Comrade President Robert Mugabe swearing in 25 ministers of state and deputies for the inclusive government in the Republic of Zimbabwe.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Sunday Mail Reporter
DELEGATES to the just ended 5th Zanu-PF National Congress have asked the President and First Secretary of the party, Cde Robert Mugabe, to ensure that negotiators quickly settle all outstanding issues under the Global Political Agreement signed by the country’s three major political parties which form the inclusive Government.
Reading the party’s resolutions at the end of the congress late last night, Zanu-PF’s Secretary for Administration, Cde Didymus Mutasa, said there should be no more compromise on the part of Zanu-PF as the MDC formations had failed to remove sanctions against the country.
He said the party had resolved not to comply with any further demands from the MDC formations until the MDC succeeded in stopping illegal radio broadcasts into the country and in having the sanctions against Zimbabwe removed.
“There should be no movement on the concerns of the MDC formations without corresponding and simultaneous redress of ZANU-PF’s concerns such as the illegal western sanctions and western funded pirate radio broadcasts,” said Cde Mutasa.
The party also decried attempts by foreigners to get involved in the constitution making process and subsequently resolved to maintain a homegrown constitution making process that preserved the gains of the liberation struggle.
Zanu-PF noted with concern, attempts by the Minister of Finance Mr Tendai Biti to prevent the release of US$510 million from the International Monetary Fund.
“Congress condemns in the strongest terms, the reckless actions of the Minister Biti’s in particular his abuse of constitutional authority to prevent the release of the US$510 million IMF Global financial crisis mitigation facility and his systematic denial of seasonal support to the agricultural sector and his peanut budget for the year 2010.”
The congress also called for the Government to conclude the land acquisition exercise by expediting the remaining components of land allocation, distribution and security tenure.
The poor state of social services in the country, particularly in the education, health delivery and water reticulation sectors a result of western imposed sanctions, were viewed as the major cause of economic decline.
Congress delegates said while they welcomed the support and partnership of other well-meaning non-governmental players, the inclusive Government was supposed to be the primary provider of social services to the nation.
They said the inclusive Government should set benchmarks for all local authorities, when setting their budgets, to remain sensitive to the needs and the limited savings of the people under the current adverse economic environment.
Nkomo to be sworn in as VP tomorrow
Sunday Mail Reporters
THE Fifth Zanu-PF National People’s Congress yesterday unanimously endorsed the party’s Presidium with President Mugabe retaining his position of President and First Secretary.
Cde Joice Mujuru also retained the post of Zanu-PF co-Vice-President and Second Secretary while national chairman Cde John Nkomo moved up to fill the post of co-Vice-President and Second Secretary, which fell vacant following the death of Cde Joseph Msika.
Cde Nkomo will be sworn in as the country’s co-Vice-President around midday tomorrow. Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, takes up the chairmanship.
In an interview last night, Cde Nkomo said he would work to unite the party.
“Walking in the shoes of the two late great leaders Cde Joshua Nkomo and Cde Msika is not going to be an easy task,” he said.
“I want to emphasise that Zanu-PF’s policy remains that the people come first. Our policies will continue to be guided by the wishes of the people.’’
In his prepared speech to the congress, Cde Khaya Moyo said:
“I did briefly mention to the Politburo three days ago that I felt and still feel spiritually and physically humbled by the confidence and trust reposed in me by the entire leadership and fellowship of the revolutionary Zanu-PF party. The people have spoken, loud and clear. Let none of us dare challenge the people, for the saying goes in Latin, ‘Vox Populi, Vox Dei’ — the voice of the people is the Voice of God . . .
“May I also wish to state that I have worked for many years with the new Vice-President and Second Secretary, Cde John Nkomo.
“I profusely congratulate him. Without moving into his shoes as our sizes are not the same, I promise to walk the same revolutionary party terrain with compound energy, zeal and plural consultation. Our party’s motto is unambiguous.
“Unity, peace and development. Without unity there is no peace, without peace there is no development and without development there is no prosperity. We must fully subscribe to our party’s motto.”
The Zanu-PF secretary for administration, Cde Didymus Mutasa, who was also in the running for the chairmanship, said he supports yesterday’s nominations.
“We need to be united. Yes, one province can nominate someone while others have the choice of another. Unity is, however, held by people not just in one province,” he said.
Elections just around the corner: President
Sunday Mail Reporter
ELECTIONS are not far away, as the inclusive Government, which is supposed to be the benchmark for the plebiscite, has served over half of its life, President Mugabe said yesterday.
The elections are expected at the expiry of the inclusive Government, which was given about 24 months starting from February this year by the negotiators of the agreement which led to its formation.
“Elections are not very far off,” President Mugabe, who is also the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, said while closing the Fifth Zanu-PF National People’s Congress in Harare yesterday.
“The inclusive Government was given a short life — 18 months, 24 months — and then it goes. The remaining part is very short. Perhaps it has outlived its life.”
President Mugabe said Zanu-PF must remain focused even if it was in the inclusive Government, as there were some characters who wanted to reverse its objectives.
“We are the authors of the present turnaround through the pre-inclusive budget which ushered in multiple currency,” said President Mugabe.
“We thought about the multiple currency before the inclusive Government and when it came it merely took up the ideas.”
President Mugabe said the defence forces of Zimbabwe should not be tampered with, as they were responsible for protecting the country’s sovereignty.
“Zipra and Zanla forces constituted the basis of our national army and air force,” he said.
“That is the most dependable force and it shall not be tampered with. The enemy wants to see it disintegrated, but any tactics to tamper with it will never be tolerated.”
President Mugabe said party supporters should brace for tough work ahead to ensure the progress made by Zanu-PF was not reversed.
He said there was a need to avoid complacency, to stop imposing candidates and desist from factionalism.
The President said Zanu-PF members should not be too ambitious in a bid to make themselves gurus of the party.
“We are going to drive the engine now at top gear,” said President.
“You should be ready for it. It is now uphill. You must go uphill, uphill.”
President Mugabe said Zanu-PF must not be divided along ethnic lines as this made it easy for the enemy to penetrate.
He said there were some in the inclusive Government who wanted to sabotage land reform by failing to provide funds for inputs.
“The inputs are nowhere,” he said.
“Yesterday we were told that there will be money, but it is not there.”
President Mugabe announced to the delegates that the party had received US$10 million from donors, which would be used to purchase inputs to be distributed in various parts of the country.
He said the congress had been a success despite predictions by the party’s enemies that it would be a failure.
“We have dealt with all matters on the agenda, tackling even those areas where angels would have feared to tread,” said President Mugabe.
“We go back a stronger, better focused party, ready and raring to take on the enemy who sought our ruin.”
SA owes its freedom to Zanu-PF: ANC
By Fortious Nhambura
THE African National Congress has promised its unwavering support for Zanu-PF, saying it has always been indebted to the party for assisting the South African liberation struggle and that of the whole region.
Addressing the just-ended Zanu-PF Fifth National People’s Congress in Harare on Saturday, ANC national executive committee member Cde Tokyo Sexwale hailed Zanu-PF’s contribution to regional liberation and said this should never be overlooked.
Cde Sexwale was delivering a solidarity message on behalf of the ANC, its leadership and South African Presi-dent Jacob Zuma.
“It is Zanu-PF that supported all of us in the Southern African region to have the freedom we enjoy today.
“The importance of Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe and in the region cannot be overemphasised in the quest for political freedom.
“Zanu-PF played a big role in bringing the end to colonialism, to racism in South Africa and in the region.
“It is our sincere hope that this congress shapes the future of Zimbabwe and the region,” Cde Sexwale said.
“We as ANC and Zanu-PF remain as one. We know where we came from and we know our history. What goes on in South Africa will eventually affect Zimbabwe and what happens in Zimbabwe must affect South Africa,” he said
Cde Sexwale said Zanu-PF should lead the way in ensuring the success of the Global Political Agreement, economic development and poverty alleviation in Zimbabwe.
“The decisions reached at this congress will help inject life into the inclusive Government,” he added.
Cde Sexwale drew loud cheers from delegates when he called for the immediate lifting of all forms of sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe by Britain and its allies.
“We want to call on the world and everyone to recognise the GPA and lift any sanctions imposed on the country.”
Cde Sexwale urged Zimbabweans to safeguard the gains of their hard-won independence for which many of their sons and daughters died fighting.
“Your enemies never criticise you, but they will (instead) destroy you, only your friends will criticise you in a constructive manner. Zimbabwe should always heed the call whenever South Africa criticises you.”
Cde Sexwale took the opportunity to ask for Zimbabwe’s support for the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup, saying his country would be sending a delegation to brief Government on what support they would need.
In response, Zanu-PF passed a resolution at the end of the congress throwing its weight behind South Africa as an able host that could successfully stage the soccer extravaganza.
The ANC delegation joined other sister liberation movements who graced the congress and delivered solidarity messages to the party. These included Zambia’s Unip, Frelimo of Mozambique, the Chinese Communist Party, and the Cuban Communist Party, among others.
US$10m inputs scheme unveiled
Herald Reporter
President Mugabe on Saturday unveiled a US$10 million Well-Wishers Emergency Inputs Intervention Scheme to support small-scale farmers in the current cropping season.
The scheme will benefit 190 000 households who will receive maize seed, compound D and ammonium nitrate fertilizers, groundnuts, millet, sorghum and cowpeas seeds.
In his closing address to Zanu-PF’s Fifth National People’s Congress at the Harare International Conference Centre, President Mugabe reiterated his displeasure with the actions of certain elements in the inclusive Government who were trying to sabotage farming activities.
“There are some characters within the inclusive Government who are trying to torpedo the agriculture season. They are trying to make the season a total disaster.
“Our economy runs on agriculture and as Zanu-PF we have come up with such a scheme that will help our farmers.
“The season is well underway, but we believe that this scheme will go a long way in assisting the farmers,” he said.
President Mugabe said the scheme was a solely Zanu-PF scheme in which the revolutionary party had gone into partnership with unidentified well-wishers.
President Mugabe fired a broadside at Finance Minister Tendai Biti for blocking access to US$510 million made available by the International Mone-tary Fund earlier this year.
The President said part of those funds could have been unlocked to finance agriculture, but Minister Biti had frustrated attempts to assist farmers.
Under the scheme unveiled on Saturday, Zanu-PF will distribute 1 900 tonnes of maize seed, 3 800 tonnes of compound D and 3 800 tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertilizers and 78 tonnes of groundnut seed.
In addition to this, farmers will receive 78 tonnes of millet seed and sorghum while 39 tonnes of cowpeas seed will also be distributed.
The inputs will be distributed to the families as crop packs of 10kg seed maize, 50kg of both types of fertilizers, and 10kg of groundnuts, millet, sorghum and cowpeas seeds.
According to information made available to The Herald, households in Mashonaland Central and East will share 258 tonnes of maize seed and get 516 tonnes each of compound D and ammonium nitrate.
The two provinces will each get 25 800 crop packs for farmers.
Small-scale farmers in Mashonaland West will get 22 800 crop packs of 228 tonnes of maize seed, 456 tonnes of compound D and 456 tonnes of AN.
Masvingo and Manicaland provinces will receive 20 520 crop packs each with a total of 205 tonnes of maize seed, 410 tonnes of compound D and 410 tonnes of AN.
Farmers in the Midlands Province will also get a similar number of crop packs with the same tonnage for the inputs.
Matabeleland North and South farmers will get 175 tonnes of maize seed, 350 tonnes of compound D and 350 tonnes of AN.
Harare and Bulawayo will receive 95 tonnes each of maize seed and a combined 760 tonnes of both types of fertilizers available under the scheme.
Farmers in dry areas, particularly those in Natural Regions III, IV and V will also get 10kg and 5kg bags of groundnuts, millet, sugar beans sorghum and cowpeas seeds.
Delegates to the congress, which closed on Saturday night, condemned Minister Biti’s attempts to block the release of the US$510 million availed by the IMF to assist countries affected by the global economic crunch.
In one of their resolutions they criticised “in the strongest terms the reckless actions of Minister Biti, in particular his abuse of the US$510 million IMF global financial crisis mitigation facility and his systematic denial of seasonal support to the agriculture sector and his peanut budget for the year 2010”.
Government launched a US$210 million inputs scheme but farmers have failed to access the inputs due to Minister Biti’s reluctance to sign in time a guarantee that would have seen thousands of tonnes of fertilizers and seeds flowing into the country.
On September 9 Government entered into an agreement with ASP Marketing of South Africa for the supply of inputs through the ministries of Finance and Agriculture, and CBZ Bank as lead financial institution.
ASP undertook to supply Zimbabwe with grain and inputs worth US$114 million while supplies worth the US$96 million would come from another company, AIG.
The company received 10 percent as down payment but an irrevocable letter of credit and Government guarantee as stipulated in the contract have not materialised with ASP failing to finance the movement of the inputs.
The guarantee was needed to get ASP’s bankers, Absa, to release funding for the project.
Minister Biti is said to have refused to process the documents.
1 comment:
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