The laws that allow the Zimbabwean government to acquire and redistribute farm land have been put on hold, Zimbabwe's Lands Land Reforms Ministry announces.
Zimbabwe's Lands Land Reforms and Resettlement Minister Herbert Murerwa announced that the laws that allow the government to acquire farm lands for re-distribution purposes have been put on hold. Lands Land Reforms Minister's decision came as a result of court lawsuits from foreign farm owners.
Zimbabwe had signed a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) with European nations including Germany, Malaysia, and Switzerland. BIPPA stipulates that for every piece of land the government seizes, it must pay compensation to the satisfaction of the farmer.
Zimbabwean debts
Failing to meet the agreement forced 40 Dutch farmers to successfully sue the Zimbabwean government to the International Court for Settlement of Investment Disputes at a fee of US$25 million.
Minister Murerwa told DW that his "government has taken the decision not to settle persons on farms covered by BIPPA for now.” But how the government intends to settle its debts with the Dutch farmers is yet unknown.
Further litigation threats
More white farmers are threatening to file lawsuits if Harare does not change its land reforms program. Robert Mugabe's government is facing further litigations from white farmers whose lands were seized and not properly compensated.
A German farmer Heinrich von Pezold has a pending case against the government at the Washington DC based investment dispute court after Harare interrupted operations at his farm. It remains unclear however, whether this new move will be convincing enough to make von Pezold to withdraw his case.
No surprises
Pedzisai Ruhanya is a Media and democracy doctorate Student at the University of West Minster in the United Kingdom. He says it is only a matter of time before Zimbabwean government gives in to international pressure and abolishes its controversial land reforms program. Harare "needs to have talks and negotiations with the international community, the European Union, and even with Washington," he said.
Zimbabwe's agricultural-based economy took a plunge in early 2000 when President Robert Mugabe's government embarked on a chaotic and violent land reform exercise targeting white commercial farmers.
http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Alex
Bell
02 January 2013
The resignation of the head of Zimbabwe’s Human
Rights Commission is being
described as a serious ‘wake up call’ for the
government, which is being
urged to strengthen its human rights
commitments.
Professor Reginald Austin stepped down as head of the
Commission last month,
citing ‘inhibiting laws’ and a lack of
resources.
“The critical reason for my resignation is the legal framework
… within
which the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission is expected now and in
the
future, to carry out its mandate,” Austin was quoted as saying in a
statement.
He added: “As a national human rights institution the
commission must be
independent and properly capacitated.” Austin cited
sections of the Zimbabwe
Human Rights Commission Act and electoral laws that
he said impinged on the
Commission’s work.
The Commission was set up
in 2009 after the formation of the unity
government, as part of a number of
reforms needed for free and fair
elections. But years later, the Commission
remains hobbled with no support
from the government in terms of either
resources or respect.
The Human Rights Commission Bill was only sworn in
late last year, among a
number of other bills that appeared to be rushed
through parliament ahead of
elections. The Bill actively prevents the
Commission from dealing with any
political violence before 2008. A clause in
the Bill allows Human Rights
Commissioners only to look at rights abuses
after they were sworn into
office on 13th February 2009.
Irene
Petras, the head of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
group, told
SW Radio Africa that she is disappointed by the resignation, but
not
surprised.
“I can understand the reasons for the resignation because
there are some
serious problems in terms of the Commission doing the work
that needs to be
done. However, somebody who points out the challenges is to
be commended, at
least so we can address these issues,” Petras
said.
She explained that the move must be viewed as a wake-up call,
“because we
have been seeing a real lack of will by government to make sure
these
institution are properly resourced and can function
independently.”
“I just hope the government won’t ignore these warnings
again,” Petras said,
adding that the pressure must continue to grow on the
government to
strengthen its commitments to the protection of human
rights.
In a statement the ZLHR also added that Austin’s decision to step
down is a
threat to the protection of human rights.
“This resignation
is an unequivocal statement of the condemnation of the
current operating
framework particularly the excessive powers of the
executive,” it
said.
It added: “Lack of effective powers and independence of the
commission to
investigate and take strong action where human rights
violations have been
brought to its attention and its inability to
independently investigate and
take strong action in relation to
electoral-related violations.”
http://www.newzimbabwe.com
01/01/2013 00:00:00
by
Staff Reporter
A leading advocacy group is calling on government to
strengthen the
poorly-equipped Human Rights Commission ahead of elections
this year so it
can effectively deal with rights violations that may
arise.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) says the government
should
fully address the commission’s inadequacies and inefficiencies raised
by
outgoing chairman Reginald Austin who resigned in protest last
Friday.
Austin, a respected law professor, quit citing the body’s lack of
independence and resources, among other reasons.
He accused government of
abandoning the rights panel with “no budget, no
accommodation, no mobility,
no staff and no implementing Act or corporate
legal status.”
The
lawyers’ group says the government should quickly act on concerns raised
by
Austin before the country goes to a constitutional referendum and a
high-stakes general election expected mid-year.
“The spotlight is now
focused firmly on government to take immediate
concrete and positive
measures to resource the commission, establish a
professional secretariat
and ensure that it is enabled ahead of elections,”
the ZLHR said in a
statement.
It added that Austin’s move was “an unequivocal statement of
condemnation of
the current operating framework of the commission, in
particular excessive
powers of the executive.”
"Executive
interference must be minimised and legislators must act swiftly
to improve
the enabling Act ahead of the constitutional referendum and
elections.”
ZLHR said empowering the commission would “put
perpetrators on notice that
they will not escape liability for any human
rights violations during an
election period, or
generally.”
Zimbabwe's successive elections since independence in 1980
have been marred
by varying levels of intimidation and violence perpetrated
mainly by
President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party against opposition
activists.
Hundreds of MDC supporters were killed in the run-up to the
2008 run-off
vote, forcing Morgan Tsvangirai to pull out of the
contest.
Rights defenders described Austin’s departure as a major setback
for the
human rights agenda.
Education Minister David Coltart, a
veteran lawyer, said: "I am saddened by
the resignation of Prof Reg Austin…
I understand and sympathize with his
reasons.”
Coltart’s sentiments
were shared by Deputy Justice Minister Obert Gutu who
appeared to blame Zanu
PF for Austin’s quitting.
“The system has made sure that he is frustrated
into resigning before the
commission even starts it's real work,” Gutu, an
MDC-T official wrote on
Facebook.
“Austin is an international human
rights lawyer of impeccable credentials.
He was the lead legal advisor to
Joshua Nkomo's ZAPU at the Lancaster House
talks in 1979. I am completely
gutted by his resignation.”
The rights panel was constituted in 2009
following the formation of the
unity government, but it has barely
functioned four years later.
http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Alex Bell
02 January 2013
Robert
Mugabe’s decision to take a month long break abroad is being scorned
by
members of Zimbabwe’s civil society groups, who say the country is being
held in limbo because of a lack of government action.
Mugabe left
Harare for Asia last week Thursday where he will spend between
three and
four weeks with his family. The annual holiday has angered many,
because of
the stalled nature of political progress stopping promised
reforms.
The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CZC) has raised concern
that Mugabe’s
absence will slow down the pace of reforms expected before
elections. Mugabe
has insisted the new poll will be held this year, despite
a deadlock over
the new constitution and a critical absence of the necessary
reforms.
“We urge the president to cut short his vacation and help
resolve the crisis
at home so that Zimbabwe can make democratic progress
before the next
elections,” CZC said in a statement.
CZC spokesman
Thabani Nyoni told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday that,
“Zimbabwe remains at a
critical transitional juncture and we call upon its
leaders to prioritise
implementation of the necessary reforms.”
“We felt that the country,
especially government side, has lagged behind in
terms of deliverables
expected of them in terms of GPA timelines and
expectations. We also felt
that considering there is increase of electoral
activity, there needs to be
an adjustment of government activity. In other
words we expected the
president to either postpone his break or push forward
deadlines,” Nyoni
said, adding that Mugabe appears to be “derailing the
process.”
“We
feel the ZANU PF side of government is not taking the inclusive
government
seriously,” he said.
He added that civil society groups expect that an
election will be called
this year, despite the lack of reforms needed for a
free and fair poll.
“We are anticipating that this time around there
won’t be time to harmonise
the constitution with current laws and that
elections are likely to be held
under conditions that are neither free,
credible, nor fair,” Nyoni said.
http://www.swradioafrica.com
By Tichaona
Sibanda
02 January 2013
Grace Kwinjeh, a veteran MDC-T activist who
was last year honoured for
coming up with the name ‘Movement for Democratic
Change,’ has announced her
intention to contest this year’s parliamentary
elections.
The 38 year-old Kwinjeh told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday she
will be
returning to Zimbabwe this month to take part in the internal party
processes to choose candidates for elections, expected between June and
August.
A fierce critic of the Robert Mugabe regime Kwinjeh has lived
in exile in
Brussels, Belgium for the past three years. She has been
arrested several
times on various trumped-up charges and has been held in
solitary
confinement.
She was also one of the high profile civic and
political leaders brutally
tortured on March 11, 2007 in Harare. Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was
one of those tortured at this time and
shocking images of this brutality
circled round the world.
After
being tortured Kwinjeh and the others were hidden and held illegally
for
almost 72 hours in various police stations. They were denied access to
lawyers and medical care, even though they all had serious injuries,
including head traumas and broken bones.
Kwinjeh failed to contest
the 2008 elections as she was still recovering
from wounds inflicted during
the torture.
‘I’m going back home to fulfil a dream and that is to
represent people in
parliament. I have received numerous offers from
different groups to
represent them but for now my mind is set on Makoni
Central,’ Kwinjeh said.
The Makoni Central constituency is held by the
MDC-T but the MP, John
Nyamande, died in a horrific car crash in November
2009. Nyamande had
wrestled the seat from ZANU PF’s Patrick Chinamasa in the
2008 elections.
There are prospects that if Kwinjeh manages to sail
through the party
primaries she might face Justice Minister Chinamasa in the
parliamentary
elections.
‘I’m a child of the party and I do not want
any preferential treatment. I
want to go there and take part in the internal
process because I don’t want
to be imposed on the people. We are a
democratic party and people should
have an opportunity to choose their
representatives,’ she said.
Kwinjeh, a journalist by profession, is a
founder member of the MDC and has
served as deputy secretary for
international affairs. She said she has
decided to give it a go because of
key issues that need to be addressed in
the country.
‘Being a party
committed to social justice I believe a new government led by
the MDC-T will
advocate for an inclusive society in which everybody has a
chance in life,’
she explained.
http://www.dailynews.co.zw
By Richard Chidza, Staff Writer
Wednesday, 02
January 2013 11:26
HARARE - Zanu PF has warned its bigwigs to watch
their mouths when meeting
with American envoys amid revelations that party
“stalwarts” last week
clandestinely met United States ambassador Bruce
Wharton.
Party spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo yesterday told the Daily News
that Zanu PF
has not sanctioned any meetings with American representatives
“on any issue”,
yet some officials have already been holding talks with
Wharton. Wharton
confirmed the meetings describing those he met as stalwarts
who were “very
smart, progressive patriots”.
“As far as we are
concerned we have no scheduled meetings with the Americans
and people have
to be careful what they say and do. Remember the WikiLeaks
saga, a lot of
our officials were fingered and reported to have said a lot
of things,”
Gumbo told the Daily News.
“Sometimes it is not in the interest of the
party to meet with these people
(Americans). We have not acted on the
WikiLeaks saga but that is not to say
nothing will be done. It depends on
what people say,” said Gumbo.
“The danger is that at the moment we do not
know what they (party stalwarts)
said or did in those meetings,” he said
without elaborating if Zanu PF would
investigate.
Wharton literally
put the proverbial cat among the pigeons by disclosing he
had met top Zanu
PF officials without revealing their names.
“On the 27th, I had breakfast
with two Zanu PF stalwarts. Very smart,
progressive patriots interested in
looking ahead, not backwards.
“So, my Christmas week has been full of
family and warmth, but also filled
with a wide range of proud Zimbabweans,
people who want the best for this
country and whose skills and experiences
can all serve the nation. Onward to
2013,” said Wharton in a post on his
social networking site Facebook wall.
Sharon Hudson-Dean, the counsellor
for public affairs at the American
embassy in Harare confirmed the Facebook
account belonged to Wharton.
“I can confirm that is Ambassador Wharton’s
account but I have been away and
would need to talk to the ambassador so
that I can be able to comment
comprehensively,” she said.
Gumbo’s
comments reveal a deep-seated fear not only of fissures but also
possible
alliances between the so called “progressive and smart stalwarts”
and forces
fighting to dislodge Mugabe and his former liberation movement
that has
presided over Zimbabwe since independence from British rule 32
years
ago.
Mugabe’s advanced age has prompted murmurings of discontent with his
candidature for the upcoming elections putting a damper on Zanu PF’s
prospects in the general election expected later this year.
Whistle
blower website WikiLeaks in the past three years revealed officials
close to
Mugabe including his deputy Joice Mujuru, ministers and senior
security
officials met with different American envoys discussing the Zanu PF
leader’s
secretive health and the emotive succession issue.
In 2011, WikiLeaks
released a cable in which aides told the then American
ambassador, James
Mcgee in 2008, that the octogenarian leader had been
diagnosed with prostate
cancer.
Zanu PF propagandist and political chameleon, Jonathan Moyo
confided in US
officials that Mugabe was fighting a deadly battle with
cancer, according to
the diplomatic cables. US officials described Moyo as a
“useful messenger”.
Already internal fist fights have emerged with
distinct camps that Mugabe
has acknowledged exist openly fighting for
control of Zanu PF.
One is reportedly headed by Mujuru and another by
party legal secretary and
defence minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Gumbo
has previously called on officials named in the WikiLeaks saga to
“search
their conscience”.
Wharton, who is not new to Zimbabwe, seems to be
enjoying a breath of fresh
air after previously admitting the WikiLeaks
diplomatic leaks were affecting
efforts to meet politicians from across the
spectrum.
The new US envoy ingratiated himself well with the local
fraternity during
his stay in Zimbabwe as an embassy public affairs officer
and spokesperson
between 1999- 2003.
But the WikiLeaks saga made
Wharton’s job difficult, at a time he
desperately needed to feel the pulse
in Zanu PF and the MDC-not from
kowtowing NGO leaders telling him what they
know he wants to hear.
“WikiLeaks has come up in my conversations. People
are concerned,” the
58-year-old diplomat said in December after failing to
meet Bulawayo
governor and politburo member Cain Mathema.
http://www.dailynews.co.zw
Wednesday, 02 January 2013 11:03
HARARE - The
World Food Programme (WFP) is set to increase its cash handouts
to people in
drought-stricken parts of Zimbabwe, country director Felix
Bamezon has
said.
Currently, the UN agency is giving out $3 per person per month but
is
mulling increasing the amount in light of a likely food price hike
following
another poor agricultural season.
“This is likely to
increase in January if market prices increase. WFP
conducts regular market
monitoring and assessments,” Bamezon told the Daily
News
recently.
Since its response to the current drought period, WFP says it
has provided
approximately one million people with food
assistance.
The cash for cereals intervention rationale was informed by
the evaluation
findings of a cash transfer piloted in 2009-2010 and a market
feasibility
study undertaken in late 2010.
Under the scheme,
villagers receive the usual assistance in the form of
commodities such as
small grains and oil and depending on the location, some
beneficiaries
receive cash as well.
The cash enables villagers to buy food provisions
direct from local markets.
“This modality was developed in the Zimbabwean
context to blend in
donations with cash or voucher transfers, taking
advantage of the
opportunity to procure maize regionally and access
surpluses available in
communities and other parts of the country,” Bamezon
said.
He said evaluations from the 2009-2010 cash transfer project showed
that
beneficiaries preferred a combination of cash and food, and that
households
which received cash only had poor dietary diversity as they spent
most of
the cash transfer on cereals only.
However, Bamezon said cash
was not always suitable as people in some remote
areas struggle to access
markets because of poor road networks and have to
rely on food
distribution.
WFP, in partnership with government, came up with the
cash/food for assets
programme to curb food insecurity in the
country.
This was done through a seasonal targeted assistance programme,
consisting
of free food handouts or cash transfers to the most vulnerable
after they
would have done some developmental jobs in their respective
areas.
As identified by the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee
(Zimvac),
the worst affected areas are Matabeleland North and South,
Masvingo, parts
of Manicaland, Mashonaland and Midlands.
Zimvac is a
committee of government and aid agencies tasked with assessing
the country’s
food needs.
WFP says over 1,6 million Zimbabweans — or one in every five
— will require
food assistance during the peak of the “hunger season”
between January and
March.
The UN agency, which has been key in
averting starvation in Zimbabwe since
the turn of the decade, said it will
be reaching to 38 districts.
Recurrent droughts, a poorly planned land
reform and lack of adequate
support for newly resettled farmers have
resulted in Zimbabwe struggling
with food shortages over the past decade. -
Helen Kadirire
http://www.herald.co.zw
Tuesday, 01 January 2013
00:00
Teachers will report for duty as normal when schools re-open
next week
despite concerns about their salaries, representatives of
teachers’ unions
said yesterday. Schools open for the first term on 8
January.
“For now schools will open as scheduled without our disgruntled
members
going on strike over salary issues.
“We are waiting anxiously
for Government to come up with a good package for
the teachers before our
membership embark on an industrial action later in
January,” said the
Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association secretary-general, Mr
Richard
Gundani.
In his budget statement, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said the
Government
would award civil servants an inflation-based salary increment
this year.
Zimbabwe has an annual inflation of less than five
percent.
Mr Gundani said the teachers were not going to accept
inflation-related
salary increment because the increment would be
paltry.
He said the lowest paid worker was taking home about
US$300.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe national co-ordinator Mr
Enoch
Paradzayi said recently they held a meeting and resolved to go on
strike if
their plight was not addressed by pay day.
He said the
inflation based salary increment, which Government intended to
award was a
drop in the ocean.
He said although Minister Biti had announced that
civil servants would this
month receive inflation-based salary increment, no
official document had
been given to PTUZ to that effect.
“The salary
increment that will be inflation related is paltry as it will
see our
salaries increasing by between US$18 and US$20,” said Mr Paradzayi.
He
said that in 2012 the teachers were awarded allowances of US$58.
“Government
needs to be lenient and award a salary in line with the PDL,” he
said.
“After schools closed in December, as PTUZ we had a meeting where
we agreed
that if nothing is done we will engage in industrial action in
January.
“We are now waiting to see what package Government will offer
prior to our
national executive meeting, which will determine the way
forward,” he said.
He said unlike in the past few years schools were
opening for first term
without package negotiations having been concluded by
Government.
Public Service Minister Ms Lucia Matibenga declined to
comment referring
questions to the Public Commission chairperson Dr
Mariyawanda Nzuwa.
Dr Nzuwa could not be reached for comment while
repeated efforts to get a
comment from Ms Matibenga’s deputy Andrew Langa
were futile as his mobile
phone went unanswered.
http://www.thezimbabwemail.com
Staff Reporter
2013-01-01 15:06:00
SENIOR Zanu PF officials in
Matabeleland have announced plans to intensify
their election campaigns soon
after the festive season as the party gears
for crunch polls expected
sometime this year.
In Matabeleland North, politburo and central committee
members, who include
Umguza MP Obert Mpofu, Bulawayo governor Cain Mathema,
Small and Medium
Enterprises minister Sithembiso Nyoni and Bubi Senator Lot
Mbambo, are
scheduled to launch campaign rallies on January 11.
“The
rallies will be held in all our districts, namely Hwange, Victoria
Falls,
Binga, Lupane, Bubi, Umguza and Tsholotsho,” said newly-elected
provincial
chairman Richard Moyo.
“This is in preparation for next (this) year’s general
elections and we will
be explaining to the people various policies like the
indigenisation drive.
We also want to drum up support ahead of the
elections.”
Moyo urged party members to set aside differences “as this is
weakening the
party and chasing away members to join other political
parties”.
Matabeleland North has in the past been rocked by confusion
following the
suspension of chairman Zenzo Ncube in 2010 and acting
chairperson Zwelitsha
Masuku a year later.
However, when Moyo was voted
into power in November, he promised to bring
together warring factions so
that they would perform better in the next
elections.
“I want to thank
you for voting me, you have given me a mandate and I
promise that I won’t
let you down. I will work hard and with you to serve
the party and with your
assistance we will perform better in the next
elections,” Moyo said.
“Let
us co-operate and work together in bringing more people to the
party.” -
NewsDay
http://www.zimeye.org/
By A
Correspondent
Published: January 2,
2013
(Chitungwiza)Three plain clothes officers from the
dreaded Zimbabwe military
intelligence a division of the Zimbabwe National
Army visited Kumene
business complex in unit H, Chitungwiza owned by
Movement for Democratic
Change national chairman Mr Goodrich Chimbaira of
the Welshman Ncube led MDC
formation.
The military intelligence
officers quizzed Chimbaira over his alleged links
with members of the army
in the area.
Chimbaira said he was shocked by the strange new year
visitors and vowed to
continue with his political activities in the area
despite what he described
as “intimidating tactics being used by Zanu PF” to
instill fear in him MDC
party supporters in the area.
“The visit and
quizzing by the soldiers is all meant to instill fear in me,
my tenants and
myself ahead of the mid year elections”said Chimbaira.
Most of the tenants
and residents in unit H were in fear after learning
about the deployment of
military intelligence officers in the area when
journalists visited the
area.
Chimbaira said the army probe team was in the area to investigate
what he
called false allegations that had been levelled against him by some
ZANU PF
activists and soldiers in and around the Chitungwiza
area.
The army probe team quizzed Chimbaira at a time President Robert
Mugabe was
expected to prion the possible referendum and election dates.
http://www.dailynews.co.zw
Wednesday, 02 January 2013 11:01
HARARE -
Residents turned Harare into a party zone on New Year’s Eve as they
celebrated the transition into 2013.
But, no sooner had the fireworks
died down did they realise nothing has
really changed on the
ground.
Waking up to reality, Harare residents found taps dry,
uncollected garbage
littering the streets and the threat of cholera and
typhoid outbreak very
much alive.
Many had hoped that city fathers
would pull up their socks in 2013, but
early signs are far from promising
particularly on the water front.
Already, the town clerk is contradicting
his boss, the mayor regarding the
water situation.
While Mayor
Muchadeyi Masunda has said the city needs to increase its
pumping capacity
to 1 200 mega litres a day to meet demand, Town clerk
Tendai Mahachi thinks
otherwise.
According to Mahachi, the 2012 pumping levels are good enough
for Harare’s 4
million residents — never mind that the majority of those who
go for days
without running water.
Despite Harare’s water woes which
led to the death of over 4 000 people in
2008 after a cholera outbreak,
Mahachi claims the 620 mega litres currently
being produced are enough for
consumers.
He said this after touring a South African municipality,
Ethikwini in
Durban, which has a population of 4, 2 million and a bigger
industry.
“Comparing to Ethekwini (Durban), what we are producing should
be enough,”
Mahachi said.
Mahachi said leakages caused by high water
pressure were the major hindrance
to free flowing water
supplies.
“The pressure of water when leaving Morton Jeffrey waterworks
is eight bars
which is too much for our obsolete pipes.
“Presently
more water is being lost than used. Once we have installed the
pressure
reduction valves, water shortages will be a thing of the past,”
said
Mahachi.
But his explanation was rebuffed by Highlands councillor Peter
Mudavanhu,
who described it as “meaningless” as most residents are currently
receiving
low pressured water supply.
Mahachi told councillors he was
now planning to acquire equipment to reduce
pressure which is expected to
cost not less than $2 million.
“We are working on reducing it to four
bars and we will stabilise the
situation,” he said.
Most residents in
the capital city depend on borehole water as well as open
sources such as
shallow wells as their local authority seems to be clueless
on how to solve
the perennial water woes.
http://www.rnw.nl Radio Netherlnds
Published on : 27 December 2012 -
9:26am | By RNW Africa Desk
Information about sexual and reproductive
health is hard to come by for
Zimbabwean adolescents who live on the
streets. While some of these youth do
practise birth control, mostly in the
form of oral contraception, they still
often lack other essential
information or the basic life skills to access
it. Concerned groups in
Harare are trying to change that.
By Moses Chibaya,
Harare
Sixteen-year-old Chipo Manenga and her friends don’t know the
names of the
contraceptives they take. But they do know that if pregnancy is
to be
prevented, the pills that come in rolls are the ones they are supposed
to
buy.
“I take family-planning pills but, because I am not educated,
I can’t read,”
Chipo says. Dressed in tattered clothes and living on the
streets, she is
already struggling to look after her two children. Her
firstborn, Tapiwa, is
two years old; Tadiwanashe is a year and a month. “I
know that
family-planning tablets prevent unwanted pregnancies. I buy the
pills at
Mbare Msika,” adds the young mother, referring to a local
agro-produce
market.
According to a recent survey conducted in Harare
and Chitungwiza, there are
about 705 children and young people living on the
streets. The sexually
active among them represent an especially vulnerable
group.
Respecting rights
Winidzai Rwaendipi, a child protection
officer working for Cesvi, a local
non-governmental organisation, emphasizes
the need to respect street
children's rights. “If they want to engage in
family-planning, then we
respect their choices. We also provide condoms for
free,” she says.
But among most street children, condoms gets dropped
soon after boyfriends
are considered stable and reliable. Yet, males are
more prone to having
multiple sexual partners than their non-street
counterparts. Males are also
more likely to engage in risky sexual
activities.
Take Tawanda who admits to having unprotected sex with his
partner. He also
confirms that she is not using birth control pills. “Using
condoms is
abortion”, he says. “It’s like masturbation. You will be killing.
God does
not want anyone who kills.”
The future
What, then, can be
done to ensure a better future for Zimbabwe's sexually
active street
children?
“Sexual and reproductive health rights need to be integrated in
an approach
that takes care of the other needs of street children pertaining
to
livelihoods and security,” says SAfAIDS programme manager Juliet
Mukaronda.
Her Harare-based organisation is implementing a three-year
programme meant
to do just that.
Chitiga Mbanje, a peer project
coordinator at the NGO Streets Ahead,
describes how his organisation aims to
assist youth living and working on
the streets 'to find their way back
home', a phrase used both figuratively
and literally. Youngsters who don’t
know their relatives can get surrogate
help. Others can be counselled to try
to solve problems that caused them to
run away in the first place, and then
successfully reengage them with their
family members.
Mbanje also
optimistically cites the Ministry of Health’s national
adolescent sexual
reproductive health strategy. Referring to the Zimbabwe
National Family
Council centre and clinic for youth living on the streets,
he notes: “It has
been so effective to the point that young boys and girls
can now openly go
there without fear."
http://www.newzimbabwe.com
01/01/2013 00:00:00
by
Veneranda Langa l News Day
THE year 2012 saw some of the worst
performances by sitting MPs and
ministers who failed to contribute
meaningfully to Parliament’s legislative
processes, question time and
debate.
Parliamentarians’ main responsibility is to craft legislation and
debate
issues affecting their constituents.
During the 2012
Parliamentary sittings, some of the worst performances in
the House of
Assembly came from ministers who failed to turn up to answer
questions
raised on the Order Paper and those without notice by MPs.
Research by
NewsDay on Hansards (verbatim reports of debates in the House)
and Order
Papers showed that the worst performing minister in Parliament in
terms of
responding to questions on the Order Paper was Security minister
Sydney
Sekeramayi (Zanu PF).
In September 2011, Sekeramayi was asked by Mazowe
Central MP Shepherd
Mushonga (MDC-T) to explain to the House why Central
Intelligence
Organisation operatives had been allowed to become Zanu PF
central committee
members whilst they were still on the government payroll.
To date, he has
not answered the question.
Other ministers who failed
to turn up to take questions without notice from
MPs included Media,
Information and Publicity minister Webster Shamu (Zanu
PF).
This
resulted in most questions raised during Wednesday’s questions without
notice in the House of Assembly being answered by Deputy Prime Minister
Arthur Mutambara.
Home Affairs co-ministers Theresa Makone (MDC-T)
and Kembo Mohadi (Zanu PF)
and Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo
were the worst performers on
that front.
In terms of truancy,
Tsholotsho North MP Jonathan Moyo (Zanu PF) and Mines
and Mining Development
minister Obert Mpofu (Zanu PF) topped the list after
they both failed to
attend Parliament for 21 consecutive days between
September 6, 2011 and
March 28, 2012. Section 41 (1) (d) of the Constitution
stipulates that if an
MP is absent from the House for 21 consecutive
sittings without the leave of
Parliament, their seat should be declared
vacant after a resolution by half
of the House.
Other contenders for the bunking title were Mount Pleasant
MP Jameson Timba
(MDC-T) (29 days), Binga MP Joel Gabbuza (MDC-T) (19 days),
Beitbridge East
MP Kembo Mohadi (Zanu PF) (29 days), Bulilima West MP Moses
Mzila-Ndlovu
(MDC) (27 days), Mount Darwin South MP Saviour Kasukuwere (Zanu
PF) (24
days), Hatfield MP Tapiwa Mashakada (MDC-T) (25 days), Mutoko South
MP
Olivia Muchena (Zanu PF) (28 days), Masvingo North MP Stanislaus Mudenge
(now deceased) (Zanu PF) (28 days), Headlands MP Didymus Mutasa (Zanu PF)
(28 days), Chegutu East MP Webster Shamu (Zanu PF) (22 days) and Budiriro MP
Heneri Dzinotyiweyi (MDC-T) (26 days).
Apart from absenteeism by
ministers, almost a quarter of legislators in the
House of Assembly only
warmed up benches and failed to contribute
meaningfully to any
debate.
Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya (MDC-T) and Mutare Central MP
Innocent Gonese
(MDC-T) were the only outstanding contributors throughout
the year after
they raised topical motions and private member’s Bills before
the House.
Chikwinya brought before the House a motion that stirred
controversy on
unconstitutional statements by the country’s service chiefs,
among others,
while Gonese brought before the House a private member’s Bill
to amend the
Public Order and Security Act deemed suppressive of freedom of
expression.
Committees that excelled include the Parliamentary Portfolio
Committee on
Mines and Energy chaired by Guruve South MP Edward
Chindori-Chininga (Zanu
PF), the Budget, Finance and Investment Promotion
Committee chaired by
Goromonzi North MP Paddy Zhanda (Zanu PF), the Public
Accounts Committee
chaired by Makoni West MP Webber Chinyadza (MDC-T) and
the Media,
Communication and Information Technology Committee chaired by
Chikwinya.
The list of dormant MPs from the MDC-T side included Gutu
Central MP Oliver
Chirume, Matobo MP Cornelius Dube, Hwange West MP Gift
Mabhena, Chipinge
South MP Meki Makuyana, Chirumanzi MP Maramba Phase
Hakuna, Bikita East MP
Edmore Marima, Gokwe Kabuyuni MP Costin Muguti,
Buhera South MP Naison
Nemadziva, Gweru Urban MP Rodrick Rutsvara, and Binga
North MP Patrick
Sibanda.
Zanu PF had its own warmers and these
included Tsholotsho North MP Jonathan
Moyo, Hurungwe North MP Peter
Chanetsa, Gokwe Nembudziya MP Flora Buka,
Chiwundura MP Kizito Chivamba,
Chipinge Central MP Alice Chitima, Muzvezve
MP Peter Haritatos, Mudzi North
MP Newton Kachepa, Mudzi West MP Aqualinah
Katsande, Lupane West MP Martin
Khumalo, Gokwe Sesami MP Dorcus Maposhere,
Mwenezi West MP Neddie Masukume,
Muzarabani North MP Luke Mushore, Maramba
Pfungwe MP Washington Musvaire,
Gokwe-Kana MP Busy Ngwenya, Harare South MP
Hubert Nyanhongo, Murewa South
MP Biggie Matiza, Zvimba West MP Nelson
Samkange and Gokwe Chireya MP Sindi
Cephas.
The MDC (Ncube) MP who did not contribute to any Parliamentary
debate
according to the index is Gwanda Central MP Patrick Dube.
In the
Senate, MDC-T legislators who did not contribute anything included
John
Masaba (Kariba), Samuel Tsungirirai Muzerengwa (Buhera), and Josiah
Rimbi
(Chipinge).
Senators from Zanu PF who never contributed anything in the
House included
Gladys Mabhiza (Chikomba Seke), Jason Machaya (Gokwe South),
Henry Madzorera
(Kwekwe), Titus Maluleke (Masvingo Governor), Reuben
Marumahoko (Hurungwe),
Angeline Masuku (Matabeleland South Governor),
Simbarashe Mumbengegwi
(Shurugwi Zvishavane), Mashonaland East Governor
Aeneas Chigwedere and
Manicaland Governor Christopher
Mushohwe.
Chiefs who have been mum in the Senate since 2008 include
Manicaland Chief
Revai Chiduku, Mashonaland Central Chief Daster Chisunga,
Masvingo Chief
Felani Chitanga, Masvingo Chief Veterai Mabika, Matabeleland
South Chief
Silandilizwe Masendu, Mashonaland West Chief Wilson Nebiri,
Mashonaland
Central Chief Clemence Nembire, Midlands Chief Milton Ntabeni
and
Matabeleland North Chief Jonah Shana.
Although all of the listed
MPs failed to contribute to debate in both Houses
of Parliament since 2008,
some of them were very active in Parliament
Portfolio and Thematic Committee
business.