Radio VOP

By Sij Ncube

25 February 2016

Harare, February 25, 2016 – FORMER South African president Thabo Mbeki has all but confirmed the African National Congress (ANC) complicity in President Robert Mugabe’s continued misrule with critics saying Mbeki’s quiet diplomacy contributed to the failure of the government of national unity (GNU).

Mbeki, who was removed as the leader of the ANC in 2009, has come under renewed fire after he disclosed his role in ensuring Mugabe remained in power despite losing elections to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in 2008.
During his reign, Mbeki maintained “quiet diplomacy” on Zimbabwe, refusing to rebuke Mugabe even at the height of Mugabe’s controversial land reform programme which saw nearly a dozen white commercial farmers killed by his militant supporters and thousands of their workers displaced.

Mbeki never raised a finger after Mugabe unleashed institutions of violence against opponents, particularly the MDC-T, which the South African leader labelled agents of regime change.
But Mbeki has stunned the world further by disclosing that Mugabe delayed land reform in Zimbabwe to help the ANC negotiate with the then apartheid regime leading to South Africa’s democracy in 1994.
Critics say the revelations give credence to assertions the former ANC leader deliberately turned a blind eye to bad governance and human rights abuses in Harare for political expedience.
They point out Mbeki and his government never faulted Zimbabwe’s land reform exercise and electoral processes despite being mired in overt violence, including killings on farmers and opposition followers especially during 2000 and 2008.

The MDC-T estimates about 300 of its supporters were killed in cold blood in state-sponsored violence during the 2008 presidential run-off election violence.
Disclosures Mugabe rejected advice to conduct fresh polls after the bloody 2008 presidential run-off polls make Mbeki and the ANC government complicit in Zimbabwe’s dictatorship.
Instead of asking Mugabe to stand down, Mbeki cobbled a power-sharing pact which left Mugabe with all his previous powers.

But critics say Mbeki is also known and remembered for refusing to make public a security report which determined that Zimbabwe’s 2002 presidential polls were not free and fair.
He has further claimed that South Africa was vehemently against the removal of Mugabe by force allegedly by Britain and the United States of America, saying the ANC wanted Zimbabweans to decide their future.
But critics canvassed by RadioVOP Wednesday slammed Mbeki, pointing out Zimbabweans have a right to chart their future not the ANC and its mandarins which continue to maintain its quiet diplomacy on Zimbabwe as well as defend Mugabe often blamed for poor leadership.

After Mugabe’s disputed re-election in the June 2008 presidential elections, Mbeki cajoled the opposition led by Morgan Tsvangirai to forge a government of national unity (GNU) which also featured Welshman Ncube’s formation of the MDC.

Maxwell Saungweme, a development analyst closely following Zimbabwe’s politics, says Mbeki’s diplomacy is what led to the futile GNU.
“Mugabe survived in 2008 partly because of the support he had from Mbeki in the region. Yes, Mbeki would have persuaded Mugabe to run a peaceful poll, but his diplomacy was not supported by commensurate measures that would ensure compliance and that would practically dissuade Mugabe from embarking on an undemocratic poll.

“He needed to match his persuasion with clear deterrent measures, which did not happen. Diplomacy is about giving and taking, not just giving! But instead he supported Mugabe,” charged Saungweme.
David Coltart, who served as a minister under Mugabe in the coalition government and is privy to the negotiations to form the coalition under Mbeki, added his voice on the issue.
“Aside from whatever Mbeki did or did not do regarding farmers, the fact is that in 2002 he hid the fact that Mugabe was illegally elected by withholding the Khampepe report. Because of this he was complicit in denying the will of the Zimbabwean electorate.”

Ricky Mukonza, a political analyst based in South Africa, did not mince his words, accusing Mbeki of tacitly endorsing what the Mugabe regime was doing during the height of repression in Zimbabwe.
“With the aid of hindsight, it can be concluded that quiet diplomacy was a Mbeki way of propping up the Mugabe regime. Having listened to his recent interviews I am convinced that the man was indirectly involved in the perpetuation of bad governance in the country.”

Be that as it may, critics claim Mbeki’s disclosures could be calculated to ensure Mugabe gets a soft landing when he decides to eventually exit politics.
Mugabe turned 92 on Sunday but has not shown any signs of slowing down. He has refused to at least name a successor.

The dog-fights in Zanu PF are blamed for the internecine factional battles in the party to succeed him.

Newsday

20 February 2016

BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA

NINE-YEAR-OLD Zvikomborero Mhondiwa (not real name) of Watershed area in Hwedza has to take her mother’s wrapping cloth to school every day.

The school, Guruuswa Primary, was established during the land reform exercise around 2000.

The government has done little to construct decent structures for the hundreds of pupils, who are currently learning in tobacco barns left behind by an evicted white farmer. Both the primary and secondary school pupils share the tobacco barns.

“There are not enough benches in the classroom and we sit on the floor, so I bring this wrapper so I spread it on the rough floor to avoid dirt,” Zvikomborero, a Grade 3 pupil said.

Parents in the resettlement areas said they have begun constructing classrooms, but the pace was very slow due to limited resources.

“Our children have been learning in these tobacco barns. We are hoping that their plight will be addressed by relevant authorities soon. As parents, we have started contributing both financial and labour resources to construct a few blocks,” Rosemary Tapera said.

The parents provided bricks, pit sand and other locally available building materials.

Parents were worried that Guruuswa School was in a dire state, as the tobacco barns were now dilapidated and poorly ventilated.

A primary school teacher at the institution, who declined to be named, said the learning environment was harsh given the unavailability of proper infrastructure.

“The children have adapted to this learning environment, but the truth remains there is need for proper infrastructure. The barns do not provide enough classroom space and pupils are being squashed,” the teacher said.

This mirrors the situation at a number of schools in resettlement areas across the country. Some pupils were said to be learning under trees due to shortage of infrastructure.

Over 300 000 families moved to resettlement areas at the height of the land reform programme, where there were no schools, forced government to establish satellite schools largely manned by non-qualified teachers.

Former Education minister David Coltart said the education of children at resettlement schools was not secure.

“The chaotic situation prevailing regarding the education of children in resettlement areas is a direct result of the unplanned nature of the land programme implemented since 2000. Instead of building the infrastructure needed, including schools, clinics, roads and hospitals, people were moved without any of these structures in place,” he said.

Coltart said during his tenure as a minister in the coalition government, he raised the issue with Cabinet, adding that there was need for huge investment in the sector.

“But there are several hundred thousand children who live in these (resettlement) areas. Sadly, many of them do not even go to school now. The current government is incapable of addressing this shocking situation,” he said.

The Zimbabwe Education Act [Chapter 25:04] states that all children have the right to education.

Justice for Children Trust director, Caleb Mutandwa said there was need to respect the rights of children.

“The Constitution of Zimbabwe provides for the right to education for every child. It also outlaws discrimination. We urge the government to put in place progressive measures to ensure that every child enjoys their rights, including education,” he said.

“Government must work towards providing the necessary infrastructure for every child, create a conducive learning environment for the child to achieve and realise their full potential. It needs to prioritise and be equitable in resource allocation.”

Primary and Secondary Education deputy minister Paul Mavhima said the government was working tirelessly to improve infrastructure in schools, practically in resettlement areas.

“We are quite aware of the situation and we have done a lot in improving the infrastructure in most schools in the country. Of the 2 056 schools, about 1 500 are satellite schools or in the resettlement areas and need to be improved. Each year, through the grants that we get, we have been constructing six schools and adding a classroom block or so to those who have already improved their infrastructure,” he said.

On November 29, 2015 the government, through the Primary and Secondary Education ministry, issued a statement seeking joint venture partnerships on school infrastructure development.

Mavhima said the ministry had a deficit of 2 056 secondary and primary schools countrywide and the government had approved the construction of school infrastructure through joint venture partnership projects.

The plight of children in the resettlement areas is worsened, as the bulk of the teachers in rural areas are less experienced, under qualified and demotivated, thereby subjecting pupils to low quality education.

Radio VOP

By Sij Ncube

16 February 2016

Harare, February 16, 2016 – VICE President Emmerson Mnangagwa appears to be trudging towards the same fate that visited his predecessor Joice Mujuru but analysts are quick to so-nicknamed Crocodile is made of sterner stuff.
Mujuru, the former Zanu PF and Zimbabwe vice president, was summarily fired from the party in 2014 for allegedly plotting to kill President Robert Mugabe, among a myriad of allegations, which she vehemently denies even to this date.
Mnangagwa, known as Ngwena or Crocodile or Lacoste, has been in the line of fire from Mugabe’s wife Grace and her camp, ostensibly for publicly flaunting his presidential ambitions in Zanu PF where succession is perceived as taboo subject.

Speculation is rife he could suffer the same fate as Mujuru who was kicked out of Zanu PF together with other former top party wigs who had tipped her to succeed Mugabe.
Grace’s side-kick Sarah Mahoka, the Zanu PF secretary for finance, set the ball rolling last Wednesday when she dared Mnangagwa to publicly declare his presidential ambitions in front of Mugabe and other bussed members of Zanu PF.
At a rally in Mazowe two days later, Grace made a party of Mnangagwa who has been taunted as Mugabe’s heir apparent by virtue of being the first vice president.

“We have realised that those we thought were being groomed as leaders are sell-outs. We no longer have confidence in them,” Grace charged in what critics say is in apparent reference to Ngwena.
“Do not take us for fools. They (Mnangagwa camp) will not take over from Mugabe. I will rather put him in a wheelbarrow to work” Grace said of her 92 year-old husband whose advanced age is seen as fuelling vigorous horse-trading within the ruling party.

Analysts have been quick to note similarities between Mujuru ‘s ouster and the political problems presently circling Mnangagwa, pointing out that Mujuru’s demise started during one of Grace’s 2014 rallies where the former VP was accused of attempting to assassinate Mugabe.

Grace charged at the rally in Chiweshe on Friday that there were attempts to kill members of the first family, including her children after a rat-tag band of soldiers and a little-known politician were nabbed for allegedly plotting to bomb the Mugabe family dairy in Mazowe.

Mnangagwa is thought to be close to army generals who have previously vowed they would not salute any aspiring leader who did not participate in the liberation war.

Reward Mushayabasa, a political analyst based in the United Kingdom, believes a script has been written already for Mnangagwa’s fate. “We have seen the same script being used against Mujuru. This is the same script used against (Joshua) Nkomo and (Morgan) Tsvangirai,” he said.

Vivid Gwede, a Harare-based political analyst, concurred, saying Mnangagwa literally has to move a mountain in his defence to survive the political onslaught in Zanu PF.
“It appears his days are numbered. Mujuru’s demise tells us that Mugabe caucuses with Grace before such shellacking of people by the First Lady,” said Gwede.
“In any case, the charge sheet is the same for Mnangagwa of wanting to replace Mugabe and harm his family physically. But the truth is Mugabe said way back even before Mujuru’s expulsion that they had both destroyed themselves by being mentioned as faction leaders.”

As if not raining but pouring enough for the Lacoste camp, Zanu PF national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere has suspended three provincial chairpersons linked to Ngwena for allegedly barring party members and supporters from attending Grace’s rally last Wednesday ahead of the politburo meeting.

This development, according to analysts, is yet another major blow to the Midlands politician’s political machinations to succeed Mugabe. Last week Grace also lashed out at suspended war veterans’ leader Chris Mutsvangwa, a close ally of the VP.

But David Coltart, an opposition politician considered a fiery critic of Mugabe and Zanu PF, said it would be folly to underrate Mnangagwa’s political staying power following his latest, seemingly, political set-backs.
“Don’t count him out too soon,” Coltart told RadioVOP, “He has more support amongst heavyweights in the army than Joice had.” The MDC former legislator said although there is no doubt Mnangagwa is in trouble, he strongly believes Ngwena would not be as much of a pushover as Mujuru, adding “he has a ruthless streak which Joice never had”.

Mushayabasa also agrees, postulating that Ngwena’s strength lies in his ties within the army generals as their former minister of defence.

“There is an understanding some security generals are on his side. Let’s remember there are divisions in the security. There are those who supported Mujuru and were neutralised after Mujuru’s sacking,” he says.
“Then there some in the middle; we have Generals like Phillip Sibanda who are well respected professional soldiers who are not actively involved in politics. We do not know with all certainty where their political allegiances lie. Of course, VP Mnangagwa can rely on those who have been very active in politics like Major General Chiwenga.”

Other critics doubt Mugabe would have the will to fire him due to their ties during the war of liberation. The Zanu PF leader could neutralise him or destabilise him using the rival G40 camp.
Ricky Mukonza, a political analyst based in South Africa, said Mnangagwa’s fate will largely depend on how he will handle the situation he is facing.
“If he goes back to the President crawling and asking for his mercies he will survive. But if he chooses to remain adamant he will likely face the Mujuru fate. There is little doubt now that Grace Mugabe determines who leaves or stays in the party,” he said.

“The challenge ED does not seem to have is a good following within the Zanu PF party. However his huge experience leading the various security ministries and his liberation credentials give him some advantage ahead of the other likely successors. It must be emphasised that as things are now in Zanu PF, Mugabe and Grace hold the powers on many aspects of the party including; who leaves or stays in the party and who will lead it in feature.”

The Standard

By Phyllis Mbanje

14 February 2016

The release of Zimbabwe School Examination Council (Zimsec) Ordinary and Advanced Level 2015 examination results has seen proud parents and guardians of students who produced a string of A grades taking to social media to flaunt their children’s achievements.

Some candidates scored as many as 30 points at A’ Level, while others scored 15 A’s at O’Level.
The extra-ordinary results sparked debate, especially on Facebook where some Zimbabweans felt the grades pointed to falling standards at Zimsec.

However, in an analysis of the 2015 O’Level results, Zimsec director Esau Nhandara said examination standards had been benchmarked to previous ones in all the subjects.

“Generally, the performance of the November 2015 candidates was commendable in most subjects,” Nhandara said.

“Reasons for this performance may vary from subject to subject and may only be substantiated by empirical research to confirm the trend in the pass rates.

“An important point to take note of is that, grading standards have been maintained throughout.

“The standards have been benchmarked to previous ones and maintained in all subjects.”

University of Zimbabwe’s faculty of education dean Oswell Hapanyengwi said public examinations results started improving in 2009 when resources were mobilised by then Education minister David Coltart to re-equip schools with textbooks and other learning materials.

“Students from that period are the ones graduating in recent years and had the opportunity of a good solid foundation which carried them through,” he said.

The educationist said the current economic situation was now creating a competitive edge among students who wanted to make it in a country with only a handful of opportunities to offer.

“The competition is very high and students push themselves in order to position themselves in a country where it is extremely difficult to get ahead with average results.”

His sentiments were echoed by Mufakose 1 High School’s top A’Level student Paddington Dzinzi who got straight As in five subjects.

“There is a lot of competition out there and you just need to be in the top to have an advantage over the others,” he said.

Dzinzi said hard work through study groups and attending lessons helped him to stay focused.

“One has to be dedicated and to keep a level head through it all and having supportive friends and family motivates one to do great,” he said.

The humble teenager, who wants to pursue a medical career or Actuarial science if he gets financial assistance, also said the learning environment was crucial in producing good grades.

“At our school we had a group called the Headmaster’s Group. If you failed to attain at least two Cs during the termly tests, you would be forced to attend this intense study group for three weeks,” he explained.

Nhandara said the general improvement in the quality of results was a result of availability of textbooks and learning systems at schools.

“Any rise or fall in candidate performance would be attributable to teaching and learning processes in schools,” he explained.

Nhandara also said the Education Development Fund (EDF), and the then Education Transition Fund (ETF) of 2011 and 2012 during which all secondary schools received textbook kits, may have contributed to the good results.

“There was a one-to-one textbook-pupil ratio and these resources were used from Form 1 up to Form 4. The cohort of learners who used these books from Form 1 to Form 4 was those who wrote examinations in 2015,” he said.

Qualified and dedicated teachers have also been said to be another contributory factor.

“Teachers are improving themselves academically and many have doctorates which have improved the quality of education in schools,” said the president of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta), Richard Gundani.

He also heaped praises on some parents who are instrumental in home schooling of their children to complement the school system.

“The issue of having qualified teachers in secondary schools cannot be ignored as a contributing factor to improved learner performance,” said Nhandara.

Coltart said while it would not be easy to pin-point the real reasons for the exceptional results without a proper study, more resources would help improve pass rates.

“Standards should not drop and resources should be increased,” he said.

Results on average are still below 30% for O’Level and for 2015 there was only a 27,86% pass rate, which was a slight improvement from the 2014 pass rate of just 22,38%.
Although the government has banned rating of schools according to pass rates, a Zimsec analysis shows that Masvingo province is once again leading with a 31,9% pass rate followed by the Midlands (29,19), then Manicaland (29,19).

Harare was on fourth position with 28,78% while Mashonaland East had the least pass rate of 22,98%. Matabeleland South was on fifth position with 25,33% followed by Bulawayo with 25,07%, then Mashonaland Central with 24,19%, Matabeleland North 23,95 and Mashonaland West 23,51%.

In 2014, Masvingo had seven schools that attained 100% pass rates at A’Level namely St Anthony’s, Hebron, Zaka High, Chinorumba Secondary, Chatikobo High, Tungwane Secondary and Mutimwi secondary.

Zimbabwe Independent

By Hazel Ndebele

12 February 2016

ZIMBABWE risks losing out on international relief assistance after government’s late declaration of a state of disaster in the wake of the El Nino induced drought, which has left nearly three million people requiring urgent food aid.

This comes amid indications that most international relief agencies have already committed their resources to countries that quickly moved to declare state of disasters.
At least 30 million people will need food aid in southern Africa alone, but the figure could rise to 40 million.

Zimbabwe needs about US$1, 5 billion to avert hunger and has appealed to the international community, local business people, civil society, churches and humanitarian organisations to assist with food.

The government last week belatedly declared the drought a national disaster, but by that time many other countries in the region had already done so, resulting in international relief agencies committing their resources elsewhere.

This means that the country will not get as much assistance as it would have got had it declared a national disaster earlier.

The government dithered despite being implored to do so from various quarters including the European Union’s ambassador Philippe Van Damme and former education minister David Coltart (as far back as just after Christmas) who spoke of the need to act speedily in light of the fierce competition for resources.

Malawi, for example, declared half the country a disaster zone early last year when floods destroyed crops, leading to a 28% fall in the staple maize crop output in 2015. South Africa in November last year declared five provinces as drought disaster areas.

Stakeholders who attended an Oxfam media briefing last Friday revealed the government’s procrastination may adversely affect the country. Oxfam is a globally renowned aid and development charity with partners in over 90 countries worldwide.

It was agreed that for instance early treatment of malnutrition in communities is eight times cheaper as compared to emergency treatments in clinics.

Christian Care director Edmore Makunura said although the declaration was welcome, its late arrival remained a challenge.

“Other countries declared earlier than us, the challenge with our situation as was in 2002, is that we normally declare a bit late for donors to mobilise and most communities would have already gone through a lot of hardship,” said Makunura.

Oxfam International executive director Winnie Byanyima said the government had made the right move by declaring a disaster given the scale of the drought.
She, however, said it would have been wiser to make the declaration earlier.

“My organisation welcomes the declaration of drought as national disaster by government. In some places, people have still not received any rains and some have not even planted yet and elsewhere they are a write-off,” Byanyima said.

“We underscore that early action to food insecurity is always more cost-effective than late response. We call on international donors to rapidly respond to this declaration and commit funding for an urgent and comprehensive response.

“Oxfam and our partners are ready to respond,” she added.

Last month Van Damme visited Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa offices where they discussed the food situation in the country among other issues. The Zimbabwean government, however, indicated that it was mobilising internal resources and was in control of the situation although aid was welcome.

“One of the issues that we discussed in that regard is that there is a lot of international competition for humanitarian aid, so it’s extremely important that the Government moves very swiftly and quantify as much as possible the extent of the challenges,” he said.

“And on that basis, they possibly consider making a declaration of humanitarian emergency because as you know some of the countries have already made the declaration. That draws the attention of the partners on the country and facilitates the mobilisation of resources.”

Byanyima said the price of white maize, a staple food in Sadc had increased by up to 40% because of poor harvests.

The most drought-affected countries in the region are Angola, Malawi, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

Byanyima said Oxfam is particularly concerned about Malawi and Zimbabwe where impacts are worse. In Malawi 2,8 million people need food assistance but the number is expected to increase.

“In both countries, the governments have severe economic constraints which have impacted on their response. International organisations are responding, but much more could be done to mitigate impacts,” she said.

In other countries such as Ethiopia, the situation is extremely serious with an estimated figure of 10,2 million people requiring humanitarian help in 2016 at a cost of US$1,4 billion.

Zimbabwe requires about 1,8 million tonnes of grain for human and livestock consumption per year.

The nation produced about 800 000 tonnes of maize last season due to poor rains and flooding in some areas.

Nearly 16 000 herd of cattle in the country have died so far and villagers in some parts of Matabeleland South province can only afford one meal per day and some one meal every two days.

In 2011, a late response to food crisis in Somalia led to 258 000 deaths and massive suffering as well as loss of livelihoods in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Financial Gazette

4 February 2016

By Andrew Kunambura

WHEN Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Lazarus Dokora, is in the news, you bet he has opened his mouth yet again to say something provocative.

It looks like the man really loves the limelight and will grab it at all cost, notwithstanding the damage it inflicts on his reputation.

He just loves being controversially topical and has used teachers as his pedestal, knowing for certain that anything that concerns these tormented professionals, is sure to attract attention.

All of Dokora’s controversial policies are so divisive that they leave many wondering what exactly he is hoping to achieve.

What’s his gripe with teachers?

In his latest proposal, Dokora plans to introduce a policy which would see teachers from schools that fail to attain an average of at least 50 percent pass rate at all examination levels having their monthly salaries cut by the same percentage for three months. Oh my goodness!

The question is: With the hope of achieving what?

The explanation proffered was very pedestrian: So that teachers can work harder in order for pupils to pass.

The announcement, as reported in a recent Sunday paper, came as the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) released 2015 Advanced Level results whose overall average pass rate was 87,6 percent.

This writer is not very much conversant with personnel management, but has some knowledge of one Abraham Maslow, who coined a theory on the hierarchy of needs.

The writer recollects that at the very base are physiological needs, which refer to the physical requirements for human survival.

If these requirements are not met, the human body cannot function properly and will ultimately fail.

As such, it follows that if physiological needs are thought to be the most important, then they should be met first.

One therefore wonders, in light of this, how Dokora’s policies, which are suitable for a military battalion than a school, would improve the education system when they de-motivate teachers.

One needs to learn that there is nothing more depressing and counter-productive at any workplace in the world than the punishment of an unwarranted salary cut.

Is it not very basic knowledge that a hungrier and angrier worker is less likely to perform to satisfaction?

Any educationist worth his/her salt will dismiss these militant policies with the utmost contempt they deserve.

The same minister is presiding over what he has termed a “revolutionary curriculum shift”, which places more emphasis on improving learning resources for a better education system and yet shooting from a very different direction altogether.

New education approaches seem to suggest that emphasis should be placed more on the learner than the facilitator and it follows that Dokora should invest more of his abundant energy on sourcing resources — textbooks, laboratory equipment for science (which he appears to have a disposition for) and information and communication technologies (ICTs) that are working wonders in other African countries and are now fast overtaking us, while we rest in the old comfort of being the most educated nation on the continent.

Before him, David Coltart had made significant developments in this respect. But Dokora’a behaviour has some underlying factors.

It should be remembered that Dokora was hauled from obscurity by President Robert Mugabe after he failed to retain his Rushinga National Assembly seat in the 2013 general elections.

He in fact, fell in the ZANU-PF primary polls, but the President picked him up from being an ordinary citizen he had relapsed into, to become a Cabinet minister in September 2013.

Hardly a year later, he would be caught up in the vicious ZANU-PF factional wars after he was accused of hobnobbing with former vice president, Joice Mujuru, who was sacked for alleged plots to dethrone President Mugabe.

Throughout this turbulent period, the Minister wittingly withdrew himself from the drama and concentrated on the curriculum review process with which he managed to fool everyone into believing that he deserved more time at the helm of the Ministry.

In between he threw ploys that kept him in the limelight and firmly in favour with President Mugabe.

The problem with this tactic is that it has to be constantly recharged and Dokora seems to have perfectly understood the game. However, he can only go so far.

Below are some of the controversial policies he has introduced since his appointment:

– Banned teachers from complementing their low wages by offering holiday lessons.

– Withdrew incentives for teachers that were introduced by his predecessor, Coltart, in order to retain teaching staff.

– Proposed scrapping of teachers’ salaries for the three months they are on school holidays — April, August and December.

– Wants cameras installed in classrooms in order to monitor teachers.

– Wants sporting activities banned during the week.

– Banned holiday lessons.

– Wants to increase the number of subjects at primary level from four to nine.

The Star (Jamaica)

3 February 2016

The West Indies Under-19 team ignited a Twitter storm in the wee hours of yesterday morning (Jamaica time) during their Under-19 Cricket World Cup group match against Zimbabwe in Chittagong, Bangladesh.

West Indies Under-19 won the match in controversial fashion by two runs after pacer Keemo Paul, during his run-up, broke the stumps and appealed for a run-out against non-striker, Richard Ngarava at the start of the final over of the innings. The on field umpires sent the decision to the fourth umpire and the Zimbabwe batsman Richard Ngarava was declared ‘run out’ with his bat on the line.

The decision, though legal, caused quite an uproar on Twitter. Many believed the move was ‘just not cricket’ and undermined the gentleman’s game. Others backed the umpires’ decision as it was a legal dismissal.

Below are some of the comments:

David Coltart a Zimbawean who is a former Minister of Sport in that country said: Today is the West Indies’ day of shame – our batsman clearly trying to stay in his crease – this is just sneaky.

Former CNN night show host Piers Morgan @piersmorgan has 4.8 million followers and he had several tweets on the incident, here’s one: Disgraceful piece of Mankad cheating by West Indies U19s – shame on them all.

Elton Phiri @elton_phiri: Zimjbabwe Under19s have been ROBBED. Poor sportsmanship #CWCU19 #Heartbroken

Silas Lekgoathi @pencilsncrayons: West Indies just robbed Zimbabwe in broad daylight.

English cricketer Eoin Morgan @eoin16: Disgraceful behaviour in the U19CWC. WI’s should be embarrassed.

Windies pacer Tino Best @tinobest: Smart play WIU19 keep pounding boys.

West Indies allrounder Carlos Brathwaite @TridentsportX: Congrats WI U19

Cricket commentator and former England player David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd @BumbleCricket: Mankad’s always controversial. If batsman blatantly gaining ground, bowler within rights … this latest seemed harsh on the batsman IMO (in my opinion).

Cricket commentator Mike Haysman @MikeHaysman: A Mankad should only be allowed if an official warning was issued first. What a poor end to an entertaining tussle.

Former Australian cricketer Jason Gillespie @YCCCDizzy: Debate the laws of the game sure, however, I don’t agree with criticising a player for playing within the laws of the game.

NOTE: Vinoo Mankad, a former Indian spinner, ran out non-striker Australia batsman Bill Brown during a Test in Sydney on the 1947 tour. Running out a non-striker while the bowler is in his run-up thus became known as a ‘Mankad’.

Reuters

By Ray Mwareya

2 February 2016

The joke in Harare these days is that more people per square metre are drinking bottled water here – in the drought-hit capital of Zimbabwe – than in wealthy Manhattan.

Harare has developed a huge appetite for bottled water. An estimated 300,000 litres change hands daily in this city of just over 1.6 million inhabitants, with Zimbabwe’s finance minister, Patrick Chinamasa, saying that imports have reached “crazy” proportions.

Buyers include poor families as well as rich, and such is the upswing of demand that bottled water now outsells alcohol and soft drinks in some desperately thirsty neighbourhoods.
The reason for the boom is simple: what’s coming out of the tap in many homes and businesses is increasingly undrinkable. “Municipal water is smelly. Often we see visible dirty particles floating,” Precious Shumba, chair of the Harare Residents’ Trust, the biggest civic pressure group in the city, said in an interview with the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

DISEASE THREAT

As water quality declines, in part the result of worsening drought, some families who drink or bathe in what comes out of the tap are becoming sick with problems from rashes to typhoid, health authorities say.
The capital has grappled with problems providing clean water for most of a decade, but an extended drought, crippling power cuts, a cash-short municipal government and an exodus of qualified water engineers mean the city now produces only about 40 percent of the water needed, Shumba said.

About half of the city’s water is lost through leaks in failing distribution pipes on its way to homes, and illegal connections are also a problem, water engineers say.
Residents nervous about what’s coming out of their taps have increasingly turned to alternatives for drinking water. Domestic refrigerators are packed with containers of imported or local purified water.
In many homes, the city’s municipal water is only used for bathing, gardening, laundry, or watering animals.

WATER TOUTS

The surge in demand for bottled water has led to new business opportunities. Sheila Dezha, 40, a widow, collects empty plastic bottles from bins and sidewalks, scrubs them clean and refills them with well water.
After refrigerating the bottles overnight, she sells them to passersby near malls and restaurants, or to motorists stopped at traffic lights.

“Dirty municipal drinking water means big profits for me,” Dezha from Epworth, one of Harare’s poorest districts, said in an interview.

Her home-bottled water sells for a steep $1.50, bringing in a healthy profit.”On a good day I can sell 100 bottles of water,” she said. “At first my neighbours jeered my business as shameful and deceitful,” she said. But “I can afford to put my two children through secondary school. Now neighbours borrow money from me. On weekends I go around the community teaching women how to clean dirty bottles and sell fresh water.”

‘THE NEW GOLD’

As Zimbabwe struggles with a hot, dry summer, a growing share of people have become part-time bottled water vendors. Ice cream sellers, security guards and school teachers all can be found hawking water as a side business.
“I stock and hide 30 tubes of bottled water in my office every day,” admitted Rarami, a secondary school teacher in the city who asked that his surname not be used. “I sell to thirsty students for $1.10 a tube. It’s a marvellous secret profit.” “Water is the new gold in Harare,” he said.

Supermarkets have opened new counters advertising “sweet drinking water by reverse osmosis science.”

“Business is delightful. Bottled water sales outstrip alcohol on a scale of 3-to-1, at least in our store,” said Naye Beta, a warehouse manager at a Pick n Pay supermarket, one of the country’s biggest retailers.
But not all of the water for sale on Harare’s streets is safe. Arnold Gokwe, a director for Still Waters Packaging, one of the water bottling companies in the capital, said touts refilling bottles with unclean water is hurting the image of companies like his.

“Fly-by-night sellers fill bottles with rain water and stick our brand across their bottles. This spoils our reputation,” he said in an interview.
Jimmy Sabelo, an infectious disease doctor who runs the private Everjoy Medical Centre, said the city has seen an upswing in health problems as a result of dirty water from taps and refilled bottles.
“Often I am treating over 10 patients with vomiting, abdominal pains and dysentery. Some of it is related to water issues, especially patients from the poorest suburbs like Mbare, east of the city,” he said.

‘SAFE BY FAITH’

Consumers face a number of problems in determining what constitutes safe drinking water. In Harare, shelves teem with bottles of drinking water that bear the face of popular Pentecostal Christian spiritual leaders who draw up to 10,000 worshippers at their meetings.

“The prophet’s drinking water is safe by faith. We don’t need stupid tests to prove it!” one devout shop owner said in an interview.

Charity Jerayi, 30, a “street water entrepreneur”, said many people who have lost factory jobs are selling unsafe water to make ends meet.

Gideon Shoko, the deputy secretary of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, said he understands what drives the deceit. “The unemployment rate is over 80 percent. Anything sells for desperate people,” he said.
David Coltart, a veteran lawmaker and former government minister, said reckless issuing of building permits has destroyed natural wetlands that once helped purify the city’s water.
“Most families in the capital cannot pay for bottled water. This often has dire consequences for their health. It’s tragic,” he said.

News 24

1 February 2016

Harare – Zimbabwean opposition parties have reportedly described as “absurd” President Robert Mugabe’s anti-UN and West speech at the just-ended African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mugabe told delegates at the AU’s 26th ordinary summit over the weekend that African countries would not hesitate to pull out of the United Nations if steps to reform the international body were not taken.

Mugabe said it was time for action, as Africa had been talking and begging for years, for the continent’s permanent seat at the UN security council, but had not been heard.

“We have asked and asked for Security Council reform,” Mugabe, 91, said.

Watch as Mugabe speaks below.

There are only five permanent UN Security Council permanent seats held by Russia, China, United State of America, France, and the United Kingdom.

Mugabe’s critics, however, urged African leaders not to heed Mugabe’s call.

According to NewsDay political analyst and opposition parties in the southern African country said Mugabe’s rant on Saturday was ill-advised and would likely attract a few African countries.

The Movement for Democratic Change spokesperson, Obert Gutu, said Mugabe’s call was unrealistic as he pulled Zimbabwe out of the Commonwealth in 2003, a “selfish and angry” decision which did not benefit the country.

Another Mugabe opponent, former education minister David Coltart, wrote on his Facebook page: “Mugabe’s call for the UN to open up is correct but it’s hypocritical in the extreme to call for that when #‎Zimbabwe itself remains a closed society.”

Mugabe is the only leader independent Zimbabwe has ever known, having been in power since 1980. He has been accused of human rights abuses over the years. His government has been blamed for the suffering of many, as the country’s economy continues to deteriorate.

News24

Correspondent

1 February 2016

Harare – “The gloves are off,” tweeted one prominent Zimbabwe opposition official. Said another: “I’m enjoying every bit.”

Zimbabweans, not just those in the ranks of the Movement for Democratic Change, have been watching with something approaching glee as President Robert Mugabe’s spokesman and his ex-information minister tear into each other in a public spat.

Played out on radio and social media on Thursday and Friday, the war-of-words between presidential spokesman George Charamba and the man who is now higher education minister, Jonathan Moyo, has shed some light on the bitter battle for power within the upper echelons of Zanu-PF as Mugabe approaches 92.

Moyo is known to be a member of the so-called G40 group which also includes Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao and Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere. G40 members do not want Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe as president.

Charamba however appears to favour Mnangagwa for the hot seat or at the very least, he’s opposed to the G40’s plan, analysts say. The spokesman’s tetchy relationship with Moyo, his former boss, has exploded into open-name calling.

“They are big fools,” Charamba said in comments carried in full by the official Herald on Friday, making it clear he was referring to Moyo and his allies.

“Here are little men with absolutely no iota of history behind them thinking they can one day emerge as leaders of this country, with their little minds thinking baldness is age. It isn’t,” Charamba said.

Moyo called Charamba “a silly Shakespearean wordsmith” on Thursday. On Friday he warned: “I’m tweeting from up while he [Charamba] is down the ladder.”

Former education minister David Coltart of the Movement for Democratic Change said on Twitter: “Things are getting very interesting.”

Obert Gutu, the spokesman for the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC faction said: “Public spat btwn George Charamba and Jonathan Moyo. Let Zanu PF crush [sic] and burn.”

While not doubting the entertainment value of the fight, some Zimbabweans have wondered more soberly what the fallout will be.

“Brace up for another dramatic year guys,” tweeted @RebelMunyukwi. “The chickens are coming home to roost in ZANU-PF”.