(NEWZIMBABWE) Zimbabwe: Official House of Assembly Election Results
02/08/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
Official results for the House of Assembly as announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. We will update them as they come. We apologise for missing names of the candidates:
BULAWAYO PROVINCE
Nkulumane: Zapu 335, MDC-T 7,045, MKD 37, MDC 1,404, FZC 43, Zanu PF 2,494
Pelandaba Mpopoma: MDC 965, FZC 572, Inp 327, Ind 39, Zapu 140, Zanu Ndonga 74, Ind 45, MDC-T 6,024, Zapu 134, Zanu PF 2,122, AKE 50
Luveve: MDC 2,348, Zanu PF 2,874, MDC-T 5,586
Emakhandeni-Entumbane: Zanu PF 1,974, ZAPU 185, MDC 1,104, MDC-T 5,326
Pumula: MDC-T 6,100, AKE 82, Zanu PF 2,877, MDC 1,514, Zapu 285
Nketa: Zanu PF 3,817, MDC-T 7,649, MDC 1,931
Bulawayo Central: MDC 1,572, Zanu PF 2,827, Zapu 258, MDC-T 6,355
Bulawayo East: MDC 4,540, Indep 125, ZPM 24, MDC-T 4,550, Zanu PF 2,842
Bulawayo South: MDC 1,078, ZAPU 158, ZAPU FP 105, MKD 46, ZPM 46, MDC-T 6,364, Zanu PF 1,787
Makokoba: AKE 48, Zanu PF 3,539, ZAPU 206, MDC-T 7,099, MDC 1,547
Lobengula: Zanu PF 1,848, MDC 1,113, Zanu Ndonga 83, ZAPU 147, MDC-T 5579
Magwegwe: Zanu Ndonga 38, MDC 1,852, ZAPU 150, MDC-T 4,996, Zanu PF 1,289, Indep 392
HARARE PROVINCE
Chitungwiza North: MDC 829, MKD 83, Zanu PF 6,507, MDC-T 8,071, UMD 75
St Mary's: UMD 78, MDC 685, MKD 66, Zanu PF 5,524, ZAPU 50, MDC-T 7,092
Southerton: MDC-T 7,068, Zanu PF 3,245, MDC 792, FF 69
Mbare: MDC 1,041, MDC-T 10,932, UMD 66, Zanu PF 14,764
Sunningdale: Ind 1,567, MDC-T 5,746, ZANU Ndonga 48, MDC 557, VP 38, Zanu PF 3,005
Highfield West: Ind 67, Zanu PF 2,639, MDC-T 6,825, Zanu Ndonga 31, MDC 813
Highfield East: ZAPU 76, UMD 19, Zanu PF 3,627, MDC-T 8,494, MDC 747, FZC 34, MKD 37
Zengeza East: Zanu PF 6,391, MDC 923, MDC-T 7,873
Harare Central: Zanu PF 4,974, MDC 757, MDC-T 6,828
Mabvuku Tafara: MDC-T 7,917, Zanu PF 6,319
Kuwadzana East: MDC-T 7,967, Zanu PF 2,465
Zengeza West: Zanu PF ##993, MDC 216, MDC-T 1,624
Chitungwiza South: Zanu PF 8,126, MDC-T 7,888, MDC 927, Indep 309
Mt Pleasant: MDC 403, Zanu PF 7,945, MDC-T 3,817
Dzivaraskewa: Zanu PF 5,402, MDC-T 6,591
Kambuzuma: MDC-T 7,944, MDC 635, Zanu PF 4,165
Glen Norah: Zanu PF 1,984, MDC-T 6,672
Glen View North: MDC 469, Zanu PF 2,324, MDC-T 7,697
Epworth: MDCT 7,951, Zanu PF 15,768
Harare South: MDC 1,359, MDC-T 7,472, Zanu PF 20,069
Budiriro: MDC 1,029, MDC-T 13,077, Zanu 5,799
Mufakose: Zanu PF 1,873, MDC 543, MDC-T 5,797
Glen View South: MDC 695, Zanu 2,583, MDC-T 8,301
Warren Park: MDK 69, MDC 1,119, MDC-T 10,956, Zanu PF 4,853
Harare West: MDC-T 9,996, ZDP 29, Zanu PF 3,530
Harare West: MDC-T 9,996, ZDP 29, Zanu PF 3,530
Hatfield: MDC-T 9,031, MDC 665, Zanu 4,246
Harare North: Indep 500, MDC 746, Zanu PF 7,917, MDC-T 6,555
MANICALAND PROVINCE
Wedza North: Zanu PF 14,277, MDC-T 1,536 MDC 510
Hwedza South: Zanu PF 8,807, MDC-T 2,327, MDC 346, Indep 86
Mutare Central: Zanu PF 4,732, MDC-T 9,085, MDC 466
Mutare North: Zanu PF 17,867, MDC-T 5,998, MDC 860
Mutare South: Zanu PF 13,218, MDC-T 4,725 Indep 1,821 MDC 802
Mutare West: Zanu PF 16,087, MDC-T 7,483
Dangamvura-Chikanga: Zanu PF 9,336, Tsunga MDC-T 11,757, Mutsekwa MDC-T 3,851 MDC 468
MASHONALAND EAST PROVINCE
Marondera Central: MDC-T 9,378, Zanu PF 7,892, MDC 314, IND 112
Marambapfungwe: Zanu PF 22,264, MDC-T 1,071, MDC 224
Uzumba: Zanu PF 21,421, MDC-T 945, MDC 222
Mudzi West: Zanu PF 14,266, MDC-T 733, MDC 267
Seke: Zanu PF 13,285, MDC-T 6,411, MDC 1,175, FZC 289
Murewa South: Zanu PF 17,368, MDC-T 1,729, MDC 550
Chikomba Central: Zanu PF 7,723, MDC-T 3,233, MDC 1,185
Chikomba East: Zanu PF 7,456, MDC-T 2,445, MDC 493, Zanu Ndonga 86
Chikomba West: Zanu PF 17,153, MDC-T 3,676, MDC 733
Goromonzi West: Zanu PF 12,758, MDC-T 7,123, MDC 540
Mudzi North: Zanu PF 15,997, MDC-T 1,857, MDC 501
Goromonzi North: Zanu PF 11,874, MDC-T 4,134, MDC 877
Murehwa North: Zanu PF 8,733, MDC-T 2,141, MDC 443, IND 6,741, MKD 207
Mt Darwin South: Zanu PF 19,680, MDC 332, MDC-T 1,401
Mazowe South: Zanu PF 11,741, MDC-T 4,116, MDC 820, MKD 116
MASHONALAND WEST PROVINCE
Chakari: Zanu PF 19,540, MDC-T 1,642
Mhondoro Ngezi: MDC-T 3,564, Zanu PF 13,476
Muzvezve: Zanu PF 18,832, MDC 569, MDC-T 3,029
Sanyati: MDC-T 3,093, Zanu PF 11,332, MDC 308
Kadoma Central: PIMZ 220, Zanu PF 9,571, MDC-T 9,005, MDC 959
Norton: Zanu PF 10,592, MKD 129, MDC-T 9,360, MDC T 894
Mhondoro Mubaira: Zanu PF 10,153, MDC T 4,473, MDC 847
Chegutu West: Zanu PF 11,130, Inp 212, MDC-T 7,399, MDC 733
Chegutu East: Zanu PF 15,687, MDC-T 2,713, MDC 434,
Chinhoyi: Zanu PF 8,561, MDC-T 9,863, MDC 543
MASVINGO PROVINCE
Masvingo North: MDC 587, Indep 212, Zanu PF 10,358, MDC-T 3,277
Masvingo West: MDC 405, MDC-T 4,687, Zanu PF 7,634
Bikita West: Zanu PF 6,270, Zanu PF 6,052, MDC-T 3,863, MDC 415
Gutu East: Zanu PF 7,372, MDC-T 3,469, MDC 316
Gutu South: Zanu PF 7,927, MDC-T 3,723
Gutu Central: MDC 886, Zanu PF 9,311, MDC-T 3,248
Chivi South: Zanu PF 12,599, MDC-T 2,755, MDC 879
Chivi Central: Zanu PF 12,559, MDC-T 3,725, MDC 861
Chiredzi South: MDC-T 1,937, MDC 508, Zanu PF 8,148
Chiredzi East: MDC 400, MDC-T 2,094, Zanu PF 8,926
Bikita South: Zanu PF 9,397, MDC 781, MDC-T 3,659
Chivi North: Zanu PF 8,827, MDC-T 4,149, MDC 317
Zaka West: Zanu PF 7,340, MDC-T 2,896, MDC 484
Zaka Central: Zanu PF 10,604, MDC 725 MDC-T 4,158
Masvingo Urban: MDC 672, MDC-T 10,424, Zanu PF 10,928, ZAPU 228, ZAPU 149
Gutu North: MDC 458, MDC-T 2,045, Zanu PF 6,845, IND 390
Gutu West: MDC 565, MDC-T 2,232, Zanu PF 13,499
Mwenezi West: Zanu PF 18,196, MDC-T 2,482, MDC 494
MIDLANDS PROVINCE
Gweru Urban: MDC-T 7,755, Zanu PF 6,146, MDC 578
Mkoba: MDC-T 10,097, Zanu PF 5,327, MDC 720
Chiwundura: Zanu PF 11,550, MDC-T 7,670
Shurugwi South: Zanu PF 11,506, MDC-T 2,515, MDC 332
Kwekwe Central: Zanu PF 6,051, MDC-T 5,760, MDC 508
MATABELELAND SOUTH
Insiza North: Zanu PF 9,914 (Andrew Langa), MDC-T 2,811, MDC 1,489, Zapu 275
Beitbridge East: Zanu PF 10,191 (Kembo Mohadi), MDC-T 3,394, MDC 695, Indep 429, Indep 411
Mangwe: Zanu PF 4,988, MDC-T 4,434, MDC 1,995, Zapu 431
Bulilima East: Zanu PF 5,828, MDC-T 3,793, MDC 1,004, Indep 1,443
Bulilima West: Zanu PF 4,722, MDC-T 3,784 MDC 1,645, Zapu 293
Umzingwane: Zanu PF wins (Results to follow)
Gwanda South: Zanu PF 4,246, MDC-T 3,783, MDC 1,977, Zapu 300, Indep 169
Matobo North: Zanu PF 5,300, MDC-T 5,219, MDC 852, ZAPU 417
Beitbridge West: Zanu PF 6,194, MDC-T 2,241, MDC 371
Matobo South: Zanu PF 4,692, MDC-T 4,596, MDC 764, ZAPU 478
Gwanda Central: Zanu PF 7,457, MDC-T 4,048, MDC 2,571, ZAPU 237
Insiza South: Zanu PF 4,660, MDC-T 2,007, MDC 2,384, ZAPU 320, IND 455
Gwanda North: Zanu PF 5,701, MDC-T 2,866, MDC 1,020, ZAPU 346
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(NEWZIMBABWE, REUTERS) Demonstrations and mass action are options: MDC-T
02/08/2013 00:00:00
by Reuters
PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T party said Friday it could take to the streets to challenge President Robert Mugabe's victory in an election it rejects as a farce and which faces scepticism from the West.
No results of the presidential vote on July 31 have been announced. But Mugabe's Zanu PF has already claimed a resounding win and interim tallies of the parliamentary count suggest a massive victory for the 89-year-old.
While the African Union's monitoring mission chief has called Wednesday's peaceful polls generally "free and fair" - Western observers were kept out by Harare - domestic monitors have described them as "seriously compromised" by registration flaws that may have disenfranchised up to a million people.
Observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) described the elections as "free and peaceful" and called on MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai to accept the result.
Tsvangirai, who faces political annihilation in his third attempt to oust Mugabe at the ballot box, has already denounced the election as a "huge farce" marked by polling day irregularities and intimidation by Zanu PF.
Western rejection of the regional African verdict on the election could stir tensions with the continent, while acceptance of Mugabe's victory will be slammed in countries where he is derided as a ruthless despot responsible for rights abuses and trashing the economy.
The mood on the streets of the capital Harare was subdued on Friday as the MDC-T's top leadership met at its headquarters to chart their next move, with everything from a legal challenge to street protests on the table.
"Demonstrations and mass action are options," party spokesman Douglas Mwonzora said.
Some disappointed voters expressed disbelief at the election outcome.
"This is daylight robbery, but I think the MDC should have realized that, without violence, Zanu PF would still do something to cheat," said McDonald Sibanda, a 34-year old insurance salesman.
"I'm disgusted by all this."
An MDC protest campaign against the results could elicit a fierce response from security forces and pro-Mugabe militias, who were accused of killing 200 MDC supporters after Mugabe lost the first round of the last election in 2008.
"We didn't expect this to happen," one senior MDC official who lost his seat told Reuters. "We're gutted."
Former colonial ruler Britain, a sharp critic of Mugabe in the past, said it was concerned that Zimbabwe had not enacted important electoral reforms before the vote and by reports that large numbers of voters had been turned away.
The U.S. government, which maintains sanctions in place against Mugabe, said "a peaceful and orderly election day does not by itself guarantee a free and fair outcome".
"Now the critical test is whether voting tabulation is conducted in a credible and transparent manner, and whether the outcome truly reflects the will of the people of Zimbabwe," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said in Washington.
Europe and the United States now face the awkward decision of what to do with the sanctions they have in place against Mugabe and his inner circle.
The Western scepticism contrasted with the assessment made by the AU election observer team leader, former Nigerian military leader and civilian president Olusegun Obasanjo, who while acknowledging "minor incidents" surrounding the July 31 poll said they were not enough to affect the overall result.
Obasanjo, whose own re-election in Nigeria in 2003 was marked by violence and widespread fraud allegations, broadly declared Zimbabwe's elections 'free and fair' on Wednesday within half an hour of the polls closing. He repeated that line after a meeting with Mugabe on Thursday.
Tsvangirai has emphatically called the election "not credible" and appealed to the AU to investigate.
But Obasanjo declined to comment on his assertion, calling him "an interested party".
The AU verdict, echoed by President Jacob Zuma of Zimbabwe's powerful neighbour South Africa, suggest the MDC's appeals for external pressure on Mugabe may be falling on deaf ears
Zuma, main guarantor of the unity government in Zimbabwe brokered after the 2008 unrest, focused on the orderly conduct of the poll. He ignored Mugabe's refusal to heed calls from the MDC and international observers to reform bias in the state media and security forces, conditions specifically stipulated in the unity administration deal.
"Something good has happened in Zimbabwe. The elections were so peaceful," he told the SABC state broadcaster.
But a Mugabe victory would pose problems for the West.
"This leaves the EU and U.S. in an extremely difficult situation," said Piers Pigou, director of the southern Africa project of International Crisis Group in Johannesburg.
The European Union, which relaxed some sanctions early this year after a new constitution was approved in a referendum, said it was too early to assess the election's fairness.
Given the sanctions, the view from the West is key to the future of the country's economy, which is still struggling with the aftermath of a decade-long slump and hyperinflation that ended in 2009 when the worthless Zimbabwe dollar was scrapped.
Labels: 2013 ELECTIONS (ZW), MDC, MDC VIOLENCE, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI
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(TALKZIMBABWE) Roy Bennett’s delusional ‘call to action’
This article was written by Our reporter on 2 August, at 03 : 02 AM
The call by MDC-T Treasurer-General Roy Bennett for Zimbabweans to rise against their own vote is further evidence of how detached from reality the MDC-T has become.
After failed Final Push, Winter of Discontent, the Last Mile and other calls, you’d think these calls to action would be a thing of the past. This detachment from reality is the exact same reason why they lost the election.
Their flawed logic is that a Voters Roll with many dead people affects the outcome of the election. Several questions emerge. How do those people who have already voted take off the indelible pink ink to vote for the second time on behalf of the dead people? If there are people over 100 years, what ID would they use when they try to vote? Surely you can tell the difference between a 100 year old and someone not.
How does Zanu-PF know about the dead people if their relatives never applied to be removed from the register in the first place? In fact, how does the MDC-T know they are dead, or Zanu-PF for that matter? And if they never had the register in the first place, how did the MDC-T know such finer personal details about people without the register?
In any case, why did the MDC-T leave it until the last hour to get the register sorted? As PM in the inclusive Government, Tsvangirai was responsible for the Council of Ministers. Why did he not ask his Co-Home Affairs Minister, Theresa Makone, to ensure that the register was sorted before the election?
Is this not another sign of incompetence on the part of the former Prime Minister and his team in the inclusive Government? For five years, what were they doing if they could not sort out a mere register?
Can we then entrust them with more difficult government business? These people do not realise that some of their claims expose their incompetence even more. Roy Bennett’s call will pass just like all the other calls, Zimbabweans are smarter than Bennett gives them credit for. They simply would not rise against a party they’ve just voted into power. There is no precedent for this type of action.
Furthermore they would not rise in support of an erstwhile, bitter for BSAP Officer who was vicariously complicit in the strengthening of an Apartheid system of policing.
Roy Bennett Roy Bennett’s delusional ‘call to action’
Roy Bennett – MDC-T Treasurer-General
Labels: MDC, ROY BENNETT
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(TALKZIMBABWE) MDC-T should blame itself for losing
This article was written by Our reporter on 1 August, at 09 : 46 AM
The MDC-T party had a weak strategy and weak organisation right from the start. Besides, the disorganization and infighting at this election, the party concentrated on unimportant issues during their tenure in the inclusive Government as we saw with party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai’s shenanigans.
It is also now becoming glaringly clear that Secretary General of the MDC-T, Tendai Biti and party leader Tsvangirai are now two sides of the same coin, uncoordinated, suspicious of each other and not having a clear coherent strategy to beat Zanu-PF. For example, Biti announced on Al-Jazeera that he had “raped” government to get money for the election. Tsvangirai, on the other hand, was telling Violet Gonda on 1ST TV that he did not know where the money came from. How could such an incoherence occur at this crucial time?
The two were not seen in public on the same platform as a team, except in the picture where they are reading the Zanu-PF manifesto with organizing secretary Nelson Chamisa. They all looked pensive and that image was a public relations disaster, the hallmark of a disorganized group, contrasted with Team Zanu-PF. Their slogan “Bhora Musango” (Soccer ball in the Bush) based on Zanu-PF’s slogan “Bhora Mugedhi” (Soccer ball in the Soccer Gate) showed exactly what was going on in their camp. Rather than explaining their manifesto to the people, they were relaxed, reading a Zanu-PF one.
They also wasted time at the end of the campaign season, concentrating their campaign on Harare – an urban constituency where their support is higher than anywhere else. By calling for a rally at so-called “Freedom Square” the MDC-T thought they could replicate Egypt’s Tahrir Square. By campaigning till the last day, they lost crucial administrative time.
Compare this discord in the MDC-T with the strong, strategic and focussed campaign of Zanu-PF, with President Mugabe, Vice President Joice Mujuru and the rest of Team Zanu-PF Live 2013 focusing on the campaign, with sheer determination.
In the inclusive Government, they worked against the government, rather than try and outshine Zanu-PF to connect with the people. They thought by discrediting the work of the government, they would undermine Zanu-PF; but they undermined themselves because people saw their incompetence and their corruptibility. They then compared them to the original Zanu-PF government which had delivered in the 1980s and 1990s without the influence of the MDC-T, offering free education and free primary health care.
Tsvangirai wasted time on issues that had nothing to do with governing and he changed advisers many times, thus disrupting continuity in the MDC-T strategy, if they had one.
In entering into these elections, the MDC-T went in more as auditors of the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) and not as participants. Since morning of the election day, Tendai Biti was complaining, calling for many press conferences, rather than urging MDC-T supporters to go and vote. The MDC-T was busy watching how ZEC was doing its job.
They had no trust in the African Union, SADC, Chinese, and other election observers. They had their own observers, people who they could have used to encourage their supporters to vote.
They wasted time concentrating on bringing lawsuits and lobbying SADC, rather than mobilizing their support and consolidating their campaign.
The ferrying of supporters to vote is not illegal, especially where the road systems are not great – thanks to the sanctions they called for. No party would allow its supporters to walk on foot a distance of 5km to the polling station because the MDC-T would complain.
The MDC-T had the same right to ensure their supporters got to the polling stations, as long as these people were on the voters roll? Why should parties punish their supporters by not providing a conducive voting environment? Ferrying supporters to vote is not tantamount to campaigning on election day, which is illegal under the new constitution.
lnfact, it was the MDC-T that was fighting against disenfranchising the people. That means voting should have been facilitated as much as possible and besides they could still vote for the MDC-T being ferried to polling stations. How would Zanu-PF know they had voted for them? Again this is weak and un-strategic thinking by the MDC-T.
It was supposed to be ZEC’s responsibility to assist people to vote by providing them facilities like transport. The body was underfunded – thanks to Biti in his role as Finance Minister.
Now the chickens are coming home to roost. Zimbabweans have already made their choice by casting their vote.
Change, which the MDC-T wanted is coming. It’s not the change they envisaged.
*Comments and suggestions to info@talkzimbabwe.com
Labels: 2013 ELECTIONS (ZW), MDC
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(TALKZIMBABWE) Zimbabwe: A new economic model for Africa
This article was written by Garikai Chengu on 1 August, at 11 : 28 AM
A bloodless revolution is silently taking place in Zimbabwe. President Mugabe’s Indigenisation of the land and the economy will set a precedent for the creation of a forerunning, economic model for Africa. Consequently, a victory for Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe’s election is a resounding victory for the future of the African continent.
Only ninety years ago, the British South Africa Company owned every square inch of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean land and natural resources were taken violently and divided amongst European settlers.
All the while, indigenous Zimbabweans were considered subjects and assets, solely belonging to the British Crown.
After decades of liberation struggle, Africans finally placed the crown on their own heads. But, in 2013, where are the jewels of this crown?
The mining and extraction of precious resources, like oil, natural gas, gold, and platinum, enrich Western corporations. Here, we see the West’s current control over Africa’s “jewels”.
Western economic control of Africa casts a shadow of poverty throughout the continent. Whether in the Niger Delta or the Democratic Republic of Congo, the majority of people experience lives of misery and receive very little benefit from the richness of their land.
In fact, Africa’s natural resources, land, and forced labour have fueled the world’s economy for centuries. To this day, Africa is still the world’s engine-room for economic growth.
In short, Africa fuels the global economy, while reaping little profits at home; this is the “black man’s burden.” Indigenisation is designed to allow Zimbabweans to free themselves of this centuries’ old burden. Lifting this crushing millstone is our generation’s greatest struggle.
At President Mugabe’s last campaign rally, he proclaimed that, “we must re-write the economic books for our children. Those books were written to suite the West’s agenda of exploiting our resources. Our children must know that our resources are more significant, more precious than their capital.”
Years from now, economic books will use Zimbabwe’s Indigenisation Program as a model for African decolonisation. African politicians will look to Zimbabwe as a point of reference.
As with tobacco, diamonds, cocoa and oil, Africa exports its precious resources to the West, only to buy them back at a premium. This is Africa’s greatest problem and biggest opportunity. The solution to this problem is simple: Africa must not only control its raw materials but also build the capacity to make them into finished products.
Indigenisation is the much needed bridge between poverty and industrialization, and therefore, transforming Africa into a first world power.
No longer will Europeans take our natural resources; no longer will they control our industrial processes. We will not be burdened; we will not be stripped of our land, our pride, our Africa.
If Africans indigenise our economies and resolutely build the capacity to refine our crude oil, gold and platinum, as well as the capability to cut and polish our diamonds, we will certainly turn this into an African century.
Clearly, Africa is not under-developed; she is over-exploited. Western foreign investors are merely foreign exploiters.
According to a recent UN Africa Progress Report, Africa loses 63 billion dollars, each year, through foreign multinational corporations’ illegal tax evasion and exploitative practices. This figure surpasses all the money coming into the continent through Western aid and investment.
It is for this reason that Zimbabwe’s new Indigenisation model emphasizes local ownership and foreign partnership with emerging nations, such as Brazil, Russia, India and China.
Zimbabwe’s Indigenisation Program is as much about looking inward as it is about looking east.
Today, I say, with confidence, that Zimbabwe is the only economically liberated, black nation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Zimbabwe has proved to her African brothers and sisters that it is possible, and indeed desirable, to take back our land.
Let us now look to our recent past for guidance into our new economic future.
A few years ago, the international media houses and Western academics repeated the same, twisted narrative about the Indigenisation of Zimbabwe’s land, claiming it was an economic failure, which only benefited ‘Mugabe’s cronies.’
The West’s economic sanctions on Zimbabwe were designed to cripple our economy, in an attempt to dissuade other African nations from emulating our cause.
Western sanctions sent a clear message to Africa’s landless and economically disempowered masses: “You can have your democracy, but keep the economic power in the hands of the white minority; otherwise, you’ll end up like Zimbabwe.”
The World Bank still estimates that a staggering 65% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s best arable land is still controlled by white settlers or multinational corporations. The World Bank also estimates that as much as 70% of the net wealth in Sub-Saharan Africa is owned by non-indigenous Africans or foreigners.
Clearly, the West is fine with other African nations adopting democratic governments, but any attempt to democratize the economy and the land is dealt with by NATO, the CIA, or economically destabilizing sanctions.
Nowadays, those same Western media houses and academics are admitting that Zimbabwe’s land democratization program has not only benefited over a million people, but also pioneered a more economically productive way of farming.
President Mugabe’s Indigenisation of land has created employment and support for the livelihood of over 1.7 million Zimbabweans.
This year alone, Zimbabwe raked in over a half billion dollars from tobacco sales. Before land Indigenisation, a handful of rich, white farmers would have greedily divided these profits, moving the money away from African pockets and into Western bank accounts.
In fact, the World Bank estimated that, “nearly 40 percent of Africa’s aggregate wealth has fled to foreign bank accounts.”
Indigenisation will combat this outflow of wealth by creating more African corporate owners. These local shareholders are more likely to save their rent in local banks, spend their dividends on domestic goods, and invest their profits in local businesses.
Today, 75,000 indigenous Zimbabweans benefit from the tobacco sales’ profits of a half billion dollars. Land reform is now possible in all African countries after Zimbabwe’s successful example.
With a rapidly growing and indigenously owned economy, many African nations will increasingly seek to emulate Zimbabwe. Years from now, African states will strive to achieve Zimbabwe’s economic success.
Say what you want to say about Mr. Mugabe, but today, Zimbabweans own Zimbabwe.
By re-electing President Mugabe, the people of Zimbabwe are making history. ZANU-PF will now have five more years to finish implementing a revolutionary economic model that will inevitably spread across the continent.
Garikai Chengu can be contacted at chengu@fas.harvard.edu
Labels: 2013 ELECTIONS (ZW), ECONOMY
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(STICKY) Well done sekuru, Sata congratulates Mugabe
By Edwin Mbulo and Mwala Kalaluka in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Tue 27 Aug. 2013, 14:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata says Robert Mugabe's landslide re-election is a demonstration of his people's confidence in his leadership and that of the ruling ZANU-PF.
And President Mugabe says Zimbabwe will remain an active member of the United Nations despite the chagrin and demonic tendencies of the political and military superpowers in Europe and America that dominate the organisation and have imposed hegemonic sanctions on his country.
During a colourful official opening of the 20th United Nations World Tourism Organisation UNWTO held at Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls border town on Sunday night, President Sata personally congratulated President Mugabe on his re-election.
"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Comrade sekuru Robert Mugabe on his re-election as President of Zimbabwe. Comrade Mugabe, well done to you and your party ZANU-PF," he said.
"Your victory signifies the trust and confidence the people of Zimbabwe have in you and ZANU-PF."
President Sata said the co-hosting of the UN tourism conference would strengthen the two countries' already warm bilateral relations.
"To you my brother Comrade Mugabe, without Amai Grace and indeed without Amai Christine, what we are seeing wouldn't have been possible because normally, a great man must have a great woman behind him, and well done the two young ladies," he said as the delegates applauded.
President Sata said tourism was a sector of great significance and also thanked UNWTO secretary general Dr Taleb Rifai for ensuring that the southern African region hosts the UNWTO general assembly for the first time.
"Although we are supposed to be Siamese twins, I don't want to steal the show. I now want to call upon the bigger twin to come and tell us what he called us here for because up to now, we have not eaten," said President Sata.
The two presidents later lit the Victoria Falls Bridge and while clasping each other's hands, they shouted "Pamberi" forward.
And President Mugabe said the West's ill-conceived and debilitating sanctions on his country disabled it from participating in bodies like the UNWTO.
"Your decision to hold this important global event at this venue inspires us," President Mugabe told Dr Rifai. "We expect it to leave an indelible mark on our memories and that it be part of our generational legacy, marking a clear turning point in the tourism fortunes of our two countries, of our region and indeed of our continent of Africa."
He said Africa's integration as one state would be a great catalyst to the growth of sustainable tourism, more so that Europe was trying to keep all the tourism dollars within the Eurozone by imposing punitive airport taxes on travellers.
He said Zimbabwe was enthused with the decision to hold the UNWTO general assembly at the Victoria Falls, which is shared by Zambia and Zimbabwe.
"We are very enthused by the endorsement of our two countries as worth hosts of such a meeting," President Mugabe told the delegates seated on a sprawling hotel lawn overlooking the Victoria Falls Bridge.
"The hosting of the UNWTO general assembly inspires us in our ongoing and continued efforts since the coming into being of the state of Zimbabwe to maintain friendly relations with the whole international community, even with those countries with which we may not agree on all matters."
He said the hosting of the UNWTO at one of the seven natural wonders of the World was also a recognition that it was a safe and secure destination.
"Zimbabwe recognises the efficacy of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation's social and economic development strategy," President Mugabe said.
"We remained an active member of the organisation until 1999. Unfortunately, during the period 2000 to 2008, we faced immense
challenges occasioned in a large part by illegal debilitating sanctions imposed upon us by some sections of the West. These sanctions sadly came hard on the heels of the IMF, World Bank's ill-conceived economic structural adjustment programme, so-called ESAP. But other negatives disabled our active participation in bodies like in the UNWTO."
President Mugabe said in 2009, Zimbabwe, with the facilitation of SADC and the African Union, happily formed a government of national unity, which he said somewhat led to softening of the stances against his country 'on the part of our political and economic detractors of Europe and America'.
He noted that with Dr Rifai's support, Zimbabwe had again become an active member of the UNWTO and had since acquired a seat on the organisation's executive council.
"Since then, we have not looked back and following our successful two-nation bid with Zambia to co-host this session, we find ourselves here tonight," President Mugabe said.
"President Sata and I have since signed a golden book of tourism, thus becoming ambassadors for global tourism, never mind the chagrin of our detractors over this matter. In West Africa, they say 'don't mind them'. Please let all of you know that the signing of the golden book of tourism was not a mere ceremony for us, for through that act we recognised the important political and economic role that tourism can play in our two countries and our continent. We are committed to leveraging this sector as a key driver of our economic growth."
President Mugabe reiterated Zimbabwe's commitment to the founding values and principles of the United Nations.
"…not withstanding adversity of the demonic tendencies of some of the world's economic and military superpowers who dominate the organisation," said President Mugabe.
"We are very satisfied that the UN is a vital body for all humanity…it is on that basis that I, without reservation, gave my full support to the Zambia-Zimbabwe bid to host this general assembly. I'm very glad that the organisation decided to host the general assembly here."
Labels: MICHAEL SATA, ROBERT MUGABE, SANCTIONS, UNWTO, VICTORIA FALLS
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