NEWS
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Address by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to the International Business Forum at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo on April 29, 2009:
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Posted to the web: 29/04/2009 15:48:56
Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Arthur Mutambara,
Minister of Industry and Commerce, Professor Welshman Ncube,
All Ministers here present,
The Chairman of National Economic Consultative Forum, Dr Robbie Mupawose,
Captains of Industry both local and international,
Union Leaders,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure for me to be with you this morning to give you my vision regarding the direction our economy is taking. What is clear is that Zimbabwe belongs to all of us, its fate is in our own hands and we all have a role to play in ensuring the success of our beautiful nation.
The key issue to consider is how we can best reshape our economic destiny, and create a national economy which responds to the expectations of our citizens for jobs, decent earnings, stable prices, a bankable currency and that provides for sustained economic growth and development.
All citizens of this country deserve, as a right, a stable economy which can provide adequate goods and services at prices which are affordable to consumers and viable to business.
Zimbabweans have clear expectations on how their national economy should function and be managed. As Prime Minister, I am committed to ensuring that Zimbabwe once again assumes its position as a beacon of economic growth, stability and production both on the continent and in the region.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Rebuilding our shattered economy is a priority for every Zimbabwean and it must be driven by you the business community. However, what you are able to achieve will be dependent on the leadership role played by your government.
In this urgent and important process, we must be open and honest with each other. The role of Government is to provide a stable environment that facilitates the growth and development of business in line with international standards and accepted norms that also serve to ensure the rights and welfare of employees.
In creating such an environment, restoring the rule of law is both a moral imperative and a business necessity. If business is the engine of growth, then the rule of law is the fuel that drives that engine.
The rule of law is the catalyst that provides the foundation of confidence for contractual dealings and investor activity without which no economy can run effectively.
The Global Political Agreement, upon which this inclusive Government is founded, calls for the promotion and adherence to the law, amongst other essential requirements for an operational democracy. My office is committed to ensuring that these conditions are met despite the fact that there continues to be blatant violations of the laws of this country by some hardline elements.
We as Zimbabweans all have a role to play in ensuring that the rule of law is applied and adhered to impartially for, as we have experienced, if one sector suffers then we all suffer.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The uncertain political climate over the past decade has created a negative image of the country internationally and this has caused key international partnerships created over long periods to be set aside or terminated to the detriment of the growth of industry.
Only through restoring the rule of law can we remove the uncertainty of doing business in Zimbabwe and restore investor confidence. The restoration of the rule of law is also an essential factor in attracting back to our country the millions of Zimbabwean economic exiles who have the education, skills and determination that are essential to reviving our ailing industrial sector.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The role of my Government in the national economy remains that of creating an enabling environment for business and labour to engage in the actual production and output of goods and services. We are in the process of formulating and implementing policies and regulations to enhance business confidence and wealth creation.
Last month we launched the Short Term Economic Recovery Plan which, coupled with the full implementation of the GPA, will provide the framework for our economic recovery.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today we face the challenge of demonstrating to the rest of the world a politically mature Zimbabwe that can offer greater opportunities for economic prosperity, political stability and poverty alleviation. An economy that does not benefit its citizens can neither guarantee political stability nor real harmony.
Zimbabwe is part of the global economy and as such we are seeking to harness financial, technological and market opportunities, which grow our economy. We have already started to build collaborative arrangements with private investors, international co-operating partners and financial institutions.
Coupled with this is our absolute need to commit ourselves to sound management of the national economy. It is imperative that all partners and stakeholders in the national economy act with a single resolution and communicate their single determination to grow Zimbabwe’s economy and wealth.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are all aware of the challenges facing us, from acute balance of payments problems, brain drain, deteriorating infrastructure, energy shortages, low capacity utilization in manufacturing, low mineral production and continued deliberate disruptions to the agricultural sector.
To overcome these challenges we must have a collective national resolve to cooperate and create opportunities and partnerships which will enable our people to benefit from the vast wealth potential which this country possesses. Government alone cannot do it. Labour alone cannot succeed. Business alone cannot succeed. Zimbabwe’s economic stability requires access to foreign markets, finance, technologies, skills and ideas, which are only made possible by all the key stakeholders working together as partners committed to our nation’s development.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Zimbabwe is richly endowed with human and natural resources to create sufficient wealth for all its citizens irrespective of race, colour, tribe or creed.
Greed, economic opportunism and corruption have been our weakest link. Rather than aspiring merely to be wealthy individuals, we should aspire to be citizens of a wealthy country.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The National Economic Consultative Forum, must advise Government as a stakeholder institution professionally and without fear or favour. The NECF must come up with concrete advice on policy interventions aimed at stabilizing and growing the economy and Zimbabwe’s goodwill in the international community.
As Government, our task is to ensure that the public sector delivers quality services such as health, education, clean water, efficient transport, communications and energy services.
The responsibility to save and protect the quality of life for all must preoccupy us, the political leadership, irrespective of race, colour, tribe, religion or political affiliation. It is a historic burden borne by all those who offer to serve people. My Government has made a serious commitment to make policy and institutional adjustments which will drive a new development agenda that will sustain wealth generation for our citizens.
However, any real, long lasting rebound of a successful economy has to be accompanied by an equal if not more powerful value system. This value system can only rest on the pillars of civil liberties, the right of association and the right of civil society to challenge those entrusted with governance.
In this, business must also share in the responsibility of creating the future you want and put the long-term prosperity of the society ahead of instant gratification of dividends and capital appreciation. Corruption will not be tolerated and those that practise or promote corruption will be actively sought out and prosecuted by this government.
As the business community, you must commit to joining with us to rebuild our society and our economy. You cannot choose the aspects of the old way which you feel may be beneficial to you personally and still hope to benefit from the new measures we are implementing.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let us use our combined national intellectual capacity to create policies and practices that lead Zimbabwe to the highest level of growth and development. All foreign direct investment will be given the necessary courtesies and treated with professionalism at all times but based on the rules and regulations governing such investment. New partners will be sought and old partnerships intensified.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We all know what is best for our families, our businesses, our nation and our future. There is no logic in destroying the future of our country and that of our children. Let us desist from working towards the destruction of our country and our heritage.
Let us all speak with one voice and stand united regarding the Zimbabwe that we want and deserve. A nation where business is encouraged to flourish, the laws of the land are applied and adhered to and where a person can find a job, feed his or her children and watch them grow and prosper.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
That Zimbabwe is possible, but it is not guaranteed. Only by working together can that dream become a reality.
I look forward to working with you to make it so.
It now gives me great pleasure to declare the International Business Conference officially open.
I thank you.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
30 000 turn up for MDC rally in Chinhoyi
http://www.swradioafrica.com
27 April, 2009
MDC President, Hon. Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday raised concerns over
outstanding issues that are affecting the inclusive government formed in
February.
He was addressing over 30 000 MDC supporters gathered at Chinhoyi Stadium in
Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West province to commemorate the MDC's 10th
anniversary celebrations.
Although the President gave a commitment that there was no going back on the
inclusive government, he was deeply concerned that the inclusive government
was facing a number of teething problems that were affecting its day-to-day
operations.
"There's no reverse on the inclusive government. There will be insults, but
we will get there. We have one project, which is the inclusive government.
It has specific policies and specific targets, which is to pull this country
out of the quagmire," Hon. Tsvangirai said.
"We respect each other, although we may disagree. There's nothing Mugabe
does without me approving and there is nothing I do without him approving,"
he said.
However, Hon. Tsvangirai said some of the challenges the government was
facing included the appointments of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor,
the Attorney-General, ambassadors, permanent secretaries and the swearing of
Senator Roy Bennett, the MDC national treasurer as deputy Agriculture
minister.
He also called for the immediate release of all political prisoners such as,
Gandhi Mudzingwa, his former personal aide and Chris Dhlamini, the MDC head
of security.
Hon. Tsvangirai also raised concerns over the lawlessness that was taking
place in some farms.
"Let's not take the law into our hands. We should be able to distinguish
between land issues and criminality. We will not tolerate violence and chaos
that is taking place in some farms especially here in Mashonaland West
province," he warned.
"The issue that we all should speak with one voice is the land," Hon.
Tsvangirai said.
He explained that under the Global Political Agreement (GPA) there was no
room for taking the law into one's hands.
President Tsvangirai also called for the training of the police and army in
human rights issues in order for them to conduct their duties
professionally, without being partisan.
The president also paid tribute to several MDC supporters from Mashonaland
West province and Senator Bennett who were recently released from remand
prison on trumped-up charges of banditry, terrorism and insurgency.
Those who were abducted by the State security agents and spent at least
three months in remand are; MDC Mashonaland West provincial chairperson,
Concilia Chinanzvavana, and her husband, Manuel Chinanzvavana, Violet
Mupfuranhewe and her husband Collen Mutemangau and their two year-old son,
Nigel Mutemangau.
"They are the true cadres of the nation. We salute you because without your
sacrifices, the MDC would not be what it is today," said President
Tsvangirai.
The President was accompanied by senior MDC leaders who included, the
national chairman, Hon. Lovemore Moyo, Senator Bennett, national organising
secretary, Hon. Elias Mudzuri and the secretary for information and
publicity, Hon. Nelson Chamisa.
Meanwhile, Hon. Chamisa, who is also the MP for Kuwadzana East in Harare on
Sunday, told a report back rally in the constituency that the inclusive
government was trying to solve problems bedevilling residents.
"We want to make sure that residents have affordable water and electricity
while those areas that have no electricity we will make sure that something
is done as a matter of urgency," Hon. Chamisa told over 10 000 MDC
supporters gathered at the rally.
Speaking at the same rally Senator Bennett said was humbled by the support
he had received from the people during his incarceration in Mutare but said
there was an unstoppable winds of change engulfing the country.
"All the persecution I have suffered is unwarranted and an attempt to stop
the winds of change. When I was in prison you prayed for me. And I want to
thank you all the people of Zimbabwe for remaining resolute in the face of
such harassment and terror," he said.
Bennett said nothing could stop the winds of change adding the persecution
he had suffered was nothing as compared to the violence endured by many
Zimbabweans across the country during election-related violence last year.
He said many paid the ultimate prize.
"Zanu PF is scared of the people going to vote. The only thing that can
defeat Zanu PF is the X. No amount of persecution can stop an idea whose
time has come. These people think they can stop change by refusing to swear
me into office. But no one can ever go against the people and God and hope
to succeed," said Senator Bennett
27 April, 2009
MDC President, Hon. Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday raised concerns over
outstanding issues that are affecting the inclusive government formed in
February.
He was addressing over 30 000 MDC supporters gathered at Chinhoyi Stadium in
Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West province to commemorate the MDC's 10th
anniversary celebrations.
Although the President gave a commitment that there was no going back on the
inclusive government, he was deeply concerned that the inclusive government
was facing a number of teething problems that were affecting its day-to-day
operations.
"There's no reverse on the inclusive government. There will be insults, but
we will get there. We have one project, which is the inclusive government.
It has specific policies and specific targets, which is to pull this country
out of the quagmire," Hon. Tsvangirai said.
"We respect each other, although we may disagree. There's nothing Mugabe
does without me approving and there is nothing I do without him approving,"
he said.
However, Hon. Tsvangirai said some of the challenges the government was
facing included the appointments of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor,
the Attorney-General, ambassadors, permanent secretaries and the swearing of
Senator Roy Bennett, the MDC national treasurer as deputy Agriculture
minister.
He also called for the immediate release of all political prisoners such as,
Gandhi Mudzingwa, his former personal aide and Chris Dhlamini, the MDC head
of security.
Hon. Tsvangirai also raised concerns over the lawlessness that was taking
place in some farms.
"Let's not take the law into our hands. We should be able to distinguish
between land issues and criminality. We will not tolerate violence and chaos
that is taking place in some farms especially here in Mashonaland West
province," he warned.
"The issue that we all should speak with one voice is the land," Hon.
Tsvangirai said.
He explained that under the Global Political Agreement (GPA) there was no
room for taking the law into one's hands.
President Tsvangirai also called for the training of the police and army in
human rights issues in order for them to conduct their duties
professionally, without being partisan.
The president also paid tribute to several MDC supporters from Mashonaland
West province and Senator Bennett who were recently released from remand
prison on trumped-up charges of banditry, terrorism and insurgency.
Those who were abducted by the State security agents and spent at least
three months in remand are; MDC Mashonaland West provincial chairperson,
Concilia Chinanzvavana, and her husband, Manuel Chinanzvavana, Violet
Mupfuranhewe and her husband Collen Mutemangau and their two year-old son,
Nigel Mutemangau.
"They are the true cadres of the nation. We salute you because without your
sacrifices, the MDC would not be what it is today," said President
Tsvangirai.
The President was accompanied by senior MDC leaders who included, the
national chairman, Hon. Lovemore Moyo, Senator Bennett, national organising
secretary, Hon. Elias Mudzuri and the secretary for information and
publicity, Hon. Nelson Chamisa.
Meanwhile, Hon. Chamisa, who is also the MP for Kuwadzana East in Harare on
Sunday, told a report back rally in the constituency that the inclusive
government was trying to solve problems bedevilling residents.
"We want to make sure that residents have affordable water and electricity
while those areas that have no electricity we will make sure that something
is done as a matter of urgency," Hon. Chamisa told over 10 000 MDC
supporters gathered at the rally.
Speaking at the same rally Senator Bennett said was humbled by the support
he had received from the people during his incarceration in Mutare but said
there was an unstoppable winds of change engulfing the country.
"All the persecution I have suffered is unwarranted and an attempt to stop
the winds of change. When I was in prison you prayed for me. And I want to
thank you all the people of Zimbabwe for remaining resolute in the face of
such harassment and terror," he said.
Bennett said nothing could stop the winds of change adding the persecution
he had suffered was nothing as compared to the violence endured by many
Zimbabweans across the country during election-related violence last year.
He said many paid the ultimate prize.
"Zanu PF is scared of the people going to vote. The only thing that can
defeat Zanu PF is the X. No amount of persecution can stop an idea whose
time has come. These people think they can stop change by refusing to swear
me into office. But no one can ever go against the people and God and hope
to succeed," said Senator Bennett
Friday, April 24, 2009
Mbeki's last hope dashed,indeed nothing is forever
I thought it was a lie that what goes around comes around,but now i believe it,as they say seeing is believing.Who could think that Mbeki could be humbled to such levels.I think even us the any other business we can now meet him in the streets and have coke with him because he is now part of us.But we told you Mbeki,your problem was caused by the way you handled the Zimbabwean case.You are liable for the prolonged suffering of the Zimbabweans because of your quite diplomacy.You chose to please people and defy God,see where this has left you former President ,Sir.
Leaders are chosen by God,but your problem is when you get the power you make yourselves demi-gods.You become demi-gods and start worshipping yourselves forgetting the creator.Look now Mr Mbeki you were recalled by your party and today the person you were harrassing and tormenting is seated where you didn't want him to sit.Last night Zuma was singing a song which made him a bit emotional,it says "noma vesidhubula ,noma vesibopa,siyaya,noma vesichaya siyaya",translated even if they shoot us,arrest us,beat us ,we are going forward.I really understand what Zuma meant ,he is the same man you harangued before the courts with all sorts of trumped up charges.You had people to blackmail him,you broke into his offices many many times,but he refused to throw in the towel.Zuma had no international community and many Presidents to back him except God and the people.Even the media had been swayed to Mr Mbeki's side naming Zuma all sorts of names.Zapiro became an instant celebrity overnight.Anyway let me leave that for another day.I want to explain why I am saying Mr Mbeki's hopes are dashed.
Rumours had it that Mr Mbeki was the brains behind COPE though he decided to take backstage,people were boasting that the party is well funded and hence will pull a suprise .A lot of heavy weights were attracted with the physical capacity ,please this is free advice,"even if you are building a skyscrapper without God involved it will be in vain."
If you are a national leader in Africa,my question to you is"Are you doing whatever you are doing for the good of the people or self serving",If you are self serving I can as well tell that its very short lived.You can never win againist masses.Zuma had no access to the government resources such as police,scorpions ,but he stood on the power of one.The truth shall always prevail.
I am saying Mr Mbeki's last hope is dashed because COPE is doomed.I say COPE is doomed because they have started off badly,so they are as well buried.Political parties in Africa always starts on a very high note,if you fail to make it first time you can as well fold your bags and retire.For democracy purposes I can say continue ,but I dont intend to raise your hopes.DA is even better because they have made their position clear that they just want to be opposition,and hence a watchdog of ANC which is good for the nation.Mr Mbeki I wrote to the press about your mistake in the Zimbabwean issue two weeks before you were sent packing,unfortunately being a nobody ,no one took notice.I think this is a lesson to those boasting with their might and power that nothing is forever.Think twice before its too late.
Finally I want to congratulate South Africa for a successful election which comes across as a beckon of hope to Africa.Africa shall surely rise from the dust of poor governance as inevitably a new crop of leadership is coming,bringing with it a better hope for transformed Africa.I had given hope on Africa,but I thank God for the new leaders who are ready to make Africa,a place of dignity,democracy and development.To President Designate ,Mr Zuma,congratulations ,you are called to sheperd the people South Africa not to cause them pain and sorrow,to make them happy and thankful to God for good leadership.Accomodate them all irrespective of race ,tribe or origin.
Friday, April 17, 2009
MDC: MPs to get vehicles from government not RBZ
16 April 2009
MPs to get vehicles from government not RBZ
The MDC acknowledges the important role played by legislators in both the
upper and lower houses on issues of community development, feedback forums
in their constituencies and the frequent consultative processes that are
required to keep their constituents informed about what their
representatives are doing in Parliament.
As a party, we are aware of the need for MPs to have instruments of delivery
such as offices, computers and vehicles. The issue of their vehicles should
be handled by through the Vehicle Loan Scheme put in place by Parliament and
the government of Zimbabwe. We have not heard that Parliament is no longer
handling this scheme to the extent that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe could
once again become a central player in dishing out and distributing largesse
when the government is now agreed that the Central Bank should not engage in
quasi-fiscal activities.
It is disturbing to note that the RBZ continues to be abused and to abuse
itself by continuing to engage itself in quasi-fiscal operations when such
operations should migrate to the government through the Ministry of Finance.
Engaging in distribution of capital products is in itself a quasi-fiscal
activity.
The MDC has a strong position against quasi-fiscal operations which have
ground our once vibrant economy to a virtual standstill. We do not have any
report as a party that any of our MPs has collected a vehicle from the RBZ
but if there is any that have done, then they have acted against the party
position. Their case will be brought before the National Executive and the
National Council and these party organs will take a final decision on the
matter.
The MDC believes that national institutions must refrain from those
activities that have run aground our economy. The RBZ cannot continue to
dabble in nefarious activities that have since been condemned by the
inclusive government.
The nation wants to start afresh. The MDC is a party of excellence.
We believe the inclusive government must open a new chapter of prudence,
accountability and honesty. We cannot at this juncture begin to puncture the
people's hopes and aspirations by scoring cheap popularity points on serious
national matters. The Central Bank cannot be allowed to corrupt and poison
the legislature.
Zimbabwe deserves its place among the family of nations. But we can only do
so when we begin to respect values such as honesty, accountability and
fiscal prudence.
MDC Information and Publicity Department
MPs to get vehicles from government not RBZ
The MDC acknowledges the important role played by legislators in both the
upper and lower houses on issues of community development, feedback forums
in their constituencies and the frequent consultative processes that are
required to keep their constituents informed about what their
representatives are doing in Parliament.
As a party, we are aware of the need for MPs to have instruments of delivery
such as offices, computers and vehicles. The issue of their vehicles should
be handled by through the Vehicle Loan Scheme put in place by Parliament and
the government of Zimbabwe. We have not heard that Parliament is no longer
handling this scheme to the extent that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe could
once again become a central player in dishing out and distributing largesse
when the government is now agreed that the Central Bank should not engage in
quasi-fiscal activities.
It is disturbing to note that the RBZ continues to be abused and to abuse
itself by continuing to engage itself in quasi-fiscal operations when such
operations should migrate to the government through the Ministry of Finance.
Engaging in distribution of capital products is in itself a quasi-fiscal
activity.
The MDC has a strong position against quasi-fiscal operations which have
ground our once vibrant economy to a virtual standstill. We do not have any
report as a party that any of our MPs has collected a vehicle from the RBZ
but if there is any that have done, then they have acted against the party
position. Their case will be brought before the National Executive and the
National Council and these party organs will take a final decision on the
matter.
The MDC believes that national institutions must refrain from those
activities that have run aground our economy. The RBZ cannot continue to
dabble in nefarious activities that have since been condemned by the
inclusive government.
The nation wants to start afresh. The MDC is a party of excellence.
We believe the inclusive government must open a new chapter of prudence,
accountability and honesty. We cannot at this juncture begin to puncture the
people's hopes and aspirations by scoring cheap popularity points on serious
national matters. The Central Bank cannot be allowed to corrupt and poison
the legislature.
Zimbabwe deserves its place among the family of nations. But we can only do
so when we begin to respect values such as honesty, accountability and
fiscal prudence.
MDC Information and Publicity Department
Botswana pledges credit line as SADC funding deadline expires
http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Alex Bell
16 April 2009
Botswana's government has pledged a US$70 million credit line to Zimbabwe,
days after a deadline set by the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) for members to pledge financial aid to Zimbabwe ran out on Tuesday.
A Botswana delegation, led by the secretary for Economic and Financial
Policy Taufila Nyamadzabo, made the pledge on Thursday during a visit to
Zimbabwe. Nyamadzabo said the global financial crisis, which has seen the
purse strings of most government's tighten, was keeping Botswana from doing
more. The credit line pledge has been welcomed, but it is not the cash boost
Zimbabwe's government has been hoping and working for. SADC leaders have
urged African nations to pledge financial aid to Zimbabwe's government and
two weeks ago set the deadline for the country's to add their pledges to an
economic rescue package.
But that deadline passed on Tuesday night and it is still not clear what
African governments have pledged to the package - if anything. SADC members
have been just as unwilling as international governments to part with their
money to assist Zimbabwe, and have merely committed to Zimbabwe's
fundraising and sanction-lifting cause. At the weekend, South Africa's
Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, said SADC had
dispatched teams of ministers to the United States and European Union to
lobby for the lifting of targeted sanctions in Zimbabwe and to canvas for
economic support for the government. She said, during an election debate
broadcast on the SABC, that SADC governments would not raise all the money
needed in Zimbabwe themselves, but would try to mobilise it from
international donors and international financial institutions.
Last week, a South African Foreign Affairs official reiterated his country's
willingness to assist Zimbabwe's economic revival efforts, but could not
give figures of the economic assistance South Africa was prepared to offer.
Zimbabwe's finance ministry, now under the control of the MDC's Tendai Biti,
has been fighting to secure financial investment in the country, where
critically needed cash boosts have only been in the form of humanitarian
aid. But international donor governments have understandably been reluctant
to invest in the unity government until real visible change is evident in
the country, change that the fledgling government has not been able to
deliver.
The ongoing farm invasions, which have shown a clear fault line between the
government's leaders, are the main reason why direct financial aid is being
held back. But with Robert Mugabe continuing to condone the attacks that
have drawn international condemnation, it is unlikely that the money the
government so desperately needs, will start entering the finance ministry's
currently empty coffers, any time soon.
By Alex Bell
16 April 2009
Botswana's government has pledged a US$70 million credit line to Zimbabwe,
days after a deadline set by the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) for members to pledge financial aid to Zimbabwe ran out on Tuesday.
A Botswana delegation, led by the secretary for Economic and Financial
Policy Taufila Nyamadzabo, made the pledge on Thursday during a visit to
Zimbabwe. Nyamadzabo said the global financial crisis, which has seen the
purse strings of most government's tighten, was keeping Botswana from doing
more. The credit line pledge has been welcomed, but it is not the cash boost
Zimbabwe's government has been hoping and working for. SADC leaders have
urged African nations to pledge financial aid to Zimbabwe's government and
two weeks ago set the deadline for the country's to add their pledges to an
economic rescue package.
But that deadline passed on Tuesday night and it is still not clear what
African governments have pledged to the package - if anything. SADC members
have been just as unwilling as international governments to part with their
money to assist Zimbabwe, and have merely committed to Zimbabwe's
fundraising and sanction-lifting cause. At the weekend, South Africa's
Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, said SADC had
dispatched teams of ministers to the United States and European Union to
lobby for the lifting of targeted sanctions in Zimbabwe and to canvas for
economic support for the government. She said, during an election debate
broadcast on the SABC, that SADC governments would not raise all the money
needed in Zimbabwe themselves, but would try to mobilise it from
international donors and international financial institutions.
Last week, a South African Foreign Affairs official reiterated his country's
willingness to assist Zimbabwe's economic revival efforts, but could not
give figures of the economic assistance South Africa was prepared to offer.
Zimbabwe's finance ministry, now under the control of the MDC's Tendai Biti,
has been fighting to secure financial investment in the country, where
critically needed cash boosts have only been in the form of humanitarian
aid. But international donor governments have understandably been reluctant
to invest in the unity government until real visible change is evident in
the country, change that the fledgling government has not been able to
deliver.
The ongoing farm invasions, which have shown a clear fault line between the
government's leaders, are the main reason why direct financial aid is being
held back. But with Robert Mugabe continuing to condone the attacks that
have drawn international condemnation, it is unlikely that the money the
government so desperately needs, will start entering the finance ministry's
currently empty coffers, any time soon.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Security chiefs angle for amnesty
http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=15104
April 14, 2009
From left: Paradzai Zimondi, Perrence Shiri, Constantine Chiwenga and Augustine Chihuri
HARARE (New York Times) - President Robert Mugabe's top lieutenants are
trying to force the opposition Movement of Democratic Change to grant them
amnesty for their past crimes, according to senior members of Mugabe's
party.
Their fixation on getting amnesty was described by four senior ruling party
officials, all Mugabe confidants, who spoke to a Zimbabwean journalist
working for The New York Times.
To protect themselves, some of Mugabe's lieutenants are trying to implicate
opposition officials in a supposed plot to overthrow the president, hoping
to use it as leverage in any amnesty talks, the officials said.
Mugabe's generals and politicians in Zanu-PF have organised campaigns of
terror for decades to keep him and his party in power.
Crimes committed during last year's election campaign, while the world
watched, included abducting, detaining and torturing opposition officials
and activists.
Mugabe's lieutenants, part of an inner circle called the Joint Operations
Command, know that their 85-year-old leader may not be around much longer to
shield them, and fear losing not just their power and ill-gotten wealth, but
their freedom, party officials said. The security chiefs include General
Constantine Chiwenga, commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Air Marshall
Perrence Shiri, commander of the Air Force, Commissioner General Augustine
Chihuri of the police and Paradzai Zimondi commissioner of the Zimbabwe
Prison Services.
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, one of Mugabe's principal negotiators in
the power-sharing talks that led to the current government, informally told
opposition officials around the time that the transitional government took
office in February that his party wanted an amnesty, according to a senior
Zanu-PF official close to the talks.
"The MDC did not sound very forthcoming," said the official.
April 14, 2009
From left: Paradzai Zimondi, Perrence Shiri, Constantine Chiwenga and Augustine Chihuri
HARARE (New York Times) - President Robert Mugabe's top lieutenants are
trying to force the opposition Movement of Democratic Change to grant them
amnesty for their past crimes, according to senior members of Mugabe's
party.
Their fixation on getting amnesty was described by four senior ruling party
officials, all Mugabe confidants, who spoke to a Zimbabwean journalist
working for The New York Times.
To protect themselves, some of Mugabe's lieutenants are trying to implicate
opposition officials in a supposed plot to overthrow the president, hoping
to use it as leverage in any amnesty talks, the officials said.
Mugabe's generals and politicians in Zanu-PF have organised campaigns of
terror for decades to keep him and his party in power.
Crimes committed during last year's election campaign, while the world
watched, included abducting, detaining and torturing opposition officials
and activists.
Mugabe's lieutenants, part of an inner circle called the Joint Operations
Command, know that their 85-year-old leader may not be around much longer to
shield them, and fear losing not just their power and ill-gotten wealth, but
their freedom, party officials said. The security chiefs include General
Constantine Chiwenga, commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Air Marshall
Perrence Shiri, commander of the Air Force, Commissioner General Augustine
Chihuri of the police and Paradzai Zimondi commissioner of the Zimbabwe
Prison Services.
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, one of Mugabe's principal negotiators in
the power-sharing talks that led to the current government, informally told
opposition officials around the time that the transitional government took
office in February that his party wanted an amnesty, according to a senior
Zanu-PF official close to the talks.
"The MDC did not sound very forthcoming," said the official.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Who said GNU would be perfect or easy ?
A lot of people have speculated about the GNU,some have seen doom,some success,some are in the dark and spectators wonder why?The matter is very clear,this is a transitional government and definitely not a bed of roses.Some have taken to blame Morgan Tsvangirai which is absurd,i should confess.Morgan Tsvangirai needs the support of every Zimbabwean as the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe.Lets not fold our hands and wait for him alone,he needs us to help by playing our roles as patriotic .Lets scout for business prospects in our nation,i am only hearing about South African business people visiting Zimbabwe,where are the diaspora business people from Zimbabwe.Its a fact that there are millionares,multi-millionares and billionares in diaspora of Zimbabwean origin.Where are they?The facts of the matter is that no one is to blame in this fiasco,except you.We have people in this wagon who don't want change at all,its like poison to them,we have also people who want change for the better.I hope you can visualise the chaos and confusion this carries.
The problem is that all the critical and important shareholders,not snakeholders have reduced themselves to spectators and commentators.The GNU is going to work successfully if we all develop a positive mind.All i can assure you is that God has heard the cry of his children,the Zimbabwean children have cried and their cry has reached God.He is already working in Zimbabwe,but continue to play your part and stop grumbling.Your part is to make a positive contribution nomatter the circumstances.At times you might not understand wether your contribution is making sense or not,but keep doing your part because God will do the greater part.Lets keep on believing in God because if He starts a good work he will finish it.I want to talk to someone who is discouraged today and remind him or her that Zimbabwe is a country very much loved by God,no matter what people might try to do with their might the will of God shall prevail over Zimbabwe.Milk and honey will flow brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe againist all odds.
At an appointed time God soon shall show that He is supreme,the GNU was to bring together all the Zimbabweans .A lot of bonding has happened because of this GNU,unfortunately people delight in the small negatives.Is it not important that when there is a disagreement people talk.The latest issue which has not made me happy is that for the ICT minister,i feel they should not meddle with his portfolio.He should be given a chance to do his work.However because of the GPA there is going to be an amicable resolution to this plight,because disagreements are natural and normal.Leaders of Zimbabwe if you are going to plan the future of our country based on your resources,wisdom and ability without involving God you shall be dissapointed because God is Supreme.
by Simbarashe Chirimubwe
The problem is that all the critical and important shareholders,not snakeholders have reduced themselves to spectators and commentators.The GNU is going to work successfully if we all develop a positive mind.All i can assure you is that God has heard the cry of his children,the Zimbabwean children have cried and their cry has reached God.He is already working in Zimbabwe,but continue to play your part and stop grumbling.Your part is to make a positive contribution nomatter the circumstances.At times you might not understand wether your contribution is making sense or not,but keep doing your part because God will do the greater part.Lets keep on believing in God because if He starts a good work he will finish it.I want to talk to someone who is discouraged today and remind him or her that Zimbabwe is a country very much loved by God,no matter what people might try to do with their might the will of God shall prevail over Zimbabwe.Milk and honey will flow brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe againist all odds.
At an appointed time God soon shall show that He is supreme,the GNU was to bring together all the Zimbabweans .A lot of bonding has happened because of this GNU,unfortunately people delight in the small negatives.Is it not important that when there is a disagreement people talk.The latest issue which has not made me happy is that for the ICT minister,i feel they should not meddle with his portfolio.He should be given a chance to do his work.However because of the GPA there is going to be an amicable resolution to this plight,because disagreements are natural and normal.Leaders of Zimbabwe if you are going to plan the future of our country based on your resources,wisdom and ability without involving God you shall be dissapointed because God is Supreme.
by Simbarashe Chirimubwe
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Beautiful people do not just happen
"The most beautiful people are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen." -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Beautiful people do not just happen
"The most beautiful people are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen." -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Friday, April 3, 2009
Tsvangirai address to Ministerial retreat
Address by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe, The Right Honourable Morgan Tsvangirai, to the Ministerial Retreat, Victoria Falls, April 3rd 2009
Your Excellency, President Mugabe, Vice President Mujuru, Deputy Prime Minister Khupe, Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Invited Guests;
There is no other group of people in Zimbabwe today upon whom the success of the Global Political Agreement rests as heavily as it does on our shoulders. We who are gathered here today, hold the future of our nation in our hands. Our actions over the next months will dictate whether Zimbabwe grows and prospers or resumes its economic and social decline.
This is why we have convened this gathering and I would like to thank you all for taking the time to participate in this process. I would also like to thank the World Bank for supporting this meeting and to our facilitators who have embraced the exciting challenge ahead of them. Finally, I would like to thank the staff of the World Bank and those personnel my office and the President’s office, who have worked tirelessly on the logistics and agenda for the coming days.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, in signing the Global Political Agreement we have committed ourselves to a framework within which we can learn to work together for the betterment of our nation and the betterment of our people. If we stand by the letter and spirit of this agreement we cannot fail to take our nation forward to a more prosperous future.
Working together may not seem natural after so many years on opposite sides of the political divide, but there can be no viable alternative as our paths and our futures are now united by the GPA. To try and frustrate its implementation or negate the benefits it can bring will plunge our nation into another round of conflict, decay and despair.
Therefore, we must accept that we are now in a transformative stage with all the pains and challenges it presents. This inclusive government can only work if it is indeed inclusive. Thus, the Parties that are the signatories to this agreement must work as a true coalition. Each must bring its own positive attributes to this government and recognise and reject the negative tendencies of old.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, it would be unrealistic to expect us to enter this inclusive government without bringing with us some of that negative baggage we carry from the past. We cannot hope to work together if we do not learn to understand each other and if we do not create common goals that we can strive towards. This is the primary focus of this weekend’s gathering.
I know that this administration is limited by both time and resources, but we felt that it was essential that we use some of these this weekend to create that common understanding which will serve as the foundation on which we can build this inclusive government and build our service delivery to the people.
On a practical level, our objective this weekend is to obtain a commonality of interests amongst all Ministers and Heads of Ministries as to the key issues on which we need to focus in order to successfully implement both the GPA and the Short Term Economic Recovery Programme.
The majority of the commitments and objectives in both of these documents require activities that cut across various ministries and thus we must understand these relationships in order to successfully implement them.
In this, each ministry must understand fully their role in the implementation of the GPA and STERP, such that each can play their part positively in this team that we are building.
By the end of this weekend, as Government, we will have agreed on the common objectives of this administration and we will have developed a concrete plan for the coming 100 days to ensure timely and efficient implementation. These objectives will be directed at creating the Zimbabwe that we want and that the people of Zimbabwe deserve.
Each Ministry will identify its own outputs in line with these objectives and will present a clear understanding of the internal and external resources available to it and those that are needed to be sourced externally in the form of funding and technical skills. From the work of the individual ministries, a composite document of action plans will be developed to guide us in the implementation of the GPA and STERP.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, I know that you are all now familiar with the specific content of the GPA and the commitments that we have signed up to. Within that agreement are 55 actionable items.
That is, 55 defined steps that cut across ministries that we must take to implement the GPA. These are neither optional nor negotiable, as they form an integral part of the agreement to which we are all committed.
Similarly, the Short Term Economic Recovery Programme has also been analysed in order to identify the specific action steps that must be taken by us in order to rescue our economy and send us on the road to economic growth and prosperity.
While the content and commitments contained in both the GPA and STERP may be different, the success of one is linked to the other.
From your knowledge of the GPA you will see that much of it focuses on building upon and promoting the people’s freedoms, otherwise known as human rights.
I realize that to some people, the term human rights may have foreign connotations, so let us deal with this openly and transparently, for only if we agree on the interpretation of the GPA can we hope to agree on its implementation.
Human rights are neither culturally specific nor are they to be imposed upon one society by another. As Zimbabweans and signatories to this agreement, it is we who defined the rights that we must concentrate on in this transitional phase. As part of this process, the people of Zimbabwe will themselves have the opportunity, through the constitutional development process, to define the rights they themselves wish to be protected and bound by.
These political and civil rights serve not only as guarantees of the people’s freedoms but as the essential foundation of the nation’s economic development. Therefore, if we as leaders are committed to economic growth and development, we must in turn be committed to entrenching and upholding political and civil rights.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, our new government is now just over six weeks old, allowing us the opportunity to reflect on progress and impediments in order that we can accentuate the former and eliminate the latter.
I continue to be encouraged by the spirit of cooperation that has grown amongst the majority of our ministers. In fact, it is safe to say that the vast majority of ministers, Members of Parliament and civil servants are committed to seeing this agreement work. As both President Mugabe and I have stated, this agreement is not perfect but it is workable.
Proof of this lies in our incremental achievements to date. Together, we have overseen the opening of hospitals and schools, the taming of hyperinflation, the lowering of prices of basic commodities and the rationalisation of utility tariffs. We have started paying civil servants a monthly allowance to allow the public sector to begin working again and to provide an essential stimulus to the economy.
Most importantly, this new political dispensation has delivered hope to a country devoid of optimism and expectation.
However, if we are to move forward with the speed that the people demand and deserve, we must acknowledge and address some of the elements that are obstructing the full implementation of the GPA.
There are still outstanding issues that should have been resolved at the formation of this government. As defined by both the GPA and the Constitution of Zimbabwe, these issues must be resolved by the Leadership of Government, which comprises the President and Vice Presidents, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers.
This body will meet in the coming week to address the outstanding issues which include, but are not limited to, the swearing in of the Provincial Governors, the appointment of the Governor of the Reserve Bank and the Attorney General, the appointment of Permanent Secretaries and Ambassadors and the ongoing land disputes and disruption of agricultural activities.
The clarity of the GPA and the Constitution mean that if we abide by their letter and spirit, these issues can be resolved immediately. In doing so, we will prove to the international community that we are genuine and serious about restoring Zimbabwe to its rightful place in the family of nations.
Once we embrace this need for mutual cooperation to drive our nation forward, we can then concentrate on the business of Government, delivering services to the people and driving the legislative agenda.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, this historic meeting will enable us to reach consensus on our implementation agenda and will assist in removing what barriers remain between us. In turn, this will enable us to move away from a culture of competing efforts and towards a culture of complimentary efforts for the benefit of our nation.
Only by doing this will we be able to deliver to the people. A government that does not deliver has no legitimacy and a limited life-span. The urgency around delivery is plain for all to see.
Although we have had some positive impact in the short life of this new inclusive government, this is only a fraction of what needs to be achieved.
The priorities of this government remain democratisation, stabilisation and addressing the humanitarian crisis that afflicts our people.
We still have a long way to go in rebuilding our health and education systems which will require significant capital investment if we are to meet our obligations to the people. Similarly, all our major utilities have been operating below economic viability for too long and rehabilitating them will be costly, as will be getting our agricultural sector productive once more.
Indeed the workload that faces each of us in restoring Zimbabwe to its economic prime is daunting. Hence, the importance of this gathering to provide us with the opportunity to meet, to discuss the problems we face, to agree on solutions to those problems and to develop the plan through which we can implement those solutions.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the enormous challenges we face in rebuilding and developing our nation, combined with the fact that our revenue base is exhausted, means that we need international support to achieve these goals.
We are grateful for the recent commitments by the donor community to continue assisting the state in dealing with the ongoing humanitarian crisis, but we also need them to engage with us on our economic recovery programme.
This is a reality, as is the fact that the donor countries and multi-lateral institutions are looking at the restoration of the rule of law as the key benchmark that must be achieved before they will fully engage with this inclusive government.
In addition, while this government understands the need for the removal of restrictive measures that have been applied to individuals, success in this area is also tied to the restoration of the rule of law.
This means that the police must be empowered to protect those protected by the law, to enforce all court orders and that the courts must process cases brought before them timeously and impartially.
These are measures that can and must be implemented immediately.
The other key benchmark that will inspire confidence, not just amongst donors but amongst Zimbabweans as a whole, is evidence that all the Parties are adhering to the GPA. This entails clear evidence that we are bound and guided by the GPA and that there is no faction-driven, parallel process that serves to perpetuate the culture of entitlement and impunity.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, in this, the GPA is very clear regarding the hierarchical nature of the inclusive government and the process that must be followed by all the parties. In this new Transitional Inclusive Government, executive authority rests with the President, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
We must acknowledge that the GPA and Constitution of Zimbabwe are now our sole sources of legitimacy and we must act accordingly. The President cannot run Government without the Prime Minister and vice versa - and neither can operate without Cabinet.
Each one of us in government now derives legitimacy and responsibility from the GPA and it is this document that must guide us regardless of party politics or ideology.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, as I stated earlier, the GPA is workable. It provides us with the framework within which we can work together to understand each other, to understand the challenges that lie before us and to develop solutions to those challenges.
In conclusion, let me acknowledge the benefits that I have derived from engaging with members of our cabinet. In particular I would like to refer to a conversation with Minister Muchena who acquainted me with the four stages of coalition building, namely:
Storming;
Forming;
Performing, and;
Norming; where cooperation and working together become the accepted practise of government.
I would like to ask President Mugabe and everyone else here today at what stage of the coalition process we are as individuals and I appeal to you all, that by the end of this weekend we have resolved to be in the performing stage – at the very least.
Thus, I call upon all of you here today, whether you are from ZANU PF, MDC-T or MDC-M to put aside your political differences and to unite for the sake of this Government and our nation.
We all stand to benefit from restoring Zimbabwe to its proud regional position as a beacon for economic development, political tolerance and social cohesion. We all stand to benefit from finding ways to work together for the good of the nation. We all stand to benefit from striving to deliver to all Zimbabweans the economy they need, the services they deserve and the freedoms they demand.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I ask that you join with me in rising to the challenges before us, in putting aside past differences, in fostering a spirit of mutual cooperation and understanding, and in building a team to lead Zimbabwe forward.
I thank you.
Your Excellency, President Mugabe, Vice President Mujuru, Deputy Prime Minister Khupe, Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Invited Guests;
There is no other group of people in Zimbabwe today upon whom the success of the Global Political Agreement rests as heavily as it does on our shoulders. We who are gathered here today, hold the future of our nation in our hands. Our actions over the next months will dictate whether Zimbabwe grows and prospers or resumes its economic and social decline.
This is why we have convened this gathering and I would like to thank you all for taking the time to participate in this process. I would also like to thank the World Bank for supporting this meeting and to our facilitators who have embraced the exciting challenge ahead of them. Finally, I would like to thank the staff of the World Bank and those personnel my office and the President’s office, who have worked tirelessly on the logistics and agenda for the coming days.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, in signing the Global Political Agreement we have committed ourselves to a framework within which we can learn to work together for the betterment of our nation and the betterment of our people. If we stand by the letter and spirit of this agreement we cannot fail to take our nation forward to a more prosperous future.
Working together may not seem natural after so many years on opposite sides of the political divide, but there can be no viable alternative as our paths and our futures are now united by the GPA. To try and frustrate its implementation or negate the benefits it can bring will plunge our nation into another round of conflict, decay and despair.
Therefore, we must accept that we are now in a transformative stage with all the pains and challenges it presents. This inclusive government can only work if it is indeed inclusive. Thus, the Parties that are the signatories to this agreement must work as a true coalition. Each must bring its own positive attributes to this government and recognise and reject the negative tendencies of old.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, it would be unrealistic to expect us to enter this inclusive government without bringing with us some of that negative baggage we carry from the past. We cannot hope to work together if we do not learn to understand each other and if we do not create common goals that we can strive towards. This is the primary focus of this weekend’s gathering.
I know that this administration is limited by both time and resources, but we felt that it was essential that we use some of these this weekend to create that common understanding which will serve as the foundation on which we can build this inclusive government and build our service delivery to the people.
On a practical level, our objective this weekend is to obtain a commonality of interests amongst all Ministers and Heads of Ministries as to the key issues on which we need to focus in order to successfully implement both the GPA and the Short Term Economic Recovery Programme.
The majority of the commitments and objectives in both of these documents require activities that cut across various ministries and thus we must understand these relationships in order to successfully implement them.
In this, each ministry must understand fully their role in the implementation of the GPA and STERP, such that each can play their part positively in this team that we are building.
By the end of this weekend, as Government, we will have agreed on the common objectives of this administration and we will have developed a concrete plan for the coming 100 days to ensure timely and efficient implementation. These objectives will be directed at creating the Zimbabwe that we want and that the people of Zimbabwe deserve.
Each Ministry will identify its own outputs in line with these objectives and will present a clear understanding of the internal and external resources available to it and those that are needed to be sourced externally in the form of funding and technical skills. From the work of the individual ministries, a composite document of action plans will be developed to guide us in the implementation of the GPA and STERP.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, I know that you are all now familiar with the specific content of the GPA and the commitments that we have signed up to. Within that agreement are 55 actionable items.
That is, 55 defined steps that cut across ministries that we must take to implement the GPA. These are neither optional nor negotiable, as they form an integral part of the agreement to which we are all committed.
Similarly, the Short Term Economic Recovery Programme has also been analysed in order to identify the specific action steps that must be taken by us in order to rescue our economy and send us on the road to economic growth and prosperity.
While the content and commitments contained in both the GPA and STERP may be different, the success of one is linked to the other.
From your knowledge of the GPA you will see that much of it focuses on building upon and promoting the people’s freedoms, otherwise known as human rights.
I realize that to some people, the term human rights may have foreign connotations, so let us deal with this openly and transparently, for only if we agree on the interpretation of the GPA can we hope to agree on its implementation.
Human rights are neither culturally specific nor are they to be imposed upon one society by another. As Zimbabweans and signatories to this agreement, it is we who defined the rights that we must concentrate on in this transitional phase. As part of this process, the people of Zimbabwe will themselves have the opportunity, through the constitutional development process, to define the rights they themselves wish to be protected and bound by.
These political and civil rights serve not only as guarantees of the people’s freedoms but as the essential foundation of the nation’s economic development. Therefore, if we as leaders are committed to economic growth and development, we must in turn be committed to entrenching and upholding political and civil rights.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, our new government is now just over six weeks old, allowing us the opportunity to reflect on progress and impediments in order that we can accentuate the former and eliminate the latter.
I continue to be encouraged by the spirit of cooperation that has grown amongst the majority of our ministers. In fact, it is safe to say that the vast majority of ministers, Members of Parliament and civil servants are committed to seeing this agreement work. As both President Mugabe and I have stated, this agreement is not perfect but it is workable.
Proof of this lies in our incremental achievements to date. Together, we have overseen the opening of hospitals and schools, the taming of hyperinflation, the lowering of prices of basic commodities and the rationalisation of utility tariffs. We have started paying civil servants a monthly allowance to allow the public sector to begin working again and to provide an essential stimulus to the economy.
Most importantly, this new political dispensation has delivered hope to a country devoid of optimism and expectation.
However, if we are to move forward with the speed that the people demand and deserve, we must acknowledge and address some of the elements that are obstructing the full implementation of the GPA.
There are still outstanding issues that should have been resolved at the formation of this government. As defined by both the GPA and the Constitution of Zimbabwe, these issues must be resolved by the Leadership of Government, which comprises the President and Vice Presidents, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers.
This body will meet in the coming week to address the outstanding issues which include, but are not limited to, the swearing in of the Provincial Governors, the appointment of the Governor of the Reserve Bank and the Attorney General, the appointment of Permanent Secretaries and Ambassadors and the ongoing land disputes and disruption of agricultural activities.
The clarity of the GPA and the Constitution mean that if we abide by their letter and spirit, these issues can be resolved immediately. In doing so, we will prove to the international community that we are genuine and serious about restoring Zimbabwe to its rightful place in the family of nations.
Once we embrace this need for mutual cooperation to drive our nation forward, we can then concentrate on the business of Government, delivering services to the people and driving the legislative agenda.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, this historic meeting will enable us to reach consensus on our implementation agenda and will assist in removing what barriers remain between us. In turn, this will enable us to move away from a culture of competing efforts and towards a culture of complimentary efforts for the benefit of our nation.
Only by doing this will we be able to deliver to the people. A government that does not deliver has no legitimacy and a limited life-span. The urgency around delivery is plain for all to see.
Although we have had some positive impact in the short life of this new inclusive government, this is only a fraction of what needs to be achieved.
The priorities of this government remain democratisation, stabilisation and addressing the humanitarian crisis that afflicts our people.
We still have a long way to go in rebuilding our health and education systems which will require significant capital investment if we are to meet our obligations to the people. Similarly, all our major utilities have been operating below economic viability for too long and rehabilitating them will be costly, as will be getting our agricultural sector productive once more.
Indeed the workload that faces each of us in restoring Zimbabwe to its economic prime is daunting. Hence, the importance of this gathering to provide us with the opportunity to meet, to discuss the problems we face, to agree on solutions to those problems and to develop the plan through which we can implement those solutions.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the enormous challenges we face in rebuilding and developing our nation, combined with the fact that our revenue base is exhausted, means that we need international support to achieve these goals.
We are grateful for the recent commitments by the donor community to continue assisting the state in dealing with the ongoing humanitarian crisis, but we also need them to engage with us on our economic recovery programme.
This is a reality, as is the fact that the donor countries and multi-lateral institutions are looking at the restoration of the rule of law as the key benchmark that must be achieved before they will fully engage with this inclusive government.
In addition, while this government understands the need for the removal of restrictive measures that have been applied to individuals, success in this area is also tied to the restoration of the rule of law.
This means that the police must be empowered to protect those protected by the law, to enforce all court orders and that the courts must process cases brought before them timeously and impartially.
These are measures that can and must be implemented immediately.
The other key benchmark that will inspire confidence, not just amongst donors but amongst Zimbabweans as a whole, is evidence that all the Parties are adhering to the GPA. This entails clear evidence that we are bound and guided by the GPA and that there is no faction-driven, parallel process that serves to perpetuate the culture of entitlement and impunity.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, in this, the GPA is very clear regarding the hierarchical nature of the inclusive government and the process that must be followed by all the parties. In this new Transitional Inclusive Government, executive authority rests with the President, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
We must acknowledge that the GPA and Constitution of Zimbabwe are now our sole sources of legitimacy and we must act accordingly. The President cannot run Government without the Prime Minister and vice versa - and neither can operate without Cabinet.
Each one of us in government now derives legitimacy and responsibility from the GPA and it is this document that must guide us regardless of party politics or ideology.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, as I stated earlier, the GPA is workable. It provides us with the framework within which we can work together to understand each other, to understand the challenges that lie before us and to develop solutions to those challenges.
In conclusion, let me acknowledge the benefits that I have derived from engaging with members of our cabinet. In particular I would like to refer to a conversation with Minister Muchena who acquainted me with the four stages of coalition building, namely:
Storming;
Forming;
Performing, and;
Norming; where cooperation and working together become the accepted practise of government.
I would like to ask President Mugabe and everyone else here today at what stage of the coalition process we are as individuals and I appeal to you all, that by the end of this weekend we have resolved to be in the performing stage – at the very least.
Thus, I call upon all of you here today, whether you are from ZANU PF, MDC-T or MDC-M to put aside your political differences and to unite for the sake of this Government and our nation.
We all stand to benefit from restoring Zimbabwe to its proud regional position as a beacon for economic development, political tolerance and social cohesion. We all stand to benefit from finding ways to work together for the good of the nation. We all stand to benefit from striving to deliver to all Zimbabweans the economy they need, the services they deserve and the freedoms they demand.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I ask that you join with me in rising to the challenges before us, in putting aside past differences, in fostering a spirit of mutual cooperation and understanding, and in building a team to lead Zimbabwe forward.
I thank you.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Don't make us pay for working with Mugabe
http://www.timesonline.co.uk
April 1, 2009
In his first article since taking office Zimbabwe's Prime Minister states
his ambition to move from aid to trade with the West
Morgan Tsvangirai
On February 11, 2009, I took an oath as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe to work
relentlessly to create a society where values are stronger than the threat
of violence, where the future happiness of children is more important than
partisan political goals and where a person is free to express an opinion,
loudly, openly and publicly, without fear of reprisal or repression.
To create a country where jobs are available for those who wish to work,
food is available for those who are hungry and where we are united by our
respect for the rights and dignity of our fellow citizens.
This is the country we are working to build and although Zimbabwe is not yet
a democracy, it is on its way to becoming one. Our success on this journey
will depend on this new, transitional Government, our people and the
international partners who will work with us to realise this vision for our
country.
The political agreement that lead to the formation of this new Government is
not perfect. I have stated my concerns on many occasions, as has President
Mugabe.
I have also stated that it is a workable agreement and by that I mean that
it can help to alleviate the suffering of the Zimbabwean people and allow
the country to move forward peacefully to a new constitution and fresh
elections.
With regard to the former, the new Government has already made small but
significant progress. We have started paying civil servants a monthly
allowance to allow the public sector to begin working again and provide an
essential stimulus to the economy. We have overseen the opening of hospitals
and schools, the taming of hyperinflation, the lowering of prices of basic
commodities and the rationalisation of utility tariffs. Most importantly,
this new political dispensation has delivered hope to a country devoid of
optimism or expectation.
These achievements are a fraction of what the country requires to start
functioning normally again. It was, however, the knowledge that we could
make an immediate and positive impact on the lives of all Zimbabweans that
guided my party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), to enter the
agreement brokered by the regional Southern African Development Community.
As I write this article, I know that we made the correct decision. The past
six weeks have proved what we are able to do, not just as a party, but as
part of an inclusive Government. For, in deciding to embrace the political
pragmatism of our regional neighbours, we entered this administration in the
spirit of the agreement, embracing its inclusivity and abiding by its letter
with regard to the implementation of the transitional measures it contains.
Before entering this Government, we knew that most public servants, and
Zimbabweans from all walks of life, were desperate for the positive
commitments that the agreement contained. We also knew that elements of the
old regime would resist these measures and attempt to obstruct any positive
progress.
Happily, we underestimated the number of people who would embrace the
opportunities that our country now has, but, sadly, we were correct in
allowing for the residual resistance that we are now experiencing from a
small faction of non-democratic hardliners.
However, those who try to stand in the way of progress will either realise
that it is neither in their personal interests nor the nation's to continue
their obstructionist tendencies, or they will be swept aside by the
overwhelming momentum being generated as we move forward as a nation.
This does not mean that the success of this new Government is guaranteed.
Today Zimbabwe stands at a critical juncture that requires the MDC to stay
true to the ideals upon which it was founded. It requires Zanu (PF) to
embrace the commitments of this new agreement and it requires all of its
citizens to stand up for their rights as enshrined in the new political
agreement. This is also the time for the West to stand by the people of
Zimbabwe as they move towards the goal of freedom and prosperity.
I can think of no contemporary example of a people who have stood by their
belief in democracy more determinedly, peacefully or bravely than
Zimbabweans. Despite a decade of persecution and violent provocation,
Zimbabweans have refused to compromise their democratic ideals or their
belief in a future of dignity, prosperity and hope by lashing out at their
opponents in anger or despair. As Prime Minister and the leader of the
largest political party in Zimbabwe, I am immensely proud of my nation and
its peoples.
Zimbabweans should not have to pay a further price for their determination
to stand by their democratic ideals because the new Government does not meet
or match the "clean slate" or "total victory" standards expected by the
West. As stated earlier, this new Government is not perfect, but it does
represent all Zimbabweans - it is positive, it is peaceful, it is committed
to a new constitution and free and fair elections and, with international
support, it will succeed.
As Prime Minister, I am responsible for ensuring the formulation of policy
by the Cabinet and its implementation by the entire Government. It is my
responsibility to ensure that the commitments that this new Government has
made to restoring the rule of law, instituting a democratising legislative
agenda, ending persecution and freeing the media are implemented in the
shortest possible time. In this, the new Government is only now beginning to
realise the muscle that it has and to flex that muscle.
The West has been, and continues to be, the most generous provider of
humanitarian support, of which all Zimbabweans are aware and grateful for.
As a proud nation, we look forward to the day when we can develop our
relationship with the West beyond merely being a beneficiary of emergency
aid. We want to become a true economic partner and an investment opportunity
for those who respect the true value of our natural resources and our
sovereignty over them.
Indeed, as the leaders of the G20 meet in London to consider measures to
deal with the economic challenges facing their countries, I encourage them
to view Zimbabwe and other partners in Africa as investment opportunities
with the potential to stimulate their own economic growth.
As Prime Minister, I ask you to work with me and the people of Zimbabwe and
to engage with the efforts of our new transitional Government. I ask you to
share our vision for our great country, to work with us to rebuild our
nation and to walk with us on this promising phase of our journey to a true
and lasting democracy for Zimbabwe.
Morgan Tsvangirai is Prime Minister of Zimbabwe
April 1, 2009
In his first article since taking office Zimbabwe's Prime Minister states
his ambition to move from aid to trade with the West
Morgan Tsvangirai
On February 11, 2009, I took an oath as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe to work
relentlessly to create a society where values are stronger than the threat
of violence, where the future happiness of children is more important than
partisan political goals and where a person is free to express an opinion,
loudly, openly and publicly, without fear of reprisal or repression.
To create a country where jobs are available for those who wish to work,
food is available for those who are hungry and where we are united by our
respect for the rights and dignity of our fellow citizens.
This is the country we are working to build and although Zimbabwe is not yet
a democracy, it is on its way to becoming one. Our success on this journey
will depend on this new, transitional Government, our people and the
international partners who will work with us to realise this vision for our
country.
The political agreement that lead to the formation of this new Government is
not perfect. I have stated my concerns on many occasions, as has President
Mugabe.
I have also stated that it is a workable agreement and by that I mean that
it can help to alleviate the suffering of the Zimbabwean people and allow
the country to move forward peacefully to a new constitution and fresh
elections.
With regard to the former, the new Government has already made small but
significant progress. We have started paying civil servants a monthly
allowance to allow the public sector to begin working again and provide an
essential stimulus to the economy. We have overseen the opening of hospitals
and schools, the taming of hyperinflation, the lowering of prices of basic
commodities and the rationalisation of utility tariffs. Most importantly,
this new political dispensation has delivered hope to a country devoid of
optimism or expectation.
These achievements are a fraction of what the country requires to start
functioning normally again. It was, however, the knowledge that we could
make an immediate and positive impact on the lives of all Zimbabweans that
guided my party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), to enter the
agreement brokered by the regional Southern African Development Community.
As I write this article, I know that we made the correct decision. The past
six weeks have proved what we are able to do, not just as a party, but as
part of an inclusive Government. For, in deciding to embrace the political
pragmatism of our regional neighbours, we entered this administration in the
spirit of the agreement, embracing its inclusivity and abiding by its letter
with regard to the implementation of the transitional measures it contains.
Before entering this Government, we knew that most public servants, and
Zimbabweans from all walks of life, were desperate for the positive
commitments that the agreement contained. We also knew that elements of the
old regime would resist these measures and attempt to obstruct any positive
progress.
Happily, we underestimated the number of people who would embrace the
opportunities that our country now has, but, sadly, we were correct in
allowing for the residual resistance that we are now experiencing from a
small faction of non-democratic hardliners.
However, those who try to stand in the way of progress will either realise
that it is neither in their personal interests nor the nation's to continue
their obstructionist tendencies, or they will be swept aside by the
overwhelming momentum being generated as we move forward as a nation.
This does not mean that the success of this new Government is guaranteed.
Today Zimbabwe stands at a critical juncture that requires the MDC to stay
true to the ideals upon which it was founded. It requires Zanu (PF) to
embrace the commitments of this new agreement and it requires all of its
citizens to stand up for their rights as enshrined in the new political
agreement. This is also the time for the West to stand by the people of
Zimbabwe as they move towards the goal of freedom and prosperity.
I can think of no contemporary example of a people who have stood by their
belief in democracy more determinedly, peacefully or bravely than
Zimbabweans. Despite a decade of persecution and violent provocation,
Zimbabweans have refused to compromise their democratic ideals or their
belief in a future of dignity, prosperity and hope by lashing out at their
opponents in anger or despair. As Prime Minister and the leader of the
largest political party in Zimbabwe, I am immensely proud of my nation and
its peoples.
Zimbabweans should not have to pay a further price for their determination
to stand by their democratic ideals because the new Government does not meet
or match the "clean slate" or "total victory" standards expected by the
West. As stated earlier, this new Government is not perfect, but it does
represent all Zimbabweans - it is positive, it is peaceful, it is committed
to a new constitution and free and fair elections and, with international
support, it will succeed.
As Prime Minister, I am responsible for ensuring the formulation of policy
by the Cabinet and its implementation by the entire Government. It is my
responsibility to ensure that the commitments that this new Government has
made to restoring the rule of law, instituting a democratising legislative
agenda, ending persecution and freeing the media are implemented in the
shortest possible time. In this, the new Government is only now beginning to
realise the muscle that it has and to flex that muscle.
The West has been, and continues to be, the most generous provider of
humanitarian support, of which all Zimbabweans are aware and grateful for.
As a proud nation, we look forward to the day when we can develop our
relationship with the West beyond merely being a beneficiary of emergency
aid. We want to become a true economic partner and an investment opportunity
for those who respect the true value of our natural resources and our
sovereignty over them.
Indeed, as the leaders of the G20 meet in London to consider measures to
deal with the economic challenges facing their countries, I encourage them
to view Zimbabwe and other partners in Africa as investment opportunities
with the potential to stimulate their own economic growth.
As Prime Minister, I ask you to work with me and the people of Zimbabwe and
to engage with the efforts of our new transitional Government. I ask you to
share our vision for our great country, to work with us to rebuild our
nation and to walk with us on this promising phase of our journey to a true
and lasting democracy for Zimbabwe.
Morgan Tsvangirai is Prime Minister of Zimbabwe
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