The Herald

20 June 2013

By Nyasha Mutena

TENDAI KUCHERA (28) is basking in the warm sunshine of the morning, like any other day in his life. He is surely going to spend the day hopping from one person he comes across on the streets to the other, begging for money or engaging in quick illicit deals just so to buy “the stress relief pill” as he likes to call dagga while using hunger as an excuse.

With unkempt hair and his mouth smelling like rotten garbage while his body, smelling strong cigarette odour, everything about him is a disaster.

Even life itself has lost its meaning, and he cannot deny that fact, either.

However, no one, even among his daily saviours, would ever guess he was once part of Zimbabwe’s basic education curriculum.

Basic education curricular entitles citizens to go through a certain level of education and in Zimbabwe Government has ensured that one studies from primary level and attain at least a General Certificate in Education Ordinary Level and/or Advanced Level certificates.

Pupils have to at least attain at least five subjects at O-Level including English and Mathematics.

Tendai went through Zimbabwe’s basic education curricular but he just was not a bright student because not everyone is gifted that way.

He, however, boasts magical drawing fingers when it comes to art and given the money and opportunity, he could surely have excelled but he came from a very poor family background – so poor that they hardly had a decent meal on a daily basis.

And to this date, Tendai blames Zimbabwe’s education system for his predicament.

He feels he was not given an opportunity to explore and appreciate his potential.

Tendai’s case is, however, not unique as there are a lot who are in the same situation.  Many people believe Zimbabwe’s education system gives meaning to the notion that the mistakes of a teacher are seen roaming the street, hence the plight of those who roam the streets. These are believed to have failed to make it academically.

However, educationists including Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart believe many Zimbabweans have been let down by the basic education curricular.

The Deputy Provincial Education Director for Harare, Mr Valerio Mukova, said Government had established special classes for extra-curricular activities.

“We have special classes that are meant for extra-curricular education in most of our schools but we are short of the rightful personnel to do so. We are facing financial constrains and lack of resources in our schools,” he said.

“Our students are on the streets because of this. However, it is conceivable to suggest that if we as a ministry have finances to retain our teachers, surely the education system should be able to cater for every child’s needs,” he said.

Minister Coltart believes Zimbabwe’s education system has to be revisited.

“We have heard a good education system for 50 years and the pass rates demonstrate its strengths but the education somehow collapsed.

“The whole system needs to be reviewed. Practical subjects also need to be included in the new system. We do have a major challenge in that most rural schools lack the practical skills at all,” he said.

Minister Coltart said extra-curricular education needs to be introduced at the “earliest possible stage”.

Educationist Mr Wellington Koke said while the basic education curricular plays a major in the development of children from a tender age it does not address the skills needed later in life.

“There has to be a policy to harness specific potential and technical skill at an early stage. We do not have it because our system is too academic and one struggles to make it academically because they is no room and it is like there is no Plan B.”

He concurs with Minister Coltart that the system needs revamping.

“It is difficult to identify natural talent in children and where it is done its peripheral. It is just by chance or luck, therefore the system must be reviewed,” Mr Koke said.

Meanwhile, it is believed that the idea of simply imparting skills and knowledge to others does not define education but is rather misguiding and that is why education is inadequate.

People have diplomas and degrees but are still unemployable. From the primary secondary school levels extra-curricular education is not accessible, all owing to the system.

For example, Hatcliffe has two primary schools and a single secondary school only, all of which should cater for every child within the vicinity with adequate literacy.

This automatically means they all have to adhere to the stipulations because beggars are surely not choosers, which brings to the question on what would happen to those who fail the basic education.

Either they become permanent “home defenders” or they strive to make it in life and some may even resort to illegal deals as the case of Tendai.

“The curriculum is excellent by 1980 standards and Zimbabwe has the highest literacy rate in Africa at 92 percent but the high literacy rate is not translating to the economic strength and there are no remarkable inventions.

“Zimbabwe needs to develop a positive mindset towards education as a nation and in the process creativity and resilience,” an analyst said.

She said information technology is of paramount importance because most schools in Zimbabwe have computers without properly trained teachers leading to most patriotic Zimbabweans doing nothing about changing the false image that has been portrayed around the world.  Positive values of respect, resourcefulness, attitude, morality and accountability are crucial if the education puzzle is to be complete.

“Attitude is to education what a sail is to a ship, if the sail is pointing in the wrong direction, the ship goes in the wrong direction and if it doesn’t have a sail it will not move.”

Focus was on access to education with very little thought on quality but, however, curriculum reforms need an overhaul not just a review.

There must be a global view on the education system where no one is ashamed on a global scale thus our curriculum together with civic education will have a direct bearing on the economic development of the nation. This also calls for a tailor-made education system where there is civic education and children are given the choice to appreciate something other than basic education curricular.

The Financial Gazette

By Paul Nyakazeya

20 June 2013

Pearson International, the world’s leading publishing company, has transferred its book publishing and distribution business in Zimbabwe, Longman Zimbabwe, to Consultus Publishing Services (CPS) which has been appointed an exclusive agent in the country, The Financial Gazette’s Companies & Markets (C&M) can report. CPS, which is registered as Consultus Services Pvt Ltd, is owned by Mwazvita Patricia Madondo, a former managing director of Longman Zimbabwe and regional director for Longman Zambia and Malawi.

The agency is with effect from  June 1, 2013. It was not immediately clear how much was involved in the transfer of the Longman Zimbabwe business to an agent, first reported by C&M last month. A letter from Pearson Education Africa’s managing director, Jane Bursey, dated June 10, 2013 and seen by this newspaper, said Pearson had changed its business model in Zimbabwe from company to agency.

“Therefore, Longman Zimbabwe and all imprints under Pearson, Longman and Heinemann will now be marketed and distributed by an agent with effect from 1 June 2013,” reads part of the letter.

“The agent will interface with all Pearson customers. “Pearson transferred the business to the agent as a going concern, that is, transferring all marketing, distribution and administration staff thereby engaging all the experience and expertise gained over the years Longman was in operation,” she said.

The letter said while CPS would interface with customers and supply learning materials, Pearson would devote its time to developing teaching and learning materials for the Zimbabwe curriculum.

“Pearson strives to publish materials and produce learning and teaching tools that reflect the needs of the market, improves learner attainment and ultimately drives the economic growth of the nation. Hence, there will be a continued interface with all Zimbabwe stakeholders, through the agent CPS, to ensure materials are developed to meet the needs of the customer,” the letter said.

Bursey said Pearson “strongly believe the new business model would be a success”.

Longman Zimbabwe publishes educational materials from early childhood materials for pre-school children and continuing up to ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels as well as tertiary education.

Their books are compiled by a team of locally and internationally experienced educationists and teachers.

In 2010, Longman was awarded a five-year United Nations Children’s Fund contract to print 30 million primary school text books to 5 500 schools ahead of other bidders.

This was to avert a catastrophic textbook shortage and further decline in the country’s educational standards.

The awarding of the tender created disconted in the industry, with two major competitors, the Zimbabwe Publishing House and College Press, calling for its suspension.

However, the Minister of Education, David Coltart, who approved the tender, defended Longman saying it won the tender because of its charges and its quality.

Unicef forked out US$52 million on the tender.

SW Radio Africa

By Violet Gonda

2o June 2013

The ZANU PF MP for Guruve South, Edward Chindori-Chininga, died in a car crash in his constituency on Wednesday. No other vehicle was involved in the accident.

This has set Zimbabwe talking because last Wednesday he released a damning report about the involvement of ZANU PF officials and allies in the diamond industry.

Only two weeks ago the lawmaker was at the Kimberley Process meeting in South Africa and delegates told SW Radio Africa he was openly critical of the diamond situation in Zimbabwe.

The maverick politician was known in the diamond world as a man who tried to shine a light on the murky practices at the Marange Diamond fields.

Alan Martin the director of research at Partnership Africa Canada, a civil society organization that is part of the Kimberley Process, communicated extensively with Chindori- Chininga in recent weeks. He revealed on the Hot Seat programme how Chindori-Chininga told him earlier this month that he knew he was a “marked man” and that his work as chairman of the parliamentary committee on mines and energy had ended his political career in ZANU PF.

The former mines minister is said to have told delegates at a workshop in South Africa two weeks ago that some of the individuals in government who complained about the targeted western sanctions were the same people who were benefitting the most by the restrictions, because the sanctions allowed them to operate in the grey zone.

“I got the sense in the meetings I had with him in early June that I think he recognized that his work on this issue had certainly ended his political career. He was very open about how ZANU PF was not going re-sign his nomination papers to run as a ZANU PF candidate.

“And I think perhaps his parting shot was that he wanted to have a definitive record of what his committee’s observation had been of this issue before the parliamentary period closed next week,” Martin said.

Last week, Chindori- Chininga presented a highly critical report to parliament on Zimbabwe’s diamond industry.

SW Radio Africa has also a copy of an email he wrote to various people, mainly international civil society organizations, sharing the contents of this report.

Owing to the sheer number of Zimbabwean politicians who have died in mysterious car crashes, speculation is rife on social forums that he died at the hands of individuals in the state security apparatus, who are loyal to ZANU PF.

Many people believe that when cornered, ZANU PF can be extremely ruthless towards its own people.

Some of the senior officials who died in car accidents that were regarded as suspicious include three political commissars; Moven Mahachi, Border Gezi and Elliot Manyika. Others include the commander of the ZANLA forces, Josiah Tongogara who died in an accident in Mozambique just before independence. Then there was the death of former army general Solomon Mujuru who died in a mysterious fire at his farm. Rumours circulated at the time that his death might be linked to diamonds.

Martin noted that the timing of Chindori-Chininga’s fatal accident, with the elections and the release of the report, makes people wonder if there was a sinister hand at play.

Partnership Africa Canada is one of the international organizations that extensively used the findings of the parliamentary portfolio committee in their reports and Martin said it revealed important information, which included how Mines Minister Obert Mpofu had “stacked the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation with his cronies, sister-in-law, his personal assistant and people with zero mining experience.”

As a former mines minister Chininga knew his subject well. He was also well known for interrogating people who testified before the committee, and would remind officials he knew were lying that they were under oath.

Chindori-Chininga described those who controlled Zimbabwe’s diamond sector as “diamond barons” and tried to use his position as the chairman of the portfolio committee to get to the truth about the Marange diamonds.

His committee showed how millions of dollars in royalties, paid by diamond firms, have disappeared. Mbada Mining said it had paid $293 million in taxes over four years but the government said it had received only $82 million.

“This was a pretty astounding thing and I think he was very clear in directing the responsibility for this directly at the executive, particularly the minister of mines,” Martin said.

Despite doing the right thing on the issue of diamonds, there are others who say he was still part of the ZANU PF machinery because in 2008 there were serious human rights abuses in his constituency, Guruve South, during the election period.

SOME FACEBOOK REACTIONS:

ZLHR spokesperson and journalist Kumbirai Mafunda
“Chindori-Chininga, Gone too soon. He was just one of the few Zanu PF members who patronised the Quill Club. I first met him either in 2003 or 2004 when I had an interview with him at his (the then) Mines and Energy Development Minister at Zimre Centre, corner Leopold Takawira and Union Avenue (then) in Salisbury. I was to associate with him years later on now as a lowly newsletter man in the Quill Club, he was one of the few Parliamentarians and ZANU PF members who was so passionate/addicted or exploited social media particularly Facebook to communicate. He would stick to his laptop while we chat in the Quill Club. Here, Valentine Maponga, Kwenda, Takura, Tabani, Nkosana can testify. We also had our few moments of disagreeing but surprising aipera zvakanaka even though taimbotsamwisana nenyaya dzekutongwa kwenyika idzi. Rest in Peace Honorable Chindori-Chininga.”

MDC 99 President Job Sikhala
“Hey, waking up and finding out this sad news that Hon. Edward Chindori Chininga is no more. I worked with him in Parliament and the man was quite humble and sober and was always one of the most eloquent interpreters of documents written in French. He would engage everyone on very important issues and share his experiences in life as the person who lived much of his life in French speaking countries. TRUE, to our adage that “munhu akanaka haararame”. May your dear soul rest in eternal peace, the gentle giant.”

Facebook commentator Brighton Musonza
“I think the best we can all do now is to allow the Hon Edward Takaruza Chindori-Chininga’s family to mourn one of their own in peace and dignity and allow them the privacy they deserve without us inflaming it into over drive super-spin. The initial reaction from last night was that of shock to everyone and we all said stuff but let us be a bit more civilised and be the people of Christian values and take note that we are in the middle of elections and a very fragile transitional process. With the growth of Social media, there is urgent need for embedded inherent self control as individuals to keep ourselves in check for the good of organised societies.”

Education Minister David Coltart
“I am sorry to hear of the death of Edward Chindori Chininga this evening. A brave MP whose recent exposé of corruption in mining was superb.”

News Day

By News Day Reporter

19 June 2013

SO the Sadc summit, which was dubbed as a make-or-break Zimbabwean election theatre script has now come and delivered resolutions that continue to tap into the high adrenaline levels that parties in our Global Political Agreement (GPA) sketch went in with.

Summit back row rumour has it that Ministers Tendai Biti, Elton Mangoma, Pricilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga and some Tanzanian folks were seen clearing their throats, faking a sneeze before losing the will to be honourable and burst out in laughter during what should have been serious deliberations. The comedy was not the look in an agitated adrenaline-filled face of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, but a response to the hurricane, but humorous delivery by the leader of what has often been described as the other MDC, Professor Welshman Ncube, the “Vunguman”.

Like most Zimbabweans, I love football. I am a life supporter of Highlanders and Arsenal and have long known that when I watch a match between Highlanders and Dynamos or Arsenal v Manchester United with someone who supports the opposite team, we would differ fundamentally on who played better and if, after a deliberate Rio foul on Theo in the box, the referee was right not to award a penalty. But even then, there are days when all fans come to conclude that van Persie was the man of the match, hands down.

In a similar polarised environment, where everyone was desperate to claim credit and victory, it appears to be the undisputed view of those who attended Maputo, from all political divides that the man of the summit, based on performance, effectiveness and results, was the Vunguman. But is this a significant arrival of a future President, or just another minor scene in this theatre of tribalised Zimbabwean politics?

The moral of that story remains that the summit was so important to both MDCs in so far as it needed a legal delivery. There were many whispers in the MDC-T. Some were anxious and would have preferred Minister Biti to do the talking for the party in place of an often blundering PM. There was no room for mediocre performance. It needed a seasoned lawyer. The stakes were too high. The old fox had gone too far.Relief and joy is evident from Biti’s rushed communication post summit to the public. Both MDCs and democracy loving Zimbabweans have one man to thank — Welshman Ncube — for rising to the occasion. It is said that he delivered a Usain Bolt of a speech that left an aging President Robert Mugabe embarrassed, forcing his Zanu PF party into a retreat and a grateful Tsvangirai. Biti even hinted Zimbabwe needed Ncube as part of the coalition package going forward.

Mugabe has said that the outcome of the summit, recommending that he approaches the Constitutional Court to ask for “one or two weeks” more is a happy outcome. The MDCs have celebrated the courage of Sadc to return Zimbabwe to common sense and constitutionalism.

The question that many will be asking themselves long after the Maputo tents come down is: “Who was the winner in Maputo?”

Mugabe and Zanu PF have been claiming victory of sovereignty by arguing that Sadc acknowledged the verdict of the Constitutional Court (Concourt) and thus reaffirmed the principle of non interference in member states’ judiciary systems. They may also be having quiet celebrations on the idea that both Sadc and the Concourt have identified it as Mugabe’s responsibility to approach the court and following the judgement, call for elections.

The MDCs, despite their protests have until now, not challenged both the Concourt on this using what Tsvangirai has often called the “GPA is clear that he cannot do it unilaterally.” Others have also doubted Tsvangirai’s assertion that it is him as PM who must be consulted while ignoring the fact that he has worked with Mugabe hand in glove to deny Ncube the same GPA right to be consulted.

There is a second thinking that Mugabe played a dummy by pushing for compliance with the July 31 ruling to gain ground on the Sadc and the other parties in the negotiations. It is an old trick of negotiations where you demand more than what you really want and hope that the negotiated outcome would be closer to what you really want.

This is cited especially by those who say in the event that the Concourt agrees to a two-week extension it is Mugabe who wins more ground than Tsvangirai because the latter was calling for elections in October 2013. Could it be that Mugabe has always eyed August 15 as the election date?

By coincidence or design, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa of Zanu PF is the man tasked with approaching the ConCourt following the Sadc resolutions. Do I hear someone say he may, if he chooses, present a weak case? There is also a legal possibility that the man who brought the initial action may challenge the jurisdiction of the court to hear a case when the Executive through the President has already complied by calling for elections.

The two scenarios are not likely to change much. If one considers that Zanu PF were calling for their primary elections on the 24th June, just four days before the sitting of the nomination court, one can assume that they always knew there would be a two-week extension. The elections are likely on August 14th or 15th 2013. That may explain why Mugabe did not seem bothered by the outcome of the Sadc summit and called it a happy outcome. Foxy!

MDC-T, on the other end, can bring the champagne bottles and claim victory for constitutionalism and common sense. Sadc has taken on board, the need to address media reforms and for securocrats to call a press conference and pledge to respect the constitution. For others like Biti, the very fact that Ncube saved the day vindicates those in
MDC-T who have always argued that a united MDC is a better ship to go into the election sea with. Their Matabeleland leadership may be dragging their feet for fear of being squeezed out by MDC led by Ncube.

The biggest winner by a mile though is Ncube. Here is a man that started it all, in a room with Brian Kagoro, Misihairabwi-Mushonga, and others including Tawanda Mutasa, Deprose Muchena etc. They started the National Costitution Assembly that then gave birth to the MDC.

Although Ncube was the founder of the vehicle that took Zimbabwe by storm in 1999, he looked at himself as others would have. He is a clever former Zapu member, educated, eloquent, and principled, but belongs to “the wrong tribe” being from Lower Gwelo or “Vungu” as Biti would say. It was convenient to invite Tsvangirai, then secretary-general of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions to lead the party.

Ncube had an opportunity to lead when the MDC split in 2005 on an issue many now accept he was right on and Tsvangirai wrong. At that point, the faction invited an exiled former student leader Arthur Mutambara. Mutambara brought rocket politics that flew over grassroots and lost Ncube and his party seats in Parliament.

When Ncube finally took over from Mutambara at congress, it is said repeatedly that he was humiliated time and time again by Tsvangirai and Mugabe who took Mutambara under their wings during the tea and pancake sessions for GPA principals. Mugabe refused to make the Vunguman the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic. Cry my beloved tribe. He took it in his stride and waited for his day in Maputo for revenge.

Many Zimbabweans generally agree that Ncube has the quality to be a President but just like Peter Kenneth of Kenya, many think he can not win.

This is why Maputo was important for Ncube.

When he rose to the occasion, he is said to have delivered a compelling legal case against what Mugabe had done. It was his MDC’s position, as given in Education minister David Coltart’s communication before the summit that a timetable allowing the full 30-day voter registration and inspection of voters’ roll. His party has always called on due legal process to be followed and for the Constitution to be respected while the MDC-T has emphasised on pending GPA reforms rather than process.

So when the Sadc leaders listened to Ncube and saw Mugabe pause, it would have been a great relief for Ncube. When Biti told the world what he had done in the summit, Ncube had at last earned the respect to be considered as an equal. It is unlikely that Tsvangirai will continue shunning Ncube in the GPA meetings, but seek to work with him.

When in 1999 many Zimbabweans realised that Joshua Nkomo a great leader they should have voted for, it was too late to change the course of history. Likewise, when the true story of the Sadc Summit is told one day, many Zimbabweans will reflect and realise that at times, the tribalised politics may leave us with inadequate leaders.

Unfortunately for Ncube, it will take another five years for some Zimbabweans to be tribe-blind. He will be an important player and now a respected politician. The people in Murambinda and Chendambuya will not see his brilliance and capabilities because the Sadc Summit goings-on will not be televised.

Tsvangirai supporters now emphasise his tribe and origin by calling him “Save,” to quench the voters’ tribal thirst. You have to give it to him, our dear PM. It is likely that even if the MDCs unite, it is Tsvangirai’s face that will be tied onto tree barks and pasted on dilapidated factory walls.

Ncube may have to accept that not many with our PM’s level of education or lack of it and his unique face have achieved what he has in life. I am sure his mother would have told him that he was the most handsome boy in the village. Confidence is everything in politics. He who believes, wins. Maputo speaks to what is possible. — NewZimbabwe.com

PRESS STATEMENT

By PTUZ

19 June 2013

NON-SANCTION OF THE PLANNED MARCH TO MINISTER COLTART’S OFFICE

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has refused to sanction the Wednesday, 19th of June 2013 march to Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Honourable Senator David Coltart’s office by members of the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) to present a petition following the ongoing arbitrary transfer of teachers in the Harare Metropolitan Province since the beginning of this second school term.

PTUZ had formally informed both the Minister and his permanent secretary, Mrs Constance Chigwamba in writing on 13 June 2013 about the planned march. A notification letter was also written to the police on 12 June 2013 in terms of the requirements of the Public Order and Security Act [Chapter 11:17].

This refusal by the police came as a shock to PTUZ as the Minister had written on 13 June 2013 agreeing to receive the petition. “I hereby acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 13th June 2013 informing me about your member’s plans to present a petition to the Ministry. I will make myself available to receive the petition. In this regard, I hereby advise you to liaise with my office closely so that I know what time you will be coming to avoid double-booking myself,” reads Minister Coltart’s response to PTUZ. It was for this reason that plans for the march were made.

It was only this morning that the PTUZ Information, Education and Research Officer, Fannuel Mabhugu was called by the police to report to the Harare Central Police Station to collect the response from the police. He was informed that the police could not grant the PTUZ its request because of a critical shortage of “human and material resources” to monitor the march since President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had functions at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) and the Jubilee Centre respectively. We are shocked that the police are saying this when they have always told the nation that the force is more than ready to deal with an eventuality. It is also disappointing that the police continues to invoke the draconian legislation to prevent workers and citizens from exercising their democratic right to assemble and protest.

We are, therefore, left with no option but to file a High Court interdict against the police so that the law courts may be the final arbiter to the impasse. Right there is a truck-load of police officers in riot gear at Africa Unity Square ready to deal with the situation should we choose to defy the order. This is contrary to their argument that they are under-staffed. We cannot just sit and watch our members being victimized by overzealous and corrupt officials in the Ministry of Education.

RAYMOND MAJONGWE, SECRETARY GENERAL

The Zimbabwean

By Victor Chimbamu

19 June 2013

As we gathered outside the Zimbabwe Embassy for yet another wet Vigil the skies suddenly cleared and the sun broke through. We arrived generally pessimistic about the SADC summit in Maputo but before the day was out our opinions changed.

“It has been an incredible and unbelievable day,” wrote Tendai Biti on his Facebook page. “SADC rose to the occasion and scuttled the evil and Machiavellian machinations of the chaos faction of Zanu (PF).” First reports say that Mugabe arrived at the meeting with the biggest entourage of any leader. But President Zuma was ready for them and they were soon put in their place.

Biti said all President Zuma’s recommendations were adopted, including a demand that the Constitutional Court be requested to postpone elections for 14 days to enable reforms to be made.

The security forces would be required to publicly affirm their commitment to the rule of law, SADC observers were to be deployed immediately and SADC representatives were to sit in JOMIC and not merely to receive reports as demanded by Zanu PF. Commenting on the development, MDC Education Minister David Coltart tweeted: “There are three reasons why SADC resolution is critically important; Firstly, it is a victory for the respect for the rule of law and the new Constitution; secondly, it means that voter registration and roll inspection can be completed before nomination day and, thirdly, it constitutes a major political faux pas by Zanu (PF) hardliners and will be damaging and embarrassing.”

The Vigil is grateful to President Zuma for standing up to Zanu (PF). Although they will still do everything they can to prevent free and fair elections, at least we know we are not alone.

FOR THE RECORD: 37 signed the register.

News Day

By Dumisani Sibanda

19 June 2013

AS the chorus for a coalition of the two MDCs and three other parties to confront Zanu PF ahead of the elections grows, the political parties’ leaders yesterday met in Harare for the third time to thrash out their grand plan for the polls.

MDC-T president Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC leader Welshman Ncube, Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn president Simba Makoni and Zanu Ndonga chair Reketayi Semwayo attended the closed-door meeting at a local hotel.

Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa, whose party is part of the group opposed to President Robert Mugabe’s unilateral decision to proclaim July 31 as the harmonised election date and amendments on electoral laws in line with the new Constitution, was represented.

Tsvangirai, Ncube and Makoni refused to talk to the media as they left the meeting venue, but sources said the meeting was exploring the possibility of the grand coalition following their successful joint effort to convince the Southern African Development Community to pressure Mugabe to review the poll date and reverse his stance to stampede the countryinto elections.

“The leaders, in the true spirit of national interest, have decided to have their negotiations off the public glare, that is why this time there is no Press conference to announce the outcome of the meeting,” the sources told NewsDay.

Another source privy to the details of the discussions said: “I can tell you that something is being cooked and when it is ready to eat, you will all be invited to the party.”

Some senior officials from the two MDC parties in the inclusive government were reportedly interested in the coalition with the likes of Education minister David Coltart openly supporting the initiative.

Talk of the coalition is reported to have sent chills in the spine of Zanu PF with activists from the former ruling party in Mbare confiscating copies of yesterday’s issue of NewsDay for carrying a story about today’s meetings on the coalition.

The Zimbabwean

By Mkhululi Chimoio

19 June 2013

Minister David Coltart believes it would be wrong to withdraw from politics when there is so much unfinished business. He told Mkhululi Chimoio he did not think the struggle for democracy would take so long and that he feels an obligation to see it through to completion.

(MC): What inspired you to join politics?

(DC): I come from a political family. My grandfather ran for political office in Scotland and just before the Second World War became deputy Lord Provost (Deputy Mayor) of Edinburgh. Although my father never ran for office, he always took a keen interest in politics. He opposed UDI and as a bank manager in the 1960s he was ironically warned by the CIO not to loan Joshua Nkomo money. We always had very keen political debates in our home.

When I went to Cape Town University in South Africa I got involved in student politics and ended up as chairman of the Zimbabwe society, an organisation which represented the interests of Zimbabwean students. I was threatened with deportation by the apartheid government in 1981 when I encouraged Zimbabweans to return home. On my return to Zimbabwe in 1983, I was the campaign manager for Bob Nixon in a by-election; he was the first independent white candidate to beat the RF. In the 1985 election I ended up as the campaign manager for the entire independent group who opposed the RF.

In the same year, I received instructions from ZAPU for the first time to represent members of the Central committee such as Sydney Malunga and Stephen Nkomo who had been detained. Although I never joined ZAPU, I ended up representing many members of the Central committee and on one occasion Joshua Nkomo himself.

When Enock Dumbutshena established the Forum Party in the early 1990s I was asked to be its legal adviser and I also drafted its first manifesto and policy document. Although I became a member of the forum party I never held any office in that party. In 1999, Gibson Sibanda and Morgan Tsvangirai asked me to become the founding legal secretary of the MDC, which I became at the launch of the party in September 1999.

At the inaugural congress of the MDC in January 2000 I was elected as its first legal secretary. That was the first political office I held. I was then elected in 2000, 2005 and 2008. After the split of the MDC I did not attend the Congress of either of the factions in 2006 but when I eventually decided to join the smaller faction I was appointed legal secretary, a post I was re-elected to in the 2011 Congress and a position I still hold.

Can you tell us more about your political journey so far?

It is not easy being an opposition politician in Zimbabwe. Even before I took formal office I enjoyed a variety of trials simply as a lawyer who represented politicians. As far back as 1984 I feared for my life. In February 1989 I was threatened with detention for the first time. In 1994 I received my first death threat. I was publicly vilified by President Mugabe on television in 1998 and several times subsequently. The run up to the June 2000 election was particularly stressful. Just before the election one of my polling agents, Patrick Nabanyama, was abducted by war veterans and has never been seen again. My family and I received threats including one to burn down our home.

When Cain Nkala was murdered in 2001 I was subjected to a variety of threats. On one occasion when I was flying back to Bulawayo on a private aircraft the aircraft had to return to Harare after the pilot received a threat that we would be shot down if I was not returned to Harare.

In March 2003 an attempt was made on my life outside my home in the presence of two of my children. Although there has been a reduction in the level of threats in recent years, in May last year the front left wheel of my vehicle was tampered with causing it to come off.

What motivates you to contest in the upcoming elections and do you think your party will do well?

When I took a political office for the first time in 1999 I did not anticipate that the struggle to bring democracy to Zimbabwe would last as long as it has. I feel an obligation to see the struggle through. It would be wrong to withdraw from politics when there is so much unfinished business.

I’m also aware of the huge sacrifices made by many compatriots, many of whom have suffered greatly. It is important that their sacrifices should not have been in vain.

I am realistic about how the party I represent will perform in the upcoming elections. We face many challenges; unlike the two biggest parties, Zanu (PF) and MDC-T, we are not well funded and do not enjoy the unwavering support of some media organisations. However, our party leadership has worked particularly hard and I think that we could cause some surprises in certain constituencies.

How have you promoted service delivery in your Khumalo area?

As a senator I have a much larger constituency than an MP. Since being elected as Senator of Khumalo I have run a humanitarian fund that pays medical treatment fees, school fees and university fees for disadvantaged members of my constituency. In May 2009, I organised one of the largest cleanups of central Bulawayo. As Minister of sport I lobbied for and arranged the rehabilitation of the Khumalo Hockey Stadium, which has been re-established as a world-class venue. That in turn enabled my constituency to host the Africa Olympic hockey qualifying tournament in 2011.

I have taken a particular interest in the rehabilitation of Bulawayo airport and in that regard have continually visited the site and lobbied Cabinet to complete the project.

I have successfully lobbied Cabinet to reward the zone six Games in 26 to Bulawayo and this will result in a $42 million investment in NUST and sports facilities throughout Bulawayo. I should mention that also in all the various parastatal Boards I have appointed I have made sure that there has been fair regional and gender representation on those boards.

What are your aims for the country?

I’m deeply passionate about Zimbabwe. I believe in this nation and its people. I often say that this should be the jewel of Africa because it has all the necessary ingredients. The only missing ingredient has been democracy. When we create a genuine democracy in Zimbabwe, a tolerant genuinely free nation this country will boom. My personal aim is to do all I can to turn Zimbabwe into the best nation in Africa and a nation that can compete with the very best worldwide.

What challenges have you failed to overcome since you attained office?

While I have had some success in stabilising and improving the education, sporting, arts and culture sectors since taking office there are many projects and policies I would like to have implemented which I have not managed to do. For example, the pressing policy need of reviewing and reforming Zimbabwe’s education curriculum has not been implemented yet.

My goal of establishing academies has barely got off the ground. It is not really appropriate to discuss the reasons why I have encountered these obstacles in detail at this juncture but suffice it to say that some of the reasons include deliberate obstruction by some who clearly do not want them to succeed.

Are you optimistic that the community will elect you again?

I think it is dangerous for any politician to be complacent. While I hope that the Bulawayo electorate will return me to office if I stand, I recognise that it is anything but a foregone conclusion. I also recognise that to be re-elected I will have to overcome a variety of obstacles. My only hope is that the electorate will recognise what I have tried to do for Bulawayo, Matabeleland and Zimbabwe since returning to Zimbabwe in 1983. I hope that they will recognise that I am deeply committed to this community and this nation and that I have worked hard to achieve community and national goals.

Biography

Born in Gweru on the October 4, 1957, Coltart attended Hillside Primary School and Christian Brothers College in Bulawayo. He is currently married to Jennifer Reine Coltart and they have four children. He holds a BA (Law) degree from University of Cape Town and an LLB (Postgraduate degree) from the University of Cape Town.

Southern Eye

By Fortune Mbele

18 June 2013

FORMER Warriors coach and Zifa technical director Gibson Homela has blamed the national football governing body for the Warriors failure saying the deep-seated problems bedevilling football in the country needed wide consultations with knowledgeable sports persons for the growth of the game.

The Warriors crashed out of the World Cup qualifiers for the umpteenth time, losing their last two matches in eight days — 2-4 to Egypt at home on June 9 and 2-0 to Guinea in Conakry — where they travelled with a depleted squad following chaotic preparations by Zifa for the tie.

The veteran Fifa instructor yesterday told Southern Eye Sport that success for the senior national football team was not in sight in the near future as long as Zifa, led by Cuthbert Dube, behaved incompetently.

“It is clear that we still have challenges in assembling a team and this muddling starts with Zifa. They display amateurish standards as far as I am concerned. For instance, how does a player lose his passport?

“In our days it was known that the manager is in charge of passports. What we are witnessing is an amateurish way of doing things. We are just doing things randomly. Zifa is bungling and I think a neutral man with a lot of experience in football is needed for the reconstruction of the Warriors,” Homela said.

Homela, who played for the national team and Zimbabwe Saints during his days, said football administration in the country needed a “Caesarean Section”.

He took a shot at the Education, Sport, Arts and Culture ministry saying they were not playing their part in ensuring the national team’s success.

“People need to consult further. A Caesarean Section of the whole system is called for with all stakeholders taking part — PSL (Premier Soccer League) leaders and football veterans — who can contribute positively towards the growth of the game. The sports ministry has also not done any enforcing.

“They are the biggest culprits. Maybe, they should just drop the sport and just be an education and culture ministry. These people running our football are not properly guided,” Homela said.

Concerning the latest gaffe by Zifa, Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart said his ministry had not been approached for assistance.

Homela was Warriors coach between 1985 and 1988 on a part-time basis, resigning at the end of that year after being employed by Edgars.

He then returned into the national frame as Zifa technical director between 2002 and 2006. He is chairman at Zimbabwe Saints and last week, he held a Level Two Coaching Course in Kadoma which ended on Sunday.

Southern Eye

By Njabulo Ncube

18 June 2013

SADC’s request to President Robert Mugabe to return to the Constitutional Court (Concourt) to seek a two-week extension on its order for elections to be held by July 31, further throws the resolution of the Zimbabwe crisis into fresh confusion and political turmoil, analysts said yesterday.

Sadc leaders, meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, on Saturday, also directed that the agreed amendments to the Electoral Act, which had been made into law by Mugabe using the Presidential Powers (Temporal Measures) Act be brought to Parliament today for debate and adoption.

But as the MDCs savour what they perceive as a victory in Maputo — thanks to an unlikely alliance between Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Welshman Ncube, the leader of the MDC —analysts say it is mission impossible implementing long outstanding reforms in the Global Political Agreement (GPA) within a short period of time after the partners in the power-sharing pact failed to do so in almost five years.

Analysts expressed fears the Sadc recommendation could be a ruse of a compromise by regional leaders intended to placate all the partners in the GPA.
But analysts pointed out the Maputo decision would create further confusion, accusations and counter-accusations with Zanu PF and the MDCs grandstanding on the latest Sadc summit resolutions.

They said focus should shift to the Concourt on how it handles the Sadc directive.

Questions abound what would happen if the supreme court of law in the country failed to grant Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa the recommended extension of the poll date.

David Coltart, the MDC legal affairs secretary who also doubles-up as the Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister, yesterday feared that by the time the Concourt had heard and ruled on the case the original dates would be impossible to fulfil in any event.

“The timeframes were virtually impossible to comply with from the beginning, so this agreement throws the whole process into further confusion,” he said.

Bekithemba Mpofu, a founding MDC Youth Assembly secretary-general, now teaching at Reading University in the United Kingdom, said the interpretation of the Sadc leaders’ referral of the election date to the Concourt presented a tough scenario that required sober legal minds.

He said it was ironic that Zanu PF will have to make a request for an extension at a time when many believed they were wounded in Maputo.

“That said, we have to trust the Constitutional Court’s ability to review the judgement given practical challenges of implementing it at this moment in time,” Mpofu said.

“If in their best judgment, the court believes it is possible to hold the elections on July 31, then any challenge will plunge the country into a constitutional crisis.”

The regional leaders also recommended that the Sadc facilitation team and the troika team appointed in Livingstone, Zambia, sit in Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (Jomic) and not merely receive reports as demanded by Zanu PF and that an Inter-Ministerial Committee be appointed to deal with implementation of agreed issues on media reform and the monitoring of hate speech in all media, among other resolutions.

Mpofu predicted a fast-tracking of reforms and the resolution of their concerns.

Rashweat Mukundu, the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute, said if the Concourt refuses to grant the extension the MDCs will have to make a choice on whether to plunge into an uncertain and lopsided election or boycott.

“Both options pose their own challenges more so the possibility of giving Zanu PF a free reign should they boycott, and should they participate they will legitimise the process. These are hard decisions that have to be made,” he said.

Trevor Maisiri, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, weighed in, saying the most viable options are to get Sadc monitors and observers on the ground, as well as have Sadc officials permanently joining Jomic within the next 10 days. He said this will give them time to monitor and observe the contentious voter registration process as well as whether the environment was conducive for elections.

“I think any arguments around election dates are lesser in value than pushing for Sadc to be on the ground,” Maisiri said.