Chronicle

8 October 2010

By Nduduzo Tshuma

VICE-PRESIDENT John Nkomo yesterday visited the Mabhena home in Bulawayo to pass his condolences following the death of former Matabeleland North Governor Welshman Mabhena on Tuesday.

Mabhena (86) died at his Four Winds home on Tuesday morning at about 6am after a long struggle with diabetes and high blood pressure.
VP Nkomo was accompanied by the Deputy President of the Senate, Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu, Zanu-PF national secretary for education, Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, and Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairman Cde Isaac Dakamela.

The Zanu-PF Politburo on Wednesday met in Harare and unanimously declared Mabhena a national hero. However, the Mabhena family said it was not accepting the party’s gesture and would go ahead and bury the former Governor at the Lady Stanley Cemetery tomorrow.

After arriving at the Mabhena residence, VP Nkomo went into a two-hour meeting with the Mabhena family to discuss the politician’s burial arrangements. When he emerged from the meeting, VP Nkomo declined to divulge what they had discussed with the family, led by Mr Norman Mabhena and former National Railways of Zimbabwe general manager, Alvord Mabhena.

The Vice-President said he had to report back to the Zanu-PF Politburo and President Mugabe on what was discussed.

“We were here firstly to pass our condolences to the Mabhena family following the death of Welshman Mabhena,” said VP Nkomo.

“Secondly, since the Politburo granted Mabhena national hero status, it is the norm that some people are sent to go and convey the message to the family.
“We have spoken to the family but we cannot tell you now but we will let you know in due course. We have to first report back before going public.”

VP Nkomo called on Zimbabweans to defend the gains of independence that Mabhena and other nationalists sacrificed their lives for.

He said Mabhena was one of the pioneer nationalists having started participating in politics of resistance in the 1950s and for that he should be respected for his contributions. “It is for the remaining generation to safeguard the gains of independence that Mabhena sacrificed for. His sacrifices should not be in vain,” said VP Nkomo.
However, the Mabhena family spokesman Mr Norman Mabhena insisted that his brother would be buried at the Lady Stanley Cemetery tomorrow.
“Welshman will be buried at the Lady Stanley Cemetery as per his wishes. His works gave Welshman his hero status. It is in recognition of his works and fight for the liberation of the country from 1953,” said Mr Mabhena.

In a statement yesterday, Zanu-PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said he learnt with utter bewilderment about the death of Mabhena.
“Cde Mabhena’s liberation credentials need no marking as they constitute a textbook of a tested revolutionary, a visionary leader and a great man of purpose. The highest honour awarded to him by the Zanu-PF Politburo as a national hero was deserved and merited,” said Cde Moyo.

“No one can ever take that honour from him. His footprints will forever remain carved in stone for he was an epitome of steadfastness, a fountain of wisdom and a leader of enviable fair play, development wise.

“The ‘Lion of Nkayi’ has gone to sleep. Zimbabwe is indeed poorer by his silence. In wishing his family strength and staying power, may his soul anchor and rest in eternal peace.”

More people continued to visit the Mabhena home to pass their condolences to the family. Among them were Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart and Chief Mtshane Khumalo of Bubi.

Minister Coltart described Mabhena as a man of great integrity who was passionate about the people of Matabeleland.

“Welshman has been a good friend of mine for many years. We met in 1986 when he was my client. He was a man of great integrity and passionate about the people of Matabeleland,” said Minister Coltart. “His death is a loss to Matabeleland and Zimbabwe as a whole. If anyone deserves to be a hero, it is Mabhena, as you can see with his house that he was a modest man.

“He left a legacy of servant leadership, he did not acquire great wealth for himself but was dedicated to the people and country. He left a legacy of leadership that we need to aspire for.”

After the attainment of Independence in 1980, Cde Mabhena became the chairperson for the Nkayi Rural District Council.

The at-times controversial Cde Mabhena was in 1985 elected Member of Parliament for Nkayi constituency on a PF-Zapu ticket. At that time he was the secretary-general of the party and in 1987 after the united Zanu-PF was born, Mabhena became Matabeleland North provincial chairman.

In 1990, Mabhena, who was the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, was appointed Minister of State for Political Affairs.

During that time he was a Zanu-PF Politburo member holding the portfolio of Secretary for Transport and Welfare. He was later appointed Governor for Matabeleland North Province, a post he held until he retired in July 2000.

Although he lived under a cloud of speculation that he was joining MDC, Cde Mabhena came out in 2006 and said he was not a member of the party, which he described as lacking an ideology that the people can identify with.

Mabhena is survived by his wife, Rebecca, three children, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Mourners are gathered at Number 12 Amatja Road in Four Winds.

Zimbabwe Independent

8 October 2010

ZIFA is desperately seeking the intervention of Vice President John Nkomo to secure a work permit for national soccer team coach Tom Saintfiet who was ordered to leave the country on Tuesday by the immigration department.
Saintfiet was ordered out of the country after starting his coaching duties without a work permit, leaving the Warriors preparations for the crucial African Cup of Nations qualifier against Cape Verde on Sunday at the National Sports Stadium in disarray.
Zifa had left it too late to file Saintfiet’s work permit application papers with the immigration department.
Impeccable sources at Zifa House told IndependentSport that the football association had approached Nkomo seeking his intervention. The sources said Saintfeit would be expected back in the country before the Sunday match. It was not clear if he would be on the Warriors technical team bench.
“They (Zifa) have had to rope in Vice-President Nkomo to help them get the work permit early enough,” one of the sources said. “He (Nkomo) is the patron of Zifa and with the situation having gone out of hand, they have had to seek help from him to facilitate a special dispensation on the issuance of that permit. They are confident now that the coach will be in the country to commence work as the Warriors gaffer.”
The sources said the failure to secure the permit had also cost Zifa, as it was forced to hire a vehicle and driver to take Saintfeit to Botswana where he sought temporary sanctuary.
“He is staying in Botswana where Zifa is paying for his upkeep. They are paying the price of maladministration,” the source said. “The coach is waiting anxiously for the papers to be sorted out.”
Zifa board member for development Benedict Moyo, who of late has been speaking on behalf of the association, yesterday declined to comment on the latest development and referred questions to the association president Cuthbert Dube. Dube’s phone went unanswered.
Meanwhile, Sports minister David Coltart has castigated Zifa and the immigration department for throwing the Warriors’ preparations into chaos by failing to handle the Saintfeit’s saga professionally.
In an interview with IndependentSport on Wednesday, Coltart said Zifa and the immigration department had failed to put national interest.
“Our laws must be complied with, but it concerns me that there is no spirit of co-operation between the two organisations,” said Coltart.  “We would expect them to act in the national interest and do everything within their powers to make sure that the team has the best preparations for such an important game.”
He said it was a great embarrassment for a Warriors coach to be ordered to leave the country on the eve of a crucial match because he does not have a work permit.
“I implore all those involved, Zifa, the Sports and Recreation Commission and the immigration department to act quickly to resolve this situation,” Coltart said. “I will be highly irritated if this episode results in our team failing to win on Sunday.”

Chronicle

7 Oct 2010

Chronicle Reporter

THE printing of textbooks for secondary schools will face further delays because donors have not yet released funds, the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, said yesterday.
Speaking in a telephone interview, Minister Coltart said there were outstanding finances from donors, a situation that is delaying the start of the exercise.
Minister Coltart said printing of textbooks for secondary schools was initially supposed to start before the end of the year, with distribution set to begin early next year.
Nine countries, which he declined to name, had promised to bankroll the exercise.
He said two of the donors engaged by the ministry were yet to release funding towards printing of the textbooks, hence the delay in the start of the exercise.
“We have not yet started printing the secondary school textbooks because we are still waiting for some outstanding finances. The project has been delayed because the donors have not sent funds as agreed,” said Minister Coltart.
“The whole project requires funding in the range of US$20 million, but the donors have not yet released this money. But as soon as we get the money we will start printing using the same process we used for primary school textbooks.”
Minister Coltart said the programme would focus on core subjects at secondary school level namely English, Mathematics, Geography, History, Biology, Integrated Science, isiNdebele and Shona.
Early this year, the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, the United Nations Children Fund (Unicef) and other donors entered into a partnership to procure millions of textbooks and stationery kits for schools nationwide.
The programme is run under the Education Transition Fund (ETF) with the aim of improving the quality of education in the country.
It started as a response to serious shortages of teaching and learning materials as well as textbooks in schools where between 10 and 15 pupils share one textbook.
Its goal is to reduce the ratio to one book per pupil.
Meanwhile, Minister Coltart said the distribution process of the primary school textbooks was going on well with most books having been sent to various stations.
The Government launched a nationwide exercise to distribute textbooks to more than 5 500 primary schools last month.
Minister Coltart said he was waiting for a report from Unicef, who are conducting the distribution, to get an update of the exercise. He said priority was given to remote schools so as to complete the exercise before the start of the rainy season.
“Distribution is going on well. We focused on the most remote schools to try and beat the rains. I requested for a progress report from Unicef on Monday but I am yet to receive it.  All I can say is that we are going as fast as we can to cover all the 5 500 primary schools as we contracted several transporting companies for the exercise,” he said.

Zimonline

By Sebastian Nyamhangambiri

7 October 2010

Zimbabwean Education and Sports Minister David Coltart has written to the country’s immigration authorities to reverse deportation of new national soccer coach Tom Saintfiet for working without a permit saying the decision to expel the Belgian coach was not in the interests of the country.

“I have written to the co-Ministers of home affairs to ensure that this decision is reviewed. It was made with no national interests and it will definitely affect the performance of our team,” Coltart said on Wednesday.

Saintfiet was ordered to leave the southern African country by immigration authorities and only return after obtaining a work permit allowing him to work as coach of the Warriors national side.

The co-home affairs ministers could not be reached for comment last night.

The former Namibia coach was last month appointed by the Zimbabwe Football Association to lead the Warriors in their preparations for an African Nations Cup qualifier against Cape Verde next weekend.

But immigration officials on Tuesday ordered Saintfiet to abandon preparations for the key game and leave Zimbabwe on the next flight out of the country and to only return upon obtaining a work permit.

Former Zimbabwe captain Norman Mapeza is expected to lead the team while the status of Saintfiet is being addressed.

Mapeza, who once played for Turkish giants Galatasaray, coached the Zimbabwe team in its previous assignment against Liberia last month in Monrovia where it salvaged a one-all draw.

Newsday

4 October 2010

By Wellington Toni

Zimbabwe is no longer in the running to host the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals after missing out the deadline set by the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

The deadline was Thursday at midnight and on Saturday Caf announced that only three countries — South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Morocco — had bid to host the 2015 and 2017 editions.

“The Caf administration has registered the following three (3) applications from its Member Associations: RD Congo, Morocco and South Africa.”

The hosting rights for the 30th and 31st editions of the continent’s showpiece football event will be determined by the Caf executive committee at a meeting to be decided in 2011.

Gabon and Equatorial Guinea will jointly host the 2012 edition and Libya in 2013 as holding of the competition moves into odd years.

That was before a decision to change the calendar to odd years to avoid it running in the same year as the World Cup was made.

Two weeks ago, Zifa president Cuthbert Dube said they would bid for the 2015 edition, but that dream has now been shattered.

Dube was actually the chairman of the 2010 Afcon bid committee from 2005 to 2006. In fact, in his campaign manifesto, Dube said it was his dream to host Caf and Fifa competitions in a bid to “rebrand and profile the association and Zimbabwe in general”.

Zimbabwe controversially lost the 2000 hosting bid to Nigeria and Ghana when Africa’s football governing body, Caf, having already confirmed the southern African country as the hosts, said it was not convinced the stadiums would be ready in time.

Zimbabwe later bid for the 2004 finals and lost to Tunisia. Then Zifa chairman Wellington Nyatanga said last September that Zimbabwe had submitted its bid for 2014.

Earlier this month, Education, Sport and Culture minister David Coltart announced that the government should look at building two stadiums for the hosting of the 2017 tournament.

“As government we believe we should  facilitate the hosting of the 2017 Nations Cup event,” said Coltart.

The Standard

By Jennifer Dube

3 October 2010

EDUCATION, Sport, Arts  and Culture minister David Coltart says Zimbabweans must not mislead themselves into believing that the country has the highest
literacy levels in Africa.
Coltart’s surprise remarks come months after some government officials especially from Zanu PF, gave themselves a pat on the back following the
release of statistics showing Zimbabwe overtaking Tunisia as the country with the highest literacy rate on the continent at 92%.
But Coltart, a lawyer by profession, said the methodology used by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in coming up with the rankings was
flawed. He said the UNDP relied on figures showing attendance at school for the first four years of formal education as indicators of literacy rates but the
Grade VII results will be a more accurate indicator for Zimbabwe.
The recent study had shown that Zimbabwe’s literacy had increased from 85% to 92%.
“We need to analyse the basis on which such statements are made otherwise  we will relax thinking our literacy rates are very high yet they are not,”
Coltart said. “I am not convinced that the use of attendance is the best way of judging because most of our children have gone for long periods with no text books and no teachers.
“We must not think that all is well. Our literacy rates may not be as high as we think they are. We have several other indicators to consider.”
He gave an example of a recent survey among Grade V pupils in Manicaland which showed that there were “alarmingly low” rates of literacy.
Coltart said most of the pupils in the survey did not have Grade V literacy levels but had Grade I and II levels, a scenario he said most likely applied
to all provinces in this country.
“Our education system is in a crisis and we need to do a lot of work to restore the quality of education for our children’s sake,” he said.
The minister added that a number of interventions which he felt would help improve the quality of education in the country were being carried out.
Among these is the recent textbook scheme being spearheaded by the United Nations Children’s Fund in conjunction with government whereby text books
are being distributed to schools across the country.
The government has also re-engaged temporary teachers with the hope of addressing the student-teacher ratios which continued to dwindle as teachers
deserted their schools due to disgruntlement over poor remuneration and working conditions.
Coltart said the school inspections of the past were also set to return following a US$1,3 million fund allocated to the sector for the purchase of
vehicles to be used in the exercise.
About 70 vehicles will be bought for use by district education officers in monitoring schools. Among others, they will check if school heads are carrying out their administrative roles properly.They will also check if schools have the required numbers of teachers and the requisite levels of enrolment and text books.

Herald

By Robson Sharuko

2 October 2010

Harare — JUST when world cricket, reeling from the damage inflicted by allegations of match-fixing scandals, needed a breath of fresh air to show there was still integrity in the gentleman’s game, it found that beautiful ray of light from a very unlikely source.

The fallout from Pakistan’s tour to England, the wounds inflicted by the allegations of match-fixing and the counter claims by Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ijaz Butt that the hosts might also have influenced the outcome of the third ODI, had left world cricket looking for a feel-good story.

England coach Andy Flower said the reputation of cricket was now in tatters, Butt flew back to England and retracted his statement that they might have thrown away the third ODI and world cricket cried out loudly for a tale to charm its broken heart.

When it came, last week, it was from a very unlikely source.

Zimbabwe Cricket has had its fair share of trials and tribulations in the past few years it’s very likely that noone would certainly have placed any bets on it providing that refreshing tale, which would charm world cricket, at a time when the game was searching its soul.

But that’s what precisely happened as the shrewd leadership at the ZC, led by a managing director who is possibly evolving into the finest sporting administrator in this country today, surprised the world with a gesture that gave cricket the integrity it might have lost during the Pakistan/England attrition.

On face value it was probably just another decision, in the backwaters of the Intercontinental Cup, which didn’t matter that much.

But, given the trying times for the game, it was a magical decision that showed there were still men of honour in a game that has been plagued by a syndrome of greed.

When Ozias Bvute announced last week that ZC were offering Scotland the full 20 points for the Intercontinental Cup game that was supposed to have been played in this country, but was put on ice, after the Scots decided not to travel to Harare on the advice of the British Government.

Ireland toured Zimbabwe and, after their drawn match against Zimbabwe A, the Scots were set to be eliminated from the competition until Bvute provided a ray of hope for them by offering them all the 20 points on offer for the game that was never played.

“The Associate Members countries use this and other competitions to benchmark and track their progress, which progress is important to them,” said Bvute in his offer.

“To this end we feel that the Intercontinental Cup is a significant competition in Scotland’s development and therefore important that it gets the full benefits associated with playing in it.

“While Scotland’s decision not to tour has been attributed to political considerations, we as Zimbabwe Cricket are not qualified to comment on matters political of any country, nor would we want to base the future of the game of cricket on political directives.

“As such Zimbabwe has no dispute with either Cricket Scotland or the ICC. Instead, we seek only a solution that will ultimately allow for fair participation by all.

“Zimbabwe has no dispute with either Cricket Scotland or the ICC.

“Instead, we seek only a solution that will ultimately allow for fair participation by all, as such, ZC has decided to forfeit the match in favour of Scotland.”

With just one magical decision, the ZC leadership showed the world that, contrary to the dosages of propaganda that it had been fed by biased media outlets, they were certainly not the heartless characters who cared for noone and listened to anyone.

They showed that, in a world where some would even possibly throw away the integrity of the game for the sake of money, they still cared for the game and, rather than see an enemy in a Scotland team that had given them a raw deal, found an ally that needed help in its journey to turn into a competitive nation.

They showed that they were prepared to go the extra mile, just to embrace their cricket partners, and even losing a place in the Intercontinental Cup final was worth the sacrifice.

They understood that beyond the foolish decision by the British authorities to prevent Scotland from travelling to Zimbabwe, was a group of cricket loving men and women — working under the Cricket Scotland umbrella — who cared for the game, probably liked Zimbabwe Cricket and, given a chance, would probably have acted differently. Zimbabwe had little to gain from the Intercontinental Cup save for exposing a number of its emerging players to the challenges in the lower reaches of world cricket.

Scotland had everything to gain from the Intercontinental Cup because, given their level of development, this is their class and, in this competition, they can measure their progress.

ZC’s decision, to forfeit the points, was celebrated around the world as a triumph for the game of cricket that would help build bridges in a sport that is reeling from major challenges.

The Times of India described it as an offer of goodwill.

The Scotsman described it as a surprise decision.

“Scotland have been handed a surprise Intercontinental Cup reprieve, after Zimbabwe offered to forfeit the points from their controversial fixture,” wrote William Duck, in The Scotsman.

“The Scots faced elimination from the tournament after refusing to travel to Harare on UK government advice, which says that sporting tours by British teams send a positive signal when not enough progress has been made in Zimbabwe on political reform and re-establishing the rule of law.”

And, when the ICC confirmed that Scotland had been awarded the full 20 points from that match, thanks to Zimbabwe’s offer, there was joy in the corridors of Cricket Scotland.

“This is certainly an unexpected development and we have always said that the most important thing is for our players to get the chance to play for the Intercontinental Cup,” said Cricket Scotland chief executive Roddy Smith.

“It is a satisfactory outcome to what has been a very difficult situation for ourselves, Zimbabwe and the ICC.

“We would rather have had the opportunity to play against Zimbabwe and we do not celebrate the fact that they have forfeited the match.

“However, we have said all along that we wanted our players to get the opportunity to compete for the Intercontinental Cup and now they will get that chance. I am delighted for the guys.

“If you take Zimbabwe’s results out of the equation we would have been in the top two in any case. We have never had any issue with Zimbabwe Cricket and we would have no hesitation in travelling there once the UK government’s stance has changed.”

Dave Richardson, chairman of the ICC’s event technical committee, said he was hopeful this would not happen again.

“We did everything possible to facilitate an agreement between the two countries and would have been happy for the game to take place anywhere in the world,” he told the Scotsman.

“But the two sides could not agree and it is important for the integrity of the competition that these circumstances are not be allowed to happen again.”

The Minister of Education, Sport and Culture, David Coltart, said cricket had triumphed over politics following the Zimbabwe Cricket’s decision to forfeit the points to Scotland.

Coltart, who traces his family tree to Scotland, appears to be enjoying warm relations with the ZC leadership after a rocky start as the two sides continue to reach out to each other.

The minister has been on a personal crusade to try and persuade Australia, New Zealand and England to end their tour boycott of Zimbabwe and appears to be winning his battle with the Aussies and the Kiwis opening the way for such movement.

New Zealand A arrived in Harare yesterday for three four-day games spread across the whole of this month at Harare Sports Club.

The Kiwis are being captain by all-rounder James Franklin.

No wonder why Coltart appears a happy man.

“Delighted by Zimbabwe Cricket decision to allow Scotland Cricket to play in the Intercontinental Final instead of them,” he wrote on his Tweeter Page.

“Cricket 1, Politics 0.”

You couldn’t have said it better Honourable Minister. So Scotland will now take their place in the Intercontinental Cup final against Afghanistan in Dubai in November.

But it will be hard, even during that game, to forget the big part played by the brave boys of Zimbabwe Cricket to give the game a chance.

Zimbabwe Independent

By Tapera Kapuya

1 October 2010

TWO years after the signing of the global political agreement (GPA) and subsequent formation of the unity government, its successes and failures remain widely contested. Whereas much of the conversation often focuses on the economy as an objective reflector of the unity government’s scores, it is the political dynamics that are even more important.  This is largely because the primary motivations of the parties in getting into this unity government had everything to do with their strategic political goals.
The political protagonists entered into the GPA for essentially political reasons. The idea of consummating an effective government was largely a subsidiary to the political power contest. Therefore in reflecting on the GPA and its baby, the unity government, one has to keep in mind the attitudes of the political parties towards both agreement and its resultant government.
Zanu PF: reversing the tide
There are different and often diverging motivations why the three parties agreed to the GPA. For Zanu PF, the GPA was essentially a way of retaining power.  The GPA was seen as a way of containing the surge in domestic and international pressure. The March and June 2008 elections had shifted the balance of political power internally and within the region in favour of the MDC-T. For Zanu PF, a settlement with the MDCs would be a way for the party to contain the surge in democratic resistance to its rule.
Zanu PF’s credibility within Sadc had been dented and it was failing to sustain its standing within the wider African Union community. The support of these two groupings and their members had been crucial in dismissing internal pressure. Instead post- 2008 elections saw the MDC-T receiving unprecedented interest from African capitals, including South Africa.  Zanu PF’s dismissal of the MDCs as Western pawns would no longer find a keen ear.
Even more, Zanu PF’s mechanisms of controlling dissent and opposition were becoming limited.  Its use of violence had gone overboard and was achieving more negative results. It was eroding support even amongst some of its staunch supporters. Worse, given the extreme economic depression, the party’s patronage system was running out of goods to dispense to buy loyalty.
The party was on the verge of implosion. The momentum that had held it together through the power of incumbency had diminished. Its members with economic interests were cutting deals with the succeeding party.  Even the state bureaucracy, once noted for its commitment  to Zanu PF was subtly withholding its support, in many instances causing state paralysis.
It is fair to say without the unity government, and in particular after the tragedy of the June election, Zanu PF would have descended into the fringes in the same way Kaunda’s Unip had lost in Zambia.
Two years after the unity government, it is fair to say the Zanu PF strategy of containment has been fairly successful, especially with regards to reclaiming marginal support within the Sadc and the AU. Internally it seems to be managing to dominate the national agenda, its policies and much of its decisions carry the day.  The MDC-T, in particular, has generally failed to maintain its pre-GPA momentum. There is general consensus amongst any honest observer that President Robert Mugabe and his side of the unity government are in control of the government.
MDC-T and the unfinished change
For the MDC-T, this GPA was seen as a strategy for acquiring state power. It was part of a transition strategy where they were negotiating for power under the illusion, real or not, of Zanu PF’s military power. In effect, for the MDC the impression was that of finding a way out of a “silent coup”. This explains some of the compromises the party made.
Given the tragedies the party faced during and immediately after the 2008 elections, there has been an expectation that the MDC-T would use its leverage in the GPA to reinvigorate the party and the broader democracy movement to consolidate the momentum for change. But what is happening on the ground is telling: there has been no real attempt of mass movement building and the party activists remain victims of state and Zanu PF repression. Party cohesion is being tested with reports of divisions undermining confidence. Moreover the party seems uncertain whether to embrace its junior status in government or reorient itself as an alternative government.
The MDC-T has continued to suffer contempt from Zanu PF. It has failed to proffer convincing responses to Zanu PF’s refusal to fully implement the GPA. The MDC-T nominee for deputy agriculture minister is yet to be sworn in; the party’s ICT minister was stripped off all his powers; provincial governors are yet to be announced; and the Prime Minister (Morgan Tsvangirai) finds himself without defined power and more in a ceremonial position. In all these, the popular perception continues to be engraved that the MDC-T are squatters in a Zanu PF government.
The MDC-T against wider expectations seems to have reverted into a “responding” gear: Zanu PF sets the agenda, the MDC-T responds. The party, against wide expectations, is failing to drive a national policy agenda that can take the nation away from Zanu PF’s narrative. This is despite the MDC-T having lead control of parliamentary process: the party has a “moral” majority; the prime minister is leader of government business in parliament and the Speaker is the party’s chairperson. Much could be said of local government where the party dominates yet residents are yet to see a marked departure from Zanu PF’s tendencies.
However, it has to be acknowledged that the  country owes the stability that currently exists in the economy to the MDC-T. Despite claims by Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa and others about dollarisation being a Zanu government decision, this was essentially an MDC idea. If Zanu had its way, it would have printed even more Zim dollars until the ink ran out.
Besides the economy, we might also add the reforms in media and electoral systems. The MDC-T has managed to halt, if not reverse, the closure of media space and an election system run by a corrupt and embedded commission.
MDC-M: The illusions of legitimacy through competency
Despite the fact that the negotiations that finally led to the GPA had been going on since as early as 2003, the GPA would have been essentially a two- party agreement between Zanu and MDC-T. Given Zimbabwe’s polarised politics, the “kingmaker” status of MDC-M’s post 2008 election presence in parliament could in practical terms only have been used to benefit the MDC-T. However MDC-M increasingly became of strategic value to Zanu PF. The party leadership’s sharp differences and little regard for Tsvangirai in particular, became a tool for Zanu PF, which sees the party as a buffer zone for mitigating some of MDC-T’s demands.
For the MDC-M, especially after its March 2008 election legitimacy crisis, the GPA would provide an opportunity to re-legitimise itself through competence. The assumption was the party members in government would perform well enough to sustain the party’s reputational defects. But given that this government never really moved away from Zanu PF’s hold, the MDC-M strategy has failed to bear fruit for the party –– with the exception being David Coltart, the Education minister.
Like the MDC-T, the party has failed to use the relative safety of its leadership in government to mobilise support and rebuild its weak grassroots structures. As with the MDC-T, there has been no concrete national policy proposal from the party apart from random “off-head”, knee- jerk propositions.
The party’s support seems to be waning and the unity government appears to be the only thing that provides relevance to the party. However, it could also be appreciated that the party has been key to thawing polarised tensions between MDC-T and Zanu PF. It has been argued that the agreement, and unity government, in itself owes existence to the machinations of the MDC-M.
Contesting the transitional government
There are two variables of transition that dominate Zimbabwe’s politics. For the parties, especially Zanu PF and MDC-T, transition can be narrowly defined as a process leading to an aftermath where the other party is vanquished and out of power. This narrative sustains the petty intra-government contests: the scramble for credit for government gains and blame for government failures.
Yet for the majority of Zimbabweans, the conclusion of this government should bring an open and democratic order. They do not expect this to be delivered by the party that denied them freedom and inflicted on them so much suffering. To be precise, their hopes are with the MDC-T. The MDC-T presents the best chances Zimbabwe has of unseating Zanu PF and setting the country on the path to democracy.
But for the transition to take effect and be realised, the MDC-T has to go back to the basics and understand that the struggle is not yet over nor has it been won. The party has to creatively take advantage of its station in government to rebuild its structures, mobilise the masses and reconstruct a policy narrative that inspires hope in the millions of our people. It has to draw a fine line between being in government, albeit with little if any power, and remaining a popular front for the establishment of a free, open and democratic country.
Being in government provides the party’s leadership significant protection and immunity to travel across the country and into communities, in particular rural areas, previously deemed NO-GO zones by Zanu PF. Reaching out to grassroots is important in reassuring communities and in ensuring that confidence in the promise of democracy remains.
This challenge also includes reaching out to all the disaffected, including those who have formed or are finding expression in other parties. The main strategic interest of the MDC-T should be to lead and provide leadership to a broad democratic alliance. Relations with progressive mass-based civil society, in particular the ZCTU, NCA, Zinasu and the churches, should be restored and strengthened.
The party’s station in government should serve no other greater purpose than this. The guiding interest of our time is establishing a democratic order. This can become elusive if those in search of it remain divided whilst fighting a consolidating dictatorship.
Tapera Kapuya writes in his personal capacity.

Zimbabwe Independent

1 October 2010

ZIMBABWE’S hopes of hosting the 2015 African Cup of Nations finals face a major challenge after neighbours South Africa expressed interest in hosting the tournament the same year.
Zimbabwe football authorities have already made their intentions known to the Confederation of African Football (Caf), with government expressing full support for the idea.
It has not yet been established which other countries on the continent are competing with Zimbabwe for the right to host the biennial football showcase in 2015, but South Africa’s intervention alone will cast doubt over Zimbabwe’s prospects.
Having successfully hosted the 2010 Fifa World Cup, Zimbabwe’s southern African neighbour has everything in place to host the 16 team continental finals.
Zimbabwe, on the other hand, was looking to build two more stadiums in cities other than Harare and Bulawayo ahead of the third attempt at hosting the finals after failing in 2000 and 2004 respectively.
South African Football Association (Safa) President Kirsten Nematandani told The Sowetan newspaper: “Yes, we have put a request to the Confederation of African Football. We are still (enjoying) the success of the World Cup and we hope it will be good for us in our bid to host the African Nations Cup.
“There will be no question of infrastructure because it is here, accommodation is here. There will be no question of transport because it is here. World-class stadiums are here too. We have everything,” said Nematandani.
The next tournament in 2012 will be hosted jointly by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, followed by Libya in 2013 — when the tournament will be moved for the first time to odd years to avoid a clash with future Fifa World Cups.
Earlier this month, Education, Sport and Culture minister David Coltart announced that the government was looking at building two stadiums for the hosting of the 2015 tournament.
“As government we are in the process of facilitating for the hosting of the 2015 Nations Cup event,” said Coltart.
“We need to build two more stadiums. You think we cannot do that between now and then? It’s possible we can do that,” he further declared.
CAF requires that a hosting country should have at least four stadiums in four different cities.
Already Zimbabwe has the National Sports Stadium, Rufaro stadium (both in Harare) and Bulawayo’s Barbourfields stadium.
This would mean the other two stadiums will have to be built in cities other than these two with Mutare, Masvingo and Gweru being more likely to benefit.
The host country is given at least four years to prepare for the tournament and at this stage South Africa, miles ahead of Zimbabwe in terms of preparedness, will be clear favourites.

New Zimbabwe.com

By Lindie Whiz

29 September 2010

FINANCE Minister Tendai Biti has been forced to break his pledge to freeze government recruitment after Education Minister David Coltart and his Public Service counterpart Elphas Mukonoweshuro complained the move was crippling their departments.

Biti announced an indefinite civil service wage cap in April while also ordering a freeze on all new recruitments for “non-critical” vacant posts.

Several government departments were forced to shed non-permanent jobs, with the Education Ministry letting go of 20,000 temporary teachers — 4,000 of them in Matabeleland North Province alone.

Education Minister David Coltart said Wednesday he had “highlighted the difficulties that had been caused by the decision” which also prevented his department from hiring new graduates and returning teachers who had quit.

Coltart said: “We bilaterally approached the Minister of Finance  and highlighted the difficulties that had been caused by the decision to stop hiring temporary and other teachers.

“It was then resolved that they should be re-engaged with effect from September 17.”

Coltart said temporary teachers were a vital cog in the country’s education system, adding: “They fill vacancies when experienced staff go on leave. They also take up posts in remote areas that are normally shunned by trained teachers.

“Besides, the country is facing an acute shortage of qualified teachers.”

Biti, struggling to rein-in government expenditure to balance with low receipts for the weak economy, targeted the civil service wage bill which was US$913 million in 2009.

“Normal economics demand that only 30 percent of the budget be channelled to salaries as per the World Bank standards. We are outperforming World Bank countries that have a much higher level of domestic product,” Biti said in April.