Wednesday, June 30, 2010

More defections from Mutambara MDC faction



Headlines, News — By admin on June 30, 2010 at 4:25 am

Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara might be left with no political party to lead by the time elections come next year given the massive defections from his crisis ridden MDC faction. After his party lost 27 councillors from Nkayi South and Nkayi North early this month and 16 councillors from Lupane East another 9 councillors from Kusile Rural District in Matebeleland North province defected to join the MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

In a letter addressed to the MDC Matebeleland South provincial leadership on Friday 25 June 2010 the councilors said their actions were based on free will and there was no undue influence.

“Believing in our individual freedoms of association and political affiliation, having familiarized with relevant sections of the Rural District Act and acting on free will and without any undue influence, on the 21st of April we resolved to defect from Mutambara’s party to the MDC that is led by (President) Morgan Tsvangirai. We fully pledge to further the interests, policies and uphold principles of the MDC’s Constitution,” read part of the letter, which was signed by the 9 councillors.
The nine councillors are; Albert Mkwananzi Ward 1, Xolani Mhlophe Ward 2, Nehru Mpofu Ward 5, Doorman Moyo Ward 8, Sibangilizwe Ncube Ward 9, Sabelo Liberty Nyoni Ward 13, Sthabile Moyo Ward 14, Clara Mkandla Ward 27 and Zett Ncube Ward 16.

Early in June this year Mutambara was dealt a huge blow when 27 councillors in Nkayi South and North defected to join the MDC party. In a letter dated 10 June 2010 and addressed to the party’s secretary general, Professor Welshman Ncube the councilors said they had joined MDC-T.

“We the undersigned Nkayi RDC councilors who were voted under your party hereby advice you that we resigned from your party MDC-M. We are pleased to advice you that we have joined MDC-T.”

“For the avoidance of doubt we would like to inform you that our reason for crossing the floor was directed by the electorate who voted us into office on 29-03-08,” read party of the letter.


The letter which is also copied to Mutambara and the party’s national chairperson further says “Please don’t bother yourselves anymore to contact us .The chapter is closed. It was good doing politics with you.”

The letter which was dropped at the party’s regional offices by the ward 21 councillor Sicelo Mpofu on a Friday also had national identity numbers and signatures of the councilors who had deserted the party.


Welshman Ncube
Four weeks ago 16 councillors from Lupane East, sympathetic to the sacked former MP for the area Njabuliso Mguni, also resigned from the party accusing the party’s leadership of dictatorship and dining and wining with Zanu (PF). The Nkayi councillors are also believed to be sympathetic to Abedinco Bhebhe, the former MP of the area who was also sacked by the party along side with former Bulilima East MP Norman Mpofu.

There are also reports that other MDC-M councilors from Gwanda, Hwange and Tsholotsho are planning to abandon the party.

Nehanda Radio understands there is a growing anti-Mutambara feeling in the party and that Secretary General Welshman Ncube is already plotting to overthrow him.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Prime Minister Tsvangirai reshuffles Cabinet




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai - The following Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers are being redeployed within the Party to strengthen and add momentum to Party programmes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GOOD afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen, I am here today to announce a ministerial reshuffle. This reshuffle is about the MDC delivering to the people of Zimbabwe. what they are looking for – real change.

Over the past 16 months, we have recorded definite success in certain areas.

We have brought sanity and stability to the economy.

We have revived the health sector, which had all but collapsed.

We have got the schools back up and running, and textbooks distributed.

We now have independent daily newspapers registered to operate.

Basic services such as sewerage reticulation, refuse collection and water provision have been restored in many areas.

However, we still have many challenges; and these frankly overshadow our successes to-date.

The pace of reform has been painfully slow.

Abuses of power are still all too common.

Many people are still struggling to make a living wage, and provide for their families.

Infrastructure rehabilitation and energy supply continue to inhibit development.

I am acutely aware that these and other challenges have led to a loss of confidence in the new administration amongst the electorate. In response to this, as Prime Minister and President of the MDC, I have just completed a comprehensive review of the performance of the Government, and in particular of my Office and those Ministers who represent the MDC.

As a result, I have decided on a number of changes needed to strengthen the performance of the MDC in government and outside government, in order to deliver real change to the people of Zimbabwe. These changes, are being made with immediate effect, and the new ministers will be sworn in tomorrow, Thursday 24th June.

The changes that are being implemented are as follows:

The following Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers are being redeployed within the Party to strengthen and add momentum to Party programmes:

Elias Mudzuri, formerly Minister of Energy and Power Development, and the Party’s National Organiser
Fidelis Mhashu, formerly Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities, and the Party’s National Executive Member for Chitungwiza Evelyn Masaiti, formerly Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs, Gender & Community Development, and the Party’s Secretary of the Women’s Assembly Thamasanqa Mhalangu, formerly Deputy Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation & Empowerment, and the Party’s National Youth Chairperson.

The following will become Cabinet Ministers:

Jameson Timba, formerly Deputy Minister of Media, Information & Publicity, will become Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Tapiwa Mashakada, will become Minister of Economic Planning & Investment Promotion
The following will become Deputy Ministers:

Gift Chimanikire will become Deputy Minister of Mines & Mining Development
Obert Gutu will become Deputy Minister of Justice & Legal Affairs.
Tongai Matutu will become Deputy Minister of Youth, Indigenisation & Empowerment
The following Cabinet Ministers will change portfolios, as follows:

Elton Mangoma formerly Minister of Economic Planning & Investment Promotion, will become Minister of Energy & Power Development Theresa Makone, formerly Minister of Public Works, will become Minister of Home Affairs
Giles Mutsekwa, formerly Minister of Home Affairs, will become co-Minister of Housing & Social Amenities
Gorden Moyo, formerly Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, will become Minister of State Enterprises & Parastatals
Joel Gabuza, formerly Minister of State Enterprises & Parastatals, will become Minister of Public Works
The following Deputy Ministers will change portfolios, as follows:

Murisi Zvizvai, formerly Deputy Minister of Mines & Mining Development, will become Deputy Minister of Media, Information & Publicity Jesse Majome, formerly Deputy Minister of Justice & Legal Affairs, will become Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs, Gender & Community Development Ladies and Gentlemen, the MDC agreed to form this inclusive Government as it represented the most practical means of moving Zimbabwe forward and halt the needless suffering of the people.

In undertaking this task I have been humbled and encouraged by the commitment of all members of the MDC’s leadership, both within and outside of Government and I believe we are truly embodying the principles of a Party of Excellence.

I therefore wish to thank those Ministers and Deputy Ministers who are returning to the Party for their commitment and hard work and I call upon those remaining in the Government and our new Ministers and Deputy Ministers to join me in redoubling our efforts to deliver real change to the people of Zimbabwe.

- Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC President and Prime Minister of Zimbabwe

Friday, June 18, 2010

27 councillors ditch Mutambara MDC


MDC-M Leader Authur Mutambara

HARARE - Twenty seven councillors in the Arthur Mutambara-led MDC have walked out of the party and crossed floors to the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai in the latest mass defections to rock the party.

The mass defections come hardly two weeks after 16 councillors from Lupane East resigned from the party in solidarity with their sacked MP, Njabuliso Mguni, who also accused the party leadership of supping with Zanu (PF).

The 27 councillors from Nkayi South and North jumped ship on June 10. They said their constituents had taken the decision and they were simply following what the people who voted them into office wanted.

The impetus for the latest rebellion is not immediately clear according to the resignation letters, but inside sources say there was concern that Mutambara was ingratiating himself more and more with President Mugabe.

“We the undersigned Nkayi RDC councilors who were voted under your party hereby advice you that we resigned from your party MDC-M. We are pleased to advice you that we have joined MDC-T," said the resignation letter signed by all the councillors and addressed to party secretary general Welshman Ncube. The letter was copied to Mutambara.

Ncube was not immediately available for comment on the matter.

But the letter continued: "For the avoidance of doubt we would like to inform you that our reason for crossing the floor was directed by the electorate who voted us into office on 29-03-08. Please don’t bother yourselves anymore to contact us .The chapter is closed. It was good doing politics with you."

Party spokesman Ediwn Mushoriwa however denied that there were massive defections, saying "we have not received any official communication to that effect."

He described the letter as "fake" and said it wasnt the first letter the party had received purpoting to communicate defections.

But ward 21 councillor Sicelo Mpofu said no amount of denials would reverse the decision.

(C) Zimbabwe Reporter 2010

Constitution public hearings official launch Wednesday



HARARE - Zimbabwe on Wednesday officially launches public hearings on a new Constitution in Harare, with the three principals in the inclusive government expected to make an address.

The public hearings are expected to resume in earnest on Saturday, with citizens expected to weigh in on a proposed new Constitution. Outreach teams are poised to hold meetings in each of the country's 1 957 wards.

Thd public hearings commence amid complaints from the Prime Minister's MDC party that its supporters were under siege from marauding Zanu (PF) militia especially in the countryside.

Seventy teams will be deployed countrywide Saturday to gather views and ideas that Zimbabweans wanted included in the new governance charter.

An official function has been planned for Harare Wednesday where the three principals to the Global Political Agreement (GPA), President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur Mutambara are expected to speak at the launch.

All the three principals have collectively shown anxiety for the process to start in earnest.

Tsvangirai said: "The new people-driven Constitution is our birthright.The Constitution is an important document that should guarantee the people’s basic rights."

The public meetings have been sidetracked by partisan bickering, shameless scrounging for donor dollars and bogus non-issues.

The MDC said in a statement Tuesday its Midlands North provincial chairperson, Cephas Zimuti who was arrested on Sunday at Gokwe Centre, was released on Monday without any charge being brought against him.

"The police had earlier charged him on flimsy charges of mobilising MDC supporters to participate in the Constitution-making process," the statement said.

In Masvingo West, Masvingo province, an armed self-styled war veteran, Risiko Mutande on Sunday threatened MDC supporters with unspecified action if they attended a rally that was to be addressed by the MP for the constituency, Tachiona Mharadza on Constitutional issues. Mutande made the threats in the company of Zanu (PF) youths, the MDC said.

The public hearings are expected to last two months. Zimbabweans hope a new charter, replacing one inked in 1979 before independence from Britain, will strengthen the role of parliament and curtail the president's powers, as well as guaranteeing civil liberties and political and media freedom.

(C) Zimbabwe Reporter 2010

Friday, June 11, 2010

Time for Africa to shine

By Baleseng Batlotleng

GABORONE - Some pundits believe that African teams taking part in the World Cup have a realistic chance of going far in the tournament.
On the background of playing host to the best showpiece in the world, African teams are in a different and better position than previous tournaments and most importantly better prepared to achieve success.
In addition to convincing preparations ahead of the world spectacle that kicks off today in South Africa, Africa's representation of six teams is a record on its own.
African teams have competed at every World Cup since 1970 with the best performance being the quarterfinal berth achieved by the Cameroon team of 1990 and the enterprising and yet powerful team of Senegal in 2002.
When the draw for the World Cup groups was conducted in Cape Town last December, a lot of commentators ruled out chances of any team from Africa making it to the next round as they were drawn against what was referred to as difficult opponents.
For instance, the once African powerhouse Nigeria was pitted against Argentina, a great team on its own with an array of talent distributed all over European big spending clubs and currently boosting of the attacking tricky midfielder and world's number one, Lionel Messi.
Nigeria might have a better chance against Argentina in their opening game but will have to produce a polished performance against Greece and South Korea in their remaining fixtures.
As for the host South Africa, the latest FIFA ranking places them as the lowest ranked in their group.
Despite the poor form over the last few years, Bafana Bafana remain Africa's hope and have been buoyed by a recent run of 12 unbeaten runs and catapulted themselves into real contenders to finish at least in the top two ahead of either Uruguay, France or Mexico.
It might be argued that friendly games Bafana have been playing did not offer the same intensity compared to competitive matches before a big tournament.
They failed to qualify for the AFCON finals in Angola and that might become a big blow for their preparations. Before the AFCON talk of town was Ivory Coast but the Elephants went on to disappoint in the campaign.
However, Ivory Coast are one of the expensively assembled team on the African continent with world class players plying their trade in the best leagues in Europe.
They have done tremendously well in previous tournaments but never came with the right results and as fate would have it they have been drawn in what many refer to as the group of death, comprising Portugal, Brazil, and Korea.
Added to the tough opponents' problem is the injury of their star player and skipper Didier Drogba who still remains a doubtful starter ahead of their opening encounter with Portugal on Thursday.
Ghana has remained a consistent team from Africa and that can also place them as favorites at the moment.
They are capable of beating any team but the absence of playmaker Michael Essien has been described as devastating against tough opposition such as Germany.
They can count on edging out Australia and their coach's native homeland Serbia.
Their best record in the World Cup was when they made it to the second round when they lost to Brazil during their debut in 2006.
The Algerian Les Fennecs will be making their first appearance at the tournament since 1986 where they were eliminated in the first round.
They were the last team to qualify for the tournament after a closely contested battle with Egypt where they marginally won 1-0 and many will hope for better results when the Desert Foxes face the star studded England, USA and Slovenia.
Missing from coach Rabah Saadane's full strength squad is Lazio enterprising midfielder Mourad Meghini.
BOPA