Zuma fights for Welshman Ncube

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in News, Politics

The Sadc facilitation team on Zimbabwe says it will tackle the exclusion of
MDC president Welshman Ncube, saying this was a violation of a regional
resolution.

Report by Our Staff

South African President, Jacob Zuma’s international affairs adviser, Lindiwe
Zulu said the facilitation team was not happy with Ncube’s continued
exclusion and wanted to bring an end to this.

“The facilitation team is not happy with the exclusion of anybody,” she
said. “It is an issue of the facilitation and we can be able to deal with
this.”

Ncube recently wrote to the Sadc chairman, Jikaya Kikwete accusing President
Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of making key governance
decisions
without consulting him.

Instead Mugabe and Tsvangirai have chosen to meet with Deputy Prime Minister
Arthur Mutambara, who lost a leadership contest to Ncube.

But Zulu said this should come to an end, as all the parties that signed the
GPA must be included in negotiations.

“The GPA was signed by three political parties and we think they should all
be represented, Sadc has taken a decision to that effect,” she said. “None
of those parties must be marginalised.”

Zulu said Zuma had seen the letter Ncube had written to the Tanzanian
president and both presidents were expected to respond soon. She said the
two presidents will discuss the letter, before responding, which she said
would be soon.

Following the facilitation team’s last visit, Zulu said she was not at
liberty to discuss some of the issues she had discussed with the Zimbabwean
parties, saying her team was yet to brief Zuma and the discussions were not
for public consumption.

However, Zanu PF strategist, Tsholotsho legislator, Jonathan Moyo has
accused Ncube of abusing familial ties with Zuma to gatecrash principals
meetings.

“He is trying to abuse his family relationship with President Zuma,” Moyo
was quoted as saying.

Ncube’s son is married to one of Zuma’s daughters.

Sources indicated that a troika meeting was going to be called, as Sadc was
working overtime to ensure that Zimbabwe implemented all the provisions
before elections, which Mugabe wants in June, were held.

It was revealed that the facilitation team had wanted to meet the three
political parties, but Zanu PF and MDC-T said they could not attend as they
were busy.

Tsvangirai has since written to Sadc appealing for a regional summit that
will discuss the implementation of outstanding issues.

Mutasa lashes out at Chinamasa, Muchinguri

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in News, Politics

MUTARE — Embattled Zanu PF Secretary for Administration, Didymus Mutasa has
lashed out at his critics, accusing them of causing irreparable damage to
the party in the province.

Report by Clayton Masekesa

Mutasa singled out Justice minister, Patrick Chinamasa and women’s league
boss Oppah Muchinguri for being behind the recent petition to President
Robert Mugabe, which accused him of dictatorship and fanning divisions in
Manicaland.

The petitioners, who allegedly met at Muchinguri’s residence in the affluent
Murambi suburb in Mutare, warned that if Mutasa’s actions went unchecked the
party would lose again in the forthcoming elections, as it did in the 2008
polls.

Mutasa said organising a meeting to petition Mugabe behind his back only
showed that Chinamasa and Muchinguri were the ones at the forefront of
causing problems and bringing confusion in the party.

“There are some grudges and political differences that are tearing apart the
party,” he said. “I wonder why people like Chinamasa and Muchinguri can lead
others in holding a private meeting behind my back and draft a petition that
is full of falsehoods to the President. In fact I am now telling them that
they are the ones that are perpetuating the destruction of the party through
such clandestine meetings.”

Mutasa said if the petitioners had some questions, they should have
approached him instead of writing a petition.

“I was ready to answer them. Whether they like it or not, I am their leader
and I am above them,” he said.

The veteran politician who is currently ranked fourth after President
Mugabe, Vice-President Joice Mujuru and party chairman Simon Khaya Moyo said
there was a faction that was accusing him of orchestrating the suspension of
provincial chairman, Mike Madiro.

“The truth of the matter is that I did not have a hand in the suspension of
Madiro. Those people accusing me should know that I did not send Madiro to
do whatever he did that led to his suspension. I am surprised that all the
blame is now on me,” said Mutasa.

Muchinguri and Chinamasa could not be reached for comment yesterday. They
have however reportedly distanced themselves from the plot to oust Mutasa.

Apart from Chinamasa and Muchinguri, others who are alleged to have attended
the meeting include Energy and Power Development deputy minister Hubert
Nyanhongo, suspended provincial chairperson Mike Madiro, acting provincial
chairperson Dorothy Mabika, Buhera North MP William Mutomba and war veterans’
leader Joseph Chinotimba.

Madiro, provincial youth leader, Tawanda Mukodza and three others were
suspended early this year on allegations of defrauding diamond companies in
Chiadzwa. They have denied the allegations and police investigations are
said to have reached a brick wall after the diamond miners refused to
testify.

The accusations and counter accusations by the top Zanu PF officials have
exposed the deep factionalism in the province that has led to some party
members predicting another defeat in the coming elections

Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said the party’s politburo was expected to
come up with a position on the issue this week.

“The party will come with its position over the problems in Manicaland after
we have been guided by the views of the party supporters in Manicaland,” he
said.

MDC-T at war over candidates

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Local, News, Politics

A storm is brewing within the MDC-T, ahead of primary elections after the
party threatened to disqualify hundreds of aspiring parliamentarians who are
campaigning against sitting MPs.

Report by Nqobani Ndlovu

The Standard has established that under new guidelines, aspiring MPs will be
allowed to openly campaign for primary elections, only in the event that the
incumbents fail to garner enough votes in their constituencies during the
confirmation exercise.

MDC-T national chairman, Lovemore Moyo last week confirmed to The Standard
that aspiring MPs openly campaigning for office against sitting legislators
risk disqualification if they violated the directive.

“We are saying because there is an MDC-T MP who is still serving his or her
term, it will be wrong for any candidate to been seen campaigning against a
member of the party,” he said.

“How can you campaign against your own party person? Aspiring candidates
should only campaign against the opposition parties.”

Moyo claimed that allowing aspiring MPs to campaign would “destabilise” the
party.

“It will destabilise the constituency. We do not want any disruptions. A
sitting MP should continue his or her work without any disruptions from
aspiring candidates. Aspiring candidates will only be allowed to campaign
after the confirmation exercise,” he said.

But several aspiring MPs were fuming over the directive which they dismissed
as an attempt to shield non-performing and unpopular legislators.

They said the directive was undemocratic and gave sitting MPs an unfair
advantage over others.

“This is just an attempt to protect sitting MPs at all costs.  How would the
party structures make an informed decision during the confirmation exercise,
when they do not know what we have to offer as an alternative to the sitting
MP?”, an aspiring MP in Bulawayo, who requested anonymity said.

A sitting MP requires a two thirds majority from the party structures in his
or her constituency to avoid primary elections, according to the party’s
election guidelines.

Another aspiring MP argued: “This directive gives the sitting MP an unfair
advantage over us. What would stop a sitting MP from de-campaigning us by
saying that we have pulled out of the race.

“This directive cripples us in a big way. In fact by this directive the
party leadership is saying party structures should not consider us but only
consider the sitting MPs.”

Following the latest election guidelines, sitting MPs throughout the country
have been busy holding weekend rallies urging supporters to vote them back
into office.

In Bulawayo, just last week Saturday, Pumula legislator, Albert Mhlanga, at
a rally held at Pumula, promised to slaughter a cow for each and every ward
if they ensured that he avoids primary elections. Mhlanga is being
challenged by Artwell Sibanda, a personal assistant to Moyo.

In Luveve, sitting MP Reggie Moyo has been busy donating maize meal,
promising supporters more goodies if he wins the primaries. Moyo is being
challenged by businessman, Kidwell Mujuru who last week won an appeal
against disqualification.

The MDC-T was recently forced to postpone the holding of its primary
elections following the infighting and chaos over the party’s primary
election guidelines.

The primary elections are reportedly now set for May.

Disgruntled members have been pushing the party leadership to revisit the
primary election guidelines that had resulted in a number of applications
from aspiring candidates being thrown out for various reasons.

Aspiring candidates argued that the guidelines were designed to bar them
from contesting the sitting MPs.  Only last week, about 30 disgruntled
aspiring members managed to win appeals against disqualification that were
based on the election guidelines.

Govt turns to foreign help to end urban water woes

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Local, News

ZIMBABWE is now looking beyond its borders for investors in the water
sector, in a bid to find a lasting solution to the water crisis faced by the
country.

Report by Musa Dube

The country’s major cities Harare and Bulawayo are currently grappling with
a water crisis that has seen residents going for a long time without the
precious liquid.

Minister of Water Resources Development and Management, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo
said the government was failing to provide water to consumers due to limited
resources and challenged local and international investors to consider
investing in water management systems in the country.

Sipepa Nkomo said there was about US$2 billion worth of viable investments
in the water sector.

“There are 23 water projects in the country to the tune of US$2 billion that
are in need of financing.

“We have various models of ownership that we can discuss with prospective
financiers.

“I encourage investors to identify the projects of interest and engage my
ministry,” he said in Bulawayo at the Zimbabwe Water Investment Conference.

“Cooperation is desired for dam construction, staff development, technical
assistance and demand management initiatives particularly in urban areas.

“All we need are willing partners and we will ensure maximum returns on
investments.”

Nkomo said in the National Water Policy the government intended to attract
private capital in the water management sector.

“Water is a viable enterprise. I have travelled the length and breadth of
Africa and have seen viable private water management schemes that have
commendable
support mechanisms for the poor in society,” he said.

Nkomo said despite financial challenges, his ministry in collaboration with
Zinwa and cooperating partners is currently undertaking a number of water
projects throughout the country.

Govt engages ILO in crafting a single safety law

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Local, News

Kadoma — Government in partnership with the International Labour
Organisation (ILO) has begun a process of crafting an Occupational Safety
and Health (OSH) Bill which will bring Zimbabwe’s laws in line with key
international labour standards.

Report by Blessed Mhlanga

The OSH Bill will seek to harmonise current laws which deal with Safety and
Health at the work place into one Act compliant with international
conventions adopted by the United Nations member states.

Speaking at a workshop to roll out the OSH Bill, Ministry of Labour
Permanent Secretary Lancaster Museka, said the principles which will guide
the drafting of the Bill were approved by cabinet after a long time of
deliberations.

“It has taken us a very long time to be where we are today. The issue of
coming up with new and comprehensive OSH legislation has been under
discussion since the early nineties,” Museka said.

The principles adopted by government include a single legislative Act,
domestication of ratified ILO conventions, and comprehensive coverage of all
sectors of the economy.

Museka said the provisions of current laws were failing to address OSH
issues affecting the workers.

“The provisions of these instruments do not adequately cover all OSH
elements as well as relevant government undertakings,” he said.

“Such inadequacies have pro-mpted the need to develop and come up with new
legislative framework particularly in light of the instruments recently
adopted by the
International Labour Organisation (ILO) and in some cases ratified
international instruments.”

NSSA Acting Director of Occupational Safety and Health, John Mutswatiwa
supported the move saying the current laws which include The Factories and
Works of 1948 were clearly outdated and no longer relevant to the management
of safety and health at the workplace.

ILO Country Director Alphonse Tabi — abodo, affirmed ILO’s commitment to
assist the Zimbabwean government in harmonising its labour laws with
international conventions.

Joyce Banda falls for Mugabe’s charm

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Local, News

She came, she saw and she was conquered. This probably describes Malawian
President Joyce Banda’s five day official visit to Zimbabwe.

Report by Our Staff

Zimbabwe’s relations with Malawi had hit an all-time low when Banda took
over the presidency of that country. Too close to the West, Zimbabwe thought
of Banda.

With President Robert Mugabe in a war of contrition with the West, it was
unthinkable that the Zimbabwean President could sup with Banda.

Upon assumption of power after the death of Bingu Wa Mutharika last year,
Banda seemed to be cozy with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. There were
even reports that Zimbabwe’s intelligence services had written to Banda
inviting her on a non-existent state visit.

At this point, relations between the two countries had reached a nadir and
there was seemingly no way they could be mended. But Mugabe pulled a rabbit
out of the hat, inviting Banda to officially open the Zimbabwe International
Trade Fair and soon he had the Malawian leader eating out of his hand,
literally.

The smitten Banda was soon singing praises of Mugabe and singing the
Zimbabwe leader’s much chanted ode; that sanctions must be removed. With the
frosty relations between the two presidents seemingly forgotten, Banda said
Mugabe had the interests of Zimbabwe at heart, something she may not have
said a few months or weeks ago.

“We will march with you and the rest of us shall blow the trumpet: ‘lift
sanctions, they are hurting the ordinary people’,” Banda said in her speech
during the official opening of the trade showpiece.

“It’s going to happen and some of us will stand with you. Zimbabwe is fine,
lift the sanctions.”

Despite being in Zimbabwe for only five days, the Malawian president said
she had seen enough to be convinced that Zimbabwe was a free country and
sanctions were unjust.

Often labeled as a brutal dictator, Mugabe often compounds critics and
enemies with, what one British envoy described as his charm.

Deborah Bronnert, after presenting her documents to the veteran leader, said
Mugabe was “engaged on the issues very well and was friendly and courteous”.

Former opposition figures, like Education Minister David Coltart also have
said they have seen a different side to Mugabe, saying he was compassionate.

“In that instance, (when Coltart’s daughter had been attacked by a lion)
Mugabe called me aside, wanted to know what medical treatment she was
receiving and showed incredible compassion,” he said. “When my mother died,
he expressed sympathy and was supportive. I could tell it was not put on.”

’MUGABE IS CHARISMATIC’
At the official opening of the late Vice President John Nkomo’s school last
year, Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe was omitted from the protocol,
but Mugabe described her as beautiful, asking how the omission could have
been possible.
Mugabe also showered praises on Information Communications and Technology
Minister, Nelson Chamisa, describing him as young but having the wisdom of
elders.
And it seems Mugabe’s charm might also have worked on the Malawian
president. With Sadc summits planned to discuss Zimbabwe’s forthcoming
elections, the winning over of Banda might just prove crucial to Mugabe, as
he hopes to get regional support for his plans on the polls.

Chinese sell trinkets at ZITF

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Local, News

CHINESE nationals exhibiting at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF)
in Bulawayo raised eyebrows after reducing the standards of the showcase to
a flea market by selling their products directly to the customers.

report by Musa Dube

A trade fair is an exhibition organised so that companies in a specific
industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products and services,
hoping to receive orders and establish partnerships that will last for
years.

However, the Chinese violated the exhibition rules when they started selling
their products directly to the customers on the day the fair kicked off. The
Standard witnessed the Chinese exhibitors, being assisted by the locals,
busy selling their products instead of showcasing.

While other business people bro-ught heavy machinery and equipment for
exhibition at the trade fair, most of the Chinese exhibitors brought some
boxes containing cheap jewellery, clothes and handbags. The jewellery prices
ranged from US$2 to US$5 and their stands were a hive of activity as people
swarmed to buy the
products that were lowly priced.

Other products that were being sold were pharmaceutical goods such as Vicks
and cosmetics. During the peak of the economic decline in 2009, the ZITF had
allowed some local small to medium enterprises to sell their goods after big
companies had shunned the show.

However in 2011, ZITF banned the selling of goods by exhibitors during the
event to prevent the fair from being turned into a flea market. Flea market
traders in Bulawayo said it was unfair that the Chinese were getting
preferential treatment.

“The ZITF management should next time also give us space to sell our
products, because it’s unfair to allow other people to sell while denying
others,” said
Jessica Moyo. “Some years back we used to sell various goods directly to
people but the ZITF stopped us saying this was a platform for exhibiting,
not for selling but surprisingly we are now seeing the Chinese selling their
products in the show. It’s unfair.”

ZITF general manager Daniel Chigaru said the Chinese had been told to stop
selling at their stands, as this was not allowed.
He said no serious exhibition anywhere in the world allowed the direct
selling of goods from stands.

“We have very strict rules that prohibit selling of goods. We normally send
a circular stating that no selling is allowed in the exhibition. We don’t
take kindly to those who decide to sell directly to consumers,” Chigaru
said.

China was the biggest exhibitor after South Africa, occupying about 600
square metres. There were about 16 foreign nations participating at this
year’s fair compared to last year’s 14. The countries included Botswana,
Brazil, Ethiopia, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique,
Namibia, Pakistan, South Africa and Tanzania.

Book Fair spreads to Masvingo

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Local, News

THE Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF) has spread its wings to Masvingo
as part of its 30th anniversary commemorations.

Report by Our Staff

ZIBF chairman, Musaemura Zimunya said the Masvingo Book Fair would be held
at the Civic Centre from May 31-June 1 in fulfillment of the mandate to
encourage the development of the book industry. It would also generate a
culture of reading and raise public awareness of all aspects of publishing,
printing, writing and copyright.

He said in bringing the book fair to Masvingo, ZIBF was inspired by the
history of the place where the country derived its name, as represented by
the old edifice of Great Zimbabwe, “a product of the cultural and
architectural genius of our ancestors.”

“Our book fair thus aims to reconnect with the ancient rhythms of this city
by recognising its place and role in our history through the ages and past
the colonial era,” Zimunya said.

“We also aim to recognise Masvingo as an education friendly region, fully
endowed with traditional powerhouses of learning and whose community values
education as a powerful resource that opens opportunities for individual,
communal and national growth.”

He said the Masvingo Book Fair would afford writers resident in the province
an opportunity to meet and mingle in a lively atmosphere and debate issues
that cut across the book industry with academics, publishers and
booksellers, as well as get to know the environment they operated in.

It would also provide an opportunity for local booksellers to advertise
their brands and sell books directly to the public and the schools in one
place.

Poverty drives teenagers to sell sex at Murambinda growth point

Zim bottled water selling in Botswana

‘BCC facilities not suitable for the disabled’

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Community News

BULAWAYO — The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has condemned Bulawayo
City Council (BCC) run schools and youth centres that were used during the
just ended referendum as not user friendly to people living with
disabilities.

Report by Nqobani Ndlovu

ZEC said a fact-finding mission by its personnel to Bulawayo recently
revealed that some BCC-run schools, youth centres and housing offices were
not suitable for use by people living with disabilities during elections.

The electoral board recommended that ramps and rails should be constructed
at the BCC facilities, even at the toilets, to make them user-friendly to
the disabled, according to the latest city council minutes.

Bulawayo council was instructed to construct ramps at Ingubo, Tategulu,
Mawaba, Mahlathini, Mtshane, Mgombane and Ntshamathe — all primary schools
as well as at Nkulumane Library and Home Craft Centre in Mzilikazi.

At Mawaba Primary School, ZEC said: “Recommendations were that the following
doorsteps must be ramped to be accessible to disabled persons using either
wheelchairs or crutches.

“Administration doorstep, rooms 1, 2 and 3 doorsteps, boys’ toilet
 doorstep.”

COUNCIL TO FORK OUT US$17 000 FOR THE REQUIREMENTS

At Nkulumane Library, ZEC recommended “doors to be fitted to toilets
designated for people living with disabilities. Rails to be fitted in the
respective toilets as well”.
“A designated parking area for people living with disabilities to be
erected. The ground should be levelled at the access ramp on the entire
library’s entry and exit points.”
Isaiah Magagula, the director of Housing and Community Services said
constructing ramps and rails at its council run facilities to make them
accessible to the disabled would cost the local authority about US$17 000.
“The total so far is US$16 815 and judging from the above and the fact that
council had not budgeted for this eventuality, it would be hard to meet
these requirements,” Magagula said.

The agony of multi-drug resistant TB

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Community News

Zimbabwe is grappling with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) which
has become a major health problem, as patients fail to respond to the
traditional first-line TB drugs.

Report by Christopher Mahove

According to the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, cases of MDR-TB
nearly doubled last year from 156 in 2011 to 244 cases. This was despite the
fact that notifications for ordinary TB drastically declined from 47 000 in
2010 to 38 367 in 2012.

But survivors said despite the lengthy and arduous treatment regiments, with
the correct treatment, attitude and support, MDR-TB can be treated.

Taruva Muvhuni of Makomo in Epworth, a survivor of MDR-TB, said when he was
told that he had the disease, which can easily be transmitted from one
person to another, he feared for the worst.

But he later realised with the right treatment and consistency in taking
medication, he could be treated.

Muvhuni, a 39-year-old former Premier Soccer League player with Bulawayo
side, Zimbabwe Saints and the now defunct Blackpool, was diagnosed with TB
in 2010 after suffering from a severe cough, coupled with general body
weakness and a lot of sweating at night.

“I got my results two weeks after I was tested and I accepted them. I was
then put on treatment and I had to wear a surgical mask all the time, except
at meal times for 14 consecutive days to protect those around me. I also had
an injection everyday for 60 days and would bring my sputum on each of the
days to the medical centre,” he said.

Muvhuni said after the 60-day treatment period, he was said to have been
cured of the disease and was instructed to stop taking medication.
He was, however, asked to bring his sputum to the health centre every day.

“After about a month, I was summoned back to the health centre where I was
told that I actually had multi-drug resistant TB, and I had to be treated
for 24 months. I was told that I would need to have an injection for nine
months everyday excluding Sunday. I accepted it and started receiving
treatment from home as MDR-TB was said to be highly infectious,” he said.

Muvhuni said he had to endure the treatment, painful as it was, having to
take 17 pills and an injection per day.

“There was one [drug] called pass, of which I took four cups a day diluted
in a tea cup full of drink. That was the most painful drug.

“I could not eat after taking it and would need more than four hours to be
able to eat. I could see visions in my sleep and sometimes hallucinate,” he
said.

Muvhuni said during the course of his treatment, he also had to deal with
stigmatisation and discrimination from workmates at a supermarket in
Braeside where he worked and also from some friends and relatives.

After receiving treatment for more than two years, Muvhuni has now fully
recovered and had some advice for fellow Zimbabweans.

“It is important for people to get tested and get treatment early. As long
as you follow the doctor’s instructions, MDR-TB is curable.

“There is no n’anga [witchdoctor] or prophet who can cure TB and people
should not waste their time consulting these people,” he said.

Another MDR-TB survivor, Dzidzai Hupenyu, from Hatfield, is recovering from
home after he has been getting treatment for almost 20 months now.

He said after getting treatment for ordinary TB in 2005, the disease
relapsed three years later and he was diagnosed with MDR-TB.

“I then started receiving different medication, getting daily injections
which was excruciating. What makes it more difficult is the period of
treatment. Not many would endure such a lengthy period of painful
 treatment,” said Hupenyu.

“To avoid infecting those I stay with, I would always wear a surgical mask
and would sometimes spend a lot of time outside. While indoors, I would
ensure the windows were opened,” he said.

Hupenyu said he made his condition worse after the first treatment by
getting back to his smoking and drinking habits.

Muvhuni and Hupenyu are two of the many people who have benefitted from a
Doctors without borders, Médecins Sans Frontières’s (MSF) Dombo MDR-TB
programme in Epworth.

MSF AUGMENTING GOVT EFFORTS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TB
MSF Assistant Medical Coordinator, Florence Chirisa, said they were
supporting the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare in the fight against the
disease by putting 14 patients in Epworth on a 24-month long treatment
programme.
“MSF is supporting the Ministry of Health in the fight against the disease
through treatment of patients in Epworth, 80% of whom are HIV-positive,” she
said.
The MSF, Chirisa said, was also running programmes in Gokwe North district,
Buhera, Gutu, Tsholotsho and Harare.
Claude Nyarwendo, TB coordinator at MSF Dombo project, said diagnosis of the
disease was the biggest challenge as there was only one laboratory in the
country that carried out TB culture tests.
“There is only one national reference laboratory in the country and it takes
about two months for the results to come out and the treatment process is
also too long,” he said.

Promote reading culture among children: Masunda

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Community News

CHILDREN must be encouraged to develop a reading culture at a tender age in
order to give them a chance to open their minds and make them creative and
innovative, Harare mayor Muchadeyi Masunda said.

Report by Moses Chibaya

Speaking to journalists at Harare City Library, to commemorate the World
Book and Copyright Day, Masunda said a culture of reading begins at a tender
age.

“The important message that I have for the children is that we need to
promote the reading culture because knowledge is power,” he said. “Once you
have knowledge, nobody can take that away from you. What we are seeing here
is the manifestation of the abiding passion that we have as Zimbabweans on
matters pertaining to education.”

Masunda said Zimbabwe will need more knowledgeable people, “so it’s
important to catch these kids young and inculcate in them this reading
culture and the importance of gathering knowledge.”

“I have been a voracious reader myself over the years and at a tender age of
15; I had gone through many biographies of the most important leaders
worldwide. It’s not surprising that my reading culture from an early age
enabled me to be a lawyer. So it’s a very important area that needs to be
given the attention it so richly deserves.”

Project manager of Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust, Emelda Musariri, said the
organisation has embarked on an awareness campaign to encourage children to
acknowledge whatever writing that was not theirs.

“What we are saying is that children must develop a culture of reading. They
must also be aware that the material they are reading actually belongs to
somebody else, an idea that somebody put on paper,” she said.

“We want them to read to have an opportunity to also open their own minds to
their own ideas. They must always be aware that when they are writing or
quoting anything from a book, they must be able to acknowledge the author.”

Masunda, who is the patron of the Harare City Library, paid tribute to the
Swedish Embassy for providing US$1 million for the renovation of the
facility and its satellite libraries.

The renovations of the libraries are expected to commence next month.

The World Book and Copyright Day was held under the theme: Reading,
Publishing and the Protection of Intellectual Property through Copyright.

Displaced Marange villagers in quandary

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Community News

MUTARE — Traditional leaders in Marange are fuming over the failure by
diamond companies to compensate villagers who were relocated from mining
areas to Arda Transau in Odzi.

Report by Clayton Masekesa

The traditional leaders who include John Chirasika and Hebert Garahwa said
they now wanted an audience with both President Robert Mugabe and Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to discuss the villagers’ concerns.

Over 780 families were relocated to pave way for diamond mining in Chiadzwa.
But four years down the line, most of the families said they were still to
be compensated by the six diamond mining companies operating in the area,
namely Mbada Diamonds, Anjin, Marange Resources, Diamond Mining Corporation,
Rera Diamonds and Jinan Investments. The companies could not be reached for
comment.

Headman Chirasika said diamond mining companies have not been forthcoming in
compensating the affected families despite repeated promises to do so.

“We are the owners of this land. It belongs to our ancestors, we should
benefit from it,” he said. “We have tried to get assistance from the
provincial governor [Chris Mushowe] regarding the compensation but nothing
has come our way. It is high time we talk to Mugabe and Tsvangirai so that
they can help us. These are the last people that can help us.”

Chirasika accused some of the mining companies of obstructing attempts by
villagers to meet with Mugabe.

He said some of the diamond miners were threatening villagers and
traditional leaders with unspecified action, claiming that they were “close”
to Mugabe.

Headman Garahwa said: “I do not know why the diamond companies are punishing
us like this. They have completely ignored our plight. They are busy
sponsoring colourful sporting activities and political parties, while the
real owners of the land are suffering. We want our money.”

He added: “They are driving expensive cars and splashing wealth everywhere
yet they have ignored us. Vane chikwereti chedu [they owe us]. We will not
allow that. We are seeking audience with the highest offices so that we can
be assisted.”

Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (Zela) director Mutuso Dhliwayo said
the government had the obligation to ensure that the “eviction” of
communities and their subsequent relocation was done in a manner that did
not negatively affect their rights.

“Communities own land. The relocation of families where mineral resources
like diamonds are found should be done in a manner that does not affect the
villagers’ rights before, during and after the relocation process,” he said.

‘WE WANT PRESIDENTMUGABE TO INTERVENE’

Garahwa said villagers have tried several avenues to get compensation, but
to no avail.
“We are being blocked and threatened. We hope the country’s leadership will
read the story and come to our rescue,” he said.
According to the government evaluators, each family was supposed to get
US$40 000 as compensation.
Manicaland provincial administrator Fungai Mbetsa confirmed that no monetary
compensation had been made to the families so far.
“There are no monetary compensations that have made as of now, but there
have been standard relocation incentives that have been paid to the
households that were proposed by the government,” Mbetsa said.
He added: “The government did not take into account the property value
differentials and as a result the community members are complaining.”

Small-scale gold miners face tough times

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Business

GOLD production by small scale miners plummeted to two tonnes last year from
17 tonnes recorded nine years ago as exorbitant mining levies and punitive
policies take its toll, an industry head has said.

Report by Musa Dube

The Zimbabwe Artisanal and Small Scale for Sustainable Mining Council
(ZASMC) president, Wellington Takavarasha, bemoaned the declining production
saying government policies were not promoting small scale mining.

“In 2004 small scale miners produced 60% of the 29 tonnes of gold produced
that year.

“That means they produced 17 tonnes. In 2005 the small scale miners produced
50% of the 23 tonnes that was produced,” Takavarasha said.

He said the decline in production by small scale miners escalated when
government launched a massive clampdown in 2009 in an operation code-named
Chikorokoza Chapera that destabilised operations.

As a result of the operation, Takavarasha said, gold production by small
scale miners declined to 365kgs.

The ZASMC president said in 2011 there was an improvement with gold output
from small scale miners reaching 2,7 tonnes.

“However when the government increased the mining levies for small scale
miners in 2012, production went down again to two tonnes,” said Takavarasha.

Zim unlikely to seize mine stakes: Mpinga

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Business

LONDON — Fears that Zimbabwe’s government will strip foreign mines of half
their assets without compensation are unfounded, according to Kalaa Mpinga,
chief executive of Mwana which has gold and nickel operations there.

Report by Reuters

“There is a lot of noise, but we’re having a good conversation with the
government,” Mpinga said.

There is a draft proposal by President Robert Mugabe’s party to amend its
“indigenisation” law, by which foreign companies must be 51% owned by local
black people, under which companies would not be compensated for their
stakes.

London AIM-listed Mwana runs Zimbabwe’s largest producing gold mine — Freda
Rebecca — but Mpinga, interviewed in London, said he doubted the proposal
carried weight.

“I have seen cases where you have a white paper which comes out of some
government department and is widely distributed and it’s just some guy who
wants to see what the reaction is.”

Born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mpinga was
previously a director at Anglo American. With Mwana’s other main project
located in DRC, he has longstanding experience working under testing
political circumstances.

Zimbabwe’s indigenisation and empowerment minister, Saviour Kasukuwere, told
local media that there were no immediate plans to amend the law.

But with an election expected this year, the coalition government is eager
to raise funds, having publicly admitted it cannot afford the poll, stoking
fears the government will resort to seizing assets.

Another option is a new tax on the mining sector which the government may
introduce, Finance minister Tendai Biti said during a visit to London.

The indigenisation law has put investors on edge, particularly because the
terms under which stakes are acquired remains vague.

Mwana set to increase production

Mpinga, who has worked in Zimbabwe through the worst of the turmoil and
hyperinflation, has a simpler view.

“If they don’t pay what I want, they won’t get it,” he said with a smile.

“From my experience, the government is very reasonable.”

In January, Impala Platinum, the world’s second-largest platinum miner,
agreed to sell a majority stake in its Zimbabwe unit to local black
investors for US$971 million, with the local unit lending investors the
money.

Political concerns aside, Mwana is ramping up production. Its shares jumped
more than 10% last week after an operations update showed a 36,8% increase
in gold production from Freda Rebecca, despite a failure in a leach tank
where gold is extracted from the ore.

“We have more than delivered on all the things we said we would… If it hadn’t
been for the leach tank we would have far exceeded expectations,” Mpinga
said.

With commodity prices falling Mwana has prioritised reducing its costs and
increasing production. A pilot plant to test the feasibility of retreating
left-overs from the main production process, known as tailings, is expected
to be ready in July.

Mpinga also said a plan on developing the refinery and smelter at Mwana’s
nickel operations, run through Zimbabwe-listed Bindura Nickel Corporation,
would be in place by the end of the year.

The mine and plant were restarted last year after production was put on hold
in 2008, due to weak nickel prices and challenges posed by hyperinflation.

“At every level the government wanted the mine to start. That’s what I see,
the rest is just noise,” Mpinga said.

Zimbabwe has potential to reach US$100 billion economy—Makoni

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Business

ZIMBABWE has potential to achieve a US$100 billion economy earlier than
2020, despite a ballooning external debt overhang and only requires right
leadership and personality, a former finance minister has said.

Report by Moses Chibaya

The country’s external debt of over of US$10 billion has dented Zimbabwe’s
access to international funding and is hampering development as the country
cannot borrow to spur economic growth.

Former Finance minister and Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn leader, Simba Makoni said
that the country was endowed with vast mineral and human resources that only
require “right leadership and the right personality” to help turnaround the
economic fortunes.

“We can actually achieve a US$100 billion economy before 2020 if we do the
right things — it’s feasible in this economy,” Makoni said.

He said the chaotic land reform programme carried out by President Robert
Mugabe in 2000 had immensely contributed to the meltdown that has
characterised Zimbabwe’s economy in the past few years.

“In 2002 we produced 240 million kgs of tobacco before we had taken the
land. We produced 2,4 million to 2,5 million tonnes of maize from the
communal areas not from the commercial farms. We produced 350 tonnes of
cotton from Gokwe Muzarabani, Chiredzi, Mwenezi and today there is
completely nothing,” Makoni said.

“Let’s remove the impediments that inhibit citizens from doing things for
themselves, don’t arrest business managers for running their businesses, and
don’t take away the little money that has been hard earned by citizens from
their accounts,” he said.

‘People now expect govt to provide everything’

Simba Makoni bemoaned the death of a spirit to work by most Zimbabweans who
are now used to quick money, adding that there was need to encourage people
to work.
“Commitment to work is one area that l have seen a big difference between
who l call the old Zimbabwean and the new Zimbabwean.

The old Zimbabwean was proud to work for themself, the old Zimbabwean would
wake up at dawn going to the fields, today the new Zimbabwean waits to be
given by the government,” he said.

Eight years ago, government hounded some business leaders out of the country
through flimsy charges such as alleged foreign currency externalisation.

Some of the business people that fled the country include James Makamba,
James Mushore, Julius Makoni, Gilbert Muponda, Francis Zimuto and Professor
Mtuli Ncube who is now a South African citizen and African Development Bank
chief economist and vice-president.

During the hyperinflation environment, the central bank raided foreign
currency accounts of non-governmental organisations and individuals to meet
the country’s pressing commitments. The accounts holders are yet to be
refunded.

The current size of Zimbabwe’s economy has been estimated at US$10,5
billion.

Zesa smart meters set to reduce load-shedding

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Business

THE Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) has partnered with the
Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) and a
local company to roll out smart meter technology expected to reduce
load-shedding in the commercial sector.

Report by Ndamu Sandu

The move comes at a time generation capacity is unable to meet demand
resulting in power blackouts.

A smart meter refers to an electrical gadget which records sales of
electricity and allows a two-way communication line between the consumer and
supplier of electricity.

The partnership has roped in Echelon, one of the world’s biggest suppliers
of smart meters. Echelon is working with its local partners, Connect the
World. Echelon has the biggest footprint in terms of smart meter deployment
in the world.

Connect The World managing director Ben Mavedzenge said the technology
typifies the use of ICTs to manage supply and demand and in the process
converting a grid into an internet protocol.

“Accessibility to information is as ubiquitous as one with an internet
account. Any person can access the account and see how they are consuming
electricity,” he said.

The power utility recently in-stalled in households prepaid metres,
replacing conventional billing system that had been posing challenges as
consumers were not paying up.

“It [prepaid meters] addresses the cashflow issues for utilities. It can’t
tell you the upsurge or voltage drop. Because of that, it is called a dumb
meter. Smart metering involves two-way communication. It can report you back
to the server if one tampers with it,” Mavedzenge said.

Owen Masaraure, ZNCC’s energy efficiency engineer and project manager told
Standardbusiness that the use of the technology came after the realisation
that the solution to “the current power cuts is not only from the supply
side of the grid but also lies on the fact that industry and commerce was
not being responsible enough to account for all that is being fed from the
grid”.

Masaraure said the use of smart meters was motivated by an urgent need to
manage the country’s peak demand after realising that the power shortfalls
of 800MW is a result of poor load management by industry.

“About 60% of this peak demand can be curtailed,  hence  smart metering
technology would be ideal to manage such a large peak demand to considerable
margins, thus reducing the power import bill as well as cutting by almost
half in new capacity generations, being touted in most public circle and
requiring large volumes in cash investments,” he said.

He said smart metering technology will enable the regulatory authority to
carry out national power audits on continuous basis with a view to
synchronise tariffs with variations in seasonal demands or coming up with a
cost based tariff  regime.

How does industry benefit from smart meters?

Masaraure said companies on maximum demand can reduce by close to almost 40%
on this tariff through load management programmes, since this technology is
integrated to provide information for such a platform.

“Companies are imposed to part three types of tariffs, that is peak hour
rate, off-peak rate and standard rate and can be in a position to reduce the
much expensive peak hour rate, currently hovering above US$0,12 per unit,
through load curtailment programmes, or rather peak shaving arrangements
using the very smart metering technology. We are estimating that between
5%-20% savings can be achieved on peak demand charge to those exposed to
such a tariff,” he said.

Efficient use of electricity means that the country would save on imports.
On average the power utility generates 1194MW and imports 55MW.

Masaraure said company executives or engineers will be enabled to manage
their energy usage outside their business premises, as well as accessing
their cost of electricity after usage at any time without prejudice from the
power utility.

“There is also reduction in load shedding through improved load management
programmes resulting in savings there by feeding back into the grid,” he
said.

The technology is also envisaged to improve energy audits to the corporate
world, thereby empowering management to formulate energy policies that
enable them to invest monies into energy upgrades.

Dictatorship fans corruption which spawns poverty

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Opinion

Politics is clean; it is men who are dirty. Corruption, dictatorship, human
rights abuses and a resulting poverty for the general masses has been a
trademark for many African countries, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa
that have attained “independence” from imperial powers in the last decades.

Sunday View by Zanda Shumba

For the people concerned, gaining independence was like jumping from the
frying pan into the fire.

Transparency International (TI) — Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for 2003
found the governments of Angola and Zimbabwe the most corrupt in southern
Africa. On a scale of 0 to 10 with 0 the most corrupt and 10 the most
transparent, TI rated Angola 1,8 and Zimbabwe 2,3, some of the highest
corruption ratings in the world. Corruption is usually institutionalised by
leaders to prevent political rivals from challenging their control, and this
leads to an economic collapse.

Mobutu Sese Seko ruled Zaire (DRC), from 1965 to 1997. A relative explained
how the government illicitly collected revenue: “Mobutu would ask one of us
to go to the bank and take out US$1 million. We’d go to an intermediary and
tell him to get US$5 million. He would go to the bank with Mobutu’s
authority, and take out US$10 million. Mobutu got one, and we took the other
nine. Mobutu allegedly stole up to US$4 billion to US$5 billion while in
office.”

During Malawi’s Hastings Banda’s rule, 1961 to 1994, the press and radio
were tightly controlled and mainly served as outlets for government
propaganda.

Television was banned. Knowledge of pre-Banda history was discouraged, and
many books on these subjects were burned. It is believed that during his
rule, Banda accumulated at least US$320 million in personal assets, thought
to be invested in everything from agriculture to mining interests in South
Africa.

Zimbabwe may have the largest diamond fields, but in most areas there is no
clean water, and about 67% of the people live below the poverty datum line.
Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe for nearly three decades and has led it, in that
time, from impressive success to the most dramatic peacetime collapse. The
same Zanu PF elite who acquired multiple farms as a result of the land
redistribution, are the same people who are manipulating and benefitting
from the backdoor-crafted Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act.

José Eduardo dos Santos was elected as President of the MPLA (People’s
Movement for the Liberation of Angola) on 20 September 1979, and he took
office as President of Angola, President of the MPLA, and Commander-in-Chief
of the Armed Forces on September 21. He was also elected as President of the
People’s Assembly on November 9 1980.

Dos Santos married three times and has six children from his wives, and one
born out of wedlock. He and his family have amassed a significant personal
fortune.

The actual value is unknown, but in recent years his daughter Isabel dos
Santos who manages the family fortune, has made multi-million dollar
investments in Angola and in Portugal, in her name and that of her husband.
As this happens, more than 70% of Angolans live below the poverty datum
line.

Around 1964, Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda government developed clearly
authoritarian characteristics, becoming increasingly intolerant of
opposition. Kaunda banned all parties except Unip, following violence during
the 1968 elections. In 1972 a new Zambian constitution was made which would
effectively reduce the nation to a one party state.

All these considerations give light as to why poverty is still rampant in
the region and why the region lags behind in socio-economic development. The
culprits are there for all to see.

Rebranding Mugabe won’t bring the votes

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Opinion

President Robert Mugabe’s nomination as Zanu PF’s candidate in the
forthcoming general elections, given his old age, failing health and the way
he is now out of touch with reality, is as preposterous as selecting a
village headman to act as a rocket scientist leading a Mars exploration
mission.

Sunday Opinion by William Muchayi

Since a typical village headman cannot match an engineer in terms of
technical ability and capacity to run such a mission, the exploration would
be doomed to fail, besides being a costly adventure for both the leader and
his team.

Given that he is now struggling with old age complications, detached from
current realities around him and unaware of what is actually happening and
ought to be done to take Zimbabwe forward, Mugabe is certainly no longer
suitable to lead Zanu PF into the next crucial elections. In short, he is
now beyond his sell-by date and thus incapable of providing the required
leadership in Zanu PF’s mission to win the next polls.

Ongoing attempts by the party to rebrand Mugabe’s image have reached new
levels of desperation with the emergence of the “House of Gushungo” clothes
brand, which targets first-time voters and the urban electorate, as these
two groups will be crucial in the coming elections.

However, what Zanu PF fails to realise is that it is not the outward image
of the party that matters the most in luring voters but what it stands for.

Due to extended periods of economic mismanagement and decisions such as the
DRC war intervention, unbudgeted war victims compensation, wasteful
government expenditures, corruption and a series of misguided policies, the
economy succumbed to the impact of structural problems and
maladministration.

The failure by Mugabe’s regime will go down in history as one of the most
astonishing.

No matter how Zanu PF tries to rebrand Mugabe, as long as Zimbabwe holds
peaceful and credible elections in which voters are allowed to express
themselves without undue hindrances, he will lose because his policies have
been destructive.

The land reform policy was noble, but its execution was flawed. Genuine
reforms need to be driven by the quest for justice and progress, not
short-term political agendas.

The problem is, instead of rectifying his mistakes, Mugabe is always on the
defensive, blaming sanctions imposed by the West for the country’s economic
demise.

Although sanctions have ended up having the unintended consequences, it is
economic mismanagement rather than sanctions that led to Zimbabwe’s economic
collapse.

Contrary to the Rhodesian situation, Zimbabwe still trades and does business
with much of the world, including the support it gets from Sadc, Comesa, the
African Union and key economic regions like Asia, Latin America and Middle
East, which include huge economies like China, India, Brazil and Russia.
Western countries still give it humanitarian aid.

Cuba has been under American sanctions for more than 50 years, but has one
of the best healthcare systems in the world. By contrast, Zimbabwe’s
healthcare system has all but collapsed.

International corruption watchdog Transparency International in its
corruption index for 2012 ranked Zimbabwe number 163 out of 174 most corrupt
countries in the world. Within Sadc, Zimbabwe is ranked the most corrupt
nation.

One wonders whether there would ever be any acknowledgement of failure by
Mugabe and his Zanu PF loyalists. Even though they send their children to
learn abroad after destroying Zimbabwe’s education system, Zanu PF leaders
are still in denial.

When they fall sick, they rush to seek treatment outside the country.

Look at the South African situation, despite continuing inequalities they
have managed to maintain their infrastructure and when former president
Nelson Mandela falls sick, he is not flown out of the country for medical
attention.

Zimbabwe’s education sector has not been spared from the effects of
mismanagement. That is why Mugabe and his Zanu PF officials send their
children abroad instead of developing world-class local institutions.

This “House of Gushungo” brand designed to target first-time voters and the
urbanities will not work if the approach is to mask dictatorship and
failure.

How do people begin to see Mugabe and Zanu PF differently when perpetrators
of the 2008 electoral atrocities are still roaming the streets? How do
voters change their minds about Mugabe and Zanu PF when victims of the
Gukurahundi massacres have not had an apology, let alone compensation from
the state for the killings?

Repressive legislation curtailing political and civil liberties is still in
place, so why would voters think the situation has changed? At the age of
89, Mugabe should be enjoying his pension with his grandchildren and
providing advice whenever required.

Airport Road project now an eyesore

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Opinion

I have always had lots of questions to ask President Robert Mugabe if given
the opportunity to interview him. Because it’s highly unlikely I will ever
get the chance, in this column I ask him the simplest question of them all.

From the Editor’s Desk by Nevanji Madanhire

Mr President, as you are driven to the airport either to receive foreign
dignitaries, as you did last week to welcome Malawian President Joyce Banda,
or on any one of your trips abroad, have you ever asked yourself what’s
happening to that little stretch of road popularly known as Airport Road but
recently christened Joshua Nkomo Express?

The Airport road under construction
Zimbabweans are interested in that road for many reasons. One of them is
that it is our visitors’ entry into, not only our beautiful capital Harare,
but also into our beautiful country. That little stretch of road — only
about 10 km long — is so important to the country, it almost defines our
nationhood. That is the reason why the Independence Arc was erected on it.

When the first clod of earth was shovelled, the road was supposed to be
completed in time for the Fifa World Cup that was held in South Africa in
2010. It had been hoped that the football showcase would bring a flood of
visitors to Zimbabwe to visit our tourist resorts. Almost five years down
the line, the road is still the eyesore that it has become.

Now and then one sees earth-moving equipment on site but no one is deceived.
One only has to imagine what regular travellers to this country must think
of us as a nation. They must think Zimbabweans — that is all of us — are a
bunch of lazy bones that can’t finish projects they begin. They are
justified in thinking that way.

New visitors will already have a bad opinion of the country as they roll
into the city; every other little problem they will encounter in the city —
such as potholes on the roads and the litter strewn all over the streets —
will only buttress the opinion created by the road project.

A report in this paper last year (Dualisation of Airport Road lags behind,
November 18 2012) raised the same question as to why the construction of
this road doesn’t seem to end.

Click here to read the report Dualisation of Airport road lags behind
The report highlighted that Augur Investments (Pvt) Limited, an
Estonian-registered company, had been working on the 10-km project for four
years, but there had not been any meaningful development while other road
construction projects of similar magnitude or even bigger, showed remarkable
progress.

We cited as an example the dualisation of the Harare-Mutare and
Plumtree-Mutare roads, which only started the year before but were fast
taking shape.

Augur Investments chief executive, Mike van Blerk told The Standard that
construction of the Airport Road would take longer because the project was
“complicated”.

“The Airport Road is actually a project formulated in 1964 as part of the
city council’s master plan aimed at erecting new structures and dualisation
of the road so it entails complexity of implementation in its entirety,” he
said.

But earlier in the year another Augur Investments spokesperson had told the
world everything was progressing well (Augur to inject US$12 million into
Airport Road, The Herald January 25 2012).

“Things are progressing well, so far expenditure for materials used is about
US$10 million and this year we will inject US$12 million towards
construction of the road,” Augur Investments representative Ken Sharpe told
government news agency Ziana.

“We hope that by March we will have diverted traffic onto the new road so
that we can resurface the old road.”

Now more than a year on, little progress has been made.

Van Blerk sang a different tune towards the end of the year. He told The
Standard there was need to build structures such as bridges and flyovers
which take
longer to put up. He said dualisation of the Harare-Mutare road was easier
than the Airport Road because it had a clear corridor.

“Without a corridor running from the airport gates to the city centre, it’s
a whole lot complicated. This involves constructing a whole new corridor
projected to cost US$68 million, with a unique technical design in its scope
for the current year,” he said.

The varied explanations coming from Augur Investments surely must raise
eyebrows in all the high places. People must have begun to ask what the
nature of their tender was, if they ever went to tender. What did they
tender to construct say, at what cost and in what time frame?

The Standard report revealed the awarding of the project was done without
going to tender. Harare City Council in 2008 signed an agreement with Augur
Investments under which the company would dualise, extend and develop the
road into a highway with high-rise flyovers and bridges.

A caretaker council appointed by Local Government, Urban and Rural
Development minister Ignatiuos Chombo signed the agreement with Augur
Investments to revamp the road under which the latter would finance the
design and construction of the highway.

The project was valued at US$80 million, with 10% of the total figure being
paid in cash and the remainder in land, which council would provide to the
company.

As part of the deal, Augur Investments received 733,9 hectares in stands
dotted around Harare. One such stand is in Borrowdale where a shopping mall
is supposedly under construction. The mall ground-breaking ceremony was
presided over by Vice-President Joice Mujuru. It is touted to be, upon
completion, the biggest such
structure in Africa outside South Africa.

The Airport Road debacle brings to the fore the whole question of
transparency. Let’s begin with the simplest show of transparency. All over
the world companies that build roads are proud enough to erect billboards on
site to show who they are. Even China Gantsu, the Chinese road construction
company, had billboards on
the bad roads they built!

If a company wins a project in a non-transparent manner it becomes difficult
to supervise it because there is no written down (forgive the pun) roadmap.
There are no benchmarks and timeframes to follow and the cost of the project
keeps on soaring to high heaven.

If it’s not too late already, President Mugabe should institute a commission
of inquiry into the Airport Road debacle with a view to correcting whatever
went wrong with this project which is fast becoming a monument to everything
that is wrong with our system of governance. He should also feel pity for
the voters
living along the road who have suffered lots of inconvenience because of the
unending project.

Overhaul Zimbabwe’s voters’ roll

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

April 28, 2013 in Editorial

THE Registrar-General’s Office has begun a voter-registration exercise that
will run until May 19.

The Standard Editorial

The country-wide exercise is part of preparations for the harmonised
elections that are being rushed to meet the June 29 deadline, preferred by
President Robert Mugabe.

While welcome, this exercise alone, which will gobble US$13 million, will
not yield an electoral roll that is transparent, up-to-date and a true
reflection of the potential voters in Zimbabwe.

It will be more of the same document that is severely flawed and
unacceptable to all the major political players in the country.

The voters’ roll is currently riddled with names of dead people, the
prominent among them being Lardner Burke, the former Minister of Law and
Order and Justice who ordered President Robert Mugabe’s detention in 1963.
Burke who passed away in South Africa in 1984 remained eligible to vote in
Zimbabwe in the 2008 elections.

Former Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith was also still registered as a
voter last year. Merely adding more names to this shambolic voters’ roll
with ghost
voters will not change anything.

It is therefore critical that the RG’s office overhauls the electoral roll
as the nation prepares for polls that could end the political log jam.

The starting point would be an independent audit that would flush out ghost
voters. A chaotic registration system which has allowed duplicate entries
and voters to be enrolled in wrong constituencies should also be done away
with.

These problems need to be sorted out first, since a credible voters’ roll is
a critical element of a free and fair election.

There are already accusations being traded by political parties regarding
the manipulation of the voters’ roll.

Such claims should be attended to without any bias if Zimbabwe is to have a
voters’ roll that can be embraced by all political parties.

The voters’ roll must also not be a secret document and should be made
accessible to every Zimbabwean in both print and soft format. Charging up to
US$30 000 for
a copy of the roll is not only daylight robbery but an infringement of
freedom to access information.