The Herald 

By Petros Kausiyo, Deputy Sports Editor

18 September 2012

EDUCATION, Sport Arts and Culture Minister, David Coltart’s long cherished football stakeholders meeting has now been set for the capital on September 26, more than a year after he mooted the indaba aimed at finding lasting solutions to the perennial problems dogging the country’s biggest sport.

Coltart first revealed that he was keen on convening the indaba following his meeting with Fifa president Sepp Blatter in July last year when the world soccer governing body’s boss visited the country on a whirlwind tour. But, for one reason or another, the meeting kept being postponed while Zifa’s financial woes deepened with only a few corporate entities such as Mbada Diamonds and Marange Resources Limited being some of the cash-strapped association’s fair weather friends and often coming to their rescue.

The indaba has now been penciled in for Pandhari Lodge on September 26, raising a lot of hopes within the Zifa corridors that it could provide the opportunities for them to turn the corner and strike a better understanding with the State and the private sector. Coltart insisted that Zimbabwe had the potential to be a regular feature at the African Cup of Nations finals and wondered why the Warriors, with only two appearances, continue to struggle to qualify for the continental soccer showpiece: “I think we have underperformed given the talent that we have and we should not be battling to qualify for the African Cup of Nations or even the World Cup…we should also de-politicise football so that we leave people who are better placed to run the game and have the passion for it to run the sport,’’ Coltart said.

The Minister also acknowledged that government had let Zifa down by not availing adequate resources to cater for the national teams with the association having had to rely on the benevolence of their president Cuthbert Dube. Dube has, since assuming office in March 2010, been using personal financial resources from his private business entities to fund the soccer mother body, but by his own admission, the Harare business executive has often made it clear that such a scenario is untenable and warned that Zifa could collapse unless the government led the way in assisting them.

“The focus of the indaba is to look at financing football, seeing what we can do as a government and the private sector to ensure football is on a viable and sound footing,’’ Coltart said. Coltart has also constantly urged Zifa to wind up the long-dragging Asiagate match-fixing scam, which has taken much of the association’s attention and also left the Warriors with a thin squad after the suspension of more than 90 players who were fingered in the scandal. There have been indications, however, that the Independent Ethics committee tasked with finalising the Asiagate chapter has virtually completed its job, and could be handing in their report just days before the game’s stakeholders convene.

There is also growing concern that the committee led by retired Supreme Court judge, Justice Ahmed Ebrahim has taken far too long to conclude its probe and should certainly wind up now amid indications that they have managed to interview virtually all the individuals they felt were key to their investigations. It is the contention of the football family that Ebrahim ought to make public his report before the Warriors head off to Luanda, Angola  for their final onslaught on a place at next year’s Nations Cup finals in South Africa.

The Warriors have a 3-1 advantage going into the final qualifier, second leg encounter in Luanda on the weekend of October 12-14. Zifa chief executive, Jonathan Mashingaidze, acknowledged yesterday that although they were still to receive Ebrahim’s report, the Asiagate matter was also likely to be among the topics that would come for discussion at the football indaba. Mashingaidze, however, remained confident that the indaba would help Zifa get an insight from the corporates on why they have been shunning the game and at the same time accord everyone who will attend a chance to appreciate the challenges that the association continue to face: “That indaba is supposed to be the watershed in terms of unlocking the value of football and it should give an insight on why some companies are shunning football.As Zifa, we are hoping that the meeting will help redefine the game’s synergies with all stakeholders. It is a platform for re-engagement and we are obviously expecting to update the stakeholders on Asiagate because it is a question that many have also been asking,’’ Mashingaidze said. It is against this background that Zifa will now head to the September 26 indaba with a degree of optimism that the resolutions that will come from the meeting will give a fresh impetus to local football.

SW Radio Africa (London)

By Alex Bell

17 September 2012

Zimbabwe’s education minister has decried his government’s decision to spend more of the national budget on defence than education, saying the country’s leaders need to change their priorities.

Minister David Coltart has previously raised concern that Zimbabwe’s defence budget is significantly higher than the money allocated for the education sector. He said this was one of the reasons why many schools have been unable to accommodate students returning for the third term.

Students from primary and secondary schools in Bulawayo were turned away last week over nonpayment of fees. Coltart told SW Radio Africa that, while he did not condone the situation, it was not surprising.

“The non salary expenditure that has been allocated to education is the second worst. This is the money we need to run and maintain schools. As of the mid year, we have only received 6% of our budget ($5 million) while defence has been allocated US$35 million,” Coltart said.

He added: “We are spending so much on defence and only a pitiful amount on education. If we don’t address these issues then the education of an entire generation will be lost.”

Higher Education Minister Stan Mudenge has also raised concern that only a small percentage of the money budgeted for his sector has been released so far this year. He said only US$1 million of the required US$42 million has been availed.

Coltart said that the priorities of government must change “We have to cut back on defence. We have to cut back on the size of government. We have to cut back on the travel and the lifestyles, the buying of Mercedes Benz cars for ministers. We have to change if we are to make education a priority,” Coltart said.

• Paralympics closing ceremony spectacular with Coldplay who said when asked to play "a huge honour … the biggest night of our lives". !!!! #
• A wonderful Zimbabwean connection at Paralympic closing – #Coldplay #039;s Chris Martin's Mum and Gran are from Harare – plenty of #Zim cousins!! #
• Another interesting question re Paralympic closing – narrator Corporal Rory Mackenzie has a very Zimbabwean sounding accent? Is he #Zim ? #
• "Every tear a waterfall" from #Coldplay – "I would rather be a comma than a full stop" – what a fitting end to the magnificent #Paralympics #
• #Paralympics have been such a revelation to me. I have been inspired beyond measure. We must now take Paralympics to new heights in #Zim #
• Congratulations and thanks to London 2012 for absolutely superb games and amazing warmth & hospitality. You have won millions of new friends #
• Great end to the weekend – Zimbabwe's Warriors thrashing Angola 3-1 at Rufaro and then #Coldplay at the #Paralympic Closing ceremony. #
• Bon voyage and Godspeed to Brendan Taylor and his merry men in the #Zimbabwean Cricket team as they leave today for T20 Cricket World Cup #
• Good day – in am opened Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zim library; this evening with V Chancellor of UCT Dr Max Price and Hre Ikeys #
• Congratulations to Andy Murray for winning the US Open from one mighty chuffed Scottish African! #
• Good luck to Brendan Taylor and his merry men for their warm up match against Ireland tomorrow WC T20. A Fab 15 indeed http://t.co/p3cYHvei #
• Not a good day at the office for #Zimbabwe cricket. Getting creamed by the Irish. But just a warm up and they have just arrived unlike Irish #
• Well done Prosper Utseya and Ray Price for restoring some respectability to the #Zimbabwean total against Ireland. Top order need practice #
• Pleased and relieved to hear that Ngonidzashe Makusha @makusha1 on the mend. Need him for Rio 2016 http://t.co/1Ytu0Z7W #
• Sibanda, Matsikenyeri, Chigumbura and Waller did not trouble the scorers. Taylor barely troubled them w 3. Masakadza's great form continues #
• Interested to note that 4 of the Irish team born elsewhere – 2 Aus, 1 SA, 1 English. Entire Zim team born in Zim. Ours is a true Zim team! #
• An opportunistic attack which ignores the fact that BEAM is run by another Ministry altogether – indeed by the MDC T. http://t.co/lZDP9FVB #
• MP Felix Sibanda's attack ignores that Min of Ed has only received 6% of its budget this year – just over US$5 m against 35, for eg, Defence #
• MP Sibanda also ignores that I have expressed distress re children not able to attend school but Heads and SDCs between rock and hard place. #
• Schools cost money to run. If Treasury cant release funds who will pay for ZESA, water, books?Without parental support schools will collapse #
• MP Sibanda says that BEAM is "dysfunctional and poorly administered" but does not say that it is run by another Ministry. #
• I will not comment whether Sibanda is right in his criticism of BEAM but whatever the case it is clear that BEAM has insufficient funds. #
• It is highly opportunistic for MP Sibanda to imply that I am neglecting my role to protect children.That is precisely what I am trying to do #
• #Zimbabwe cricket had a better warm up match today against Bangladesh – lost narrowly and great improvement. Onwards and upwards lads. #
• Makorokoto, Amhlope Highlanders for your victory yesterday. Now need to keep winning – that requires goals, goals and more goals. #
• Congrats to #Econet of #Zimbabwe for being one of Forbes Ten most innovative firms in Africa. Proudly #Zimbabwean http://t.co/AEAbaN9z #
• Congratulations to #Zimbabwean Sean Ervine for playing such a key role in Hampshire's win in England's 40 Final. 57 off 55 balls & 1 wicket #
• If the ICC is genuinely interested in fostering international cricket then a way must be found to allow players like Ervine to play for #Zim #
• Ervine finds it hard to make himself available for #Zim because he risks not being able to play for Hampshire which is his main livelihood #
• Surely the #ICC and England can help in making new rules to enable players to play for both County and Country? #
• This does not only apply to Ervine – Gary Ballance is in the same predicament. He has to choose between #Yorkshire and #Zimbabwe #
• If we are to boost competition between Test playing #cricketing Nations then the ICC must work to find a solution. #
• It is simply unjust for rich Nations to use our talent and create rules which hampers smaller Nation's (like #Zim ability to improve. #
• ICC @cricketicc it is time to work towards more equity in world cricket – allow players like Ballance and Ervine to play for County and Zim #
• Happy birthday @KirstyCoventry . Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to make us proud to be #Zimbabwean Great you in #Zim ! #

NewsDay

By Sheryleen Masuku

14 September 2012

MDC-T Bulawayo provincial secretary for education Felix Sibanda yesterday criticised Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart that headmasters are not to blame for sending children back home for outstanding school fees and levies.

Coltart on Wednesday blamed the inclusive government and parents for the chaos at schools.

The minister’s remarks were made following a public outcry from parents and civil society about the violation of a High Court ruling and the ministry of Education’s directive to stop sending children away for non-payment of fees.

Sibanda said Coltart’s views were shocking.
“We, as MDC-T, are extremely shocked by the minister’s inconsistency in handling education,” he said. “We are alarmed and baffled by his statement. He can’t shift blame to the inclusive government that he is part of as a Cabinet minister.”

Sibanda said it was the duty of the minister to make a lot of noise about education issues since it was “his role to protect the children”.

He questioned if the minister was aware that the children were more likely to suffer this term “because this is an exam period and children are losing valuable time due to the dismissals”.

“We want to correct the minister. Headmasters are to blame for sending children away from school,” he said. “These fees are charged by school development associations and the headmasters and these people have too much power in the schools.”

Sibanda said the minister should appreciate that there are some parents who are poor and cannot afford to pay school fees.

“Basic Education Assistance Module is dysfunctional and is poorly administered. As a result, children from better families are
being supported by the programme,” he said.

Sibanda accused Coltart of defending teachers’ incentives in Parliament as this “has heightened financial challenges faced by children from poor families as teachers continue to solicit for funds from their students”.

The Zimbabwean

By Tererai Karimakwenda

14 September 2012

Thousands of students will not have the opportunity to attend classes this term after they were turned away for non-payment of fees, by both primary and secondary schools in Bulawayo on Tuesday.

According to a survey by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA), at least nineteen schools denied access to school children who failed to produce school fees receipts.

In addition an estimated 50,000 students on the government’s cadetship programme were barred from registering for classes with universities, that are demanding that millions of dollars in unpaid bills be settled by government first.

According to the state controlled Herald newspaper, the government owes a total of $100 million to the ten universities that participate in the programme. Government, in theory, pays the tuition fees for students, who in turn promise to work in Zimbabwe for a specified number of years.

Education Minister David Coltart blamed government for not making education a priority while allocating much more money to the defence budget and travel. He said problems will persist as long as education is sidelined.

Asked about the children who were turned away Coltart said: “I don’t like it and it needs to change, but schools are in a very difficult situation. It costs a lot of money to run them and pay for water and electricity.”

Coltart explained that government has set minimal fees which he felt most parents should be able to pay, if they make education for their children a priority. He said primary schools in rural districts are free and urban districts charge $10 per term. Secondary schools in urban districts charge $20 per term.

But students have to also pay levies which are determined by each individual school after consulting with parents. The Minister admitted this may be unaffordable for some parents, especially those who cannot find jobs.

Meanwhile the Herald said Higher Education Minister Stan Mudenge blamed Finance Minister Tendai Biti for the problem. Mudenge said only $1 million of the required $42 million this year had been released by Biti so far.

But the Finance Minister insists there is no money in the treasury and the funds from the sale of diamonds continue to only enrich the ZANU PF and military elite. 

NewsDay

By Sheryleen Masuku

13 September 2012

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart yesterday defended headmasters for sending pupils away for not paying fees, saying government and parents should take the blame for humiliating children.

Coltart’s remarks come in the wake of reports that a number of schools had sent pupils back home when schools opened for the third term this week over outstanding fees contrary to a ruling by the High Court and a government directive ordering schools to stop the practice.

In an interview, Coltart blamed the inclusive government for failing to prioritise education in the country.

“The government has not made education a real priority,” he said. “It spends a lot of money on other issues. For example, this year government allocated $5,5 million to education and $35 million to defence, that is about six times more than the amount that has been allocated to education. The inclusive government needs to make education a priority.”

Coltart said headmasters should not be blamed for sending pupils away because they were not getting money from government.

“They need money to run the schools and pay for groundsmen and other things. As a result headmasters are finding themselves in a difficult situation.”

He said the pupils were the worst affected as they were caught in the middle of a fight between their parents and the schools.

“Children are being used as weapons to source payment by both their parents and their schools,” he said.

“It is humiliating for children to be sent back home, but on the other hand if parents do not pay it leads to the collapse of the education system.

“Parents also need to prioritise their children’s education and make sacrifices. In some instances schools are asking for only $20 and we have cases were both parents are working and failing to pay and yet they spend money on beer and airtime whist they are failing to pay fees.”

He said there was need to deeply analyse the challenges facing both parents and headmasters.
A headmaster at a Bulawayo school visited by NewsDay yesterday dismissed claims from his students that they were being sent home for non-payment of fees.

“We do not send children away, but we give them letters to take to their parents reminding them about outstanding fees and also inviting them to come and negotiate terms of payment with us,” he said.

Students at the school revealed that classrooms were more than half empty with most schoolmates having been sent back home over outstanding fees.

NewsDay

By Henry Mhara

13 September 2012

The minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, has tasked his deputy Lazarus Dokora to work with Zifa to raise funds for the broke association ahead of the decisive 2013 African Cup of Nations second leg final qualifier match against Angola next month.

The Warriors beat Angola 3-1 in the first leg last Sunday.

However, Coltart warned Zifa to clean their house first.

“Unfortunately, the government has very limited financial resources, but I think the financial resources will flow when the public and the corporate in particular have confidence in the administration of football.”

“At the player level we have enormous talent, but that has not been backed up by competence at the administrative level. Corporates want to be associated with positive brands and not a negative brand.

“The moment football is viewed as a positive brand in Zimbabwe, you will find that corporates will come flooding in. That will lead in growing confidence and growing revenue, more players playing at home and general strengthening of football,” said Coltart.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Absa Premiership side Bidvest Wits University said they are committed to work with Zifa, but only if the country’s mother body follow the set-down football rules.

Zifa and Wits clashed over the release of midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha.

Wits claim they received the letter of request late, while Warriors team manager Nyika Chifamba insists the letter was sent on time.

Wits team manager George Mugotsi yesterday said: “The people from that side did not send the letter on time. We then received a phone call from the Zimbabwe secretariat accusing us of refusing to release the player and my CEO was not happy at all. He is a lawyer and he knows the rules very well.

“The rules say the football federation should write to clubs 14 days before the match, and that did not happen,” said Mogotsi.

Wits have Ofentse Nato of Botswana and Robin Ngalande of Malawi who all played for their national teams over the weekend.

Zifa boss Cuthbert Dube has said his board will investigate the matter which also saw striker Knowledge Musona failing to come for the Angola match.

12 September 2012

Senator David Coltart, is concerned that the Attorney General is being used as a weapon than an instrument for justice in Zimbabwe.

“The failure by the AG and the police to investigate and arrest cases of murder, violence and corruption is a cause for concern,” he said in an exclusive interview with The Zimbabwean.

The Senator is considering retiring from active politics and returning to the legal field. “I have been out of legal practice for too long. I intend to retire from politics but I am not saying when because I have not decided yet,” he said.

He said he would love to follow in the footsteps of MDC-T’s Eric Matinenga, who recently announced that he would be retiring from active politics at the end of his term next year.

Coltart told The Zimbabwean he was watching developments in the country closely and would wait for the outcome of the constitution-making process, which has been stalled by Zanu (PF).

“I want to see what comes out of the constitutional reform process, but I will listen to my constituency and family,” he said. “I have a mandate to perform as senator, which I should be concluding in June. Also, as the Minister of Education, I must focus on fulfilling my mandate as best as I can.”

Coltart said the SADC facilitation team in the Zimbabwe crisis had played a crucial role in bringing some level of normalcy to the country, which almost plunged into war during the 2008 presidential run-off.

“I think it (SADC facilitation) has been critically important. In 2008, you remember the pit that Zimbabwe had fallen into—high inflation, corruption and all sorts of ills— it was SADC facilitation which brought back some sanity,” he said.

The MDC-N Senator for Khumalo constituency in Bulawayo, was appointed Minister of Education, Arts, Sport and Culture soon after the formation of the inclusive government in 2009. Since the election as MP in 2000, he has assisted scores of desperate people in his constituency with school fees through his humanitarian fund which he set up with the assistance of friends.

“I value education and health a lot. Through this fund, I have managed to pay fees for school children and university students, in addition to medical expenses and rentals for some deserving people in the constituency,” said Coltart in an interview with The Zimbabwean.

Through the fund, Coltart has also sponsored self-help training courses for Patricia Nabanyama, the widow of the late Patrick Nabanyama who mysteriously disappeared in the year 2000 and is believed to have been murdered by suspected Zanu (PF) supporters. He was Coltart’s polling agent before the split of the MDC in 2005.

Since his appointment as Minister, Coltart has been working tirelessly to restore sanity and excellence to the education sector – although with very limited resources. Among his notable achievements has been the sourcing of funds from donor partners to buy text books.

He also scored a first by introducing minority languages such as Tonga in schools. Tonga was officially tested at Grade 7 in some schools for the first time in October last year.

“I have never worked as hard as I have done during the past four years since my appointment as a minister. When I took over, the education sector was in a serious crisis. Although we have done a lot to improve the situation, a lot more still needs to be done,” said Coltart.

Most schools in the country are in dilapidated conditions and need urgent rehabilitation.

“This year we have only received 6% of our budget yet our schools are crumbling. We need money to buy school desks, repair roofs , floors and reconstruct toilets. The situation has reached catastrophic levels,” he said.

Coltart was first elected MDC Bulawayo South MP in June 2000 and was re-elected in 2005. During the March 2008 elections, he opted to contest a senatorial seat.

“One of the reasons why I opted for a senatorial seat is that debates in the lower house were unproductive. We spent most of the time shouting at each other,” he said.

People in the constituency who spoke to The Zimbabwean say it is regrettable that Coltart is not as visible in the constituency as he used to be when he was MP.

“When he was our MP he used to regularly hold feedback meetings. Now we no longer see him and most of the time he will be in Harare. In the next elections, I think he should reconsider reverting to an MP. We need him to complete some of the projects he initiated,” said Shepard Pangayi, a resident in the constituency.

Another resident, Tinashe Chakandinakira, said a lot of youths in the constituency were unemployed and hoped that Coltart would come to their rescue.

“There is high employment in this constituency. The majority of the people used to work for industries that have now collapsed. We want the Senator to use his close connections with the donor community to source funds for youth projects in the area,” said Chakandinakira.

The Chronicle

11 September 2012

A majority of schools in Bulawayo yesterday sent home hundreds of pupils for non-payment of fees and levies.
The schools once again defied a High Court judgment and the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture directive which forbids such an exercise.

Schools opened for the third term yesterday and pupils from different schools could be seen loitering in the streets as early as 8am as they were denied entry into their school premises.

Last year, Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Maphios Cheda with Justice Nicholas Ndou agreeing, made a landmark ruling that school heads who expel, suspend or withhold pupils’ results on the basis of non-payment of fees and levies were committing an offence under Section 7 of the Children’s Act. The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart, is on record warning schools against sending away pupils over non-payment of fees.

More than 20 schools in the city barred pupils who had not paid the fees and levies from entering school premises.

In separate interviews yesterday, parents with children at Mzilikazi Primary School said they were sent away for non-payment of fees by their headmaster who stood at the gate to vet pupils.

“My child was sent away from school in the morning by his headmaster who stood at the gate with a security guard to check for school fees receipts before we could be allowed entrance into the school premises. They were told we had to make full fees payment before attending school,” said the man.

One of the parents whose child attends Mpumelelo Primary School in Mpopoma said many pupils were sent home in the morning and only a few had attended classes.

“Our children were sent home because they did not have receipts that prove we paid about $23, their school fees per term. This is so serious because school authorities expect us to pay full fees when things are so tough,” said the woman who refused to be identified.

Another parent, Mrs Anesu Khumalo, said by 7.30am her child was back from school.

“My child came back home saying security guards at her school refused her entry because she had no receipts proving she paid school fees. We know that it is our responsibility to pay fees but we have to make payment plans so that at least by this month end, we clear all arrears,” she said.

In a statement yesterday, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) information officer Mr Zibusiso Dube condemned the exercise, saying it was a violation of children’s rights to education.

“Hundreds of Bulawayo students were today turned away from school for non-payment of fees despite directives by the Ministry of Education that school authorities should not do so.

“In a survey around the city, we identified at least 19 schools, both primary and secondary, that denied children access to school due to failure by the pupils to produce school fees receipts,” said Mr Dube.
He said there was a need for the Ministry to put measures in place to ensure that schools adhered to the directives of the Government on education.

“The schools include Mgoqo, Mawaba, Nduba, Mkhithika, Nyamande, Mgiqika, Pelandaba, Mpumelelo, Mckeurtan, Newmansford, Matshayisikhova, Senzangakhona, and Mkhithika Primary Schools as well as Nkulumane, Gifford, Townsend, Emakhandeni, Sikhulile and Luveve High schools. Children were chased away for different reasons including non-payment of the third term’s tuition fees, failure to clear balances from previous terms, and various levies such as building levy,” he said.