Pindula.co.zw

8th May 2019

An MDC senior official, David Coltart, has poured cold water on a High Court ruling that party president Nelson Chamisa’s elevation is null and void.

A High Court judge ruled on Wednesday that the late MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai’s decision to appoint Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri as co-vice presidents was illegal, therefore null and void.

Reacting to the ruling, Coltart who has been nominated as the party’s treasurer ahead of the elective Congress slated for later this month said:

“The farcical nature of life in Zimbabwe. Next, the High Court will be ruling that Nelson Chamisa is not a person. The regime truly fears him taking full and unfettered leadership of the MDC.

It will be appealed. This is what is called a brutum fulmen – ‘empty thunder’, an ineffective order. By the time the appeal is heard a duly constituted Congress of the MDC will have been held and Nelson Chamisa elected. Pathetic interference with the due process of a party.

There is no need to rebrand. Khupe et al are hung up on the claim to the name MDC T, which they can have. Our party is the original MDC – a different name and a different brand. This is a desperate and pathetic move.”

Newsday

BY BLESSED MHLANGA / Brenna Matendere

7th May 2019

THE battle for political survival in the opposition MDC went a notch up on Sunday when party heavyweights nominated for positions in the executive council unveiled their manifestos before the Harare provincial delegates for the elective congress scheduled for later this month.

Party leader Nelson Chamisa, who was nominated unopposed, sat and watched candidates charm-voting delegates as campaign season officially opened.

Tendai Biti, Morgen Komichi, Elias Mudzuri and Welshman Ncube face each other for the two slots to deputise Chamisa, while the other slot has been reserved for a female member.
The post drew the most interest as the party heavyweights put their best foot forward.

Biti told delegates that he had a strategic plan to win the rural vote, saying congress presented the MDC faithful an opportunity to chart a new direction and declare an end to years of opposition politics.

“The 2019 congress of the MDC, the fifth congress, is going to be very important for the party. It is an opportunity for starting new dialogue with the people of Zimbabwe. It is an opportunity for the people of the MDC to show to the people of Zimbabwe that we are tired of being an opposition,’ Biti said.

“The party must focus on rural areas and in order to gain State power, we need to go to the village in Humanikwa, in Chiendambuya, in Dotito, so we need to change strategy.”

Komichi, who was a conduit to the rise of Chamisa to power in the MDC following the death of founding president Morgan Tsvangirai last year, banked on his years of loyalty and stay in the party as his ticket to power.

“I have stayed with the party, and I have gained two names, General Mao and Abrahama. What does General Mao mean? It means the greatest strategist; Abrahama means good leader. A good leader is a good follower,” he said.

Underfire Mudzuri, who at one time was eyeing the presidency, but only got nominated for the post of vice-president by a single province, stood in space to defend his position, saying he was a pillar of the opposition.

“I believe that I am a massive pillar of the party, which has never been shaken. The corner of the house does not get removed for no reason,” he said.

Ncube also described himself as a strategic think-tank, whose main purpose would be to help Chamisa in giving the party direction.

“I will do all I can, all in my power to render all assistance to president Chamisa. One of the tasks of the president, which has not been spoken to a lot, is the task of providing strategic direction; in short, the task of thinking, Mr president, I will think with you, if necessary to think until it hurts,” he said.

Other contestants, including secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, hoping to pull a Houdini act again to follow his stunning 2014 win, also pitched his manifesto at the closed-door meeting before taking questions from delegates.

David Coltart was back at the MDC headquarters following years of absence to also pitch his manifesto against Tapiwa Mashakada, who has also been nominated for the post of treasurer-general.

The party will take its next meeting to Gweru on May 10, where candidates will meet delegates and defend their bid to be part of the standing committee.

MDC Midlands provincial party spokesperson Takavafira Zhou confirmed that the province will be having its caucus this Friday.

“All the national members nominated for posts in the standing committee have confirmed that they will be coming for the provincial caucus. On our part as a province we are done with inviting members in the province who will be delegates at the congress. So it will be all systems out on the day,” he said.

The provincial caucuses are a new campaign strategy introduced by the MDC, where all candidates who have been nominated for various posts ahead of the congress will be subjected to public debate and space to articulate what they offer.

New Zimbabwe.com

4th May 2019

THE opposition MDC needs to transform itself into a “strong” and financially sound institution if it is to win elections in 2023, former Education Minister David Coltart has said.

Coltart was speaking in a video circulated to party structures Friday in which he accepted nomination for the position of treasurer general in the MDC national executive.

“If we are to ensure that Nelson Chamisa becomes next president in Zimbabwe and that MDC wins the next elections, we have to build a strong party, we have to build an efficient organisation,” said the human rights lawyer.

However Coltart as quick to indicate that he had not lobbied to be nominated for the position but immediately laid out his plan for the financially crippled party.

“I have not campaigned for this position so far, although I have told (party leader) Nelson Chamisa that I would work for the party not at the capacity the party had thought it was best.

“I had not put my name forward for this position. However, I have been nominated by seven provinces. I am humbled and honoured to accept the nominations,” the former Cabinet Minister said.

Coltart becomes the first high-level nominee to accept after the conclusion of MDC lower structures’ congresses in which the party’s 13 provinces nominated senior leaders to take positions in the national executive.

The former Cabinet Minister said he has a track record that speaks for itself.

“I have a long record of building strong institutions as founding legal secretary of the MDC, I established the legal defense fund and raised a lot of money to ensure that MDC is running across the country and adequately defended.

“As Minister of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture between 2009 and 2013 I established Educational Transaction Fund and raised hundreds of millions dollars to resuscitate education in Zimbabwe,” said Coltart in his pitch ahead of the congress.

Other party leaders nominated for the same position include current vice national chairperson and vice presidential nominee Tendai Biti and former deputy secretary general Tapiwa Mashakada.

Former councilllor Rusty Markham, Harare Central MP, Murisi Zwizwai and one Eathridge Kureva have been nominated for the position of deputy treasurer general.

With reports of abuse of funds rife within the MDC, Coltart indicated he would want to bring accountability arguing in the institutions he worked no cent was misappropriated.

“That money was efficiently and correctly spent and we enjoyed the support of donors and we have to the same thing for MDC.

“I have long believed that the MDC, cannot promise to the nation that it can run Zimbabwe efficiently, if we cannot run the party itself efficiently. So we have to ensure that finances run efficiently and with full accountability,” he said.

“If elected I will do all in my power to install high levels of financial discipline and integrity in running of the party’s finances. I have always worked well in teams and I will seek to employ and engage people with financial expertise and integrity to assist me in implementing all the policies needed to ensure that the party becomes financially strong and runs well in.”

Newsday

BY OBEY MANAYITI/BLESSED MHLANGA

3rd May 2019

THE stage has been set for a bruising fight in the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC as almost all candidates nominated for top positions in the party’s standing committee have accepted and are now reaching into their war chests to mount rigorous campaigns ahead of congress this monthend.

Party bigwigs, who include vice-president Elias Mudzuri and secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora face an unsavoury prospect of walking out of the MDC’s elective congress as ordinary card-carrying members. The congress is the first since the death of the opposition party’s founding president Morgan Tsvangirai, who succumbed to cancer of the colony early last year, five months before the July 31 elections.

This comes as the High Court is set to hand down a judgment on Wednesday next week in which a Gokwe-Sasame MDC secretary Elias Mashavira challenged Chamisa’s legitimacy as interim party leader.

Mashavira wants the court to order the party to go for an extra-ordinary congress as opposed to the elective congress slated for May 24 to 26 in Gweru.

If granted the order, the party could be forced to abandon congress preparations, despite the nomination process having been completed.

Mashavira’s lawyer, Ashel Mutungura said: “Judgment is going to be handed down in a motion court on Wednesday. So today (yesterday) was just that notification.”

Chamisa, who was jettisoned to power through a national council resolution, appears set to win the top post after bagging all 13 provincial nominations.

Apart from Chamisa, who appears to be safe, there will be fierce contests for the posts of vice-presidents, secretary-general and treasurer-general, which have received an overwhelming number of nominations for strong contenders.

Few positions are now up for grabs following a resolution to empower Chamisa to appoint other portfolios.

Leading contender for the vice-presidency, Morgen Komichi called for responsible campaigning, adding that the party must emerge stronger from the congress.

Komichi will square off with former secretary-generals Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, and Mudzuri. “Yes, I have accepted the nomination,” Komichi said.

“I look forward to a peaceful campaign. I don’t want to see some campaign teams denigrating other candidates. We must be professional in our approach. We have relationships beyond the congress, we have a party beyond congress and I am aware that the campaign teams sometimes go into overdrive and end up attacking other candidates personally,” he said.

Komichi said campaigning ahead of congress should not create fissures in the party and instead must ensure that the party comes out stronger and united.

Although Biti and Ncube were not picking up their phones, NewsDay is reliably informed that they have accepted their nominations, while Mudzuri was evasive, saying he would not respond to questions on the matter because he was travelling to Buhera for Tsvangirai’s memorial service.

Three women will now battle it out for one vice-presidential post, which was last week ring-fenced by the national council as the MDC seeks to have women in its presidium.

Leading contenders for the post are Lilian Timveos, Lynnete Karenyi-Kore and Tracy Mutinhiri all having confirmed that they have accepted nomination, while Paurina Mpariwa has now decided to stand as women’s league chairperson.

“In line with the forthcoming MDC congress whence I received nominations for both the position of vice-presidency and women’s assembly chairperson, I will have to pave way for my fellow women cadres to contest in the VP post. I have opted to contest for the women assembly’s chairperson. This was motivated by the advices I received from a number of respected people in the struggle,” Mpariwa wrote on her campaign Facebook page.

Chalton Hwende, a close aide to Chamisa will face Daniel Molokele and possibly Mwonzora for the secretary-general post.

Close sources said Mwonzora was itching to retain his post although he could not immediately confirm that he was still interested after receiving one nomination.

After throwing in the towel in the race for the presidency, Mwonzora said he was aiming to keep his current position. Yesterday, Hwende insisted that the position was almost his after getting the majority of the nominations.

“I have accepted the nomination, I cannot betray the nine provinces that nominated me. The nominations will give you some guidance into what people want and in politics you must follow what the people want,” he said.

David Coltart said he was ready for the elective congress after accepting nomination for the treasurer-general position for which he received nominations from seven provinces and will face-off with Tapiwa Mashakada.

“Yes, I have accepted nomination from the seven provinces. Obviously, I will be subjected to election and congress and I am ready,” he said.

Party chairperson Tabitha Khumalo, who is looking to retain her post, faces a challenge from Gabbuza Joel Gabuza. Khumalo said she was ready to face her challenger. “I humbly accept the nominations and will be ready for a healthy competition with my peers,” she said.

Pindula.co.zw

1st May 2019

MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume has announced that the party shall conduct public ‘Question and Answer’ sessions for party stalwarts vying for the top posts at the upcoming elective congress.

Mafume said that this exercise enhances democracy and also gives candidates a chance to preempt what they will do if elected. The spokesperson said:

The party mandated the commission to organise caucuses for those contesting each other to table before members and the public what they will offer the party and country if elected.

These debates shall be open to the public, the media and shall be streamed live on the party’s official social media platforms. The commission shall appoint independent moderators for these debates.

They will respond to questions from members of the party and this is good for democracy.

Current VPs, Morgen Komichi, Elias Mudzuri and Welshman Ncube shall battle for the same post with Tendai Biti, Lillian Timveos, Lynnet Karenyi-Kore, Paurina Mpariwa and former Zanu PF MP Tracy Mutinhiri who have all secured nominations.

Douglas Mwonzora, who recently withrew from contesting for the presidency position is facing Chalton Hwende and Daniel Molokeli for his current position.

David Coltart is expected to square off against Tapiwa Mashakada for the Treasurer General post.

Newsday

30th April 2019

BY OBEY MANAYITI

OPPOSITION MDC leader Nelson Chamisa will appoint some of the party’s standing committee members, among them the organising secretary and spokesperson as well as a number of deputies “as per the party’s constitution”, despite members nominating their preferred candidates at the just-ended provincial congresses.

Chamisa has already been nominated as party leader uncontested and will be duly confirmed MDC president at the party’s elective congress to be held in Gweru from May 24 to 26.

Although all positions were contested at the just-ended provincial congresses, party spokesperson Jacob Mafume revealed yesterday that Chamisa would use his discretion to appoint some officials into some key portfolios in line with the party’s constitution, as amended in 2014.

The positions that are now set to be appointed also include some of those where nominations were sought.

“Remember in 2014, the constitution was changed so that the president appoints from the position of secretary-general downwards. This is what the constitution says. We were taking nominations on the basis that the national council will condone that departure from the constitution,” Mafume, who was nominated for the information portfolio, said.

According to the party, the provisions for presidential nominations were put in place following the acrimonious fallout between former secretary-generals and the then president, Morgan Tsvangirai, leading to divisive splits.

Some of the positions Chamisa will nominate include national organising secretary and deputy, treasurer-general and deputy, deputy secretary-general as well as deputy information and publicity secretary, among others.

The position of deputy secretary-general will be contested by Concillia Chinanzvavana, Settlement Chikwinya, Daniel Molokela and Caston Matewu.

David Coltart, Tapiwa Mashakada, Tendai Biti and Thabita Khumalo will battle for the treasurer position.

Biti has also been nominated for the vice-president post and will have to accept only one nomination.

National organising secretary Amos Chibaya was nominated by the bulk of the provinces to retain his position, while the United Kingdom nominated Job Sikhala as his replacement.

Mafume said the provision was supposed to affect even the secretary-general’s position and that of treasurer, had the national council not opted for elections.

But according to what Mafume said, Chamisa has no obligation to follow the list of names nominated by the provinces.

“The national council looked at the situation and said notwithstanding that the constitution provides for that, the leadership of the standing committee recommended that secretary-general and treasurer-general be elected as well, even though the constitution says otherwise,” he said.

“We are actually moving from a situation where more were appointed to allow for more to be elected. Skills-based positions will be appointed like the organising and information.”

Mafume added that even though there are nominations for the positions that will be appointed, Chamisa would not be bound by the nominations in his pickings.

“The leadership asked for nominations so that he (Chamisa) will be guided, at least, by what the people want, not necessarily taking exactly that, but to get an indication of the feeling of the executive. Where there is a mismatch in talent, he will then address accordingly,” he said.

Several party heavyweights are expected to fall by the wayside at next month’s congress, in particular in the crowded vice-presidency.

Mafume said they were also taking a cue from South Africa’s ruling African National Congress and opposition Economic Freedom Fighters, which only elect the top six and the rest are based on deployment.

Zanu PF’s whole politburo is appointed by the party president. Observers used to, however, describe the MDC model, where all had to go through an election, as the best democratic model.

Pindula.co.zw

28th April 2019

Human rights lawyer and eldest son of former Education Minister David Coltart, Doug Coltart was on Sunday morning summoned by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). This was revealed by David Coltart on his Twitter handle. Wrote Coltart:

“Mnangagwa’s menacing threat against doctors and lawyers who assisted victims of the crimes against humanity committed by soldiers in January is being executed.

My eldest son, human rights lawyer Doug Coltart has been called to ZRP Harare at 9 am to face spurious charges.

My son, human rights lawyer Doug Coltart, has been summoned to ZRP Harare Central this Sunday morning to face spurious charges.

Any regime which acts against lawyers defending the Constitution is headed down a perilous path.”

Bizcommunity.com

By Dorcas Dube

18th April 2019

I had the privilege to attend the Global Education Skills Forum in Dubai, which took place from the 22nd to the 24th of March 2019. Organised by the Varkey Foundation, GESF is attended by more than 2,000 delegates from across the world who are eager to share, debate and shape new ways for education to transform our world.

GESF 2019 bought together leaders from the public, private and social sectors including 1 head of government, 7 former heads of government, 40 ministers of education, 297 speakers, 124 public sessions, 200+ media, 144 countries, 2000+ delegates, 100+ teachers and 64 grant-making organisations. Amongst the attendees was Dubai crown prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mahmmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, former UK prime minister Tony Blair, vice chancellor of the University of Cape Town, Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng, former minister of education in Zimbabwe, David Coltart, Juan Manuel Santos, former president of Colombia and Sizwe Nxasana, founder and CEO of Future Nation Schools South Africa amongst others.

Being amongst people who are dedicated to shape new ways of education and to transform the world I was reminded of my quest towards contributing to improving the education system in South Africa and Africa at large and provision of quality education for all children. Undoubtedly, education is the key to solving global issues!

In the run-up to the 22nd Prism Awards taking place on Sunday, 14 April, we chatted to this year’s cohort of young judges about their fresh approach to the judging process…

In South Africa, we have 20 000 schools and school principals thereof who have been teachers and have been promoted to be the school principal without any knowledge, skills or training to lead one of the complex organisations, a school. School leadership remains a concern that has affected the entire schooling system. The country’s education system is characterised by severe underperformance and is failing the majority of young people in South Africa.

There is increasing recognition that the role of school principals is not only critical but highly specialised and that school leadership is the critical factor in turning around an education system in crisis. What if every principle of a school had a strong team of supporters?

The world is changing faster than ever before, and there are huge global challenges that need to be overcome. The volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world requires learners to be able to continually adapt to it, and they need to learn the skills necessary to change the world for the better.

Adaptive teaching is one of the components that make 21st-century education. It is an approach that requires teachers to “micro-adapt” their instruction on a continuous basis. Teachers perform a continuous and often informal assessment of their students’ strengths and weaknesses and modify their teaching accordingly. The key aspect of this approach is that it makes children become responsible for and drive their own learning.

Adaptive learning is a concept which I believe has the potential to assist society on how to rethink on how schools are organised and to equip everyone with competencies to reach their full potential.

We don’t know what the future will look like, we can certainly be sure that it will change again and we will have to re-adapt!

The world is enjoying unprecedented social, economic and technological progress, which is transforming how we interact on a global scale. Regardless of the obvious leaps which we have made in recent years, challenges remain, with millions of people still being failed by the systems supposed to serve them.

It is evident that the solutions to these challenges won’t be found merely by looking to the traditional models of global policymaking, business and philanthropy. Instead, a new generation of ordinary people is taking some of the world’s biggest issues head-on – and finding innovative solutions. They are the change makers! Everyone has the potential to be a change maker.

Changemakers are philanthropists and innovators who focus on transforming the world around them into a better place for all. They are those who grasp opportunities, come from any walk of life and from anywhere on the planet. Everyone has the potential to be a change maker. What if we are the leaders we have been waiting for?

Education is a vital tool in helping us reach the goal of one human family through providing access to success and progress in building bridges between human society and breaking down barriers as well building mutual trust and cooperation which are all basic requirements for global progress and world peace.

The big question remains: how do teachers teach tolerance and equip their students to be accepting of differences between ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds?

The 2018 Global Teacher Prize winner, Marjorie Brown from South Africa encourages listening and empathy among her students and this has been influential in transforming the country’s history syllabus. She mentions that everyone has to understand themselves and be prepared to grow. In order for diversity to prevail, we have to have a growth mindset.

Social justice and the need for dialogue are embedded in South Africa’s new constitution, but Brown says the world has to ensure that dialogue and freedom of speech don’t lead to more segregation and more hate.

What is your contribution towards teaching the world to be one human family?

Newsday

By Tatenda Chitagu

18th April 2019

MDC president Nelson Chamisa has extended his uncontested run to eight out of 13 possible nominations for the party’s top post, while vice-president Elias Mudzuri finally got his first nomination to remain in his current post.

The new Masvingo executive, that saw current provincial chairperson James Gumbi retaining his post, unanimously nominated Chamisa to become president ahead of the party congress next month with five more provinces yet to present their nominations.

Mudzuri landed the third vice-president slot nomination while Morgen Komichi was nominated for the first vice-presidency and Welshman Ncube for the second vice-president post.

Happison Chidziva was nominated for the deputy chair position, while Charlton Hwende was nominated for the secretary-general.

Current secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora was not nominated for any post.

David Coltart was nominated for the treasurer-general post.

Luke Tamborinyoka was nominated for the spokesperson post ahead of Jacob Mafume, while Thabitha Kumalo was nominated for the national chair post.

Gumbi beat Simon Mupindu after his initial challenger Tongai Matutu was disqualified for having once defected from the party.

Presiding over the nominations was Jolson Mugari, who said that the process was fair and done in a transparent manner.

Daily News

16th April 2019

THE surprise eviction of popular Ntabazinduna farmers, Brain and Carol Davies, who operate Tabas Induna Farm, has attracted the wrath of local chief, Nhlanhla Ndiweni.

The couple was served with an eviction notice by one Floyd Ambrose on Tuesday last week, according to Tabas Induna spokesperson Buz Davies. “We lodged an appeal late Friday afternoon so we hope it (the eviction) does not happen,” said Buz, who however, could not be drawn into revealing more details on the matter.

Efforts to get a comment from Ambrose on his plans to move into Tabas Induna Farm which was purchased in 1953 by Carol’s grandfather, Jack Parsons, were unsuccessful. Tabas Induna was at one time the largest pig producer in the country with over 12 000 pigs.  It was also home to a large cattle herd, a commercial crocodile farm and a well-established and very successful photographic safari operation.

With the permission of the late Paramount Chief Khayisa Ndiweni, the Davies/Parsons family built Chiefs Lodge in 1992 on the top of Ntabazinduna Hill, a famous historical site that is revered by the Ndebeles.

Despite the historical and cultural significance, Chief Ndiweni trusted the Tabas Induna Farm owners so much that he made the Davies/Parsons family custodians of Ntabazinduna Hill.
Yesterday, Chief Ndiweni told this publication that he was going to do everything in his power to block the eviction.

“The attempted eviction of the Parsons/Davies family from Ntabazinduna Mountain has touched our sense of justice in a most profound manner and every part of our being is screaming out that this is unjust. “When something is unjust, no amount of politics, propaganda, public relations or silence will make it just. This assault upon the Parsons/ Davis family is unjust irrespective of what anyone may say.

“Should it be effected, then the current administration will pay a very heavy price indeed, from within the country, in the region and from the international world. Traditional leaders will be at the forefront of this campaign,” Ndiweni fumed.

Prominent human rights lawyer and former Cabinet minister David Coltart has described the eviction as senseless. “This is just ludicrous – the so-called new dispensation says that land invasions have stopped and yet this family are being forced off their home and business.

“This is a tourist facility, located near Bulawayo’s airport, not a farm – it is only 15 hectares and was a lodge until it was trashed by the same person trying to take it over again. Buz and Carol Davies have been renovating the lodge over the last few years with a view to opening it again, but now out of sheer greed a Zanu-PF-connected person wants it,” said Coltart.

The prominent lawyer added that the eviction was another proof that Zimbabwe is not open for business as claimed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. “Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube is presently in Washington trying to persuade the IMF and World Bank that the regime he represents has turned over a new leaf and deserves support.

How can a government claim to be open for business when it is allowing businesses like this, which have the potential to earn foreign currency and boost our tourism industry, to be stolen in broad daylight?” asked Coltart. Tabas Induna Farm was identified and listed for resettlement by the government in 2000.

The Davies family spent many years trying to get it delisted but despite these efforts it was subdivided into many plots.
According to the family, the ministry of Lands assured them verbally that they could remain in their homestead, but due to hindrances to farming operations by the new settlers, production on a commercial scale was no longer possible or viable.

In a similar case, in 2015 people from Matabeleland united and resisted government efforts to evict another popular white farmer Peter Cunningham from his Maleme Farm in Matobo District.

Demonstrations were staged at the farm against Gwanda Central Intelligence Organisation operative Rodney Mashingaidze who had intended to take over the farm.