Zimbabwe Telegraph
By Getrude Gumede
16 July 2009

HARARE – The Zimbabwean Government has re-introduced salaries for civil servants with effect from 1 July, a development that will see public service employees earning varying figures according to grades.

Presenting his mid-term fiscal review statement at Parliament Building in Harare yesterday, Finance Minister Tendai Biti, increased employment cost for the public service from US$377 million to US$528 million and also added US$150 million for salary review support.

Civil servants salaries were scrapped in March when the inclusive Government adopted multi-currency system after demonitised the Zimbabwean dollar.

The Government employees were offered US$100 allowance per month.

He said of the budget, civil servants salaries gobbled 70 percent while 30 percent was dedicated to schools, hospitals and upgrading of infrastructure such as roads.

The introduction of salaries put to rest anxieties to civil servants who were complaining over the US$100 allowance.

The civil servants were threatening to go on strike demanding a decent living wage, arguing that the US$100 allowance was inadequate.

The Minister also admitted that the US$100 could not cater for the needs of civil servants.

“We are reviewing remuneration for the civil servants but the salaries will depend on grades. We want to thank the civil servants for understanding and patients during the harsh economic environment,” said Biti.
He announced that civil servants would receive bonus at the end of the year, emphasising that the Government was keen to restore the culture of saving among workers.

“We want to guarantee the 13th cheque to the civil servants,” said the Minister.
Minister Biti defended the salary figures, saying the Government had no money to pay civil servants high salaries.

He said an audit was underway to flush out ghost workers from the Government’s payroll.
Early this year, the Minister of Education, Sport Art and Culture David Coltart revealed that there were 90 000 teachers on the payroll yet teacher organisations estimate that there are less than 30 000 educators.

“The audit on Government workers is expected to produce a proper payroll. We want a detailed profile of civil servants,” said Biti.

Civil servants, mainly teachers had started protesting against the US$100 allowances but the announcement of the new salary structure is expected to boost the morale for Government workers.- The Zimbabwe Telegraph.

The Zimbabwean
By Natasha Hove
15 July 2009

BULAWAYO – A Christian NOG, Blue Diamond, is set to build a secondary school and a clinic for underprivileged girls here. Eric Bloch, the chairman of the organisation, said the project sought to
empower underprivileged girls through the provision of free secondary education and skills building geared towards gender equality.

“Girls have been discriminated against a lot, they are abused, neglected and forced to drop out of school. But this organisation seeks to get them back into formal education. We want to develop a more confident girl child who can fully exercise her rights in society,” said Bloch.

The Minister of Education Sports Arts and Culture, David Coltart, who was the guest at the launch applauded the idea. “If we don’t promote the girl child, the nation will never achieve the aspirations that we aspire to have as a nation,” said Coltart.

The organisation will target HIV-orphaned girls, teenage parents and victims of all gender based abuses. “As an organisation we believe these young girls have the right to go back to school despite their past experiences,” said Bloch.

“We have already found proposed sites in Emganwini and Killarney suburbs but we are still waiting for the Bulawayo city council to approve them. We have spoken to the mayor (Thaba Moyo) and he seemed to be enthusiastic about the idea. We hope that the project will get the council’s approval,” he added.

ZimOnline
by Chenai Maramba
14 July 2009

MAGUNJE – Temporary teachers in Mashonaland West province’s Hurungwe district have pulled out of schools after working for the past five months without receiving their allowances from the government, ZimOnline has learnt.

The teachers accused education ministry officials at Magunje growth point – some 245 kilometres north-west of Harare – of “bungling and failing to submit their (contract) forms to Salary Services Bureau (SSB) on time”, resulting in the teachers going for almost half a year without receiving the monthly US$100 allowance government pays all public workers.

The SSB processes payment for all government employees centrally in the capital Harare.

”I have given up continuing to work on voluntary basis as I can not get even the allowances given to all civil servants for the past five months and officials here are refusing to let me have my forms so that I can take them to Harare,” said a frustrated untrained teacher from Zvimonja Secondary School, a further 50km from Magunje, speaking on condition he was not named.

Ministry of Education officials at Magunje admitted that there were hundreds of contract forms gathering dust at their offices after they were returned from the SSB because they had some information missing.

”It’s unfortunate that hundreds of contract forms of both trained and untrained teachers are gathering dust here as they need to be completed with vital information but nothing is being done to have them delivered to concerned individuals,” said one source at Magunje.

He added that some forms had been lying at the offices since February after they were returned from the SSB so that the applicants could fill in details of their foreign currency accounts following government’s introduction of use of foreign currencies.

Hurungwe district education officer Muchineripi Ndewere refused to comment on the matter and provincial education officer Sylvester Mashayamombe only said ”Mashonaland West has enough trained teachers” before hanging up the phone.
However Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou admitted that some teachers including those on full time employment contracts were yet to get their allowances from government since the beginning of the year.

”We have at least 10 000 members including trained teachers who are yet to get their allowances because of bungling by district education officers around the country. While government is yet to pay salaries we thought the allowances must be uniform and disbursed quickly to the concerned teachers,” the PTUZ boss said.

He added that most of those affected were those who were re-assigned when they rejoined the education ministry after absconding due to political and economic challenges afflicting Zimbabwe over the past decade.

Last week teachers said they would boycott classes every Friday in protest against government’s failure to adjust their salaries and vowed to intensify the industrial action if government did not address their concerns.

The teachers are demanding a salary of US$454 per month, up from the current US$100 a month.
Education Minister David Coltart was not immediately available for comment on the matter.

While Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe’s unity government formed in February has managed to reopen schools and hospitals, its failure to attract aid from rich donor countries has left the administration struggling for cash to meet day-to-day running costs.

Harare Tribune
13 July 2009

Zimbabwean police keep watch on militants of President Robert Mugabe’s party who disrupted proceedings on the first day of the all stakeholders conference on the constitution making process in Harare, Monday, July, 13, 2009. Mugabe’s supporters were chanting party slogans and singing revolutionary songs which brought the programme into disarray.

There are many factions in ZANU-PF fighting for power and influence. Only rarely do these factions pull as one against common enemies. In Harare today, the ZANU-PF factions came together in a show of unity when they successfully broke up the constitutional conference that had been organized to write a new constitution for Zimbabwe.

The All Stakeholders constutittutional conference had been postponed from last week to today following vehement objections by ZANU-PF insiders on the constitutional select committee.

The first All-Stakeholders Conference on the new constitution had been envisaged to be attended by 4 000 delegates from interests groups specifically invited by the Parliamentary Select Committee co-chaired by Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana (ZANU PF), Douglas Mwonzora (MDC T) and David Coltart (MDC M). Today, the Harare Conference Centre was filled to capacity, with over 5000 delagates having arrived for the venue.

Ahead of the conference, an buoyant Mwonzora had enthused that “Everything is on course. Delegates started arriving on Sunday. We don’t forsee any major problems.”

However, before the conference began, militant backers of Robert Mugabe stormed into the meeting, disrupting what was meant to be a milestone in the nation’s fragile power-sharing deal.

The protesters were led by Mugabe’s nephew, parliamentarian Patrick Zhuwawo, and self-styled leaders of veterans of the liberation war.

As the speaker of parliament Lovemore Moyo gave his opening speech, the protesters began singing in Shona: “Zimbabwe was brought by blood”.

“This country was won by the gun, not a constitution,” yelled one woman from the group as they marched to the podium, grabbed water bottles from tables and splashed lawmakers.

“Nothing is going to take place here,” one protester said through the public address system, as others ripped off table cloths, sending crockery crashing on the floor.

Police were on hand but took no action against the protesters. The meeting eventually collapsed as frustrated ministers and parliamentarians walked out.

Tensions were high even before the opening, as political rivals sang songs denigrating each other.
Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had been expected to address the meeting, but neither showed up.

The two bitter rivals formed a unity government in February in a bid to end deadly political violence that erupted after last year’s disputed elections.

Under the power-sharing deal, Zimbabwe is to draft a new constitution that is to be brought to voters for approval in a referendum next year, paving the way to fresh elections.

The new government has halted the economic haemorraging that left the nation impoverished and dependent of foreign food aid after a decade of world-record hyper-inflation.

But so far the Mugabe has proved reluctant to accept major political reforms, maintaining control over security forces while pressing ahead with prosecutions of rights activists.

Religious Intelligence
By Kumbirai Mafunda
13 July 2009

ZLHR, a grouping of human rights lawyers who have represented several human rights defenders including senior members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), took issue with the co-chairpersons of the Parliamentary Select Committee after the committee announced a programme and session chairpersons, who were to chair the conference for the two-day first all stakeholders constitutional conference, which collapsed in Harare on Monday.

Leading academics, Professor Phineas Makhurane and Dr Hope Sadza had been lined up to chair the conference sessions.

But in a letter written Sunday to the Parliamentary Select Committee co-chairpersons, namely ZANU PF member Paul Mangwana, MDC legislators Douglas Mwonzora and David Coltart, ZLHR said there had been absolutely no consultation beyond politicians around the substance and intent of the 1st All Stakeholders Constitutional Conference, the proposed programme and the selection of chairpersons leaving the rights group to conclude that its views were not valued and neither were they considered an important stakeholder at this key stage of the constitution-making process.

“The manner in which this has been handled further leads us to believe that politicians wish to control the proceedings at, and the outcome of, the 1st ASHCC through a blackout of information which results in the exclusion of key stakeholders, denies them the right and ability to prepare effectively for all issues which will be raised at the meeting, and shuts them out of any effective decision-making processes,” read part of the ZLHR letter signed by the organisation’s executive director Irene Petras.

Petras said the percentage of representation of government and political parties when compared to that of non-governmental organisations in particular and the civil society in general, is unacceptably high and acts to exclude key stakeholders, including general members of the public.

“The refusal to revisit the numbers, as we have been advised, shows unwillingness to make this a truly representative meeting. Instead, it is likely to be one in which ordinary people and representatives of various sectors other than politicians and government representatives will have their freedom of expression stifled and their freedom of assembly, association and participation violated,” said Petras whose organization was allocated a total of eight (8) delegates for the conference.

ZLHR said it received an invitation letter ostensibly from the Clerk of Parliament Austin Zvoma at around 11:30 hrs on Saturday 11 July 2009. The rights group said the invitation letter was not delivered by a parliamentary staff member, but by a member of a civic organisation who had visited Parliament building that same day and had found a number of invitations for non-governmental organisations (NGO)’s “lying around and in danger of not being delivered, or of being picked up and taken for use by persons not from the named organisations”.

The influential rights group said the manner in which the organizers handled the invitation and conference programming process shows that the organization is either being put in a position where it will effectively be excluded or is being sidelined although it represents an important sector of society, namely the legal profession in Zimbabwe whose members are mandated with the promotion and protection of human rights in Zimbabwe-a key issue relating to any process of constitutional reform.

“The fact that there has been absolutely no consultation beyond politicians around the substance and intent of the 1st ASHCC, the proposed programme and the selection of Chairperson/s again leads us to believe that our views are not valued; neither are we considered an important stakeholder at this key stage of the constitution-making process,” ZLHR said.

At the constitutional conference political party representation accounts for 40 per cent of the total number of delegates, while non-governmental organisations have an eight per cent representation.

“We have also learned that, in addition to the 40 per cent political party representation, all parliamentarians will be attending over and above the 40 per cent, and that the government also has been allocated a large number of delegates,” Petras said.

The rights group, which maintained that it is committed to striving for a new constitutional dispensation in Zimbabwe, said its eight representatives to the conference were attending the indaba under protest.

“The decision to attend under protest is to ensure that attempts to exclude and/or sideline alternative voices do not succeed, but also to ensure that our organisation is not used to legitimize a process and modus operandi with which we have serious misgivings. Our representatives will also bring our views to the attention of the Chairpersons and attendees at the First ASHCC. We hereby further place it on record that we will take the opportunity, whilst attending this meeting under protest, to monitor the proceedings, participation and outcome thereof closely, and will use our findings as a basis to re-assess, after the close of the 1st ASHCC, whether we can continue to participate without lending legitimacy to such a flawed process, or whether we should take alternate action,” said ZLHR.

Already other influential and militant civil society organizations such as the ZCTU and the NCA are boycotting the constitution making process because they are opposed to Parliament and political parties leading the constitution-making process.

VOA
By Patience Rusere
13 July 2009

About 200 members of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe marched to the offices of the Public Service Commission in Harare on Monday to protest low salaries and what they allege is harassment youth militia of President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party.

PTUZ President Takavafira Zhou told reporter Patience Rusere of VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the teachers, who boycotted classes on Friday, decided to demonstrate as well to pressure the government to respond to their wage and other demands.

The union is asking for a minimum salary of US$454 a month.

The teachers union said ZANU-PF youth militia, deeply implicated in post-election violence in 2008, have set up bases in schools around the country and are intimidating teachers.

Education Minister David Coltart said the government does not have the money to meet the union’s salary demands – but told VOA his ministry would look into militia activity.

Sunday News
By Samkeliso Ndlovu
12 July 2009

Zimbabweans from all walks of life should take the period of the inclusive transitional government as an opportunity to rebrand the nation and restore it to its former glory, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Speaking at the official launch of the Inxusa cultural Expo in Bulawayo on Thursday last week, the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart, said this was the best opportunity for the country to turn over a new leaf.

“The Deputy Prime Minister (Professor) Arthur Mutambara has spoken extensively about this in the last three months, about the need for us to rebrand Zimbabwe. Tragically Zimbabwe in the mind of the international community is often associated with all that is negative.

“And as we move through this inclusive transitional government, it is our opportunity to rebrand our great nation.

“I hope that through this roadshow we can commence this process of rebranding Zimbabwe and show not just Southern Africa but also the world what our nation is made of; that our nation is in fact a great nation. It is a rainbow nation, it has a rich colourful tapestry to present to the world and it is through our artists and cultural experts that this tapestry can be unfolded in such a positive way,” he said, adding that the country possessed a tremendous spirit which should not be branded negatively.

“Our goal is to commence to brand our nation positively and sports, arts, and culture are critical elements in rebranding our nation.”

Minister Coltart said arts and culture had an enormous ability to generate revenue not just for the artists but also for the nation.

He bemoaned the fact that local artists and people who have promoted culture have not been facilitated sufficiently to reach their own potential and in doing so to generate enormous amounts of money for the country and for themselves.

“I see my role as Minister as not to control arts and culture. I’m not an artist myself and the best art that I can generate is a “little stick man! If I sing you all run out of this room I can assure you!”

“My role is not to define what arts and culture are and certainly not to control; my role and the government’s role is to facilitate and to allow artists to give full vent to their artistic ability and in doing so to reach the full potential of their talent and generate wealth for their country and themselves. We need, as a government, to view art as business and to allow that business to flourish” said Minister Coltart.

He commended the selection of Bulawayo to launch the cultural Expo saying it was well positioned to be the cultural capital of Southern Africa because it is uniquely positioned geographically and it has a unique diversity of ethnic and racial groups that gives it an advantage over other cities in Southern Africa.

“The role our city has to play is not just in the context of Zimbabwe but in the context of SADC as we integrate all the great nations of SADC, as the borders come down, and as we get a much greater and freer flow of people and therefore different ethnic groups and cultures through Bulawayo” said the Minister.

He praised Amakhosi Director Cont Mhlanga, describing him as one of the artistic and cultural icons, not just of Bulawayo but also of Zimbabwe .

“Through his courage, innovation, and his artistic ability he has pushed the industry in many ways the last couple of decades. As we know he is a great playwright who has written courageously about Zimbabwe as he has seen it and that makes me very proud to be in association with him” he said.

The Minister encouraged artists to take part in the constitution making process and to practice their freedom of expression.

“Let me say this, if the constitution is just left as a piece of paper, it is dead.”

“We have provisions in our existing constitution, which are wonderful provisions such as the right to freedom of expression and freedom of association. These provisions have been in our existing constitution for the last 29 years and yet we as Zimbabweans have not exploited them.”

“It doesn’t matter how fine our Constitution is from the emergence of this constitutional reform process, if we don’t have artists and playwrights who will explore what freedom of expression means in the Zimbabwean context that constitution will remain a dead letter.”

The Standard
12 July 2009

A life-size statue of the late Safirio Madzikatire has been erected in Harare by the Culture Fund in a befitting tribute to the legendary comedian.

The statue was by Daniel Karavina, a sculptor from Harare who specialises in life-size statues.
Harare Mayor, Muchadeyi Masunda unveiled the statue at an event held at the newly opened Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust offices in Milton Park, Harare.

Madzikatire’s widow, Ntongasi and his eldest son, Elijah were among the guests who attended the event.

The statue is part of a project called Great Musicians of my Time which aims at documenting and archiving great artists who have left an indelible mark on the arts industry.

The statue, according to Culture Fund executive director Farai Mpfunya will be “mounted in various strategic venues in and around Harare”.

“It’s an honour to have my husband’s work remembered this way,” Ntongasi said.

“He loved people, he lived for them and this is a seal of approval from those who loved him.”
Karavina said he felt encouraged to undertake the mammoth task of “bringing back” the life of Madzikatire popularly known as Mukadota, because of the immense contribution he made to the music and arts industry.

“When I approached Culture Fund for support on this, the idea was to keep the memories of our legends intact,” Karavina said. “I look forward to continue doing this work.
This medium I used is not only entertaining to the fans but also quite intriguing and most of all it keeps Safirio alive.”

The launch was attended by top personalities such as sculptor Dominic Benhura, Sweden’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Sten Rylander, poet-cum-musician Albert Nyathi and the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart.

The Independent
By Enock Muchinjo
10 July 2009

EDUCATION and Sports minister David Coltart yesterday revealed in an interview with IndependentSport that a new Sports and Recreation Commission board will be announced by end July.
The term of the previous SRC board, led by Gibson Mashingaidze, expired last year.

“During the last few months I have engaged in a widespread process of consultation to identify suitable members for a new board,” Coltart said. “I have written to all the registered sports associations in Zimbabwe and have asked them to suggest suitable candidates. I’ve consulted with the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee, the current director of the Sports and Recreation Commission, and other bodies with an interest in sport.

“I now have a shortlist and I am in the process of consulting with the principals of the global p