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Source: A question for national dialogue | Daily News

A NATIONAL dialogue for this country to find a ‘suitable political proposition’ for the Zimbabwean masses is necessary. In fact, it was necessary as far back as 1980 right after independence. Sadly, no such a national dialogue was held.

This village idiot will give thumbs up to anyone who is making efforts to put together a national dialogue for this country. Zimbabwe needs two separate and distinct national dialogues: A national dialogue for “national healing” and a national dialogue for “a suitable political proposition” for the masses.

This village idiot talks nonsense frankly and thus his trade mark. Let the village idiot be frank about the present and current political proposition for Zimbabwean masses. It is unacceptable, inyala-marara-rubbish.

This is why this country needs an urgent national dialogue, not to “discuss political power sharing” as in the past experience that landed the masses with that useless “government of national unity” but for the nation to come to a consensus on what the suitable political proposition for the Zimbabwean masses should be.

To guide the national conversations on such a national dialogue we would need a “national framework for dialogue”. Such a framework should be clear what national questions concerning the governance of this country does the national dialogue seek to answer. In short let the Zimbabwean masses agree on the list of questions that the national dialogue seeks to respond to and find answers. Such national questions should form the main part of the framework for a national dialogue for this country, that is if one of the agendas of the national dialogue is to find a suitable political proposition for the Zimbabwean masses.

The village idiot would be more than excited if in that list of national questions for the national dialogue framework “three” questions for national dialogue are included. I have no space in this article to discuss and breakdown all the three questions as proposed by this village idiot, so I will only dwell on one of the three questions.

“Is Zimbabwe and its masses safe in the driving hands and leadership of its bush war fighters?” They fancy calling themselves “war veterans” and I am not sure were that was copied from given the nature of Zimbabwe’s liberation war where the biggest financiers and investors of that liberation war and struggle were ordinary Zimbabwean villagers. Even the ancestors of Zimbabwe through family and national spirit mediums were deeply involved in the composition of the Zimbabwean liberation struggle.

Even in the preamble of our Constitution it is put clearly that Zimbabwe does not have only one colonial resistance and liberation struggle. It has several of these, and yet those that got involved only in the last decade of the colonial resistance and struggle journey of this country now ring fence themselves as the only ones to be recognised and that their interests about Zimbabwe are more superior than all other interests.

It is for this reason that this village idiot wonders why one would create a class society of war veterans given such liberation war and struggle composition and background.

Is Zimbabwe safe in the hands and leadership of this self created class society from the wards level all the way to Senate, National Assembly and Central Government?

This is the biggest question for national dialogue if the nation seeks to find a suitable political proposition for the Zimbabwean masses.

The current political proposition in this country is only in the service and interests of this class society who think their contribution to the liberation struggle of this country is more superior than that of all other Zimbabweans since 1893.

There are many good reasons for putting this question on the national dialogue framework but two stick out for this village idiot. This village idiot likes the first five words that open the Preamble of our Constitution.

They go; “We the people of Zimbabwe”.This speaks to unity, collective, inclusive and equality of our desires as a people, yet this  special society and social class of liberators have put themselves above all the “we the people of Zimbabwe” making themselves more equal than others in that only those from their social class can lead Zimbabwe.

This political proposition arose in 2000 as a reaction to the rise of the opposition party the Movement for Democratic Change and has been sponsored by this social class of liberators to this day. Is this what “we the people of Zimbabwe” want for this nation? Let’s dialogue this question.

In the same Constitution  “we the people of Zimbabwe” list our founding values and principles and we state that we recognise the rights of the veterans of the liberation struggle. We need to unpack these rights in some national dialogue because the way the current political proposition stands shows that this social class has a different understanding of these rights and their role in the politics and governance of Zimbabwe where they even claim that they are the only ones who have a right to defending the freedoms and liberation legacy of this nation and their way is the only right way for all of us “the people of Zimbabwe”. Is this what “we the people of Zimbabwe want for this nation?” Let’s dialogue this questions.

If who ever and what ever national dialogue is not going to have conversations around this question, then this village idiot will note take any notice to any dialogue forum as it would just be about power sharing and trying to impress the world citizens were our politicians have fun as they go round begging for money in the name of Zimbabweans and having nothing to do with addressing critical issues that have dragged Zimbabwe backwards for so many years.

Then people can meet and dine on behalf of the suffering masses of Zimbabwe in the name of some national dialogue and life after such dialogue will remain the same for we the people of Zimbabwe, unaffordable and suffer continue.

Zimbabwe is for us all and not just the urban idiot with their social class of liberators.

The post A question for national dialogue appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Govt punishes striking teachers – NewsDay Zimbabwe February 28, 2019

By Farai Matiashe

Government has moved to deduct salaries of over 10 000 teachers who went on strike early this month.

The Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) and the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) defied the Apex Council and called for an industrial action, which was heeded by 80% of their members.

In a statement yesterday, Public Service Commission (PSC) acting chairman, Ozias Hove said the government’s move was based on a no-pay, no-work principle.

“The PSC has noted isolated cases of abscondment by about 10 200 teachers for durations ranging from one to four days from February 5 to 8, 2019. The PSC would like to advise all who were absent from work without authority, that deductions from their leave days (of the offending individuals) using the principle of ‘no-work, no-pay’ will be effected,” he said.

Hove said the commission was treating these 10 200 as first offenders and a repeat of the same offence would attract a more severe punishment.

Hove said the PSC inspectorate and inspectors from the responsible ministry was to continue monitoring the situation in schools because there were some teachers around the country reporting for work, but not offering services to pupils.

“Those members reporting for work, but not providing services will be deemed to have been absent as they would not have rendered any service at all. The PSC inspectorate and inspectors from the Primary and Secondary Education ministry will continue to monitor attendance in all schools,” he said.

The striking teachers cited incapacitation and were demanding their salaries to be paid in United States dollars or, alternatively, $1 700 and improved remunerations.

But PTUZ secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said the action by the government was unacceptable because it was damaging the education system.

“This is totally unnecessary. Teachers are suffering and the government knows it, so why punish the victims? If they are not careful, our education system will suffer serious collateral damages. Teachers will resign and be bystanders. If our employer is serious, they must engage their workers and find a way to motivate them,” he said.

Majongwe dismissed the government’s claims that the Apex Council did not call for an industrial action.

“Apex Council issued a strike notice (in January), so, government cannot get into a defence mode to exonerate them (Apex Council) for what they did,” Majongwe said.

Zimta chief executive officer, Sifiso Ndlovu said there has not been any communication with the unions regarding the decision to dock teachers’ salaries.

“Nothing has been communicated to us regarding the issue. We are only seeing the statement, which is circulating. It is very unfortunate that the government has decided to take such a move,” he said, adding that they were going to engage the employer to understand why they were doing so and on what grounds.

The post Govt punishes striking teachers  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Mnangagwa meets Masisi over bailout | Newsday (News)

BY XOLISANI NCUBE

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s international re-engagement bid is set to bear fruits with the arrival of his Botswana counterpart, Mokgweetsi Masisi, with the two leaders expected to lead talks for a possible bailout of $500 million and one billion pula to Zimbabwe.

Masisi landed in Harare yesterday evening and was welcomed at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Mnangagwa and his two Vice-Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi.

Yesterday evening, Masisi’s office denied that it had promised a bailout to the Mnangagwa administration, but said they are in talks under a bi-national commission on issues “mutually beneficial to the peoples of the two countries”.

Mnangagwa last night hosted a State banquet in honour of the visiting Botswana leader. The two leaders will today jointly hold the inaugural Zimbabwe-Botswana Bi-National Commission, conference.

Secretary for Foreign Affairs, James Manzou said at least eight bilateral agreements would be signed today.

“As we have said already, eight memoranda of understanding and agreements, covering political and diplomatic, economic, social (and) defence and security sectors will be signed during this session,” Manzou said.

Yesterday, a meeting of Foreign Affairs and International Trade ministers was held in Harare ahead of the conference. Relations between Harare and Gaborone were frosty for close to a decade when Botswana’s ex-President Ian Khama, who stepped down in 2018, routinely disapproved of former President Robert Mugabe being in power for too long.

A military coup in 2017 forced Mugabe to resign, ending his 37-year rule.

The loan will consist of $500 million for Zimbabwe’s diamond industry and a further one billion pula fund for private companies.

The visit by Masisi comes as South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa is also set to visit Harare next month.

The leaders of both countries have recently called for Western sanctions, still in force on some Zimbabwean leaders and institutions, to be lifted.

The post Mnangagwa meets Masisi over bailout appeared first on NewsDay Zimbabwe.

The post Mnangagwa meets Masisi over bailout appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Warrant of arrest for Zanu PF MP | Newsday (News)

By Simbarashe Sithole

Guruve magistrate Shingirai Mutiro yesterday issued a warrant of arrest for Guruve South legislator, Patrick Dutiro (Zanu PF) and his party community chairperson, Roti Nelson Moyana (66) after the two failed to turn up to answer to contempt of court charges.

The State alleges that on January 15 last year, Dutiro (50) and Moyana went to Norowe Farm, where the messenger of court, Alleta Mutseta was evicting illegal settlers in the presence of Thompson Maguduru and Jabulani Ncube.

On their arrival, the Zanu PF officials told the illegal settlers that the messenger of court was executing a false eviction order.

He allegedly told the settlers to remain at the farm and not to obey the instruction to vacate the farm.

Fearing for her life, Mutseta aborted the eviction. Albert Mazhindu represented the State.

The post Warrant of arrest for Zanu PF MP appeared first on NewsDay Zimbabwe.

The post Warrant of arrest for Zanu PF MP appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has categorically denied reports in Wednesday’s Newsday that it is mulling plans to ban the use of several electrical gadgets to save 300MW of power. In a statement released on Thursday, ZERA said the reports are misleading. The statement reads as follows: ZERA not banning electrical appliances 27 February […]