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The Irish Times

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

By Emmet Riordan

CRICKET IRELAND chief executive Warren Deutrom has denied that outside influences had any bearing on the decision of the national team to travel to Zimbabwe later this month for a series of games against the African nation.

The four-day Intercontinental Cup game and three One-Day Internationals were originally scheduled to be played in South Africa, but will now take place in Harare. The Ireland team will depart on September 17th.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) contacted Cricket Ireland (CI) at the beginning of May to inform them Zimbabwe believed it was no longer justifiable to play home matches anywhere other than Zimbabwe, and asked if Ireland would consider travelling to play the games.

At the time, CI, which governs the game on an all-island basis, contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Dublin and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London to seek advice on the safety and security implications of making the trip.

“Back in 2008, the advice was that we shouldn’t travel from a safety and security perspective,” said Deutrom.   »Click here to continue reading

Guardian

By Blessing-Miles Tendi

1 September 2010

The president’s health is in the spotlight – and it is hardline generals who are set to determine the face of Zimbabwe’s future

During August, Robert Mugabe was pictured walking unsteadily and requiring the assistance of aides when going up and downstairs at various summits. The images sent long-running speculation in Zimbabwe about the state of Mugabe’s health – he is said to have a form of cancer – into overdrive. Mugabe appeared healthy at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Heads of State Summit in Swaziland this week, but his characteristically sprightly demeanour was absent.

Mugabe’s health has been a closely guarded secret for decades. He has made a point of displaying power through the appearance of good health and youthfulness. Rich and deeply dyed hair, an enviable physique for a man of his age, Botox treatments and pristine dress are some of Mugabe’s many expressions of power. He cannot appear to be unhealthy or ageing, because that is a sign of weakness, and weakness encourages ambitious, younger and better-looking political vultures to strike.   »Click here to continue reading

Independent SA

by Columbus Mavhunga

29 August 2010

Zimbabwe’s government has been forced to fend off charges that it is encouraging teen sex after deciding to grant parental leave to pregnant schoolgirls and soon-to-be dads.

The education ministry of Zimbabwe’s power-sharing government last week announced that young girls who fall pregnant during the course of their studies will no longer face automatic expulsion from school.

Instead, they will be given three months’ leave and allowed to resume their studies shortly after giving birth.

Student nurses, who also faced the same sanction, will also be allowed pick up where they left off.

The move brings Zimbabwe in line with other countries in the region, including South Africa and Namibia, which try to accommodate rather than stigmatize teen moms.

Zimbabwe goes one further by also giving the boy who fathered the child three months’ leave, to encourage them to support the mother.

However, the development has not gone down well with conservative groups such as Tsika Dzedu (Our Culture), which conducts programmes in schools to teach Zimbabweans about their culture.   »Click here to continue reading

Newsday

By Owen Gagare

29 August 2010

Government snubbed civil servants’ unions who requested a meeting a fortnight ago pressing for a minimum wage of $500 for the lowest paid worker.

Apex Council president Tendai Chikowore wrote to government seeking a meeting to kick-start salary negotiations but said their employer was dragging feet over the meeting.

Civil servants earn between US$150 and US$250 per month.

The Apex Council comprises the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta), Public Service Association (Psa), Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Tuz) and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Ptuz).

“I was talking to the government team leader (Prince Mupazviriho) and he says he has not received a mandate from Treasury and the Ministry of Public Service to start negotiations. We are still waiting,” she said.

Mupazviriho however said he had not yet received the mandate to enter into new negotiations and had not yet received the civil servants’ request as he had been away from work.

However, he admitted he had been discussing the issue of salaries with civil servants’ union leaders.   »Click here to continue reading

www.cricketeurope4.net

by Michael Taylor

27 August 2010

Cricket civilises people and creates good gentlemen. I want everyone to play cricket in Zimbabwe; I want ours to be a nation of gentlemen.
- Robert Mugabe, The Sunday Times, 26 February 1984

Last Thursday the ICC confirmed that Ireland will travel to Zimbabwe in September to play three one day internationals and an Intercontinental Cup match. This article argues that, on three counts, Cricket Ireland’s decision to go to Zimbabwe is not only wrong, but entirely objectionable.

Sport, politics, and morality

The first and most important reason why Ireland should not tour Zimbabwe is that such an action would superficially appear to legitimise – or at least ignore – the brutality of a government which, despite the establishment of a coalition with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in February 2009, remains controlled by Robert Mugabe. I do not need to elaborate on the horrendous crimes of Mugabe and his regime, and the purpose of this article is not to expose the many misdeeds of Zanu-PF. I will, however, list a few, just to keep them fresh in your mind as you read on:   »Click here to continue reading

VOA

by Peta Thornycroft

25 August 2010

The two Movement for Democratic Change parties have united in anger against Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s refusal to accord national hero status to Gibson Sibanda, a founding MDC leader who died earlier this week.

Gibson Sibanda, who died at age 66 in his home city, Bulawayo, was a life-long fighter for democracy, a former legislator, and a trade unionist  who was detained for his activism by both Rhodesia and Mr. Mugabe’s ZANU-PF administration.

Sibanda was the deputy president of the MDC when it became a political party 10 years ago, and had been on a committee promoting national healing and reconciliation within the 18-month-old unity government when he died.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who is also president of the main MDC party, said Sibanda’s name “shall remain an indelible imprint in the sad narrative of our determined and brave march towards a new Zimbabwe.”

Tsvangirai spokesman Nelson Chamisa said Mr. Mugabe’s refusal to declare Sibanda a national hero was motivated by “cruelty, contempt and revenge.”   »Click here to continue reading

The Scotsman

by Staff Writer

24 August 2010

Zimbabwe’s culture minister has called for forging new ties between festivals in Edinburgh and his country’s major cities of Harare and Bulawayo.

“I think that the Harare International Festival of Arts has got a lot to learn from the Edinburgh Festival,” said David Coltart, a founding figure in the MDC party, now in a coalition government with Mugabe’s Zanu-PF.

“I hope there will be closer collaboration between the two in the years ahead.”

The Harare festival runs for five days in April, and a leading Zimbabwean show from there, Allegations, is at the Fringe this year, as part an exchange programme for small nations.

“It would be wonderful if we could get some of those new acts across to Edinburgh,” Mr Coltart said, with help from the British Council, and the Scottish and Zimbabwean governments.

The arts scene in Zimbabwe has faced financial hurdles and political oppression.

Sydney Morning Herald

by Staff Writer

19 August 2010

Former Test fast bowlers Jason Gillespie of Australia and South African Allan Donald are happy to start coaching in Zimbabwean domestic cricket and are looking forward to helping rebuild the sport in the African country.

The pair were presented on Wednesday as head coaches of franchises in the Zimbabwean league for the 2010-11 season, with Gillespie leading the Midwest Rhinos and Donald in charge of the Manicaland Mountaineers.

In line with some political reforms, Zimbabwean cricket has been improving following feuds between players and administrators, a factor which has resulted in experienced players, coaches and officials returning to the country.

The 35-year-old Gillespie, who played 71 Tests and 97 one-day internationals, praised Australia for taking steps to restore ties with Zimbabwe following years of tour boycotts on political grounds in opposition to the regime of President Robert Mugabe.

Australia have agreed to host the Zimbabwe national team next year after lobbying from Zimbabwe Sports Minister David Coltart.

“It’s really positive,” Gillespie said. “I was speaking to the chairman of Cricket Australia, Jack Clarke, when he came down here (to Zimbabwe). We spent some time together.   »Click here to continue reading

BBC

17 August 2010

The Scottish Parliament is becoming an Edinburgh festival venue, with appearances from political figures such as former deputy PM John Prescott and Tory MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind.

The Festival of Politics, which runs at Holyrood until Saturday, is now in its sixth year.

It features 47 events, which are held in the parliament’s main chamber or its committee rooms

Singer Annie Lennox and comedian Mark Thomas will also take part.

Lennox, the former Eurythmics star, will be making a return visit to the event to talk about how her SING Campaign uses music to educate people about the threat of HIV and Aids in South Africa.

Sir Malcolm Rifkind, who has served as both defence secretary and foreign secretary, will lead a debate on the idea of a “just” war and peace and security in modern society.

Meanwhile Des Browne, who was defence secretary in the recent Labour government, will join former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell and David Coltart, Zimbabwe’s minister for education, sport arts and culture, to discuss the role Scotland could play in conflict mediation.   »Click here to continue reading

Cricinfo

Staff Writer

16 August 2010

Henry Olonga, the former Zimabwe fast bowler who famously protested against the Mugabe regime during the 2003 World Cup, has called for renewed cricketing ties with his country ahead of proposed visits by the Scotland and Ireland teams.

Olonga moved to London after a black arm-band protest during the World Cup along with team-mate Andy Flower opposing the ‘death of democracy’ in Zimbabwe. While he ruled out the possibility of returning to his homeland, he noted that the ground situation in Zimbabwe was on the mend.

“Personal safety is still a consideration for me, although the Zimbabwean government seems to be softening. The winds of change are blowing through the country. Maybe it’s time now to consider bringing Zimbabwe out of isolation from a broader perspective,” Olonga told the Scotsman.

Olonga however maintained his scepticism over the officials running cricket in the country, namely ZC chairman Peter Chingoka and managing director Ozias Bvute. “We still have the issue of slightly suspicious gentlemen running the sport. I don’t really trust the man [Bvute] but he’s shown a genuine desire to re-engage with some of the former players.   »Click here to continue reading