Columnists
Jun
09
2011
Climate Change - From Cancun To Durban
Heinrich Böll Foundation provided this dossier to give ongoing commentary and updates on major developments in the run up to the negotiations.
The Foundation spoke to Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, Chair of the Africa Group on Climate Change Negotiations, about the group’s assessment of the outcomes of COP 16 and expectations for COP 17.
What is your assessment of the outcomes of Cancun and how much progress has been achieved in following up and in implementation of the decisions that were made, particularly as relates to adaptation and finance?
The Cancun Outcome must be commended as one that contributed to keeping the climate change negotiations process alive after Copenhagen where trust in the process was hindered. The Copenhagen Accord was reached in a way which was not transparent and inclusive. Cancun was thus able to restore trust.
However, although Cancun was a step in the right direction, it is not an outcome that keeps us safe as Africa. Cancun should be seen as a floor and not a ceiling as it was able to deliver on some aspects but left some important issues off the table. For instance, Adaptation which is the over-riding priority of Africa, previously meant different things to different
May
03
2011
Media changes In Zimbabwe Cosmetic Or Genuine?
Most messages impressed upon the importance of opening up media freedom in the country through the removal of laws that hinder the work of journalists.
The day however comes at a particularly interesting time in the history of the country’s media industry. New daily newspapers have hit the market and new jobs have been created for long suffering journalists. The industry is abuzz with the new developments.
Analysts however believe it’s not time to pop the champagne for media freedom. Loughty Dube, the chairperson of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe Chapter is of the opinion that the changes that have happened since the inception of the Government of National Unity (GNU) are only cosmetic.
“There is nothing of essence, there has not been any changes,” said Dube. “Only the registering of media has happened but we still have bad laws...there has not been any movement in broadcasting.”
Journalists have been repeatedly arrested since the inception of the GNU. For instance Zimbabwe Independent journalists Constantine Chimakure and Vincent Kahiya have been taken in on charges of breaching Section 31 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act which deals with publishing false statements that undermines public confidence in
Apr
26
2011
MDC-T Congress Succession Battle Under The Spotlight
Some political commentators and critics see the congress as key because those who shall get key positions of party Secretary General and National Organiser are seen as the most likely candidates to take over from incumbent party President when his term eventually comes to an end. If elected at this congress, which is most likely, Tsvangirai will be serving his third term as party leader and probably his last.
A lot of canvassing for votes has been going on in recent weeks. Some of the political shenanigans have threatened to tear the party through its seams. The stakes are so high that even the post of secretary general, currently being held by Harare east Member of Parliament and Finance Minister Tendai Biti, is being hotly pursued by Public Service Minister Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro and Gutu South Member of Parliament.
The political trickery which has seen violence occurring during the provincial elections has prompted Tsvangirai to tour the country's provinces to quell the high tempers in the party as potential candidates jostle for positions.
An interesting aspect of the weekend congress is that many of the current executive members are likely to return from the congress as ordinary members. Elias Mudzuri
Apr
13
2011
Childhood Rape Inspired A Fighting Spirit in Me - Betty Makoni
She experienced domestic violence at a tender age when her father used to assault her mother while she watched. She never recovered from this until she decided to take it upon herself to speak against her father’s action.
Unfortunately her intervention proved too little too late. Her mother died as a result of domestic violence injuries. She had no-one to turn to for help both materially and emotionally as she grew up forcing her to take up a paid job as a young girl to look after her siblings.
“We were left with an irresponsible father,” Makoni told Radio VOP in an interview at her base in South-end just outside London.
She says the rape she suffered at the age of six changed her life forever.
“My history changed me to be what I am right now. There was a man who used to stay at number 1151 St Marys suburb, he was a paedophile (A paedophile is an adult who is sexually attracted to minors) but people didn’t know he was one, he raped a lot of young girls in the suburb but our mothers were not empowered to challenge him or understand what was happening,” said Makoni.
This
Apr
12
2011
Bulawayo People Feel Dejected- See No Point In Celebrating Zim's Independence
Next Monday Zimbabwe celebrates 31 years of independence from British rule, amid a host of repressive and draconian laws which ironically have been used to curtail the same freedom which sons and daughters of Zimbabwe died for during the liberation struggle.
“The problem with independence celebrations is that over the years, they have been highly politicised and monopolised by Zanu (PF) to a point everyone now thinks the celebrations are a Zanu (PF) private function," said Methuseli Moyo, ZAPU spokesperson. ZAPU’s armed wing, the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) waged the liberation struggle together with ZANLA.
"Independence day is a very important day in the calendar of our history which should not abused by political parties to gain political mileage. Everyone fought in a way or another for the liberation of this country,” he said.
Moyo pointed out that as long as Zanu (PF) continued to impose its agenda and dominate proceedings at national events such as independence celebrations it should not expect patriotic and progressive Zimbabweans to attend the celebrations.
“At individual and organisational level ZAPU supporters commemorates and respect Independence Day. Commemorating a national event does not mean force marching people to a venue and start to
Apr
05
2011
Zimbabwe Exists Only In Dreams For Some Zimbabweans In London
After the trauma of losing a loved one and a bread winner, she left for the Diaspora in an effort to find a better job to look after her four daughters.
She left her poorly paying job as a teacher and first went to Botswana before moving to London.
London has been a favourite destination for immigrants running away from various economic, social and economic problems in their countries.
Despite a Nollyhood (Nigerian) film, “Eusophia in London” which depicts the city as hospitable and easy going, it is not so for Musvingo.
"I would love to go back home but I can't at the moment because of the situation there," said Musvingo who has been in London for seven years.
She currently stays with friends in a two-bed roomed apartment in London's Camden area. Together they make enough to meet costs such as rent, electricity, gas, water and food. They need about 900 pounds for rent and just half of that to buy supplies to see them through a month. Together they easily manage these basics of the harsh London
life.
But the difficult part of Musvingo's life has been "papers." Getting asylum papers is a mammoth task for many
Apr
01
2011
Rape Victims Speak Out
These confessions, coming from three female rape victims, shocked more than 50 women bosses from virtually all NGOs dealing with Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Zimbabwe.
"I almost lost hope but I am glad that The Musasa Project has taken me in, given me food and shelter, and is counselling me," one of the victims continues.
The three women from Harare claimed they were raped by their former husbands.
They all then tried to get help from the Courts but to no avail. To-date their former husbands are out of custody, making a mockery of the country's judicial system.
The victims told more than 50 women gathered for a one-day workshop how they felt about the whole judiciary system and how NGOs treat them at a time when they need the most help.
"My husband was a soldier," said Agnes, almost in tears at the workshop. He went away for about three months and then took leave and came back to haunt me. He beat me up regularly and he raped me. I was terrified."
She said she was beaten up regularly and when she went to the Police, she was told she had no case and that the affair
Mar
30
2011
Christian Care Food For Work Programme Saves Chipinge Residents
Villagers in this remote area of Chipinge South were anticipating a bumper harvest but the dry spell that has hit some parts of the country lately has left their crops wilting in the fields. The people of Chipinge normally plant small grain crops that are drought resistant such as rapoko and sorghum but these crops this time around could not stand the dry spell. Cotton is the only crop that seem to be doing well in the area but villagers who spoke to Radio VOP said the harvest is going to be below 50 percent.
Radio VOP came across a group of ten women who were slashing tall grass along the Tanganda – Chiredzi highway. In normal circumstances the slashing of grass along the country’s highways is supposed to be done by the Ministry of Roads. These women at the end of the month they get food hand outs from Christian care which has initiated the food for work project.
Phillipa Mtetwa who leads this group of 10 women said they have been slashing along the highway and doing other road maintenance work for the past three months.
“The amount of food one gets depends on how big one’s family
Mar
18
2011
What is happening at Newsday?
According to the article written by the recently promoted Political Editor, Kelvin Jakachira ‘Newsday did its own investigations and resolved that Tomana handled the four cases mentioned in the report in a transparent manner’.
In other words, Newsday’s investigations clear Tomana of any alleged wrongdoing. Furthermore, the newly appointed Editor Mr Brian Mangwende even calls TI-Z conduct ‘unconstitutional insinuations’.
Curiously, the Newsday investigations simply ignored the facts raised in the actual TI-Z report and surprisingly didn’t quote the several personalities mentioned in the report save for their ‘source’.
One would think that the journalist would also have contacted TI-Z for a comment on their new findings.
Had the Newsday journalist cared to read the entire report, he would have had the answers sooner and spared himself the curious article he wrote.
Newsday has a right to its own opinion. However, the paper has no right to its own facts.
The allegations of corruption raised by TI-Z against AG Tomana are substantiated by facts and law hence the call for criminal investigations.
The report was very clear and supported the allegations with facts. It is puzzling that the Newsday had to rush to absolve Tomana even before the authorities with that
Mar
16
2011
Mapeza - Football Fans Expecting More from Him
That general belief was premised on the fact that the y38 year old coach had never been given his chance despite his success with the Warriors team in the short interim period he coached it.
The Warriors qualified for the 2011 African Nations Championships and it also picked up two points from the two games the team played for the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde.
Despite this success, Zifa had sidelined him for the coaching post, which was given to Madinda Ndlovu and sparked anger among fans. Mapeza had quit Zifa's coaching team last November citing confusion. Ndlovu's appointment followed the denial of a work permit for Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet.
German coach Rudi Gutendorf once said during his first visit to Zimbabwe in 1986. 'The national team is the pride and display window of any nation. There is nothing than can thrill the fans more than the success of the national team when playing international football. When that does not happen, there are emotions and anger.'
The emotions and anger of Zimbabwe's soccer fans following the Warriors disastrous campaign in Sudan could have forced a re-think on the part of Zifa and appointed
