www.kubatanablogs.net

 21 July 2011

A recent headline in The Herald caught my eye: 15,000 teaching posts vacant.

It brought to mind a recent post I’d seen on Twitter – despite the high levels of unemployment there, an IT company was struggling to fill 20 vacancies.

In Zimbabwe, unemployment is estimated at 90%, with the majority of Zimbabweans surviving in the informal sector, and with tremendous pressure on wage earners to support large extended family networks.

Meanwhile, many of the country’s brightest and proactive young people have left the country to pursue economic opportunities in South Africa, the UK and elsewhere. The brain drain included many of Zimbabwe’s qualified teachers, who left the careers they had planned and studied for to find better paying jobs outside of the country. Despite government initiatives to lure these qualified teachers back to the country, the teaching vacancies persist.

In a country with such massive unemployment, how can 15,000 posts go vacant?

As The Herald article points out: “Most teachers have been driven away by low remuneration and frustrating bureaucracy.”

Drawing on The Herald piece, a story from VOA Studio 7 quotes Education Minister David Coltart as saying that “the lack of respect for teachers in Zimbabwe, poor housing especially at rural schools and political intimidation of teachers have all contributed to high vacancies.”

Zimbabwe used to have one of the best education systems in Africa. Other posts on this blog have talked about the esteem in which teachers were held in their communities. But now Zimbabwe is in a bind. Without a robust economic engine of production, how does the country generate the revenue base to enable government to increase teachers’ salaries (and those of other civil servants)? In the meantime, what does it say for us as a country, if conditions for those in the teaching profession are so bad that our young people would rather leave the country – or start their own businesses – than contribute to educating the future of Zimbabwe.

Financial Gazette

21 July 2011

THE three parties in the coalition government yesterday shrugged off their political differences to attend the burial of the late national hero, Andrew Sikajaya Muntanga, at the National Heroes Acre, in a rare show of unity. Although Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was conspicuous by his absence, some of his party officials were present at the national shrine and so were officials from the Welshman Ncube-led formation of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara was also in attendance to bury the first legislator for Binga.

Muntanga, who was a Binga legislator from 1980 to 1985, died last week at the Medical Centre in the resort town of Victoria Falls after a long battle with heart complications.

Ministers David Coltart (MDC), Joel Gabbuza Gabuza (MDC-T), the current Binga House of Assembly member, were some of the former opposition supporters that braved the chilly weather to pay their last respect to the fallen giant from Binga.

Douglas Mwonzora, the MDC-T spokesperson, said the Prime Minister did not attend due to other pressing commitments.

“The Prime Minister did not attend; there was an (MDC-T) standing committee meeting and the party caucus, which coincided with the burial. Also we are planning for a memorial service of one of our late members, Rwisai Nyakauru where the Prime Minister is going to attend,” said Mwonzora.

In the past, the MDC formations have boycotted the burial of national heroes at the national shrine, arguing that the events were being turned into ZANU-PF private functions or political meetings at which President Robert Mugabe has on several occasions attacked his opponents.

But in a clear departure from his favourite pastime, President Mugabe shied away from attacking his partners in the shaky coalition government and the West.

In a toned down speech, President Mugabe instead heaped praises on the late nationalist, disappointing those who were anticipating his usual bashing of Prime Minister Tsvangirai, the MDC-T and the West.

In a brief mention of the Gukurahundi massacres, in his gravesite eulogy, President Mugabe said the period was nasty before brushing off the issue in which civil society organisations claim more than 20 000 people were killed in State-sponsored violence.

Newsday

By Stanley Makombe

21 July 2011

The Asiagate match-fixing scandal that has been unearthed by the new Zifa administration is indeed a milestone achievement in bringing sanity to local football.

I must applaud the new administration for taking this stance which is not usually easy. They have lived up to the saying “new brooms sweep clean”.

It will breathe new life into the manner our football is administered by changing the mindset of local administrators while instilling confidence in sponsors.

However, in the midst of all these positive comments also comes questions whether the new administration is not going to lose focus in their day-to-day business and most importantly, on a strategy that counters the causes of such misdemeanours.

I am not qualified to go deeper into the Asiagate scandal itself and my comments are largely going to touch on what l believe is the way forward for the new administration.

I believe that it is paramount for the new administration to simultaneously invest their energies in a commercialisation model which attracts partners that pour money into the system.

The strategy must have a fourfold magnitude in drive, depth and publicity in order to redirect stakeholders’ and supporters’ perception about the business of the new administration and their vision. I think you will all agree with me that the causes of all these scandals are clear for all to see.

With the football association always broke, it goes without saying that most staff members who are employed in football associations in Africa are not paid enough and the temptation of using their office to make money to survive is ever-present.

In real terms the commercialisation approach will seek to manage football as a profit entity, to secure funding for the association.

South Africa managed to adopt a commercialisation model that makes it the richest league in Africa, making it possible for them to attract the best players from Africa and even a few players from Europe.

This is not an event but a process that requires commitment and consistency in order to reap the rewards.

Central to a commercialisation model is the association’s realisation that they are not just managing football, but a brand that attracts sponsors whose interest is to sell their brands using football.

This realisation is very key to understand as it naturally instils discipline and plants a seed of accountability in the actions of the association.

The association should constantly be aware that it may cost them to lose partners who pour money into funding their structures and budgets.

This is very important to know as many football institutions seem to always think that sponsors are donors!

No, they are not donors as they only provide funds from their marketing budgets to promote their brands to their targeted markets, which means they have set objectives which must be achieved after the sponsorship.

Sponsors always find it easy and acceptable to sponsor institutions with proper management structures as compared to one- man-band organisations.

If there is a sound structure, then issues of budgets naturally come into play.

The benefits of employing experienced and qualified staff that I alluded to earlier becomes relevant as the so-called football greats may not have the knowhow to professionally handle such matters.

It is for this reason that today in Zimbabwe cricket, tennis and rugby attract bigger multi-sectoral sponsorship deals as they employ professional staff who can present convincing sponsorship proposals.

The football association can secure funding through selling their TV rights, touchline advertising rights, the Warriors brand, royalties on shirt sales, gate takings and sponsorship income.

Commercialisation was adopted long ago in Europe, Asia, South America, Australia and in African countries such as South Africa and Egypt.

Within the last few years Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya and Zambia have also joined the bandwagon of commercialising football.

Local football has been like a woman who has been pregnant for three years and still can’t give birth.

Our local talent is too good to play for passion only while other countries like South Africa make big money out of our talent.

I believe this is the opportune time to deal with this ghost that has been hounding our football for so long at a time when the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture is agreeing to deal with the challenge of local authorities charging 20% of gate takings.

It is the opportune time when the responsible minister, David Coltart, has scheduled a football indaba following the recent visit by Fifa President Joseph Sepp Blatter to brainstorm on why local football cannot make profit.

Indeed, it is the most appropriate time when our women’s national team recently did us proud by winning the Cosafa Trophy after which President Robert Mugabe confirmed that the government needs to do more for local sports.

Surely, there is no special reason why the Zambian and Kenyan football leagues would attract SuperSport coverage ahead of ours when we have more talent.

I do believe commercialisation can indeed inject lifeblood into local football and benefit the national football association, clubs, officials and even the supporters.

In a match situation, coaches believe that the best way to defend is by attacking and I also believe the best way to deal with the causes of match-fixing after successfully exposing the scandals is by way of commercialising the game.

Stanley Makombe is a sports consultant with New Century Associates Email: stanley@newcenturyassociates.biz

Centre for Independent Studies

Sydney

20 July 2011

Senator David Coltart
Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Zimbabwe

Tuesday, 26 July 2011, 5:30pm for 5:45pm – 7:00pm
Parliament House, Parliament of NSW 
Macquarie St, Sydney 
Members – free, Non-Members – $15 / inc. GST

Reservations are essential. Places must be paid for in advance. Seats are transferable but non-refundable. We expect interest in this event to be high so please book early to avoid disappointment. Click here for more information or to register, or call (02) 9438 4377. For media enquiries please email CIS Media Manager, Jessica Kostera. For event enquiries, please email office@cis.org.au

SW Radio Africa

By Tererai Karimakwenda

20 July, 2011

The man who emerged as the main contact and Zimbabwean link in the match-fixing scandal now known as Asiagate has been jailed for two years. Wilson Raj Perumal was sentenced by a district court in Finland on Tuesday, after he was found guilty for his role in organizing players and officials who took part in fixing football matches in that country. Nine players were also found guilty and received suspended sentences.

A statement from the court focused on the fact that Perumal’s actions were planned and he represented an international betting syndicate, which paid players, coaches and other football officials to participate in match fixing and betting scams. Fifa and Interpol are also conducting their own investigations into allegations of corruption in international football.

Perumal, who is from Singapore, was fingered as the “mastermind” behind the Zimbabwe national team’s involvement in fixing 15 games in Asia between 2007 and 2009. He is alleged to have organized payments of over $28,000 per match for them to lose games. He reportedly made up to $70,000 per match, in addition to a share of the betting profits.

No arrests have been made in Zimbabwe so far, despite evidence revealed last week in a report by the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa), who investigated the scandal. The Zimbabwean matches under investigation included the well known 2009 trip to Malaysia when Monomotapa fraudulently played as the national team.

Warriors Captain Method Mwanjali testified that former Zifa programmes officer, Jonathan Musavengana, had worked with Perumal and his associates to organize payments during the 2009 trip to Malaysia. “He told us to lose by a certain number of goals against Thailand so as to get our money or allowances,” Mwanjali accused Musavengana as saying.

Back in Zimbabwe the case continus to attract dramatic headlines, after a member of the Zifa committee that investigated the scandal reported he had received death threats. Benedict Moyo, who is reportedly in hiding, claimed that he was threatened with death through anonymous telephone calls.

According to the Daily News newspaper, Moyo said he feared for his life because his brother, the former FC Platinum coach Benjamin Moyo, died last month under “mysterious” circumstances.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor, Gideon Gono, has also given evidence in the case, denying claims by the former Zifa chief executive officer Henrietta Rushwaya, that the RBZ had donated four vehicles and four generators for her personal use.

A Daily News report said Gono submitted a High Court affidavit that said the cars and generators “were donated to the association for use by the Zifa officials” who included Rushwaya “at the time” since she was the Zifa CEO.

Rushwaya, who was fired last year, is one of the top officials accused by Zifa of receiving bribes from Perumal and his agents, although she has denied the charges.

Meanwhile Zimbabwe’s Sports Minister David Coltart called on the police to investigate the football match fixing allegations. He said an independent body must be set up to deal with the scandal, headed by the police, lawyers and the Attorney General.

Herald

Wednesday, 20 July 2011

By Eddie Chikamhi

The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, has hailed the Zimbabwe polocrosse team’s gallant efforts in coming second at the 2011 World Cup.

The team, led by Andy Baker, had a memorable outing at the tournament, winning all five matches on their way to the finals, where they eventually bowed 29-18 to neighbours South Africa on Sunday.

Coltart said the team deserves recognition as they brought pride to Zimbabwe and he said he raised the issue of the team’s success in cabinet yesterday.

“I think it was an outstanding result by the Zimbabwe team. It was magnificent for us to reach the final of the World Cup and, judging by reports from England, the final against South Africa was tightly contested.

“Nonetheless, the team did us proud by winning all their games on their way to the final, including the victory against giants Australia.

“We hope this wonderful result will inspire the future generation of polocrosse in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Eight teams took part at the World Cup and Zimbabwe, who failed to make the last four in the 2007 event, proceeded from their group unbeaten.

The Zimbabwe team comprised Baker, who is the captain, Michael Krynauw, Danie Swan and Graham Keith in the men’s side while Audrey Logan, Kelly Redford, Susan Sargeant and Sophie Sargeant make up the women’s side.

They beat New Zealand 17-15 in the first game and then accounted for two time champions Australia, who are credited with inventing the game, 21-12 in their second game.

Zimbabwe then brushed aside the challenge of World Cup debutants Zambia 22-10 to seal their place in the semi finals against United States.

The team triumphed 24-10 to set a date for an all-Africa final against South Africa who had also done well in their group, which included Ireland and the United Kingdom.

This was Zimbabwe’s third participation at the World Cup.

The inaugural event was hosted and won by Australia in 2003.

They hosted it again in 2007 with eight teams in attendance and they won the second edition but the complexion of the game was different in 2011 where they settled for bronze after beating the United Kingdom in the play-offs earlier on Sunday.

VOA

20 July 2011

By Sandra Nyaira

Politically tinged soccer tournaments are said to have been organized by Manicaland Provincial Governor Christopher Mushohwe, Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo and Information Minister Webster Shamu

With national elections in the offing though not scheduled, Zimbabwe Education Minister David Coltart has denounced the politicization of schools by politicians, most recently through soccer tournaments that end up becoming partisan political rallies.

Such tournaments are said to have been organized by Manicaland Provincial Governor Christopher Mushohwe, Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo and Information Minister Webster Shamu, according to sources familiar with Coltart’s concerns.

The nation’s schools were battlegrounds during the 2008 elections, and many worry that they could again be caught in the crossfire or turned into headquarters for youth militia loyal to President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, as was seen in 2008.

Coltart this week said he is investigating what he called the abuse of school children in political campaigns being conducted under the guise of sports tournaments.

“We are going to take up the issue with provincial directors of the schools involved,” he said. “The ministry’s policy on this issue is very clear. School premises should not be used for anything other than for the purposes of learning.”

For more on the plight of schools, teachers and students in a political environment that is becoming increasingly heated by the day, VOA Studio 7 reporter Sandra Nyaira reached out to Zimbabwe Teachers Union Chief Executive Sifiso Ndlovu and Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe General Secretary Raymond Majongwe.

Ndlovu said his union supports extra-curricular activities, but politics should be left out.

Coltart “is within his right to protect the children against any abuse,” Ndlovu said.

“However, I must quickly say that schools are institutions of learning which are open to the communities. If they’re coming in to aid extra-curricula activities like sports, then we welcome that gesture but we don’t want to be used as levers for anybody.”

Majongwe said Zimbabweans should unite to ensure that the practice of politicians using school grounds for their elections campaigns is nipped in the bud.

“We should all say they should stay away with their footballs, their soccer tournaments, their music and all,” Majongwe said. “What we should be concentrating on is helping to mold the country’s future leaders so they do not become tomorrow’s abusers.”

Radio VOP

20 July 2011

Zimbabwe’s Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart is investigating the abuse of school children that allegedly took place during political campaigns.

In a telephone interview with Radio VOP on Monday, the Minister, David Coltart said: “We are going to take up the issue with provincial directors of schools involved. The ministry’s policy on this issue is very clear: school premises should not be used for anything rather than for the purpose of learning.”

Since the talk of elections started this year, Zanu (PF) heavy weights have been falling over each other to sponsor the so-called school soccer tournaments in their respective constituencies.

Some of the Zanu (PF) politicians who have organised these “tournaments” in recent weeks are Manicaland provincial governor, Chrishopher Mushohwe, Minister of Local government Ignatius Chombo, Information and Publicity Minister, Webster Shamu among others. Mushohwe organised a soccer tournament at Nyanyadzi secondary school in Chimanimani where participating school teams were given a soccer kit with Zanu (PF)’s logo and the governor’s portrait.

About three weeks ago, former Caps United coach, Moses Chunga who is also a former Dynamos player and coach, addressed a Zanu (PF) campaign rally organised by Chombo in Mutorashanga where the minister sponsored a football tournament.

The venue of the tournament was decorated with Zanu (PF) campaign posters including President Robert Mugabe and Chombo’s campaign posters. Recently Dynamos striker, Murape Murape also accompanied Shamu to a Zanu (PF) restructuring meeting at Dzingai Nkomo cooperative in Chegutu where he took to the podium amid wild cheers from Zanu (PF) supporters and donated soccer and netball balls to the party youths.