COMMENT - Watch out with these 'title deeds', because the bank ends up owning the land. They know most startups go bust, so they are in it for the land. - MrK
(COINTELEGRAPH) Overstock Subsidiary Partners With Zambian Gov’t on Blockchain Land Registry
By William Suberg
Zambia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the blockchain land registry subsidiary of American retail giant Overstock, the company revealed in a press release July 31.
Under the agreement, Overstock’s Medici Land Governance (MLG) will work with the Zambian government on overhauling land ownership, allowing rural landowners to legitimize their estates and gain access to the financial world.
“Without formal ownership, individuals struggle to obtain access to credit and public services, while governments are limited in their ability to collect taxes, enforce property rights, and plan for economic expansion and innovation,” the release explains, continuing:
“Using blockchain and other technologies, Medici Land Governance […] will create systems to collect and easily secure property ownership information.”
Discussing the Medici venture, the subsidiary’s CEO Dr. Ali El Husseini called its partnership with Zambia “momentous.”
“[The partnership] has the potential to be a real, sustainable game-changer in reducing poverty and supporting economic development on a large scale,” he added.
Blockchain land projects have been underway across the world for several years, the technology offering a promising solution to fragmented paper records and unverifiable claims.
This week, the world’s fourth-largest bank by assets, Agricultural Bank of China, confirmed it had issued a blockchain-based loan backed by land.
Overstock continues to make multiple inroads across blockchain and cryptocurrency-related spheres, despite warnings earlier this year that its share price was suffering and its future could involve upheaval.
The company currently has fourteen ventures in its Medici Blockchain accelerator, to which MLG is the most recent addition.
Labels: LAND REFORM, PF, ZAMBIA
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COMMENT - And even I didn't understand the extent of land theft outside of South Africa (87%), Zimbabwe (43%) and Namibia. Even in Zambia/Northern Rhodesia 64% of the land was alienated by the colonial administration and a small number of 'settlers'.
1. Crown or State land in Zambia has always been associated with white farmers/colonials
2. Crown land was expanded with Trust Land into a total of 64% of the country.
" The Northern Rhodesia (Crown Lands Reserves) Orders of 1928 created crown or state land which was 6% out of the total landmass for the white settlers. This, of course, left 94% for the local people.
...
" The Northern Rhodesia (Native Trust Land) Orders-in-Council of 1947 created Trust Land as a result of pressure from the white settlers who demanded security on the land they occupied. Trust Land constituted about 58%. This was actually an extension of crown or state land to 64% while the reserve land for the local people was reduced to 36%. "
(LUSAKA TIMES) An Analysis of the Lands (Acquisition) ACT CAP 296 of 1970 – Chitimukulu
December 20, 2017
By Henry Kanyanta Sosala
The above is the law that deals with absentee landlords who may appear sometime later and claim land ownership with the cunning intention of gaining compensation on the idle land which they never developed. (Ba katyetye mwenda mwalimwa).
And in this case we must first look at our country’s land history. In accordance with the trade treaties signed by the British South African Company and which were later endorsed by the British government with traditional leaders, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) was a Protectorate. The British did not wage war to conquer the people of this country and therefore the whole landmass belonged to the local people.
The Northern Rhodesia (Crown Lands Reserves) Orders of 1928 created crown or state land which was 6% out of the total landmass for the white settlers. This, of course, left 94% for the local people. We must note that the 6% was land mainly covering the copper-belt since the British South African company was only interested in the mining of copper.
However, when the mines were opened in 1932, there was demand for the production of food to feed mostly the African population working on the mines and the related industries. And hence, this therefore attracted white South Africa farmers to come and grow maize. And they established their farms in central Province, which became known as maize-belt.
‘’I would like to hear what we have done to violate the agreement with Queen Victoria, that we should live under her and be given protection. We look upon Federation as a proposal to bar Africans from advancing in the administration of their own Government. My people will not, in any way accept Federation.’’
The Northern Rhodesia (Native Trust Land) Orders-in-Council of 1947 created Trust Land as a result of pressure from the white settlers who demanded security on the land they occupied. Trust Land constituted about 58%. This was actually an extension of crown or state land to 64% while the reserve land for the local people was reduced to 36%. There was, however, a provision for government to consult traditional leaders before land in the Trust Land was accessed for any purpose.
However, there was discontent among Africans for that development in the land policy. And in 1952 a delegation went to London to present a protest memorandum to Her Majesty’s Government which was led by His Royal Highness Paramount Chief Chitimukulu Musungu and which included His Royal Highness Senior Chief Musokotwane; Mr. Harry Nkumbula, President-General of the African National Congress; Mr. Robinson Nabulyato, Secretary-General of the African National Congress and Mr. Lawrence Chola Katilungu, President of the African Mine workers Union.
And here is part of the memorandum: ‘’The placing of the final decision in the hand of the Secretary of the State for Colonies has to the safe guarding of the land rights of the Africans is no security even under the Protectorate Government…..Section 5 (1) of the Northern Rhodesia (Native Trust Land) Order-in-Council of 1947 allows the government to grant rights of occupation in Native Trust Land to non-white and Order-in-council (Native Reserves) of 17th August 1951 allows the Governor to grant land to corporations in Native Reserves.
Provision is, however, made for the prior consultation of the Native Authorities in the case of Native Trust Land, but not in the case of Native Reserves. The African people of Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) are much concerned about the safety of their land under the Protectorate Government. The laws which protected their land rights have been altered so as to make it possible for the Protectorate Government to alienate land.’’
His Royal Highness Paramount Chief Chitimukulu was interviewed by a journalist from Nottingham journal on 5th May, 1952: ‘’I would like to hear what we have done to violate the agreement with Queen Victoria, that we should live under her and be given protection. We look upon Federation as a proposal to bar Africans from advancing in the administration of their own Government. My people will not, in any way accept Federation.’’
After we attained our independence in 1964, the 58% of Trust Land was only in theory restored back to customary land i.e., to the original 94%. The point I must make clear is that after converting customary land to leasehold land, there is no provision to revert it back to customary land again. And hence it is gone forever. And so it was only the land that had not been converted to leasehold that was added to customary land and there are no statistics available so far to indicate the percentage of the actual physical land out of 58%, the Governor had allocated to corporations in Reserve Land. In other words, customary land only constituted to 94% from 1928 to 1946.
It is unfortunate we always hear even from officers at the Ministry of Lands claiming that customary land is 94% and I suppose it only requires minimal common sense to guess that customary land cannot be stagnant at 94% since 1928. In fact, the Lands and Deeds Registry Act 185 of 1996 edition was to establish accurate records for the proper transfer of ownership of lands. But this Act is so far defunct.
In fact, the white farmers bought those farms at 3 ngwee per acre, but when the new government wanted to buy the farms back, the owners demanded K100 per acre.
And stated earlier the white South African farmers had come to settle in Zambia, but they left the country just before we attained our independence since they could not accept to be ruled by Africans. However, their farms were on title and therefore the black government could not in anyway tamper with them since the white government had made laws to protect their interests i.e., there were clauses which barred the new government from taking over shops and the vast tracts of land of absentee ownership. In fact, the white farmers bought those farms at 3 ngwee per acre, but when the new government wanted to buy the farms back, the owners demanded K100 per acre.
But since the nationalists knew that it was their birthright land and unlike today when we are being pushed around by foreigners because we are being blinded by ‘’foolish democracy,’’ since our ears hitch for praise as ‘’good boys’’ maintaining ‘’democracy’’ from the capitalist-exploiters. For example the Daily Nation of 18th July 2017 came out with the headline: CHINESE DEFY MINISTER and story went on: ‘’Shumeite Investments limited, the Chinese firm erecting a four-storey building in Kalundu residential area has defied Lusaka Province Minister Japhet Mwakalombe and the National Council for Construction (NCC’s) directive to halt the project until construction procedures are followed..’’
The UNIP radicals led by Mr. Simon Kapwepwe launched a campaign towards the Referendum to end all referenda and to which the people consented in their votes of 17th June 1969. Thereafter was born a radicalized law which gave power to the Republican President under Lands (Acquisition) Act Cap 296 of the Laws of Zambia to compulsory acquire any land in the public interest. I must, however, make it clear that according to Professor Michelo Hansungule’s paper, Simplification of the 1995 Land Act stated in Article 7.15: .. there is no provision in the law for the President to compulsorily acquire customary land, the powers of acquisition can only be invoked for leasehold land….’’
This is how law dealt with the white absentee landlords and is applicable to anyone who abandons his undeveloped land. And it is only up to the legal team at the Ministry of Lands to prepare documents for the re-entry for the President to sign.
Labels: LAND REFORM, NORTHERN RHODESIA, ZAMBIA
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(SUNDAY MAIL ZW) More grain from Zambia by month end
Sunday, 03 November 2013 00:00
Sunday Mail Reporter
Zimbabwe is set to receive an additional 28 000 metric tonnes of grain from Zambia before the end of the month, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation, Cde Davis Marapira, has disclosed. The grain is set to be immediately distributed to some drought-stricken areas where Government has been distributing maize from the 10 000 metric tonnes it accessed from the country’s strategic grain reserve.
Cde Marapira disclosed that efforts to mobilise the money needed to ensure that the country takes delivery of the grain are already under way.
“Treasury is currently mobilising resources to import our next consignment of grain which should arrive in the country in the next 30 days. At least US$10 million is needed for the next consignment before the consignment is shipped.
“Presently we are distributing grain from the strategic grain reserves to areas where there are food deficits. We have also been receiving wheat from some friendly countries and it is always being distributed as part of measures aimed at ensuring that no one starves,” he said.
Recently, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Minister Dr Joseph Made told Cabinet that Zambia was demanding cash upfront before delivering any grain, resulting in only less than 20 000mt of grain out of the agreed 150 000mt having been received from Zambia so far.
He highlighted that the process of delivering grain takes more than 14 days since by law all maize must be fumigated before transportation while the transportation itself takes between seven to 14 days.
Labels: DAVIS MARAPIRA, MAIZE, ZAMBIA
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Zambia stands for peace - KK
By Moses Kuwema
Thu 31 Oct. 2013, 14:01 CAT
DR Kenneth Kaunda says Zambia stands for peace in Africa and the whole world. And outgoing United Nations resident coordinator Kanni Wignaraja says Zambia is a country that lives with a quiet set of contradictions.
Meanwhile, first lady Dr Christine Kaseba says, she has come across very few people who are not intimidated by her husband and Wignaraja is one of them.
During the 68th UN Day reception held at Taj Pamodzi hotel on Tuesday evening, Dr Kaunda said just like the UN, Zambia stood for peace in Africa and the whole world
"We must live together in harmony across factors such as colour, age, ethnicity and tribe," Dr Kaunda said.
He said the UN was a partner in the development process and there was need for collaboration to be stepped up.
Dr Kaunda told Wignaraja that she still had a place in Zambia and that she was free to come back if she so wished.
And Wignaraja said she has always referred to Zambia as a country that lives with a quiet set of contradictions.
She said these contradictions were not brought about as a result of lack of data or understanding, or a lack of capacities or knowledge.
"They are well known, and almost accepted. And this is where we need to keep questioning if this is good enough for a country wanting to take great strides forward. My family and I count ourselves so lucky to have lived and served here these past three and half years. I guess we have become a part of these sometimes calm, and sometimes chaotic contradictions! But, I have often repeated these famous words, that there are always 'a few crazy people who think they can change the world and they are the very ones that do'! So, I hope that both inside this hall and also somewhere out there, are those few crazy people who will tackle the big contradictions and shake it all up," Wignaraja said.
She said Zambia had been given the rare opportunity of being spared terrible tragedy, being unhurt by harsh wars and conflict, so that it could build its future on all that was positive from its history and heritage, and thrive and grow on the wings of a young and proud democracy.
Wignaraja's mission to Zambia comes to an end, at the end of November and she will be heading to the UN headquarters in the US.
And Dr Kaseba, who spoke highly of Wignaraja, described her as a very bold person who was never afraid to state the facts as they were.
"In my time as a wife to the president and my time as a wife to Mr Sata, I have come across very few people who are not intimidated by him. Kanni is one of those. Every time when we talk of Kanni, the President says that 'ka trouble maker'. He calls her a 'trouble maker' in a nice way because he knows that Kanni is always around to prod our government officials to do much better than what they do," she said.
And Dr Kaseba said Wignaraja's leadership at the UN's offices in Zambia has been tremendous.
She said Wignaraja had become synonymous with the issue of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
"Kanni has contributed to the change in the mindset of the way people perceive the MDGs issue. For a long time, people thought the MDG was an issue of the government, but under her leadership, I think everyone has come to identify with the MDGs, whether they are youths, old people, civil servants," she said.
Earlier, Dr Kaseba caused laughter when she disclosed that she was a gate-crasher at the event.
"I am sure everyone must be wondering why we are having so many people attending the 68 UN Day reception. Some of us are party-crashers. We are gate-crushers because State House is almost like a maximum prison. At least a maximum prison has inmates, but in my case I have only got one inmate, who presently is in the mood to cane people, so I had to run away," said Dr Kaseba amidst laughter from the audience.
Meanwhile, visiting Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway, who is the United Nations Development Programme's Goodwill Ambassador and was the special guest at the event, said his country and Zambia had enjoyed cordial relations since the latter's independence.
Prince Haakon said, from the beginning, Norway provided economic and political support to Zambia.
Labels: CHRISTINE KASEBA, KANNI WIGNARAJA, KENNETH KAUNDA, ZAMBIA
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(SUNDAY MAIL ZW) Govt orders GMB to distribute 10 000 tonnes of maize
Sunday, 08 September 2013 00:00
Sunday Mail Reporters
Government has ordered the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to distribute more than 10 000 metric tonnes of maize from the country’s Strategic Grain Reserve to five provinces that are facing food shortages.
Outgoing Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Dr Joseph Made told The Sunday Mail last week that distribution is expected to commence this week.
He added that Government has sent a team from the GMB to Zambia to take delivery of part of the 150 000 metric tonnes of maize, which is part of a grain deal the two countries signed early this year.
He, however, did not disclose the amount of maize expected.
“We have ordered GMB to distribute 10 000 metric tonnes of maize to areas that have been worst affected by drought and are facing imminent food shortages,” said Dr Made.
“Government is continuing to import maize from Zambia under a government-to-government arrangement where we purchased 150 000 metric tonnes of maize.
“We are yet to take full delivery of all the maize since it is being delivered in batches. As we speak we already have a team from the GMB who are loading the grain in Zambia and we expect them to conclude anytime soon.
“The programme will continue in order for the country to feed people in areas without food.”
Dr Made added that priority will be given to people in the southern parts of the country.
“The first priority would be given to people in Matabeleland South, parts of Midlands, Masvingo, Manicaland and Matabeleland North.
“There are also other parts of Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West which lie within the Lowveld areas that were affected by drought.”
He added that distribution of the grain from Zambia will commence once the 10 000 metric tonnes from the strategic reserve has been exhausted.
The 2012-2013 summer cropping season was adversely affected by delayed rainfall as well as a prolonged dry spell.
According to the final crop assessment report by the Ministry of Agriculture, 1 689 786 hectares were put under maize during the 2011/12 agriculture season, but 45 percent of the crop was a write-off.
Among the worst affected provinces are Masvingo, which had 155 484 ha, Midlands with 137 663 ha and Manicaland (94 271) of their maize crops written off.
According to the 2012 Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee Survey (Zimvac), an estimated 1,7 million people in Zimbabwe require food assistance.
However, President Mugabe has assured Zimbabweans that no one will die of hunger as the Government has sourced enough grain.
Labels: GRAIN MARKETING BOARD (ZW), JOSEPH MADE, MAIZE, ZAMBIA
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Zim begins to receive maize imported from Zambia
By Elita Chikwati in Harare, Zimbabwe
Sat 01 June 2013, 14:01 CAT
COMMENT - This is the MDC at work, putting the manipulation of the Zimbawean people before helping them.
THE 150,000 tonnes of maize imported by Zimbabwe from Zambia have started trickling in, agriculture minister Dr Joseph Made has said.
The grain was imported under a government-to-government arrangement
despite attempts by finance minister Tendai Biti, who is also MDC-T secretary general, to block the deal.
He wanted the maize to be imported by private buyers, a development that would have put the grain beyond the reach of many needy families.
This, analysts said, was part of MDC-T's plans to create conditions for protest votes, a throwback to election 2008.
Made on Thursday said priority would be given to parts of the country in desparate need of the commodity.
"Priority areas are Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North, Midlands, Masvingo and some parts of Manicaland. It is important that governors and chiefs work closely with the Grain Marketing Board to ensure the maize reaches as many families as possible."
Made said chiefs should ensure the maize is allocated to families in dire need.
"Everybody needs food but we have to prioritise the worst affected. There are some families without anything and these should be given to priority," he said.
Made urged chiefs to monitor the situation on the ground since stocks were still low.
Zimbabwe imported the maize to ease shortages caused by
last season's poor rains.
Officially launching the Food and Nutrition Policy recently, President Robert Mugabe said payment modalities for the grain would be discussed later.
He said his Zambian counterpart President Michael Sata made the pledge during a telephone conversation.
Labels: JOSEPH MADE, MAIZE, MDC TREASON, NEOLIBERALISM, TENDAI BITI, ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE
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Finland ponders helping Zambia go green
By Gift Chanda
Fri 17 May 2013, 14:00 CAT
FINLAND says it is seeking ways of helping Zambia move towards embracing green economy.
Finnish Ambassador to Zambia Pertti Anttinen said yesterday that there was need for Zambia to move towards embracing green economy because its emerging economy was increasing the demand for new and sustainable solutions in natural resource development, renewable energies as well as green building.
The concept of green economy focuses primarily on the intersection between the environment and economy.
Ambassador Anttinen said Finland wants to explore ways it could assist Zambia promote this concept of sustainable development.
He disclosed that a delegation of private sector players and government officials would next week arrive in the country to seek ways of forging ties towards a green Zambian economy.
Ambassador Anttinen said Finnish Minister of International Development Heidi Hautala and Alexander Stubb, Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade, would also be part of the delegation to attend what is called the Zambian-Finnish Business Partnership week aimed at deepening Finnish business engagement in Zambia's green economy.
Ambassador Anttinen said the green economy concept was important for both Zambia and Finland due to its immense benefits which include creation of sustainable jobs.
He also emphasized the need to diversify the Zambian economy to promote trade with other countries.
Ambassador Anttinen said the economic woes of western economies would entail taking a different approach towards assistance to Africa.
"The trend lately has been countries moving towards promoting trade while limiting ODA Official Direct Aid," Ambassador Anttinen said, adding that, "During the meeting, business firms from Finland will find ways on how they can forge ties to promote more trade with their Zambian counterparts."
The Zambia-Finnish Business Partnership week will run from today to Wednesday next week.
Labels: AMBASSADOR, FINLAND, GREEN ENERGY, PERTTI ANTTINEN, ZAMBIA
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Zimbabwe, Zambia agree prisoner swap
11/03/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
Zambian prisons hold 27 Zimbabwean nationals, while 35 Zambians are currently serving time in Zimbabwean jails.
Zimbabwe’s Acting Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is also the Defence Minister, signed an MoU with Zambia’s Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lunga last Thursday at the conclusion of the 28th Session of the Zimbabwe/Zambia Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security held in Victoria Falls.
State Security Minister Sydney Sekeramayi said: “What was being signed was an MoU that would enable the Zimbabweans serving in Zambian prisons to be transferred and serve their terms in Zimbabwe and reciprocally for Zambians in Zimbabwean prisons to be repatriated to go and serve their prison sentences in Zambia.”
Sekeramayi said what remained was administrative work to complete the swap – the first time Zimbabwe has entered such an agreement.
Labels: PRISONERS, ZAMBIA
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US$7 million grain stuck in Zambia
Sunday, 17 February 2013 00:00
Kudakwashe Bwititi and Itai Mazire
More than 17 000 tonnes of maize worth US$7 million belonging to Zimbabwean grain millers are stuck in Zambia after authorities in that country introduced a grain export ban. Concerns have already been raised that Zimbabwe could experience maize meal shortages on the back of dwindling grain supplies. Zambian Embassy officials in Harare could not be reached for comment.
In an interview last Friday, Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) chairman Mr Tafadzwa Musarara said Zambia’s Food Reserve Agency refused to release the grain although all due payments had been made. He said about 12 000 tonnes belong to National Foods and the remainder to Alpha Grain.
“The white maize export ban imposed by Zambia in December 2012 has resulted in Zimbabwean millers being unable to collect pre-paid white maize from the Food Reserve Agency of Zambia and private traders. We are owed a total of 17 000 tonnes, which is worth up to US$7 million at current commercial value,” he said.
Mr Musarara said millers who paid for their consignments are in a quandary as Zambian authorities are refusing to open negotiations. Lusaka has also refused to refund the millers in lieu of the outstanding deliveries, he added.
Mr Musarara said some parts of Zimbabwe are experiencing maize meal shortages after the Grain Marketing Board ran out of maize to supply millers last month.
Industry and Commerce Minister Professor Welshman Ncube said it would not be difficult to thrash out an agreement with the Zambians.
He said several Sadc protocols on free trade could be used to recover the grain.
“We have very good trade relations with Zambia. What they (GMAZ) should do is approach us so that we speak directly to our counterparts in Zambia because they are not difficult to talk to,” he said.
Last week, the association wrote to the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development seeking recourse.
Part of the letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Cde Ngoni Masoka, reads: “Should you find it necessary, our national executive is keen to accompany you to Zambia for the negotiations of the same.
“We strongly believe that your esteemed office, through government to government negotiations, is able to facilitate these deliveries and we thank you in advance for your anticipated valued assistance.”
Labels: WHEAT, ZAMBIA
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The untold friction between Zanu, Kaunda
Sunday, 18 November 2012 00:00
Comrade Kumbirai Kangai (KK) can simply be described as the Zanu-PF dictionary. He was a member of Dare reChimurenga and clearly articulates the formation and history of Zanu in very revealing ways. In this interview with our Assistant Editor Munyaradzi Huni (MH), Cde Kangai confesses that during the early days of the struggle, Zanu did not handle things properly and goes on to say the first Dare reChimurenga "went on to become a shame". He narrates the friction between Zanu and Zambia's founding father President Kenneth Kaunda, he gives a blow-by-blow account of how President Mugabe became the leader of Zanu and gives his account of Chairman Chitepo's death. Read on . . .
MH: You have a long history during and after the liberation struggle. As we begin this interview, can you tell us how exactly do you describe yourself?
KK: (laughs) That's a very difficult person. I think I would do justice to myself if I say Kumbirai Kangai is a stubborn, committed individual who when he has made up his mind that he wants to do something, it has to be done. I set a goal and I say I must reach that goal and it has to be reached. No matter what comes, I struggle to reach the goal.
MH: Were you like this growing up or it's a character that developed over the years, especially during the liberation struggle?
KK: Well, I can't say I was like that when I was young. It came up later on.
MH: Stubborn as you were, when did you first have a clash with authorities?
KK: I went to Makumbe Mission for my primary education and later went to Zimuto Secondary School where all hell broke loose. I was a member of the school Sunday classes. One day I asked a question. I said, hey, we are told that Adam and Eve were the first people. Adam had his son Cain and Abel. Cain killed Abel and God said where is your brother and Cain said I don't know where my brother is. God said no, no, no you must know. He later admitted that he had killed Abel. Then he was told, you should now go to the East and stay there. Cain said "I need an insignia that I am an innocent person because I will be killed by people". Then I said who were these other people? We take it that at that time it was Adam and Eve and the two children. So who are these other people? Where did they come from? I tell you hell broke loose. The missionary there became very angry. He said you have got bad spirits. I was chased away from the Sunday School. I went to the dormitory and slept. The principal later came and he said "mwana", follow me. He was on his bicycle and I was running besides him. He told me that he was going to beat me up because I had bad spirits. After being beaten five whips he said we should pray together. After this I was ordered to go and pray with him everyday in the morning. He would pray saying, "God help this boy. He has evil spirits and he doesn't understand things that are said in the Bible." After four days, he said now you are fine. He ordered me to join people from the school who were going in groups into villages to preach. Of course I never joined these groups. From that point on, I resisted anything that is religious . . .
MH: So this gave birth to the politician in you?
KK: As I was resisting things that were happening in church, I joined the NDP political party in 1959. We got involved in politics quietly underground at night but during the day we would appear like very good boys. When I went to Murehwa, my involvement in politics got worse. I later joined Zanu in 1963 when it was born. NDP was banned. We became Zapu. Zapu was banned, and then we split from Zapu to Zanu in 1963. At that time I was just a teacher involved in politics underground. We were civil servants so we were not allowed to do politics but underground it was full-blown politics . . . After a long run with police, after being arrested and released I later got a scholarship to go to the United States in 1965. This was after I had applied for my passport using my middle name so I became Manyika Manyika. When I got to the United States I discovered there were many Zimbabweans there . . . I was studying Public Health. I got elected as secretary for publicity into the Zimbabwe Student Union while in the US. Later I was made chief representative of Zanu in North America.
MH: So you can say this was your first official position in Zanu?
KK: Yes. This was 1970 now. We had battles with some students who told us to leave politics. But I wanted to come back home and liberate Zimbabwe. I travelled all over America telling Zimbabweans that we should go back home to liberate our country. I was working with Dauramanzi, Chris Mapondera and many others. We would meet and always examine the situation back home and sourced materials to support the struggle. Later, I did Medical Technology. Soon after I went to Tanzania where I joined the liberation struggle full time in 1972. I was received by John Mataure, who was the chief representative in Tanzania. After working there for some time, I was then called by Chairman Chitepo. He said you should come to Zambia. So I went to Zambia. While in Zambia the debate then began about sending comrades to the front. We said we should not send people to the front; five, 10 people and they get killed. We said we should now embark on guerilla warfare. I had read Mao Tse-tung; I had read Fidel Castro and studied the Korean struggle so I was speaking in theoretical terms. We debated this for hours. While in Zambia, Rugare Gumbo joined me. So of the vast numbers of people in the US when I was recruiting people to come back home, five people initially agreed to come back, but at the last minute three of them refused and so only me and Gumbo came back. Later the party agreed that we should embark on guerilla warfare.
MH: Did you have enough resources for guerilla warfare?
KK: When I came in, we had very limited support. Then our support grew. We got the support of Sweden. They gave us money and we bought a farm in Zambia where we were training our comrades. We got weapons from China, Yugoslavia and other countries. When we started the North-East Rhodesia (now Mashonaland Central) campaign, that's when we really started getting lots of support.
MH: Some of the comrades you deployed during the early days say the leadership sent them to war when they were ill-equipped. What is your comment?
KK: It was disastrous. Let me take the 1966 Chinhoyi battle. These comrades were trained in Tanzania. After training they came to Zambia and they were given ammunition. Very ill-equipped and were sent to war. When they got in the Chinhoyi area, they decided to attack and, hey, they were bombed. They were all wiped out. Now these were the incidences which we were citing to say no, no, no, this is not the way to do it. We want now to go into Zimbabwe and conscientise villagers about the war, so that they know we were coming to fight. So when we attacked Altena Farm, this really made people aware that we meant business.
MH: But, Cde Kangai, is it true that some comrades were sent to the front without ammunition just to make a statement to the then OAU?
KK: I have to admit, there was no one at that time who had knowledge about guerilla warfare. So people were just sent to the front. Sent people, this one with one pistol, this one with this. That was not proper, but it also made an impact at OAU to say we were serious about the struggle.
MH: So is it true to say during the early days of the liberation struggle, things were not handled properly from the Zanu side?
KK: Yes, that's true. There was lack of experience, lack of knowledge of guerilla warfare, but when we decided that guerilla warfare was the only way to fight the struggle, we were now well equipped and well trained for it.
MH: Now, you are in Lusaka at the Liberation Centre. What was your role there?
KK: At the Liberation Centre I was just helping. I really didn't have a defined role. But then when we went for the bi-annual conference in 1973, I was elected into Dare reChimurenga. We were only eight in this Dare. There was Chairman Chitepo, Hamadziripi, Mukudzei Mudzi, Noel Mukono, Mataure, Tongogara, Rugare Gumbo and myself.
MH: What exactly was the purpose of this Dare?
KK: We were charged with the responsibility of prosecuting the liberation struggle to its conclusion.
MH: Whose idea was this Dare reChimurenga?
KK: Mostly I would say it was Herbert Chitepo.
MH: Before Dare reChimurenga was there any other body which was charged with the same responsibility?
KK: Yes, there was another one which was called the Revolutionary Council. It was joined by many people and then we said we are not serious. We must have few people who will discuss and manage the liberation struggle. That's when we decided on Dare reChimurenga.
MH: So your group of eight, was this the first group of Dare or there were others before you?
KK: Ours was the second Dare. The first Dare was there but, haa, it became a shame.
MH: Who were the people who constituted this first Dare?
KK: There was Chitepo, Simon Mutambanengwe, Hamadziripi, Mukudzei Mudzi, Washington Malianga, Noel Mukono, Robson Manyika and there was this man who became really a traitor. You know what this man did; he went to the United States and disappeared. Completely disappeared. We later heard that he was married to some white woman in the United States. It was atrocious.
MH: When he left, did he sell out some information to the enemy?
KK: Of course he did. That first Dare was divided on tribal lines. Very serious divisions. When we came I said vakomana, I am not Zezuru, I am not Manyika or anything, I am a combatant who is ready to fight Ian Smith. That's all. I don't want to hear anything called tribe. Robson Manyika, Rugare Gumbo, myself and Mukudzei Mudzi we were a core team that really championed the revolution. We said we don't want to hear anything called tribe. We don't want to hear anybody who says he wants power from our leaders who were in detention. Those who were in detention were our heroes. We will liberate them.
MH: Make me understand something here. There is the first Dare and the Second Dare but your leaders were in prison?
KK: Yes.
MH: Even if they are in prison and you are executing the war, they remained your leaders?
KK: Yes. They remained absolutely our leaders.
MH: So when you were elected into the second Dare, who were the leaders of Zanu at that time?
KK: The leader at that time was Herbert Chitepo as chairman. He was such a dynamic leader. I tell you it was a great loss to lose that man. To tell you the truth, he was a very intelligent person. He was hard working. He had the mind of liberating Zimbabwe. And this business of land, he said they came and they started parcelling out our land. Each one pays two shillings for several hectares of land. He was really bitter about it. He provided what I call real leadership. That Second Dare, it really did a lot.
MH: What were some of the highlights in terms of achievement that were made by this Second Dare?
KK: We were the ones who were able to popularise the liberation struggle. We sent comrades to North-East Rhodesia, of course we had signed a protocol with Frelimo. Our comrades went in as Frelimo in Tete province and then they moved into Rhodesia. The first group there were four . . . there was Chinamaropa, Chauke, Enerst Kadungure and John Gwitira. Gwitira later became a sellout. When these four got into Rhodesia they met some elders who took them to the spirit medium of Mbuya Nehanda, who went on to say "ndiwo mapfupa angu andaitaura aya. Mapfupa angu amuka. Vapei zvese zvavanoda". From there we started getting lots and lots of people wanting to join the struggle. Smith didn't know what was happening. When we suspected that Smith knew what was going on, we attacked Altena Farm. After this Smith announced that this was going to be a nine-day wonder. I am going to wipe them out.
MH: Why Altena Farm?
KK: Well, it was chosen to just give an example to the farmers that we have come, the owners of this country, you better beware. Altena Farm was attacked in December 1972. From there on, the war went full scale and Smith became very ruthless to the blacks. The war had started in earnest and it was irreversible.
MH: Cde Kangai, I was at Altena Farm a few months ago. The house that was attacked is still there riddled with bullets. The white man who used to live there we hear he visits the house and just walks around the yard and leaves. Why can't this house be protected to preserve the country's history?
KK: You know we really have problems. You know in Highfield here, we have Chitepo's house there, we have President Mugabe's house there, we have Nkomo's house there. We should take all these, including Altena Farm, and make them sacred places where people visit to actually see how these people lived and how the war was fought.
Anyway, let's get back to the struggle. The revolutionary path we had taken was irreversible and we said we will all die to liberate our country. I told you earlier on that if I set to achieve a certain goal, I will make sure I achieve it, no matter what happens. They killed Chitepo and the Zambian government said Dare reChimurenga, high command, you are all arrested. Why? Because you have killed your chairman.
MH: Now we get to Chitepo's death. Can you chronicle to us what exactly happened because we hear so many versions about his death?
KK: This Dare reChimurenga had become a thorn in the flesh for the colonial regime. They put up leaflets saying if anyone assists and we arrest any member of Dare, we will give you US$10 000. They finally came to the conclusion that it is Chitepo who is the brains behind the whole thing. They did everything possible. Have you seen the book, See You in November. What's in that book is exactly what they did. They planned here at Park Lane, here in Harare. They said we must kill Chitepo, if we kill him, we would have killed the revolution, unfortunately for them this was not the case. They almost killed the revolution because when Chitepo was killed, members of Dare were arrested.
MH: When Chitepo was killed, I mean when that bomb went off in his car, where were you?
KK: I was in Lusaka. I had just come back from a trip in the US, UK and West Africa. First day, Chitepo asked me to go with him to the Yugoslavia ambassador in Zambia. So we went there and this ambassador said "you know the Second World War, Yugoslavia was isolated. You people are just getting to the same level." He looked up to the roof and said "come to my house I will tell you more". We left. Second day, I woke up and I was waiting for Chitepo to give me a lift to the Liberation Centre. I saw that time was gone and he had not come. I got a lift to the Liberation Centre. I opened my office. I started opening mail which had been pilling up during my absence. Then all of a sudden I heard a girl, who was a security officer.
She said, "Shef, there was an explosion at Chairman Chitepo's house." I then asked so where is the chairman? She didn't answer. I left everything and rushed to Chitepo's house. I got there, found many people there. You know this man, Tim Chigudu, got me and said that blanket you see there is Chitepo and that one there is one of his bodyguards. The other bodyguard has been taken to hospital. I asked him what happened and he said there was an explosion in the car and the car was ripped apart. I tell you I was shocked. A few minutes later Gumbo arrived, Hamadziripi arrived, Mukudzei Mudzi arrived and we were now four members of the Dare. We asked each other what we were supposed to do. We decided to go to President Kaunda's office to tell him what had happened. We drove there and sat for hours. He didn't attend to us.
MH: Sorry, Cde, did you open the blanket to see the body of Chairman Chitepo?
KK: No, I didn't. The third day, I was then asked to go and positively identify Chitepo at Lusaka Hospital. I went there and identified Chitepo and preparations were made for his burial. In the meantime, we issued a statement as Dare reChimurenga saying what has happened is the work of imperialists who are trying to destroy our liberation struggle. Gumbo was the publicity secretary. We just told him and he drafted the statement which we issued out.
MH: You said you went and tried to see Kaunda, but you didn't see him. Why?
KK: I really don't know why. He never talked to us. So we went back to the house. A day later we were all arrested by the Zambian government. We spent 22 months in prison.
MH: Arrested for what?
KK: They said for murdering Chitepo.
MH: What evidence did they have?
KK: Ahh, nothing. First the five of us, members of Dare, we were put in Mukoweko Prison. It was myself, Rugare Gumbo, Mukudzei Mudzi, Hamadziripi and Tongogara. Each one in his cell. Noel Mukono was out on a trip and Mataure had gotten involved in the revolt which had taken place. The Vashandi revolt. We were locked up for 22 months. We then said try us, if we are guilty, yes, we hang. If we are not guilty, you let us free. A detention order would be renewed all the time. We would be told, pack your things. We would pack our things, walk for a few metres, another detention order is brought and we are sent back into prison.
MH: That's quite strange. Tell us something, before this incident happened, were you members of Dare in good books with the Zambian authorities?
KK: Zanu party we were not in good books with the Zambian authorities.
MH: Why?
KK: They were in favour of Nkomo. That was the problem.
MH: Did they favour Nkomo because Zapu was older than Zanu or what?
KK: Aaahhh, there is a lot that I can say, suffice to say we were not in good books with the Zambian government.
MH: So you are arrested for 22 months and then what happened?
KK: While we were in detention there, we were five. We made resolutions as Dare. The first resolution was to expel Ndabaningi Sithole as president of Zanu.
MH: Clarify something here. Chitepo was the chairman, Ndabaningi Sithole was the president of Zanu?
KK: Yes. The second resolution was, no matter what happens to us, our fate is in the hands of the Zambian government, but all this is immaterial. The struggle will have to go on. So we smuggled out lots of documents which went to the cadres giving them direction. We were telling them that the only thing we have to do is to form a united front with Zapu.
MH: Why were you saying you no longer wanted Sithole?
KK: I will come to that. We also sent information to the cadres that you must form a united front with Zapu. The history of the liberation struggle is littered with united fronts. We have to form a united front and fight on. So they went and formed Zipa. Whilst that was going on, the British got to know that these people who are detained are the force to reckon with. So they put pressure on Kaunda to release us. The British then called for the Geneva talks. The cadres were saying no one should go to Geneva, except our leaders who are in prison. Zambia then took a decision to release some of us, but Cde Tongogara, Cde Chimurenga and Saddat were charged for assassinating Chitepo. This was very strange. They held the trial and there was no evidence. So a month after our release, the three also got released. Then we went to Geneva in 1976.
MH: What was your game plan as Zanu as you went to the Geneva Conference?
KK: We had our principles that we were using for negotiations. We wanted one man, one vote in Zimbabwe. We also said there has to be a joint committee to draft the constitution and many other things. When we went to Geneva, Ivory Richard was the British ambassador at the UN. He came there and addressed us, saying we want to resolve this. He came again for the second day, but on the third day he just disappeared. We were told by some newsman that he had left. So we said fine, we also would like the Geneva Conference to collapse.
MH: Why did you want the Geneva Conference to collapse?
KK: We wanted to strengthen our forces. Our forces were dismantled by the death of Chitepo and the arbitrary arrest of other comrades. You see Mozambique was now independent so we wanted to organise a formidable army to execute the war. Before we left Geneva, there was a declaration by Abel Muzorewa that those fighting in Zipa are my people. We said, how can these comrades be his people, so we went myself, Hamadziripi and Tongogara to Mozambique to go and collect commanders like Rex Nhongo so that they could say where they belonged. The commanders made it clear that they were Zanu and didn''t belong to Muzorewa.
MH: Let's go back to the Sithole issue. Explain why you didn't want him to continue as your leader?
KK: You are very persistent and you don't forget issues. Anyway, when we were arrested, Sithole made a statement that these people must be killed. He had been released from prison. The district officials in Zambia said this is what your president is saying. He is saying you are the ones who killed Chitepo and you must be killed. Then there is another more serious thing that he did. The cadres who were at Mboroma were detained. You were asked which party are you? If you said Zanu, you were detained. Over 2 000 people were detained over Chitepo's death. Then there was a quarrel between some of our cadres and the police in Zambia. The Zambian police shot our cadres. Some of the cadres there went to a house where Sithole was staying and told him the exact story of what had happened and that he should issue a statement. They said it was unfair to kill these innocent cadres. The following day he left for the US. We said no, no, no. He completely abandoned the fundamental principles of the party. He was even against the idea of socialism. Then we said no, no, no.
MH: This was your leader. In the past had he shown signs that he could do this?
KK: That was a puzzle to us — dereliction of duty. Instead of rushing to the camp to see what had happened, see those who were injured and those who were killed, he left for the US to see his daughter who had flu. From that moment, we said no, he is no more our president. And from that point on we wrote a letter to President Mugabe. We said Vice-President Takawira is dead. Now you are our next president. You should assume the revolutionary responsibility to execute the war.
MH: Where was President Mugabe and what was his role at that time?
KK: He was in Mozambique. He was sort of confined just there. Just parked there.
MH: Why did you choose him?
KK: We knew him. He is a strong character. He has the revolutionary mind. And we said he should take over the rest of the struggle.
MH: This letter you are referring to, is this the Mgagao document or what?
KK: There was the Mgagao document and the letter which we wrote. We wrote a letter as Dare to the now President, vaMugabe, saying take over. He then became the secretary-general of the party and the acting leader. That was in 1975.
MH: Did Sithole try to fight back?
KK: Oh, yes, he did! He continued to say he was the leader until he decided to say his party now was Zanu Ndonga. We said it's okay we remain Zanu.
MH: When President Mugabe got the letter you wrote, what did he do?
KK: He was still parked in Quelimane in Mozambique together with Tekere. They were just put in a house there. I think the Mozambican government did a good thing, they were trying to study the sentiments to see what was really happening. Then after some time, Cde Mugabe managed to go to Britain. While there he got on Focus on Africa and while in detention we had smuggled a radio and we listened to Cde Mugabe speaking. After listening to him, we all applauded. He gave a very good speech. He said well, if the comrades say I must take over, it is their opinion and I will respect that. He was very emphatic.
MH: So after Geneva you came back to Mozambique, but we are told you were met with problems there. Explain to us what happened.
KK: When we got to Mozambique, we didn't know that the Zipa side of Zanu was thinking that they were in charge of the party. They didn't care about the members of the central committee who had been elected in Gweru, they didn't care about members of Dare.
MH: Who were these people?
KK: There was Dzinashe Machingura and others. So there was a problem and they called themselves Vashandi. They said we are the workers. We don't want these shefs. This took some time, but we organised quietly and we were able to identify the ringleaders. We then called for debate, we said we would want to have an ideological debate in Beira. The leaders of these Vashandi came from all the camps and we got in a big hall. Names were then read out and these people were ordered to go outside where they were arrested by the Mozambicans who were waiting outside. We later cleaned up the camps and we started organising the struggle.
MH: So there was this revolt by this Vashandi group and there was also the Nhari Rebellion?
KK: The Nhari group was a different one. We have information that the Nhari group was contacted by the Special Branch in the Smith government. They were discussing with the Special Branch and they were told to take over Zanu. The Special Branch told them that we want to settle with you. They then started arresting commanders who didn't agree with them, starting from Tete up to Chifombo.
MH: Who are some of these commanders who were arrested?
KK: Josiah Tungamirai, Dauramanzi, Ndangana and many others. They were arrested. I was in China at that time. When I came back, at the airport I was told there is a revolt. This was in 1974. Again in 1974, Kaunda called for an all-party conference in Lusaka and we all gathered there. At that time, Sithole had been released and we said he is our president. Sithole and others had had differences in prison. And those in prison didn't want him as the party leader. Those who were in prison included Morris Nyagumbo, Nkala, Cde Mugabe, Tekere they had said no, we no longer recognise Sithole as our leader. When we went to Lusaka, we said no, Sithole is our president. We said we were advancing the revolution using his name. These four comrades who had been in prison later decided to agree that Sithole was our leader. Then of course that's when he committed these other errors. So this was the basis of the Nhari rebellion. It was caused by the Special Branch. This rebellion was led by Nhari and Badza. This rebellion took some time. We had to call for reinforcements from Tanzania. They came and we went into the camps and we arrested them.
MH: What happened to these leaders after they were arrested?
KK: They were executed. Nhari, Badza they were executed. That's when Mataure was also executed. He was a member of Dare but was part of this rebellion. So the whole group was eliminated.
MH: These people were eliminated by a firing squad or what?
KK: Well, no. There were other means that were used.
MH: Ok, let's go back to the Vashandi group after they were arrested by the Mozambican authorities. What happened?
KK: They were taken over by Frelimo and were put at some island and were kept there until independence. We then now started the war with Tongogara playing a very pivotal role. We were now executing the war using guerilla warfare with vaMugabe as our leader.
This interview will be continued next week where Cde Kangai will be talking about two incidents where he came face to face with death. He will talk in detail about his last few moments with Cde Tongogara and who he thinks should take over from President Mugabe.
Labels: HERBERT CHITEPO, KENNETH KAUNDA, LIBERATION, ROBERT MUGABE, ZAMBIA, ZANU-PF
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Zambia, Russia agree to intensify co-operation
By Staff Reporter
Mon 01 Oct. 2012, 12:30 CAT
ZAMBIA and Russia have agreed to intensify their bilateral co-operation in the face of the current global crisis.
The agreement was made during a meeting between Zambia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Given Lubinda and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in New York last Friday on the sidelines of the just-ended 67th United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement issued by Russian Ambassador to Zambia Boris Malakov, the two ministers "discussed the issues of further development of the Russian-Zambian relations in the context of common readiness of both countries to intensify the multifaceted bilateral co-operation".
"Current aspects of regional and international agenda were considered as well with the accent on the consolidated efforts in curbing the global economic crisis," stated Malakov.
Labels: RUSSIA, ZAMBIA
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Mugabe describes Zambia, Zim as Siamese twins
By Sydney Kawadza and Takunda Maodza in Harare
Sat 28 Apr. 2012, 15:30 CAT
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe says African countries should be guided by the principle of generating African solutions to African challenges. And President Michael Sata said his visit was a standing tradition fulfilled by his predecessors over the years.
Welcoming President Sata on a state visit to Zimbabwe on Wednesday, President Mugabe said: "It is therefore crucial that we equip the AU with the requisite provisions to enable it to contend with phenomena that threaten to destabilise the continent."
President Mugabe called for a reformed UN system that would have no room for unilateralism by Western powers which abuse their disproportionate power in such bodies.
"Zimbabwe will continue to be guided by the principles of mutual respect and unbending regard for the sovereign will of independent nations. The regard we give to all nations of the world is the respect we expect from the same world," he said.
President Mugabe described Zimbabwe and Zambia as Siamese twins.
"That we are inseparable can be traced back to the old times when our two peoples traded and shared the great Zambezi River. Then there was the ill-fated Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland which left large numbers of our people on either side of our borders.
"To this day, we have Zambians who have chosen to make Zimbabwe their home, as well as Zimbabweans who have done the same in Zambia," he said.
President Mugabe hosted a state banquet in hour of his Zambian counterpart at State House on Wednesday.
The two leaders had earlier held private talks before witnessing the signing of two memorandums of understanding of co-operation in tourism and youth development.
Tourism and hospitality industry minister Walter Mzembi and youth development, indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere signed on behalf of Zimbabwe while Zambian foreign affairs and tourism minister Given Lubinda signed for the latter.
The MoU in tourism shows the level of co-operation between the two countries that will co-host the 20th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation next year.
The youth development co-operation will see youths from both countries exchanging visits and notes to share ideas on how they can contribute to the development of both nations.
In his speech, President Mugabe pledged Zimbabwe's commitment to working with its Zambian counterparts in efforts to chart a successful future for the two countries.
President Mugabe also hailed Zambia's contribution to Zimbabwe's struggle for independence since it attained statehood in 1964.
"You suffered reprisals by the Smith regime because of the support you gave us. Lives were lost in Zambia because of your solidarity with our liberation struggle. In spite of all these actions by the settler regime, Zambia relentlessly supported our struggle.
"It is this assistance from Zambia and other Frontline States which enabled us through the armed struggle to end settler colonialism and bring about independence in Zimbabwe," he said.
President Mugabe said the 20th General Assembly of the UNTWO to be co-hosted by the two countries next year should present opportunities for co-operation between the two countries."
He hailed the signing of the MoU on co-operation to jointly construct a US$4 billion 1,650 megawatt hydro-power station at Batoka Gorge.
"Such infrastructural projects are the enablers of real and sustainable economic development. As a matter of fact, this project is as important to our two countries as it is to the whole Southern Africa region which, as you know, is experiencing a critical power deficit," he said.
He said the inclusive government was currently addressing a few issues in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement including the removal of sanctions, conduct of elections and conclusion of the constitution-making process.
"In that regard, I would like to express our gratitude to your country for its consistent stance against these sanctions," he said.
President Mugabe said Zimbabwe and Zambia shared the same sentiments on the unfamiliar challenges such as the Arab uprisings and security threats in the Sahel region which are nurtured by external interference.
President Sata said Zambia and Zimbabwe's relations, dating back to the pre-independence era, were founded on common traditions and cultural values. He said Zambia could not celebrate its independence without the liberation of Zimbabwe.
"It is for that reason Zambia fought tirelessly to ensure that our brothers and sisters in Southern Rhodesia, and indeed the rest of the region, attained their independence," he said.
He paid tribute to Zimbabwe's liberation war heroes.
"Today, we can stand here and say that their sacrifice was not in vain as Zimbabwe, Zambia and all other countries in the region enjoy a vibrant spirit of nationhood that is admirable on the continent," he said.
Calling President Mugabe, the "Chief of Chimurenga", President Sata said his visit was a standing tradition fulfilled by his predecessors over the years.
"Such is a clear testimony of the strong bilateral ties that exist between our governments and two peoples. I am certain that this visit will afford our two countries yet another opportunity to interact and further consolidate the excellent relations that we enjoy."
He said the signing of the two MoUs by the two governments would further enhance social and economic relations.
"To this effect, I would like to re-affirm Zambia's commitment to strengthening our bilateral relations through increased economic co-operation in various areas, as identified by the Joint Permanent Commission of Co-operation," he said.
President Sata said since the two countries were landlocked, Zambia and Zimbabwe had made strides to make them land-linked through the Chirundu One-Stop-Border Post.
He said this had improved efforts towards trade facilitation particularly on the North-South Corridor and reducing costs on the route.
He said the UNTWO General Assembly will shine the spotlight on Victoria Falls and Livingstone while showcasing the beauty and splendour of the Victoria Falls.
President Sata said co-operation within the region was imperative.
"Our collaborative effort to build a strong region characterised by deeper integration, increased intra-regional trade and the free movement of peoples, is driven by a desire to engender unity and prosperity for the region," he said.
He hailed Zimbabwe's strides towards economic growth as an indication of the strong foundation on which the economy is built.
"These achievements are beneficial not only to Zimbabwe but to the region as a whole as together we strive towards enhancing regional economic integration."
President Sata reiterated the two countries' stance on reforming the United Nations.
"In order to keep up with the growing changes in our environment, and for the United Nations to continue to play an effective role in world affairs, it is important to ensure that this global body is not only more representative, but is also rendered more effective and efficient in delivering its various ever-growing mandates."
Vice Presidents Mujuru and Nkomo, Senate President Edna Madzongwe, Speaker of the House of Assembly Lovemore Moyo and senior government officials attended the banquet. - Herald
Labels: ROBERT MUGABE, ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE
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Zambia’s Sata to open ZITF
23/04/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
ZAMBIA President Michael Sata will officially open this year’s edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair which started in Bulawayo on Monday, a government spokesman has confirmed.
Information and Publicity Secretary, George Charamba who also doubles as President Robert Mugabe’s spokesman told state media that Sata was expected in Harare this week for a state visit during which he would also open the week-long ZITF.
“He (President Sata) is coming for a State visit and a State banquet will be hosted for him here in Harare after which he will fly to Bulawayo for the official opening of the ZITF,” Charamba said.
ZITF organisers said there had been a marked increase in the number of exhibitors and countries listed to attend with some European countries, who shunned the fair in a decade of political and economic upheaval, making their return to the country’s premier trade event.
Among other European exhibitors are Italy, Poland and Germany.
Former colonial ruler Britain, US, Australia and France did not confirm they would be sending representatives before going to press.
Brazil is participating for the first time while South Africa and China -- Zimbabwe’s biggest trade partners -- have 35 companies between them exhibiting.
"The exhibition is likely to be outstanding in terms of quality of exhibits, product mix and innovation by exhibitors," event ZITF general manager Daniel Chigaru said.
This year’s event will see 62 percent of exhibitors returning while first time exhibitors account for 38 percent, he said.
The highlight of the exhibition is the International Business Conference on Wednesday.
Vice-President Joice Mujuru is the keynote speaker.
Labels: GEORGE CHARAMBA, JOICE MUJURU, MICHAEL SATA, ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR
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Zambia's approach exposes ZIFA
Friday, 10 February 2012 20:12
The Zambians have shown us the way and you get a feeling that the biggest problem with our football, in terms of its national management structures, is the recycling of leadership, the majority of it being deadwood. Somehow this feels like '94 and you don't have to be a Zambian to be swept away by the tide of nostalgia that has turned 2012 into a carbon copy of 1994.
Just like in ‘94, Zambia are in the final of the Nations Cup after capping a good tournament with a stunning 1-0 semi-final victory over the Black Stars of Ghana on Wednesday night.
Just like in ‘94, the Zambians eliminated a West African football powerhouse, in the semi-finals, and while it was Ghana on Wednesday night, it was Cote d'Ivoire who were beaten by Chipolopolo at the same stage of the competition 18 years ago.
And, just like in ‘94, the margin of the semi-final victory for the Zambians was 1-0.
Chillingly, the goal that made all the difference for the Zambians, in the semi-finals of the ‘94 and 2002 Nations Cup, came at exactly the same time.
Kenneth "Bubble" Malitoli scored the goal that knocked out Cote d'Ivoire and swept Zambia into the ‘94 Nations Cup final in the 78th minute.
Emmanuel Mayuka scored the priceless goal that knocked out Ghana and swept Zambia into the 2012 Nations Cup finals in the 78th minute.
Incredibly, Kalusha Bwalya's goal, which gave Zambia a 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe at the National Sports Stadium for the ticket to the ‘94 Nations Cup finals, had come in the 78th minute.
Just like in ‘94, Zambia will face West African opposition in the final of the Nations Cup and, after losing 1-2 to Nigeria in Tunisia, they face the might of the Ivorians in the final of the 2012 tournament in Libreville, Gabon, tomorrow.
And, as fate might have it, the Ivorians - just like the Nigerians in ‘94 - will be chasing their second Nations Cup silverware.
Just like in ‘94, Mali will play in the third-place play-off the Nations Cup and, after having lost 1-3 to Cote d'Ivoire for the bronze medal in Tunisia, the Eagles now have to beat Ghana to take home something from a tournament where they have generally impressed.
In ‘94, the last four places in the Nations Cup finals were taken by three West Africans - Nigeria, Mali and Cote d'Ivoire, with Zambia gate-crashing the party.
In 2012, the last four places in the Nations Cup finals were taken by three West Africans - Mali, Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, with Zambia gate-crashing the party.
Well, different people remember ‘94 for different reasons.
It was the year South Africa held its first full multi-racial elections, bringing a close to the sad chapter of apartheid, and Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first black President of the Rainbow Nation.
The plane carrying Rwandan President, Juvenal Habyarimana and his Burundi counterpart, Cyprien Ntaryamiradie, was shot down, near Kigali on April 7, ‘94 and, the following day, the Rwanda genocide began.
Matt Busby, the great Scotsman who survived a plane crash in Munich in ‘58 that decimated his Manchester United squad, before using his coaching brilliance to shape the Red Devils into a team that would be crowned European champions 10 years later, died in ‘94.
The world didn't know it then but a boy born in Canada, named Justin Bieber, would in a few years turn into one of the biggest teen pop sensations of our time.
Kalusha will probably not say it, for now until the game is over tomorrow, but this feels like ‘94 all over again and, hopefully, this time, it will end with the Zambians celebrating.
After the ‘94 Nations Cup finals, the football festival moved to South Africa who hosted the tourney in ‘96. After the 2012 Nations Cup finals, the football festival will move again to South Africa for the 2013 tournament.
Feels Like ‘94 Here In Zimbabwe
Even here in Zimbabwe, you get that feeling that it feels like ‘94 all over again.
Dynamos were league champions in ‘94 and they are league champions right now.
There was chaos in the Division One league at the start of the ‘94 domestic Premiership season with Rufaro Rovers and United FC fighting a fierce boardroom battle for the right to play in the top-flight league.
There is chaos in the Division One leagues right now with fierce boardroom battles, for the right to play in the Premiership, having erupted between Harare City and Dstv and Tripple B and Hardbody.
In ‘94, there was chaos, too, in the Warriors' coaching department.
Caf had handed a one-year ban to Reinhard Fabisch, for bringing the game of football into disrepute, after waving a number of American bank notes at the referee, in a mock illustration that he had been bribed, following the Warriors' 1-3 loss to Cameroon in a World Cup qualifier in Yaounde.
In 2012 you get a feeling there is chaos in the Warriors' coaching department.
Zifa have ordered Norman Mapeza to step aside from the 2013 Nations Cup qualifier against Burundi on the basis that he has to clear his name first against charges that he was bribed by Asian betting syndicates when he led the Warriors in the 2010 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup.
We missed the ‘94 Nations Cup finals when we failed to win the last qualifier, against the Zambians, at home with Kalusha's late equaliser giving Chipolopolo the point they needed, in a 1-1 draw, to go to Tunisia.
We missed the 2012 Nations Cup finals when we failed to win the last qualifier, against Cape Verde, in Praia, when a victory there would have given us the ticket to Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
In ‘94, we were talking about what would have been, talking about Peter Ndlovu and still going crazy about how he slalomed past the entire Bafana Bafana defence to score one of the greatest goals that will ever grace the African football fields in an emphatic 4-1 victory for us.
In 2012 we are talking about Peter Ndlovu and all the great expectations we have for him now that he has taken the first step in a journey that should ultimately take him into the seat, like Kalusha, of coaching the senior national football team he captained with distinction.
In ‘94, all we could do was imagine about what could have been had our boys made that one final leap and qualified for the Nations Cup finals and, as part of the discussions, Rahman Gumbo's crucial goals against Bafana Bafana and Mauritius featured prominently.
In 2012, we are talking about Rahman Gumbo given that, after years of expatriate service in Malawi and Botswana, he has not only returned home but has once again been handed the baton to lead his country's senior national football team.
The Dream Team that battled for the ‘94 Nations Cup and ‘94 World Cup finals did not qualify for any of those tournaments and, to a lot of critics with short memories, that failure robbed them of greatness.
To those critics, the real great Warriors sides are the ones that qualified for the 2004 and 2006 Nations Cup finals.
Yes, in football it's achievements that define greatness but, to me, the Dream Team that battled in the ‘94 Nations Cup and ‘94 World Cup finals was the greatest collection of Warriors that we have ever assembled.
They failed in their mission, regrettably, but there was honour in their failure.
They finished the qualifiers of the ‘94 Nations Cup finals without losing even a single game in six matches with away games in Zambia, South Africa and Mauritius.
They came within 90 minutes of qualifying for the ‘94 World Cup finals and, in the process, they took a cool four points off heavyweights Egypt and beat both Cameroon and Guinea.
They were unbeaten by the Zambians in 180 minutes, in Harare and in Lusaka, and that same Chipolopolo team went all the way to reach the final of the Nations Cup finals in ‘94 in Tunisia.
Take a bow, Reinhard Fabisch and his Dream Team because, while they might not have made the final leap, they were the greatest we ever had.
The 2012 Nations Cup In A Zim Context
What did we learn from the 2012 Nations Cup finals?
The big message, for me, was that our Warriors, for all the character assassination they have suffered at the hands of this devilish Zifa board, are as good as any team on the continent.
My main interest, as the tournament progressed, was focused on Mali and I was impressed with the way the Eagles performed in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, going all the way to the semi-finals, and finally losing to Cote d'Ivoire 0-1 in a tight semi.
In the end, in that game against Didier Drogba and his high-profile teammates, anything could have happened and the line that divided the winners and the losers was very thin.
Solid in defence, mobile in midfield and with a bite in attack where the gangly Cheikh Diakite proved a handful to many a defence, Mali were impressive throughout the tourney.
In the quarter-final against Gabon, they refused to be intimidated by that partisan home crowd, which included a national President who had been so charmed by his team's performance he became a permanent feature at their matches.
They recovered from a shaky start and, even after they fell a goal down, they did not fall apart as they used their strong character to rebuild their mission and, in the closing stages of the game, they were rewarded with the equaliser they deserved.
They could have won it, at the very end, but Seydou Keita miscued his effort, from close range, way over the bar.
Somehow, in that intimidating and hostile atmosphere, the Malians held their nerve in the penalty shootout drama and converted all their five spot kicks.
It's the same Malian team that we played over two legs in the same qualifiers for the 2012 Nations Cup finals and, in 180 minutes, there was very little to choose between them and us.
They beat us 0-1 in Bamako and, once again, our preparations for that match were chaotic and we never knew when we were going, with the trip hanging in the balance, until Cuthbert Dube took the title deeds of his house to the bank to secure a loan to fund the flight.
Diakite scored the only goal of the match but we gave as much as we got in that encounter and the Zimbabwe journalists who covered that game came back wondering how we didn't get a penalty when Nyasha Mushekwi was pulled down inside the box.
Injury had ruled Knowledge Musona out of that game, which was a big blow for us, considering that our talisman had supplied the bulk of goals for the Warriors.
But, with Musona back in the fold in Harare, we took the game to the defensive Malians and Khama Billiat's strike should have stood rather than disallowed for an off-side that never was.
With Ovidy Karuru playing his best game for the Warriors in a free midfield role, in which he kept cutting inside from the right, we duly got the breakthrough when Ovidy fed Musona and Knowledge lifted the ball home for the first goal.
The plucky Malians equalised but our defence was to blame for giving them a soft goal. But to the Warriors' credit, they didn't throw in the towel, even as time tormented their campaign and a draw, which would have meant elimination, turned into the most likely result.
We got our due rewards, Ovidy was fouled and Musona took the spot-kick, not once, but twice, and the Warriors powered to a 2-1 win that kept alive their Nations Cup campaign.
In back-to-back matches against the Malians, we scored two goals and conceded two goals, which means there was very little to choose between us.
Now, if that same Mali team is good enough to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2012 Nations Cup, what does that say about the strength of our team?
We have the players, no doubt about that, but we are weighed down by a plethora of issues and rather than concentrate on the game, we concentrate on individuals, we try to settle scores, we treat our players with disdain, we have the worst possible preparations by any team and, in the end, we shoot ourselves in the foot.
Will King Peter Turn Into Our Kalusha?
Kalusha Bwalya has worked wonders for Zambian football since he exploded on the scene at the ‘88 Olympic Games in Seoul and scored twice as Chipolopolo shocked the world with a stunning 4-1 victory over Italy.
He has always been the Prince of Zambian football.
As a player he represented greatness in that national team jersey and, when disaster struck off the coast of Gabon and he was not wiped away in that plane crash, Kalusha became the symbol of defiance that helped reshape the Zambian national team into a competitive unit again.
He kept leading from the front and, usually, when all hope seemed lost, the Zambians would turn to King Kalu for salvation.
And, more often than not, he used to deliver.
Rewind to Harare, the National Sports Stadium, the final ‘94 Nations Cup qualifier, freeze the moment, 12 minutes left in the game, we are leading by a goal scored by Henry "Bully" McKop, we have struck the bar and we have the momentum.
The Zambians look shell-shocked, time is not on their side, the noise has died in the bay that is housing their fans and the National Sports Stadium is going hysterical with the Yave Nyama Yekugocha song.
You can feel this is the moment, all that we have been waiting for 13 years, everything crystalised in that one magical moment and you feel time flying away, taking you closer to your date with destiny.
The Zambians know that only Kalusha can save them, they expect him to do something special, something that he has never done before and that's exactly what he did.
Cometh the hour, cometh the hero!
Kalusha glanced the ball past ‘keeper Bruce Grobbelaar, his first headed goal in international football, and the Zambians were on their way to Tunisia.
King Kalu has coached Chipolopolo and is now the Football Association of Zambia President, and the national team brand has been revived. After the Zambians made it to the quarter-finals in Angola, they are now in the finals in Gabon.
Peter Ndlovu is the greatest Warrior to wear the gold and green jersey of the senior national team and, just like the Zambians, who always looked to King Kalu to deliver something special when push came to shove, we always looked to King Peter.
A decorated Warrior who emerged from leading the Dream Team attack to become the captain of his country, taking the Warriors to the Nations Cup finals in Tunisia and Egypt, King Peter has seen it all, and done it all, on the playing field.
On Monday, he was handed his first coaching role in the national teams' set-up when Zifa appointed him the coach of the Under-23 national team.
Granted, this team always has very little action and, with the All-Africa Games gone for another four years and the Olympics not coming back, after London, until four years from now, it will largely be a docile team with very little competitions.
I guess Peter will be drafted into the senior team, as one of Rahman Gumbo's assistants for the Burundi tie, and he will have a permanent slot in that technical team, as one of the assistants, when a substantive line-up is unveiled.
Peter has a lot to learn, as a coach, and I understand the frustrations that are coming from the camp that is questioning his credentials to hold such a post because they have never seen him tested at any level of coaching in his life.
But there has to be a starting point all the time and, who knows, maybe Peter could turn into the super coach that we have been waiting for all this time.
I have the ultimate respect for Peter Ndlovu and I sincerely hope that he is a success story in anything he does because he was a unique football talent, a man I was proud to call my captain, and we were lucky that he was born in Bulawayo and not in Lusaka.
I have also had this feeling that Peter will, one day, be a big part of the Warriors, as a coach, and while that might take some time, you feel he has been put in the right place and what is left is for him to develop.
Hopefully, with time, King Peter will be our version of King Kalu and he will not stop only at coaching the national team but, one day, take control of Zifa as its president.
The Zambians have shown us the way and you get a feeling that the biggest problem with our football, in terms of its national management structures, is the recycling of leadership, the majority of it being deadwood.
While the Zambians have embraced the future and taken in young blood that is helping them take huge steps forward, we are still stuck with leaders who were in charge of the same game when Knowledge Musona had not yet been born.
The majority of them still live in the past, allergic to embracing the changes happening in the game, and most of them have a lot of old scores to settle they spend four years just doing that whenever they are plucked back from obscurity and into national prominence.
Spare A Thought For Norman
Norman Mapeza must be wondering what the hell he put himself into when he accepted the offer to lead his national team after Sunday Chidzambwa had quit.
He lost a board vote, when Madinda was still around, 2-9, to head the team, which meant nine board members did not believe in him.
He was given a makeshift team to take to the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup and now stands accused of having been bribed with US$1 000 to rig a Warriors' match.
For a man, one of the few in our game, who invested his fortune from a playing career wisely and built himself a mansion, the accusations must be baffling and he finds himself accused of having been sent to the wrong place at the wrong time.
But they say time is a healer and, incredibly, the amount of sympathy that is pouring towards Mapeza, through text messages being sent to this newspaper and online, is touching.
Even if he clears his name, in an environment that has been so poisoned doing so will be tantamount to moving a mountain, Norman should just quit.
There is no point for him to continue working with this board.
Come on United!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chicharitooooooooooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
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Labels: FOOTBALL, ZAMBIA, ZIFA
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Zimbabwe, Zambia to meet over Batoka project
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 00:00
Tawanda Musarurwa Business Reporter
THE Batoka hydropower project could soon become a reality as Zimbabwean and Zambian energy ministers are due to meet later this month to formalise the start of the project. Zimbabwe has in recent years been plagued by crippling energy shortages. The Batoka project is among long-term projects with the potential to increase power output.
According to reports in the Zambian media, the two countries' energy ministers are scheduled to meet in Siavonga, Zambia, for a second round of talks on January 22-23.
The meeting comes after a recent visit to Zambia by Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma.
The Zimbabwean Government recently agreed to settle the outstanding US$70 million asset debt owed to Zambia, paving the way for the delayed construction of the 1650-megawatt Batoka hydropower station.
The debt was for the shared cost of the Kariba Dam construction and the associated infrastructure. It also involved the sale of the Central African Power Corporation (Capco) assets which both countries owned as members of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which was dissolved in 1963.
But Zimbabwe may have to pay more than the US$70 million, the principal sum.
Zambian Energy Minister Christopher Yaluma said the money owed to his country has since accrued interest, which he could not disclose.
"The total principal debt is US$70,8 million, but it has over the years accrued interest," he said.
"I met with my counterpart from Zimbabwe recently who indicated that they were ready to pay off the debt."
The Batoka hydropower station project was jointly mooted in 1993 but the Zambian government was reluctant to undertake the project because of the outstanding debt owed by Zimbabwe.
The agreement by Zimbabwe to pay the debt would now pave the way for the construction of the strategic project located below the Victoria Falls.
Zambia has now agreed to co-operate in the construction process, which will in- crease power generation capacity for both countries.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is currently working on some medium-term projects at its Hwange and Kariba power stations that are expected to add an additional 800 megawatts to the national grid by 2015.
Labels: ENERGY, HYDRO POWER, ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE
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COMMENT - I hate to even make this news, however the entire media is trying to make it sound like this happened on the Zimbabwean side of the border. Actually she was rescued from the Zimbabwean side, by the much vilified Zimbabwean police. The booking agent is South Africa's Safari Par Exellence (Safpar - read
their statement here), and the local operator is Mike Davies' Victoria Falls Bunjee. Registration is
on the Zambian side of the border. Bungee jump horror 'a one-off': tour boss
09/01/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
ZAMBIA’S Tourism Minister took a bungee jump on the Victoria Falls Bridge on Monday in a bid to reassure tourists, days after a rope snapped and sent a 22-year-old Australian woman plunging into the Zambezi River.
Given Lubinda took the extraordinary step after Erin Langworthy’s “miraculous” survival of the 111 meter plunge on New Year’s Eve became headline news around the world. Lubinda said after his jump that bungee jumping remained a “viable operation.”
“I myself will be engaging the operator on how we can make this exciting tourism event become totally incident-free,” he said.
Langworthy’s ill-fated jump was organised by Safari Par Excellence, one of the area’s leading tour operators.
An advert on the company’s website promoting the jumps says: “Challenge the limits of the mind and test the edge of fear by leaping off the impressive bridge.”
Promotional materials tout the bungee jump as having a “100% safety record.”
On Monday, Safari Par Excellence confirmed that a full investigation had been launched. The rope which snapped had been sent to South Africa for expert analysis.
Company boss Mike Davies said the accident was a “one-off”, adding: “There has been over 150,000 people jumping over the last 17 years without incident. So we are confident in it.”
Davies said experts had also been brought in at the site on the Victoria Falls Bridge on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia to look into how safety can be improved.
“We have replaced all the equipment, all the ropes and the elastics in the meantime,” he added.
Thrill-seeking backpacker Langworthy, 22, escaped with only scrapes after a botched bungee jump sent her plunging 111 meters into the Zambezi River.
An amateur video captures her leap from the bridge amid cheers of “Erin!” Just as her cord begins to rebound, it snaps. People on the bridge can only watch as her tiny form floated downriver. “Oh my God, who’s going to do something,” said one, just as Langworthy and her long, trailing rope enters a set of rapids.
Moments after hitting the water “I felt liked I had been slapped all over,” Langworthy told Australia’s Channel 9. Her feet still bound by the rope, Langworthy was forced to swim against the current and make for the Zimbabwean side of the river.
At one point, she recounted, she needed to dive down and free the rope after it became caught on rocks and debris.
Quick action by Zimbabwean police officers who raced by staircase to the bottom of the gorge has been credited for Langworthy’s miraculous survival.
Labels: GIVEN LUBINDA, TOURISM, VICTORIA FALLS, ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE
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Bungee jump horror 'a one-off': tour boss
09/01/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
ZAMBIA’S Tourism Minister took a bungee jump on the Victoria Falls Bridge on Monday in a bid to reassure tourists, days after a rope snapped and sent a 22-year-old Australian woman plunging into the Zambezi River.
Given Lubinda took the extraordinary step after Erin Langworthy’s “miraculous” survival of the 111 meter plunge on New Year’s Eve became headline news around the world. Lubinda said after his jump that bungee jumping remained a “viable operation.”
“I myself will be engaging the operator on how we can make this exciting tourism event become totally incident-free,” he said.
Langworthy’s ill-fated jump was organised by Safari Par Excellence, one of the area’s leading tour operators.
An advert on the company’s website promoting the jumps says: “Challenge the limits of the mind and test the edge of fear by leaping off the impressive bridge.”
Promotional materials tout the bungee jump as having a “100% safety record.”
On Monday, Safari Par Excellence confirmed that a full investigation had been launched. The rope which snapped had been sent to South Africa for expert analysis.
Company boss Mike Davies said the accident was a “one-off”, adding: “There has been over 150,000 people jumping over the last 17 years without incident. So we are confident in it.”
Davies said experts had also been brought in at the site on the Victoria Falls Bridge on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia to look into how safety can be improved.
“We have replaced all the equipment, all the ropes and the elastics in the meantime,” he added.
Thrill-seeking backpacker Langworthy, 22, escaped with only scrapes after a botched bungee jump sent her plunging 111 meters into the Zambezi River.
An amateur video captures her leap from the bridge amid cheers of “Erin!” Just as her cord begins to rebound, it snaps. People on the bridge can only watch as her tiny form floated downriver. “Oh my God, who’s going to do something,” said one, just as Langworthy and her long, trailing rope enters a set of rapids.
Moments after hitting the water “I felt liked I had been slapped all over,” Langworthy told Australia’s Channel 9. Her feet still bound by the rope, Langworthy was forced to swim against the current and make for the Zimbabwean side of the river.
At one point, she recounted, she needed to dive down and free the rope after it became caught on rocks and debris.
Quick action by Zimbabwean police officers who raced by staircase to the bottom of the gorge has been credited for Langworthy’s miraculous survival.
Labels: GIVEN LUBINDA, TOURISM, ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE
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KK is our father - Zuma
By Chibaula Silwamba in Mangaung, South Africa
Tue 10 Jan. 2012, 13:55 CAT
KENNETH Kaunda is our father, says South African President Jacob Zuma. And President Zuma said South Africa's ruling African National Congress will combat unemployment, poverty and inequality.
Addressing thousands of ANC members and supporters at the party's 100th anniversary at Free State Stadium on Sunday, President Zuma, who is also ANC president, paid tribute to Zambians, other Africans and progressive movements around the world that helped South Africans fight the apartheid regime.
"The people of Zambia, through their independence movement and mass organisations, received and assisted our movement even prior to their independence. We acknowledge the presence of our father, president Kenneth Kaunda in these celebrations," said President Zuma as the crowd cheered the 87-year-old former president.
He recalled that many ANC members died during the struggle.
"Our freedom was definitely not free. It was achieved through the blood, sweat and tears of many selfless revolutionaries and cadres of our movement," said President Zuma, 69, who rose through the ANC ranks during and after the liberation struggle and became Republican President in 2009.
"As we mark the ANC Centenary, this is the right moment to pause and ponder the future of South Africa and of the ANC over the next one hundred years."
He said South Africans must this year renew their determination to build a South Africa founded on the principles of the Freedom Charter and democratic Constitution.
"We must bring new energy and new ideas into the kind of society we want to build over the next few decades," he said.
"As the ANC prepares for its Policy Conference in June and its 53rd National Conference in December 2012, we call on all South Africans to join a national dialogue on the future of the country. This debate should be based on our common commitment to build a caring society that is truly non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, prosperous and united in its diversity."
President Zuma said the ANC had identified the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality as needing attention. He said, principally, African women and youth continue to carry a disproportionate burden of the three challenges.
"In 2012 we will take urgent and practical steps to revitalise the grassroots structures of the movement. We will take urgent and practical steps to once again place the ANC at the forefront of the progressive forces for change. We will take urgent and practical steps to fast-track the development of cadres - new and old," President Zuma said.
"We will take urgent and practical steps to ensure that our programme of transforming our country is accelerated and taken to new heights."
At the time the ANC faces internal wrangles that risk affecting its unity, President Zuma said the party would "stamp out factionalism and promote political discipline".
ANC Youth League fire brand leader, Julius Malema, who is currently suspended, has led calls to have Zuma replaced as ANC president.
Malema was suspended on ill-discipline charges but appealed against the five-year penalty and was present at the high table. He received applause from supporters in the terraces when he attended the celebrations and whenever his face was shown on large screens placed around the stadium.
Malema's supporters, chanting "Juju! Juju! Juju!" attempted to boo President Zuma when he arrived but the head of state's backers outnumbered them and drowned their shouts.
At the start of the programme, ANC chairperson Baleke Mbete repeatedly called for silence, and urged the security to stop some people from making noise, while warning to flash out the people chanting.
"We will not allow you to disrupt our centenary celebrations," warned Mbete.
The ‘culprits' were suspected to be from the pro-Malema camp.
Some wore t-shirts with messages of solidarity for the 30-year-old youth leader and repeatedly shouted: "We are 100 per cent behind our president Julius Malema".
But President Zuma asserted: "We will take urgent and practical steps to restore the core values, stamp out factionalism and promote political discipline."
President Zuma also said the ANC would take urgent and practical steps to place education and skills development at the centre of the transformation and development agenda.
He pledged that the ANC would take steps to deepen its contribution to the renewal of the African continent and the progressive forces in the world.
"On this, January 8, 2012, we make a clarion call to all South Africans to work with us to make the dream of a united, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa a reality in our lifetime," President Zuma said.
"We call on all the progressive forces in our continent to work tirelessly for the regeneration, renewal and renaissance of Africa in our lifetime. We call on all progressive people in the world to spare no energy and effort in fighting for a better Africa and more humane world."
He said the ANC was a child of Bloemfontein Mangaung and had this year returned to the area, its mother, older, stronger and wiser with more members.
"The 1942 ANC conference passed a resolution that the ANC should have a million members by the time it celebrated its centenary. It is my pleasure to announce that we have achieved this goal. The total number of ANC members is 1,027,389 members in good standing," said President Zuma.
ANC, the liberation movement that was headquartered in Lusaka for many years until the early 1990s, formed government in 1994 when its leader Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first black president at the end of the brutal apartheid rule.
The ANC, initially called the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), was founded on January 8, 1912 in Bloemfontein now called Mangaung in Free State Province to increase the rights of the black South African population.
Several heads of state and government, former presidents and other prominent people from across the world attended the centenary celebrations on Sunday.
Labels: INDEPENDENCE, JACOB ZUMA, JULIUS MALEMA, KENNETH KAUNDA, LIBERATION, ZAMBIA
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