Newsday

31 December 2010

By Owen Gagare and Nduduzo Tshuma
The year 2010 comes to an end today. It witnessed numerous developments both in the social and political arena. Below are some of the quotes that made headlines in the local media.

“That’s a laughable argument. In fact it’s a very weak argument, perforated argument, I’m sure conceived by very weak and barren minds. There is no reason why a particular individual, particularly in this case, why a whole institution would try to hide behind a finger, the finger of the so-called restrictive measures,” MDC-T spokesman, Nelson Chamisa, responding to Zanu PF’s declaration that the party would not make any concessions before sanctions are removed.

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“The mischievous and barbaric calls for the prosecution of the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe over the WikiLeaks reports represent desperate acts by those whom the people unequivocally rejected in March 2008,” said the PM’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka responding to calls by Zanu PF for Tsvangirai to be prosecuted over theWikileaks exposé. “Zimbabweans are not worried about what the US embassy in Harare cabled to Washington. They are only aware of their strong opinion which they cabled from the various polling stations in March 2008 entrusting their hope and faith in the person of Morgan Tsvangirai.”

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“We have seen criticism from the Reserve Bank governor this week again and we will only take note of (him) when the governor stops his megaphone criticism,” Indigenisation minister Saviour Kasukuwere commenting on RBZ governor Gideon Gono’s criticism of government’s decision to make it mandatory for foreign-owned companies to cede a 51% stake to blacks.

“When they are ready to talk we will listen. But in the meantime we will not listen to this kind of megaphone criticism. We remain determined to empower our people and we will not accept such criticism from individuals seeking relevance.”

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Methuseli Moyo, Zapu spokesperson, on Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai comments on the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project:
“I think it was obvious from what he said that he is both ignorant and contemptuous. He is generally ignorant about Matabeleland and specifically ignorant about the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project. Secondly, he is contemptuous of the person of a hero of the calibre of Dr Dabengwa and other Matabeleland leaders who initiated the project and pressurised the government to fund it. He doesn’t want to acknowledge the role played by our leaders through the Matabeleland Action Group.”

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“Anyone who believes they can deny the truth of our past is delusional. Covering up old wounds can only make them fester. We must face them so we don’t perpetuate the wrongs of the past” — Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, while officially opening a photo exhibition showcasing gory pictures of the 2008 victims of violence. The police had tried to confiscate the pictures.

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Zanu PF Central committee member Godfrey Malaba on harassment of journalists:

“As a party, we also do not condone the harassment of journalists. We are in an inclusive government, so I do not see why people would say Zanu PF is harassing journalists. The co-minister of Home Affairs Theresa Makone is not a deputy minister but an equal one so it is not Zanu PF that is harassing journalists, but the inclusive government. Every ministry that is headed by a Zanu PF person, the deputy is MDC so you cannot blame Zanu PF on things done by the inclusive government.”

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Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu on being President Mugabe’s “ever obedient son”:

“Joshua Nkomo brought liberation to this country, that is why he is called Father Zimbabwe; and President Mugabe also brought the liberation of this country. When you tell other people that you are their son they jump and say they have found a scoop.”

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“I would like to state unequivocally that the Prime Minister has spoken most definitely and conclusively on the issue of civil service remuneration. There is no government policy to freeze civil servants’ salaries at present. That is the position of the government which at the moment is cast in stone” — Public Service minister Eliphas Mukonoweshuro in support of PM Tsvangirai after Finance minister Tendai Biti had announced a civil service salary freeze, contradicting his boss, who insisted that there was no such policy.

“This government does not operate on the basis of super ministers who may frequently arrogate themselves responsibilities that are neither in their present province of competence nor designated mandate ,” he said, in clear reference to Biti.

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“The political crisis . . . no longer exists. The country is making progress and it is time investors started looking at Zimbabwe from a different perspective,” PM Tsvangirai tells reporters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on Africa.

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Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Ignatius Chombo’s alleged wealth:

“He has 15 cars. What does he want to do with all those cars? It is like a baboon that goes into a field and takes a maize cob and puts it under one armpit and then the other side. As it is walking it is attracted to another cob and breaks it again leading to many cobs collecting on the ground. That is primitive accumulation of wealth and it’s a shame.”

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“Zimbabwe shall recover by her wits and resources. Zimbabwe will not be saved by any country or organisation, least of all Western. Let our partners in the inclusive government get that so we do not waste our efforts on useless initiatives” — President Robert Mugabe addressing an ordinary session of the Zanu PF central committee in July, a week after a government delegation held a meeting with the European Union in Brussels, aimed at normalising relations between the country and the bloc.

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“They cannot be God to us today, when they were not good to us yesterday. They detained us, jailed us, shot at us, bombed us and slaughtered us in our hundreds. We bore the brunt of their cruelties and shall never forget” — President Mugabe, blasts Western diplomats during the burial of his sister Sabina at the National Heroes’ Acre in August.

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“(Prime Minister Morgan) Tsvangirai is just like a fly in a kombi or a bus. The fly can sit on the driver’s seat but that does not make it the one in charge of the bus” — War veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda, threatening villagers while on a terror campaign in Bikita West.

“He can be eliminated in the political set-up and life will go on. You can kill a fly by simply swatting it against a window.”

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“We have sought to re-engage the EU on the issue of the immediate removal of the evil sanctions that are hurting our people. We seek friendship and nor enmity, togetherness not apartness, good understanding not division” — President

Mugabe said during the Heroes’ Day celebrations.

“But no sooner had we started the re-engagement than we realised that the EU is far from being sincere, as the bloc keeps shifting goalposts. The US and EU are keen to have our people continue suffering under the evil sanctions.”

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“Our position is clear. First and foremost, we do not recognise Zanu PF as the sole determiner of who goes to the Heroes’ Acre. We reject lock, stock and barrel the decision to deny Sibanda hero status. We are saying the Zanu PF politburo is not worthy of deciding who should go to the Heroes’ Acre or not,” said Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara after the Zanu PF politburo had denied the MDC-M vice-presidency hero status.

“Robert Mugabe has no locus standi to determine who is a hero or not.”

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“Unfortunately, we thought there would be serious revenue from diamonds. We only realised $56 million from the sale of 1,2 million carats of diamonds in the first sale. Chiadzwa has proved not to be an Eldorado” — Finance minister Tendai Biti, officially launching the 2011 National Budget consultative process.

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“For as long as I am chairman (of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission), I will do everything in my power to ensure that we never do anything that distracts our impartiality” — Justice Simpson Victor Mutambanengwe, addressing editors in Kariba.

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“By 2014, Zimbabwe will sit on high internet and you will be connected even if you don’t want. By year end we will have connected to the rest of the world and all those nightmares of boiling tea and have it before you are connected will be a thing of the past,” — ICT minister Nelson Chamisa.

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“We are on national duty giving birth. We gave birth to all of you sitting here today. You are ministers and presidents because of us, but you are now denying us the right of giving birth to the children that are going to be the leaders of tomorrow.” — Bulawayo East MP, Thabitha Khumalo (MDC-T) – December 7, 2010.

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“Mr Speaker, the Public Order and Security Amendment Bill was no great step forward. Those of us who have been in the political opposition since 2000 are well aware that all of us have been victims of this particular legislation.” — Bulawayo South MP, Eddie Cross (MDC-T) — October 5, 2010.

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“The reality of our situation today is that we have a form of education, rather than an education that is of a qualitative substance. We have schools, physical buildings and teachers in the classrooms, but the reality is that our education system has declined dramatically in the last two decades.” — Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart – March 3, 2010.

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“Mr Speaker, I wonder why Zanu PF MPs go out of the House each time an MDC MP presents a motion in this august House. My question is do they tell their supporters out in the country that we are scared of the MDC’s constructive presentations that are now awakening the country?” — Bikita South MP, Varandeni Jani (MDC-T) – Hansard October 19, 2010.

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“Madam Speaker, I will label Jabulani Sibanda as a step-child because he was not born and bred by Zanu PF. He is an insult to the Ndebele people. The people of Zaka demand this terrorist who is terrorising them to be ejected as soon as possible.” — Zaka West MP, Festus Dumbu (MDC-T) – October 19, 2010

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“Honourable Mutseyami, the way you are dressed is not suitable for this august House. May you kindly go out and return in a proper dress code.” – Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Nomalanga Mzilikazi Khumalo (MDC-M) – Hansard November 16, 2010

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“We are turning the National Heroes’ Acre into a National Heroes’ Hectare, full of people who do not deserve to be national heroes.” — Zaka West MP, Festus Dumbu (MDC-T) – Hansard October 19, 2010

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“Furthermore, in terms of our superstars who are in the Diaspora that might have made mistakes – Mawere, Makamba, Ntuli Ncube and others have been de-specified, but Strive Masiyiwa has not been in the country for ten years. I have been out of the country where we were talking and discussing with people like Bill Gates and yet we cannot talk to our own superstars.” — Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara (MDC-M) – Hansard February 10th 2010.

————————–“Madam Speaker, the people of Zimbabwe have a right to know who killed and maimed their relatives, who stole their stock, who did everything? Zimbabweans demand that and we have a right to know.” — Kadoma Central MP, Editor Matamisa (MDC-T) – Hansard March 17, 2010.

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“My message is violence begets violence and if we train our youths to be violent, they will grow into violent adults.” — Mbire MP, Paul Mazikana (Zanu PF) – Hansard March 17th 2010.

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“We hear stories of people being arrested – it is normal. A person like Farai Maguwu can spend three weeks in jail and it is normal business as usual because there is that normalizing the unusual. So, we have a culture of being lackadaisical, indifferent, impunity, and we are trying to make a point in this statement that we cannot continue like that.” — Harare East MP, Tendai Biti (MDC-T) – Hansard December 9, 2010.

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“Madam President, there is an intruder in the House, you are breaking Zimbabwean law by allowing a stranger in the House, (referring to provincial governors unilaterally appointed by President Robert Mugabe” — Non- Constituency Senator Morgan Komichi (MDC-T) – Hansard September 9 2010.

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“Zanu PF members are a problem to me. The problem we have in this august House is that we are self-centred and not thinking about the grassroots. We are simply embarking on a pull him down syndrome, so that should there be any failures, we will apportion blame to an individual though that person would have done the work.”

— Senator for Hwata, Rorana Muchichwa (MDC-T) – December 10, 2010.

Newsday

By Moses Matenga

27 December 2010

Education minister David Coltart has acknowledged the increase in cases of teachers sexually harassing students in government schools and has written to the permanent secretary in his ministry to start investigating such cases and bring culprits to book.

In a letter dated December 14, Coltart said the continued harassment of pupils in government schools was worrying and “affecting the education of innocent children”.

The letter was in response to one written by an official from Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) alleging an increase in cases of rape and sexual harassment of students.

“You will note the letter reveals what seems to be a deep-seated problem of teachers sexually harassing their students. This unfortunately is now affecting the education of innocent children,” Coltart said.

“Could you, therefore, as a matter of urgency ask the provincial education director responsible for Murehwa to investigate this matter and report back to you and please let me have a report regarding the matter?” TIZ had written to Coltart alleging that teachers at Chimhau Secondary School were allegedly abusing pupils.

The letter was written by Annatolia Chimunye of TZI.
Last week, Titus Gwemende, head of programmeswith the organisation, said Chimhau case was a tip of the iceberg as his office had several cases of abuse of pupils.

“There are teachers at the school who are abusing pupils. Others have come up to report the cases but others are not because of fear,” he said.

“One of the victims is pregnant and was forced to leave the school,” Gwemende said.

“We decided to approach the ministry to take action. There are serious cases of abuse in schools, but those who are supposed to be taking action are doing nothing,” he said.

“In rural schools, it is difficult for pupils to have access to report such cases so we applaud minister Coltart’s stance to investigate the matter.”

Cases of headmasters and teachers harassing and sexually abusing pupils are reportedly on the high with a recent one of a Chikwezvero Primary School headmaster in the dock for allegedly sodomising and raping more than 13 pupils.

The headmaster is currently out on bail.

Standard

26 December 2010

By Nqaba Matshazi

Allegations of rampant child sexual abuse have hit Chimhau Government Secondary School in Murehwa, amid reports that one student has gone into hiding after being impregnated by a teacher.

Two pregnancies have been reported in recent months, with sexual abuse at the school being described as deep-rooted and widespread to the extent that it was affecting pupils’ progress.

According to a correspondence in our possession, the case has been taken up by the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture with the minister, David Coltart instructing the permanent secretary, Stephen Mahere to investigate the matter.

“Could you therefore, as a matter of urgency, ask the provincial education director responsible for Murehwa to investigate the matter and report back to you and please, let me have a report regarding the matter,” reads part of the letter from Coltart to Mahere.

The Education minister raised concern that the matter was affecting the pupils but nothing seemed to be done to address the issue.

Mahere also received a letter from Transparency International-Zimbabwe (TIZ), detailing the allegations and how the pupils had attempted to report the matter to both the police and school authorities, but on each occasion faced no joy.

TIZ programmes manager, Titus Gwemende said allegations of abuse were commonplace at the school with one of the teachers having been caught abusing a girl in his kitchen.

“One of the girls was being abused in a kitchen and members of the community had to come to her rescue,” he said. “This shows that even the community is aware of what is going on at the school.”

Gwemende said they had been provided names of two teachers who were abusing pupils but initial indications were that the scandal could be bigger than what they have.

He said in cases where the girls fell pregnant they were forced out of the education system so the crimes of the perpetrators would not come to light.
“One of the girls, a Lower Sixth pupil, has since gone into hiding and no one knows where she is,” Gwemende said. “The case was reported to the police but nothing was done.”

It is reported that teachers take advantage of pupils by calling them to their houses and asking them to do household chores and from there the abuse is initiated.

“As part of rape prevention strategies we have lobbied the Ministry of Education to ban the practice by teachers in rural areas of allocating their household chores to children,” Rita Mbatha, from Women’s Comfort Corner Trust, said. “Each year many children are sexually abused and most cases are never reported.”

Coltart said he was on leave and could not comment on the progress made in the investigations while Mahere was not reachable on his mobile.

Cricinfo

By Liam Brickhill

December 25, 2010

After the genuine progress made in 2009, it was tentatively expected that 2010 would be a watershed year for Zimbabwe cricket. In certain respects it has lived up to that billing, and wins over West Indies, India and Sri Lanka suggested that all the hard work was beginning to pay off. A series win over Ireland also calmed a few nerves, but a winless tour of South Africa and the 3-1 drubbing by Bangladesh that followed confirmed Zimbabwe’s continuing limbo status: too good for the Associates but strugglers against the big boys.

The year began on a positive note with the news that both Heath Streak and Grant Flower were chasing the job of coach of the national side. That position eventually went to Alan Butcher, Surrey’s coach until 2008, but Streak was retained as bowling coach and Flower signed on to work with the national team’s batsmen after his final season with Essex. The trickle of former players returning to domestic cricket continued, and with them came another wave of English county and former

international players – many of whom played in the successful second edition of the Stanbic Bank Twenty20 competition.

Brian Lara was the most notable signing, and although he played just three games for Southern Rocks, his participation lent a veneer of class to the week-long Twenty20 competition and helped spark increased local interest. News that he had signed a contract as batting consultant to the national team followed. However, it is widely thought Lara’s interest in Zimbabwe is merely as a stepping stone to the IPL, and the news that he had been paid an extravagant US$30,000 for his fleeting Twenty20 visit was greeted with incredulity.

While good PR may help win influential friends as Zimbabwe seek a steady position in cricket’s mainstream, it doesn’t win cricket matches and there is a strong feeling that the money being spent on Lara could have been used on grassroots cricket, and that it is a decision that needs consideration.

Central to those considerations will be Ozias Bvute, Zimbabwe Cricket’s managing director. Berated as a divisive influence during Zimbabwe’s decline, Bvute can now take plenty of credit for Zimbabwe’s improving image, as can sports minister David Coltart, a former human rights lawyer and one of the founding members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, who has placed a particular focus on cricket. A feeling persists that Peter Chingoka, Zimbabwe cricket’s long-serving and controversial chairman, remains the obstacle preventing the resumption of full international cricketing ties, particularly with England. Bvute has thus taken a prominent role in the running of cricket, with Chingoka now firmly in the background. An injection of youth helped overhaul Zimbabwe Cricket’s media department, and where acrimony had once existed, a healthy working relationship with the cricketing media has been fostered.

Perhaps the most valuable lesson learned this year is that, out of the direst straits of the last few years, it is possible for cricket in Zimbabwe to blossom once again – provided there is a collective will for it to do so. At times the players have shown real determination to improve their dismal reputation, and wins in the first two games of their West Indies tour suggested a corner had been turned after their capitulation for 44 all out to hand a one-day series win to Bangladesh in November 2009.

Brendan Taylor, with three fifties and two hundreds – including a career-best 145 not out against South Africa in a losing cause – has had a year to be proud of and topped Zimbabwe’s ODI run-scoring tables. However, his success was tempered somewhat by the failure of his opening partner Hamilton Masakadza. A stand-out performer in 2009, when he scored 1087 runs in ODIs, Masakadza’s form fell away alarmingly and he ended 2010 with the ignominy of falling to more ducks in ODIs in the year than anyone else apart from Kenya’s James Ngoche, and was struggling to hold his place in the side.

Masakadza and Taylor’s opening partnerships had been a major factor in Zimbabwe’s successes in their home tri-series against India and Sri Lanka, relieving the pressure on a brittle middle order. Zimbabwe’s spinners can also take a lot of the credit, and Prosper Utseya, Ray Price and Graeme Cremer will be a crucial part of the team’s World Cup plans.

A return to Test cricket remains the ultimate goal for the Zimbabweans, and it was with this objective in mind that they originally fielded a team for the first-class Intercontinental Cup, which ran from July 2009 to December 2010. After wins over Kenya, Canada and Netherlands and draws against Ireland and Afghanistan – the eventual winners – Zimbabwe XI were in the running for a spot in the competition final. There is still no escaping the influence of politics in Zimbabwean sport, however, and after Scotland’s decision not to tour the country Zimbabwe forfeited their final game and fell out of contention. An unofficial Test series against New Zealand A in October also tested the mettle of Zimbabwe’s second string in the absence of the touring senior players. Zimbabwe will need to play many more matches of this sort as they look to find their feet once more in the cauldron of Test cricket.

High point
In June, Zimbabwe enjoyed a fairytale run to their first final in a tri-series involving only Test-playing nations since the NatWest Series in 2000. The series signalled the return to Zimbabwe of top-level cricket – although India and Sri Lanka sent relatively inexperienced squads, which took some of the gloss off – and most importantly the hosts tasted victory and emerged from the tournament with a new sense of self-belief. They could not extend their run to the final, where they crashed to a nine-wicket defeat, but the successes set the positive tone for the year.

Low point
The fragility of Zimbabwe’s development was in evidence just a month before their home tri-series success as they imploded in spectacular fashion against New Zealand at the World Twenty20, losing their last nine wickets for 26 runs to be all out for 84. Their collapse was made all the more unforgiveable as they had toured the West Indies just weeks before and should have been familiar with the conditions at the Providence Stadium, where they had recently won an ODI against West Indies.

New kid on the block
Craig Ervine looked like just the sort of level-headed middle-order finisher Zimbabwe had been hoping for when he stroked an ice-cool unbeaten 67 on debut to seal the six-wicket win over India in May. Two single-figure scores followed that effort, but Ervine restored his reputation with innings of 145, 59 and 177 to set up Intercontinental Cup victories over Netherlands and Canada. A frustrating inability to turn good starts into substantial scores and an apparent weakness against spin appeared to have crept into his game as he registered five scores of between 14 and 24 against Ireland and South Africa, but Ervine cemented his position by topping the Zimbabwean batting table on a bowler-dominated trip to Bangladesh, with 134 runs at 44.66.

Fading star
Niggling injury and the pressure of captaincy had a disastrous effect on Elton Chigumbura‘s form during the year. Replacing Utseya as leader after Zimbabwe returned from a dismal showing at the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean, Chigumbura looked like the man for the job as Zimbabwe reached the finals of their home tri-series in June. That success masked his lack of potency with both bat and ball, and a mediocre season of county cricket with Northamptonshire didn’t seem to help. By the end of the year he was playing as a specialist batsman, and with an average of 19.78 with the bat and 140.00 with the ball as captain, were he not in charge he might be struggling to justify his place in the line-up.

What 2011 holds
Zimbabwe cricket appears to be in robust health, particularly in the domestic game, which has gone from strength to strength under the new franchise system. A return to Tests is imminent, although Zimbabwe could well struggle to beat the likes of Bangladesh, New Zealand and West Indies for some time. Like the country itself, on the surface there is plenty to be positive about but there have been ominous stirrings from Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party, with the old man suggesting that the unity government, under which a semblance of stability returned to the country, had run its course, and there’s a strong chance there could be fresh elections in 2011. Whether cricket can survive whatever political turmoil that brings could be the real test next year.

Liam Brickhill is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo

RadioVOP

23 December 2010

Gutu, December 22, 2010- President Robert Mugabe has attacked the Movement of Democratic Change slogan of change saying it was being used inappropriately.

Mugabe who was addressing party supporters at Chamisa Primary School in Gutu where he had visited his uncle, Chief Gutu, also known as Kasirai Masanganise said: “We took the MDC aboard in government and asked their policies, and they said ‘Chinja’ (Change). Unochinjei usingakwanisi kuchinja ganda rako. (What do you change if you cannot change the colour of your skin?) Mugabe said.

Mugabe added; “All the MDC wants is just a change. Ukavati nyika ndeyedu iZimbabwe.Vanongoti Chinja. (If you say to them this is our country, they just shout ‘Change’. Tikati tinoda kuti vanhu vedu vatore masimba, vanongoti Chinja. (If we say we want to transfer power to our people, they just shout ‘Change’.) Tikati tinoda kutora mabhizimusi, vanongoti, Chinja. (If we say we want to claim our wealth they just say ‘Change’) Tochinja chere nemukadzi here anenge achishanda nesimba? (Should we change even a hard working wife?). Zvose zvose Chinja nekungoda kuchinja?. (Everything is change,change for the sake of change). That is what is making them lose support,” he said to the applause of his supporters.

Meanwhile the hungry villagers dressed down Zanu (PF) youth and accused Mugabe of taking them for granted after waiting for his address for more than four hours.

Thousands of villagers were forced to come and listen to Mugabe’s address after his meeting with Chief Gutu.

Mugabe came aboard a Zimbabwe Republic Police chopper which landed at the soccer pitch of Chamisa Primary School. He addressed the villagers despite that Education minister David Coltart said he had banned schools to be used as political rally venues.

On his arrival Mugabe preceded to the chief’s homestead, where he feasted, leaving the crowd hungry at the primary school.

Mugabe only turned up to address the hungry crowd after four hours.

The bored villagers, who were commandeered to sit in the heat by the party’s overzealous youth militia, refused to chant Zanu (PF) slogans before Mugabe’s arrival. Some of the villagers were bussed as early as 6am.

Mugabe donated 60 tonnes of seed and 60 tonnes of fertilizer.

“We have been here as early as 7 am after we were told that everyone must go. We were actually rounded up. We have been sitting in the sun and waiting on empty stomachs. Mugabe has grown arrogant. The country is bigger than an individual,” said an elderly citizen.

The meeting was also attended by children. Other traditional leaders in the area where also left in the cold and were made to wait for hours.

When Mugabe finally pitched up to address the crowd, he told them he was on a private visit to his uncle, Chief Gutu who he installed as chief this year.

Swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda

21 December, 2010

The Zimbabwe Mail news site has reported that rowdy mobs belonging to rival factions of the MDC-M fought running battles all day in Mutare on Sunday, after Manicaland province rejected Welshman Ncube’s nomination as MDC-M leader. The report said police responded to violent clashes between Ncube’s supporters, and supporters of current President Arthur Mutambara, who is from Manicaland.

Mutambara announced over the weekend that he would not seek re-election as MDC-M president at the party’s congress due in January, 2011, in order to avoid divisions within the party. It is known that he had lost the endorsement of 11out of the party’s 12 provinces to Ncube.

MDC-M spokesperson Edwin Mushoriwa on Tuesday denied the allegations that rival factions had fought in Mutare. He described the Zimbabwe Mail report as ‘malicious’ and ‘meant to tarnish the image of the party’.

Mushoriwa said it is also not true that Manicaland province had rejected Ncube. “There is only Professor Ncube for president in all the provinces, including Manicaland, and there were no objections,” said Mushoriwa.

The MDC-M spokesperson also denied the report that Mutambara was being defiant and insisting that he will run for President in elections in 2011. He said the party was united and the reports are coming from ‘people who want to create divisions within the MDC’.

But there has been a huge outcry from MDC-M members over the fact that Senator David Coltart was not nominated for any top positions within the party. Some of them ‘attacked’ secretary-general Ncube on his Facebook page, describing Coltart as ‘hardworking’ and crediting him with improving the education sector, in his position as education minister.

Ncube reportedly responded by announcing that Coltart would be appointed into a ‘National Executive Council’.

On Monday SW Radio Africa had reported that the MDC-M provincial chairperson for Manicaland, Sondon Mugaradziko, had been arrested after heavily armed
police barged into a meeting he was about to chair in Mutare on Sunday.
MDC-M spokesperson Edwin Mushoriwa said that Mugaradziko was still in police custody Tuesday and was facing charges of ‘organising a political meeting without clearance’.

But Mushoriwa explained that according to the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), a political party does not need to inform the police when they hold a private meeting. He said their chairperson was taken by the police before the meeting had even started.

“It works in ZANU PF’s favour when we cannot meet to organize,” said the frustrated spokesperson.

Newsday

By Owen Gagare

20 December 2010

Power struggles between MDC-M leader Arthur Mutambara and secretary-general Welshman Ncube returned to haunt the party on Sunday during the Chitungwiza provincial council’s nomination of candidates for the party’s congress next month.

Although Mutambara announced on Friday he would not stand for the party presidency or any other post at the congress, a move he said was meant to unify the fragile party, his backers walked out of the meeting accusing the Ncube faction of bussing in some people who were not supposed to be part of the electoral college.

Despite the walkout, nominations went ahead with Ncube, who has also been endorsed by Harare and Bulawayo provinces, being nominated for the presidency.

Party insiders said Ncube was almost assured of the top post with his ally, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, almost certain to secure the powerful secretary-general’s position and former Zengeza MP Goodrich Chimbaira the national chairmanship.

Edwin Mushoriwa, the MDC-M spokesperson was nominated for the vice presidency, securing his second nomination after getting the nod from Harare province on Thursday.

Mushoriwa was however not nominated by Bulawayo province which instead nominated Frank Chamunorwa, with whom he is likely to battle for the second most powerful position at the congress.

Chitungwiza, like Bulawayo and Harare nominated Mushonga as secretary general, Chimbaira as national chairman, Moses Mzila Ndlovu as deputy secretary general and Paul Temba Nyathi as treasurer general.
Theresa Marimazhira –Muchovo, was nominated for the deputy treasurer’ general position, her second nomination after also securing the Harare nomination. Miriam Mushayi was nominated for the same post by Bulawayo.

The Chitungwiza nominations were preceded by heated debate between the rival factions prompting provincial secretary Charles Manyoza and organising secretary, Adam Pashama, among those who walked out of the meeting.

They protested against the participation of members of the Women’s Assembly who were put into office during the restructuring of the party earlier this year, arguing the process was illegal.

“Ncube restructured the party to put people who were loyal to him but we challenged the manner the restructuring exercise was done. The matter was then handed over to David Coltart, our secretary for legal affairs, so that he could determine whether the exercise was done legally. Coltart has not yet given us a report on the matter, so we felt that the new executive should have not participated,” said a member of the party who chose to remain anonymous.

“There is a very strong likelihood that Coltart may say the restructuring was unconstitutional hence our belief that they should not have participated. Some districts also had parallel structures and we felt the process should not go ahead with the situation like that.”
The party’s secretary for information in the province Wonder Chinamhora, confirmed the walkout and the nomination results.

“The meeting went very well, it was peaceful. Of course at first there were some people who were bitter about the women’s wing, but that matter was resolved because it was referred to David Coltart,” he said.

Asked about the provincial secretary general’s walk out, Chinamhora said Manyoza was disgruntled about the women’s assembly issue but said the meeting went ahead because it had been called to nominate leaders and not to discuss women’s issue.

SW Radio Africa

By Tichaona Sibanda

20 December 2010

Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has said he will not seek re-election as the MDC-M president during his party’s congress, slated for January next year. This leaves party secretary-general, Welshman Ncube, a clear favourite to take over the presidency.

Mutambara reportedly pulled out of the race at the weekend after Ncube’s candidacy was endorsed by 11 of the party’s 12 provinces.

Ncube’s endorsement effectively sealed Mutambara’s fate, whose rise from political obscurity in 2006, to lead the breakaway faction of the MDC, shocked many political observers. SW Radio Africa is reliably informed that at that time Mutambara was invited to take over the leadership of the MDC-M by former legislators Job Sikhala and Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga, despite strong objections from Ncube.

Mutambara told journalists he pulled out of the presidential race to avoid divisions within his party, though it was clear he failed to garner any support from the party’s provinces, including Manicaland where he hails from.

There were futile behind the scenes manoeuvres from some in the party to have Mutambara take up the vice-presidency, which has been vacant since the death of Gibson Sibanda in August. Party spokesman Edwin Mushoriwa confirmed that Mutambara is stepping down as president.

‘It’s true I can confirm he’s (Mutambara) stepping down. It’s a decision that he made and announced over the weekend. On the other hand I can confirm Welshman Ncube has received overwhelming support from the party’s provinces to take over,’ Mushoriwa said.

Asked what will happen to Mutambara when he ceases to be the party leader, in relation to his post as deputy Prime Minister in the unity government, Mushoriwa said it is clear in the GPA that a party leader automatically becomes a principal in the unity government.

‘I don’t know how the government will approach that matter but as far as what is contained in the GPA, say when Ncube takes over the party presidency, he is expected to assume the role of principal in the inclusive government,’ Mushoriwa said.

Ncube, believed to be the instigator behind the split in the MDC in 2005, is poised to take over the party leadership without any contest.

‘As far as I know, I don’t think anyone has yet to challenge him and it looks like we might approach the election without a challenger at all,’ Mushoriwa added.

Mushoriwa told us the nomination process is still in progress and the party will get a clear picture of those nominated to stand for election, in two weeks time.

Mushoriwa has been nominated to stand for the vice-presidency and will fight it out against JOMIC member, Frank Chamunorwa.

Ncube’s close confidante and fellow party negotiator, Misihairabwi-Mushonga, has been nominated to be the secretary-general, with Moses Mzila Ndlovu as her deputy.

Paul Themba Nyathi has been nominated to take the treasurer general’s position, with Theresa Marimazhira as his deputy.

Surprisingly, one of the star ministers in the coalition government, Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart, does not feature in any of the nominations, including Bulawayo province where he is Senator.

‘It’s not that he will not feature in the upper echelons of the party. Coltart is a very strategic member and because of his expertise he will be accommodated. There are many influential positions where individuals will be appointed and not elected, so Coltart remains very much in the picture,’ according to Mushoriwa.

The Zimbabwe Mail

www.thezimbabwemail.com

20 December 2010

In a bizarre defiance, the outgoing MDC-M President Professor Arthur Mutambara has insisted he may contest as Presidential candidate in 2011 general elections amid reports of bitter infighting and skulduggery that have cost leading member of the MDC-W, Education Minister David Coltart his position from the party.

For the MDC-W leadership 2011 Congress, Bulawayo Province which IS mainly made up of Ncube’s Kitchen Cabinet, nominated: President – Welshman Ncube, Deputy President – Frank Chamunorwa, Chairman – Goodrich Chimbaira, Secretary General – Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga, Deputy Secretary General- Moses Mzila Ndlovu, Treasurer General – Paul Themba Nyathi, Deputy Treasurer General – Miriam Mushayi and there was no mention of David Coltart.

Sources said Welshman Ncube intervened to get Senator David Coltart appointed into what he called the National Executive Council along with Nqgabutho Dube after a huge outcry from party members.

In the coalition government, Education Minister David Coltart is credited for his hardworking efforts in reviving the dilapidated country’s education which has suffered at the hands of Robert Mugabe’s regime.

On his Facebook profile, Welshman Ncube was attacked by his party members on why David Coltart was being sidelined, and for more than twelve hours he could not give a clear answer, only to come back 24 hours later to announce that he had foisted him into a National Executive Council.

One livid party member Bekithemba Mpofu said, “So one of the most hardworking Ministers gets overlooked? Wondering what criteria is being used? Coltart is being overlooked by his own province.

Leen Coleen Mokoena said, “Yes why have they left Coltart out? He is by far the most hard working Minister Zimbabwe has ever had. He is sincere and has Zimbabwe at his heart regardless of what they continue saying of him being a former Rhodesian.”

Sources said the party’s decision to sideline or shove Coltart away from frontline is influenced by his recent public spat with Robert Mugabe’s War Veterans.

Meanwhile in Manicaland, where Mutambara comes from, violence broke out after the province rejected the imposition of Welshman Ncube as leader. Sources said there are now parallel structures in the province. The province is likely to launch a Mutambara led faction in the party.

On his Facebook profile, Ncube said, “Our MDC provincial nominations in Manicaland were disrupted by police yesterday.”

The Zimbabwe Mail reporter at the scene said police were called in to disperse rowdy mobs belonging to Ncube and Mutambara factions who fought running battles against all day, with both factions claiming be the legitimate provincial executive.

Nominations for Manicaland will now be carried out in Bulawayo, sources said.

In a dramatic twist Mutambara is now saying he may turn out to be the next head of state even though he is stepping down as leader of the party.

Addressing a Diaspora conference in the resort town of Victoria Falls, Mutambara left delegates bemused when he insisted he was not going anywhere.

In a clear show of bitterness over the handling of his removal from leadership which was first reported by The Zimbabwe Mail, the Robotics Professor said, “I took a plunge and see where that took me; I became the president of MDC. After that I became the Deputy Prime Minister,” he said.

“Muchashama ndava Head of State because I am not going anywhere,’’ Mutambara said in defiance.

The Deputy Prime Minister however, said he was not going back on his pledge to quit the leadership of the MDC.

But, sources said Mutambara had no choice but to throw in the towel after he failed to gunner any support from the party’s provinces.

“I am stepping down as the leader of my party MDC. I am not running- it’s done.

“We are going for a congress in January and I have said that I am not contesting for any party post but I will still be a member of the party,’’ he said.

Mutambara had to step aside when he became a pariah within his own party after widespread accusations that he was taking the party into Robert Mugabe’s pockets.

Analysts said Mutambara is likely to lose more if he openly defies his party and so he has to abide by Welshman Ncube’s wishes and act in a normal way right through to the life span of the coalition government and so that he can drive off in his free Mercedes Benz and all the packages that goes with his position.

We could not verify other reports saying Mutambara is planning to join Zanu PF, but those close to him are urging him to stay in MDC-W and lead his faction to challenge Ncube’s leadership.

It has also since emerged that a majority of the party’s provincial structures have been wiped into backing Secretary General, Professor Welshman Ncube, to take over as leader of the party.

Ncube was not eligible to stand again for his current post, having served the mandatory two terms allowed under the party’s constitution, a situation which is not explained as to why Mutambara is not accorded protection by the party’s constitution.

In true Robert Mugabe’s fashion, Ncube has wiped into line Matabeleland North, Bulawayo, Matabeleland South, Harare, Midlands North and South and Mashonaland East provinces to replace Mutambara.

Mutambara was invited to lead MDC in February 2006 following the split of MDC in 2005.

He did not contest the presidential elections in 2008 preferring, instead, to throw his weight behind Mavambo Kusile leader Dr Simba Makoni.

Standard

By Nqaba Matshazi

19 December 2010

THE red carpet has all but been rolled out for Welshman Ncube, who is now set to assume the presidency of the smaller faction of the MDC without a contest.

Incumbent leader, Arthur Mutambara pulled out of the race after the Harare province endorsed Ncube’s candidacy amid revelations that 11 out of the 12 provinces were in favour of the secretary general’s ascendancy.

Mutambara says he pulled out of the presidential race to avoid divisions within his party, but there are revelations that the robotics professor saw that the writing was on the wall at a national council meeting nearly a fortnight ago.

The MDC-M leader is reported to even have failed to get an endorsement from Manicaland, his home province, a development that irked Mutambara.
Before Mutambara threw in the towel, calls had been made to have him to take up the vice-presidency, which has been vacant since the death of Gibson Sibanda in August.

“For the sake of unity and continuity, Mutambara had been tipped to become the vice-president,” the source continued.

It was not immediately clear why he turned down the offer, instead electing to be “an ordinary member” of the party.

MDC-M has since banned all its members from making pronouncements on its congress, which will be held next February.

The party’s Harare provincial executive council met on Friday and nominated leaders for positions, with Ncube being nominated for the presidency.

Party spokesperson Edwin Mushoriwa was nominated for the vice- presidency while Goodrich Chimbaira was nominated to be the chairman.

Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga was nominated to be the secretary general with Moses Mzila being her deputy.

Paul Themba Nyathi was nominated to take the treasurer general’s position with Theresa Marimazhira being his deputy.

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart, who is the faction’s secretary for legal affairs, does not feature on the nomination list.