Desist from hate speech: VP Mujuru
Saturday, 23 March 2013 20:25
Vice-President Mujuru lays flowers on the grave of Jane Shamu — the sister of the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, Cde Webster Shamu, at a memorial service for the minister's mother, Ambuya Mary Shamu, in Musengezi yesterday. Looking on is Cde Shamu (fourth from left), his wife Constance and the minister's friend, Cde Dexter Nduna (extreme left).
Lincoln Towindo
Vice-President Mujuru yesterday urged Zimbabweans to desist from hate speech and fanning tribal tensions ahead of the general election scheduled for later this year.
Speaking at the memorial service of Ambuya Mary Shamu, mother to Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu at the family’s rural homestead in Musengezi, Cde Mujuru said hate speech has no place in Zimbabwe. She said peace should prevail throughout the election period.
“When you use hate speech against one another or when you attack each other on tribal grounds, then you have no place in Zimbabwean politics,” she said.
“God created us all differently and we should all accept each other the way we are. God also gave us people such as Mbuya Shamu who saw no tribe; people who united us in spite of our differences. We pray that we have more people like her in leadership.”
She said women are often handed the difficult role of uniting families and communities.
“Most of us have very little understanding of the concept of womanhood but from the testimonies we heard today on the life of Ambuya, we got an insight into that very concept.
Ambuya Shamu, though I never knew her on a personal level, was an embodiment of that very concept. But to add on to what has already been said, the way she united people in her family and the community is the true definition of womanhood.”
Speaking at the same occasion, Cde Shamu, who is also the Zanu-PF national political commissar, said the revolutionary party was working towards a resounding electoral victory.
“From tomorrow on-wards, there shall be no time to rest for all party members,” said Cde Shamu.
“We need to ensure that in areas where there are no cells or ward committees, things are put in order.
“We do not want to see this happening in Chegutu West alone but countrywide.”
Ambuya Shamu succumbed to unstable congestion cardiac failure last month and was buried at Plot Number 32 in Musengezi. She was 90.
The memorial was attended by Cabinet ministers and members of the Zanu-PF central committee and Politburo as well as party supporters.
Labels: JOICE MUJURU, WEBSTER SHAMU
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No proof of foul play: fire death cops
27/02/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporters
POLICE have ruled out foul play in the fire death of a 12-year-old Headlands boy which has stoked political tensions in the country with
the MDC-T accused of turning the tragedy into an election campaign event.
The party confirmed that its leader and Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai would attend Thursday’s funeral of Christpower Maisiri (12) whose dad is the party’s local organising secretary. The youth died when
a fire gutted a thatched hut in which he slept with siblings last Saturday.
The MDC-T was said to have barricaded the Maisiri family home in Headlands, near Rusape, ahead of Thursday’s funeral with campaign posters featuring Tsvangirai posted around the area.
The party blames Zanu PF for the attack which dominated Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting amid fears of renewed violence ahead of fresh elections later this year.
“(On Tuesday) we spent four hours in cabinet deliberating … the resurgence of all the bad habits that were there before the inclusive government. The tragic and horrifying murder of this young boy is perhaps the most traumatic but every day we have such issues,” MDC leader Welshman Ncube told a public meeting in Harare Wednesday.
"President (Robert) Mugabe repeatedly said these things should not be happening. (He said) if it’s Zanu PF people doing it they must be dealt with. The police are told again and again but it doesn’t stop.
"(But) one of the most interesting things to come out of the Cabinet meeting was that ministers thought to be sponsoring violence were (confronted) accused directly and told that ‘you are a merchant of violence’. That opportunity was not there in 2008.”
Zanu PF has denied any involvement in the attack as police revealed that preliminary investigations had ruled out the possibility of foul play.
“At the moment we cannot point fingers at anyone. This emanates from our preliminary investigations so far which indicate that no foul play had taken place,” deputy national police spokesman Oliver Mandipaka said.
“Basing on our preliminary investigations there is no pointer or clue to suggest that the incident was politically motivated.
“Right now investigations are in full swing. We have embarked on thorough investigations because we need to get to the bottom of the incident by all means.”
Information Minister Webster Shamu said the Cabinet had ordered the police to establish the cause of the tragedy.
“The nation may wish to know that Cabinet has directed the Co- Ministers of Home Affairs to institute thorough investigations through the relevant arms so that the nation gets full facts surrounding the incident and for justice to be done,” he said.
“Our society is founded on the principle of sanctity of life and any actions that are shown to undermine this sacred principle will attract the full weight of the law.”
Zimbabwe will later this year hold elections to end the uneasy coalition between Mugabe and Tsvangirai and both leaders have repeatedly appealed to supporters to ensure there was no repeat of the violence experienced in 2008.
Labels: CHRISTPOWER SIMBARASHE MAISIRI, MDC PROPAGANDA, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, PROPAGANDA, WEBSTER SHAMU
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Zanu PF in marathon crisis meeting
17/05/2012 00:00:00
by Gilbert Nyambabvu
THE Zanu PF politburo met for seven hours Wednesday in a “no holds barred” meeting aimed at tackling deepening divisions ahead of crucial elections the party insists must be held this year.
Speaking at the end of the meeting, party spokesman Rugare Gumbo said: “People are not happy. The President is also not happy with what is happening, but we (Zanu-PF) have survived a lot of crises.
“We have had a number of crises, but we always resolve them. We are happy we have been open and frank to each other. This is the best Politburo meeting we have had for some time.”
And in apparent refference to speculation President Robert Mugabe's would be successors were teeing up for the top job and worsening divisions, Gumbo said the party had reaffirmed its current leadership structure, headed by the veteran leader and his two deputies, Joice Mujuru and John Nkomo.
“There is no split. There is one President, two Vice-Presidents, National Chairman (Simon Khaya Moyo) and a Secretary for Administration (Didymus Mutasa). If you are organising somewhere, then you are a destabilising force. The party recognises the structure that is there,” Gumbo said.
Factionalism appears to have worsened in the party as the succession front-runners position themselves to take-over power amid speculation over Mugabe’s health and, at 88, his ability to see through another punishing election showdown MDC-T leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
A privately-owned weekly last week quoted Defence Minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa – who is said to lead one of the main Zanu PF factions against another backing Mujuru – as saying he was “ready to rule”.
But Gumbo insisted that should the need to choose another leader arise the party would respect its hierarchy according to which Mnangagwa does not have a prayer since he is behind Mujuru, Nkomo, Moyo and Mutasa.
He also said Wednesdays meeting agreed that Mugabe remained the party’s candidate for the new elections.
“We re-affirmed that elections will be held this year and our candidate will be President Mugabe … the politburo also wants the issue (of the constitution) completely resolved by the end of this month (so that elections can go ahead),” he said.
Meanwhile, the politburo also ordered its national commissar, Webster Shamu to deal with problems in party structures across the country where a restructuring exercise has degenerated into chaos with allegations of vote buying and the imposition of candidates.
“We had an extensive discussion and there were a lot of areas of concern. We talked about the imposition of candidates and elections not having been run in a democratic manner,” Gumbo said.
“People spoke their mind. Where there have been errors, we need to look into that. There are areas where there is need to re- look and ensure that things are done properly.
“We will give the political commissar another chance to go into areas where there is concern and, if he needs to nullify the results, he will nullify and we will have re-runs.”
Labels: RUGARE GUMBO, WEBSTER SHAMU, ZANU-PF
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Principals issue final demand
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 00:00
Herald Reporter
PRINCIPALS in the inclusive Government yesterday ordered the Constitution Select Committee and the management committee to conclude drafting the new Constitution and deliver the document to them next week.
They gave the directive at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. In a statement, Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu said Cabinet “unanimously” agreed with the principals.
He said the principals expressed concern over the failure by Copac and the management committee to brief them on the challenges they were facing.
“During today’s (yesterday’s) Cabinet meeting, the principals to the Global Political Agreement expressed concern at the delay in concluding the Constitution by both the Constitution Parliamentary Select Committee and the management committee.
“The principals, the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, His Excellency President Mugabe, Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara also expressed concern at the failure by both the Select Committee and the management committee to brief the principals on any challenges they may be facing in the Constitution-making process,” he said.
Minister Shamu said the principals directed Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga to “work closely” with Copac and the management committee to produce the draft.
“The principals directed that the Minister of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs, Advocate Eric Matinenga, should work closely with the Select Committee and the management committee in order to conclude the drafting process by next week so as to deliver the draft Constitution to the principals.
“Advocate Matinenga was directed to brief Cabinet regularly on progress in the Constitution-making process. Cabinet unanimously agreed with the principals,” he said.
The directive comes at a time when Copac and the management committee were accusing each other of stalling the finalisation of the new supreme law.
Copac said the management committee was failing to resolve outstanding issues while the latter said they were waiting for a draft from Copac.
The management committee said devolution of power was the only outstanding issue which cannot stop the Constitution-making process.
The management committee is made up of GPA negotiators.
Copac claims the management committee is yet to agree on devolution and dual citizenship, among other issues that need to be incorporated into the new Constitution.
Last month President Mugabe indicated that elections will be held this year with or without a new Constitution.
The writing of the new Constitution started three years ago but has been stalled on several occasions by disagreements among political parties driving the process.
Observers have accused Copac of turning the process into a money-spinning venture.
Labels: ARTHUR MUTAMBARA, COPAC, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, ROBERT MUGABE, WEBSTER SHAMU
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Give communal farmers a chance: Shamu
Friday, 06 January 2012 00:00
Chinhoyi Bureau
COMMERCIAL farmers and other large scale farmers should give A1 and communal farmers a chance to get inputs under the various schemes, including the Presidential Well-Wishers inputs scheme while they work out alternative means, Zanu-PF national political commissar Cde Webster Shamu has said.
His remarks come in the wake of reports that some influential people including large scale commercial farmers took the larger chunk of the inputs that were on offer at the various GMB depots across the country at the expense of small-scale farmers.
Cde Shamu was speaking at the burial of Mashonaland West province women's league political commissar Cde Enia Nyathi who died on Tuesday morning after a short illness.
He said corruption had the effect of disenfranchising Zanu-PF as a party and the ordinary people before calling for the Grain Marketing Board to devise ways of ensuring equitable distribution of the inputs.
"We cannot have a situation where one person comes and gets 40 tonnes of fertiliser at the expense of someone who needs 500kgs for a successful season.
"Commercial farmers and A2 farmers have the capacity to apply for loans and access to various facilities," he said.
Turning to Cde Nyathi, whose Chimurenga name was Chenjerai Mauto, Cde Shamu said she stood for the safeguarding of the country's sovereignty.
All Zimbabweans, he said should emulate Cde Nyathi while working to bring unity in the party and the country which leads to development.
He said steps should be put in place to organise structures from the cell level in the province and the country by the end of January, leading to the organi- sation of the district and provincial structures.
Also speaking at the burial Mashona- land West governor and Resident Minister Faber Chidarikire said the province had lost a gallant heroine who stood for the development and independence of the country.
Cde Nyathi joined the liberation struggle in 1976 and went for training two years later at Chimoio Training Camp.
Cde Nyathi operated in the Musikavanhu Sector in Manica Province. At ceasefire she went to Manyene assembly Point before joining the Public Service under the Ministry of Youth Development and Indigenisation where she worked as a youth officer until the time of her death.
Labels: A1 FARMERS, AGRICULTURE, GRAIN MARKETING BOARD ZIMBABWE, WEBSTER SHAMU
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Shamu takes swipe at MDC-T policies
Saturday, 31 December 2011 00:00
Herald Reporter
ZANU-PF national political commissar Cde Webster Shamu yesterday took a
swipe at MDC-T for opposing Government's indigenisation and economic empowerment programmes. Addressing hundreds of party supporters at a rally at Neuso Business Centre in Chegutu yesterday, Cde Shamu said MDC-T was not people-oriented.
"We are under attack from Western countries through sanctions and we have to find alternative ways of winning the battle," he said.
"Many people are suffering but surprisingly we find our own Zimbabweans in the form of MDC-T pulling us back. It simply shows that such people do not have developmental minds and at the same time are heartless."
Cde Shamu, who is also the legislator for Chegutu East Constituency and Media, Information and Publicity Minister said the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme was irreversible. He urged people in his constituency to come up with developmental projects to fully use the US$10 million Chegutu-Mhondoro-Ngezi-Zvimba Community Share Ownership.
Cde Shamu said no politician should interfere with the programme, being spearheaded by traditional leaders. Zimplats recently ceded 10 percent of its stake to communities.
Zanu-PF, he said, will soon construct the Grace Mugabe Bakery at Neuso Business Centre in honour of the First Lady's contribution to the constituency.
"Plans are at an advanced stage and the First Lady is the one who made huge contributions a few years ago. There will be employment opportunities and we hope the bakery will help many people."
Cde Shamu had no kind words for MDC-T led councils accused of allegedly embezzling ratepayers' mon-ey at the expense of service delivery."It is time for you to make an introspection when we go for the next elections.
"The MDC-T people you chose to represent you have failed to do anything in terms of service delivery. All you hear is the embezzlement of funds countrywide," he said.
Turning to the election preparations, Cde Shamu reiterated that Zanu-PF would not tolerate the imposition of candidates.
"Make your own choices. Don't be influenced by material things. The political leadership should not impose candidates because this would destroy the party," he said.
Mukwati district chairman Mr Emidio Magwara appealed to Cde Shamu for food assistance.
"I would also want to thank President Mugabe for the inputs he recently gave us. They were distributed equitably among members of different political parties and will go a long way in alleviating poverty," he said.
Cde Shamu donated an ambulance, 15 bicycles and over 170 bags of maize meal to the villagers.
The ambulance will be used by the people in Neuso and the surrounding communities who were travelling long distances ferrying people in scotchcarts and wheel barrows to major referral hospitals such as St Michaels.
The villagers also benefited from over 10 tonnes of maize from the Grain Marketing Board, which they would return after the harvests.
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS (ZIMBABWE), MDC, WEBSTER SHAMU
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Namibia, Zim in print, broadcast talks
Friday, 04 November 2011 00:00
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE and Namibia's information officials met in Harare yesterday and discussed co-operation in broadcasting and the print media. In broadcasting, they looked at the digitilisation programme, prospects of Zimbabwe benefiting from the undersea cable that Namibia is developing as well as content development.
In print media, they reviewed co-operation in NamZim, a joint venture through which the Southern Times is published. Officials from Trans Media, Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Media Commission, Zimpapers and Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation attended the meeting with their Namibian counterparts.
Officially opening the meeting, Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu said the meeting was a follow-up on issues raised at the last meeting held in Namibia in 2009 when he visited that country together with officials from his ministry.
These included development and harmonisation of policies and capacity development with a view to protecting the interests of the two countries.
He noted that the two countries shared a similar history as they were both born out of arduous liberation struggles.
In those struggles the people of Namibia and Zimbabwe stood shoulder to shoulder to free their countries and today they were doing the same in various fields.
Namibia's Minister of Information and Communication Technology Mr Joel Kaapanda also recalled that the two countries had stood together against all odds and continued to support each other.
They went to the Democratic Republic of Congo together and fought to liberate the whole country, paving way for democratic negotiations that brought peace and stability.
"Of course we were blamed and ostracised that we had acted as hegemonistic states that wanted to occupy that country. We did not occupy it but brought peace.
"Nobody wants to acknowledge this.
"DRC is what it is today because of the contribution of Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola."
He said his visit was meant to cement relations between the two countries, to concretise political relations into economic and technical co-operation.
He said the two ministries had a role to play in attaining Millennium Development Goals. The two countries had discussed critical issues that put them on a serious development path.
He wanted to see the two countries exchange skills, develop relevant content, develop their capacities and move together in the process of digitilisation.
He was keen to see Zimbabwe benefiting from the undersea cable. Namibia was already co-operating with Botswana and wanted other hinterlands like Zimbabwe and Zambia to benefit from the excess capacity that Namibia has.
An official who attended a closed session said they also discussed liberalisation of airwaves and community broadcasting.
The official said they looked at the possibility of training programmes and exchange of skills between the two countries. Minister Kaapanda arrived in the country on Wednesday and has held several meetings with Government officials.
Labels: MEDIA, NAMIBIA, OPTIC FIBRE, WEBSTER SHAMU, ZIMBABWE
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Shamu fumes over Mugabe 'denigration'
13/09/2011 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
INFORMATION Minister Webster Shamu has threatened to “take measures” to stop the media from “denigrating” President Robert Mugabe – an apparent response to the media coverage of leaked United States embassy cables revealing President Robert Mugabe’s failing health.
Shamu said the coalition government had done much for press freedom since 2009 by licensing more newspapers and lifting restrictions on foreign journalists, but claims this freedom is being abused.
"Of late, these media houses and pirate radio stations have intensified their vitriolic attacks and the use of hate language on the person of His Excellency, the President, and the party [Zanu PF], in a well-calculated move aimed at influencing the results of the forthcoming elections. In other words, the execution of the regime change agenda has been intensified,” Shamu told a Zanu PF district conference in Mutare.
“We are not against criticism but vilification. We cannot allow the denigration of the highest office in the land. They are forcing us to take measures and they must stand warned."
Shamu’s threats against what he said were “foreign-sponsored media houses” follows weeks of damaging revelations in local newspapers about widespread criticism of President Robert Mugabe made by senior Zanu PF officials contained in leaked US embassy diplomatic cables.
Top officials including Vice Presidents Joice Mujuru and John Nkomo, Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, former Information Minister Jonathan Moyo, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono and Youth Development Minister Saviour Kasukuwere are all named as expressing reservations about the party’s direction under Mugabe.
Gono told American diplomats that Mugabe had prostate cancer which would kill him by 2013, although Moyo suggested in separate meetings with the Americans that it may be a more benign throat cancer that was troubling him.
Media advocacy groups are frustrated that the unity government has so far failed to issue licences for radio and television. Concerns will now grow following Shamu’s threats.
Labels: DEFAMATION, NEOCOLONIALISM, ROBERT MUGABE, WEBSTER SHAMU
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Sellouts should be punished: Mutasa
Saturday, 10 September 2011 23:22
From Ray Bande in Mutare
ZANU-PF cadres alleged to have collaborated with the party’s enemies in secret cables released by controversial whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks should go through the party’s disciplinary process and be punished if found guilty of betrayal, a senior official has said.
Speaking at the Manicaland inter-party conference held at the Mutare Hall yesterday, Zanu-PF secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa said those caught on the wrong side of the law should be punished regardless of the positions they hold in the revolutionary party.
“The issue of WikiLeaks has become a major challenge for the party. Those that are implicated should go through the normal disciplinary procedures of the party.
“If anyone is found guilty of having sold out, he or she should be punished accordingly like everyone else,” said Cde Mutasa.
“There should be no selective application of the law. If some were punished in the past for selling out, the same should also happen to those implicated in the WikiLeaks saga.”
Speaking at the same occasion, the party’s national commissar, Cde Webster Shamu, urged party supporters to shun corruption and desist from politics of patronage.
“It is sad that there is a lot of infighting in the party because some cadres want to align themselves with certain individuals at the expense of loyalty to the party,” said Cde Shamu.
“As a party we should work towards winning the next election. The Western-sponsored parties should not be given any other chance in the future. This is the time to correct the mistakes we made in the past,” he added.
The event was attended by several senior party officials including secretary for women’s affairs Cde Oppah Muchinguri and youth chairperson Cde Absolom Sikhosana.
Labels: CADRES, DIDYMUS MUTASA, WEBSTER SHAMU, WIKILEAKS, ZANU-PF
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Zimbabweans speak against sanctions
Monday, 21 March 2011 01:56
Sunday Mail Reporters
THOUSANDS of Zimbabweans have called on the United States and Europe to scrap the economic sanctions on the country, marking the beginning of an aggressive fight against the embargo.
Among those who signed the anti-sanctions petition were members of the church, vendors, businesspeople, civil servants, traditional leaders, youths, farmers, non-governmental organisation representatives and professionals.
In an interview last night, Media, Information and Publicity Minister Cde Webster Shamu said the exercise would devolve to district level.
He said the petition would be submitted to President Mugabe for onward transmission to Sadc, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the African Union and the United Nations.
“The petition will alert the world to the fact that Zimbabweans have spoken against the sanctions, that they are diabolic, unjustified and are affecting their economy,” he said.
In Masvingo, more than 15 000 people attended the launch at Mucheke Stadium where prominent pharmacist Mr Joseph Maluleke, who represented industry, berated the MDC-T for inviting the sanctions. In Mashonaland Central, thousands also thronged Chipadze Stadium in Bindura to lend their weight behind the anti-sanctions fight.
Launching the campaign, Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Dr Stan Mudenge said the West introduced the measures to push Zanu-PF out of power and replace it with its preferred political outfit.
“Zanu-PF would have to be comatose to dream of having far-reaching reforms with sanctions in place. The Americans must know this and not under-estimate the resolve of Zimbabweans.”
The Midlands saw Zimbabweans from all walks of life converge on the Civic Centre in Gweru for yesterday’s launch. Those in attendance travelled from Mberengwa, Zvishavane, Gokwe, Zhombe, Shurugwi, Silobela, Chirumanzu, Chiwundura and Lower Gweru, among other areas.
Addressing the gathering, Zanu-PF Women’s League secretary for women’s affairs Cde Oppah Muchinguri urged Zimbabweans to remain united in fighting the illegal sanctions.
In Bulawayo, residents thronged Stanley Square in Makokoba in support of the campaign. Bulawayo United Residents’ Association chairman Mr Winos Dube said residents fully supported the campaign. In Matabeleland North, Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo said Zimbabwe was in an economic war against the West. In Manicaland, more than 3 000 people from all walks of life turned up in Mutare to join the rest of the country in calling for the lifting of the sanctions.
In Harare, Zanu-PF Politburo member Cde Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said the campaign was apolitical as sanctions affected every Zimbabwean.
Labels: SANCTIONS, WEBSTER SHAMU, ZDERA
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Interfin Bank secures 335 000 tonnes fertiliser
Agriculture Reporter
Interfin Bank has secured 335 000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate and compound C fertilisers worth US$230 000 for smallholder tobacco farmers who are members of the newly formed Zimbabwe Progressive Tobacco Farmers’ Union. The inputs will be accessed on a loan basis and farmers will repay through stop orders after selling their crop.
Unveiling the inputs in Harare yesterday, Interfin’s assistant general manager (corporate banking), Mr Ennocent Chidawanyika, said: "We have put aside US$2 million to be disbursed in batches for the procurement of more inputs.
"It will all depend on the performance of the farmers, but as a bank we are convinced it is a noble cause to help them."
The bank will soon procure another 1 320 tonnes of fertiliser and make available US$105 000 for the ZPTFU’s executive to buy vehicles to ease mobility challenges.
Mashonaland West will receive 90 000 tonnes, Mashonaland Central (120 000), Mashonaland East (95 000) and Manicaland (20 000). Altfin Insurance has provided the farmers with policies. Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu — who is the ZPTFU patron — challenged other companies to emulate Altfin and Interfin’s example and assist farmers.
He, however, warned that unscrupulous international organisations were infiltrating farmers’ organisations with funding so that they could control them and influence them against Government. "We are going to expose such organisations and if there are locals working with them, then they should cease to be bedfellows immediately," said Minister Shamu.
He said some merchants were ripping off smallholder tobacco farmers by buying their tobacco for a song and reselling it at higher prices. "In order to stop this, ZPTFU needs to engage tobacco experts and ethical companies to participate in value addition, which will benefit members as shareholders.
"ZPTFU should come up with plans to get into the cigarette manufacturing industry."
He called for agricultural mechanisation to improve production. ZPTFU was formed at President Mugabe’s behest when he visited the tobacco auction floors earlier this year and witnessed farmers’ plight at the hands of merchants.
Labels: INTERFIN BANK, WEBSTER SHAMU
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Gvt urges new papers to publish
By: TH
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 1:35 am
MEDIA, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu has expressed concern at the failure by various media organisations to publish newspapers after getting their licences.
Government recently issued licences to four media organisations with only one newspaper hitting the streets. Alpha Media Holdings’ NewsDay has been published after getting a licence from the Zimbabwe Media Commission.
In an interview yesterday, Minister Shamu said Government was worried by delays by media organisations in publishing their papers.
“We were expecting all the licensed papers to be on the streets as we speak but only one has been published,” he said.
Minister Shamu said Government was not intent on denying its citizens the right to access information of their choice.
“We are the ones who brought freedom and independence, so why would we not allow our people to enjoy that? We brought freedom and we are determined to give it to our citizens.”
He said many people had called for Government to register more media players but when licences were issued the organisations were now dragging their feet.
“We have responded to their cries and nothing is being done, where are they? Why are they not publishing?”
Minister Shamu applauded AMH for its quick response to publish.
“I want to commend Trevor (Ncube) for a job well done.
“He has done what he promised, and NewsDay is on the streets,” he said.
The minister said the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe would issue licences to new players in the industry.
“We are preparing our people to become good broadcasters. They must learn from ZBC.”
He said Government was afraid broadcasters would also sit on the licences.
“We can give them the licences and you will see no one broadcasting,” he said.
Minister Shamu said Government was committed to the development of the media industry.
“Let me reiterate our unreserved commitment to the media industry, particularly its increasing important role in the development of our country,” he said.
He said Government remained committed to multiple voices in the media industry.
Labels: MEDIA, WEBSTER SHAMU
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Mugabe set to appoint acting ministers
The Herald/TZG/AFP reporters
Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:23:00 +0000
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe is likely to appoint acting ministers in the next few weeks to carry out duties that MDC-T Cabinet members are not discharging as they are on strike over the indictment of their party's treasurer and financier, Roy Bennett.
MDC-T ministers did not attend Cabinet yesterday for the second successive week and for the third time since the formation of the inclusive Government in February.
Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu told public media yesterday that the impending agricultural season increased the likelihood of President Mugabe appointing acting ministers so that farmers would not be hampered in their preparations by MDC-T’s "disengagement" from the Government.
Shamu said: "With the agricultural season upon us, the issue of portfolio leadership at ministerial level has to be addressed by His Excellency the President as the Head of State and Government one way or the other.
"His Excellency may have to consider appointing ministers in an acting capacity to key ministries for the sake of a successful agricultural season and general economic turnaround.
"Important Cabinet decisions have to be translated into action expeditiously," he said.
Speaking separately to The Herald newspaper Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made reiterated minister Shamu's statement. He said the "disengagement" was negatively affecting the activities of the inter-ministerial committee on agricultural inputs.
The agriculture-related ministries headed by MDC-T appointees are Finance, Economic Planning, Water Resources and Development among others. These ministries are headed by Tendai Biti, Elton Mangoma and Samuel Sipepa Nkomo of the MDC-T party.
These ministers are currently on strike over "outstanding issues" and are not attending Cabinet meetings.
Made said: "The inter-ministerial committee on agricultural inputs comprising myself, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Industry and Commerce is being hampered.
"The nation relies on the Minister of Finance to financially guarantee Government’s commitment and to seek lines of credit for input procurement and distribution through Grain Marketing Board depots.
"In his absence, our hands are tied to the detriment of expectant farmers. The rainy season is upon us and the season cannot wait for MDC-T to decide to reverse their decision."
"If a planting deadline is October 15, it will not change because someone has disengaged. It means the whole country has to wait for October 15, 2010," added Made.
He said farmers had "taken enough" over the years and did not need to be frustrated by politicians.
"We missed the winter wheat season and now we cannot miss the summer cropping season because of a stayaway."
President Mugabe accused Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday of failing to act in the national interest.
"You will always get people in any arrangement who are guided by little emotional thoughts and act in accordance with them and who would want things to go their way, and not the national way, and not the agreed way," President Mugabe said.
The two leaders met on Tuesday to consider MDC-T demands. President Mugabe is said to have stuck with the decisions of the Zanu PF Politburo, the highest decision making body outside of Congress, not to give the MDC-T party any more concessions until they meet their part of the bargain.
President Mugabe accusses the party of failing to call for the lifting of illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe and supporting the work of pirate radio stations beaming into Zimbabwe illegally.
Labels: MUGABE, ROY BENNETT, WEBSTER SHAMU
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Speech at launch of H-Metro newspaper
Webster Shamu - Speech at launch of H-Metro newspaper
Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:30:00 +0000
THE following is the full text of the speech delivered by the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, Webster Shamu, at the the launch of H-Metro, a new title in the Zimbabwe Newspapers stable on September 4, 2009:
Full Text
I am delighted to be part of this happy gathering marking the launch of yet another product in the Zimpapers stable, Harare Metro/ H-Metro and of course the celebration of the fifth Anniversary of the Southern Times, itself a product of a joint venture company, NAMZIM, combining the vision of two sister Republics of Namibia and Zimbabwe in the information field.
Both events mark real growth in the information sector at a time of great challenges both for the sector and for our Southern African region.
We thus meet to celebrate defiant growth, one shaping itself under harsh circumstances and with little outside goodwill. Needless to say growth managed under harsh conditions hardens a plant for all weather and for all times. We expect no less from these two developments.
I have had occasion to look at dummies of H-Metro. From the editorial focus and the quality of journalism which the dummies promise, I have no doubt in my mind that H-Metro will be a winner. Zimpapers has identified a niche which this popular tabloid is set to occupy and, I am sure, set to dominate when competition eventually comes. It is a niche to do with the popular in our townships, encompassing the full gamut of popular activities (politics, social and cultural issues, sport, etc, etc), all treated for easy and light reading but from a position of hard facts, honesty and human sympathy.
The great temptation with this niche in the publishing industry is to push for sensation at the expense of truth, accuracy, fairness and balance.
Always remember that beneath the sleaze and sensation is a human being susceptible to hurt, injury and suffering. Yes, always remember that beneath those circulation statistics and healthy sales are lives that are either edified or ruined. Journalism cannot be about any sales, any stories, any slant, and still claim the status of a whole Fourth Estate counterbalancing the three other Estates which have to do with the way our society is organised and run.
Journalism – when all is said and done – is about serving our societies with vital information and values necessary to save and improve them. It cannot be a vehicle for profitable decadence and ruination of personalities. This is the balance which Zimpapers is now being called upon to establish and maintain, particularly given the niche it is now about to enter.
Elsewhere on the continent, newspaper enterprises in which governments have a stake have not done well. Not so in Zimbabwe where Zimpapers continues to rule the roost. As the minister responsible, I am very happy that this is so. I hope Zimpapers maintains its market leadership founded on commercial soundness and the need to serve all with information while defending the national interest.
My predecessors, starting with the founding Minister of Information of Independent Zimbabwe, Dr Nathan Shamuyarira, wisely kept Zimbabwe Newspapers a public company quoted on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.
Through the dominant shareholding in a public quoted company whose core business is printing and publishing, Government sought the rigour of the market as a funding formulae. I stress this point because there is quite a disturbing misconception – politically self-serving in some respect – to suggest Zimpapers gets money from Government. It does not. It has never got money from Government since its transfer from the South African Argus Group following a take-over donation from the Federal Republic of Nigeria at Independence.
Quite the contrary, Zimpapers has given money to the State or its agencies by way of a dividend when the going is good. Let it be pronounced here that Zimpapers is not a State enterprise.
Let it be proclaimed here and now that Zimpapers is governed by rules of the Stock Exchange, never by checking institutions of government such as committees of Parliament. There is a whole Chinese Wall between Zimpapers and wholly State-owned media companies like Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, New Ziana, etc, etc/which run on public funds. While Government is the major shareholder, Zimpapers has an equally compelling obligation to many other shareholders.
This habit of relating to it as if it’s a parastatal, or as if it is a Government department whose behaviour must meet with popular approval is not just mistaken and unlawful, but seems measured to incapacitate and hurt Zimpapers ahead of competition we see gathering on the horizon. Let Zimpapers fail in the market through fair competition. Let it not be failed through unprofessional interference done in the name of legislative oversight.
That the State has a largest shareholding in Zimpapers does not justify undue pressure to it. What is more, why is it that the pressure is only concentrated on the publishing arm of Zimpapers, never in its other areas of activity, if the interest is sincere and balanced?
And why is that interest in the editorial side not extending to many other publishers in the country whose conduct should meet expectations of the Global Political Agreement? Are public hearings set for these publishers as well? Why this appearance of selective treatment? I hope those concerned will avoid such mistakes in future, if mistakes there have been. Equally, I hope arms of Parliament are also clear that their entry into Ministries is not through the backdoor or by stealth.
Often invitations to organs that are under given ministries are done behind ministry leadership who then only get informed either just before or well after the event. This does not make for a healthy working relationship. Committees of Parliament are not instruments for inquisitions or witch-hunt. Rather, they are mechanisms for improving management of public affairs and resources.
There is a way of doing this in a procedural way, without appearing to be encouraging insubordination, conflict, or confusion in Ministries and parastatals.
Since the launch of the Inclusive Government, I, as minister in charge of Media, Information and Publicity have been concerned at an incipient media outlook which appears to be solidifying in certain sections of the Inclusive Government.
There is an attempt to encourage a perception that the GPA is for the “public’’ media only, whatever is meant by that. To begin with, all media, regardless of ownership, are public. Publishing is one industry whose products are public by definition, and hence the tradition of placing the media under laws or values/ethics which come under public scrutiny.
Products of publishers fall under the domain of ‘mass communication’’, which is essentially a public role with clear public consequences. This is the basic understanding of media laws and regulations the whole world over.
In its search for settlement, harmony and stability, GPA addressed the areas of public communication to the extent that this area makes or breaks public political processes. It is very even-handed in its demands and expectations which apply to all media focusing in and on Zimbabwe.
The notion that the burden of meeting the expectations of GPA reside in that part of the media sector which falls under Government influence, is clearly mistaken if genuine, or mischievous if politically motivated. The requirement to refrain from hate language is a standard requirement for all media, for all publishers regardless of who owns them.
The requirement to respect facts is inherent to ethics of journalism; regardless of in whose favour an editorial policy is weighted. Yes, the call to support a nascent and fragile political experiment which is what the Inclusive Government is, is a call to all regardless of ownership.
But it is not an insurance against legitimate criticisms. It is not an invitation to abandon the defence of the National Interest which must be uppermost in every newsroom. Times shall come – assuming they have not already – when best support and defence of the Inclusive Government is not a supine posture, is not by being a chorister in a mindless hymn of unconditional praise of anything in the name of the Inclusive Government. No!
Support for the Inclusive Government does not mean condonation of all done under it or in its name. I hate to think that my role as Minister of Media, Information and Publicity is to beat back editors and journalists from obvious facts, and even more obvious questions, all in the name of fulfilling the GPA and protecting the Inclusive Government.
What is worse, I cannot be associated with a push to create space for the BBC and CNN here while at the same time denying the same to the Herald, the Independent, the Financial Gazette, The Standard etc, etc. The Zimbabwe story must be witnessed, written and reported on by Zimbabweans. That is our duty which we give to no other media. This habit of defending abridgement of media freedom in the name of GPA must stop.
Equally, what must also stop is the continuing situation where some parties in the GPA continue to aid and abet illegal, extraterritorial pirate broadcasts which violate our sovereignty in the name of media freedoms. The GPA the often quoted GPA – disallows this as gross external interference in the affairs of our country.
These stations – all of them sited in countries that have slapped Zimbabwe with sanctions – are a violation of the GPA.
To the extent that they persist well into the Inclusive Government, they amount to an outstanding matter which must be addressed by those who needed them, indeed created and legitimised them in the name of struggling for their own brand of democracy here.
That struggle has now been accommodated in the Inclusive Government, so why not do the right thing by stopping this horrible interference? To then make a case for a liberalisation of the airwaves under conditions of persistent and even enlarging challenge to Zimbabwe’s sovereignty, is to be grossly insincere. Let us examine our obligations squarely and fairly.
Last month the ministry, as part of its ongoing programme of reviewing media laws, practices and structures, cleared the Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ) of any legal impediments for eventual registration.
That action which derived from a Special Committee created by my predecessor at the behest of a High Court Ruling, does not amount to registration of ANZ so it resumes publishing within the law. That will have to be done elsewhere.
My ministry does not register publishers. Equally, my ministry will not condone the breaking of the law. This same position we have communicated to ZimInd, another publisher intent on joining the industry. We are for the growth of this vital sub-sector. We hope the current problems and issues of a legal nature deriving from an interim court judgment, will be resolved so the industry can grow.
We have in our midst guests from Namibia. I want to welcome them in a very special way. Not long ago, I was in Namibia and had wonderful discussions with my counterpart and his deputy. NAMZIM and its child, the Southern Times, expresses a determination by our two Governments to deepen and expand relations beyond historical and political foundations. The two sister countries are one on many matters. We need to validate this oneness in our small way.
But NAMZIM and the Southern Times is a correct reading of the world situation. In terms of the global management and flow of information, we in the South are information underdogs. We are the reported on, the objects of global news whose voices shall never be heard, shall never shape news and information.
This is why the story is always told at our expense, indeed at the expense of our nations. But there is a way out of this editorial entrapment, which is itself a manifestation of greater and wider political entrapment. The way out is through combinations. We must pool resources and efforts to found platforms from which to speak and proclaim our own stories, values and interests.
Thank God, technology now makes publishing placeless. We should exploit that technological reality to create formidable multinational, pan-African multimedia response which allows us to strike back at detractors. NAMZIM is only the beginning. The ultimate goal is to grow this small seed into a Southern African media project that balances information on the region.
We dare not fail in this project whose time has come. As co-operating ministers, we have undertaken to realise this dream by taking the project to other Sadc members. We are determined. All of you who are on the NAMZIM board and management must thus realise our two nations have reposed in you this hallowed vision.
Do not betray it.
It now gives me singular pleasure to launch this double barrelled celebration marking the launch of H-Metro and the fifth anniversary of the Southern Times.
I thank you.
Labels: HARARE METRO NEWSPAPER, MEDIA, WEBSTER SHAMU
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