Chenai Moyo, (18) is confident she would have passed the examinations at her school in Harare, but for two years in a row there was no money; now she has to fend for the family and depends on an older man for support.

ABC

24 June 2010

It took extraordinary circumstances – and a rare diplomat – to arrange John Howard’s surprising visit to strife-torn Zimbabwe.

By travelling there, Howard might just have demonstrated a grasp of cricketing realpolitik that will set him on the path towards a fruitful term as International Cricket Council president.

Given his lengthy and unwavering history of opposition to the Robert Mugabe regime, Howard cannot have been expected to venture readily to Harare.

But in order to serve effectively as the head of the game’s global administration arm, Howard will need to make plenty of trips like this.

His hastily arranged visit to speak with Mugabe backers Peter Chingoka (Zimbabwe cricket president) and Ozias Bvute (chief executive) will go a long way towards fostering a workable relationship between Howard and the African nation.

Howard and Cricket Australia chairman Jack Clarke flew to Zimbabwe at the suggestion of Zimbabwe’s sport minister David Coltart, a senior figure in the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) the longtime opponents of Mugabe’s ZANU-PF and now partners in a precarious joint government.

Coltart visited New Zealand and Australia last week to meet with officials in cricket and government, and was fluent in explaining the need for engagement with Zimbabwe, particularly in areas to have shown improvement since the MDC were given a foothold.

“The problem is there is still a lot of general scepticism regarding this provisional arrangement,” he said.

“There still is concern about the slow pace of reform, ongoing human rights violations and related to that the concern that if for example there is re-engagement at this stage, that that may buttress ZANU-PF.

“Against that I’ve had to argue that we have to see this process in much the same way as happened in South Africa in the early 1990s. It’s a time of transition, and no-one can guarantee that it’s going to end happily.

“The entire provisional government is highly problematic, I sit on cabinet with Robert Mugabe, who I have been at loggerheads with for 30 years.

“But what takes us through is this belief that we can’t dwell in the past and that in the interests of saving lives and saving the country, we simply have to make this work.

“That involves sometimes taking a deep breath and working for the future.”

Howard was also moved, of course, by the pressing need for him to shore up support ahead of the imminent ICC conference in Singapore, where he should be ratified as the next vice president and ultimately president.

Clarke and Howard were due to return to Australia later on Thursday, before Clarke and CA chief executive James Sutherland fly to Singapore for the conference on Saturday.

Herald

24 June 2010

By Felex Share

Government will assist all eligible needy candidates who failed to register for the November 2010 public examinations, a Cabinet minister has said.

In addition, the State has released US$1,8 million for candidates under the Basic Education Assistance Module.

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart yesterday said apart from the Beam facility, the Government would pay exam fees for six Ordinary Level subjects and four Advanced Level subjects — including the General Paper — for poor students.

He said those who had registered less than six O-Level subjects would also be assisted.

Minister Coltart said secondary school heads will convene in Masvingo today to discuss the modalities and must thereafter submit lists of unregistered students to provincial education directors before July 2.

“The ministry is aware that there are children who have failed to register for the examinations due to poverty and adverse economic factors.

“Sensitive to the plight of such children, Government has decided that all school headmasters with candidates who have failed to register as a result of failure to raise examination fees, should, with immediate effect, compile lists of such candidates and submit them to the ministry.

“Provincial education directors should in turn submit consolidated lists to the permanent secretary before the stipulated deadline,” he said.

Minister Coltart said there was still sufficient time to accommodate the affected candidates.

“After all, these exams will be written in November so there is enough time to ensure every eligible child sits for the examinations.

“It will be a travesty of justice if a child who has worked so hard for all these years is denied the chance at the last hurdle because of money.

“Government is absolutely committed and has decided to take extra measures to ensure that these future leaders are not left out,” he said.

The minister urged school heads to fast-track compilation of the lists to allow Government to make budgetary arrangements.

Commenting on the Beam facility, Labour and Social Services Minister Paurina Mpariwa said out of the US$15 million reserved for the programme, US$1,8 million would be used for examination fees.

“The money for the facility has been made available and it is only left to the Finance Ministry to distribute it to the relevant beneficiaries.

“The money will only benefit those students chosen by the selection committee using the necessary requirements,” she said.

Only 23 percent of the total prospective candidates will benefit from the facility.

Last year, thousands of students failed to register for the examinations owing to “exorbitant fees”.

The same situation was likely to be experienced this year.

Exam fees are US$10 and US$20 per O’ and A-Level subject respectively respectively.

The Age

By Chloe Saltou

June 24, 2010

JOHN Howard last night came face to face with the two Zimbabwean cricket officials who have sought to undermine his bid for International Cricket Council office, in an effort to save his beleaguered nomination.

Howard put his diplomatic powers to the ultimate test at a landmark meeting with ZC’s president, Peter Chingoka, and chief executive, Ozias Bvute, who have close links to the despotic Robert Mugabe regime of which the Australian was a strident critic during his prime ministership.

He was accompanied in Harare by Cricket Australia chairman Jack Clarke, representing the Australian and New Zealand boards, whose joint nomination of Howard for ICC vice-president, and future president, was meant to be rubber-stamped at the council’s annual conference next week but instead has re-opened bitter divisions in the cricket world.

The meeting was brokered by Zimbabwe’s reformist sports minister, David Coltart, who has paved the way for Australia and New Zealand to resume cricket ties with Zimbabwe within a year and urged the stricken nation’s cricket administrators to support the Howard nomination.

”There are elements who are antagonistic towards John Howard, but ultimately the discussion by the board must ask, ‘Are we in the business of making friends and building strong relations, or are we in the business of alienating ourselves’?” Coltart said in Sydney last week. ”I hope that sense will prevail.”

Howard needs seven of the 10 available votes to become vice-president, with India the critical vote.

The Australian

By Malcolm Conn

24 June 2010

JOHN Howard was attempting to salvage his nomination for the International Cricket Council presidency.

Howard will attempt to prevent the game’s administration from sliding into chaos by meeting hostile Zimbabwe Cricket officials in Harare last night.

Howard and Cricket Australia chairman Jack Clarke secretly flew to Zimbabwe to meet the country’s cricket powerbrokers in the hope of circumventing an insidious backroom campaign which threatens the former prime minister’s ICC nomination.

Should ZC, and its public proxy South Africa gain enough support to oppose Howard the ICC will become deadlocked and the game paralysed just eight months away from its showpiece — the World Cup.

There is “nervousness” among officials in some countries that Howard will not get the necessary votes at the ICC’s annual meeting in Singapore next week.

ZC is opposing Howard for his trenchant criticism of president Robert Mugabe’s brutal regime during 11 years as prime minister, which included refusing the national team permission to tour the country in 2007.

One of the reasons for the trip is to assure ZC officials that, unlike Zimbabwe, there is no direct link between Australia’s government and its leading cricket body.

“Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket, with Mr Howard as their nomination, want to meet with Zimbabwean officials to discuss a range of cricketing issues obviously facing Zimbabwe cricket at the moment and also those which are particular to the upcoming ICC meeting,” a CA spokesman said yesterday.

After initial disagreement, Australia and New Zealand nominated Howard as their candidate for a two-year term as vice-president. He would then become president for a further two years.

On a five-regional rotation system used by the ICC, Howard’s nomination should have been a formality at next week’s ICC annual meeting in Singapore, but Zimbabwe began agitating behind the scenes to oppose the move and was supported by South Africa.

Crucially, all-powerful India is yet to approve the nomination despite incoming ICC president Sharad Pawar, an Indian government minister, offering his support to Howard.

Pawar is not a member of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and is in danger of becoming a victim of Indian cricket politics.

He is seen to have close links with disgraced former Indian Premier League supremo Lalit Modi, who is being vigorously pursued by the BCCI and sections of the Indian government after bringing down a government minister in a questionable IPL franchise deal. Howard needs seven of the 10 so-called Test playing nations to support him at next week’s ICC annual meeting.

If India opposes him the other Asian countries, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, are likely to vote as a bloc with Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The ZC administration has such close links to Mugabe’s regime that ZC president Peter Chingoka is banned from Australia, the UK and the EU.

The annual meeting, which needs to ratify Howard’s position, is being held in Singapore instead of the traditional location of Lord’s so Chingoka can attend.

If ZC opposes Howard, CA and New Zealand Cricket will look less favourably on last week’s plea by Zimbabwe sports minister David Coltart to resume cricketing ties.

Coltart suggested Howard fly to Zimbabwe for a face-to-face meeting with his detractors while in Melbourne late last week.

“I have spoken to Zimbabwe Cricket about this. They say they have not reached a decision,” said Coltart, who has influence as sports minister but no direct links with ZC.

The Herald Sun

By Ben Dorries

24 June 2010

AUSTRALIA last night denied it had brokered a deal to support Zimbabwe’s comeback to Test cricket as a sweetener for the troubled nation not blocking former prime minister John Howard’s rise to cricket’s top job.

Howard and Cricket Australia chairman Jack Clarke were bunkered down with Zimbabwean cricket officials in Harare yesterday, preparing for a key International Cricket Council meeting in Singapore next week, at which delegates will vote on Howard’s nomination for the ICC presidency.

The position is rotated among five cricketing regions every two years and usually is rubber-stamped, but Howard’s nomination has been dogged by controversy.

Zimbabwe, apparently angry at his stand against the Robert Mugabe regime during Howard’s 11-year prime ministership, had threatened to block the nomination. Sri Lanka and South Africa also made it known they did not want Howard in the job.

However, last week’s visit to Australia by Zimbabwe Sports Minister Senator David Coltart, who met Cricket Australia officials in Melbourne, might have smoothed the way.

Zimbabwe is lobbying to return to Test cricket by May after voluntarily dropping out four years ago, but CA officials insist that it is not linked to the Howard issue.

“There has been a lot of speculation around but these are issues that need to be considered separately,” a CA spokesman said last night.

“We have talked with Senator Coltart about a lot of things and it makes sense we engage other countries. ”

While a tit-for-tat deal over the Howard issue might not have been struck formally, Zimbabwe has asked Australia to send an A-team or youth team to play four-day matches next year.

“One cannot exactly ask for Australia’s help if we are going to frustrate their clear intent,” Coltart said.

Howard needs seven of the 10 Test-playing nations to support him. India has not yet committed.

The Herald

By Eddie Chikamhi

24 June 2010

Harare — THE Zimbabwe Cricket board is expected to meet this week to come up with a stance on former Australian primier John Howard’s nomination for the International Cricket Council vice-presidency.

Howard who was in the country yesterday, accompanied by the Cricket Australia chairman Jack Clarke met Zimbabwe Cricket management and discussed wide-ranging issues meant to improve cricket relations between the two nations ahead of the ICC meeting this weekend.

ZC was represented in the meeting by chairman Peter Chingoka, managing director Ozias Bvute and the board’s legal and constitutional board committee member Wilson Manase.

Howard was in the country to formalise relations ahead of the ICC meeting this weekend at which his nomination for the ICC post will be finalised.

“Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket, together with Howard as their nominee, took up the opportunity to meet personally with the ZC officials before the annual conference to formalise relationships and discuss the current challenges and progress of international cricket and those particular to the ZC Board,” said a statement from the Cricket Australia board.

Zimbabwe holds a crucial vote in Howard’s candidature to take on a two-year term as vice-president, becoming president of the game’s world governing body in 2012 can only be approved by at least seven of the ICC’s 10 Test-playing nations.

Howard was nominated by the New Zealand and Australian boards as their candidate on their turn under the ICC rotational policy.

Bvute said ZC are yet to meet to discuss the issue, contrary to reports that Zimbabwe had already taken a decision to vote against Howard.

“A section of the international media has erroneously created the impression that we have been at the forefront of a motion to block Howard’s nomination.

“This is not only maliciously correct but also ignores the fact that our structures dictate that such a decision can only be taken by the Zimbabwe Cricket board which is still to convene and state the position on this matter,” he said.

Bvute however acknowledged the frosty relations that existed between Zimbabwe and Australia in the recent past and said that would not in any way affect their decision on the matter.

“We are not vindictive people regardless of how badly we have been portrayed and treated in the past. Our concern has and will always be the welfare of the game.

“Our final decision concerning the ICC vice-presidency will be guided by what is in the best interest of cricket in this country,” said Bvute.

The ICC is expected to meet next week at a gathering at which Howard’s ascension to the ICC vice-presidency will be finalised.

However, Howard’s attacks on Zimbabwe during his prime ministerial days and his criticism of Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan’s controversial bowling action have led to some nations including South Africa questioning his appointment. A lack of support from the influential Indian board could lead to at least six nations voting against Howard, including Sri Lanka.

Howard’s problems in winning the ICC vote come after discontent in New Zealand earlier this year when Howard was eventually chosen ahead of the Kiwi candidate Sir John Anderson, a former NZ Cricket chairman.

Howard’s visit follows a similar trip to New Zealand and Australia by Education, Sports, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart last week at which both nations indicated their willingness to re-engage Zimbabwe in international commitments. Bvute also said other issues discussed at yesterday’s meeting included the ICC and the future of cricket in Zimbabwe.

He described the meeting as ‘frank, friendly and constructive.’

“I am confident that each party left this meeting with a better understanding of the other,” said Bvute. Australia are set to host a Zimbabwean team for the first time since 2003, following a meeting between Cricket Australia and Coltart.

In keeping with Zimbabwe’s plans for gradual re-engagement with the cricket community, any series will be played between “A” teams from the two countries.

Howard said his wish was to see the standards of the game improving in Zimbabwe.

“My personal wish is to see Zimbabwe fully re-integrated into the world cricket family and see the sport continue to grow in all parts of the world, including Zimbabwe,” he said.

Herald

23 June 2010

By Tendai Mugabe and Farirai Machivenyika

Former Australian prime minister John Howard is in Zimbabwe to solicit support for his bid to become the next International Cricket Council president.

According to Immigration Department sources, Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart picked up Mr Howard at the Harare Interna-tional Airport yesterday afternoon.

The Herald is reliably informed that Minister Coltart accompanied Mr Howard to dinner at Australian Ambassador Mr John Courtney’s official residence in Harare.

Minister Coltart was yesterday curt when asked about Mr Howard’s visit.

“Why can’t you talk to Zimbabwe Cricket? He is meeting them tomorrow,” he said before switching off his mobile phone.

Ironically, Mr Howard in 2007 cancelled the Australian cricket team’s tour of Zimbabwe saying it would legitimise President Mugabe’s rule.

President Mugabe is the patron of Zimbabwe Cricket.

Mr Howard claimed President Mugabe would use the tour for propaganda purposes and opted to pay US$2 million to the ICC as a penalty for the cancellation.

Before that, Mr Howard’s government had imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe in an attempt to influence the outcome of the 2002 Presidential elections won by President Mugabe.

In 2007 his administration deported children of senior Government officials who were studying in Australia.

Mr Howard was also instrumental in Zimbabwe’s initial suspension from Commonwealth Councils in 2002.

Zimbabwe subsequently pulled out of the club of former British colonies in December 2003.

In May 2007, Australian Foreign Minister Mr Alexander Downer — under Mr Howard’s tenure — said they would extend A$18 million to fund the opposition in Zimbabwe ahead of the 2008 harmonised elections in contravention of the Political Parties (Finance) Act.

New Zimbabwe.com

by Nkanyiso Moyo

23 June 2010

FORMER Australian Prime Minister John Howard and the chairman of Cricket Australia, Jack Clarke, arrived in Harare on Wednesday for meetings with Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) officials.

The visit by Howard and Clarke follows a recent charm offensive to New Zealand and Australia by Sports Minister David Coltart to end the isolation of Zimbabwe cricket.

ZC chairman Peter Chingoka, managing director, Ozias Bvute and legal and constitutional board committee member Wilson Manase met with the two men.

Zimbabwe Cricket said the meeting discussed a number of issues including the International Cricket Council (ICC), the future of cricket in Zimbabwe and Howard’s candidature for the post of Vice President of the ICC.

Both Howard and Bvute later described the meeting as friendly, constructive and frank.

Bvute said: “I am confident that each party leaves this meeting with a better understanding of the other.”

Asked what his hopes were for the future of cricket in Zimbabwe, Howard said: “My personal wish is to see Zimbabwe fully re-integrated into the world cricket family and see the sport continue to grow in all parts of the world, including Zimbabwe.”

Following the meeting, Howard and Clarke were taken on a tour of the Harare Sports Club at their request.

“I have heard great things about how fantastic this ground is and I would not have wanted to leave before I got the chance to see it for myself,” said Howard.

It was supposed to be a formality that the former Australian Prime Minister would be approved by at least seven of the ICC’s 10 Test-playing nations to take on a two-year term as vice-president, becoming president of the game’s world governing body in 2012.

The ICC had asked Australia and New Zealand to put forward a joint nomination in February, as it was the turn of those two cricket boards under the ICC’s rotational policy.

However Howard’s attacks on Zimbabwe during his Prime Ministerial days and his criticism of Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralidaran’s controversial bowling action have led to some nations including Zimbabwe’s neighbouring country South Africa questioning Howard’s appointment.

A lack of support from the influential Indian board could lead to at least six nations voting against Howard, including Sri Lanka at next week’s ICC annual conference.

Howard’s problems in winning the ICC vote come after discontent in New Zealand earlier this year when Howard was eventually chosen ahead of the Kiwi candidate Sir John Anderson, a former NZ Cricket chairman.
The ICC meeting, usually held in London, has been shifted to Singapore.

Zimbabwe Cricket president Peter Chingoka is banned from travelling to Australia, the United Kingdom and the European Union over his links with the Zimbabwe government.

Next year Australia is set to host a Zimbabwean team for the first time since 2003, following a meeting between Cricket Australia and Coltart.

In keeping with Zimbabwe’s plans for gradual re-engagement with the cricket community, any series will be played between “A” teams from the two countries.

However, this still represents a major step for the African nation after years of sanctions and international condemnation.

IRIN

23 June 2010

HARARE – Chenai Moyo, 18, is confident she would have passed the examinations at her school in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, but for two years in a row there was no money; now she has to fend for the family and depends on an older man for support.

“I couldn’t register for examinations last year [2009] because my father had just passed away, and the little money that was there went towards his burial. My mother is not employed and now that she is ill the situation is worse for me and my brothers,” Moyo told IRIN. Her mother tested positive for HIV in 2009.

Moyo was a brilliant student but said she would probably never sit her O-Level examinations, a school-leaving certificate. “My mother talked me into marrying this man, who is an elder in our church. He has promised to look after my ill mother and my two brothers, but I have given up hope of ever going to school again,” she said.

She is not alone: recent education ministry statistics showed that some 100,000 learners (33 percent of those eligible to write O-level exams) and around 10,700 learners (29 percent of those eligible for A-level exams) had failed to register.

“This year … there are a number of students out there who have failed [to register] because of poverty,” education minister David Coltart said in a statement.

Zimbabwe’s ailing education system, once a model for sub-Saharan Africa, has buckled and all but collapsed under the economic and political crises of the past decade, when widespread food shortages, hyperinflation, cholera outbreaks, and an almost year-long strike by teachers in 2008 led to a dramatic decline in the standard of learning.

It is not uncommon for 10 pupils to share a textbook, and although the government drastically slashed school fees in February 2009, deepening poverty put even the reduced cost of attending government schools in some areas beyond the reach of thousands of children.

The government extended the initial exam registration deadline of 28 May by two weeks, but most people were sceptical that parents and students who had previously been unable to pay the fees – US$10 per O-level subject and US$20 per A-level subject – would be able to raise the money in time.

“The extension means nothing at all – the period is too short, and one wonders why the government is in such a hurry to close the door on students,” the president of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), Raymond Majongwe, told IRIN.

“Besides, late entrants will be fined US$5 per subject and we don’t know where the government expects the poor parents that have failed to raise the examination fees to get the extra amount.”

Majongwe said he thought the ministry’s figure for the number of students who had failed to register for examinations was an “understatement” of the gravity of the situation.

“According to our own independent surveys, close to 200,000 O- and A-level students have been denied the chance to prepare for their future. There are thousands who have resigned themselves to fate, as they have failed to write in the past and are not part of the current statistics since they are not attending school,” he pointed out.

A headmaster at a secondary school in Seke rural district, about 40km south of the capital, said only 30 students at his school would write their O-level examinations this year.

“I was supposed to have 125 students sitting for their O-level examinations but only a handful managed to register,” he noted. “While the examinations fees might not seem too high, it should be remembered that the majority of households in rural areas still have large families to look after, and there is a significant number of child-headed families.”