http://www.mmegi.bw
EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer
Botswana and Zimbabwe intend to engage in projects that will result in
mutual economic cooperation between the two Southern African Development
Community (SADC) neighbours.
Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Ponatshego Kedikilwe and
Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai met in Gaborone last Saturday
and discussed the Hwange Colliery Power Station project from which Botswana
wants to import power and in return help Zimbabwe exploit its vast coal
deposits.
Minerals, energy and water resources spokesperson Mpho Kerapeletswe said
that the duo focused on how best the two countries can cooperate to mitigate
the effects of the prevailing power supply and demand mismatch.
She said that the two leaders looked at previous failed attempts to work out
satisfactory arrangements that would have made it possible for Botswana to
import power from Zimbabwe, through the exporting of coal from Morupule
Colliery.
According to Kerapeletswe, Premier Tsvangirai said the power deficit was
partly due to Hwange Colliery's inability to produce sufficient tonnage of
coal to power five units. The colliery is only able to produce sufficient
coal to keep two units operational. The station, she said has six
generators - 1 to 4 with a capacity of 120 MW each and 5 to 6 with capacity
of 220 MW each. She said that Tsvangirai revealed that the colliery's assets
are in a state of disrepair, especially the dragline that excavates coal,
due to lack of spares.
"He said that as of now, Zimbabwe does not have sufficient financial
resources to recapitalise the mine. Optimum output of the mine is about
9,000 tonnes a day, compared to the present actual of about 2,000 tonnes.
Tsvangirai also said that output of between 6,000 to 7,000 tonnes per day
would be acceptable," she said.
Kerapeletswe said in a press statement that the Zimbabwean premier proposed
that Gaborone should explore the possibility of Botswana companies which
have suitable equipment for mining that might be idling, to move their plant
to the Hwange Colliery to assist with the coal mining activity, on the
understanding that there was to be equitable sharing of costs and benefits
among all the stakeholders.
"The meeting follows an earlier one that Minister Kedikilwe held with
Zimbabwe's Minister of Energy on possibilities of power generation and
transmission to Botswana. The two ministers met during the SADC meeting for
ministers responsible for water in Maputo, Mozambique, in July. At that
meeting, the ministers tasked their technical teams to explore the
possibility of Botswana and Zimbabwe through their two utilities, ZESA and
BPC of rehabilitating existing infrastructure in Zimbabwe for purposes of
power generation and transmission," she explained.
The task teams were to report to the two ministers once their investigations
were complete. Consequently, the Botswana team, including BPC officials, is
in Harare.
Once the report is ready, Kedikilwe and his Zimbabwe counterparts are
expected to meet in Francistown to chart the way forward.
She said that Tsvangirai revealed that Zimbabwe has huge coal deposits close
to the Botswana border, estimated at one billion tonnes and that Zimbabwe
is exploring the possibility of developing a 4 X 500MW power station using a
refurbished plant from France.
Monday, August 10, 2009
So close, yet so far away
http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=20903
August 9, 2009
By Eddie Cross
I BUMPED into Max Chigweda last week and in the course of our discussion he
said to me, "At least we are closer to the end than the start".
That just about sums up where we are right now and the territory in front of
us is as deadly as any we have traversed so far. As has been the case so
often in the past 30 years, we are dependent in part on what the region does
or does not do to ensure we can cover the ground that remains.
I am quite encouraged by the news from South Africa where the Prime Minister
saw the President on Monday. It seems clear to us that the South African
leadership understands the situation we are in right now, both the President
and the Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs are savvy, street wise and
certainly more committed to a democratic outcome than was Thabo Mbeki. But
the ghosts of the Mbeki administration remain and those in the region who
want to try and protect Zanu-PF from its fate are still embedded in the
system and active.
The visit to South Africa and the discussions held with the President are in
the same league as the September 1976 visit to Pretoria by Henry Kissinger
when the Americans delivered the final blow that led to the demise of the
Rhodesian Front and the eventual transfer of power to Mugabe in 1980.
Because of the nature of diplomacy it will be some time before we see the
final outcome of all this diplomatic manoeuvring.
If we look back over the past six months since MDC entered the transitional
government, we can point to a number of key achievements - we have
stabilised the economy, secured a resumption of all basic services - health,
education, water, sanitation and communications. We have been able to
restore markets and get the retail and wholesale sector back into business.
The finances of central government are recovering steadily - total revenues
to the State have grown from $4 million in January to $70 million in July.
My guess is that the theft and plunder of public assets has been reduced
from perhaps $1, 5 billion last year to $250 million. That is partly because
we have closed down the Reserve Bank and partly because there is not much
left to steal.
We have been able to partly restore our relations with the international
community - the World Bank and the IMF are both back in Zimbabwe with
limited programmes of technical assistance and the Bank is making its first
forays into local finance since 1997. We have made formal contact with
virtually all the OECD states as well as the Non-Aligned countries;
international grant aid has reached $100 million a month and lines of credit
negotiated, although we have yet to see the colour of this money.
On the downside we have seen little progress in media reform. No changes in
the attitude or the activities of the security agencies and no changes to
repressive legislation or improvements in the management system for
elections. The constitutional reform process has started, but faces a
difficult and tortuous path over the mountains in its way. The judicial
system as a whole is being used as an instrument of oppression and a
political weapon. No progress has been made in agriculture where output and
activity continues to decline.
Yesterday the South African Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs said
that she wanted to see "the acceleration of the implementation of the Global
Political Agreement". In fact I think she said the "full implementation" and
that would be even better. Mo re we could not ask for, as the GPA, even
though it has numerous weaknesses and faults, is the only way forward.
I attended the annual Congress of the Commercial Farmers Union this week in
Harare. It was a courageous and well organised affair and Deon Theron was
elected President. I was glad to see both - it is vital that while we work
on the solution to our problems and negotiate the difficult terrain ahead of
us that we keep what is left of our economic institutions alive and
operational. Deon will make a good President and is an important player in
this situation.
The keynote address was given by a farmer from Zambia who is the current
President of the International Association of Agricultural Unions. It was an
excellent summary of the global state of agriculture and it was good to see
a farmer from Africa in such an influential position. Zimbabwe's displaced
farmers are making a huge impact on agriculture throughout the continent and
are a real testimony to what we have lost in the way of human capital.
C G Tracey died the other day and his book "All for nothing?" was on sale at
the CFU Congress. It is an excellent read for anyone who is interested in
this country and wants to see what has gone on over the past century - no
man played a bigger role in building the country and served its best
interests more than "CG", as he was known. The title was suggested by his
wife before she died and all he did was to add the question mark to
emphasise that it is not yet all over.
I hear rumbles that JZ may visit Zimbabwe for talks with Mugabe shortly. The
Vice President of SA is here for the funeral of our Vice President who died
last week and he will be buried on Monday and no doubt talks will take place
on the sidelines - funerals are great events for this sort of activity.
Certainly we will have to wait for a couple of weeks to ascertain what is
going to happen on this front.
If (as usual) we are let down by the region, we will have to fight our way
through some very tough terrain. There is no doubt in my mind where the
people are and if we can mobilise the resources required, we could stun Zanu
PF yet again with a significant electoral victory in the bi elections. I was
listening yesterday to some music especially written for the MDC and one
song in particular asked "if you vote for Zanu, where are you going?"
That just about sums things up.
This is not the time to relax or to abandon the prayer mat - we need to work
and pray. At its heart this is a spiritual battle and both activities are
vital to our eventual victory.
August 9, 2009
By Eddie Cross
I BUMPED into Max Chigweda last week and in the course of our discussion he
said to me, "At least we are closer to the end than the start".
That just about sums up where we are right now and the territory in front of
us is as deadly as any we have traversed so far. As has been the case so
often in the past 30 years, we are dependent in part on what the region does
or does not do to ensure we can cover the ground that remains.
I am quite encouraged by the news from South Africa where the Prime Minister
saw the President on Monday. It seems clear to us that the South African
leadership understands the situation we are in right now, both the President
and the Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs are savvy, street wise and
certainly more committed to a democratic outcome than was Thabo Mbeki. But
the ghosts of the Mbeki administration remain and those in the region who
want to try and protect Zanu-PF from its fate are still embedded in the
system and active.
The visit to South Africa and the discussions held with the President are in
the same league as the September 1976 visit to Pretoria by Henry Kissinger
when the Americans delivered the final blow that led to the demise of the
Rhodesian Front and the eventual transfer of power to Mugabe in 1980.
Because of the nature of diplomacy it will be some time before we see the
final outcome of all this diplomatic manoeuvring.
If we look back over the past six months since MDC entered the transitional
government, we can point to a number of key achievements - we have
stabilised the economy, secured a resumption of all basic services - health,
education, water, sanitation and communications. We have been able to
restore markets and get the retail and wholesale sector back into business.
The finances of central government are recovering steadily - total revenues
to the State have grown from $4 million in January to $70 million in July.
My guess is that the theft and plunder of public assets has been reduced
from perhaps $1, 5 billion last year to $250 million. That is partly because
we have closed down the Reserve Bank and partly because there is not much
left to steal.
We have been able to partly restore our relations with the international
community - the World Bank and the IMF are both back in Zimbabwe with
limited programmes of technical assistance and the Bank is making its first
forays into local finance since 1997. We have made formal contact with
virtually all the OECD states as well as the Non-Aligned countries;
international grant aid has reached $100 million a month and lines of credit
negotiated, although we have yet to see the colour of this money.
On the downside we have seen little progress in media reform. No changes in
the attitude or the activities of the security agencies and no changes to
repressive legislation or improvements in the management system for
elections. The constitutional reform process has started, but faces a
difficult and tortuous path over the mountains in its way. The judicial
system as a whole is being used as an instrument of oppression and a
political weapon. No progress has been made in agriculture where output and
activity continues to decline.
Yesterday the South African Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs said
that she wanted to see "the acceleration of the implementation of the Global
Political Agreement". In fact I think she said the "full implementation" and
that would be even better. Mo re we could not ask for, as the GPA, even
though it has numerous weaknesses and faults, is the only way forward.
I attended the annual Congress of the Commercial Farmers Union this week in
Harare. It was a courageous and well organised affair and Deon Theron was
elected President. I was glad to see both - it is vital that while we work
on the solution to our problems and negotiate the difficult terrain ahead of
us that we keep what is left of our economic institutions alive and
operational. Deon will make a good President and is an important player in
this situation.
The keynote address was given by a farmer from Zambia who is the current
President of the International Association of Agricultural Unions. It was an
excellent summary of the global state of agriculture and it was good to see
a farmer from Africa in such an influential position. Zimbabwe's displaced
farmers are making a huge impact on agriculture throughout the continent and
are a real testimony to what we have lost in the way of human capital.
C G Tracey died the other day and his book "All for nothing?" was on sale at
the CFU Congress. It is an excellent read for anyone who is interested in
this country and wants to see what has gone on over the past century - no
man played a bigger role in building the country and served its best
interests more than "CG", as he was known. The title was suggested by his
wife before she died and all he did was to add the question mark to
emphasise that it is not yet all over.
I hear rumbles that JZ may visit Zimbabwe for talks with Mugabe shortly. The
Vice President of SA is here for the funeral of our Vice President who died
last week and he will be buried on Monday and no doubt talks will take place
on the sidelines - funerals are great events for this sort of activity.
Certainly we will have to wait for a couple of weeks to ascertain what is
going to happen on this front.
If (as usual) we are let down by the region, we will have to fight our way
through some very tough terrain. There is no doubt in my mind where the
people are and if we can mobilise the resources required, we could stun Zanu
PF yet again with a significant electoral victory in the bi elections. I was
listening yesterday to some music especially written for the MDC and one
song in particular asked "if you vote for Zanu, where are you going?"
That just about sums things up.
This is not the time to relax or to abandon the prayer mat - we need to work
and pray. At its heart this is a spiritual battle and both activities are
vital to our eventual victory.
Friday, June 26, 2009
We need to compromise,though its painful
A friend of mine,Tatadzei grew up in a luxurious home with relatives visiting them almost everyday .It was really fun because my friend’s rich parents would package groceries for their relatives. The relatives used to pamper him especially the uncles claiming that if he visited them they would slaughter a cow. He would visit them and indeed they would spoil him. He would be treated different from other children so that he would go and give a good report about the relatives to his parents.Uncle Mosinyi became very close to their family because he would send a lot of goodies during harvest time from the villages.Unfortunately this was short lived as Tatadzei’s parents were involved in an accident when they were coming from a business trip.All of a sudden the young man found himself an orphan; this was indeed very tragic for him.
As you know in our African custom that when a rich person dies everyone want to be guilty in terms of ownership of property,even those who were not greeting the deceased will begin to make incredible claims from the deceased’s estate.Remember the words of the deceased becomes diamond,if you say “he/she said….”there will deafening silence from the audience to the extent that you can hear the sound of a pin when it drops.Uncle Mosinyiclaimed that Tatadzei’s father had phoned just after the accident .He had said”U..ncle M..u..par..a..dz..i look after my so…n and wealth unt..il my child grows up”.There was silence from the other end as he kept saying “hello hello hello”.After these emotional words from Uncle Mosinyithere was another round of great mourning,others wailing,screaming ,hitting themselves against the wall claiming that they wanted to kill themselves and follow the deceased.I assure you there was enough to drink and eat after the dramma,so you can imagine the noise and action.
It was clear to everyone that Uncle Mosinyi was going to take over the estate.When he took over the first three months he was very nice to Tatadzei,he would give him pocket money for school,ensure that the maid look very well after him.After three months Uncle Mosinyi decided to relocate with his family to the city that’s when Tatadzei’s life became a living hell.The wife of the uncle reminded the husband that there was no one looking after their home in the village.The uncle suggested their eldest son to go to the village instead and there was a serious protest from the mother who refused to eat claiming that the uncle was favouring his brother’s son.So after emence pressure Tatadzei was sent to the villages to look after the homestead while learning at a nearby school.
Tatadzei was in the rural areas staying alone and attending a very poor school where students will reach form three unable to finish a sentence in English while the Uncle’s children had been taken to a plushy and expensive boarding schools. After two years Tatadzei had become a pure village boy who used to survive from handouts from neighbors and little harvest from the field.In the meantime uncle Mosinyi had forgotten totally about the boy in the village,he had even changed his accent.he was sitting from board meeting to another plundering Tatadzei’s wealth.When Tatadzei miraculously passed Uncle Mosinyi told him there was no money for him to go to university because he was supposed to go with his family to Dubai on holiday.Tatadzei had given up hope of better life when the village chief sold his three beasts to fund the bright and promising youngman to go to university.In life its very sad that when you are down your relatives laugh at you ,but friends often help.The boy went to university and Uncle Mosinyi came fuming at the village chief for sending the youngman to university.He even threatened the village chief and told him that he was good for nothing oldman who was throwing his few beasts in the drain as nothing would come out of the youngman.The oldman was left with only eight cattle after helping the youngman.
When Tatadzei got at the university he got a scholarship to study in Europe and that was the last time anybody heard about him.Being an orphan nobody cared anywhere.After many years everybody just declared him dead as no one had heard about him
In the meantime Tatadzei became a successful scholar and businessman right in the Queen’s land(UK).When he heard that there was cholera epidemic in Africa he was very troubled because he had not forgotten the village chief who had helped him.He decided to fly to Africa and check the safety of the village chief who seemed to have become his only true relative.When he arrived in Africa ,Tatadzei bought a range rover for the village chief and employed a driver to chauffer the oldman.He even opened a supermarket for the village chief.
The village chief requested Tatadzei to escort him somewhere and he accepted.The village chief gave directions until they saw some house which was about to fall on its own.When he got off the car he was greeted by a stench like that of a carcass and flies hovering around as if there was a party for them.He heard a frail voice from inside the house and decided to go and see who it was.He was taken aback to see Uncle Mosinyi and three of his children lying lifelessly like a skeleton.They were all dying from cholera ,themother and the daughter had passed on a week earlier.Tatadzei sighed andfainted.When he woke up he wanted to attack Uncle Mosinyi for what he had done to him.This was the man who had plundered his father’s wealth denied him a penny from it.His wound of anger and bitterness became fresh and he wept uncontrollably like a child lost at the market.After minutes of crying he went back into the car and became stone cold,no trace of emotion,anger or hate.He just wanted to leave the place and let these heartless relatives perish for what they had done to him.They had failed to run his parents’ business until it was taken over by messengers of court ,the messenger of court took everything including the bed and even clothes, thank God , at least its illegal to confisticate people otherwise they would not have survived. So they just came to the village with nothing except clothes they were wearing.All his children had failed school resulting in some of them becoming thieves ,gangsters and murderers.
When they were leaving in the car there was deafening silence, suddenly Tatadzei instructed the driver to turn back.Tatadzei would not have been arrested by police if he had gone leaving those relatives to die.He adopted the spirit of compromise,and believe me its difficult to compromise with a person who has persecuted you before.Tatadzei saved lives and relatives because of the compromise.If he has neglected his relatives the whole community were going to label him a wicked witch, possibly bring a curse upon his life and history was not going to forgive him.
Compromise is painful,but practical and definitely bring results.An example is South Africa,Mandela compromised that’s why we are going to attend world Cup,that’s why Mr Zuma(Msholozi) is President today,that is why all national Televisions in the world are featuring South Africa for confederation games.If he had not done that Umkonto WeSizwe could still be running in the bushes and ditches brushing with snakes ,lizards and all the filth of the bush.I was told by comrades who fought the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe that there is no Nandos and peri-peri ,no dates except with bullets and bombs(zvimbambaira),no comfortable beds,no air condition….the list is endless.We have seen nations of hardliners involved in unending wars .I was born knowing there was conflict in Somalia and now I am old,but there is still fighting.There have not done anything for their nation except to bring more pain and starvation.They are millions of Somalian refugees in almost every nation in Africa.I am sorry to use Somalia,but it’s a fact that there are where they are because they don’t want to compromise.This is the same situation in DRC,if you can’t compromise you are guaranteed of exterminating each other until there is no-one in the land except dead decaying bodies ,vultures and hyenas.I want you to picture that country ,but I definitely don’t want to be part of that.
In Zimbabwe President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai came together to avert a catastrophe in Zimbabwe.If Mr Tsvangirai had not done what Tatadzei did people were going to die from hunger and desease.I want the world to know that there are hardliners in both MDC and ZANU PF,those who are not interested in the welfare of the nation ,but want to see a perceived enemy who is actually a relative perish.I want the hardliners to know that they are the enemies of the nation.Such kind of people do not belong to our beautiful nation rather they belong to the seas with pirates.What was done by those Zimbabwean asylum seekers in UK to Prime Minister Tsvangirai was a non-event,it’s a sign of ungratefulness and lack of respect for that nation and their own leader.Those to me were only misguided hardliners who needs to respect elders.I think that these people have lost their manners as Africans because being invited as they were,there were always better avenues to channel their concerns.Even if you baths with expensive soaps that will not change who you are.Don’t forget that you used to eat rice and chicken and have new clothes on Christmas day.You really embarrassed us as a nation because Mr Tsvangirai was representing the interests of the nation not any political party and surely you should not be proud of what you did.Mr Tsvangirai should not be dettered by such selfish elements because the bigger struggle has already been won.Ever since the two fueding parties agreed to work together there is no going back and Zimbabwe has surely come out of the doldrums of uncertainity without any iota of doubt.
President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai have given us hope as a nation.We appreciate that there are hardliners in both MDC and ZANU PF,but my advise to you gentlemen is ignore them and do what is right.I want to congratulate you gentlemen for averting a Somalia situation in our nation.If you remain resolute and true to the cause a beautiful Zimbabwe hardliners have no place in Zimbabwe and history.Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai should climb the highest mountain in Zimbabwe ,order coffee from there and look at the vast plains and lands of Zimbabwe and say what should we do for our people because they have suffered a lot.Crack jokes and laugh a laughter that will reverberate in the whole nation of Zimbabwe and the country will be one again,rain will begin to pour freely to the earth and give life to the dry ,thirsty land.Your attitudes towards each other is a temperature gauge for the national behavior.So far genuine patriotic Zimbabweans are happy with the way you are resolving differences.Keep that respect for each other and definitely we will be the most proud generation of the time.Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s life and experiences has taught me a great lesson on compromise and forgiveness and I hope we will all learn something and make a better future for our children without hate,bitterness and revenge.President Mugabe himself compromised a lot after 1980,so compromise is the key to a better Zimbabwe.Brothers and sisters do not loose hope Zimbabwe will rise again,this time better than ever and I will surely be there to celebrate with you.
Simbarashe Chirimubwe is the President of Concerned Africans Association(CAA) and Global Zimbabwe Forum Coordinator for Africa.
As you know in our African custom that when a rich person dies everyone want to be guilty in terms of ownership of property,even those who were not greeting the deceased will begin to make incredible claims from the deceased’s estate.Remember the words of the deceased becomes diamond,if you say “he/she said….”there will deafening silence from the audience to the extent that you can hear the sound of a pin when it drops.Uncle Mosinyiclaimed that Tatadzei’s father had phoned just after the accident .He had said”U..ncle M..u..par..a..dz..i look after my so…n and wealth unt..il my child grows up”.There was silence from the other end as he kept saying “hello hello hello”.After these emotional words from Uncle Mosinyithere was another round of great mourning,others wailing,screaming ,hitting themselves against the wall claiming that they wanted to kill themselves and follow the deceased.I assure you there was enough to drink and eat after the dramma,so you can imagine the noise and action.
It was clear to everyone that Uncle Mosinyi was going to take over the estate.When he took over the first three months he was very nice to Tatadzei,he would give him pocket money for school,ensure that the maid look very well after him.After three months Uncle Mosinyi decided to relocate with his family to the city that’s when Tatadzei’s life became a living hell.The wife of the uncle reminded the husband that there was no one looking after their home in the village.The uncle suggested their eldest son to go to the village instead and there was a serious protest from the mother who refused to eat claiming that the uncle was favouring his brother’s son.So after emence pressure Tatadzei was sent to the villages to look after the homestead while learning at a nearby school.
Tatadzei was in the rural areas staying alone and attending a very poor school where students will reach form three unable to finish a sentence in English while the Uncle’s children had been taken to a plushy and expensive boarding schools. After two years Tatadzei had become a pure village boy who used to survive from handouts from neighbors and little harvest from the field.In the meantime uncle Mosinyi had forgotten totally about the boy in the village,he had even changed his accent.he was sitting from board meeting to another plundering Tatadzei’s wealth.When Tatadzei miraculously passed Uncle Mosinyi told him there was no money for him to go to university because he was supposed to go with his family to Dubai on holiday.Tatadzei had given up hope of better life when the village chief sold his three beasts to fund the bright and promising youngman to go to university.In life its very sad that when you are down your relatives laugh at you ,but friends often help.The boy went to university and Uncle Mosinyi came fuming at the village chief for sending the youngman to university.He even threatened the village chief and told him that he was good for nothing oldman who was throwing his few beasts in the drain as nothing would come out of the youngman.The oldman was left with only eight cattle after helping the youngman.
When Tatadzei got at the university he got a scholarship to study in Europe and that was the last time anybody heard about him.Being an orphan nobody cared anywhere.After many years everybody just declared him dead as no one had heard about him
In the meantime Tatadzei became a successful scholar and businessman right in the Queen’s land(UK).When he heard that there was cholera epidemic in Africa he was very troubled because he had not forgotten the village chief who had helped him.He decided to fly to Africa and check the safety of the village chief who seemed to have become his only true relative.When he arrived in Africa ,Tatadzei bought a range rover for the village chief and employed a driver to chauffer the oldman.He even opened a supermarket for the village chief.
The village chief requested Tatadzei to escort him somewhere and he accepted.The village chief gave directions until they saw some house which was about to fall on its own.When he got off the car he was greeted by a stench like that of a carcass and flies hovering around as if there was a party for them.He heard a frail voice from inside the house and decided to go and see who it was.He was taken aback to see Uncle Mosinyi and three of his children lying lifelessly like a skeleton.They were all dying from cholera ,themother and the daughter had passed on a week earlier.Tatadzei sighed andfainted.When he woke up he wanted to attack Uncle Mosinyi for what he had done to him.This was the man who had plundered his father’s wealth denied him a penny from it.His wound of anger and bitterness became fresh and he wept uncontrollably like a child lost at the market.After minutes of crying he went back into the car and became stone cold,no trace of emotion,anger or hate.He just wanted to leave the place and let these heartless relatives perish for what they had done to him.They had failed to run his parents’ business until it was taken over by messengers of court ,the messenger of court took everything including the bed and even clothes, thank God , at least its illegal to confisticate people otherwise they would not have survived. So they just came to the village with nothing except clothes they were wearing.All his children had failed school resulting in some of them becoming thieves ,gangsters and murderers.
When they were leaving in the car there was deafening silence, suddenly Tatadzei instructed the driver to turn back.Tatadzei would not have been arrested by police if he had gone leaving those relatives to die.He adopted the spirit of compromise,and believe me its difficult to compromise with a person who has persecuted you before.Tatadzei saved lives and relatives because of the compromise.If he has neglected his relatives the whole community were going to label him a wicked witch, possibly bring a curse upon his life and history was not going to forgive him.
Compromise is painful,but practical and definitely bring results.An example is South Africa,Mandela compromised that’s why we are going to attend world Cup,that’s why Mr Zuma(Msholozi) is President today,that is why all national Televisions in the world are featuring South Africa for confederation games.If he had not done that Umkonto WeSizwe could still be running in the bushes and ditches brushing with snakes ,lizards and all the filth of the bush.I was told by comrades who fought the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe that there is no Nandos and peri-peri ,no dates except with bullets and bombs(zvimbambaira),no comfortable beds,no air condition….the list is endless.We have seen nations of hardliners involved in unending wars .I was born knowing there was conflict in Somalia and now I am old,but there is still fighting.There have not done anything for their nation except to bring more pain and starvation.They are millions of Somalian refugees in almost every nation in Africa.I am sorry to use Somalia,but it’s a fact that there are where they are because they don’t want to compromise.This is the same situation in DRC,if you can’t compromise you are guaranteed of exterminating each other until there is no-one in the land except dead decaying bodies ,vultures and hyenas.I want you to picture that country ,but I definitely don’t want to be part of that.
In Zimbabwe President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai came together to avert a catastrophe in Zimbabwe.If Mr Tsvangirai had not done what Tatadzei did people were going to die from hunger and desease.I want the world to know that there are hardliners in both MDC and ZANU PF,those who are not interested in the welfare of the nation ,but want to see a perceived enemy who is actually a relative perish.I want the hardliners to know that they are the enemies of the nation.Such kind of people do not belong to our beautiful nation rather they belong to the seas with pirates.What was done by those Zimbabwean asylum seekers in UK to Prime Minister Tsvangirai was a non-event,it’s a sign of ungratefulness and lack of respect for that nation and their own leader.Those to me were only misguided hardliners who needs to respect elders.I think that these people have lost their manners as Africans because being invited as they were,there were always better avenues to channel their concerns.Even if you baths with expensive soaps that will not change who you are.Don’t forget that you used to eat rice and chicken and have new clothes on Christmas day.You really embarrassed us as a nation because Mr Tsvangirai was representing the interests of the nation not any political party and surely you should not be proud of what you did.Mr Tsvangirai should not be dettered by such selfish elements because the bigger struggle has already been won.Ever since the two fueding parties agreed to work together there is no going back and Zimbabwe has surely come out of the doldrums of uncertainity without any iota of doubt.
President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai have given us hope as a nation.We appreciate that there are hardliners in both MDC and ZANU PF,but my advise to you gentlemen is ignore them and do what is right.I want to congratulate you gentlemen for averting a Somalia situation in our nation.If you remain resolute and true to the cause a beautiful Zimbabwe hardliners have no place in Zimbabwe and history.Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai should climb the highest mountain in Zimbabwe ,order coffee from there and look at the vast plains and lands of Zimbabwe and say what should we do for our people because they have suffered a lot.Crack jokes and laugh a laughter that will reverberate in the whole nation of Zimbabwe and the country will be one again,rain will begin to pour freely to the earth and give life to the dry ,thirsty land.Your attitudes towards each other is a temperature gauge for the national behavior.So far genuine patriotic Zimbabweans are happy with the way you are resolving differences.Keep that respect for each other and definitely we will be the most proud generation of the time.Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s life and experiences has taught me a great lesson on compromise and forgiveness and I hope we will all learn something and make a better future for our children without hate,bitterness and revenge.President Mugabe himself compromised a lot after 1980,so compromise is the key to a better Zimbabwe.Brothers and sisters do not loose hope Zimbabwe will rise again,this time better than ever and I will surely be there to celebrate with you.
Simbarashe Chirimubwe is the President of Concerned Africans Association(CAA) and Global Zimbabwe Forum Coordinator for Africa.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Military honours awaits Tsvangirai in Germany
Harare (ZimEye) – THE German government has announced that it will receive Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai with full military honours during his visit next week.
Tsvangirai is currently on a three-week tour as he “seeks re-engagement with the international community.”
Reports say German Chancellor Angela Merkel will host Tsvangirai for talks on Monday.
Tsvangirai's trip to Germany will succeed talks between him and US President Barack Obama at the White House Friday.
(ZimEye, Zimbabwe)
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
MDC-T welcomes the lost sons of the struggle
ZIMBABWE - BULAWAYO - The Movement for Democratic Change led by Prime Minster Morgan Tsvangirai has welcomed the move by the Nkayi District leadership and 23 councilors to cross the floor back to the MDC, saying it was a triumph for democracy.
In an interview with ZimDaily, MDC party spokesperson and Minister of Information Communications Technology Nelson Chamisa said it was good news to hear about the move, as people should be united under one banner of the MDC, which was championed by workers.
“ Well in the minds of every Zimbabwean there always been one MDC and that MDC is alive and kicking.
It is also growing from strength to strength and we have enough space for all democrats who want to participate in the building of this country,” said Chamisa.
He said when MDC was formed in 1999 it was a united force and people should unite under one banner than to have splinter groups.
“ In fact its good news for democracy and people should be united under their movement of MDC.
When we formed the MDC it didn’t have surnames, prefixes or suffixes,” he said.
Chamisa’s comments came in the light of a decision made by the Nkayi District executive and all councillors in Nkayi Rural District Council belonging to Mutambara to cross floor to the real MDC apparently irked by the “dictatorial” tendencies of their leadership.
However, reacting to the defections MDC-M, deputy spokesperson, Renson Gasela said the defected should inform the leadership about their decision in writing so that they would know that there are vacancies in the wards they represent.
“In terms of the GPA on the Electoral Act section 21.1 stipulates that if vacancies arise in the wards there is no other party which can nominate candidates except for the one in which vacancies have arisen.
This means MDC and Zanu PF could not file candidates in the event of a by election. But all other parties are not forbidden to field candidates or participate as independents,” said Gasela.
He said if it was true that the councilors have defected to MDC, then it entailed that they are now vacancies and by elections would be conducted.
“However, we can not go on to say there are vacancies before we get a formal communication from the councillors. We can’t proceed on the basis of a newspaper article because tomorrow, they might turn and say they never said that,” he said.
Gasela said if the councillors and the party’s district leadership have defected in sympathy with Bhebhe then it meant that some provisions of their party’s constitution were flouted, since he was not allowed to participate in any party activities because of his suspension.
“ Bhebhe still remains our party member because he hasn’t been expelled from the party. However if the leadership and the councilors defect because of him then they have flouted some provisions of the party’s constitution because he was suspended from being involved in any part activities.
Bhebhe’s case matter is still pending at the National Disciplinary Committee but the councillors’ meant they are no longer councillors. But we can’t proceed to take action because they said it to the press,” said Gasela.
On Saturday the party’s district executive called a meeting to examine the circumstances surrounding the suspension of the Nkayi South member of the House of Assembly, Mr Abdenico Bhebhe held at Ziminya village in Nkayi.
The move came after the councilors refused to accept a directive by the party to sideline Mr Bhebhe in all party business.
Letters, which were signed by the party’s secretary general, Professor Welshman Ncube, addressed to the district chairperson and copied to all ward chairpersons and all councillors in the district, indicated that Mr Bhebhe should be sidelined until his suspension is lifted.
“This is to advise that Mr (Abdenico Bhebhe) was suspended on 9 May 2009 by the party’s National Disciplinary Committee from being a member of the party.
Therefore, until such a time that his suspension is lifted or deposed of in whatever manner by the National Disciplinary Committee, he is suspended from all activities to do with the party and should be excluded in all party activities. During his suspension he is treated as if he is not a member of the party.
Please ensure that this information is communicated to all structures in your province, particularly those structures in the district from which Hon Bhebhe comes from,” read the letter dated 14 May.
However, the councillors ignored the directive, saying they would stand by Mr Bhebhe until the leadership comes to explain to them the charges, which are being laid against him.
That prompted the Nkayi District party executive to call for the Saturday meeting, in which Mr Bhebhe was asked to explain to them the circumstances surrounding his suspension.
A resolution was then made after the meeting to cross-floor to MDC-T with the party’s executive and councillors saying there was no legal reason to suspend Mr Bhebhe and accused their leadership of disrespecting them.
Reports say leaders from other party districts whose MPs were suspended were likely to adopt the same move as they had also reportedly ignored the directive to sideline their representatives in Parliament.
In an interview with ZimDaily, MDC party spokesperson and Minister of Information Communications Technology Nelson Chamisa said it was good news to hear about the move, as people should be united under one banner of the MDC, which was championed by workers.
“ Well in the minds of every Zimbabwean there always been one MDC and that MDC is alive and kicking.
It is also growing from strength to strength and we have enough space for all democrats who want to participate in the building of this country,” said Chamisa.
He said when MDC was formed in 1999 it was a united force and people should unite under one banner than to have splinter groups.
“ In fact its good news for democracy and people should be united under their movement of MDC.
When we formed the MDC it didn’t have surnames, prefixes or suffixes,” he said.
Chamisa’s comments came in the light of a decision made by the Nkayi District executive and all councillors in Nkayi Rural District Council belonging to Mutambara to cross floor to the real MDC apparently irked by the “dictatorial” tendencies of their leadership.
However, reacting to the defections MDC-M, deputy spokesperson, Renson Gasela said the defected should inform the leadership about their decision in writing so that they would know that there are vacancies in the wards they represent.
“In terms of the GPA on the Electoral Act section 21.1 stipulates that if vacancies arise in the wards there is no other party which can nominate candidates except for the one in which vacancies have arisen.
This means MDC and Zanu PF could not file candidates in the event of a by election. But all other parties are not forbidden to field candidates or participate as independents,” said Gasela.
He said if it was true that the councilors have defected to MDC, then it entailed that they are now vacancies and by elections would be conducted.
“However, we can not go on to say there are vacancies before we get a formal communication from the councillors. We can’t proceed on the basis of a newspaper article because tomorrow, they might turn and say they never said that,” he said.
Gasela said if the councillors and the party’s district leadership have defected in sympathy with Bhebhe then it meant that some provisions of their party’s constitution were flouted, since he was not allowed to participate in any party activities because of his suspension.
“ Bhebhe still remains our party member because he hasn’t been expelled from the party. However if the leadership and the councilors defect because of him then they have flouted some provisions of the party’s constitution because he was suspended from being involved in any part activities.
Bhebhe’s case matter is still pending at the National Disciplinary Committee but the councillors’ meant they are no longer councillors. But we can’t proceed to take action because they said it to the press,” said Gasela.
On Saturday the party’s district executive called a meeting to examine the circumstances surrounding the suspension of the Nkayi South member of the House of Assembly, Mr Abdenico Bhebhe held at Ziminya village in Nkayi.
The move came after the councilors refused to accept a directive by the party to sideline Mr Bhebhe in all party business.
Letters, which were signed by the party’s secretary general, Professor Welshman Ncube, addressed to the district chairperson and copied to all ward chairpersons and all councillors in the district, indicated that Mr Bhebhe should be sidelined until his suspension is lifted.
“This is to advise that Mr (Abdenico Bhebhe) was suspended on 9 May 2009 by the party’s National Disciplinary Committee from being a member of the party.
Therefore, until such a time that his suspension is lifted or deposed of in whatever manner by the National Disciplinary Committee, he is suspended from all activities to do with the party and should be excluded in all party activities. During his suspension he is treated as if he is not a member of the party.
Please ensure that this information is communicated to all structures in your province, particularly those structures in the district from which Hon Bhebhe comes from,” read the letter dated 14 May.
However, the councillors ignored the directive, saying they would stand by Mr Bhebhe until the leadership comes to explain to them the charges, which are being laid against him.
That prompted the Nkayi District party executive to call for the Saturday meeting, in which Mr Bhebhe was asked to explain to them the circumstances surrounding his suspension.
A resolution was then made after the meeting to cross-floor to MDC-T with the party’s executive and councillors saying there was no legal reason to suspend Mr Bhebhe and accused their leadership of disrespecting them.
Reports say leaders from other party districts whose MPs were suspended were likely to adopt the same move as they had also reportedly ignored the directive to sideline their representatives in Parliament.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Minister Chamisa takes ICT to rural areas
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Sunday, 17 May 2009
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News)--ZIMBABWE has intensified efforts to take
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to the rural areas so as to
improving the people's lives, a government minister has said.
Addressing business people in Sandton, Johannesburg on Thursday night,
Zimbabwe's Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, Nelson
Chamisa, said as technology plays key role in development of any country but
Zimbabwe's rural areas, where the majority of the country lives, was lagging
behind due to a number of factors.
"Zimbabwe has a population that is highly educated in the whole of
Africa, a huge literate rate which is pegged at 98 percent. The main dilemma
faced with our people is that we do not have PCs at schools, government
offices and households, hence the need to work with the region, the
continent and the international community.
"We have serious challenges such as internet speed which are very
slow. AS the ministry of ICT, we intend to introduce information kiosks in
the countryside so that our professionals deployed there find life easier,"
said Chamisa.
He urged regional, continental and international companies to invest
in the revival of the sector, particularly in rural areas where a
significant number of professionals such as teachers, health, agricultural
experts, scholars and other individuals dwell.
Chamisa, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the
ministry, Engineer Sam Kundishora, said the government was also exploring
ways of working with fellow Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, United Nations
Development Progamme (UNDP), regional, and other interested ICTs from around
the globe in that regard.
He said the country intends to lure back its citizens, but experts in
ICT back to the country to start rebuilding the nation, as well as offering
huge incentives as part of the attractive package.
CAJ News
Sunday, 17 May 2009
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News)--ZIMBABWE has intensified efforts to take
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to the rural areas so as to
improving the people's lives, a government minister has said.
Addressing business people in Sandton, Johannesburg on Thursday night,
Zimbabwe's Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, Nelson
Chamisa, said as technology plays key role in development of any country but
Zimbabwe's rural areas, where the majority of the country lives, was lagging
behind due to a number of factors.
"Zimbabwe has a population that is highly educated in the whole of
Africa, a huge literate rate which is pegged at 98 percent. The main dilemma
faced with our people is that we do not have PCs at schools, government
offices and households, hence the need to work with the region, the
continent and the international community.
"We have serious challenges such as internet speed which are very
slow. AS the ministry of ICT, we intend to introduce information kiosks in
the countryside so that our professionals deployed there find life easier,"
said Chamisa.
He urged regional, continental and international companies to invest
in the revival of the sector, particularly in rural areas where a
significant number of professionals such as teachers, health, agricultural
experts, scholars and other individuals dwell.
Chamisa, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the
ministry, Engineer Sam Kundishora, said the government was also exploring
ways of working with fellow Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, United Nations
Development Progamme (UNDP), regional, and other interested ICTs from around
the globe in that regard.
He said the country intends to lure back its citizens, but experts in
ICT back to the country to start rebuilding the nation, as well as offering
huge incentives as part of the attractive package.
CAJ News
Only God can rescue Zim: Tsvangirai
http://www.zimonline.co.za/
by Lizwe Sebatha Monday 18 May 2009
BULAWAYO - Only through divine intervention can Zimbabwe be rescued
from crisis, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said at the weekend.
The former opposition leader who formed a unity government with
President Robert Mugabe to try to end years of political strife, acute
recession and food shortages in Zimbabwe, urged his compatriots to pray hard
to God for the success of the shaky unity government.
"The only way we can rescue this country is when Zimbabweans start
praying hard. We have to pray hard and ask God to save this country . . .
without prayers, we will not go anywhere," said Tsvangirai, who was speaking
at a memorial service for his late wife Susan held in Bulawayo city on
Saturday.
About 400 people, among them deputy prime minister Thokozani Khupe,
Cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, local councillors and members of the
Methodist Church and other churches attended the memorial service held at
Bulawayo's Large City Hall.
Susan died in a car accident in March that left Tsvangirai injured and
for a short while threatened to destabilise the unity government until
Tsvangirai publicly rejected suspicions that the car crash may have been an
attempt on his life by hardliner elements in Mugabe's ZANU PF party opposed
to unity.
"We have to pray for the success of the unity government and also ask
for a God-fearing leadership."
Tsvangirai, Mugabe, and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, the
leaders of Zimbabwe's three main political parties, agreed to form a unity
government under a power-sharing deal brokered last year by former South
African President Thabo Mbeki on behalf of the regional Southern Africa
Development Community (SADC).
The coalition government is seen as offering Zimbabwe the best
opportunity in a decade to restore stability and end a devastating economic
and humanitarian crisis that had seen the once prosperous country suffer
rampant inflation of more than 200 million percent, acute food shortages
affecting more than half of the country's population, record unemployment
and deepening poverty.
But the success of the Harare administration hinges on its ability to
raise financial support from rich Western countries that have however said
they will not immediately help until they are convinced Mugabe is committed
to genuinely share power with his former opposition foes. - ZimOnline
The Battle Belongs to the Lord;Prime Minister,Sir you remind of King Jehoshaphat.You are King Jehoshaphat of Today
Jehoshaphat knew that unless he heard from God, he was not going to make it. That need was what The Amplified Bible calls his “vital need.” There are some things we can do without, but others are vital. Jehoshaphat knew having God's direction was vital.
"After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat. 2Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). 3Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. 5Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard 6and said: "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
8They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9`If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.'. . . 14Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. 15He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: `Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.. . . 22As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.. . . 30And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side,"
by Lizwe Sebatha Monday 18 May 2009
BULAWAYO - Only through divine intervention can Zimbabwe be rescued
from crisis, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said at the weekend.
The former opposition leader who formed a unity government with
President Robert Mugabe to try to end years of political strife, acute
recession and food shortages in Zimbabwe, urged his compatriots to pray hard
to God for the success of the shaky unity government.
"The only way we can rescue this country is when Zimbabweans start
praying hard. We have to pray hard and ask God to save this country . . .
without prayers, we will not go anywhere," said Tsvangirai, who was speaking
at a memorial service for his late wife Susan held in Bulawayo city on
Saturday.
About 400 people, among them deputy prime minister Thokozani Khupe,
Cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, local councillors and members of the
Methodist Church and other churches attended the memorial service held at
Bulawayo's Large City Hall.
Susan died in a car accident in March that left Tsvangirai injured and
for a short while threatened to destabilise the unity government until
Tsvangirai publicly rejected suspicions that the car crash may have been an
attempt on his life by hardliner elements in Mugabe's ZANU PF party opposed
to unity.
"We have to pray for the success of the unity government and also ask
for a God-fearing leadership."
Tsvangirai, Mugabe, and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, the
leaders of Zimbabwe's three main political parties, agreed to form a unity
government under a power-sharing deal brokered last year by former South
African President Thabo Mbeki on behalf of the regional Southern Africa
Development Community (SADC).
The coalition government is seen as offering Zimbabwe the best
opportunity in a decade to restore stability and end a devastating economic
and humanitarian crisis that had seen the once prosperous country suffer
rampant inflation of more than 200 million percent, acute food shortages
affecting more than half of the country's population, record unemployment
and deepening poverty.
But the success of the Harare administration hinges on its ability to
raise financial support from rich Western countries that have however said
they will not immediately help until they are convinced Mugabe is committed
to genuinely share power with his former opposition foes. - ZimOnline
The Battle Belongs to the Lord;Prime Minister,Sir you remind of King Jehoshaphat.You are King Jehoshaphat of Today
Jehoshaphat knew that unless he heard from God, he was not going to make it. That need was what The Amplified Bible calls his “vital need.” There are some things we can do without, but others are vital. Jehoshaphat knew having God's direction was vital.
"After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat. 2Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). 3Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. 5Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard 6and said: "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
8They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9`If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.'. . . 14Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. 15He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: `Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.. . . 22As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.. . . 30And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side,"
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