The Herald

By Isabel Mutekwa

28 August 2013

DURING his term as Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, David Coltart, concentrated on cricket affairs he was dubbed the Minister of Cricket. Unless President Mugabe re-appoints him to that same portfolio in the next Cabinet, Coltart is the outgoing Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister.

But apparently he is not giving up his other appointment — the Minister of Cricket.

Only over the weekend he was singing from his familiar album, this time a track entitled “ZC Please Don’t Let the Players Walk Away,” published by ESPNcricinfo.

As if ZC is! As if ZC can!

Regrettably, we have to go into colour because this is what it is about.

Kyle Jarvis is not the first white cricketer to leave the country to play county cricket in England.

Andy Flower is on record, on the eve of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup, that he had set his sights on turning his back on international cricket and going to play county cricket in England.

But why doesn’t David know this considering that he has been counsel for Andy?

Didn’t David Houghton go to a county? And since then haven’t the likes of Travis Friend, Antony Ireland, Gary Balance also gone to a county?

What about Kevin Pietersen and a whole host of England cricketers who should be or should have been Proteas? David, you love the internet.

Please google Allan Lamb, the late Anthony William “Tony” Greig or just “South African cricketers who have done what Jarvis wants to do.”

In the global village, there is always a field where the grass is greener — or appears so!

And the movement from here to there is easier for those who can trace ancestry to those fields yonder.

And so they use our Under-19 or senior platform to advertise themselves to motherland, then follow their figures made in our name to wherever ancestry leads. — Isabel Mutekwa writes in her personal capacity.

ESPN Cricinfo

24 August 2013

I spoke to Firdose Moonda a few days ago and we discussed many aspects of cricket in Zimbabwe. We spoke about the future of the sport, the financial issues as well as the change that we have seen over the last decade and how there is a need for our team to enjoy top quality tours. There are also many other topics that were discussed so please tune in and listen.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/video_audio/664905.html?genre=34

ESPN Cricinfo

By ESPN Cricinfo Reporter

24 August 2013

David Coltart, Zimbabwe’s former minister of sport, said that cricket in the country is now in a critical state, following a financial crisis which almost resulted in a boycott from the players.

In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Coltart said that Zimbabwe Cricket was nearly $15-18 million in the red and the financial condition was affecting the board’s ability to look after players. The lack of international tours was further affecting Zimbabwe’s chances of addressing its financial issues.

“The association now is very much in the red. We estimate anything between $15-18 million in the red. That situation has been compounded by the fact that there have been very few international tours, very few profitable tours, which undermines the ability of Zimbabwe Cricket to address that massive debt,” Coltart said. “And that, in turn, has meant that players have not been paid on time.”

Earlier this month, Zimbabwe’s players boycotted their training ahead of the series against Pakistan and decided to form a union to negotiate for better pay. They reached an agreement with the board, after an assurance that ZC would clear their outstanding salaries and also pay them match fees. Shortly after the issue was resolved, fast bowler Kyle Jarvis announced his retirement from international cricket. The pace bowler opted out of the series against Pakistan to take up a county offer from Lancashire.

Coltart recounted an incident last year when he had met with a delegation of players and coaches, some of whom had not been paid for up to three years. Such treatment, Coltart said, was pushing players like Jarvis and Gary Ballance to leave the country for better opportunities and this exodus was dragging the game down further.

“Last year, I received a delegation of players, including coaches who, having not received any joy from Zimbabwe Cricket came to me directly because they had not been paid match fees,” Coltart recalled.

“Some were owed a vast amount of money, and had not been paid up to three years. I summoned Zimbabwe Cricket and the Sports Recreation Commission and arranged for players to be paid. But, it undermined the confidence of many players in the association and that resulted in people, critically important players like Tatenda Taibu, leaving the game.

“And now we see Jarvis leaving the game, and there are others who we had hoped would be attracted to play for the country, players like Gary Ballance, started to look elsewhere. That erodes the confidence of the team and creates a very vicious cycle where we are not competitive against international teams. So those teams are reluctant to come, they don’t get the revenues that they would otherwise get from a close contest.”

Coltart, who lobbied with Australia, England and India to get more tours to Zimbabwe, said the chances of Zimbabwe hosting more countries depended as much on the political situation in the country as it did on the state of the game. He was also critical of the way ZC had managed funds, saying the board had failed to protect players’ interests. He however expressed hope that future incomes from the game could be used efficiently to revive the game.

“I had a meeting with (ICC CEO) Dave Richardson in Dubai in March and he told me that Zimbabwe Cricket, over the next couple of years, can expect revenues of up to $25 million. Zimbabwe cricket does not have the infrastructure that, for example, we see in New Zealand and $25 million, properly administered, should be enough to grow the game and pay players,” he said.

One of the major benefits of the newly formed players’ association, according to Coltart, was that it would help many players negotiate for better pay. The association, he said, could get ZC to start treating players better, sparking better results and more series with international teams over the long term. He, however, urged the players to find a manager who could keep the association going, while the players are busy with their cricket commitments.

“It has been a demand of players for over a decade. And what has happened in the absence of the players’ association is that the administration has managed to literally threaten players, especially young black players who had nothing else to turn to, and undermine their ability to negotiate reasonable terms and conditions.

“I am very pleased that this is now being agreed to and the players must find someone to do that role. And I am very encouraged to see the unity among players in the last couple of weeks. If they are successful in that and if Zimbabwe Cricket starts treating their players better, then the players will play better, and we can attract these teams and ultimately, it’s going to address the financial problems.”

The Zimbabwe Independent

By Sokwanele

23 August 2013

If these elections were won by Zanu PF freely and fairly in a clean democratic contest, then I would respect them.

If you believe in democracy as powerfully as I do then you are honour-bound to “take the rough with the smooth”. A Zanu PF victory would sit uneasy with me given its track record and my personal life, but I would respect and accept the result.

But this result is sour and unacceptable. I believe that even the most ardent Zanu PF supporter knows that this election was stolen through fraud and cheating, and not secured by the will of the people.

An Al-Jazeera reporter commented that he had driven all around Harare after the results were announced looking for signs of celebration from Zanu PF supporters and there were none. He tweeted: “Are people waiting for (President Robert) Mugabe to issue a decree: celebrate!”

There were none, because no one voted for Zanu PF or Mugabe in the numbers the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) claims are the outcome. It made me aware of what a bizarre situation we are in: a manufactured political context where the vast majority of the people in our country are forced to accept control and authority from those they do not want.

And the grief and fear of an uncertain future — which recent history tells us is going to be unpleasant — is palpable among all of us. People who usually talk about politics to me freely are silent. They don’t want to discuss the results because the obvious question “What now?” is one that only raises fear and uncertainty. We are all so damn tired of feeling fearful and unsure of our futures.

One person, blessed to have his exams in the last five years said on Twitter in a message directed to David Coltart, outging Education minister: “I wrote my O-level and A-level in a perfect way, no hassle, results came in time, THANK YOU … now I am worried of the future.”

We worry about the future because our past lives, under Zanu PF rule, were so terrible. A short five years ago every Zimbabwean was trapped in a daily struggle just to survive. The list of what we endured is simply incredible — no one can begin to understand how awful it was unless they had lived here.

We collectively experienced one of the world’s worst examples of hyper-inflation; businesses dying on a daily basis; completely empty supermarket shelves and consequently wide-spread starvation; one of the worst cholera epidemics the world has seen as a result of collapsing infrastructure; roads strewn with potholes; divided families as a result of a forced exodus to neighbouring countries; the total collapse of our education and health systems; thousands of businesses and homes deliberately destroyed by Zanu PF government through Operation Murambatsvina; unemployment that is close to 95%; and, on top of all that, grotesque unimaginable violence and torture.

Surely, any sane reasonable person can see that it is illogical and inconceivable that a nation that has endured all that would voluntarily elect the party, a mere five years later, the same party that brought us all to our knees and made our lives a living hell? Or does everyone really think Zimbabweans are that stupid?

What is more incredible is the result that Mugabe awarded himself: five years ago the presidential results were delayed for weeks in the wake of a national revolt against his rule. We all knew why — the “books were being cooked” behind the scenes.

The subsequent manufactured results of March 31 resulted in a presidential run-off, the only chance Mugabe had of still clinging onto power. And the vicious violence that preceded the run-off was a desperate attempt to literally bludgeon an already brutalised nation into allowing him to stay on.

It is simply absurd and farcical that that same nation would now peacefully and legitimately award him a massive 61% victory, and his party a landslide 2/3 majority in parliament — enough, you note, to allow Zanu PF to reverse all the legal gains that we voted for as a nation in 2008.

Zanu PF would like the world to believe that those legal gains, including our brand new constitution, are things the people have suddenly decided they do not want.

Zanu PF would like the world to believe that the liberation message combined with hate and loathing of Western nations has suddenly became appealing in 2013, when exactly those same messages were massively rejected in 2008.

They would like the world to accept that a very elderly man who makes long rambling speeches and seldom refers to concrete policies, is suddenly seen as a viable solution to our country’s substantial woes, when just five years ago we demanded someone else be given a chance. Zanu PF would like us to believe this improbability when it is a biological fact that Mugabe is only going to get older and more frail, and at a much faster rate given his advanced years.

Zanu PF wants the world to believe that even though things had become palpably better for Zimbabweans in the last five years — not all of us, but enough to give real hope — the vast incredible majority of us would suddenly wilfully choose to give Zanu PF the benefit of the doubt again and that we would all want a return to what was pure unadulterated hell.

A Mugabe landslide victory is simply not plausible. To endorse it as credible or fair would be an outrage against a whole population, and a total disregard for the meaning of democracy.

Zimbabweans are not stupid. This election has been stolen. It is an abomination to democracy and a violation of everything sacrosanct to all who believe in the right for people to determine their own futures.

In Muzarabani North — a hot-spot area for violence in 2008 — the result speaks for itself: in 2008 nearly 4 000 people voted for MDC-T, but in 2013 only 600 people did.

Zanu PF would like us to believe that 85% of the people there suddenly saw the light and saw their party as the future solution. This is ridiculous.

News Day

By Conway Tutani

23 August 2013

Losing elections in 2008 lit a fire under Zanu PF. They were jolted into action after getting singed (kubvuraudzwa/ukufuswa). The proud cock almost lost all its feathers.

Zanu PF sharpened their claws this time around, splashing millions of dollars on their campaign. This was mind-boggling expenditure considering the state of the economy. Was this money from outside? Was this ransomed for people’s lives to make them loyal no matter what?

In stark contrast, what the opposition MDCs spent on campaigning was a drop in the ocean, reducing their fight against Zanu PF into a mere slap on the wrist instead of slap in the back of the head.

The MDCs would have done with sane heads like David Coltart, who did not allow political hatred and pettiness to cloud his judgment as to the issues at the core.

He correctly read that it was basically a systemic issue; that in order to allow normal, acceptable political behaviour to take root, the system had had to be removed first and foremost; and after that, turn on each other in a normal, civilised way. Coltart knew that there was no way they could take on the system separately.

The lawyer that he is, Coltart saw that justice was elusive and selective in the country — which it still is. Those ministers that former South African president Thabo Mbeki mentioned to President Robert Mugabe last year as serial bribe takers have not been dealt with up to now despite Mugabe’s avowal to take action, while High Court judge Justice Charles Hungwe was placed under investigation soon after issuing warrants to search the offices of ministers fingered over corruption.

The known killers of MDC activists Talent Mabika and Tichaona Chiminya are still roaming free 13 years later. Indeed, the killers of Police Inspector Petros Mutedza in Harare two years ago should be dealt with, but so must the killers of Mabika and Chiminya, but up to now no one has been held accountable.
Coltart read the mood of the people. It’s about action, action, action! This is an individual who, with brave others, compiled a report on the Gukurahundi massacres of the 1980s at great personal risk. That is why he lost by a mere 19 votes unlike fellow MDC candidates who were defeated comprehensively, showing how detached from the ground they were. They didn’t quite get the hang of it. It was like taking us back to the nursery book of politics. You need to work on multiple fronts. We can’t reduce the world of politics to an intellectual abstraction. We must not be scared of making people feel offended or provoked so that they start thinking, real thinking. It’s necessary to hit hard and hit often. How can people snatch defeat from the jaws of victory like what divisiveness did in 2008? Now it appears their first and last chance is gone — forever.

Now Mugabe is yet again savouring another victory, tainted as it is, who can begrudge him in the face of such ineptitude? Now, the regime, for its own survival, has promised to introduce some reforms.

There is no doubt that Mugabe divides opinion. He is loved and loathed in almost equal measure. On the one hand, foreigners — maybe from the safety of distance — display a romanticised view of him following his brave and sacrificial fight for independence. On the other, the majority of urbanites — who have borne the brunt of his economic policies and see political intolerance at close hand with the beatings and arrest of protesters and mind-numbing one-sidedness in the public media — have consistently rejected him since the formation of the MDC. The more discerning people are, the less attractive they find Zanu PF. If anything, that political thuggery and crude propaganda is Zanu PF’s downfall in urban areas because it is a throwback to colonial Rhodesia where the racist regime demanded unquestioned acceptance of its rule from oppressed blacks claiming that they were there to maintain some creature called Western Christian civilisation.

Today, some religious clerics, including the loquacious Obadiah Musindo, are reprising the same tune of Mugabe being anointed to rule. How can someone be anointed and at the same time go through an elective process? Enlightened people find this derisory and insulting. It doesn’t work among educated and sophisticated people as opposed to the exploitable and fickle vulgus, uneducated masses. Is it not peculiar that as one gets nearer to urban areas, there are more votes for the opposition and vice versa?

Indeed, Zanu PF tipped the balance when it went all out for majoritarianism using, to great effect, ochlocracy. Ochlocracy or mob rule is government by mob or a mass of people, or the intimidation of legitimate authorities. Using ochlocracy, Zanu PF finally swept out the MDC-T from Mbare and other places as the duly elected councillors were blocked at each and every turn by Chipangano and other Zanu PF militias.

Ochlocracy, unlike democracy (rule of the people), is characterised by demagoguery, “the tyranny of the majority”, and the rule of passion over reason. That is why land reform, justified as it was but driven by mobs, was as bloody and violent as it was. Short-term demagoguery or moral panic were used; land invasions were escalated after the “No” vote against the draft constitution in 2000. Now we are importing maize from Zambia grown by the very white farmers who were thrown out.

Loading of the judiciary can also result in ochlocracy.

That is the state of the nation today. These are the things that people should be clear in their minds about while they feast and gnash their teeth. This is the time to avoid false ultra-nationalism — especially against the reality of grand corruption. Do we need people who are only after finding a secure political office to live off it forever and ever? The extent of corrupt diamond money still has to be established and revealed.

Let’s not be silent witnesses to all this.

Radio Dialogue

By Lulu Brenda Harris

23 August 2013

Former education minister, Senator David Coltart, has spoken out on the “serious” electoral breaches of both the Constitution and Electoral Law he observed during the election period, which may shed light on concerns centering on the credibility of the just ended elections.

Speaking at the Bulawayo Press Club on Thursday, Coltart expressed reservations on the whole national electoral process saying actions leading to and on day of voting brought the whole elections into disrepute.Coltart pointed out the certain breaches that took place within his constituency, where he a lawyer by profession was contesting and wondered what happened in other areas especially in remote areas.

“I am aware of the legalities of the constitution and the electoral law, which is why i am pointing them out. These concerns have an impact on the whole national process. When i look at my own election campaign I had the best election team and highly qualified polling agents yet these breaches occurred in an urban setting what more in a rural setting,” said Coltart.

He said the electoral process was a complete violation of the constitution and a mockery of voters in constituencies and nationwide as a whole.

“Section 6 of the Constitution needed a 30 day period for an intensive voter registration but in wards three and four, where I was contesting the intensive process began after nomination court sat.

This shows the cynical way the election process was conducted. The registration centre was stuck at Lockview primary school, the most inaccessible place and some don’t even know where it is.

“The school is stuck in the middle of nowhere, not nearer the high concentration areas of Hillside, Ilanda and Woodlands. This was a deliberate ploy to make sure few people registered as soon as possible,” he said.

Coltart said the most serious breach of the electoral law was the duplication of names, concerns of dead peoples names on the voter roll, bussing in of people to polling stations but when political parties raised these concerns, they were ignored.He said the inaccessible voters roll was a key necessary planing tool, aiding candidates in studying their constituencies and demographic detail of voters.

“We went to the Supreme Court asking for the copy the electronic version of the voters roll the copy, which we were not issued with. The electronic copy is more user friendly because the paper format is long and when laid out, will take up to four rooms.

It is certainly difficult to go through it in a whim. It is like checking for double entries in a telephone directory but the supreme court denied us that.

“But in the Global Political Agreement we agreed that every candidate shall be entitled to to the voters roll. Section 21, six and seven of the electoral law says within a reasonable time every candidate must be provided a copy in electoral format of sold to on request,” said Coltart.

The presence of police officers inside the polling station was another grave violation of the Electoral Law, Coltart said.

“Section 55. 6 of the Electoral Act says a presiding officer might call in a police officer to provide order and assistance. The role of police is simply to keep law and order outside they have no other roles than that.

Section 62 says during counting of votes, the following persons and no others may be present – the presiding officer, polling officers, candidates, roving party agents and no other persons are to be involved. but there was intensive involvement of police at very single polling station they were taking notes, communicating on their radios.

“We expressed our concerns but we were just ignored. Even when counting started senior policemen were moving in and out of polling stations yet we the candidates were shut. If this happened in an urban setting what more in a rural one,” he said.

The former minister said these irregularities spoke volumes about the entire harmonised elections and that these were some of the serious breaches of the electoral law and Constitution, which Zimbabweans had worked hard for.

However, in light of these concerns, President Mugabe was sworn in as Zimbabwe’s head of state, regardless of breaches made.

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.