Rahama Sadau: We Haven’t Met Concerning Her, Ban Stays , MOPPAN Insists

By Bashir Liman, Jos
Nigeria Daily Trust
Oct 30 2017 2:51PM

From Bashir Liman, Jos

The Kano state chapter of Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN) has reiterated that the expulsion of famous Kannywood actress Rahama Sadau hasn’t been rescinded or reduced.

The association made the statement through its Secretary, Salisu Mohammed Officer while speaking with Daily Trust on phone today.

Recall that on October 3rd, 2016, Rahama was expelled from Kannywood by Kano state chapter of MOPPAN for featuring in a romantic musical video titled ‘I Love U’ by a Jos-born singer, Classiq.

The actress had last Tuesday in a radio Hausa programme, “Ku Karkade Kunnuwanku” on a popular FM radio station in Kano, apologized to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, over her indecent appearance in the video which earned her a ban from Kannywood movie industry, last year.

Ali Nuhu, Rahama Sadau and Director General, KSCB, Isma''il Na''Abba Afakallah when the duo paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

Following the apology by the actress and after the picture of Rahama and Ali Nuhu together with Director General of Kano State Censor Board (KSCB), Isma’il Na’Abba Afakallah went viral, the rumour started making round that the board has ordered MOPPAN to rescind the ban.

The Director General of the board, Isma’il Na’Abba Afakallah who spoke with Daily Trust on phone denies the allegation.

“What actually transpired was, Rahama accompanied by Ali Nuhu and director Yaseen Auwal came to my office, and during our conversation I learned that she was remorseful, she said she made mistakes and she wouldn’t do it again. She went to the extent of granting interview with one radio station to apologize,” he said.

“I assure you our board would support the action to be taken by MOPPAN on Rahama, but we didn’t order anybody to rescind the ban, what I know is Rahama also copied us the letter of her apology she has written to MOPPAN, and we are still waiting for MOPPAN to decide. We are not going to influence anybody on Rahama Sadau’s saga.” He concluded.

Secretary of MOPPAN, Salisu Officer said as far as MOPPAN is concerned the expulsion has been in full force, though the actress has written an apology letter to the association.

“As an association we haven’t had a meeting concerning the banning of the actress, it wasn’t only MOPPAN that expelled her. MOPPAN had a meeting with other filmmakers’ groups and guilds before we took the decision to expel her,” he said.

He added that what delayed their meeting after they received an apology letter from the actress was that, MOPPAN’s Chairman, Kabiru Maikaba had a surgery on his eye and has been recuperating.

“The Chairman has to be on ground because his presence would be very important, during the meeting we would review her letter, the interview she granted while she was banned, we can see whether she was remorseful or not, after the review we would then take a decision on whether to lift the ban or not; whether for her to pay a fine or reduce the ban,” he said.

He explained that they are going to monitor the MOPPAN’s Chairman Kabiru Maikaba’s health to see whether the association would convene the meeting upper week.

Court Throws Out Diezani's Application

By Adelanwa Bamgboye, Lagos
Nigeria Daily Trust
Nov 1 2017 3:44PM

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday rejected an application by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, seeking to be joined as a defendant in an alleged N450m fraud case in Nigeria.

The trial judge, Justice Rilwan Aikawa, who rejected the application, described it as bizarre and a misuse of court processes, stressing that he would not allow himself to be used to frustrate Diezani’s imminent trial in the United Kingdom, where she is currently under investigation and on bail.

The judge declined all of Diezani’s prayers, including an order mandating the Attorney General of the Federation to facilitate her return from the UK, where is currently being investigated for alleged fraud by the Metropolitan Police.

Diezani had on Monday, moved the Court to issue an order, listing her as a party to a N450 million fraud charge involving a Senior Advocate of Nigeria Dele Belgore.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged Belgore together with a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, on a five count charge bordering on N450 million fraud.

The EFCC had named the former petroleum minister as an accomplice in the criminal trial of the duo. 

ECOWAS’ Single Currency

Nov 1 2017 2:00AM
Nigeria Daily Trust Editorial

At the 4th meeting of the Presidential Task Force on ECOWAS single currency held in Niamey, Republic of Niger last week, President Muhammad Buhari appealed to member countries to tread carefully in pushing for a single currency in the sub-region due for takeoff in 2020. Buhari said some of the obstacles to the roadmap for the single currency include diverse and uncertain macro-economic fundamentals of member countries as well as unrealistic inflation targeting based on flexible exchange rate regime. He also said domestic issues in ECOWAS member countries relating to their constitutions and dependence on aid affect the frame work for implementing single currency.  He said, “We are concerned that we have not properly articulated and analysed a comprehensive picture of the state of preparedness of individual countries for monetary integration in ECOWAS by 2020.”

Buhari also said the issues that compelled Nigeria to withdraw from the process have not changed because key questions and concerns have not been addressed. None of such issues has come up for consideration by the Taskforce, he said. He suggested a thorough review of the convergence roadmap and the constitution of an expert committee on each of the areas with a view to coming up with acceptable time frame, defined cost and identification of funding sources. In order to achieve comprehensiveness in carrying out this task, he suggested the involvement of relevant stakeholders such as ministries of finance, customs, parliamentary groups, tax authorities and the immigration services of member countries. President Buhari also called for a push towards ratification and domestication of legal instruments and related protocols and harmonisation of trade, \ monetary policies and statistical systems.

According to Buhari, fundamental economic issues continue to differ among member countries over the years, making it more difficult to pull through with the project. He said, “Nigeria advises that we proceed cautiously with the integration agenda, taking into consideration the above concerns and the lessons currently unfolding in the European Union.” He also said, “Nigeria will caution against any position that pushes for a fast-track approach to monetary union while neglecting fundamentals and other pertinent issues.”

ECOWAS Commission President Marcel Alain de Souza however said the sub-region’s single currency project is laudable and historical. He regretted that the project has taken too long to materialize. Nigeria, he said, has 70 percent of the region’s GDP with a population of 180 million, adding that it would play a significant role in facilitating the process of realizing a single currency. Member countries of the ECOWAS Task Force on common currency are Nigeria, Cote d‘Ivoire, Ghana and Niger.

Introduction of the euro by European Union members in January 1999 is the prime example of a single regional currency. There are arguments for and against this policy. Arguments in favour of it include an end to currency instability by irrevocably fixing exchange rates. Single currency facilitates currency transfers within and outside the sub-region just as it reduces the costs of such transfer.

Single currency equally stimulates trade activities and free movement of capital, goods and people.

Disadvantages of a single currency include the effect of adopting one single monetary policy for all member countries without due regard to their different situations. Negative signals reported by a member country could result in depreciation of the exchange rate of the single currency even though the economies of other countries might be doing well. There would be loss of natural economic sovereignty as economically strong countries will have to co-operate with weaker countries. There is also the huge cost of transiting to a single currency which includes educating costumers, changing labels, staff training and changing computer software.

President Buhari’s call for caution on the regional single currency was well founded. Central banks within the sub-region need to be deeply involved and empowered to steer the resolution of fundamental areas of common economic interest. They should also be empowered to implement actions that are critical for the single currency.

Facts and Fallacies in the ‘Restructuring’ Conversation

By Olalekan Waheed Adigun
Nigeria Daily Trust
Nov 1 2017 2:00AM

Man is really in an ambiguous position in nature. Nature presents to him (gender neutral) series of paradoxes and puzzles he is expected to solve. His consciousness reminds him of his individuality because he has his own name, ambitions, destiny and in some cases fate; yet to optimise his individuality in nature, he must act as a group. Man’s search for “good life” that can help him achieve his lofty aspirations in this seemingly ambiguous position in nature is endless. This explains why political and social systems are always evolving as man’s consciousness changes to suit his circumstances per time.

I have listened to several commentators, both experts and pedestrian, speak on the “ills” of the Nigerian situation and RESTRUCTURING as the best “user friendly manual” to solve these problems or to “make Nigeria better”. Understandably, all these “solutions” are emotional-laden, value-filled, subjective in orientations, and in some cases, arrogant in approach.

On my part, I have told those who cared to listen that the nebulous concept, RESTRUCTURING will need to be properly analysed in the context of the Nigerian situation. Of all the positions I have heard or read on the RESTRUCTURING debate is an article written by Solomon Ukhuegbe under the title, FACTS AND FALLACIES IN THE “RESTRUCTURING” CONVERSATION published in The Guardian of the 16th of October, 2017.

Inasmuch as I do not agree with all the “fallacies” he raised in his article, I feel the need to expand the scope of the discussion a bit. I will restrict myself only to the central theme of the article which is the nebulous nature of what is known in Nigeria as “True Federalism” if such ever exit!

Before I proceed, let me make some important clarifications. First, the concept “Federalism” in itself should not be taken as given. It must be taken for what it is- a concept. A concept, to be properly understood, must be properly operationalised by the user. For instance, is Spain a federation simply because it fits Professor Kenneth C. Wheare’s criteria of a “Federal Principle”? Also, can we classify the defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) as a federation even though its Constitution gave her “Republics” the right to secede but not unilaterally?

Second, as a federalist myself, I do not share Professor Wheare’s highly legalistic conception of federal principle in his Federal Government published in 1946. Rather, I prefer William Riker’s “Federal Bargain” in his Federalism: Origin, Operation, Significance published in 1964which makes the adoption of federalism a political solution and just not a legal jingoism contained in some long, prosaic documents to complicate issues for mortals.   

Riker, in criticising Wheare’s “highly legalistic in tone” conception of federalism, restated politics as the role of the political elites in the formation of federations.

Again, federalism is not the same as devolution of power. There are in varying degrees, power devolutions, in all countries, but that does not make all countries federations. Spain operates a Unitary Constitution with a high degree of devolution of power to the regions which can be withdrawn by the central government under Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution.

Having said these, I have observed that when many Nigerians use the concept “True Federalism”, as Ukhuegbe noted, in most cases they mean the system or political structure as adopted in the United States of America (USA) where many countries “borrowed the concept from” as one pro-“True Federalist” (I couldn’t find a better way to describe him) noted. If we must borrow a concept, as some commentators maintain, we must “borrow it fully”. On the surface, this looks good as an argument.

Also, when told to define federalism, the chances are higher that many will simply regurgitate Wheare’s “Federal Principle”. Unfortunately, many of people who hold advanced degrees in political science and law have done little or nothing to disabuse the minds of our people over this misconception.

Comparing US federal experience with Nigeria and passing the former as “True Federalism” is at best dubious. The US federation is a product of the 13 colonies who came together to form, initially, a United Colonies, and later the United States. Over time, to show the dynamic nature and changing powers in the domestic and global arena, since the American Civil War (1861-1865), the First and Second World Wars, the federation have moved from Competitive, Fiscal, or Cooperative Federalism.

Also, the United States has not been as unfortunate as many African countries, especially Nigeria to have experienced military incursion into politics. This alone affected the character and psyche of the political elite since the drafting of the famous Decree 34 (Unification Decree) of 1966 which abolished the once-powerful 3 (later 4) regions of the First Republic.

I have also heard the argument that Nigeria needs a “perfect” Constitution or “people’s Constitution” as though there is anywhere in the world where the people have gathered to frame a Constitution for themselves. Japanese Constitution was written by US general, McAuthor, after the defeat of the former during the World War II in 1945. I am not sure the Japanese complain of their Constitution being written by a General from an occupational army the way some Nigerians complain about the so-called “Military Constitution”.

Since the framing of the Japanese Constitution, Nigerian have operated about ten different Constitutions. Yet, the search is on in Nigeria for a “people’s Constitution”. Isn’t that wonderful? Some agitators are today advocating for us to go back and dust the 1963 Constitution and use to solve the numerous political problems in the country today. This is another reductionist fallacy.         

I will not end this piece without mentioning that the whole argument of RESTRUCTURING is today a political issue. That itself is fine. The major political parties, All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are set to take positions on the issue. It will be too early to know which party will officially make it its campaign slogan during the 2019 and see what becomes of it.

By then, we will know what it means better. For now, it remains ambiguous needing more clarifications. Therein lies the heart of the fallacies in the RESTRUCTURING conversation! 
Adigun wrote this piece from Lagos.

Nigeria’s Economic Future Is In Its Hands

By H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands
Oct 30 2017 2:00AM

In a small, rural community outside Kaduna, a woman is starting her day. Her business is selling produce. Of all the tools she uses, the most important is one that fits in her pocket.
Each day, she completes dozens of transactions using her mobile phone-buying crops from growers, selling to her customers, paying school fees and other family bills. Using her mobile phone remotely to access low-cost and secure mobile money services, she has been able to stabilize her finances, save for the future, expand her business, and invest in her family’s welfare.

Mobile money isn’t a futurist fantasy, requiring new technologies that are generations away. If a phone can send and receive text messages, it can send and receive money. Eight out of 10 Nigerian adults already own a mobile phone with that capability. But only two out of 100 have a mobile money account-a lost opportunity to extend financial access to millions of Nigerians who are currently excluded from the financial system.

When I last visited here five years ago in my role as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, Nigeria was launching a detailed strategy to expand financial inclusion, especially to poor and rural communities. The ultimate goal was to strengthen equitable growth and development. Today, advances have been made but half the country still does not have even a basic financial account, and so leaders are refining those plans to encourage significantly faster progress.

Mobile money is one of the most promising and exciting tools available to transform the landscape of opportunity in Nigeria and around the world. A recent study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that access to mobile money in one African country lifted ten percent of the extreme poor out of poverty-a truly inspiring result!

So what could mobile money mean in the daily lives of Nigerians?

A peanut farmer in northern Nigeria could pay for his supplies in minutes using his mobile phone rather than traveling for hours to do so in person.

Remember our produce seller outside Kaduna? Thanks to mobile money, she can limit the risk of carrying cash or hiding it at home by depositing it electronically into her account.

A mechanic in Abuja could receive the credit he needs to improve his operation based on the digital history of his mobile money payments.

A family in Sokoto state that has never had electricity at home could purchase a few hours of light each evening using a solar system that they pay for and activate through mobile money.

When more and more people experience benefits like these, opportunity rises, poverty erodes, and the wealth of the nation grows and grows. So how can we move quickly to speed progress on financial inclusion and build mobile money into a viable option?

As the Secretary-General’s Special Advocate, I’ve traveled the world talking with governments, businesses, and individuals about financial inclusion-what works and what doesn’t. I’ve found rising recognition that mobile money can make an important contribution to financial inclusion and that it can be provided effectively by a range of entities, not just banks.

Mobile network operators, for example, have deep knowledge of digital technology and a great network of access points for low income populations. Nigeria is estimated to have between 150,000 and 200,000 airtime agents throughout the country. India, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Ghana all offer compelling examples of how this can work.

Other challenges will also need to be addressed. Anyone who has had their phone service drop out during a call can predict that problems with downtime could seriously undermine the growth of mobile money; connectivity will need to be strengthened. It will also be vital to build digital literacy among customers. And regulations must be put in place to protect them from fraud.

But mobile money invites us to think creatively in all sorts of ways. Phones can be wallets. Small shops can be mini-bank branches. Mobile money payment histories can be used to build a track record to gain credit.  As your government sets the stage for these innovative ideas, we look to Nigeria’s banks and other businesses to bring them to life.

There is a lot of work to do, but this is a country that knows how to succeed. I look forward to the next chapter of that success-one that includes all Nigerians.

H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA)

Nigeria Moves to Recover Fresh $321m Stolen Under Former Military Leader Sani Abacha

By Isiaka Wakili
Nigeria Daily Trust
Nov 1 2017 5:51PM

The Federal Executive Council Wednesday authorised the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to ratify a memorandum of understanding with the Swiss government on the repatriation of the $321m fresh Abacha loot.

Briefing State House correspondents after the cabinet meeting, Malami said the council approved his memo aimed at shifting the focus to international recovery of stolen funds and assets having succeeded in local recoveries.

The AGF recalled that about a week ago, Nigeria succeeded in recovering $85 million "relating to Malabu issues from the United Kingdom."

He stated: "Now, there exists a forum, that is Global Assets Recovery Forum taking place in December in the US and we are looking towards that, we are in agreement substantially with the Swiss for the recovery of additional sum of $321million.

"That memorandum of understanding has been substantially agreed between Nigeria and the Swiss. We intend to now execute or sign off the agreement during the global forum on assets recovery coming up December. The intention of the memo is to seek the approval of the council to allow the Attorney-General to sign the agreement on behalf of the government of the Federation of Nigeria. Two, is to develop an instrument of ratification which will now give the Attorney-General the powers to ensure the repatriation of the funds.

"It's collectively agreed upon between Nigeria and Swiss that we on own part should seek the approval of council to ratify the MoU as agreed, and they on their own part too, procure the instrument of ratification that will now give the respective officers of the two countries the desire power and effect to now sign off on the agreement.

"The memo has accordingly been agreed and approved by the council. The implication of which is that the MoU as negotiated between Nigeria and Swiss has been agreed and ratified by council and then the Attorney-General has been mandated to execute the agreement that will see to the repatriation of the $321m.” 

Ptolemaic Crown Pillar to Be Transported to the Grand Egyptian Museum

Nevine El-Aref
Thursday 26 Oct 2017
Ahram Online

The crown pillar, first discovered in 2009, will undergo restoration before exhibition

The crown pillar of King Ptolemy I is set to arrive within hours to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Al-Remaya Square from the Delta town of Samanoud, Tarek Tawfik, Supervisor General of the museum, told Ahram Online.

According to Tawfik, the crown is headed to the museum's laboratory for restoration and maintenance procedures before being placed on display within the GEM exhibition.

Ayman Ashmawy, head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Ministry of Antiquities, explained that the crown pillar was uncovered while ministry representatives monitored the digging for the Samanoud City public hospital in 2009.

The piece was subsequently kept in situ until this week, when the hospital embarked upon the construction of an building extension.

The ministry thus decided to relocate the crown to the GEM.

Ashmawy told Ahram Online that the crown is probably the top of a pillar from the Ptolemaic gate in Samanoud.

The surviving pillar and crown together are 9 meters tall. The crown alone weighs 10 tonnes.

According to Eissa Zida, Director-General of the GEM's first-aid restoration department, a plan was devised in consultation with other experts to remove the crown from the pillar.

The decision, intended to ensure the artefact's secure transportation, was made in accordance with the Samanoud antiquities authority, the Ministry of Antiquities' engineering department, and the restoration department at the GEM.

Zida asserted that the team implemented the latest technological and scientific techniques while the lifting, packing, and transporting the crown.

King Ptolemy I was a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great who ruled Egypt starting in 323 BC, assuming the local title of pharaoh.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/280450.aspx

Egypt's Economic Reforms Showing Positive Results: IMF

Reuters
Tuesday 31 Oct 2017

Egypt's economic reforms appear to be working, with growth and revenues picking up in some areas, a senior International Monetary Fund official said.

"Positive results are being progressively seen," Jihad Azour, head of the IMF's Middle East department, said in an interview during a visit to Dubai.

He was speaking as an IMF delegation visited Cairo to review Egypt's reforms before providing another instalment of a three-year, $12 billion loan deal which the IMF agreed last November.

Azour said he did not want to pre-judge the results of the mission's review, but added: "Signs of economic recovery are witnessed, both in terms of increased growth in certain sectors and in terms of growth in revenues, in areas such as tourism and FDI (foreign direct investment)."

The priority now is keeping up the pace of reform and accelerating structural change in the economy, he said.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/280706.aspx

Anti-terrorism Operation Continues in Egypt's Western Desert: Armed Forces

Ahmed Eleiba
Wednesday 1 Nov 2017

Egypt's Armed Forces announced on Wednesday that the joint military-police operation targeting terrorist hideouts in the Western Desert continued for the second day in a row, the Egyptian army said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Egyptian air forces - supported by special army commandoes units (Sae'ka) and police - carried out airstrikes in southern Fayoum, killing all terrorist targets.

Security forces are currently combing the area for any terrorists who may have escaped.

The Armed Forces released a video of the airstrike, as well as photos showing the dead bodies of the terrorists and destroyed vehicles including a pickup truck fitted with machine guns.

The operation comes after the shootout on 19 October in the Western Desert between security forces and terrorists, where 16 policemen were killed and 13 were injured.

On Friday, 13 terrorists were killed during a police raid on an abandoned building along the Assiut-El-Kharga Oasis Highway.

On Tuesday, a military operation rescued police officer Mohamed El-Hayes, who had been captured by terrorists during the Western Desert shootout.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the shootout or El-Hayes’ kidnapping.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/280798.aspx

Libya Military Commander Blamed for Derna Airstrikes

  01 Nov 2017 - 10:17

TRIPOLI, Libya: Libya’s Justice and Construction Party on Tuesday accused Tobruk-based military commander Khalifa Haftar of carrying out yesterday’s deadly airstrikes in the eastern city of Derna.

At least 17 people were killed and dozens more injured when unidentified aircraft struck the city on Monday.

In a Tuesday statement, the Muslim Brotherhood-linked party accused Haftar -- who is loyal to Libya’s Tobruk-based government -- of carrying out “terrorist acts” and targeting unarmed civilians in Derna.

“Targeting civilians is a war crime and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law,” the statement read.

It went on to urge “all [Libyan] parties… to ensure that the UN and UN Security Council shoulder their responsibility to protect civilians in accordance with international resolutions”.

For the last three years, forces commanded by Haftar have kept the city of Derna -- currently held by the Mujahideen Shura Council -- under a crippling siege.

Abdulrahman al-Suweihli, head of Libya’s Supreme State Council, also accused Haftar of standing behind this week’s airstrikes in Derna.

“We must put political considerations aside and condemn the so-called general command that controls the eastern region,” al-Suweihli tweeted in reference to Haftar and Libya’s Tobruk-based government.

In a video statement released Tuesday afternoon, pro-Haftar forces denied any involvement in Monday’s deadly airstrikes.

Libya has been dogged by violence and chaos since 2011, when a bloody uprising led to the ouster and death of President Muammar Gaddafi after more than four decades in power.

The ensuing power vacuum led to the emergence of several rival seats of government and a plethora of heavily-armed militia groups.

Egypt Condemns Air Strikes in Libya's Derna

Ahram Online
Tuesday 31 Oct 2017

Egypt condemned on Tuesday an air strike by an unidentified party in Libya's eastern city of Derna that killed at least 17 civilians on Monday.

The Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement that the Egyptian government offers its condolence to the families of the victims as well as the political leaderships of Libya.

No one has claimed responsibility for the air strike, which has been condemned by all rival powers in the war-torn country.

Eastern Libya has been witnessing clashes between rival forces in the country, including the Islamist militant group Daesh.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/280750.aspx

Zimbabwe Foreign Policy Vis-a-Vis Constitution

November 1, 2017
Sharon Hofisi
Legal Letters
Herald

The best way to assert a nation’s sovereignty and to raise awareness on its national interests is by showing a nation’s foreign policy to the world. A simple reading of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, 2013, shows that the foreign policy is considered as part of Zimbabwe’s national objectives. The objectives are directive in nature and their purpose is shown in Section 8 of the Constitution.

They guide the State and all institutions and agencies of Government in formulating policy decisions that will lead to the: establishment, enhancement and promotion of a sustain- able, just, free and democratic society in which people enjoy prosperous, happy and fulfilling lives. It may not be possible to define every aspect above in this article, but the authority of the Constitution is supreme. All those who are in the realm of constitutional research can attest to the importance of the benefits of a democratic society that is envisaged above.

The objectives are important because they are used when interpreting the State’s obligations under the Constitution or any other law. Ideally, the Zimbabwean Constitution is a written document and documents are meant to be read. It shows how other countries can start on their political or economic engagements with Zimbabwe. They can use our Constitution as they would any other policy document: look at its preamble, national objectives, declaration of rights and interpretive sections.

The interpretive section, Section 332 of the Constitution for instance defines law to mean any provision of the Constitution or of an Act of Parliament; any provision of a statutory instrument; and any unwritten law in force in Zimbabwe, including customary law. The question “how do we engage with Zimbabwe?” is therefore constitutionally pitched. Foreign governments can also scrutinise all those laws before they engage with Zimbabwe. The Constitution becomes their starting point in crafting policies on their diplomatic or bilateral engagements with Zimbabwe. This also applies to regional bodies. They can also use the normative provisions in a Constitution to get an insight into a nation’s commitment to regional integration or stability.

For starters, foreign policy is usually formulated and implemented by State actors – usually the executive arm of the State. As such, the chief strategist in this regard is usually the head of State or Government, as the case may be. In the Zimbabwean case, the President is both the Head of State and Government and is doubtlessly a key figure in the formulation and implementation of foreign policy.

It is also important to look at the role that is played by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other advisers of Government and the President. They deal with the actual administrative and anticipatory aspects on foreign policy. That Zimbabwe is a tiny but significant part of the international system of states is cast in stone. But the past weeks saw the print media dealing with issues to do with commercial diplomacy. Added to this were reports on the need for Zimbabweans in South Africa to regularise their stay by having proper documentation.

This article is based on such media reports and focuses on the need for academia to monitor media reports and to develop tools in this regard. It provides an analysis on the foreign policy of Zimbabwe using the Constitution as the starting point. It shows that the Constitution sets a new trajectory on Zimbabwe’s foreign policy. The goal is to ensure that State actors benefit from the views on the importance of the constitutional framework as discussed below.

The national representation and global reach of the Constitution positions it well to stimulate diplomatic engagements and negotiations between Zimbabwe and the other countries of the global family. Further, the Constitution is the starting point on arguments between Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and responsibilities within the international system. The choice of the Constitution for the discussion on foreign policy is considered most appropriate, for in the Constitution the author sees not only the prospects of a normative theoretical approach to international engagement, but also the appeal to political realism.

In any valid critique on political engagements, the link between norms that protect tenets of democracy such as constitutionalism and theories that explain the real distribution of power in the international community such as realism must always be shown. As shown above, foreign policy is part of the national objectives that are found in Chapter 2 of the Constitution. Section 12 of the Constitution lists the principles upon which the foreign policy of Zimbabwe is based.

There are four mandatory principles which are listed in Section 12 (1) and include: promotion and protection of the national interests of Zimbabwe; respect for international law; peaceful co-existence with other nations; and the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means.

Firstly, national interests can be defined according to what a state considers to be the core values. Although this is debatable, the question that arises is “who defines national interests?” At a surface, the answer is to be found from the question, “who usually deals engages with the outside world?” We may be quick to say the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Other ministries can also be considered but they may be dealing more with image or welfare management than foreign policy. The issues such as self-determination or sovereignty can be used.

Zimbabwe is a unitary, democratic and sovereign republic. Aspects of sovereignty such as non-interference cannot be ignored. Secondly, respect for international law is also important in foreign policy. Zimbabwe has ratified several Conventions. For instance, nations are currently working within the framework of the United Nations Refugee Convention and the African Union Convention to ensure that Rwandan refugees return to Rwanda.

Thirdly, peaceful co-existence with other nations has seen Zimbabwe working with other countries in activities such as “Operation Mahombekombe” in 2015. This operation was under the auspices of the SADC Special Forces. The area of operation was Kariba. A close examination of the media reports in this regard will show that Zimbabwe is committed to peaceful co-existence with other nations as a pillar of its foreign policy. Fourthly, Zimbabwe envisions a situation where international disputes are resolved by peaceful means. This is important because Zimbabwe has also benefited from peaceful means of dispute resolution such as mediation.

Mediation led to the establishment of the Government of National Unity in 2009. This Government gave birth to political negotiations which culminated in the adoption of the 2013 Constitution. Section 12 (2) of the Constitution makes it obligatory for the State called Zimbabwe, to promote regional and pan-African cultural, economic and political cooperation and integration. The State must also participate in international and regional organisations that stand for peace and the well-being and progress of the region, the continent and humanity.

From the above sections, it is clear that the idea of writing down the principles of foreign policy, of showing how a state interacts with the outside world, individual countries, international or regional organisations might seem the stuff of science fiction. But this is, in all earnestness, rooted in real politics. A quick glance in history shows that presidents play a significant role in the formulation and implementation of foreign policy. For instance, President Jimmy Carter once announced the United States’ intention to extend long denied formal recognition to the People’s Republic of China.

The historical example clearly shows that the leading factors that guide state actors are based on both the domestic and external factors that affect a state. The United States once had a protracted policy of non-recognition but had to be changed for some reasons. Other diplomatic conflicts that have been witnessed include Qatar and some of the Gulf States. A nation’s laid down foreign policy is important in showing the world what is negotiable or non-negotiable, and what activities are friendly or hostile towards it.

Sometimes what gets caught in the crossfire of miscalculated foreign policy is the ordinary citizen – franchised or not. For instance, some Zimbabweans who work in South Africa have been presented as defectors from the army on the one hand or have been linked to murders in farming communities on the other. The media reports become an important factor which must influence how foreign policy is formulated or implemented. Looking at the reports, one would never ignore the energy that the South African Police Minister would expend on protecting South African nationals. All this is, of course, a matter of fact. Readers of such reports can believe what seems right to them.

If the Constitution is actually the voice, soul and spirit of the citizen, as it is often said, then the citizen must participate in the formulation of policy. What matters in the end is not whether citizens are given feedback in through the Press, but how the Constitution should be used. There is evidence that most of the foreign policy approaches are taking a calculated account of the Constitution. Commercial diplomacy can work in the interests of Zimbabwe’s economy.

Peaceful diplomacy also works in the interests of Zimbabwe’s national security. When an impression was created that defectors from the Zimbabwean army are committing serious offences in South Africa, the role of State actors was shown through the pacific approach that was taken by Zimbabwe’s ambassador to that country. In this wake, the Constitution certainly becomes a living document. It is every citizen’s autography.

Sharon Hofisi is a lawyer and writes in his own capacity. He is contactable at sharonhofii@gmail.com <mailto:sharonhofii@gmail.com>

Zimbabwe, Our Land of Rain and Sunshine

November 1, 2017
Nzenza Sekai
Zimbabwe Herald

After the First World War there was an advertisement inviting people to migrate to Southern Rhodesia because there was plenty of good land and there was sunshine 365 days per year.

Dr Sekai Nzenza on Wednesday

Long before independence when land reform was a dream, my grandmother Mbuya VaMandirowesa stopped drinking beer, singing and dancing at the end of each October. You would see her shelling nuts and selecting the best red millet and maize seed. Some mornings, we saw her standing by the cattle pen, mumbling to herself saying. “Gore rino jongozi iri rinorima negejo?” This year, is this ox strong enough to pull the plough?”

Mbuya walked from one end of the field to the other. One time, we saw her with Sekuru Dickson, standing in the field that belonged to my mother. There was an argument about groundnuts. Mbuya was telling Sekuru that a woman, meaning my mother, must be allowed to grow her groundnuts. They walked to yet another field and we could see Mbuya angrily throwing her hands up and down and sideways, then shaking her head. My mother said they were fighting over land. Sekuru had four wives, with Mbuya being wife number one, VaHosi. My father was her oldest son and the first to be allocated land when he married my mother. He was given a small piece of land which was not big enough for my mother to grow maize, millet and groundnuts. “Hausi murume kana usina munda,” Mbuya used to say, meaning, you are not a man unless you have land. But this saying did not apply to men only. You were not a woman or a mother unless you had a groundnut field.

Women grew all the crops, but groundnuts were and still are a woman crop. Our land was too small for a growing family. Sometime in 1971, my father wrote in his diary in ink: “We are suffering from land hunger. I shall educate my children so they can do something better for themselves.” At that time, my grandfather Sekuru Dickson and Mbuya VaMandirowesa had something like four or five hectares of land. This land was allocated to them by Chisadza, a white envoy of the then Native Administrator. Mbuya used to tell us the story of Chisadza, one of the first white men to venture this far into the Tribal Trust Lands. Chisadza was not his real name. They called him Chisadza, meaning, one who gives sadza. Giving sadza was also the same as giving land.

Chisadza came here around 1940, 10 years after the Rhodesian government’s Land Apportionment Act of 1930. The Act ordered Africans to live in allocated Tribal Trust Lands or Native Reserves while the European settlers were given fertile land in good areas where there was plenty of rainfall. After the First World War some British people came to Rhodesia to farm tobacco, maize and cotton. Later on more British settlers were supported by their government to come to Rhodesia and farm. There was an advertisement inviting people to migrate to Southern Rhodesia because there was plenty of good land and there was sunshine 365 days per year.

Mbuya said Chisadza arrived on his horse, accompanied by Native Assistants and Black Watchers or mabhurakwacha who rode on bicycles. They wore khaki outfits, pith Safari-type helmets and heavy brown boots. Many people had never seen a white man that close, let alone a fierce big animal called a horse, or bhiza. When others fled, Mbuya and several others stayed. Chisadza spoke in English and Mubhurakwacha translated. The people were all ordered to sit under a big muchakata tree behind the village homestead. The horse stood nearby, while Chisadza told everyone that he had come to subdivide the land into individual fields. Each male head of the family was to be allocated munda, or fields of land where he would grow his maize, groundnuts, sorghum or whatever he so wished. But, terraces had to be built before anyone could plough because the land was rocky and rain washed away all the good soils. Terraces, or madhunduru as Mbuya and others used to call them, would safeguard the soils and stop it from being washed away to the rivers.

Chisadza rode his horse and his assistants followed behind placing big wooden pegs at the corner of each five or six acres for every male with a wife. Chisadza pegged the land from the river valley right up to the foot hills where we later built our village homestead. In those old days, before independence, men left the village and travelled to look for work on the farms or in Salisbury. There was one bus that carried them along the road from Enkeldoorn, now Chivhu. On the right side there were thick jungles and virgin land.

The village bus also took us all the way to Salisbury for the occasional visit. From Chivhu we went through Charter Estates and we could see vast European-owned land full of tobacco and maize. Fat cattle grazed in the wide green pastures. We could also see tobacco barns and smoke coming out. The white farmer’s house was often a short distance from the main road and you could easily tell where he lived because there were colourful bougainvillea trees near the house. You could also see dams of water and sprinkler irrigation. The native workers’ little huts were crowded somewhere on the farm. As the village bus raced past the white owned farms without stopping, we used to see signs written: “Trespasses will be prosecuted.” Later on, we discovered that the white farmers received a lot of support from the colonial government. In addition to all this support, there was legislation to benefit the settler farmer during the Great Depression of the 1930s. These included the Maize Control Acts and Cattle Levy Acts of 1931 and 1934. Then there was the Native Land Husbandry Act of 1951, which was responsible for controlling the utilisation and allocation of land occupied by Africans.

Our extended family has lived back here in the village since resettlement in the early 1940s. We have lived and farmed on this land, following the seasons. When November, the sacred month of the goat, mwedzi mbudzi arrived, no ceremonies could take place. The adults prepared for the coming of the rains. The rains came at the end of October or in early November. My mother and all the women and everyone in the village started work before sunrise. We ploughed the fields and sowed maize, sorghum and groundnuts. The agricultural officers or Madhumeni came to the rural areas to monitor the use of lands and helped us conserve the natural resources. I recall times when we made madhunduru to help stop soil erosion and preserve the soil. Despite the poor soils, the land was productive because we added a lot of cow manure and mulch from the hills.

Today, most of our village land was inherited from my grandfather, Sekuru Dickson and all the uncles. The land is still not productive unless you add plenty of hybrid seed and fertiliser. When land reform came, many people from around here moved to the resettlement areas on to land where most of the white men used to farm. They live on A1 farms, which is an average of six hectares each. A few of them managed to get A2 farms, which is an average of 40 or more hectares. Our uncle Babamunini Mabisho grows a lot of tobacco somewhere near Beatrice. He is a productive A2 farmer. We visited his farm during his daughter’s wedding in September.

Babamunini Mabisho is doing well. He has more than one hundred cattle, a big four-bedroomed house and a truck. His granary was overflowing with maize after the harvest. He made good money from selling tobacco this year. During the wedding, Babamunini Mabisho slaughtered a whole beast, two goats and several broiler chickens for the guests. When his turn to give a speech as father of the bride came, Babamunini stood on top of a drum and reminded us about the time when Mbuya VaMandirowesa, my mother and the uncles used to fight for land back in the village.

Dressed in a shiny silver suit, white shoes and a red tie, Babamunini Mabisho said there was money to be made from the soil. “The white farmer had a loan given to him by the bank. He had knowledge and he used cheap labour. We do not have money, we have little knowledge, but we have energy,” he said. He then went on to praise the Government initiative called Command Agriculture and how he has benefited from it. People clapped hands. Babamunini Mabisho said we must not forget to look back to the past and celebrate the hard work of our parents and grandparents. “Takapiwa minda. November asvika. Mvura iri kuuya. Ngatishande,” he said. We have the land. November is here. The rain is coming. Let us work hard. Kuti unzi murume, kunzi munda. To be called a man (or a woman) is to have land.

Dr Sekai Nzenza is an independent writer and cultural critic.

An Insult to South (and all) Africans!

November 1, 2017
Zimbabwe Herald

There are reports of white farmers arming themselves to the teeth, conducting military-style training camps, propagating nationalist hate and ready for war.

MY TURN WITH TICHAONA ZINDOGA

Racial tensions in South Africa are always high, and occasionally shoot through the roof. It is something that was not cured by the so-called Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that was part of measures, processes and conditions that brought about South African independence in 1994. A system of racial discrimination against blacks should have ended in 1994.

South Africans of all colours must have become equal from 1994. Political, social and equality must have characterised new life in the “Rainbow Nation”. The beautiful, utopian story of a new “multi-racial” country has not been achieved. In fact, the situation has been more characteristic of a festering sore as South Africa marked by inequality, poverty, crime and racialism. These differences, this festering sore, will not heal any time soon.

The sore will get worse, wider, deeper and stinking. Black people are angry and impatient. White people feel insecure. White farmers want war. On Monday, white farmers and mainly Afrikaner nationalists, staged protests countrywide over “farm murders” which they say are part of “white genocide” in South Africa. There have been a number of killings on farms and Afrikaner groups claim that these incidents are racially motivated. (Ironically, last week two farmers were sentenced to 20 years in jail for torturing a black man, whom they forced into a coffin and threatened to kill him.)

The lobby group AfriForum has released statistics meant to show that commercial farmers are 4,5 times more likely to be killed than the South African population as a whole. According to AfriForum‚ 156 commercial farmers are killed per 100 000 and, according to reports, national police’s annual crime statistics indicate that 34,1 South Africans are murdered per 100 000 of the population. The figure by AfriForum is heavily disputed. Africa Check, which verifies facts and figures made public, says the so-called farm murder rate is 0,4 murders per 100 000.

“SA’s farm murder rate remains unknown,” says Africa Check.

“While questions remain about the accuracy of farm murder statistics and an accurate estimate of the affected population is unavailable, any farm murder rate should be viewed with caution.”

Political figures
It has become evident that figures are political. Afrikaners are trying to project a view that white farmers are under siege. Unexpectedly, whites belonging to the Afrikaner community have even reached out to rightwing figures and sentiments in Europe and America to find sympathy and even support. They have reached out to US President Donald Trump and expressed fear of being wiped out by blacks, and that says a lot about race relations in South Africa. An article, “Donald Trump, white victimhood and the South African far-right” (The Conversation, February 23, 2017) illustrated this clearly.

“The fear of black violence, the so-called ‘Swart Gevaar’ (Afrikaans for black danger) propagated by the apartheid state, still persists. The most extreme version of this victimhood is ‘white genocide’. This idea has been popularised by the Afrikaans pop singers (Steve) Hofmeyr and Sunette Bridges through their Red October campaign. They advocate that farm murders in South Africa come down to ‘white genocide’ – farm murders most certainly are problematic, even without it being hijacked for political mileage. But they don’t amount to ‘white genocide’ and affect more than white people.

“The right-wing political party Freedom Front Plus has called on the UN to investigate white genocide. The numbers show that this idea is sheer hyperbole.” A petition that was supposed to be handed to President Trump also shows how deeply the matter is racial and political. The petition contained the following statement: “We (Afrikaners) and the Koisan [sic] are the original natives of South Africa and were here since 1652. No other people were here since Jan van Riebeeck arrived except the Koisan living from the sea in the Western Cape.” (President Trump, SA’s white right’s white knight? Daily Maverick, January 17, 2017).

Of course, President Trump has not heeded the call, but the existence of people like a young white man Dylan Roof, who in 2015 killed black people in a church in the US while wearing flags of apartheid South Africa and Southern Rhodesia, shows that racists in South Africa have global links and sympathisers. And for their own part, there are reports of white farmers arming themselves to the teeth, conducting military-style training camps, propagating nationalist hate and ready for war. In March, an outfit calling itself the “Boer Afrikaner Volksraad” warned government that it would “not recognise any law that makes nationalisation of land without compensation legal, even if it comes from parliament” (Boer-Afrikaner ‘nation’ warns ANC of war over land, The Citizen, March 1, 2017).

“Deprivation, dispossession and occupation of our country in terms of any law shall be considered formal acts of war against the Boer Afrikaner people, which we have to defend against and retaliate with internationally accepted means and methods in order to ensure our ownership and recovery,” said the organisation.

Enough is enough – and an insult

Things are not getting any cooler. Events of Monday, when white people blockaded roads and busy highways against “farm murders” and proceeded for rallies, is the latest sign of a festering situation. A group called “Genoeg is Genoeg” was at the forefront of the protest action. By all estimation, racially privileged white farmers are not prepared to concede anything that they consider a threat to their livelihoods and position.

The so-called “farm murders” is both an excuse and rallying point. Whites will simply not be giving away land as demanded by blacks. A pocket of 40 000 white farmers, as at December 2016, held 73,3 percent of land in South Africa, a country of 56 million and more than 70 percent black. Government, which has managed to redistribute only about 8 percent of its target of 30 percent land since 1994, has been under pressure and President Jacob Zuma’s call for “expropriation without compensation” has been severely undermined by politics and, generally, by time.

Meanwhile, white farmers are becoming bolder and in many instances openly show disdain for black people. On Monday, a picture circulated of farmers posing with a bakkie with the message which read, “NO BOER, NO PAP”. Pap is the local word for “sadza”, and the white farmer – the Boer – was telling us that without him black people who depend on pap, as we all typically do, would starve to death! What an insult to South Africans and all of us! And, by the way, apartheid flags were openly displayed by some of the protestors.

Tobacco Exports Top $665 Million

November 1, 2017
Business Reporter
Zimbabwe Herald

Zimbabwe has earned $666,8 million from 123,7 million kilogrammes of tobacco exported mainly to South Africa and China since the beginning of 2017. Statistics from the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board’s latest weekly bulletin show that China accounted for over 27,4 million kg valued at $217,4 million while South Africa bought 17,8 million kg for $52,5 million. With an estimated 350 million smokers, China has been spending over $200 million per annum on Zimbabwean tobacco. Part of the TIMB weekly bulletin reads: “As of last week (Thursday) October 26, 123,7 million kg were exported to more than 60 countries so far, generating $666,8 million into the local economy.

“During the same period last year tobacco exports generated $591,6 million from 111,9 million kg. The golden leaf is presently being exported to these countries at an average price of $4,49 a kg compared to $5,28 (in) the same period last year.”Belgium has so far bought 16,8 million kg worth $50,2 million (average price of $5,14/kg), followed by Indonesia, which has spent $33,3 million on 7,9 million kg, while United Arab Emirates stands at 7,5 million kg worth $14,6 million. Other buyers include Russia, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Hong Kong, France, Netherlands, Germany, Holland, Sudan, Spain and Tanzania.

Last year tobacco exports topped $933 million, which was a marginal surge from $855 million from the previous season. During the 2017 marketing season, farmers sold 189 million kilogrammes of flue-cured tobacco, with contract farmers contributing most of the deliveries at 158 million kg, while self-financed farmers weighed in with 31 million kg. Meanwhile, farmers have already started planting for the upcoming season. Mashonaland East Province is still leading all the country’s provinces in terms of the hectarage that has been put under flue-cured tobacco, having 5 625 hectares under the cash crop out of the 15 296ha planted countrywide.

The TIMB bulletin showed that the 15 296ha of tobacco planted throughout the country is a 0,9 percent increase from the 15 154 ha planted in the same period last year. The bulk of the hectarage, at 13 947, is under irrigation, while 1 349ha is under dry land. Mashonaland West tobacco farmers, who usually lead the pack are in second position, having so far planted 3 828ha, followed by Mashonaland Central with 3 636ha and Manicaland with 2 207ha.

Many tobacco farmers are under contract farming where beneficiaries often access inputs such as fertilisers and chemicals timely. Some contracts even cover labour costs. Agribank has come up with a $28 million tobacco kitty, which will ensure that the tobacco auction system remains in place as the domination of the contract system will entirely affect the tobacco sector through manipulation of the system as what happened to the cotton sector. Tobacco registrations for the 2017 /8 season rose 39 percent to 93 795 from 67 493 last season. This shows a high appetite of growing the golden leaf among farmers. Tobacco is the country’s highest foreign currency earner followed by gold. The central bank is considering opening the auctions floors early in a bid to ease foreign currency pressure Zimbabwe is experiencing.

ZNA Moves to Sharpen Skills

November 1, 2017
Zimbabwe Herald

Commander Zimbabwe National Army Lieutenant-General Philip Valerio Sibanda receives a token of appreciation from Major Victor Makomo after the Logistics Staff Course Number Four graduation ceremony held at the Zimbabwe Staff College in Harare yesterday. — Picture by Shelton Muchena

Tadious Manyepo and Joyce Mukucha—

THE Zimbabwe Staff College (ZSC) in partnership with Chinhoyi University of Technology will introduce two logistics-related degree programmes beginning next year, as the army moves to improve its proficiency. Speaking at a graduation ceremony for Logistics Staff Course Number Four, Commander Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Lieutenant-General Philip Valerio Sibanda said the Zimbabwe Defence Forces needs to address a number of fundamental issues, especially logistics, in line with modern trends.

“In line with its (ZSC’s) new mandate, vision and mission, the college is vigorously working to introduce two degree programmes in 2018, namely: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Defence and Security Studies, and on the logistics front, a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Defence Logistics,” said Lt-Gen Sibanda.

Thirteen students, including one female, graduated yesterday. Lt-Gen Sibanda urged graduates to apply the skills they acquired during the four month-long period to transform the country. “Establishment of a fully fledged logistics division at this college is a significant landmark in the development of logistics staff officers. It shows how far we have come in the pursuit of our vision to have a professional, highly effective and constantly improving force, which our country needs and deserves.

“It is not enough to be knowledgeable if you are not going to use the knowledge for your own positive transformation, that of your subordinates, institutions and organisations we belong to, and indeed our country,” he said. He encouraged the graduates to develop the emotional intelligence required to cope and adapt in a constantly changing world.

“The knowledge you have gained from this college will only be meaningful and important if it is applied and becomes part and parcel of our organisational transformation. You need to adopt a global mindset that seeks to learn from the experiences of other countries, far and near, so that we do not waste valuable time repeating mistakes that we should have learnt to avoid.” He urged them to master the key logistics concepts that should help them manage the scarce financial and material resources in the organisation.

“You should understand that training is fundamental to continuity and this programme provided an interactive forum for you as officers to share, explore and discuss ideas related to best practices in logistics. It gave you insights into the process of planning, coordinating and executing military logistics support at tactical, operational and strategic levels,” he said.

Lt-Gen Sibanda said the college should formulate a deliberate research agenda that is informed by its current logistics challenges, technological developments, recent transformations in the conduct of warfare, as well as through anticipated changes in the global logistics landscape.

What Wrong Have the Journalists Done?

Zimbabwe Herald

THE listing of some Zimbabweans whom together with the Zimbabwean society, Anglo-Americans and their European Union allies have earmarked for punishment with illegal sanctions constitutes totally unjustified persecution of the society by imperialism. Inclusion of two Zimpapers journalists — Munyaradzi Huni and Caesar Zvayi — on the list has called for comment because of the evil use of freedom of expression by imperialism involved in this move.

When it had become clear to imperialism that Zanu-PF was not abandoning land redistribution, it (imperialism) launched its anti-Zanu-PF programme aimed at replacing Zanu-PF by another movement through which it would neo-colonise the country. One of the means which it has used to bring the state of affairs about has been demonising Zanu-PF and Zimbabwe, and mass media in the imperialist world, have been devoted to that exercise for a decade now. The result has been that where news on Zimbabwe is predominantly sourced from imperialist of pro-imperialist mass media, the people have a completely distorted picture of the goings-on here.

Those of them who have been able to come and see for themselves whether it was true that Zimbabwe has inexplicably lost its democratic character to become dictatorship have been shocked to find that what was being propagandised about the country was false. Some returned determined to do all they could to get the truth across about peaceful innocent Zimbabwe. As Zimbabweans manning the people’s mass media the two journalists have done their duty to the nation to dispel the demonising propaganda against Zimbabwe for the benefit of the society and for correct information of those interested in the reality of our situation.

In doing so, they have not been abusing their freedom of expression. They have been using this [particular freedom quite correctly and that does not merit interference by anyone with their right to exercise this freedom. It is imperialism’s false propaganda against Zimbabwe which merits banning not only in Zimbabwe, but indeed on the planet because of its being at once false and evil. Basically, why is imperialism interfering in the domestic affairs of small Zimbabwe? When it was colonised, Zimbabwe was viewed as going to be colonisers’ country where indigenous Zimbabweans would be confined to diminishing “reserves” as increasingly more colonisers came to settle in the colony. As is well known that scenario can result in indigenous owners becoming the minority if as long as a thousand years is rendered available for that to happen.

It was thanks to timeous intervention of communism that Chimurenga II did not go the way of Chimurenga I and we were able to make a success of our struggle for liberation. As Kwame Nkrumah correctly predicted, after losing classical empires, imperialism is now bidding for neo- colonisation leading to neo-empires. When at Lancaster House we settled for land redistribution after 10 years, little did we know that the Anglo-Americans were buying time to manoeuvre against the exercise. This became evident only when the pledge to fund land redistribution was rejected in 1997 followed by imposition of illegal sanctions amid demonisation of the ruling party, its leader and the society, with support glued onto the then labour based opposition. The country has been singled out for neo-colonisation and the machinations were aimed at pre-empting land redistribution and otherwise rendering the country’s resources available to imperialism at the cost of continued marginalisation of indigenous Zimbabweans.

At least people’s mass media in the country had to mount sustained exposure of imperialism’s sinister programme, and the cadres who have accordingly manned the media in the society’s time of struggle for its land are heroes who should be left alone to do their work. By banning them from this world, imperialism wants to hide the need for the correct move of banning the journalists manning imperialist media from the entire justice-cum-peace loving world. That can jog imperialist circles into human sense. Without that sort of move, imperialism will continue to think that it is doing wonders in its neo-colonisation machinations.

What imperialism is doing against Zimbabwe is reminiscent of Anglo-American propaganda directed at making Germans hate Jews and Communism. The result was Nazism which emerged with a program of holocausts meant to result in world domination. Mankind owes defeat of that to communism which by then had become sufficiently united and organised to stand their ground in the former Soviet Union (in World War II) for a full five years at the end of which the allied forces emerged victorious.

The morale is that devilishly demonising Zimbabwe can lead to untold consequences, and it should be viewed as quite proper for the evil program to be countered not only by Zimbabwe people’s mass media but also by all other mass media which aspire for peace and justice on the planet. Because of imperialism’s evil programme against Zimbabwe our situation has gone past ordinary circumstances. Illegal sanctions which have been with us for a decade now have reduced the economy close to shambles, making life extremely difficult for Zimbabweans. This is a most serious economic war against Zimbabwe which imperialism wants to comprise the basis of an insurrection against the Government, not because there is no democracy in Zimbabwe, but because the government has been needful of the people’s demand for land redistribution.

While imperialism is persecuting the two journalists for their duty to the nation, , among the so-called independent papers here are some which are financed by global bourgeoisie specifically to be part and parcel of the demonising campaign against Zanu-PF and the government. We are not against objective criticism because that has the goal and duty of drawing attention to something going wrong so correction may be effected in time. That is not what is being alluded to here, but to a policy of demonising the liberation movement in order to bring about change to a neo-colonialist regime.

Editor’s Note: This article by national hero, Cde Don Muvuti, was published in The Voice, under the column The Way Forward on August 10, 2008. In the economic war aimed at provoking a hot war to re-colonise the country, a hard look needs to be taken at this type of mass media in our midst.  They are actually abusing freedom of expression by contributing to a situation in which the country may become a colony again. That is subverting the society in a dangerous and hence treasonable way.

Such mass media have been tolerated in the belief that banning them would lay the society open to criticism that we are denying this segment of the mass media freedom of expression, but in a regime change war this consideration has now to be weighed against the cost to the society of this war in terms of loss of positive economic growth and a possible hot war the circumstances of which are being created with the aid of the pro-imperialist mass media.

Since this cost is more than the society can afford, it is better to ban the pro-imperialist mass media operating in our socio-economy for the specific purpose of inducing pro-imperialist mind-sets into the people, hoping thereby to dive the society into a pro-imperialist segment versus an anti-imperialist segment. Needless to state that such a scenario can result in a bitter civil war with imperialism militarily coming in to boost the chances of its favourite segment.

Thus pro-imperialist propaganda in our midst is treasonable and must not be allowed to continue the evil mission. There are some of us who join imperialism in demonising the society from externally based mass media. Such elements must be charged with treason and tried even the absentia. We are in a war. In World War 11 those types of elements were sentenced to death even on the side of allies against Nazism, showing that freedom of expression is far from being an absolute freedom. The mass media owned by the people of Zimbabwe have played their role in the society exceptionally well. We are all welcome to contribute through them what we sincerely consider useful to the society. As such they should be considered sufficient for most if not all our needs for this sort of means to exercise freedom of expression. Furthermore there must be strident criteria to be met for the people to grant a licence to run a mass media, and no mass medium should be found circulating in the society without a licence from the people. We are in a war which we must win!

This article by national hero, Cde Don Muvuti was published in The Voice, under the column The Way Forward on August 10, 2008.

$5 Million Kitty, Stands for MPs

November 1, 2017
Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter—
Zimbabwe Herald

GOVERNMENT has set aside $5 million from which Members of Parliament will access the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Legislators will also get residential stands in areas of their choice, Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda has said. Through the $5 million fund, each MP will get at least $24 000 for the development of his or her constituency. The residential stands are part of a negotiated package agreed at the beginning of the Eighth Parliament of Zimbabwe in 2013.“It has been agreed that you do not pay for the land, but you will only pay for the servicing of the land,” said Adv Mudenda, who also urged MPs to indicate their preferred areas. As regards to CDF, Treasury has set aside $5 million, which will begin to flow into your account provided you open a (bank) account and that the constitution of the CDF has been adopted by this House,” said Adv Mudenda. The legislators were urged to form committees that will oversee the use of the fund to enhance transparency.

“If there is no committee in your constituency, there will not be any disbursement,” he said. Adv Mudenda told legislators that he had written to individual MPs detailing what they should expect. His announcement came after Musikavanhu MP Mr Proper Mutseyami (MDC-T) had risen on a point of order requesting Adv Mudenda to give an update on what had become of the issues relating to their welfare, which include outstanding allowances amounting to $15 million.

“I do not mean to put pressure on you Mr Speaker, Sir, but I mean to put pressure on your office regarding our allowances and CDF for us to do a big project (sic) so that we can be recognised before 2018,” said Mr Mutseyami to loud applause from legislators from across the political divide. After Adv Mudenda had made the announcement, Kuwadzana MP Advocate Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T) gave notice that he would move a motion for the adoption of the CDF constitution today, which sought to give guidelines on how the fund would be administered to avoid abuse.

Adv Chamisa chairs the legal and procedure sub-committee of Parliament’s Standing Rules and Orders Committee. Adv Mudenda’s announcement followed a heated debate during a pre-Budget conference two weeks ago, where MPs threatened to disrupt the meeting if they did not get concrete responses on their welfare. Legislators also disrupted proceedings in the National Assembly a fortnight ago when they demanded to be addressed about their sitting allowances.

Respect COP21 Pact, Zimbabwe Tells US

November 1, 2017
Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter—
Zimbabwe Herald

Zimbabwe and other developing countries that will attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23) have called on the United States of America to respect the Paris Agreement and work with the rest of the world in addressing climate change. Nations are currently torn between welcoming and berating Washington’s envoys to the talks following the decision by US President Donald Trump to pull out of the agreement in June and instead promote the US fossil fuel industry.

COP23 begins on November 6 in Bonn, Germany. The United States will play a big role at global talks on shaping the Paris agreement on climate change, to the dismay of some nations which want Washington to be sidelined following Mr Trump’s plan to withdraw from the deal.

Head of Zimbabwe technical delegation to COP23 Mr Washington Zhakata, who is already in Germany, yesterday said Zimbabwe was optimistic that some form of sanity will prevail in the US on climate change.

“The American people will win the campaign for their country to respect the Paris Agreement and work with the rest of the world in addressing climate change. Also, Washington retains its place in the talks because the Paris pact stipulates that no country can formally pull out before November 2020,” he said.

“We would like to stand with the Africa Group positions on climate change and call on the Trump regime to be more serious and not hold the rest of the world hostage. This is the time for more strengthened unity in Africa and in the Group of 77 and China negotiations group.”

Mr Zhakata, who is the director in the Ministry of Climate Change’s management department, said Mr Trump’s pro-coal policies and doubts that climate change is caused by man-made greenhouse gas emissions, could undermine urgency at the meeting of senior government officials and environment ministers.

He said this year is on track to be the second warmest since records began in the 19th century, behind 2016 and scientists say rising temperatures will stoke ever more powerful hurricanes, floods and wildfires.

“It is pleasing that the US delegation will be led by Mr Thomas Shannon, a career diplomat who gave a speech in 2015, calling climate change “one of the world’s greatest challenges”. COP 23 will work on a rule book, due to be completed in 2018, for implementing the Paris agreement on issues such as the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and how national emissions will be checked,” he said.

Mr Zhakata said Africa, the Group of 77 and China expect US officials, many of whom were architects of the Paris Accord under former president Barack Obama, to contribute to clear, enforceable rules and not promote Trump’s pro-coal political agenda which may derail the negotiations.

Bulawayo Ready to Host President Mugabe

November 1, 2017
Nduduzo Tshuma
Bulawayo Bureau, Zimbabwe Herald

PRESIDENT Mugabe will address the penultimate Youth Interface Rally in Bulawayo on Saturday with Zanu-PF legislators vowing to work hard towards retaining their seats in the 2018 elections. The President will be in City of Kings for the 9th Presidential Youth Interface Rally scheduled for White City Stadium. The ruling Zanu-PF won back six seats in the 2015 by elections, ending a 15-year MDC-T stranglehold on the province.

In the by elections, Zanu-PF won back six seats namely Makokoba, Mpopoma-Pelandaba, Njube-Lobengula, Luveve, Pumula and Nkulumane constituencies. Mpopoma-Pelandaba legislator Cde Joseph Tshuma yesterday said the address by President Mugabe on Saturday will be significant in that the people would get to hear from the Head of State and Government, the plans for Bulawayo.

“We are happy because after 15 years, Zanu-PF was able to win seats in Bulawayo and we want to make a promise that we will work hard in making sure that we retain the seats or even win more in the 2018 elections,” he said.

“From the many interventions and lobbying we have done on behalf of the city since our election, the people have realised that they are far better off having the ruling Zanu-PF championing their aspirations compared to the opposition, which did absolutely nothing for them.” Cde Tshuma said they were happy that the President would come and interact with the people of Bulawayo.

“We are very keen on the President’s address, particularly on the revival of industry in Bulawayo that will see the re- emergence of big companies like the Cold Storage Commission and revitalisation of the National Railways of Zimbabwe. The people of Matshobane in my constituency benefited a lot from NRZ in its heydays as it provided jobs and its revival will be a welcome development, so the push by the President on relevant ministries for the revival of industries is significant. The people of Bulawayo would also like to see the issue of Special Economic Zones moving with speed to foster development in the city.” President Mugabe is on record as saying Bulawayo, which saw many industries shutting down due to illegal Western sanctions, would not be allowed to die.

“Bulawayo, of all our cities, is the one which has suffered the most from sanctions, because in the olden days it was established as the industrial city before the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland,” said President Mugabe in 2014 as he lit the torch for the 6th edition of the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Youth Games held in the city. It was the centre and is still the centre, the capital of our railway systems and of course for some of us, who have lived around there and whose parents also worked that side, have that much sentiment within us, an undying sentiment for Bulawayo.”

Cde Tshuma paid tribute to President Mugabe for implementing drought mitigation measures even in urban centres to cushion the people from the effects of the 2015-2016 agricultural season that was affected by drought. He also hailed the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) for providing funds for the Bulawayo City Council to rehabilitate the dilapidated road infrastructure. Political analyst Mr Richard Mahomva said the rally in Bulawayo is key in terms of affirming the legitimacy, which has been consolidated by the party in the past years to this day.

“The interface rally brings to life the undying relevance of the party in Bulawayo and affirms the city’s abiding support to the ideas of the party as has been the case with other provinces where the interface rallies have been hosted. It is also against this background that the party will be able to assess its 2018 youth demographic voter mobilisation performance rate, particularly the virgin vote since this is a youth interface,” he said.

Zimbabwe Celebrates Access to Information Day

November 1, 2017
Herald Reporter

GOVERNMENT and stakeholders in the information industry last week commemorated the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), which is designed to ensure access to information and protection of fundamental rights. The celebrations, which were held at Chogugudza Primary School in Domboshava, ran under the theme: “Overcoming Divides and Achieving SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) in Zimbabwe.”

Representatives from the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services; the Information, Media and Broadcasting Services and the Zimbabwe National Commission for UNESCO attended the commemorations. Speaking at the event, director of international communication services in the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Dr Ivanhoe Gurira said the theme of this year’s celebrations was in line with Government’s aspirations to achieve universal access to information.

“Zimbabwe’s commemoration theme this year is Overcoming Divides and Achieving SDGs in Zimbabwe. The theme dovetails with current Government initiatives to achieve universal access to information through a number of interventionist measures by the relevant Government ministries, including my ministry and agencies under them,” he said.

Goal number 16.10 of the United Nations-sponsored Sustainable Development Goals emphasises on the need for the public to access information. SDGs are mainly meant to create a common set of development goals for all communities in every country. The deadline for attainment of the targets is 2030. They are also designed to pool the efforts of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), governments and aid organisations.

UNESCO believes that it is crucial for Zimbabwe to engage communities and raise awareness on access to information issues as the country is making headway in digitisation, enabling access to Information Communication Technologies (ICTs), and establishment of community radios, among others. The International Day for the Universal Access to Information was adopted by UNESCO in November 2015 and is commemorated on September 28 of each year.