MDC PRESIDENT SPEAKS

NO CHILD WILL BE CHASED AWAY FROM SCHOOL IN 2012: PRESIDENT NCUBE.

2011-12-28T06:07:00.000-08:00

It is the responsibility of the government to take care of the children especially those that are orphans in any country thus, in line with this principle the cabinet has agreed that no children will be chased away from school for failing to pay school fees despite the scraping away of BEAM. This was said by the MDC President Welshman Ncube while addressing over 200 orphans in Vulindlela Orphans Care Centre in Mpopoma, Bulawayo today.

“It is the responsibility of any government to take care of its children, thus the cabinet has recently agreed that no child will be chased away for failure to pay fees in 2012. I wish also to make this pledge that the MDC leadership will return in January to assist with the school fees as we have done before for our beloved children,” said the MDC President.

The MDC leader went on to highlight the importance of education to the children in the modern world. President Ncube said that the children must take education seriously as it is the only reliable tool to take any person from poverty despite their background.

“When it comes to education, I can tell you that it( education) is the only reliable tool to take anybody out of poverty towards a better life, so my little children I plead with you to take your education seriously and pass then all other things will follow.” he said.

Vulindlela Orphans Care Centre was opened in 1996 by Patricia Tshabalala, after realising the increase in the number of orphans in the area. To date the centre has taken care of over 1500 orphans to which some have graduated from universities around the world while some are already working in places like South Africa and ploughing back to the centre. Over the years the MDC leadership has been assisting this institution in cash and in kind which has made it possible for some of the children to go to school and write their exams.

Meanwhile the MDC leadership went to the late Hon Gladys Gombami home which is in the area to pass their condolences and comfort the family on their loss. Hon Gombami was an MDC-T senator who passed away on Monday after a short illness.

In a statement the MDC has described the late Copac co-chairperson as an open minded politician who has immensely contributed to the writing of the new constitution currently at the drafting stage.

Zimbabwe: Welshman Ncube Is the Best Candidate

2011-11-30T23:41:00.000-08:00

IN 1980 Zanu PF, under the leadership of President Robert Mugabe, won the general elections. Before we could celebrate the hard-won Independence, the new government descended on us - accusing us of being dissidents and/or hiding them.

A state of emergency remained in force until 1990. Instead of the people of Zimbabwe enjoying the fruits of Independence and taking charge of how they want to be governed, the government became brutal. Laws which regulated people rather than the government were enacted. The constitution was amended to give Mugabe executive powers.

It then dawned on me that the elections of 1980 only brought a change in the colour of the operatives rather than the policies. Opportunities were given to Zanu PF card-carrying members.
The land, which was once one of the reasons why we engaged in the liberation war, was not given to the people. Zanu PF only seriously embarked on land reform after facing rejection by the people in 2000. The land was distributed in a chaotic manner and mostly Zanu PF cronies benefited with some even getting two to five farms each.

Today Mugabe is now 87 years old and yet Zanu PF members insist he is their presidential candidate. In public all Zanu PF members and supporters are in agreement that he must be their candidate, but behind the scenes most are saying he must go. His lieutenants have abandoned him and all want him to go. We must not be cruel to force an almost nonagenarian leader to stand for elections.
Thanks to WikiLeaks, it is now public knowledge that they don't want him. Besides the issue of age - which is no longer on his side - there is also the issue of the economy which is in ruins.
The country is operating without a currency and relies on other nations' currencies.
They blame everything which goes wrong on sanctions, the MDC, Britain, America and the European Union except themselves.
We also have our so-called cousins, the MDC-T, who have Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai as their candidate.

As the leader of a united MDC, he caused the split of the party because of his selfishness. He is an indecisive leader who relies too much on parallel structures rather than the legal structures like the standing committee, national executive and national council.
To me this shows that Tsvangirai is not a good enough presidential candidate. His party is run like Zanu PF. As age is on his side, Tsvangirai is a potential autocratic ruler who should not be allowed to be the president of Zimbabwe.

The people of Zimbabwe now need a development-oriented leader who is not of violent disposition like Welshman Ncube (pictured). We have seen him going around the country doing community work and rehabilitating schools through donating building materials. He is a tried and tested leader who successfully brought together fighting parties to the negotiating table bringing about the GPA. Ncube is a disciple of the tenets of rule of law and good governance and is a true pan-African. He is an honest politician who would never lie to please his audience.

He is the only leader who can bring back investor confidence in the country.
Zimbabwe does not deserve populist leaders who will reverse democratic gains for the sake of power. We want leaders who will bring investment at the same time ensuring our sovereignty.
As a nation, we should all rally behind Ncube to ensure justice and fairness reign and that we celebrate our diversity without fear of retribution.
Edwin Ndlovu, is the MDC Secretary for Media, Information and Publicity, Bulawayo Province.

Only MDC will make Zimbabwe work again: President Ncube

2011-11-30T00:30:00.000-08:00

SITEZI (GWANDA) -The people of Zimbabwe must not be fooled by the other political parties who claim they have the solution to the problems affecting the people of Zimbabwe yet in reality through their greed and corruption are plotting the demise of our beloved Zimbabwe.

Addressing over one thousand MDC supporters at Sitezi in Gwanda North President Welshman Ncube exposed the corrupt and greed tendencies of the other political parties with the leadership that is pre-occupied with feeding fattening their pocket and not addressing the needs of the people of Zimbabwe.

“The evidence on the ground speak for itself, look at the ministers from the other political parties, even their presidents, none of them has ever achieved anything for the good of our country. All we hear from them is the foreign trips and all we see is their fat bodies” he said amid a thunderous applause.

He went on to say that the people of Zimbabwe must now see for themselves that all these parties especially Zanu PF have no clue about the solution to the problems affecting our country but are bent on destroying the little that is left after their year of plunder.

“Only this MDC and no other party has the solution to the problems affecting our country, especially Zanu (PF) which is the cause of all this misery. We are the only party that will resuscitate the education sector, that will create jobs, that will revamp the health sector, we are the only party that has the interest of our country at heart, we live with you in the villages, we live with you in the towns, we are everywhere. We know of your problems and from listening to you we have the solution,” said the MDC President.

The MDC leadership on Friday addressed a rally at Maboleni Business Centre Lower Gwelo where about 2000 MDC supporters attended, on Saturday the rally was at Silobi Business Centre in Umzingwane District which was also attended by above 2000 MDC supporters all of them were addressed by the MDC President.

The rally was attended by Secretary General Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, the Deputy Secretary General Moses Mzila Ndlovu. The National Chairman Goodrich Chimbaira, the Deputy National Chairman Frank Chamunorwa, the Treasurer General Paul Themba Nyathi, the National secretary for legal affairs David Coltart, the Organising Secretary Qhubani Moyo, the National Secretary for Recruitment Rita Ndlovu, the National Director of Strategy and Implementation Miriam Mushayi, the Deputy Director of Strategy and Implementation Joshua Mhambi, the Youth Secretary General Discent Bhajila, members of the national executive and the provincial leadership.

Welshman Ncube-Joshua Nkomo incarnate

2011-11-29T09:53:00.000-08:00

m. tsvangirai and Professor Welshman Ncube

The MDC supporters who spoke to this reporter on the sidelines of the Campaign Rally that was held in Sitezi Business Centre said Welshman Ncube was the first Leader with a national appeal and national outlook which was reminiscent of the former revolutionary party ZAPU which was led by the late Joshua Nkomo.

Dr Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe

The villagers in Gwanda have described the MDC President Welshman Ncube as a incarnation of the late Father Zimbabwe, Joshua Nkomo.
"This boy (Welshman) Ncube is a true re-incarnation of Joshua Nkomo. His Team is made up of people from all regions of Zimbabwe and his messages have a national outlook. this is the man we need to rule Zimbabwe and take over from where Nkomo left, he is our true Nkomo," said an 86 year old Mr Mpala.
Mpala's statements were echoed by a MaSiziba from Mtshazo area who said," Mntanami lokhu okunje sakucina ngesikhathi sika Nkomo ehamba labo (Josiah) Chinamano. Lumfana usivusa usinga." (We last saw such deeds and messaging during the times of Joshua Nkomo and Josiah Chinamano, this boy (Ncube) gives us zeal to march on).

The rally was attended by over a thousand MDC supporters.

Speaking at the Rally MDC Secretary General Honorable Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga urged the gathering not to be fooled by Politicians from other regions who want them to be perpetual second class citizens in Zimbabwe.

"We can not accept a situation whereby the Ndebele people are treated like second class citizens in this country. They are not cousins of Zimbabwe but they are full Zimbabweans who have the right to any political position in this country" Priscilla Mushonga said

DEMISE OF GENOCIDAL ZANU (PF) INEVITABLE: PRESIDENT NCUBE

2011-11-22T00:44:00.000-08:00

TSHOLOTSHO: There is no longer any doubt in the minds of all Zimbabweans that Zanu (pf) demise and its genocidal ways have come to an end. There is also a general consensus that the next election will condemn Robert Mugabe and his party to the dustbins of history, but it is very important for all Zimbabweans to now focus on the kind of change we want because failure to do will take us back to the rule similar to Zanu (pf) dictatorship. This was said by the MDC President Welshman Ncube in a ward five rally in Tsholotsho Business Centre, Sipepa area, Tsholotsho North that was attended by two thousand MDC supporters.

“MDC is aware that we have now gone beyond the Mugabe must go level, there is no doubt that Zanu (pf) party and its machinery that has killed our people in an unprecedented manner throughout history is facing inevitable demise, in the next election. It is thus important that we should now think of the change we want, we should not make a mistake of replacing Mugabe with his protégé who will take us back again to the system we are have been fighting all this long…” he said

President Ncube told the supporters that because the party is confident of victory in the next election, it will thus make sure that the election is held under free and fair environment, which can only be done when there is a new democratic constitution and electoral reforms. He said that the airwaves must be freed and the radio stations must be given licenses to enable the free flow of information as the monopoly of ZBC which is a propaganda mouth piece of Zanu PF serves only the interest of that failing party .

“ we are confident of victory in the next election, we have gone through the length and breadth of this country, victory is certain everybody wants green, green, thus we speak boldly when say we want an election in a free and fair environment, when there is a new constitution with the electoral and media reforms. We want the other radio stations licensed so that there is plurality of voices not in this situation where only Zanu pf is given airtime”, said the MDC President amid a thunderous applause from the supporters.

The MDC leader went on to tell the supporters that the party values and clearly understand the interest of the people, thus it unequivocally and passionately fights for devolution of power because there can never be development in a country where the locals people do not benefit from their natural resources like timber and minerals. The MDC deplores any forms of exploitation of resources that leaves the local poorer. He also said that a devolved system of devolution wills abolish all bureaucracy which dictates that even for the simple issues of bottle store licenses and birth certificates people have to go to Harare.

“ This party believes that there can be no proper national development when the local people don’t benefit from their resources, we want everybody and every community to benefit from the national cake, for that reason we are fighting for a devolved state because we are convinced that through that system you will be able to benefit from your timber and all offices that you need will be available in your local area..” President Ncube said.

The rally was attended by the Secretary General Priscila Misihairabwi Mushonga, the Ntaional Tresurer Paul Themba Nyathi, the National Organizing Secretary Qhubani Moyo, the Youth Secretary General Discent Bhajila, the National Women Chairlady Thandiwe Mlilo, members of the national executive and provincial executive.

HISTORY EDUCATION CURRICULUM MUST NOT BE A POLITICAL DOCUMENT: MINISTER DAVID COLTART.

2011-11-22T00:39:00.000-08:00

If one looks through the history education curriculum he is quick to realize that there was a deliberate omission of the big role played by the authentic liberation movement ZIPRA and the Joshua Nkomo’sZapu in the liberation of this country. It is disappointing to note that our history curriculum looks more like a political document which it should not be. This was said by Senator David Coltart who is also the Minister of Education, Sports and Culture in Nketa Hall grounds while addressing 1000 MDC supporters.

“ the Ministry of Education of reviewing the education curriculum because we have note that there are great anomalies there let’s look at the history part, the role of Zapu and Zipra is clearly left out, our education curriculum must not be a political document” he said.

Minister Coltart inherited ministry that had been adversely affected by the economic challenges with the teachers that were demoralized some having left the service to search for greener pastures abroad and the ZIMSEC which had not yet marked the exams from the previous year. In the same meeting he reiterated his commitment to improve the conditions of service for teachers so that in turn there is an improvement in the quality of education.

He narrated the achievements of the Ministry of Education since the formation of the Government of National Unity which among others include the provision of school text books at primary level while the secondary school textbook project was launched ten day ago, these projects will make us realize that the student, textbook ratio of one textbook per one child in each subject.

“just like all other Ministers from my party that are known for hard work I am also working hard to revamp the education sector, I have sourced textbooks for all primary schools throughout the country and the secondary school provision was launched ten day ago, we have also. We are working on devolving the education sector; we want to make sure that every child gets a share of the budget allocation for the Ministry.” he said.

He went on tell of the achievements of the ZIMSEC in just a short period in government they have for a start, beginning this managed to produce the exams of the Tonga language at primary school levels, while other languages will follow soon. He said this provision is guided by the principle of respect of diversity of all languages and that all languages have to be accorded the same respect.

“at Zimsec which we found in shambles, we have managed to have Tonga Language examinable at Grade seven level, some more languages will follow possibly this year, we guided by the fact that all languages have to be accorded the same respect ad we have to celebrate this diversity..” he said.

‘Ncube’s strategies effective’ : By Qhubani Moyo

2011-11-22T00:11:00.000-08:00

In the past few weeks there has been a multi-pronged structural attack on Professor Welshman Ncube in opinion pages and news columns of the Daily News newspaper.

The systematic assault uses a three-pronged approach that attempts to stigmatise him as a Zanu PF person, accusing him of dividing Morgan Tsvangirai’s voter base and using an unproductive strategy by addressing the shortcomings and inadequacies of both Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe — other key contenders for the top post in the next election.

While I am an advocate for an open society and that all leaders including Ncube should be open to criticism, it is my submission that this criticism should be based on facts and not outright accusations that are based on lies and character assassination.

One such approach is the one that accuses Ncube of being a Zanu PF sympathiser.

This assertion, which is based on lies, is now sounding like a broken record and many people have dismissed it with the contempt it deserves yet political outcast Abednigo Bhebhe in his chorus for supper to Tsvangirai, accuses Ncube of the same tired accusation.

The reality of the matter is that if Zanu PF records were to be checked, the truth of who has been a Zanu PF cadre will come out openly.t is a matter of public record that Tsvangirai once dressed the dancing robes of Zanu PF and actually participated in the Zanu PF dance as an activist in Bindura some years back.

I am surprised that Lovemore Madhuku is joining that chorus when the public is fully aware that he is the one who came up with the legal arguments that Mugabe applied to deny Ncube the rise to the position of Deputy Prime Minister.

If Madhuku worked with Mugabe to deny Ncube the position of DPM then who is Zanu PF’s friend.It is clear that Madhuku himself is also grateful for the presidential pardon that he was given some years ago.

As for the allegation on dividing votes, it is a sick argument and it just shows how the MDC led by Tsvangirai takes people for granted.t is disrespectful to think that you own people and they are your own voters as if they are not capable of thinking on their own.

No-one owns voters and every election is different and they come with different results so any one who is basing the next election results on the previous is living in false paradise and does not understand the dynamics of society.

In fact it is only some electoral cowards who are afraid of competition and would want votes delivered to them without competition.

Realistically, it is symptomatic of people who have nothing to offer and panic when Ncube communicates tangible programmes on how Zimbabwe can be transformed for the betterment of all its citizens.

To talk about the shortcomings of rivals is just part of the political game.

Tsvangirai just like Mugabe cannot be spared of any criticism and Ncube’s attempts to correct a volume of lies that Tsvangirai makes in his Deep End are in order as it is important for Zimbabweans to have a clear understanding of who this man is.

I am curious to know why some MDC T officials are worried that we are using a strategy that will make us lose.

In fact if it is true that it will make us lose then this is certainly a cause for them to celebrate, why do they want to give us a formula that will make us defeat them.

I am sure that in that strategy is a poison that can consume the whole party. In any event, when you see a cat inviting a rat to a dance and dinner then know that after the dance the rat will be the dinner. We do not want to be Tsvangirai’s dinner.

So we expect no praise from our adversaries, we would have been surprised if we were to get praise from the rival generals.

The fact that they are insulting us shows that we are hitting the targets and they are feeling the impact.

We will never give our rivals the blank cheque to define our strategies or where we campaign at any given time.

People should just start to get used to the reality that Ncube is a top contender for the highest job in the land and that he has equal chances just like his other rivals.

**Qhubani Moyo is the National Organising Secretary of the MDC

Young people ready to reclaim their country from 30 years of misrule : President Welshman Ncube

2011-11-20T23:57:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful rally at Nyazura grounds in Nyazura, Makoni South constituency in Manicaland where we were received with warm enthusiasm by the large crowd which was clad in the party's trademark green colours. By the time we left there was green everywhere. We thank the people of Makoni South for the vote of confidence in our party. Yesterday, we were also warmly received by a largely youthful crowd at Mashumbi Pools in Guruve North, mashonaland Central.

The young people of Zimbabwe are on the move.They are now ready to reclaim their country from 30 years of misrule, misgovernment and economic mismanagement which has deprived them of jobs and a better life. At our Congress in January, we promised that we will enter every village, every township and every home in search ofbthe support of the people. We promised that there will not be river we will not cross nor a mountain we all not climb to get to every Zimbabwean to deliver our message that our time has come to reclaim our country. We are keeping that promise.Nothing will stop the green machine. We are on the move.

It was revealing when I asked the public at the Nyazura rally to tell me what they thought Mugabe and Tsvangirai would say to them about how they would rebuild Zimbabwe. While some of the answers I got were quite hilarious, by and large, the majority of the answers confirmed that what we have been saying resonates with many people's perceptions.

MDC spokesperson Nhlanhla Bahlangene Dube in his statement to the public said ''our party will contest every election and every seat from Councillor to President is a promise we will live up to. That President Ncube will contest Mugabe and anyone else is a fact. That President Ncube is ruffling feathers is not our problem because it is time those feathers realiased that there is no one with a sole devine right to rule Zimbabwe and who must therefore be left to stand uncontested. We respect all but fear none. Our ressolve is indeed unshakable''

SOCIAL JUSTICE TOPS THE MDC AGENDA: PRESIDENT WELSHMAN NCUBE.

2011-11-20T06:59:00.000-08:00

Over eight hundred MDC supporters converged at Nesigwe Business Centre in Nkayi North for an MDC ward rally where the President of the party Welshman Ncube told them that the creation of a just and a fair nation based on the principles of justice and equality is on top of the MDC agenda towards the creation of the Zimbabwe we want. MDC will make sure that education, health, decent jobs and shelter are available and accessible to all.

“When we say we want to create a just and a fair Zimbabwe we mean a state where all resources are shared equally, we mean a state that is guided by the principles of justice and equality, the Zimbabwe where decent jobs, health and decent housing are not only available but is also accessible and affordable by all” the President said.

President Ncube told the crowds that the party’ is aware that the grain producer4 prize paid by the government was way below the cost price of production, which did not inspire the people towards the commercial farming, thus the MDC government will ensure that commercial farmers get subsidies and training like all other farmers in the region to motivate them to produce and complete in the regional and international markets.

“ as MDC we want the farmers to be productive, we want them to produce to feed the nation, thus as a party we will make sure that all commercial farmers will get proper training and subsidies in the form of implements so that they feed the nation and export to bring in foreign currency” the MDC leader told the crowds.

Turning to issue of economic empowerment and indigenisation the President said this was not a political issue but an issue that when undertaken properly will benefit Zimbabweans but it’s unfortunate that the political perverts who want to politicise it and selfishly gain from it. The MDC will only support the program that will benefit all the people regardless of the political affiliation. He said sober thoughts need to be engaged on the issue so that it is properly carried out without scaring away the investors.

“ the issue of indigenisation should not be politicised, it’s an issue that under normal circumstances be seen empowering the people at the grass roots, it must be a vehicle for empowering the people on the ground, not what we say today where the politically connected and corrupt are the ones set to benefit in the process, such elements are seen threatening industry we say this process needs to be carried out in a just and a fair manner without scaring away investors while making sure that you people on the ground benefit” he said.

On Saturday the MDC leadership will haed to Siganda area in Bubi District on its program of addressing the meetings at ward level.

The ward rally was attended by the Secretary General Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga, National Deputy Chairman Frank Chamunorwa, the Director of Strategy and Implementation Miriam Mushayi, the Depuuty Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert R Makhula who is also the Senator for Nkayi , national executive members and the provincial leaders.

Tolerance vital to development- President Ncube

2011-11-20T06:31:00.000-08:00

President Welshman Ncube

Political leaders should take a leaf from church and other civil leaders and understand that it is possible to have different views on an issue but continue to leave in peace, MDC President Welsham Ncube has said.

Addressing a joint gathering of the National Councils of MDC and MDCT and the ZANU PF Central Committee in Harare on Friday President Ncube bemoaned the up sage of political motivated violence in the country and encouraged party leaders to convince their supporters on the need to end violence.

"I have no doubt in my mind that our call for the end of violence as leaders is sincere. However the challenge that we have is to convince our structures to follow suit. WE need to deal with the rank and file that may not believe in our sincerity." , President Ncube said.

The gathering was also addressed by the Presidents of MDCT and ZANU (PF) Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe respectively.

Meanwhile, the troubled group led by former MDC Chairman Joubert Mudzumwe made a joke of itself when they made an attempt to smuggle themselves into the meeting without accreditation.

The 15 member group and been smuggled into the venue by members of the Central Intelligence Organization using an entrance to which only the CIO had keys. Delegates from the three parties in government used the conventional entrance to the Harare International Conference Centre.

An emergency MDC National Council meeting was called and made a resolution that the tripartite meeting will not continue in the presence of "strangers in the room". The group was then moved out by police details in the area.

As if that was not enough, rebellious MP for Umzingwane Nomalanga Mzilikazi Khumalo later came and demanded that she be allowed into the venue in her capacity as Deputy Speaker of Parliament. She was also sent away as her name did not appear in any list of the three National Councils.

MDC DOESN’T EXIST FOR COALITIONS: PRESIDENT NCUBE.

2011-11-20T06:19:00.000-08:00

President of the MDC, Professor Welshman Ncube

MDC was not formed to make coalitions in order to attain power neither is it shopping for alliances to get into power but the party is canvassing support in the length and the breath of this country from all Zimbabweans so that it is voted into power in the next free and fair election. The party was formed so that it will compete with any political party fighting for political space in Zimbabwe.
Addressing 1000 MDC supporters in Nketa Hall on Sunday the MDC President said that the party is growing stronger each day in all corners of the country and is confident that the democratic movement will romp to victory in the next election. He castigated some sections of the media that want to depict the leaders of Zanu pf and MDC-T as infallible and who should not be criticized while the same leadership is praised when they even lie about the MDC leadership he made a reference to the book by Morgan Tsvangirai “the deep end” which he says is a bunch of lies and deceit.

“no force on earth will make us stop bringing any political party competing with us for space into the mirror and we tell you to see for yourselves how they look and divorced they are from the solutions of the nation and conformity to the democratic values, some sections of the media must stop projecting Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe as infallible. Morgan Tsvangirai writes his all sorts of lies about me in his book “the deep end” when we criticize him for those lies we are told Ncube has diminished chances for a coalition, let me make this very clear we are not beggars for a coalition no, no, no, this party doesn’t exist for coalitions” he said.

President Ncube went on to tell the crowd that MDC was the only consistent political party that will not lie to get votes,, the only party that is will repeat the message of message of a just and fair Zimbabwe in any party of the country not others who will only speak of devolution when they are in Matabeleland and never repeat devolution while in Mashonaland. He went further to say that the party was ready for a free and fair election but will not budge to the Zanu PF poll call which they want without fulfilling the requirements stated in the election road map, this he said will lead us to another violent and disputed election.

“ we are a very consistent political party, we walk the talk, we are so committed to democracy that we have stood to this principle through the tough times, we have spoken about devolution everywhere throughout the country not like other who only talk about it when they are here looking for votes…… I want also to point out that we are ready for elections but we won’t give in to the Zanu PF desire to have the elections without fulfilling the requirements agreed to in the election road map which among others is the free media, the new constitution and electoral reform.

In the same meeting the President welcomed Zelda Nadhe who defected from the MDC-T. was the chief election agent in Bulawayo Central in the previous election. She said she defected because the MDC-T was a mirror image of Zanu pf , a haven of thugs, thieves and dicatatorship.

The rally was also attended by Deputy President Edwin Mushoriwa, the Secretary General Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga, and the Deputy Secretary General Moses Mzila Ndlovu. The National Chairman Goodrich Chimabira, the Deputy National Chairman Frank Chamunorwa, the Treasurer General Paul Themba Nyathi, the National secretary for legal affairs David Coltart, the Organising Secretary Qhubani Moyo, the nationalsecretary for Recruitment Rita Ndlovu, the national Director of Strategy and Implementation Miriam Mushayi, the Deputy Director of Strategy and Implementation Joshua Mhambi,the national Women’s Wing chairlady Thandiwe Mlilo, the National Youth Chairperson Gideon Mandaza, the Youth Secretary General Discent Bhajila, members of the national executive and the provincial leadership.

AM READY TO FACE MUGABE, TSVANGIRAI: PRESIDENT NCUBE

2011-11-20T05:59:00.000-08:00

m.tsangirayi, President Welshman Ncube, r.mugabe

INSUZA: The MDC is geared to participate in a free and fair election and deliver the people of Zimbabwe from decades of misrule by Zanu pf and the deception of the MDC-T. The party’s main strength is its responsiveness to the issues that affect the people of Zimbabwe and the ability to deliver in the few years it has spent in the Government of National Unity.

Addressing 1000 party supporters on Wednesday in Insuza, Mguza District in Matabeleland North Province, MDC President told the crowds that the party believed in the ability of the people to judge the best political party by its ability to fight for their interest in government and deliver in its promises without compromising the principles of democracy that are the foundation of MDC.

“as a party we are confident of victory in any free and fair election that can be held, am ready to face Mugabe and Tsvangirai or any other presidential candidate, we are confident that we are walking with the people of Zimbabwe in this journey to the democratization of the state. This is the only party that is driven by the interest of the people of Zimbabwe, we are not driven by selfish interest and desire to enrich our selves, we are allergic to corruption, the President said.

President Ncube said the party’s responsiveness to the issues that affect the people of Zimbabwe is evident in the delivery by the MDC members deployed in government ministries and other government structures.

“we are responsive to the needs and the wishes of our people, I tell you right now this party is responsible for bringing textbooks to your schools, revamping the education sector, we are currently bringing up the industry in Bulawayo again, in the constitution making process, we are fighting for devolution and other issues to deliver a just and a fair Zimbabwe….” said President Ncube
Addressing the same meeting the MDC Secretary General Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga challenged women to play their part in the struggle to free this country from Zanu PF. She advised women that women in some parts of the world like in Liberia have used sex strikes as a tool to convince men to participate in the struggles for democracy.

“we as women have a role to play in this struggle to free our country, we have seen women in some parts of the world like in Liberia engaging in sex strikes to force men to participate in the struggle for democracy, such a strategy we can even implement as women in our communities,” she said.
The rally was attended by the National Secretary for Recruitment Rita Ndllovu, the National Organising Secretary Qhubani Moyo, the National Youth Secretary General Discent Bhajila members of the national executive and provincial executive.

ONLY A UNITED FRONT CAN DEFEAT ZANU PF- PRESIDENT NCUBE

2011-06-27T08:08:00.000-07:00

Lupane: There is a greater need today for a strong and a united front against Zanu PF if we are to defeat Mugabe in the next election. This was said by the MDC President Welshman Ncube while welcoming forty-seven (47) people that have defected from the MDC-T and ZANU PF to join the party in a rally held in Lupane yesterday.

“ Let us not underestimate the task ahead of us especially now that the Army Generals are threatening to overthrow any elected leader who is not Mugabe, we thus need more committed women and men, the party must continue with its open door to members that are coming to join the democratic struggle and in recruiting more members” President Ncube said

The party has been experiencing rapid expansion which has seen increase in the branch structures throughout the country. This has been necessitated by the increase in outreach meetings y the party which has resulted in more visibility.

Among the forty-seven that were welcomed yesterday from MDC-T are David Nyathi who was the Director of Elections in MDC-T, other provincial members Charles Ncube and Peter Nyoni, Mrs Penia Vundla who was the district chairlady for Mguza, the councillor for Ward 3 Dandanda-Lupane Mr Sampson Mpofu, Mrs Jeremy Nkomazana of ward 22 in Lupane defected from Zanu PF.

In the same meeting President Ncube that MDC is committed to build a better Zimbabwe for all not for the chosen few.

“This green, green party is a symbol of life, of hope for a better Zimbabwe which will prioritise health, education, create jobs and empowerment opportunities” President Ncube said.

Speaking at the same meeting the MDC Deputy President Edwin Mshoriwa said that the party believed in the creation of a just and a fair Zimbabwe, where every citizen will enjoy equal opportunities without discrimination.

“We cannot talk of equality in the governance of the country without talking about devolution of power, this is the only system that will make the central government accountable to the people and make sure that the resources benefit all the people without marginalising other” the Deputy President said amid huge ululation from the crowd

Present in the meeting was the Deputy Secretary General Moses Mzila Ndlovu who assured the gathering the quest for justice for the victims of the past injustices like Gukurahundi was the priority of the party.

“Am prepared to die for in pursuit of justice, no amount of detentions will stop me from making sure that those who perpetrated Gukurahundi are brought to book” he said

Moses Mzila Ndlovu who is also the Minister of National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration is on bail after being arrested while performing his ministerial duties in Lupane.

The meeting was attended also attended by the Secretary General- Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga; Deputy National Chairperson Frank Chamunorwa, The Director for Strategy and Implementation Miriam Mushayi, National Woman Chairlady Thandiwe Mlilo also present were members of the national executive and the provinces.

PRESS STATEMENT ON THE PASSING AWAY OF TAMBUDZAI MOYANA

2011-06-25T05:26:00.000-07:00

The Movement for Democratic Change has learnt with great sadness the passing away of Tambudzai Moyana. She was the National Deputy Secretary for Water and Energy. Mrs Moyana passed away today in the morning due to diabetes. She was born on the 29th Septem...ber 1963 and is survived by her husband and three children. She was a committed member of the party who gave her life to the struggle for democracy in this country. She rose through the ranks to the position of Chimanimani District chairperson; she was later elected to the Manicaland provincial executive before being elected to the present position. MDC is left poorer without her people centred skills which she demonstrated not only to the party but also in business. Tambudzai Moyana was a business woman who observed high business ethics, a revolutionary who never stole or grabbed anything from anyone to realise profits. The MDC has lost a cadre, a mother and a friend to many. She was a woman who demonstrated excellent leadership skills, unquantifiable sacrifice and amazing resilience. Her loss will be felt by all. She will be laid to rest in Bikita (Maregere village) on Sunday the 26th of June 2011. Mourners are gathered at stand number 242 Chimanimani village. May the comforting spirit of the Lord be upon the family and the nation during this difficult moment. Department of Information and Publicity

President Ncube tours Bulawayo Industries

2011-06-21T03:53:00.000-07:00

MDC President Prof Welshman Ncube who is also the Minister of International Trade, Industry and Commerce began a tour of the Bulawayo industries on Friday and today held a meeting with the captains of industry at a local hotel.

His visit comes after Bulawayo has been hit by company closures and relocations mainly to Harare sighting some challenges such as water shortages and capitalisation. This year alone Bulawayo has lost about 87 companies which has left twenty-thousand people jobless.

The industrialists told the MDC President that capitalisation of the companies after the dollarization of the economy was their main challenge and access to the credit lines locally was still impossible for the industry in Bulawayo. They told the President that the issue of company closures in Bulawayo must be treated as an urgent matter as the livelihoods of both the employer and the employees were at risk.

However some companies felt that as suppliers one other big challenge was the relocation of the procurement offices of the parastatals from Bulawayo to Harare.

“We have an example of ZESA that procurement office left Bulawayo to Harare recently once these offices are there it means that the Bulawayo companies will never supply ZESA with anything, thus those that were supplying are already dead or relocating to Harare, it would be a good strategy if such offices return” one industrialist said.

In response to the concern of the industry Prof Ncube acknowledged that the problems facing the Industry of Bulawayo were very serious. He said after visits he had made to the Bulawayo Industries he reported this crisis to the Cabinet which recommended a taskforce that he chairs to look into the ways to assist the Bulawayo Industry.

“ the challenges that you face go beyond the bank’s ability, what we need is for the government to make sure that you (industry) access the capital, something has to be done to save the Industry, I want to make sure that by the 5^th of July I would have made the cabinet aware of these findings” Prof Ncube said.

FEEDBACK FROM SADC SUMMIT

2011-06-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

From the Office of the President and Standing Committee

The Head of the Party who is also the Principal to the Government of National Unity President Welshman Ncube has returned from the extra-ordinary SADC Summit on Zimbabwe held in Sandton Conference Centre South Africa over the weekend.

This is a summary of the resolutions that were taken:

1) The facilitators report on Zimbabwe was accepted and endorsed

2) The review report by the 3 parties was adopted and endorsed

3) The election roadmap was accepted and endorsed

4) All parties were urged to agree on the timelines for the election roadmap

5) The three parties we asked to consider the means and the ways for an implementation mechanism for the election roadmap

6) There was an appeal to the three parties to move with urgency and speed to conclude on these matters before the next SADC summit in August

Overall we are satisfied with the results of the summit. We always knew it would not be the fireworks anticipated by some because for most issues we knew the parties had already agreed on issues. The task at hand has been for us about implementation of what has been already agreed not reinventing the wheel. Our hope is that there will be a clear focus on the implementation on what has been agreed

THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS IN LONDON

2011-06-03T15:41:00.000-07:00

SPEECH BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE, PROF, WELSHMAN NCUBE ON THE OCCASION OF THE COMMONWEALTH BUSINESSS COUNCIL: 6 JULY 2009: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

His Excellency, Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda The Chairman, Mr. Paul Skinner Captains of Industry and Commerce Distinguished delegates Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my pleasure and indeed honour to be present here at the Commonwealth Business Forum – Africa Business Forum 2009 where business and government leaders are gathered to discuss and find ways of promoting growth and development in Africa. Mr. Chairman, your meeting is particularly relevant and well timed, coming at a time when Zimbabwe is actively trying to turnaround the fortunes of the country.

As you may be aware, on the 15th September 2008, the three Political Parties represented in the Zimbabwean Parliament signed the Global Political Agreement which gave birth to the inclusive government.

The new inclusive Government came into office facing an economy that was recording negative growth rates and severe macroeconomic challenges.

Noting this, the new Government had to attend to the structural failures and to resuscitate and rehabilitate the economy. As part of its obligation to address the economic crisis, the new Government came up with the Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme (STERP), a recovery blue print, which itself is a creation of the Global Political Agreement. STERP is therefore an emergency short term stabilisation programme which the new Government saw as a smart partnership for economic revival.

The parties had to come up with an emergency salvage plan that is necessary to address the failures of the economy. The key areas to be addressed by STERP are:

1) Political and governance issues (constitution, media and legislation

2) Social protection (food, education, health)

3) Stabilisation (currency restoration, availability of essential commodities, increasing capacity utilisation)

STERP is therefore anticipated to deliver more than the basic rehabilitation of the economy but also lay down the foundation for a basic democratic African State and create a viable and self sustaining social sector which will generate jobs for the people.

Mr. Chairman,

Let me hasten to mention that as l speak now, the country is in the process of drafting a new constitution which will address some of the imbalances inherent in the current constitution.

Furthermore, it is imperative that we get Zimbabwe working again by restoring the normal capacity utilisation of our productive sectors. This will ensure more employment, disposable incomes, savings and greater vibrancy in the economy.

In this regard, the major pillars of priority number three – stabilization, under the Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme are the Empowerment of the Productive Sectors, the Revitalization of the Enablers that are so critical to the Productive Sectors (such as utilities and infrastructure).

The inclusive government is geared to transforming Zimbabwe into a progressive developmental state, through the promotion of production and increased capacity utilisation in the main economic sectors, namely Agriculture, Mining, Manufacturing and Tourism.

Myself as the Minister responsible for commerce and industry have the mammoth task of revitalising the manufacturing sector.

The manufacturing sector is the epicentre of any economic stabilization programme. It was the biggest contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 1980 at 22% followed by agriculture at 14%. Due to the economic crisis, its contribution has declined to below 17%.

In terms of capacity utilisation in the manufacturing sector, my Ministry is targeting companies in the food processing, beverages, textiles and ginning, clothing and footwear, paper printing and publishing, chemical and petroleum industries with the aim of facilitating increased production of goods from 10% capacity to 60% by year end.

Critical to the attainment of the objective of STERP is resource mobilisation. The inclusive Government has positively engaged regional groupings, SADC and COMESA and the international community at large for extension of possible lines of credit.

At this juncture, let me express my appreciation to both these groupings, SADC and COMESA who have availed to us some lines of credit.

The credit facility would be utilised in the importation of raw materials, and equipment for retooling, amongst other things. Although the global financial crisis is affecting Europe, we believe that you have better space to avail lines of credit. Zimbabwe would be grateful to get such advances as the country is currently operating under sanctions.

Mr. Chairman

As l have alluded to earlier, Government is also aware of the importance and centrality of the utilities in sustaining industrial output.

These will also be given lines of credit. There will be greater accountability on the part of utilities and monitoring of the utilities on the part of responsible line ministries and strict deadlines for repayment of the loans will be adhered to. Corporate governance during this era becomes the hallmark of business practice.

Greediness and corruption should be taboo to every right minded business person. Government would henceforth be an exemplary preacher by not practicing what it denounces in public. The same goes to public office bearers in Non-Governmental Organizations and Civic Organizations.

Price controls. Some of you may be aware that one of the major policy issues that the local industry has always attributed to their underperformance has been the thorny issues of price control, the application of which, reached its peak in 2007/2008.

l am glad to restate that Government has since abandoned price controls as an instrument of economic policy.

The other policy measures available to Government, intended to assist industry to raise its capacity utilisation to achieve the STERP targets include, Toll Manufacturing and Import Substitution and Value Addition.

With respect to the first and in order to enable industries to utilise idle capacity, Government is encouraging companies to undertake toll manufacturing.

This can be done with either local companies or foreign ones. I am pleased to inform you that already, a number of companies in the fertiliser and food sectors are running toll manufacturing arrangements with foreign and local entities.

As with the other two measures, and in a bid to encourage both the saving of the much needed foreign currency and ensure competitiveness of Zimbabwean products on the export market, Government launched an Import Substitution and Value Addition Taskforce in 2006 which gave way to the hosting of Import Substitution and Value Addition Expos in the past two years.

The expos also known as the buy Zimbabwe campaign have a major motive of instilling peoples’ confidence in local products that the local industry produce.

Many opportunities for value addition activities exist in great abundance in the manufacturing sector since at present a considerable number of products are exported before undergoing value addition necessary for generating high returns.

Vast opportunities exist in agro-processing (processing of tobacco, cotton, soya beans, paprika, sugar milling and fruit canning). Further investment opportunities are available in the mining, tourism and agriculture sectors.

On the regional front, Zimbabwe has acceded to the COMESA Customs Union. With the coming in of the COMESA Customs Union, Industry and Commerce will get a reprieve in that the much flagged high customs duties imposed by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) which was taunted as the causal effect of cost push inflation.

These high duties are going to be replaced by a common tariff regime where in all goods traded between COMESA member countries will not attract any duty at all whilst goods sourced from non member countries will attract a common tariff of zero for capital goods and raw materials and 25% for other intermediate and finished goods.

One way to look at this is that industry and commerce will have its costs of landing goods in Zimbabwe reduced drastically as compared to yester year.

Above board, all signs point to the fact that our economy has all the attributes to emerge from the murky waters if only there is cooperation and assistance from our development partners.

I would like to take this opportunity to inform the international communities that Zimbabwe is indeed committed to come out of the woods and to the creation of a conducive business operating environment wherein businesses can thrive and grow.

My government will continue to consult with all interested stakeholders to ensure that Government put in place policies that address all concerns with a view to stimulating positive growth of our economy.

I would like to further challenge the private sector here present to take advantage of the unfolding business opportunities in Zimbabwe. The inclusive Government assures you of the security and growth of your investments in my country.

Mr. Chairman

Let me end by thanking you for the opportunity you have given me to present on some of our policies on this topic.

I thank you.

THE PRESIDENT'S MAIDEN SPEECH

2011-06-03T15:32:00.000-07:00

I rise to contribute to the debate on the Presidential address to this house.

May I start by responding to some of the points which were raised in yesterday’s debate, firstly by the mover of the motion before the House, the Hon. Member, Mr. Dokora. In his contribution yesterday, Mr. Dokora, touched on a number of issues, the first of which relates to the judiciary in this country.

He made certain statements and allegations in respect of the judiciary, for example, that there is need to re-look at the composition of the judiciary with a view to redressing among other things the racial imbalances and also correcting certain perceived tendencies in the judiciary in protecting narrow sectoral interests. With respect, let us look at the facts on the ground about the judiciary in Zimbabwe today.

Starting with the Supreme Court which has five judges, all of whom were appointed to the Supreme Court by this Government after independence. Of the five, three are Blacks, two are Whites. If one then look at the High Court, there are currently eighteen judges in the High Court and of those 18 only four are white, the other 14 are Black. If one wants to be exact and accurate, you will say of the 14, 12 are strictly speaking Blacks, the other two even though Blacks are of Indian extraction. That tells me that there is no issue about racial imbalances in the judiciary requiring the appointment of more black judges as suggested by the honourable member, Mr. Dokora. Indeed, all the 18 High Court judges were appointed after independence, in fact after 1983 by this Government.

In respect of the concern about the ages of those judges which the honourable member described as geriatric, none of those judges is above the age of 70 years, none of them is 80 or 76 years old. The
overwhelming majority of them are below the retirement age for judges which is set by the Constitution of this country at 65 years. Only three of them are above the age of 65 and below the age of 70, and the Constitution of this country allows them to serve if they are below the age of 70. Having made this outline, I respectfully suggest that it seems obvious that the factual basis for the submission by the mover of the motion are in fact erroneous. A little research would have revealed these facts.

It is very dangerous for an honourable member to say anything in this august House which seeks to undermine the authority of the judiciary and its independence. [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear] – If what we want is a judiciary which rules in favour of the preferred position of the Executive on every issue which comes before them, then we do not need the courts. We, might as well go back to what I might call the pre-civilisation stage where the monarchy was the judge, law-giver and the executor. This august House as the law-giver of this nation, must accept the role and responsibility of the judiciary to discharge it constitutional functions of interpreting the laws of the land without fear and favour. Our liberties, freedoms and our being as a nation depend on it.

If I may make reference to the contribution yesterday of the member for Buhera South, he appealed to the Members sitting on this side of the House to let bygones be bygones, to forget and forgive the various violations of our freedom which had taken place before the election and after.

He says, if we sat at independence across this House from the van der Byls and others, we should likewise be able to forgive and forget whatever might have happened in the past. It is crucially important if we are to move forward as a nation, if we are to make a clean start in this House that we accept and acknowledge the wrongs that have been committed in the past. At independence, not only did we forgive and forget, we also allowed those who had perpetrated gross human rights violation to carry on, to remain unaccountable.

After the Gukurahundi episode in the Midlands and Matabeleland, we likewise did not seek to hold those responsible accountable and even His Excellency the President has referred to that period as a period of madness. Thousands of people lost their lives, lost their homes, lost their loved ones and the perpetrators were not held accountable. Because of that failure to hold them accountable, we have seen a replay and re-run of the similar violence. For how long is this nation to look aside, to forgive the taking of lives, the destruction of property in the hope that if we forgive and forget, it will not happen. We know that where there is no accountability, there will never be responsibility. It is for this reason that we have to insist that there be accountability.

Mr. Speaker, this is not an academic debate. Some 34 innocent Zimbabweans whose only crime was to exercise their constitutional right to choose a political party different from the ruling party to belong to, they lost their lives. They did not just lose their lives, many of them lost their lives while the law enforcement agents looked on. Talent Mabika and Chiminya died in Buhera right in front of the Police. Stephens was abducted from a police station where he had sought refuge, was shot and killed. Today, his murderer, who obviously must be know to the police, have not been arrested. In addition to
those who lost their lives, hundreds more are homeless. In Honde Valley alone, one hundred and eighty nine in just one constituency are homeless today as we speak. This past Saturday three more lost their homes and their property. Again the State stands aside and looks on.

Mr. Speaker, thousands more were beaten, tortured and some of them severely. They remained traumatised today as we speak. As Secretary General of the MDC, I have the agony of facing the parents, the children, the relatives of all the people who died, or facing all the persons who lost their homes and their property which is why I said this is not an academic debate and this is not a debate to score political goals. This is a debate about the lives of peace loving Zimbabweans. They expect protection from the State. They pay their taxes from their hard earned money so that the State can protect them. It is for the reason that we are saying that we expected His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe to confront and address this issue.

If I many also refer to the contribution of the member who has seconded the motion Hon. Majange. He took issue that those of us who sit on this side of the House - described us as having some childish behaviours, he described the conduct of ordinary members of the public who might or might not have made certain slogans when His Excellency the President was coming to address this House. He described it as disgusting and lacking in respect. Let me say that respect is for the people of this country to give and respect for us as honourable members of this House and all others have to be earned. When the honourable member stands up in this House and states that in order to resolve the land question, we have to kill and expect to earn the respect of the ordinary Zimbabwean that is not going to happen. Indeed I never thought I would live long enough to hear an honorable member of this House who took oath barely two weeks ago to uphold and defend the laws of this House stand up in this same House and advocating for murder.

Mr Speaker, if I may refer you to the proper Hansard where the speech appeared, column 36 and I quote what is reported in the Hansard "It will appear that the only way to have access to land is to kill."
Those are the words Mr Speaker. I am familiar with all the rules of interpretation and there is only one meaning that can be attached to the statement I have read. That meaning is that it is a propagation
for killing.

I appeal to all honorable members in all sincerity to accept that this country cannot move forward, this country can never be truly classified as a democratic country unless and until we accept the fundamental premises of democracy. These fundamental premises in terms of the constitution to accept that there will be competition for political office, we accept that those who are not members of Zanu (PF) have a right, an unqualified right to participate in the political process of this country. To accept that the sovereignty of this nation rests in the people of Zimbabwe and that it is the people
of Zimbabwe who from time to time have to choose which political party will lead this party. It is the people of Zimbabwe who must decide in free and fair elections, not violent elections characterised by
murder, intimidation, arson, as to which political party should govern. When that right, that freedom of choice is violated, the very premises of our constitutional order is undone.

We make these submissions in the hope that the 2000 elections are the last elections that will have this violence. In order to move forward as a nation, in order for us to build that prosperous Zimbabwe, in order for us to solve the economic problems, which face this country, we need to get our politics and democracy right. If we do not we will continue to be the laughing stock of the world. In conclusion, let me say a lot has been said about land reform. Those of us on this side of the House are very clear that the land question is a national question. It is an unresolved national question, unresolved for 20
years since independence principally because of the failure of the honorable members on the other side of the House to resolve it.

Itmay be convenient Mr Speaker, to give excuses but we all know that since 1990 this House empowered the government to pass whatever laws were necessary to resolve the land question. The problems created by the Lancaster House Constitution expired on 18 April 1990, more than 10 years ago. Which means that it was open to the Zanu (PF) government to pass whatever law, to take whatever action it deemed necessary to resolve the land question but it did not.

The land question can never be used as a pretext for murder et me conclude, those on this side of the House - accept that we have to resolve the land problem and resolve it urgently. But we cannot do so through violence, through intimidation and through force. We can only resolve it through transparent open processes which are acceptable to all Zimbabweans. Considering that there is national consensus on the urgency on that question, it is not necessary to continue to use the land

8 August 200