ESPN Cricinfo

By Firdose Moonda

22 August 2013

In between threats of a boycott, the formation of a players’ union and the retirement of a key player, Zimbabwe also have to play some cricket. A two-T20, three-ODI and two-Test series against Pakistan will challenge everything from their skills to their resolve, and could be a litmus test for the sport in the country going forward.

Zimbabwe players, through their newly formed union, have negotiated match fees that are said to be in line with other international teams’ standards for this series. Their fans will hope the promise of money in the bank will give them the security needed to perform better than they have in recent times.

They were blanked by a second-string India team in a series that ended just over two weeks’ ago, to start new coach Andy Waller’s tenure off in unconvincing fashion. Before that, they drew a Test and Twenty20 series and won a three-match ODI rubber against Bangladesh but, overall, results have not been positive for Zimbabwe since they made their Test comeback two years’ ago.

The glory of their initial win was shortlived, with Pakistan bringing them back down to earth after they beat Bangladesh in August 2011. Saeed Ajmal made Zimbabwe’s batsmen, apart from Tino Mawoyo, appear out of their depth in the only Test, and Pakistan went on to record victories in each of the three ODIs and two T20s played thereafter. Zimbabwe were humbled and realised how much ground they would have to cover to compete against top teams.

Two years have passed since then and Zimbabwe have not improved as much as they would have wanted. They lost series against New Zealand, both at home and away, and West Indies, away, and were barely a factor in the World Twenty20 last year. The board’s financial worries have mounted to the point where salaries were delayed, paltry winter contracts were offered – and in the case of Craig Ervine, refused – and bargaining for more money has become more pressing than batting or bowling.

In the words of the country’s former sports minister, David Coltart, the national team “morale is low and it is reflecting in their performances”. Coltart, a passionate supporter of the game, believes Zimbabwe are capable of more than they have shown but concerns over where the next pay cheque will come from is holding the team back from delivering to their full potential.

That will be difficult for Zimbabwe to do also because they do not have their best players available to them. A week before the series began, Kyle Jarvis, regarded as one of the country’s most promising bowlers and a product of the franchise system, announced a premature retirement from international cricket to embark on a county career.

Jarvis’ decision will affect many more than just himself. The message he sent to his team-mates is that he does not feel Zimbabwean cricket has a future. If they are feeling they same way, no one can blame them. But they will have to put those thoughts aside to challenge Pakistan.

For the first two days of the series, it may be easier to do. The contest begins with back-to-back T20s and Jarvis did not seem to be part of plans in the shortest format. He was not included in the starting XI for the T20s against Bangladesh with the fit-again Brian Vitori, Tendai Chatara and Tinashe Panyangara tasked with the seam-bowling jobs.

With Prosper Utseya and a clutch of promising young spinners including Natsai Mushangwe and Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Zimbabwe’s bowling could hold its own in the shorter formats. Jarvis will be missed in the Tests, especially as Chris Mpofu remains unavailable due to injury. If one of the others can step up, they may prove competitive in that department.

Batting is their worry, especially against spinners, and they will need someone other than captain Brendan Taylor and senior statesman Hamilton Masakadza to perform. Vusi Sibanda and Malcolm Waller are due some runs while Sikandar Raza will look to build on a promising start. The return of Mawoyo, in the longer format, will also boost Zimbabwe’s chances.

What’s more important than individual performances is that all their players to band together. If they can show the same unity on the field as they are showing off it, they may surprise a few people. But they should be warned anything less than a complete showing will not be good enough. They cannot bank on the overused adage that depending on which Pakistan shows up, they may be in with a chance.

Pakistan are a far more consistent side than their reputation hints at and will have their own goals, apart from winning, on this tour. When Misbah-ul-Haq left South Africa in March, after their series there, his worry was how much game-time his team would have before they next took on Graeme Smith and Co in the UAE in October.

At that time, Pakistan were not scheduled to play any Tests between March and October, so the two matches here will serve as fairly good practice for a far tougher challenge against South Africa. The conditions will not be too much of a test, with Zimbabwe’s late winter pitches likely to be flat and slow, especially in Bulawayo, so batsmen who show the right temperament could spend ample time on them.

Their limited-overs squads include some new faces such as quick bowler Anwar Ali and Sohaib Maqood. After series wins over West Indies in both shorter formats, this tour could be an opportunity for some experimentation, which will be important for Pakistan’s development going forward.

For a team that only plays together away from home, this will be another opportunity to bond and form team culture. It may be their focus to work on those things as part of a bigger picture because history, especially the history of two years ago, suggests Pakistan will dominate the series. It will take a show of character and determination, which Zimbabwe have not been able to muster with real conviction in the recent past, to change that.

The Herald

By Robson Sharuko

20 August 2013

KYLE Jarvis became the latest high-profile cricketer to turn his back on Zimbabwe and sign for an English county side saying the pay dispute was the last straw that convinced him to take his talents elsewhere.Craig Ervine rejected a winter contract to play club cricket in England and reports indicate that the big-hitting Charles Coventry could also be on his way there too.

The 24-year-old Jarvis had turned himself into the pace spearhead of the Zimbabwe cricket team, taking 30 wickets in eights Tests, at an average of 31.73 and 27 wickets in 21 One-Day Internationals.

“I have held off a few opportunities over the last few months but my decision was made about a week ago when the pay disputes arose and I felt my time to leave had come,” Jarvis said in a statement released at the weekend.

“I really hope the fans and public can understand my reasons for leaving as job security is the main factor.”

Jarvis is abandoning a Test career for a five-month county cricket season, from April to September, for the next three years, and will also be globe-trotting around the world playing in the Twenty20 matches.

The financial situation at ZC, with its liabilities exceeding its assets by US$8,36 million, hasn’t made life easy for the organisation and its employees and was highlighted by Jarvis as not providing him with the security he needs to continue working in such an environment.

The ZC are battling, against massive odds, to push their books back into the black and the latest financial reports, as highlighted by their chairman Peter Chingoka, shows that they brought down their losses by about US$4,2 million last year.

ZC will record losses of about US$1 million in each of the three tours by Bangladesh, Pakistan, who arrived in Harare yesterday, and Sri Lanka and that will chew whatever they might have made during the recent tour of India. But, against such a tough operational background, ZC have certainly moved mountains just to keep the franchises, which they bankroll, functional and also keeping the game alive by hosting tours, which are expensive but necessary for the game’s development.

It’s not like they are the only ones in such a predicament.

Sri Lanka players, who will be the last to tour here this year, spent months without being paid last year as their board, Sri Lanka Cricket, faced serious financial challenges as its losses slipped past the US$69 million mark.

As late as March this year, Sri Lanka Cricket froze 23 of their top players from international cricket, because of a stalemate over contract terms, while in the previous year the players had played for four months of international cricket without contracts because of a dispute with their mother body.

New Zealand Cricket projected a loss of US$8 million for the past year but a strong financial performance, helped in no small part by an eight-year sponsorship and media deal, saw the losses contained to just about US$2 million.

Jarvis has chosen to commit himself to Lancashire County Cricket, for the next three years, but while he is unlikely to plunge into pay disputes with his new employers, their financial books should tell him a story that Zimbabwe Cricket are not alone in their battle for financial health in a tough operating environment.

Lancashire reported losses, which chairman Michael Cairns described as “substantial”, of £1,5 million (about US$2,34 million) for the year 2012, with the impact of the redevelopment of Old Trafford cricket ground, which came with lengthy and costly legal battles, weighing down on their finances.

It was the fourth successive financial year that Lancashire had recorded a significant loss in their statements.

“The loss is again substantial,” Cairns told the Manchester Evening News. “However, as forecasted last year, it is broadly in line with our expectations.

“Over the past four years we have suffered more than our fair share of unanticipated hurdles and costly interruptions to our development project.

“While this is often the case with multi-faceted construction programmes, it’s reasonable to say that some of our challenges have been far from the norm.

“In addition, the serious fall off in paid attendances in all forms of domestic cricket, and most recently the T20 international, has all impacted significantly on the club’s finances.”

The return of the Ashes to Old Trafford this year is expected to help improve the club’s finances in a very big way and when they present their financial reports for this year, there could be significant improvements in the state of their finances.

But haven’t the ZC also suffered from investing a substantial amount in the upgrading of Harare Sports Club and converting it into such a grand cricket ground and are now battling to balance the books because of that big investment?

Haven’t the ZC also suffered, just like Lancashire, from a “serious fall in paid attendances in all forms of domestic cricket, and most recently the T20 international, has all impacted significantly on the club’s finances?”

Haven’t the ZC put themselves precisely on the same rehabilitation programme, just like Lancashire and New Zealand Cricket, to move their finances into the black zone in time with Chingoka revealing that they cut costs by US$4,2 million in just one year alone in 2012?

If our players are going to earn US$1 500 for a Twenty20 tie, US$3 000 for an ODI and US$5 000 for a Test match, which takes the earnings, for one who plays in all matches against Pakistan to US$22 000, in just one month, is such an international career worth being sacrificed for a five-month, per year, county adventure?

Or are there some darker forces, than we are being made to see right now, who are pulling the strings and have plunged into Zimbabwe Cricket once again to cause mayhem?

The reaction of the outgoing Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, to Jarvis’ withdrawal from the squad and retirement from international cricket will give weight to those who believe there are bigger forces at play than we see.

“I’m saddened by the decision of @KyleJarv89 to pursue a county cricket career but understand his reasons. I wish him well,” Coltart posted on his Facebook page.

“My prayer is that this is not the last we have seen of @KyleJarv89 in red.

“When we sort out cricket and Zimbabwe, he’ll be back.”

Does Coltart give away something in the last sentence? Is this all tied to some grand political project?

The fact that Coltart says “he’ll be back”, with so much confidence, once they “sort out cricket and Zimbabwe,” will give weight to the conspiracy theories that there is more to what is happening in the game than what meets the eye. Time, of course, is always the best judge.

The Zimbabwean

By Edgar Gweshe 

20 August 2013

The new government needs to ensure “massive” investment in the education sector to guard against further deterioration of standards, outgoing Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, has said.

Coltart said the education sector was critical to the development of the country hence the need to ensure that it is prioritised. He said it was imperative for the next government to ensure that competent people were entrusted with the running of the country’s education sector.

“The future of the education sector depends on who is appointed as Minister of Education and the level of support that person gets from Cabinet and the Ministry of Finance. It’s critical for the next government to make education a priority.

“Education survives with adequate funding and if they starve the education sector of funding, we will see education standards falling. The bottom line is that education needs massive investment,” said Coltart.

Coltart acknowledged the progress made by the inclusive government in bringing sanity back to the education sector, which he said had been “under-funded for the last couple of years”.

He, however, played down fears that Zimbabwe’s contested election could lead to donors pulling out their support.

“I think you would acknowledge that the donor community that supported Zimbabwe’s education sector is very much concerned about children and I doubt very much that they will change their attitude. They are likely to continue with their support of the education sector,” he said.

Before the formation of the inclusive government, Zimbabwe’s education sector suffered a critical shortage of funding that saw a significant drop in standards and the situation was worsened by the exodus of teachers who went to seek greener pastures in neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Botswana.

In 2010, the situation was however rescued by the launch of the Education Transition Fund, a multi-donor funding mechanism.

The ETF was launched by the Ministry of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, in partnership with UNICEF and the international donor community.

News Day

By Sukoluhle Mthethwa

19 August 2013

BULAWAYO Metropolitan Province Resident Minister and Governor Ambassador Cain Mathema yesterday officially opened the 11th edition of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games in a colourful ceremony held at White City Stadium in Bulawayo.

Mathema read a speech on behalf of the Minister of the Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart, who could not attend the ceremony due to other commitments as he was only notified that he would be the guest of honour, late.

“It is my pleasure to officiate at the 11th edition of the Youth Games which were coincidentally incepted in this province some 11 years ago. When the  Games were started in 2003, part of  the objectives were to increase young people’s accessibility to sport and recreation and to also use the Games as a platform by which young talented athletes could be identified by the National Sport Associations and nurtured further.

“As government we are happy to note that we have managed to host these Games on an annual basis. To add to this, all the 10 provinces have been afforded an opportunity to host the games on a rotational basis thus contributing to the attainment of balanced development of sport in the country,” he said.

He said sport is important because it can be an effective tool of community development and can contribute to social equality notwithstanding colour, race, creed, religion or economic status.
The Governor also said the games were important as they have produced some of the country’s top athletes.

“I am informed that the Zimbabwe National Youth Games are beginning to pay dividends in the form of athletes who have been identified and nurtured through these games. It was pleasing to note that one of the athletes, Gabriel Mvumvure, who was also identified through these games, recently completed in the World Athletics Championships in Russia,” he said.

He said the games were also used as a platform to identify athletes like Ngonidzashe Makusha who won bronze at the World Championships in 2011 in South Korea, Angela Makaha who is on an athletics scholarship in the United States and Vitalis Chikoko who is now playing professional basketball in Germany.

Speaking during the ceremony Principal Director in the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Paul Damasane also highlighted the crucial role the games play.

“The government takes the Youth Games very seriously because it is a platform for sport development. Today (yesterday) is special to  the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture because next year we will be in Bulawayo for the regional Under-20 Zone VI Games. This is going to be a dress rehearsal for us to see how well Bulawayo will prepare for the games,” he said.

The ceremony was attended by  athletes from the country’s 10 provinces as well as different stakeholders who included  Sport and Recreation Commission board chairperson Joseph James, Bulawayo  Local Organising Committee members led by Raj Modi, Zimbabwe Olympic Committee  chief executive officer  Anna Mguni and president Admire Masenda and Child President Ntando Moyo.

Mathema lit the games lamp towards the end of the ceremony to officially declare the start of the games.

Entertainment was provided by world renowned acapella group Black Umfolosi who performed their famous song Unity, Iyasa, Thandanani Women’s Ensemble, Harsh Touch and the Zimbabwe National Army band.

Mathema read a speech on behalf of the Minister of the Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart, who could not attend the ceremony due to other commitments as he was only notified that he would be the guest of honour, late.

“It is my pleasure to officiate at the 11th edition of the Youth Games which were coincidentally incepted in this province some 11 years ago. When the  Games were started in 2003, part of  the objectives were to increase young people’s accessibility to sport and recreation and to also use the Games as a platform by which young talented athletes could be identified by the National Sport Associations and nurtured further.

“As government we are happy to note that we have managed to host these Games on an annual basis. To add to this, all the 10 provinces have been afforded an opportunity to host the games on a rotational basis thus contributing to the attainment of balanced development of sport in the country,” he said.

He said sport is important because it can be an effective tool of community development and can contribute to social equality notwithstanding colour, race, creed, religion or economic status.
The Governor also said the games were important as they have produced some of the country’s top athletes.

“I am informed that the Zimbabwe National Youth Games are beginning to pay dividends in the form of athletes who have been identified and nurtured through these games. It was pleasing to note that one of the athletes, Gabriel Mvumvure, who was also identified through these games, recently completed in the World Athletics Championships in Russia,” he said.

He said the games were also used as a platform to identify athletes like Ngonidzashe Makusha who won bronze at the World Championships in 2011 in South Korea, Angela Makaha who is on an athletics scholarship in the United States and Vitalis Chikoko who is now playing professional basketball in Germany.

Speaking during the ceremony Principal Director in the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Paul Damasane also highlighted the crucial role the games play.

“The government takes the Youth Games very seriously because it is a platform for sport development. Today (yesterday) is special to  the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture because next year we will be in Bulawayo for the regional Under-20 Zone VI Games. This is going to be a dress rehearsal for us to see how well Bulawayo will prepare for the games,” he said.

The ceremony was attended by  athletes from the country’s 10 provinces as well as different stakeholders who included  Sport and Recreation Commission board chairperson Joseph James, Bulawayo  Local Organising Committee members led by Raj Modi, Zimbabwe Olympic Committee  chief executive officer  Anna Mguni and president Admire Masenda and Child President Ntando Moyo.

Mathema lit the games lamp towards the end of the ceremony to officially declare the start of the games.

Entertainment was provided by world renowned acapella group Black Umfolosi who performed their famous song Unity, Iyasa, Thandanani Women’s Ensemble, Harsh Touch and the Zimbabwe National Army band.

Southern Eye

By Southern Eye Reporter

19 August 2013

THE government has been urged to urgently look into the plight of the San community who are wallowing in poverty.

The San, popularly known as the Tshara-Tshwao or Khoi-khoi gathered at Gariya Dam in Tsholotsho on Saturday to celebrate the United Nations International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, whose objective is promoting the non-discrimination and inclusion of indigenous peoples in the design, implementation and evaluation of international, regional and national processes regarding laws, policies, resources, programmes and projects.

The San are mostly found in Tsholotsho and Plumtree and their population currently stands at about 2 000, a worrying figure that has jolted some organisations to action in offering a helping hand to the group.

Creative Arts and Education Development Association (Caeda) spearheaded by Davie Ndlovu, is one such organisation which is working with the group, assisting them to document the Tshwao language which is facing extinction.

According to Ndlovu, there are about 14 members of the San community in Tsholotsho who are conversant with the language.

The rest hardly speak the language and have adopted Ndebele, the dominant language in the area.

Addressing over 100 members of the group, Ngcoli Sibanda — a community leader — appealed to the new government to assist them with food and farming implements.

“We are wallowing in poverty. We, therefore, appeal to our government to assist us with food parcels and farming implements so that we can be able to fend for our families,” Sibanda said.

“We are such a small number and we hope the government and non-governmental organisations will come to our aid.”

Sibanda revealed that they were still finding it difficult to assimilate into other tribes and this had worsened their plight.

“We are used to living in the bush and surviving on hunting, but nowadays we can no longer do so because of laws that are prohibiting us. We survive on doing menial jobs in exchange for food.

“We have no cattle or farming implements and, therefore, it is difficult for us to provide food for our starving families,” he said.

In an interview with Southern Eye, Ndlovu said Caeda had approached some government ministers during the unity government era who had promised to assist the San people.

“We had approached Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart and Water Resources minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo. They had expressed a willingness to assist the San people,” he said.

“Now that we have a new government, we are not sure whether these people will still offer their assistance. However, we will be sending a petition to the new government soon,” Ndlovu said.

“We also hope that they will get farming implements before the commencement of the rainy season.

“These people are willing to start farming if they get all the necessary equipment and implements.”

Ndlovu said while they were happy that the government had recognised Tshara-Tshwao as an official Zimbabwean language in the new Constitution, there was a need for extensive work to be done to save the dying language.

“Our major worry at the moment is that the Tshwao language is dying and something must be done to preserve it,” he said.

“We have engaged the University of Zimbabwe which is assisting us with documentation.

“The other problem is that the education system does not cater for the San.

“There is no-one among the San who is educated enough to be able to teach this language in schools,” Ndlovu added.

“Right now their children who are fortunate enough to go to school are learning Ndebele and are fast losing touch with their own culture.”

Jabulani Nkomo — the son of the late Vice-President John Nkomo who was supposed to be guest of honour — failed to turn up for the event.

. . .as community opens up

MORE than 100 members of the San community in Zimbabwe gathered at Gariya Dam in Tsholotsho North on Saturday to celebrate and revive the dying Tshara-Tshwao culture and launguage.

The cultural fiesta also commemorated the United Nations International Indigenous People Day.

The day is celebrated annually on August 9 as the world turns its attention to the diverse cultures and people in neglected parts of the world.

On Saturday, the group opened up to the world to observe at close proximity how they live in their most natural habitat, the bush.

They chose a secluded part close to Gariya Dam, named after one of their chiefs Gariya Moyo who led a group of San people from Botswana to Zimbabwe in the 16th Century, according to one of the leaders who spoke to Southern Eye.

The celebrations kicked off with a leadership meeting in the morning where various community leaders addressed a plethora of problems faced by the San people.

Chief among them was the issue of selection of one leader to represent them in various fora.

The meeting also resolved that a petition will be sent to the government detailing all their grivances, which they want addressed.

Unlike other tribes, the San lived in small groups of between 20 to 50 people, led by a kraal head.

After the meeting it was time to celebrate. What a colourful celebration it turned out to be!

Various groups took to the stage to showcase their vocal abilities and dancing prowess.

The stand-out dance was the bhoro, a cultural dance usually performed at night during healing sessions.

Most of the dancers and singers were elderly people who still know how to speak the Tshwao language.

The dances comprised songs accompanied by rythmic handclapping routines and complicated footwork.

There was a small museum on display that showcased the various artifacts that the San people used. Since the San were nomadic people, they never built any permanent structures.

They carried the simplest of tools and utensils that they used in their day-to-day activities.

Their food comprised mainly game meat which they hunted. They also ate various fruits and plants, which were also used for medicinal purposes.

Now that they have been integrated with other tribes in Zimbabwe, their culture and language is under serious threat and if nothing is done to preserve it, it will soon die out.

The San community, found in parts of Matabeleland North and South, are said to number about 2 000 people.

In Tsholotsho alone, only 14 elderly people can speak the Tshwao language, the rest speak Ndebele the dominant language in the area.

The Herald

By Jeff Murimbechi 

19 August 2013

ZIMBABWE’S right arm fast bowler Kyle Jarvis has revealed that after turning down a number of overseas offers, he could not resist the three-year offer from English County cricket side, Lancashire, and the chance to play on the Twenty20 circuit around the globe. The 24-year-old seamer, one of the leading players in the national team, was part of a group of key players with central contracts with Zimbabwe Cricket.

ZC announced on Saturday that Jarvis had pulled out of the squad preparing for the tour of Pakistan to take up his country cricket deal with Lancashire but the organisation said Jarvis had not closed the door on his international career.

In  fact, ZC believe that Jarvis will use his stint in England, where there is a possibility he could play alongside England’s pace spearhead James Anderson, to turn himself into a better player and expect him to come back a better player for the national team.

“He told Zimbabwe Cricket authorities that he has received a lucrative offer from Lancashire County Cricket Club in England, and has decided to take it up moreso as it also offers him an opportunity to grow his game by playing alongside the likes of England international James Anderson and former South Africa batsman Ashwell Prince,” the ZC said in their statement.

“Jarvis said that he has not turned his back on international cricket and that given his age, the three-year contract provides a unique opportunity to mature as a player who would then give back more then than he has been doing now. The 24-year old seamer, whose father Malcolm also played for Zimbabwe and then served as a member of the technical staff for the national team, will leave for the United Kingdom early next month.”

Jarvis said he will always be supportive of the Zimbabwe team.

“Zimbabwe will always be my home, and I would just like thank everyone for their continued support over the past few years,” said the bowler.

“I wish my teammates and coaching staff the best of luck for the forthcoming Pakistan series and know what the players giving the right support and environment are capable of.”

The outgoing Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, who has been caught in the political battles that have raged within the ZC before, said he was hopeful this would not be Jarvis’ last appearance for Zimbabwe.

Southern Eye

By Sukoluhle Mthethwa and Fortune Mbele

19 July 2013

BULAWAYO Metropolitan Province resident minister and governor ambassador Cain Mathema yesterday officially opened the 11th edition of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games in a colourful ceremony held at White City Stadium.

Mathema read a speech on behalf of the Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart, who said he could not attend the ceremony due to other commitments as he was only notified that he would be the guest of honour, late.

“It is my pleasure to officiate at the 11th edition of the Youth Games which were coincidentally incepted in this province some 11 years ago.

“When the Games were started in 2003, part of the objectives were to increase young people’s accessibility to sport and recreation and to also use the Games as a platform by which young talented athletes could be identified by the National Sport Associations and nurtured further.

“As the government we are happy to note that we have managed to host these Games on an annual basis. To add to this, all the 10 provinces have been afforded an opportunity to host the games on a rotational basis thus contributing to the attainment of balanced development of sport in the country,” he said.

He said sport was important because it can be an effective tool for community development and can contribute to social equality notwithstanding colour, race, creed, religion or economic status.

The governor also said the games were important as they had produced some of the country’s top athletes.

“I am informed that the Zimbabwe National Youth Games are beginning to pay dividends in the form of athletes who have been identified and nurtured through them. It was pleasing to note that one of the athletes identified through these games recently competed in the athletics World Championships in Russia — Gabriel Mvumvure,” he said.

He added that the games were also used as a platform to identify athletes like Ngonidzashe Makusha who won bronze at the athletics World Championships in 2011 in South Korea, Angela Makaha who is on an athletics scholarship in the United and Vitalis Chikoko who is now playing professional basketball in Germany.

Speaking during the ceremony principal director in the Education, Sport, Arts and Culture ministry, Paul Damasane, highlighted the crucial role the games play.

“The government takes the Youth Games very seriously because they are a platform for sport development. Today (yesterday) is special to the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture because next year we will be in Bulawayo for the regional Under-20 Zone VI Games.

“This is going to be a dress rehearsal for us to see how well Bulawayo will prepare for the games,” he said.

The ceremony was attended by athletes from the country’s 10 provinces as well as different stakeholders who included Sport and Recreation Commission board chairman Joseph James, Bulawayo Local Organising Committee members led by Raj Modi, Zimbabwe Olympic Commitee (ZOC) chief executive officer Anna Mguni and president Admire Masenda, Child President Ntando Moyo as well as representatives of various sport codes.

Mathema lit the games lamp towards the end of the ceremony to officially declare the start of the Games.

Entertainment was provided by Black Umfolosi who perfomed their famous song Unity, Iyasa, Thandanani Women’s Ensemble, Harsh Touch and Zimbabwe National Army band. Drum majorettes also put up a splendid display while there was also a display of wushu.

News Day

By Veneranda Langa

19 August 2013

Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary-general Raymond Majongwe (RM) says he is not interested in forming a political party yet as he has other major things to achieve at the PTUZ and in his private life.

The following are excerpts of an interview with NewsDay Senior Parliamentary Reporter Veneranda Langa (ND) on issues to do with workers and politics.

ND: The PTUZ is known for being very aggressive when it comes to dealing with issues of workers. Is that kind of approach going to continue now that elections are over?
RM: The truth is that the PTUZ is a very political organisation in that we fight for political relevance to address political socio-economic ills in our country without any apology. Trade unions are there to create a better life, welfare and better salaries for citizens and how else are we going to do that if we do not engage or confront politicians. Our decisions are informed by political reality.

ND: Your recent statements after the elections sounded as if you were happy the MDC-T led by Morgan Tsvangirai lost to Zanu PF. Is there any bad blood now?
RM: We just made a statement that we were congratulating the party that was made a victor by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. The truth of the matter is, this is a political reality and we were never going to say congratulations to anyone else. Whether we like it or not President Robert Mugabe is now President and life has to go on as we cannot be in election mode forever. There is no bad blood between me and Tsvangirai. I respect the man and I am one of the few people who met and spoke to him and I gave a lot of unsolicited advice to the MDC-T which was rejected as they were not interested in what we were saying.

ND: Are there any chances of working together now that the elections are over and how do you see the future of MDC-T?
RM: The MDC-T did not show us respect. During the 2008 elections teachers and civil servants assisted the MDC-T because they wanted change. After the elections they did not go back to the same people to ask what they had not done in 2008 that they could improve. They went into the 2013 elections casually and forgot that the Zanu PF military machine was out there in the country campaigning. They forgot that in 2008 it was a protest vote, but Zanu PF had introduced indigenisation, community share ownership schemes, they had destroyed their structures of violence and had apologised to the people. They went to churches like Vapostori sect which has one of the biggest followings in Zimbabwe and also engaged trade unions.

The MDC-T failed to make themselves a relevant political entity, especially the attitude of some of their ministers in particular Lucia Matibenga. There was no strategic thinking and there are too many young people — lawyers in the party.

They associated themselves with non-existent NGOs (non-governmental organisations) on the ground and their campaign material in 2013 had no depth while Zanu PF had re-branded and strengthened its resolve. My prediction is that Mugabe will stand again in 2018 and Harare and Bulawayo are under threat. I pray we do not have MPs dying because if there are any by-elections we will see the MDC-T losing more seats. This election was never going to be won through the internet by concentrating on characters like Baba Jukwa.

ND: Are there any chances that you will re-engage with the ZCTU led by Japhet Moyo so that there is one strong workers’ union in Zimbabwe?
RM: We tried to engage them in several ways and even used mediators, but they refused. They kept saying we lost during an election which was illegitimate. They created a fictitious voters’ roll and after winning the elections they told us to go to the courts. This is where our problem with the MDC-T came from. However, the same thing has happened to them as they were cheated and they are now being told to go to court. We have, however, decided to move forward and we have plans underway to have a new labour centre whose name I cannot give now. It is an unstoppable process and we remain tall and resilient.

ND: You took sides with the National Constitutional Assembly during the constitution-making process. Are you happy with how the new Constitution deals with the issue of teachers?
RM: I have qualms with Section 203 of the Constitution because the issue of collective bargaining is not included. It gives the President powers to appoint public service commissioners. We also wanted a teaching services commission, but it is not there

ND: How do you want teachers to be treated by the new government?
RM: There is need to be cognisant they have suffered for a long time. We want monetary and non-monetary incentives, for example land for teachers’ houses and vehicle loans with importation being duty free. We want security for teachers so that they are not harassed along political lines. Schools should be politically free zones. The plight of rural teachers, female teachers as well as disabled teachers should be looked at. We also want a sober minister and not mavericks or madmen like Aenaes Chigwedere. David Coltart was level-headed and we want to believe from Mugabe’s arsenal he has people to pick.

ND: You are said to have political ambitions and there is rumour you want to form a political party?
RM: NCA (National Constitutional Assembly) chairperson Lovemore Madhuku came out to say he was forming a political party, but I have not said that. I am only 42 years old and why would I rush to form a political party now? At 42 years I do not have a house or property and there are things I have to get right first before I realise my political potential. If the time comes for me to declare political interests, I will do so and no one will stop me. I am still with the PTUZ and we have not yet completed our task. People say I do not want to go, but Mugabe has been there since 1977 (when he formally took over as Zanu leader in Mozambique) and I started participating in PTUZ in 1997.

The Chronicle

By Takudzwa Magudu

17 August 2013

THE Government has given teachers who left the service in 2009 but continued getting paid 21 days to pay back the money.

The Government recently sent letters demanding repayment of amounts ranging between $900 to $1 500 to a number of former teachers around the country.

A number of teachers left for the so-called greener pastures, without formally resigning, resulting in the Government continuing to pay them.

A former teacher from Bulawayo who preferred anonymity said the system had failed them by demanding that kind of money within a short period of time.

He admitted that he simply left his teaching post without going through the normal formalities. “The letter was handed to me by my former school headmaster on Wednesday. I was requested to remit the amount I owe to the Government within 21 days from receiving the letter.

“Instead of the Government liaising with us in these times of economic hardships, it is demanding $1 033.

“Where do they expect me to get that kind of money? I earn $330 and l take home $280 before l even pay rentals, bills and school fees for my two daughters,” said the man who is now employed by a Non-Governmental Organisation.

Another former teacher said she was unable to pay back the money because she no longer had any source of income. She said she was now dependent on her children for survival.

“As you can see I am old and I can not work any more. I rely on my children who also have got their families to look after. Asking for such an amount would be a burden,” said the woman aged 60.

The teacher said although she had submitted resignation papers, the Government continued paying her for three months.

A copy of a letter, which was received by a former teacher aged 46 who left the education system in 2009, read: “Reference is made to the above surcharge that was raised against you due to late notification of termination resulting in over payment to you of salary and allowances for the period 03 February 2009 to 31 September 2009.

“You are therefore requested to remit the amount $1 200 to the provincial accountant Matabeleland North Province within 21 days from the date of this letter.”

It had a date stamp of 17 April 2013 but the man said he received it this week.

“I had already been notified by my colleagues about the letter. The Government should be for the people and by the people, why can they not cancel the debts? I was forced to abscond work by the challenges I encountered as a family man in 2009, l had to search for greener pastures for survival,” he said.

Contacted for comment, the outgoing Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart, said he was not aware of the development.

“I am not aware of this development. This directive did not come from my office, check with the Minister of Public Service,” he said.

The outgoing Minister of Public Service, Lucia Matibenga could not be reached for comment.

Zimbabwe Teacher Association (Zimta) chief executive officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu confirmed the development, saying the directive was issued after an audit was carried out by the Treasury.

It was pointed out that it is far easier in this modern digital age to burn a CD than it is to print out a paper version of any document. It is also far easier to attach an electronic copy of a voters roll and send it by e mail to candidates than it is to transport bulky paper rolls countrywide. That is all self evident. Accordingly the excuse given by ZEC a day before the election that it could only provide paper copies, not electronic copies, due to “logistical difficulties” was, with respect, simply hogwash.

The provision of a searchable and analysable copy of the voters roll has been a key concern for over a decade. When I was Legal Secretary of the united MDC we applied to the Supreme Court to get an electronic copy of the roll in 2001 but were denied. The reason we did so then was because we knew that it provided the key to unravelling and exposing the manipulation of the roll by the Registrar General’s office. Not surprisingly our case failed – not because it was devoid of merit but because some things never change. But the point is that this issue has always been key.

Accordingly when the GPA in 2008 mandated us all to agree on a new Constitution and new Electoral Laws, pivotal to that process was the need to agree on the provision of an electronic copy of the voters roll. Through a painstaking process of negotiation we eventually agreed on section 21(6) and (7) of the Electoral Act. Even this year, after the law had been passed, there were a succession of discussions held in Cabinet concerning compliance with these provisions. Because of the clear and unambiguous wording of the Electoral Act despite some in Cabinet opposing the provision of the roll, Cabinet reiterated that the roll should be supplied and that is how earlier versions of the roll in electronic format were obtained.

But of course we never received the final version of the roll as were entitled to in terms of section 21(6). I need to also emphasise that this final electronic version of voters roll is in existence, if not available. In my own constituency there was a copy of it on a computer at the command centre at Hillside Teacher College and was routinely referred to in the course of election day. When we asked for a copy of that roll our request was refused of course.

I have now read the following paragraph of the affidavit filed by Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday in withdrawing his electoral petition:

“11. By way of example, despite my petition raising serious issues concerning the voters roll, I still do not have a copy of the electronic voters roll to date. In other words the Second Respondent (ie the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) has deliberately taken a position which is inconsistent with a just determination of this matter and which position obviously prejudices me. The fact that the position it has taken effectively aids the First respondent (Robert Mugabe) makes it completely futile to pursue this petition”.

It goes without saying that I am absolutely astounded to read that an electronic copy of the voters roll has still not been provided to Morgan Tsvangirai to enable him to prosecute his case. Whilst I hold no brief for Morgan Tsvangirai it is simply incomprehensible why two weeks after the election an electronic copy of the voters roll cannot be provided.

One asks the question – what is ZEC hiding? One would have thought that if they were so confident that this election was free and fair that the roll would have been readily provided and yet it is treated as if it is a State secret.

Zanu PF also needs to address the following question. If their victory in these election was as comprehensive – a landslide – as they argue it was then why are they being so coy about releasing this information? The Chairwoman of ZEC is a Zanu PF member so there is no doubt that she would comply with their bidding. One would have thought that if they were so confident of their victory that they would have nothing to hide and would do everything possible to ensure that their victory could be savoured in broad daylight. If they have in fact managed to mobilise their supporters better than the MDC parties and got them to register then that will be reflected in the voters roll and they should have nothing to fear.

However the reluctance of the ZEC to release this critical document in my mind is the surest evidence that it is covering up a monumental fraud. Furthermore because the electronic roll goes to the heart of the entire electoral process it will be difficult if not impossible to conduct a viable electoral challenge to the result without it. In the circumstances the decision made to withdraw Morgan Tsvangirai’s petition is fully understandable.

Senator David Coltart.
Secretary for Legal Affairs
MDC

Bulawayo
17th August 2013