You can read the Amnesty International report on the destruction of Porta Farm settlement at the height of Murambatsvina. This a further indictment against the illegal regime led by the dictator Robert Mugabe which depopulated the urban areas to reduce the number of MDC supporters in order to weaken elections results or pe-empty an insurrection against the regime.
Mugabe has ruined what was once the most beautiful country in known world. Today the country has no fuel, the chaotic farm invasions have created a food deficit leaving 6 million people needing food aid for a country which at one time was the source of food for whole continent. The country is grappling with a shortage of foreign currency which has affected the availability of medicines given the high rate of AIDS Zimbabwe. The servicing of urban infrastructure has screeched to a halt, garbage goes uncollected for days. The regime cannot even print more money as it has run out of the money to buy the materials.
The above Amensty International report is a clear indication why it is still a duty of the International community to pressure the regime to come to a negotiating table which will pave way for a people oriented constitution and an SADC observed election.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Thursday, May 25, 2006
The Deluded Faction Led By Mutambara
I resisted all along since the arrival of the former students leader on the political scene via his invitation by a faction of MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube, to comment on Mutambara. I treated it as a non event and to me its still is a non event, if he (Mutambara) thought he would make waves by arriving on the scene with all his academic credentials, I am sorry he barely caused a ripple.
First things first I have been incensed by the referral of the media and political commentators to label the real MDC led by President Tsvangirai as a faction. You need to hold it up right there, since we are dealing with professors here (sic) lets look for a learned definition of a faction according to the Oxford English Dictionary by definition a faction is: A group of persons forming a cohesive, usually CONTENTIOUS minority within a larger group.. Now we have the definition lets dissect it, shall we? The pretenders of the real MDC sometimes also referred to by the media and political commentators as the pro-senate faction is the faction its a small group I don't know about cohesive judging by the members that walked back into the real MDC. I deliberately put contentious in capital letters, I looked up contentious and found this definition: inclined or showing an inclination to dispute or disagree, even to engage in law suits; "a style described as abrasive and contentious"; "a disputatious lawyer"; "a litigious and acrimonious spirit" Surely even the professors will be happy with my research I have clearly showed you which is a faction. Led by Mutambara and Ncube, they represent a small group, they are the minority - Real MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai, Congress attendance: 15 000, The Faction led by Mutambara Congress attendance: 3000, the pre-demonstration rallies held countrywide by The Liberation Team the numbers were a clear rubber stamp were Zimbabweans loyalties lie. I will not even mention the Budiriro by-election, Real MDC 7 949, Zany PF 3 961 The Faction 504. I will let you do the numbers, you are the learned.
Its been creeping to some to say maybe Mutambara can give better prospect since he is learned. To be honest education counts for nothing when it comes to be a effective political leadership. As Zimbabweans we should know that, if anything can be said about us they cannot label us as dumb. We have always been led by people with high academic exellence. The dictator himself has got academic degrees coming out of his ears, he read law and mastered it , economics as well up to masters level, history,... Add the honorary degrees that were conferred to him at the time when his was still the blue eyed boy of Africa. Even if you don't limit yourself to him, his cabinet was truly impressive in terms of academic Excellency. Do you remember Dr Bernard Chidzero the polymath minister of finance? What about the erudite Dr Zvobgwo, the man that re-wrote the constitution negotiated at Lancaster conference to eliminate the role of a ceremonial presidency that Bananna held and make a President the head of state. Do I need to mention more? To be honest there is nothing wrong with academic prowess, we were bound to end up like that as a nation. Led by a former teacher, told that education is the only emancipation out of poverty we made education a top priority. Its possible now that if you throw a stone on a large crowd in Harare you are likely to hit a person with an academic degree not just 5 'O's.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste. I love education, but if education ain't elevating me ain't showing me how to solve our own problems like how to rid Africa of dictators, how to end chronic poverty in Africa then F'@/? education! As regards to Mutambara being an effective leader because he is learned you can shove that idea where the sun doesn't shine because frankly we spent 26 years chained to someone whom even Mutambara can not match for academic Excellency but what do we the people of Zimbabwe have to show of it except a country on the brink of a collapse!
As for Mutambara himself, I see him as an over-ambitious, opportunist. When he was recently interviewed on SW Radio Africa he failed to answer where he was for the six years since MDC's formation to suddenly surface and think he is better because of his professorship. I was a sixth form student when Arthur Mutambara became the President of SRC dubbed "Sangano Risina Charakamirira" at UZ along with Enock Chikweche who later changed his name to Munyaradzi Gwisai, the same SRC that later was headed by the late MDC spokeperson Learnmore Jongwe. You can track all his collegues political careers but his, especially those that dubbed in politics in 1989 when Mutambara was student leader. Its always been known that he was not real revolutionary as he would like to be purported as, the real firebrand within the 1989 SRC were Munyaradzi Gwisai.He misjugded the scene, he joined the wrong side the faction a small splinter group of opportunistic political has beens and his political career has died before it has begun.
First things first I have been incensed by the referral of the media and political commentators to label the real MDC led by President Tsvangirai as a faction. You need to hold it up right there, since we are dealing with professors here (sic) lets look for a learned definition of a faction according to the Oxford English Dictionary by definition a faction is: A group of persons forming a cohesive, usually CONTENTIOUS minority within a larger group.. Now we have the definition lets dissect it, shall we? The pretenders of the real MDC sometimes also referred to by the media and political commentators as the pro-senate faction is the faction its a small group I don't know about cohesive judging by the members that walked back into the real MDC. I deliberately put contentious in capital letters, I looked up contentious and found this definition: inclined or showing an inclination to dispute or disagree, even to engage in law suits; "a style described as abrasive and contentious"; "a disputatious lawyer"; "a litigious and acrimonious spirit" Surely even the professors will be happy with my research I have clearly showed you which is a faction. Led by Mutambara and Ncube, they represent a small group, they are the minority - Real MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai, Congress attendance: 15 000, The Faction led by Mutambara Congress attendance: 3000, the pre-demonstration rallies held countrywide by The Liberation Team the numbers were a clear rubber stamp were Zimbabweans loyalties lie. I will not even mention the Budiriro by-election, Real MDC 7 949, Zany PF 3 961 The Faction 504. I will let you do the numbers, you are the learned.
Its been creeping to some to say maybe Mutambara can give better prospect since he is learned. To be honest education counts for nothing when it comes to be a effective political leadership. As Zimbabweans we should know that, if anything can be said about us they cannot label us as dumb. We have always been led by people with high academic exellence. The dictator himself has got academic degrees coming out of his ears, he read law and mastered it , economics as well up to masters level, history,... Add the honorary degrees that were conferred to him at the time when his was still the blue eyed boy of Africa. Even if you don't limit yourself to him, his cabinet was truly impressive in terms of academic Excellency. Do you remember Dr Bernard Chidzero the polymath minister of finance? What about the erudite Dr Zvobgwo, the man that re-wrote the constitution negotiated at Lancaster conference to eliminate the role of a ceremonial presidency that Bananna held and make a President the head of state. Do I need to mention more? To be honest there is nothing wrong with academic prowess, we were bound to end up like that as a nation. Led by a former teacher, told that education is the only emancipation out of poverty we made education a top priority. Its possible now that if you throw a stone on a large crowd in Harare you are likely to hit a person with an academic degree not just 5 'O's.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste. I love education, but if education ain't elevating me ain't showing me how to solve our own problems like how to rid Africa of dictators, how to end chronic poverty in Africa then F'@/? education! As regards to Mutambara being an effective leader because he is learned you can shove that idea where the sun doesn't shine because frankly we spent 26 years chained to someone whom even Mutambara can not match for academic Excellency but what do we the people of Zimbabwe have to show of it except a country on the brink of a collapse!
As for Mutambara himself, I see him as an over-ambitious, opportunist. When he was recently interviewed on SW Radio Africa he failed to answer where he was for the six years since MDC's formation to suddenly surface and think he is better because of his professorship. I was a sixth form student when Arthur Mutambara became the President of SRC dubbed "Sangano Risina Charakamirira" at UZ along with Enock Chikweche who later changed his name to Munyaradzi Gwisai, the same SRC that later was headed by the late MDC spokeperson Learnmore Jongwe. You can track all his collegues political careers but his, especially those that dubbed in politics in 1989 when Mutambara was student leader. Its always been known that he was not real revolutionary as he would like to be purported as, the real firebrand within the 1989 SRC were Munyaradzi Gwisai.He misjugded the scene, he joined the wrong side the faction a small splinter group of opportunistic political has beens and his political career has died before it has begun.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Diaspora finally wakes up to reality
As Zimbabweans we are known for our political apathy. Surely over the years when we sniffed that the then government led by the despot Mugabe was up to no good we turned a blind eye. Even when things started to get visibly and horribly wrong we kept our peace, some like this writer had to leave a risk death. Exile to many Zimbabweans became an opportunity to enrich ourselves we became more concerned about the exchange rate rather than the socio-political situation in Zimbabwe. Instead of embracing the democratic freedom of our host countries we solerly lacked at home and become more vocal to highlight the plight that Zimbabwe is facing we became more myopic.
As things fall apart in Zimbabwe, more and more in the diaspora are becoming more disillusioned. Take for instance my friend in Reading, he bought a house back home for 3 million Zim Dollars in 1999, he was telling me the other day that the there was a fire which destroyed a minor part of his house. He has been quoted over a billion Zim dollars to fix it he does not understand how in five years a house that he bought for a few million dollars could cost him over 1000 times its value to repair a minor fire damage. Not only the inflation but the abject poverty that many Zimbabweans are experiencing is also a source of anxiety amongst the Zimbabweans scattered in the diaspora.
So its encouraging to here news from all over UK of intense mobilisation of exiled Zimbabweans into President Morgan Tsvangirayi's MDC. All of a sudden there is a momentum of interest, matched by the same mobolisation that MDC is carrying in Zimbabwe ahead of planned peaceful demonstrations. As the Information & Publicity Secretary for the local branch of MDC in Northampton a lot of locally based Zimbabweans are asking me how they can help topple Mugabe's illegal regime peaceful. They are tired of being bystanders they are beginning to realize that only us as Zimbabweans can free ourselves. Some know that it will be hard for ordinary Zimbabweans to rise up against a regime reknown for its brutality however there are many solutions being offered by ordinary Zimbabweans. Like a new policy that I am sure my local branch will fully take is to establish contact with MDC leaders in Zimbabwe while preparation for the demonstrations are under way to see how we although far from the heat that other will face can contribute. It could be material, financial or moral support, bottom line is all Zimbabweans who will heed President Tsvangirai's message can count on support from the diaspora.
I am glad that MDC has taken to the road before embarking on the planned demonstrations firstly in the urban areas and now in the rural areas. The act itself of consulting with the people should be commended, its a very democratic process in itself of seeking endorsement for what the party is about to begin. Over the five years during its existence MDC has been accused of knee-jerk reactions to the situation in Zimbabwe in terms of strategy. The mass stay aways that were called in the past could have failed because the ordinary people were not given enough consultation. This time around they got it right, take the proposal to the people and hear their views.
Despite all the threats that the despotic government of Mugabe has issued make no mistake Zimbabweans all over the world are ready for a change. The reports are also coming that people are ready to for a winter of discontent. They are fully aware who they are dealing with but the need for change is greater than they fear!
As things fall apart in Zimbabwe, more and more in the diaspora are becoming more disillusioned. Take for instance my friend in Reading, he bought a house back home for 3 million Zim Dollars in 1999, he was telling me the other day that the there was a fire which destroyed a minor part of his house. He has been quoted over a billion Zim dollars to fix it he does not understand how in five years a house that he bought for a few million dollars could cost him over 1000 times its value to repair a minor fire damage. Not only the inflation but the abject poverty that many Zimbabweans are experiencing is also a source of anxiety amongst the Zimbabweans scattered in the diaspora.
So its encouraging to here news from all over UK of intense mobilisation of exiled Zimbabweans into President Morgan Tsvangirayi's MDC. All of a sudden there is a momentum of interest, matched by the same mobolisation that MDC is carrying in Zimbabwe ahead of planned peaceful demonstrations. As the Information & Publicity Secretary for the local branch of MDC in Northampton a lot of locally based Zimbabweans are asking me how they can help topple Mugabe's illegal regime peaceful. They are tired of being bystanders they are beginning to realize that only us as Zimbabweans can free ourselves. Some know that it will be hard for ordinary Zimbabweans to rise up against a regime reknown for its brutality however there are many solutions being offered by ordinary Zimbabweans. Like a new policy that I am sure my local branch will fully take is to establish contact with MDC leaders in Zimbabwe while preparation for the demonstrations are under way to see how we although far from the heat that other will face can contribute. It could be material, financial or moral support, bottom line is all Zimbabweans who will heed President Tsvangirai's message can count on support from the diaspora.
I am glad that MDC has taken to the road before embarking on the planned demonstrations firstly in the urban areas and now in the rural areas. The act itself of consulting with the people should be commended, its a very democratic process in itself of seeking endorsement for what the party is about to begin. Over the five years during its existence MDC has been accused of knee-jerk reactions to the situation in Zimbabwe in terms of strategy. The mass stay aways that were called in the past could have failed because the ordinary people were not given enough consultation. This time around they got it right, take the proposal to the people and hear their views.
Despite all the threats that the despotic government of Mugabe has issued make no mistake Zimbabweans all over the world are ready for a change. The reports are also coming that people are ready to for a winter of discontent. They are fully aware who they are dealing with but the need for change is greater than they fear!
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