of thousands of white owned farms from 2000 and now many people say the show has become little more than a flea¹¹ market. Many factories have closed down during the economic crisis of the last ten years and there are few agricultural exhibits.

A manufacturer told VOA the show which opened to the public Monday is disappointing.

"So far business is slow, getting a few inquiries¹² and hoping business will pick up tomorrow," he said. "Most people are coming to inquire about protective clothing but basically the numbers of people coming in are not what we expected or experienced in past years."

A visitor to the show said few people these days have enough money to visit to the show.

"People don't have enough money there's a low turn out, there is nothing here, its boring, everything is very low," he said.

The show runs until Saturday.

1 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

4 baton   

n.乐队用指挥杖

参考例句：

• With the baton the conductor was beating time.乐队指挥用指挥棒打拍子。
• The conductor waved his baton,and the band started up.指挥挥动指挥棒，乐队开始演奏起来。

5 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

7 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

9 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

10 seizure   

n.没收；占有；抵押

参考例句：

• The seizure of contraband is made by customs.那些走私品是被海关没收的。
• The courts ordered the seizure of all her property.法院下令查封她所有的财产。

11 flea   

n.跳蚤

参考例句：

• I'll put a flea in his ear if he bothers me once more.如果他再来打扰的话，我就要对他不客气了。
• Hunter has an interest in prowling around a flea market.亨特对逛跳蚤市场很感兴趣。

12 inquiries   

n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
• I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》