Government urged to improve working and living conditions of all workers

Source: Government urged to improve working and living conditions of all workers STATEMENT ON WORKERS’ DAY 2023 Image Credit: CITE The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (The Forum) joins Zimbabwe and the rest of the world in commemorating Workers’ Day. The day has come to represent more than just a day of workers’ solidarity. It […]

Source: Government urged to improve working and living conditions of all workers

STATEMENT ON WORKERS’ DAY 2023

Image Credit: CITE

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (The Forum) joins Zimbabwe and the rest of the world in commemorating Workers’ Day. The day has come to represent more than just a day of workers’ solidarity. It is also a day of protest against economic and social injustices that continue to plague many parts of the world. Workers and activists use the day to raise awareness about issues such as exploitation, low wages, poor working conditions, and discrimination.  The Forum notes this year’s global theme is “Respecting diversity through joint social action” and adds its voice to the call for the protection of workers’ rights and the promotion of social justice.

There is no better theme to celebrate the contributions of the workers and the Forum reminds the Government of Zimbabwe of Article 23 (4) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 8 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which promote workers to form or join trade unions of their choice. The Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) under sections 65 (2) and (3) guarantees the right of workers to form and join trade unions and take part in collective job action. However, this has not been the case in Zimbabwe. We note that workers who stand to speak out continue to be victimised. The Forum has in the past assisted members of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) and the Zimbabwe Professional Nurses Union and individual doctors who would have been arrested in pursuit of their Constitutionally guaranteed rights to protest.

The Forum also notes with concern that civil servants, especially teachers, continue to suffer from poor remuneration and severely depleted working conditions and any form of resistance is met with threats of dismissal. This is contrary to Article 6 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights which guarantees the rights of everyone to the opportunity to gain a living by work.   Furthermore, we note the infiltration of political influence in most professions where in some cases this is made compulsory at institutional and sectoral levels, examples being politically linked groups like Teachers’ for ED, Doctors for ED, and Civil Servants Trust ED. This is quite disturbing considering that all citizens have a right to make their political choices freely in terms of section 67 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

As the Forum commemorates Workers’ Day, it urges the Government of Zimbabwe to take measures in empowering the rest of the population by providing decent workspaces for both the formal and informal sectors. This is key to the attainment of the commitments made to Agenda 2030 of Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, the Government of Zimbabwe must address the extremely high unemployment rate in the country which has led to an increase in excessive drug abuse amongst the youth.

The Forum, therefore, calls on the government to:

  • Respect the international instruments which provide for adequate remuneration and the right to participate in collective job action;
  • Respect the constitutional provisions on labour and political rights;
  • Improve the economy and come up with several projects that will increase employment, especially among the youth of Zimbabwe; and
  • Take measures to improve the working and living conditions of all workers in Zimbabwe as provided in the Sustainable Development Goals.

Zim faces surge in non-communicable diseases 

Source: Zim faces surge in non-communicable diseases –Newsday Zimbabwe The training came as Zimbabwe is grappling with NCDs in children. ZIMBABWE is facing a surge in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in children, especially those involved in drug abuse, an official has said. Speaking during a recent multi-country training workshop on Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) […]

Source: Zim faces surge in non-communicable diseases –Newsday Zimbabwe

The training came as Zimbabwe is grappling with NCDs in children.

ZIMBABWE is facing a surge in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in children, especially those involved in drug abuse, an official has said.

Speaking during a recent multi-country training workshop on Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) in Harare, World Health Organisation (WHO) NCDs point person Tsitsi Siwela said the growing drug abuse scourge was worsening the already dire situation among children.

The training came as Zimbabwe is grappling with NCDs in children. Such NCDs as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease are the number one cause of death and disability in the world, collectively accounting for 74% of all global deaths.

“We don’t have data on adolescents particularly looking at the NCDs, substance abuse, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, physical activity, some of those protective factors, sexual and reproductive health, all those important factors that affect our health, we don’t have data on that,” she said.

“It will be good to conduct this survey and have current data to inform policies. This is really an important workshop. NCDs are increasing, (and) it’s now the new epidemic I must say. We used to talk about infectious diseases but now we need to also focus on NCDs, hypertension, diabetes, mental health, all those NCDs.”

She believes the rise in drug and substance use disorders was partly precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and government needed every support it can get in formulating abuse policies.

“Otherwise we will be shooting in the dark or we might implement policies that are not so relevant. We can develop the right policies and implement them,” she said.

Siwela pointed out that government needed to engage the WHO and other such partners as United Nations Children’s Fund and  United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation for funding since its thin budget has other competing needs which include eradication of malaria and others.

Addressing the same meeting, an official from the Health and Child Care ministry Natasha Muziringa said: “Currently, we have mental health challenges among adolescents, which I think are under diagnosed or the diagnosis is poor because we have shortage of health personnel.”

“Most mental health programmes are not encompassed in the school curriculum. I think this will be a very good exercise which will highlight the correct position on the ground. The issue of NCDs is fast becoming a great challenge especially amongst children,” she said.

The GSHS is a collaborative surveillance project designed to help countries measure and assess the behavioural risk factors and protective factors in 10 key areas among young people aged 13 to 17 years.

It is a relatively low-cost school-based survey which uses a self-administered questionnaire to obtain data on young people’s health behaviour and protective factors related to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children and adults worldwide.

CSOs wary of shrinking democratic space 

Source: CSOs wary of shrinking democratic space –Newsday Zimbabwe Transform Zimbabwe party leader Jacob Ngarivhume THE Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) has condemned the continued closure of the democratic space, arbitrary arrests and persecution of pro-democracy activists ahead of this year’s polls. The coalition said the jailing of Transform Zimbabwe party leader Jacob Ngarivhume for […]

Source: CSOs wary of shrinking democratic space –Newsday Zimbabwe

Transform Zimbabwe party leader Jacob Ngarivhume

THE Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) has condemned the continued closure of the democratic space, arbitrary arrests and persecution of pro-democracy activists ahead of this year’s polls.

The coalition said the jailing of Transform Zimbabwe party leader Jacob Ngarivhume for urging Zimbabweans to utilise their constitutional right to protest indicated that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration was hell bent on stifling democracy in the country.

This comes as government has been pushing  for the enactment of the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) Amendment Bill that has been described by civil society organisations (CSOs) as an instrument to stifle their activities.

The Bill sailed through Parliament and is currently undergoing proofreading at the Attorney General’s Office.

Mnangagwa is expected to ascent to the Bill.

The crackdown has led to the arrest of such prominent opposition leaders as Job Sikhala, Fadzai Mahere and Ngarivhume, among others.

“The State has made clear its intention to use law fare against dissenting voices as evidenced by the continued incarceration of CCC top official and legislator Job Sikhala, who has been languishing in remand prison since his arrest last year,” CiZC spokesperson Obert Masaraure said yesterday.

“The Judiciary and court systems in Zimbabwe continue to be used to suppress dissenting voices. The authoritarian nature of the Zimbabwean government is a betrayal of the founding values of the nation which guaranteed the right of every Zimbabwean to participate in the civil political and social affairs of the country,” Masaraure said.

He expressed disappointment that people were being punished for simply expressing themselves.

“Government, through its State security agents, has continued to perpetuate a culture of intolerance, which goes against the principles of freedom of expression, assembly, and affiliation.

“Any dissent has been met with arrests, abductions, detention and many other autocratic methods that go against the spirit of democracy and openness. The current efforts to take away the voices of citizens through the enactment of repressive laws, the use of State security agents and other rogue methods are detrimental to Zimbabwe’s political, social and economic development,” Masaraure said.

He accused government of pushing through the PVOs Amendment Bill to give it more power to control and shut down CSOs, which, in a democracy, play a critical role of providing checks and balances on policy implementation.

“Suppression of the work of civil society as has been seen lately, can only point to the shutting down of democratic space, which does not put Zimbabwe in good light,” he said.

Masaraure added: “Protesters are violently dispersed by the police and pluralistic dialogue is not encouraged and it is an indictment on government that Zimbabwe only has one operational television station and the issuing of broadcast licences is strictly controlled.”

He reminded the government that its role is not to assault the very principles that hold the country together including constitutionalism, openness, fairness, transparency and respect for the will of the people.

About the father who bought a Ferrari whilst his children starved!

Source: About the father who bought a Ferrari whilst his children starved! This is a story about a father, who had a very good top job, which paid him quite well. Tendai Ruben Mbofana   On the side, he even ran a relatively profitable business enterprise, where he derived a good income. Those around him […]

Source: About the father who bought a Ferrari whilst his children starved!

This is a story about a father, who had a very good top job, which paid him quite well.

Tendai Ruben Mbofana

 

On the side, he even ran a relatively profitable business enterprise, where he derived a good income.

Those around him were certain that his family would be well taken care of – whilst, living a reasonably comfortable life, and never lacking in anything.

Why would they not believe so – when he himself was never short of the best that the world could provide – driving around in a flashy car, donning only designer outfits, and frequenting the most exclusive dining places where he dined and wined on the finest.

In fact, just recently he bought a Ferrari 296 GTB for a pricey US$3700,000 – which he is now proudly showing off around town.

Yet, those who know him were shocked to learn that his own children were going without sufficient food, attended lowly poorly-equipped schools, and never had any respectable clothes to put on.

When they fell sick, they were forced to either go to the substandard local municipal clinic or public hospital – where they received appalling treatment, due to the lack of essential medications.

If the children dared complain, the father never hesitated in meeting upon them instance brutal ruthless punishment – leaving them not only crippled by fear but physically bruised and battered.

There was no way those who saw the children for the first time could ever link them to the opulent-living guy who they always saw parading his wealth.

Who would have ever believed that they stayed in the same home?

However, that was the tragic reality.

What do readers think of this father?

How should such a cruel wicked man be treated?

How, then, should the nation and world regard a president who has no qualms whatsoever purchasing – using taxpayers’ funds, mind you – a swanky US$54 million Dassault Falcon 7X executive jet?

This, in the midst of unimaginable poverty and suffering mercilessly ravaging millions of those he leads throughout the country?

Is that not what Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa recently did?

What manner of a ‘father’ would see nothing amiss in splashing such enormous amounts on his own personal comforts and ego – in a country where half the population lives in extreme poverty?

Who does that with a clean conscience?

With our medical facilities becoming death traps – lacking the bare basics needed for any meaningful basic treatment of diseases – why would anyone with any sense of responsibility opt to buy a private jet instead?

Of course, we already know that these people in the ruling elite are already swimming in opulence – mostly acquired through questionable means – so, if one desperately needed to fly in lavish comfort, why not use his own money?

Do we not see such people as former US president Donald John Trump flying in his own personal Boeing 757 jet.

At least, in spite of reportedly being worth US$2.5 billion, in 2011 he opted to procedure a jet that was already three-decades old.

Why not the same in Zimbabwe?

As a matter of fact, according to the CAAZ (Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe), the country has over 350 registered privately-owned aircraft – as much as the vast majority may not be expensive executive jets.

So, why is it so difficult for Mnangagwa to fork out his own cash to buy one for himself?

Yet, arrogantly disregarding the immeasurable poverty surrounding him and the country he ostensibly leads – the president still found it unproblematic using US$54 million from state coffers for his own comfort.

Besides, is Mnangagwa not already reportedly earning a staggering US$8,946 per month – yet, an average civil servant only taking home a paltry US$250, which is well below the poverty datum line?

As the country is burdened under incessant electricity cuts – averaging 20 hours a day, thereby threatening to further cripple an already limping economy – that US$54 million can easily construct a 24 MW power plant.

What does this show us about our leaders in Zimbabwe?

It is quite simple to decipher!

They do not care about us!

The only people they care about are themselves!

Just like the father at the beginning of this article – Zimbabwe is being led by a self-centred leader – whose own interests take precedence above everyone else.

  • Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice advocate, writer, researcher, and social commentator. Please feel free to WhatsApp or Call: +263715667700 | +263782283975, or email: mbofana.tendairuben73@gmail.com

Prosecutor-General vacant post raises eyebrows 

Source: Prosecutor-General vacant post raises eyebrows -Newsday Zimbabwe The former Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi with President Emmerson Mnangagwa ZIMBABWE has gone for more than a year without a substantive Prosecutor-General following the unceremonious departure of Kumbirai Hodzi in February last year after a four-year stint. Following Hodzi’s forced exit amid allegations of gross incompetence and sleaze, […]

Source: Prosecutor-General vacant post raises eyebrows -Newsday Zimbabwe

The former Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi with President Emmerson Mnangagwa

ZIMBABWE has gone for more than a year without a substantive Prosecutor-General following the unceremonious departure of Kumbirai Hodzi in February last year after a four-year stint.

Following Hodzi’s forced exit amid allegations of gross incompetence and sleaze, Nelson Mutsonziwa was roped in as acting Prosecutor-General.

Hodzi was appointed Prosecutor-General under controversial circumstances in January 2019 after President Emmerson Mnangagwa reportedly refused to endorse recommendations by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on two occasions.

According to reports last year, Hodzi was, however, reportedly hounded out of office by the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) and senior officials from the Justice ministry.

This followed the submission of a dossier accusing him of corruption and incompetence, which reportedly resulted in him suffering two strokes after developing serious mental health complications.

It, however, then emerged that Hodzi had been under immense pressure since December 2021, when the dossier, containing information obtained from his subordinates in the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the JSC and lawyers, accused him of gross incompetence and sleaze.

According to the Constitution (2013), the JSC should spearhead the selection of a substantive Prosecutor-General before recommending three names to Mnangagwa.

However, in terms of recently-effected legal amendments, Mnangagwa enjoys the discretion to appoint the Prosecutor-General, having obliterated a constitutional clause which necessitated the holding of public interviews.

Contacted for comment yesterday, presidential spokesperson George Charamba told NewsDay that Mnangagwa would not appoint a substantive Prosecutor-General any time soon.

“President Mnangagwa does not want to appoint the PG yet,” Charamba curtly said.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi had earlier told NewsDay that according to the constitutional amendment, Mnangagwa has the sole responsibility of appointing the Prosecutor-General.

“It’s now the sole responsibility of the President to appoint the PG. According to the 2013 Constitution, the Judicial Service Commission would conduct public interviews and forward the names to the President but since the Amendment No. 2, now the President appoints,” Ziyambi said.

Harare lawyer Kimpton Gukwe yesterday said Mnangagwa’s failure to appoint a substantive Prosecutor-General had created a hole in the justice delivery system.

“Mnangagwa’s failure to appoint a Prosecutor-General undermines the rule of law and promotes a culture of impunity, which can have significant consequences for Zimbabwe’s democracy,” he said.

“As is apparent, constitutionalism and democratic principles are in decline in Zimbabwe.”

Law commentator Romeo Chasara said: “Constitutionally, Mnangagwa is mandated to appoint a substantive Prosecutor-General and, therefore, it can be regarded as a matter of disregarding the supreme law of the land.”

Chasara said Mnangagwa’s failure to appoint a substantive Prosecutor-General had the net effect of eroding the efficacy of the judicial system in that who-so-ever is acting may not command the same standing as a substantive.