Zimbabwe Independent  

Muckraker                      

Friday, 12 August 2011 

A TINY correction in the Herald caught our attention last week. It was headed “Matter of fact” and ran as follows: “In the Herald of July 30 we carried a story based on an interview with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga.

“In the story General Chiwenga mistakenly stated that the country had peace-keeping officers in Botswana, Burundi, and Ethiopia.

“Zimbabwe does not have soldiers deployed in the three countries.”

It would be useful if the general knew where Zimbabwe’s forces are currently stationed.

Meanwhile, the Herald of August 4 carried a picture of President Mugabe receiving a leopard’s head souvenir from Essar Global vice-chairman Ravi Ruia at the launch of the New Zimbabwe Steel Co in Redcliff.

How long has this company been in the country and how much game have they shot out already? Please Mr Ruia, leave our leopards alone.

The Sunday Mail informs us in a story headed “Gays and Lesbians on the loose” that police are investigating the “invasion” of a popular club, the Book Café, by a group of at least 40 gays and lesbians last month.

This provided the Sunday Mail with a pretext to advertise its ignorance. “They paraded their unholy acts in full view of the public during a performance by popular Afro-pop artiste John Pfumojena,” we are told.

The Sunday Mail reporters, Lincoln Towindo and Edwin Mwase, completely ignored a story in the Zimbabwe Independent setting the record straight, pointing out that while members of the audience did dress up for the occasion, they were most certainly not gay.

“The funniest rumour, reported as sinister fact by the Sunday Mail,” the Independent’s Own Correspondent reported on July 15, “was a ‘gay parade’ at Book Café which turned out to be a bunch of very straight party-time lads out for a massive booze-up.”

We suspect the Sunday Mail wasn’t interested in correcting its daft story. It just wanted to persecute people as part of its bigoted agenda. And then its editors and reporters wonder why they end up on sanctions lists!

Talking of which, who is feeding the president this story about there being 400 British companies operating in Zimbabwe? There may have been 400 here 10 years ago but like everything else that picture has changed. Owing to Zanu PF’s assault on the economy there are probably half that number now.

And anyway, who would want to invest in a country where the head of state threatens to “hit” them in retaliation for sanctions? Those companies are not responsible for the policies of their government. In all probability they oppose sanctions.

But let’s bear in mind companies will go where the investment climate is best. That means somewhere where the authorities are friendly and helpful like Mauritius, Namibia and Ghana. Why should they invest in a country where a predatory elite wants to seize 51% of their capital?

Zanu PF thinks it is doing companies a favour by allowing them to come and work here. But anybody listening to ministers like Saviour Kasukuwere will very quickly take their capital elsewhere. There are many countries which are happy to have investors and which reach out to them. After all, they bring with them fresh capital and technological know-how. Most progressive countries see that as a plus. They also welcome the tax revenues that go with investment. Not in Zimbabwe it seems. Here the plundering instincts of a lawless post-liberation aristocracy scares off investors and wrecks growth and employment prospects.

The Zimbabwe cricket team’s victory over Bangladesh on Sunday was a welcome relief considering the hammering they have been getting of late. Understandably the media was awash with adulatory stories of the team’s exploits. However, ZBC had to take it a notch higher, soaring into the realm of hyperbole.

“The Zimbabwe cricket team sent shockwaves on the test cricket arena after cruising to a 130 run victory over Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club this Monday on the team’s return to test cricket after a six year absence,” ZBC claimed on Monday.

Defeating Bangladesh, at the lower end of ICC rankings for Tests and one day internationals will hardly “send shockwaves” as ZBC claims.

What will happen if Zimbabwe manages to defeat India or Australia? Will it be a tsunami?

Meanwhile, Zanu PF loyalists were this week milking the violence that has hit the United Kingdom for all that it is worth.

Tafataona Mahoso said the violent protests were expected as the British government, which claims to be a champion of democracy, is now forced to have a taste of its own medicine as the violence erupted in an area inhabited by neglected ethnic and other social groups.

Jonathan Moyo, ZBC reports, said the violence that has hit London has exposed British authorities’ hypocrisy and double standards as they parade democratic principles by day yet they exhibits (sic) the opposite by night.

While we know that this is all self-serving drivel from apologists, we have to point out the British media’s hypocrisy. In light of the United Kingdom hosting the Olympics next year, should they not be questioning the “security threat” in their country because of the protests?

Who can forget the overly negative portrayal of South Africa as a crisis-ridden country before the 2010 World Cup?

A cheeky colleague asked Muckraker if Zimbabwe can issue a travel warning to nationals not to visit the UK. He went as far as suggesting that Sports minister David Coltart ask for Zimbabwe to host the Olympics in light of the “security threat” in the UK.

We were also amused by a ZBC story in which Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is said to have “baffled” mourners at Public Service minister Eliphas Mukunoweshuro’s funeral.

“Reports from Warren Hills indicate that Tsvangirai left mourners baffled as he used the burial of the late MDC-T minister to intimidate and castigate any candidate within his party who attempted to question or contest his position as the Western-sponsored party leader.”

Tsvangirai, ZBC adds, re-affirmed his “octopus-like grip” on the MDC-T as he declared war against any dissenting voices within his party, “a development that should have left his party supporters questioning the Prime Minister’s so-called democratic principles which he purports to preach”.

It seems that the mandarins at Pockets Hill did not read Jonathan Moyo’s latest instalment in the Sunday Mail. From his article it is clear from where the people refusing to let go of power come from.

http://stashsays.wordpress.com

August 11th, 2011 

This week’s Sunday papers announced two very interesting pieces of news. The Sunday Mail carried the story that government has suspended holiday lessons, better known as ‘extra lessons’ – for non-examination classes. Well and good seeing that a lot of teachers were beginning to abuse this system – deliberately failing to complete their syllabuses during the school term hoping to later rip off parents paying for extra lessons. What’s left is for somebody to confirm if this ban has in fact been instituted, as education minister David Coltart came out and refuted these reports.

I had a problem however with the announcement in The Standard that Cabinet is seriously considering effectuating a policy that will regulate the selling of alcohol to between 6am and 7pm, while a ban would be put on beer selling after midday on Sunday. Also to be banned is the selling of alcohol to visibly pregnant women, people deemed to be already inebriated and minors. Seriously? How ridiculous is that. Unless they are saying ultrasound equipment will be placed alongside barcode-scanners – how can anyone honestly tell a pregnant woman apart from one who just has a big tummy? I foresee rotund women potentially suffering serious discrimination because of this policy. Imagine being held up in a supermarket queue where each obese woman buying alcohol has to first get an all-clear before buying beer. How often do you see ‘visibly pregnant’ women buying beer, anyway.

As for the till operator – their new job specification is to vet each beer buyer and determine their level of drunkenness before deciding whether or not to sell them the beer? So it would be like you sir, with the Castle, kindly blow into this breathalyzer first before we complete this transaction. Try denying one of these chapomba fellas and see if they won’t hit you right smack on the head with the bottle.

According to Dr Timothy Stamps – former Health and Child Welfare minister, now health advisor to President Mugabe; these laws are being put together to protect the young and those that ‘react badly to alcohol’. Really?

While I agree that alcohol should not under any circumstances be sold to children, it is laughable that somebody imagines that by limiting alcohol buying time – they can actually limit the amount of alcohol a person imbibes at a given time. I mean, how many people keep their refrigerators stacked with beers and their shelves lined with bottles of vodka and other spirits? In any case, we could end up with a scenario similar to 2008 where illegal beer sellers used to park their cars and sell from the boot. I imagine that real drinkers always find ways around stupid legislation, and will stock their poison well in advance. Now isn’t that risking having people get more tempted to drink when they have all the alcohol in their stocks?

I think more energy should rather be put into public education on the consequences of excessive drinking and the value of responsible drinking. And like what the South Africans are doing – perhaps mull the idea of banning alcohol adverts (not to say I believe that necessarily makes a big difference. Half the alcohol consumed in Zim – like the home brewed kachasu and now popular Mozambican Timbirani – is not advertised.)

The whole idea of legislating morality and using the coercive force of law to promote notions of virtue or express the moral convictions of a selfish few would be anathema to a majority of citizens. Alcohol may be unhealthy in the long run, but that does not justify the kind of patronization being touted here, or laws that prevent consenting adults from indulging in it. I think it is highly detestable to assume that adult people do not know that alcohol is harmful to their health and therefore need geriatrics like Stamps to take their hand and say, you can only drink between 6 and 7.

Senator David Coltart

Acton Lecture on Religion and Freedom

Sydney Australia 26th August 2011

Senator David Coltart’s speech and the question and answer session given at the annual Centre for Independent Studies’ Acton Lecture on Religion and Freedom at the New South Wales Parliament in Sydney on Tuesday the 26th July 2011 has been posted on U Tube.

Lecture: http://youtu.be/xf9UI6prQgo

Q&A session:  http://youtu.be/hWzyzhoRuHo

Herald                                   

Thursday, 11 August 2011 

By Felix Share

Education, Sport, Art and Culture Minister David Coltart has refuted reports that Government has banned holiday lessons for non-examination classes.

He, however, said the ministry would punish teachers who initiate holiday lessons for monetary benefits after deliberately failing to complete syllabuses during the normal school term.

In an interview yesterday, Minister Coltart said holiday lessons for examination and non-examination classes should continue countrywide as scheduled but “extorting” parents should end. Reports were that Government had banned holiday lessons for non-examination classes with only Grade Seven, Form Four and Form Six classes allowed to have extra lessons during the school holidays.

Said Minister Coltart: “There was never a ban or even a suspension on the lessons as reported earlier on. Government is only against a situation whereby teachers deliberately fail to complete their syllabuses by the end of the term and force parents to pay for holiday lessons. “It is clear some teachers are not doing justice during the term and they should not extort from parents simply because they want to cover up for their laziness. “All lessons should go ahead as planned but without putting parents into forced arrangements.” He said parents should send their children for holiday lessons willingly.

“We have genuine cases where teachers perform well during the term and would want to do even better during the holidays.

“I see no reason for banning such cases because it will help in maintaining our standards and better our education sector,” he said.

Minister Coltart said headmasters and their district education officers would ensure teachers complete their syllabuses on time and parents are not prejudiced their cash through holiday lessons.

“Monitoring would be tight and any teacher found on the wrong side of the law would face the consequences in terms of the Education Act because that will be unprofessional conduct.

“Headmasters should be in a position to determine whether teachers have completed the syllabus or not. This they will do with the help of inspectors who are DEOs,” he said.

To improve the monitoring of schools, Government recently distributed 59 new vehicles for education inspectors.

www.insiderzim.com

Monday, 08 August 2011 

A self-proclaimed former Rhodesian Selous Scout David Israel Ben Jesse is trying to get The Insider website shut down allegedly for copyright infringement.

Jesse, who was previously known as Allan Norton, has written to hosting company for The Insider website complaining that the editor of publisher of The Insider, who he says is a Mugabe journalist, is being used by current Education Minister David Coltart to publish false and fictitious information about him and his wife and their two children.

Coltart was a founding member of the Movement for Democratic Change but is now with the smaller faction led by Welshman Ncube.

The Insider first wrote about Jesse in August 2001 after one of his then girlfriends complained about being abused. She was being represented by David Coltart.

The Insider subsequently got loads of documents about Jesse’s history of abusing women and wrote about the cases. It also talked to South African lawyers who had employed him.

Jesse fled Zimbabwe after the Law Society of Zimbabwe filed a case against him for practising as a lawyer in Bulawayo when he was not. He has been living in South Africa since.

The Insider hosting company has given it 48 hours to withdraw the stories but has not asked The Insider to give its side of the story.

“Please be advised that we have received notice (copy attached) of alleged infringement on your website.  Please remove or disable access to the alleged infringing material within 48 hours, and provide written notice to us to that effect when completed.  Failure to eliminate or disable access to such alleged infringing material within such time period could result in suspension or termination of your website,” the hosting company said in an email dispatched on Friday, 6 August.

The Insider has written to the hosting company and is awaiting its response.

• Very impressed by Meth's bowling against Bangladesh – what economy – .79 per over and a few wickets as well! #
• Thank goodness Zimbabwe prevented war from breaking out between India and England yesterday! #
• Zimbabwean coaches Fletcher and Flower ensure fair play prevails by intervening in dispute between India and England in 2nd cricket test #
• I can't say how absolutely delighted I am by Zimbabwe XI's victory over what was pretty much the Bangladesh test team today #
• So Andy Flower seems to be winning the battle of the Zimbabwean coaches over Duncan Fletcher so far – England 2 India 0 #
• How the mighty are fallen – Hosni Mubarak in court facing corruption and murder charges #
• Very proud of #robynleekriel who is doing such a great job flying the Zimbabwean flag as a journalist in Somalia – great Bulawayo girl! #
• Excited about Zimbabwe's return to test cricket tomorrow – all the very best to Brendan Taylor and his men – the nation is behind you lads #
• "Zuma's Zim role near end?" Herald and Zanu PF's wishful thinking today a sign that Zuma is doing a good job – see http://t.co/m34QMe8 #
• Firdose Moonda: Zimbabwe's wilderness years not all arid http://t.co/4Km0r5D via @espncricinfo #
• Zimbabwe v Bangladesh test cricket on DSTV channel 202 – thank goodness because sadly I can't be there #
• Zimbabwe starts Test cricket again – tough toss to lose batting on a green top – but that is test cricket #
• Zimbabwe's test return is more than just about cricket – it reflects what is happening generally – a battle but we are slowly progressing #
• "Zimbabwe has had a good re-entry to the cricket test arena" – Kepler Wessels commentating on DSTV – Zim 254 for 2 nearing the end of day 1 #
• Zimbabwe v Bangladesh: Zimbabwe make another beginning http://t.co/un7KAvv via @espncricinfo #
• Zimbabwe v Bangladesh: Zimbabwe make progress with small victories http://t.co/RStGPv2 via @espncricinfo #
• Check this video out — The Annual Acton Lecture on Religion & Freedom http://t.co/xCknEp6 via @youtube #
• Check this video out — The Annual Acton Lecture on Religion & Freedom: Q&A http://t.co/G7cikec via @youtube #
• Both Zimbabwe's opening bowlers Vitori and Jarvis look the real deal and proving a handful for Bangladesh – which is now 38 for 2 at tea #
• Catches win matches – and dropped catches frustrate good bowling, very impressed with both Jarvis & Vitori but they need back up of fielders #
• Zimbabwe break through – a catch taken this time – Vitori again – Jarvis unlucky as he should have had at least 2 wickets #
• Bangladesh are having amazing luck – 2 balls in a row batsmen have been fortunate to survive. But Zim needs to make their luck #
• Kyle Jarvis, losing hope that his team mates would ever catch his dollies, or the umpires give clear lbw shouts, removes a Bangla off stump #
• Tomorrow is a real test for Zimbabwe cricket because Test cricket is all about mental toughness – if they have it they will win comfortably #

Sunday Mail

 By Ndou Paul

7 August 2011

The Zimbabwe government has suspended holiday lessons for non-examination classes with immediate effect following the revelation that some teachers are unfairly “extracting” money from parents under the guise of helping pupils.

In an interview last week, Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Senator David Coltart said his ministry wanted to curb tendencies by some teachers of relaxing during the term while hoping to conduct paid extra holiday lessons.

“We are not against holiday lessons, but we have noticed that some teachers don’t do adequate teaching during the term for them to facilitate paid extra holiday lessons. The Government cannot tolerate such tendencies thus the idea that extra lessons must be opened for (exam) writing classes only,” said Sen Coltart.

The minister also said extra holiday lessons for writing classes – Grade Seven, Form Four and Six – would be conducted under the inspection of education officials that would monitor unscrupulous teachers taking advantage of the facility to generate money.

Recently, the Government distributed 59 Nissan Hardbody trucks worth US$1,3 million to enable education inspectors to monitor teaching standards in schools.

Each province across the country was allocated at least four vehicles with Bulawayo and Harare receiving two each.

Monitoring of schools had been slowed as most education officers did not have transport to move around the schools.

“Holiday lessons should be driven by the honest motive to assist pupils fully prepare for their examinations. If schools and teachers feel there are certain areas pupils need to catch up on, that’s when they should facilitate holiday lessons rather than to initiate them for monetary benefits,” Minister Coltart said.

Of late, there have been numerous complaints by parents accusing teachers of masterminding holiday lessons to line their pockets.

In some instances even primary teachers have been fingered for piloting extra lessons for non-exam classes.

In Bulawayo, teachers from schools including Mpopoma, Milton High and St Columbus have been accused of abusing holiday lessons for personal benefits, where they are allegedly charging between US$10 and US$15 per subject a month for O- and A-Level pupils respectively.

Meanwhile, Sen Coltart says his ministry has prepared a five-year strategic plan to be presented to Cabinet for approval. He said the plan is a roadmap that will guide the

Government in the resuscitation of the education sector. “There has been significant improvement within the education sector since the formation of the inclusive Government. Therefore, the main thrust of the plan is to consolidate the achievements we have scored so far as Government intensifies efforts to stabilise the sector,” he said.

Zimbabwean

6 August 2011

By Jane Makoni

Teachers are being forced to transfer to at an unregistered Zanu (PF) school established as a campaign success story by Uzumba MP Simbaneuta Mudarikwa.

The makeshift Nyashunjwa Primary School, with classes built only up to window level, is situated in Mashambanhaka Village. Mudarikwa has instructed district education officials to transfer teachers to the school without consulting ministry of education provincial staffing officials in Marondera.

“As a government ministry we are naturally disturbed to learn that a Zanu (PF) MP was behaving like a ministry of education staffing officer,” said a district education official who asked for anonymity.

“We understand he haphazardly established a make-shift school in order to buy votes in the coming election campaign. He reportedly threatened the district education officer into transferring teachers to his bush school.

His conduct is both barbaric and unacceptable. It is unfortunate that some partisan headmasters were working in cahoots with Mudarikwa to frustrate rural school teachers. Most targeted were female teachers at Mashambanhaka Primary School,” he said.

Mudarikwa’s actions have been reported to the provincial education officer, who promised to deal with the issue professionally and without fear.

He instructed the district education officer to put everything in writing – but the education officer would not do it because he was terrified of reprisals from the Mudarikwa and Zanu (PF).

“He said it he had resisted their demands his life would be in real danger,” said a provincial education official, who insisted on anonymity, given the sensitivity of the issue.

Villagers in Uzumba described Mudarikwa’s behaviour as the beginning of a terror campaign against teachers ahead of elections. They called on the Minister of Education, David Coltart and other caring legislators to rein in Zanu (PF) and the MP.

Newsday

6 August 2011

By Veneranda Langa

The Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) yesterday expressed concern over what they said was “entrenched workplace bullying on teachers by immediate supervisors and headmasters at schools”.

This was said by PTUZ programmes and communications officer, Oswald Madziva, in an interview with NewsDay, adding that teachers’ woes were not only poor remuneration, “non-hygienic” factors like bullying, perpetrated by headmasters using Zanu PF activists.

“The sad thing is that the strategic plan of the Ministry of Education acknowledges that teachers feel insecure at schools, but it does not suggest interventions and how to deal with the problem,” said Madziva.

“We as PTUZ are concerned about the manner some school headmasters, particularly Diamond Zharare, the headmaster of Nzvimbo Secondary School in Mazowe, behaved when he recently threatened a teacher, Prosper Mugwagwa, with a gun over a teachers’ strike-related dispute,” said Madziva.

He continued: “What we are concerned about is police inaction over the report and generally what we have seen as PTUZ is that when officials in the Ministry of Education are under the spotlight for wrongdoing, they rush to Zanu PF for support and the tragedy is also that Zanu PF is willing to cooperate with the officials.”

Mugwagwa said in the case of Mugwagwa, ministry officials from Mazowe District office came to Nzvimbo Secondary School with a letter from Zanu PF and the school development committee ordering the transfer of the teacher.

“We (PTUZ) advised the teacher to resist getting transferred because we said Zanu PF had a system to track down people and instead, we advised him to apply for a peace order against the school development committee and Zanu PF,” Madziva said.

According to documents availed to NewsDay, the Labour Court on Thursday ruled the transfer of Mugwagwa had been unlawful. Commenting on the issue, the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, said he had always made it clear that the ministry would not tolerate bullying of any sort by school heads or supervisors to their subordinates.

“Unfortunately I have not had a report from the PTUZ on the issue, and I hope they will give me a report so that I address it immediately,” said Coltart

Newsday

By Fortune Moyo

6 August 2011

The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, said he would soon engage teachers’ unions before deciding whether to scrap teachers’ incentives.

Last week, education ministry secretary, Stephen Mahere, said the government had resolved to abolish incentives to avoid disparities they had created between urban and rural schools.

However, Coltart told NewsDay early this week there was need to consult other stakeholders before a firm decision was made over the issue.

“Our position has always been clear that we are not happy with the issue of incentives, but we had to accept them to try and retain teachers,” he said.

“We need to hold consultations with the unions, before we consider scrapping the incentives.”

Coltart said the recent salary increment awarded to civil servants was probably still too low for incentives to be removed.

Following the latest increases, teachers now earn $320 from $160 per month.

In rural areas, incentives vary between zero and $20, while those for their urban counterparts range between $30 and $80 or more, per month.

Most rural-based teachers, who do not get incentives, were now pushing for places in urban schools.

Incentives were introduced following an increase in the number of teachers who were quitting their jobs in search of greener pastures in neighbouring counties, at the height of the country’s economic woes.