Govt committed to removal of sanctions, Tsvangirai tells House
Thursday, 21 July 2011 02:00
Herald Reporter
PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday said Government was committed to the removal of the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. Speaking in Parliament yesterday, PM Tsvangirai said the committee tasked with re-engaging the European Union and the United States would be guided by Government policy rather than political party views.
He was
responding to a question from Mhondoro-Ngezi MP, Cde Bright Matonga, who wanted to know Government policy on the issue of the illegal sanctions. Cde Matonga said Zimbabwe could not resuscitate the economy, as Government was not speaking with one voice on pertinent issues such as the removal of sanctions.
"I am sure this issue is very divisive and for a long time there was an attempt to try to politically divide, to apportion blame for sanctions or restrictive measures.
"You are aware that the GPA is handling this issue. You are aware that there is a committee tasked with engaging the EU and America and speaking from one voice.
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"I can assure you there is no division . . . of course politically we may want to score points but I can assure you we want this issue of restrictive measures attended to and that is from a Government policy," PM Tsvangirai said.
The MDC-T has, however, not been consistent in the call for the removal of sanctions and Wikileaks revelations early this year showed that the party's secretary general Mr Tendai Biti was consulted on individuals and organisations to be included or removed from the sanctions list.
In the GPA the three parties agreed to call for the lifting of sanctions but the MDC formations have done little to meet their bargain. The two parties did not take part in the anti-sanctions campaign that Government launched early this year.
Over 2,2 million signatures were collected during the campaign and last week President Mugabe told the 85th session of the Central Committee that they should enlist support from progressive countries and organisations against the sanctions.
President Mugabe is also expected to take the sanctions issue to the Sadc summit pencilled for Angola next month.
Labels: BRIGHT MATONGA, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, SANCTIONS, ZDERA
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Zimbabwe security forces on high alert
Mutsawashe Makuvise
Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:20:00 +0000
Zimbabwe security forces on high alert
ZIMBABWE security forces have been placed on high alert to prevent the opposition Movement for Democratic Change from staging a coup, according to Government reports on Monday. The number of roadblocks and patrols in major cities across the country has been increased.
According to reports from the country on Monday, the country’s military and police are searching for weapons and “suspicious” people who may be preparing for war at the roadblocks, Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga spoke to Bloomberg Monday in a telephone interview from the capital, Harare and confirmed the development.
“The opposition is recruiting youths to use as bandits to destabilize our country and topple the Government,” said Matonga.
Harare was reportedly ‘inundated’ with armed riot police especially at the Africa Unity Square (formerly Cecil Square). The square reflects Zimbabwe's tumultuous history. It was once a venue for popular gatherings and demonstrations and also hosts a flower market. This is the place where the Union Jack was raised to mark the arrival of the British colonizers in 1890.
Major highways are said to be under surveillance to circumvent any movement of arms into the country.
Armoured cars and water cannons patrolled the streets of Harare while some stayed put at a park opposite the parliament building where opposition and civil organizations have held regular protests.
Haulage trucks are the main targets of the roadblocks although private cars and any other suspicious vehicles are also being searched thoroughly, according to reports from Harare residents who were stopped on Monday.
“Police are using sophisticated electric detectors at these roadblocks,” said one Harare resident who spoke to the Zimbabwe Guardian on Monday.
“It seems like a very organized and sophisticated operation. They are not leaving anything to chance. A lot of unlicensed vehicles were impounded as well.”
Police sources said the security checkpoints will be in place until a new Government is formed.
Police commissioner Augustine Chihuri confirmed the operation in an interview on Monday.
"We have put our security departments on high alert because there are elements within the opposition who want to destabilize the country," said Commissioner Chihuri.
"Our security forces will descend heavily on any individuals carrying weapons," he added.
Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena reiterated Commissioner Chihuri’s statement saying the deployment of additional police officers and riot police was necessary given the fact that the opposition was training bandits.
“All our departments are on high alert as there are elements within the Movement for Democratic Change who are bent on destabilizing the country,” Bvudzijena said. “We will come down very heavily on anyone found carrying weapons.”
The Home Affairs Minister, Kembo Mohadi said the main reasons for putting the security forces on high alert will be kept under wraps, but people need not fear anything.
“I think it will be unfair to reveal to the press issues of security. But there is nothing to fear,” said Mohadi.
The move is set against a backdrop of allegations by the State that the opposition MDC-T party is recruiting youths to train as bandits to topple President Mugabe's Government.
Over 40 people, mostly MDC-T members have been jailed on charges that they were recruiting unemployed youths to train as bandits in neighbouring Botswana.
The MDC-T party denies these allegations and calls them “ludicrous”.
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa dismissed the government’s allegation that the opposition party is trying to destabilize the country.
Labels: BRIGHT MATONGA
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Matonga wins leadership award
Our reporter
Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:34:00+0000
Bright Matonga
ZIMBABWE’S Deputy Minister of Information and Publicity, Bright Matonga has been awarded leadership award by South Africa’s AZWI Development Agency.
“The advisory council on behalf of Azwi Development Agency has nominated Hon Deputy Minister Matonga to be the recipient for the year 2008. This is the fifth annual award, and these awards of excellence include: business, art, education, leadership, art, music, entertainment, culture, literature, sport and media.”
He will receive the award in South Africa next month.
Matonga, who spoke to the Zimbabwe Guardian this morning, described the award as “a great honour” and said he would accept the award on behalf of the Ministry of Information and Publicity.
“I am humbled by the award which I dedicate to the whole team at the ministry (Information and Publicity) who have worked hard to defend Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and the right to self-determination,” said Matonga adding that “the challenges we faced in the past few years needed strong-willed people who are unflinching in their resolve.”
Matonga said “as we enter the new phase in the development of the country we should realize that only Zimbabweans can decide what is good or bad for the country.”
“The land issue still remains very key in Zimbabwe and all Zimbabweans should realize that it was the land question that led to Chimurenga wars (the Liberation wars).”
Azwi Development Agency was formed in 1996 and focuses on Land and Land Development. The company acquires land for the landless in South Africa and runs housing schemes for civil servants.
It started giving awards in 2005 in Pretoria and has so far recognized the works done by the Premier of Limpopo Mr Sello Moloto among other notables.
Land reform remains one of the most onerous challenges facing "post-apartheid" South Africa. Many black South Africans feel the land redistribution process is not going fast enough.
South Africa had to increase delivery fivefold to meet the target of transferring 30 percent of land to black people by 2015. Only 4 percent, or slightly under, of agricultural land previously owned by whites has been transferred as of 2008.
Labels: BRIGHT MATONGA, LEADERSHIP
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