Latest News

Office of the Prime Minister remains Constitutionally Protected in the Transitional Period

moicewamouline@gmail.com (Administrator) — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:52:21 +0000

An article on page 2 of The Herald newspaper today mischievously and erroneously suggests that there is uncertainty over the future of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). Entitled, “Uncertainty hangs over Tsvangirai’s political status”, the article gives the impression that the adoption of the new Constitution will spell the end of the OPM and that Prime Minister Tsvangirai will only serve at the pleasure of President Mugabe.

The content and message in this article is incorrect. Either the reporters are being deliberately selective in reading the new Constitution or they have simply failed to read and interpret the new Constitution. Ignorance can be forgiven and corrected but deliberate distortion of the law and facts is unacceptable. The Constitution’s provisions are very clear on this issue, as will be explained below.

When a Constitution is crafted, there is always a part that deals with the transitional issues; that is, a part that deals with what happens between the repeal of the old Constitution and the effective date of the new Constitution. In most cases, as is the case with our new Constitution, the operation of some provisions of the Constitution may be delayed to a later date, while some provisions of the old Constitution may be allowed to continue for a certain period of time.

The object of savings and transitional provisions is to cover any gaps or inconsistencies that may arise in the transitional period. For example, generally there is a section in the transitional and savings provisions, which provides for the continuation of laws passed prior to the adoption of the new Constitution and that these existing laws must be construed in accordance with the new Constitution.

MDC to hold its 8th Annual Policy Conference

moicewamouline@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:43:54 +0000

The MDC will hold its 8th Annual Policy Conference in Harare from 17 to 19 May in Harare. The theme for this year’s colourful Policy Conference is; “Towards Real Transformation”.

This is a critical and defining Conference as it comes shortly before Zimbabwe holds its watershed election and the party will unveil its policy documents and agenda for action that it has been working on for the past four years.

Topics that will be discussed during the Conference include job creation, infrastructure development and social service delivery. The agenda for action has been prepared internally in the party following various intense deliberations under the leadership of President Tsvangirai.

At the Conference, President Tsvangirai will deliver a keynote address that will set the tone that will be the basis of the next MDC government and his presidential campaign.

As a pro-poor and pro-people movement, President Tsvangirai’s speech will touch on contentious issues of poverty, an enclave economy, unemployment, collapsed social delivery service and infrastructure development. He is also expected to touch on among other issues, the country’s debt, land and agriculture, institutional reform, the Constitution and Constitutional institutions.

The party’s policy secretaries are expected to give their overview on their respective policies and how they dovetail and complement each other into the main party policy. Delegates for the Conference are coming from all the party’s provinces.

Also invited are; the local civic society members, diplomats and like minded foreign political organisations.

During the Conference there will be live entertainment provided by different groups while on the sidelines of the main Conference, the party will host some lecture series that will see respected social, political and economic commentators addressing.

Three awards for Kwekwe City

moicewamouline@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:35:46 +0000

The MDC led Kwekwe City Council last Friday scooped three awards for its outstanding performance in delivering real change and bringing back the sunshine town status to the residents and the business community.

The awards presented on Friday, were announced last month at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair held in Bulawayo.

The awards were handed over to Mayor Shadreck Tobaiwa for the overall best performing in corporate governance, road and infrastructure and water supply.

In an interview soon after receiving the awards Kwekwe Mayor, Tobaiwa said the Kwekwe City Council had become the best council in Zimbabwe in terms of better service delivery and in retaining its Golden Sunshine status. “When we got into office in 2008, our major task was to ensure that we had safe quality water and water is supplied to the residents, businesses and industrials everyday, we have safe roads which are well marked and refuse is collected in all areas every week,” Mayor Tobaiwa said.

He said Kwekwe City Council was spending over US$300 000 per month on water treatment chemicals which are being imported from South Africa. “In 2008 when we moved into office to date, the town has no records of cholera outbreak cases, unlike other cities which claimed over hundreds of people,” he said.

MDC condemns arrest of Zimind scribes

moicewamouline@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:48:48 +0000

The MDC condemns in the strongest terms the arrest this morning of two Zimbabwe Independent journalists, Editor Dumisani Muleya and Chief Reporter Owen Gagare.

The two are being charged with contravening the Criminal Law Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly publishing falsehoods in connection to a story published two weeks ago claiming the MDC was in negotiations with the military and police service chiefs. They are being held at the Harare Central Police Station’s CID Law and Order Section where they were charged but as other progressive organisations, the MDC demands their immediate release.

As the MDC, we express our displeasure on the arrests, moreso as they come barely four days after Zimbabwe and rest of the world commemorated the World Press Freedom Day on 03 May.

Their arrest comes in less than a week after another journalist, Blessing Mhlanga of the Newsday was arrested and charged with criminal defamation charges while another journalist with the Zimbabwe Independent, Dingilizwe Ntuli was threatened in the State media by the police spokesperson, Charity Charamba.

The threats were made against Ntuli after he wrote an article last week saying that Police Commissioner General, Augustine Chihuri was threatening journalists.

Today’s arrest of Muleya and Gagare and other threats against the media personnel and human rights defenders are a travesty to justice and worse when the draft on the new Constitution is being tabled before Parliament today. As a nation, the police and the State cannot continue using draconian laws to suppress the will of the people and their fundamental human rights and freedoms.

Presss statement by Hon Mangoma, the Minister of Energy and Power Development on initiatives to boost the power situation

moicewamouline@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:44:44 +0000

In view of the current challenges besetting the efficient supply of power nationwide and the need to enhance the financial position of the electricity utilities, the Ministry of Energy and Power Development has come up with a number strategies to mitigate the power situation in the country.

The measures being taken are divided into Generation capacity and supply side activities, Demand Side Management and Institutional changes. The supply side is further split into short, medium and long term measures.
The strategies include;

STATUS OF GENERATION
The generation capacity of the Hwange Power Station has improved significantly with an average of five units (580MW). This has allowed the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) to carry out upgrade works and preventive maintenance at the Kariba Power Station without causing major power shortfall to the system. The Kariba Power Station has continued to maintain a steady power generation.

PREPAYMENT METERS
The smart/prepayment metering is a valuable short term strategy which seeks to improve revenue collection by the utility and influence behaviour change on how consumers use electricity. The system also assists ZETDC to recover accrued debts by deducting 20 percent on every electricity purchase going towards servicing the debt, among other benefits.

As of yesterday, a total of 150 000 prepayment meters had been installed for both domestic and commercial users. Government issued a Statutory Instrument 44A on Electricity (unpaid bills, prepaid meters and smart meters) regulations, 2013 which aims, among other things, to speed up the implementation of the prepaid/ smart metering programme.

The Statutory Instrument compels all electricity consumers to purchase and install smart meters with the exception of high density customers, rural customers and light load agricultural customers. The Statutory Instrument also deals with outstanding bills on the date on which the prepaid meter is installed as these will be transferred to the property at which the prepaid meter is installed

Hon Mpariwa's Speech at the May Day Celebrations, Gwanzura Stadium, Harare

moicewamouline@gmail.com (Administrator) — Thu, 02 May 2013 16:03:59 +0000

Deputy Prime Minister – Hon. Thokozani Khupe

Hon. Ministers and Members of Parliament here present

The President of ZCTU- Mr Nkiwane

The Secretary General – Mr Moyo

Invited Guests

All workers here present

Ladies and Gentlemen

I am indeed humbled to stand before you today, a special day the world over set aside to commemorate the struggles of workers and their victories where they have been recorded. Indeed commemoration of this day attests to the high value that government places on workers and their contribution to the nation’s well being.

May Day is an important day in our calendar as it enables us to take the time to reflect on the strides made and the work still to be done. This year we note several achievements, which include;

The approval of the Draft Constitution by the people of Zimbabwe and indeed the workers for it recognizes several rights of workers notably freedom of association, equality of all workers male and female, collective bargaining and the right to strike.
The signing of the Decent Work Country Programme for Zimbabwe 2012-2015. Let me hasten to say that the Decent Work Country Programme for Zimbabwe is a tool which government with support from the social partners has been using since 2005 to enhance productive employment and the creation of decent jobs. It encourages engagement of social partners to revise and realign labour market policies to deal with emerging threats and opportunities. The continuation of this programme will no doubt yield positive results.

Police crackdown on MDC supporters

moicewamouline@gmail.com (Administrator) — Thu, 02 May 2013 09:26:11 +0000

Police raided a homestead belonging to an MDC supporter and arrested two party officials at the weekend in a fresh crackdown of the former opposition party `s supporters as tensions mounts ahead of elections.

Seven police details belonging to the Support Unit section ,armed to the teeth raided MDC district secretary for environment and tourism, Masvingo North Constituency, Shangwa Shuro`s homestead in village 35, ward 13 and arrested his son Evans accusing him of inciting political violence in the area.

The police details proceeded to arrest Isaac Nyoka an MDC youth in the same village.

According to Shuro, who is also an aspiring MDC councillor for ward 13, heavily armed members of the police Support Unit arrived at his
homestead around 12 midnight and forcibly arrested his son accusing him of assaulting Zanu PF supporters and chanting derogatory slogans.

“It was around midnight when I heard a violent knock on my door. I was surprised to see heavily armed Support Unit details. They demanded to see Evans and they accused him of inciting violence and chanting slogans insulting one Anasi Mabehe Shuro a Zanu PF official.

The police claimed that Evans and Isaac were among MDC supporters that chanted slogans denouncing the Zanu PF official on Saturday. In Actual fact it is Anasi who happens to be my half brother who went to Nemanwa police camp and reported that MDC supporters were perpetrating violence in the area.

The police details arrested my son in a violent manner. One of them slapped Evans on the face and accused him of fanning violence. They proceeded to arrest Isaac and the two were taken to Masvingo Central Police Station, “said a visibly shocked Shuro.

Zanu PF exposed!

moicewamouline@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:13:24 +0000

The notorious Zanu PF administration has through the generals and commissioners instructed its lower structures to submit each officer's dependants list inclusive of national identities, age, whether a registered voter or if not, to register as a voter compulsory.

The extracted list from each officer, soldier and prison guards is compulsory with the supervision of Dis pols and Brigadiers, the list is sent to Harare head quarters on a mission code named Affiliates.

The sole objective being that Zanu PF wants each and every vote from all government workers and their dependants to be counted as theirs.

All spouses and dependents are to vote during the presents of superior officers under the influence of voting against the MDC.

All police officers, soldiers and prison guards are to vote under the command of the Zanu PF administration.

Women police officers and spouses whose husbands are police officers nationwide are forced to join club called Kumboedza were each member is forced to pay a monthly subscription of $10.00.

The money raised is then deposited into a head office account where by commissioners are then empowering their spouses Zanu PF youths and other treacherous activities that thwarts the opposition agendas.

Majority of youths connected to this end owns taxis that are being used to follow opposition leaders with a view to giving information on what one does during working hours or spare time. Many political leaders in positions of authority in MDC are under such surveillance especially in Harare. Women spouses given these taxis are also being used by CIO on tracking and monitoring opposition activities.

Five of these taxis keep surveillance on the MDC head quarters, PM's and finance minister's residence.

JUICE: The answer to youth`s economic challenges - Promise Mkwananzi

moicewamouline@gmail.com (Administrator) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:51:24 +0000

The MDC recently launched a landmark response to Zimbabwe `s economic woes through the Jobs, Upliftment, Investment, Capital and Environment (JUICE) program. The youth friendly program is designed primarily as a direct response to the economic challenges bedevilling Zimbabweans, particularly the young people.

The MDC realizes and insists that the youth`s major challenge at the moment is unemployment and lack of other economic activities. Accordingly, JUICE is rooted in job creation as a source of real upliftment for the broad masses. The program intends to create one million jobs in the next five years through establishing a stable and predictable environment in order to attract and retain both domestic and foreign direct investment, and enhancing the role of small and medium enterprises and the informal sector.

It is imperative to note that the MDC will seek to provide every Zimbabwean with all the basic needs necessary for one to fend for themselves. These basic needs include, but are not limited to education, health care, shelter, clean water, electricity, sanitation and employment.

The MDC believes that every government has a duty to provide these basic needs from which people themselves can opt to go into business and other economic activities. There is no viable alternative to creating jobs as a means to absorb the thousands of our young people that are being produced by our institutions of higher learning.

In addition, the creation of employment at all levels of our society will ensure that youths are kept pre-occupied with productive rather than destructive activities, simultaneously being able to pay their rentals and other bills of paramount importance. In this regard, the MDC believes that the majority of our youths who are in the informal sector were actually pushed out of employment because of the legendary economic mismanagement.

Mudede and ZEC frustrating mobile voter registration exercise

moicewamouline@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:18:03 +0000

The MDC is dismayed at the news that The Registrar General and ZEC have refused to comply with the cabinet directive that the mobile voter registration exercise commences on Monday the 29th of April 2013. Their excuse this time is that they are not ready for the exercise. This is despite the fact that they have now been given the money by the ministry of finance.

The mobile voter registration exercise was scheduled to commence on the 3rd of January 2013 meaning that it is four months behind schedule. It is inexcusable that ZEC and Mudede should claim that they could not arrange the logistics for the mobile voter registration exercise for four months.

The actual position is that the Registrar General, Mudede wants to frustrate this exercise because it will destroy the Zanu PF strategy of using the Registrar General's office for selective registration of Zanu PF supporters as voters. This strategy was designed to ensure a systematic exclusion of perceived MDC supporters from registering as voters.

We demand that the mobile voter registration exercise be commenced immediately with absolutely no bottlenecks. For example, the residence requirement must be scrapped away totally as it is being abused by the Zanu PF machinery to stop other people from registering. We demand the unconditional registration of the so called aliens so that they can vote in the watershed elections.

Mudede and the ZEC secretariat must comply with the cabinet directive or resign. The MDC is on record as saying that the ZEC secretariat, who rigged the 2008 presidential election are incapable of presiding over a fair electoral process and must be removed.