(HERALD ZW) Sanctions now outdated: SB Moyo
Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Dr Sibusiso Busi Moyo addresses businesspeople at Chatham House in London,UK yesterday
Elita Chikwati Senior Reporter
Sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are outdated and should be removed as they benefit neither Zimbabwe nor the United States of America, the authors of the hostile policy, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Busi Moyo has said.
He said this on Wednesday when he had lunch with the Westminster Africa Business Group in London, United Kingdom.
Minister Moyo said the removal of the sanctions was now long overdue.
“It (sanctions) is something which is now in a former page; in a book which you have read before twice and which we do not want to read anymore. It is not serving the US, the US businesspeople or Zimbabwean people and, therefore, it is outdated,” said Minister Moyo.
“We have been directly dealing with Americans themselves and that is why I was telling you that Americans have seen light in Zimbabwe. They have started coming in serious hordes of numbers in terms of corporates.
“They (General Electric from the US) are going to be building a 2 400MW hydro power station in Zimbabwe. They are going to be investing in the health sector, rolling out a wide and an elaborate health centre.
“They have been offered to go into methane gas deposits and they are already on the ground.”
GE and Power Construction of China have been awarded the tender to implement the 2 400MW Batoka Gorge Hydro Power project at about US$4 billion.
Other US firms are engaged in various economic activities in Zimbabwe, while others are scouting for opportunities, making a strong case for the removal of the ruinous sanctions.
Minister Moyo said although the US has refused to lift the sanctions, Zimbabwe continues to be hospitable by offering its citizens investment opportunities.
The US was also allowed to observe last year’s harmonised elections.
Said Minister Moyo: “We have decided in a way, while we are telling them that the sanctions are outdated, but we have also decided to say American corporates, ignore the outdated piece of paper and move on so that the system, the Congress in the US, can realise that it is not worth any more.
“We have also been engaging Congress, even the actual proponents of the sanctions, even the revised position, Senator Jeff Flake and Chris Coons. We actually invited them to Zimbabwe and they came.
“We have invited all these and they came and looked at the situation and they are also talking to them, feeling internally embarrassed about having been pushing on for the existence of the sanctions; but it is in the US system.
“It is a process rather than an event and we think at the end of the day, they are going to see light and President (Donald) Trump will be able to see light one day,” he said.
Minister Moyo visited London, United Kingdom on a four-day re-engagement programme to strengthen bilateral relations and to woo investment into the country.
Labels: SANCTIONS, ZANU-PF
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COMMENT - The best analysis of the situation is by The Herald:
"the timing of the demonstrations and their violent nature were meant to influence the European Union (EU) to maintain illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe."
Mr Chaibva, a former MDC official, said this had always been the opposition party’s agenda.
“It is the continuation of the MDC-Alliance agenda of August 1, 2018 of trying to make the country ungovernable. The MDC-Alliance are in pursuit of a foreign agenda which started in 2001 – the regime change agenda and the imposition of illegal economic sanctions. It explains the timing of the disturbances when the President is in Eastern Europe and soon in Switzerland. The EU is meeting soon to review economic sanctions on Zimbabwe. They must therefore find an excuse for extension of the sanctions, citing alleged deterioration of the human rights situation in Zimbabwe. It also explains why they are anxious to petition that the President should not attend the Davos summit,” said Mr Chaibva.
He added: “Let us not be under any illusion that the regime change protagonists are at rest. They are expanding their efforts.”
(HERALD ZW) Protests weren’t about fuel prices . . .broader political plot exposed
A motorist weaves his way past rocks that had been used by MDC rioters to block the road in Harare on Monday
Herald Reporter
The MDC-Alliance instigated violent protests witnessed early this week had nothing to do with an increase in the price of fuel or high cost of living among Zimbabweans, but part of the broader attempt at effecting illegal regime change, analysts said yesterday.
The timing of the protests, targeting of police stations for attacks, inflating of the number of victims by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and petitions to the international community, among other shenanigans by those who initiated the demonstrations, all point to a poorly-concealed political agenda oiled by the country’s traditional foes.
“The fuel issue was only manipulated as a trigger to long-standing efforts to internationalise domestic politics in Zimbabwe in a manner skewed in favour of the MDC-Alliance,” said political analyst, Mr Goodwine Mureriwa.
He said MDC-Alliance was trying to reinforce a false argument that the post-election outcome produced an illegitimate Zanu-PF Government.
He questioned why, if President Mnangagwa’s economic policies were not working, he was not being given the chance to fail instead of engaging in disruptive behaviour.
Mr Mureriwa also said the timing of the demonstrations and their violent nature were meant to influence the European Union (EU) to maintain illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe.
He said it was also aimed at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to impose illegal sanctions on the country.
“This explains why the so-called Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights is inflating the number of those injured to create a pretext for intervention on humanitarian grounds. They want to create a pretext for abuse of human rights, violation of the rule of law and to paint the whole politics of Zimbabwe as undemocratic,” added Mr Mureriwa.
He said this also explained why the demonstrators deliberately targeted police stations for attack.
“They targeted police stations for attack so as to provoke a firm response by the police that could lead to many casualties. Their objective will not be achieved without dead bodies and to strengthen their resolve, they also had to bomb their own offices (Harvest House) to portray Zanu-PF as a doctor of violence, violence which they instigated,” said Mr Mureriwa.
Another analyst who refused to be named said the violent protests were also “to throw spanners in President Mnangagwa’s engagement and re-engagement efforts for Zimbabwe to remain a pariah State”.
He said geopolitically, there were countries which were not happy about the close ties President Mnangagwa was forging with Eurasia due to the lukewarm attitude of the West despite all his reform efforts.
President Mnangagwa is in Eastern Europe on an engagement drive that will also see him in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum.
Another political analysts, Mr Gabriel Chaibva, applauded the security forces for exercising the highest standards of self-restraint in the face of provocation by opposition forces “itching for dead bodies” so as to create a human rights situation in Zimbabwe and the resultant international consequences.
“There is nothing as provocative as trying to get a gun from a soldier or attacking a police station. They were hoping for many dead bodies that would justify their outcry about human rights violations. Let us forget their lie that the protests were about economics. There is a broader political agenda to overthrow Government through unconstitutional means,” said Mr Chaibva.
Mr Chaibva, a former MDC official, said this had always been the opposition party’s agenda.
“It is the continuation of the MDC-Alliance agenda of August 1, 2018 of trying to make the country ungovernable. The MDC-Alliance are in pursuit of a foreign agenda which started in 2001 – the regime change agenda and the imposition of illegal economic sanctions. It explains the timing of the disturbances when the President is in Eastern Europe and soon in Switzerland. The EU is meeting soon to review economic sanctions on Zimbabwe. They must therefore find an excuse for extension of the sanctions, citing alleged deterioration of the human rights situation in Zimbabwe. It also explains why they are anxious to petition that the President should not attend the Davos summit,” said Mr Chaibva.
He added: “Let us not be under any illusion that the regime change protagonists are at rest. They are expanding their efforts.”
Mr Richard Mahomva said the MDC-Alliance and its partners were hiding behind the new fuel price to cause chaos.
“The violent response to what was an inevitable policy position on the fuel price was a concerted agenda to perpetuate the legacy of 1 August. It is the same old approach of manipulating gullible public emotional outrage to stage a war with ZANU-PF. The underpinning matter here is not the fuel price rise; it is about finding an opportunity to give traction to the ZANU-PF illegitimacy crusade post the 2018 elections,” said Mr Mahomva.
“As one would note, the shutdown plan only excelled in urban opposition hotspots, hence the outcry on the internet jam. From the outset, there was no constructive mechanism to engage a policy alternative and one notes that this is part of the long promised measure by the opposition to make the country ungovernable. Of note is the opposition’s hidden hand in the recent plunder just as was the case in August,” he said.
The Herald is reliably informed that the protests were funded to the tune of US$2 million by a foreign power and were supposed to leave at least 200 people dead.
This, it was planned, would then see the UN Security Council intervening on humanitarian grounds.
Labels: EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, MDC VIOLENCE, ZANU-PF
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COMMENT - Talk about interfering with foreign democracies and governments.
(NEWZIMBABWE) US envoy of ‘nightly’ Mujuru meets speaks
FORMER US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray has backed former vice president Joice Mujuru to turn around the fortunes of the stricken country, urging her to work with other opposition parties.
Mujuru, who was fired by President Robert Mugabe, is the interim leader of the recently formed Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) party
“She is pragmatic enough to work with the MDC and has the intelligence and ability to find ways to work effectively with the international community,” Ambassador Ray said, responding to questions from NewZimbabwe.com.
The former envoy left Zimbabwe at the end tour in 2012. He was blocked by government from consoling the Mujuru family following the death of the ex-VP’s husband, Retired General Solomon Mujuru, in a still unexplained fire in 2011.
The former vice president, while still Mugabe’s deputy, was also alleged to have held “clandestine” meetings with Ambassador Ray at undisclosed locations outside Harare.
It was claimed that Mujuru sought guarantees of financial assistance from the Americans in the event she managed to resettle power from Mugabe.
The veteran leader fired Mujuru from government and the ruling party, claiming she plotted to assassinate him.
However, Ambassador Ray denied holding clandestine meetings with Mujuru but insisted that she “has the interest of the country at heart”.
“I read of her being fired; but find it’s hard to believe the charges against her are true,” said the envoy.
“My relationship with Dr. Mujuru - both professional and personal when she was vice president - was good,” he added.
“I found her to be pragmatic and I believe she sincerely had the best interests of the country at heart.”
Labels: CHARLES RAY, JOICE MUJURU, TREASON, ZANU-PF
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Why Zanu PF will rule for the next 50 years
01/02/2014 00:00:00
by Bernard Bwoni
A SOLIDLY empowered and economically liberated majority has been emerging at the same time as opposition politics in Zimbabwe has been relegated to bedroom buffoonery and Diasporan duplicity. The regrettable reality is that Zimbabwe lacks real opposition and a credible alternative to the ruling Zanu PF. The country is endowed with oppositional mediocrity with absent ideological foundations, a vacant vision and values and mere gimmicks of substance-free empty proclamations of democracy, rule of law and civil liberties.
Some opportunistic opposition options have sprouted internally and externally in the Diaspora on the frail foundations of the “Mugabe-must-go” money-spinning “ideology” with very little in terms of substance and structures. As the actuality of ownership and economic empowerment becomes concrete and absolute and as the opposition continue to descend into cosmic and comic concussion, the reality of Zanu PF dominating Zimbabwean politics for the next fifty years becomes less and less abstract.
The country deserves a genuine opposition built on real values, deep-rooted, home-grown and home-focused cornerstones. Any citizen would want a solid opposition to Zanu PF, that option available to switch when the ruling party fails to deliver but still remain assured that the country’s vision and direction remains home-orientated and not paraded on the neo-colonial commercial hub to the highest bidder. An opposition that can define and direct the country’s vision forwards as opposed to unworldly and oblivious preoccupations with aiding and abetting the reinstatement of a neo-colonial structure which seeks to erode the authentic African vision and replace it with exploitation-engineered craftiness camouflaged as counterfeit claims to African development.
A “Mugabe-must-go-obsessed” opposition is structurally and strategically flawed and an authentic opposition must go beyond the ideologically-defunct money-focused schemes tendered as alternatives to the ruling party. Surely, if a mere substance-devoid outcry for the removal of President Robert Mugabe is all it takes to tread the corridors of Zimbabwean power, then State House would be heaving with Presidents of all colours and creeds right now. The fact of the matter is that Zimbabwe is not going to have that sort of opposition for the next half a century. It takes time and commitment to crotchet the principles, the vision and values that Zanu PF has and is still patching and I am afraid the opposition in Zimbabwe is still fifty years away from the ruling party’s position.
Zanu PF has roots and we are talking about tap-root foundations entangled in and around the walls of the Great Zimbabwe and beyond. Zanu PF breathes the same sacred air as the ancestors who laid the original underpinning substructures and values that define this country. The party embodies and defines the inception of Zimbabwe and its vision is enshrined in its ideology; the country-defining vision which anchors, binds and shapes the nation as a whole. There is a bona fide wholesomeness, a profound and tangible trajectory to pass on for present and future national augmentation. Now that is the Zanu PF picture and reality merged into one.
That being said, the party is not entirely without flaws, some have snoozed on the job as evidenced by the recent revelations and emerging sleaze and salary scandals. Yes action is being taken but this is where my point about real opposition comes in. If Zanu PF fails to deliver there should be available that option of switching, temporarily or permanently but still remain assured that national direction remains unaltered, the defining foundations of this country remain entrenched and the nucleus of this country’s vision is shielded and secured with fortified fidelity.
If you look around for that sort of opposition what you are confronted with is a party with a man with more bedroom options than IKEA, and on the other side is a Diaspora outfit with dollar-bill-inscribed pupils dilated with overzealous obviousness. Zimbabwean opposition politics is in an epistemological and ideological penumbra, existing but non-existent, bottom line is wholly unconvincing; bend over backwards and forwards to the whims of the neo-colonial command and confines. Professor Welshman Ncube is intelligent at least and that we give him but again same fate. Madhuku is yet another fine grey matter disabled by the futile quest for the “Mugabe-must-go” easy-pick dollars. It takes more than a Stella Artois-inspired oppositional formation moment somewhere in the Scottish Highlands to define the course of a nation.
The model created, Y=?v(0)+?v(1)?v(1)+?v(2)?v(2)v(+)+?v(3)?v(3)+?v(4)?v(4)+?v(5)?v(5)+?v(6)?v(6)+?v(7)?v(7)+e where Y is the Zanu PF invincibility (dependent variable), ?v(0) is the intercept and the independent variables are ?v(1) is economic empowerment entrenched, ?v(2) is resource endowment, ?v(3) is societal homogeneity, ?v(4) is projected development, ?v(5) is weak opposition politics, ?v(6) is the efforts of tackling corruption gathering pace and bearing fruition, ?v(7) indigenisation and foreign direct investment equally augmenting the economy and e is error term. The assumption is that, with time, people become fully empowered, the country takes positive developmental steps as it is silently doing, the Zanu PF long-term vision and values for the country becomes homogenous and interlinked with societal and national values, the Zanu PF vision is the national vision. The country is well-endowed with natural resources to sustain such developments and, as the Zanu PF vision for Zimbabwe continues to ineradicably root itself, opposition politics will continue to be further weakened unless they reinvent themselves.
A simple model which can have even more explanatory variables but if you look at the past and repeated current and compelling bedroom and political malfunctions, opposition politics is going to require at least thirty years to harness all the discerning voices and start engraining collective national aspirations as Zanu PF has done. Elton Mangoma was recently chastised and threatened for clamouring for that reinvention, and renewal and my point exactly. As the Zanu PF political patchwork gathers pace, the oppositional structures are unravelling with cataclysmic inevitability. There is absolutely nothing to dislodge Zanu PF from the helm for the next half century.
Bernard Bwoni can be contacted on bernardbwn@aol.com/ bernardbwoni.blogspot.com
Labels: LAND REFORM, MDC, NEOLIBERALISM, ZANU-PF
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(HERALD ZW) Keep our history: Acting President
January 10, 2014
Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Acting President Joice Mujuru yesterday bemoaned the failure by liberation war luminaries to record the country’s history, especially the fight against colonial rule, and warned that future generations may never know the heroic sacrifices made to liberate Zimbabwe.
She said this while addressing thousands of mourners at the National Heroes Acre at the burial of one of the founder members of the liberation struggle, Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) Harold Mtandwa Chirenda (69).
Rtd Lt-Col Chirenda died after a long illness at United Bulawayo Hospitals on New Year’s Day.
“I cry that this vital sentence which is and should be part of a national narrative is going to be buried away today: unread by those who live, unreadable to all those who follow. I am talking about Cde Chirenda’s great grandchildren who may never know or grasp the work he did in his lifetime.
“I am talking about my own great grandchildren who may never know or remember him. I am talking about your great grandchildren, dear comrade, who may never know your history, our history and thus their history as well,” Acting President Mujuru said.
She said much of Zimbabwe’s history had been buried with the death of people such as Rtd Lt-Col Chirenda.
“We have not written our story, we have great but mute heroes. We have not narrated our experiences even to this generation that lives. Much worse, our experiences are buried away with us, rendered eternally mute, when we die, one at a time we are all gone one day.
“Unless they spoke when they live, dead comrades don’t tell stories and our individual stories are a vital part of the story of our generation, of our people, our nation, our country. Who shall tell it? When? The veterans like Chirenda are going, are gone, who shall testify to his greatness?
“While they tell us that history belongs to the victors, our own situation cedes victory to those who lost the war.
“Our history has no tellers. We need to change history by writing it. Let’s begin now so we shape a heritage for our children, for generations to come who deserve to inherit and get inspired by the great deeds of their forbearers,” she said.
Acting President Mujuru said the late Rtd Lt-Col Chirenda never betrayed the values of the liberation struggle until his death.
“Beyond the human flesh, Cde Chirenda epitomised the values of the struggle which he never betrayed. Zimbabwe had to be free from colonial bondage. That is why he went to start a war. Zimbabwe had to be sovereign and secure. That is why he remained within the security structures of the nation until his retirement in 1995.
“Zimbabwe had to be defended at all times. That is why he remained active in national politics even after he retired from active duty. Zimbabwe’s resources had to come to her people again. Again, that is why he played his part in the land reform programme, indeed why he supported the policy of empowerment,” she said.
She added that the late national hero had left behind a legacy of upholding values irrespective of circumstances and said this should be an inspiration to future generations.
The Acting President said the Zanu-PF Government had adopted the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset) as a way of fulfilling promises made to the people to fully indigenise the economy.
She also said Zimbabweans had to rely on themselves to ensure the success of the programme.
“I call it ‘the none-but-ourselves’ assumption, the ‘iweneni tine basa’, ‘mina lawesilomsebenzi’ mantra we used in the struggle. Zim-Asset is a call to you and me – to all of us as Zimbabweans – to put shoulder to wheel, sweat a bit, so we recover our economy and grow it for the prosperity of all our people,” the Acting President said.
She said she had recently engaged some youths who showed their enthusiasm for Zim-Asset but had pointed out areas they thought had not been adequately addressed by the blueprint, especially information technology, and banking and finance.
“We certainly must give thought to such feedback and see how Zim-Asset can be made elastic enough to accommodate these two key enablers, or any other areas viewed as crucial,” she said.
Rtd Lt-Col Chirenda, whose Chimurenga name was Elliot Masengo, is survived by his wife, nine children and 18 grand children.
Labels: JOICE MUJURU, LIBERATION, ZANU-PF
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(BERNARD BUWONI BLOG) In Mugabe Africa must seriously trust!
By Bernard Bwoni
As the media circus hijacked the memorial service of Mandela, certain ideological African themes are becoming more prominent and ineradicably embedded. There is a resurrection of the belief in the African ideology and the resonant acclamation President Mugabe received at the mention of his name at the FNB stadium is affirmation of the credence.
The people of Africa, the real people of Africa know who their real heroes are and no amount of illusory media sophistry and air-brushing is going to change that. President Mugabe received a standing ovation and he did not even stand at the podium to give a speech. The man must be doing something very right. No let me rephrase that, the man is doing something right.
Legends are born, not scripted. It is that unwavering, lifelong and indelible ideological immersion to a cause that personifies Robert Mugabe amply. What is interesting to note is that the inexorable thunderous ovation for Mugabe was right in the glare of those hypocritical kingmakers with privy designs and ominous intent who have incessantly and historically misinformed and disinformed the world about Mugabe. The Mugabe frenzy that is sweeping across the African continent has no preclusion. Those with inauspicious intentions on Zimbabwe have tried suppressing and smothering the ideologically-congealed Mugabe mania for it to resurface again and again as happened at the FNB stadium. Robert Mugabe’s standing ovation was for an unshakeable belief in a cause and the ovation for Obama was sheer curiosity and that novel feeling of seeing a black man fronting the very threat to that African cause.
Robert Mugabe is an extraordinary African. A man with the black African cause permanently ingrained to his whole being is what defines him. Zimbabwe has been under siege and the man has soaked all the demonization and onslaught with an unparalleled tenacity and resoluteness. He is a principled man with an indefatigable bond to delivering his people from the implacable neo-colonial structure which manifests itself in many forms to continually quell the African quest for lasting and real independence which seeks to economically liberate the continent and its people. The tumultuous ovation he received in the FNB stadium was no gimmick. That was open recognition from real African people with an unfulfilled thirst for definitive emancipation and not the delusory independence they had to settle for. Robert Mugabe represents real hope for the masses with an unfeigned and authentic proposal to truly liberate Africa and Africans. Do not believe the media hype about demons and dictators! That is just a smoke-screen to asphyxiate the African economic genesis that has the unique bonafide raison d’être to uplift and upgrade the lives of black Africans. Aid and donations have not done it yet! Most definitely will never do it and Africans eternally declassed to beggars and burgers! No real meat, no substance just barebones. No foreign aid is ever truly altruistic and the sooner Africans realise that the better. Only pessimism, calamity and undesirable negative anticipation shapes black Africa in the eyes of those with baleful and exploitation-inspired intrigue on Africa and representation of Africa is in terms of absences, delinquencies and alien. Obama delivering a hot-air speech to the permanently economically crippled black people of South Africa at the memorial service of a revolutionary who could have forced an upgrade of their lives is one of the most strikingly sardonic moments in African history. As the themes continue to emerge, Robert Mugabe’s ideals are resonating well with Africans continent-wide.
South Africa, a significantly unequal society with one of the highest gini-coefficient rankings in the world is on the threshold of a riveting social and political malfunction. Someone somewhere failed to fully address the obvious inequalities which define and are deeply entrenched in this ‘Rainbow Nation’ today. The standing ovation for Robert Mugabe, a real driver for change to address the historically and racially skewed inequalities and to economically empower the black people of Zimbabwe, is affidavit to the inevitable cataclysmic unravelling in South Africa. Little brother will guide big brother towards the summit of economic freedom.
Robert Mugabe is a visionary leader period! The unique feature about this living legend is the unflinching fidelity to ideological course and epistemological substance. When South Africans stood up and gave a resounding ovation to the man who has dedicated his entire life to the Zimbabwean cause, the South African cause was instantly thrust on the agenda. The inequalities in South Africa are not going to be addressed by flamboyant oration from the neo-colonial point man of those who wish to indefinitely degrade Africans to eternal bondage. Africa must seriously starting putting trust in the Mugabe vision. The Mugabe inspired and perceptive astuteness which seeks to dismantle and restructure the neo-colonial DNA which continues to inextricably fasten Africa and its people to enduring subjugation.
Labels: INDIGENIZATION AND EMPOWERMENT ACT (ZIMBABWE), LAND REFORM, ROBERT MUGABE, ZANU-PF
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Nkomo rejected Presidency: Mugabe
22/12/2013 00:00:00
by Newsday
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has revealed that he made several efforts to get Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo to become President of Zimbabwe at independence in 1980, but the late nationalist flatly rejected the offer.
The rejection, he said, was a sign of Nkomo’s humility. The presidency, at that time was ceremonial. Mugabe was then Prime Minister, the most powerful position in the country.
Speaking at the unveiling of the statue of the late nationalist who died in 1999 and the renaming of Bulawayo’s Main Street in the late veteran nationalist’s honour, Mugabe said he sent three delegations to convince Nkomo to take up the post of president, but he declined.
The post was eventually taken by the late Canaan Sodindo Banana.
Mugabe was in Bulawayo where he officially opened JN Nkomo International Airport, unveiled the Nkomo statue and officially renamed Main Street.
Mugabe said he offered the ceremonial presidency to Nkomo, but due to his (Nkomo’s) humility, he declined to take up the post.
“I personally asked Dr Nkomo to be president, but he said no,” Mugabe said.
“I sent another delegation, but again he said no. I sent a third delegation to plead with him, but he said no — such was his humility. Perhaps you didn’t know.”
“That’s when we had to ask the late Canaan Banana to be President. So you see, this is how humble Cde Nkomo was.”
Mugabe became Executive President in 1987 after he signed a peace pact with the former PF Zapu leader following about five years of political hostilities during which time about 20,000 people mostly in Matabeleland are believed to have been killed during the Gukurahundi disturbances.
Mugabe said he believed in peace, which was the reason why he forgave the white colonial masters for the atrocities they committed against the black majority before and during the liberation struggle.
Labels: JOSHUA NKOMO, ROBERT MUGABE, ZANU-PF
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(CHATHAM HOUSE) Zimbabwe After the Elections: Domestic Economic Developments and Regional Impacts
COMMENT - MP Walter Mzembi in front of Chatham House
Zimbabwe After the Elections: Domestic Economic Developments and Regional Impacts
Friday 8 November 2013 12:30 to 13:30 GMT
Location
Chatham House, London
Hon Walter Mzembi, Minister of Tourism, Republic of Zimbabwe
Chair: Alex Vines, Research Director, Area Studies and International Law; Head, Africa Programme, Chatham House
Type: Research and other events
While international attention remains focused on the 2013 election process, fluctuations in the Zimbabwe stock exchange observed during the election period are beginning to settle and the government is increasingly looking towards attracting investors as a means of boosting economic growth in the country. This year Zimbabwe co-hosted the United Nations World Tourism Organization General Assembly. Tourism is expected to account for over eight per cent of the country's GDP over the next 10 years, and promoting tourism remains central to the government’s agenda.
Hon Walter Mzembi, a party member of ZANU-PF, will discuss Zimbabwe's regional cooperation on tourism and investment. He will also present his views on the investment climate and the prospects for political stability and economic growth after the elections.
Please note this event has been rescheduled from its original date of Wednesday 6 November.
For more information, please contact Chris Vandome
Labels: 2013 ELECTIONS (ZW), CHATHAM HOUSE, WALTER MZEMBI, ZANU-PF
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Zanu PF observes elections in Denmark
08/12/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
DESPITE its leader barring the European Union (EU) from observing local polls, Zanu PF joined a Zimbabwean delegation which observed Denmark’s municipal elections last month. The Royal Danish embassy in Harare confirmed Zanu PF’s participation in its electoral processes.
According the embassy, Zanu PF was represented by Brigadier Gen (Rtd) Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi and one Tangisayi Tapera. The delegation also included MDC leader Welshman Ncube and representatives of the MDC-T. Zanu PF deputy information director Psychology Maziwisa could neither deny nor confirm his party observed the Danish elections.
“This is something I would ordinarily comment by I am not commenting on this issue. However, we have a right to accept an invitation from anyone or decline including Denmark,” he said.
“It is also up to Denmark to invite who they want to let in or shut out. Similarly as a country we can decide who can come in or not.”
Opposition MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said the MDC-T was surprised that Zanu PF sent a delegation to observe a European election.
“We are surprised that Zanu PF sends a delegation despite having refused the Europeans to observe our elections and what happened showed the duplicity and hypocrisy in Zanu PF,” Mwonzora said.
A social, political and media commentator Ernest Mudzengi: “I think it simply shows that they (Zanu PF) are hypocritical and need to revise the way they conduct their business.
“The key question is why they would want certain democratic imperatives to apply to other people and not to them.”
Mwonzora said his party believed in universal democracy.
“The MDC is of the firm position that in the democracy we want to usher into Zimbabwe there is no separate democracy for Africa, Zimbabwe or Europe.
“We observe other countries so that we tap into their experience even though they are Europeans they are simply part of a global village and we have to learn from each other,” the former Nyanga North legislator said.
President Mugabe refused to allow the EU to observe the March constitutional referendum and his re-election in July in a vote dismissed as fraudulent by his rivals.
“The Europeans and the Americans have imposed sanctions on us and we keep them out in the same way they have kept us out,” President Mugabe said as he cast his vote during the March constitutional referendum.
The Zanu PF leader was however, made clear his anger at the refusal by the EU to endorse his re-election despite African observers giving the July vote the all-clear.
The development has seen the EU holding back on lifting sanctions which were suspended ahead of the vote with the promise that they would be completely lifted if the elections were credible.
Speaking during his inauguration Mugabe said: “Today we tell those dissenting nations that the days of colonialism and neo-colonialism have gone and gone forever. Today it is Britain and her dominions of Australia and Canada who dare tell us that our elections were not fair and credible.
“Today it is America and her illegal elections with all that past of enslaving us, it is America that dares raise a censorious voice over our affairs and says our elections were not fair, were not credible, yes today it is these Anglo-Saxon who dare contradict Africa’s verdict over elections in Zimbabwe, an African country. But who are they we ask? Whoever gave them the gift of seeing better than all of us?”
As an EU member, Denmark has supported Zimbabwe’s democratic transition processes and the establishment of governance institutions since the signing of the Global Political Agreement that culminated in the establishment of a coalition government.
Denmark and Zimbabwe have a long history of cooperation dating back to the days of the struggle for independence.
“Denmark was a strong supporter of a free and independent Zimbabwe and continued to provide extensive support for its development after independence.
“Denmark has since 2008 helped about two million of the most vulnerable people out of immediate food shortage and distress,” the embassy said.
Labels: DENMARK, DOUGLAS MWONZORA, ELECTIONS, EU, PSYCHOLOGY MAZIWISA, ZANU-PF
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(HERALD ZW) France breaks ranks
November 21, 2013
Felex Share Herald Reporter
French companies are eager to invest in Zimbabwe in light of the political stability ushered in by Zanu-PF’s decisive victory in the July 31 harmonised elections, French ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Laurent Delahousse said yesterday.
President Mugabe romped to victory with 61,09 percent of the vote to MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s 33,94 percent while Zanu-PF clinched 197 seats in the 270 member national Assembly to MDC-T’s 49. In the Senate Zanu-PF controls proceedings with 37 seats to MDC-T’s 21 and MDC’s two.
Mr Delahousse, who was speaking after meeting Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo and his deputy Cde Supa Mandiwanzira in Harare yesterday, said the elections were a closed chapter and it was time to focus on the future.
While Britain and its dominions – Australia and Canada – have refused to recognise the harmonised elections, several European countries have made positive overtures in recent months with the EU lifting sanctions on the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation and its joint venture companies.
The sanctions on ZMDC were scrapped after Belgium, the seat of the EU, lobbied for their removal saying they hindered trade and the selling of Zimbabwe’s gems on the world market.
Sources in the diplomatic community say EU member states were now divesting themselves of the strictures of group solidarity to individually engage Zimbabwe.
“France has commended the elections, we said what we had to say and we are not saying it again,” said Mr Delahousse. “We want to look ahead in the future and we have taken good note of the reports by the African Union and Sadc on the elections and they have pointed out some recommendations for the Government to follow to prepare for the next elections in the future.”
Mr Delahousse said France wanted to improve economic relations with Zimbabwe and the two countries were already working towards that end so that foreign direct investment could improve the economy.
“A lot of French companies want to come to Zimbabwe and others who were here also want to come back,” he said. “They are satisfied with the stability in the country though there are still some uncertainties regarding the macro-economic situation.
“The Government is addressing those issues and I hope it will take all the appropriate decisions for investments to come back from abroad. They desperately need foreign companies and investors to help them and we are working towards that end with my colleagues in the diplomatic corps in Zimbabwe.”
Mr Delahousse said they discussed with Prof Moyo areas of divergence, including the illegal economic sanctions. He said the embargo would be reviewed “constantly”.
“There are some areas Europe, France and Zimbabwe are at odds,” he said. “Those are for instance the issue of measures that Europe has adopted against Zimbabwe which you call illegal sanctions.
“We are reviewing those measures constantly and I hope that the new dispensation in Zimbabwe will help us to take a right decision when the right time comes and to engage in a more positive cooperation.”
Mr Delahousse said each of the two countries had a role to play for the cooperation to fully materialise.
“To do this, everyone must do one’s homework,” he said. “It calls for decisions to be taken in Zimbabwe, decision to be taken in Europe, but I am happy to see that everyone is working towards that positive framework to improve our economic relations.”
Mr Delahousse said they had also discussed media cooperation.
“There will be a major change in your television in the future as there will be the switch to digital television,” he said.
“France has experience working with African countries. We have switched to digital and we have presented the minister with documents that have been drafted by French and African specialists with a view to addressing those specific questions for Africa that are presented by digitalisation.
“This is one area of cooperation. Another area of possible cooperation will be technical cooperation with the media, that is ZBC radio and television. Some of the equipment is older, we need to see how we can modernise this equipment and also help training your technical people to improve the quality of the media in this country.”
Asked why France did not want to channel its development aid through Treasury, Mr Delahousse said it was a result of the “shortcomings” that Government had.
“There is no contradiction between the NGOs and Government to work in partnership,” he said. “It is very important for the Government of Zimbabwe to be accountable for the policies that it has to pursue in accordance with the Constitution and with the will of the electorate.”
Labels: FRANCE, SANCTIONS, ZANU-PF
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(NEWZIMBABWE, DAILY NEWS) MDC-T anger as Eric Knight joins Zanu PF
30/10/2013 00:00:00
by Daily News
ERIC Knight, an aspiring Mbare MDC MP, has reportedly joined President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF. The former ZBC radio and TV presenter and MDC candidate lost the Mbare poll to Zanu PF’s Tendai Savanhu. Rugare Gumbo, the Zanu PF spokesperson, confirmed that Knight was joining the former liberation movement.
“We have always wanted people like Eric, people with experience in broadcasting and the media so we are naturally excited at having him back home if indeed he has eventually made the decision to join us,” Gumbo said.
“Young people like him are valuable to the party and as such we openly welcome him. We hope he will be an asset to the party so we wait as he undergoes the party procedure to officially become a member.”
Knight said he was driving when the Daily News reached him for comment on Tuesday, but promised to respond to a text message sent to him which he did not do. He was later not picking his phone.
An sms from his phone read: “I received your message but I am driving out of Harare now, so I will call you later.”
Knight did not make contact after that.
Officials close to Knight told the Daily News that the former DJ had been persuaded to join the ruling party by Leo Mugabe.
Knight’s switch has angered the opposition MDC, which fielded him as its parliamentary candidate but made a volte face after losing the poll.
Obert Gutu, the MDC Harare Province spokesperson, said while his party had no good reason to believe that Knight was not genuine in his parliamentary bid, there were some in the province who doubted if he was indeed a bona fide member.
He said the party had learnt a lesson to value tried and tested cadres to avoid accommodating chancers.
“As MDC Harare province, we had no reason to believe that Eric Knight was not a genuine and dedicated party cadre,” Gutu told the Daily News.
“We are advised that he was an active MDC member in the UK where he is ordinarily based.
“The truth is some party cadres in Harare province were not entirely convinced about Eric Knight’s qualification to contest the Mbare constituency primary elections.
“Going forward as Harare Province, we have learnt a hard lesson, that is, it is better for the party to stick to genuine, long-standing cadres instead of accommodating chancers and opportunists.”
Labels: 2013 ELECTIONS (ZW), ERIC KNIGHT, MDC, RUGARE GUMBO, TENDAI SAVANHU, ZANU-PF
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(HERALD ZW) Zanu-PF elections results due
October 28, 2013
Cletus Mushanawani in Mutare
Voting in the Zanu-PF provincial elections in Manicaland and Midlands ended last night with results expected today, with one candidate in Manicaland, Cde Monica Mutsvangwa withdrawing from the contest.
Although Cde Mutsvangwa withdrew her candidature over alleged irregularities, contestant Ambassador John Shumba Mvundura and elections team leader, Zanu-PF national secretary for legal affairs, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa denied any mishap in the electoral process.
“Cde Mutsvangwa who was eyeing the provincial chairperson seat submitted her letter of withdrawal late yesterday (Saturday) night and I asked her to put all the allegations of unfair practice in writing.
“She is still to submit the allegations, but as far as I am concerned the elections went on very well in nine of the 10 constituencies we have received reports and results from. There are 11 constituencies and we hope reports from the last constituency will also be positive,” said Cde Mnangagwa.
In an earlier interview, Cde Mutsvangwa said she had withdrawn her candidature because of a number of irregularities.
“I realised that it was important to withdraw my candidature so that all the grey areas in the conduct of the elections are addressed. My team picked up irregularities in almost all the places where voting was taking place.
“People were being intimidated not to vote for me and the voters’ registration was not in order. The main problem is that the outgoing chairman, Cde Mvundura is superintending an election in which he is also a candidate and this gives him an unfair advantage over me.
“Returning officers were impartial. In all districts which I had an upper hand, they were starved of ballot papers. Remedial action should be taken. A rerun is important because we want our electoral processes to have integrity,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.
However, Cde Mnangagwa gave the electoral process a thumbs up.
“From the reports I received from 10 out of 11 constituencies, nine of them confirmed that everything went well, while in one of the constituencies some irregularities were cited and we will look into them as a team. I want to commend the people of Manicaland for conducting the elections in a peaceful manner although there were logistical challenges encountered.
“Harare delayed dispatching election materials and this saw some people voting today as it took a bit of time to take the materials to all the corners of the province,” he said.
Cde Mnangagwa also commended the electorate for their resilience as they patiently waited to exercise their right to vote.
“We are happy with the maturity of our cadres as they patiently waited for the arrival of election material. This is highly commended. As the team leader I am satisfied with the manner the elections were conducted, a reason why I am leaving now,” he said.
Results were not readily available at the time of going to Press.
Ambassador Mvundura denied accusations of rigging saying that nothing was brought to his attention.
“I do not know (anything concerning) those claims of vote rigging since it was not brought to my attention. Right now we are doing reports of people to come with the results.
“I never went out of my office to the voting centres and was never told if there were any rules that if elections were conducted I should lock my office and go away.
“If they are claiming to have seen me at the command centres, where were they and did they send people to watch my movements. Was anyone barred from visiting the command centre? What I can say about the elections is that our people have matured since they were conducted in a peaceful environment.
“We never received any reports of violence and that is all I can say about the elections,’’ said Ambassador Mvundura.
In the Midlands province the voting process kicked off at around 9am yesterday and went on smoothly across the province’s eight districts.
Zanu-PF political commissar in the Women’s League, Dr Olivia Muchena, who was co-ordinating the elections in the Midlands Province, said in Zhombe, Zvishavane and other places the process was delayed due to logistical challenges encountered in the distribution of the ballot papers.
“The voting process went on smoothly. We are now on the counting process. We are at the provincial command centre where we are compiling the results. We are still contacting our polling stations to give us the results. We will announce the results as soon as we finish the counting process,” she said.
Incumbent provincial chairman, Cde Jason Machaya who is seeking to retain his post is facing his deputy, Cde Larry Mavhima while Cde Edmore Samambwa is battling it out with Cde Tanaka Manyadza for the Provincial youth wing chairperson.
Both Cde Mavhima and Cde Machaya expressed confidence in landing the post.
Cde Mavhima said he had an upper hand in the elections.
“I am confident that I will land the position because I seem to have an upper hand,” he said.
Cde Machaya said he was impressed that he was contesting against his deputy Cde Mavhima.
“I am confident that whoever lands the post would successfully lead the province considering the experience that we both have,” he said.
Labels: 2013 ELECTIONS (ZW), ZANU-PF
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Manheru bristles at Zanu PF sting
26/10/2013 00:00:00
by Nathaniel Manheru
OFTEN, one feels throttled, really throttled. Throttled by a certain narrowness of thought so abundant in the political world. Throttled by easy judgment so fashionable in the political world. For in that profound world, there are no round characters, only flat ones, mere vignettes far more superb than what Charles Dickens could ever fashion or portray. Everything comes in simple form, yielding to very simple meanings.
Indeed everything is reducible. What a simple world! That is why classification is so key to the methodology of politics, so key to political cognition! Maybe that is what Bretynbach meant when he said politics has a very limited vocabulary. Very limited mind or intellect indeed, I would add! After all, it was the master himself - President Mugabe - who once confessed that unlike teaching - his real profession - politics gladly suffers fools!
Tearing into Zanu PF
Last week I broke with tradition. I sank my harsh fangs and canines into Zanu PF, mauled it badly for some of its senseless rules, most of them crafted more to beguile and convict than to guide, more to entrap than to inspire. I gave examples galore, often dropping names and situations to illustrate my bitter points. For me, there was no ground where angels feared to tread. By the time I was done with Zanu PF, its torn flesh dangled red, weeping itself pale and dry.
Angry reposte
But as events turned out, this proved such a bad investment. I got quite a robust response. Comments came in, initially languid and cryptic, later quite voluminous, sour and tasty.
From reflexive tributes I have now grown accustomed to, and all of which I never take for granted, the debate soon took more profound tones, which included searching comments, unsettling threats veiled as peremptory advice and admonishment.
Or simply gratuitous abuse meant to hurt. But all of that is every columnist’s delight, Manheru included. There is no feedback more accurate than an angry reposte, feedback more satisfying than an angry shout which itself is clear proof that you have engaged a real issue, ruffled a living tissue. After all dead cells, however sharply pinched or pierced, never trigger a bodily recoil.
Mind no larger than tongue
But what I abhorred about the debate around last week’s instalment was a thinly veiled bullying streak that underlay it. Or worse, a stupid attempt to browbeat me out of free thinking. Much of both came from commentators who are in the Party, my party-mates in other words. And the browbeating came in various forms, including the most arresting and debilitating one built around the loyalty card. Why are you raising these issues so likely to expose and embarrass the Party?
Why are you criticising the President, exposing the Vice President, in your piece? Who do you hope to please? Or some such drivel clearly indicative of a mind no inch longer than the hot tongue that carries and conveys its depraved thoughts. I don’t mean to be nasty but please don’t seek to kill thoughts. Or their free expressions in the name of loyalty to Zanu PF, in the name of protecting the Party’s dignity, in the name of defending it against obloquy and revilement. I lose my balance once such logic kicks in.
What does not help Zanu PF
Zanu PF has absolutely nothing to gain from senseless rules, malicious rules of double application, of entrapment. A Party of national liberation, it has no business being actuated by base thoughts or impulses, no business vindictively chasing little boys right back to their mothers’ cradling breasts.
A Party of struggle should never chase demeaning arguments, pursue mean altercations that hold it up to ridicule, indeed that rob it of its dignity and aura as a maker of our Nation. And of course a great Party must yield great thoughts, great ideas that lead. As indeed it did in its last Politburo meeting where the acronym ZIM ASSET was coined for our thoughtful economic blueprint which has given governmental form to the Party’s manifesto.
That is the temperament, the tempo of a great Party of great accomplishments.
You can’t wish for more. No you can’t. And you give praises, unstintingly too. And that too spurs you to full revulsion each time the Party of such great deeds, greater thoughts, succumbs to below-par acts and performances. Such as in the Kereke case which has now come to an undignified conclusion for the Party. Thankfully my great Party did introspection well ahead of the court judgment, something which mitigated the impact of this needless, preventable misstep.
Opposition criticism, an escape?
There seems to be a view - wholly mistaken and despicable - that Manheru’s remit is to attack the opposition solely, attack the two MDCs and anything, anyone, opposed to Zanu PF. I admit there is a lot that this column has done to uphold such a misconception. I apologise for it. A mistaken view that my chief and sole purpose begins and ends with harsh words against the opposition. A mistaken view that my relationship with Zanu PF - my Party - is one of unconditional love and support, which, by the way, is not wrong.
What is wrong, what would be wrong, is for anyone to ever think that my love and commitment to Zanu PF translates to unconditional acceptance of all its ideas regardless, all its personalities regardless. A view that thinks Manheru is about excoriating the opposition only amounts to a diversion, some form of escapism.
You cope with and adjust to the failings of Zanu PF simply by redirecting your rheum towards the opposition! You sweep the failings of Zanu PF under the carpet by building and harkening the world towards an enormous heap of transgressions by the opposition. That way Zanu PF looks handsome, infallible, too perfect to require correction. It is a wrong view, very bad propaganda, suicidal in fact, and Manheru will not be party to it.
Only striving for perfection
Like all human constructs, Zanu PF is not perfect, will never be under any leadership however virtuous. But like all great institutions, Zanu PF seeks perfection, which is why it must always be in a state of reinventing itself, in the continual state of self-interrogation and debate. In history it made numerous errors, some of them huge and costly. This is why there was a major rethink of strategy after the 1966 Chinhoyi battle. While it is now a marker of our struggle, Chinhoyi as a case of costly sacrifice remains an unread subtext.
Errors, destructive ambitions, false visions and ideologies gave us the Nhari rebellion, Vashandi and others. But the greatness of Zanu PF has never been its infallibility which does not exist anyway. It has always been its ability to learn from and surmount past weaknesses, ability to introspect and overcome odds and invent new, filling thoughts as happened after 2008. See where we are now, owners of a four-thirds majority!
Zanu PF’s ups, downs
And then a key point which many seek to duck: it is in its moments of undisputed and indisputable ascendancy and triumph that Zanu PF is always at its worst and most fallible. It becomes reckless, very reckless. It becomes insolent, very insolent. It becomes indifferent to the people, most indifferent. It becomes unthinking, most unthinking.
Indeed, it begins to pursue little, ignoble goals, all of them unrelated to its original winning grand plans. Yes, it begins to chase and pursue fleeing rats when its house is on fire. Let’s go back in time, just a bit. 2000 was a disastrous year for the Party electorally. That setback made the MDC, gave it a baneful foothold in the national body-politic.
But Zanu PF was roused by this setback. It fought back and the result was the pre-eminence of 2005. Like the proverbial frog that had defied all odds by beating solid the very cream which should have drowned it, Zanu PF emerged triumphant, stolidly seating atop a lump of solidified cream - solidified by repeated beating - wiping a tear or two, preening its whiskers.
Tired and triumphant, it soon forgot that another trial was due in 2008. Before that trial, it reinvented itself as its own prime enemy, for having vanquished all, it did not have any outside of itself. Indeed 2008 came. What a disaster it proved to be! Zanu PF had been caught, masturbating. Distracted, it got walloped soundly. It had wrongly focused on Makoni: that lethal political red herring the Party had created for itself. It forgot the British, the Americans, the Germans, the Dutch, all of them intent on expunging it and its ethos of liberation.
Now go for each other
Thankfully it survived well enough to fight another day. But that survival was five long years of purgatory before it could redeem itself anew. That day came in 2013. Of course 2013 is now, a moment of fine resurgence for a Party so sorely bitten once and thus twice clever! But only a moment, which is what makes this rise-fall, rise-fall pattern menacingly likely yet again.
And the big question is, to this momentary zenith - this four-thirds majority of July 3 - should we expect a 2008- like nadir as its patterned sequel? Should we begin to gird ourselves for a 2018 where the Party returns and sinks into another trough as in 2000 and 2008? Mangoma of the MDC-T thinks so, adding all the MDC-T needs to do is to sit back and watch as Zanu PF trips itself through failure, non-performance or fatal agenda displacement as it gravitated towards inane pursuits. MDC-N thinks the same, stressing “now that we are out of the way, you guys can finish each other, one another for us. You are free to go back to your factions, with a vengeance too!” We receive this as friendly advice, and begin to live true to these dire predictions.
Just clearing their throat
I have two sobering anecdotes for all of us who are in Zanu PF, truly so. Last week the British sent into the country one of their own, some little servant of empire. He was very audacious in the few meetings he held with our officials. The British position in respect of elections and sanctions has not changed, he said. Has not changed from what Secretary Hague said. And the hag said our polls fell short of British standards and thus would not pass. After all, Britain was still waiting for final reports of the AU and Sadc.
Bare excuses born out of a sense of impunity, of invulnerability of the strong and mighty.
He went further. We did not have to read too much into the lifting of ZMDC from “restrictive measures”, he warned. After all this was an old decision by the EU. Much worse, it is meant to ensure that Britain can monitor how Zimbabwe - its colony for all time - handles its diamond sales, its diamond receipts!
You see where we stand in the British scheme of things. Sanctions are not going anywhere. The British are not relenting despite July 31. Any concessions they might be making, or we appear to see them making, amount to a clearing of throat. And another official is coming soon, largely to confer with the opposition writ large. I just thought you guys should know, you so happily wallowing in the triumphant result of July 31 before which all adversity, all enemies should melt away!
Tsvangirai alive again
This week Morgan Tsvangirai is back in England, home to his handlers. The pretext is some conference on non-renewable resources and how they are being exploited. It is a conference ostensibly hosted by an NGO, but of course we know who is behind it, and how all this reinforces the message from the lowly British official mentioned above.
True to form, the resurged Tsvangirai was sat among leaders of other African countries and was primed to indict Zanu PF, Zimbabwe, its resources and how they are being exploited. At no moment in his presentation did he make reference to the self-serving diamond lobby which has demeaned Zimbabwe, criminalised its use of own resources.
He verbalised the script which the British want, which the Americans hope to provide a basis for a new assault on the triumphant Zanu PF. Add to all that the fact that Chinamasa, the new Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, spent a whole two weeks in Washington, engaging the IMF, only to bring back more rules, more requirements, then you begin to see how dark, how evil the hour is. The storm is gathering and only a snoozing Zanu PF can regale itself with results of July 31.
Or demobilise its constituency through fractious politics, through inane fights and thoughts.
Unbowed and never to be defeated, the British are already looking beyond July 31, looking at reinventing the opposition, looking at rebuilding an atmosphere of engulfing defeatism and pessimism as happened in 2008. Such a national mood is hospitable to its politics.
Did you know?
De-Zanufication agenda
My parting shot comes by way of the thoughts of one Vince Musewe. Each time he writes, he signs off as some economist based in Harare. As indeed he did three days ago in a piece titled, “Liberation war mentality stifling Zimbabwe”. I have followed his thought-racks, especially after July 31. For a while he went into mourning, licking his weeping wounds following the trouncing of MDC-T, presumably his preferred party. Today he seems to be twitching back to life, recuperating from a deep swoon.
Therein lies the significance of his piece. After parodying Karl Marx - and it’s a real parody - he boldly states: “The psychology and behaviours of the liberation struggle continue to negatively impact our socio-economic development.” He adds: “I would argue that the political management structures, psychology and behaviours during the war are still dominant today in Zimbabwe. In fact, they continue to negatively impact our socio-political fabric, in a manner that can only be described as repugnant and retrogressive.”
And adds: “Our battle is therefore a psychological one. Zimbabwe’s politicians must be psychologically cleansed and emancipated from a past that rears its head at every corner and in every nook and cranny, a past that continues to inform the present to the detriment of social progress and the self-actualisation of many ordinary folk.”
Hallmark leadership
I don’t think Vince must be feared. He is such a bad communicator to be a persuasive one. But he represents a good appreciation of the post-July 31 opposition in Zimbabwe. It is resurging, indeed beginning to reconnect with its existential mission of extinguishing the liberation ethos on behalf of overseas white interests. Does it not beat one’s understanding that this Vince chafes about the liberation ethos and not about the colonial ethos which infuse his thinking, indeed which naturalises his own marginalisation in an economy he wrongly thinks is now owned by rulers from the liberation struggle!
This is what has been happening to Rome while Zanu PF fiddles. That is what riles me. The forces of reaction are beginning to regroup while my Party is chasing little game. Manheru belongs to no faction, never will. His pen belongs to Zimbabwe, which must remain free and indigenous, hopefully under a conscious and enlightened Zanu PF which must continue to lead.
And which must always correctly characterise the moment we are in, the dangers that confront us, the battles we must fight, the tools we need to employ, the unity we must forge.
That is the hallmark of a liberation movement. Icho!
nathaniel.manheru.co.zw
Labels: NATHANIEL MANHERU, ZANU-PF
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(NEWZIMBABWE) MDCs now dead and buried: Mnangagwa
06/10/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
JUSTICE Minister and Zanu PF politburo member Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the opposition MDC formations were “dead and buried” after suffering a crushing defeat in the July 31 elections which also ended the power sharing deal between the parties.
Zanu PF won a decisive two thirds majority in Parliament while President Robert Mugabe was also re-elected for another five-year term with a landslide victory over long-term rival Morgan Tsvangirai who claims the vote was a monumental fraud.
Mnangagwa, said to be battling vice president Joyce Mujuru to succeed Mugabe, told supporters at a victory celebration in Masvingo that the July poll had consigned the MDC parties to the “dustbin of history”.
“I want to urge all Zimbabweans to continue rallying behind Zanu PF because it is a tried and tested party that has a clear idea on how to improve the lives of the people through the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme, among other policies,” Mnangagwa told supporters at victory celebrations for politburo member and cabinet minister Josaya Hungwe.
“Zanu PF is the party for the future and the MDC formations are now dead and buried after their crushing defeat during the just-ended harmonised elections.’’
The elections were endorsed by African observers but Western countries, barred from observing the vote by Mugabe, have backed Tsvangirai’s claim that the vote was not credible and refused to lift sanctions against the country.
One of the major challenges facing the new Zanu PF government is righting an economy still struggling to recover from a ten-year recession Mugabe blames on the sanctions which were imposed over allegations of rights abuses and electoral fraud.
“I want to urge you to continue supporting and rallying behind Zanu PF because it is the only party that has a tradition of being on the side of the people always, since independence,” said Mnangagwa.
“No matter how hard things might be, no matter how difficult the situation might be, we should continue to rally behind Zanu PF because it is the only party that has interests of Zimbabweans at heart.’’
Although he denies actively seeking to take over from Mugabe, Mnangagwa is said to be a top contender to succeed the veteran leader who however, insists he will see out his new five-year term.
And fellow politburo member and energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire probably sought to signal his succession preferences (or those of Masvingo province) in his eulogy to Mnangagwa at the celebrations.
According to the Herald newspaper, Mavhaire described Mnangagwa as a rare breed of freedom fighter and one of the faces of the liberation struggle with an impeccable track record in fighting against colonial domination.
Using praise language usually reserved for Mugabe, Mavhaire urged Zimbabweans to emulate “the loyalty and dedication to duty” of a man who only survived execution on an age technicality after being sentenced to death for bombing a Rhodesian train in the 1960s.
Labels: EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, MDC, ZANU-PF
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Man charged over Zanu PF office bomb
02/10/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
A 40-YEAR-OLD man has been charged over a suspected petrol bomb attack on Zanu PF’s Highfield offices and an adjoining supermarket at around 2AM on Saturday. Collen Chisunga appeared before Harare magistrate Elijah Makomo on Wednesday and was remanded in custody. The magistrate advised him to apply to the High Court for bail.
Prosecutors said Chisunga was arrested after bragging in a bar that he had carried out the attack on the Zanu PF offices at Machipisa Shopping Centre. The fire also destroyed Grocery World supermarket. Chisunga is facing two counts of aggravated malicious damage to property.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said over the weekend that 32-year-old Spiwe Pambayi, a Harare resident, was arrested on Saturday over the fire and kept in custody for two nights, together with her one-year-old son, Clifford Mbewe.
The lawyers said Pambayi was arrested after an informant told the police she had been overhead bragging that the "fire-fire operation yatakaita nezuro yakabudirira [the fire-fire operation that we conducted yesterday was a success]."
Labels: COLLEN CHISUNGA, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, ZANU-PF
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Zanu PF printing firm, office fire-bombed
29/09/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
POLICE have launched investigations after the Zanu PF-owned Jongwe Printers and party offices in a Harare suburb were allegedly firebombed on Saturday morning.
Property worth thousands of dollars was destroyed when the party’s ward office in Harare’s Highfield suburb went up in flames that also spread to an adjacent supermarket.
The owner of Grocery World Supermarket is said to have fainted as she surveyed the damage.
“When the boss came this morning, she fainted because goods worth over US$50,000 went up in flames,” said an employee.
“The Fire Brigade came on time. Unfortunately, they did not have enough water to stop the fire from spreading from the Zanu PF office.”
Zanu PF Harare chairman Amos Midzi said damages at the printing company had been minimal although the Highfield office had been reduced to ashes.
“I can confirm that Jongwe Printers was petrol-bombed in the early hours of (Saturday), but not much damage was inflicted,” he said.
“At Machipisa, there was complete destruction of property. As a party, we are certainly looking into the matter while working with the police.”
A party official said they suspected foul play.
“The office is now in ashes and we have lost property which includes benches, tables and books,” said FitzGerald Mukumba.
“The forensic experts came and took some samples. Results will be out soon, but our position at the moment is that there was foul play because there was no electricity, therefore, it could not have been an electrical fault.”
Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said they were still to determine whether the attacks were politically-motivated as investigations were still continuing and no arrest had yet been made.
Labels: ARSON, MDC, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, ZANU-PF
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(HERALD ZW) VP Mujuru reads Riot Act
September 28, 2013
Felex Share Herald Reporter
Acting President Joice Mujuru greets Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa, while Senior Minister Simon Khaya Moyo looks on at the Government strategic retreat workshop in Harare yesterday. — (Picture by Munyaradzi Chamalimba)
MINISTERS and other Government officials should pull their full weight in the discharge of their duties because the Presidency will not tolerate failure when the nation has pinned its hopes on Zanu-PF, Acting President Joice Mujuru has said.Zanu-PF’s vision, as stated in the party’s election manifesto, she said, should now be turned into reality and performance contracts would be introduced for senior Government officials.
Cde Mujuru made the remarks during a consultative workshop for Cabinet ministers, their deputies, permanent secretaries and officials from the Office of the President and Cabinet in Harare yesterday.
The workshop was for ministers to make contributions to be considered in refining the Zimbabwe Programme for Socio-Economic Transformation, an economic blue print that will guide policy formulation and implementation of Government programmes for the next five years.
The document will be tabled in Cabinet for adoption before being officially launched by President Mugabe.
“We are the Government of the day, failure is not an option because we have to maintain and nurture the people’s confidence in us,” Acting President Mujuru said.
“It is imperative that we fully engage ourselves in the mode of a result-based Government and deliver what people expect of us.”
The crafting of the economic blueprint, done by the Office of the President and Cabinet, was largely informed by the Zanu-PF manifesto as the party had the mandate to form Government after its resounding victory in the July 31 harmonised elections.
The manifesto is centred on indigenisation, empowerment and employment creation, mining and the revival of industry. The economic blueprint also has input from farmers, bankers and the private sector.
Cde Mujuru said Government should work hard to meet the “high expectations” of Zimbabweans.
“As ministers, you will need to work hard given that the economy has a myriad of challenges against the high expectations of the people of Zimbabwe,” she said.
“These expectations include enjoyment of a higher standard of living from improved infrastructure and better service delivery.”
The Acting President said with performance contracts, Government officials would always be on their toes to ensure quality service delivery.
“Introduction of performance contracts will ensure that senior Government officers, as custodians of policy formulation and implementation, are accountable for their actions to the people they serve,” she said.
“At the same time, the citizens must be afforded a platform to interrogate Government on issues of public service delivery and decision-making.”
She said to ensure that Government ministries were more accountable, fair and transparent to the people, independent evaluations on performance would be conducted.
She said corrective measures would be taken where there were deficiencies.
“In all these efforts, the Office of the President and Cabinet will take a lead role in providing the necessary leadership and guidance as well as monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.
“The office has been reconfigured to ensure that this happens. At the same time, the Civil Service Commission will ensure that the required competencies are efficiently deployed to obtain better results for the people.”
Cde said the people’s hopes lay in the hands of ministers and senior Government officials. Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said the objectives of ZIMPSET were to boost economic recovery and growth as well as investing in sustainable and robust solutions to food insecurity.
“It is also aimed at improving production and export of goods and services through value addition and beneficiation,” he said.
“Another objective is also to expand accessibility and utilisation of ICTs, building and rehabilitating infrastructure and utilities, availing and increasing social and economic opportunities for women, youths and physically challenged persons in our communities.”
Dr Sibanda expressed hope that ZIMPSET would yield results.
“It is our profound hope that implementation of ZIMPSET would yield short to medium term gains that will result in a growing economy that is highly competitive in the region and indeed the rest of Africa as well as building an empowered society that has control of the means of production,” he said.
He said the blueprint would focus on acceleration of public-private partnership to fund economic revival and infrastructural development.
Dr Sibanda said the blueprint should be implemented starting this month to the first quarter of 2014, while the rest of the programme was expected to be implemented between the first quarter 2014 and December 2015.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Mr Willard Manungo said Government would unveil a Sovereign Wealth Fund aimed at raising capital from internal resources to sustain economic requirements.
The Fund was expected to solve dependence on funding from regional and international financiers.
“This facility is critical and we hope it will unlock more capital,” said Mr Manungo.
“It has an advantage of boosting economic activities as it seeks to use local resources as collateral on offshore loans and is being mooted by Government after the realisation that the Medium Term Plan crafted during the inclusive Government era failed to attain its goals.”
Labels: JOICE MUJURU, ZANU-PF
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(HERALD ZW) Zanu-PF gets green light to operate freely in UK
September 21, 2013
Hebert Zharare Political Editor
THE British Government has given Zanu-PF UK branch the green light to operate freely in that country after years of acrimonious relations that saw many cadres being threatened with deportation and loss of jobs as London pursued the illegal regime change agenda here.Britain and its Western allies put Zanu-PF leaders on travel sanctions, in addition to imposing blanket economic sanctions on the entire country after the fallout over funding for the land reform programme.
Zanu-PF supporters resident in the UK could not freely express themselves fearing deportation. Zanu-PF UK branch said British Foreign and Commonwealth Officer, MP Mark Simmonds, announced in a statement yesterday that Zanu-PF members were now free to operate in the UK without hindrances.
Said Mr Simmonds: “There would be no bar on your activities here in the UK, provided you do not contravene UK law, as is the case for any political party.”
Reports from London say Zanu-PF was now being recognised just like any other local British party and may soon start enjoying other privileges.
Zanu-PF UK interim chairman Cde Nick Mangwana said they were happy that the British Government now recognised them like any other political party.
“A lot of cadres were persecuted in machinations led by their own regime change countrymen who continued to campaign for their deportation and expulsion from the country.
“Those in public service jobs nearly lost them and some lost them. Those in academic research had grants and funding withdrawn. However, through continuous engagement by the current steering committee and its interim leadership and our assurance that our intention was to give the other side of the story and represent masses of Zimbabweans who clearly supported Zanu-PF but feared for their stay in the country, we have been allowed to operate freely.
“Assurances were initially given verbally but on insistences of written assurances the details of the leadership was sought and the steering committee obliged,” said Cde Mangwana.
The move is likely to see the revival of Zanu-PF UK which flourished during the era of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 80s.
Labels: ZANU-PF
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(NEWZIMBABWE) UK clears Zanu PF political activities
22/09/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
ZANU PF has assured its supporters in the United Kingdom that “they don’t need to operate under the radar” after assurances from the British government that they will not be targeted.
An interim Zanu PF executive in the United Kingdom led by Nick Mangwana claims “a lot of cadres were persecuted in machinations led by their own regime change countrymen who campaigned for their deportation and expulsion.”
“Those in public service jobs nearly lost them, and some lost them. Those in academic research had grants and funding withdrawn,” Mangwana said on Sunday.
But after engagement with the UK Foreign Office, Mangwana said they now had written reassurances that they can hold public meetings and canvass without being targeted.
He explained: “Assurances were initially given verbally but at our insistence for written assurances, details of the leadership were sought. It was only then that the policy statement was sent to the chairman of the steering committee assuring that the British government has no problem with Zanu PF operating from the heartland of Europe.
“After many years of threats, covert and overt retributive actions against people who were perceived to be Zanu PF supporters and cadres, the British government has now given its assurance for their protection.”
In a letter to the Zanu PF interim executive, Mark Simmonds, Britain’s Minister for Africa, said: “You asked whether there would be any objections to Zanu PF activity here in the UK. There would be no bar on your activities here in the UK, providing they do not contravene UK law, as is the case for any political party.”
Simmonds further asked the Zanu PF executive to meet with Richard Croker, the Head of the Zimbabwe Unit at the Foreign Office’s Africa Department Central “to discuss the issues you have raised”.
Mangwana said: “The steering committee wishes to extend this assurance to cadres that they don’t need to operate under the radar. It's okay to join the very fashionable Zanu PF UK openly.”
Relations between the Zanu PF-led Zimbabwe government and former colonial power Britain remain frosty. Mugabe and nine other officials remain on European Union sanctions which he says were instigated by Britain which was angry with his land reform policy, but the UK accuses Mugabe of election fraud and rights abuses.
Labels: NICK MANGWANA, SANCTIONS, UK, ZANU-PF
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(SUNDAY MAIL ZW) Editorial Comment: Silence please, Team Zanu-PF is at work!
Sunday, 15 September 2013 08:57
After about four years, when MDC puppets got the rare opportunity to mix with revolutionaries in Zanu-PF but messed the opportunity to grow politically, Zimbabwe is once again back on its ideological feet with Team Zanu-PF already delivering on its election promises contained in the party’s manifesto.
And Zimbabweans are loving every bit of it with indications that the country is poised for unprecedented economic growth in the medium to long-term as Team Zanu-PF rolls out people-oriented policies and programmes that won it the mandate to govern Zimbabwe for the next five years.
Just last Wednesday, President Mugabe set up a formidable Cabinet team comprising ministers with vast experience in implementing Government policies and the so-called Young Turks who will bring with them lots of energy to even things. Zimbabweans are ready for the ride and Team Zanu-PF seems equal to the task.
While Team Zanu-PF is oiling its machine for economic take-off, the puppets were celebrating their defeat in Mutare yesterday in a move that the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Professor Moyo said makes them right candidates for Ingutsheni Mental Hospital in Bulawayo. How does one celebrate defeat? This is a first but this coming from the MDC-T is not a surprise because their being puppets is descriptive enough of what to expect from them.
The MDC-T secretary general, the beleaguered Tendai Biti who still doesn’t know what exactly hit his party said the crushing defeat to Zanu-PF had reduced them to “zombies.” Well, is there much difference between a zombie and a puppet? Don’t they belong to the same category? Anyway, we won’t waste our precious time dwelling too much on bankrupt losers as there is so much that Team Zanu-PF has to offer and is already delivering to the people.
As Team Zanu-PF gets into motion, one of the first casualties has been the European Union which has been ripped apart by developments in Zimbabwe with Belgium coming out into the open saying the illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation should be lifted.
Belgian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hendrik van de Velde said the EU had agreed that they would lift the sanctions if Sadc and the AU declare the July 31 elections as free and fair.
Sadc and the AU went on to declare the elections as free and fair after President Mugabe garnered over 61 percent of the presidential vote while Zanu-PF got an overwhelming two-thirds majority in Parliament.
After this crushing victory, Belgium which is home to Antwerp, the world’s leading diamond trading hub is demanding that the EU sticks to its agreement to lift the sanctions but other countries led by Britain are refusing to do as agreed. Well, Britain and its allies can continue dreaming but what is obvious is that its a matter of time before they are left alone to lick their regime change wounds.
While the US continues to fight Britain’s fight, Sadc and Africa have taken a position to defend Zimbabwe and with the whole continent supporting us, we really don’t care a hoot what Obama and his handlers think. Zimbabweans will determine their destiny and Africa will be there to lean on.
What is really making efforts by Britain and America futile is the fact that the country’s diamonds are projected to dominate the global market in the next five years with reports that production from other players is dwindling fast.
It is estimated that Zimbabwe will earn about US$700 million from the sale of the precious stone with a record 17 million carats set to be produced from Marange.
These statistics were released in a report by Companies Diamond Industry Series last month who went on to project that Zimbabwe will satisfy about 30 percent of the global market by 2015.
Well, President Obama and Prime Minister David Cameroon can continue playing politics but soon businesspeople from their country will realise that they are being used in a game that they will never win. When politics clash with business, we want to see who will remain with lots of egg on the face because we know who calls the shots in these two countries.
Already, Hilton Worldwide, the leading American hotel group has taken the lead and is planning to build an upmarket hotel and business complex in Harare. This is despite the illegal sanctions and despite all the anti-Zimbabwe propaganda in the Western media. Last week, a leading British newspaper, the Financial Times gave Mr Cameron some piece of advice saying it was time for the UK to engage President Mugabe as the regime change plot agenda continues to go off-rail.
While the country’s diamonds are becoming a global game changer, the country’s tourism sector is on the rebound with reports from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority saying the country recorded a 12 percent increase in tourist arrivals in the first half of the year, registering 859 995 visitors compared to 767 393 during the same time last year. Tourists are finding Zimbabwe irresistible despite all the travel warnings that are meant to scare them away from the country. Just as they were instructed by President Mugabe, Cabinet ministers drawn from Team Zanu-PF, have hit the ground running with the Minister of Industry and Commerce Cde Mike Bimha saying his ministry’s top priority would be to mobilise funds to revive the country’s distressed industries.
The Minister of Finance, Cde Patrick Chinamasa has already outlined Government’s preoccupation for the next five years which is spurring economic growth and increasing indigenous participation in the mainstream economy.
On the other hand, the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Professor Jonathan Moyo has promised the country new radio and television stations, a move that is set to be welcomed by many Zimbabweans.
In a welcome development, farmers have hailed the re-appointment of Dr Joseph Made to the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation saying this would ensure continuity in the ministry. Already Dr Made has met officials from the World Bank to map the way forward for the country’s agricultural sector.
The Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Cde Walter Chidhakwa said there is need to promote value addition to the country’s minerals adding that there is need to create employment opportunities and increase foreign exchange inflows to feed into the balance of payment support.
Without wasting time, the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Cde Saviour Kasukuwere has declared war on poachers while the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Cde Nicholas Goche has become a darling of civil servants as he has said Government will prioritise their welfare and conditions of service. Cde Goche said his ministry would soon implement strategies in line with the Zanu-PF manifesto to cushion the government workers.
On the other hand, Team Zanu-PF has kept its promise by making sure that water and electricity bills dating back to 2009 are scrapped while residents who were on the verge of losing their houses due to debts have also been rescued.
Regarding the drought issue, Government has already started importing grain from Zambia to feed people in drought-hit areas with reports that about 3 000 metric tonnes have already been delivered. More grain is on the way. Well, Team Zanu-PF is clearly showing why it won the elections and as the team rolls out its policies and programmes, it is important for Zimbabweans, especially civil servants not to make unrealistic demands that will upset the economy.
Team Zanu-PF has shown that it is ready to work for the people and with the people and its now up to Zimbabweans to remember the words by former US president John F Kennedy that “ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.”
http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37891:new-irrigation-technology-draws-attention-at-agricultural-show&catid=47:agriculture&Itemid=139
(SUNDAY MAIL ZW) New irrigation technology draws attention at agricultural show
Sunday, 01 September 2013 04:35
Emilia Zindi
A new irrigation system that allows farmers to use less labour as well as affordable equipment proved popular at the Harare Agricultural Show. Farmers who thronged the Zeriv Rain Systems stand expressed their interest in the cost-saving initiative.
Theft of irrigation equipment on the farms, especially aluminium pipes, sprinklers and taps, is a serious problem facing farmers.
The aluminium pipes have been commonly used in making aluminium kitchen utensils. The new technology that uses “spray guns” is so efficient that the guns vary in the radius they cover per minute.
The aluminium pipes have been commonly used in making aluminium kitchen utensils.
Explaining how this system works the company’s chief executive, Mr Lovejoy Gumbochuma, said the 100-metre radius guns can irrigate four hectares per hour compared to the current system where more than 60 pipes and 52 sprinklers are required.
“In 48 hours one would have covered 50 hectares,’’ said Mr Gumbochuma.
He said the new system also required less manpower with only one person needed to move the “gun” from one point to the other unlike the use of pipes where more than three people are required to carry the pipes.
Farmers interviewed yesterday appreciated the new system, saying this would save money as well as reduce electricity bills as more ground would be covered in a short time.
Labels: IRRIGATION, LOVEJOY GUMBOCHUMA, ZANU-PF
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