http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010
00:00
The transport sector, a haven for most emerging and small black
entrepreneurs in the country, has now become a cash cow for corrupt police
officers.
This has impacted heavily on commuters who are forced
to pay higher fares so
as to cushion the transport
operators.
Transport operators who spoke to The Standard last week
said police
corruption has virtually crippled the sector and in extreme
cases forcing
some operators to fold.
“We have to charge
higher fares so that we distribute the costs of police
corruption between
ourselves and the commuting public,” said one operators
adding that during
holidays such as the upcoming Christmas and New Year the
fares would be
raised considerably as they expected the police to demand
more and more
bribes.
They said however perfect a vehicle might be, the police
would always find a
fault and demand a bribe, failure of which they would
issue several tickets
for minor offences such as a cracked mirror or a dirty
bus.
Moses Takavarasha, whose buses used to ply the Harare-Mutare route,
said at
least 25% of his daily earnings were going towards bribing police
officers.
On some days, Takavarasha said, there would be at least 10
police roadblocks
between the two cities and officers would be demanding
sums ranging between
$5 and $10 at each point.
“The police have
become silent shareholders in our businesses,” said
Takavarasha. “I can say
they own 25% of my business. They are partners who
did not contribute a
single cent to capital.”
He said he often loses up to $100 to corrupt
police officers on a single
trip.
Operators who ply the major
highways such as Harare-Bulawayo, Harare-Mutare
or Masvingo-Bulawayo suffer
the same fate.
Takavarasha has since cha-nged his route permit to ply
Harare-Murambinda.
The reason: “Police in the rural areas demand less
money than the highway
patrol officers.”
A senior official of the
Zimbabwe Rural Transport Operators (ZRTO), who
requested anonymity for fear
of victimisation, however estimated that the
police took at least 60% of
operators’ revenue.
“If you write my name my buses will not be able
operate but the truth is
that they (police) take at least 60% of our daily
takings,” he said. “To say
they take 25% as you were told is a gross
under-estimate.”
“This is why traffic police officers are richer than
their bosses and we the
operators. On paper we are the owners of the buses
but in reality the
police officers own our vehicles.”
Operators
also have to deal with officers from the Vehicle Inspection
Department (VID)
as well as hordes of municipal police.
Educate drivers on road blocks:
Transporter
Tedius Munazvo, whose buses ply the Harare-Mhondoro route,
called on the
police to educate drivers about what constitutes proper
roadblocks and how
to deal with corrupt officers to curb corruption in the
police force.
Some officers, Munazvo said, mount dubious roadblocks just
to milk operators
of their hard earned cash but never stop ordinary
motorists fearing there
could be plainclothes police officers.
He
urged the police to establish a crack unit within its ranks to deal with
corrupt officers.
Investigations by The Standard revealed that
established transport operators
do not bribe junior police officers at
roadblocks.
“There are handled at a higher level,” said an operator
who requested
anonymity. “They pay to senior officers who would then direct
their foot
soldiers not to ticket selected buses.”
Former
chairman ZRTO Miller Musanhi confirmed that corruption was prevalent
but
urged operators to make sure that their vehicles are not
defective.
“If we are serious citizens let’s comply with the laws and
corruption will
die off,” said Musanhi, attributing an increase to graft to
the poor
salaries paid to civil servants.
He disputed allegations
that accidents were caused by unroadworthy vehicles
attributing them to the
poor state of the roads. Poor roads, said Musanhi,
have reduced the
life-span of most buses that ply rural routes.
Police chief
spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena said the police do not condone
corruption and
warned that anyone caught will face disciplinary action.
“I cannot
deny that corruption is happening but what we are saying is that
people must
report such cases and drastic actions will be taken,” said
Bvudzijena. “Look
at what happened at Avondale Police Station.”
Police
Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri ordered the transfer of all
officers
from that station ostensibly because of corruption.
Zimbabwe is
ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the
world.
Following the flowing chain of
corruption
Corruption, said the operators, starts from the registration
of the
vehicles, where officers in the Ministry of Transport and
Infrastructural
Development openly frustrate operators to force them to pay
bribes to
quicken the process.
Ordinarily, an operator’s licence
should take two weeks to be issued but
could take up to two months if one
does not “grease” the processing
officers.
Another operator, who
identified himself only as Cordie, said they also
bribe municipal police at
Mbare Musika to make sure they are not harassed
when loading
passengers.
Officially, each bus pays $7 every hour in the rank but
to reduce the cost
operators pay municipal police $10 every morning plus the
$7 so that they
load passengers until their buses are full.
Said
Cordie, “It is so frustrating and this is why most drivers no longer
respect
the police or traffic rules because they would be rushing to meet
their
target and to enable them to pay bribes.”
While operators pay to rank
at Mbare Musika, the roads are riddled with
potholes, toilets have blocked
and benches are broken.
Most operators firmly believe the numerous
roadblocks along the highways are
a fundraising project by the Ministry of
Home Affairs.
If they were meant to minimise road carnage, they
questioned, why is it that
in most cases the police demand spot fees or they
demand a bribe?
Caiphas Chimhete
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010
00:00
MASVINGO — Young lovers are once again having a good time at the
ancient
Ruston Proctor locomotives at the Civic Centre
gardens.
The locomotives, which were used by colonists in Fort
Victoria years ago,
are on display in the Civic Centre gardens where
Masvingo City’s
administration is housed.
In the 90s when tourism boomed,
the locomotives were popular with tourists
keen to learn a bit of the
history of Zimbabwe’s oldest city.
Things however changed when the political
and economic crisis gripped the
country.
Tourists shunned Masvingo and
the effect was devastating for a city that
relies heavily on attracting
visitors to enjoy its tourism facilities.
The old engines gathered dust and
the lawn in the recreational park
disappeared due to neglect, spelling doom
for street photographers and
vendors whose livelihood revolved around the
city gardens.
But the good times are back!
The street photographers have
re-established their makeshift work stations
at the locomotives where they
make brisk business snapping people posing for
photos near the
trains.
Last week The Standard saw excited young lovers enjoying a good time
in the
gardens while many other people were going about their leisurely
business in
the recreational park.
Residents say the increased activity
at the Civic Centre gardens mirrors
what is happening across the city which
they say is experiencing a rebirth.
They said Masvingo was no longer the
sleepy town it has always been known to
be.
“Life is back in Masvingo,”
said Johannes Ndanga, a graduate from a local
university.
“There was a
time when we contemplated leaving the city for Joburg but now
we don’t have
a reason to do so.”
Ndanga’s sentiments are shared by many residents who are
convinced Zimbabwe’s
oldest city is finally rising from its
slumber.
Masvingo is experiencing a boom in retail business, boosted by the
emergence
of indigenous players such as Mutema Brothers.
More
houses built as construction revives
The construction industry
which had virtually collapsed is growing again,
thanks to private developers
who have entered the market.
The good news to prospective home-owners is that
reasonably priced stands
are readily available.
Recently about 150 stands
were put on the market by a private developer. To
cater for those with deep
pockets, ZimRe Property Investments Limited has
started a US$4 million
housing project in the suburb of Rhodene.
Low-density stands ranging from
US$15 000 to US$20 000 are being serviced.
In the same suburb, a US$1,5
million hotel has been opened recently. Lee’s
Inn, which accommodates over
70 guests, has transformed the hospitality
industry in Masvingo.
It is
offering choice in a market which was dominated by two hotels,
Flamboyant
and Chevron owned by Zvobgo Holdings.
Henry Chivhanga, an MDC-T political
activist says the entry of private
developers in Masvingo was positive for
the city. “The mere fact that they
are coming here shows that they see that
the city has potential. No investor
wants to put his money in a town that is
dying,” he said.
BY WALTER MARWIZI
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010
00:00
Last week Zimbabwe was rocked by the scandalous details of an
alleged affair
between First Lady Grace Mugabe and the Governor of the
Reserve Bank, Gideon
Gono.
While the details of the sensational
Sunday Times story reverberated on the
Internet around the world, none of
the Zimbabwean newspapers touched it.
The Sunday Times recently laun-ched
a special Zimbabwean edition of the
newspaper. While the details of the
Gono/Mugabe affair would make more
relevant reading in Harare than in
Johannesburg and London, the majority of
the population of Zimbabwe, those
without access to the Internet remained
largely ignorant of the alleged
scandal.
That was until copies of the article were printed on office
computers and
circulated in Harare.
Reporter Jon Swain’s scandalous scoop
has raised many an eyebrow,
particularly within the Zimbabwe media many
asking, “Is the story true?”
I will attempt to provide a logical response to
that question.
I seek to address fundamental issues of professional and
ethical journalism
in the context of the strategies employed in the
construction of Swain’s
article.
A source close to both Gono and Grace
told an online publication the story
was “littered with falsehoods”.
“The
story claims Cain Chademana was a senior police officer and a decorated
veteran of Zimbabwe’s independence struggle,” she said. “That’s a decorated
lie because Chademana died aged 36, and (was) therefore too young to have
fought in any war. Again, he was never a police officer.”
The source said
around the time Sabina Mugabe is supposed to have spoken to
President Mugabe
about his wife’s alleged infidelity she was in a coma and
was, therefore,
unable to speak.
Both Sabina Mugabe and Chademana, the only two witnesses who
could testify
in court to the veracity of the alleged facts, are dead and,
therefore, not
available to help their defence. The Sunday Times was
cognisant of this.
Another give-away indication that there might be more to
Swain’s story than
meets the eye is the manner in which he handles his
sources.
On one occasion Swain apparently conducted a group interview with
several
(CIO) officials.
Not only did Swain accomplish the rare feat of
persuading CIO officials to
be interviewed as a group, which is very
unlikely; he also got them to
articulate whole sentences, while speaking in
unison, which, of course is
impossible.
A Zimbabwean journalist who also
cannot be named, said he had known
Chademana personally from 1997 when he
was security aide to the late
Eddision Zvobgo.
“Chademana was probably
36-38 years at the time of his death,” he said.
“He was almost my age, and
would never have gone to war. In fact, he went to
school with my journalist
colleagues, and finished his A-Levels here in
1992.”
The journalist said
Chademana had been unwell for a long time.
suspect investigative
journalism
Many journalists in Harare have openly marvelled at Swain’s
apparent
long-distance penchant for cultivating hordes of sources, even in
the most
unlikely places. Apparently he remarkably has several sources
within the
ranks of Zimbabwe’s much feared Central Intelligence Organisation
also
within the fortress that is the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and at
Mugabe’s
Gushungo Dairy Farm.
Normally only a journalist with suicidal
tendencies would pester “the boys
in dark glasses” with pointed questions
about the alleged secret love life
of the First Lady of Zimbabwe, before
proceeding to her farm to do the same
among the farm workers.
The
security arrangements around the farm would be above average. It is
unlikely
a white journalist straight off a flight from London would be
pampered with
details of which bedroom the lady of the house uses when
allegedly visiting
with the governor of the Reserve Bank.
by geoffrey nyarota
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010 00:00
The late
Sabina Mugabe, the President’s sister, who allegedly warned him of
the
existence of an illicit affair between his wife and his trusted banker,
died
on July 29 2010. Swain reports that she had spoken to her brother three
days
earlier on July 26. Mugabe was photographed in Kampala, Uganda on July
24.
He attended the opening ceremony of the African Union summit
on July 25 and
the closing function on July 27.
He, therefore, could not
have been in Harare on July 26.
Swain’s article claims that the conversation
between the President and his
sister was witnessed by his bodyguard Cain
Chademana who died on Thursday
August 26, exactly one month after the
alleged hospital bedside revelation
by the late Sabina.
The Sunday Times
story said Chademana “mysteriously died. . . a matter of
days later”, that
is after listening to the conversation between the
Mugabes. Citing
intelligence sources, the Sunday Times stated categorically
that Chademana
had been “poisoned under Mugabe’s instructions by Mugabe’s
intelligence men,
allegedly employing an undetectable poison.”
Swain quotes state security
officials as telling him that when Mugabe
summoned Chademana in August the
bodyguard had admitted that he knew
something was going on, which he had not
mentioned before.
“It was a fatal admission,” Swain concludes. “A few days
later, at the end
of August, Chademana mysteriously died.”
To suggest
that Chademana died mysteriously is a major contradiction in
terms, given
that Swain has already built a case of murder by administering
“an
undetectable poison”.
The last word went to Leo Mugabe, the first-born son of
the late Sabina
Mugabe.
“For the last three years of her life my mother
suffered from memory loss
caused by the last stroke that she had in 2006,”
he said yesterday. “If
anyone claims that he engaged in any conversation
with her during that time
it would be a lie.”
Unfortunately, should it
turn out that Swain’s sensational article is
nothing more than mere pub talk
elevated by him to the status of a major
international scoop, the most dire
consequences would probably be felt far
away from London; back here in
Harare.
Geoffrey Nyarota is a veteran Zimbabwean journalist and author
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010 00:00
NATASHA
Mupukuta (22) wishes she had been born earlier and thus attended
school when
the country’s education systems was still on its feet.
A Transport Management
National Diploma 1 student at Gweru Polytechnic
College, Mupukuta in 2009
deferred her studies for one year as her mother,
who is a vendor, had no
money to pay her tuition fees.
“I resumed my studies this year,” she said.
“The challenges have been many.
“My mother can barely cover my needs as she
also has to pay for my sister in
Form Four and take care of the family as my
father is unemployed.”
Mupukuta said her friends at college sometimes help
her with money for
typing and printing assignments.
Natasha also turns to
the Students Solidarity Trust (SST) and the National
Association for
Non-Government Organisations (Nango) for internet and
printing
assistance.
Hers is a better story.
The Zimbabwe National Students Union
(Zinasu) has said many tertiary
students have resorted to desperate measures
in an attempt to deal with
their various challenges.
A second level
business management student at Mutare Polytechnic reportedly
committed
suicide last month under circumstances that have been linked to
frustration.
“The deceased told me that he was failing to raise $240 for
fees and I tried
to encourage him, telling him that it is because of cases
similar to his
that we are mobilising for a disengagement,” Zinasu president
Robert
Masaraure said.
Masaraure said although suicide was not
widespread, many students were
resorting to desperate measures to deal with
their situations.
Some students in Masvingo were taking up part-time
employment with a local
communications company where they dig trenches and
earn $45 for five days
and $10 per day on weekends, he said.
“We are not
happy with this as these students end up attending classes
exhausted and
thus unable to concentrate,” he said. “Some students defer
studies and go
for temporary teaching thus ending up taking more years on
their courses
while others resort to the usual scapegoats of prostitution
and other forms
of criminality.”
Zinasu has said about three quarters of final year students
at Masvingo
Teachers’ College have had the duration of their studies
increased by more
than two years as they continue failing to pay the $120
examination fees
required for each student by administrator of exams, the
UZ.
The students’ body said some graduates, who benefitted from government’s
cadetship programme, were failing to get employment as they were not given
certificates in line with the bonding agreement.
Ministry of Higher and
Tertiary Education permanent secretary Washington
Mbizwo said the government
had improved its responsiveness to students’
needs through the cadetship
programme.
He said the government had also adopted an accommodative policy by
saying no
students will be suspended from classes over non-payment of
fees.
He said the report he received regarding the Mutare Polytechnic College
suicide case cited domestic issues.
Mbizwo added that students were
making the mistake of failing to approach
his offices with their
complaints.
BY JENNIFER DUBE
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010
00:00
A recently launched Student Solidarity Trust (SST) report on a
study
examining the life of female students at the University of Zimbabwe
(UZ)
concluded that desperation has forced some students to do things they
would
not do under normal circumstances.
Compiled by UZ’s Professor Rudo
Gaidzanwa and Dr Charity Manyeruke, the SST
report concludes that some
students have had to resort to prostitution and
relationships of
convenience.
“Some of the students were unfortunate enough to be offered
accommodation by
a gardener who often compelled them to have sex with him as
payment for the
accommodation,” part of the report reads.
“Many students,
though aware of exploitation, had no other means of
surviving in Harare
while attending university classes except by consorting
with gardeners and
other men offering cheap or free accommodation.”
The report also says to beat
transport blues, both male and female students
would catch rides on open
trucks and disembark at robot-controlled
intersections without paying the
fare.
While some male students walk into town after lectures to reduce
transport
costs, some female students use their femininity, flirting with
men with
cars in exchange for free rides.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010
00:00
BULAWAYO — AN international relief organisation has started
investigations
into political violence in Masvingo province with a view of
providing
shelter to displaced people.
The International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC) is working with the
recently launched Zimbabwe Victims of
Organised Violence Trust (ZIVOVT) to
help people affected by political
violence in the province.
ZIVOVT brings together all victims of political
violence regardless of their
political affiliation or gender.
ZIVOVT
officials confirmed to The Standard that they had been partnered with
the
ICRC to assist Masvingo political violence victims.
Bekithemba Nyathi, the
organisation’s information officer said: “We have had
meetings with ICRC and
the political violence victims to try to come up with
intervention
strategies of helping identified victims by providing temporary
accommodation to displaced victims.”
Nyathi said he was shocked that the
police knew the perpetrators of violence
but surprisingly they had not
arrested them.
ZIVOVT had meetings with ICRC delegates investigating
political violence in
Masvingo on October 6 and 19.
Tendai Sengwe, ICRC
Head of Communications, could not deny or confirm they
were helping victims
of political violence in Masvingo.
“ICRC is a humanitarian organisation that
operates around the world in
various situations whether there is conflict or
not,” said Sengwe.
“Our mandate of providing humanitarian assistance to
people in conflict
situations is carried in line with a number of principles
and one of the
principles is confidentiality. Our school children and
teachers have also
been forced to attend Zanu PF’s political rallies and
orientation meetings.
Continued political violence against activists has
since pushed the ICRC and
local NGO’s to intervene with a view to providing
accommodation to victims
of violence.
Discussions with people requiring
humanitarian assistance remain
confidential and bilateral. That is as far as
I can go.”
Masvingo has been rocked by political violence as war veterans and
Zanu PF
activists gear up for planned elections next year to undo a unity
government
between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai.
A number of MDC activists in Masvingo have been forced to flee
their homes
fearing the reign of terror by Zanu PF activists, army and
ex-combatants led
by Jabulani Sibanda, the country’s war veteran’s
leader.
Intimidation and harassment started just before the constitutional
outreach
programme when Zanu PF activists tried to force villagers in that
province
to espouse the party’s standpoints on various issues for inclusion
in a new
constitution.
Teresia Vongai Chitapi, a ZIVOVT Masvingo
representative added: “Zanu PF is
already in election mode and is
intimidating and harassing MDC supporters. A
number of MDC supporters have
been forced to flee their homes.”
According to a report by the ZIVOVT
complied last month: “It is clear that
acts of intimidation were so huge and
obviously underestimated as Zanu PF
activists gear up for polls.
It said
Zanu PF activists were being aided by Central Intelligence
Organisation
(CIO) operative and soldiers to harass and intimidate people.
As a result
most residents of Masvingo failed to willingly express
themselves during the
outreach meetings.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010
00:00
BULAWAYO — THE Arthur Mutambara-led MDC has banned group
resignations in the
party in a bid to stop the embarrassing episodes
resulting from the mass
quitting of the faction by disgruntled members, The
Standard has heard.
The party has experienced group resignations by
disgruntled members
exasperated by the leadership wrangles between Mutambara
and his
secretary-general Welshman Ncube, both reportedly eyeing the post of
president. Most of those who are resigning are reportedly joining the
formation lead by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
Insiders told The
Standard that group resignations had caused consternation
in the MDC-M, with
the party leadership expressing worry over the impact the
embarrassing group
resignations had on the party.
“Group resignations are no longer accepted by
the party leadership because
of the embarrassing effect they had on the
party leadership and because of
fears that a number of party officials will
continue quitting the party in
groups,” a senior party official said.
The
group resignations have been more prevalent in the southern parts of the
country where the party draws most of its supporters.
First to make a
group resignation from the party were legislators, Norman
Mpofu (Bulilima
East), Njabuliso Mguni (Lupane) and Abednigo Bhebhe (Nkayi
South).
They
were followed by the group resignation of a number of councillors in
Nkayi.
A number of party members have also quit in numbers protesting
against the
party leadership.
In July, seven councillors from Bulilima
East and West also made a group
resignation from the formation, jolting the
party leadership to ban group
resignations in a bid to stop the embarrassing
episodes.
Sources say the party leadership has since rejected the July group
resignation of the seven councillors from Bulilima East and West.
In a
letter addressed to the councillors and in possession of The Standard,
Ncube
said the councillors should submit individual resignations.
The letter dated
13 October said the seven councillors should withdraw their
group
resignation letter before 31 October.
By NQOBANI NDLOVU
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010 00:00
ONE
of the luminaries of Zimbabwe’s war of liberation, Edgar Tekere says his
recovery is “phenomenal” but he would be shocked if President Robert Mugabe
paid him a visit.
The former Zanu PF secretary-general, who is
hospitalised at a private
hospital in Harare, said his health had vastly
improved since the time he
was transferred from Mutare a few weeks ago. He
is battling with cancer.
“There have been tremendous changes and I’m still
wondering if this is
reality,” said Tekere. “It is phenomenal considering
that I came all the way
from Mutare in an ambulance and unable to walk. To
those within the
religious circles you might call it a miraculous
recovery.”
Tekere, who has been visited by several politicians including
Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur Mutambara, said he
would be shocked
if President Robert Mugabe were to visit him in
hospital.
“I absolutely don’t expect to be visited by President Mugabe,” he
said. “I
would be surprised if that happens and would even fall back on my
walking
frame due to shock.”
He is a member of a prominent medical aid
society which he said, was taking
care of both his medication and
treatment.
He however could not confirm and deny claims that his medical
bills were
being taken care of by his friends in both Zanu PF and the two
MDC
formations.
Senior Zanu PF officials who have visited Tekere, a
fierce critic of Mugabe,
include Minister of Media, Information and
Publicity Webster Shamu, Minister
of Youth Development, Indigenisation and
Empowerment Saviour Kasukuwere as
well as former Finance minister Simba
Makoni.
Tekere acknowledged their support during the difficult time.
The
veteran nationalist said it would be difficult to remove Mugabe from
power.
“To disengage Mugabe and his team from power will not be easy
since I know
him as a man who doesn’t want contest,” he said. “This is
exemplified by his
slogan ‘VaMugabe chete’.”
Tekere urged the two MDC
formations, which split in 2005, to unite if they
entertain chances of
wrestling power from the octogenarian leader, who has
ruled the country for
the past three decades.
BY SIMBARASHE MANHANGO
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010
00:00
MAGISTRATES and other judicial officers in Midlands province have
been
reduced to “squatters” because they do not have theirown offices and
accommodation, a senior judicial officer said recently.
Speaking at a
2011 Budget Consultative meeting held in Gweru recently,
Midlands provincial
magistrate Pathekile Msipa, pleaded with Finance
minister Tendai Biti to
avail funds to cater for the judicial officers.
“The magistrates have no
accommodation and worse still, some do not even
have offices from which to
perform their duties from,” said Msipa.
“Our regional courts are housed at
the District Administrator’s offices. It
simply means we have been turned
into squatters besides being the other arm
of government.”
Msipa also
bemoaned the state of the courts in the province, which she said
were
dilapidated.
Furniture is broken down and there is not enough stationery, she
said.
Apart from that, said Msipa, most people especially in Mberengwa were
discouraged from attending courts or to report criminal activities because
these services are far away from where they live.
She pleaded with
Finance minister Tendai Biti to prioritise availing of
funds to Mberengwa
and other affected areas to enable people to access
justice.
“Mberengwa
needs urgent attention,” said Msipa. “Most people abscond from
court because
they are required to travel long distances from their
constituencies to
Zvishavane, where they get their nearest courts.”she said.
She added,
“Because of transport challenges people fail to get to the courts
as per
requirement and we appeal that the 2011 budget addresses this major
problem.”
Biti said there was urgent need to improve the working and
living conditions
of magistrates to avoid corruption in the justice delivery
system.
“An underpaid magistrate or prosecutor is an invitation to
corruption,” he
said. “The only way is to maintain autonomy in our judicial
system is to pay
them well.”
Biti said the Zimbabwean courts were one of
the areas that remain “archaic”
despite the advent of new technology. He
said it was a shame that law
records were still captured manually in the
country.
BY OUR CORRESPONDENT
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010
00:00
HEAVY police presence prevented what could have been a volatile
situation at
Copac meetings held in Harare yesterday as Zanu PF and the MDC
supporters
tried to outdo each other in contributing towards the new
Constitution.
Police officers manning the premises ensured that nobody turned
violent at
the stations visited by The Standard. Before entering the meeting
premises
all participants were thoroughly searched, a process that clearly
irked some
youths intending to participate.
This was the case in Glen
View, Kambuzuma, Belvedere, Highfield, Kuwadzana
and other areas.
A
meeting at Zororo Centre Creche in Highfield was concluded amid flaring
tempers but the Copac team and heavy police presence helped quell the many
arguments that could have resulted in violence breaking out.
Meanwhile an
MDC supporter, Jonsaya Manyere was said to be battling for his
life at the
Avenues clinic last night after he was assaulted before being
stabbed in the
head by a suspected group of Zanu PF hooligans at a Copac
consultative
meeting in Harare South constituency and three MDC officials
have been
arrested and are currently detained at Waterfalls police Station.
The three
detained were named as Eric Murai, the provincial Youth Assembly
vice
secretary, Diana Nyikadzino, the MDC Harare provincial administrator
and the
Harare provincial driver, Phineas Nhatarikwa, who were arrested
after they
had given their contribution during the consultative meeting at
St John’s
retreat.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010 00:00
THE
political environment is still not conducive for the holding of free and
fair elections, civic organisations have said.
President Robert Mugabe
has said elections must be held next year in June
even without the new
Constitution.
But over 80 civic organisations that attended a conference
organised by the
Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (Zesn) in Vumba recently
said the current
environment does not favour the holding of
elections.
The organisations said institutions and infrastructure that
supported
political violence in previous elections such as youth militia,
war veterans
and the partisan security force “remain unreformed and
therefore a threat to
democratic elections”.
They also called for the
reshuffling of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
(ZEC) and the provision of
adequate resources that would ensure that the
board is
independent.
“There is need for a complete overhaul and restructuring of ZEC
secretariat
with a view to reform the institution into a professional body
that is
non-partisan,” they said.
The organisations expressed concern
that laws such as the Public Order
Security Act (Posa) and the Access to
Information and Protection of Privacy
Act (Aippa), which are repressive,
have not been repealed.
It is also feared an election held under the present
Lancaster House
Constitution is likely to end up like previous polls with
Zanu PF being
accused of rigging.
BY OUR STAFF
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010 00:00
DESPITE all the
fanfare about the deal signed by the Zimbabwe Diamond
Consortium and an
Indian group recently, questions have been raised on the
agreement.
The
deal was signed by the newly formed Zimbabwe Diamond Consortium (ZDC)
and
the Surat Rough Diamond Sourcing, a consortium of Indian diamond buyers,
but
deputy Mines minister, Gift Chimanikire said the agreement does not
reflect
government policy.
The agreement, signed by the Affirmative Action Group
(AAG) boss, Supa
Mandiwanzira and the Indian consortium, is reportedly worth
$1,2 billion in
guaranteed sales to the Asians, who are seeking raw
materials for their
diamond industry.
But Chimanikire questioned said
that as far as he was concerned the auction
system was going to remain and
there was no way someone could be assured of
a certain quantity of the
gemstones.
“We are still using the auction system and the best bidders will
win,” he
said. “If they have the best bid so be it, but if they don’t then
there is
nothing for them.”
The deputy minister also questioned why the
deal was signed by the AAG,
saying they were not a company and therefore
could not be involved in the
bidding process.
“They are an agent and need
to look for a company that will do the bidding
for them. The AAG cannot be
an applicant in this case,” Chimanikire said.
He said there were a number of
processes that needed to be completed before
the new consortium could be
considered for diamond auctions.
An official from the Indian consortium is
reported to have told the media in
his country that the deal was good for
his country, as it had challenges
maintaining a steady flow of
diamonds.
Questions have been raised on the content of the agreement and what
benefits
it will have for the country, considering that the government
already has an
agreement with Canadile Mining and Mbada Diamonds.
Players
in the diamond industry say Canadile and Mbada were not present when
ZDC and
Surat signed the deal.
questioning how ZDC was going to supply the diamonds
required by the deal.
Despite optimism that the Marange diamonds were going
to be the cure to the
country’s economic woes, the economy is yet to feel
the effects of the
mineral sales.
Efforts to get a comment from Mines
Minister Obert Mpofu and Mandiwanzira
were in vain, as they were said to be
at a Kimberley Process meeting in
Israel.
Contacted for comment, Youth
Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment
minister, Saviour Kasukuwere was
hostile referring questions to
Mandiwanzira.
“What is wrong with that
(the MOU)? The youth will benefit and it meets our
indigenisation laws,” he
said before abruptly ending the interview.
BY NQABA MATSHAZI
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010 00:00
TWP,
the South African company interested in investing in the local mining
industry, says over 20 Zimbabwean companies have approached it with funding
proposals currently being vetted by its investment committee.
Dean
Cunningham, TWP chief executive officer said: “As to the names, we are
currently reviewing several options and would rather keep those under wraps,
due to the confidentiality of the process.”
He could not say how much TWP
is willing to invest saying all “projects are
different, thus amounts are
dependent on the actual project”.
The loans have a gestation period of two to
three years and the interest
rates used are those being applied by South
African banks.
TWP announced last month that it has a specific interest in
gold, rock
phosphate, chrome, coal and nickel projects.
It said it was
inviting submissions from interested parties who are either
involved in
active mining or who require capital for expansion strategies or
brownfield
projects.
Brownfield projects are those that have been abandoned, idle or
under-used.
The mining sector says it urgently requires US$5 billion for
recapitalisation and analysts say TWP’s proposal will unlock the doors to
international capital.
The sector’s hunt for capital has not been helped
by the country’s risk
profile.
With multilateral institutions unwilling
to provide lines of credit to the
country, proposed funders usually take a
cue from the Bretton Woods
institutions regarded as the world’s
“Commissioner of Oaths”.
Cunningham said sooner rather than later TWP would
invest in Zimbabwe as it
is “currently working on several proposals for
consideration within our
investment committee”.
TWP’s proposed venture
would be backed by the Export Credit Insurance
Corporation, a South African
state-owned export credit agency that provides
foreign investment insurance
cover against political and commercial risks.
The proposed investment comes
at a time when other investors are giving
Zimbabwe a wide berth over
empowerment laws which say that businesses worth
over US$500 000 should be
51% owned by locals in five years.
Cunningham told Standardbusiness last
month that it is accepted by the
global investment community that
empowerment must take place within
acceptable structures.
“Deviation from
these acceptable norms would then be negative. “Both
partners must add value
to the table; it should not just be seen as a pure
free carry, but
value-adding and the start-up capital repaid first before
dividends are
paid,” he said.
BY NDAMU SANDU
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010
00:00
GOVERNMENT is mulling a corporate social responsibility (CSR)
legislation
that compels mine companies to provide benefits to the community
they
operate in, a deputy Minister told a mining conference
recently.
Gift Chimanikire, Mines and Mining Development deputy Minister told
a mining
conference hosted by the Chamber of Mines that despite Zimbabwe
being
endowed with rich mineral resources, the communities were not
benefiting.
“It is disheartening to note that in certain areas such as Mutoko
there are
some large mining companies that have neglected small scale miners
in terms
of assisting them in their operations. That will certainly
influence
government attitude,” said Chimanikire.
Black granite is being
mined in Mutoko and exported for processing and
resale in neighbouring
countries but local communities are not benefitting
from the
project.
Chimanikire said legislation will stipulate the requirements that
mines will
be expected to meet with regard to providing meaningful benefits
for the
community.
Desire Sibanda, the permanent secretary for Economic
Planning and Investment
said in previous years, most African governments
sought to attract and
increase investment by offering low taxes and levies
on mining projects.
“In this new scenario, the government (of Zimbabwe) is
clearly looking
towards increasing royalties and levies for mining
companies,” he said.
Sibanda said his ministry anticipates double digit
savings and investment
ratios to 20% of GDP by 2015, which should be
achieved through developing of
the identified key economic sectors in
Zimbabwe, mining being one of them.
BY KUDZAI CHIMHANGWA
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010 00:00
Despite
community disgruntlement with big mining firms not providing them
with
tangible benefits, questions come to the fore with regard to capacity,
need
for CSR policy and law formulation in view of a plethora of challenges
confronting government and communities.
Bickering in the coalition
government over outstanding issues of the Global
Political Agreement (GPA)
provides ample room for some companies to stray
from CSR obligations, said
some participants.
Economic commentator John Robertson said that the
promulgation of CSR
legislation in Zimbabwe is unjustified and
mischievous.
“It is basically a presupposition that they (mining companies)
don’t do that
already,” said Robertson. “We don’t need to enforce more
legislation, rather
CSR should be left to the companies as their track
record speaks volumes
about their commitment to such programmes.
He said
towns such as Kwekwe, Redcliff, Hwange and Zvishavane owe a large
part of
their existence to mining firms in those areas.
Robertson said investigating
companies in the capital-intensive mining
industry only serves to discourage
investment.
Southern African representative for Cardno Emerging Markets,
Michael Baxter,
adopted a more conservative and optimistic view over CSR in
Zimbabwe.
“There is basically little serious opposition to CSR but it’s
difficult to
launch successful programmes. Government needs to devise a
development and
CSR framework while balancing CSR and fiscal requirements,”
he said.
In May this year, President Robert Mugabe blasted some mining houses
for
neglecting communities they operate in. He said mining houses’
contribution
to local communities should be considered when refining the
indigenisation
policy.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010 00:00
THE
African Development Bank (AfDB) has set aside US$525 million for
Zimbabwe to
settle its arrears to the institution but fears abound that
politicking in
government will derail the window which runs up to September
2012.
Finance minister, Tendai Biti told a parliamentary committee on
budget on
Wednesday that the politicking in government poses a threat to the
country’s
chances of accessing money from the AfDB under its facility,
African
Development Fund (ADF), meant to reduce poverty in regional member
countries
through loans and grants.
“ADF has reserved US$525 million to
assist Zimbabwe pay its arrears but this
money has to be used by September
2012. If people are going to politicise
the issue of debt, we are going to
lose this money,” Biti said.
Zimbabwe owes AfDB over US$400 million and is
barred from getting lines of
credit from the Tunisian-based bank unless it
clears the arrears.
The country’s total external debt is over US$6,7 billion
and has been termed
unsustainable until 2029 by a debt sustainability
analysis done last year.
Despite cabinet ratifying early this year a hybrid
model — which uses
traditional methods such as the Highly Indebted Poor
Country Initiative and
resource pledging—to clear the external debt, nothing
has moved along that
front.
Biti said the country’s debt has to be viewed
as both a developmental and
macro-economic issue adding that treasury
attached prominence on how the
debt crisis is to be resolved.
He said
most of our distortions came from monetising the deficit.
“We were printing
money in order to deal with the deficit,” Biti said.
Due to the country’s
failure to pay its arrears to multilateral and
financial institutions, the
country is barred from accessing cheap funds
made available to member
countries.
The AfDB last year gave member countries US$9 billion while the
World Bank
allocated a staggering US$14 billion to sub-Saharan
Africa.
This year, the World Bank intends to allocate over US$70 billion to
the
region but Biti said Zimbabwe “can’t do that because we have arrears, a
mere
US$1,2 billion to the World Bank”.
BY NDAMU SANDU
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010
00:00
GOVERNMENT will assume the US$1,3 billion Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
(RBZ)
debt following recommendations by the board in the last leg of reforms
to
clean the mess at the institution and align it to global best
practices.
The move — set to free the bank from the debt which has been an
albatross
around its neck — requires an Act of Parliament to be
effective.
However, the debt to be assumed by government excludes money owed
to
Non-Governmental Organisations, international reserves backing the
statutory
reserves of banks (US$80 million in March) and money owed to gold
producers.
The US$1,3 billion debt was accrued during the central bank’s
quasi- fiscal
activities with the blessing of government.
Before the
amendment of the RBZ Act, government would instruct the bank to
make money
available to meet national needs such as funding elections and
acquire
non-core assets.
Some of the non-core assets include farm equipment bought
under the farm
mechanisation programme.
Some of the equipment is lying
idle throughout the country.
Standardbusiness heard on Friday that the Act of
Parliament is set to create
a Special Purpose Vehicle to house RBZ’s
non-core assets.
Of its numerous companies, RBZ would remain with Fidelity
Printers and
Refiners and Aurex.
An Act of Parliament also shields the
bank from writs of executions from
creditors.
Early this year, creditors
obtained court orders to attach property leading
to the auctioning of the
bank’s assets across the country.
Creditors would be paid after disposal of
the non-core assets.
In a comprehensive report after the March Annual Article
IV visit on
Zimbabwe, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said RBZ must
dispose of
non-core assets to “refund banks” statutory reserves on pre-March
2010
deposits.
It recommended the bifurcation (splitting) of the RBZ
balance sheet to
isolate non-core assets and liabilities from those that are
essential for
performing RBZ core functions and the adoption of a resolution
framework for
overdue liabilities and transparent disposal of non-core
assets.
Finance minister Tendai Biti on Thursday said RBZ debt is the biggest
issue
treasury has to deal with adding that progress has been made along
that
front.
“We have made a lot of progress, I have just received a
resolution from the
RBZ board on how they suggest this issue be dealt with,”
Biti said.
“We think that we are going to help them with that plan.”
The
removal of the debt is the home stretch in reforms at the apex bank
which
has been facing problems since the use of multiple currencies last
year.
The amendment of the RBZ Act made sure that the institution
concentrates on
its core business and brought in a credible board to provide
policy
formulation at the bank.
BY NDAMU SANDU
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010
00:00
The holders of real power in the Government of National Unity (GNU)
are
uncomfortable to share their once exclusive corridors with the MDCs.
Since
its inception this marriage of convenience has always been camouflaged
in
order to hoodwink the international community.
There is a lot of
mistrust between the two main parties in the GNU. Inasmuch
as the MDC-T has
painfully tried to compromise some of its noble principles
to allow the
country to heal and mend, their partners have constantly
ruffled them in
order to scuttle the peace deal. There are times when one is
inclined to
conclude that the MDC-T is failing to read Zanu PF’s game plan.
Here are
some of my observations:
With the Constitution-making process still hobbling
with its inherent
skirmishes, it’s surprising that MDC-T is also talking
tough about the need
for elections next year. One gets the feeling that the
MDC thinks they are
in control of the processes but in reality it’s Zanu PF
setting the national
agenda.
In terms of lobbying for its position on
the Draft Constitution, Zanu PF did
its homework. Their strategy, right or
wrong, carried the day in rural
areas. Their supporters had been coached and
they also came in their
numbers. Zanu PF’s views carried the day
there.
As far as the next elections are concerned, Zanu PF’s campaign is
already in
motion. For some time now they have been meeting people. They
have designed
a very shrewd way of getting to the people without even
coercing them.
They seem to have set up teams that are on the look-out for
any large
gathering in almost every societal stratum, be it religious,
social or
economic. One can actually sense that it is a well-thought-out and
coordinated strategy being implemented from the very top — their president.
This is not the case with the MDC formations.
They are still focusing on
outstanding issues which clearly, Zanu PF is
deliberately ignoring. While
MDC-T is haggling for outstanding issues, Zanu
PF is already setting the
roadmap for an election. MDC will continue to cry
foul reacting to Zanu PF
agendas which are clearly in motion.
We have seen and continue to see Zanu PF
stalwarts gracing religious
gatherings like never before. Their leader was
in Marange, Hebrew-style.
Since then, one or two cadres are sent to these
gatherings ostensibly to
portray a people-oriented party.
Humbly they
follow proceedings then find a way to be seen to be championing
the
aspirations of the respective denominations. It is done so deceitfully
that
only discerning eyes can detect it. In the end they appear as
down-to-earth
leaders. For Zanu PF this time around, it’s a battle of the
minds. This is
fair game. The violent image has been shelved for now.
Jingles are played
regularly, highlighting their revolutionary exploits,
while exposing the
illusionary sell-out nature of their opponents. Projects
have been initiated
for the “gullible” women and youths. Indigenisation
rhetoric is flighted
here and there but will be unleashed full throttle come
election time. This
one will sell in urban areas just like land did in rural
areas.
Meanwhile, land is still being parceled out sporadically just to
keep on
reminding the rural folk that the party is pro-poor and remains
committed to
the ideals of the armed struggle.
I feel the MDC is not
reading the Zanu PF game plan.
Odrix Mhiji
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010
00:00
Government continues to subsidise its companies at the expense of
sound
fiscal discipline and the result is that chickens will soon come home
to
roost.
Many companies have, over the past year, been right-sizing
their operations
following the introduction of the multi-currency system in
a clear sign that
they had to change their various business models if they
were to survive in
the current environment.
Commercial banks have
retrenched at the same time disposing of some of their
branches in a bid to
manage operational costs and gain a competitive edge in
the market. The
benefits may not be immediate but, in the long run, they are
immense.
This is not to say retrenchment is the only option available to
companies;
some companies have given their staff allowances while giving
themselves
enough time to increase revenue streams/income until such time as
real
salaries can be paid.
The problem with this though is that, the
company may then fail to generate
enough income to increase the allowances.
In such a case employees may
revert to industrial action and that will put
the company in a much more
precarious position.
What options are
available to government and its state enterprises?
Government has always been
the largest employer in the country and as such
it would want to protect
that reputation for as long as it takes. The
question is with the state of
the economy, can it afford to have the numbers
that it has on its payroll?
Is enough being collected in terms of taxes,
duty etc to sustain its own
operations? The answer is no and it is there for
everyone to see.
Thus,
the government has at its disposal the following options:
restructuring,
outright disposal (privatisation) and partnership with
private investors
where capital raising will be done by the private partner.
Air Zimbabwe
urgently needs help; so does Arda, Ziscosteel, Zupco and many
others. It
will not help for government to hire and fire chief executive
officers of
these companies if their recommendations on turning round these
very same
organisations are not listened to by the powers that be.
Air Zimbabwe has
been in the newspapers of late and what we are getting is
that Peter
Chikumba might be on his way out. While he is referred to as
Group CEO I
just wonder what GROUP is being referred to and how many planes
there are to
talk about.
I would want for one to educate me on the various companies
falling under
the group lest they be departments or business units. I am
happy for one
thing though, he took a bold step to downsize Air Zimbabwe in
line with the
business the company was generating. With a little help from
government he
should be able to pay off the 400 plus employees and give the
airline
breathing space to start anew. For this to happen he needs a little
help
from the board, parent ministry and central government.
If
government were to self-introspect and be honest enough with itself, it
would dispose of some loss-making companies under advice from its very own
restructuring agency. Zupco hardly has any buses on the road; it is said
plans are underway to import 100. Will they be serviced well enough to
survive for five years? Only time will tell.
In order to take the
country forward, government needs to make bold
decisions once more, as they
did with Dairiboard, Cottco and Hwange to
mention but a few. Only then can
they take the country forward by unlocking
value in these companies through
disposals. Clinging to them, under the
guise of them being strategic, will
not give the government money to run
them; neither will it give wisdom to
the chief executive officers.
In my opinion the sooner some state enterprises
are restructured the better
it is for the country. For that to happen, one
has to take action; drastic
action for that matter. Chikumba has done it at
AirZim.
The board of the central bank has directed that the employees be
reduced
with or without packages because there is no money to pay salaries.
It’s up
to the governor now to take the action in compliance with the law.
Firm
action has to be taken, without which chickens will surely come home to
roost.
JUJU CHIVI
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October
2010 00:00
IN March this year we embarked on an exciting journey to
transform The
Standard into a really modern Sunday newspaper. Our mission
was to publish a
fair, balanced and engaging world-class family Sunday
newspaper; while our
overall vision was to be the most widely read,
credible and profitable
Sunday news and information provider in
Zimbabwe.
In August we went out to our readers to find out how far we had
gone in this
transformation through a national survey by Probe Market
Research. Our
readers gave us the kudos for our effort. Readers liked our
freedom of
expression and our neutrality. Our objectivity and balanced
content were a
distinct advantage over our competitors. Readers said The
Standard fulfilled
their expectations of a Sunday newspaper pointing out
that it was neutral,
accurate and relevant at all times.
Of course
readers had gripes with the cover price an issue we have addressed
by
slashing the cost by 50%.
We’ve finally given The Standard the
“zing-zing”; you can see that for
yourself in the way the paper is laid
out.
The Standard is an independent Sunday newspaper committed to light but
informative and engaging family reading across the whole social
spectrum.
If offers a platform for the airing of diverse social issues and
opinions
that encourage tolerance among a people emerging out of a
deep-rooted
national crisis. It showcases how different people in diverse
social strata
are coping with the day-to-day demands and challenges they
face.
It has four main sections which have been transformed considerably in
the
past few months:
Our General News section still defines our core
values. Focusing mainly on
ordinary people’s lives and addressing the
political issues that directly
impact on people’s day-to-day living.
Democracy, freedom and reason are the
pillars around which our gravitas is
built.
It carries not only hard news but also news analysis and comment.
Because we
lead with a scoop almost every week, we have set the STANDARD for
all other
newspapers and online publications.
Our Business News section
will continue to address what is happening in our
industry, commerce,
finance and all sectors that drive our economy. It will
lead the debate on
the obstacles in the way of the country’s economic
recovery. We have given
fresh insight into heady issues such as
indigenisation, property rights and
investment promotion. It will focus on
the small informal businesses being
run by ordinary people in their struggle
to survive in an economy emerging
from a crisis.
Our Life&Style section will focus on lifestyles, arts,
culture, education
and food; it has a strong bias towards women and their
achievements. Our
food section is second to none but we will also focus on
culinary lifestyles
of those on the fringe of our society.
Our Arts
sections will focus not only on the mainstream but delve into the
simplicity
of rustic creativity. Our book reviews and theatre pages will
cover Reps
Theatre productions and also community theatre and drama
offerings.
Sport
will remain our mainstay.
We love the world’s most beautiful game — football
— but we also have a
passion for macho sports such as cricket and rugby; and
of course golf. Our
coverage of minority sport is substantial and
unrivaled.
The Standard offers more engaging, world-class Sunday reading that
enlightens on issues affecting us. It now offers more analysis, more
reflection, more debate and more leisure.
Like all world-class
newspapers, The Standard has always attempted to stick
to the noble values
of freedom, democracy and reason.
Indeed, ever since its inception it has
fought against the curtailment of
people’s freedoms, the violation of their
democratic rights and has urged
reason ahead of the emotive language with
which the powers-that-be have
harangued the Zimbabwean body politic over the
past three decades.
Zimbabwe is as we speak emerging from a crucible.
The
past 10 years have shown how a promising country, one that is at the
pinnacle of a continent, can easily, and quickly, tumble to the bottom of
the heap.
When countries from all continents were seeing the folly of
commandist
economic policies and the necessity of unbridled freedom of
expression and
association, our leadership was in fact tightening the screws
on people’s
liberties.
As many countries had seen the foolishness of
lifetime dictatorships and
were replacing their leaders with zestful young
future-oriented managers,
our geriatric leadership was digging us deeper
into a hole.
We seemed to be emerging from that scenario through the
20-month-old
government of national unity but events of the past few weeks
have shown how
precarious the process can be.
The Standard will continue
to reflect on the new circumstances without being
remiss on monitoring all
hints at developments that might send us into
another tailspin.
The
Standard will continue to strengthen the ventilation of diverse opinions
and
promote a tolerance of different thinking. It will give our readers the
platform on which they can reflect, discuss and analyse national issues
without fear or favour.
Are Zimbabweans capable of laughing again? Yes
we are! We can have relief
through comedy and entertainment. We can have
relief through our sport and
its ambassadors and also through the arts,
particularly music, theatre and
literature.
The Standard should be able
to give us relief and pleasure through engaging
writing; the kind of writing
that invigorates and motivates. This kind of
writing should not come only
from our newsroom but from our readers as well.
That way we have given the
newspaper the “zing-zing”.
NEVANJI MADANHIRE
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/
Saturday, 30 October 2010 00:00
Students
have begun writing their examinations as another tumultuous year
grinds to
an end.
Exam time is a period of great anxiety for both students and their
guardians. In Zimbabwe a sound education is still widely viewed as the
universal remedy to poverty.
The year started with a lot of turmoil in
the education sector. Teachers
were bitter about their measly remuneration
and were mostly on strike. To
lure them back into classrooms parents had to
fork out lots of money,
euphemistically called “incentives”.
By midyear
the sector seemed to have stabilised somewhat with teachers
performing their
duties as best they could in the difficult circumstances.
Although it was
generally accepted that the sector would not get back to its
previous
position where it was the best education system in Africa, many saw
the
relative stability as the beginning of better things to come.
One major blot
on the country’s education system has been the lack of
credibility in the
adminstration of examinations.
Not only have there been many incidents of
corruption involving the
Examination Centre in Mount Pleasant but also not a
year has gone by without
papers being stolen from storage and leaked to
candidates.
Leaking of exam papers has happened again this year with certain
papers
being withdrawn much to the inconvenience of the students who may
have to
wait a little longer to sit their exams. Even when they eventually
do, their
results will generally be viewed with suspicion; which means they
may find
it difficult to advance to higher levels, and for those who have
left school
they may not get employment on the strength of their
certificates.
What all this points to is the lack of leadership, not only in
the
department that administers exams but also in the parent ministry
itself.
This has to be corrected.