The Standard

By Michael Madyira

13 January 2013

Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart has described as “nonsensical” racism allegations on a Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) directive in the appointment of national team selectors.

Coltart, through the SRC on Wednesday ordered that from February 1, all national sports associations whose team selections are handled by national selectors ensure that such selectors have represented the country in that specific sporting discipline.

The directive, which mainly affects cricket and bowls, sparked a racism hurricane with Zimbabwe Cricket convener of selectors Givemore Makoni leading allegations that Coltart was on a move to restore white dominance in the sport.

Makoni sensationally claimed the directive would shut out blacks in national team selection and coaching ranks since more whites have played the game.

Most sporting disciplines in Zimbabwe had coaches with the full mandate of selecting their own players but even rugby, which is not affected by the directive, joined in the growing chorus of disapproval.

Makoni also questioned Coltart’s patriotism, alleging the minister played an instrumental role in the black armband protest by Andy Flower and Henry Olonga, as well as discouraging the England team from coming to Zimbabwe during the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

But Coltart yesterday took aim at Makoni, saying the directive did not affect the appointment of national team coaches but was just limited to selectors.

He said Makoni’s frustration came from the insecurity of losing his post as convener of selectors but that he did not have to worry since his role as Southern Rocks chief executive officer would not be affected.

“I note that Mr Makoni suggests that the directive will make Mr Stephen Mangongo ineligible for appointment as national coach [as part of an alleged further racist agenda] which is also false as the directive does not apply to coaches,” said Coltart.

“Nowhere in the directive does it state that a prerequisite for appointment as a national coach must be international experience. Therefore any suggestions that the directives in general are racist are patently false and nonsensical.

“Whilst it is regrettable that they inevitably affect some people who do not have international experience, it would be improper to allow the personal interests of a few individuals to compromise Zimbabwe’s national interest,” Coltart said.

 The Sunday Mail

By Langton Nyakwenda

13 January 2013

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart’s task of naming the new boxing board could be an easy one following revelations that some names forwarded by the militant Zimbabwe Boxing Committee (ZBC) are the same as those already recommended by the Sports and Recreation Commission.

Coltart was supposed to announce the new office bearers to take charge of professional boxing last Friday, but was compelled to put on hold the move after stakeholders of the sport asked to be involved in the selection process.

The ZBC forwarded their list last Wednesday and the minister acknowledged receipt of the recommendations whilst the SRC had already sent their proposed candidates in November last year.

Coltart told The Sunday Mail Sport yesterday that he will now announce the new board  within the next 14 days as he has set January 24 deadline for the finalisation of the entire process.

Sources close to the developments exclusively disclosed to The Sunday Mail Sport that three of the names submitted by the SRC for consideration also appear on the list submitted to the minister by the ZBC.

Though the sources were not at liberty to reveal the identity of the trio, it is believed that one of them is Dr Farai Muchena. The medical practitioner, who once promoted boxing through his Hunyani Boxing Promotions banner, is the sole candidate with medical expertise and knowledge of the sport.

The Boxing Act states that one of the five board members should be a medical doctor by profession. Further investigations by this paper unearthed that two of the eight names submitted by the SRC belong to the Zimbabwe Amateur Boxing Association (ZABA) — a scenario that might not go down well with the professional boxers who form a separate entity from ZABA.

ZABA is an affiliate of the SRC with its own structures separate from those of the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Board is a stand-alone board with its own organogram.

The only headache the minister is likely to have, according to sources, is that candidates on either list are mainly from a technical background with their resumes conspicuous by lack of administrative skills. “The unfortunate thing is that most, if not all, of the candidates are coaches, promoters or former boxers. But what is needed at the moment are people capable of marketing the sport, creating networks with the rest of the boxing world as well as looking into the welfare of boxers,” said the sources.

Besides Dr Muchena, the other names sent to the minister by the ZBC include Ed Hammond (trainer), Thomas Kambuyi (trainer), Denver Wynne (trainer), Wesley McDade (boxer), Stalin Mau Mau (promoter) and Lorraine Muringi, who is also an acclaimed boxing promoter.

Coltart said he was still in the process of marrying the two lists and would announce the board after consultations with the Principal Director of Sport in the ministry, Rev Paul Damasane, and the SRC. “I am looking at the CVs right now and I need some time to consolidate the two lists. I am looking forward to appointing a board of people with boxing interest, good administrative skills and those who were actually involved in the sport that is the former boxers and promoters. “I will also strive to strike a regional balance and also look into the issue of gender balance as well. The board should reflect all the different facets,” said Coltart.

Muringi, who is the only female candidate appearing on the lists, has an impressive Curriculum Vitae, which this paper viewed. It includes promotion of successful local and international tournaments, awards as well as attendance at elite world boxing conventions.

Statement by Senator David Coltart regarding the appointment of national selectors

12 January 2013

This week the Director General of the Sports and Recreation Commission Rtd Col. Charles Nhemachena issued SRC directive NSA 1/2013 regarding the appointment of National Selectors. The directive was issued pursuant to sections 19,21 and 23 of the Sports and Recreation Commission Act. In terms of section 23 the Minister of Sport is given the power to issue general directions to the SRC “as appears requisite… in the national interest”, subject to the SRC being given 30 days in which to submit its views regarding the proposed directive to the Minister.

Last year I exercised these powers for the first time when the SRC issued a directive pursuant to section 23 of the SRC Act ordering all sports associations to equitably rotate international sporting events amongst all Zimbabwe’s sporting venues, which meet international standards, nationwide.

In the past few years there have been a variety of problems involving the selection of  national sporting teams. Indeed in some disciplines it has been a long standing problem with allegations of bias and incompetence of selectors being made. For example last year the SRC spent an extraordinary amount of time in seeking to resolve a serious selection dispute in Zimbabwe Bowls regarding the selection of the Zimbabwe team to participate in a World Bowls event in Australia. Part of that dispute arose because some of Zimbabwe’s bowlers felt that some selectors were unqualified to make the best selection or that there had been interference in the selection process. There have also been selection controversies in some major sports such as Football and Cricket. 

Accordingly last year I wrote to the SRC informing it of my proposed direction and seeking its views in terms of the SRC Act. My thinking was that if the appointment of national selectors was confined to those who had actually played their respective sport at international level it would better ensure that selectors were adequately qualified to do the job, that the appointment of selectors would be done on a more objective basis and that players were more likely to respect decisions taken by people who had already achieved internationally in that discipline. A wide cross section of Zimbabwean sportspersons have told me in the last few years that playing at international level involves a considerable leap in physical and mental expertise which is best understood and appreciated by sportspersons who have experienced that themselves. The same sportspersons have advised me that national players are far more likely to respect and accept hard selection decisions made by people who have achieved themselves at the highest level. The matter was duly considered by the SRC and it concurred with the proposals, and a result the directive was issued by the Director General this week.

I have noted with regret the highly intemperate and defamatory statements issued in response to the the directive this week by the erstwhile convener of selectors of Zimbabwe Cricket, Mr Givemore Makoni, claiming, inter alia, that the directive has some racist motive. Whilst I understand Mr Makoni’s distress at losing his job he would have been better advised to take to take  a leaf out of Dale Carnegie’s book regarding how to make friends and influence people. His abusive remarks are not only unnecessary but ironically the remarks themselves bring into question his suitability for holding such an important national position. I note that Mr Makoni remains manager of the Rocks franchise so his services to cricket will not be lost.

Be that as it may it is necessary for me to respond to the specific allegation that this is some racist plot to prevent black Zimbabweans from advancing in cricket. Firstly, it is well known that there are numerous black Zimbabweans who have played cricket at international level for Zimbabwe and who have now retired from international cricket, such as David Mutendera, Ethan Dube and Tatenda Taibu, who would make superb selectors. In this regard I have noted that Mr Makoni is recorded as stating, in his comments carried in the Zimbabwe, Independent newspaper that Ethan Dube did not play for Zimbabwe and is ineligible, which is false as Mr Dube played for Zimbabwe in 1990. Secondly it is ironic that Mr Makoni refers, in his comments contained in the Herald newspaper, to my criticism regarding selections during the tour to New Zealand without mentioning that those criticisms were mainly focussed on the non selection of a black player Vusimuzi Sibanda, which hardly tallies with some racist agenda. Thirdly, I note that Mr Makoni suggests that the directive will make Mr Stephen Mangongo ineligible for appointment as national coach (as part of an alleged further racist agenda) which is also false as the directive does not apply to coaches. No where in the directive does it state that a prerequisite for appointment as a national coach must be international experience. Only if a coach is to sit on a national selection panel then that person should have international experience, in terms of paragraph 2.2 of the directive. Historically the practice in Zimbabwe Cricket is that the coach has not been part of the selection panel although the coach’s views are taken into account. Accordingly these directives do not in any way affect that historical practice. Therefore any suggestions that the directives in general are racist are patently false and nonsensical.

In conclusion it will be apparent that these directives have been lawfully and properly issued by the SRC in the national interest with a view to improve the competitiveness of all our national teams. Whilst it is regrettable that they inevitably affect some people who do not have international experience it would be improper to allow the personal interests of a few individuals to compromise Zimbabwe’s national interest. It goes without saying that if National Sports Associations have suggestions to make to improve the directives both I and the SRC will obviously entertain and consider them in the national interest. What drives us all is the desire to see Zimbabwe retain its status as world beaters in all sporting disciplines something which has been sadly lacking in the last decade. 

The Herald

By Robson Sharuko

12 January 2013

THE Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture — David Coltart — yesterday said he needed more time before he could respond to the controversy torched by his controversial directives to guide appointment of national team selectors from next month.

The directives have already triggered a fierce race storm in cricket with Zimbabwe Cricket convener of selectors, Givemore Makoni, making sensational claims that they were meant to drive black technical staff members from the game’s key structures that deal with selection and coaching of national team players.

Makoni, who is also the chief executive of Southern Rocks, accused Coltart of allegedly driving a campaign, indirectly, to keep selection of coaching portfolios in cricket to white coaches through his raft of proposed measures. Yesterday Coltart, who was challenged by some of his followers on Twitter to respond, said he needed more time.

“I do not have time at present to comment in full on the articles concerning the appointment of selectors,” he tweeted.

“In the meantime, please see the following directives issued by the Sports and Recreation Commission and (Director General) Colonel (Charles) Nhemachena.

“With effect from 1 February 2013, all national sport associations whose national team selection is conducted by national selectors shall ensure that such selectors have the requisite experience and skills.

“In particular, no person shall be appointed as a selector unless they have represented Zimbabwe in the particular sport.

“Where circumstances justify the appointment of a foreign coach as a selector, authority to appoint such person shall be sought from the Sports and Recreation Commission.

“The Commission will exercise its discretion to determine whether it would be reasonable and in the national interest to grant or deny such request. In this instance, it would still be a requirement that such persons provide evidence of having the requisite international experience albeit for another nation.” The full statement issued by Nhemachena shows that the Sports Commission received a directive from Coltart on December 3 last year for the implementation of the new controversial directives.

Makoni said it was unfair for his generation, whose path to the national team was blocked by racial barriers that used to keep just two spots for black players in the national team, to be pushed out of the technical structures because they didn’t break those barriers.

Temba Mliswa, who has fought a number of battles to bring down racial barriers in rugby and cricket, said he was calling for an urgent meeting of all former cricketers who will be affected by this directive to help them launch a spirited fightback.

Mliswa said his Zimbabwe Economic Empowerment Council will not allow the marginalisation of black officials and players, in what used to be predominantly white sporting disciplines, like rugby and cricket.

“We are meeting all the black cricketers and we will address their concerns because this cannot be allowed to happen in this day and era in this country,” said Mliswa.

“To watch our players and officials being disempowered, at a time like this, in their national games, and not fight the system will be unforgivable and we will not allow that.

“Cricket has made a lot of gains, in giving the sport a truly national outlook, and we cannot let a few people come back and reverse those gains.

“What we want the Minister to address is the issue of having three national team selectors, in cricket, where two of them are white and one is black because we feel the playing numbers now show that there should be more black representation in that selection panel. Now he wants to remove the black guy who is there, who is the chairman of selectors, because he didn’t play for a national team where his chances were destroyed by the colour of his skin, and not because he wasn’t good enough, and we will not allow that.”

There was support for Coltart from a post, on his Facebook wall, sent by Debi Jeans who wrote: “At last! Well done to you and the SRC.

“Right move, Right decision. I’m very proud of you and thank you.”
Christian Shiku, contributing on the same Facebook debate on the minister’s page, said:
“Why is Makoni disturbed by this article, racism comments he made were uncalled for.
“I think he is the one who is a racist. Let’s support reforms that will improve sport in Zimbabwe.”
But there were some dissenting voices.

Vincent Masocha

“I personally don’t see how this can improve our national sport performance. Did DG (Nhemachena) consider the element of sports scientist and their role in the scientific selection of quality players?

“The use of anthropometric tests and physiological tests in selection of good players should not be downplayed. Can an ex-player operate a treadmill and interpret results and the level of fitness of a player? Can he perform the wingate tests to determine the anaerobic functional of players?

“Think outside the box guys if you are serious about our sport. This is modern sport, it is more scientific than artistic.

“Those ex-players whom you say should be national selectors failed to deliver for Zimbabwe in their respective sport and you expect them to select those who can deliver when they failed us during their time, where is the logic here? I can’t see it.

“You expect an O-Level failure to teach a university student yet he failed to reach that stage? This should be a Policy matter Mr Director General and not a directive. Directives work kuArmy kwamaiva not kusports.”

Jackson Muzivi

“The underlying assumption in this directive is ill-premised. Selection is a professional skill area that applies detailed skill analysis, techniques and match them to well defined performances standards with a view to differentiate candidates for selection on merit as opposed to emotional considerations.

“The purpose being to minimise costly consequences of poor selection, financially, materially and psychologically.

“For a national sporting control body to issue a directive that selectors are best qualified by experience and excellence in a sporting discipline is garbage that must be rejected for want of scientific validity. It is similar to a company that disqualifies a multi-disciplinary approach to job applicants’ selection on the grounds that those without practical experience in the position under consideration will not be able to assess candidate suitability.

“Now that is the height of stupidity because while practitioners may possess skills to perform the job, it does not necessarily translate into the skill to identify the qualities that would improve on their own performance.

“The first step in selection is to determine the acceptable performance standards and specify them in writing together with the attitudes, skills and attributes necessary to achieve those standards. the selection process will then become a simple process of matching applicants to the defined attributes and choose those that match the specification closest ahead of the other aspirants.

“One does not need to have excelled in a sporting discipline to do that. In any event, one may have represented the nation in a sporting discipline while his/her performance standards fell way short of the standards necessary to gain the nation success at international level, which is obvious for many sports in our country. How such persons are in the eyes of the Sports commission the ideal selectors baffles the rational mind.”

The Independent

By Kevin Mapasure

11 January 2013

THE new Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) directive requiring all national team coaches and selectors to have represented the country has torched a storm in cricket circles, threatening the tranquility the sport has been enjoying after a decade of upheavals that endangered the game’s existence in the country.

The directive stipulates that to be a selector you should have played for the national team, experience current Zimbabwe Cricket convener of selectors Givemore Makoni lacks.

Makoni was the first to react to the directive which threatens his job by describing it as “utter rubbish and racist”.

Part of the SRC directives issued by SRC director-general Charles Nhemachena reads: “With effect from 1 February 2013, all national sport associations whose national team selection is conducted by national selectors shall ensure that such selectors have the requisite experience and skills.  In particular, no person shall be appointed as a selector unless they have represented Zimbabwe in the particular sport.

“Where circumstances justify the appointment of a foreign coach as a selector, authority to appoint such person shall be sought from the SRC.  The commission will exercise its discretion to determine whether it would be reasonable and in the national interest to grant or deny such request. In this instance, it would still be a requirement that such persons provide evidence of having the requisite international experience, albeit for another nation.”

Makoni has accused Education, Sport and Culture minister David Coltart of devising this regulation to “to get rid of everyone who fought for equality”.

“Coltart was the mastermind of the black armband protest by Andy Flower and Henry Olonga (in the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa),” said Makoni. “We fought for equality in the game because as blacks we were not getting equal opportunities as our white counterparts.

“Coltart promised fellow racists to restore the old order once he got into office and his grand plan is coming to its fruition now, but we will not allow that.

“Coltart was a member of the ‘royal family’ of untouchables who wanted to make sure black players were excluded. We fought that system and now we are giving everyone equal opportunity and they want to reverse the gains of the prevailing peace,” Makoni fumed.

Coltart admitted coming up with the new measures but denied they were in any way aimed at individuals.

“We have had problems in the Warriors and we have had problems in bowls,” said Coltart. “We want to have the right people in coaching positions in football and also cricket and other sports. I don’t think the people who are making such allegations have gone through the whole document.”

The directive would bar Makoni from the selection panel and also threatens Steve Mangongo’s quest for the national cricket team coaching job which would be vacant in April when Alan Butcher’s contract expires.

Butcher has not applied for the job while Mangongo, one of the most experienced local coaches, has applied.

The ZC board will soon announce the new technical set- up and the new selection panel which would be guided by the SRC rules.
Makoni had been earmarked to continue in his capacity.

Makoni argued that had it not been for the system which excluded black players, he and many others would have played for the national team.

“We played club cricket for Takashinga and we used to beat teams that the likes of Heath Streak and Grant Flower represented but we were never picked for the national team,” said Makoni.

“It is not our fault that we didn’t play for the national team. It was because of the system and we cannot be further disadvantaged. What is so special about the game that somebody who has club cricket will fail to comprehend?”

He said Coltart is aware that there aren’t enough ex-black national team players to appoint as selectors and coaches of the national team meaning that the old order of an-all white panel of selectors would be restored. That also means a black Zimbabwean cannot coach the national team as no ex-black players are coaches at the moment.
But Coltart said there were many former black players who represented the country in Tests who could fill the posts.

“I do not think it is true that we had any black players who could have represented that were denied opportunities the country in the last 32 years. But we have people like Ethan Dube and Tatenda Taibu to name just those who can be national team selectors,” said Coltart.
However, Makoni said Dube has never played for the national team and this proves that this latest directive is targeted at black selectors and coaches.

Coltart also questioned past selection decisions, but Makoni argued that whites cannot accept that they can be dropped from the national team.

“Why is it that there are always issues whenever a white player is dropped? Right now pressure is being put on us to select captain Brendan Taylor even after he failed another fitness test, but when it’s a black player, it’s a non-event,” said Makoni.

He said Coltart cannot suddenly act as the saviour of cricket in this country when he was among those who stopped England from touring Zimbabwe and tried to persuade the International Cricket Council to revoke Zimbabwe’s membership.

“We rebuilt cricket from scratch when white players walked out without any help from Coltart and now that he realises that the coalition government tenure is running out, he wants to leave a piece of regulation that returns control to the very same people who at one time attempted to collapse cricket simply because they were opposed to transformation,” Makoni said.

The Herald

By Robson Sharuko 

11 January 2013

ZIMBABWE Cricket convener of selectors Givemore Makoni yesterday made sensational claims that black technical staff could systematically be driven out of the game’s key structures, which deal with the selection and coaching of national teams, triggering another split along racial lines.

Makoni, who is also the chief executive of Southern Rocks, accused Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart of driving a campaign to keep selection and coaching portfolios, indirectly, to white coaches through a raft of proposed measures.

The Sports Commission on Wednesday issued a directive that, with effect from February 1 this year, the appointment of national team selectors, in sporting disciplines where such processes were conducted by a selection panel, would now be covered by new guidelines.

Only people who have represented the country at national level, in those sporting disciplines, would now be considered for a position on the panel of selectors.

The Sports Commission said this was meant to “foster improved competitiveness of our national teams which, in turn, will assist in creative development opportunities for sportspersons while contributing to the positive image of Zimbabwe”.

It means someone like Stephen Mangongo, the celebrated assistant national team coach who has been credited with coaching some of the country’s finest players like Tatenda Taibu, Hamilton Masakadza and Elton Chigumbura, will be ineligible to either stand as a selector or a coach of the national cricket team.

Interestingly, Mangongo is one of the three coaches in the running to replace Englishman, Alan Butcher, when his contract runs out this year, but under the new regime, he won’t be eligible for selection, leaving the door open for a straight battle between Heath Streak and Grant Flower.

Yesterday Makoni said while the Sports Commission was dressing its project in national colours, to give it widespread appeal, it remained one that was targeting cricket and, in particular, the black technical staff who have worked their way into key positions in the selection and coaching arms of the national teams.

Makoni said as far as he could recall, cricket was the only major sporting discipline in the country whose national teams were selected by a panel of selectors and claimed Coltart, through the Sports Commission, had turned his guns on him and his panel.

The former Takashinga player did not represent the country at national level, going only as far as the Mashonaland teams, but claims it would be grossly unfair to judge his generation given they played the game at a time when, at most, there were only two slots reserved for black players in the national team.

To bar them from participating in the key structures of the game today, said Makoni, on the basis of them not having played for the national team, without looking at the bigger picture that they were victims of a cruel and unjust racial system that froze them out of the team, would not only be hypocritical but an extension of that evil programme.

“Not playing for Zimbabwe, during our time, did not mean that you were not good enough to play for the national team because the doors were closed and there were only two places, all the time, for the black players in that team.

“That’s how we ended up with the Pommies (Mpumelelo Mbangwa) and (Henry) Olongas in that team.

“It was a system that made it impossible for us to play for our national team and not that we were not good enough and it was not only limited to the senior national team but also the junior national teams and you saw it at Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18 levels.

“I remember quite well that in 1988 I went for the Under-15 national trials at Prince Edward and after I had scored 98, I was retired, because the system didn’t want it to be seen that I could make a century and qualify for that team since the places reserved for us blacks had already been filled.

“We fought that system and although we didn’t benefit from it, in terms of playing for the national team, we can see that it opened the doors for a lot of black players and I am proud to say that I was one of the founder guys who came up with Takashinga and put up that cricket facility, which changed a lot in Zimbabwe Cricket, in Highfield.

“There was racism or racial tendencies, whatever you call them, throughout the game and there was even a Royal Family in cricket, which was untouchable, but we fought all that and, slowly, we started making in-roads and it has led us to where we are today.

“Now, we have black cricket players all over the country, the champions of the Under-16s are Masvingo, something that was unheard of in the past, and cricket is spreading into a truly mass sporting discipline because the boys know they don’t need to go to St George’s, as was the case during our time, for them to play for their national team.

“We can’t allow people to come and try and reverse all that, under the guise that they want to ensure only quality staff are in certain positions in the national teams, because when you look at it, how many black players, who have retired, will be in the running for such posts right now?

“You have to go to Pommie and, hopefully, he will leave his commitments in South Africa to come back for that or you have to go to Olonga and ask him to come back from England or Taibu who only recently left the game saying his calling was elsewhere.

“Three, four, five black guys, and all of them committed elsewhere in one way or the other, and what does this do — it opens the door for the real appointments, the hidden agenda that is being driven, and unfortunately the issues takes another racial tone.”

Makoni claimed Coltart was driving the campaign. “I have no doubt in my mind that it’s David Coltart who is behind this and the reason is simple — he never believed in people like us that we can make the national cricket team competitive either as coaches or as selectors,” said Makoni.

“Those of us who were in the trenches and fought for equal opportunities, who were there when the white players walked away, have always felt that the minister sympathised with their cause better than he did with ours and maybe he feels like he still owes these guys a little favour.

“The minister wants to project himself as something like a Messiah who is there to save cricket but, as far as some of us are concerned, he doesn’t represent our interests and I feel he needs to look at the role, or roles, he played when our game suffered at the height of that rebellion by some white players.

“When England didn’t come here for the World Cup, who were the people who went to Cape Town to tell the England team that coming here would not be good, both politically and for cricket, and where was that heart for the game and passion for national success when that was happening?

“It doesn’t mean that one to be a very good coach, or selector, he needs to have played the game at a national level and, if the Minister of Sport and the Sports Commission want to effect that, then why don’t they also start from the very top and say the minister should have played sport for the national team?

“The minister criticised me personally, during our tour of New Zealand, and I read a lot of the things he says in the newspapers and on the Internet but I want to ask him to tell me just one thing, which he can point out, that he has done for cricket.

“You can’t talk about re-establishing ties with New Zealand and Australia because that can’t be compared to establishing Takashinga and all that this club has done to Zimbabwe cricket.” Makoni said he believes he was now being victimised for daring, as convener of selectors, to drop some of the players who shouldn’t be touched.

“We say we will select our team strictly on form, on stats and on whether the players bring balance to the team and we don’t look at the colour of the players or their age,” said Makoni.

“We dropped one or two players last year and it created a storm but we have dropped Elton right now, purely on form, and it’s all normal.”

News Day

by Phillip Chidavaenzi and Pamela Mhlanga

11 January 2013

MANY parents were by yesterday still struggling to secure places for Grade 1 and Form 1 pupils two days after the 2013 school calendar had officially opened.

Although NewsDay understands that most schools had long closed their intakes for 2013, at one primary school in Harare, some parents and guardians could be seen loitering around the school yard praying for a last-minute reprieve.

Avondale Primary School headmistress Nothando Mtomba said in exceptional cases they were compelled to exceed their average enrolment limit to cater for pupils who would have been in the Early Child Development (ECD) classes, but failed to secure places elsewhere as they would have intended.

“We have three Grade 1 classes with 50 pupils each at the moment because we wanted to accommodate those who had attended our ECD and were hoping to get places elsewhere but failed.

“Normally, we have a teacher-pupil ratio of 1:40,” she said. “This is mainly because we had to accommodate pupils who were in our ECD classes but had not submitted their names for Grade 1.”

Pupils at the school, she said, paid $150 fees per term. She said the other schools in their catchment area, Twin Rivers, had very high fees and that often led to an influx of prospective pupils at her school.

Mtomba said all their Grade 1 pupils for 2013 were offered places in March last year so they were not entertaining new requests.

“We take in pupils for the following year on the first Wednesday of March. By July, we would have notified you whether or not your child got a place and by October, the fees should have been paid,” she said. “So by the time schools open, all the registers will be in place.”

She admitted that in the last few years, there had been an upsurge in the number of pupils seeking Grade 1 places. For most parents, securing school fees is often a challenge in the first term due to the excesses that merry-making people often engage in during the festive season.

At Zengeza High 2 in Chitungwiza, places for Form 1 were filled long before 2012 came to a close. An official at the school, where pupils pay $120 this term, said demand for places had increased and the school now had seven Form 1 classes, each with no less than 60 pupils.

“As soon as the Grade 7 results were published, we started enrolling pupils and by the time the year ended, we had filled all seven classes, each with an average of 60 pupils,” he said, adding that some pupils still came in search for Grade 1 places at the beginning of the first term.

He added that fees for the second and third term were, however, pegged at an average of $78. During the first term the fees for Form 1 pupils are higher because there is need for them to have learning materials such as exercise books and school identity cards as well as sporting items,” he said.

This was almost the same situation at Zengeza 8 Primary School, also in Chitungwiza.”

The school has five Grade 1 classes, each with an average of 50 pupils. The pupils pay $70 as fees inclusive of a building fee for a project at the school.

In a related matter in Bulawayo, Gweru and Masvingo, some schools defied a 2011 government directive and sent pupils home for non-payment of fees.

A survey in Bulawayo and Gweru showed that most schools had sent away pupils who had not paid fees. Schools that reportedly sent pupils back home in Bulawayo included Milton Junior, Bulawayo Adventist High School and McKeurtan Primary School.

At Milton Junior, returning pupils were required to pay $84 while new pupils paid $140.

Education minister David Coltart urged headmasters to exercise tolerance on pupils who failed to pay fees as schools opened for the 2013 first term.

He, however, stressed that since schools required money to operate, school authorities and parents should engage in dialogue and agree on feasible payment plans.

The Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association (BPRA) has lambasted schools in the city which turned away students for non-payment of fees when the first term opened on Monday.

BPRA co-ordinator Rodrick Fayayo said that his organisation was disappointed with school authorities who defied a government order barring schools from turning away pupils for non-payment of fees.

Magwegwe MP Felix Magalela Sibanda said it was both “illegal and immoral” for headmasters to turn away children from school because their parents had failed to pay fees.

United States Africa Sport & Education Blog

Talk Given by Lloyd O. Pierson, Senior International Adviser for USASEF 

Midwestern State University, Texas

Readers expecting to visualize the Africa of Abbot and Costello, of Meryl Streep in Out of Africa, or picturing pith helmets and charging lions are going to be disappointed.  This is about an Africa that many don’t see and this is the reality of why the United States should increase its focus on the sub-Sahara area of the Africa Continent from South Africa to Senegal and the Sahel area from Mauritania to Somalia.  Much of Africa has a vibrant economy and a number of foreign nations , including China,,Brazil, France, Portugal and India, are providing foreign assistance as well as multiplying trade and investment.  While the United States focus on Africa has increased , particularly under the leadership and guidance of former President George W. Bush, the U.S. has still not reached a cognitive level that Africa is a potential dynamo for American economic development. Every Member of Congress should be aware of the present and future in Africa. 

America is getting there.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has made several successful trips and Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Ambassador Johnnie Carson, who was formerly the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, Zimbabwe and Kenya, has enormous well earned respect and repeatedly emphasizes the importance of Africa in global affairs.  About the only thing many Americans know about Africa is the textbook description as the “dark continent” and television images of drought and war.  There is , however, a lot more and it is important to recognize what is the meaning of more and why it makes a difference to those living in North Texas.  Africa can mean jobs for Americans.

First, there is a a strong emotional attachment for many African Americans who trace their lineage to various African countries.  While most have not been to Africa, despite a desire to travel there, the umbilical with their genealogical birth line remains.  Although under different

circumstances, Africa is as much a part of U.S. history as Europe.  Africa itself has some of the world’s great thinkers, and businessmen (Tony Elumelu from Nigeria, Tewolde GebreMarian from Ethiopia, Geoff Rothschild from South Africa and Admassu Tadesse  based in South Africa )were recently cited by the Corporate Council on Africa) as well as a rich history of music and art.  There is outstanding leadership such as Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Kenya, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangrai in Zimbabwe, and President Blaise Campaore in Burkina Faso.  First class, effective Ministers such as Minister of Finance Tendai Biti and Minister of Education David Coltart in Zimbabwe.  Second, Africa poses an enormous economic opportunity.  The GNP for most countries is on the rise and there is an increasing recognition that jobs and employment are the basis for stabilization and as a means to help keep the bad guys out.  In his 2005 inaugural speech, President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia talked eloquently about the past struggles with apartheid and colonization in what was then Southwest Africa,  He spoke about the effort to overcome apartheid, the courage that had been shown, and the lives lost and destroyed.  But he said it was now a new day and economic development had to be the priority throughout Africa.

It used to be pointed out that rusting cranes on top of half finished buildings was a hallmark of African architecture, but no more.  Skylines all across Africa are booming and even in many rural areas, such as Maun and Ghanzi in Botswana, Boike in Benin, and even the isolated Lodwar in northern Kenya is showing signs of development life.  There is a wonderful spirit of entrepreneurship in Africa, in some instances it may be just a matter of survival, but with U.S. help take a look at what the Tuaregs are doing around Agadez in Nigeria; the San in Namibia and Botswana, and the Turkana in Kenya.  Despite a failed state, Somalia reportedly has the highest per capita use of cell phones in the world. The “winds of change” that earlier marked the ending of the cold war and of apartheid are now blowing in the direction of the private sector and economic development.  Florie Liser, the United States Trade Representative often quotes the Blair Report estimating that a one percent increase in Africa trade would generate over $70 billion in revenue — nearly three times the current foreign development assistance.  Africa’s vast hydrocarbon and mineral resources currently form the basis for most U.S. imports, but as a result of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and other efforts, the trade activity in other sectors is increasing.

In addition to the heritage and economic development, Africa’s environment needs to be elevated in terms of U.S. foreign policy and assistance.  Almost all are knowledgeable that the largest rain forest in the world is the Amazon, but how many can name the second largest and second most important.  The answer is the Congo River Basin, a vast area encompassing borders with eight different African countries.  Beset by internal conflicts, bush meat and exotic animal hunters, and timber companies, a lot of the area resources are being depleted.  Efforts and collaboration are being made to control the depletion, but not enough.  There is barely any public attention to the second largest rain forest in  the world.

Parallel, however, to the optimistic view of Africa, there are events occurring that will impact the Continent and threaten the national security of the United States.  The rise of Islamic fundamentalism poses a threat to many countries as there have already been U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania and Boko Haran actions in Abuja, Jos, and Kano in Nigeria.  U.S. military activity under the command of Africom and the large, and getting larger U.S. base Camp Lemmonier in Djibouti speak to the need of American armed forces presence.  The takeover of the northern Mali area from Timbuctu to Gao and impending military intervention by ECOWAS and other forces is as significant a development as has occurred in years.  The recent front page lead article by the Wall Street Journal entitled, “Terror Fight Shifts to Africa” points out many of the identical concerns that the U.S. has had in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Still burdened by conflicts, extremely high unemployment rates among youth, corrupt officials, severe droughts, and poor infrastructure, there remain many challenges in Africa.  The reality of Africa is that there are many opportunities for the United States and the Continent can no longer be an afterthought for policymakers.

Daily News

10 January 2013

Some schools have been barring students who have not yet paid fees from attending classes, in direct defiance of a government order.

Yesterday, the Daily News was inundated with reports that school pupils had been barred from entering premises because of non-payment of fees countrywide.

At Chirodzo Primary school in Mbare and Kundayi Primary School in Glen Norah, pupils were being asked to provide receipts of payment without which they were denied entry into school premises.

Education minister David Coltart is on record as saying school authorities should bear with parents who are reeling under the economic and liquidity crunch.

The dire economic situation has seen some pupils dropping out of school altogether.

There is a standing government policy that no pupil shall be denied education because of fees non-payment.

Deputy Education minister Lazarus Dokora was this week quoted as saying the ministry of Education has increased supervision in schools.

“We have increased the number of supervisors that are doing routine rounds in schools for us to satisfy ourselves that the system is conforming to stipulated and regulated behaviour.”

However, indications are the supervision has failed. Coltart was yesterday not reachable for comment on the defiance by schools.

News Day

By Nduduzo Tshuma

10 January 2013

EDUCATION minister David Coltart has accused State media of bypassing him to seek comment from his deputy, Lazarus Dokora, on issues concerning the ministry.

Coltart, who is from the Welshman Ncube-led MDC, said while he worked well with Dokora, a Zanu PF official, he suspected the snub could be politically motivated.

“(I am) intrigued by how The Herald is studiously printing comments on education matters from my deputy rather than me, even though I am very contactable,” said Coltart on Twitter.

“I have a good relationship with my Zanu deputy, so that is not the problem. The Herald and Sunday Mail should follow correct protocol.

“In terms of the law, for example the Education Act, it is the minister who is responsible and decides and outlines policy. Newspapers should respect that.”

“Comment from deputy ministers should be obtained in the absence or non-availability of the minister. My cell number is well known.”

The State media has been accused of being biased in favour of Zanu PF in its reporting by the two MDC formations in the inclusive government.

Last month, Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe attacked the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), accusing it of being biased towards Zanu PF especially during elections.

Speaking during commemorations to mark the United Nations International Human Rights Day in Harare, Khupe said ZBC should give equal coverage to all political parties and stop being used as a Zanu PF propaganda mouthpiece.

“We want access to information because Zimbabweans are sick and tired of propaganda on ZBC, which is now Zanu PF Broadcasting Corporation, and even Satan does not approve of it,” she said.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai last year told journalists in Bulawayo that he was the worst victim of demonisation by the State media.