News Day

By News Day Reporter

23 May 2013

THE European Union (EU) has provided a $17 million grant for the second phase of the Education Transition Fund and an additional $640 000 from the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department for the improvement of activities that improve nutrition in the country.

EU’s head of delegation to Zimbabwe Ambassador Aldo Dell’Ariccia said in a statement yesterday that the contribution was an acknowledgement of the strong partnership that exists between Zimbabwe and development partners to improve the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans, especially children.

“This contribution reaffirms our support for the government’s priority to revitalise the education sector and ensure that every Zimbabwean child has access to quality education,” Dell’Ariccia said.

“It is also in line with Millennium Development Goal number two to ensure that, by 2015, all Zimbabwean boys and girls will be able to complete a full programme of primary education.”

Other development partners in the Education Transition Fund also pledged $123 million towards improvement of the education sector over the next four years.

EU said the fund would go towards improving sector planning, providing grants to financially constrained schools to meet their non-salary resource needs, strengthening school monitoring and supervision, improving the quality of teaching and learning and reviewing the curriculum.

Additional interventions will include providing teaching and learning materials, assessing student learning outcomes and providing second chance learning opportunities to out-of-school children.

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister Senator David Coltart commended the EU for the contribution.

“Since the establishment of the ETF in 2009, the education sector has been stabilised and is now poised to start improving steadily. Without the generous assistance of the EU to the ETF since 2009 we would not have been able to achieve what we have done,” Coltart said.

“As I have said often before, the stabilisation of the education sector goes way beyond simply improving education; happy children in school lead to happy parents and guardians which in turn promotes peace throughout an entire nation.”

The Zimbabwean

22 May 2013

#hopesforZimbabwe Peace, Tolerance, Freedom, Democracy, efficient and proper use of all natural resources, Justice for all. – David Coltart @DavidColtart

Where the greater of the people and ethics prevail, where the fellow #Zimbo comes before individual financial gain. Africas. – Advocate @Hove_10

I want a peaceful #Zimbabwe where my children and grandchildren can freely enjoy all the rights that I can only dream about today. – sokwanele @sokwanele

I want a zimbabwe where there is quality universal healthcare & education and our natural resources benefit all. – Salvatore @sorobee 53m

The eradication of greed and corruption. – @LivingZimbabwe 2h

One free of graft , corruption & greed . One where what we work for is not liable to being grabbed from us by someone like Grace

We want economic prosperity through revival of industries hence creating jobs that fairly remunarate, fair allocation of natural resources, fair application of the law, full utilisation of the land , democracy is required. Carol Dube, works in insurance

I like a stable, peaceful, democratic progressing nation where people’s rights are respected. – Victor Mariranyika, Mutare Teachers College

My country no mater wat. – Sukoluhle Langelihle Gwizi, Works at Delta Beverages

When that happens, we can ALL move back home! – Ann Donnelly, Centurian Gauteng

Law and order. Feeling safe is important. – Tashana Leigh Stockil

A #Zimbabwe with no need for these campaigns. – Ricky E. Marima @RickyEMarima

A Zimbabwe we use to know, the land of plenty, The Bread Basket Of Africa. I want once apon a time.

Taneta navo vanamnaka mkamwa ava- We are tired of these good for nothing people. – Obert Gumbere

I love Zimbabwe,Zimbabwe is my country,what ever the clock comes from Zimbabwe is my papa.

Nyika ine rusununguko. Kupfuura pasi rose. Ngatishandire nyika yedu yeZimbabwe, uye ziva kwawakabva. (Shona)-I hope for a country that is freer than any other part of the world. Let’s work to develop our Zimbabwe and we must remember our roots. – Trymore Dhliwayo

We also want a Zimbabwe where indigenous comapany owners pay their wokers

We want jobs gud educatoin and a gud leader lyk Morgan Tsvangirai. – Albert Chytsa, Director at Barker Transport

Peacefull with eguitable distribution of resources and job opportunities so our people are not exiled

I need a ZIM Which respects pple’s rights. – Ray, Mutare.

A Zimbabwe where Education is for Application not bragging of a high literacy rate when no creativity or economic gain is realised. – Ronald Mapamulaâ„¢ @ronaldmapamula

Democracy (rule by many) first and all else will follow. Don’t mourn, take a stand. – Makusha Mugabe @Czeditor

Peaceful and corruption free. – Barbara Reid, Matron housekeeper at working for girls college trust

Church structures need financial support; transport for conference, crusades, revivals is needed. Finance for projects as to help ophans, widows, school going pupils.

“Zimbabwe ngaipe vanhu mabasa pamwechete nekupa vanhu masalary arinani magraduates macertificate akuworera kumadziro emba…takudawo zimdollar”. “Zimbabwe should give people jobs and give workers better salaries. There are a lot of graduates whose certificates are rotting, they are not being used.. We now want the Zim dollar.” – Gamuchirai

“In Zimbabwe, you do not allow us to express our feelings and thoughts.” – Andrew Takunda

The Zim is a teaching place. All countries learn from it.

I want zimbabwe that represent everyone, a zim with good leadership, a God fearing nation. At the present moment our leaders are satanic.

Puppet-free!Zimbabwe for Zimbabweans!! – Doris Marutta

Let’s agree that we have different views but we can still leave together without victimising one another. – Robbie Takapira

New Zimbabwe

By New Zimbabwe Reporter

21 May 2013

EDUCATION Minister Senator David Coltart has said the country is pinning its hopes for the complete revival of the education sector on Wednesday’s Global Partners For Education meeting on the whether to grant Zimbabwe appeal for US$23 million.

Early this year, Zimbabwe appealed for the cash to help finance teacher retraining and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) board will deliberate on the request at its meeting in Washington DC on Wednesday.

Speaking at his ministry offices in Harare on Tuesday while receiving US$13 million for the Education Transition Fund from the European Union Coltart said: “I cannot certainly say that we are going to get that funding but what I can say is that the Education Transition Fund plays a pivotal role in assisting us in the Ministry to prepare papers that we submitted to the GPE.

The education sector was hit hard over the last decade as Zimbabwe battled a serious economic crisis which saw experienced teachers and other key personnel to leave the country, with most settling most moving overseas while others sought better working conditions in the region.

Meanwhile Coltart also announced that his ministry has completed an audit of the actual number of teachers, school children, drop outs and those attending school throughout the country.

“Very soon I will be announcing the statistics, but for now I cannot divulge because I need to present the audit results to cabinet first, but we are through with that,” he said.

Head of the European Delegation in Zimbabwe Ambassador to Zimbabwe Aldo Dell Arriccia said the low examination pass rate in the country was due to underfunding of education by the government.

 “Moreover in the absence of government funds, the burden of financing school costs lays with the families. The result is an unequal education system in which the poorest areas are becoming increasingly disadvantaged,” he said.

The November 2012 Ordinary Level results showed that 81,6 percent of the 172,698 who sat for the examinations failed to pass at least five subjects with grade C or better. Only 31,767 of that number were successful, translating to a pass rate of 18,4 percent.

VOA 

By Irwin Chifera

21 May 2013 

HARARE — The Global Partnership for Education, a multilateral partnership devoted to ensuring more children enroll in schools the world over, will Wednesday decide on Zimbabwe’s $23 million application for teacher-retraining as the country continues to revamp the education sector which suffered greatly at the height of the country’s economic and political problems.

Education Minister David Coltart revealed Tuesday that Harare had applied for money from the Global Partnership for Education to help re-train the country’s teachers.

He was speaking at a function where the European Union announced its $17 million grant to the Education Transition Fund. The EU also donated $640,000 towards nutrition projects in Zimbabwe.

Senator Coltart said he was optimistic that the application, which was made with assistance from Education Transition Fund partners, would succeed.

He said while enough books have been secured for primary and secondary schools under the education transition fund, there was need for a nationwide teacher re-training exercise.

Meanwhile, the EU ambassador Zimbabwe, Aldo dell’Ariccia, said Harare’s failure to adequately fund education is hampering the recovery of the sector.

He said this why the EU and other partners were supporting the education ministry, to ensure, among other things, that Zimbabwean  boys and girls complete primary education by 2015 as set in Millennium Development Goal Number 2 by the United Nations.

The United Nations Children’s Fund acting head in Zimbabwe, Gianfranco Rotigliano, whose organisation is administering the funds, said the money would be used to improve the country’s educational infrastructure and the purchase of essential teaching and learning materials, among other things.

Bernama

By Bernama Reporter

21 May 2013

The MDC, led by Industry Minister Professor Welshman Ncube, says Zimbabwe’s political parties should agree to hold the general election after the country hosts the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) general assembly in August.

In a statement issued here Monday, the MDC secretary for legal affairs, David Coltart, said national interest dictated that it would be better to have the election after the UNTWO assembly. Coltart, Who is also Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, said there was a probability that the elections would not produce an outright winner in the presidential race.

“This is a very serious matter because our national pride is at stake and it is hardly in our national interest to gamble on there not being a presidential run-off election because if there is one it will seriously disrupt the UNWTO Assembly,” he said.

The UNWTO general assembly will take place from Aug 24 to 29 with up to 4,000 delegates from at least 176 countries are expected to attend the meeting, to be held in the twin border towns of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Livingstone on the Zambia side of the falls.

The prestigious event is expected to become the biggest endorser of the country’s new tourism brand: “Zimbabwe – A World of Wonders”.

Coltart also argued that a minimum period of at least 42 days should be given between the end of the voter registration and inspection exercise and the polling date and holding the elections after August would also give Zimbabweans time to register to vote in the polls.

“If the new Constitution is gazetted today that means that the election cannot under any circumstance be held before July 31,” he said, adding that the Zimbabwe Election Commission would also need time to prepare for the polls.

The MDC-T faction led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai also wants the polls to be delayed until October but their partner in Zimbabwe’s national unity government, the ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe wants elections to be held earlier.

The term of Zimbabwe’s current Parliament expires on June 29, paving way for fresh polls to be held.

President Mugabe is expected to sign the new Constitution this week, and announce dates for the general election soon after.

The general election is expected to end the coalition government which has been in place since 2009 after parties disputed the results of the 2008 elections.

The Chronicle

By Lungelo Ndhlovu

20 May 2013

PUPILS in primary and secondary schools in and around Bulawayo are set to battle it out in the 26th Annual Lions International Peace Poster Competition scheduled for later this year. The Peace Poster contest, seeks to develop the learning of visual arts in schools. Pupils aged between 11, 12 and 13 are legible to participate. It caters for pupils in both Government and private schools and no fee is required for the entries.

Bulawayo’s National Gallery of Zimbabwe facilitator, Clifford Zulu, hailed the teaching of visual arts in schools and revealed that the gallery is open for art teachers and their pupils in order for them to gain inspiration.

“We have a library for the visual arts here at the gallery and it is available for use in order to inspire kids and their teachers so as to enhance on their art work and art-pieces towards this competition.

“We are also in a position to provide knowledge on the mediums which could be used by the artists and the books. Especially for things like the brushes and sugar paper, art teachers should come to the gallery and learn how they can be used,” said Zulu.

Different schools from Lions Clubs International District 421 are expected to participate in the contest.

Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi and Mozambique make up District 421.

This year’s theme is “Our World, Our Future” and every participant is expected to explain what this title means to him or her, through art. Contestants can choose any materials they desire for example, pencils, crayon, pens, markers, paints or chalk.

The chairperson of the Peace Poster contest Lion, Ruth van Resberg, said they are engaging the Provincial Education Director for Bulawayo Mr Dan Moyo and the Minister of Education Sports Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart in order to develop art in schools.

“As the Lions Club International, we are engaging various relevant stakeholders so as to promote art in schools.

“We are working towards reaching out for many schools around and outside Bulawayo.

“We need art works from different kids all over even from the rural areas in order for them to join into the Peace Poster International Competition,” said van Resberg.

The Lions Club District 421 will notify winners after 1 December and the competition’s International Prize winner will get  a trip to New York City with two family members for a behind the scenes visit to the United Nations, where the winner will be presented with a cash prize and an engraved Commemorative Plaque.

The Standard

By Albert Marufu

20 May 2013

Paul Nenjerama, the president of the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Board of Control (ZNBWBC) has revealed that the current boxing Act needs to be amended to make it gender sensitive.

Nenjerama, whose board replaced the one headed by Richard Hondo in February, said the current ZNBWBC Act (1956), does not allow women in Zimbabwe to join the sport.

Section 1 (c) II of the Act which was reviewed in 1959, 1962, 1963, 1972 and 1974 before becoming statutory instrument 362/1980 states that: “Provided that the board shall not register any person as a boxer who is not of the male sex.”

That means under the current Act, boxers such as Monalisa Sibanda and Diana Makumbe, among a host of others, have been boxing illegally.

“For the first quarter of our tenure, we have been trying to put our house in order [and] that is when we realised that the Act has to be amended to allow women to fight. We are all aware that the world over women now box so something has to be done to the Act,” said Nenjerama.

Nenjerama also said they faced problems in accessing emblems from the previous board led by Hondo, that had been in power for three decades.

The Hondo-led board was dissolved towards the end of last year by the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Colart for incompetence.

“There was no proper handover-taker over from the previous board and at first our efforts to be given ZNBWBC seals were met with resistance until the intervention of Minister Coltart. We had to make the previous board understand that we were not fighting them at all and that is when we got the seals that would enable us to start licensing boxers and promoters,” he said.

The former journalist added that they hoped to finish licensing the boxers and promoters by end of July.

“From our projection, most boxers should be licensed by the end of the second quarter. We have been comparing the licensing fees with those in the region and we hope to come up with a reasonable figure soon,” he said.

The former educationist said his board is also drawing up a database of all boxers and promoters in the country.

“We want to lay a strong foundation during our three-year term. It is sad that some of the bouts that were being organised had to be postponed. I understand that Clive Musonda wanted to promote a world title fight in June and we had to tell him that we should put our house in order first,” he said.

The new board also consists of medical practitioner Farai Muchena and promoters Edgar Peter Hammond and Lorraine Muringi.

Other members of the board are Tsitsi Muzuva, Alexander Kwangwari, media practitioner Gilbert Munetsi and Rangarirai Charles Dzimba.

SW Radio Africa

By Nomalanga Moyo

20 May 2013

The mobile voter registration exercise ended Sunday amid an outcry from all corners of the country that the exercise was poorly conducted and dismally failed to meet demand.

The just-ended 20-day programme, which was controversial from the start, ran from April 29th until May 19th with revelations that registration teams only covered a third of the country’s 1,958 wards.

Last week cabinet called on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to announce a fresh voter registration exercise, to be preceded by a massive voter awareness and publicity campaign.

The exercise suffered a crisis of confidence, with concerns raised over the unfair distribution of registration centres, the few teams conducting the exercise as well as the stringent requirements.

On Monday, the ZANU PF-controlled Herald newspaper reported that ZEC had already planned for a new 30-day voter registration exercise in preparation “for the harmonised elections expected next month”.

The newspaper also quoted the electoral body’s chairperson, Justice Rita Makarau, as saying the Commission will issue a comprehensive statement about the registration exercise sometime this week.

Responding to the Herald report, the MDC secretary for legal affairs Senator David Coltart said the article was misleading regarding both the voter registration exercise and the timing of the election.

In a statement posted on his Facebook Wall, Coltart said the Herald was promoting “two misconceptions which have been brought about by ZANU PF propaganda.”

Coltart explained that the voter registration exercise was not at the discretion of ZEC, but that the Commission was required by law “to conduct a special and intensive voter registration and voters roll inspection exercise for at least 30 days” after the new constitution has been signed.

The new constitution is now awaiting Presidential assent, followed by publication in the government gazette. The 30-day period will start from the time it is published in the Gazette.

The senator said that the voter registration exercise is therefore not discretionary: “It is a mandatory exercise that has to be intensive and widespread to enable every prospective eligible voter to be registered, not the arbitrary and patchy exercise we have seen over the last few weeks.”

He further slammed the state media for persisting “with the increasingly ridiculous proposition that the election can somehow be held in June”. He said given the mandatory 30-day registration requirement, it is not feasible for any meaningful election campaign to be conducted before June 29th.

According to Coltart, if Mugabe went ahead with the June election date he will be violating the current Electoral Act and while it is going to be amended, this is only possible with the consent of the MDC-dominated parliament.

“No matter what ZANU PF’s plans may be, if they cannot get the agreement of those who control the majority of the House of Assembly and if they wish to push ahead with unilateral plans to have an election in June, they are stuck with the current Electoral Act.”

Speaking to SW Radio Africa, MDC elections director Ellen Shiriyedenga revealed that the president was legally required to allow at least 28 days from the date of the nomination court (when political parties submit their candidates to the electoral body) before the poll is held.

“If the new constitution is gazetted today that means that the election cannot under any circumstances be held before July 31st,” Shiriyedenga said.

She said all these processes, including the United Nations World Tourism Conference in August, suggest that the only practical time for the general polls to be conducted will be in September.

Meanwhile Allison Charuma, an MDC-T youth from Warren Park in Harare who was arrested on Friday at a local voter registration station, is expected to appear in court Tuesday to face forgery charges.

Circumstances of Charuma’s arrest are hazy but according to defence lawyer, Kudzai Kadzere, his client is accused of misrepresenting himself as a landlord and writing a proof of residence letter for another person.

However, Charuma denies the charge or even knowing either the recipient of the letter or the landlord. He is being charged under the Criminal Law (Reform & Codification) Act.

News Day

By Pamela Mhlanga

18 May 2013

ZIMBABWE faces a shortage of more than 21 000 teachers, as the country continues to suffer the effects of an economic downturn that saw educators quit their profession for greener pastures, a government official has said.

The Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture permanent secretary Constance Chigwamba yesterday said there was a shortage of 10 839 early child development, more than 5 000 primary and more than 6 000 secondary school teachers.

“The country experienced a massive staff turnover during the hyperinflationary period, which has left the ministry in need of qualified teachers,” she said in a speech read on her behalf by the director of human resources and development in the ministry, Phalasia Masike.

“Globally, schools in most rural areas are manned by untrained teachers, where children are getting minimal or little learning.”

Speaking at the launch of the Education for all Global Action Campaign week at the Large City Hall in Bulawayo, Chigwamba said teachers from colleges and universities shunned rural areas and this had created shortages.

This comes as a time when the Education minister, David Coltart warned that the underfunding of the education sector was a threat to the country’s high literacy rates.

Chigwamba said the education sector should be prioritised, as it was a “breakthrough strategy that is essential for achieving all the Millenium Development Goals”.

“The ministry continues to make efforts to ensure provision of qualified teachers to schools through regular engagement with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, which is responsible for teacher training,” she said.

“Deployment of new graduands and reappointments are some of the ways in which vacant posts are filled.”

The campaing runs under the theme “Every Child Needs A Qualified Teacher”.