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

SW Radio Africa
By Lance Guma
10 July 2009

Over 200 teachers under the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) took to the streets of Masvingo Friday morning, demonstrating for a review of their US$100 allowances. Earlier in the week the PTUZ called for a class boycott beginning July 10 and this is to be repeated next week on the 17th July. President Takavafira Zhou said the campaign was code-named Operation Friday/Chisi/Inzilo and further boycotts would stretch to the 23rd July if government did not increase their allowances.
On the first day of the campaign Zhou led the group of teachers from the PTUZ offices into the city centre. They took a petition to the provincial offices of the Public Service Commission. For a country accustomed to riot police beating up any protestors it was surprising to see police actually escorting the demonstrating teachers on the streets. The unions want teachers salaries raised from US$100 to US$500 saying this was well in line with figures released by the Central Statistical Office stating that an average family required over US$500 to survive.
Newsreel spoke to the Acting chief executive officer of the larger, Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA), Sifiso Ndlovu, and he told us their union would only call for a strike at the end of July if government ignored their demands. Ndlovu said they were committed to the process of current negotiations through the National Joint Negotiating Council. He also said they intend to make Education Minister David Coltart and Finance Minister Tendai Biti hold onto their promise that salaries would be reviewed. Ndlovu denied speculation they would demonstrate in the middle of July, before Biti’s budget presentation, to put pressure on government.
The relationship between the coalition government and teachers has been very shaky for the past few months. Two months ago government averted a strike by promising to review teacher’s salaries and offered them incentives, like free education for their children. The slow pace in reviewing the US$100 allowances has however strained relations. PTUZ Secretary General Raymond Majongwe this week lashed out at Biti saying; ‘The minister of Finance is now behaving like we were not together all along. He is behaving like a Catholic priest giving pieces of bread to a woman with closed eyes.’
The government has meanwhile sought to assure teachers that they are engaging the donor community to encourage them to pick up the bill for their salaries. The unions however say such pledges are ‘indefinite and undependable’.

SW Radio Africa
By Lance Guma
9 July 2009

A constitutional conference scheduled to be held this Friday has now been moved to Monday, amid reports of serious bickering within ZANU PF and their last minute bid to have it postponed indefinitely. Newsreel understands several ZANU PF MP’s are complaining that MP’s in the Tsvangirai MDC have ‘hijacked’ the constitution making process. A report in the state owned Herald newspaper quotes some of them claiming that ZANU PF members in the select committee are allowing their MDC colleagues to dominate proceedings. Friday’s convention would have been the first major meeting of all key participants in the constitution making process, but ZANU PF were determined to have it postponed indefinitely we are told.
MP Douglas Mwonzora from the Tsvangirai MDC, Paul Mangwana from ZANU PF and Senator David Coltart from the Mutambara MDC are the chairmen of the special parliamentary committee dealing with the constitution making process. When they met on Tuesday it was reported they had refused to bow down to ZANU PF pressure to move the conference date. What motivated the u-turn is still unclear, but the Zim Online news agency quotes Mwonzora saying ‘having taken into consideration the concerns of ZANU PF and the timeline given in the global political agreement the committee decided to move the conference to Monday.’
ZANU PF is arguing that several issues around logistics and who will attend the convention need to be ironed out. Skeptics believe the move is simply a delaying tactic to frustrate participants in the process. Mwonzora confirmed to journalists that ZANU PF wanted an indefinite postponement of the convention, but his committee refused. After this refusal ZANU PF tried to have the conference moved to the end of July, again Mwonzora’s committee refused to back down, insisting on Monday next week as the date.
‘I don’t understand the strategic importance of a delay. We tried to make sense of it,’ Mwonzora told journalists.
Monday’s convention is expected to see the setting up of committees drawn from all the political parties. To run outreach programmes to get peoples views on the new constitution. But several civil society groups, like the National Constitutional Assembly, are deeply critical of the process saying politicians should not be leading it. Their fears were born out by remarks from Mugabe, who insisted the widely discredited Kariba Draft constitution should be used as a framework for the new constitution. The MDC have already said they will oppose, this despite appending their signature to the Kariba Draft in September 2007. Experts say that draft entrenches the executive powers of the President.

Radiovop
8 July 2009

The Inxusa Cultural Expo will be hosting two VIP Cocktail launches to mark the start of the SADC VIP Road show to promote the event in a ‘Nine SADC Country VIP Road Show’.

The Inxusa Cultural Expo executice pruducer and director Cont Mhlanga said pre launch cocktails will be presented for captains of industry, government officials, embassies, cultural and educational institutions, tourism and travel sector and the official launch of the Cultural Expo on November 21 in Bulawayo while the grand finale of this SADC VIP Road show will be on November 4-5 in Durban South Africa.

The Bulawayo VIP Cocktail event will be held on the 9th of July where the Minister of Education Sport Arts and Culture Senator David Coltart will be guest of honor while in Harare it will be held on the 16th of July. Vice President Mujuru, who is the Patron of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, has confirmed that she will be the guest of honour.

“Inxusa Cultural Expo is a truly SADC event that aims to promote regional integration in all aspects of the economy and social life. It is for this reason that we are promoting the event to all SADC member States to invite partnerships from both private and public sectors of our Sub-Saharan African economy to support the event and buy in,” Mhlanga said.

The Cultural Expo is a four day exhibition event planned in a three year cycle which fall between 17-20 December 2009, 15-18 July 2010 and 28-31 July 2011 at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair and Exhibition Center.

The regional media campaign of the Inxusa Cultural Expo rolls out on the 9th of July in Bulawayo with the ‘Nine SADC Country VIP Road Show’.

“While the SADC Road Show is on the move a local national road show will start in Masvingo in the last week of July and will visit Zimbabwe’s 10 cities to give the mayor of each town an invitation for their town and community to participate,” said Mhlanga.

New Zimbabwe.com
By Lebo Nkatazo
7 July 2009

ZIMBABWE’S unity government was accused of a “careless squandering of goodwill” last night as teachers threatened a new wave of strikes for better pay.
One union said its members would also stop attending classes every Friday, starting this week, in protest at the alleged harassment of its members by Zanu PF militias.
Both the Progressive Teachers’ Union (PTUZ) and the bigger membership Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) gave the unity government up to the end of this month to swap their monthly US$100 allowances for substantive salaries.
Finance Minister Tendai Biti is expected to announce civil servants will be paid salaries starting this month in his mid-term policy statement on July 16.
But the PTUZ accuses the minister of failing to consult.
PTUZ secretary general Raymond Majongwe said Biti had forgotten they were “together in the struggle”. There was no difference between him and his Zanu PF predecessor Herbert Murerwa, Majongwe charged at a press conference in Harare.
“The minister of Finance is now behaving like we were not together all along. He is behaving like a Catholic priest giving pieces of bread to a woman with closed eyes,” Majongwe said.
ZIMTA took aim at Education Minister David Coltart, dismissing his promises that he will attend to their demands was a “hoax”.
In a statement, the union said a meeting of its national executive committee on June 26 and 27 expressed concern that the review of the teachers’ remuneration was long overdue and that “the much talked about roadmap by Coltart was nothing but a hoax, and a diversionary tactic”.
The union said the government’s engagement of the donor community to pick up the bill for teachers’ salaries was “indefinite and undependable”.

It added: “ZIMRA will call for a nationwide strike if demands are not addressed. This is the last resort should current engagements with authorities fail to yield results this July.
“ZIMTA members have exhausted their patience and will soon find it irresistible to embark on industrial action. The national executive will be unable to restrain the educators’ backlash.”
The unity government says it needs US$8,3 billion over the next three years to stabilise the economy and meet its obligations after a decade-long recession.
Ministers fear a teacher walkout will spark more industrial action by the rest of the 140,000 civil servants who are also paid US$100 allowances monthly.