What they said in 2010 . . .

Newsday

31 December 2010

By Owen Gagare and Nduduzo Tshuma
The year 2010 comes to an end today. It witnessed numerous developments both in the social and political arena. Below are some of the quotes that made headlines in the local media.

“That’s a laughable argument. In fact it’s a very weak argument, perforated argument, I’m sure conceived by very weak and barren minds. There is no reason why a particular individual, particularly in this case, why a whole institution would try to hide behind a finger, the finger of the so-called restrictive measures,” MDC-T spokesman, Nelson Chamisa, responding to Zanu PF’s declaration that the party would not make any concessions before sanctions are removed.

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“The mischievous and barbaric calls for the prosecution of the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe over the WikiLeaks reports represent desperate acts by those whom the people unequivocally rejected in March 2008,” said the PM’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka responding to calls by Zanu PF for Tsvangirai to be prosecuted over theWikileaks exposé. “Zimbabweans are not worried about what the US embassy in Harare cabled to Washington. They are only aware of their strong opinion which they cabled from the various polling stations in March 2008 entrusting their hope and faith in the person of Morgan Tsvangirai.”

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“We have seen criticism from the Reserve Bank governor this week again and we will only take note of (him) when the governor stops his megaphone criticism,” Indigenisation minister Saviour Kasukuwere commenting on RBZ governor Gideon Gono’s criticism of government’s decision to make it mandatory for foreign-owned companies to cede a 51% stake to blacks.

“When they are ready to talk we will listen. But in the meantime we will not listen to this kind of megaphone criticism. We remain determined to empower our people and we will not accept such criticism from individuals seeking relevance.”

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Methuseli Moyo, Zapu spokesperson, on Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai comments on the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project:
“I think it was obvious from what he said that he is both ignorant and contemptuous. He is generally ignorant about Matabeleland and specifically ignorant about the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project. Secondly, he is contemptuous of the person of a hero of the calibre of Dr Dabengwa and other Matabeleland leaders who initiated the project and pressurised the government to fund it. He doesn’t want to acknowledge the role played by our leaders through the Matabeleland Action Group.”

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“Anyone who believes they can deny the truth of our past is delusional. Covering up old wounds can only make them fester. We must face them so we don’t perpetuate the wrongs of the past” — Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, while officially opening a photo exhibition showcasing gory pictures of the 2008 victims of violence. The police had tried to confiscate the pictures.

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Zanu PF Central committee member Godfrey Malaba on harassment of journalists:

“As a party, we also do not condone the harassment of journalists. We are in an inclusive government, so I do not see why people would say Zanu PF is harassing journalists. The co-minister of Home Affairs Theresa Makone is not a deputy minister but an equal one so it is not Zanu PF that is harassing journalists, but the inclusive government. Every ministry that is headed by a Zanu PF person, the deputy is MDC so you cannot blame Zanu PF on things done by the inclusive government.”

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Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu on being President Mugabe’s “ever obedient son”:

“Joshua Nkomo brought liberation to this country, that is why he is called Father Zimbabwe; and President Mugabe also brought the liberation of this country. When you tell other people that you are their son they jump and say they have found a scoop.”

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“I would like to state unequivocally that the Prime Minister has spoken most definitely and conclusively on the issue of civil service remuneration. There is no government policy to freeze civil servants’ salaries at present. That is the position of the government which at the moment is cast in stone” — Public Service minister Eliphas Mukonoweshuro in support of PM Tsvangirai after Finance minister Tendai Biti had announced a civil service salary freeze, contradicting his boss, who insisted that there was no such policy.

“This government does not operate on the basis of super ministers who may frequently arrogate themselves responsibilities that are neither in their present province of competence nor designated mandate ,” he said, in clear reference to Biti.

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“The political crisis . . . no longer exists. The country is making progress and it is time investors started looking at Zimbabwe from a different perspective,” PM Tsvangirai tells reporters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on Africa.

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Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Ignatius Chombo’s alleged wealth:

“He has 15 cars. What does he want to do with all those cars? It is like a baboon that goes into a field and takes a maize cob and puts it under one armpit and then the other side. As it is walking it is attracted to another cob and breaks it again leading to many cobs collecting on the ground. That is primitive accumulation of wealth and it’s a shame.”

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“Zimbabwe shall recover by her wits and resources. Zimbabwe will not be saved by any country or organisation, least of all Western. Let our partners in the inclusive government get that so we do not waste our efforts on useless initiatives” — President Robert Mugabe addressing an ordinary session of the Zanu PF central committee in July, a week after a government delegation held a meeting with the European Union in Brussels, aimed at normalising relations between the country and the bloc.

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“They cannot be God to us today, when they were not good to us yesterday. They detained us, jailed us, shot at us, bombed us and slaughtered us in our hundreds. We bore the brunt of their cruelties and shall never forget” — President Mugabe, blasts Western diplomats during the burial of his sister Sabina at the National Heroes’ Acre in August.

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“(Prime Minister Morgan) Tsvangirai is just like a fly in a kombi or a bus. The fly can sit on the driver’s seat but that does not make it the one in charge of the bus” — War veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda, threatening villagers while on a terror campaign in Bikita West.

“He can be eliminated in the political set-up and life will go on. You can kill a fly by simply swatting it against a window.”

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“We have sought to re-engage the EU on the issue of the immediate removal of the evil sanctions that are hurting our people. We seek friendship and nor enmity, togetherness not apartness, good understanding not division” — President

Mugabe said during the Heroes’ Day celebrations.

“But no sooner had we started the re-engagement than we realised that the EU is far from being sincere, as the bloc keeps shifting goalposts. The US and EU are keen to have our people continue suffering under the evil sanctions.”

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“Our position is clear. First and foremost, we do not recognise Zanu PF as the sole determiner of who goes to the Heroes’ Acre. We reject lock, stock and barrel the decision to deny Sibanda hero status. We are saying the Zanu PF politburo is not worthy of deciding who should go to the Heroes’ Acre or not,” said Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara after the Zanu PF politburo had denied the MDC-M vice-presidency hero status.

“Robert Mugabe has no locus standi to determine who is a hero or not.”

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“Unfortunately, we thought there would be serious revenue from diamonds. We only realised $56 million from the sale of 1,2 million carats of diamonds in the first sale. Chiadzwa has proved not to be an Eldorado” — Finance minister Tendai Biti, officially launching the 2011 National Budget consultative process.

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“For as long as I am chairman (of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission), I will do everything in my power to ensure that we never do anything that distracts our impartiality” — Justice Simpson Victor Mutambanengwe, addressing editors in Kariba.

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“By 2014, Zimbabwe will sit on high internet and you will be connected even if you don’t want. By year end we will have connected to the rest of the world and all those nightmares of boiling tea and have it before you are connected will be a thing of the past,” — ICT minister Nelson Chamisa.

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“We are on national duty giving birth. We gave birth to all of you sitting here today. You are ministers and presidents because of us, but you are now denying us the right of giving birth to the children that are going to be the leaders of tomorrow.” — Bulawayo East MP, Thabitha Khumalo (MDC-T) – December 7, 2010.

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“Mr Speaker, the Public Order and Security Amendment Bill was no great step forward. Those of us who have been in the political opposition since 2000 are well aware that all of us have been victims of this particular legislation.” — Bulawayo South MP, Eddie Cross (MDC-T) — October 5, 2010.

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“The reality of our situation today is that we have a form of education, rather than an education that is of a qualitative substance. We have schools, physical buildings and teachers in the classrooms, but the reality is that our education system has declined dramatically in the last two decades.” — Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart – March 3, 2010.

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“Mr Speaker, I wonder why Zanu PF MPs go out of the House each time an MDC MP presents a motion in this august House. My question is do they tell their supporters out in the country that we are scared of the MDC’s constructive presentations that are now awakening the country?” — Bikita South MP, Varandeni Jani (MDC-T) – Hansard October 19, 2010.

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“Madam Speaker, I will label Jabulani Sibanda as a step-child because he was not born and bred by Zanu PF. He is an insult to the Ndebele people. The people of Zaka demand this terrorist who is terrorising them to be ejected as soon as possible.” — Zaka West MP, Festus Dumbu (MDC-T) – October 19, 2010

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“Honourable Mutseyami, the way you are dressed is not suitable for this august House. May you kindly go out and return in a proper dress code.” – Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Nomalanga Mzilikazi Khumalo (MDC-M) – Hansard November 16, 2010

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“We are turning the National Heroes’ Acre into a National Heroes’ Hectare, full of people who do not deserve to be national heroes.” — Zaka West MP, Festus Dumbu (MDC-T) – Hansard October 19, 2010

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“Furthermore, in terms of our superstars who are in the Diaspora that might have made mistakes – Mawere, Makamba, Ntuli Ncube and others have been de-specified, but Strive Masiyiwa has not been in the country for ten years. I have been out of the country where we were talking and discussing with people like Bill Gates and yet we cannot talk to our own superstars.” — Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara (MDC-M) – Hansard February 10th 2010.

————————–“Madam Speaker, the people of Zimbabwe have a right to know who killed and maimed their relatives, who stole their stock, who did everything? Zimbabweans demand that and we have a right to know.” — Kadoma Central MP, Editor Matamisa (MDC-T) – Hansard March 17, 2010.

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“My message is violence begets violence and if we train our youths to be violent, they will grow into violent adults.” — Mbire MP, Paul Mazikana (Zanu PF) – Hansard March 17th 2010.

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“We hear stories of people being arrested – it is normal. A person like Farai Maguwu can spend three weeks in jail and it is normal business as usual because there is that normalizing the unusual. So, we have a culture of being lackadaisical, indifferent, impunity, and we are trying to make a point in this statement that we cannot continue like that.” — Harare East MP, Tendai Biti (MDC-T) – Hansard December 9, 2010.

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“Madam President, there is an intruder in the House, you are breaking Zimbabwean law by allowing a stranger in the House, (referring to provincial governors unilaterally appointed by President Robert Mugabe” — Non- Constituency Senator Morgan Komichi (MDC-T) – Hansard September 9 2010.

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“Zanu PF members are a problem to me. The problem we have in this august House is that we are self-centred and not thinking about the grassroots. We are simply embarking on a pull him down syndrome, so that should there be any failures, we will apportion blame to an individual though that person would have done the work.”

— Senator for Hwata, Rorana Muchichwa (MDC-T) – December 10, 2010.