The Herald
By Fatima Bulla
8th January 2010

Government has revealed that it will soon task the Sport and Recreation Commission to look into allegations of misconduct within the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board.

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart said although he would not directly deal with the matter, he would task SRC chairman Joseph James and his board to inquire about the allegations.

“These allegations have to be investigated and as such to follow the correct legal process it is the mandate of the SRC who have the jurisdiction to do so as empowered by the SRC Act.

“If this is found to be true, then the SRC is empowered to suspend the board, but at the moment we would not want to pre-empt the process,”
Coltart said.

Coltart said it would be wrong for people to believe that the ZNBWCB is at par with the SRC arguing that “boxing is listed number 13 as one of the sports which are recorded in the first schedule of the Act and therefore subject to the Commission.

“Boxing falls under the board’s control as outlined in section 30 of the SRC Act.

In this section, the Act states that: where the board considers that any registered national association (a) has ceased to operate as a national association or (b) has failed to comply with any provision of this Act or (c) has conducted itself in a manner which is contrary to the national interests; the Board may after affording the association concerned an opportunity of making representations in the matter, do either or both of the following:

l Suspend all or any of its officers

l Direct the director-general to strike the association from the register.

“Where the board has taken any action referred to in the subparagraph
(i) or (ii) of subsection (i) the Minister may on the recommendation of, or after consultation with, the board appoint a committee to administer the affairs of the association concerned,” Coltart said.

The minister said if the Commission found out that there were fraudulent medical papers issued to boxers it meant there are people acting against national interests and thus tarnishing the image of the country.

He however, said all that would be investigated by the Commission. But Coltart welcomed the invitation to meet WBO vice-president Andrew Smale to map the way forward on the boxers’ plight.

Smale has worked with the ZNBWCB to promote Zimbabwean boxers and invites them to international fights.

He had indicated that there is need to urgently assess the way boxing is being run in the county following reports that local pugilists including Ali Phiri failed medical tests in Namibia last year.

The board has come under fire especially from boxers who are crying foul over the way the sport is being run.

ZNBWCB boss Richard Hondo has however, vehemently denied that his board which includes Tobaiwa Mudede and Patrick Mukondiwa has failed to deliver.

The Herald
7th January 2010

Parents and guardians with children attending private schools in Harare have blasted the school authorities for charging outrageous fees without any justification in a stabilising economy.

Most parents yesterday said Government had let loose most schools that were hiding behind the “private school” tag to justify their outrageous fee hikes and appealed to Government to intervene to protect the interests of children.

But Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart yesterday said it was unfair for parents to complain, as they were not forced to send their children to private schools. He added that there was no Government policy on price controls, which applied to private schools but they (private schools) were supposed to apply to his Ministry for guidance.

“There is no government policy on price controls and parents also have to keep it in mind that they are not forced to send their children to specific private schools,” said Minister Coltart.

“What government only does is to make sure the fees are regionally competitive because we will be looking at their fees applications in the context of regional fees in Lusaka, Blantyre and Polokwane. If they are above those that is when we can intervene.”

A snap survey by The Herald has shown that most private and trust schools were charging fees between US$400 and US$1 200 for secondary school students while mission schools were requesting less than US$50 in the rural areas. Dominican Convent Senior school is demanding about US$650 while St Ignatius in Chishawasha and Chegato High in Mberengwa are charging about US$400 boarding fees.

St Peter Claver in Chishawasha charges US$20 for day scholars.

“Government should not allow these private schools to continue charging exorbitant fees to discriminate against those with low salaries.

“Uncertainty in government schools about teachers’ strikes had forced me to consider sending my children to private schools but now I can’t afford it because their fees are too high,” said Mrs Tracy Mpemhi of Glen View.

“We don’t understand how government continues to turn a blind eye on these private schools which are milking us.Government should give a fees ceiling of not more than US$500 for private schools. My daughter is at Chisipite and we are being asked to pay about US$1 000 for a day scholar. There is no justification at all,” said a woman who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Herald
7th January 2010

Grade Seven results will be out tomorrow while marking of Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations started on Monday, Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart said yesterday.

He said Zimsec officials had assured him that Grade Seven results would “definitely” be out tomorrow.

The Minister said Government provided money to allow for completion of marking of the examinations for both levels.

“Although there were logistical problems in the administering of the examinations, let me inform the nation that I had a meeting with Zimsec officials on Tuesday and they told me that results will be available on Friday.

“The marking of O and A Level examinations commenced on Monday as scheduled,” said Minister Coltart

The minister said parents with children going to Form One must not panic as his ministry, with the help of different stakeholders, had secured money to ensure the smooth administering of the marking process.

“I understand most parents and guardians were panicking since schools are opening on Tuesday but let me assure them that all is now well as far as examinations are concerned,” he said.

Ordinary and Advanced level exams’ marking will end on February 13 and results are likely to be released early March.

Most parents with children starting Form One were failing to plan for their children as Zimsec had delayed the release of the results.

Traditionally, Grade Seven results were released before Christmas to give parents enough time to prepare for Form One enrolment, but administrative problems on the part of the examinations body resulted in the delays.

The Herald
By Felex Share
6th January 2010

THE payment of incentives to teachers by parents will continue until Government is able to offer them viable salaries, Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart said yesterday.

However, Minister Coltart warned school authorities to involve parents in coming up with the incentives to avoid gross abuse of the facility.

In an interview yesterday, Minister Coltart said while Government was “preparing a viable salary” for teachers, payment of “reasonable” incentives by parents was the only way Government and parents would avoid staff exodus.

“I am told Government is not in a position to pay them (teachers) viable salaries but while this is being processed, payment of reasonable incentives must continue for us to keep teachers at work.

“Our wish is to scrap incentives as they have created inequalities in the education system as well as increasing tension between teachers and parents but there is a danger that if we cut them now, we may see a massive exodus of the teaching staff,” he said.

Minister Coltart, however, said his ministry would make sure that school authorities complied with the stipulated regulations on incentives as the system has been abused by most school authorities.

“Parents have been milked a lot so there is need for us to make sure that this does not happen again. Procedures like getting the approval of parents have to be followed not just declaring to parents,” said Minister Coltart.

Minister Coltart’s sentiments come in the wake of last year’s reports that some schools were demanding exorbitant amounts of as much as US$20 per month per student as incentives for teachers and defaulters were being sent home or not allowed to attend lessons in some instances.

Teachers’ unions yesterday said they were fully geared for the first term of the year, which begins next Tuesday, but pleaded with Government to divulge what they would be getting before schools open.

Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe urged Government to announce the exact figures they would be getting from Finance Minister Tendai Biti’s budget to map the way forward.

“We are fully prepared for the forthcoming term but we want to know what we will be taking home because it is traditional that from the Budget announced by the Minister of Finance we get something.

“We want to know if it is a total rejection or not because we do not want a situation whereby we start and leave the teaching midway,” said Mr Majongwe.

Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association secretary-general Mr Richard Gundane said their members were prepared to go to work but wanted to know what Government was offering them.

“As it is New Year, we are anticipating a lot from the Government and we are keen to know what is in store for us since the Budget was announced last year,” said Mr Gundane.

Perennial strikes over salaries by teachers have in recent years characterised the opening of schools, a situation which has affected the country’s education system.

Zim Daily
By Nozipho Maseko
Wednesday January 6, 2010

HARARE -Teachers yesterday demanded that Government pay them a minimum salary of US$600 and threatened not to return to work when schools open for the first term next Tuesday. Zimbabwe has more than 90 000 teachers and if Government agrees to give them US$600, this would translate to more than US$55 million, which is half the country’s total tax revenue monthly. The teachers claimed they were not aware of their salaries and were concerned with the Government’s silence on the matter since the announcement of the budget last December. They also wanted to know if their calls to have salary structures had been addressed.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Mr Takavafira Zhou yesterday said they would not report for duty next week because they had for long agreed to go along with the “proposed road map plan” set out by Minister of Education, Sport and Culture Senator David Coltart. “We have given the Inclusive Government enough time and a long rope to tie itself on. It’s high time they give us salaries above Poverty Datum Line meaning anything not less than US$600.

“Right now we don’t know what we are getting and if we get the same $150, what will happen next. We have to warn them now,” said Mr Zhou.He said they have since petitioned their parent Ministry, which yesterday confirmed receiving such a document.

However, Minister Coltart yesterday said he did not have the mandate to divulge what teachers would get this month and referred all questions to Finance Minister Tendai Biti and the Public Service Commission.”I think the best person to answer their questions would be the Finance Minister as he is the one who presented the budget. I do not know what they would be getting as I am not the one who pays them,” said Minister Coltart.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) president Mrs Tendai Chikoore said her union would meet Government team leaders next week after realising that the rest of the civil service was concerned by the silence shown by Government on salaries.”If teachers strike, their move will be justified because we have given them enough time to sort out everything. Since the budget was announced, we expected to know what we will be earning and if the issue of being graded has been addressed, but up to now they have been quiet.

“We will meet team leaders from the Government early next week and that is when I will give more details,” said Mrs Chikoore.

An official from the Teachers Union of Zimbabwe said it was high time Government awarded them “viable salaries” as they had been patient for a long time.

“We will soon find it irresistible to embark on an industrial action. Not reporting for duty on Tuesday will be the last resort if Government fails to give us what we want,” said the official.

In recent years, the teachers have been downing tools at the beginning of most terms, but last year, Government managed to prevent a nationwide strike despite not being able to meet the demands laid out by the educators.

Government said it would do everything it could to raise money.

Efforts to get a comment from Finance Minster Tendai Biti were fruitless, as his mobile phone was not reachable.

Presenting the budget proposals last December, Minister Biti said the Government had set aside US$600 million to cater for the civil servants’ salaries.

He said the Government workers would be graded according to rank, skills and experience.

The Herald
Editorial
6 January 2010

Harare — Government should deal with the culture of dependence that has become entrenched in Zimbabweans.

A lot of people think that the Government should provide them with everything from quality education, farming inputs to working capital for businesses.

But the truth of the matter is that Government cannot shoulder all this burden on its own and those who can afford should simply fund themselves and leave the State to take care of the vulnerable lot who are not able to meet their obligations.

This has been prompted by the announcement by Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart that Government will not increase tuition fees at the start of the new term next week.

The fees remain at US$5 for pupils attending a primary school in high-density suburbs and US$10 for those at secondary schools in the same suburbs.

Parents with children at primary schools in low-density suburbs will pay US$10 while those with children at secondary schools will pay US$20.

It is understandable Government has taken this decision on the basis that parents were not able to pay any more than what they were paying last year.

But are these fees being charged at Government schools adequate for them to provide quality education to pupils?

We believe some parents can pay more than this if they had their priorities right. A lot of parents spent more money on trinkets and other expenses such as airtime, hairdos and even beer than the paltry fees being charged by Government.

It is not uncommon for some people to spend as much as US$50 per month on mobile phone airtime.
Yet these are the same parents or guardians who complain bitterly that they cannot afford to pay the fees being asked for at Government schools.

It is clear that the Government cannot continue giving free education to every child in Zimbabwe, free inputs to every farmer in Zimbabwe or free health care to every patient in Zimbabwe.

Even with education, agriculture and health getting the largest allocations in the National Budget, the money is not enough.

This means that parents, farmers and patients have to dig into their pockets to supplement whatever is made available by the State.

Even in the early 1980s when the Zanu-PF Government oversaw a tremendous expansion in education, it was made clear that parents would chip in. Rural parents helped build new classrooms while their urban counterparts paid levies.

It should be the case again today because every parent desires quality education for their daughter or son. But that quality education is not possible if parents fail to pay even between US$5 and US$20 per term.

Last year Bulawayo council expressed shock that only 471 out of 37 734 pupils attending municipal-run schools paid their second term tuition fees.

A council report covering 29 council primary schools showed parents were even failing to pay the slashed fees, a development that councillors feared would hamper the revival of the education sector.

Surely, even if one sold tomatoes at the market one would be able to afford these fees if one’s priorities are right. Parents need to value the education of their children and plan their finances to meet the costs.

Most of today’s leaders were educated the hard way. Their parents had to sell cattle and other assets in order to send their children to school. They had to deny themselves some luxuries to save money for school fees.

Zimbabwe Times
January 5, 2010
By Clapperton Mavhunga

After 1949, when the Chinese Communist Party defeated Chiang Kai-shek and banished him to Taiwan, Mao’s regime was in the habit of establishing and promoting these ‘mushroom’ parties that created the facade that China tolerated dissent.

In reality, these were ‘dummies’ that operated via leash under handlers in the Chinese Communist Party. The idea was to flush out those members of the public who might be gullible and uncooperative with the CCP and eliminate them.

So what is the connection of this with Zimbabwe? The first cadres to go abroad and train from ZAPU (before ZANU’s formation) were sent to China in 1961-2 thereabouts. (Of course, it is a matter of conjecture whether they really trained militarily). The trend at that time was that African states and anti-colonial movements were sending their cadres to China to imbibe education that was alternative to western (imperialist) education. The Chinese used them as instruments for Communist indoctrination of Africa. These human vehicles returned with ideologies of state that had already started entrenching under Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere.

The Zanu-PF government in particular took pages from the Chinese, North Koreans, and Soviets and perfected them. When you trace Zimbabwean history, you will notice that the first seven years were spent on liquidating ZAPU. Afterwards we became a de facto one party state. But to window-dress our system as a ‘democratic state’ and thereby curry favor with western donors and aid-giving countries, we needed the Chinese model of ‘dummy parties’ – the Forum first, ZUM, NAGG, the Egypt Dzinemunhenzva parties, and the countless independents, then the Mavambos. And ZAPU?

From the start, the ZAPU revival had all the hallmarks of a dog under its master’s leash. The trend is that these ‘franchise parties’ will be in media circulation awhile, and then as they fail or succeed in their purpose they degenerate into well-publicized internecine squabbles and then become extinct. Their purpose in the specific case of Zimbabwe is to act as ‘credible alibis’ for taking votes from the main opposition and putting them in their box, or simply as substitute candidates against who Zanu-PF can run if the MDC decides to boycott, or simply a hoodwink on the public.

One quality of an alibi is that, first and foremost, it must be credible beyond any reasonable doubt. The calculus is that it must be capable of pulling a specific electoral demographic with it – urban intellectual formations in Forum’s case, urban workers in the case of ZUM, and the Ndebele people in the case of ZAPU.

Anticipating that ZAPU will deny this, I would say that the re-formation of this party suffers from a serious credibility deficit already because of its very tribal nature. The names of officials in its executive speak for themselves. It is just one of those parties designed for Ndebele people, full-stop. It has no 21st Century outlook; it is trapped in the sort of schisms that bedeviled the old ZAPU, a failure to realize that what is necessary for Matabeleland to be treated equally with Mashonaland is a coalition of people who think of themselves as humans first, Zimbabweans second, and locate themselves as Zimbabweans who happen to speak Ndebele last.

If Barack Obama has run a Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton-style election campaign targeting only blacks and preaching a message to “make the whites uncomfortable”, he would not even have made it past the primary. Zimbabweans who care for Matabeleland as part of Zimbabwe – and I am one of them – would be better served to learn from this Obama moment.

For as long as there are Ndebele people who strongly think that they can be listened to as a Ndebele party, Matabeleland will never develop. What the region needs is a coalition of Zimbabweans across the ethnic and racial and even transnational divide who can marshal their conscience to the realization of the region’s economic and infrastructural status.

As far as I can see, ZAPU is not the forum for that agenda.

People will say whatever they feel about Jonathan Moyo, but of one thing Tsholotsho will always beware: while he was a minister this politician drew the maps of government and Zanu-PF patronage to converge economically in Tsholotsho. Moyo knows that politics is a game of trickery: the mathematics of it is that one can be a puppet outside, even as his subservience to a system that caused Gukurahundi is engineering material rewards for him and his constituency. Granted, whether he used these riches wisely is another thing. But by hook or crook he saw to the development of his constituency by some margin.

My point is not to encourage politicians to loot government coffers surreptitiously in order to develop their constituencies and assure votes at the election. Rather, it is to say that even in America where democracy is reputed to thrive, key Democrats held out their vote on the Senate version of the health bill until certain earmarks had been given to benefit their constituencies. Right! If you can’t get my vote the bill doesn’t pass; we can avoid that by inserting in this bill a sub-section authorizing funds for road development ‘in the least developed and most arid regions’ of the country.

That eliminates most of Mashonaland, so that allocation goes to Matabeleland.

That means that Matabeleland has to get its agenda right also. Given the pain of Gukurahundi, the question is how best to articulate justice to make the point. Right now there are two choices, the third one, ZAPU, being just an unnecessary distraction that will make noise, but won’t yield much. People like Obert Mpofu, Khaya Moyo, and Jonathan Moyo have chosen – as politicians from the region – to articulate the region from Zanu-PF. Others like Sam Sipepa Nkomo, Lovemore Moyo, and David Coltart have chosen to speak through the MDC.

Sometimes we often see things in black and white terms, or as Zanu-PF vs MDC. Yet in the calculus of these people, this is a good time to go to Harare and use the party as a platform to articulate the issues of the region.

Party affiliation only sugar-coats the tone and provides the linguistic register within which to articulate, but the issue for these politicians should be Matabeleland’s development. That of course does not make them any lesser nationalists or Zimbabweans. Quite to the contrary, I may be more inclined to respect them as visionaries who realize the dangers of historical regional imbalances to torpedo the future of one-Zimbabwe under one flag.

For them to elect to articulate such an agenda under a national party, as opposed to a tribal one, in a national institution (Parliament) and through central government as a vehicle is, to me at least, the ultimate embodiment of true nationalists.

Of course, our criticism of Jonathan Moyo is based upon the extent to which he was willing to go to buy favors for his constituency. That critique does not necessarily hail from his constituency, where a borehole is a borehole no matter who sank it. It may be a good thing that a new code of ethical journalism will soon arise where the media does not bamboozle us with the national wrong- or right-doings of politicians and the enchantment of their rhetoric, but writes the substance of their conduct and suitability for higher office not from Samora Machel Avenue, London, or Washington DC, but from the mouths and stomachs of constituents they serve, giving testimony to their great works.

As currently constituted, our journalism has not yet reached that stage. We are still enchanted by a centrist critique of these politicians.

The Herald
5 January 2010

Harare — The Government is not increasing tuition fees this term, which begins next Tuesday, the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Senator David Coltart, said yesterday.

Minister Coltart said pupils in primary schools in high-density suburbs would continue paying US$5 while those in secondary schools would part with US$10.

Parents with children attending primary schools in low-density suburbs will continue forking out US$10 and those at secondary schools will pay US$20.

Minister Coltart said the decision to maintain the fees structure came after a realisation that most parents were failing to pay fees.

“The position is that school fees at Government schools will remain the same. From our experience last year it seems that parents are not able to pay any more than what we asked,” he said.

He expressed hope that the move would boost enrolment at schools compared to last year where the enrolment dropped because most parents could not afford fees while some sent their children abroad for learning. Minister Coltart however said private schools with intentions of raising their fees should approach his Ministry first.

“Private schools should send their requests to the Permanent Secretary in my Ministry for approval,” he said.

Although the Government came up with a fee structure, parents last year were forced to fork more as schools demanded incentives for teachers and levies.

Meanwhile, private schools such as Christian Brothers College made slight additions to the fees they were charging during the third term.

Parents with children attending CBC said the school is demanding US$1 090 up from the third term’s fees of US$900.

Dominican Convent added US$100 to last year’s fee of US$500 for pupils between Form One and Four and US$50 to US$600 for Advanced Level pupils.

Afriquejet.com
1st January 2010

For most Zimbabweans, the re-opening of schools and health facilities, after several years of closure due to the country’s turbulent politics, were the main social highlights of 2009.

As politicians aggressively tussled for power in the last 10 years, Zimbabwe’s economy tumbled, and with it many social services.

Over 20,000 teachers, and 15,000 nurses and doctors, among millions of professional Zimbabweans, fled the country to neighbouring and far-flung countries as the economy sank and political instability took root.

In the last decade, hundreds – possibly thousands – of Zimbabweans died in political violence between supporters of the then government of President Robert Mugabe and the opposition as the two vied for power.

As a result, an estimated three million Zimbabweans emigrated to escape the violence and establish new livelihoods in saner climes. Most of the emigrants were professionals, particularly teachers and medical staff, the two main wings of the civil service.

As a result, thousands of schools as well as clinics and hospitals, particularly in rural areas, were forced to close down, due to staff shortage.

In the health sector, the crisis was made worse by shortages of drugs in both public and private hospitals due to under-funding and lack of foreign currency to import medicines.

Most local manufacturers of drugs, like producers in other sectors, were either swept under by the economic crisis, or they elected to close down.

As a result, enterprising merchants took advantage and started street dispensaries, with all the dangers that this posed. Authorities, unable to provide alternative service, turned a blind eye to this.

But the public paid a heavy price for widespread wrong diagnosis and treatment, and for the crisis in the health sector as a whole.

For example, a cholera outbreak in 2008 killed more than 4,000 people and infected over 100,000 others.

Tariro Gwenzi, a mother of two, is still traumatised by the loss of her twin sister due to a nurses’ strike in 2008. “She died on the bench at the hospital (Harare Hospital in the capital) while doctors and nurses watched,” she said.

The sister had malaria, but this was not picked up by the street ‘pharmacist’ until it developed into celebral malaria.

Gwenzi’s case is far too common in Zimbabwe. And the country’s high AIDS prevailence made the situation even worse.

In the education sector, the impact of Zimbabwe’s long political and economic crisis was devastating, to say the least. Thousands of schools, from primary to universities, closed because teachers had left and due to lack of learning materials.

In rural areas, the situation was made was worse by the food crisis which engulfed the country, forcing hungry children to give up schooling.

But it was the flight of teachers to neighbouring countries which affected the education sector most. Zimbabwean teachers are spread throughout southern Africa, in particular Botswana and South Africa, where they are highly sought after.

However, when the country formed a coalition government in February 2009, and both the political and economic crisis began to ease, both teachers and medical staff started to come back to the country to re-join the services.

In fact, the new government through Education Minister Senator David Coltart made a special appeal, including in neighbouring countries, for Zimbabwean teachers and medical staff to return home with a promise to pay them comparable salaries.

Indeed, thousands took up the call and came back, and teachers and nurses at home who had quit and taken up other better paying jobs also re-joined their professions.

The government further enlisted the help of international relief agencies, such as the United Nations Childrens’ Fund, World Health Organisation and the World Food Programme, to offer incentives to teachers and medical staff.

Donors came up with salary top-ups for both teachers and medical staff, and have given them material asistance such as teaching and learning materials in schools, and drugs and equipment in hospitals.

The result is that virtually all schools and health centres that had closed in the past decade re-opened in 2009, much to the relief of Zimbabweans as a whole, so much so that Gwenzi, though still traumatised by the death of her twin sister, is confid ent of a safe delivery of her third child at Harare
Hospital in February.

“I think it will go well. I feel God is on my side. They (doctors and nurses) are now committed to their work,” she said.

The Chronicle
By Nduduzo Tshuma and Mbongeni Ncube
1st January 2010

SENIOR politicians from Matabeleland and Bulawayo residents as well as the business community yesterday expressed hope that the New Year will usher in a new era, which will see people from the region working together.

They said Matabeleland was lagging behind in developmental projects because there was no clear agenda for the region.

They said people from Matabeleland were expending their energy on pulling down each other instead of working like what is happening in other parts of the country.

The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Senator David Coltart said his vision was to see projects like the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport completed before the World Cup starts in South Africa in June.

“There is also the Bulawayo-Beitbridge, Bulawayo-Nkayi and Bulawayo-Kezi as well as Bulawayo-Tsholotsho roads that need urgent attention to develop road networks in the region,” said Senator Coltart.

“In the long-term we wish to see a greater allocation of funds to the region in the National Budget. This is because our region Matabeleland has serious challenges such as the provision of water. The issue of water remains one of the greatest challenges in this part of the country.”

He also said as the country moves towards the constitution-making process, he hoped the people of Matabeleland would see to it that the issue of devolution of power was realised.

“The constitution reform process has some particular hopes, especially for Matabeleland. The genuine and meaningful devolution of power to the provinces in particular Matabeleland has to come through during the drafting of the new constitution,” said Sen Coltart.

“The new constitution should also allow that all Zimbabweans who left for Botswana and South Africa are allowed to vote during the elections.”

The Minister of Mines and Mining Development Obert Mpofu said he was looking to the end of political squabbles in the region, which he said were retarding development.

“My first resolution is to work hard to strengthen our party Zanu-PF. There is a need to do away with petty squabbles and find ways of working together to develop the region,” said Minister Mpofu.
“This coming year we should be one people and copy how other regions work together to develop themselves.”

Minister Mpofu, who is also the Member of the House of Assembly for Umguza, said he would like to see the improvement of water supplies in the region as well as completion of critical projects.

“There are a number of projects like the Lupane Dam construction and the Lupane State University which need completion. For those who got farms I urge them to fully utilise the pieces of land to bring the country back to its glory days,” said Minister Mpofu.

Former Bulawayo Mayor and disabled activist, Joshua Malinga also called for unity of purpose in Matabeleland. “I hope 2010 will usher in a new era where the political leadership will listen to the people more than they do to each other and stop haggling over tissues but concentrate on issues,” said Cde Malinga.

“There is a need to create an employment base for millions of school leavers that we churn out every year from our institutions of learning.”

He called for the full participation of the people in the constitution-making process to ensure the dream of devolving power to the provinces was realised.

“With Cde John Nkomo rising to the post of Vice President and his traceable relationship with disabled people, we hope that people living with disabilities will be able to lead a normal life and have access to all the country’s services,” said Cde Malinga.

The Minister of Water Resources and Development, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo said his vision for 2010 was to see the Mtshabezi pipeline reaching Umzingwane Dam.

“That would be the first project I would like to see being fully implemented and at the same time I would like to see the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project taking off the ground,” said Minister Nkomo.
“Working together with other politicians from the region has always been a good thing. Yes we might come from different parties but projects and issues that concern the region can be solved if we co-operate.”

Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Thaba Moyo urged residents to gear themselves for new opportunities in the coming year.

“Let us set goals of rebuilding Bulawayo and the nation of Zimbabwe to its former glory,” he said.
“We see 2010 realising increased industrial and commercial activity. Bulawayo is an industrial hub and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Considerable strides must be made by all social and economic entities to ensure that we regain our former glory.

“Bulawayo’s success story depends on how we all, regardless of race, colour, ethnic origin, work to develop our city. Let us embrace the spirit of unity and inclusivity that has been demonstrated by the political leadership in every area of our lives, so that we can conquer all obstacles. We must each commit ourselves to the prosperity of Bulawayo so that we can fully enjoy the blessings of 2010 that are in store for us.”

As council, Clr Moyo said the council was committed to providing improved municipal services this year.
“I encourage the people of Bulawayo to continue to work as a formidable team that will be unstoppable,” he said.

“I wish the people of Bulawayo prosperity in the New Year. 2010 is a year of reaching our destiny.”
Business mogul Mr Delma Lupepe urged the Government to speed up the indigenisation policy.
“We are hoping that the Government would speed up the process so that the country’s natural resources benefit citizens because most of the mines, especially platinum ones, are owned by foreigners,” said Mr Lupepe.

“I believe that although much has been done concerning the land question, there is still a lot when you look at issues such as mining where there has been talk but nothing concrete done.”

He said it was also imperative that the country got credit lines from international financial institutions to help boost the economy.

Another city businessman, Mr Omega Sibanda, said he was positive that 2010 would be good for businesses.

“Things improved greatly over 2009 owing to the inclusive Government which has ushered in a new era and when I visited my rural home on Christmas Day you could easily tell that it was the best Christmas in 10 years,” said Mr Sibanda.

He said he hoped the manufacturing industry would continue to grow so as to create employment.
“For the country to develop we need our industries to function which in turn would create jobs and let me also call upon Zimbabweans to adjust to the culture of employment in 2010. As you have noticed that over the years many people were used to getting money daily and now that jobs are being steadily created some people are finding it hard to wait until the end of the month to get money,” said Mr Sibanda.

Ordinary residents also expressed hope that 2010 would bring more improvement in both economic and political spheres.

“”For a very long time we have been subjected to many challenges among them economic and you would know very well that 2008 was the worst, however I would like to pay tribute to our political leaders for finally realising that people were suffering and put aside their ideological and political differences for the betterment our lives as Zimbabweans,” said Mr Daniel Master who also runs a number of small-scale businesses.

Mrs Thokozile Ngwenya (53) of Magwegwe said she had high hopes for 2010.

“The country is going through a revolution which I believe we have not yet seen the fruits as some people think, 2010 would definitely be a year of plenty for every citizen,” she said.

A university student who declined to be named said winds of change were blowing.

“During wars of liberation Pan-Africanist and former Ghanaian president Nkrumah said winds of change were blowing and I believe that the assertion did not apply then only, it is still very much applicable as Zimbabwe, and indeed the rest of the continent, would see a lot of changes which would bring lasting peace and prosperity,” he said.