Daniel Molokele

I Now Have a Personal Website!

2012-09-04T16:04:00.004+02:00

Dear friends

I am so pleased to let you all know that I now have my own personal website

Please do feel free to visit it at www.danielmolokele.com

Thank you very much for all your continued support

Xtreme Opinion: Diamond Defiance is DAFT!

2012-08-08T12:13:00.001+02:00

By Rejoice Ngwenya

What is it about Zimbabwean diamonds that evokes so much anger, conflict, contradiction and controversy? And I thought diamonds were a woman’s best friend! Tales of corruption, death, smuggling, gluttony, transfer pricing and deceit are now an essential part of our news diet.

Listening to Tendai Biti, Zimbabwe’s minister of finance present the mid-term fiscal review; I am left wondering whether he really understands how ZANU-PF operates. Honestly, ‘budgeting’ for money coming from ZANU-PF controlled companies and actually convincing his boss, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirayi and the nation that ZANU-PF will deliver. What a nerve he has!

According to the Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust [SAPST], “revenue collections to June have totalled US$1.565 billion against a target of US$1.838 billion implying a variance of US$244.2 million. The bulk of this variance is accounted for by an under performance in diamond revenue...”

They raise another cruel paradox: “More so given that diamond revenues are not coming to book, yet mining sector growth is rather bullish. The issue here is that of corporate governance in the mining sector”. More diamond bad news: “US$600 million which was expected from diamond sales this year, only US$41, 6 million had been received during the first half of the year.”

Corporate governance in the diamond sector? Why dilute such a brilliant analysis with cheap political correctness? Considering the resource hemorrhage that ZANU-PF has presided over the past 32 years, you could not possibly summarise that in two words – corporate governance – without sounding like a rural deep-tank clerk attempting to invent a new pesticide!

Cheap slave labour of citizens of Marange, Zimbabwe’s heavily subsidized water and electricity, sub-economic tollgate fees, public defence forces, the public broadcaster, river pollution, soil degradation, Chinese Imperialism – these are all the elements not calibrated in the 93% variance advanced by SAPST. Moreover, of the 73% employment costs attributable to public service, a good proportion of them also go to servicing the same defiant militarised diamond sector that disfigures the national revenue value chain.

Does Minister Biti have the answer to deal with these diamond cheats? I doubt it, neither can Prime Minister Tsvangirayi. In fact, MDC-T is now completely exposed. It is a matter of time before the ‘party of excellence’, sinks to its knees in despair in the face of ZANU-PF diamond chicanery.

Mutuso Dhliwayo of Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) talks of how an “Africa Mining Vision is an aspiration of the highest political leadership to move into a new orientation of choices of mining policies and institutional culture.”

He continues: “This is in line with principles of the Africa Mining Vision which calls for an inclusive mining sector in which all stakeholders have a voice and participate in policy and decision making processes.” This is the typical NGO academic gibberish that proffers no solution for political thuggery pervading Zimbabwe’s diamond business.

Like most egocentric, politically-correct local ‘analysts’, Dhliwayo picks on Professor Welshman Ncube’s ‘soft target deal’ – Essar/ZISCO – but fails to ‘attack’ ZANU-PF for deliberately defying ethical business practice to stash diamond revenue in a shadowy parallel government.

The answer is found in a near perfect democracy – like they have in Botswana – where each and every mineral dime is accounted for in a transparent market.

Short of that, there must be a new struggle to recover our diamonds from what writer Kamurai Mudzingwa terms ‘an oligarchy that specialises in looting their country’s resources.’ The people now know where their power lays – the Diamond Spring.

· Rejoice can be found at rngwenya@ymail.com

“What Role Can the Diaspora Play in Improving the Quality of Education in Zimbabwe”

2012-08-07T14:12:00.001+02:00

The Zimbabwe Business Network (ZBN) will be hosting the Honourable Minister of Education, Sports and Culture Senator David Coltart in London on the 8^th of August, 2012. This key networking event themed, “What role can the Diaspora play in improving the quality of education in Zimbabwe”.

This a major networking event and is perhaps, a rare opportunity for the Zimbabwean Community to engage with a high profile cabinet minister and one of the key policy decision makers in the Transitional government (GNU). The event will be held between 6pm and 9.30pm at the Royal Overseas League, Overseas House, Park Place, St James Street, Mayfair, London, SW1A 1LR. Admission for this event is £10 which includes snacks and refreshments.

The tickets can be purchased in advance on the following link:http://www.fatsoma.com/tickets/david-coltart-diaspora-engagement-event/royal-overseas-house/london/e69017.

Senator David Coltart, an elected Senator in the inclusive government of national unity (GNU), has been a human rights lawyer in Zimbabwe since his return to the country in 1983. He was first elected to represent the Bulawayo South House of Assembly constituency in June 2000, and was re-elected in March 2005. In March 2008, he was elected as a Senator to represent the Khumalo Senatorial constituency in Bulawayo. Senator and was sworn in as Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture in February 2009.

Since 2000, Zimbabwe experienced the worst mass exodus of its most highly qualified, experienced and educated work force due to the deterioration of the economy and upsurge in political violence leading to the 2002 Presidential Elections. The 2009 elections ushered in the GNU which has been the key turning point in the revival of Zimbabwe’s economy, bartered by the effects of economic sanctions as well political and fiscal profligacy.

Zimbabwe’s economic woes have since steadily improved mainly due to reforms ushering in political tolerance, the discovery of huge mineral deposits and the recent EU decision to lift curbs on EU aid directly to the Zimbabwe government. In July last month, Senator David Coltart successfully launched the new CAMFED (Campaign for Female Education) project in Guruve which has received US$19 million from the British Government.

Senator David Coltart is spearheading efforts to resuscitate Zimbabwe’s educational fabric which was adversely affected and has left a generation crippled due to lack of investment in quality education to match advances in global technology and prudent business processes. The networking event is an opportunity for innovative and progressive Zimbabweans to engage in business initiatives and linkages as an economic empowerment imperative driven by optimizing on the strength and opportunities of being in the Diaspora.

It is an opportunity to engage in dialogue on effective strategies and areas to leverage as well as synergise on the emerging business opportunities. Take this opportunity to fast trek and lobby for business friendly laws that will facilitate economic empowerment of Zimbabweans in the Diaspora. The education sector is one such market with potential of business growth linked the recent policy decision to expand an integrated ICT technology thrust and investment opportunities emerging from investment fibre optic internet technology.

ZBN takes this opportunity to wish Team Zimbabwe the best of success in the on-going London 2012 Olympics. Your mere presence has already made us proud and hopes you will surpass your personal best and hopefully earn medals in the process.

Joshua Chigwangwa

jmchigwangwa@hotmail.com

Convenor for and on behalf of Zimbabwe Business Network (ZBN)

Extreme Opinion on Monday: Dr Gideon Gono, W.T. [Fuss]!

2012-07-30T15:11:00.006+02:00

By Rejoice Ngwenya

I don’t know about other Zimbabweans. I for one am totally flabbergasted to the point of despondency, on the eternal Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe [RBZ] ‘wrangles’ between career banker Dr Gideon Gono, litigious Dr Munyaradzi Kereke and agitator-in-chief parliamentarian Paddie Zhanda. These three gentlemen ought to look up the word ‘conclusion’ in the dictionary!

Ironically, they have a similar Deoxyribonucleic acid – shameless beneficiaries of President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF bottomless benevolence. However, while Mr. Zhanda can argue how his stationery and ICT empire is a result of business acumen, would he have ‘qualified’ to be a ZANU-PF legislator without sipping from the cup of insolence? We may not know how many government tenders Mr. Zhanda won or how many ‘currency licences’ he benefited from Dr Gono, but of the three protagonists, he has strains of predictability.

Dr Kereke masqueraded as RBZ ‘advisor’ during the hyperinflationary at the time when Dr Gono exuded untouchable ‘demigod’ super governor status – doling farm implements, fertilizers, groceries and diesel only to perpetuate ZANU-PF tyranny. Dr Kereke’s meteoric rags to riches story – in a space of ten years he owns a state of the art hospital and a medical aid company – is to say the least, mind boggling. Now he accuses Dr Gono of impropriety, threatening to ‘wikileak’ damning information on what he claims RBZ’s shadowy deals. Which model of nuclear gas mask was he wearing in the windowless RBZ ‘situation room’?

But my problem is with the RBZ supremo. I do not wish to accuse him of anything, but merely make curious observations. He has gone ‘viral’ on how he can account for each dime that has made him one of the richest Central Bank governors in Africa. Dr Gono is a public servant. He is not expected to be wealthy.

In Africa, when central bank governors, permanent secretaries, civil servants and presidents boast about their millions, we the poor automatically evoke an imagery of corruption. It’s common sense. If he now alleges that he was a mere conduit for ‘government agricultural mechanisation’ – disclosure of beneficiaries of his billion US dollar handouts is urgent. Government programs are of public interest.

The good thing is there are thousands who accompanied Dr Gono barefoot in his stinky quasi-fiscal sewerage. Like him, they fear to wash their feet in public. Under the strict supervision of ZANU-PF, he dished tractors, scotch-carts, ploughs, cars, generators and foreign currency. Even MDC legislators, business leaders and parents desperate for tuition fees in foreign universities made pilgrimages to the Gono Shrine.

We may never know what ignites the conflict between Dr Gono, Dr Kereke and Mr. Zhanda. Whatever it is, it contributed Zimbabwe’s current 10 billion US dollar foreign debt, not to mention ZANU-PF’s catastrophic hegemony. That to innocent citizens is unacceptable – especially that Zimbabweans who are not ZANU-PF beneficiaries have to suffer because Dr Gono couldn’t keep his monetary zip shut!

Some ZANU-PF legislators have protectively jumped to his rescue. Their reign will end by December 2013. Should Dr Gono not volunteer information now on who really was recipient of his benevolence? The next government will not be as tolerant as the current GNU.

Zimbabweans have not forgotten how he kept ZANU-PF guns blazing and their machetes glistening in the 2008 electoral moonlight. We will remember him as the central bank governor who completely discarded his mandate and sacrificed professionalism on the altar of political expediency.

His legacy will only be but that of the man who indulged public money in an expensive orgy - stroking the populist ZANU-PF ego.

· Rejoice can be contacted at epolitrix@gmail.com

Shocking Levels of Police Corruption on Zimbabwean Roads!

2012-07-27T16:05:00.001+02:00

By Don Ruredzo

I would like to share with you all my eyewitness account of the shocking level of corruption of the ZRP officers on the Bulawayo-Beitbridge road.

I boarded a cross border Toyota Quantum (popularly known as 'omalayitsha') on the night of Friday 13^th July in Johannesburg, on my way to Bulawayo. We arrived at the Zimbabwean border at 4am.

The ZIMRA official demanded, and was paid R800.00 for 'quick' processing of clearance procedures. Next up was the CID officer checking Temporary Import Permits (T.I.P) for the car and trailer. He raised an issue with the trailer papers, and demanded R600.00 to allow us through. After negotiating with the driver, he eventually settled for R200.00.

As we made our way towards the gate, about 50m from the CID checkpoint, we were stopped by two uniformed officers who demanded to see our passports. They then asked for money from the driver, who gave them R50.00 as some form of 'protection fee' in future.

At the gate, about 30m from the police officers, a rude female immigration officer stationed with VID officers also demanded to see our passports. She said something to me in Shona and when I told her words were too deep for me to understand, a heated argument ensured, and the driver had to pay her R100.00 because she was threatening to detain us as 'punishment'.

Driving down 200m from the gate, police officers manning a roadblock in a Ford Ranger truck demanded R200.00, and were paid. Still in Beitbridge at the Masvingo turn off, another roadblock, more ZRP officers, another R200.00. About 50km from Beitbridge, three ZRP officers in the middle of nowhere, R100 taken. Another roadblock awaited at Makhado, R200 paid. Just before West Nicholson, more policemen, and this time, the driver had no more cash, and had to borrow R100 from a female passenger.

At Gwanda, just before Joshua Mqabuko College, yet another set of starving policemen, the same lady had to lend the driver R100 more to pay the thugs. Upon driving out of Gwanda town, yet another roadblock, the passenger again lends the driver R100 more to pay up. We then encountered the BMW patrol vehicle 10km from Mbalabala, and the police officer asked for a re-test certificate from the driver.

Obviously, being SA based, he didnt have it. The corrupt officer then demanded a spot fine of $20 or a bribe of R100. The driver explained to him how dry the other officers on the route had already sucked him. The officer would have none of it, got into the BMW and drove away towards Gwanda with the driver's licence and the TIP document.

Now we were stranded, waited for a while hoping the BMW would return, and after an hour in the scorching heat, I decided to take over the wheel as I had my licence on me. We paid a further $10 at the Mach Binding roadblock, and after 7 long hours, we arrived in Bulawayo. After paying R2150 and $10, we arrived in Bulawayo.

Considering there are over 100 cross border vehicles passing through the border on a typical weekend, how much to the dirty and corrupt ZRP officers make? Your guess is as good as mine!!!

Don can be contacted at donruredzo@yahoo.co.uk

MDC Hopes New Constitution Will Address Discrepancies in the Electoral System

2012-07-23T12:43:00.001+02:00

Masvingo - The new constitution will address social, political and economic imbalances, notably the land reforms as well as key policy issues in government, Copac co-chairperson Honourable Douglas Mwonzora has said.

Honourable Mwonzora who is also the MDC spokesperson told members of the civic society at the National Association of Non Governmental Organisation offices here on Saturday that the new constitution seeks to address political, economic and social anomalies ahead of the watershed polls due next year.

He added that the Second All Stakeholders conference was scheduled for August while the referendum would be held in October.

“The new constitution will address discrepancies in the electoral system and this includes clearly defining the role of the police force and the military. There is need to come up with sound government policies and this can be achieved through the new constitution. All top government officials must have limited terms of office, especially permanent secretaries in various portfolios. The new constitution also proposes that all elections will be held in the last month at the end of each five year term. It is clear that securocrats are not above the law and traditional leaders will be bound to carry out their duties in an objective manner,” said Honourable Mwonzora.

Honourable Mwonzora said the new constitution will also address the controversy surrounding the fast track agrarian reforms.

“There is a lot of controversy surrounding the fast track land reform programme but in the new constitution, it is clearly defined that there shall be a land commission that will carry out a land audit to ensure a transparent and equitable land distribution programme. Such an exercise will be carried out without looking at one`s political background. The land commission will ensure a one man, one farm policy because the whole exercise seeks to ensure a fair land distribution,” Honourable Mwonzora said.

“There will be 60 more parliamentary seats and preference will be given to women and there shall also be a constitutional court comprising 7 judges that are appointed by the people.

“The new constitution will also guarantee devolution of power and there shall be a provincial council that will be headed by the provincial governor. The provincial council consists of members of the house of assembly, council chairpersons and mayors from the involved political parties.

“The governor will no longer be appointed by the executive since the party with the majority votes in a particular province will automatically appoint a governor,” he added.

On other reforms Hon Mwonzora said, “Citizenship will be accorded by birth irrespective of whether one's parents are aliens.

Speaking about capital punishment, he said: "There are incidents that do not warrant a death penalty and there will be special consideration to that effect.”

* Real Change Times

EU: Sanctions Against Mugabe Are Here to Stay

2012-07-17T12:02:00.000+02:00

The EU says it has no intention of lifting sanctions against Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe as part of a policy review by the bloc on the nation.

"The EU is reflecting on policy towards Zimbabwe," said Michael Mann, spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

"But there is no question of lifting sanctions [an asset freeze and travel ban] against Mugabe or anyone involved in continued abuses of human rights, incitement to violence, etc – that is simply not up for discussion," said Mann.

The denial was prompted by reports in the British press of an imminent lifting of the EU's 2002 sanctions against Mugabe.

In May, the bloc said it was involved in a "re-engagement" process with Zimbabwe after the country's leaders agreed to draft a new Constitution to be put to areferendum before elections.

Three ministers from the three main political parties in the coalition government of Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai travelled to Brussels for talks at the time to press the case for a full removal of sanctions.

Ashton's office said in May that "the EU recognised progress to date and encouraged the reform process to continue in the same positive direction, allowing progress towards normalisation of relations."

Zimbabwe was to send a letter setting out its case "which the EU side would consider before the end of July," her office had added.

Strategic review

Foreign ministers from the 27-nation bloc are to hold talks July 23 during which they could touch on Zimbabwe.

Also at stake is the fate of EU aid to Zimbabwe under the Cotonou agreement that was also suspended in 2002.

Mann said "the objective of the EU is to see the Global Political Agreement implemented in full by the government of national unity leading to peaceful and credible elections.
"It is only once such elections take place and their result – that is, a government reflecting the choice of the people of Zimbabwe – is respected that the EU would lift sanctions in full. The people of Zimbabwe have to be free to select the government they want."
"This is the context for any strategic review of EU policy," he added.

In February, the EU removed a visa ban and asset freeze on 51 of 150 people targeted by the restrictive measures and 20 of 30 companies under EU sanctions imposed in 2002.
It maintained sanctions against Mugabe, who is 88 and has ruled since independence from Britain in 1980. After failed elections in 2008, he was forced into a power-sharing government with his rival Tsvangirai in a move meant to clear the way to new polls.

* AFP

SA Will Need to Build Bridges at the African Union

2012-07-17T11:50:00.000+02:00

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will have her work cut out for her as she works to heal rifts across Africa, while trying to improve AU "service delivery".

Her election to the post of African Union commissioner has been hailed as a victory for South Africa, for SADC and for women, and her new position has been described as the most powerful in the AU. But analysts have warned of the dangers of overstating the role Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will play at the AU.

"There is a misconception as we embrace this national celebratory mood. We over-exaggerate," said Shadrack Gutto, professor of African Renaissance Studies at Unisa. "This is a SADC nominee ... this is an elected person who is now the servant of all Africans."

Gutto said it was important to not create the expectation that Dlamini-Zuma's new role would position South Africa as some sort of "governer" of Africa. "She's not going there to push a South African agenda but an agreed agenda of the union," he said.

Thomas Wheeler, a research associate at the South African Institute of International Affairs, agreed, saying it was necessary to distinguish between South Africa as a member of the AU and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, an official of the AU who happens to be a South African leader. "She will always be associated with South Africa but her persona, profile and existence is now as president of the AU Commission, and she has nothing to do with South Africa [in that role]," he said.

"If she does her job properly she won't be taking instruction from Pretoria, she'll take it from the membership of the organisation and the AU," he said.

Political crisis

Much has been made of Africa’s most immediate political crises in recent days – coups d’etat in Mali and Guinea-Bisau; defusing the growing tension between Sudan and South Sudan; and trying to find some solution to the ongoing instability in Somalia. But this won’t be the focus for Dlamini-Zuma when she takes on the role of AU Commission chair.

Decision-making at the AU falls on the heads of state ministers and diplomats who represent their countries at various AU forums. Dlamini-Zuma, who replaces Gabon’s Jean Ping, will become the high-powered civil servant who co-ordinates the meetings and implements their decisions, and she will be tasked with overhauling the AU’s gridlocked secretariat.

"She’ll assist people to develop agendas, determine internal resources and priorities, and be responsible for implementing resolutions taken by the leadership," said Paul Graham, executive director of the Institute for Democracy in Africa.

"It’s important that people understand that she's a servant of the members, and the peace and security council, and the leadership of the AU." And while rumours abound that her move from government to an administrative role half a continent away is part of a plot to remove her from running for high office at the ANC conference in Mangaung later this year, Graham said that the role is not without its perks. "Who knows anyone else at the AU apart from Ping? That's now going to her. It is a very significant role," he said.

The role will also give Dlamini-Zuma the chance to interact personally with 54 heads of state on the continent as well as international leaders. Graham said that one of the benefits of having Dlamini-Zuma as AU commissioner for South Africa would be to make the organisation, which is somewhat Francophone-dominated, not just in language but also in its method of operating, its culture and administration, more friendly to South African civil servants.

"How she thinks, operates, organises, manages stakeholders, are all imbued with a South African consciousness and it might well be that the commission becomes more friendly to South African civil servants and their way of doing things," said Graham.

Part of South Africa’s campaign to oust Ping has been predicated on the belief that he was an ineffectual AU commissioner. During her campaign, Dlamini-Zuma said she would make the AU a "more efficient and effective organisation" and she will now be called on to deliver.

The AU Commission is indeed in need of an overhaul. A scathing 2007 audit of the AU, chaired by former speaker of Parliament Frene Ginwala, uncovered massive underspending – of up to 90% – by some directorates and showed than only half of the tasks approved by the AU were implemented, and almost half of its posts were unfilled.

* Mail and Guardian

2012-07-13T11:54:00.001+02:00

By Rejoice Ngwenya

Paul Kruger, architect of Johannesburg’s 1896 Old Fort Prison would have been delighted at how Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF treats political activists.

Ironically, in 2005, Zimbabwe’s prisons were condemned even by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku as “degrading, inhumane and unfit” for habitation. Our prison population is over 40 000, with a substantial number being incarcerated only because they are Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) activists.

Reports are that “extreme hunger, inhumane squalid conditions, exposure to a variety of diseases and stripping people of their dignity are standard practices in Zimbabwe’s jails, resulting in shameful misery hidden away from the public gaze behind high walls and razor wire.”

Such was the feeling of ire and shock that overwhelmed me on my recent visit to South Africa’s Old Fort Prison now Constitution Hill.

Tucked on a rugged piece of land bound by Kotze, Joubert, Sam Hancock and Hospital streets West of Johannesburg CBD, and now the Apartheid Museum Constitutional Court is a crude reminder of the extent to which autocratic lunacy inflicts pain on its citizens.

Luckily for South Africans, Prison Number Four that once “housed” anti-apartheid activists Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Joe Slovo, Bram Fischer, Albert Luthuli, Robert Sobukwe, Winnie Mandela, Albertina Sisulu, Fatima Meer and the 1976 “Soweto Students” — is now only a tourist attraction.

As I listened to the harrowing tales of “Tausa” naked dances, freezing water sprayed in solitary confinement cells, gangster skirmishes and inmates fed with “rice water”, memories of fetid Zanu PF prisons inundated my mind. The price we pay for challenging Zanu PF hegemony can only equal the abuse that revolutionaries suffered in Kruger’s apartheid-era cells.

Nonetheless, I took comfort in how South Africans have succeeded in “packaging” their violent history for the benefit of current and future generations. No doubt there may be vestiges of racism hounding that country, but it’s the high level of political tolerance that Zanu PF needs to “copy and paste” urgently. The tour guide says of this place: “Nowhere can the story of South Africa’s turbulent past and its extraordinary transition to democracy be told as it is at Constitution Hill.”

When Zanu PF narrates the history of our liberation, anti-racism stalwarts Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole and Joshua Nkomo are deliberately relegated to backwaters. President Mugabe and his cronies perceive emancipation only through the distorted Zanu PF prism.

Those like us who mourn the dearth of real freedom in Zimbabwe’s democracy calculus are dismissed as “agents of imperialism”. Our highly compromised justice system extends this fallacy by subjecting political prisoners to horrific brutality comparable only to what Number Four inmates suffered in Kruger’s detention cells.

The arrogance flaunted by our prison system in resisting penitentiary reform can only point to one thing –black- on-black apartheid. Supreme Court Judge Rita Makarau once “decried overcrowding, poor diet and the high prevalence of disease, and pestilence in the country’s jails”.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and Woman of Zimbabwe Arise have routinely implored government to desist from incarcerating freedom activists. I would feel irritated and insulted, barred from enjoying what Joshua Nkomo fought for — freedom — by a motley crew of self-righteous, egocentric zealots!

Zimbabwe Association for Crime Rehabilitation Organisation has justifiably pointed accusatory fingers at Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and Attorney-General Johannes Tomana for prisoner abuse.

Our mission, as agents of democratic change, is to rid Zimbabwe of this totalitarian Zanu PF scourge.

Zimbabwe will be free of arbitrary arrests, and then MDC shall convert Matapi, Whawha, Chikurubi, Khami, Harare, Mutare and Bulawayo prisons into Constitutional Hill-type monuments of freedom.

* Rejoice Ngwenya can be contacted at rngwenya@ymail.com

2012-07-10T09:10:00.000+02:00

Resolutions of the Consumer Action Forum Meeting on Scaling up Access to Medicines in the SADC Region held at Johannesburg on 19th June 2012.

We as the participants of the inaugural annual Consumer Action Forum held on 19th June 2012 that was hosted at Johannesburg by the Southern Africa Regional Programme on Access to Medicines and Diagnostics (SARPAM) Civil Society PACT, with the active support of the Department for International Development (DFID);

Noting that this was the first major face to face meeting of the civil society network on access to medicines in the SADC region since the end of the interim phase of SARPAM in June 2011;

Having met and shared stories, perspectives, and lessons from experiences from the community level monitoring and data collection on access to medicines in the SADC region;

Having conducted a specific review analysis of civil society data collected and implementation progress reports and also reviewed the performance of the six participating organisations in the initial eight pilot countries for the Tendai Project.

Having also considered ways of improving co-ordination between the implementation partners that will lead to maximisation of the use of the project resources and also more efficiency in the implementation process of the Tendai Project;

And further considered various ideas, proposals and also identified priority breakthrough action points with regards to scaling up of access to medicines in the region especially at a local community level;

Now hereby adopt the following key resolutions that will seek to reinforce the role of the civil society and in particular consolidate the civil society network to reflect consumer perspectives and actions on scaling up and sustaining improved access to medicines in the SADC region:

1. To fully endorse the on-going Tendai Project on data collection and monitoring of medicines at a local community level and also ensure that the implementation of the project is scaled up in terms of the number of districts, health facilities and monitors involved in the eight pilot countries.

2. To actively seek to set up national Consumer Action Forums at multiple country levels after conducting a mapping exercise and developing a database of all civil society organisations that are actively interested in the scaling up of consumer action on improving access to medicines at both country and regional levels.

3. To develop a well-co-ordinated media and advocacy based programme of action that will actively seek to raise the public awareness of all efforts aimed at scaling up of consumer action on improving access to medicines at both the country and regional levels.

4. To develop a well-co-ordinated resource mobilisation strategy that will actively seek to fund the Consumer Action Forums in all their efforts aimed at scaling up of consumer action on improving access to medicines at both the country and regional levels. The strategy will consider all available options at both the national and regional levels such as the national budgets, Abuja Declaration, Financial Transaction Tax, and other various international funding facilities.

5. To actively collate documented evidence that civil society is influencing pharmaceutical policies and decisions relating to access to medicines in SADC region by using case study reports, among other active strategies.

Thus done and agreed to at Johannesburg on 19^th June 2012

* For more details, please kindly visit www.sarpam.net

New Zimbabwe Constitution to Allow Dual Citizenship

2012-07-10T08:54:00.001+02:00

By Tichaona Sibanda

For the first time in Zimbabwe’s history the new constitution will allow dual citizenship, a situation that could be capitalized on by people living in the Diaspora, to push for their right to vote in the next polls.

Three years ago the Supreme Court barred the country’s exiled community from voting in the general election because of an Electoral Act that prohibited such a move.

At the time a group of Zimbabwean exiles, the Diaspora Vote Action Group, had petitioned the Supreme Court asking it to reverse a government policy that barred exiles from casting their votes.

Under the country’s electoral laws only citizens outside their home constituencies on official national duty can cast postal votes, a requirement critics say has disenfranchised more than three million Zimbabweans living abroad.

But a chapter in the new constitution to be released soon stipulates that every Zimbabwean citizen by birth should retain his or her citizenship, even if that person acquires foreign citizenship.

But constitutional law expert Dr Alex Magaisa explained that Zimbabweans in the Diaspora would only be able to vote if the Electoral Act is amended to conform to the new supreme law of the country.

‘This is why the Supreme Court voted against allowing people in the Diaspora to vote because it was not contained in the constitution of Zimbabwe. But now the new charter will allow dual citizenship and as such, the electoral laws need to be amended to conform to the new law,’ Magaisa said.

MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora said a new Electoral Bill will be tabled in parliament and legislators from both sides will be able to debate it and recommend changes to the Act.

‘As a party we will push for changes in the Electoral Act to allow Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to vote. By allowing dual citizenship, what that means is that if you are Zimbabwean by birth and have acquired British citizenship, you will still have the same rights as people who are permanently based in Zimbabwe.

‘But as we speak, there are electoral laws that stop people in exile from voting. You will get laws that say you must be domiciled or resident in Zimbabwe for a year before voting, and must provide proof of residence when registering to vote,’ Mwonzora added.

Dewa Mavhinga, a lawyer and pro-democracy activist, waded in and said the Diaspora participation in the next election is still murky and what was needed was clarification from the government on the process of putting in place a mechanism for logistics and registration of voters.

‘A good example is that of prisoners, who are citizens but do not have the right to vote, so are those under 18years. So the right to vote is not equal to citizenship. Laws have to be amended,’ Mavhinga said.

* SW Radio Africa

Swaziland — A Monarchy from Hell!

2012-07-05T16:45:00.002+02:00

By Rejoice Ngwenya

I have just emerged from a sobering encounter with Swazi activists. Had I not been Zimbabwean, it would have been incomprehensible how a man claiming to be an “anointed” leader of his people can be so brutal on them.

The magnitude of repression inflicted upon the one million citizens of Swaziland by “king” Mswati needs urgent United Nations Security Council intervention. Never before since the era of the Zulu King Shaka has a nation been so traumatised by one of its own.

Swaziland, unlike England, Sweden or Japan, has an absolute monarchy. 2008 parliamentary elections were an exercise in dubious futility.

Result — a toxic concoction of legislative, executive and traditional powers exercised only by the polygamous despot who has appropriated for himself the bayethe “dear leader” status. He wrings allegiance from an impoverished citizenry now cowed into a state of sedentary belief in his infallible royal indispensability. Swaziland has become the epitome of potent desecration of the sacrosanct doctrine of separation of powers, not even comparable to the savage system we Zimbabweans are accustomed to.

King Mswati is the ultimate source of decisions, arbitrator, adjudicator and executioner. Through subtle manipulation of technocrats keen to endear themselves with royalty for personal gain, the king can have his own cake, and eat it. Testimonies from that land convinced me he and our very own President Robert Mugabe share an insatiable desire for control. Though not genocidal, Mswati benefits economically from systematic plunder and gluttonous exploitation of resources, occasionally bankrolled by pliant international corporates.

Ironically the country has a “constitution” that makes a mockery of constitutionalism, rule of law and public accountability. This dangerously exposes citizens to corrosive legislation conceived by the king’s cronies only for self–aggrandisement.

The notorious Suppression of Terrorism Act number three of 2008 is an instrument for rampant political persecution to ruthlessly immobilise civic rights activists. The People’s United Democratic Movement, Swaziland Youth Congress, the Swaziland Solidarity Network, and the Swaziland People’s Liberation Army are frozen under this archaic piece of legislation.

Amnesty International documents that “human rights problems include inability of citizens to change their government; extra-judicial killings by security forces; mob killings; police use of torture, beatings and excessive force on detainees; police impunity; arbitrary arrests and lengthy pre-trial detention; arbitrary interference with privacy and home; restrictions on freedoms of speech and Press and harassment of journalists; restrictions on freedoms of assembly, association, and movement; prohibitions on political activity and harassment of political activists; discrimination and violence against women; child abuse; trafficking in persons; societal discrimination against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community; discrimination against mixed-race and white citizens; harassment of labour leaders; restrictions on worker rights; and child labour”.

Given such a gruesome governance scenario, the only alternative for the people of Swaziland is to ignore instincts for subservience and engulf the country in an orgy of popular democratic revolution.

Sadc and the African Union are guilty of accommodating this human Swazi devil. His fingers are stuck in every conceivable aspect of his country as he masquerades on global forums pretending to be a “normal” constitutional monarch, shamelessly flaunting his ill-gotten wealth.

The British Foreign Office was so blind as to invite Mswati to an equally wasteful exhibition of monarchical splendour, sharing the royal “coach” with a queen who knows her guest as a habitual human rights violator. Mugabe is “banned” from England — only because his version of tyranny violates the white farmer! I keenly anticipate the tide of the North African revolution to push this demonic Swazi monarchy into oblivion.

* Rejoice Ngwenya is based at Harare and can be contacted at rngwenya@ymail.com

Government Departments Should Emulate Ministry of Education

2012-07-04T09:26:00.001+02:00

By Zibusiso Dube

ONE of the biggest challenges that Zimbabwe faces in its quest to develop is the absence of structures and institutions that ensure accountability and transparency in the operations of government entities and holders of public office.

Many of the country’s public institutions have thus degenerated into corruption hotspots, resulting in a failure to adequately provide public services. The most affected institutions in this regard include the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), local authorities, the registrar’s office, the vehicle inspection department and state hospitals. Resultantly, Zimbabweans find it difficult to access fundamental services and human rights such as access to health care, housing, passports and justice.

It was thus refreshing to learn that the Ministry of Education Sports Arts and Culture was engaging on a country wide probe of school heads to ascertain whether or not they are engaged in any fraudulent activities. The probe was reportedly necessitated by an unprecedented increase in allegations of misappropriation of funds and corruption against school authorities in schools across the country.

According to the Ministry of Education, one of the aims of the probe is to entrench a culture of accountability in the operations of schools. The ministry also recently revealed that such probes may become a recurrent trend to ensure that the operations of school authorities are above board.

All government departments that are serious about ending corruption within their ranks should emulate the ministry of education. While probing schools may not be the magic bullet to end corruption in schools, it is a commendable step towards righting the wrongs that have become endemic in learning institutions. It is a concept that other government departments should copy and adopt to their own circumstances. For instance, Zimbabweans have in the past complained that ZRP traffic section personnel are corrupt and demand bribes from motorists. Instead of dismissing the allegations, the ZRP should probe the operations of its officers and try to verify the allegations.

It is surprising that while bribes are exchanged in broad daylight on a day to day basis on roadblocks all over the country, the top brass are failing to identify the culprits and let justice take its course. What they need to do is to put the interests of the people of Zimbabwe first, like the ministry of education, and launch a probe that will end all forms of corruption on the country’s roads.

Putting up structures to ensure accountability and transparency in the operations of government departments has the merit of acting as a deterrent to corrupt practices. A civil servant who knows that his/her behaviour may be investigated at any moment will obviously be reluctant to engage in corrupt activities as this would put his/her job on the line. This is in essence what probes such as the one that the ministry of education is engaging in achieve.

Additionally, they provide a means to name and shame those who take part in underhand dealings thus serving as mechanisms for serving justice. Already the education ministry has announced that the probe has unearthed ‘serious irregularities in the operations of some school heads.’ The ministry has said that such school heads will be prosecuted. Thus in addition to serving as a deterrent to would be offenders, the probe will serve as a mechanism to flush out unruly elements from the education sector and punish them for their actions.

But the Education Department itself should do more if it truly wants to deal with corruption in schools for the ultimate benefit of Zimbabweans. Firstly, it should make public the procedures that it is using to conduct the probe and invite stakeholders such as parents and school development associations to input into the investigations.

Secondly, it should publish the results of the probe to ensure that members of the public are aware of the outcomes and able to demand justice. This is necessary as stakeholder participation and availing of information to the public are fundamental components of ensuring transparency and accountability.

It can be argued therefore that what really lacks in Zimbabwe’s current fight against corruption is lack of political will. Those who hold positions of power seem reluctant to take concerted efforts to end corruption in their institutions. Maybe they do not realise the amount of damage that corruption is doing to Zimbabwe, even in monetary terms in the form of misappropriation of funds that are meant for the treasury.

In Addition, Zimbabweans are being forced to spend exorbitant amounts of money on public services such as access to passports, licences and birth certificates because government employees are demanding bribes. This is money that people could instead be using to start entrepreneurial projects that could contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or help alleviate high unemployment.

It is high time the government and its various departments took a stand against corruption, in the interest of the welfare of Zimbabweans. The ministry of education has set an example, it would be folly to ignore it. While the procedures and processes for carrying out the probe have not been ascertained, it is nonetheless a leap forward, by Zimbabwean standards, in the quest to inculcate values of transparency and accountability in the operations of public institutions.

Zimbabwe seriously needs to deal with its high level of corruption in order to develop and improve the lives of its citizens.

Admittedly, more will still need to be done. There is a need for people to free themselves from their fawning attitudes towards political leaders, as this puts politicians above their people, dealing a heavy blow to the concept of people governance. There is also a need for a free press, to guard the interests of the public, and fairness in hiring of civil servants.

But since every journey starts with one step, government departments might as well in the meantime take a leaf from the education ministry and engage in probes to ensure that the actions of their employees are above board.

Zibusiso Dube is the Information Manager at Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA). He writes in his personal capacity. He can be contacted on dubezibusiso@gmail.com

Give It Up, Mr. Mugabe!

2012-06-27T13:50:00.001+02:00

Give It Up, Mr. Mugabe!

Xtreme Opinion. Rejoice Ngwenya, Wednesday, 27 June 2012.

Twenty years ago this month I married. Time is not a measure of bliss. We know. Thirty-two years of tyranny bred popular discontent. Yet as a political activist, it’s not often that one gets in one brushstroke – a marriage anniversary and the mauling of ZANU-PF by a now potent SADC bulldog. Agony of our oppressors on one’s anniversary is worthy of UNESCO 7^th wonder accolade!

30% marriages are vulnerable to dissipation in their first five years. I deserve a Nobel Peace Prize! Being not the easiest of co-habitation characters, I have an insatiable desire for marital literature keeping my over-blown ego under control. A Seventh Day Adventist colporteur added to my ‘how to’ collection the title ‘Highly Effective Marriages’ by family life counselor Nancy Van. She makes a compelling case on how men destroy marriages by ignorance of what makes wives tick. I wish it was like in politics – restore the rule of law, constitutionalism and respect for people’s choice – bingo – a perfect institution!

The book ‘The Fear – the last days of Robert Mugabe’ by Zimbabwean journalist Peter Godwin grips me not on its articulate narration of ZANU-PF’s June 2008 madness, but that my marriage has coincided with President Mugabe’s most rabid tyrannical misdemeanors since Gukurahundi! ZANU-PF hijacked the entire 20 years of my marriage!

My wife tolerates incorrigible commentaries on ‘what could have been for us’ had Mugabe retired in 1999. For every violent election I have voted in, every protest article written and every political conference I have attended in the last 20 years, I explain to her it was in honour of Zimbabweans traumatized by President Mugabe’s brutal reign. We differ in our perspectives, but for me, anything short of democratisation vigilante would be a big yawn. Now that she accepts me as a rebel, I would wish the next twenty years of our marriage ZANU-PF free. That’s a distinct possibility. But the 20-year question is he finally prepared to abandon the trajectory of impunity and call it quits in 2013? Discent Bajila writes: “Any self-respecting 88-year-old would have found reason to exit the political scene especially after spending more than three decades presiding over moments of madness, natural resource plunder ...”

My anniversary month has been dramatic: ZANU-PF mutant generals Trust Mugoba, Martin Chedondo, Doughlas Nyikayaramba, entrenching perpetuated cult worshipping; Aqualinah Katsande and Newton Kachepa of Mudzi allegedly opening the political murder account;Navanethem Pillay showing President Mugabe the red card; his charm offensive to the SADC organ on politics, defence and security yielding nothing but Michael ‘Sata-rical’ thorns and thistles; former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor on a 50-year incarceration while a South African court successfully argues that ZANU-PF cronies be prosecuted. On any other day, this quantum of embarrassment would compel any dictatorship to abdicate but no, ZANU-PF insists it’s still the ‘people’s choice’.

President Mugabe’s propagandists continue spewing anti- democracy vitriol, accusing us of celebrating ‘pyrrhic’ victory. Their umbrage will not deter us, if not only to incense us into a Tahrir Square-like hallucination! As the fires of internal dissent are fanned by the so-called succession war, I take comfort in how the District Chaotic Committee elections will for once deliver the mortal blow to ZANU-PF!

Big screen greats like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, Will Smith, Angelina Jolie and Wesley Snipes have at one stage single-handedly apprehended fundamentalist lunatics holed up in some abandoned warehouse. When the bad guy is cornered, the last words the villain would remember alive is something like, “ZANU-PF, this is Captain Democracy. You’re completely surrounded. Come out with your hands up and save your life!”

* Rejoice Ngwenya is based at Harare and can be found at

SARPAM Hosts Successful Civil Society Meeting at Johannesburg

2012-06-21T09:32:00.002+02:00

I am so pleased to let you all know that the 2 day meeting that was hosted by the SARPAM Civil Society PACT was a successful event.

The main focus of the meeting was on sharing and adoption of strategies for scaling up of consumer action on improving access to medicines at both the country and regional levels.

Day 1 focused on the annual Consumer Action Forum activities with a special focus on the Tendai Project review process.

During the last part of the day, a special and very intense meeting was held that was attended by all the co-ordinatiors of the Tendai project from all the 8 pilot countries

Day 2 focused initially on the Civil Society Reference Group (RG) annual general meeting in which the 2011-12 annual report and ToRs for the RG were adopted

The AGM also elected the following office bearers, Washington Matika (Chairperson), Donna Kusemererwa (Vice Chairperson), Simonia Mashangoane (Secretary), Tapiwa Kujinga, Rachel Gondo and Gichinga Ndirangu (Committee members)

The second part of Day 2 focused on the Marketplace Round Table meeting whose theme was on strategies for scaling up resources needed to support Consumer Action on improving access to medicines in the SADC region

A resolution document is still being finalised and will be issued shortly together with a detailed report for the meeting

Mr. Daniel Molokele

Civil Society Partnerships Co-ordinator

Southern Africa Regional Programme on Access to Medicines and Diagnostics (SARPAM)

I Have Animal Instincts, Like You!

2012-06-14T16:27:00.001+02:00

I Have Animal Instincts, Like You!

Rejoice Ngwenya. Xtreme Opinion This Week.

It’s not a myth. Female Praying Mantises devour their male partners after mating. But with no intentions to flatter egos of our excitable ‘fe-male’ spouses and partners, let me expose those of us ‘hu-males’ who at times exhibit such instincts commensurate with primeval animal behaviour. I know. You anticipate my habitual lambasting of ZANU-PF’s predatory pre-election animal-like savagery. Not today. Let me remain in the less-provocative human interest realm. Temporary reprieve for the Hague-bound cronies, I guess!

Some of us men - when it comes to interpreting our spousal partners’ relations with the ‘outside world’ – exhibit clinical conditions of what I term hysterical defensive low self-esteem [HDLSE]. Empirical evidence is one lion detained at a conservancy outside Harare. He spends afternoons nervously pacing the paddock perimeter fence while the rest of the pride relax under cool Msasa trees. The warden explains: “There are two other young males in the adjacent paddocks. ‘Pacing punk’ lives under this permanent illusion that one of the studs will jump over for an unsolicited conjugal expedition on any of the female partners.” I soliloquize: animal love disguised as convoluted, lustful jealousy! Territorial schizophrenia!Constituency ‘ownership’!

[Most] of us hu-males - educated or not, professional, skilled, semi-skilled, literate, illiterate, atheist, Christian, married or single - are pacing punks. We subject our idle minds to agony over who our wives and partners work, talk or socialise with. Severe HDLSE cases are in denial. Inadequacy and gross incompetence in fulfilling our wives and partner’s emotional, social and economic needs cause us to - like insecure Panthera Leo - expend energy in defending imaginary reproductive boundaries!

HDLSE manifests itself in a dozen ways – the worst being domestic [and political!] violence. I use italics because of psychological connotations. Hu-male pacing punks keep their professional wives or partners unemployed; neither do they let them own cars, wear mini-skirts, travel outside the country or even greet men after church. Pacing punks imagine how male ‘intruders’ will assist their wives and partners change flat tyres, jump start or carry groceries to their car. A pacing punk has nightmares of what his wife or partner may do with her boss or doctor behind closed office doors. The HDLSE ‘patient’ is anxious that if his spouse or partner goes to a retreat, conference or camp meeting, some ‘testosteronic’ stud will stray onto his hallowed reproductive territory!

I know pacing punks who go ballistic when wives or partners open banking accounts and send money to parents. HDLSE causes us hu-males to insist on family shopping. We make our miserable car-less partners wait in the cold after work or chaperone them at hair dressers. Pacing punks cannot stand the thought of a repairman at home in their absence. When their wife or partner catches a long distance bus, severe HDLSE cases ensure she shares a seat only with another fe-male. Convenient excuse: men steal from women while they snooze!

My favourite pacing punk is the proverbial Peeping Tom. He not only sneaks into his wife’s or partner’s handbag to look for ‘unusual gifts’, but also invests valuable time in ‘Sherlock Holming’ her cell phone directory. He is consumed by a fit of patriarchal rage on ‘discovering’ a ‘nice things’ message from a hu-male stranger. His deliriously vengeful threats range from separation, withdrawal of ‘benefits’, reporting the woman to relatives, litigation, call-list printout, divorce, or worse still – suicidal self immolation! Men, if we’re social or political pacing punks – severe HDLSE cases that is - the only sustainable cure may be Pray Mantis post-mating justice!

* Rejoice Ngwenya is based at Harare and can be contacted at rngwenya@ymail.com

The Performance of the ANC Youth League During This Month Might Determine the Future of South Africa

2012-06-11T16:50:00.000+02:00

The Performance of the ANC Youth League During This Month Might Determine the Future of South Africa

By Daniel Molokele

Wow! It is that time of the year again when here in South Africa, we celebrate the role of young people in the national agenda. June is known as the Youth month in Mzansi.

During this long cold month, the country always takes its time to reflect on the possible progressive influence that young people can contribute on the national discourse as inspired by the world famous heroics of the immortal of Class of 16^th June 1976.

At this time last year, Julius Malema was on the verge of what most historians would term as the pinnacle of his political career. This was the time when he successfully managed to get the endorsement for his second term from all the nine provinces of the ANC Youth League.

And so as fate would have it, Malema was then elected unopposed for his second term during the historic June 16^th at the Midrand elective congress of the Youth League!

I doubt that if there is any political analyst who would have predicted at that time that at the same time next year, Malema would no longer be the President of the Youth League. Or even more, that Malema would have been expelled from the ANC itself.

Indeed, it was so unimaginable at that time!

In his final speech at the June 2011 congress, a very confident Malema did his best to strategically place the Youth League in its somewhat traditional role of ‘kingmaker’ during the December 2012 ANC elective congress at Mangaung.

Indeed, in the aftermath of the June 2011 congress, the Youth League seemed to be so destined to play a very key role in determining the outcome of the elective congress at Mangaung.

Yet today, it now seems such a long road for the Youth League from Polokwane 2007 to Mangaung 2012.

As the weekend of June 16^th 2012 looms large ahead of us, it seems as if the Youth League has had its long bushy tail totally cut off!

This is definitely a league that is somewhat in disarray. Leaderless! Some might even say, rudderless. Or directionless!

Has the attack from the man from Nkandla’s assegai proved to be so decisive and fatal for Malema and his Youth League cohorts?

Have they now been reduced into mere spectators at the looming battle of Mangaung?

This is the million rand question at stake that the remaining leaders of the Youth League will have to answer clearly and in no uncertain terms.

Will the Deputy President Ronald Lamola rise up and continue the forward march towards ‘economic emancipation’ that was launched by his predecessor?

Will the embattled Treasurer General Pule Mabe rise up and defy the odds and stake his claim as the next leader of the most powerful youth movement in Southern Africa?

Added to that, the ANC will be holding its much anticipated 2012 National Policy Conference at Midrand at the end of June. All eyes will be on the role of the Youth League at this potentially explosive meting

As such, the question that might need to be answered by 30^th June is simple. Will the Youth League emerge as an even more radical player in the ANC succession battle or will they even become less relevant by then?

It is not just the future of the Youth League that will be at stake but also that of the ANC and indeed that of South Africa as a nation.

It is not all clear yet but I am sure we will all be able to know the answer to all these questions by the end of this very month.

Curiously, the great Malema will be watching all this drama unfold from the side lines of ‘his farm’ up north in Limpopo.

In any case, he is not the only one who will be following the Youth League political dynamics with keen interest. I am sure the man from Nkandla will also be closely following the drama and some of his would-be rivals at Mangaung.

I will also be watching with an eagle’s eye to make sure that I satisfy all my political curiosity!

Will you also be watching?

* Daniel Molokele is a human rights lawyer who is based at Johannesburg. His email address is danielmolokele@gmail.com

Street View: Two Thugs, a Cellphone Owner and a Taxi Driver

2012-06-08T16:04:00.003+02:00

Percy Zvomuya witnesses a remarkable but everyday incident on the streets of downtown Johannesburg.

Speaking on the phone, while driving, or at a traffic intersection is dumb. Speaking on the phone, window rolled down, at the corner of Ntemi Piliso and Bree streets, on the western edge of the Johannesburg city centre, is madness.

This is where traffic from the west meets the streaming from the south and north.

Most of it is taxis. One imagines that when Armageddon erupts in the CBD this would be the third best site to be. Noord and Bree taxi ranks are leading contenders for best site.

Everything you require in the aftermath of a war is here: a family pharmacy; a bottle store; a congregation of the Kingdom of God (to help ease access into the heavenly netherworld); a Chicken Licken (in the event that you don’t cross into other place and remain stuck in this world, their hot wings are superb as the first post-resuscitation meal); a taxi rank; and a hair salon (you want to cross over looking good).

One day, perhaps a Tuesday or a Wednesday afternoon, as I was crossing Ntemi Piliso, I noticed two scrawny, scruffy men, black, wresting a cellphone from a chubby white man in a greyish Citi Golf. The man, with a round, cheerful face wasn’t easy prey. Although petrified, he was resisting. He wasn’t going to give up his phone without a fight.

I stood there watching, immobile, as did everyone else. Should I go and help him fight off the two thugs? Whatever decision I had to make was to be quick. I was not quick. Time (and thugs) wait for no man. The advantage was with the thugs. There were two of them, there were on their feet, they had more menace and they wanted this to be done as soon as possible.

The incident was meticulously choreographed. The cellphone exchanged hands at around the same time the robot turned green. Green robots meant that the man had to go but he wouldn’t start his car. Instead, he pushed open his door and went after the thugs who were weaving through the traffic and the crowd. Soon they stepped onto the lips of a squatting smelly edifice and were swallowed by its toxic vapours.

Next to the now-abandoned Golf was a disheveled taxi driver who had seen the exchange. When he saw the chubby man running after the thugs, he followed suit, almost as if on cue. The man sprinted just behind the two thugs, the taxi driver in tow. I thought it was foolhardy, it’s just a phone, but I also thought nothing could happen to him. He had the taxi driver for company and nobody messes with a taxi driver except other taxi people.

We stood milling around the car, whose window was still rolled down, waiting for the man to return and (uselessly) acting as sentries. Jo’burg’s notoriously impatient drivers, who must have seen the incident, sat patiently behind his car, not hooting. They waited. The robots on Bree had turned red and the cars at Ntemi Piliso were standing still, waiting.

A few minutes later, the chubby white man and the black taxi driver emerged, triumphant, phone in hand. Clocks, which had stood still, began ticking again. And I heard someone mutter: “He is a man.”

Percy Zvomuya is the Mail & Guardian‘s arts and features reporter, who loves walking the streets of Johannesburg. Follow his column Street Views to meet the characters he encounters.

* Mail and Guardian

Malawi Will No Longer Host AU Summit Due to Class Over Al-Bashir

2012-06-08T16:01:00.002+02:00

Malawi has said it will not host the African Union summit in July because of disagreements over the attendance of Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir.

Mr Bashir has been indicted for war crimes in Darfur by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The AU has lobbied for the arrest warrant to be deferred and urged Malawi to allow Mr Bashir to attend.

"Much as we have obligations to the AU, we also have obligations to other institutions," the vice-president said.

Malawi's former leader, Bingu wa Mutharika, who died in office in April, had defied calls to apprehend Mr Bashir.

Since his death, his successor President Joyce Banda has taken steps to appease donors with a series of reforms.

Global Zimbabwe Forum Celebrates its 7th Year Anniversary

2012-06-07T15:44:00.001+02:00

Global Zimbabwe Forum Celebrates its 7^th Year Anniversary

By Nora Tapiwa

The Global Zimbabwe Forum (GZF) was started in June 2005 at Braamfontein, Johannesburg South Africa. It was initially known as Zimbabwe Diaspora CSOs Forum.

After the 2005 elections and the Operation Murambatsvina, with a more influx of Zimbabweans in South Africa we realized that the Diaspora was here to stay. Therefore a more organized and collective approach was needed.

11 organizations were represented at the initial meeting and this included Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and an interim committee was elected.

The mandate of the committee was to draft a constitution and call for an AGM within six months.

The first AGM was held in Braamfontein at Johannesburg in November 2005 and the constitution was adopted and a substantive Management Committee was elected whereby 18 organizations were represented. The committee consisted of The Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasure, three Committee members and the Coordinator who is the secretary and a non elected member.

The task of this committee was to sell the idea internationally and organize a global conference. In February 2006 a policy workshop was held in Braamfontein Johannesburg and 22 organizations were represented.

The global conference was held on the weekend of 7^th to 9^th December 2007 and over 250 delegates drawn from various Zimbabwe Diaspora communities attended the conference. Delegates came from such countries as the USA, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Botswana and South Africa.

The keynote address was given by the conference’s guest speaker, Professor Ken Mufuka who is a veteran Zimbabwean academic based at the Lander University in South Carolina in the USA.

The conference adopted several resolutions on the critical issues:

1. The need for a new constitutional dispersion in Zimbabwe that will guarantee the dual citizenship rights and electoral enfranchisement of the Zimbabwean Diaspora Community

2. The launch of the Zimbabwe Diaspora Development Chamber (ZDDC) registered in South Africa as an investment facility which will assist in economically empowering those interested in setting their own businesses

3. The launch of the Zimbabwe Global Scholarship Fund to promote the human resources development capacity

4. The launch of the Zimbabwe Global Merit Awards that shall seek to appreciate and celebrate the efforts of all institutions and personalities that have consistently brought fame and dignity to the Zimbabwean nation especially within the Diaspora Community

5. The launch of the first ever international network of Zimbabwean institutions and NGOs that are based in the Diaspora to be known as the Global Zimbabwe Forum. It was also resolved unanimously that the new forum would set up its international secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland for diplomatic strategic reasons.

An international interim committee was appointed comprising of The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasury, Coordinator, and 3 committee members.

Professor Ken Mufuka was appointed the Patron of the GZF.

PROGRESS TO DATE

1. In 2007 through the office of the Presidency of South Africa we were allocated a desk in the Ministry of International Relations where we would discuss any issues concerning Zimbabweans in South Africa within the SA government.

We then successfully negotiated with the South African government to allow Zimbabwe trained teachers with Diplomas to teach in South African government schools. In 2008 after the Xenophobic attacks were petitioned the SADC secretariat and all the SADC member states to give Zimbabweans temporary work permits till the situation had normalized back home. The South African government implemented this in 2010 under the Zimbabwe Dispensation Program (ZDP).

We commissioned a survey of the profile of Zimbabwean Migrants in South, which was carried out by Mass Public Opinion Institute by Professor Daniel Makina of University of South Africa.

2. In May 2008 Daniel Molokele, our International Coordinator spent six months at Geneva where managed to officially register the GZF as an international NGO there.

3. In 2009 the Zimbabwe Diaspora Development held meetings with World Bank officials including the country manager Mr. Peter Nicholas discussing the Diaspora Development program which was highly appreciated by the officials.

The International Coordinator went to Zimbabwe and held several meetings with the government official of the newly formed GNU discussing about Diaspora issues, this lead to GZF to be part of the organizations which helped to draft the Diaspora Policy of the Zimbabwe government.

We held workshops with the IOM and Zimbabwe officials from the Ministry of Economic planning and development on the role the Diaspora can play in the development of Zimbabwe.

The African Heritage Society awarded GZF-SA with an honorary recognition for the work they have done and are doing for the Zimbabweans in South Africa, especially with regards to upholding of human rights issues.

4. In 2010 the South Africa National Coordinator was awarded a Woman Peace Maker fellowship by the University of San Diego California, USA for the work she performed under GZF

A company (Africa Diaspora Exchange) to assist Zimbabweans to have bank accounts without problems was set and is functional.

5. In 2012 the GZF was part of the key partners that helped to set up the Zimbabwe Education Support Initiative (ZDESI). The initiative was launched and the Minister of Education Senator David Coltart officiated at the event that was held on 10^th March in Johannesburg

WAY FORWARD

The organization still advocates for the common vision and strategy in the struggle for a new free democratic dispensation in Zimbabwe.

The vision of the GZF is of a democratic Zimbabwean society where all citizens are able to participate in all decision-making processes that have an impact on their lives be it at home or abroad.

Through the ZDDC we want to have an economically powered citizenship which can help in eradicating poverty through the creation of employers not employees.

As much as GZF does not have institutional funding and is sustain by individual contributions both in cash and in kind, the commitment the Zimbabweans to take their destiny into their own hands cannot be overlooked.

Ms. Nora Tapiwa is the National Co-ordinator, GZF South Africa Chapter. She can be found at ‘zimcsoforum@yahoo.co.uk’ or at +27791383986

ZSF Welcomes SADC Communique on Zimbabwe

2012-06-05T12:38:00.001+02:00

The Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum (ZSF) welcomes the resolution of the SADC Extraordinary Summit on Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum (ZSF) welcomes the SADC Extraordinary Summit resolution on Zimbabwe, which took place Friday, June 1st in Angola. The meeting re-endorsed the need for key fundamental reforms before the people of Zimbabwe go to the polls .

The Zimbabwe Global Political Agreement (GPA) was implemented in 2008 to resolve Zimbabwe's political and economic crisis and to chart a new political direction for the country.

The ZSF commends the Summit ‘s emphasis on the need for President Jacob Zama, as SADC’s mediator in Zimbabwe, to continue his efforts towards the final realisation of the full implementation of the Global Political Agreement. This includes finalising the constitution-making process and subjecting it to a popular referendum.

The ZSF note that tangible progress on several key issues needs to be seen if Zimbabwean elections are to be held in conditions that are sufficiently free and fair. Security reforms, issues around law and order, lack of media reforms, the composition of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and the effective monitoring of the GPA, amongst many other reform issues, need to addressed with urgency.

Therefore, the ZSF urges the Zimbabwean parties in the country’s unity government to demonstrate sufficient political will and strength in demonstrating their capacity to develop an implementation mechanism that will ensure that all GPA deliverables are implemented. This should include establishing timeframes for the full implementation of the Zimbabwe roadmap to elections.

The regional solidarity movement remains committed to supporting the people of Zimbabwe, in particular strengthening and sustaining the reform agenda led by the people of Zimbabwe!

Issued by the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum.
Johannesburg, South Africa

The Centre for Civil Society to Host Zimbabwe Seminar on 7th June 2012

2012-06-05T12:36:00.000+02:00

The Centre for Civil Society based within the School of Built Environment and Development Studies invites you to the seminar - Zimbabwean civil society in South Africa

Speaker: Michela Gallo
Date: Thursday 7 June 2012
Time: 12:30-14:00
Venue: CCS Seminar Room 602, 6th Floor, MTB Tower, Howard College

Topic:

This seminar is based on a research proposal focused on Zimbabwean civil society in South Africa. It considers how Zimbabwean civil society finds expression in South Africa, its characteristics and profile of participants as well as the degree and ways Zimbabwean civil society interacts with South African civil society to address challenges faced by Zimbabwean nationals both in Zimbabwe and in South Africa.

Speaker:

Michela Gallo is a visiting scholar at CCS and is carrying out her year of European Voluntary Service in South Africa. Her area of interest is community work and migrant rights. Michela is from Italy and has a Master's degree in Development Studies from Università di Roma "la Sapienza".

SADC Communique Text on Zimbabwe

2012-06-04T08:22:00.003+02:00

ON ZIMBABWE, SUMMIT COMMENDED STAKEHOLDERS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT,
COOPERATION & EFFORTS TOWARDS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GLOBAL POLITICAL AGREEMENT (GPA) AND URGED PARTIES TO GPA TO FINALISE THE
CONSTITUTION-MAKING PROCESS AND SUBJECT IT TO A REFERENDUM THEREAFTER.
SUMMIT ALSO URGED THE PARTIES TO THE GPA, ASSISTED BY HIS EXCELLENCY
JACOB G ZUMA, PRESIDENT OF SA AND SADC FACILITATOR OF THE ZIMBABWE POLITICAL DIALOGUE TO DEVELOP AN IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISM AND TO SET OUT TIME FRAMES FOR THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ROADMAP TO ELECTIONS.

Election Roadmap and Timeframe Outlined in Parliament’s Last Sitting

2012-05-31T16:40:00.000+02:00

Election Roadmap and Timeframe Outlined in Parliament’s Last Sitting

Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara, was asked about the Election Roadmap
during Questions Without Notice in the House of Assembly on 16th May.
In reply he listed seven reform processes that must be completed
before elections:

“What we want to do next time around is to make sure that when we go
into elections, those elections will be respected by the winners and
losers. The winners will be able to form a legitimate democratic
Government and the losers are able to congratulate the winners. For us
to do that, we must go through these reforms very carefully:

●constitution ● media reforms ● political reforms ● electoral reforms
● national healing ● security sector alignment ● economic reforms.
These reforms require time and that time will determine when our
elections will take place. Mr. Speaker Sir, I want us, across the
political divide, to understand the importance of the creation of
conditions for fairness and freeness of our elections and the need to
achieve this.”

He then added “we cannot go beyond March 2013. In March 2013 this
Parliament expires, in March 2013 Mugabe’s presidency expires.
Consequently, this current Cabinet expires in March 2013. So, if you
ask me about the ultimate deadline, the ultimate deadline is March
2013 ... we cannot possibly go beyond March 2013. March 2013 is the
end of the road.”

Comment: March 2013 is not the use-by-date of this Government – the
correct position under the present constitutional provisions is that
unless earlier dissolved by the President, Parliament will expire on
28th June 2013, at midnight, – which means that any reform legislation
would have to be passed by the 28th June. We can only be 4 months
without a Parliament, so elections would have to be by 28th October
2013 at the latest. President Mugabe’s current term could continue
until election results come in, early November 2013. [See end of
bulletin for constitutional provisions.]

Question: Was Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara talking for the
inclusive government? Presumably he was, as Questions Without Notice
in the House is reserved for Ministers to explain Government policy to
MPs.

SADC Perspective

The Zimbabwe situation is on the agenda for the Troika Summit of the
Organ on Politics Defence and Security Cooperation [Organ Troika] in
Luanda, Angola, today 31st May, and it is likely that the Organ Troika
will report on Zimbabwe either formally or informally to the SADC
Heads of State Summit on Friday 1st June. The Organ Troika will
consider:
· the report from SADC Facilitator, South African President
Jacob Zuma – whose Facilitation Team was in Harare at the beginning of
this week to discuss the Roadmap to Elections and any further progress
made in implementing the GPA.
· the views of the three parties to the GPA, particularly about
elections. [The parties have been doing the rounds in the region,
lobbying for their varying positions.]

SADC Endorsed Zimbabwe Elections Roadmap

The SADC Organ Troika in March 2011 decided that SADC should assist
Zimbabwe to formulate guidelines to assist in holding an election that
will be peaceful, free and fair, in accordance with the SADC
Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections [Zimbabwe is
a party to these Principles and Guidelines] and that the Troika would
appoint a team of officials to join the Facilitation Team and work
with JOMIC to ensure monitoring, evaluation and implementation of the
GPA. The Roadmap was drawn up by the negotiators and endorsed by SADC
Summit:
“At the Extraordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government
held at Sandton, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa on 11th and
12th July, 2011, the SADC Facilitator on Zimbabwe, His Excellency,
Jacob G. Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa, tabled a
report on the progress made in the implementation of the Global
Political Agreement (GPA) in Zimbabwe. Attached to the SADC
Facilitator’s Report was the document titled Roadmap to Zimbabwe’s
Elections concluded and signed by the negotiators at Harare on the
22nd April, 2011. The Roadmap to Zimbabwe’s Elections identified and
defined milestones and signposts that must be executed and implemented
before the next Harmonised Elections.” [Roadmap available from
veritas@mango.zw]

Election Road Map Agreed with SADC Not Nearly Fulfilled

It is eleven months since the party negotiators agreed on the Roadmap
to Elections stipulating both the new constitution and reforms as a
prerequisite to the elections. As pointed out by the DPM in
Parliament last week there has been no serious progress tackling
reforms. The constitution-making process is incomplete; there has
been no reform of media laws. ZANU-PF has maintained its control of
state media. The airwaves have not been opened up to long established
stations now having to broadcast from outside Zimbabwe, nor to
community broadcasting. Little political reform has taken place – de
facto power and control of national resources is still with the former
ruling party, which together with their control of the security
forces, gives it an edge when it comes to elections. The far reaching
electoral reforms needed to level the playing field for the election
contest are still awaited. There has been limited economic progress.

Common Agreement on Need for Reforms before Elections?

Most stakeholders in the Zimbabwe situation have not changed their
long-held stance that there must be implementation of reforms and a
new constitution before the next elections – this is clear from the
GPA and is still the view of:
· the negotiators of all three parties [they all signed the
Roadmap to Elections]
· the SADC Facilitator and his team
· the Organ Troika of March 2011 and SADC Summit of July 2011
· the inclusive government as reported by the DPM in Parliament
[but see recent ZANU-PF stance below]
· MDC-T and MDC.
But recently ZANU-PF has been taking a diametrically opposed
standpoint [in the President’s speeches, reports of politburo and
central committee meetings and statements by ZANU-PF Ministers, though
not in Parliament], insisting on elections in 2012, with or without a
new constitution and reforms.

Need for these Reforms Accentuated by UN Human Rights Commissioner

UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay, ending her five-day visit
arranged by the Government of Zimbabwe, stressed the need for reforms
before the next elections: “Concern is rising both inside and outside
the country that, unless the parties agree quickly on some key major
reforms ...the next election which is due some time in the coming year
could turn into a repeat of the 2008 elections which resulted in
rampant politically motivated human rights abuses, including killings,
torture, rapes, beatings, arbitrary detention, displacements and other
violations.”… “I believe that it is essential that a satisfactory new
Constitution with an entrenched Bill of Rights is in place soon, so
that the referendum to confirm it and all the electoral reforms
necessary for a peaceful, free and fair election can be carried out
before people go to the polls. Realistically this will take time, but
it will be more important to get it right than to rush the process.”

Last Possible Dates for Elections

When does the present Parliament expire?

The 5-year Parliamentary life-span is calculated from the date
President Mugabe was sworn in [29th June 2008], not from the date of
the last Parliamentary election, which was in March 2008. The
relevant constitutional provisions are:
· section 63(4) – which states that, unless earlier dissolved
by Presidential proclamation, Parliament “shall last for five years,
which period shall be deemed to commence on the day the person elected
as President enters office”
· section 28(5) – which states that the President enters office
on the date he is sworn in

Ultimate deadline for the next elections: November 2013

Under the present Constitution, Presidential, Parliamentary and local
authority elections must be held within four months after the
dissolution of Parliament. If Parliament only expires on 28th June,
the ultimate deadline for polling in the next harmonised elections –
Presidential, Parliamentary and local government – will therefore be
28th October 2013 [Constitution, sections 58(1) and section 28(3)].

When will the President go out of office?

Section 29(1) states that the President’s term of office is a period
of five years concurrent with the life of Parliament referred to in
section 63(4) subject to the proviso that the President will continue
in office until the swearing-in of whoever is elected President in the
next Presidential election. So in theory President Mugabe’s present
term could extend until the winner of an October 2013 Presidential
election is declared and sworn in.

* Source - VERITAS

A Case of Multiple Personality Disorder!

2012-05-31T13:46:00.002+02:00

Xtreme Opinion This Week

By Rejoice Ngwenya

I am no psychologist, but enjoy objectively analysing extreme human behaviour. An obsession with bestsellers recently led me to legendary novelist Sydney Sheldon’s Tell Me Your Dreams where serial murderer Ashley Patterson exhibits symptoms of Multiple Personality Disorder [MPD]. Myth has it that ‘too intelligent’ people sometimes show signs of coherent insanity – eventually dying prematurely of drug-induced stress or maniac depression!

I refer to this curious science because am convinced strange behaviour of some our ‘intellectual’ politicians easily equates with Ms Patterson’s conditions. The danger being those we have elected as leaders, now masquerading as paragons of virtue and fountains of knowledge, are MPDs - where there "...is the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states...that recurrently take control of behaviour" [Wikipedia].

It is logical to expect former liberators to suffer from post-war syndrome. But if I ‘deserted’ from the camps to be a student activist, became a doctoral candidate, college lecturer, democracy activist, divorcee, NGO fraud suspect, ‘multiple’ party member, musician, praise singer and anti-libertarian – all in one lifetime – they’d better urgently seek MPD therapy! At the slightest of intellectual provocation, they burst into tantrums of self-defence, ideological ‘mood swings’ and ‘split personality’ to become hostile to criticism. What is not of their creation they consider ‘shallow and irrelevant’. They measure political achievement only according to their holographic hallucinations. Their advice, when followed only leads gullible admirers to the proverbial lake of molten lava.

Sheldon reminded me of a long forgotten term – alter ego. He moulds Ms Patterson around scientific evidence that MPD is “…a psychiatric disorder characterized by having at least one "alter" personality that controls behavior. The ‘alters’ are said to occur spontaneously and involuntarily, and function more or less independently of each other.” Closer scrutiny of these ‘habitual flip floppers’ shows how such multiple alters control their lives. They confront every challenge with a different character - excessive bouts of amnesia being a constant feature of their behaviour.

Had my father been a victim of Gukurahundi would I unashamedly exalt the perpetrators – even making excuses for their contempt for reparations? ‘Demonic possession’ of biblical proportion! MPD “has been attributed to the experience of pathological levels of stress which disrupts normal functioning and forces some memories, thoughts and aspects of personality from consciousness”. The extreme behaviour of Ms Patterson – romantic, computer wizard, artist, serial killer – where she assumed these alters was eventually explained as consistent with repressed memories of childhood abuse. According to one Dr. Phillip Coons - the ‘multiple personality legion’ who confronted the Biblical Messiah at the seaside could as well have reincarnated today as some of our ‘learned’ political leaders!

The viciousness with which logic and common sense are attacked, a seething tendency towards vengeance and contempt for truth reflects a deficit in brain structure and biochemistry resulting in ‘self gratification’ – a holier-than-thou, Mr. Know-it-all attitude. The opprobrium is one of grotesque daredevil cult worshipping fuelled with incessant partisan verbose. Such people ingratiate themselves with the establishment as an excuse for failure of self-sustenance while covering up past misdemeanors. Under this veneer of intellectual rationale lies a disturbing trend of not only praising the perpetrators but also a compulsive desire to identify with them.

After 32 years of post-independence tyranny, we Zimbabweans whose behaviour is guided by a universal moral compass must use our single alters to vote misguided nationalists and banish them from power. There are those genuinely afflicted with MPD. They deserve our sympathy. But in 2013, the little freedom that we have must be used as an instrument of exorcism.

Rejoice Ngwenya is based at Harare and can be contacted at rngwenya@ymail.com