By Vusumuzi Sifile
THE government’s decision to go ahead with public examinations for Grade VlI, Ordinary and Advanced Levels despite problems facing the education sector could backfire as the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council only has "skeletal staff" to compile answer sheets from examination centres.
It has also emerged that workers who are supposed to compile a database for the examinations have been on strike for months, protesting against poor salaries. As a result, the database, which is usually compiled months before the examinations, has not been completed.
The database is used to allocate candidate numbers to students from various centres, and to develop statements of entry for all students. It is not clear how students managed to write the examinations without going through the vital process and educators warned that there could be a massive mix-up of examination results.
Zimsec employees now report for duty once or twice a week. This has thrown into disarray the compilation of the examination database, a key part of the examination process.
The development could compound the confusion in the administration of the examinations, which have already seen some papers being invigilated reportedly by headmen, youth militia and police officers.
Two weeks before the government defied calls by teachers’ unions not to hold examinations, Zimsec employees petitioned the acting Minister of Education, Flora Bhuka to urgently address the "unsustainable remuneration at Zimsec".
"For a long time, Zimsec staff have been subjected to deplorable conditions of service. The salaries given to Zimsec workers are so extremely low that it is a wonder that we have managed to report for duty," reads the letter, dated October 13.
Bhuka was not available for comment. But workers’ representatives said she had promised to "look into the issue".
The letter indicates that the salaries workers received for October were not enough for one trip to work on public transport. The workers accused their superiors of "general insensitivity", which they said "makes it impossible" for them to continue performing their normal duties.
On Friday, Zimsec spokesperson Ezekiel Pasipamire was said to be out of office. It could not be immediately established whether his absence was part of the protest. An official who answered the phone said he "just didn’t come to work".
Dr Stephen Mahere, the Secretary for Education, said: "We cannot be talking of a database when examinations have already been written", and then requested to have questions faxed to him. However, Mahere had not responded by Friday close of business.
Mathias Guchutu, the spokesperson for the National Education Union of Zimbabwe, which covers Zimsec workers, said they were not happy that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)’s decided to award cash benefits to invigilators only.
"The union is happy that the RBZ intervened in the education sector by providing money for the invigilators, but why not extend that to the Zimsec employees who are on a minimum of $7 000 (revalued) a month," he said. "The Zimsec employee is critical to the quality and professional administration of examinations."
Guchutu said the current examination process would not "produce any quality thing".
"The employees can hardly afford to go to work. There is currently skeleton staff, and the administration of the examinations from what we have seen so far has also been skeletal.
"If the government is serious about the examinations, something must be done quickly."
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Talks in jeopardy
By Vusumuzi Sifile and Kholwani Nyathi
ACCUSATIONS that the government is trying to sabotage today’s make-or-break Sadc summit on Zimbabwe in South Africa, cast a dark shadow over the deadlocked power-sharing deal, The Standard can report.
The MDC yesterday said several of its activists were arrested for allegedly "planning an insurgency", while Botswana dismissed Zimbabwe’s allegation that it had offered the insurgents bases as "false, baseless, and completely unfounded".
Botswana requested Zimbabwe to provide documented evidence on the allegations and invited the Sadc Organ Troika, together with Zimbabwe, to undertake a fact-finding mission to Botswana "at the earliest opportunity".
The Troika accepted the invitation.
Botswana said it was invited to an extra-ordinary meeting of the Sadc Inter-State Defence and Security Committee of the Organ Troika in Maputo, Mozambique on Wednesday last week.
At the meeting, Zimbabwe alleged that Botswana was interfering in its internal affairs and alleged that Botswana had been training MDC-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) youths to destabilise Zimbabwe since 2002.
Botswana requested that Harare provides documented evidence on the allegations.
The Troika requested Zimbabwe to provide it with documented evidence, which would be availed to Botswana.
At the Maputo meeting, Botswana re-affirmed its continued adherence to principles and policies of good neighbourliness, non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
But Botswana said it reminded Zimbabwe of the existence of mechanisms for the management of bilateral relations. For example, there have been 25 annual meetings of the Botswana-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security, during which no such allegations had ever been raised.The current membership of the Organ Troika is made up of Swaziland (Chair), Mozambique (Deputy Chair) and Angola (immediate past Chair) and Botswana assured the Organ Troika and Zimbabwe that a fact-finding Mission would receive Botswana’s "fullest co-operation".
The arrests of the 11 activists from Banket and Chinhoyi, the MDC said was allegedly a ploy by Zanu PF hardliners desperate to build a case for Zanu PF to hold on to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is in charge of the police.
The Sadc leaders meeting today to tackle the Zimbabwean crisis are expected to put pressure on President Robert Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai to conclude the formation of the all-inclusive government.
Sources said Zanu PF planned to present "evidence" extracted from the MDC activists detained at various police stations in Harare in an attempt to buttress its claim that the MDC was training insurgents in Botswana.
This is to justify its demands to retain control of the police.
In High Court papers, lawyers said the arrests of the MDC supporters, Terry Musona, Fanny Tembo, Fidelis Chiramba, Pieta Kaseke, Mr Manyemwe, one Agrippa, Ernest Mudimu, Larry Gaka, Collen Mutemagau, Emmanuel and Concillia Chinanzwavana was politically-motivated.
"The applicants were rounded up in Banket and Chinhoyi by unknown people who claimed to be officers from Law and Order, who were moving in a convoy of six vehicles," reads an urgent chamber application by lawyer Andrew Makoni, seeking the release of the activists, whose whereabouts are unknown.
The victims were taken to Harare, where they were reportedly detained at Braeside, Rhodesville, Highlands, Avondale, Mabelreign and Borrowdale police stations. But lawyers who visited the police stations were told the activists were not being held at the stations. Makoni said they were able to get the detention book numbers for Tembo, Chiramba and Kaseke.
The application will be heard in Chambers on Tuesday before Justice Charles Hungwe.
ACCUSATIONS that the government is trying to sabotage today’s make-or-break Sadc summit on Zimbabwe in South Africa, cast a dark shadow over the deadlocked power-sharing deal, The Standard can report.
The MDC yesterday said several of its activists were arrested for allegedly "planning an insurgency", while Botswana dismissed Zimbabwe’s allegation that it had offered the insurgents bases as "false, baseless, and completely unfounded".
Botswana requested Zimbabwe to provide documented evidence on the allegations and invited the Sadc Organ Troika, together with Zimbabwe, to undertake a fact-finding mission to Botswana "at the earliest opportunity".
The Troika accepted the invitation.
Botswana said it was invited to an extra-ordinary meeting of the Sadc Inter-State Defence and Security Committee of the Organ Troika in Maputo, Mozambique on Wednesday last week.
At the meeting, Zimbabwe alleged that Botswana was interfering in its internal affairs and alleged that Botswana had been training MDC-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) youths to destabilise Zimbabwe since 2002.
Botswana requested that Harare provides documented evidence on the allegations.
The Troika requested Zimbabwe to provide it with documented evidence, which would be availed to Botswana.
At the Maputo meeting, Botswana re-affirmed its continued adherence to principles and policies of good neighbourliness, non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
But Botswana said it reminded Zimbabwe of the existence of mechanisms for the management of bilateral relations. For example, there have been 25 annual meetings of the Botswana-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security, during which no such allegations had ever been raised.The current membership of the Organ Troika is made up of Swaziland (Chair), Mozambique (Deputy Chair) and Angola (immediate past Chair) and Botswana assured the Organ Troika and Zimbabwe that a fact-finding Mission would receive Botswana’s "fullest co-operation".
The arrests of the 11 activists from Banket and Chinhoyi, the MDC said was allegedly a ploy by Zanu PF hardliners desperate to build a case for Zanu PF to hold on to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is in charge of the police.
The Sadc leaders meeting today to tackle the Zimbabwean crisis are expected to put pressure on President Robert Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai to conclude the formation of the all-inclusive government.
Sources said Zanu PF planned to present "evidence" extracted from the MDC activists detained at various police stations in Harare in an attempt to buttress its claim that the MDC was training insurgents in Botswana.
This is to justify its demands to retain control of the police.
In High Court papers, lawyers said the arrests of the MDC supporters, Terry Musona, Fanny Tembo, Fidelis Chiramba, Pieta Kaseke, Mr Manyemwe, one Agrippa, Ernest Mudimu, Larry Gaka, Collen Mutemagau, Emmanuel and Concillia Chinanzwavana was politically-motivated.
"The applicants were rounded up in Banket and Chinhoyi by unknown people who claimed to be officers from Law and Order, who were moving in a convoy of six vehicles," reads an urgent chamber application by lawyer Andrew Makoni, seeking the release of the activists, whose whereabouts are unknown.
The victims were taken to Harare, where they were reportedly detained at Braeside, Rhodesville, Highlands, Avondale, Mabelreign and Borrowdale police stations. But lawyers who visited the police stations were told the activists were not being held at the stations. Makoni said they were able to get the detention book numbers for Tembo, Chiramba and Kaseke.
The application will be heard in Chambers on Tuesday before Justice Charles Hungwe.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Women petition SADC heads over Cabinet deadlock
By Vusumuzi Sifile
WOMEN’S rights organisations have petitioned Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) heads of state "to encourage speedy resolution" of the current deadlock over the allocation of the Ministry of Home Affairs — and as it has now emerged — nine others between Zanu PF and the MDC formations.
Sadc leaders are expected to meet again soon in yet another bid to find a way of implementing a power-sharing agreement signed on September 15. Leaders of the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe and the Feminists Political Education Project (FePEP) confirmed to The Standard they have already prepared communiqués to be presented at the Sadc leaders' meeting. Gender activists have also mobilized women to picket at the venue of the talks, which is yet to be confirmed.
"In addition to the communiqué, we will also be sending a delegation of women," said WCoZ co-ordinator Netsai Mushonga. "We will also mobilize civil society wherever the talks would be held to help us in sending our message across. These politicians do not seem to care about what is going on. The consequences on the ground are deadly, especially for women. As women we are very disappointed, as they are clearly negotiating in bad faith."
One of the FePEP co-ordinators, Theresa Mugadza said what was worsening the situation was the secrecy in which the talks were being held.
"The truth is that nobody knows what is happening in this process," Mugadza said. For us, this is more of an information-seeking mission, to find out what is happening."
In their petition, FePEP members said "women are continuing to die of hunger while Sadc refers the matter back and forth; hesitant to make a decision that would save people’s lives".
Reads the petition: "Your Excellencies, it is our firm belief that final resolution of the Zimbabwe question, lies fully with Sadc and history will judge Sadc harshly should it fail to arrest the exploding humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. Sadc has a responsibility and indeed a duty to help Zimbabwean leaders help themselves as they have clearly failed collectively, to resolve the issues affecting their electorate."
On Monday, over 300 WCoZ picketed outside the Rainbow Towers Hotel where members of the Sadc organ on politics, defence and security were meeting the facilitation and negotiating teams. The women, dressed in black and white, all had empty plates and pots "to display our hunger".
Their mission of getting an audience with the heads of state was however not accomplished as the police descended ruthlessly on the women. According to WCoZ, 47 women were arrested, while 11 others were injured.
Over the past month, WCoZ, FePEP and Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) have successfully mobilized women to demonstrate against the snail’s pace on the implementation of the agreement.
The women’s organisations argue "people are dying of hunger on a daily basis". They also want the incoming government to be clear on its commitment on gender parity, which according to the activists means a 50-50 allocation of roles.
Three weeks ago, the women successfully picketed at the Rainbow Towers, and were addressed by the three negotiating teams and their principals, and members of the facilitation team.
Like health, education goes to the dogs
By Vusumuzi Sifile
THE government last week tried to show a semblance of normalcy in the education sector by going ahead with Grade VII examinations and holding a graduation ceremony at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), when there was no learning for the better part of the year right from primary schools to universities.
THE government last week tried to show a semblance of normalcy in the education sector by going ahead with Grade VII examinations and holding a graduation ceremony at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), when there was no learning for the better part of the year right from primary schools to universities.
The government also announced that the UZ would open tomorrow for the 2008/2009 academic year — almost three months after the day the new semester was supposed to have begun. Other state universities remain closed.
Lecturers, teachers and students unions on Friday slammed the move to open the UZ when the government — through higher and tertiary education permanent secretary, Washington Mbizo — acknowledged last week that staff records were in a shambles. They said the latest moves were a government attempt to "save face and create the impression that all is well".
"They cannot say they are opening for the sake of opening, like they have been doing with primary schools," said Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) president Clever Bere.
Bere said students "won’t sit idly and cowardly".
"If they want the university to open, they must ensure all is in place for the students to get quality tuition. If our demands are not met, we will not stop; we will continue to tackle the authorities head-on."
On Friday’s graduation, Bere said it was "doubtful if the results are a true reflection of what the students were supposed to have learnt since there were no proper lectures in the last semester".
Announcing the opening of the institution, Mbizo said there would be no student accommodation on campus. He however did not explain how the institution’s dilapidated ablution facilities would handle the more than 10 000 students expected at the institution.
As a result of the accommodation, transport and food, said Zinasu, students would find it "difficult to concentrate whilst hungry".
President of the Zimbabwe State University Lecturers Association (ZSULA), Government Phiri said lecturers were taking a wait and see attitude on the opening. He said it was "not practical" for lecturers to go to work tomorrow, as they will need many times more cash than they can withdraw at the bank for a one way trip.
"As long as our demands have not been met, we can not start teaching. It is not just about getting salaries, but salaries that are enough and accessible," said Phiri.
"We do not have power when it comes to deciding when the institution opens, that’s the administrative role of the Vice-Chancellor and his team. Our power is in the delivery of tuition services."
Lecturers’ representatives are on Tuesday morning scheduled to meet with officials from the Ministry of Finance to discuss payment alternatives. Phiri said only after that meeting would they be able to decide whether or not to resume duty.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary-general, Raymond Majongwe said the decision to open the UZ and administer public examinations was a "bad reflection on the government".
"Grade VII examinations were conducted in a chaotic and erratic manner. Some schools wrote after others," Majongwe said. "There were several mix-ups. In some cases, people who are not known at some schools were called to invigilate. There were certain instances where headmen also invigilated the examinations."
Although most primary and secondary schools managed to stick to their calendar, there was not much activity as teachers were on strike for the better part of this year. The situation was worsened by the political shenanigans before and after the March and June elections.
Last month, Zinasu petitioned Parliament to urgently act on "the grave distress of the students". The students union said "the infrastructure at all state institutions is in a dilapidated state" and that "reading and teaching materials are either not sufficient or not available".
The petition said because of the current economic melee, it had become "really difficult for students to sustain themselves".
UZ lecturer John Makumbe said it was a "very unwise decision to open the university now".
"It is a disaster. How can we open when there is no water? The toilets are in a terrible state right now when there is nobody there, and what when there are up to 14 000 people?" Makumbe said. "This is a perfect recipe for a cholera outbreak. It’s an unhealthy situation. There are no lecturers. We know from postgraduate courses that most lecturers have not been showing up for the obvious reason that they are not adequately paid."
At the Midlands State University authorities recalled the October salaries for lecturers. No explanation was immediately given.
Lecturers who spoke to The Standard said the move was just like dismissing them from work.
Secretary General of the MSU Lecturers’ Association (MSULA), Tenson Tawanda Mugodzwa said lecturers had been told to register again for them to be able to access their salaries.
"Although some of the lecturers went to register some did not as they felt that this was demeaning. It has never happened before. We have always known that the registration exercise only applies to students," fumed Mugodzwa.
However, those who registered also had their salaries of between $2 and $2,5 million recalled.
Nhamo Mhiripiri, a senior MSU lecturer, said the withdrawal of the salaries was humiliating. He said this was victimisation of the few lecturers still remaining in the country.
Attempts to get comment from the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Rungano Zvobgo, were fruitless. His secretary said he was attending the UZ graduation in Harare. The Registrar’s phones went unanswered.
The lecturers are demanding that professors at state universities get around US$8 000 and lecturers around US$5 000. Due to the licensing of shops to sell goods in foreign currency, lecturers, like most Zimbabweans, are now struggling to make ends meet as they cannot raise forex.
No official comment could be immediately obtained from the UZ. But speaking at the institution’s graduation on Friday, UZ Vice-Chancellor Levi Nyagura acknowledged "the past academic year had many challenges" but he said despite the challenges "the university remained focused on its core business".
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
POLITICS-ZIMBABWE: Women Demand Movement On Talks
By Ephraim Nsingo**
HARARE, Oct 28 (IPS) - Over 300 women gathered outside the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare on the morning of Oct. 27, dressed mostly in black and white. They were there to protest the prolonged impasse over the allocation of Cabinet ministries among Zimbabwe’s rival parties.
As members of the Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) and the Feminist Political Education Project (FePEP) were trying to organise the demonstration, armed riot police pounced, and the women fled in different directions.
When calm was restored, 47 women had been arrested, while 11 had been injured.
"I do not see any reason why women who wanted to come into the venue should be stopped," said Theresa Mugadza, one of the FePEP coordinators. Mugadza said the attack was confirmation of "what we have always been saying, that these talks are being shrouded in secrecy."
The women had come seeking information about what was happening in the talks. They wanted an audience with the three signatories to the power-sharing deal signed on Sep. 15 -- President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister designate Morgan Tsvangirai and his designated deputy, Arthur Mutambara, and their negotiating teams.
"Hundreds of women were coming into town to stage a peaceful demonstration because as wives and mothers we want an end to the hard times," said Emilia Muchawa, the chairperson of WCoZ.
They also hoped they would draw the current suffering of ordinary Zimbabweans to the attention of members of the SADC organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, SADC chairman Kgalema Motlanthe and his delegation, and former SA president Thabo Mbeki and his facilitation team.
"For me having women try to come into a venue and being stopped in such a harsh manner is indicative of the problems that we have always had as Zimbabweans in this process. When people are talking about a country, when people are talking about our problems, but we are shut out from what is going on," added Mugadza.
The police charged the women with contravening a section of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which criminalizes any acts likely to cause public disorder. The law has been of late been used to crush many civil society activities, silencing dissenting voices.
Zimbabwe Republic Police national spokesperson, Wayne Bvudzijena was not reachable. But a police officer in Harare said the police "had evidence that there were some hooligans who had infiltrated the women and wanted to disturb proceedings" at the Rainbow Towers.
"They were MDC thugs trying to disguise themselves as women. They did the same thing at the signing of the agreement last month. These are the people who do not want to see the conclusion of the talks, as there would be no more donor funds for their activities," said Musa Ndiraya, who was attending a meeting of former war collaborators at the Zanu PF headquarters, adjacent to the Rainbow Towers.
However Mugadza asserts the women were not up to any mischief, they just wanted information.
"There was going to be a little meeting, maybe some prayers... the idea was that we come into the venue and we are seen maybe SADC or some heads of states, or one of the principals would address the women to highlight where they are, and highlight the challenges.
"It was not a mission meant to antagonise anybody; it was really an information-seeking mission. The truth is nobody knows what is happening in this process."
The women were released late the same evening after interventions from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
Secretary General of the MDC formation led by Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti condemned the assaults.
He said his party has over the last few weeks embarked on a campaign to visit all parts of the country to provide information on the deal, and explain the MDC-Tsvangirai view of the current impasse.
"On our part, we are fully alive to the historical obligations on our shoulders and the expectations of Zimbabweans. However, the one instruction that those suffering and abused people have been telling us at our massive rallies all over Zimbabwe is a bold but simple one, a bad deal is no deal at all," said Biti.
As the women were being arrested and beaten in Harare, a judge in Zimbabwe's second largest city of Bulawayo denied bail to Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, leaders of the militant Women of Zimbabwe Arise. The two were arrested on Oct. 16 for leading members of their organisation on a demonstration to challenge the parties to end the impasse as a matter of urgency.
Solidarity actions were also scheduled to take place Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa, on Oct. 27 where the crisis in Zimbabwe has a direct impact.
Muchawa said while the talks continued to drag, "it is the women of this country who have to carry the burden of the suffering", adding that "the major concern by women is manifest hunger, amongst other emergencies and the dire concern that failure to resolve the impasse will further exacerbate the situation."
While the women of WCoZ and FePEP -- along with most Zimbabweans -- grow increasingly impatient over the deadlock, the three parties once again failed to resolve the allocation of the contentious ministry of Home Affairs. After more than 15 hours of talks, the SADC troika failed to resolve the impasse, and referred the matter to a full SADC extra-ordinary summit soon to be announced.
Political commentators believe the continued deadlock could ultimately sink the power-sharing deal.
"The agreement has a good promise for the ordinary person, but with the way this thing has been dragging, it would make it difficult to manage the deal.
"These are people who hope to work together in the long term, but this kind of behaviour is daunting any prospects of a smooth implementation of the agreement," said John Makumbe, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Zimbabwe.
(END/2008)
**IPS penname for Vusumuzi Sifile
HARARE, Oct 28 (IPS) - Over 300 women gathered outside the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare on the morning of Oct. 27, dressed mostly in black and white. They were there to protest the prolonged impasse over the allocation of Cabinet ministries among Zimbabwe’s rival parties.
As members of the Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) and the Feminist Political Education Project (FePEP) were trying to organise the demonstration, armed riot police pounced, and the women fled in different directions.
When calm was restored, 47 women had been arrested, while 11 had been injured.
"I do not see any reason why women who wanted to come into the venue should be stopped," said Theresa Mugadza, one of the FePEP coordinators. Mugadza said the attack was confirmation of "what we have always been saying, that these talks are being shrouded in secrecy."
The women had come seeking information about what was happening in the talks. They wanted an audience with the three signatories to the power-sharing deal signed on Sep. 15 -- President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister designate Morgan Tsvangirai and his designated deputy, Arthur Mutambara, and their negotiating teams.
"Hundreds of women were coming into town to stage a peaceful demonstration because as wives and mothers we want an end to the hard times," said Emilia Muchawa, the chairperson of WCoZ.
They also hoped they would draw the current suffering of ordinary Zimbabweans to the attention of members of the SADC organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, SADC chairman Kgalema Motlanthe and his delegation, and former SA president Thabo Mbeki and his facilitation team.
"For me having women try to come into a venue and being stopped in such a harsh manner is indicative of the problems that we have always had as Zimbabweans in this process. When people are talking about a country, when people are talking about our problems, but we are shut out from what is going on," added Mugadza.
The police charged the women with contravening a section of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which criminalizes any acts likely to cause public disorder. The law has been of late been used to crush many civil society activities, silencing dissenting voices.
Zimbabwe Republic Police national spokesperson, Wayne Bvudzijena was not reachable. But a police officer in Harare said the police "had evidence that there were some hooligans who had infiltrated the women and wanted to disturb proceedings" at the Rainbow Towers.
"They were MDC thugs trying to disguise themselves as women. They did the same thing at the signing of the agreement last month. These are the people who do not want to see the conclusion of the talks, as there would be no more donor funds for their activities," said Musa Ndiraya, who was attending a meeting of former war collaborators at the Zanu PF headquarters, adjacent to the Rainbow Towers.
However Mugadza asserts the women were not up to any mischief, they just wanted information.
"There was going to be a little meeting, maybe some prayers... the idea was that we come into the venue and we are seen maybe SADC or some heads of states, or one of the principals would address the women to highlight where they are, and highlight the challenges.
"It was not a mission meant to antagonise anybody; it was really an information-seeking mission. The truth is nobody knows what is happening in this process."
The women were released late the same evening after interventions from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
Secretary General of the MDC formation led by Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti condemned the assaults.
He said his party has over the last few weeks embarked on a campaign to visit all parts of the country to provide information on the deal, and explain the MDC-Tsvangirai view of the current impasse.
"On our part, we are fully alive to the historical obligations on our shoulders and the expectations of Zimbabweans. However, the one instruction that those suffering and abused people have been telling us at our massive rallies all over Zimbabwe is a bold but simple one, a bad deal is no deal at all," said Biti.
As the women were being arrested and beaten in Harare, a judge in Zimbabwe's second largest city of Bulawayo denied bail to Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, leaders of the militant Women of Zimbabwe Arise. The two were arrested on Oct. 16 for leading members of their organisation on a demonstration to challenge the parties to end the impasse as a matter of urgency.
Solidarity actions were also scheduled to take place Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa, on Oct. 27 where the crisis in Zimbabwe has a direct impact.
Muchawa said while the talks continued to drag, "it is the women of this country who have to carry the burden of the suffering", adding that "the major concern by women is manifest hunger, amongst other emergencies and the dire concern that failure to resolve the impasse will further exacerbate the situation."
While the women of WCoZ and FePEP -- along with most Zimbabweans -- grow increasingly impatient over the deadlock, the three parties once again failed to resolve the allocation of the contentious ministry of Home Affairs. After more than 15 hours of talks, the SADC troika failed to resolve the impasse, and referred the matter to a full SADC extra-ordinary summit soon to be announced.
Political commentators believe the continued deadlock could ultimately sink the power-sharing deal.
"The agreement has a good promise for the ordinary person, but with the way this thing has been dragging, it would make it difficult to manage the deal.
"These are people who hope to work together in the long term, but this kind of behaviour is daunting any prospects of a smooth implementation of the agreement," said John Makumbe, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Zimbabwe.
(END/2008)
**IPS penname for Vusumuzi Sifile
Is the pen mightier than the virus?
Isn't it time that journalists started taking HIV/AIDS beyond the newsroom and into the bedroom? In many newsrooms the highly politicised topic of HIV/AIDS remains just that - political. Journalists aren't immune to HIV/AIDS; they just don't talk about it.
But they are just as vulnerable, especially in Southern Africa, the hardest hit region in the world. "Journalists stand from an externalised view when it comes to HIV - denying, not wanting to know their sero-status because they feel they are the safe breed," said David Kamkwamba a journalist at the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).
"But studies have shown, locally and beyond, that journalists have a low risk perception and are in the high-risk group by the very nature of their trade, which makes them spend most of their productive lifetime outside their homes."
Kamkwamba is head of the recently formed Network of Malawi Journalists Living with HIV and AIDS (MJLWHA), which hopes to support HIV-positive journalists, and also to get journalists to internalise the HIV/AIDS information they report on. He said the network had 10 members so far, but they had yet to publicly disclose their status.
"A journalist who has HIV experiences will make a more effective contribution to the national response than any ... information, education and communication material. After all, human beings learn better by seeing and practicing than hearing and being taught," he told IRIN/PlusNews.
Practice what you preach?
James Mphande, editor of The Daily Times, a local Malawian newspaper, admitted that - as is the case with all people - practising what you preach as a journalist is difficult.
"Like most of the things we write, we do not practise what is written on HIV. You see, journalists take themselves for a vehicle of communication, and the information they disseminate is usually considered to be meant for their readers, listeners and viewers, and not themselves."
He attributed the low number of journalists openly living with HIV to a fear of discrimination and stigma. "The other thing is fear of being looked upon as hypocrites who preach one thing and do another," he commented. "When it is involving other people, we think it is so simple to open up, but when it is our turn we realise how difficult it is."
The other thing is fear of being looked upon as hypocrites who preach one thing and do another ... When it is involving other people, we think it is so simple to open up, but when it is our turn we realise how difficult it is.
Mphande remained sceptical about the MJLWHA, and expressed concern about how a network of HIV-positive journalists would work in a situation "where you have the founders still unable to disclose their identities".
"The founders should have been the first to come out in the open, so as to encourage those who have been hiding themselves. But even if one was HIV positive, how do you start opening up to somebody who is anonymous, and whose HIV status is a matter of speculation?"
Patrick Bwanali, associate editor of Together Magazine, a Malawian youth publication, hailed the formation of the organisation but doubted whether many news writers would openly declare their status by registering.
"We featured one lady who is living positively and has a good job. She challenged the board of my magazine and the journalists to go for HIV tests, but nine months down the line none of us wants to talk about the issue at all," he told IRIN/PlusNews.
Reluctance to get help
The situation is similar in Zimbabwe, where the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) launched a programme to provide antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to its HIV-positive members and their immediate families a month ago. So far only 12 of the ZUJ's membership of about 650 journalists have asked the doctors working with the union about the ARV scheme, but none have come back.
ZUJ national coordinator Chakanyuka Bosha told IRIN/PlusNews the low uptake of the ARV scheme was "worrying", as all efforts have been made to make every member aware of it.
Bosha said the journalists were told they would only get ARVs after undergoing tests to determine whether or not it was safe to start taking the medication, and he suspected this might have discouraged them.
"I think when this news came out, members thought they could just walk into our offices and walk out the next minute with the drugs, but there are procedures that need to be followed. ARVs are potentially very potent drugs if not given correctly."
He noted that the fear of stigma and discrimination often prevented people from accessing the medication. Many journalists had come to Bosha and pretended they wanted the drugs for a close relative, while others said their biggest fear was to wake up to news headlines about their HIV-positive status in the newspapers the next day.
So is the media in Southern Africa its own enemy? Political reporter Vusumuzi Sifile believes this is the case. "Journalists are used to this false sense of power that they wield, giving even the president of a country sleepless nights," he told IRIN/PlusNews.
"Because of the stigma associated with being HIV positive, many journalists fear disclosing their [HIV] status could compromise their status [in the public mind], the same way some of the journalists view positive ordinary people."
But the reality is that journalists are just as affected, and sometimes even more so. "ZUJ began this scheme because of the realisation that many of our colleagues who have failed to access ARVs have been dying of AIDS-related illnesses over the years," said Bosha.
Zimbabwean reporter Caiphas Chimhete called on AIDS awareness campaigns to include targeting journalists. "These organisations come to us and invite us to workshops so that we write stories for them, assuming we are not infected and affected; they forget we are also part of the 1.8 million HIV-positive people in Zimbabwe."
Source: Irin PlusNews, 16 October 2008
But they are just as vulnerable, especially in Southern Africa, the hardest hit region in the world. "Journalists stand from an externalised view when it comes to HIV - denying, not wanting to know their sero-status because they feel they are the safe breed," said David Kamkwamba a journalist at the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).
"But studies have shown, locally and beyond, that journalists have a low risk perception and are in the high-risk group by the very nature of their trade, which makes them spend most of their productive lifetime outside their homes."
Kamkwamba is head of the recently formed Network of Malawi Journalists Living with HIV and AIDS (MJLWHA), which hopes to support HIV-positive journalists, and also to get journalists to internalise the HIV/AIDS information they report on. He said the network had 10 members so far, but they had yet to publicly disclose their status.
"A journalist who has HIV experiences will make a more effective contribution to the national response than any ... information, education and communication material. After all, human beings learn better by seeing and practicing than hearing and being taught," he told IRIN/PlusNews.
Practice what you preach?
James Mphande, editor of The Daily Times, a local Malawian newspaper, admitted that - as is the case with all people - practising what you preach as a journalist is difficult.
"Like most of the things we write, we do not practise what is written on HIV. You see, journalists take themselves for a vehicle of communication, and the information they disseminate is usually considered to be meant for their readers, listeners and viewers, and not themselves."
He attributed the low number of journalists openly living with HIV to a fear of discrimination and stigma. "The other thing is fear of being looked upon as hypocrites who preach one thing and do another," he commented. "When it is involving other people, we think it is so simple to open up, but when it is our turn we realise how difficult it is."
The other thing is fear of being looked upon as hypocrites who preach one thing and do another ... When it is involving other people, we think it is so simple to open up, but when it is our turn we realise how difficult it is.
Mphande remained sceptical about the MJLWHA, and expressed concern about how a network of HIV-positive journalists would work in a situation "where you have the founders still unable to disclose their identities".
"The founders should have been the first to come out in the open, so as to encourage those who have been hiding themselves. But even if one was HIV positive, how do you start opening up to somebody who is anonymous, and whose HIV status is a matter of speculation?"
Patrick Bwanali, associate editor of Together Magazine, a Malawian youth publication, hailed the formation of the organisation but doubted whether many news writers would openly declare their status by registering.
"We featured one lady who is living positively and has a good job. She challenged the board of my magazine and the journalists to go for HIV tests, but nine months down the line none of us wants to talk about the issue at all," he told IRIN/PlusNews.
Reluctance to get help
The situation is similar in Zimbabwe, where the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) launched a programme to provide antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to its HIV-positive members and their immediate families a month ago. So far only 12 of the ZUJ's membership of about 650 journalists have asked the doctors working with the union about the ARV scheme, but none have come back.
ZUJ national coordinator Chakanyuka Bosha told IRIN/PlusNews the low uptake of the ARV scheme was "worrying", as all efforts have been made to make every member aware of it.
Bosha said the journalists were told they would only get ARVs after undergoing tests to determine whether or not it was safe to start taking the medication, and he suspected this might have discouraged them.
"I think when this news came out, members thought they could just walk into our offices and walk out the next minute with the drugs, but there are procedures that need to be followed. ARVs are potentially very potent drugs if not given correctly."
He noted that the fear of stigma and discrimination often prevented people from accessing the medication. Many journalists had come to Bosha and pretended they wanted the drugs for a close relative, while others said their biggest fear was to wake up to news headlines about their HIV-positive status in the newspapers the next day.
So is the media in Southern Africa its own enemy? Political reporter Vusumuzi Sifile believes this is the case. "Journalists are used to this false sense of power that they wield, giving even the president of a country sleepless nights," he told IRIN/PlusNews.
"Because of the stigma associated with being HIV positive, many journalists fear disclosing their [HIV] status could compromise their status [in the public mind], the same way some of the journalists view positive ordinary people."
But the reality is that journalists are just as affected, and sometimes even more so. "ZUJ began this scheme because of the realisation that many of our colleagues who have failed to access ARVs have been dying of AIDS-related illnesses over the years," said Bosha.
Zimbabwean reporter Caiphas Chimhete called on AIDS awareness campaigns to include targeting journalists. "These organisations come to us and invite us to workshops so that we write stories for them, assuming we are not infected and affected; they forget we are also part of the 1.8 million HIV-positive people in Zimbabwe."
Source: Irin PlusNews, 16 October 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Illegal settlers torch timber plantations
By Vusumuzi Sifile
A wave of land invasions has struck the Eastern Highlands, leaving in its wake 10 000 hectares of torched plantations that will see heavy job losses and a shortage of timber products next year.
The country’s thriving timber industry will suffer a major setback after illegal settlers set fire to vast tracks of timber plantations in the Eastern Highlands recently, destroying timber that could have earned the country billions in foreign currency.Thousands of hectares of mostly pine trees were burnt to ashes within hours on once productive estates. One person, believed to be a commercial farmer, died during the conflagration. There was no immediate confirmation of his identity.
Most affected were two of the country’s leading timber producers — Border Timbers Ltd (BTL) and Allied Timbers — which recorded a combined loss of close to 10 000 ha.
Other companies also recorded significant losses although these could not be immediately quantified.
The Standard last week visited BTL’s largest pine plantation, Charter Estate in Chimanimani, where close to 5 000 hectares of timber went up in smoke in two fires that emanated from Kushinga and Nyaruwa villages, on September 9 and 25, respectively. This is the biggest loss on the company’s plantations since 2002, when fires became prevalent in the wake of the chaotic land invasions.
The settlers, mostly from the Nyaruwa and Chinyai clans, resettled themselves on the timber plantation at the height of the land invasions, arguing that the plantation was situated on land that used to belong to their ancestors. Repeated attempts — including a High Court order — to have the estimated 500 families evicted have been in vain.
Officials at BTL warned that starting next year, there would be a significant decline in timber exports due to reduced harvests. It would take many years for the company to revert back to their normal forestry activities, a move that could result in an uneven estate, causing serious damage to the environment.
“We have had to change our plans because of the problem which will see us taking out volumes worth several years of production,” said Tonderayi Kachale, Forestry Manager for BTL.
“The challenge now is to harvest quickly before the timber deteriorates in quality. We now need to change in order to salvage more timber. We have up to six months to do this.”
Kachale oversees operations at the company’s five estates — Charter, Tilbury and Sawerombi in Chimanimani, and Imbeza and Sheba in Penhalonga.
“It is going to be a problem for us to get the capacity to harvest. We will need to purchase more equipment to handle such volumes,” said Kachale. A reasonable fraction of the trees is now being felled to waste as they had not attained the required diameter to be commercially used.
The illegal settlers allegedly set the plantations on fire in order to clear the land for subsistence farming. Others, it was said, were clearing the forests in search of mice and other small animals to avert pervasive hunger.
“Just a few days after the first fire, we were surprised to find that the settlers had already partitioned a portion of the estate among themselves,” said Norman Mandikiyana, the manager of Charter Estate.
When The Standard visited his home at a valley in Charter Estate, head of the Nyaruwa clan, Happy Nyaruwa, first denied that his subjects were responsible for the fires.
Instead, he said the fires had been caused by BTL employees. He later admitted his subjects “could have been responsible” and stressed the need for co-operation with BTL.
“There is no way I can allow people to burn the forest when even our lives would be in danger. My own hut was almost destroyed by the fire,” said Nyaruwa, in Shona. “We put out that fire all night, but the following morning, we were surprised to see there was another fire. This thing can only end if we complement each other in fighting these fires.”
Ironically, some of the illegal settlements were also destroyed in the fire. A number of settlers could be seen preparing food in the open, while others were reconstructing their shacks – using timber from the plantations’ burnt pine trees.
Kachale said repeated engagements with the authorities on the settlers had only ended in unfulfilled promises.
“We have engaged the authorities on various occasions and at various levels, but it has all been promises and no action,” Kachale said. “We have spoken to the police, the district administrator and traditional leaders. We have also followed the legal route to have the settlers evicted.”
Environment Minister, Francis Nhema on Friday said he was attending a meeting at the Sanganai Tourism Fair in Bulawayo. Attempts to call him later were futile.
The Standard was told telephone lines to Chimanimani police station were also destroyed in the fire.Police national spokesperson, Wayne Bvudzijena on Friday said he would consult his colleagues in Mutare and then comment.
Public outrage over Cabinet deadlock
By Vusumuzi Sifile, Jennifer Dube and Davison Maruziva
THE deadlock over allocation of ministries between the country’s political parties has been described as a “sad and tragic development” for Zimbabwe, with ordinary people bearing the brunt of “political selfishness”.
On Friday, the three principals — President Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Arthur Mutambara — failed to reach final agreement on the allocation of ministries.
Politicians, analysts, activists and ordinary people yesterday roundly condemned the deadlock — which has since been referred to the Sadc troika — saying the politicians were now “pursuing selfish ends” ahead of voters’ interests.
While there was widespread condemnation of the collapse of the power-sharing deal over government ministries, one of the principals blasted his two colleagues for not putting the interests of ordinary Zimbabweans first.
Zimbabweans who spoke to The Standard said they were dismayed and felt betrayed that the leaders were arguing a “whole week while Zimbabwe was burning”.
They blasted the leaders saying they were holding Zimbabweans to ransom over “petty party ambitions”.
“You would have thought that each of them would be aware of the suffering of the people,” said one Zimbabwean from the United Kingdom. “Everyone thought we were marking a new beginning.
“But what pains me is that while the whole world is facing a financial meltdown, we want to have 31 government ministries. How are we going to finance them?
“If the rest of the world gives us money they are inclined to believe it will go to finance these ministries.”
Losing presidential candidate, Simba Makoni yesterday said the deadlock was a “tragedy”.
“It is sad and tragic for our people that these leaders’ commitment to their pursuit of power is overriding the welfare of the people,” Makoni said. “For them to be in power is more important than to serve the people of Zimbabwe.”
One of the strongest critics of the power-sharing deal, National Constitutional Assembly chairman, Lovemore Madhuku, said the deadlock was a clear indication that the few leaders negotiating do not care about the plight of the people.
“These politicians never take anyone seriously,” Madhuku said. “They think they are the best thing ever to happen in Zimbabwe.”
Madhuku also lambasted Zimbabweans for “entrusting their destiny into the hands of a few individuals”.
“Zimbabweans are reaping the results of allowing them (politicians) to do what they want. We are the ones who have always been cheering them. Some even slaughtered beasts and held celebrations after the signing of the agreement. Zimbabwe is suffering because of allowing politicians to be signing documents everyday.”
Despite what appears to be hard-line stances taken by Zanu PF and the MDC, Madhuku said the parties “would eventually agree”.
Others looked at everyday issues, saying the effect of the failed formation of an all-inclusive government had sent prices spiralling out of control.
Highlighting the sad realities of the situation on the ground, Marble Sikhosana, a female activist from Masvingo said two councillors in Bikita had informed them that 13 villagers had died of hunger.
“People want food. People are dying out there,” said Sikhosana at a feminists’ conference last week. “Children are not going to school; there are no teachers in the schools. Education has been devalued in Zimbabwe, what with children writing examinations when they did not attend any lessons.”
Most systems in the country are currently at a standstill, awaiting the resolution of the impasse. State universities suspended opening, awaiting the constitution of the inclusive government. There is still uncertainty over school examinations. The Standard understands that staff involved in the preparation of examination material is on strike.
As the nation pondered the impact of the failed talks, Mutambara of the smaller MDC formation turned against President Mugabe and MDC-T’s Tsvangirai, saying they had failed to appreciate what an all-inclusive government entailed “because we will be operating as one government”.
Instead of focusing on the agenda and vision of the new government, the leaders had spent “four days haggling over positions”, Mutambara said, describing it as “a sign of leadership failure”.
He said the focus of their discussions should have been on addressing the pressing humanitarian crisis in the country; a people-driven constitution, facilitating a democratic government; a national healing programme, where Zimbabweans can begin to be viewed a citizens with rights; economic recovery and stabilisation; and economic transformation.
Mutambara said Tsvangirai had secured the Ministry of Finance and the hurdle remained on the Ministry of Home Affairs, where it was agreed it should be rotated every six months between Zanu PF and MDC. Tsvangirai, he said, then asked that the MDC should be first. Zanu PF refused but on Friday, it appeared prepared to let the MDC take the portfolio for the first six months. But Mutambara said, something happened and Tsvangirai changed his mind and said “it was no longer sufficient”.
Mutambara, who expressed frustration, blamed Mugabe and Tsvangirai for the failure, said: “Zimbabweans must continue to suffer more because Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai cannot agree.”
He said he would condemn and campaign for international isolation if there was an attempt to go it alone by his two co-principals.
Today Tsvangirai, Mutambara and Mugabe are expected to travel to Mbabane for a meeting of the Sadc troika of King Mswati of Swaziland, President Armando Guebuza of Mozambique and President Eduardo dos Santos of Angola, amid international condemnation after collapse of the talks. Former SA president, Thabo Mbeki has said an agreement on forming an all-inclusive government is still possible.
While Mugabe said the talks had gone “very well in the wrong direction”, Tsvangirai is believed to have asked for the “reference group” – the African Union and the United Nations – to come in and influence the direction of the talks.
The United States has said it will consider new sanctions against President Mugabe’s government if a power-sharing deal collapses.
Jendayi Frazer, the top US diplomat for Africa, said she was not optimistic after talks remained deadlocked between Mugabe and his main rival Tsvangirai.
“If it doesn’t work then we are going to continue the pressure that we’ve put on the government. We will look at new sanctions against President Mugabe and his regime,” Frazer told a group of reporters in Tokyo.
“Right now we’re not so optimistic. It doesn’t look very good for power-sharing,” she said.
European Union foreign ministers at a meeting on Monday in Luxembourg also warned of fresh sanctions unless Mugabe respected the power-sharing deal.
“The actions of President Mugabe are not consistent with any notion of power-sharing,” Frazer said. “We will have to see whether former president Mbeki will be able to get President Mugabe to agree to what he had agreed to, which was to truly share power.”
France’s new ambassador to Zimbabwe, Laurent Contini, who presented his credentials to Mugabe on Thursday expressed France’s “deep concern” over delay in implementing the political agreement of September 15.
“As recently reminded b y the European Union, France remains highly concerned by the deterioration of humanitarian situation. This situation has led the Commission to release a further 10 million euros in aid,” Contini said. “Because of Zimbabwe’s considerable needs in this area. We remind the Zimbabwean authorities of the necessity to ensure unrestricted access for humanitarian purposes.
THE deadlock over allocation of ministries between the country’s political parties has been described as a “sad and tragic development” for Zimbabwe, with ordinary people bearing the brunt of “political selfishness”.
On Friday, the three principals — President Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Arthur Mutambara — failed to reach final agreement on the allocation of ministries.
Politicians, analysts, activists and ordinary people yesterday roundly condemned the deadlock — which has since been referred to the Sadc troika — saying the politicians were now “pursuing selfish ends” ahead of voters’ interests.
While there was widespread condemnation of the collapse of the power-sharing deal over government ministries, one of the principals blasted his two colleagues for not putting the interests of ordinary Zimbabweans first.
Zimbabweans who spoke to The Standard said they were dismayed and felt betrayed that the leaders were arguing a “whole week while Zimbabwe was burning”.
They blasted the leaders saying they were holding Zimbabweans to ransom over “petty party ambitions”.
“You would have thought that each of them would be aware of the suffering of the people,” said one Zimbabwean from the United Kingdom. “Everyone thought we were marking a new beginning.
“But what pains me is that while the whole world is facing a financial meltdown, we want to have 31 government ministries. How are we going to finance them?
“If the rest of the world gives us money they are inclined to believe it will go to finance these ministries.”
Losing presidential candidate, Simba Makoni yesterday said the deadlock was a “tragedy”.
“It is sad and tragic for our people that these leaders’ commitment to their pursuit of power is overriding the welfare of the people,” Makoni said. “For them to be in power is more important than to serve the people of Zimbabwe.”
One of the strongest critics of the power-sharing deal, National Constitutional Assembly chairman, Lovemore Madhuku, said the deadlock was a clear indication that the few leaders negotiating do not care about the plight of the people.
“These politicians never take anyone seriously,” Madhuku said. “They think they are the best thing ever to happen in Zimbabwe.”
Madhuku also lambasted Zimbabweans for “entrusting their destiny into the hands of a few individuals”.
“Zimbabweans are reaping the results of allowing them (politicians) to do what they want. We are the ones who have always been cheering them. Some even slaughtered beasts and held celebrations after the signing of the agreement. Zimbabwe is suffering because of allowing politicians to be signing documents everyday.”
Despite what appears to be hard-line stances taken by Zanu PF and the MDC, Madhuku said the parties “would eventually agree”.
Others looked at everyday issues, saying the effect of the failed formation of an all-inclusive government had sent prices spiralling out of control.
Highlighting the sad realities of the situation on the ground, Marble Sikhosana, a female activist from Masvingo said two councillors in Bikita had informed them that 13 villagers had died of hunger.
“People want food. People are dying out there,” said Sikhosana at a feminists’ conference last week. “Children are not going to school; there are no teachers in the schools. Education has been devalued in Zimbabwe, what with children writing examinations when they did not attend any lessons.”
Most systems in the country are currently at a standstill, awaiting the resolution of the impasse. State universities suspended opening, awaiting the constitution of the inclusive government. There is still uncertainty over school examinations. The Standard understands that staff involved in the preparation of examination material is on strike.
As the nation pondered the impact of the failed talks, Mutambara of the smaller MDC formation turned against President Mugabe and MDC-T’s Tsvangirai, saying they had failed to appreciate what an all-inclusive government entailed “because we will be operating as one government”.
Instead of focusing on the agenda and vision of the new government, the leaders had spent “four days haggling over positions”, Mutambara said, describing it as “a sign of leadership failure”.
He said the focus of their discussions should have been on addressing the pressing humanitarian crisis in the country; a people-driven constitution, facilitating a democratic government; a national healing programme, where Zimbabweans can begin to be viewed a citizens with rights; economic recovery and stabilisation; and economic transformation.
Mutambara said Tsvangirai had secured the Ministry of Finance and the hurdle remained on the Ministry of Home Affairs, where it was agreed it should be rotated every six months between Zanu PF and MDC. Tsvangirai, he said, then asked that the MDC should be first. Zanu PF refused but on Friday, it appeared prepared to let the MDC take the portfolio for the first six months. But Mutambara said, something happened and Tsvangirai changed his mind and said “it was no longer sufficient”.
Mutambara, who expressed frustration, blamed Mugabe and Tsvangirai for the failure, said: “Zimbabweans must continue to suffer more because Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai cannot agree.”
He said he would condemn and campaign for international isolation if there was an attempt to go it alone by his two co-principals.
Today Tsvangirai, Mutambara and Mugabe are expected to travel to Mbabane for a meeting of the Sadc troika of King Mswati of Swaziland, President Armando Guebuza of Mozambique and President Eduardo dos Santos of Angola, amid international condemnation after collapse of the talks. Former SA president, Thabo Mbeki has said an agreement on forming an all-inclusive government is still possible.
While Mugabe said the talks had gone “very well in the wrong direction”, Tsvangirai is believed to have asked for the “reference group” – the African Union and the United Nations – to come in and influence the direction of the talks.
The United States has said it will consider new sanctions against President Mugabe’s government if a power-sharing deal collapses.
Jendayi Frazer, the top US diplomat for Africa, said she was not optimistic after talks remained deadlocked between Mugabe and his main rival Tsvangirai.
“If it doesn’t work then we are going to continue the pressure that we’ve put on the government. We will look at new sanctions against President Mugabe and his regime,” Frazer told a group of reporters in Tokyo.
“Right now we’re not so optimistic. It doesn’t look very good for power-sharing,” she said.
European Union foreign ministers at a meeting on Monday in Luxembourg also warned of fresh sanctions unless Mugabe respected the power-sharing deal.
“The actions of President Mugabe are not consistent with any notion of power-sharing,” Frazer said. “We will have to see whether former president Mbeki will be able to get President Mugabe to agree to what he had agreed to, which was to truly share power.”
France’s new ambassador to Zimbabwe, Laurent Contini, who presented his credentials to Mugabe on Thursday expressed France’s “deep concern” over delay in implementing the political agreement of September 15.
“As recently reminded b y the European Union, France remains highly concerned by the deterioration of humanitarian situation. This situation has led the Commission to release a further 10 million euros in aid,” Contini said. “Because of Zimbabwe’s considerable needs in this area. We remind the Zimbabwean authorities of the necessity to ensure unrestricted access for humanitarian purposes.
Feminists blast negotiators over stalemate
By Vusumuzi Sifile
MORE than 100 placard-waving feminists on Friday confronted the signatories to the power-sharing deal, demanding an end to the delayed implementation of an all-inclusive government by more than a month, causing “unnecessary suffering to ordinary people”.
As indications began emerging that the three principals — President Robert Mugabe, and MDC leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Arthur Mutambara — and their teams were still far from agreeing on the allocation of ministries, the feminists demanded an immediate explanation. Under the banner of the Feminist Political Education Project (FePEP) the activists succeeded in getting audience with the chief negotiators from the three parties and members of the facilitation team.
First to address them was Zanu PF’s Nicholas Goche, who requested an appointment for another day. He said there were “some difficulties that are coming our way, but those difficulties are certainly not insurmountable”.
MDC-M’s Professor Welshman Ncube shared the women’s concerns that the impasse over “glamorous ministries” was causing suffering to ordinary people.
Ncube told the feminists that on Thursday, they were “very, very, very close” to reaching an agreement on the outstanding ministries, saying he “would be surprised if we do not get a complete deal by the end of day today (on Thursday)”. But the talks reached a deadlock again on Friday.
Ncube, however, challenged the feminists not to blame only negotiators for the impasse, as women were also responsible, especially in the background teams.
“Some of the problems are caused by women in the background teams. I can vouch for that,” he said.
On the women’s concerns that the negotiators had not consulted widely, Ncube said inasmuch as consultations were good, they were impacting negatively on the process.
“The downside of consultation, as we have experienced, regrettably at the negotiations, every time we have said we are going to consult, we come back with hard-line no-compromise positions…” Ncube said. “Every time we adjourn to consult after making progress 10 steps and you think we are there. We come back after consultation; they take you 21 days back.”
Addressing the women, Tendai Biti, the MDC-T secretary general, said the impasse was harming ordinary people the most.
After Biti’s address, the women said they would barricade the negotiators and their principals until an agreement was reached. One of the co-ordinators of FePEP, Shereen Essof, said this had worked in Liberia, where women played a key role in influencing outcome of the talks.
Within minutes, the women had gathered placards. Among other things, the hand-written placards pleaded: “Zimbabwe is hungry; we want a cabinet today and No Deal, No Exit.” They also submitted a petition to the negotiators and the facilitation team. Among other things, the petition stressed the urgency of resolving the deadlock, saying many people were dying of hunger and struggling to survive under the current hyper-inflationary environment.
Members of Thabo Mbeki’s facilitation team, former SA Local Government Minister, Sydney Mufamadi and Reverend Frank Chikane, the director general in the Presidency assured the activists Mbeki had received their concerns and that these would be considered.
Another FePEP member, Janah Ncube, told The Standard that “the facilitation team assured us that Mbeki had received our concerns and was doing something about them”. Tsvangirai and Mutambara also spoke to the women separately. The contents of the discussions were not immediately available.
The feminists are also demanding that 50% of ministers, deputy ministers, permanent secretaries and ambassadors should be women. They claim this is what “gender parity” referred to in the Global Political Agreement meant.
“The agreement clearly provides for gender parity, which means we share the positions 50-50,” Janah Ncube said. This is also contained in the SADC protocol signed by southern African leaders in August.”
Published in The Standard on 19 Nov. 2008
First to address them was Zanu PF’s Nicholas Goche, who requested an appointment for another day. He said there were “some difficulties that are coming our way, but those difficulties are certainly not insurmountable”.
MDC-M’s Professor Welshman Ncube shared the women’s concerns that the impasse over “glamorous ministries” was causing suffering to ordinary people.
Ncube told the feminists that on Thursday, they were “very, very, very close” to reaching an agreement on the outstanding ministries, saying he “would be surprised if we do not get a complete deal by the end of day today (on Thursday)”. But the talks reached a deadlock again on Friday.
Ncube, however, challenged the feminists not to blame only negotiators for the impasse, as women were also responsible, especially in the background teams.
“Some of the problems are caused by women in the background teams. I can vouch for that,” he said.
On the women’s concerns that the negotiators had not consulted widely, Ncube said inasmuch as consultations were good, they were impacting negatively on the process.
“The downside of consultation, as we have experienced, regrettably at the negotiations, every time we have said we are going to consult, we come back with hard-line no-compromise positions…” Ncube said. “Every time we adjourn to consult after making progress 10 steps and you think we are there. We come back after consultation; they take you 21 days back.”
Addressing the women, Tendai Biti, the MDC-T secretary general, said the impasse was harming ordinary people the most.
After Biti’s address, the women said they would barricade the negotiators and their principals until an agreement was reached. One of the co-ordinators of FePEP, Shereen Essof, said this had worked in Liberia, where women played a key role in influencing outcome of the talks.
Within minutes, the women had gathered placards. Among other things, the hand-written placards pleaded: “Zimbabwe is hungry; we want a cabinet today and No Deal, No Exit.” They also submitted a petition to the negotiators and the facilitation team. Among other things, the petition stressed the urgency of resolving the deadlock, saying many people were dying of hunger and struggling to survive under the current hyper-inflationary environment.
Members of Thabo Mbeki’s facilitation team, former SA Local Government Minister, Sydney Mufamadi and Reverend Frank Chikane, the director general in the Presidency assured the activists Mbeki had received their concerns and that these would be considered.
Another FePEP member, Janah Ncube, told The Standard that “the facilitation team assured us that Mbeki had received our concerns and was doing something about them”. Tsvangirai and Mutambara also spoke to the women separately. The contents of the discussions were not immediately available.
The feminists are also demanding that 50% of ministers, deputy ministers, permanent secretaries and ambassadors should be women. They claim this is what “gender parity” referred to in the Global Political Agreement meant.
“The agreement clearly provides for gender parity, which means we share the positions 50-50,” Janah Ncube said. This is also contained in the SADC protocol signed by southern African leaders in August.”
Published in The Standard on 19 Nov. 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
ZIMBABWE: Time To Do The Right Thing
Ephraim Nsingo
HARARE, Oct 17 (IPS) - At least 5,000 people are expected to gather in Chitungwiza today to demand improved access to water, sanitation and health services as part of the Stand Up, Take Action Against Poverty campaign.
The event in this sprawling satellite town about 30 kilometres south of Harare is under the auspices of the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO), which brings together all humanitarian and civil society organisations registered in Zimbabwe.
Because of the political polarisation in Zimbabwe, this year the Campaign has chosen to reach out to the population through a seemingly neutral agenda -- environmental sustainability. Hundreds of schools and corporate organisations have already been recruited to take part in tree planting events.
This campaign, coordinated worldwide by the Global Coalition Against Poverty, has long been active in Zimbabwe. The results on the ground have however not been so encouraging. Poverty continues to ravage the southern African nation, once referred to as the breadbasket of Africa. Close to half of Zimbabwe’s 12 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
Set to feature prominently in this year’s activities is the water situation, which has deteriorated unabated in Harare and other major centres. The ever-worsening humanitarian conditions, the country’s world-record inflation of 231 million percent, and the plight of orphaned and vulnerable children will also be under the spotlight.
"Zimbabwe is no exception to the scandalous condition of poverty in an opulent world. At the event, we will stand in unity with the rest of the world sending a message to our leaders that we can no longer tolerate the injustice of poverty," said Fambai Ngirande, who is coordinating the Stand Up and Take Action Against Poverty Campaign. He is also the advocacy and public policy manager for NANGO.
"Our main focus would be on the water situation in urban areas, where years of neglect by the authorities have resulted in millions of people failing to get safe drinking water. We are calling on the government to do the right thing by providing safe drinking water to residents, and improving the provision of all social services."
This year’s event will feature free open-air performances by three celebrated Zimbabwean musicians -- Victor Kunonga, Stanley "Pastor G" Gwanzura and Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave. The musicians are well known not only for their clean cut mass public appeal, but for lyrics that reflects an interest in social issues.
"It is remarkable that these iconic artists have chosen to volunteer their talents to spread the message of the fight against poverty" noted Ngirande, "The plight of the poor has so often been ignored, but I am sure that the powerful voices of these three superstars will resonate throughout the country as a rallying call for all Zimbabweans to Speak Out and Take Action Against Poverty."
Kunonga, who has performed at previous Stand Up and Speak Out events, said it was a good opportunity for musicians to contribute to the emancipation of the communities that nurture and support them.
"As musicians, we owe a lot to the people who have always been with us through difficult and good times. The event allows us to plough back to the communities, and contribute to their empowerment," said Kunonga.
A concert alone, noted Ngirande, can however not resolve the humanitarian crisis,
"It is clear that the resolution of the complex humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe will take more than a concert, however the sheer significance of thousands of citizens mobilised under one common cause is a bright light in a very dark situation," he said.
Ngirande said, "There has never been a more opportune time to mobilise people to demand greater action for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals than now. Our people are suffering."
Faced with the reality of a population that is increasingly disempowered and distracted by the struggle for daily survival from effectively taking part in such mobilisations as the Stand Up and Take Action Against Poverty, Ngirande lamented the restrictive conditions in Zimbabwe, which are not permissive of social action.
"While it would be important to mobilise our people in their millions to peacefully and symbolically stand up to send a powerful message to leaders to do more to fight poverty, the highly politicised and volatile environment has ingrained a fear and helplessness in our people," decried Ngirande.
Taking the campaign beyond the event, could be another hassles for NGOs, as there are still remarkable barriers in accessing certain constituencies like the rural areas. NGOs are also censored from the state media.
There are others who do not seem to get the theme of the commemorations clearly. One such is Clever Mutukwa, a war veteran who is also a senior civil servant in Chitungwiza.
"The government has always been doing the right thing, but most efforts have been in vain because of sanctions imposed on us by western countries. If you take a closer look at the trend, you will notice that the crisis is directly linked to the imposition of sanctions. Although I am not saying the government has done everything possible, they have tried under the circumstances."
Instead of calling on the government to do the right thing, Mutukwa said it is the NGOs "and their allies in the opposition who should do the right thing and call for the lifting of sanctions."
(END/2008)
HARARE, Oct 17 (IPS) - At least 5,000 people are expected to gather in Chitungwiza today to demand improved access to water, sanitation and health services as part of the Stand Up, Take Action Against Poverty campaign.
The event in this sprawling satellite town about 30 kilometres south of Harare is under the auspices of the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO), which brings together all humanitarian and civil society organisations registered in Zimbabwe.
Because of the political polarisation in Zimbabwe, this year the Campaign has chosen to reach out to the population through a seemingly neutral agenda -- environmental sustainability. Hundreds of schools and corporate organisations have already been recruited to take part in tree planting events.
This campaign, coordinated worldwide by the Global Coalition Against Poverty, has long been active in Zimbabwe. The results on the ground have however not been so encouraging. Poverty continues to ravage the southern African nation, once referred to as the breadbasket of Africa. Close to half of Zimbabwe’s 12 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
Set to feature prominently in this year’s activities is the water situation, which has deteriorated unabated in Harare and other major centres. The ever-worsening humanitarian conditions, the country’s world-record inflation of 231 million percent, and the plight of orphaned and vulnerable children will also be under the spotlight.
"Zimbabwe is no exception to the scandalous condition of poverty in an opulent world. At the event, we will stand in unity with the rest of the world sending a message to our leaders that we can no longer tolerate the injustice of poverty," said Fambai Ngirande, who is coordinating the Stand Up and Take Action Against Poverty Campaign. He is also the advocacy and public policy manager for NANGO.
"Our main focus would be on the water situation in urban areas, where years of neglect by the authorities have resulted in millions of people failing to get safe drinking water. We are calling on the government to do the right thing by providing safe drinking water to residents, and improving the provision of all social services."
This year’s event will feature free open-air performances by three celebrated Zimbabwean musicians -- Victor Kunonga, Stanley "Pastor G" Gwanzura and Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave. The musicians are well known not only for their clean cut mass public appeal, but for lyrics that reflects an interest in social issues.
"It is remarkable that these iconic artists have chosen to volunteer their talents to spread the message of the fight against poverty" noted Ngirande, "The plight of the poor has so often been ignored, but I am sure that the powerful voices of these three superstars will resonate throughout the country as a rallying call for all Zimbabweans to Speak Out and Take Action Against Poverty."
Kunonga, who has performed at previous Stand Up and Speak Out events, said it was a good opportunity for musicians to contribute to the emancipation of the communities that nurture and support them.
"As musicians, we owe a lot to the people who have always been with us through difficult and good times. The event allows us to plough back to the communities, and contribute to their empowerment," said Kunonga.
A concert alone, noted Ngirande, can however not resolve the humanitarian crisis,
"It is clear that the resolution of the complex humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe will take more than a concert, however the sheer significance of thousands of citizens mobilised under one common cause is a bright light in a very dark situation," he said.
Ngirande said, "There has never been a more opportune time to mobilise people to demand greater action for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals than now. Our people are suffering."
Faced with the reality of a population that is increasingly disempowered and distracted by the struggle for daily survival from effectively taking part in such mobilisations as the Stand Up and Take Action Against Poverty, Ngirande lamented the restrictive conditions in Zimbabwe, which are not permissive of social action.
"While it would be important to mobilise our people in their millions to peacefully and symbolically stand up to send a powerful message to leaders to do more to fight poverty, the highly politicised and volatile environment has ingrained a fear and helplessness in our people," decried Ngirande.
Taking the campaign beyond the event, could be another hassles for NGOs, as there are still remarkable barriers in accessing certain constituencies like the rural areas. NGOs are also censored from the state media.
There are others who do not seem to get the theme of the commemorations clearly. One such is Clever Mutukwa, a war veteran who is also a senior civil servant in Chitungwiza.
"The government has always been doing the right thing, but most efforts have been in vain because of sanctions imposed on us by western countries. If you take a closer look at the trend, you will notice that the crisis is directly linked to the imposition of sanctions. Although I am not saying the government has done everything possible, they have tried under the circumstances."
Instead of calling on the government to do the right thing, Mutukwa said it is the NGOs "and their allies in the opposition who should do the right thing and call for the lifting of sanctions."
(END/2008)
ZIMBABWE: Transport Costs Ground Workers, Employers
Ephraim Nsingo
HARARE, Oct 13 (IPS) - Every evening, Barbara Taruvona, the owner of New Styles Hair salon in Harare has to face a queue of her employees at the entrance to her office for their daily cash allowance for transport.
"At times I struggle to get enough cash for all of them to go home and be able to come back the following day. We used to give them weekly transport allowances, but now that the fares are changing daily, we are now giving them allowances every day," she told IPS.
Employers in Zimbabwe are grappling with the rising costs of public transport for their workers. A single trip on a commuter omnibus costs the local equivalent of 60 US cents at the parallel market exchange rate. Fares are reviewed daily in response to changes in the exchange rate. On Oct. 10, it cost Z$7,000 to get to most high-density suburbs in Harare.
"It is not that we are not sensitive to our customers, but our fares are directly linked to the cost of fuel. Rising costs of transport shouldn’t be viewed in isolation, they are just but a symptom of the crisis we are in as a country. Unless the real problem is solved, commuters will continue to suffer most," said Taona Zinumwe, who runs a fleet of commuter omnibuses in Harare.
With Zimbabwe's inflation officially pegged at 231 million percent, public transport costs have been rising on a daily basis, and this presents a great challenge on ordinary workers who commute daily to and from work. Harare operators are snubbing further destinations like Tafara, Mabvuku and Chitungwiza, forcing some workers to "sleep in" at their workplaces, going home on weekends only.
"This may get me in trouble with the authorities, but we have no option," Taruvona said.
But there is a related challenge that has almost grounded Taruvona’s business: she cannot withdraw her money from the bank. Businesses are allowed a daily maximum withdrawal of only Z$10,000. This was equivalent to one US dollar on Oct. 10.
"The money I am allowed to withdraw at the bank is not enough for the transport requirements of one employee. As you can see, I have a team of 13 female hairdressers, eight male barbers, and an administration complement of three members. To make things worse, most of my clients pay using cheques, and these take many days to clear. I have to make do with what I get from the few customers who pay in cash. If it continues like this, I may have to close shop."
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) recently banned the use of electronic transactions, and all transactions are now in cash or bank certified cheque. This has impacted negatively on business, forcing some companies -- including the country's second-largest conglomberate, fast foot and retail giant Innscor Africa -- to suspend operations.
In addition to the frustration this causes, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President Lovemore Matombo said rising transport costs are disrupting productivity in the work place.
"Because of exorbitant transport costs and the cash crisis at banks, most workers are failing to report for duty five days a week. They can only work for eight hours for the whole week, suggesting that 80 percent of production is lost per week," said Matombo.
"Some workers spend much more money on transport than they earn at the end of the month. In as much as workers are be willing to continue at their job, the current circumstances are now making it impossible for workers to report for duty."
Because of the struggles they face in going to work, noted Matombo, the very survival of some key economic establishments is now under threat.
"Workers are carrying the burden of irresponsible political decisions, and that is not good for us as a country," he added.
Gertrude Munetsi, a commuter from Chitungwiza -- a satellite town about 30 km south of Harare -- said unlike in the past when transport was a small fraction of her total spending, it is now her major expense. She is an attendant at a leading outfitter in Harare.
She said: "When I started working here nine years ago, I managed to put my children to boarding school and bought a house in Chitungwiza, and would go shopping at the end of each month. Right now, I can no longer do all those things as all the money goes to transport. I am struggling to take my nine-year old son to a conventional primary school in Zengeza (a suburb in Chitungwiza)."
Civil servants have also been left helpless by the exorbitant costs of transport.
"Teachers can no longer afford to go to work. In fact, the government is now sponsoring an industrial action by teachers by not giving them enough money. Teachers’ salaries are just not enough even to take them to the nearest payment point to withdraw money, so they just sit home and do nothing," said Takavafira Zhou, president of the militant Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ).
Clever Munatsi, a rank marshal at the Market Square Bus Terminus -- the biggest taxi rank in Harare -- said over the last three months there has been a significant decline in the number of people who board minibuses at the rank.
"There has been a big decline. Most people have resorted to walking, while others now prefer open trucks, which are cheaper. Those who still board here always complain our fares are too high," said Munatsi.
According to an official from the Ministry of Local Government, which regulates commuter omnibus routes and fares, it is currently difficult for the government to control the operations of public transporters.
"At the moment, we are all waiting for the constitution of the inclusive government. Most plans are based on the operations of the new government, and it’s really difficult for us to control them," said the official, requesting anonymity.
(END/2008)
HARARE, Oct 13 (IPS) - Every evening, Barbara Taruvona, the owner of New Styles Hair salon in Harare has to face a queue of her employees at the entrance to her office for their daily cash allowance for transport.
"At times I struggle to get enough cash for all of them to go home and be able to come back the following day. We used to give them weekly transport allowances, but now that the fares are changing daily, we are now giving them allowances every day," she told IPS.
Employers in Zimbabwe are grappling with the rising costs of public transport for their workers. A single trip on a commuter omnibus costs the local equivalent of 60 US cents at the parallel market exchange rate. Fares are reviewed daily in response to changes in the exchange rate. On Oct. 10, it cost Z$7,000 to get to most high-density suburbs in Harare.
"It is not that we are not sensitive to our customers, but our fares are directly linked to the cost of fuel. Rising costs of transport shouldn’t be viewed in isolation, they are just but a symptom of the crisis we are in as a country. Unless the real problem is solved, commuters will continue to suffer most," said Taona Zinumwe, who runs a fleet of commuter omnibuses in Harare.
With Zimbabwe's inflation officially pegged at 231 million percent, public transport costs have been rising on a daily basis, and this presents a great challenge on ordinary workers who commute daily to and from work. Harare operators are snubbing further destinations like Tafara, Mabvuku and Chitungwiza, forcing some workers to "sleep in" at their workplaces, going home on weekends only.
"This may get me in trouble with the authorities, but we have no option," Taruvona said.
But there is a related challenge that has almost grounded Taruvona’s business: she cannot withdraw her money from the bank. Businesses are allowed a daily maximum withdrawal of only Z$10,000. This was equivalent to one US dollar on Oct. 10.
"The money I am allowed to withdraw at the bank is not enough for the transport requirements of one employee. As you can see, I have a team of 13 female hairdressers, eight male barbers, and an administration complement of three members. To make things worse, most of my clients pay using cheques, and these take many days to clear. I have to make do with what I get from the few customers who pay in cash. If it continues like this, I may have to close shop."
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) recently banned the use of electronic transactions, and all transactions are now in cash or bank certified cheque. This has impacted negatively on business, forcing some companies -- including the country's second-largest conglomberate, fast foot and retail giant Innscor Africa -- to suspend operations.
In addition to the frustration this causes, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President Lovemore Matombo said rising transport costs are disrupting productivity in the work place.
"Because of exorbitant transport costs and the cash crisis at banks, most workers are failing to report for duty five days a week. They can only work for eight hours for the whole week, suggesting that 80 percent of production is lost per week," said Matombo.
"Some workers spend much more money on transport than they earn at the end of the month. In as much as workers are be willing to continue at their job, the current circumstances are now making it impossible for workers to report for duty."
Because of the struggles they face in going to work, noted Matombo, the very survival of some key economic establishments is now under threat.
"Workers are carrying the burden of irresponsible political decisions, and that is not good for us as a country," he added.
Gertrude Munetsi, a commuter from Chitungwiza -- a satellite town about 30 km south of Harare -- said unlike in the past when transport was a small fraction of her total spending, it is now her major expense. She is an attendant at a leading outfitter in Harare.
She said: "When I started working here nine years ago, I managed to put my children to boarding school and bought a house in Chitungwiza, and would go shopping at the end of each month. Right now, I can no longer do all those things as all the money goes to transport. I am struggling to take my nine-year old son to a conventional primary school in Zengeza (a suburb in Chitungwiza)."
Civil servants have also been left helpless by the exorbitant costs of transport.
"Teachers can no longer afford to go to work. In fact, the government is now sponsoring an industrial action by teachers by not giving them enough money. Teachers’ salaries are just not enough even to take them to the nearest payment point to withdraw money, so they just sit home and do nothing," said Takavafira Zhou, president of the militant Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ).
Clever Munatsi, a rank marshal at the Market Square Bus Terminus -- the biggest taxi rank in Harare -- said over the last three months there has been a significant decline in the number of people who board minibuses at the rank.
"There has been a big decline. Most people have resorted to walking, while others now prefer open trucks, which are cheaper. Those who still board here always complain our fares are too high," said Munatsi.
According to an official from the Ministry of Local Government, which regulates commuter omnibus routes and fares, it is currently difficult for the government to control the operations of public transporters.
"At the moment, we are all waiting for the constitution of the inclusive government. Most plans are based on the operations of the new government, and it’s really difficult for us to control them," said the official, requesting anonymity.
(END/2008)
HEALTH-ZIMBABWE: Activists Say Cholera Due to Failed Leadership
By Ephraim Nsingo**
HARARE, Oct 16 (IPS) - "In my nine years as a nurse, I have never been so devastated. You know how discouraging it is to see people dying before your eyes. And you know very well there is nothing you can do to help them."
These were the words of Caroline Chabuda*, a nurse at Seke North Clinic in Chitungwiza, a satellite town about 30 km south of Harare. The clinic was recently set aside to attend only to cholera cases following a local outbreak of the disease a few months ago. But because of a shortage of key medication, many patients admitted at the clinic have died.
Figures released by the Ministry of Health indicate that 16 people died of cholera countrywide in September. Chitungwiza residents, medical experts and human rights activists believe the figure is much higher than that. They also accuse the Ministry of Health and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) of ignoring the plight of residents.
"The government and ZINWA are responsible for all this," said Tapiwa Muronzi of St Mary's suburb in Chitungwiza, whose younger brother Carlos died of cholera three weeks ago. Muronzi believes the government has done too little, too late.
"They are only acting now when people are already dying," said a sobbing Muronzi. "We all know that cholera, although it is a very dangerous disease, can be prevented. The authorities neglected us when we needed them most. Why wait until there are buried corpses? These people (government) do not care about our plight. We have been without water for four months now, but ZINWA continue to charge us exorbitant rates."
Muronzi's mother, Ambuya Clara Muronzi, 58, had no kind words for staff at the clinic. "He could have survived, if they had given him care. They neglected him but now they are demanding lots of money for doing nothing," she said.
But Chabuda believes there is nothing they could have done to avert the situation.
"We have a great challenge of a shortage of experienced staff, people who really know how to handle such cases. Cholera is not like any other disease," said Chabuda.
"Cholera is a very sensitive and contagious disease. It needs to be handled by highly-qualified medical personnel. Most of the nurses we have at the clinic are still young and inexperienced. The youngsters are so ignorant. We cannot risk patients' lives by letting them attend to (cholera victims)." said Chabuda.
While Chabuda was talking to this reporter, patients, mostly children, could be seen writhing in agony on the floors. The few nurses who were present appeared to be struggling to attend to them. Among other things, the nurses gave them dehydration salts and aqua tablets, for use in drinking water.
"We do not have some key medicines, this is what we can do under the circumstances," said another nurse, who identified herself only as Caroline.
Cholera linked to wider problems
With Chitungwiza hosting this year's national commemorations of the Stand Up and Speak Out Against Poverty Campaign, the wider failures that have led to the outbreak will be brought to the fore.
The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), which also covers Chitungwiza, says some areas of the city have been without a reliable water supply for years.
In a statement, CHRA said: "The water and sewer management problems have seen some residential areas going for years, months and weeks without water and unattended sewer bursts respectively. The shortage of water dictates that residents fetch water from unprotected sources thus diseases like cholera breed easily. CHRA has so far received countless cases of cholera and diarrhea."
The organisation says the authorities should "stop burying their heads in the sand and attend to the governance stalemate as a matter of urgency".
Human rights activists have lambasted the government for neglecting residents, which they said is "criminal".
"The government should treat the health sector like they are doing agriculture," said Itai Rusike, the director of the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) – a Harare based non-governmental organization that pressures government on health issues. The government has for the past two years been providing agricultural inputs free of charge under the farm mechanisation programme.
He added that the government's official figures for cholera deaths were "very under-represented".
Acknowledging that ZINWA has not maintained regular supplies of potable water to Chitungwiza, spokesperson Tsungirirai Shoriwa, said the company was not responsible for the outbreak of cholera in Chitungwiza, saying the state-owned utility was doing the best it can despite a shortage of necessary materials.
"We do not give people untreated water, it would be a crime for us to do so. If we do not have the chemicals to treat water, we do not supply the water. ZINWA has never advised people to boil wate,r because according to us it is clean," said Shoriwa.
He insisted ZINWA was not supplying dirty water that had contributed to the outbreak of cholera.
"It would be unfair for people to blame ZINWA for the people who are dying of cholera in Chitungwiza. As far as we are concerned, our water is clean. You should be aware there are many factors that have contributed to the spread of cholera such as the eating dirty food."
ZINWA took over water management in the urban centres from most local authorities last year. This resulted in a chorus of complaints from human rights activists and some politicians, who believe the government-run company does not have the capacity to manage urban water.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and the Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights have described the cholera outbreak as an indication of "an unacceptable failure of leadership".
"These wanton deaths (from cholera) are intolerable and shameful, and the state's failure is merely a replication of other high level failures, where the citizenry has now been disenfranchised of almost all their basic human rights. If more than a dozen people have died from cholera in just less than a month, we can only imagine how many more are currently affected by, or at risk of contracting, this avoidable disease," ZLHR said.
Thousands of residents, and many others from surrounding areas will converge on the town for the Stand Up and Take Action Against Poverty on Oct. 18. Issues of sanitation and water supply in Chitungwiza and other urban areas are set to take centre stage.
**Ephraim Nsingo is the IPS pen name for Vusumuzi Sifile
HARARE, Oct 16 (IPS) - "In my nine years as a nurse, I have never been so devastated. You know how discouraging it is to see people dying before your eyes. And you know very well there is nothing you can do to help them."
These were the words of Caroline Chabuda*, a nurse at Seke North Clinic in Chitungwiza, a satellite town about 30 km south of Harare. The clinic was recently set aside to attend only to cholera cases following a local outbreak of the disease a few months ago. But because of a shortage of key medication, many patients admitted at the clinic have died.
Figures released by the Ministry of Health indicate that 16 people died of cholera countrywide in September. Chitungwiza residents, medical experts and human rights activists believe the figure is much higher than that. They also accuse the Ministry of Health and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) of ignoring the plight of residents.
"The government and ZINWA are responsible for all this," said Tapiwa Muronzi of St Mary's suburb in Chitungwiza, whose younger brother Carlos died of cholera three weeks ago. Muronzi believes the government has done too little, too late.
"They are only acting now when people are already dying," said a sobbing Muronzi. "We all know that cholera, although it is a very dangerous disease, can be prevented. The authorities neglected us when we needed them most. Why wait until there are buried corpses? These people (government) do not care about our plight. We have been without water for four months now, but ZINWA continue to charge us exorbitant rates."
Muronzi's mother, Ambuya Clara Muronzi, 58, had no kind words for staff at the clinic. "He could have survived, if they had given him care. They neglected him but now they are demanding lots of money for doing nothing," she said.
But Chabuda believes there is nothing they could have done to avert the situation.
"We have a great challenge of a shortage of experienced staff, people who really know how to handle such cases. Cholera is not like any other disease," said Chabuda.
"Cholera is a very sensitive and contagious disease. It needs to be handled by highly-qualified medical personnel. Most of the nurses we have at the clinic are still young and inexperienced. The youngsters are so ignorant. We cannot risk patients' lives by letting them attend to (cholera victims)." said Chabuda.
While Chabuda was talking to this reporter, patients, mostly children, could be seen writhing in agony on the floors. The few nurses who were present appeared to be struggling to attend to them. Among other things, the nurses gave them dehydration salts and aqua tablets, for use in drinking water.
"We do not have some key medicines, this is what we can do under the circumstances," said another nurse, who identified herself only as Caroline.
Cholera linked to wider problems
With Chitungwiza hosting this year's national commemorations of the Stand Up and Speak Out Against Poverty Campaign, the wider failures that have led to the outbreak will be brought to the fore.
The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), which also covers Chitungwiza, says some areas of the city have been without a reliable water supply for years.
In a statement, CHRA said: "The water and sewer management problems have seen some residential areas going for years, months and weeks without water and unattended sewer bursts respectively. The shortage of water dictates that residents fetch water from unprotected sources thus diseases like cholera breed easily. CHRA has so far received countless cases of cholera and diarrhea."
The organisation says the authorities should "stop burying their heads in the sand and attend to the governance stalemate as a matter of urgency".
Human rights activists have lambasted the government for neglecting residents, which they said is "criminal".
"The government should treat the health sector like they are doing agriculture," said Itai Rusike, the director of the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) – a Harare based non-governmental organization that pressures government on health issues. The government has for the past two years been providing agricultural inputs free of charge under the farm mechanisation programme.
He added that the government's official figures for cholera deaths were "very under-represented".
Acknowledging that ZINWA has not maintained regular supplies of potable water to Chitungwiza, spokesperson Tsungirirai Shoriwa, said the company was not responsible for the outbreak of cholera in Chitungwiza, saying the state-owned utility was doing the best it can despite a shortage of necessary materials.
"We do not give people untreated water, it would be a crime for us to do so. If we do not have the chemicals to treat water, we do not supply the water. ZINWA has never advised people to boil wate,r because according to us it is clean," said Shoriwa.
He insisted ZINWA was not supplying dirty water that had contributed to the outbreak of cholera.
"It would be unfair for people to blame ZINWA for the people who are dying of cholera in Chitungwiza. As far as we are concerned, our water is clean. You should be aware there are many factors that have contributed to the spread of cholera such as the eating dirty food."
ZINWA took over water management in the urban centres from most local authorities last year. This resulted in a chorus of complaints from human rights activists and some politicians, who believe the government-run company does not have the capacity to manage urban water.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and the Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights have described the cholera outbreak as an indication of "an unacceptable failure of leadership".
"These wanton deaths (from cholera) are intolerable and shameful, and the state's failure is merely a replication of other high level failures, where the citizenry has now been disenfranchised of almost all their basic human rights. If more than a dozen people have died from cholera in just less than a month, we can only imagine how many more are currently affected by, or at risk of contracting, this avoidable disease," ZLHR said.
Thousands of residents, and many others from surrounding areas will converge on the town for the Stand Up and Take Action Against Poverty on Oct. 18. Issues of sanitation and water supply in Chitungwiza and other urban areas are set to take centre stage.
**Ephraim Nsingo is the IPS pen name for Vusumuzi Sifile
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Food crisis now a "national disaster"
By Vusumuzi Sifile
HUMANITARIAN organisations want the government to declare the current situation in the country — particularly in the two Matabeleland regions — a national disaster, to speed up the allocation of resources to needy communities.
It was widely hoped that the signing of the power-sharing deal on September 15 and an earlier government lifting of a ban on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) would improve the working conditions of NGOs. However, most of them have not started operating, as the government has tightened its grip on their operations.At a meeting in Bulawayo on October 3, members of the Matabeleland NGO Forum said the crisis was now “characteristically complex and increasingly spiralling out of control” thus demanding robust and multi-faceted interventions.
“There is a 78% food deficit in the country. The situation in food terms is worse than in 1992, which had a deficit of 40% but with greater import capacities, international goodwill, human resources etc. There is strong basis to push for the humanitarian crisis to be declared a national disaster, which requires the setting up of appropriate structures to manage the situation,” reads part of the minutes of the meeting.
The situation, it was noted, had been worsened by the “confusion about the lifting of the ban on NGO operations as regard who indeed is able to operate”.
Fambai Ngirande, the Advocacy and Public Policy manager for the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) confirmed the NGOs wanted the crisis to be declared a national disaster.
“Of concern is the fact that this crisis is much larger than the 1992 drought thought to be the worst in post-independent history, but without the international good will and favourable operating environment that enabled Zimbabwe to effectively contend with the 1992 drought,” Ngirande said.
Although some humanitarian organisations said they were conducting field operations in such areas as child supplementary feeding, resuscitating boreholes and distributing agricultural support, the levels of need far exceed the capacities of the NGOs involved, there were still challenges especially in targeting vulnerable people.
High demand had also placed an additional burden on NGOs, especially those that feed school children.
“For example where an organisation was expecting to feed only those children enrolled in schools, they now have to cater for their siblings in the one – five-year age group, some of whom are forced to trek more than 3km daily to access their only meal for the day,” said an NGO official.
“Organisations on the ground are clearly overstretched and further constrained by the realities of an un-conducive operating environment,” Ngirande said. “Worse still, the role of the humanitarian sector has been compelled by the dire circumstances to shift from being of a complementary nature to becoming the primary source of support for an increasingly ballooning number of desperate people.”
Most organisations have expressed willingness to play an active role in alleviating the crisis. They are however still waiting for the constitution of an all-inclusive government to start operations.
Last week, the French Embassy in Harare said France decided on October 3 to release food aid worth 2 millions euros “to provide immediate support to the most vulnerable people of Zimbabwe as well as to support medium- and long-term policies aimed at promoting food security”.
“Given the difficult humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe and the growing number of people exposed to severe malnutrition, France is increasing its efforts to assist the population,” said Stéphane Toulet, the embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission. The aid will be distributed through the World Food Programme.
Education system collapses
By Vusumuzi Sifile and Bertha Shoko
PROCEEDING with public examinations for primary and secondary schools tomorrow could have disastrous consequences for the future of students because the education system is in disarray, The Standard has learnt.
Last week, acting Minister of Education Flora Bhuka announced that all examinations would go ahead although there was a shift from the traditional dates for certain subjects.
But educationists and civil society have warned the move could backfire because pupils, teachers and the examining authority, the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) indicate serious lack of preparedness.
There was no learning worth examining this year, they said.
Students have not received statements of entry to confirm they had been correctly registered for the examinations.
The statement of entry guides the students on the subject, date and time they will write their examinations. By Friday close of business, examination papers had not been delivered to most schools with reports that Zimsec employees were on a go-slow.
Takavafira Zhou, President of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), said the decision by government to go ahead with examinations was most unfortunate.
He said there was no meaningful learning and teaching in 2008 and that examination classes were not prepared.
“As a union we are worried that Zimsec and Ministry of Education officials want to give the false impression that everything is on course,” Zhou said. “As PTUZ we note that examinations are not an event but a process. Given realities on the ground it is logical to cancel 2008 examinations.”
According to PTUZ, between January and March there was industrial action by teachers. Then schools closed a week earlier for the March elections.
During the elections teachers acted as polling officers, prejudicing students as a result. Nothing was done to compensate for the lost time.
After the March 29 elections, said PTUZ, classes were also disrupted during April, May, June and July in the retribution campaign by Zanu PF that left at least 130 MDC supporters dead.
Teachers were also targeted and displaced during the violence while some schools were invaded and used as torture bases by self-styled war veterans and Zanu PF militia, disrupting classes.
There are also fears that there would be no invigilators at most examination centres, as teachers have been on strike since the beginning of the school term in protest at low pay. Last week, teachers received a “top up” of $90 000 to their salaries. The top up is many times more than the average salary teachers received last month.
The PTUZ is demanding at least US$1 200 a month as basic salary in line with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s “dollarisation” of the economy.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) last week weighed in with concerns that it was not wise for the examinations to go ahead. Among other concerns, Unicef said teachers and District Education Officers were “ill- equipped” to run national examinations.
A survey conducted by Unicef showed that an estimated 40% of the country’s teachers were reporting for duty, while a third of the pupils were attending classes.
Unicef supports orphans and vulnerable children in meeting their schooling needs. It said the 2008 academic year was seriously disrupted because of the continuous teachers’ strikes, elections and accompanying political violence.
Unicef said following “disturbing results” from routine monitoring visits on the situation in Zimbabwe it was seriously concerned about the prevailing crisis.
“Between a two-month teachers’ strike, limited learning materials, political violence and displacements, Zimbabwe’s children have lost a whole year of schooling,” said Unicef Country Representative, Roeland Monasch.
“The depletion of teachers in schools, transport and food problems faced by the remaining teachers and lack of resources have left the sector tottering on the brink of collapse.”
PTUZ also recently carried out a survey on the “preparedness for examinations”.
“That survey,” said PTUZ Secretary-General Raymond Majongwe, “proved that teachers and students are not prepared for examinations.”
The survey was prompted by a dismal performance during the mid-year examinations. At least 30 schools were targeted in the survey.
With these worrying trends, Unicef believes the education sector is too critical a sector to be left to die.
“Education remains the engine to drive Zimbabwe’s long-term prospects,” Monasch said. “It is critical that the sector is not left to collapse. Enduring solutions on salaries, food and working conditions should be reached soon, the monitoring visits should be beefed up, and the situation in schools requires urgent action.
“Zimbabwe’s children are already suffering on multiple fronts; denying them an education to better their prospects is unacceptable.”
The Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association has criticised the government for undermining the
Published in The Standard 12 Oct. 2008
PROCEEDING with public examinations for primary and secondary schools tomorrow could have disastrous consequences for the future of students because the education system is in disarray, The Standard has learnt.
Last week, acting Minister of Education Flora Bhuka announced that all examinations would go ahead although there was a shift from the traditional dates for certain subjects.
But educationists and civil society have warned the move could backfire because pupils, teachers and the examining authority, the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) indicate serious lack of preparedness.
There was no learning worth examining this year, they said.
Students have not received statements of entry to confirm they had been correctly registered for the examinations.
The statement of entry guides the students on the subject, date and time they will write their examinations. By Friday close of business, examination papers had not been delivered to most schools with reports that Zimsec employees were on a go-slow.
Takavafira Zhou, President of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), said the decision by government to go ahead with examinations was most unfortunate.
He said there was no meaningful learning and teaching in 2008 and that examination classes were not prepared.
“As a union we are worried that Zimsec and Ministry of Education officials want to give the false impression that everything is on course,” Zhou said. “As PTUZ we note that examinations are not an event but a process. Given realities on the ground it is logical to cancel 2008 examinations.”
According to PTUZ, between January and March there was industrial action by teachers. Then schools closed a week earlier for the March elections.
During the elections teachers acted as polling officers, prejudicing students as a result. Nothing was done to compensate for the lost time.
After the March 29 elections, said PTUZ, classes were also disrupted during April, May, June and July in the retribution campaign by Zanu PF that left at least 130 MDC supporters dead.
Teachers were also targeted and displaced during the violence while some schools were invaded and used as torture bases by self-styled war veterans and Zanu PF militia, disrupting classes.
There are also fears that there would be no invigilators at most examination centres, as teachers have been on strike since the beginning of the school term in protest at low pay. Last week, teachers received a “top up” of $90 000 to their salaries. The top up is many times more than the average salary teachers received last month.
The PTUZ is demanding at least US$1 200 a month as basic salary in line with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s “dollarisation” of the economy.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) last week weighed in with concerns that it was not wise for the examinations to go ahead. Among other concerns, Unicef said teachers and District Education Officers were “ill- equipped” to run national examinations.
A survey conducted by Unicef showed that an estimated 40% of the country’s teachers were reporting for duty, while a third of the pupils were attending classes.
Unicef supports orphans and vulnerable children in meeting their schooling needs. It said the 2008 academic year was seriously disrupted because of the continuous teachers’ strikes, elections and accompanying political violence.
Unicef said following “disturbing results” from routine monitoring visits on the situation in Zimbabwe it was seriously concerned about the prevailing crisis.
“Between a two-month teachers’ strike, limited learning materials, political violence and displacements, Zimbabwe’s children have lost a whole year of schooling,” said Unicef Country Representative, Roeland Monasch.
“The depletion of teachers in schools, transport and food problems faced by the remaining teachers and lack of resources have left the sector tottering on the brink of collapse.”
PTUZ also recently carried out a survey on the “preparedness for examinations”.
“That survey,” said PTUZ Secretary-General Raymond Majongwe, “proved that teachers and students are not prepared for examinations.”
The survey was prompted by a dismal performance during the mid-year examinations. At least 30 schools were targeted in the survey.
With these worrying trends, Unicef believes the education sector is too critical a sector to be left to die.
“Education remains the engine to drive Zimbabwe’s long-term prospects,” Monasch said. “It is critical that the sector is not left to collapse. Enduring solutions on salaries, food and working conditions should be reached soon, the monitoring visits should be beefed up, and the situation in schools requires urgent action.
“Zimbabwe’s children are already suffering on multiple fronts; denying them an education to better their prospects is unacceptable.”
The Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association has criticised the government for undermining the
Published in The Standard 12 Oct. 2008
MDC Mocks Mugabe's cabinet 'wish list'
By Vusumuzi Sifile, Caiphas Chimhete, Kholwani Nyathi and Davison Maruziva
THE MDC yesterday angrily dismissed as “Mugabe’s giant act of madness” President Robert Mugabe’s announcement of the allocation of government ministries to Zanu PF and the two MDC formations.
On Friday, Mugabe announced — through a government gazette — that he had allocated 30 ministries to the three parties.
He said one ministry — Finance, was still outstanding.
The announcement came few hours after Mugabe met MDC leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Arthur Mutambara to resolve the allocation of ministries.
The meeting ended in a deadlock and the three leaders agreed to refer the matter to the facilitator, former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, who is expected in Harare tomorrow.
Announcement of the allocation of government ministries yesterday drew fire from the MDC, which described it as a mere “wish list and giant act of madness”.
The MDC said it could not be useless “accessories” in a Zanu PF government.
MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa described Mugabe’s move to allocate ministries as “arrogant, unilateral, contemptuous and outrageous”.
He said it was a betrayal of the spirit of the power-sharing deal signed in Harare on September 15 in the presence of the facilitator and regional leaders from Sadc.
Chamisa said the MDC would not be party to Mugabe’s “wish-list”.
“Zanu PF cannot nocturnally allocate ministries barely hours after the three principals agreed to disagree by referring the matter to the mediator after a logjam over all key ministries,” Chamisa said. “In fact, it is a giant act of madness, which puts the whole deal into jeopardy. We will not accept being accessories to a government that is principally Zanu PF.”
The MDC spokesperson said basing on Mugabe’s list, “it’s easy for Zanu PF to run the country on the basis of the ministries they have allocated themselves”.
“We did not append our signatures to a power-grabbing deal by Zanu PF,” Chamisa said. “It is a power-sharing deal, and let it be real power-sharing and responsibility sharing so that we are able to inspire confidence in Zimbabweans.”
The allocation of ministries, he said, was a clear strategy to try and pre-empt the arrival of the mediator, as well as the intervention of Sadc and the African Union.
He appealed to the international community to urgently intervene and “protect Zimbabweans against Mugabe’s machinations”.
The MDC said if the power-sharing deal collapsed, they would need fresh elections that are internationally supervised.
“We are now waiting for Sadc to come in and try to adjudicate the process,” he said. “If that fails, it’s back to square one. We have to have fresh elections that are internationally supervised so that we deal with this outstanding matter.”
In the absence of such an arrangement and the September 15 deal, Chamisa said, the MDC would withdraw its endorsement of Mugabe for the transitional inclusive government.
Tsvangirai will today address a rally at the Zimbabwe Grounds in Harare to spell out the party’s position.
MDC-M spokesperson Edwin Mu-shoriwa described the gazetting of ministries as “mischievous”.
“The process of the allocation of ministries has not been concluded and hence the decision by the principals to recall Mbeki. We dismiss what Mugabe has done with the contempt it deserves,” Mushoriwa told The Standard last night.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon called on the political leadership to put the country first and reach a workable agreement on the composition of the cabinet so as to begin the all important task of rebuilding the country.
Talks over the allocation of key ministries have reached a deadlock, invoking panic in the United Nations. There had been hopes that the political deal could end Zimbabwe’s devastating economic meltdown.
The deadlock comes as the UN has just announced that the food crisis in Zimbabwe has reached emergency proportions. The UN World Food Programme is appealing for financial donations of US$140 million to feed about five million hungry Zimbabweans for the next six months.
Reactions among Zimbabweans ranged from anger at a dream deferred to resignation at prospects of turning around the country’s decade-long decline.
University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer Eldred Masunungure said Mugabe’s action was designed to pre-empt Mbeki’s mediation effort.
“It’s a pre-emptive move to Mbeki to say this is what we want. Mugabe has taken the lion’s share and gave a mouse’ to MDC,” said Masunungure. “What Mugabe has done breeds ill-wish and it deepens distrust between the parties.”
He said Mugabe’s actions showed Zanu PF’s self-centredness, a development that does not in any way solve the crisis in the country.
Bulawayo-based political analyst Jethro Mpofu said, “The people of Zimbabwe are impatient for change. There is need for political leaders to demonstrate a sense of urgency in their deliberation because the economic and human crisis in the country is getting dire everyday.”
But Mpofu said all hope was not lost after Mugabe refrained from unilateral gazetting the Ministry of Finance as he did with those of home affairs and local government which are still being contested.
“In my view he has effectively given that ministry to the MDC and we must be hopeful that the impasse will be broken,” he said.
Others felt that Zanu PF was being insensitive by insisting on retaining control of all the important ministries contrary to the spirit of agreement, which caused for a fifty-fifty power sharing agreement.
“The MDC must not accept a junior role in government,” said Khanyele Ndlovu a security guard.
Published in The Standard, Oct. 12 2008
THE MDC yesterday angrily dismissed as “Mugabe’s giant act of madness” President Robert Mugabe’s announcement of the allocation of government ministries to Zanu PF and the two MDC formations.
On Friday, Mugabe announced — through a government gazette — that he had allocated 30 ministries to the three parties.
He said one ministry — Finance, was still outstanding.
The announcement came few hours after Mugabe met MDC leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Arthur Mutambara to resolve the allocation of ministries.
The meeting ended in a deadlock and the three leaders agreed to refer the matter to the facilitator, former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, who is expected in Harare tomorrow.
Announcement of the allocation of government ministries yesterday drew fire from the MDC, which described it as a mere “wish list and giant act of madness”.
The MDC said it could not be useless “accessories” in a Zanu PF government.
MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa described Mugabe’s move to allocate ministries as “arrogant, unilateral, contemptuous and outrageous”.
He said it was a betrayal of the spirit of the power-sharing deal signed in Harare on September 15 in the presence of the facilitator and regional leaders from Sadc.
Chamisa said the MDC would not be party to Mugabe’s “wish-list”.
“Zanu PF cannot nocturnally allocate ministries barely hours after the three principals agreed to disagree by referring the matter to the mediator after a logjam over all key ministries,” Chamisa said. “In fact, it is a giant act of madness, which puts the whole deal into jeopardy. We will not accept being accessories to a government that is principally Zanu PF.”
The MDC spokesperson said basing on Mugabe’s list, “it’s easy for Zanu PF to run the country on the basis of the ministries they have allocated themselves”.
“We did not append our signatures to a power-grabbing deal by Zanu PF,” Chamisa said. “It is a power-sharing deal, and let it be real power-sharing and responsibility sharing so that we are able to inspire confidence in Zimbabweans.”
The allocation of ministries, he said, was a clear strategy to try and pre-empt the arrival of the mediator, as well as the intervention of Sadc and the African Union.
He appealed to the international community to urgently intervene and “protect Zimbabweans against Mugabe’s machinations”.
The MDC said if the power-sharing deal collapsed, they would need fresh elections that are internationally supervised.
“We are now waiting for Sadc to come in and try to adjudicate the process,” he said. “If that fails, it’s back to square one. We have to have fresh elections that are internationally supervised so that we deal with this outstanding matter.”
In the absence of such an arrangement and the September 15 deal, Chamisa said, the MDC would withdraw its endorsement of Mugabe for the transitional inclusive government.
Tsvangirai will today address a rally at the Zimbabwe Grounds in Harare to spell out the party’s position.
MDC-M spokesperson Edwin Mu-shoriwa described the gazetting of ministries as “mischievous”.
“The process of the allocation of ministries has not been concluded and hence the decision by the principals to recall Mbeki. We dismiss what Mugabe has done with the contempt it deserves,” Mushoriwa told The Standard last night.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon called on the political leadership to put the country first and reach a workable agreement on the composition of the cabinet so as to begin the all important task of rebuilding the country.
Talks over the allocation of key ministries have reached a deadlock, invoking panic in the United Nations. There had been hopes that the political deal could end Zimbabwe’s devastating economic meltdown.
The deadlock comes as the UN has just announced that the food crisis in Zimbabwe has reached emergency proportions. The UN World Food Programme is appealing for financial donations of US$140 million to feed about five million hungry Zimbabweans for the next six months.
Reactions among Zimbabweans ranged from anger at a dream deferred to resignation at prospects of turning around the country’s decade-long decline.
University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer Eldred Masunungure said Mugabe’s action was designed to pre-empt Mbeki’s mediation effort.
“It’s a pre-emptive move to Mbeki to say this is what we want. Mugabe has taken the lion’s share and gave a mouse’ to MDC,” said Masunungure. “What Mugabe has done breeds ill-wish and it deepens distrust between the parties.”
He said Mugabe’s actions showed Zanu PF’s self-centredness, a development that does not in any way solve the crisis in the country.
Bulawayo-based political analyst Jethro Mpofu said, “The people of Zimbabwe are impatient for change. There is need for political leaders to demonstrate a sense of urgency in their deliberation because the economic and human crisis in the country is getting dire everyday.”
But Mpofu said all hope was not lost after Mugabe refrained from unilateral gazetting the Ministry of Finance as he did with those of home affairs and local government which are still being contested.
“In my view he has effectively given that ministry to the MDC and we must be hopeful that the impasse will be broken,” he said.
Others felt that Zanu PF was being insensitive by insisting on retaining control of all the important ministries contrary to the spirit of agreement, which caused for a fifty-fifty power sharing agreement.
“The MDC must not accept a junior role in government,” said Khanyele Ndlovu a security guard.
Published in The Standard, Oct. 12 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Zimbabwe: we are back to square one
By Vusumuzi Sifile
THIS morning (Saturday 11 Oct.) we woke up to a screaming headline in the state controlled Herald newspaper: “President allocates ministries”.
And the story meant exactly that. President Robert Mugabe on Friday allocated ministries between his Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (Zanu PF) and the two formations of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The paper’s story was based on a government gazette published on Friday, and stated the allocation of ministries was in line with a power sharing agreement signed by our political protagonists on September 15.
The news was a real surprise to everyone, including some senior politicians within Zanu PF. Worse for those in the opposition.
A few hours before the announcement that he had allocated ministries, Mugabe had met MDC leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara to try to resolve an impasse over four key ministries – Home Affairs, Finance, Foreign Affairs and Local Government. The MDC wanted these ministries. Which, according to the list published in the Herald, were all allocated to Zanu PF.
When I got to the office, the first thing I did was to call MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa to get their side of the story. The MDC was not quoted in the Herald story. I went to Chamisa’s office, alongside a colleague, Caiphas Chimhete.
This is what he told us, uninterrupted:
“It (the allocation of ministries) is unilateral, contemptuous and outrageous an act, considering the fact that just yesterday we agreed that the matter had reached a deadlock. We had not agreed on the key outstanding issues, the issue of ministerial posts and the issues of governors. The only logical way was to take the matter to SADC. Little did we know that at midnight, Zanu PF was engaging in nocturnal machinations to try and waylay us and so we just woke up to find in the Herald there is a list of ministries, which is a Zanu PF wish list. The wish list is arrogant and flies in the face of the spirit of the deal and Memorandum of Understanding.
“We are not going to accept that wish list. In fact, it jeopardizes the deal. It puts the deal into jeopardy. We will not accept being accessories to a government that is principally Zanu PF. If you look at the whole composition, it’s easy for Zanu PF to run the count on the basis of the ministries they have allocated themselves. We did not append our signatures to a power grabbing deal by Zanu PF. It is a power sharing deal, and let it be real power sharing and responsibility sharing so that we are able to inspire confidence for Zimbabweans, among Zimbabweans and the whole world.
“What Zanu PF is doing is totally unacceptable. This is a clear strategy to try and pre-empt the coming of the mediator, as well as the intervention of SADC. We are calling on the global community to try and intervene to help Zimbabwe …”. And he went on.
Edwin Mushoriwa, the spokesperson of the other MDC formation, was also “surprised” about the allocation of ministries, saying he thought the issue would be resolved the following week when the facilitator, former South African President Thabo Mbeki returns to Zimbabwe.
One of the key rules in journalism is that one has to be impartial, and should never side with an issue, party, individual, or anything. But I should admit that, like many – if not all colleagues – I celebrated on September 15 when the deal was signed.
Our joy started dissipating – very fast – less than a day after the deal was signed. The three leaders were supposed to meet to map a way forward, but the meeting failed to take off because President Robert Mugabe was attending a meeting of his party’s Politburo. The following day, the meeting again failed to take place as Mugabe was addressing a Central Committee meeting. When they finally met, the meeting ended in a deadlock, and we knew we were in trouble again.
There was – as there still is – a seemingly lack of urgency by the politicians in resolving the impasse as self-serving at the expense of the country. And this has left one big question: do these politicians really have the national interest at heart?
When the deal was signed, we were told our inflation was at 11.2 million percent. In less than three weeks after the signing of the deal, it had parachuted to 231 million percent. It’s still rising. By the time I finish this, a few tens of millions would have probably been added. Some independent analysts, like Prof. Hanke already argue it is not less than 2 trillion percent (2 000 000 000 000%).
This is a costly impasse for Zimbabwe, and should be resolved within the shortest possible time. It’s an impasse our country cannot afford. It’s an impasse Zimbabweans do not want. It’s an impasse that will not do us any good. It’s an impasse the peolle of Zimbabwe do not expect.
Like they told us they would do on the signing of the agreement, we want to see our politicians making unpopular decisions popular. We would rather have millions of Zimbabweans smiling because they have food on their tables, than have a bunch of politicians feasting when the masses are suffering.
We now expect former South African President Thabo Mbeki back in Harare to try and help Mugabe and Tsvangirai resolve their impasse. I am not sure if he still has the same clout as he had when he was the President of Africa’s most successful economy.
We hope Mbeki’s visit will result in nothing short of an immediate resolution of the impasse. Otherwise, like Chamisa said, “it’s back to square one”.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
POLITICS-ZIMBABWE: Blazing a Trail For Women Politicians
By Ephraim Nsingo**
HARARE, Sep 24 (IPS) - You could spot her easily in the evening newscasts: the only woman among the grey-suited men daily accosted by reporters as they emerged, tense and tight-lipped, from the closed-door meetings.
In the recent power-sharing talks between the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (Zanu PF) and two wings of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga (pictured) was the sole woman negotiator, representing the splinter MDC faction.
On Sep. 15, when the power-sharing agreement was signed amidst cheers and clapping, her eyes darted across the room, in vain.
"There was not even one placard from the women’s movement," she told IPS. "I was greatly disappointed."
The comment betrays her activist heart and life. For Misihairabwi-Mushonga, 41, is not your typical mainstream politician, slowly rising through party ranks. She cut her teeth with the women’ and human rights movement in the early 1990s, when civil society clawed its space in Zimbabwe’s de facto one-party state.
As founder of the feminist Women and Aids Support Network in 1989 and later of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), Misihairabwi-Mushonga has been defying oppression -- patriarchal and political -- since she finished a degree in journalism. The media lost a reporter and civil society gained an activist.
"She is one woman whose commitment and determination struck me," says NCA chairman and long-time fellow activist Lovemore Madhuku.
Her mentor and inspiration was the fiery feminist Margaret Dongo, a former liberation struggle guerrilla and later Zanu PF Member of Parliament (MP), who dared to criticize the ruling party and ran as an independent candidate in 1995 on a platform of democracy and human rights.
Misihairabwi-Mushonga learned the ropes as Dongo’s polling agent and was elected as a councillor in Harare in 1996. Civil society was growing stronger. Something bigger than Dongo’s tiny party was brewing -- the MDC -- and Misihairabwi-Mushonga threw herself wholly into it.
MDC voters in Glen Norah, Harare, elected her to Parliament in 2000 and again in 2005 -- elections marred by violence, torture and murder of the opposition. She was briefly arrested in 2004.
In Parliament, she became the first woman to chair the Public Accounts portfolio committee and was key in drafting the Sexual Offences Act in 2001 and the Domestic Violence Act approved in 2006.
Luta Shaba, the director of Women’s Trust, an NGO in Harare, describes her as "principled and passionate."
Having a feminist in Parliament has helped the women’s movement, says Shaba: "She has given us guidance on how we can engage with politicians and political parties, and this has made a great deal of a difference."
In late 2005, when Arthur Mutambara broke from the MDC, Misihairabwi-Mushonga became deputy secretary general of his faction. She lost her parliamentary seat in this year’s election but is tipped to be appointed to the new unity cabinet.
The downside of her career is little time, due to long nights and frequent trips, with her husband, 16-year-old son, stepdaughter and two young nieces from her late brother, who live with her.
"I can’t remember the last time I spent a whole week at home," she told IPS.
Having a supportive husband and family helps. Her Pentecostal church and network of friends are another source of energy in tough moments, for example, when the negotiations reached a stalemate and no compromise seemed possible between the two arch-rivals, Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai.
Another challenge for Misihairabwi-Mushonga during the negotiations was being always surrounded by men. "Even when we went to the SADC summit, all the heads of state and their foreign ministers were male, except for Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (South Africa’s foreign minister)," she recalled.
The exclusion of women shows "the patriarchal nature" of Zimbabwean politics and "speaks volumes of what (the parties) think about women," she told IPS.
Having more women in the talks might have prevented the frequent standoffs and flare-ups, she says: "Men tend to be more rigid; for women, compromise is not seen as a weakness."
Generally, she hopes to see more women in politics: "Women need to sit down and look at the opportunities presenting themselves through this agreement. Unfortunately a lot of women activists, a lot of feminists shy away from hardcore politics."
One reason for this, she says, is "the stereotypes that have been instilled into women erode their confidence when it comes to holding political office."
The violence and the economic crises that have battered Zimbabwe since 2000 make it hard for women to consider a political career.
But if political violence stops and the agreement that Misihairabwi-Mushonga helped broker holds, surely more women will follow the trail that she has blazed.
(END/2008)
** Ephraim Nsingo is the IPS pen name for Vusumuzi Sifile.
HARARE, Sep 24 (IPS) - You could spot her easily in the evening newscasts: the only woman among the grey-suited men daily accosted by reporters as they emerged, tense and tight-lipped, from the closed-door meetings.
In the recent power-sharing talks between the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (Zanu PF) and two wings of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga (pictured) was the sole woman negotiator, representing the splinter MDC faction.
On Sep. 15, when the power-sharing agreement was signed amidst cheers and clapping, her eyes darted across the room, in vain.
"There was not even one placard from the women’s movement," she told IPS. "I was greatly disappointed."
The comment betrays her activist heart and life. For Misihairabwi-Mushonga, 41, is not your typical mainstream politician, slowly rising through party ranks. She cut her teeth with the women’ and human rights movement in the early 1990s, when civil society clawed its space in Zimbabwe’s de facto one-party state.
As founder of the feminist Women and Aids Support Network in 1989 and later of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), Misihairabwi-Mushonga has been defying oppression -- patriarchal and political -- since she finished a degree in journalism. The media lost a reporter and civil society gained an activist.
"She is one woman whose commitment and determination struck me," says NCA chairman and long-time fellow activist Lovemore Madhuku.
Her mentor and inspiration was the fiery feminist Margaret Dongo, a former liberation struggle guerrilla and later Zanu PF Member of Parliament (MP), who dared to criticize the ruling party and ran as an independent candidate in 1995 on a platform of democracy and human rights.
Misihairabwi-Mushonga learned the ropes as Dongo’s polling agent and was elected as a councillor in Harare in 1996. Civil society was growing stronger. Something bigger than Dongo’s tiny party was brewing -- the MDC -- and Misihairabwi-Mushonga threw herself wholly into it.
MDC voters in Glen Norah, Harare, elected her to Parliament in 2000 and again in 2005 -- elections marred by violence, torture and murder of the opposition. She was briefly arrested in 2004.
In Parliament, she became the first woman to chair the Public Accounts portfolio committee and was key in drafting the Sexual Offences Act in 2001 and the Domestic Violence Act approved in 2006.
Luta Shaba, the director of Women’s Trust, an NGO in Harare, describes her as "principled and passionate."
Having a feminist in Parliament has helped the women’s movement, says Shaba: "She has given us guidance on how we can engage with politicians and political parties, and this has made a great deal of a difference."
In late 2005, when Arthur Mutambara broke from the MDC, Misihairabwi-Mushonga became deputy secretary general of his faction. She lost her parliamentary seat in this year’s election but is tipped to be appointed to the new unity cabinet.
The downside of her career is little time, due to long nights and frequent trips, with her husband, 16-year-old son, stepdaughter and two young nieces from her late brother, who live with her.
"I can’t remember the last time I spent a whole week at home," she told IPS.
Having a supportive husband and family helps. Her Pentecostal church and network of friends are another source of energy in tough moments, for example, when the negotiations reached a stalemate and no compromise seemed possible between the two arch-rivals, Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai.
Another challenge for Misihairabwi-Mushonga during the negotiations was being always surrounded by men. "Even when we went to the SADC summit, all the heads of state and their foreign ministers were male, except for Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (South Africa’s foreign minister)," she recalled.
The exclusion of women shows "the patriarchal nature" of Zimbabwean politics and "speaks volumes of what (the parties) think about women," she told IPS.
Having more women in the talks might have prevented the frequent standoffs and flare-ups, she says: "Men tend to be more rigid; for women, compromise is not seen as a weakness."
Generally, she hopes to see more women in politics: "Women need to sit down and look at the opportunities presenting themselves through this agreement. Unfortunately a lot of women activists, a lot of feminists shy away from hardcore politics."
One reason for this, she says, is "the stereotypes that have been instilled into women erode their confidence when it comes to holding political office."
The violence and the economic crises that have battered Zimbabwe since 2000 make it hard for women to consider a political career.
But if political violence stops and the agreement that Misihairabwi-Mushonga helped broker holds, surely more women will follow the trail that she has blazed.
(END/2008)
** Ephraim Nsingo is the IPS pen name for Vusumuzi Sifile.
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