ZBC

www.zbc.co.zw

8 September 2010

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has reiterated the inclusive government’s commitment and determination to deliver on its promises and to rebuild the economy.
Addressing guests at the launch of the Education Transition Fund, Mr. Tsvangirai said the inclusive government was formed on a commitment to stabilise the economy and to restore basic social services and the launch of the fund is testimony to the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises.
“We have the Work Programme in which we have prioritised education funding within our national budget and this, together with the enormous support we have received from the international community, is now having tangible results,” the Prime Minister said.
Government, in conjunction with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the international donor community have embarked on a nationwide drive that will see all the 5 575 primary schools receiving educational supplies, stationery and text books for all the 4 core subjects.
The exercise will see a total of 12 000 metric tonnes of school supplies and 13 million text books being distributed across the country during the next three months.
Speaking at the same occasion, the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart expressed optimism that the programme will be extended to secondary schools.
UNICEF country representative, Dr Peter Salama said the initiative will see the pupil-to-book ratio being reduced from 1 book for 10 pupils to 1 book per pupil.
Other speakers at the function included Norwergian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Gunnar Foreland, who was representing the donor community and the Minister of Labour and Social Services, Ms Paurina Mpariwa.

Braille textbooks and equipment for blind pupils have also been sourced under the fund.

20% of the textbooks are being printed in the country, while the remaining 80% are printed in the SADC region.
The next phase of the fund will focus on providing teachers’ guides and textbooks for marginalised indigenous languages like Venda, Shangani, Tonga and Nambya.
Zimbabwe’s education sector was one of the areas hit hardest by underfunding by the Zimbabwean Government during the last 20 years. The country, according to the UNDP, now boasts of having the highest literacy rate in Africa.

Newsday

By Fortune Moyo

6 September 2010

With just a day to go before schools open, there is confusion on the payment of teacher incentives by parents as education officials have dismissed the practice as tantamount to corruption.

This is a stark contrast to Education minister David Coltart’s assertion that incentives should stay as they are a form of supplementary income for teachers to stem the mass exodus of professionals.

Bulawayo provincial education director Dan Moyo last week lashed out at teachers and schools still demanding incentives and has ordered that they should stop the practice forthwith.

Addressing a five-day workshop on HIV and Aids, gender, life skills and counselling for secondary school teachers at Hillside Teachers’ College in Bulawayo last week, Moyo told teachers to stop demanding incentives as it is corruption.

“Teachers should immediately stop demanding incentives from parents as this is corruption and fraud. One can actually get arrested for that as it is a crime,” he said.

Moyo said most qualified teachers were avoiding applying for higher positions in the education system as they were enjoying incentives at schools.

“We always advertise posts for deputy headmasters and mistresses, but we hardly receive any responses, despite the large number of qualified teachers,” he said. “One of the reasons is that they look at the advertised post and then if they realise it will be difficult to get an incentive in the post, they decide not to apply.”

He said the practice should be stopped. “The issue of incentives has greatly corrupted our education system and it should be stopped immediately,” said the veteran educationist.

However, in an interview with NewsDay, Coltart said incentives were there to stay until teachers started to earn reasonable salaries.
“Incentives are still there and have to remain until we are able to start paying teachers a reasonable salary,” he said.

Coltart said totally stopping incentives would cause a major disruption in schools.

“If we are to cut out incentives, it would cause a major disruption in schools as we would lose thousands of teachers,” he said. Coltart pointed out that he was eager to stop incentives as soon as teachers were paid reasonably.
The issue of incentives has been a bone of contention since last year, with some parents totally refusing to pay, while in some schools, parents agreed to so that their children get adequate education.
Between 2007 and 2008, Zimbabwe lost about 20 000 teachers, mostly to neighbouring countries.

NOTE  FROM SENATOR DAVID COLTART:

There is in fact no contradiction in these positions. Incentives demanded by teachers themselves, ie on an ad hoc, individualistic fashion, are illegal. Incentives have to be agreed upon by parents through the payment of levies and they can then lawfully be paid to teachers. In that way there is a transparent, lawful and equitable process to assist teachers and keep them in the classroom. It is regrettable that Newsday did not seek comment from me regarding PED Moyo’s comments so that they could be put in context.

Radiovop

6 September 2010

Harare, September 6, 2010 -There was drama on Monday morning at the Ministry of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture headquarters in Harare when the Deputy Minister of Education, members of the President’s office who were visiting, senior officials and the entire staff stampeded to get out of 18-floor building after a malfunctioning elevator developed an electrical fault which caused fire at the building.

So hectic were the corridors of the building as senior staff and ordinary members of staff jammed the corridors in an enduring physical exercise climbing down the stairs to safety.
No-one was hurt during the incident because the fire was immediately put out by Harare City Council Fire Brigade whose response was swift.
The electrical fault occurred in the 18th floor around mid-morning. Ironically the floor houses the offices of Education Minister David Coltart who is said to have been out of office when the fire broke out. But his deputy, Lazarus Dokora was not as lucky as he had to endure the climb down using the stairs from his high rise office.
Dokora was said to have been forced to abandon the meeting with members of the President’s office when the fire broke out.

Staff from the ministry could be seen milling outside the building telling tales of how they escaped after the fire started.
“I was in the lift that jammed for some 15 minutes before we were rescued by people from the company that made the elevators,” an unidentified man could be heard saying. “The smoke actually came into the lift.” The lift was later fixed by EICCO, the company which installed and maintain lifts at the ministry’s offices.
The staff later refused to get back into the building after the fixed lifts malfunctioned again.  government offices have malfunctioning elevators which are always down. Maintenance at the government offices is sub-standard. Last year at the inception of the Government of National Unity (GNU) the Minister of Environment and the Minister of Health teamed up to lead a group of volunteers to clean government offices at Mukwati Building in Harare.

Standard

5 September 2010

TEN years after the 2000 African Cup of Nations was painfully  taken away, Zimbabwe are now bidding to host the 2016 Africa Cup of Nations.
Zifa president Cuthbert Dube said the association had submitted their application for the 2016 tournament having failed in 2000 and 2004 to host Africa’s biggest football festival.
The Afcon hosts  are awarded the right to host a tournament four years in advance in order for them to upgrade their facilities.
Speaking at a function to unveil the Warriors’ 2012 Nations Cup campaign, guest of honour Minister of Education Sports and Culture David Coltart  said government would facilitate the hosting of the 2016 Nations Cup.
“As government we are in support of a move to host the 2016 Nations Cup event.
“We need to build two more stadia bigger enough to carry more than 50 000 people. Surely we as a nation can build two stadia in six years? It’s possible, we can do it,” Coltart said.
A 13-member Confederation of African Football (Caf) executive will assess the merits and demerits of each candidate before the start of the next edition of the Nations Cup.
But in between now and the Caf Congress to choose the hosts of the tournament, inspection visits will be made to the countries in question to find out whether they have the capacity to host the 16-team football extravaganza.
Caf requires four separate venues from different cities and Dube said   Rufaro , Barboufields, Mucheke and the National Sports Stadium have the capacity to host the Nations Cup.
Asked whether African football politics will not once again jeorpadise Zimbabwe’s chances of hosting of the biennial football contest.
Dube said there were people in Caf who sympathised with Zimbabwe and he was banking on their support.

Standard

By Nigel Matongorere

5 September 2010

WEST Indies cricket legend Brian Lara turned the Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) CBZ Awards 2010 into a one-man show on Friday night in Harare.
From the moment it was announced that he was going to grace the ceremony this was going to be the “Brian Lara Show” all over.
All the invited guests turned into groupies, as they could not resist the charming swag of the Trinidad-and-Tobago-born Lara who was escorted by his lovely partner Susan Gossage. High-ranking officials like Sports Minister David Coltart, Harare Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda, ZC chairman Peter Chingoka and his managing director Ozias Bvute all wanted a piece of the legend.
Even controversial politician Professor Jonathan Moyo could not resist the allure of Lara and was among the 300-plus guests.
The night should have belonged to the local cricketers who were nominated for the awards, but they naturally humbled themselves because a true cricket great was in the building.
At every single moment all these high-ranking dignitaries took their opportunity to have their picture taken with Lara. Even journalists, me included dropped our pens and notebooks to have a chance to get our picture with Lara.
Everyone at the event should be forgiven for the way they behaved in the presence of The Price – as Lara is affectionately known in cricket circles. It’s not every night that you get to shake the hand of someone like Lara and have a picture with him taken to boot.
His exploits on the cricket pitch have been well documented and there is nothing more you can say except that Lara is indeed one of the greatest of all time.
When it was time for him to take to the podium and deliver his speech the entire place came to a standstill and the applause was awesome.
Lara spoke passionately about local cricket and still remembers vividly all his encounters since his first visit here as the West Indies A captain in 1989. He made it clear that he was disappointed because Zimbabwe has been very inconsistent on the pitch over the years.
“I played Test and one-day internationals against your national team but what always puzzled me was your great play at the beginning of each series which turned into shambolic performances later on. I can give you examples,” Lara said. “ In 2003, I came here as the captain of the West Indies, grassy track,  Fidel Edwards 95 miles per hour and (Corry) Collymore 93 miles per hour. “I thought well three days or four days this match was going to be over, but guess what Zimbabwe made 500 plus and bowled out the West Indies and scored another 200. “We came for six wickets and we now had a mammoth 400 or 500 to score. They cleaned up everybody. “With the last hour and a half of play our number seven batsman and Fidel Edwards staved off defeat for us.”
The match ended up in a draw and thinking of that series still brings back sad memories for many Zimbabweans.
In the second and final test played in Bulawayo Zimbabwe went on to lose by 128 runs and the West Indies clinched the series 1-0.
“In 2007 you played against another West Indies team led by Chris Gayle here in Zimbabwe,” he said. “You won the first ODI, but again ended up losing the series 3-1 and more recently you came to the Caribbeans in 2010 and I was actually in London with my girlfriend. “I looked up on the screen and I saw that Zimbabwe had scored 112 and I went to sleep. Later on one of my advisors woke me up and asked me what I had to say about the result in the Caribbean? “I said to him it was a no contest and he asked me it’s a no contest for whom?
“I said for West Indies and he said but you were bowled out for 77.
“Obviously Zimbabwe won the first ODI, but guess what they went on to lose the series 4-1.”
On the night United Kingdom based all-rounder Elton Chigumbura walked away with the top award of Cricketer of the Year.
Mid-West Rhinos’ opener Vusi Sibanda was crowned batsman of the year. Sibanda’s teamate Graeme Cremer scooped the award for Bowler of the Year.
The Female Cricketer of the Year award went to Sharne Meyers.
Mountaineers fast bowler Tendai Chatara took two awards for Best Rookie and Most Promising Cricketer.
National team assistant coach Stephen Mangongo took the Coach of the  Year accolade for his tenure with Mountaineers last season.
To cap off a fine night for the Mountaineers, the Manicaland-based franchise was voted the Best Franchise Team of the Year. Russell Tiffin was crowned Umpire of the Year.

Herald

4 September 2010

By Roy Matiki

EDUCATION, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart has challenged the new Zifa board to bring back the confidence of stakeholders by running the game professionally.

Addressing guests at the official launch of the 2012 African Cup of Nations campaign on Thursday night, Coltart said one of the reasons why Zimbabwe has failed at the international stage was because of questionable administration.

“We need to start rebranding the game and clean up the mess that has characterised our game. The task begins with Zifa.

“I have since written to Zifa chairman Cuthbert Dube, to hold an indaba on the topic of finance.

“There is need to know the calendar for the national teams a year in advance and to submit the budget well in advance.

“If Ghana could reach that stage at the World Cup in South Africa, it’s possible that Zimbabwe can achieve the same feat.

“I was privileged to watch 36 schools playing cricket at Prince Edward. The talent is abundant across the country.

“We need to organise schools soccer leagues better in the country as a way of tapping raw talent. There is need to build the foundation of the senior national team,” Coltart said.

He said there was need to have a vision for the nation going beyond the 2014 World Cup.

He challenged the players to play with passion and pride when on national duty.

Coltart said there was need to build two stadiums in Mutare and in Masvingo within the next seven years.

“It’s important that we begin our 2012 campaign on a winning note and you are guaranteed support from the President, the Prime Minister and all Government ministers.

“National pride is at stake and I am proud to be the Minister of Sport in this great nation.

“I challenged the players as they play Liberia to rekindle the passion and be committed on the field of play.

“The national team has great talent and I am confident that you will produce the much-needed result.

“The match against Brazil revealed our natural ability to scale to dizzy heights. A draw against Japan was no mean achievement,” added Coltart.

New Zimbabwe.com

4 September 2010

THE Zimbabwe Warriors take on Liberia in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with soccer chief’s urging the team to rekindle the “spirit of the dream team” as the country looks to qualify for the 2012 finals.

Stand-in captain Method Mwanjali will lead his colleagues in Monrovia aware that only a successful qualification campaign this time round could help make up the agony of the last few years.

Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the last two editions of the tournament in 2008 and 2010 and painfully missed out on the historic FIFA World Cup finals held in neighbouring South Africa.

The Warriors are under pressure to make it to the next continental finals which will be jointly hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Care-taker coach Norman Mapeza is keenly aware of task facing his charges.

“We have spoken about this game and we have said that we have to start well and enhance our chances of qualifying for the Nations Cup because it has been painful watching from television while other teams were taking part at the nations Cup and later on the World Cup.

“Every Zimbabwean wants their national team to be there at all these tournaments, whether it is the CHAN, World Cup, Nations Cup or Cosafa,’’ Mapeza said ahead of the teams departure for the Liberian capital Monrovia.

Education, sport and culture minister David Coltart said national pride was at stake in Liberia and challenged the team to play with passion.

“It’s important that we begin our 2012 campaign on a winning note. National pride is at stake and I am proud to be the Minister of Sport in this great nation.

“I challenge the players as they play Liberia to rekindle the passion and be committed on the field of play” Coltart said at a function held to see the team off.

The local game has also been undermined by scandal with ZIFA officials and several national team players questioned over alleged involvement with Asian betting syndicates.

Former Caps United captain, Mwanjali, who is now based in South Africa, was among the players questioned by the national association over the scandal.

However any lingering anxieties he might have suffered over the issue would have been allayed by ZIFA’s assurances that players would not face any charges over the issue.

Meanwhile Mapeza sought to make a break with the past by leaving out a number of senior players associated with past campaigns including captain, Benjani Mwaruwari.

Daily News

www.dailynews.co.zw

By Enock Muchinjo

4 September 2010

HARARE – Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura was named Cricketer of the Year at a function in Harare Friday night.

All-rounder Chigumbura’s form in international cricket was instrumental, but leading domestic side Mashonaland Eagles to Logan Cup glory in the 2009/10 season also swayed the panel of judges.

Chigumbura was, however not present to receive his award as he is currently winding up the county season with Northamptonshire in the UK.

The biggest loser on the night was batsman Hamilton Masakadza, who was nominated for both the Cricketer of the Year and Batsman of the Year awards, but lost out to Chigumbura and Vusi Sibanda respectively.

Midwest Rhinos and Zimbabwe leg-spinner Graeme Cremer was Bowler of the Year.

Guest of honour Brian Lara, the legendary former West Indies captain, delivered a nostalgic speech,  going down memory lane since he first toured Zimbabwe as West Indies ‘A’ captain in 1989.

The glittering ceremony was seen as a unifying get-together in Zimbabwe cricket as former warring factions mingled freely, a sharp contrast to six years ago when internal fighting rocked the game.

Even former ZC president Dave Ellman-Brown, whose honourary position as ZC life-president was abolished at the height of the squabbles, gave the vote of thanks speech.

Other guests included Sports minister David Coltart and Harare mayor Much Masunda.