The hate and the quake in Haiti
January 23, 2010 by: Africa Speaks
By Sir Hilary Beckles
January 23, 2009
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES is in the process of conceiving how best to deliver a major conference on the theme “Rethinking And Rebuilding Haiti”.
I am very keen to provide an input into this exercise because for too long there has been a popular perception that somehow the Haitian nation-building project, launched on January 1, 1804, has failed on account of mismanagement, ineptitude and corruption.
Buried beneath the rubble of imperial propaganda, out of both Western Europe and the United States, is the evidence, which shows that Haiti’s independence was defeated by an aggressive North-Atlantic alliance that could not imagine their world inhabited by a free regime of Africans as representatives of the newly emerging democracy.
The evidence is striking, especially in the context of France.
The Haitians fought for their freedom and won, as did the Americans 50 years earlier. The Americans declared their independence and crafted an extraordinary constitution that set out a clear message about the value of humanity and the right to freedom, justice and liberty.
In the midst of this brilliant discourse, they chose to retain slavery as the basis of the new nation state.
The founding fathers therefore could not see beyond race, as the free state was built on a slavery foundation. The water was poisoned in the well; the Americans went back to the battlefield a century later to resolve the fact that slavery and freedom could not comfortably co-exist in the same place.
The French, also, declared freedom, fraternity and equality as the new philosophies of their national transformation and gave the modern world a tremendous progressive boost by so doing.
They abolished slavery, but Napoleon Bonaparte could not imagine the republic without slavery and targeted the Haitians for a new, more intense regime of slavery.
The British agreed, as did the Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese. All were linked in communion over the 500 000 Blacks in Haiti, the most populous and prosperous Caribbean colony.
As the jewel of the Caribbean, they all wanted to get their hands on it. With a massive slave base, the English, French and Dutch salivated over owning it — and the people.
The people won a 10-year war, the bloodiest in modern history, and declared their independence. Every other country in the Americas was based on slavery.
Haiti was freedom, and proceeded to place in its 1805 Independence Constitution that any person of African descent who arrived on its shores would be declared free, and a citizen of the republic.
For the first time since slavery had commenced, Blacks were the subjects of mass freedom and citizenship in a nation.
The French refused to recognise Haiti’s independence and declared it an illegal pariah state. The Americans, whom the Haitians looked to in solidarity as their mentor in independence, refused to recognise them, and offered solidarity instead to the French.
The British, who were negotiating with the French to obtain the ownership title to Haiti, also moved in solidarity, as did every other nation-state the Western world.
Haiti was isolated at birth — ostracised and denied access to world trade, finance, and institutional development. It was the most vicious example of national strangulation recorded in modern history. The Cubans, at least, have had Russia, China and Vietnam. The Haitians were alone from inception. The crumbling began.
Then came 1825; the moment of full truth. The republic is celebrating its 21st anniversary. There is national euphoria in the streets of Port-au-Prince.
The economy is bankrupt; the political leadership isolated. The cabinet took the decision that the state of affairs could not continue. The country had to find a way to be inserted back into the world economy.
The French government was invited to a summit. Officials arrived and told the Haitian government that they were willing to recognise the country as a sovereign nation but it would have to pay compensation and reparation in exchange.
The Haitians, with backs to the wall, agreed to pay the French. The French government sent a team of accountants and actuaries into Haiti in order to place a value on all lands, all physical assets, the 500 000 citizens who were formerly enslaved, animals, and all other commercial properties and services.
The sums amounted to 150 million gold francs. Haiti was told to pay this reparation to France in return for national recognition. The Haitian government agreed; payments began immediately. Members of the cabinet were also valued because they had been enslaved people before independence.
Thus began the systematic destruction of the Republic of Haiti. The French government bled the nation and rendered it a failed state. It was a merciless exploitation that was designed and guaranteed to collapse the Haitian economy and society.
Haiti was forced to pay this sum until 1922 when the last instalment was made. During the long 19th century, the payment to France amounted to up to 70 percent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
Jamaica today pays up to 70 percent in order to service its international and domestic debt.
Haiti was crushed by this debt payment. It descended into financial and social chaos.
The republic did not stand a chance. France was enriched and it took pleasure from the fact that having been defeated by Haitians on the battlefield, it had won on the field of finance.
In the years when the coffee crops failed, or the sugar yield was down, the Haitian government borrowed on the French money market at double the going interest rate in order to repay the French government.
When the Americans invaded the country in the early 20th century, one of the reasons offered was to assist the French in collecting its reparations.
The collapse of the Haitian nation resides at the feet of France and America, especially.
These two nations betrayed, failed and destroyed the dream that was Haiti; crushed to dust in an effort to destroy the flower of freedom and the seed of justice.
Haiti did not fail. It was destroyed by two of the most powerful nations on earth, both of which continue to have a primary interest in its current condition.
The sudden quake has come in the aftermath of summers of hate. In many ways the quake has been less destructive than the hate.
Human life was snuffed out by the quake, while the hate has been a long and inhumane suffocation — a crime against humanity.
During the 2001 UN Conference on Race in Durban, South Africa, strong representation was made to the French government to repay the 150 million francs.
The value of this amount was estimated by financial actuaries as US$21 billion. This sum of capital could rebuild Haiti and place it in a position to re-engage the modern world. It was illegally extracted from the Haitian people and should be repaid.
It is stolen wealth. In so doing, France could discharge its moral obligation to the Haitian people.
For a nation that prides itself in the celebration of modern diplomacy, France, in order to exist with the moral authority of this diplomacy in this post-modern world, should do the just and legal thing. Such an act at the outset of this century would open the door for a sophisticated interface of past and present, and set the Haitian nation free at last.
*Sir Hilary Beckles is pro-vice-chancellor and Principal of the Cave Hill Campus, UWI.
Labels: COLONIALISM, FRANCE, HAITI, NEOCOLONIALISM, REPARATIONS
Read more...
By WALLEN SIMWAKA and YANDE KAPEYA
THE choice of a candidate to lead the United Party for National Development and Patriotic Front (UPND/PF) Pact in next year’s elections has taken a new twist with the UPND also announcing it will soon declare its president Hakainde Hichilema as the one to lead the alliance barely 48 hours after PF leader Michael Sata declared himself frontrunner.
And MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga says the ruling party has been vindicated on its stance regarding the UPND/PF alliance.
Southern Province UPND vice chairman John Chidyaka said even if Mr Sata has declared that he is the presidential candidate in 2011, the UPND will continue campaigning for Mr Hichilema to lead the pact.
Mr Chidyaka described Mr Sata’s statement of standing in the 2011 elections as political propaganda.
Mr Sata has said that no law or any piece of paper will stop him from achieving his political ambitions.
He was referring to the National Constitutional Conference’s adoption of a clause which prescribes that a Presidential candidate should have a first degree from a recognised university.
Mr Sata also said the clause was discriminatory.
But Mr Chidyaka said in an interview yesterday that the UPND has no problem with Mr Sata’s ambitions of contesting the presidency because even Mr Hichilema has the same ambitions.
He said according to the UPND/PF pact, Mr Sata and Mr Hichilema are both presidential candidates.
Mr Chidyaka said Mr Sata’s claims that he will be the president after the 2011 elections are only meant to disguise the pact’s presidential candidate and confuse other political opponents.
“We are going to continue marketing Mr Hichilema as a presidential candidate for the 2011 general elections. The UPND will also declare its leader Mr Hichilema as a presidential candidate for the pact.
We are gunning for the elections in 2011 and as UPND, H.H will be the one we are going to declare as a presidential candidate. What Mr Sata is saying is just political propaganda meant to disguise the true presidential candidate for the pact,” he said.
Mr Chidyaka said members of the pact are fully aware of who shall lead the alliance in 2011 and that assertions that the two political parties are confusing them are unfounded.
And Mr Mabenga said the MMD has been vindicated on its pronouncements that the pact will crack.
He said the UPND/PF alliance has no future because the two parties have different ideologies and agenda.
Mr Mabenga said the pact does not have a preferred candidate and that this is the reason the two parties are selecting their own presidential candidates.
“We have been telling you people that this pact has no future and the truth is coming out now. So the MMD is vindicated because this pact is slowly cracking,” he said.
And Mr Mabenga said Mr Sata is free to contest the 2011 general elections as long as he meets the qualifications enshrined in the constitution.
Mr Mabenga said it is wrong for Mr Sata to assume that the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) is enshrining certain clauses in the constitution to disadvantage him from contesting the 2011 general elections .
“What Mr Sata should understand is this constitution is meant for all Zambians and so he is free to contest the presidency as long as he meets the set standards.
“So as MMD , we are not scared of him, he is at liberty to contest the elections but he should qualify,” Mr Mabenga said.
UPND Mazabuka Central member of Parliament Gary Nkombo, when contacted for a comment on Mr Sata’s statement, said it is not news that the PF leader has been aspiring to be president.
Mr Nkombo said while Mr Sata has presidential ambitions, the UPND leader equally has similar aspirations and that the two leaders should be allowed to continue campaigning.
“Do not create an impression that we are fighting.
We are still working together and in fact, you cannot ask for a comment from me. You ask Given Lubinda (PF spokesperson) about what Mr Sata said.
And is it news to you that Mr Sata has been aspiring to be president? And is it news that Mr Hichilema wants to be president of this country? You leave us alone and do not ask me about PF, ask me about the UPND,” Mr Nkombo said.
And Chief Mwanachingwala of the Tonga people in Mazabuka has denounced Mr Hichilema for allegedly lying to the people of Southern Province that he was going to contest the presidential elections in 2011.
The chief said all the people of Southern Province know that Mr Hichilema is going to lead the UPND/PF pact in 2011.
Chief Mwanachingwala challenged Mr Hichilema to announce his position on the matter now that Mr Sata declared his intentions of standing in the 2011 elections.
The chief said Mr Hichilema must tell the people of Southern Province the truth about his ambitions.
Chief Mwanachingwala accused Mr Hichilema of having indirectly sold the people of Southern Province to the PF through the pact.
“What we all knew here in Southern Province was that Mr Hichilema was going to lead the pact. Now that Mr Sata has declared himself presidential candidate, Mr Hichilema must have read and heard, he must tell us the truth because he told us that he was going to be the one. When I spoke with you last time, they called me names,” Chief Mwanachingwala said.
The traditional leader revealed that soon after predicting the collapse of the PF/UPND Pact, Mr Sata called him to complain about the story.
“After you spoke to me, Mr Sata called me and read the whole story to me. I did not dispute anything but I asked Mr Sata what his motive of forming the pact was,” he said.
Labels: PF-UPND
Read more...
Kunda and integrity of the judiciary
By Editor
Sat 23 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT
WHAT the Zambian people are looking for from their political leaders is not sweet words, empty rhetoric but concrete deeds.
Anyone can say anything good. But not everyone can live up to what they say. Even Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven” (Matt 7:21). Thus, spirituality is a way of living according to the spirit.
Jose Marti, outstanding hero and forerunner of Cuba’s liberation, said that “Doing is the best way of saying.” For Christians, one would say, living is the best way of believing. Faith without deeds is worthless; as James stated, “What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but has not works? Can his faith save him?...So faith, by itself, if it has no works, is dead” (James 2:14-17).
Our way of life is the result of what we believe. No honest person can disagree with what George Kunda is saying when addressing the 6th Judicial Integrity Group reception. George is saying that integrity is one of the core values which any respected judiciary in any part of the world should aspire to.
He also said that it is not enough to call for the independence of the judiciary if such a judiciary does not possess integrity. George went on to observe that men and women of the judiciary need to be competent, independent and impartial. More importantly, George announced that the government had come to accept that corruption was a complex crosscutting problem, which required a multifaceted approach. He also announced that it is the intention of the government to review the Anti Corruption Commission Act to include provisions from the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
These are very good and welcome pronouncements. The only problem is that they are just that – pronouncements meant to placate our people into believing that they are serious about fighting corruption. We say this because George’s record in our people’s fight against corruption has more to do with him fighting the fight against corruption and not fighting corruption. George has not been known for championing the fight against corruption. Anyone doubting our observation on this matter should examine what the state-owned and government controlled-media have been saying about George’s role in the fight against corruption. George, according to reports in the state media, is on record objecting to the operation of the Task Force on Corruption.
The same media also reports that George has been fighting some of the officers who were engaged in this fight. The question is why? It would be understandable if George was fighting in order to defend some higher or greater public good. But what is on record is George fighting to defend wrong things. The one case that many of our people will recall and understand is one involving Kashiwa Bulaya.
In the Bulaya case, George conspired to pervert the course of justice by prevailing over the Director of Public Prosecutions Chalwe Mchenga to enter a nolle prosequi in favour of Bulaya. George lied and claimed that there were public interest reasons for stopping the prosecution of Bulaya.
It was only after massive public outcry that George allowed the case to go back to court. We have not forgotten that to achieve his goal, George ensured that Mchenga, who was prepared to do his bidding, and not Caroline Sokoni became Director of Public Prosecutions. This is the George we are dealing with.
This is the George who is today preaching integrity as one of the core values in the judiciary. The only time we are aware of when George champions prosecution of anybody is when he wants to fix a political opponent, real or imaginary.
The judiciary can never have the full confidence of the people if it does not possess the highest levels of integrity. One of the threats that the judiciary in our country suffers from is unnecessary political pressure. The judiciary comes under pressure when people like George do wrong things deliberately hoping that the judiciary will help them to cover up their evils.
A responsible government is supposed to adhere to the highest levels of integrity, which makes its interactions with the judiciary straightforward and predictable. When the government sets such an example, the whole judiciary will be able to work without fear of any recrimination from our country’s all-powerful executive.
George is the wrong person to call for integrity in the judiciary given the pressures that his own actions have put on the judiciary.
We have just cited the Bulaya case. What pressure did George’s reckless actions put on the judiciary? How did his actions help to increase integrity in the judiciary? It is good to say nice things but mere platitudes, which one is not prepared to live up to, will not help.
Who doesn’t know in this country that George has been the greatest defender of those who are being prosecuted for corruption in this country today? George has abused the Director of Public Prosecutions to allow his corrupt friends go scot-free. Who doesn’t know George’s role in the decision to allow Chiluba to go scot-free by stopping the appeal against his acquittal?
What George said on this issue is on record - a record that will never be erased. George made it very clear that if the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed against Chiluba’s acquittal, that will amount to professional misconduct.
What professional misconduct is George talking about? The professional misconduct George is talking about concerns the Director of Public Prosecutions disobeying his wishes, or rather orders not to appeal that acquittal. At every time George is defending Chiluba; he is defending wrongdoers.
George cannot pretend not to know the corruption Chiluba was engaged in. George knows very well that Chiluba stole from the Zambia people. And he has a judgement in his hands obtained by the Zambian government against Chiluba. George was minister of justice and Attorney General when this matter was brought against Chiluba. But today George wants to pretend as if he was not part of it at all.
Probably he was not part of it; he did it just to please his boss – Levy Mwanawasa - who was fighting corruption. George not only undermined the integrity of the Director of Public Prosecutions – a very important part of our country’s judicial process – but also completely took away the integrity of the office of the Attorney General, a quasi judicial function in many ways. So what integrity is George talking about? Or is it a question of ‘do as I say and not as I do’?
What integrity can George preach to the judiciary? His tenure as minister for justice has seen him trying to do all sorts of wrong things that undermine not only the integrity of his own office but that of our country’s entire judicial system – the courts of law, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the office of the Attorney General, the police and indeed the Anti Corruption Commission and the Drug Enforcement Commission. George has done so much to try and turn these institutions into tools of political abuse. Again, what integrity can George talk about?
Today George is telling us that the government has come to accept that corruption is a complex crosscutting problem which required a multifaceted approach. When did they realise this? When did they come to accept this? What did they see or experience that made them come to accept this? Indeed when did George become a champion against corruption?
Today, by his silence when his late boss Levy’s name is attacked in relation to his fight against corruption, George has joined those who are attacking Levy for his efforts to fight corruption. Today the state media, that George and his friends control, is constantly attacking Levy directly and indirectly on his fight against corruption – where is George in all this?
George today can talk about fighting corruption and integrity in the judiciary when he is at the centre of a government that is trying to undo everything that has been achieved over the last few years of fighting corruption by trying to allow corrupt elements go scot-free to enjoy their loot. George’s government is dilly-dallying to effect the London High Court judgment against Chiluba and we will not be surprised to see a total circumvention of all this at the end of the day. It will also be interesting to see how George and his friends are going to handle the appeal cases brought by their corrupt friends to the High Court.
We will not be surprised to see those cases deliberately bungled so that they too can be freed the Chiluba way.
George does not inspire confidence when he talks about fighting corruption. They are saying they want to bring the international convention against corruption into our laws. This is welcome but how will people who are failing to respect the ACC Act implement additional laws?
Labels: CORRUPTION, GEORGE KUNDA
Read more...
Any respected judiciary should aspire for integrity – Kunda
By Sandra Mulowa
Sat 23 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda has said integrity is one of the core values that any respected judiciary in any part of the world should aspire to.
During a reception of the 6th judicial integrity group on Thursday evening at Taj Pamodzi Hotel, Vice-President Kunda said it had been realised that the promotion of integrity among public officers including judges was the first step to preventing corruption.
“As we all know, integrity is one of the core values which any respected Judiciary in any part of the world should aspire to. It is not enough to call for independence of the Judiciary if such a Judiciary does not possess integrity. Men and women of the Judiciary need to be competent, independent and impartial.”
Vice-President Kunda said the government had come to accept that corruption was a complex crosscutting problem, which required a multi-facetted approach to deal with.
“It is against this background that the Zambian government values and appreciates any support or advice rendered to the fight against corruption,” he said.
Vice-President Kunda said the government had been working very hard over the years after realising that Zambia's pieces of legislation dealing with the fight against corruption had not been comprehensive.
“For instance, the whole Act dealing with the Anti-Corruption Commission would be reviewed to include provisions from the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). It is my belief that the review of the anti-corruption Act will effectively domesticate this convention,” he said.
Vice-President Kunda said the regional workshop was being hosted at the time when the Zambian government had heightened the fight against corruption to a new level and was pushing for legal, institutional, social and structural reforms.
Vice-President Kunda said the government wanted to reduce or eliminate elements that provided breeding ground for corruption.
“The other objective of the reforms is to strengthen levels of integrity in our institutions, including the Judiciary,” he said.
Vice-President Kunda said the independence of judges' work was also measured on how they conducted themselves both in and outside court.
He said corruption in institutions was a significant impediment to good governance in Zambia.
Vice-President Kunda said the government had established integrity committees in various public institutions including the Judiciary.
Vice-President Kunda said the committees ensured that individual organisations were responsible for corruption prevention in their respective organisations and also promoted integrity among staff.
And JIG representative Micheal Kirby called on the Judiciary to effectively and efficiently deliver services.
Kirby said the Judiciary should enhance integrity and avoid corruption and bribes that could lead their jobs to being doubted by the public.
Labels: CORRUPTION, GEORGE KUNDA, TAJ PAMODZI HOTEL
Read more...
Mangani explains why IG hasn’t stepped aside
By Margaret Mtonga
Sat 23 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
HOME affairs minister Lameck Mangani has said Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde will only be asked to step down from his position at the recommendation of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC).
Mangani yesterday said it was premature for stakeholders to ask Kabonde to step down from his position because the ACC was still carrying out investigations. He said the ACC had interviewed various people in connection with the procurement of escort motor vehicles and other equipment.
“In case of the Inspector General of Police, my ministry is still waiting for information on the progress of the case from the ACC.
Inspector General of Police is being investigated in his alleged involvement in the over K1 billion from the instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement a company based in South Africa,” Mangani said during a press briefing at his office. “I wish to inform you that there is a standard procedure of dealing with such cases. Once the investigations have reached a certain level, then ACC shall inform the ministry concerned of all whose involvement in the case may require further action.”
A combined team of ACC, Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Zambia Police and Intelligence officers last week recorded a warn and caution statement from Kabonde in connection with unaccounted for K1 billion overpaid to a South African traffic equipment and car dealer.
On Thursday, Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) asked Kabonde to step aside as investigations in his alleged involvement in the overpayment of K1 billion to a South African company were going on.
TIZ president Reuben Lifuka appealed to Kabonde's professional conscience to step aside for the betterment of himself and the Zambia Police Service.
And Mangani said the clause that was recently adopted by the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) which required a presidential candidate to have a minimum of a bachelor's degree for one to contest in an election was not discriminatory.
“This is a good move because right now it will make people to aspire for higher education. The difficult thing about this new clause is that people are just thinking in line of the 2010 elections. This will help the would-be president to be able to articulate issues that affect the country,” Mangani said.
He urged both the young and old to ensure that they attained degree qualifications.
“So Mr Sata still has a chance to become a degree holder. Currently there are no specifications on what kind of a degree one should hold, it is just a degree in any field,” said Mangani.
On Wednesday, the NCC adopted a clause that requires a presidential candidate to have a minimum of bachelor's degree for one to be eligible to contest the Republican presidency.
Labels: FRANCIS KABONDE, INSPECTOR GENERAL, LAMECK MANGANI
Read more...
Mongu cops arrest ZANAMA officials
By Mwala Kalaluka
Sat 23 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT
POLICE in Mongu on Thursday arrested Zambia National Marketeers Association (ZANAMA) top officials in the district after they incited their members not to pay trading licence fees to the local authority.
And some Roman Catholic Church priests in Mongu Diocese have described the government’s attacks on Bishop Paul Duffy following his statement that the Rupiah Banda administration had neglected the Western Province as misplaced and cheap politicking.
Mongu Municipal Council spokesperson Chrispin Kalihonga confirmed in an interview from Mongu that among those picked up by the police was ZANAMA Mongu chairman Mackson Mulilo.
Kalihonga said the ZANAMA officials were nabbed after they allegedly started using abusive language against Mongu Council officials and police officers that went to collect trading licence fees for 2010 at Mongu Central Market.
“There is ZANAMA who are trying to incite marketeers not to pay for trading licence. Now the situation is calm and marketeers are paying,” said Kalihonga when asked what sparked the confusion at the market. “The ringleaders have been picked by police and that is now an issue that is between ZANAMA and the police.”
Kalihonga said the confusion started when council officers went to collect the K65,000 from marketeers, the fee for their 2010 trading licences but due to influence from ZANAMA officials, the marketeers put up some resistance.
“Of course we asked for support from the state police so that they could help us collect this fee,” Kalihonga narrated. “Upon seeing the police in the company of council officials, ZANAMA officials started using abusive language. So of course that annoyed the police.”
Kalihonga said he was not aware of what offence the police would slap on Mulilo and his colleagues following their arrest.
Western Province deputy police commanding officer, a Mr Chongo, said he could not confirm the arrests because he had not received any report on the matter.
But eyewitnesses said the marketeers resisted paying the trading licence fee because the council was not providing services in the markets.
The sources said the marketeers even went further to stage a demonstration at some district government offices to register their displeasure.
And Mongu’s St John’s Catholic Church priest, Fr Cliff Fumbelo said the priests in Mongu Diocese were behind Bishop Duffy and the position he had taken on the lack of development in Western Province.
“Bishop Duffy has a moral obligation to speak for the poor in Mongu Diocese because he is obliged to speak for them and on behalf of them just like Jesus came on behalf of the poor and neglected,” said Fr Fumbelo.
“The attacks are unfounded and they are cheap politicking because the truth is here for anyone to see…what Bishop Duffy is saying are not lies as the government is alleging. As a priest and other priests here in Mongu Diocese who see the poverty in Western Province, we are behind Bishop Duffy. We are behind him because he also gets information from us and when he speaks, he speaks on our behalf as well.”
Labels: MARKETEERS, MONGU, ZANAMA
Read more...
NCC rejects clause on running mate
By Ernest Chanda
Sat 23 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT
THE National Constitutional Conference (NCC) on Thursday rejected a proposal in the Mung’omba draft constitution that provides for an elected vice-president. The clause first fell off at committee stage early last year, but was nevertheless pushed to the plenary for consideration.
Article 144 (2) of the Mung’omba draft constitution states that, “The Vice-President shall be elected as a running mate to a presidential candidate.” Leading the onslaught on the clause, information minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha expressed fear that in African politics it was easy for a vice-president to scheme against his president.
“…We shouldn’t close our eyes to the experiences of other countries. Only recently in Malawi they had a constitutional crisis because of having an elected vice-president. They couldn’t pass the budget because the Vice-President who felt that he could not be removed refused to do certain things because he wanted to make the President fail,” Lt Gen Shikapwasha argued.
“We are in Africa and unless there is a vice-president who is loyal to his President and not to himself, there will be no harmony between the two. In African politics, it’s very easy for this elected Vice-President to plan against the President in order for him to fail. It is therefore important that we leave the President to have authority over his Vice-President.”
Works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti urged the NCC to provide mechanisms that would stop indiscipline from an elected Vice-President.
“…Much as people would want to have an elected vice-president, what guarantee is there that this person will not grow bigheaded and disobey his President? There is a danger that this person will start thinking that he is also a president. So, I would be comfortable if the conference would make provisions to make the president discipline his vice without facing the wrath of the law,” debated Mulongoti.
Among other commissioners who passionately opposed the clause was finance deputy minister Chileshe Kapwepwe, Mkushi North MMD member of parliament Lucy Changwe and Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe.
But Pemba UPND member of parliament David Matongo described Lt Gen Shikapwasha as a scarecrow who saw danger in everything progressive.
“General Shikapwasha as usual is playing the scare-crow, indicating to the delegates that everything progressive is dangerous. In a democracy like the one we profess, I see no danger in having a running mate to the president. Usually you have people coming from the same group, people who would have known each other well, so how could one work against the other?” asked Matongo.
His Bweengwa counter-part Highvie Hamududu wondered when the country would conform to modern democracy.
“Zambia is not a constitutional monarch where the President is almighty. We need a vice-president who will not fear to advise his president. Yesterday we were arguing in this same House that we must advance, that we need a degree for one to be President. And today we are going against what we said yesterday. Isn’t this hypocrisy? The Presidency must be strengthened by giving the office holder an advisor who will not fear to advise him,” contributed Hamududu.
Later, during an open vote at about 19:55 hours, those against the clause won.
Those in support of the clause then quickly stood up to call for a division that could have led to a secret vote.
But this could not be granted because only 52 people stood up, a number far short of the required threshold of 100 to be granted the division.
NCC chairperson Chifumu Banda then announced that the clause had fallen off since those asking for a division could not meet the threshold.
Labels: CONSTITUTION, NCC, VICE PRESIDENCY
Read more...
PF to seek court order if Chiluba continues politics
By Patson Chilemba
Sat 23 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) general secretary Wynter Kabimba yesterday warned that PF will seek a court order to stop former president Frederick Chiluba from receiving government benefits should he continue in active politics.
And Chiluba’s spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba yesterday asked this author to ask Chiluba what he meant when told street vendors in Ndola that he was back to reorganise things.
Reacting to Chiluba’s announcement to the street vendors in Ndola that he was back to reorganise things, Kabimba said the statement by Chiluba justified the recent revelation that the former president was on the Copperbelt to campaign for President Rupiah Banda, and therefore he was still in active politics.
“And we are watching because if he continues along these lines then we will have to go to court and commence an action against him, so that he can have a court order to declare that the man is doing politics and he should not receive his benefits, so we are watching him,” he said.
On Chiluba’s campaigns, Kabimba said Chiluba should realise that he was no longer a factor in Zambian politics.
“He is there to decampaign PF and Michael Sata in particular to fulfill his partnership with Rupiah Banda, who has saved him from imprisonment. So he is paying back. So it is actually an act of gratitude, but what I want to say to him is that … wise men in history are those that realise in good time that the time to hang on to the reins of power was over,” Kabimba said.
“What Chiluba has to realise is that he is no longer a factor in Zambian politics; that he went through that phase and he is gone. So there is nothing that he can say to the people of Zambia to make them believe that he is still a factor in Zambian politics.”
Kabimba said mixing with street vendors, where he Chiluba came from, was all that he could do for now.
“He can go to Chisokone market and go and patronise ZANAMA, like Rupiah Banda did, but that is all he can do,” he said.
Kabimba said there was no political party in Zambia that could upset the PF’s dominance and popularity on the Copperbelt.
“Nobody can do that, and Chiluba is not the right soldier for that mission,” said Kabimba.
And when contacted on what Chiluba meant by saying he was back to reorganise things, Mwamba responded: “No, mukese be pusha, mukese be pusha come and ask him, come and ask him when he returns.”
When reminded that he was Chiluba’s spokesperson and the nation would be interested to know what his boss meant, Mwamba responded: “No, I will call him, I will find out.”
Asked if this fell in line with The Post’s revelation that Chiluba was on the Copperbelt to campaign, Mwamba responded: “So iwe nga waya kuchililo, wikalafye pachililo yonse 24 hours does it mean that when you go for a funeral yourself, you stay there for the whole 24 hours, you don’t do any other things?”
On Wednesday, well placed sources revealed that State House had sent Chiluba to the Copperbelt to campaign for President Banda and de-campaign Sata and the PF-UPND pact.
The sources disclosed that Chiluba travelled to the Copperbelt last weekend to kick-start his campaign for President Banda in the area.
The sources said the trip to the Copperbelt was planned well in advance and Chiluba would work closely with former MMD Copperbelt Province chairperson Terence Findlay, and other party and government officials.
Chiluba is also expected to extend his campaigns to Luapula and Northern provinces.
But Chiluba’s spokesperson said Chiluba was on the Copperbelt to attend family funerals in Ndola, Luanshya and Chingola.
Labels: CHILUBA, EMMANUEL MWAMBA, PF, WYNTER KABIMBA
Read more...
COMMENT - What an idiot. Does Mike Mulongoti really believe that already being in State House is a reason to be re-elected? What an odd conception of democracy. Perhaps he is just trying to argue why the MMD should stay at State House forever, and is trying to present it as a matter of principle - my guess is he is.
It will be unwise to do away with sitting president, says Mulongoti
By Sututu Katundu
Sat 23 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
ACTING MMD spokesperson Mike Mulongoti has said it will not be good for the party to hold a convention to waste money when there is the 2011 general election to fight for.
Featuring on The People That Matter programme on Joy FM Radio on Monday evening, Mulongoti said it would be unwise to do away with the sitting President and look for another candidate when there was the benefit of incumbency.
“With the benefits of incumbency, would it be normal for us as the MMD? The people who are fighting us want to go to State House, we are already in State House and want us to take a person from State House so that we can find another new person who will begin to struggle, who is not known and things like that,” Mulongoti wondered.
“Where in the world have you seen where you do away with a sitting president to get another one? If his term has come to an end, it’s a different issue. But let me say this, even if we are to find another candidate for that candidate to be able to succeed, he will need the support of the sitting president.
So I don’t think it will be clever politics for us to say ‘Mr Bupiah Banda, you have done enough get away we must look for somebody else’. No, I don’t think so. As long as the law permits it that he can continue as president for another term, I see nothing wrong for us as a political party.”
He said the party constitution provides for constituency, district and provincial conferences and ultimately the convention, which were all sponsored and a cost to the party.
He said this would exhaust the goodwill of the companies and business people that supported the party hence spending billions on the convention would be costly.
“Our party as MMD does not run companies, it does not run businesses, we depend on the goodwill of the people. And at the end of the day we have been accumulating debt as well over the years. So why spend five, six billion when we have got debts that have accumulated and when we have an election to fight in 2011?” he said.
“We need first of all to sharpen our tools, we need to get our organs in place. We need to ensure that we have got transport, bicycles, motor vehicles. We need to buy campaign material, chitenges, T-shirts, caps. How are we going to do it if we are going to spend that much money at one place where we are going to call the whole country of our members to come and feast and debate for one two three days, six billion gone? Is that clever and for us as a party?
“What we are saying is this, those who want to aspire for presidency are free to go to these party conferences, to go and articulate their views so they gain the support of provincial conferences. The declarations that have been made by provinces have been made through the provincial executive committees, which do not determine the outcome of resolutions at the provincial conferences and this is where the support is needed. The same people who are going to those conferences are the same people who are to gather at the convention. So there is nothing that stops all the aspirants from going there and if there is an indication that the person who NEC is pronounced as a preferred candidate is not as popular from the provinces there is nothing that stops NEC from making that decision.”
Mulongoti said Chiluba had won at the convention but the ultimate candidate was president Mwanawasa, an indication that nothing stops people from campaigning.
Labels: MIKE MULONGOTI
Read more...
Not every graduate can make a good president – HH
By George Chellah
Sat 23 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema yesterday said it is not true that every graduate can become a good president.
Reacting to the National Constitutional Conference's (NCC) adoption of the degree clause for presidential candidates, Hichilema explained that people do not go to school so that one can become president. He said if the clause is targeted at an individual then it is wrong.
"This clause if the delegates of the NCC are targeting an individual that is wrong. What we must learn from these issues is that, we must all the time act in national interest, on matters of the constitution, on matters of subsidiary laws...we must always think about the greater Zambia, the bigger picture, the greater good," Hichilema said.
"Then you will find that we will not be perceived to be making decisions to disadvantage an individual or a group of individuals in the process advantage somebody else, that is wrong. We must be magnanimous...the challenge of leadership is such that any one of us when you are given an opportunity to lead, think big, think broad, think wide because if you make wrong laws they will follow you they will catch up with you."
He stressed the need for the nation to focus on leadership that has a vision.
"Leadership that will ensure that this whole subject of education is dealt with if we didn't deal with it in terms of not providing education opportunities for our population. Forget about the presidency, we don't go to school so that I become a president. We go to school so that our children can have the skills to get a job, they can have skills to run their own businesses, they can have skills to understand matters of society...not just for the presidency," Hichilema said.
"We must begin to focus on the visionary leadership, which the MMD clearly has failed. Rupiah Banda is a graduate will you say that he is delivering? As a graduate I can tell you that it is not true that every graduate can become a good president. It is not true that every non-graduate can become a good president.
"What you need is certain minimum requirements, what are these? To have vision, a bigger picture for development, to have the love for the people. If you don't have the love for the people, you cannot deliver at a presidential level."
He said targeting individuals would never be right.
"We must look at the broader interest of society. We must love society, we must love our community then we can provide leadership," he said.
He said the current NCC is a troublesome one.
"We are very much aware of that. We have been aware of that from the beginning. It's a matter that some of us made a decision to continue the fight. We could have stayed out we took a decision to continue the fight. But we are aware that it's a troublesome NCC.
You know what I mean even on the 50 per cent plus one," Hichilema said. "We must allow the voters, we must allow the people of Zambia to decide the type of leadership they want. That is really my beginning point. If they want a country that is developed they must relate the choice of leadership to a country they want to see. But it's entirely up to the people of Zambia to make that decision that is what democracy entails."
He said people must begin to move away from petty interests.
"We must look at a greater good for the people of Zambia. We must not actually try and make laws that will discriminate particular individuals purely because we don't like those individuals. I will give you an example; there was an issue of Archie Mactribouy...the issue of motor vehicle theft. That law was passed that anyone who is accused of having stolen a motor vehicle will be locked up without bail," Hichilema said. "And Mactribouy because it is said he had issues with those who were in leadership at the time he was accused of a motor vehicle theft. The law was changed to simply target Mactribouy.
Mactribouy was locked up... you know he died. We lost a citizen because of pettiness, because of vindictiveness. In 1996, this constitutional debate we are having was changed by the MMD leadership at that time, their intention was to prepare first and fore almost to stay in office forever.
"Their intention was along the way to take out competition, who was one of the competitors? Kenneth Kaunda, they created the citizenship clause, which may have been good because they were targeting an individual it looked bad. They also changed the constitution to bring about this dreaded simple majority, because they wanted to go for the third term."
Labels: CONSTITUTION, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, NCC, PRESIDENCY
Read more...
COMMENT - Heehee, now the MDC are putting their own party members on travel sanctions lists. Is this a pattern?
MDC Ministers Face EU Sanctions Over Corruption
Faith Zaba
21 January 2010
IN a new twist to the corruption saga in the MDC-T, the party is engaged in an attempt to foil a move to have two of its ministers put on the European Union sanctions list for allegedly conniving with their Zanu PF counterparts in corrupt activities.
Last week the Zimbabwe Independent broke a story in which three MDC-T ministers -- Energy and Power Development minister Elias Mudzuri, Home Affairs co-minister Giles Mutsekwa and deputy Mines minister Murisi Zwizwai -- were named as having been under investigation by a party committee for corrupt activities.
The party's information department has since strongly denied any involvement by it ministers in corrupt activities.
Although it denies there is any such committee set up to expressly investigate the three as originally reported, it has emerged that there has been a campaign from within the party to have at least two of them -- Mudzuri and Zwizwai -- put on the EU sanctions list which contains President Mugabe and about 200 other top Zanu PF officials seen as benefiting from the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy through, among other ills, corruption.
As the party prepares for its 2011 congress, insiders in the MDC-T say infighting has given rise to the allegations. An MDC committee is currently investigating corruption at the local government level and other officials are investigating the British branch.
Zwizwai confirmed that there were attempts to place him, together with Mudzuri, on the sanctions list, describing them as "a Nicodimous diplomatic offensive" by some fellow MDC-T members.
"There has been a Nicodimous diplomatic offensive by some nocturnal characters seeking to place myself, Elias Mudzuri and hence the party under European Union sanctions," Zwizwai said.
"I have a strong feeling that (the) Nicodimous is not from Zanu PF because Europe will not give an ear to that party. I am confident that MDC will unmask (the) Nicodimous sooner than later for the good of the public and the party," he said in a signed statement in response to questions put forward by the Zimbabwe Independent.
Some Western embassies and EU legislators confirmed that senior MDC-T members had approached them urging the placement of the two on the sanctions list. Sources said the Americans were independently investigating the infighting in MDC-T and also the allegations of corruption.
Meanwhile, the MDC-T is preparing a response to be presented at the African Caribbean Pacific/European Union joint parliamentary assembly in Brussels denouncing claims that Zwizwai was conniving with his boss, Obert Mpofu, in corrupt activities, emanating from the way Mbada Diamonds was allowed to mine Chiadzwa diamonds without going to tender.
The issue was first raised at a ACP/EU parliamentary sitting in Luanda held at the end of November last year by two legislators, one each from the Netherlands and Germany, who said they were concerned about Zwizwai's alleged involvement in corruption in the Chiadzwa diamonds.
MDC-T Matobo Senator Sithembile Mlotshwa confirmed in a telephone interview from Matobo that the issue was going to be discussed at a meeting in Brussels between January 25 and 29 but said she was not aware of any intentions to put Zwizwai on the sanctions list.
"Yes I am going to make a presentation on the issue relating to the deputy minister and I am waiting for the response which is being prepared in Harare. The issue raised in Luanda was on the Marange diamonds and they wanted to know about the human rights abuses and they also wanted to know the involvement of the deputy minister in corruption in Marange," she said.
Mlotshwa said the two MPs from the Netherlands and Germany were worried that MDC members were already engaging in corrupt activities at such an early stage in government.
"The allegations were that the deputy minister was involved in corruption and we are going to present something saying the contrary and that we have proven that he is not involved in any corruption in Marange. The MDC is going to respond to the issue so that they know that there are no elements of corruption in our party," she said.
Last week MDC-T spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said Mudzuri, Mutsekwa and Zwizwai were not being investigated by the party for any corrupt activities.
Labels: MDC, MDC CORRUPTION, SANCTIONS
Read more...
Mugabe’s mother-in-law dies at 101
January 23, 2010
Robert Mugabe and Sally Hayfrom on their wedding day
By Our Correspondent
HARARE – Mavis Patricia Hayfron, the mother of President Robert Mugabe’s first wife the late Sally Mugabe, has died aged 101.
A family spokesman told Ghana News Agency on Friday that Hayfron died at her residence in Sekondi, Ghana. Her husband died in 1970. Hayfron is survived by her daughter Isabella Imbeah.
President Mugabe described the late Hayfron as “one of the greatest women that I ever had the opportunity to relate to”. He said she was a great mother, counselor, advisor, and a pious and God-fearing woman.
Sally met Mugabe at Takoradi Teacher Training College in Ghana where they were both teaching in the 1950s
They were married in 1961 in the then Rhodesian capital, Salisbury, now Harare, when he was 37.
Sally was often arrested by the Rhodesian police for campaigning with her husband against white colonial rule and spent six weeks in prison in 1961.
In 1967, Sally went into exile in London and spent the next eight years agitating and campaigning for the release of political detainees in Rhodesia, including her husband.
Mugabe was to remain incarcerated for about ten years. The couple’s only son, Nhamodzenyika who was born in 1963 during his detention, succumbed to a severe attack of malaria and died in Ghana in 1966.
After Mugabe’s release in 1975, Sally joined him in Mozambique. She was to become Zimbabwe’s First Lady at independence in 1980 after Mugabe became the first post-independence black Prime Minister.
After independence, Sally, popularly known as Amai (Mother), established charitable organizations which helped the poor, one of them – the Child Survival and Development Foundation which was heavily backed by UNICEF.
An orphanage she founded in Goromonzi is now lying idle with infrastructure dilapidating as a result of alleged looting by war veterans.
The matron of the Mbuya Nehanda Orphanage centre, Auxiliary Chonyera, says vandalism and neglect of the orphanage’s infrastructure after the death of its patron and founder, Sally have impacted negatively on the smooth running and safe keeping of orphans.
Sally died in 1992 aged 60 after a long battle against kidney disease. She was buried at the National Heroes Acre.
Mugabe married his second wife Grace, his former secretary, at a lavish ceremony in 1996. She had been married to Stanley Goreraza, an air force pilot, now a diplomat in China.
Mugabe and Grace have three children, Bona, Robert and Chatunga.
Zimbabweans have often pointed at the contrast between Sally’s humble lifestyle and Grace Mugabe’s penchant for lavish spending and acquiring property. Grace was also reported to have assaulted a photographer in Hong Kong.
Mugabe’s new wife has also been criticized for making inflammatory political statements.
Labels: MUGABE
Read more...
Act on sanctions now, MDC-T told
Herald Reporter
MDC-T can longer claim to have no say in the subsistence of the Western sanctions regime and must ask for the lifting of the illegal Western embargo, Zanu-PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya-Moyo has said.
This follows the revelation in the House of Commons on Tuesday by British Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary David Miliband that Britain was waiting for MDC-T to ask for the sanctions to be removed.
MDC-T leaders have in recent months tried to wriggle out of their Global Political Agreement obligation of lobbying for an end to Western sanctions by claiming that they hold no sway over the European Union and the US position on the embargo.
Speaking in Harare yesterday, Cde Khaya-Moyo said, "Britain has let the cat out of the bag on the issue of sanctions. They have admitted that the MDC called for the sanctions and it can only remove them on the request of the MDC.
"Thus Tsvangirai should go and ask for the removal of those sanctions. The declared and undeclared sanctions are affecting the country because we are not getting lines of credit and companies are being forced to close."
Last night Newsnet quoted MDC-T spokesperson Mr Nelson Chamisa as saying sanctions were "an outstanding GPA issue".
In an interview with The Herald, MDC-T secretary for international relations Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro said Miliband’s statement was just an "insinuation" and did not indicate that they had any influence over Britain or the EU’s decisions.
"We don’t formulate foreign policy on any country’s behalf . . . We are saying that they should judge us by the progress that we have made so far in the commitments we have undertaken (in the GPA).
"We can’t instruct them on what to do as regards their foreign policy on Zimbabwe," he said.
Below is the full text of questions posed to David Miliband on Zimbabwe and his responses in the House of Commons on January 20, 2010.
Mr Henry Bellingham (Conservative): When (does) he (Gordon Brown) next expect to meet his EU counterparts to discuss EU relations with Zimbabwe?
David Miliband: Zimbabwe will be considered by EU foreign ministers during the course of February, and I look forward to having discussions then. The UK and the EU are strong supporters of the global political agreement — the GPA — and we will continue to press for progress. We welcome the recent agreement of the GPA signatories to establish key commissions, and we urge implementation of that agreement.
Mr Bellingham: I am grateful to the Foreign Secretary for that reply. Does he agree that, although the economic news coming out of Zimbabwe is now more promising, there are still huge concerns about human rights abuses and about the detention of Movement for Democratic Change MPs such as Roy Bennett? Does he also agree that the existing sanctions should not be lifted until those issues have been dealt with?
David Miliband: Yes, I agree that numerous aspects of the situation in Zimbabwe are of deep concern. It is right to say that, over the past year, the economic situation has changed in a quite fundamental way, although it is not quite right to refer to the detention of Roy Bennett as a continued threat to him through a legal case. In respect of sanctions, we have made it clear that they can be lifted only in a calibrated way, as progress is made. That is something that we will discuss. I do not think that it is right to say that the choice is between lifting all sanctions and lifting none at all. We have to calibrate our response to the progress on the ground, and, above all, to be guided by what the MDC says to us about the conditions under which it is working and leading the country.
Kate Hoey (Labour): Does the Foreign Secretary share my concern that President Zuma of South Africa has not challenged Mugabe and the MDC fully to carry out the terms of the Global Political Agreement? He seems continually to be urging compromise on the MDC.
David Miliband: President Zuma is playing a careful hand, and he is playing it rather skilfully. The Prime Minister (Brown) was able to discuss Zimbabwe, among other things, with him at the Commonwealth conference in November. President Zuma will be making a state visit to the UK in early March, and I have had discussions with my South African opposite number. The position of the South Africans has certainly been to urge adherence to the Global Political Agreement, which requires compromise on all sides, and I do not think that they have been less than even-handed in the way in which they have done that.
Sir Malcolm Rifkind (Con): Should not all European Union governments recognise that Morgan Tsvangirai was right to enter into a coalition with Robert Mugabe, if there was to be a prospect of peaceful change? Is it not worth remembering that even Nelson Mandela entered into a coalition with the white South African National Party, and that Solidarity in Poland entered into a coalition with the communists? They all recognised that change has to be gradual if it is to have any chance of producing peaceful stability.
David Miliband: No European country, to my knowledge, has condemned Mr Tsvangirai for the move that he made. I am not sure what the implication of the right honourable and learned gentleman’s question was, but I hope that it was not to question the fact that this is a transitional agreement whose conclusion will be a proper democratic election that respects the will of the Zimbabwean people. There was a hint in what he was saying that there is perhaps — to echo the term used by my honourable friend the Member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey) — rather more compromise with Robert Mugabe than the mood of the House would wish. Mr Tsvangirai’s position has been well established, however: he has shown himself to be a man not only of principle but of competence, and we should support him strongly.
Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab): There is one EU member country that has a very direct effect on Zimbabwe, through the Kimberley diamond certification process. Belgium is a member of that process. Will the foreign secretary speak to his Belgian counterpart about the human rights abuses in the diamond mines in Zimbabwe, and discuss whether it would be right to threaten suspension of the Kimberley Process in order to ensure that the human rights of people working in the diamond mines are protected?
David Miliband: As it happens, I now have another new Belgian opposite number in the new Belgian government. I spoke to him at the end of last week. I will be happy to talk to him about a range of issues, including Zimbabwe, when I next meet him.
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid-Norfolk) (Con): The foreign secretary has talked about specific EU targeted sanctions, and said that they should be calibrated. Will he explain which of the current EU sanctions are really having an effect and encouraging Zanu-PF to move towards removing the human rights abuses that have been in place for so long?
David Miliband: The honourable gentleman will know that a range of EU sanctions is in place. Some of them refer to individuals, others to so-called parastatal organisations. Different sanctions have been brought in at different points, and different sanctions are the responsibility of different ministries in the Zimbabwean system. Some are controlled by the MDC. I would be happy to give the honourable gentleman a more detailed answer, but I think that it might detain the House beyond the time available for the question. I believe that EU sanctions have helped to send a strong message, and that they have had a practical effect without hurting the Zimbabwean people, which would have been a sanction too far.
Labels: DAVID MILIBRAND, MDC, SANCTIONS, ZDERA
Read more...
Sanctions: Ball in MDC-T court
BRITISH Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary David Miliband’s statement that Britain stands ready to remove the illegal economic sanctions it imposed on Zimbabwe if it receives a request from the MDC is a call to action on the MDC formations to make such a request with immediate effect.
Speaking during a question and answer session in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Mr Miliband said Britain would lift the sanctions while the EU would take a phased approach to scraping the embargo.
‘‘In respect of sanctions, we have made it clear that they can be lifted only in a calibrated way . . . to be guided by what the MDC says to us about the conditions under which it is working and leading the country,’’ Mr Miliband said.
The ball is now, as it always has been, in the MDC-T’s court. It’s time to condemn the sanctions. Mr Miliband’s statement could not have come at a better time for three reasons.
Firstly, the parties to the inclusive Government — Zanu-PF, MDC-T and MDC — are currently engaged in dialogue pursuant to resolving all outstanding issues in the Global Political Agreement, chief among them the economic sanctions that have been identified as the biggest stumbling block to the viability of the inclusive Government.
Secondly, the EU is set to meet in Brussels next month to review the sanctions it imposed on Zimbabwe, hence a unified call from the country’s leadership will send the right message that the sanctions have had a deleterious effect on livelihoods.
Thirdly, the US has also, through its Ambassador here Mr Charles Ray, announced that it is ready to review the sanctions by supporting the restoration of Zimbabwe’s voting rights in the IMF at its next meeting.
From the foregoing, it appears those who imposed the sanctions are ready to scrap them.
Regrettably, what has been lacking in the anti-sanctions lobby that has drawn in the Non-Aligned Movement, the African Union, Sadc and Comesa, is willingness on the part of the MDC-T to have the sanctions lifted as the party leadership appears to believe sanctions give them political leverage against Zanu-PF.
Yet the effects of the sanctions on the ordinary people have been apparent. The sanctions know no race or political affiliation.
To Mr Miliband, we say, does your government really have to wait to be told to lift the sanctions when it knows fully well the effects they have had on the lives of ordinary people? A graphic illustration of this was evident last year, when the British government airlifted its pensioners resident in Zimbabwe who had been reduced to lives of penury after their savings and pensions were wiped out by sanctions-induced hyperinflation. This was despite the fact that these pensioners had been cushioned by money from London channelled through the British embassy and aid agencies.
Just imagine the impact the sanctions have had on the ordinary black Zimbabwean without recourse to such social safety nets.
The onus is thus on both the British government to be humane; and the MDC-T to impress on its Western allies to scrap the ruinous embargo that has eroded livelihoods, destroyed lives and dreams and set Zimbabwe back several years in terms of economic and infrastructure development.
Labels: DAVID MILIBRAND, MDC, SANCTIONS, ZDERA
Read more...
MDC-T must act on sanctions now: Zanu PF
Ralph Mutema
Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:17:00 +0000
THE Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) must immediately ask the West to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe as they have taken part in the formulation of those sanctions in the first, Zanu PF national chairman Simon Khaya-Moyo has said in the wake of revelations by Britain that the lifting of sanctions is dependent on the MDC-T.
On Tuesday during a Question and Answer session in the House of Commons, British Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary David Miliband said that Britain was waiting for MDC-T to ask for the sanctions to be removed.
Miliband also revealed that
some of the sanctions in place are controlled by PM Tsvangirai's MDC-T party.
MDC-T leaders have in recent months tried to wriggle out of the Global Political Agreement obligation of lobbying for an end to Western sanctions by claiming that they hold no sway over the European Union and the US position on the embargo.
Speaking in Harare yesterday, Khaya-Moyo said, "Britain has let the cat out of the bag on the issue of sanctions. They have admitted that the MDC called for the sanctions and it can only remove them on the request of the MDC.
"Thus Tsvangirai should go and ask for the removal of those sanctions. The declared and undeclared sanctions are affecting the country because we are not getting lines of credit and companies are being forced to close."
Newsnet quoted MDC-T spokesperson Nelson Chamisa as saying sanctions were "an outstanding GPA issue". The spokesman has previously denied that sanctions were an outstanding issue saying the MDC-T party did not have a hand in the sanctions formulation process.
A founding member of the MDC, Gabriel Chaibva said last year that the MDC was the brainchild of the so-called Zimbabwe Democracy Recovery Act (ZIDERA) legislation which imposes sanctions on Zimbabwe.
“I was there when Zidera was crafted in Nyanga by the MDC. At that point Munyaradzi Gwisai stood up in protest and told everyone present that the MDC had been taken over by the U.S. and Europe and business was no longer controlled from Harvest House…,” said Chaibva in September last year.
The MDC-T secretary for international relations Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro tried to dismiss Miliband’s statement saying it was just an "insinuation" and did not indicate that they had any influence over Britain or the EU’s decisions.
Miliband categorically stated that they were waiting for instructions from the MDC-T party regarding the removal of sanctions.
"In respect of sanctions, (that) is something that we will discuss. We have ... to be guided by what the MDC says to us about the conditions under which it is working and leading the country," Miliband told the House of Commons in response to a question posed by Henry Bellingham, the Conservative MP for North-West Norfolk.
Miliband also revealed that some sanctions are controlled by the MDC-T party of PM Tsvangirai, but he was not in a position to inform the House which ones were controlled by that party.
"A range of EU sanctions is in place. Different sanctions have been brought in at different points, and different sanctions are the responsibility of different ministries in the Zimbabwean system.
"Some are controlled by the MDC. I would be happy to give ... a more detailed answer, but I think that it might detain the House beyond the time available for the question."
In the GPA the MDC-T party agreed to call for the lifting of the illegal sanctions and campaign for the closure of pirate radio stations illegally beaming into Zimbabwe.
MDC-T party ministers still offer interviews to these pirate stations despite having agreed to campaign for their closure or licensing.
Labels: DAVID MILIBRAND, HOUSE OF COMMONS, SANCTIONS, ZANU-PF, ZDERA
Read more...
Zanu PF pounces on Miliband remarks
23/01/2010 00:00:00
by
E mail this to a friend Printable Version
Unguarded ... David Miliband
RELATED STORIES
ZANU PF has demanded that the MDC calls for the removal of sanctions, seizing on tactless remarks made by British foreign secretary David Miliband that the UK government would be guided by advice from Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s party on the issue.
Simon Khaya Moyo, who took over as Zanu PF national chairman in December, said the MDC could no longer claim it had no influence over the issue and “must” now call for the removal of the sanctions.
NewZimbabwe.com reported on Wednesday that Miliband had told the British House of Commons that the sanctions would only be lifted on recommendation of the MDC.
“In respect of sanctions, we have made it clear that they can be lifted only in a calibrated way, as progress is made. I do not think that it is right to say that the choice is between lifting all sanctions and lifting none at all.
“We have to calibrate our response to the progress on the ground, and, above all, to be guided by what the MDC says to us about the conditions under which it is working and leading the country,” Miliband said in response to a question by one parliamentarian.
Now Khaya Moyo has moved in for the kill.
"Britain has let the cat out of the bag on the issue of sanctions. They have admitted that the MDC called for the sanctions and it can only remove them on the request of the MDC.
"Thus Tsvangirai should go and ask for the removal of those sanctions. The declared and undeclared sanctions are affecting the country because we are not getting lines of credit and companies are being forced to close," the former Zimbabwe ambassador to South Africa said in Harare yesterday.
Zanu PF has always insisted that the sanctions were imposed at the instigation of the MDC and is demanding that the part calls for their removal.
On the other hand Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s party has all along denied any involvement, but Miliband’s unguarded remarks will now make that position difficult to sustain.
The party’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro tried to limit the damage.
"We (the MDC) don’t formulate foreign policy on any country’s behalf . . . We are saying that they should judge us by the progress that we have made so far in the commitments we have undertaken (in the GPA).
Labels: DAVID MILIBRAND, HOUSE OF COMMONS, SANCTIONS, ZDERA
Read more...
SA diplomatic post to Zanu PF
The Herald
Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:00:00 +0000
THE diplomatic post that is likely to be left vacant following the elevation of Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa Simon Khaya-Moyo to the Zanu-PF chairmanship will go to someone from within the party.
Speaking at the Zanu PF Youth League induction workshop in Harare yesterday, Khaya-Moyo said the South African diplomatic posting was not a Global Political Agreement issue warranting any negotiations. MDC-T has said it wants to have someone from its party posted to Pretoria.
However, Khaya-Moyo said: "This is a transitional government but we do not have transitional diplomatic posts.
"All the noise about the South African ambassadorial position is useless because ambassadors are appointed by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
"The diplomatic posts that were allocated to the MDC formations were enough as they were prescribed in the GPA."
The two MDC formations were already allocated five ambassadorial postings.
Also addressing the same workshop, Vice President John Nkomo said the youth should unite to shame Zimbabwe’s detractors.
"Efforts are there to divide us for regime change purposes but let’s remain united. If you boys and girls sleep out there our heritage will go." - The Herald
Labels: AMBASSADOR, SIMON KHAYA MOYO, ZANU-PF
Read more...
Zanu PF pounces on Miliband remarks
by
23/01/2010 00:00:00
ZANU PF has demanded that the MDC calls for the removal of sanctions, seizing on tactless remarks made by British foreign secretary David Miliband that the UK government would be guided by advice from Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s party on the issue.
Simon Khaya Moyo, who took over as Zanu PF national chairman in December, said the MDC could no longer claim it had no influence over the issue and “must” now call for the removal of the sanctions. NewZimbabwe.com reported on Wednesday that Miliband had told the British House of Commons that the sanctions would only be lifted on recommendation of the MDC.
“In respect of sanctions, we have made it clear that they can be lifted only in a calibrated way, as progress is made. I do not think that it is right to say that the choice is between lifting all sanctions and lifting none at all.
“We have to calibrate our response to the progress on the ground, and, above all, to be guided by what the MDC says to us about the conditions under which it is working and leading the country,” Miliband said in response to a question by one parliamentarian.
Now Khaya Moyo has moved in for the kill.
"Britain has let the cat out of the bag on the issue of sanctions. They have admitted that the MDC called for the sanctions and it can only remove them on the request of the MDC.
"Thus Tsvangirai should go and ask for the removal of those sanctions. The declared and undeclared sanctions are affecting the country because we are not getting lines of credit and companies are being forced to close," the former Zimbabwe ambassador to South Africa said in Harare yesterday.
Zanu PF has always insisted that the sanctions were imposed at the instigation of the MDC and is demanding that the part calls for their removal.
On the other hand Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s party has all along denied any involvement, but Miliband’s unguarded remarks will now make that position difficult to sustain.
The party’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro tried to limit the damage.
"We (the MDC) don’t formulate foreign policy on any country’s behalf . . . We are saying that they should judge us by the progress that we have made so far in the commitments we have undertaken (in the GPA).
"We can’t instruct them on what to do as regards their foreign policy on Zimbabwe," he said.
Labels: DAVID MILIBRAND, ELIPHAS MUKONOWESHURO, HOUSE OF COMMONS, MDC, SANCTIONS, SIMON KHAYA MOYO, ZANU-PF, ZDERA
Read more...
Government proceeds with MZWP takeover
by
23/01/2010 00:00:00
THE Government has reaffirmed its takeover of the Matebeleland Zambezi Water Project (MZWP) with water resources Minister, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo announcing that the scheme has now been renamed and consultants appointed to lead public consultations the mobilisation of funds.
Nkomo called a press conference in Bulawayo on Friday where he announced that the government is proceeding with the takeover of the project which has now been renamed the National Matebeleland Zambezi Water Project (NMZWP).
“This (renaming) was done to underscore the fact that this is a national project in Matabeleland and thus should be called as such. Even so, in the long term the project will not only benefit Matabeleland but other parts of the country as well,” Nkomo said.
The Minister said the decision to take-over the project was made back in 2004 adding the December 2009 cabinet resolution merely reaffirmed that position.
“Therefore, there is nothing new in the takeover and all that my Ministry is doing is to implement the aforementioned cabinet resolution.
“Government leadership and management of the NMZWP is a purely people oriented, apolitical stance whose rationale is to ensure a consistent supply of water to the people of Matabeleland,” Nkomo said.
He added that his Ministry has appointed Pathisa Nyathi NMZWP consultant whose brief would be to facilitate “stakeholder consultations” over the project.
“As part of his duties, Nyathi will be liaising with the business sector, civil society, churches, local authorities, residents and other stakeholders for the purpose of building a strong stakeholders network that will be involved in the implementation of the NMZWP.
“The NMZWP is a big financial and human resource project and thus requires a clearly coordinated network of individuals and institutions to steer it to its very end,” Nkomo said adding that yet another consultant had also been appointed to spear-head the mobilisation of funds for the project.
Government estimates that about US$1.1 billion will be needed to complete phases 1, 2 and 3 of the project which involve the construction of the Gwayi/Tshangani Dam, laying of a pipeline from Gwayi/Tshangani Dam to Bulawayo and the connection of the Gwayi/Tshangani Dam to the Zambezi River.
“The NMZWP is not just about water provision; it will also act as a catalyst for tourism expansion, property development and the growth of agriculture in Matabeleland.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertisement
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Over 60 000 new jobs in and around the project area will be created. Projects such as fishery, mining, manufacturing, market gardening, sugarcane production, cattle ranching and meat processing, timber production and citrus fruits farming can be engaged in by private individuals, corporate companies and other riparian states,” Nkomo said
However the announcement by Nkomo last December that the government was taking over the project sparked-off a huge row between the Minister and Matebeleland Zambezi Water Trust Chairman and opposition PF Zapu leader, Dumiso Dabengwa who said his organisation had not been consulted.
Dabengwa’s Trust is accused of failing to mobilise funds for the project but the former cabinet minister counters that his efforts have been undermined by the government.
The Trust said it had found potential funders for the project in the past, but the investors were forced to pull out after the government failed to provide the mandatory guarantees, “causing all our plans to fail”.
Labels: MATABELELAND ZAMBEZI WATER PROJECT, NATIONAL MATABELELAND ZAMBEZI WATER PROJECT, SAMUEL SIPEPA NKOMO
Read more...
Zambia: Let’s unlock Zambia’s scientific potential for development – Chituwo
Minister of Science Brian Chituwo says there is need to unlock the scientific potential that exist in Zambia and translate it into short and long term economic benefit in the country.
Dr. Chitwo said there is need to reposition scientific initiatives and venture into an innovation-led economy which will be driven by a highly skilled, creative and competitive work force in the country.
He said in order to carry out such a transformation, there is need to have a lot of researchers, scientists and engineers.
He said this in a speech read for him by his Deputy Crispin Musosha at the Youth Inventors Fund and Strategic Researcher Fund, Grant and awards giving ceremony held at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka today.
Dr. Chituwo said government will continue to provide an enabling platform for this transformation through various initiatives and funding for scientific research and innovation.
He added that this why government has developed the strategies research and youth inventors funds, which are under his ministry.
He pointed out that the common goal of these funds is to promote science and technology innovations and development in the country.
Dr. Chituwo noted that the two funds should address the challenges of developing a new generation of researchers, inventors and engineers working on matters of national relevance.
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, EDUCATION, MINISTRY OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING
Read more...
Zim-Botswana pipeline planned
by
22/01/2010 00:00:00
THE ministry of Energy and Power Development has revealed that it is currently negotiating with Botswana over the building of a fuel pipeline linking Harare with Francistown.
The pipeline is aimed to be a continuation from the existing Harare-Beira pipeline which Zimbabwe uses to import its fuel.
“Our Ministers of Energy met in Francistown last year and agreed to work together within the regional thrust of co-operation. The Harare-Francistown pipeline is one of the projects that are being looked at.
“An inter-governmental memorandum of understanding (MoU) is being finalised and will give a framework on the implementation of the project,” Energy and Power Development Permanent Secretary Mr Justin Mupamhanga said.
He said the proposed pipeline had been necessitated by Botswana’s consideration to import its fuel through Beira rather than its traditional route through South Africa.
“Botswana is considering transporting its fuel supplies through Beira as an alternative to South Africa, necessitating the construction of the pipeline.” said Mupamhanga.
He said Botswana was also open to bringing the fuel by road pending the finalisation of the project.
“There is also serious consideration on their part to bring in the fuel through road and rail pending the finalisation of the pipeline project,” he said.
Zimbabwe and Botswana recently signed a MoU for the refurbishment of the Bulawayo Thermal Power Station.
Labels: BOTSWANA, FUEL, OIL, ZIMBABWE
Read more...
Zimbabwe's inclusive Cabinet a total failure?
Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:52:00 +0000
ONE year on, Zimbabwe’s inclusive Government Ministers are more interested in amassing wealth, perks and political posturing and have so far neglected their ministries to the detriment of ordinary Zimbabweans. More often than not, Ministers are traveling abroad on supposedly government business and yet results of all this shuttling are at a near nil.
Many of the ministers are also involved in political squabbles within their parties or with opposing party members. What have Zimbabwe’s ministers yielded during this part year?
Morgan Tsvangirai - Prime Minister
As the Chief Minister in President Mugabe’s cabinet, Tsvangirai leads his Ministers in failure. He spent more time engaging in political squabbles with Zanu PF, and travelling abroad on party business. His promise to pay civil servants a decent salary still remains a promise. His official tour yielded nothing and many believe he is sabotaging the recovery process in order to come up on top come election time. He is yet to say the word sanctions and denounce them.
Verdict 0/10
Arthur Mutambara - Deputy Prime Minister
The Deputy Prime Minister while very educated has been caught with his foot in his mouth a few times. With his intelligence he should be bringing leadership and direction that the PM lacks. Unfortunately, his progress is hampered by lack of support from the other MDC, which sees him as an obstacle to their power ambitions. Overall his ideas are sound and practical.
Verdict 7/10
Thokozani Khupe - Deputy Prime Minister
The former train ticket clerk has moved up in society but she lacks the depth needed for her office. There is a need for her to brush up on her public speaking especially when addressing foreign dignitaries. On the overall she is good window dressing but this does not translate into productivity on her official capacity.
Verdict 1/10
Tendai Biti - Minister of Finance
The Minister of finance has failed to articulate the fundamentals of Zimbabwe’s economy and the needs of Zimbabweans. His arrogance and know it all attitude will be his downfall. Awarded a dubious Africa’s Best Finance Minister by an equally dubious Western Group no one has heard of Biti’s budget rewarded political allies but did not address civil servant salaries, was lacking in terms of agricultural sector funding, could not even provide money for cloud seeding, lacked priority and failed to consult stakeholders. He seems more interested in dislodging RBZ Governor Gono.
Verdict 2/10
David Coltart - Minister of Education, Sport and Culture
Coltart bit more than he could chew in terms of exams and the day to day running of schools. Teachers have been on a perpetual strike since he became minister. He has had to ask parents to give teachers incentives as he has failed to bring relief in terms of salaries. His continued bugling at Zimsec has seen delays in marking of exams, and the very late release of results. Grade 7 results are a shame and rural schools have borne the brunt of the minister’s failure, as parents do not have to subsidize teachers in rural areas.
Verdict 2/10
Elias Mudzuri - Minister of Energy and Power Development
The erratic supply of electricity by ZESA, lack of customer service and continued fraud and extortion by ZESA employees’ leads one to believe that Mudzuri has no idea as to what his job is. ZESA employees are among some of the highest paid and yet their service is the worst right after that of Harare City Council. Consumers’ reports on faults are ignored unless ZESA employees are given bribes. One wonders where ZESA gets its meter readings because its meter readers are non-existent on the ground.
Verdict 3/10
Eliphas Mukonoweshuro - Minister of Public Service
Civil servants are some of the poorest people in Zimbabwe. Their Minister was last heard of when he was sworn in, he has made no efforts to address their needs, and instead he has taken a backseat approach to his employees needs. The so called audit proved just how inadequate he is, not only did the audit fail to prove the claims of ghost workers it instead frustrated and inconvenienced civil servants. The dignity of civil servants is in the rubbish bin and all their minister does is zoom around in his E240 Mercedes Benz.
Verdict 0/10
Elton Mangoma - Minister of Economic Planning and Investment
Mangoma sounds very intelligent on TV and in the newspaper but we are yet to hear of the investments that he has attracted to the country. Mangoma is instead at the forefront of alienating the few investors that others within the government are attracting. The look West approach that his political party has been advocating for which he has tried to implement has failed because of the current indigenization laws that do not allow the grab everything tactics of western corporations.
Verdict 2/10
Giles Mutsekwa and Kembo Mohadi - Ministers of Home Affairs
Where does one begin when it comes to the ministry of Home Affairs? The police in Zimbabwe are some of the most corrupt world over. It has become a common occurrence for police officers to be given bribes at roadblocks, at police stations, for the correct amount a docket can disappear or a prisoner can be released by mistake. The registrar’s office and passport office are a haven for corrupt practices where for the right amount one can get an authentic forged birth certificate and passport.
Verdict 1/10
Henry Madzorera - Minister of Health and Child Welfare
It has become expensive to be sick in Zimbabwe. While hospitals and clinics are open the important question remains “how many people can afford hospital charges?” while donors have provided medications, equipment and even supplemented salaries many people are dying in their homes because treatment at hospitals is beyond their reach. Madzorera has done nothing to address the plight of the consumer of his service in this case: the patient.
Verdict 2/10
Igantius Chombo - Minister of Local Government
Whitehead as he is popularly known has a knack for attracting the wrong attention. Many of the urban councils have been engaging in criminal corrupt activities while short-changing the ratepayers and Minister Chombo has been slow to act. Council workers are some of the highest paid in the country and yet many communities have no clean water, their garbage is never collected. Streets have no lights; the roads have ditches and potholes.
Verdict 5/10
Theresa Makone - Minister of Public Works
Aside for her tour of the National Sports Stadium last year Theresa Makone has not been visible in her ministerial capacity. On the political front the opposite is quite true, she is the First Lady of the MDC Tsvangirai faction. If she spent as much energy attending to her ministerial duty she would be a star but instead she is famous for being one of the drivers of the MDC-T disengagement from government last year.
Verdict 0/10
Nicholas Goche - Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development
Where is the toll gate money? That is what the public wants to know. The state of Zimbabwe’s roads remains a sticking issue. Dualization projects are gathering dust so to speak.
Verdict 3/10
Olivia Muchena - Minister of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development
For a ministry representing over half of Zimbabwe’s population, the Ministry of Gender has made modest gains. Muchena like Makone made more news on her political aspirations and less on her ministerial duties. For a reserved person, it is a wonder why the Mujuru faction pushed for her to be Zanu PF Women’s League Political Commissar, she has not been forth coming on the official platform and now she will under perform at party level.
Verdict 0/10
Nelson Chamisa - Minister of information and Communications Technology
Most people claimed to have no idea what Chamisa does in the government and claim to know him as the MDC spokesperson. It would seem Chamisa has no interaction with the public and many question the relevance of his Ministry.
Verdict 2/10
Walter Mzembi - Minister of Tourism
Mzembi got off with a wrong start but the public supported him when US President Obama mischievously left him out of meetings during the Prime Minister’s tour of the West. Mzembi has shown his understanding of the tourism sector to an extent where he is among the few Ministers who are actually doing something in the government.
Verdict 6/10
Stan Mudenge - Minister of High and Tertiary Education
Mudenge like Coltrat is a highly confused individual and should retire. Students have failed to attend classes, sit for exams and collect results. Colleges are in a shamble and Zimbabweans deserve someone more responsible to address higher education.
Verdict 1/10
Welshman Ncube - Ministry of Industry and Commerce
The man has more brains than several of the other ministers’ put together. It must be quite a challenge working with retards but he is one of the few who have managed to bring some improvement into his ministry. Local products are finding their way on to store shelves all that remains is for our goods to compete with the South African goods that are cheaper.
Verdict 6/10
Joseph Made - Minister of Agriculture
Made is well remembered for his helicopter ride which was the precursor to a disastrous agricultural season some years back. Experience has taught him well and despite the spanners thrown by Finance Minister Tendai Biti, Made tried as much as possible to rally government behind Zimbabwe’s farmers. It is a shame that the forecasted drought will translate badly on his ministry.
Verdict 8/10
Emmerson Mnangagwa - Minister of Defense
The service conditions of Zimbabwe’s defense forces are deplorable. Many believe that the old guard has abandoned the rank and file and as such can no longer relate to the foot soldiers that are the true keepers of security in Zimbabwe. Like their counterparts the defense forces have come up with unorthodox measures in order to survive.
Verdict 2/10
Obert Mpofu - Minister of Mines and Mining Development
Two words “Marange diamonds” the majority of Zimbabweans fail to understand why the government is failing to realize revenue from the Marange fields and yet there is evidence that individuals illegally mining the diamonds have amassed great wealth from diamond trade. Marange diamonds are an answer to Zimbabwean prayers and not for a few select individuals and as such Mpofu has a lot to answer for.
Verdict 1/10
Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga - Minister of Regional Integration and International Cooperation
Possibly the only success story of all the women in Zimbabwe’s Cabinet Minister Misihairabwi-Mushonga suffered the loss of her husband but has persevered in
administering her duties. COMESA and the One Stop Border are some of the projects that fall under her scope and she leaves others wanting as they concentrate on politics and not their official duty.
Verdict 8/10
Eric Matinenga - Minister of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs
Matinenga who stands accused of using his office to further the MDC-T agenda in the constitution-making process received more funds in the budget than more strategic ministries and has succeeded in fermenting polarization among Zimbabweans over the constitution-making process. Besides the constitution-making process he has done nothing else and many have suggested his ministry should be merged with the justice ministry.
Verdict 2/10
Saviour Kasukuwere -Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment
Tyson as he informally known could do much more for the youth of Zimbabwe. The accusations by the MDC-T of partisan awarding of funds and National Youth Service program could have used a stronger defense, which was not forth coming from the ministry.
Verdict 4/10
Joel Gabuza-Gabuza - Minister of State Enterprise and Parastatals
Another man we last heard of during the jostling of posts by the MDC and Zanu PF. When it comes to parastatals all we have is Biti telling Zimbabweans that government need to be selling all state owned companies because they are not being run efficiently. One wonders exactly what Joel Gabuza-Gabuza is doing and why the few resources that government has are wasted on this in name only Ministry.
Verdict 0/10
Labels: GLOBAL POLITICAL AGREEMENT, MDC, NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT, POLITICS
Read more...
