I was in Bulawayo recently to attend a youth meeting where the common refrain from many who spoke was the need for government “to help young people start income-generating projects (This has become such a cliché)”.
The youths, most of them university graduates, displayed stunning hopelessness and they firmly believe in some form of messianic fervour from government which should give them loans, grants, tools, market stalls, jobs and anything to take them out of their misery.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Hacking group targets Zimbabwe government website
A group known as Lulz Security (LulzSec) has announced that it has hacked
into the Zimbabwe government website (http://www.gta.gov.zw) and taken
material on “everything” there is to know about the government’s internet
database.
into the Zimbabwe government website (http://www.gta.gov.zw) and taken
material on “everything” there is to know about the government’s internet
database.
Zimbabwe cabinet ministers at the mercy of hooligans: Tsvangirai
Zimbabwe Premier and MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday said he was
shocked by the war veterans' attack on party secretary-general and Finance
minister Tendai Biti.
"The attack on Minister Biti posed a serious threat to peace in Zimbabwe
especially as President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF continued to push for
early elections" Tsvangirai said.
Tsvangirai also asked if the safety of ordinary Zimbabweans be guaranteed
when cabinet ministers are at the mercy of hooligans, He said there is a
better and more civilised way of expressing grievances.
On Monday, hundreds of war veterans staged a demonstration at the new
Government Complex demanding that Finance Minister, Tendai Biti either
increases civil servants salaries or resigns.
The demonstrators carried placards with messages which read 'Biti IMF
puppet, Zimbabwe is a sovereign country, "Stop Playing US and UK politics."
Another placard read "War vets want a new Finance Minister."
The minister has on several occasions said Treasury does not have the money
to increase government's wage bill, a position his critics are contesting.
Tamborinyoka said Monday's incident was aimed at intimidating and cowing
MDC-T officials and supporters ahead of possible elections which President
Mugabe and Zanu PF are agitating for this year.
Tamborinyoka declined to reveal what action Tsvangirai would take, saying it
was premature to do so.
Last week when addressing a rally in Bulawayo Tsvangirai said they will not
pull out of the GNU irregardless of whatever Zanu-PF will throw at them.
Security chiefs in Zimbabwe also said Biti's reluctance to increase civil
servants' salaries was now a threat to national security.
Mugabe back at clinic
HARARE - President Robert Mugabe visited the Medical Chambers in Harare’s
Avenues area for the second time in two weeks yesterday, triggering more
speculation about his health.
Mugabe, who recently returned from a week-long trip to Malaysia, was spotted
arriving at Medical Chambers just after 2pm yesterday.
The centre houses specialist doctors and physicians like urologists,
oncologists, gynaecologists and eye specialists.
While presidential spokesperson George Charamba refused to comment on Mugabe’s
health problems and his now frequent visits to Medical Chambers, sources
said the 87-year-old leader was being checked by specialists for an
undisclosed illness before he flies out today to Equatorial Guinea.
International media and diplomats have said that Mugabe has prostate cancer
associated with his advanced age – which his office has refuted strenuously.
When the Daily News arrived at the Medical Chambers yesterday, armed
soldiers were milling around the centre while police and plain clothes
security details were planted around the whole area adjacent to the
facility.
The frail octogenarian, who has been at the helm of the country since
Independence in 1980, is expected to travel to Equatorial Guinea today where
he will attend an African Union summit.
Mugabe, who regional leaders have reportedly been trying to persuade to
retire, has been to the Far East five times since January with sources
saying the trips were being used to get him medical assistance.
However, Charamba said early this year that Mugabe had been to the Far East
for an eye cataract operation.
According to health experts, there is a link between prostate cancer and
cataracts. They say that men who take tamsulosin hydrochloride, which
treats urinary detention, are at high risk of developing complications after
cataract surgery.
A local doctor who preferred anonymity said that at 87, one is prone to
different kinds of infections.
He said that common diseases which are normally easy to treat become
difficult to treat at that age.
“Dementia and amnesia are also very common at this age,” said the doctor.
At the Sadc summit in Sandton, South Africa last week, Mugabe reportedly
referred to President Jacob Zuma as Mandela in a sign that health experts
say shows that dementia may be taking its toll on him.
And at the Livingstone, Sadc Troika Summit in March, Mugabe moved around the
hotel in a golf cart.
Mugabe’s illness is causing a lot of divisions within Zanu PF with several
party heavyweights jostling to take over from him.
A top military man has also indicated that he would be interested in taking
over from Mugabe who has avoided naming a successor.
Securocrats have since the beginning of the year exerted themselves more
forcefully than ever on the former ruling party in their quest for power.
Last week Brigadier General Douglas Nyikayaramba repeated the army’s
sentiments that they would not serve any other president other than
Mugabe.
He went as far as to call Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai a threat to
national security a development which political analysts say was a coup
threat.
Constitutionally, if the president is incapacitated, the last acting vice
president will take over the reins until elections can be held within three
months.
Sadc leaders have also raised concern on whether Mugabe was still fit enough
to rule bearing in mind his advanced age and his failing health and
some have reportedly advised him to step down.
The octogenarian however says that he is doing well for his age and that he
would like to hit the 100 year mark.
Avenues area for the second time in two weeks yesterday, triggering more
speculation about his health.
Mugabe, who recently returned from a week-long trip to Malaysia, was spotted
arriving at Medical Chambers just after 2pm yesterday.
The centre houses specialist doctors and physicians like urologists,
oncologists, gynaecologists and eye specialists.
While presidential spokesperson George Charamba refused to comment on Mugabe’s
health problems and his now frequent visits to Medical Chambers, sources
said the 87-year-old leader was being checked by specialists for an
undisclosed illness before he flies out today to Equatorial Guinea.
International media and diplomats have said that Mugabe has prostate cancer
associated with his advanced age – which his office has refuted strenuously.
When the Daily News arrived at the Medical Chambers yesterday, armed
soldiers were milling around the centre while police and plain clothes
security details were planted around the whole area adjacent to the
facility.
The frail octogenarian, who has been at the helm of the country since
Independence in 1980, is expected to travel to Equatorial Guinea today where
he will attend an African Union summit.
Mugabe, who regional leaders have reportedly been trying to persuade to
retire, has been to the Far East five times since January with sources
saying the trips were being used to get him medical assistance.
However, Charamba said early this year that Mugabe had been to the Far East
for an eye cataract operation.
According to health experts, there is a link between prostate cancer and
cataracts. They say that men who take tamsulosin hydrochloride, which
treats urinary detention, are at high risk of developing complications after
cataract surgery.
A local doctor who preferred anonymity said that at 87, one is prone to
different kinds of infections.
He said that common diseases which are normally easy to treat become
difficult to treat at that age.
“Dementia and amnesia are also very common at this age,” said the doctor.
At the Sadc summit in Sandton, South Africa last week, Mugabe reportedly
referred to President Jacob Zuma as Mandela in a sign that health experts
say shows that dementia may be taking its toll on him.
And at the Livingstone, Sadc Troika Summit in March, Mugabe moved around the
hotel in a golf cart.
Mugabe’s illness is causing a lot of divisions within Zanu PF with several
party heavyweights jostling to take over from him.
A top military man has also indicated that he would be interested in taking
over from Mugabe who has avoided naming a successor.
Securocrats have since the beginning of the year exerted themselves more
forcefully than ever on the former ruling party in their quest for power.
Last week Brigadier General Douglas Nyikayaramba repeated the army’s
sentiments that they would not serve any other president other than
Mugabe.
He went as far as to call Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai a threat to
national security a development which political analysts say was a coup
threat.
Constitutionally, if the president is incapacitated, the last acting vice
president will take over the reins until elections can be held within three
months.
Sadc leaders have also raised concern on whether Mugabe was still fit enough
to rule bearing in mind his advanced age and his failing health and
some have reportedly advised him to step down.
The octogenarian however says that he is doing well for his age and that he
would like to hit the 100 year mark.
Standard editor and reporter picked up by police in Harare
Two journalists from the Zimbabwe Standard newspaper were on Wednesday
picked up by the police, over a story the paper published about the arrest
last week of the MDC-T Minister Jameson Timba, who was released from custody
on Sunday.
picked up by the police, over a story the paper published about the arrest
last week of the MDC-T Minister Jameson Timba, who was released from custody
on Sunday.
Is Zimbabwe breeding warlords?
In all their pre-independence travails, nationalists always asserted the pre-eminence and primacy of the ballot over the bullet; one man, one vote and government by the people, for the people.
They underscored that legitimacy of a government is only through the consent of the people, and for these ideals, they were prepared to be incarcerated and even to die.
They underscored that legitimacy of a government is only through the consent of the people, and for these ideals, they were prepared to be incarcerated and even to die.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Tanker explosion death toll hits 11
THE death toll from the June 11 petrol tanker explosion in a Harare suburb
has climbed to 11, up from the three confirmed dead at the scene, police
said.
Eight more people have died in hospital after suffering severe burns in the
incident on Boshoff Road, Sunningdale.
has climbed to 11, up from the three confirmed dead at the scene, police
said.
Eight more people have died in hospital after suffering severe burns in the
incident on Boshoff Road, Sunningdale.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Edgar “Two Boy” Tekere : A hero through and through
On Friday 10 June 2011 the national news paper , The Herald announced that the decision making body in Zanu pf , the Politiburo had decided to confer the hero status to Cde Tekere who succumbed to prostate cancer on Tuesday 7 June 2011. What caught my eye was what some member from this body is said to have said when asked for his vote to decide the fate of Cde Tekere , ‘’By the way who is Edgar Tekere ? ” He is said to have asked. What a question . Lets hope Cde Matasa did not hear correctly because if he did ; then what a fix we are in for!!!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Bread shortages resurface
BREAD shortages have resurfaced throughout the country amid warnings that a
massive price increase is in the offing.
Wellington Penyana, the Bakers Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ) president
yesterday blamed the shortages on inadequate flour supplies and obsolete
machinery at most bakeries.
Mugabe gives Biti ultimatum on salaries
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe and service chiefs on Friday reportedly ordered
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to force Finance minister Tendai Biti to
review civil servants’ salaries saying the issue was now a threat to
national security.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to force Finance minister Tendai Biti to
review civil servants’ salaries saying the issue was now a threat to
national security.
Mugabe must send the Chinese to teach in schools
Zimbabwe's Defence College, which is being built by the Chinese in a
controversial deal with the government, will have a state-of-the-art medical
facility for President Robert Mugabe and other top government and military
officials.
controversial deal with the government, will have a state-of-the-art medical
facility for President Robert Mugabe and other top government and military
officials.
Angry Biti, Mugabe clash
Finance Minister Tendai Biti ruffled President Robert Mugabe's feathers on
Friday at a tense National Security Council meeting - attended by
politicians and state security chiefs - when he confronted him over remarks
he made about him at a rally the previous day.
Friday at a tense National Security Council meeting - attended by
politicians and state security chiefs - when he confronted him over remarks
he made about him at a rally the previous day.
Police Blocks Tsvangirai's Rally Attendance
Harare, June 05, 2011 - Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) succeeded in barring
the Movevement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) president and Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai to attend his party’s much publicised rally on Saturday
after police told him to avoid criticising President Robert Mugabe and stop
his from marching.
the Movevement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) president and Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai to attend his party’s much publicised rally on Saturday
after police told him to avoid criticising President Robert Mugabe and stop
his from marching.
Attempted bombing at Zimbabwe finance minister's home
HARARE, Zimbabwe — An explosive device hit the security wall of Zimbabwe
finance minister Tendai Biti's home in an attempted bombing early Sunday but
caused no damage, a party spokesman said.
"An unidentified object was thrown at Honorable Biti house and hit the
security wall," Nelson Chamisa, organising secretary for the Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) told AFP.
finance minister Tendai Biti's home in an attempted bombing early Sunday but
caused no damage, a party spokesman said.
"An unidentified object was thrown at Honorable Biti house and hit the
security wall," Nelson Chamisa, organising secretary for the Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) told AFP.
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