New York Times

By Celia W. Dugger

June 23, 2011

As regional leaders push for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe, a high-ranking general in the country’s army has vowed that the security services will ensure that President Robert Mugabe, 87, remains in power, calling his chief political opponent a “national security threat” who “can only be dealt with by people in uniform.”

“President Mugabe will only leave office if he sees it fit or dies,” a state-controlled newspaper, The Herald, quoted Brig. Gen. Douglas Nyikayaramba as saying in an article on Thursday. The general added, “We will die for him to make sure he remains in power.”

The general justified the military’s involvement in politics by describing Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Mr. Mugabe’s longtime rival and opponent in a presidential race, as a “major security threat” who “takes instruction from foreigners.” Mr. Mugabe reluctantly agreed to share power with Mr. Tsvangirai after a discredited election in 2008.

“Soldiers are not going to sit back and watch while the foreign forces want to attack us,” the general was quoted as saying.

The remarks were the most public declaration of the army’s determination to interfere in elections. Senior officials in Mr. Mugabe’s party, ZANU-PF, have been saying much the same thing privately for months. Human rights groups say the military is already deploying soldiers in rural areas to intimidate those who would vote against Mr. Mugabe.

Nelson Chamisa, the organizing secretary for the Movement for Democratic Change, Mr. Tsvangirai’s party, said the general’s statements were “basically a declaration of war on the democratic forces.”

“When they look at our leader Morgan Tsvangirai as a security threat,” Mr. Chamisa said, “it means that they’re trying to argue that he’s a legitimate target for either elimination or to be in harm’s way.”

M.D.C. leaders said the statements in Thursday’s Herald reinforced their belief that elections held without international monitoring and strict conditions would almost certainly lead to a repeat of the violent 2008 elections in which Mr. Tsvangirai’s supporters were tortured, beaten and killed. That campaign of violence was organized and directed by a clique of military commanders and senior politicians close to Mr. Mugabe.

The same circle was with Mr. Mugabe in the war to end white minority rule. Zimbabwe gained its independence in 1980, and Mr. Mugabe has remained in office ever since. Echoing statements by military commanders before the 2008 elections, General Nyikayaramba said he would not serve under a commander in chief who had not fought in the liberation war. Mr. Tsvangirai, a former trade union leader, did not fight in the war.

The prominent display of General Nyikayaramba’s comments in The Herald was not the only recent indication of the leanings of the president’s loyalists.

This week in The Sunday Mail, another state-controlled newspaper, a Politburo member, Jonathan Moyo, wrote that the leaders of Zimbabwe’s neighbors were wrong to be pushing for “an election road map” with stringent new conditions. The existing rules were sufficient to ensure fair elections, he contended. Efforts to push for such a road map “will raise national security issues which will have to take precedence over politics as happened after the March 29, 2008, elections in the run-up to the presidential runoff election.”

After Mr. Mugabe won fewer votes than Mr. Tsvangirai in the 2008 election, the military mobilized its violent drive to ensure that Mr. Mugabe retained power, forcing Mr. Tsvangirai to drop out days before the runoff. Mr. Moyo concluded his column with a warning that history risked repeating itself.

ZANU-PF and high-ranking military officials, fearful that Mr. Mugabe’s health is weakening, have been pushing hard for elections this year, but regional leaders, led by South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, have insisted that institutions to guarantee freedom of the press and a functioning electoral process must be strengthened.

Education Minister David Coltart, a leader in a small M.D.C. faction, said the hard-liners feared that ZANU-PF would lose if regional leaders imposed tougher electoral conditions.

“They know that free and fair elections are a kiss of death,” Mr. Coltart said. “The last thing they want is a new voter roll and the prospect of Zimbabweans in South Africa being allowed to vote. They’d all vote against ZANU, and none of them would be subject to intimidation as they sit safely in South Africa, far from thugs who could beat them up.”

Newsday

By Veneranda Langa, Senior Parliamentary Reporter

7 June 2011

Government is set to introduce legislation to compel school buses to have safety belts fastened on each seat as a precautionary measure in the event of road traffic accidents.

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart said the legislation would be introduced in 2013.

Coltart was responding to a question by Shurugwi South MP Anastancia Ndhlovu (Zanu PF), who had asked the minister to explain government policy with regard to the safety of pupils on the roads, following many traffic accidents that have killed schoolchildren.

“We have stated that from the beginning of 2013 all children travelling in school buses must have safety belts and we have said that where school buses already have safety belts, those must be used immediately,” said Coltart.

“Road traffic accidents have been a matter of concern for the ministry and tragically in the last year, we had several incidents where children have been killed on their way to school and perhaps on their way back from school or sporting events,” he said.

“One of the things that we have considered is to place a ban on schoolchildren being driven in school buses, for example, outside daylight hours. We have put that to a variety of schools, but what has come back to us is that many schools in outlying areas have asked us not to do that because it would mean that they cannot get to cultural or sporting events on time,” said Coltart.

Newsday

By Fortune Mbele

6 June 2011

The Hockey Association of Zimbabwe (Haz) says Khumalo Hockey Stadium (KHS) will be ready for the 2012 Olympic qualifiers which will be held from September 2 to 10.

Haz president Kays Kanyangarara yesterday told NewsDay Sport that the facility which is due to undergo refurbishment would be ready by mid-August, just under a month before the commencement of the qualifiers.

Kanyangarara said the Ministry of Public Works and a Dutch company Edelgrass, which won the tender to spruce up the stadium, signed a deal on Thursday and the artificial turf for the two fields at the facility, will be shipped by June 14.

“Khumalo Hockey Stadium will be ready by mid-August for the Olympic qualifiers that will be held from September 2-10 but it is unfortunate that our teams will not have the feel of the surfaces before the qualifiers. But that guarantees us that we will host the qualifiers,” Kanyangarara said.

The Haz boss said he was in constant meetings with the Ministry of Public Works and had assurances that the facility would be ready by mid-August.

Officials from the Ministry and the Dutch-based firm toured the stadium in the city on Thursday and Friday last week after signing the deal in the capital.

Kanyangarara said Edelgras had also toured some schools in Harare and Bulawayo with a possibility of establishing hockey stadia for the games.

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart who availed one million dollars for the refurbishment of Khumalo Hockey Stadium was also at the facility on Friday morning.

In a statement earlier, Kanyangarara said: “After much effort I am pleased to advise that the contract for the new artificial turf was formally signed on 1st June, in Harare between the government of Zimbabwe and Edelgrass.

“Edelgras has already manufactured the turf for the two fields, and these will be shipped by June 14, and we expect the pitches to be ready from the end of July. A little close to our tournament date, but we are on track.

“A positive site meeting was held yesterday at the KHS between the local committee, authorities and Edelgras. The government of Zimbabwe is committed to the hosting of this event, and the facility will be more than adequate to meet our expectations.”

“Nine countries, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Namibia, Uganda and Botswana are expected to participate in the qualifiers which will be held concurrently with the All-Africa Games in Mozambique.

Mozambique do not play hockey and Zimbabwe was chosen to host the Olympic qualifiers.

• Kirsty Coventry, Zimbabwe's golden girl, was on hand to congratulate Stephen Muzhingi as he won the Comrades today http://goo.gl/uaJFI #
• SW Radio interview of David Coltart http://goo.gl/rpZOS #
• Air Zimbabwe has done it again. Booked to fly to Harare at 5.15pm only to be told that the flight changed! Late for Cabinet again. Nice one! #
• Off to Khumalo Hockey Stadium to inspect after signing of contract with Dutch firm Edelgrass to renovate for African Olympic qualifiers #
• Thinking of the Warriors as they prepare for their crucial match against Mali tomorrow. Come on Zimbabwe – do us proud at Rufaro! #
• Wishing the Zimbabwean Warriors football team all the very best in their match against Mali this afternoon. #

Zimbabwean

By Grace Chirumanzu

Saturday, 4 June 2011

Zimbabwe’s three-time Comrades Marathon Champion Stephen Muzhingi is set to be honoured by President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for his success in the high-profile competition.

According to Minister of Education, David Coltart, the country’s two leaders will hosts the Muzhingi at a function in Harare, which will see the Masvingo-born athlete honoured like a hero.

“For the first time, both President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai agreed to one cause, that is organising a special reception for the Comrades Marathon three-time winner. Mugabe said he was pleased to hear that Muzhingi had managed to defend the title he won twice in 2009 and 2010,” Coltart said.

“The reception will present Muzhingi a chance to meet the two leaders, a dream set to become true for Muzhingi after it was agreed in the cabinet that the Finance minister (Tendai Biti) was going to ascertain how much the government of Zimbabwe was going to present to Muzhingi in a reception that will be held in the city on dates to be announced.”

In 2009 swimming sensation, Kirsty Coventry, was honoured with $50 000 cash and a diplomatic passport by Mugabe for her achievements in the Athens, Greece Olympic Games in which she won Zimbabwe’s only three medals. Muzhingi is likely to receive the same gesture of a diplomatic passport after Coltart revealed that he had been in talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs to present the athlete with a diplomatic passport referring this as a perfect appreciation for “any super star in Zimbabwe.”

The Zimbabwean athlete won the respect of many after winning the Comrades Marathon last weekend, his third year in a row following the 2009 and 2010 victories. It has been 23 years after such a record had been attained. The last man to win the race in succession was Bruce Fordyce. Fordyce who was well known as “the Comrades King” for his eight successive wins from 1981-1988 and later the 1990 race for his ninth title.

ESPNcricinfo

Daniel Brettig

June 3, 2011

Jason Gillespie has revealed the depths of his frustration at being placed in cricket purgatory after his dalliance with the ill-fated Indian Cricket League.

Two years after the ICL folded, Gillespie has been granted an official coaching position in Australia, as an assistant on the A tour of Zimbabwe in July. He will then stay on in the African nation for his second year with the Midwest Rhinos, who offered him the chance to coach at a time when few others seemed interested.

Gillespie will offer plenty of knowledge of the country, and of bowling, while also seeking to smooth his own coaching skills alongside the likes of the Centre of Excellence head coach Troy Cooley and the tour manager Brian McFadyen. He is happy and excited to be back in the Australian fold, but the bitterness of the ICL and its aftermath has not been forgotten.

“I’ve got no doubt about it, it certainly held me back,” Gillespie told ESPNcricinfo. “When I signed with the ICL I had the blessing of everyone and I was actually indecisive about whether I would come back to play first-class cricket for South Australia the next year.

“The opportunity came along to play the shortest form of the game, it was financially beneficial, there was a bit of a coaching element too and a number of the overseas players were to be involved in commentary. Once that all fell away, to be thought of as a rebel and in such a negative light, especially after playing first-class cricket for years and also for Australia, I just thought it was a bit … I was disappointed.”

Gillespie and others were caught up in political machinations beyond their immediate comprehension, made worse when the ICL crumbled and left scores of players, coaches and support staff out of pocket.

“It’s always been good intentions from Cricket Australia but I think it was also about not wanting to upset people. I must admit it got to me and I was upset, I was upset with the world for a while there,” Gillespie said. “In hindsight I didn’t realise how much we were going to be ostracised, basically for playing cricket, but then I resigned myself to the fact it was a much bigger issue than that.

“I’ve moved on, but it took me a while to move on. I was pretty upset and I vented my frustration a few times, but it was more the frustration at the competition I’d signed for collapsing than what happened in Australia. It was a bitter pill to swallow.”

Since then Gillespie has applied for bowling coach roles with South Australia and Australia, on both occasions being told that he would need to accumulate more experience as Joe Dawes (SA) and Craig McDermott (CA) won the posts.

“I’ve applied for a couple of jobs, I’m Australian and long-term would be looking to do something in Australia, but for the next few years I’ve realised that I need to go and get experience somewhere else,” Gillespie said. “Zimbabwe has been a great learning curve for me and I’ll forever be indebted to the Rhinos for giving me a chance.

“I’ve been told in interviews that I just need to go and get more experience, which is fine, I’ve absolutely no problem with that. I’ve coached in Zimbabwe and coached in the IPL, but other than the SA country side I’ve got no experience in Australian cricket as a coach and it’s nice to make a start.”

As for Zimbabwe, Gillespie saw evidence of the progress made in cricket, which falls within the remit of the MDC-aligned sport minister David Coltart, during his first summer with the Rhinos.

“There’s a couple of things that can still be improved, but but the thing you’ve got to remember is that Zimbabwe cricket has basically started a first-class competition from scratch in the past few years,” Gillespie said. “But there’s a real desire to improve and build that competition, and it was really exciting to be over there and be involved in that.

“In Zimbabwe there was a lot of excitement when they heard that Australia A were touring, and talking to Alan Butcher the Zimbabwe coach they’re seeing it as a wonderful opportunity for the team to play against an Australian unit.”

Gillespie said parts of the country had changed markedly from the strange world he glimpsed from inside the Australian team bus during a brief but bleak 2004 tour.

“It was a bit of a bubble we were in in 2004 and I have to say that living there day to day is very different to a cricket tour,” he said. “The main thing people would ask about is ‘did you feel safe’ and ‘is it a safe place’, and we can certainly say that it is safe. My wife has actually told a number of people that in Harare she felt just as safe as she would have in Adelaide.”

Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo

http://www.globalpost.com/

By Andrew Meldrum

June 3, 2011

Zimbabwe is one of the countries exhibiting at the glittering Venice Biennale art festival which has just opened in Italy.

“Zimbabwean art practice today is innovative, self-reflective and critical. It creates new positions on global perception and asks us to reconsider what is contemporary art,” according to the 54th Venice Biennale.

Zimbabwe’s exhibit has been sponsored by the British Council of Zimbabwe as well as artistic institutions in France and Monaco. It is the first time the sub-Saharan nation has exhibited in Venice since 1990, and a rare appearance for an African nation. It is a dramatic coup for the beleaguered country, where those exhibiting work critical of Robert Mugabe’s regime face extended prison terms.

“We are going to be part of the biennale like any other country,” said the National Gallery of Zimbabwe curator Raphael Chikukwa, who will curate the exhibition. “Previously the whole of Africa has been boxed together in a single pavilion. But why isn’t there a European pavilion? Individual European countries are represented. So we have the chance to finally showcase Zimbabwe as a sovereign nation.”

“Seeing Ourselves” is the name of the Zimbabwean pavilion which occupies part of the Church of Santa Maria Della Pieta in central Venice.

Tapfuma Gutsa, one of Zimbabwe’s best known sculptors, will be exhibiting politically charged works which are concerned with notions of power and the colonial subjugation of African people. Gutsa uses unorthodox new media of tar and feathers, basket weave and video installation work to articulate his revolutionary artistic discourse.

Video artist Berry Bickle’s work explores Zimbabwe’s emigration and landscape. Photographer Calvin Dondo is showing a series that explores the dynamics of mixed race families and socio-cultural tribulations of citizenship, migration and the metaphorical ties that bind people together. Painter Misheck Masamvu explores political violence in his painted series entitled “Disputed Seats”, which comment on post-colonial African elections.

The gala art exhibit in Venice contrasts with the repression of some artists in Zimbabwe. Artist Owen Maseko is facing 20 years in prison for exhibiting paintings critical of Zimbabwe’s president, Robert Mugabe, last year. Maseko’s paintings examined government-led massacres in the Matabeleland area during the 1980s. It was closed by the government after one day. Maseko was taken to prison in leg irons and held for four days, during which time he was interrogated in 12-hour stretches.

“There are many contradictions in today’s Zimbabwe and this is one of them,” said Zimbabwe’s Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart, in an interview with the British newspaper, The Independent. “There is certainly not clear freedom of expression in Zimbabwe but as I understand that the artists going to Venice are genuine independent artists. We have to use every means we can of interacting with the international community.”

Maseko said he had no objection to the other artists going to Venice but warned that self censorship was holding back Zimbabweans who were living in fear after his arrest.

“Right now the political situation in Zimbabwe is unstable and that would be used artists’ work. But self censorship is an issue. My arrest put a lot of fear into our artists, they are scared,” said Maseko. Maseko’s exhibition in Bulawayo is still closed and treated as a crime scene. If he should lose his court battle with authorities he said he faces up to 20 years in prison.

SW Radio Africa

2 June 2011

In Part 2 of Question Time, Education Minister Senator David Coltart talks about a variety of issues, including why he is moving teachers who are being targeted by war vets, the controversial system of teachers incentives and the long awaited civil service audit. Can his ministry also do anything about under-age girls being denied an education and married off to old men in apostolic sects in the country.

http://swradioafrica.streamuk.com/swradioafrica_archive/qt010611.wma

swradioafrica.streamuk.com

Herald

By  Augustine Hwata And Takudzwa Chitsiga

2  June 2011

THE Minister of Education Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart met Comrades Marathon winner Stephen Muzhingi in Harare yesterday and saluted him for flying the national flag high.

Muzhingi became the first man in 23 years to win the world’s oldest and toughest endurance race for three successive years.

“On behalf of the citizens of Zimbabwe and myself, I want to express my sincere congratulations and best wishes to Muzhingi for his victory,” said Coltart.

“You have helped us fly the Zimbabwean flag proudly across the world.

“Whist the responsibility of promoting and enhancing sport lies first and foremost with the ministry and its parastatal, the Sport and Recreation Commission, I am pleased that various organisations and the private sector continue to play a critical role in the development of sport in Zimbabwe.

“Sport has the capacity to transform the lives of individuals, which justifies the need for investment in sport.

“For our nation to reach excellence and full potential, all stakeholders, especially Government, have to address the multiple challenges facing sport, including poor financial, material, and human resource base.”

He said they would try to ensure that Muzhingi meets President Mugabe and prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

“I would also like to thank Muzhingi, our new hero who had incredible and committed feet to bring glory to the nation and his family and it is an honour to have him here. I will have communication with several ministries, including that of Foreign Affairs and Finance to have an award for the athlete,” Coltart said.

Muzhingi could not hide his joy and thanked all Zimbabweans who supported him during the event.

“I am grateful to the people of Zimbabwe as this was one of my toughest races but I managed to win.

“South African athletes gave me a good challenge this time but the Zimbabweans who were by my side gave me inspiration up to the finishing line.

“I also thank Bakers Inn who supported me through and through and sent my wife and kid to see me win on race day.

“I had gone for four months without seeing my family and it was Bakers Inn who handled my family’s travel arrangements.

“The sponsors have done a lot for me and they have organised a big party in my rural area of Chivhu where they will buy two beasts which will be slaughtered for celebrations.

“I also thank my coach who has stood by me through and through and I now look forward to taking the required two-week break before doing some light training for four months,” Muzhingi said.

His wife Erina was also a happy woman.

“It was one of those great moments and I looked forward to that as he had promised me that he will never settle for less,” Erina said.

Meanwhile, Muzhingi said he was ready to break the record for the 87km race held by Bruce Fordyce. “I had a small talk with Bruce after the race as he congratulated me.

“I hinted to him that my intention was not just to defend the title next year but to set a new record.

“Bruce and the newspapers in South are certain that I can be able to break the standing record,” said the ambitious Muzhingi.

He became the first man, since Fordyce, to win the Comrades Marathon for three successive years.

“It’s not just the ambition of winning the Comrades for so many times, but I also want to set the personal best times for both the up-run and the down run,” said Muzhingi.

“The last time I did the up-run was in 2009 and I ran 5:39 hours so I believe this time I have actually improved and could one day break the records,” he said yesterday.

Newsday

By Brian Nkiwane

2 June 2011

THREE-TIME Comrades Marathon champion Stephen Muzhingi will be feted like a King after President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai agreed at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday to honour the sporting icon.

Muzhingi’s exploits in the Comrades Marathon were discussed at length at a Cabinet meeting and Mugabe and Tsvangirai were of the same thinking that the Masvingo-born athlete should be honoured.

It is understood that Muzhingi is set to be given a diplomatic passport and cash at a State function to be graced by the two political leaders. The date for the function is yet to be set.

Sports Minister David Coltart told a media conference on Wednesdaythat Muzhingi would be honoured by the State.

“For the first time, both President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai agreed to one cause, that is organising a special reception for the Comrades Marathon three-time winner.

“President Mugabe said he was pleased to hear that Muzhingi had managed to defend the title he won twice in 2009 and 2010.

“The reception will present Muzhingi a chance to meet the two leaders, a dream set to become true for Muzhingi.

“It was then agreed in the cabinet that the Finance minister (Tendai Biti) was going to ascertain how much the government of Zimbabwe was going to present to Muzhingi in a reception that will be held in the city on dates to be announced,” Coltart said.

Indeed it will be a dream come true for Muzhingi as he was once quoted saying that he was dreaming of having a cup of tea with President Mugabe or Morgan Tsvangirai.

According to Coltart, he has been in talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs to present Muzhingi with a diplomatic passport “like any other super star in Zimbabwe”.

Paralympic champion Elliot Mujaji, Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry and recently, Big Brother Africa housemate Munya Chidzonga, have all been honoured by President Mugabe.

Muzhingi said he was humbled to be honoured by the State.

“At one time South African promoters tried to persuade me to change my citizenship, but I said no. In 2010 when I won it for the second time, the South African media asked me, ‘What did you get from the Zimbabwean government?’ I was quick to tell them I got a farm because they thought they could help in the bid to make me change my citizenship,” Muzhingi said.

Muzhingi was not honoured by the State in 2009 and 2010.

Muzhingi followed up his two down-run victories with an up-run victory in the 86th running of the Comrades from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on Sunday. With his win, he became the first man in 23 years to claim the title in three successive years.

The last man to achieve the feat was Bruce Fordyce, known as “the Comrades King”, who won the race eight times in a row, from 1981 to 1988, then sat out 1989 before returning in 1990 to add his ninth and last win.

Muzhingi crossed the finishing line in five hours, 32 minutes and 45 seconds to record a comfortable victory over South Africa’s Fanie Matshipa, who came fourth last year.