The Sunday News

By Sunday News Reporter

6 November 2013

THE Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board has come up with provincial liaison offices that would be manned by selected individuals throughout the country’s nine provinces. Lorraine Muringi, the board’s vice-chairperson, said they had already appointed Gabriel Moyo as liaison officer for Bulawayo and that the appointment was with effect from 25 September.

She said the provincial coordinators would be appointed in all provinces besides Harare.

“We want to facilitate easy interaction with the boxers and also enable them to register easily with the provincial officers. We have already appointed the Bulawayo liaison officer Moyo and we are currently looking at others we can appoint in other provinces. We believe the positions are critical hence we need to appoint able and dedicated people who have a great passion for the sport,” said Muringi, adding that liaison officers for other provinces would be appointed in due course.

Meanwhile, some of the country’s former top boxers met in Bulawayo last Saturday as part of an initiative to revive the sport in the country.

The meeting was held at Tshaka Centre in Makokoba and was convened by Moyo.

The gathering came up with various ideas that have been forwarded to the board for consideration. The attendees agreed that they should go back to the drawing board and focus on the grassroots.

Among the participants were former Commonwealth champion, Alfonso “Mosquito” Zvenyika, Mordecai Donga, coach Philip “Striker” Ndlovu, Mandla Phuti, Thembani Nyoni, Morgan Maphosa and boxer Lawrence Gandanga.

The meeting was the first among several to be held countrywide to solicit views from stakeholders on how boxing can regain its lost glory. Zvenyika said there was need to create a strong link between the amateur side and the professional side of the sport.

He said in order to nurture good professional boxers the amateur side of the sport must be monitored so that it progresses well.

“We cannot work independent of each other but we have to complement our efforts so that we can groom boxers who can shine on the international stage,” he said.

Donga felt they had to start from the bottom and groom officials including judges, timekeepers and also have ring doctors to give the sport a touch of professionalism.

 “We call upon the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture to give companies incentives to come on board and support boxing otherwise corporates will not find any reason to support the sport. We are in dire need of sponsors and that is the only way we can get them,” he said.

Moyo said transparency and accountability were needed for the sport to attract partners.

 “Despite boxers remitting money to the previous board, there was no accountability, with no financial audits being done so it was always a worry that money was not being accounted for properly,” he said.

Nyoni said teachers at school level had to be equipped with adequate training in both coaching and officiating to ensure boxers were groomed at a young age. He said although there had been talk of boxing being introduced in schools, there was little action in that regard with little being done to equip teachers.

While introducing the sport in schools would be a noble idea, Muringi said expensive equipment would prove a hindrance.

Muringi said the best development option would be to work through community centres where members of the community would contribute funds to the buying of equipment.

Registration fees would also be paid at the provincial officers instead of boxers and promoters having to go to Harare. Registration fees have been set at $25 for boxers, $50 for managers and $75 for promoters. Other practitioners such as trainers and medics are required to pay $25.

Earlier this year former Education, Sports, Arts and Culture minister, David Coltart appointed former radio sports commentator Paul Nenjerama, boxing promoters Lorraine Muringi and Dr Farai Muchena, as well as renowned boxing trainer Edgar Peter Hammond to the new board that will run the sport of boxing over the next three years.

The other new members of the board are Gilbert Munetsi, Tsitsi Muzuva, Alexander Kwangwari and Rangarirai Charles Dzimba.

The Zimbabwean

By Magari Mandebvu 

5 November 2013

A while ago, I heard a very temporary untrained teacher announcing that former Education Minister David Coltart’s opposition to beating schoolchildren was a British plot. “It must be; he’s white.”

Ignoring that last illogicality doesn’t leave him with much evidence, since our schools were built on a foreign model and the idea of beating discipline into “schoolchildren” many of whom would have been 20 years old before 1980, was a colonial innovation. Nonetheless, it has taken root in our societies.

I taught for a while in a neighbouring country where beating the children was forbidden, but all the local teachers brought sticks to school and used them. I discovered how that colonial habit destroys any real discipline. Children who are taught to be afraid of the stick will obey just as long as the stick wielder is present and looking at them.

Like the dog that attacked me in the street the other day, they will take any advantage they can when the teacher with the big stick turns his or her back, or when any unarmed adult comes along. That dog obviously had a lot of experience of sticks, stones and kicks.

Since I didn’t have time to stop and undo all the wrong training that dog had received, I threw a few stones at it to clear my way. That did nothing to solve the real problem, but the real problem wasn’t mine. I suppose that temporary teacher was in the same position when facing an unruly class as I was with that dog. He was only interested in cowing the children enough for him to present his lesson. Leave the underlying problem of what they do when you are not looking for those who would have to face it for more than a couple of months.

A classroom ruled by the big stick is a jungle, in a state of constant war. Establishing peace demands that the teacher makes an effort to convince the children that they need to learn and that requires a minimum of good order.

What is true of children and dogs is true of most of us. Look at the number of kombis whose windscreens declare that their crews are veterans of the ongoing war the police are waging against them. In this case, the problem is that, unlike a teacher who wants children to accept a minimum standard of order so that lessons can be conducted effectively and the children who want to learn have a chance to do so, and unlike the householder who wants his/her dog to defend their house against unwanted intruders, there is very little reasonable, legal or moral basis for the exactions of the cops. If they stop you, you know they are determined not to let you go without contributing to this income-generating project – their income, that is. They’ll find some excuse and they’ll use the big stick to back it up.

But – using the big stick is admitting that you don’t have any other authority except the force you can exert with that big stick. The big stick was essential to the colonial system, because it had no moral basis and no other reason than force for people to respect its claim to power. In fact, forced obedience doesn’t leave much room for the respect that a morally justifiable authority can earn. Just because we inherited a colonial police force and a colonial education system is no justification for continuing to use colonial methods. There are alternatives, and they are a much deeper part of our tradition than this modern, foreign-introduced reliance on brute force.

What happened to the traditions of the dare, where everyone was free to speak, decisions were by consensus and more. Answering these questions will take more space. Watch this column.

Zim Eye

By Zim Eye Reporter

3 November 2013

The MDC-T Oxford branch held its celebration of the election victory for Bulawayo East Thabitha Khumalo’s conquest over David Coltart.

The jubilant meeting which attracted more than a hundred delegates from around the country unanimously concurred that they are going to rally behind Morgan Tsvangirai for the 2018 elections. It was all celebration and dance throughout the meeting with an informal speech delivery at the beginning.

During that time Khumalo was handed several questions on her work. She answered several but refused to speak on the party’s position in the just ended elections for which she said everything had been done by her boss, Morgan Tsvangirai.

Khumalo said she was not in a position to comment on any party issues as she was bound by party protocols.

Refusing to answer particular questions, she declared that any questions to do with the party should and must have been directed to Morgan Tsvangirai who was in the UK earlier in the week ahead of her celebratory event.

Khumalo who is much loved by the MDC UK members for her straight forward talk and openness enjoyed the night as she danced and celebrated her victory with Zimbabweans in UK. But she was firm and direct to the attending members as she told them they have the duty to demand and hold their leaders accountable and any compromise to these values, she would not be part of.

Khumalo defended her visit as speculation was rife that the MDC Harverst House had not approved her journey to the UK. She said all protocols were followed to the letter as approved by the Secretary General to which reference should be made to the terms and conditions of twinning of MDC UK branches and Zimbabwe Constituencies.

News Day

By Conway Tutani

1 November 2013

The Welshman Ncube-led MDC is not looking in the best of health. Maybe something was going to give after the party did not even win one contested seat in the July harmonised elections.

Earlier in the year, Ncube had, in a page-long interview in the State-controlled Sunday Mail, boldly predicted a landslide victory for himself, but only got about 2% of the vote. What could have informed this way-off prediction? Maybe there was too much self-belief without factoring in the possibility of loss. On that scorecard, they grossly overrated themselves. They should have been their sternest critic; they should have looked at the worst case scenario and taken it up from there.

They also took strong exception to being labelled by the media as the smaller formation of the MDC. “Those who say that we are few need to have their heads examined,” said Ncube, but the July poll results reconfirmed that this was in fact so. The media was only reporting the state of affairs at that point. This was not meant to imply that they would be smaller forever. Zanu was smaller than Zapu when it broke away from the latter in 1963, but over the years it became bigger through hard political work. At times like these, the MDC needs some perspective.

They also accused the media of not covering them enough and favouring other parties. The media is there to report the good and bad times without fear or favour.

So the outburst by MDC deputy spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi this week that: “This is hogwash and baseless . . . It is none of your business to know every move that Ncube makes,” when asked about Ncube’s whereabouts, was uncalled for.

It should be restated here and now that the MDC failed to see that the interests of the Matabeleland region are much the same as those of the whole country – jobs and the economy. This has made their invocations and strategies redundant. For one, Ncube could have overplayed the devolution card. Some of the issues he blamed on marginalisation had nothing to do with that, but everything to do with climate because Matabeleland is an arid region – like most parts of Masvingo.

Although there are ethnic dynamics in any body politic, these should not be highlighted too aggressively and insensitively. If you do so, things can easily get out of hand and boomerang on you. Maybe there was wrong pitching on the part of the MDC regarding this issue. In 2008, Barack Obama presented himself as the best candidate nationally without any reference to his African-American roots, pulling the rug from under the rabid white racists who then failed to project him as undeserving, ineligible, an aberration or ogre; and pacifying the moderates across race who were naturally wary of something new. He carefully crafted his campaign so as not to make his race an issue, but his worth, his high-value worth. He did not dwell on tired, old issues and prejudices, but redefined the political discourse to articulate his own vision and mission. Indeed, preoccupation with past failures and injustices can bog one down while others are moving forward.

Ncube also did not come out strongly when abhorrent things were publicly said by some top MDC officials. There are nasty people in every organisation – Zanu PF, MDC-T, MDC, etc – but these have to be restrained by bold, no-nonsense leadership. Obama’s Republican presidential opponent John McCain, a white American, cut down to size openly on live TV a white woman supporter who had made offensive racist remarks about Obama during the election campaign in 2008. He told her Obama was an American like her, but who happened to be black. MDC women assembly chairperson Thandiwe Mlilo in 2011 made shocking remarks about MDC-T deputy president Thokozani Khupe, who was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, as having “lost her hair for following a Shona leader”, Morgan Tsvangirai. This was as bad as it could get, but no one publicly rebuked Mlilo over that. This “kindness deficit” rubs people the wrong way. You cannot blank this out. The political context is everything here.

They should ask themselves why the more conciliatory David Coltart fared far much better than other MDC candidates, losing by the narrowest of margins in Bulawayo South. Coltart, who evinced common sense and self-evident truth, honestly and correctly assessed the slim chances of victory for a divided opposition, but this political realism was absent among his colleagues who were living in fantasyland. Even in the animal kingdom, species like lions, cheetahs and baboons make strategic alliances within their groups to ensure safety and security and maximise benefits.

Which brings out the next point: Conflict happens in any organisation and set-up, but its management is not a given. There has been poor conflict management in the MDC. For a small party, conciliation would have strengthened them than suspensions and expulsions left, right and centre. By so doing, they created barriers.

Ncube has also been accused of operating a kitchen Cabinet, particularly favouring party secretary-general Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, which thing, ironically, he accused Tsvangirai of doing in the lead-up to the MDC split in 2005.

When I wrote in October 2011 about these shortcomings in the MDC, Qhubani Moyo, the party’s then national organising secretary who has since deserted it after the crushing loss and is reportedly on the verge of defecting to Zanu PF (which is very much his right), shot back: “Tutani should take a break to learn more and read more so that he comes with a better understanding, appreciation and analysis of national issues.”

Qhubani, there is quite a lot of learning to do on all sides, isn’t there?

The Chronicle

By Sikhumbuzo Moyo

31 October 2013

ZIFA have acceded to a request by Zimbabwe Warriors coach Ian “Dibango” Gorowa to shift base for the national team matches from Rufaro Stadium in Harare to Bulawayo’s Barbourfields Stadium.

Speaking at a stakeholders meeting in the city at the weekend, Gorowa, believed to have been given a five-year contract by Zifa, said he would want all the Warriors 2015 African Nations Cup qualifying matches to be moved to Barbourfields Stadium instead of Rufaro Stadium that has an artificial turf.

He said the artificial turf heightened the risk of injuries to players and besides there was a need to spread the national team games to venues outside Harare.

“I am requesting Zifa that we play all our qualifying games for Afcon 2015 at Barbourfields Stadium instead of Harare. I feel that we have to spread our football and Harare should not have the right to play host to all national team matches. Besides, the artificial turf at Rufaro Stadium is not up to standard and I think it’s important we utilise Barbourfields Stadium. We have the National Sports Stadium but of late the Warriors have not been getting good results there, the  other facilities like Sakubva are not Fifa approved and therefore Barbourfields will be ideal as we try to rediscover the past successes of the national team,” Gorowa told the meeting.

In an interview with Chronicle Sport yesterday, Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela, said the association was fully behind the national team coach’s call as it was also in line with their vision of spreading the game to all corners of the country.

“We support Gorowa’s call to move the Warriors’ base to Bulawayo. The Warriors are a national team and therefore should have a national outlook. As Zifa we would even go further and take the Warriors to other provinces as well as long as there are proper facilities,” said Gwesela.

The Zifa spokesperson said the Warriors’ next international friendly match against Mozambique set for 8 December would certainly be played at Barbourfields Stadium.

Speaking during an all stakeholders’ breakfast meeting in the capital recently, the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Andrew Langa, said part of his ministry’s vision was to see representative national teams taking their games across the country instead of concentrating on Harare.

The former Minister of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture David Coltart had actually ordered the Sport and Recreation Commission to make sure national associations take national teams’ games to various parts of the country.

Football fans, administrators and analysts have also welcomed Gorowa’s call and said it was long overdue.

Premier Soccer League secretary general Kennedy Ndebele said the move was welcome as it would spark interest in the national team games across the country.

“We have been practising it as PSL and I think we ignited some interest. It’s also a challenge to local authorities to improve their infrastructure so that they benefit by playing host to national team matches. It’s a good move,” said Ndebele.

Friends of Warriors Matabeleland South chairman Bekezela Fuzwayo said as an association they had also been calling for that move and were glad their calls had been heard.

Football analyst Faith Dube praised Gorowa whom he described as a “pure sportsman” and visionary.

“National team games must be spread across the country and they disentangle the stigma that made the national team a Harare Select project. Football at national team level also serves a critical social cohesive role and unification of the people of Zimbabwe and hence keeping it as a Harare project has serious retrogressive implications for the growth of the game in the country. I therefore see Gorowa as a real leader and visionary through his stance,” said Dube.

Former Highlanders team doctor Xolani Ndlovu said the move was good and would get the entire nation behind the national team.

“Some people no longer cared about the Warriors because they viewed the team as a Harare project,” he said.

Soccer fan Raymond Maqethuka Dube said the whole country would now identify with the national team.

“Gorowa has just shown us that he is a national team coach. This team is for us all. This guy is a professional. I hope this will come to fruition and we now feel equally Zimbabwean,” he said.

The Herald

Bt The Herald Reporter

31 October 2013

THE case in which Harare City chairman Leslie Gwindi is being charged with bringing the game into disrepute has been adjourned to Monday to allow the former Premier Soccer League secretary-general time to summon two witnesses key to his defence.

After a false start earlier this month when the hearing was postponed following claims by the accused that he had been notified of his appearance late, the matter finally got underway in Harare on Tuesday night.

Gwindi is facing charges of contravening the Section 4.1©, 4.2(f) and 4.3 of the Zifa rules and regulations 1996 which deals with “misconduct, betting, bribery, bad language and conduct likely to bring the game of football; into disrepute’’.

The charges arise from comments attributed to the former Dynamos secretary-general on his tour of Bulawayo in March.
It is Zifa’s case that:

“On the 8th of March 2013 at the Bulawayo Press Club meeting at Bulawayo rainbow hotel, Leslie Gwindi unlawfully and with intent to damage the reputation of the Zimbabwe Football Association board in particular and Zimbabwe football in general, committed an act of misconduct likely to bring the game into disrepute by using bad language and insulting the Premier Soccer League sponsors Delta Beverages (Castle Lager brand), the Zimbabwe Football Association board, the Zimbabwe National Senior men team coach Mr. Pagels and the Minister of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture Senator David Coltart’’.

In dragging Gwindi to the hearing Zifa contend that the Harare City chairman insulted the game’s chiefs, the PSL sponsors and former Warriors coach Klaus Dieter Pagels.

Pagels who had a brief flirtation as Warriors coach had been in Zimbabwe on a three-year government to government agreement working as the Zifa technical adviser through the Olympic Solidarity fund.

Zifa were infuriated by the comments attributed to Gwindi in the media following his address to the Bulawayo Press Club.

Gwindi is accused of having been quoted as saying:

“The leaders elected do not know anything about football and the current collapse is a result of total lack of leadership. The leaders (meaning Zifa board and councillors) are in football for egos, personal agendas or political reasons. Sound administration produces results. The problem with Zifa is because it has toxic leadership, which is poisonous to everything they touch,’’ read part of the statements.

Zifa charged that the statements were designed at disturbing the tranquil that was prevailing in the game.

“The statements were in fact intended to cause alarm and despondency so that the game becomes ungovernable much to the detriment of football in Zimbabwe.

“You insulted the Premier Soccer League sponsors Delta Beverages more specifically Castle Breweries by calling its sponsorship of the league peanuts and as a result of those irresponsible statements Castle Breweries have threatened to cancel the sponsorship deal it signed with the PSL.

“The statements were meant to scare away corporate sponsors from the game so that the PSL and Zifa leadership is seen in bad light by the football loving public’’.

Gwindi is also being charged for his alleged attack on Pagels and then Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Coltart.
“Further you insulted the Minister of Education, Sports Arts and Culture by claiming that he was not doing anything for football since his interest was in cricket despite the fact that Mr. Coltart has engaged the complainant regularly on football matters more specifically by holding an all stakeholders indaba in September 2012 which set the tone for a turnaround strategy for Zimbabwean football.

“The respondents’ utterances have put football into disrepute and militated against complaint’s (Zifa) current efforts to rehabilitate the game. The statements ridiculed the entire football leadership from the Area zones up to the Zifa board. Your conduct is unlawful and you had no right to act in the manner you did”, wrote Zifa.

Gwindi, who as in the company of his lawyers during the hearing however, argued that he wanted to summon two witnesses he believes are key to his defence outline.

However, Zifa seem to have also built their case on the grounds of communication from PSL chairman Twine Phiri in which he complained to the mother body over Gwindi’s conduct.

Phiri also signed an affidavit in which he noted that the league’s relationship with Delta Beverages had been affected by the statements attributable to Gwindi.

“I am the chairman of the Premier Soccer League having been duly appointed by the Premier Soccer League assembly.

“I recall sometime in March 2013, I read a newspaper article that related to the utterances or a speech made by the Harare City Football Club chairperson Mr. Leslie Gwindi during the Bulawayo Press Club gathering held at Rainbow hotel, Bulawayo.

“On a later date I received correspondence from the sponsors of the Premier Soccer League, Delta Beverages raising concern about statements attributed to Mr. Gwindi and they were threatening to pull out of the sponsorship citing that the PSL was not appreciating their sponsorship deal.

“Considering the fact that the utterances were bent on putting the game of football into disrepute, I contacted the Zimbabwe Football Association for directives.

“I can confirm that I have no personal vendetta against the Harare City chairperson and that the respondent’s utterances were very damaging in our relation with the corporate sector,’’ read part of Phiri’s affidavit on the matter. Gwindi had also argued that Zifa did not have the jurisdiction to try him on the matter and contended that the PSL’s disciplinary committee should have handled the case but Zifa maintain that as the football authorities in the country they were answerable to the kind of alleged attacks that the Harae city boss made on Pagels, the government and the game’s sponsors and leadership.

ZimEye

29 October 2013

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s equipment is still the same since the 1960s it has been said.

Below is a commentary by former Education, Sports and Culture Minister David Coltart following Information Minister Jonathan Moyo’s heart breaking tour of the broadcaster’s studios yesterday.

“Prof Moyo, Minister of Information, commended one of the librarians at ZBC for opening her heart and tell him the truth about the state of affairs at the national broadcaster.

The female librarian was courageous enough to tell Prof Moyo in the presence of her senior managers that the system of recording information on VHS was outdated.”

These two hilarious sentences appear in the Herald today. Whilst I also commend the librarian for “telling the truth”, what is astonishing is that it took her to reveal the truth, which is immediately obvious to anyone who visits the ZBC. You just have to spend 2 minutes in the foyer to see that it is more like a museum than a broadcasting studio – it literally is a cast back to the 1970s, in fact possibly even the 1960s, because the Rhodesian Front regime was subjected to sanctions itself and so did not have up to date equipment!

But of greater concern to me is not so much the antediluvian equipment but the antediluvian mentality which exists within the hierarchy of the ZBC. That mentality itself has not changed one iota since the RBC changed its name to the ZBC. The RBC slavishly supported the Rhodesian Front as it dragged Rhodesia into war and mayhem, and the ZBC has done the same in the last 33 years. In doing so it bears a large portion of the blame for the calamitous times and situations we have been through. Its failure to inform the Zimbabwean public of the truth, its failure to inform the public of the variety of policy options, its failure to inform the public of the variety of leadership options and its complicity in the cover up of genocide, massive corruption and abuse of power in the last 33 years has contributed to Zimbabwe still having a Government it does not deserve.

So whilst I welcome the move to transform ZBC’s equipment from analogue to digital, until we have an equally digital transformation of its mindset and ethic, it will remain a moribund Stalinist institution which will continue to retard Zimbabwe’s development and transformation into a vibrant, democratic Nation. – David Coltart

The female librarian was courageous enough to tell Prof Moyo in the presence of her senior managers that the system of recording information on VHS was outdated.”

These two hilarious sentences appear in the Herald today. Whilst I also commend the librarian for “telling the truth”, what is astonishing is that it took her to reveal the truth, which is immediately obvious to anyone who visits the ZBC. You just have to spend 2 minutes in the foyer to see that it is more like a museum than a broadcasting studio – it literally is a cast back to the 1970s, in fact possibly even the 1960s, because the Rhodesian Front regime was subjected to sanctions itself and so did not have up to date equipment!

But of greater concern to me is not so much the antediluvian equipment but the antediluvian mentality which exists within the hierarchy of the ZBC. That mentality itself has not changed one iota since the RBC changed its name to the ZBC. The RBC slavishly supported the Rhodesian Front as it dragged Rhodesia into war and mayhem, and the ZBC has done the same in the last 33 years. In doing so it bears a large portion of the blame for the calamitous times and situations we have been through. Its failure to inform the Zimbabwean public of the truth, its failure to inform the public of the variety of policy options, its failure to inform the public of the variety of leadership options and its complicity in the cover up of genocide, massive corruption and abuse of power in the last 33 years has contributed to Zimbabwe still having a Government it does not deserve.

So whilst I welcome the move to transform ZBC’s equipment from analogue to digital, until we have a equally digital transformation of its mindset and ethic it will remain a moribund Stalinist institution which will continue to retard Zimbabwe’s development and transformation into a vibrant, democratic Nation.

http://www.herald.co.zw/zbc-urged-to-pay-workers-salaries/

Southern Eye

By Blessed Mhlanga

29 October 2013

KWEKWE mayor Matenda Madzoke has turned down an offer by the local authority to buy him a new 4×4 Toyota D Tec at a time service delivery has almost collapsed.

Councillor Weston Masiya said the previous council led by Shadreck Tobaiwa had passed a resolution to purchase the mayoral vehicle for $68 000 with part of the deposit having already been
paid.

“We had passed that resolution to purchase the car and up to the time we left office the vehicle had not been bought, but a deposit of $38 000 was paid. We are supposed to pay another $16 000 before taking delivery of the car,” he said.

Madzoke has since instructed council to use the $38 000 already paid by council to acquire a refuse removal tractor or truck.

“I’m not going to be driving a brand new expensive vehicle on roads with potholes which are littered with heaps of uncollected refuse and call myself a mayor,” he said.

“I was put into office to ensure service delivery and that is going to be my first priority.”

Masiya confirmed Madzoke had declined the offer of the vehicle at a time council was struggling to meet its wage bill on time.

“He was very clear that service delivery should come first and I fully support him. Being a mayor means prioritising what is important for the city,” he said.

In 2012, council tabled a capital budget which would have seen it acquire five top-of-the-range 4x4s for its top management and mayor for a whopping $450 000.

The budget triggered a war between residents and the local authority which saw Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo being invited to investigate allegations of corruption.

Former Education minister David Coltart is another prominent politician who refused a luxury government vehicle as part of his perks.

Southern Eye

By Mthandazo Nyoni

28 October 2013

Matabeleland-based political analysts say Zimbabwe can only positively celebrate peace if the government publicly addresses gross human rights abuses perpetrated on ordinary citizens the Gukurahundi atrocities, Operation Murambatsvina and political violence that marred the 2008 general elections.

Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world to commemorate International Peace Day last Friday. This year’s commemorations were under the theme “Education for Peace”.

The day was marked three months after Zimbabwe held elections which were characterised by allegations of widespread vote-rigging and voter disenfranchisement.

Activist Dumisani Nkomo said peace would never be celebrated in this country in the absence of justice.

“There should be a way of communicating atrocities which were a gross human rights abuse,” he said.

“We cannot celebrate peace when there is no justice. People should be allowed to publicly talk about issues of violence. This is not a sign of a mutiny,” he added.

His sentiments were echoed by former Education minister David Coltart who said there was need for the government to tell people what happened during the disturbances.

“There should be acknowledgement of the things which happened,” Coltart said.

“There is need also to find out who the victims were and be apologetic about what really transpired.”

The International Peace Day comes at a time the world continues to experience rampant human rights violations from a diverse range of factors, including politics, racism, oppression, war, poverty, disease, corruption and autocratic governance.