'This strike is about the hike in prices, but more than that, it's about injustice. In Mozambique there is injustice, which should not exist in a country where people are at peace."
The view of 34-year-old Maputo resident Albino Mkwate explains the intensity of the protests that hit the Mozambican capital on Wednesday. Ordinary Mozambicans are up in arms, not just because of the high cost of water, fuel, transport and bread, they feel that they are being ignored by the government.
At least four people died after police opened fire on demonstrating crowds with rubber bullets and live ammunition. Some residents put the figure at 13. Angry groups stoned security forces, who deployed bakkieloads of men and armoured vehicles. Maputo residents woke on Wednesday morning to whispers of roadblocks, no public transport and closed schools.
Text messages were circulated the day before, encouraging people to join the strike in response to the high price of essentials. Mozambican law requires a licence to stage public protests. In the past the leaders of illegal demonstrations were arrested and jailed, said Fernando Veloso, the director of Canal de Mozambique, a local newspaper.
"The people were scared. And for the first time, today, they were not afraid," Veloso said. By 8am a haze of smoke had risen over the Mozambican capital from tyres burning in the streets, as reports came in of rioting in suburbs and townships just outside the city centre.
On the Avenida dos Acordos de Lusaka smoke lay thick on the road, as crowds marched with grim purpose and gunshots rang out in the distance. Horatio Antonio showed the bandages on his arm and chest where he was hit with rubber bullets while walking his daughter to school.
Holding the turquoise pellets in one hand, he spoke passionately about how the price of bread had risen "extortionately" in the past month. The price of bread rose 13% on Wednesday, while electricity and water costs also increased.
Last month fuel prices soared, an increase partly attributable to the government's efforts to maintain prices at non-market rates during the 2009 election year. Between July 2009 and 2010 the government spent $105-million (R765-million) on fuel subsidies, according to Veloso. Protests against the cost of fuel in early 2008 turned violent, with six killed.
On Wednesday the Mail & Guardian saw police firing at the protesting crowds. A man was shot through the wrist by a rubber bullet; another, with bloodied legs, was carried to the kerb by fellow protesters.
Someone began shouting that a child up the road had been hurt. Thirteen-year-old Elio Rute lay prone on the pavement, his schoolbag by his side. Protesters complained about injustice and unfairness and of a government that does not listen to its people.
In an interview on state television Interior Minister Jose Pacheco called the protesters "outlaws and criminals", while President Armando Guebuza called for people to turn in the instigators. By early evening smoke was still rising from the barricades of burning rubbish, as looting broke out again.
Every vehicle in the combat zone had its windows smashed. Ambulance sirens could be heard heading for the general hospital as the sun set. Clashes took place in at least seven different suburbs around Maputo.
After Pacheco's statement text messages began circulating asking protesters to "go on". Despite a partial return to work on Thursday, clashes between police and demonstrators continued in the streets of the capital.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Three Out of Four Zimbabweans Living in Poverty, Hungry; Many of Them AIDS Orphans
Factors driving Zimbabwe's high poverty rate include the country's large population of children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, said a spokeswoman for the United Nations Children's Fund on Monday following last week's release of a report showing 78 percent of the population impoverished and much of it hungry.
UNICEF released alarming data showing 78 percent of Zimbabweans living in “absolute poverty." The agency said more than half Zimbabwe's estimated 13.5 million people live under the food poverty line with some 3.5 million children chronically going hungry.
The report said a burgeoning HIV/Aids pandemic has killed many breadwinners, leaving a large numbers of families headed by children and 55 per cent of the population living below the food poverty line meaning they are unable to meet their most basic needs.
For a closer look at poverty in the country, VOA Studio 7 reporter Sandra Nyaira turned to UNICEF Zimbabwe spokeswoman Tsitsi Singizi and Christian Care National Director Forbes Matonga.
Singizi said food availability has improved since the country's unity government was launched in February 2009 – but poverty remains widespread.
"Our research shows that one in four children in Zimbabwe is orphaned by HIV/Aids related deaths and vulnerable," Singizi said. Beyond their inability to meet material needs, many orphans and vulnerable children are exposed to exploitation and forms of abuse.
UNICEF released alarming data showing 78 percent of Zimbabweans living in “absolute poverty." The agency said more than half Zimbabwe's estimated 13.5 million people live under the food poverty line with some 3.5 million children chronically going hungry.
The report said a burgeoning HIV/Aids pandemic has killed many breadwinners, leaving a large numbers of families headed by children and 55 per cent of the population living below the food poverty line meaning they are unable to meet their most basic needs.
For a closer look at poverty in the country, VOA Studio 7 reporter Sandra Nyaira turned to UNICEF Zimbabwe spokeswoman Tsitsi Singizi and Christian Care National Director Forbes Matonga.
Singizi said food availability has improved since the country's unity government was launched in February 2009 – but poverty remains widespread.
"Our research shows that one in four children in Zimbabwe is orphaned by HIV/Aids related deaths and vulnerable," Singizi said. Beyond their inability to meet material needs, many orphans and vulnerable children are exposed to exploitation and forms of abuse.
UNICEF, WHO And Health Ministry Move To Contain Zimbabwe's Measles Crisis
Moving to contain the spread of deadly measles throughout Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Health, the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organization and other organizations will launch a major immunization drive in May aiming to reach all children in the country under the age of 14.
UNICEF Zimbabwe spokeswoman Tsitsi Singizi told VOA Studio 7 reporter Sandra Nyaira that measles has reached crisis levels, obliging Harare and its partners to step up efforts to stop its spread.
Many rural communities in eastern Zimbabwe have seen emergency clinics set up as was done to fight the 2008-2009 cholera epidemic.
Singizi told VOA Studio 7 reporter Sandra Nyaira that while officials are not declaring a measles epidemic just yet, the situation is very bad countrywide with cases reported in 55 of the country's 62 districts.
UNICEF Zimbabwe spokeswoman Tsitsi Singizi told VOA Studio 7 reporter Sandra Nyaira that measles has reached crisis levels, obliging Harare and its partners to step up efforts to stop its spread.
Many rural communities in eastern Zimbabwe have seen emergency clinics set up as was done to fight the 2008-2009 cholera epidemic.
Singizi told VOA Studio 7 reporter Sandra Nyaira that while officials are not declaring a measles epidemic just yet, the situation is very bad countrywide with cases reported in 55 of the country's 62 districts.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Harare Residents Trust Community Watch
Mbare Report:
Shawasha Hostels‐
The True Story
10 April 2010
Produced by Precious Shumba, the Coordinator of the Harare Residents’ Trust
Email: hretrust@yahoo.com /hretrust79@gmail.com 0912 869 294
***
Mobile: Mr Arnold Mangezi‐ Vice Chairman Mbare Residents’ Trust‐ 0733 543 928
Rosemary Madamombe‐ Committee Member 0912 804 565
Samson Mutsadyanga‐ Committee Member 0915 873 356
2
1. OBJECTIVE OF REPORT:
a. To highlight the plight of Shawasha Hostel tenants in Mbare
b. To recommend ways to address the challenges facing the hostel tenants.
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Harare Residents Trust (HRT) undertook this tour on Saturday 10 April 2010
following widespread reports by tenants who have attended residents’ meetings in
Mbare, at Mai Musodzi Community and Stodart Gym Halls. The delegation comprised of
the HRT Coordinator Precious Shumba, Kadoma Residents Association (KRA)
Coordinator Mrs Shorai Domingo, Mr Arnold Mangezi, Vice Chairman Mbare Residents’
Trust (MRT), Mrs Rosemary Madamombe, MRT Committee Member, Samson
Mutsadyanga, MRT Committee Member and Rudo Mudeyi, the MRT Treasurer.
The tenants’ problems range from inadequate representation by their elected
representatives, poor service delivery, high water bills and unaffordable rentals, as well
as deplorable living conditions tenants have endured for a long time. The challenges of
burst sewer pipes has been resolved by the City of Harare following the laying down of
bigger pipes, replacing the archaic pipes that had constantly burst, spewing sewage all
over the place. During this tour it emerged that City employees who earn monthly
salaries to provide cleansing services in the hostels have not been doing their work. In
separate interviews with City council employees, it was established that each block at
Shawasha Hostels is serviced by two employees who have to clean the flats, particularly
the toilets, the bathrooms and the surroundings to ensure they conform to the expected
minimum standard health regulations in terms of urban regulations and the Public
Health Act.
Sadly, these workers have not serviced the community as expected in terms of their job
descriptions. Tenants claimed that the workers lacked ‘seriousness, commitment and
lack tight monitoring’ owing to ‘politics’ whatever that meant. On further enquiry it
emerged that some of the workers were improperly recruited as they were employed
through their political superiors in higher authority which renders the supervisor
powerless to exert his authority on them. It is said that these workers are constantly
shielded from scrutiny by their influential handlers.
Some of the workers come to work late and leave very early, usually from 8.30am until
around 11 am, meaning they receive their full salaries which they have not earned.
The focus of this report is to explore the opportunities arising from this crisis for the City
council, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development and other key
stakeholders. From observations made during the tour, interviews with some City
workers and speaking to tenants, it is apparent that the major challenge compounding
the health crisis at Shawasha Hostels is the inaction of the City authorities in the
departments that oversee all carpentry and plumbing work.
For how else would the authorities justify the continued delay in the partitioning of
male and female toilets, leaving men and women to almost share the same toilet, with
superficial demarcations that directly undermine Zimbabwe’s cultural values. According
to some officials, these requests for the purchase of all plumbing and carpentry items
were made a long time ago but there is lack of commitment to address this situation.
3
The threat to the health of around 7 000 tenants cannot be overemphasised.
This report critically looks at the living conditions, water supplies, hygiene in Shawasha
Hostels and makes recommendations, informed by the expectations of the tenants.
3. REPORT ASSUMPTION AND THE THEORY
The HRT expects that the City of Harare, the Minister of Local Government, Rural
and Urban Development will take this report seriously and attend to the issues
affecting tenants living in Shawasha Hostels, and other hostels in Mbare. The
situation as observed during this tour was pathetic. Human waste filled the passages
and dirty stagnant water covered the floors of the bathrooms and toilets. While this
situation has been made know to the authorities, still no action has been taken. Each
block at the hostels has six toilets and six bathrooms.
5. TOUR DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
During the tour, the HRT observed the status of the hostels and the living conditions
of the tenants. Interviews were conducted with tenants in all the hostels, mindful of
the need to be gender sensitive. Focus group discussions were held with
representatives of Mbare Residents’ Trust (MRT), tenants and some City of Harare
employees during and after the tour.
6. LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE SHAWASHA HOSTELS:
a. Situation
There are 12 blocks of flats constituting Shawasha Hostels, each floor has 28
housing units, and there are three floors. In each housing unit, there are seven
people crammed in one room, making an approximate total population of 196 in
each floor. When they were built during the Rhodesian era, these flats were
meant to contain single male employees of local industry, while their wives
stayed in the rural areas. They were expected to move out once they decided to
stay with their families.
People reportedly slip all the time and get injured when they take their baths
because the floors have become slippery. There is no cleaning taking place
despite tenants making monthly payments to the local authority. Below are key
observations made during the tour;
• The toilets are unclean, human waste is everywhere on the floors
• The bathrooms have single taps functioning. The bathroom floors are flooded
with dirty water. On the other side of the bathrooms are sinks, which have
mostly collapsed.
• The taps on the sinks have ceased to function. Women were observed
washing plates in the filthy sinks, while their feet rested on human waste
scattered on the floors.
• In Block 1, C‐Floor, the sinks have fallen, the floors are water logged, and the
stench nauseating and the whole place is an eyesore.
• Cast irons have become rotten and there is unending leakages. Thick pastes
of human waste and dirty water leaking from the C‐floor, pours into the sinks
4
in B and A floors, making the sinks horrible to use, but the tenants use them
anyway. There is no choice. In some of the sinks it was observed that the
tenants have placed some buckets to try to minimise the splashing of human
waste but they overflowed.
• The toilets in all blocks, in the C‐Floor have knee high cardboards dividing the
female and male toilets, rendering privacy non‐existent.
• There are no lights in the corridors and at night there is always a looming
threat of muggings and rape to girls and women.
The C‐ Hall in Block 9 Hostels:
• The C‐Hall in Block 9 is occupied by nine tenants relocated from Block 4
Matapi flats which were burnt down on 5 January 2009 following an
electrical fault. On 9 January 2009, the victims of the fire were allocated
open spaces in the C‐halls in Blocks 9 and 10 at Shawasha Hostels. Prior to
the burning down of part of Block 4, Matapi Hostels, these tenants lived in
addresses ranging from C53 to C70. But despite not staying in their burnt
down quarters, the tenants have received statements from the City of Harare
indicating they owe the local authority amounts ranging from US$825 to
above a thousand dollars. It remains a mystery how they have calculated
these figures when these tenants have been without adequate
accommodation for nearly 15 months. For example, Mr C. Makasu of C65,
Block 4 Matapi, of Account Number 192004371000007 has received bills
indicating the following figures, stretching from October 2009. October‐ 586,
November‐ US$630, December‐ US$675, January 2010‐ US$724, February
2010 – US$774, and March US$825.
• These tenants in the hall face multiple problems.
• The tenants have sub‐divided the hall into nine housing units, using
cardboards. There are averagely nine people in each cubicle they call houses.
• The situation is the same across other C‐halls at Shawasha Hostels with
people sub‐dividing the halls into housing cubicles where an average nine
people share one room. Block 8 C‐hall is the only exception because it burnt
down three years ago and has not been repaired.
• Tenants in these C‐halls face another hurdle in their attempts to have a life.
Rats are breeding fast and destroying what remains of their personal
belongings.
• Ceilings are falling in and leak heavily during the rainy season.
• Windowpanes are all broken and they have to endure winds throughout the
day, worst at night.
• Lice and mosquitoes have become a common menace.
• Electricity cables hang loose above the sub‐divided shacks, and there is
potential for fire breaking out, in the case of a short circuit.
• This situation with electricity has spread to the surroundings of the hostels
with members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police who patrol during the night
5
allegedly beating up people returning to their workplaces at night, especially
in Machingura Street, nearby. The HRT heard of how the police have waylaid
residents going or returning from schools.
• Within the hostels’ corridors, drug abuse is rampant with teenage boys and
men, including some women engaging in orgies of sex, capitalising on the
darkness. This has led to unwanted pregnancies and subsequently to risky
backyard abortions, creating health complexities among the victims.
• Used condoms are daily removed from the corridors. This might be traced
back to the issue of conjugal rights by married couples and partners. While
this could be attributed to prostitution, the tenants also believe that some
desperate couples decided to have their sex in the corridors and return into
their sleeping quarters afterwards.
b. Water Supplies:
The tenants in Shawasha Hostels face constant water shortages. In the A floors
across the 12 blocks there is only one tap functioning out of the six available.
People who want to do their washing have to wait till around 10pm to midnight
in order to get some water. This is difficult for tenants who live in the C and B
floors who have to climb down and up those stairs to fetch some water for all
domestic purposes. This places a burden on the aged who still live in the hostels.
Residents have to fetch water from the A‐floor so that council employees can do
the cleaning of their bathrooms, toilets and sinks. If tenants fail to provide the
water, there is no cleaning that takes place because the city employees refuse to
fetch the Water on their own.
The hostels’ tenants have an added responsibility of fetching water from the Afloors
to the other floors in order to have their places cleaned. However, the
challenge is that the cast irons that should be linking the whole water and sewer
system to the main sewer pipes have blocked, rendering all cleaning activities
irrelevant.
The clogging of the bathrooms and toilets is attributed to the negligence of the
tenants, who constantly pour bones, cloths, sand, cotton wool and pads.
c. Response:
Recognising their living conditions and the failure by the local authority to
provide them with a clean living environment, the tenants, led by Mrs Rosemary
Madamombe, a tenant in Block 9, have set an example in Block 9. They now take
turns to clean the walls, the bathrooms and toilets, and the floors have been
regularly scrubbed to remove any dirty.
The Mbare Residents’ Trust (MRT), through the initiative of their Vice Chairman
Arnold Mangezi and Committee Members Rosemary Madamombe and Samson
Mutsadyanga and their adviser Tawanda Nyahuye, has come up with an initiative
dubbed ‘Chenesa Musha‐ Mbare’. This initiative’s objective is to;
• Mobilise resources to constantly clean the hostels and transform people’s
lives in all hostels in Mbare. These include sweeping brooms, gloves, repair of
6
sinks, sub‐dividing the toilets, purchase of taps, cleaning detergents,
respirators, gumboots, and repainting of the inside and outside walls. The
tenants have established cleaning teams that will oversee the whole
initiative, meaning they want to take an active role in the whole exercise.
• Make the City of Harare and other key stakeholders aware of the situation.
They seek a partnership that endures the test of time.
.
7. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS:
a. Women’s Rights:
According to Mrs Madamombe, the situation has been worse on women.
Relatives have ceased to visit them in the hostels due to the living conditions.
The dirty is overwhelming. In a representative situation, there is the father, the
mother, three teenage boys, two teenage girls, extended family‐ three more
males and two more females, primary school kids‐ boys and girls, totalling about
nine people, sharing one room. In the same room there are two other families
with approximately equal number of people, making the room accommodate an
average of 16 people. However, each family receives a bill from the City council
giving them the same room number as an official address, but with their
respective names. From the viewpoint of the City of Harare, they expect to
receive a total amount of around US$360 from the same room, from the average
four families sharing the room.
Husbands and wives, or partners no longer can have their conjugal rights as and
when they desire to. From the focus group discussions, it also emerged that
unfaithfulness has become the order of the day, putting the families at a higher
risk of HIV/Aids infection and other sexually transmitted infections. The women
accused their men of sneaking to other women for sex. The problems arise once
the men want their conjugal rights. The women said they cannot have sex in a
room full of people. Even when the children and other adults have gone to sleep
it is still a challenge to really enjoy your sex with your husband, Mrs
Madamombe said. Even if you just proceed to do it, there is always the risk that
your husband’s young brother, your child or young sister might wake up and
witness us in action.
‘It is un‐African to do that. We are now being beaten up by our husbands,” said
Mrs Madamombe. “There is no way any woman would accept to have sex with
her man in a crowded room unless you have become very desperate.”
If the woman refuses to have sex, the women said they are accused of infidelity,
forcing these ladies to simply go against their values, having sex in the same
room with your adolescent children.
Like the majority of the women in the hostels, they do not make reports to the
police in terms of the Domestic Violence Act. There are varying reasons they do
not report to the police‐ the husband is the breadwinner, if one makes the bold
step of making a report, the police allegedly demand bribes in order to withdraw
the charges.
7
Instead of houses being private sanctuaries for married couples, they have
become prisoners of hope as they struggle to preserve their marriages, and to
contain the rising anger against each other. Tempers flare easily, the tenants said
about their relationships, raising the stakes for domestic violence monitors.
The girl child has been devalued. She has to endure witnessing her brothers and
parents taking turns to close eyes while they changed clothes. The kids are
witnessing their parents beating each other up, psychologically impacting on
their lives. In one case, a 12‐year old boy raped seven girls aged from six to nine
years in Block 10, Shawasha Hostels. When the girls’ parents made an official
report at Matapi Police Station, they were told that ‘children living in those
circumstances usually do that kind of thing” and nothing else was done to
address the situation.
Women now face constant harassment from their husbands owing to several
issues. They are usually accused of infidelity if they delay returning from fetching
water downstairs or Mukuvisi River if the situation is desperate enough.
This has left most marriages on the brink of collapse in the hostels. Occasionally
one witnesses couples seated in the open grounds nearby outside their hostels
just to have a quite time to talk about their private issues alone.
b. Maintenance of Hostels:
The council has abandoned its responsibility of repainting the outside and inside
of the hostels. Council employees used to be available to monitor how tenants
behaved around the hostels. They also closely monitored how the women doing
dishes did it, preventing them from using sand, as it blocks pipes. Tenants caught
misbehaving were constantly reminded of their terms of occupancy of those
rooms, with threats to repossess their houses. The rentals were affordable in the
past but now the charges have gone beyond their incomes. For a long time, the
City of Harare has not devoted any resources towards the maintenance of the
hostels, and years of neglect have affected the piping system, the walls, the sinks
and general orderliness. Walls across all the hostels, the interior and exterior are
written all sorts of things like: Zanu PF chete, Vote Savanhu, MDC Ndizvo, Hatidi
Uchapa, marara panze. Graffiti is everywhere.
8. APPROXIMATE POPULATION IN THE HOSTELS:
NAME OF HOSTEL No. OF BLOCKS APPROXIMATE POPULATION
Matapi 14 9, 120 people
Nenyere 13 7 644 people
Shawasha 12 About 7, 056 people in all the hostels with
588 on an average of 7 people in each
housing unit per block. There are about 28
housing units in each floor. There are three
floors on each hostel
Mbare 9 2 400 people
8
Matererini 10 2 500 people
9. RECOMMENDATIONS:
The residents in Shawasha Hostels deserve better. There is nothing being done to
suggest that the City of Harare has taken the necessary steps towards addressing the
concerns of the hostels’ tenants.
• The overcrowding can only be overcome if the City of Harare or Central Government
provides land for these tenants to build their own houses.
• The Carpentry Division at City of Harare should urgently sub‐divide all the toilets to
clearly separate men and women.
• The corporate sector can provide 108 brooms, 60 litres of toilet cleaner every month for
each of the 12 blocks, 36 pairs of gloves and gumshoes per block, floor polish, paint for
all the blocks,
• Residents to provide all labour in this initiative as long as these materials are available.
• To hold civic education seminars for all tenants so that they understand their
responsibilities towards their community infrastructure, on health and environment.
ENDS
Shawasha Hostels‐
The True Story
10 April 2010
Produced by Precious Shumba, the Coordinator of the Harare Residents’ Trust
Email: hretrust@yahoo.com /hretrust79@gmail.com 0912 869 294
***
Mobile: Mr Arnold Mangezi‐ Vice Chairman Mbare Residents’ Trust‐ 0733 543 928
Rosemary Madamombe‐ Committee Member 0912 804 565
Samson Mutsadyanga‐ Committee Member 0915 873 356
2
1. OBJECTIVE OF REPORT:
a. To highlight the plight of Shawasha Hostel tenants in Mbare
b. To recommend ways to address the challenges facing the hostel tenants.
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Harare Residents Trust (HRT) undertook this tour on Saturday 10 April 2010
following widespread reports by tenants who have attended residents’ meetings in
Mbare, at Mai Musodzi Community and Stodart Gym Halls. The delegation comprised of
the HRT Coordinator Precious Shumba, Kadoma Residents Association (KRA)
Coordinator Mrs Shorai Domingo, Mr Arnold Mangezi, Vice Chairman Mbare Residents’
Trust (MRT), Mrs Rosemary Madamombe, MRT Committee Member, Samson
Mutsadyanga, MRT Committee Member and Rudo Mudeyi, the MRT Treasurer.
The tenants’ problems range from inadequate representation by their elected
representatives, poor service delivery, high water bills and unaffordable rentals, as well
as deplorable living conditions tenants have endured for a long time. The challenges of
burst sewer pipes has been resolved by the City of Harare following the laying down of
bigger pipes, replacing the archaic pipes that had constantly burst, spewing sewage all
over the place. During this tour it emerged that City employees who earn monthly
salaries to provide cleansing services in the hostels have not been doing their work. In
separate interviews with City council employees, it was established that each block at
Shawasha Hostels is serviced by two employees who have to clean the flats, particularly
the toilets, the bathrooms and the surroundings to ensure they conform to the expected
minimum standard health regulations in terms of urban regulations and the Public
Health Act.
Sadly, these workers have not serviced the community as expected in terms of their job
descriptions. Tenants claimed that the workers lacked ‘seriousness, commitment and
lack tight monitoring’ owing to ‘politics’ whatever that meant. On further enquiry it
emerged that some of the workers were improperly recruited as they were employed
through their political superiors in higher authority which renders the supervisor
powerless to exert his authority on them. It is said that these workers are constantly
shielded from scrutiny by their influential handlers.
Some of the workers come to work late and leave very early, usually from 8.30am until
around 11 am, meaning they receive their full salaries which they have not earned.
The focus of this report is to explore the opportunities arising from this crisis for the City
council, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development and other key
stakeholders. From observations made during the tour, interviews with some City
workers and speaking to tenants, it is apparent that the major challenge compounding
the health crisis at Shawasha Hostels is the inaction of the City authorities in the
departments that oversee all carpentry and plumbing work.
For how else would the authorities justify the continued delay in the partitioning of
male and female toilets, leaving men and women to almost share the same toilet, with
superficial demarcations that directly undermine Zimbabwe’s cultural values. According
to some officials, these requests for the purchase of all plumbing and carpentry items
were made a long time ago but there is lack of commitment to address this situation.
3
The threat to the health of around 7 000 tenants cannot be overemphasised.
This report critically looks at the living conditions, water supplies, hygiene in Shawasha
Hostels and makes recommendations, informed by the expectations of the tenants.
3. REPORT ASSUMPTION AND THE THEORY
The HRT expects that the City of Harare, the Minister of Local Government, Rural
and Urban Development will take this report seriously and attend to the issues
affecting tenants living in Shawasha Hostels, and other hostels in Mbare. The
situation as observed during this tour was pathetic. Human waste filled the passages
and dirty stagnant water covered the floors of the bathrooms and toilets. While this
situation has been made know to the authorities, still no action has been taken. Each
block at the hostels has six toilets and six bathrooms.
5. TOUR DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
During the tour, the HRT observed the status of the hostels and the living conditions
of the tenants. Interviews were conducted with tenants in all the hostels, mindful of
the need to be gender sensitive. Focus group discussions were held with
representatives of Mbare Residents’ Trust (MRT), tenants and some City of Harare
employees during and after the tour.
6. LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE SHAWASHA HOSTELS:
a. Situation
There are 12 blocks of flats constituting Shawasha Hostels, each floor has 28
housing units, and there are three floors. In each housing unit, there are seven
people crammed in one room, making an approximate total population of 196 in
each floor. When they were built during the Rhodesian era, these flats were
meant to contain single male employees of local industry, while their wives
stayed in the rural areas. They were expected to move out once they decided to
stay with their families.
People reportedly slip all the time and get injured when they take their baths
because the floors have become slippery. There is no cleaning taking place
despite tenants making monthly payments to the local authority. Below are key
observations made during the tour;
• The toilets are unclean, human waste is everywhere on the floors
• The bathrooms have single taps functioning. The bathroom floors are flooded
with dirty water. On the other side of the bathrooms are sinks, which have
mostly collapsed.
• The taps on the sinks have ceased to function. Women were observed
washing plates in the filthy sinks, while their feet rested on human waste
scattered on the floors.
• In Block 1, C‐Floor, the sinks have fallen, the floors are water logged, and the
stench nauseating and the whole place is an eyesore.
• Cast irons have become rotten and there is unending leakages. Thick pastes
of human waste and dirty water leaking from the C‐floor, pours into the sinks
4
in B and A floors, making the sinks horrible to use, but the tenants use them
anyway. There is no choice. In some of the sinks it was observed that the
tenants have placed some buckets to try to minimise the splashing of human
waste but they overflowed.
• The toilets in all blocks, in the C‐Floor have knee high cardboards dividing the
female and male toilets, rendering privacy non‐existent.
• There are no lights in the corridors and at night there is always a looming
threat of muggings and rape to girls and women.
The C‐ Hall in Block 9 Hostels:
• The C‐Hall in Block 9 is occupied by nine tenants relocated from Block 4
Matapi flats which were burnt down on 5 January 2009 following an
electrical fault. On 9 January 2009, the victims of the fire were allocated
open spaces in the C‐halls in Blocks 9 and 10 at Shawasha Hostels. Prior to
the burning down of part of Block 4, Matapi Hostels, these tenants lived in
addresses ranging from C53 to C70. But despite not staying in their burnt
down quarters, the tenants have received statements from the City of Harare
indicating they owe the local authority amounts ranging from US$825 to
above a thousand dollars. It remains a mystery how they have calculated
these figures when these tenants have been without adequate
accommodation for nearly 15 months. For example, Mr C. Makasu of C65,
Block 4 Matapi, of Account Number 192004371000007 has received bills
indicating the following figures, stretching from October 2009. October‐ 586,
November‐ US$630, December‐ US$675, January 2010‐ US$724, February
2010 – US$774, and March US$825.
• These tenants in the hall face multiple problems.
• The tenants have sub‐divided the hall into nine housing units, using
cardboards. There are averagely nine people in each cubicle they call houses.
• The situation is the same across other C‐halls at Shawasha Hostels with
people sub‐dividing the halls into housing cubicles where an average nine
people share one room. Block 8 C‐hall is the only exception because it burnt
down three years ago and has not been repaired.
• Tenants in these C‐halls face another hurdle in their attempts to have a life.
Rats are breeding fast and destroying what remains of their personal
belongings.
• Ceilings are falling in and leak heavily during the rainy season.
• Windowpanes are all broken and they have to endure winds throughout the
day, worst at night.
• Lice and mosquitoes have become a common menace.
• Electricity cables hang loose above the sub‐divided shacks, and there is
potential for fire breaking out, in the case of a short circuit.
• This situation with electricity has spread to the surroundings of the hostels
with members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police who patrol during the night
5
allegedly beating up people returning to their workplaces at night, especially
in Machingura Street, nearby. The HRT heard of how the police have waylaid
residents going or returning from schools.
• Within the hostels’ corridors, drug abuse is rampant with teenage boys and
men, including some women engaging in orgies of sex, capitalising on the
darkness. This has led to unwanted pregnancies and subsequently to risky
backyard abortions, creating health complexities among the victims.
• Used condoms are daily removed from the corridors. This might be traced
back to the issue of conjugal rights by married couples and partners. While
this could be attributed to prostitution, the tenants also believe that some
desperate couples decided to have their sex in the corridors and return into
their sleeping quarters afterwards.
b. Water Supplies:
The tenants in Shawasha Hostels face constant water shortages. In the A floors
across the 12 blocks there is only one tap functioning out of the six available.
People who want to do their washing have to wait till around 10pm to midnight
in order to get some water. This is difficult for tenants who live in the C and B
floors who have to climb down and up those stairs to fetch some water for all
domestic purposes. This places a burden on the aged who still live in the hostels.
Residents have to fetch water from the A‐floor so that council employees can do
the cleaning of their bathrooms, toilets and sinks. If tenants fail to provide the
water, there is no cleaning that takes place because the city employees refuse to
fetch the Water on their own.
The hostels’ tenants have an added responsibility of fetching water from the Afloors
to the other floors in order to have their places cleaned. However, the
challenge is that the cast irons that should be linking the whole water and sewer
system to the main sewer pipes have blocked, rendering all cleaning activities
irrelevant.
The clogging of the bathrooms and toilets is attributed to the negligence of the
tenants, who constantly pour bones, cloths, sand, cotton wool and pads.
c. Response:
Recognising their living conditions and the failure by the local authority to
provide them with a clean living environment, the tenants, led by Mrs Rosemary
Madamombe, a tenant in Block 9, have set an example in Block 9. They now take
turns to clean the walls, the bathrooms and toilets, and the floors have been
regularly scrubbed to remove any dirty.
The Mbare Residents’ Trust (MRT), through the initiative of their Vice Chairman
Arnold Mangezi and Committee Members Rosemary Madamombe and Samson
Mutsadyanga and their adviser Tawanda Nyahuye, has come up with an initiative
dubbed ‘Chenesa Musha‐ Mbare’. This initiative’s objective is to;
• Mobilise resources to constantly clean the hostels and transform people’s
lives in all hostels in Mbare. These include sweeping brooms, gloves, repair of
6
sinks, sub‐dividing the toilets, purchase of taps, cleaning detergents,
respirators, gumboots, and repainting of the inside and outside walls. The
tenants have established cleaning teams that will oversee the whole
initiative, meaning they want to take an active role in the whole exercise.
• Make the City of Harare and other key stakeholders aware of the situation.
They seek a partnership that endures the test of time.
.
7. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS:
a. Women’s Rights:
According to Mrs Madamombe, the situation has been worse on women.
Relatives have ceased to visit them in the hostels due to the living conditions.
The dirty is overwhelming. In a representative situation, there is the father, the
mother, three teenage boys, two teenage girls, extended family‐ three more
males and two more females, primary school kids‐ boys and girls, totalling about
nine people, sharing one room. In the same room there are two other families
with approximately equal number of people, making the room accommodate an
average of 16 people. However, each family receives a bill from the City council
giving them the same room number as an official address, but with their
respective names. From the viewpoint of the City of Harare, they expect to
receive a total amount of around US$360 from the same room, from the average
four families sharing the room.
Husbands and wives, or partners no longer can have their conjugal rights as and
when they desire to. From the focus group discussions, it also emerged that
unfaithfulness has become the order of the day, putting the families at a higher
risk of HIV/Aids infection and other sexually transmitted infections. The women
accused their men of sneaking to other women for sex. The problems arise once
the men want their conjugal rights. The women said they cannot have sex in a
room full of people. Even when the children and other adults have gone to sleep
it is still a challenge to really enjoy your sex with your husband, Mrs
Madamombe said. Even if you just proceed to do it, there is always the risk that
your husband’s young brother, your child or young sister might wake up and
witness us in action.
‘It is un‐African to do that. We are now being beaten up by our husbands,” said
Mrs Madamombe. “There is no way any woman would accept to have sex with
her man in a crowded room unless you have become very desperate.”
If the woman refuses to have sex, the women said they are accused of infidelity,
forcing these ladies to simply go against their values, having sex in the same
room with your adolescent children.
Like the majority of the women in the hostels, they do not make reports to the
police in terms of the Domestic Violence Act. There are varying reasons they do
not report to the police‐ the husband is the breadwinner, if one makes the bold
step of making a report, the police allegedly demand bribes in order to withdraw
the charges.
7
Instead of houses being private sanctuaries for married couples, they have
become prisoners of hope as they struggle to preserve their marriages, and to
contain the rising anger against each other. Tempers flare easily, the tenants said
about their relationships, raising the stakes for domestic violence monitors.
The girl child has been devalued. She has to endure witnessing her brothers and
parents taking turns to close eyes while they changed clothes. The kids are
witnessing their parents beating each other up, psychologically impacting on
their lives. In one case, a 12‐year old boy raped seven girls aged from six to nine
years in Block 10, Shawasha Hostels. When the girls’ parents made an official
report at Matapi Police Station, they were told that ‘children living in those
circumstances usually do that kind of thing” and nothing else was done to
address the situation.
Women now face constant harassment from their husbands owing to several
issues. They are usually accused of infidelity if they delay returning from fetching
water downstairs or Mukuvisi River if the situation is desperate enough.
This has left most marriages on the brink of collapse in the hostels. Occasionally
one witnesses couples seated in the open grounds nearby outside their hostels
just to have a quite time to talk about their private issues alone.
b. Maintenance of Hostels:
The council has abandoned its responsibility of repainting the outside and inside
of the hostels. Council employees used to be available to monitor how tenants
behaved around the hostels. They also closely monitored how the women doing
dishes did it, preventing them from using sand, as it blocks pipes. Tenants caught
misbehaving were constantly reminded of their terms of occupancy of those
rooms, with threats to repossess their houses. The rentals were affordable in the
past but now the charges have gone beyond their incomes. For a long time, the
City of Harare has not devoted any resources towards the maintenance of the
hostels, and years of neglect have affected the piping system, the walls, the sinks
and general orderliness. Walls across all the hostels, the interior and exterior are
written all sorts of things like: Zanu PF chete, Vote Savanhu, MDC Ndizvo, Hatidi
Uchapa, marara panze. Graffiti is everywhere.
8. APPROXIMATE POPULATION IN THE HOSTELS:
NAME OF HOSTEL No. OF BLOCKS APPROXIMATE POPULATION
Matapi 14 9, 120 people
Nenyere 13 7 644 people
Shawasha 12 About 7, 056 people in all the hostels with
588 on an average of 7 people in each
housing unit per block. There are about 28
housing units in each floor. There are three
floors on each hostel
Mbare 9 2 400 people
8
Matererini 10 2 500 people
9. RECOMMENDATIONS:
The residents in Shawasha Hostels deserve better. There is nothing being done to
suggest that the City of Harare has taken the necessary steps towards addressing the
concerns of the hostels’ tenants.
• The overcrowding can only be overcome if the City of Harare or Central Government
provides land for these tenants to build their own houses.
• The Carpentry Division at City of Harare should urgently sub‐divide all the toilets to
clearly separate men and women.
• The corporate sector can provide 108 brooms, 60 litres of toilet cleaner every month for
each of the 12 blocks, 36 pairs of gloves and gumshoes per block, floor polish, paint for
all the blocks,
• Residents to provide all labour in this initiative as long as these materials are available.
• To hold civic education seminars for all tenants so that they understand their
responsibilities towards their community infrastructure, on health and environment.
ENDS
WEEKY CITY WATCH, 12 April 2010
Harare goes without water
Most areas in the city (including the city centre)
experienced a long dry spell during the weekend.
Reports from the City of Harare indicate that water
supplies had to be temporarily discontinued so as to
carry out refurbishments at Morton Jeffrey water
works. It is not yet clear when water supplies will be
resumed.
Mabelreign
The Zambezi Flats in the Mabelreign area has been
experiencing water shortages since February 2010.
Supplies are usually available during the late night
hours and the pressure of the water will be so low
that residents who live in the upper floors do not get
water.
Greendale
Pipe leakages along Fallon Road and Louis Road
have negatively affected water supplies in the area as
the supplies are no longer constant. Residents fear
that if the pipes are not fixed, prolonged water cuts
might resume in the area.
Harare Drive has become a commercial dumpsite
and residents living in Latimer and Abel Roads have
said that the dumpsite is a health time bomb as it has
become breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Power cuts occur on a daily basis for 2to 4
hours a day.
The Eviction Saga unfolds...
As Councilors put the blame on political rivals
The councillors for Glen Norah and Highfields
denied the allegations of evicting people from
council houses that were being nailed against
them. They dismissed the stories as mere political
sabotage strategies by their rivals.
Councillor Marange and seven other unnamed
Councillors met with a few residents in Glen Norah A
on Friday the 26th Of March 2010 to clear the air
surrounding the issue. The Councillors maintained
that they had not evicted anyone and expressed shock
at the allegations that their names were actually
appearing on the bills of the said houses. CHRA
sought comment from Councillor Masiye Kapare
(Ward 7) who pointed out that the Director of
Housing and the Town Clerk are the ones who gave
the green light for Councillors to apply for houses
from Council. He said that Councilors had only made
applications but they were not told that the houses
were already occupied, neither were they involved in
the alterations of ownership and subsequent evictions.
The Councillors have said that the whole fiasco is a
calculated ploy by the Minister of Local Government
and his cronies at Town House to tarnish their image
and make them lose favour with the residents. They
also pointed out that they are being victimized for
carrying out investigations to expose the
unprocedural acquisition of large chunks of land by
Minister Chombo and business tycoon, Philip
Chiyangwa.
Residents have however, castigated the Councilors
for trying to acquire houses for themselves when
thousands of residents are still living in shacks for
lack of decent housing.
WEEKY CITY WATCH, 12 April 2010
145 Robert Mugabe Way, Exploration House, Third Floor; Website: www.chra.co.zw
0912 864 572, Contacts: Mobile: 0913 042 981, 011862012, 0912 864 572 or email info@chra.co.zw,
admin@chra.co admin@chra.co.zw , ceo@chra.co.zw
Harare
Greendale (Continued)
The typhoid outbreak in Mabvuku now
seems to be under control. However,
isolated cases are still being reported.
CHRA is planning a clean up campaign
to remove the pile of refuse at
Matongo Shopping centre. The pile of
refuse was tested and found to contain
the typhoid bacteria
2
Mutare
Greendale (Continued)
The typhoid outbreak in Mabvuku now
seems to be under control. However,
isolated cases are still being reported.
CHRA is planning a clean up campaign
to remove the pile of refuse at
Matongo Shopping centre. The pile of
refuse was tested and found to contain
the typhoid bacteria
2
Mutare
Residents accuse Council of unprofessionalism
The residents in Mutare have accused the Council
of being unprofessional in its conduct and
engaging in corrupt activities. At a public meeting
that was conducted by CHRA on the 29th of
March 2010 in the suburb of Sakubva, residents
pointed out that Council was demanding money
for non existent services. It emerged that Council
had actually evicted residents with outstanding
bills from Council houses. Some of the residents
were actually said to be living in the open.
There are also households in Sakubva that had
their water disconnected for unspecified reasons in
November last year and they have not had water
supplies ever since. About 250 houses were
disconnected. However, these residents still
receive water bills from the City Council and they
are actually paying the bills for fear of being
evicted from their houses.
Residents who live at the Macgrecors Flats in
Mutare also complained that the Council is not
crediting their monthly bill payments into their
accounts; a situation that has caused unnecessary
inflation of their monthly bills. Residents are in
constant debt as a result. The Flats are also in bad
shape as the Council has not made any efforts to
renovate or carry out necessary maintenance.
The residents at the OTS area in Sakubva are
receiving two bills for the same services on a
monthly basis. The bills are labelled A and B but
they indicate the same information although the
amounts differ. Residents have tried to seek
clarification from Council on this issue but to no
avail. Efforts to get comments from the Town
Clerk for Mutare City were fruitless.
Kadoma
Water supply
Residents in Rimuka are now relying on boreholes that
were drilled by some NGOs as the Town Council is
finding it difficult to provide constant water supplies to
the area. However, residents have complained that
even the water from the boreholes is not safe to drink
and there are fears of another cholera outbreak.
One of the Councilors who were present at a public
meeting that was conducted by CHRA Kadoma said
that the acute water shortages were a result of a 24
meter electricity cable that was stolen. The cable
supplied transmitted electric power to Chloe Dam for
pumping water into Kadoma Town. The absence of the
electricity cable has seriously compromised the
Council’s capacity to pump water to residents. Reports
from ZESA have revealed that about US$33 000 is
needed to purchase the cable but the power utility does
not have the money yet. Rio Tinto mining Company
had pledged some money for the purchase of the cable
but nothing had been done at the time of the meeting.
Buhera
ZANU PF youths have been harassing residents and
forcing them to attend the party’s constitutional
meetings. Residents have also said that the party had
selected people who are supposed to speak and make
contributions during the COPAC outreach meetings.
Residents are being warned to support the Kariba Draft
and remain mum during the consultation meetings
except for those that have been selected by ZANU PF.
CHRA is the Secretariat of the National Residents
Associations Consultative Forum (NRACF). The
Association is committed to advocating for good
and transparent local governance as well
lobbying for quality and affordable municipal
services on a non partisan basis.
Most areas in the city (including the city centre)
experienced a long dry spell during the weekend.
Reports from the City of Harare indicate that water
supplies had to be temporarily discontinued so as to
carry out refurbishments at Morton Jeffrey water
works. It is not yet clear when water supplies will be
resumed.
Mabelreign
The Zambezi Flats in the Mabelreign area has been
experiencing water shortages since February 2010.
Supplies are usually available during the late night
hours and the pressure of the water will be so low
that residents who live in the upper floors do not get
water.
Greendale
Pipe leakages along Fallon Road and Louis Road
have negatively affected water supplies in the area as
the supplies are no longer constant. Residents fear
that if the pipes are not fixed, prolonged water cuts
might resume in the area.
Harare Drive has become a commercial dumpsite
and residents living in Latimer and Abel Roads have
said that the dumpsite is a health time bomb as it has
become breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Power cuts occur on a daily basis for 2to 4
hours a day.
The Eviction Saga unfolds...
As Councilors put the blame on political rivals
The councillors for Glen Norah and Highfields
denied the allegations of evicting people from
council houses that were being nailed against
them. They dismissed the stories as mere political
sabotage strategies by their rivals.
Councillor Marange and seven other unnamed
Councillors met with a few residents in Glen Norah A
on Friday the 26th Of March 2010 to clear the air
surrounding the issue. The Councillors maintained
that they had not evicted anyone and expressed shock
at the allegations that their names were actually
appearing on the bills of the said houses. CHRA
sought comment from Councillor Masiye Kapare
(Ward 7) who pointed out that the Director of
Housing and the Town Clerk are the ones who gave
the green light for Councillors to apply for houses
from Council. He said that Councilors had only made
applications but they were not told that the houses
were already occupied, neither were they involved in
the alterations of ownership and subsequent evictions.
The Councillors have said that the whole fiasco is a
calculated ploy by the Minister of Local Government
and his cronies at Town House to tarnish their image
and make them lose favour with the residents. They
also pointed out that they are being victimized for
carrying out investigations to expose the
unprocedural acquisition of large chunks of land by
Minister Chombo and business tycoon, Philip
Chiyangwa.
Residents have however, castigated the Councilors
for trying to acquire houses for themselves when
thousands of residents are still living in shacks for
lack of decent housing.
WEEKY CITY WATCH, 12 April 2010
145 Robert Mugabe Way, Exploration House, Third Floor; Website: www.chra.co.zw
0912 864 572, Contacts: Mobile: 0913 042 981, 011862012, 0912 864 572 or email info@chra.co.zw,
admin@chra.co admin@chra.co.zw , ceo@chra.co.zw
Harare
Greendale (Continued)
The typhoid outbreak in Mabvuku now
seems to be under control. However,
isolated cases are still being reported.
CHRA is planning a clean up campaign
to remove the pile of refuse at
Matongo Shopping centre. The pile of
refuse was tested and found to contain
the typhoid bacteria
2
Mutare
Greendale (Continued)
The typhoid outbreak in Mabvuku now
seems to be under control. However,
isolated cases are still being reported.
CHRA is planning a clean up campaign
to remove the pile of refuse at
Matongo Shopping centre. The pile of
refuse was tested and found to contain
the typhoid bacteria
2
Mutare
Residents accuse Council of unprofessionalism
The residents in Mutare have accused the Council
of being unprofessional in its conduct and
engaging in corrupt activities. At a public meeting
that was conducted by CHRA on the 29th of
March 2010 in the suburb of Sakubva, residents
pointed out that Council was demanding money
for non existent services. It emerged that Council
had actually evicted residents with outstanding
bills from Council houses. Some of the residents
were actually said to be living in the open.
There are also households in Sakubva that had
their water disconnected for unspecified reasons in
November last year and they have not had water
supplies ever since. About 250 houses were
disconnected. However, these residents still
receive water bills from the City Council and they
are actually paying the bills for fear of being
evicted from their houses.
Residents who live at the Macgrecors Flats in
Mutare also complained that the Council is not
crediting their monthly bill payments into their
accounts; a situation that has caused unnecessary
inflation of their monthly bills. Residents are in
constant debt as a result. The Flats are also in bad
shape as the Council has not made any efforts to
renovate or carry out necessary maintenance.
The residents at the OTS area in Sakubva are
receiving two bills for the same services on a
monthly basis. The bills are labelled A and B but
they indicate the same information although the
amounts differ. Residents have tried to seek
clarification from Council on this issue but to no
avail. Efforts to get comments from the Town
Clerk for Mutare City were fruitless.
Kadoma
Water supply
Residents in Rimuka are now relying on boreholes that
were drilled by some NGOs as the Town Council is
finding it difficult to provide constant water supplies to
the area. However, residents have complained that
even the water from the boreholes is not safe to drink
and there are fears of another cholera outbreak.
One of the Councilors who were present at a public
meeting that was conducted by CHRA Kadoma said
that the acute water shortages were a result of a 24
meter electricity cable that was stolen. The cable
supplied transmitted electric power to Chloe Dam for
pumping water into Kadoma Town. The absence of the
electricity cable has seriously compromised the
Council’s capacity to pump water to residents. Reports
from ZESA have revealed that about US$33 000 is
needed to purchase the cable but the power utility does
not have the money yet. Rio Tinto mining Company
had pledged some money for the purchase of the cable
but nothing had been done at the time of the meeting.
Buhera
ZANU PF youths have been harassing residents and
forcing them to attend the party’s constitutional
meetings. Residents have also said that the party had
selected people who are supposed to speak and make
contributions during the COPAC outreach meetings.
Residents are being warned to support the Kariba Draft
and remain mum during the consultation meetings
except for those that have been selected by ZANU PF.
CHRA is the Secretariat of the National Residents
Associations Consultative Forum (NRACF). The
Association is committed to advocating for good
and transparent local governance as well
lobbying for quality and affordable municipal
services on a non partisan basis.
Dare to Shape the Future:
Thursday, April 15
8:30am-9:00am
Meet and Great (Coffee Provided)
9:00am-9:15am
Official Opening
Gerald LeMelle, Executive Director of Africa Action
Angela Chimbodza, on behalf of the Zimbabwe Diaspora community
9:15am-11:00am
Keynote Speakers
Brian Kagoro
Formerly with ActionAid as Regional Policy and Advocacy Manager of the Africa Region, and founding member of the National Constitutional Assembly in Zimbabwe, a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, and a human rights and constitutional lawyer. He was formerly the Chair of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition.
Discussant:
Emira Woods
Co-director of Foreign Policy In Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, Chairperson of Africa Action’s Board
11:00am-11:30am
Coffee Break
11:30am-1:00pm
Panel Discussion: National Healing and Renewal
Sekai Holland, Minister of State (Reconciliation and National Healing)
Dr. Callisto Madavo, visiting professor to the African Studies Program and before coming to Georgetown, he held several senior level positions in the World Bank
Moderator: Tendisai Chigwedere, Zimbabwean national who most recently completed a five-year term working & serving alongside the urban poor community of Chimalhuacan, located on the periphery of Mexico City
1:00pm-2:00pm
Lunch (Provided)
2:00pm-3:30pm
Panel Discussion: Zimbabwe Today: Assessing Progress under the Unity Government and Perspectives on Reconstruction and Democratization
McDonald Lewanika, Director, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
Briggs Bomba, Africa Action, Director of Campaigns
Queen Mabena, Third Millennium Foundation Trust
Moderator: Charles Mutama, Founder of the Mutama Development Trust, Zimbabwe
3:30pm-5:00pm
Panel Discussion: The Time is Now: A New Constitution and Media Reform
McDonald Lewanika, Director, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
Ray Choto – Veteran journalist, Voice of America
Moderator: Carl LeVan, Assistant Professor in the School of International Service (SIS) at American University, Africa Coordinator for the Comparative and Regional Studies program
Friday, April 16
9:00am-10:30am
Panel Discussion: The State of the Education and Health Sectors in Zimbabwe
David Coltart, Minister of Education (Zimbabwe)
Dr. Moses Rumano, Professor at University of Miami, Ohio
Nomvimbo Meriwether, Meriwether Foundation
Moderator: Marie Dennis, Director, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
10:30am-12:00pm
Panel Discussion: Exploring U.S. policy Options Toward Zimbabwe
Imani Countess, Senior Director of Public Affairs, TransAfrica Forum
Bill Minter, Editor, Africa Focus
Moderator: Dr. Bob Edgar, Director of Graduate Studies, Department of African Studies, Howard University
12:00pm-1:00pm
Lunch (Provided)
1:00pm-3:00pm
Panel Discussion: Reengaging the Zimbabwe Diaspora: Roles and Contributions
Esau Mavindidze, Activist and community organizer
Titus Gwemende, Graduate Assistant, MA International Affairs (Communication and Development) Center for International Studies: Ohio University
Dr. Stanford Mukasa, Associate Professor, Journalism Department: Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Moderator: Dominic Mutanga, Founder and Board Chair Director of Council for Zimbabwe
3:30pm-5:00pm
Panel Discussion: Solidarity in Shaping the Future of Zimbabwe
Nunu Kidane, Director of Priority Africa Network
Gerald Lenoir, Director of Black Alliance for Just ImmigrationModerator: Walter Turner, Host of KPFA’s Africa Today & GX
5:00pm
Closing Remarks
Michael Stulman, Associate Director, Policy and Communications, Africa Action
5:00pm-6:00pm
Open Reception
*Denotes Invited
1634 Eye Street, NW. Suite 810 | Washington, DC 20006 | t: 202-546-7961 202-546-7961 | f: 202-546-1545 | info [at] africaaction.org | Designed by Michael
8:30am-9:00am
Meet and Great (Coffee Provided)
9:00am-9:15am
Official Opening
Gerald LeMelle, Executive Director of Africa Action
Angela Chimbodza, on behalf of the Zimbabwe Diaspora community
9:15am-11:00am
Keynote Speakers
Brian Kagoro
Formerly with ActionAid as Regional Policy and Advocacy Manager of the Africa Region, and founding member of the National Constitutional Assembly in Zimbabwe, a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, and a human rights and constitutional lawyer. He was formerly the Chair of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition.
Discussant:
Emira Woods
Co-director of Foreign Policy In Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, Chairperson of Africa Action’s Board
11:00am-11:30am
Coffee Break
11:30am-1:00pm
Panel Discussion: National Healing and Renewal
Sekai Holland, Minister of State (Reconciliation and National Healing)
Dr. Callisto Madavo, visiting professor to the African Studies Program and before coming to Georgetown, he held several senior level positions in the World Bank
Moderator: Tendisai Chigwedere, Zimbabwean national who most recently completed a five-year term working & serving alongside the urban poor community of Chimalhuacan, located on the periphery of Mexico City
1:00pm-2:00pm
Lunch (Provided)
2:00pm-3:30pm
Panel Discussion: Zimbabwe Today: Assessing Progress under the Unity Government and Perspectives on Reconstruction and Democratization
McDonald Lewanika, Director, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
Briggs Bomba, Africa Action, Director of Campaigns
Queen Mabena, Third Millennium Foundation Trust
Moderator: Charles Mutama, Founder of the Mutama Development Trust, Zimbabwe
3:30pm-5:00pm
Panel Discussion: The Time is Now: A New Constitution and Media Reform
McDonald Lewanika, Director, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
Ray Choto – Veteran journalist, Voice of America
Moderator: Carl LeVan, Assistant Professor in the School of International Service (SIS) at American University, Africa Coordinator for the Comparative and Regional Studies program
Friday, April 16
9:00am-10:30am
Panel Discussion: The State of the Education and Health Sectors in Zimbabwe
David Coltart, Minister of Education (Zimbabwe)
Dr. Moses Rumano, Professor at University of Miami, Ohio
Nomvimbo Meriwether, Meriwether Foundation
Moderator: Marie Dennis, Director, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
10:30am-12:00pm
Panel Discussion: Exploring U.S. policy Options Toward Zimbabwe
Imani Countess, Senior Director of Public Affairs, TransAfrica Forum
Bill Minter, Editor, Africa Focus
Moderator: Dr. Bob Edgar, Director of Graduate Studies, Department of African Studies, Howard University
12:00pm-1:00pm
Lunch (Provided)
1:00pm-3:00pm
Panel Discussion: Reengaging the Zimbabwe Diaspora: Roles and Contributions
Esau Mavindidze, Activist and community organizer
Titus Gwemende, Graduate Assistant, MA International Affairs (Communication and Development) Center for International Studies: Ohio University
Dr. Stanford Mukasa, Associate Professor, Journalism Department: Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Moderator: Dominic Mutanga, Founder and Board Chair Director of Council for Zimbabwe
3:30pm-5:00pm
Panel Discussion: Solidarity in Shaping the Future of Zimbabwe
Nunu Kidane, Director of Priority Africa Network
Gerald Lenoir, Director of Black Alliance for Just ImmigrationModerator: Walter Turner, Host of KPFA’s Africa Today & GX
5:00pm
Closing Remarks
Michael Stulman, Associate Director, Policy and Communications, Africa Action
5:00pm-6:00pm
Open Reception
*Denotes Invited
1634 Eye Street, NW. Suite 810 | Washington, DC 20006 | t: 202-546-7961 202-546-7961 | f: 202-546-1545 | info [at] africaaction.org | Designed by Michael
Friday, February 19, 2010
Harare residents present their grievances to parliament
By Violet Gonda
19 February 2010
On Friday Harare residents and other stakeholders made submissions on the appalling service delivery in the capital city, to the Parliament Committee on Local Government, Rural and Urban Development. The Committee was conducting public hearings on service delivery, water and roads.
Precious Shumba, the coordinator of the Harare Residents' Trust, told SW Radio Africa the major concerns for the residents included the poor performance of elected councillors and the meddling of the Minister of Local Government Ignatius Chombo.
He pointed out: “The powers of the Local Government Minister are excessive and he meddles in the running of these Councils to the extent that councillors and the Mayor have been rendered powerless, yet Heads of Department and the Town Clerk have become so protected by the Minister.”
The residents accuse Chombo of abusing his ministerial powers to block council resolutions. Shumba said the City Council resolved last year to suspend the Town Clerk, Michael Mahachi, on allegations of corruption but that the Minister intervened and blocked the suspension.
Service delivery in Harare, like the rest of the country, is extremely poor but residents are still being charged high bills. Refuse remains uncollected and water and power cuts continue. “They prioritise high salaries and purchase top of the range vehicles for heads of departments, while neglecting the needs of the residents,” Shumba said.
He said the Parliamentary Committee will deliberate on the submissions and will call Chombo in to respond, due to the overwhelming demand from people to rein in the minister.
Shumba said Councillor Herbert Gomba from Ward 27 Glen Norah tried to use the excuse that the city council was bankrupt, but that he failed dismally to respond to the issue of service delivery.
The residents want the local government to be part of the constitution and not an act of parliament. They also want local authorities to be decentralised, to ensure that resources are equally distributed and they want to work with their elected representatives and service providers on a non-partisan basis.
In their submission to parliament residents said: “The City of Harare should prioritise service provision, refuse collection, water and sewer infrastructure rehabilitation, purchase of maintenance of refuse trucks and charge affordable rates before allocating more resources towards huge salary perks to heads of departments and administration.”
19 February 2010
On Friday Harare residents and other stakeholders made submissions on the appalling service delivery in the capital city, to the Parliament Committee on Local Government, Rural and Urban Development. The Committee was conducting public hearings on service delivery, water and roads.
Precious Shumba, the coordinator of the Harare Residents' Trust, told SW Radio Africa the major concerns for the residents included the poor performance of elected councillors and the meddling of the Minister of Local Government Ignatius Chombo.
He pointed out: “The powers of the Local Government Minister are excessive and he meddles in the running of these Councils to the extent that councillors and the Mayor have been rendered powerless, yet Heads of Department and the Town Clerk have become so protected by the Minister.”
The residents accuse Chombo of abusing his ministerial powers to block council resolutions. Shumba said the City Council resolved last year to suspend the Town Clerk, Michael Mahachi, on allegations of corruption but that the Minister intervened and blocked the suspension.
Service delivery in Harare, like the rest of the country, is extremely poor but residents are still being charged high bills. Refuse remains uncollected and water and power cuts continue. “They prioritise high salaries and purchase top of the range vehicles for heads of departments, while neglecting the needs of the residents,” Shumba said.
He said the Parliamentary Committee will deliberate on the submissions and will call Chombo in to respond, due to the overwhelming demand from people to rein in the minister.
Shumba said Councillor Herbert Gomba from Ward 27 Glen Norah tried to use the excuse that the city council was bankrupt, but that he failed dismally to respond to the issue of service delivery.
The residents want the local government to be part of the constitution and not an act of parliament. They also want local authorities to be decentralised, to ensure that resources are equally distributed and they want to work with their elected representatives and service providers on a non-partisan basis.
In their submission to parliament residents said: “The City of Harare should prioritise service provision, refuse collection, water and sewer infrastructure rehabilitation, purchase of maintenance of refuse trucks and charge affordable rates before allocating more resources towards huge salary perks to heads of departments and administration.”
Angry civil servants vow to intensify strike action
By Alex Bell
19 February 2010
More than two thousand angry civil servants who gathered in Harare on Friday have vowed to intensify their strike action if the government does not meet their demands for a wage increase.
A meeting of civil servants in the capital had been organised for workers’ unions to provide feedback to their members, who have been on strike for two weeks over the government’s refusal to increase its wage bill. The strike has mainly affected public schools, hospitals, government departments and the courts. Civil servants unions have demanded that their wages be increased from the current US$150 to US$630, and they’ve rejected a 10 percent increase offer from the government.
The two thousand strong group of civil servants who gathered in Harare on Friday embarked on a march, after hearing that the government has refused to change its 10 percent wage increase offer. Leaders from various workers’ unions led the group through the streets of central Harare and presented signed petitions at Parliament and the offices of the Ministers of Finance and Public Service.
SW Radio Africa correspondent Simon Muchemwa reported that some workers were ‘agitated’ during the march when they realised that some of their colleagues were on duty in the government buildings they marched to. They were further angered when they were denied an audience at Finance Minister Tendai Biti’s office, which was locked because Biti is out of the country. Muchemwa said many workers’ believed that the empty office was ‘intentional’, because “no one in government wanted to accept the workers’ petition.”
“It took several hours of dancing and singing at the Minister of Finance’s office before they eventually handed their petition to a security guard,” Muchemwa reported. “They were angry that no one in government was willing to receive the petition.”
The civil servants’ unions have now vowed to intensify their action by not only remaining on strike, but also by having protracted ‘sit-ins’ at their places of work. Muchemwa reported that the move was to ensure “no worker was being threatened into defying the strike action.” Teachers’ unions have also called on parents to stop paying incentives, saying it would be tantamount to “squeezing water from a stone.”
The unions said that they will carry on with their strike and sit-in until March 5, and warned that the strike with further intensify, if the government refuses to increase its offer.
19 February 2010
More than two thousand angry civil servants who gathered in Harare on Friday have vowed to intensify their strike action if the government does not meet their demands for a wage increase.
A meeting of civil servants in the capital had been organised for workers’ unions to provide feedback to their members, who have been on strike for two weeks over the government’s refusal to increase its wage bill. The strike has mainly affected public schools, hospitals, government departments and the courts. Civil servants unions have demanded that their wages be increased from the current US$150 to US$630, and they’ve rejected a 10 percent increase offer from the government.
The two thousand strong group of civil servants who gathered in Harare on Friday embarked on a march, after hearing that the government has refused to change its 10 percent wage increase offer. Leaders from various workers’ unions led the group through the streets of central Harare and presented signed petitions at Parliament and the offices of the Ministers of Finance and Public Service.
SW Radio Africa correspondent Simon Muchemwa reported that some workers were ‘agitated’ during the march when they realised that some of their colleagues were on duty in the government buildings they marched to. They were further angered when they were denied an audience at Finance Minister Tendai Biti’s office, which was locked because Biti is out of the country. Muchemwa said many workers’ believed that the empty office was ‘intentional’, because “no one in government wanted to accept the workers’ petition.”
“It took several hours of dancing and singing at the Minister of Finance’s office before they eventually handed their petition to a security guard,” Muchemwa reported. “They were angry that no one in government was willing to receive the petition.”
The civil servants’ unions have now vowed to intensify their action by not only remaining on strike, but also by having protracted ‘sit-ins’ at their places of work. Muchemwa reported that the move was to ensure “no worker was being threatened into defying the strike action.” Teachers’ unions have also called on parents to stop paying incentives, saying it would be tantamount to “squeezing water from a stone.”
The unions said that they will carry on with their strike and sit-in until March 5, and warned that the strike with further intensify, if the government refuses to increase its offer.
Harare Residents' Trust Submission to the Parliament on service delivery in Harare
SUMMARY REPORT OF HIGHFIELD RESIDENTS’ MEETING ON SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2010
VENUE: CJ COMMUNITY HALL
IN ATTENDANCE:
- Mabvuku residents’ Trust Leadership
- Harare East residents’ Trust leadership
- Warren Park Residents’ Leadership
- Mbare Residents’ leadership
- Glen Norah B’ Residents Leadership
- Kuwadzana Residents Leadership
- Mabelreign Residents’ Leadership
- Board of Trustees Chairperson- Emilia Chakatsva
- Precious Shumba, HRT Coordinator
- Fullard Gwasira, ZESA Holdings
- Shepherd Mandizvidza, ZESA Holdings
- Highfield Legal Centre
Highfield- AN attempt by a Councillor here to split the nearly 400 residents’ along partisan lines flopped when residents vehemently resisted and demanded that the councillor should account for his alleged involvement in the displacement of residents from their residential places and his alleged failure to represent their interests in council.
Ward 25 Councillor, Silas Machetu attempted to ride on the historical polarisation between parties in the Inclusive Government, based on the presence of residents in the audience he suspected of being his political opponents.
Residents wanted to know the council’s policy on houses belonging to the council, and asked why council officials and councillors were at the forefront of trying to replace the sitting tenants without due regard to justice. Serious allegations of complicity in the repossessions of council houses were levelled against the councillors, in particular Councillors Maxwell Katsande (Ward 26) and Machetu. Katsande left in a huff after failing to stomach the criticism. Ward 24 Councillor Job Mbadzi was also in attendance and promised to cooperate with residents.
The Harare Residents’ Trust (HRT) specifically invited the councillors to provide them with an opportunity to update residents on the programmes of the City of Harare and also to respond to issues of concern affecting their constituents. However, following brief speeches by the HRT Chairperson, Emilia Chakatsva and the Coordinator Precious Shumba, Councillor Machetu misread the situation. Instead of providing information to residents, he went on the defensive, clouding his focus and thinking with his emotions, making partisan statements.
Residents immediately reacted by booing him and asking him to explain his role in the raised matters. Unable to handle the sudden demand for personal accountability, Councillor Machetu walked out, making all kinds of allegations, ranging from being his political opponents, fools and to being ignorant people. Outside, angry residents berated him for being childish, disrespectful, and incompetent. The Highfield Residents’ Trust leadership attempted to control him but he left only to return 20 minutes later, calmer. He was then given a second chance and he promised to work with residents and cooperate on their issues.
HRT Issues: By Mrs Emilia Chakatsva (Board Chairperson) and Precious Shumba (Coordinator)
- Women constitute 52 percent of the total population but were inadequately represented in the City of Harare, where only five of the 46 elected councillors are women.
- The residents and service providers should engage and find best alternatives to improve the lives of residents. This is in line with the HRT vision of engaging all stakeholders in the development of the City.
- Elected representatives and council employees are not bosses of residents but merely servants who must satisfy the expectation of the electorate.
- Councillors should be accommodative of divergent interests groups and must guard against corruption and personalising council business.
- Party supporters of the councillors’ choices should not be given special treatment in council’s casual jobs.
- The HRT is concerned with the involvement of councillors in the recruitment of labour force, perpetuating the culture of patronage entrenched during the past under a one-party system. Every ratepayer should have an equal chance of working for the City of Harare without partisan bias, through a system of advertising at District Offices about any arising vacancies.
ZESA Issues: Mr Fullard Gwasira (Communications and Head of Public Relations)
- Power stations around the country were built between 1944- 1957 targeting a population of less than one million people.
- ZESA tolerates no corruption but aware that some of their employees connive with members of the community to demand money from residents in areas where power outages have occurred.
- The national power utility has lost qualified personnel due to the economic hardships in the country.
- The population has drastically increased yet there is no corresponding upgrading of ZESA power generation capacity, leading to frequent load shedding.
- Vandalism has significantly contributed to the power outages across the country. There is need to educate citizens around issues of securing their power infrastructure.
- ZESA now improving on billing. They had always relied on estimate readings which led to astronomical bills. Balance brought forward on bills indicated the amount owing from the previous months.
- ZESA will work with the residents across Harare to provide all necessary information whenever they are invited. This partnership should be strengthened.
Residents’ Feedback:
- Their elected councillors have all purchased vehicles, yet their allowances were around US$150
- Councillors are engaged in corrupt activities.
- There is no refuse collection yet residents are paying monthly rates for once a week refuse collection.
- Residents want title to their houses.
- Investigations must be carried out to establish how the councillors in Highfield and senior council employees have conducted their business, with regards repossession of council houses where some tenants are living. This affects mostly residents in Highfield’s Geneva.
- There is need to know what the City of Harare is doing.
- A resident had her house ownership changed to another person without her knowledge Need more meetings to share information and understand residents’ rights.
- Councillor need to be genuinely concerned with the welfare of residents and not to look after their own political and personal interests.
- It was apparent that the councillors in Highfield failed to convene budget consultative meetings before the councillors went on to vote together with other councillors on 30 November 2009 to adopt the 2010 City Budget.
NB: If you need further information about the Highfield issues, please contact Eddington Mugova, the Secretary of Highfield or Aleck Rusere, the Chairperson on 0733 371 474 and 0912 971 384 respectively.
Ends//
VENUE: CJ COMMUNITY HALL
IN ATTENDANCE:
- Mabvuku residents’ Trust Leadership
- Harare East residents’ Trust leadership
- Warren Park Residents’ Leadership
- Mbare Residents’ leadership
- Glen Norah B’ Residents Leadership
- Kuwadzana Residents Leadership
- Mabelreign Residents’ Leadership
- Board of Trustees Chairperson- Emilia Chakatsva
- Precious Shumba, HRT Coordinator
- Fullard Gwasira, ZESA Holdings
- Shepherd Mandizvidza, ZESA Holdings
- Highfield Legal Centre
Highfield- AN attempt by a Councillor here to split the nearly 400 residents’ along partisan lines flopped when residents vehemently resisted and demanded that the councillor should account for his alleged involvement in the displacement of residents from their residential places and his alleged failure to represent their interests in council.
Ward 25 Councillor, Silas Machetu attempted to ride on the historical polarisation between parties in the Inclusive Government, based on the presence of residents in the audience he suspected of being his political opponents.
Residents wanted to know the council’s policy on houses belonging to the council, and asked why council officials and councillors were at the forefront of trying to replace the sitting tenants without due regard to justice. Serious allegations of complicity in the repossessions of council houses were levelled against the councillors, in particular Councillors Maxwell Katsande (Ward 26) and Machetu. Katsande left in a huff after failing to stomach the criticism. Ward 24 Councillor Job Mbadzi was also in attendance and promised to cooperate with residents.
The Harare Residents’ Trust (HRT) specifically invited the councillors to provide them with an opportunity to update residents on the programmes of the City of Harare and also to respond to issues of concern affecting their constituents. However, following brief speeches by the HRT Chairperson, Emilia Chakatsva and the Coordinator Precious Shumba, Councillor Machetu misread the situation. Instead of providing information to residents, he went on the defensive, clouding his focus and thinking with his emotions, making partisan statements.
Residents immediately reacted by booing him and asking him to explain his role in the raised matters. Unable to handle the sudden demand for personal accountability, Councillor Machetu walked out, making all kinds of allegations, ranging from being his political opponents, fools and to being ignorant people. Outside, angry residents berated him for being childish, disrespectful, and incompetent. The Highfield Residents’ Trust leadership attempted to control him but he left only to return 20 minutes later, calmer. He was then given a second chance and he promised to work with residents and cooperate on their issues.
HRT Issues: By Mrs Emilia Chakatsva (Board Chairperson) and Precious Shumba (Coordinator)
- Women constitute 52 percent of the total population but were inadequately represented in the City of Harare, where only five of the 46 elected councillors are women.
- The residents and service providers should engage and find best alternatives to improve the lives of residents. This is in line with the HRT vision of engaging all stakeholders in the development of the City.
- Elected representatives and council employees are not bosses of residents but merely servants who must satisfy the expectation of the electorate.
- Councillors should be accommodative of divergent interests groups and must guard against corruption and personalising council business.
- Party supporters of the councillors’ choices should not be given special treatment in council’s casual jobs.
- The HRT is concerned with the involvement of councillors in the recruitment of labour force, perpetuating the culture of patronage entrenched during the past under a one-party system. Every ratepayer should have an equal chance of working for the City of Harare without partisan bias, through a system of advertising at District Offices about any arising vacancies.
ZESA Issues: Mr Fullard Gwasira (Communications and Head of Public Relations)
- Power stations around the country were built between 1944- 1957 targeting a population of less than one million people.
- ZESA tolerates no corruption but aware that some of their employees connive with members of the community to demand money from residents in areas where power outages have occurred.
- The national power utility has lost qualified personnel due to the economic hardships in the country.
- The population has drastically increased yet there is no corresponding upgrading of ZESA power generation capacity, leading to frequent load shedding.
- Vandalism has significantly contributed to the power outages across the country. There is need to educate citizens around issues of securing their power infrastructure.
- ZESA now improving on billing. They had always relied on estimate readings which led to astronomical bills. Balance brought forward on bills indicated the amount owing from the previous months.
- ZESA will work with the residents across Harare to provide all necessary information whenever they are invited. This partnership should be strengthened.
Residents’ Feedback:
- Their elected councillors have all purchased vehicles, yet their allowances were around US$150
- Councillors are engaged in corrupt activities.
- There is no refuse collection yet residents are paying monthly rates for once a week refuse collection.
- Residents want title to their houses.
- Investigations must be carried out to establish how the councillors in Highfield and senior council employees have conducted their business, with regards repossession of council houses where some tenants are living. This affects mostly residents in Highfield’s Geneva.
- There is need to know what the City of Harare is doing.
- A resident had her house ownership changed to another person without her knowledge Need more meetings to share information and understand residents’ rights.
- Councillor need to be genuinely concerned with the welfare of residents and not to look after their own political and personal interests.
- It was apparent that the councillors in Highfield failed to convene budget consultative meetings before the councillors went on to vote together with other councillors on 30 November 2009 to adopt the 2010 City Budget.
NB: If you need further information about the Highfield issues, please contact Eddington Mugova, the Secretary of Highfield or Aleck Rusere, the Chairperson on 0733 371 474 and 0912 971 384 respectively.
Ends//
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Civil servants in Zimbabwe demand $630 as minimum monthly salary
By Kingsley Kaswende in Harare, Zimbabwe
CIVIL servants in Zimbabwe yesterday began a potentially crippling strike until the inclusive government pays them a minimum salary of US $630 per month.
Teachers, doctors, nurses and other civil servants told the fragile unity government at a rally on Friday afternoon that they would down tools and would stay away from work indefinitely beginning yesterday.
However, the government had offered them a minimum salary of US$137 and a top-up proposal of US$248 backdated to January, which led to the breakdown of the negotiations with the unions.
Public service minister Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro said at the weekend that last-minute talks with labour unions had failed to stave off the strike.
He said the government's new offer had been rejected by workers because it was "insufficient".
"The new offer has been unveiled and I am informed by officers from my ministry that the staff associations said it is not sufficient. Consultations are still going on and when we finish, we will call for another meeting," he said.
Prof Mukonoweshuro had told unions that the extra allocation of US$4 million for all civil servants that he had offered last Tuesday was still on the table.
He said the money would be used to give state employees US$8 and US$7 as housing and transport allowances respectively.
House rentals in high density suburbs average US $80 while a return trip into town costs US$2 per day.
A check around some schools, hospitals and government ministries yesterday morning found workers gathered outside their work premises, chatting.
Addressing a rally that brought together unions representing different arms of the civil service in Harare, Zimbabwe Teachers' Association president Tendai Chikowore said the unions had given the government sufficient time to address their grievances.
“The issue of remuneration has been neglected by the employer for many years. Government has been taking us for granted and now we are saying enough is enough,” she said.
Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said the workers had been patient long enough, adding that they had decided to unite against their employer.
"We have been neglected for so long and we have become a soft target for alternative saving options in government spending. Time has come for us to unite against our employer," Majongwe said.
Civil servants said the government spent more on foreign travels than on the welfare of the workers.
Last year, the government spent US $20 million on overseas trips, a far cry from the US $4 million it offered civil servants.
Currently, civil servants earn between US$100 and US $500.
CIVIL servants in Zimbabwe yesterday began a potentially crippling strike until the inclusive government pays them a minimum salary of US $630 per month.
Teachers, doctors, nurses and other civil servants told the fragile unity government at a rally on Friday afternoon that they would down tools and would stay away from work indefinitely beginning yesterday.
However, the government had offered them a minimum salary of US$137 and a top-up proposal of US$248 backdated to January, which led to the breakdown of the negotiations with the unions.
Public service minister Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro said at the weekend that last-minute talks with labour unions had failed to stave off the strike.
He said the government's new offer had been rejected by workers because it was "insufficient".
"The new offer has been unveiled and I am informed by officers from my ministry that the staff associations said it is not sufficient. Consultations are still going on and when we finish, we will call for another meeting," he said.
Prof Mukonoweshuro had told unions that the extra allocation of US$4 million for all civil servants that he had offered last Tuesday was still on the table.
He said the money would be used to give state employees US$8 and US$7 as housing and transport allowances respectively.
House rentals in high density suburbs average US $80 while a return trip into town costs US$2 per day.
A check around some schools, hospitals and government ministries yesterday morning found workers gathered outside their work premises, chatting.
Addressing a rally that brought together unions representing different arms of the civil service in Harare, Zimbabwe Teachers' Association president Tendai Chikowore said the unions had given the government sufficient time to address their grievances.
“The issue of remuneration has been neglected by the employer for many years. Government has been taking us for granted and now we are saying enough is enough,” she said.
Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said the workers had been patient long enough, adding that they had decided to unite against their employer.
"We have been neglected for so long and we have become a soft target for alternative saving options in government spending. Time has come for us to unite against our employer," Majongwe said.
Civil servants said the government spent more on foreign travels than on the welfare of the workers.
Last year, the government spent US $20 million on overseas trips, a far cry from the US $4 million it offered civil servants.
Currently, civil servants earn between US$100 and US $500.
Harare Residents' Update- Mbare
Residents’ Updates:
Situational Update: This update has been made necessary by resources provided to the Harare Residents’ Trust (HRT) by the Non-State Actors Support Forum (NSAF). To receive updates, write Subscribe in the subject line and to unsubscribe write Unsubscribe in the subject line to hretrust@yahoo.com/ hretrust79@gmail.com
09 FEBRUARY 2010:
MBARE RESIDENTS QUIZ COUNCILLOR OVER STEEP RATES AND SERVICE DELIVERY
Mbare- RESIDENTS here have drawn up a list of more than fifty questions aimed at the elected councillors, the District Officer and Town House officials over what they termed ‘unjustified rates and collapse in service delivery’ by the Harare City Council. The residents urged Councillor Mugove Chingombe of Ward 12 to be actively involved with the community that elected him if he wanted to be relevant.
Resident after resident posed questions around the high rates and rentals, the inconsistent water billing, alleged partisanship of councillors, corruption by city officials, and the unaccountability of councillors and insecurity of residents in their houses. Councillor Chingombe managed to answer some of the questions but could not provide satisfactory responses to other pertinent issues raised by residents of Ward 3, 4, and 11.
This happened at Stodart Gym Hall on Saturday 6 February 2010 when around 250 residents gathered for a community meeting to discuss the state of service delivery in Mbare, the performance of elected councillors, rates and rentals by the City of Harare, and other issues affecting the residents. They drew up a list of questions they gave to the residents’ leadership so that councillors and city officials provide clear and satisfactory answers at the next meeting.
Eunice Wakatama (0733 252 622), the Chairperson of the Mbare Residents’ Trust (MRT) said it was important for residents to regularly meet, be informed and discuss their issues so that service providers and elected representatives are constantly held accountable. She said councillors should provide regular feedback on how they were representing residents in council business. “A councillor who fails to work with the citizenry is not worth to be our representative,” she said. “We must unite as residents and share information about how our council is operating.”
Thabani Matesi (0733 603 464), a member of the MRT Mobilisation Committee reported on the MRT workshop, facilitated by the Zimbabwe Association of Crime and Rehabilitation of Offenders (ZACRO) at Mazvikadei Lodge a fortnight ago. In his report back to the residents, Matesi said Mbare was viewed as a crime haven and the residents had the power to change this perception through vigorous crime prevention measures.
“It was clear during the workshop that residents are opposed to the corruption by Neighbourhood Watch Committee members,” he said. “Residents want to be at the forefront of selecting their own voluntary police force, trained by the ZRP. It is now up to us as a community to cooperate with police and other stakeholders in the fight against police corruption, and other criminal vices.”
Chairperson of Mabvuku Residents’ Trust Andrew Mutambu said residents needed to unite, and speak with one voice, using their enormous power over service providers and elected representatives. Treasurer of Highfield Residents’ Trust Kunasa Masakura said in Highfield they had managed to expose council corruption through working with the community and the police.
HRT Coordinator Precious Shumba said the purpose of a residents’ body is to educate, inform and build the capacity of the citizenry to make informed decisions, facilitate engagement of all stakeholders in the interest of citizens. Elected representatives and service providers have to be accountable and should be transparent in the utilisation of public resources, he said.
Situational Update: This update has been made necessary by resources provided to the Harare Residents’ Trust (HRT) by the Non-State Actors Support Forum (NSAF). To receive updates, write Subscribe in the subject line and to unsubscribe write Unsubscribe in the subject line to hretrust@yahoo.com/ hretrust79@gmail.com
09 FEBRUARY 2010:
MBARE RESIDENTS QUIZ COUNCILLOR OVER STEEP RATES AND SERVICE DELIVERY
Mbare- RESIDENTS here have drawn up a list of more than fifty questions aimed at the elected councillors, the District Officer and Town House officials over what they termed ‘unjustified rates and collapse in service delivery’ by the Harare City Council. The residents urged Councillor Mugove Chingombe of Ward 12 to be actively involved with the community that elected him if he wanted to be relevant.
Resident after resident posed questions around the high rates and rentals, the inconsistent water billing, alleged partisanship of councillors, corruption by city officials, and the unaccountability of councillors and insecurity of residents in their houses. Councillor Chingombe managed to answer some of the questions but could not provide satisfactory responses to other pertinent issues raised by residents of Ward 3, 4, and 11.
This happened at Stodart Gym Hall on Saturday 6 February 2010 when around 250 residents gathered for a community meeting to discuss the state of service delivery in Mbare, the performance of elected councillors, rates and rentals by the City of Harare, and other issues affecting the residents. They drew up a list of questions they gave to the residents’ leadership so that councillors and city officials provide clear and satisfactory answers at the next meeting.
Eunice Wakatama (0733 252 622), the Chairperson of the Mbare Residents’ Trust (MRT) said it was important for residents to regularly meet, be informed and discuss their issues so that service providers and elected representatives are constantly held accountable. She said councillors should provide regular feedback on how they were representing residents in council business. “A councillor who fails to work with the citizenry is not worth to be our representative,” she said. “We must unite as residents and share information about how our council is operating.”
Thabani Matesi (0733 603 464), a member of the MRT Mobilisation Committee reported on the MRT workshop, facilitated by the Zimbabwe Association of Crime and Rehabilitation of Offenders (ZACRO) at Mazvikadei Lodge a fortnight ago. In his report back to the residents, Matesi said Mbare was viewed as a crime haven and the residents had the power to change this perception through vigorous crime prevention measures.
“It was clear during the workshop that residents are opposed to the corruption by Neighbourhood Watch Committee members,” he said. “Residents want to be at the forefront of selecting their own voluntary police force, trained by the ZRP. It is now up to us as a community to cooperate with police and other stakeholders in the fight against police corruption, and other criminal vices.”
Chairperson of Mabvuku Residents’ Trust Andrew Mutambu said residents needed to unite, and speak with one voice, using their enormous power over service providers and elected representatives. Treasurer of Highfield Residents’ Trust Kunasa Masakura said in Highfield they had managed to expose council corruption through working with the community and the police.
HRT Coordinator Precious Shumba said the purpose of a residents’ body is to educate, inform and build the capacity of the citizenry to make informed decisions, facilitate engagement of all stakeholders in the interest of citizens. Elected representatives and service providers have to be accountable and should be transparent in the utilisation of public resources, he said.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Two decades after Mandela's release, South Africa struggles
Twenty years after Nelson Mandela was freed from prison, South Africa is a vibrant democracy but the millions still living in poverty are now looking for leadership that can tackle its economic problems.
World
Mandela's release on February 11, 1990, after 27 years in apartheid-era jails, set in motion the country's transformation to democracy which culminated in historic all-race elections in 1994 and his inauguration as the country's first black leader.
Some critics say Mandela's legacy has been blighted by his successor Thabo Mbeki's sacking as president by the ruling ANC and the latest sexual scandal involving current President Jacob Zuma which has damaged the party's image.
South Africa's change to democracy has been heralded as a miracle. Mandela's reconciliation drive won over hardline white conservatives, previously segregated communities are integrated and most blacks and whites now treat each other with respect.
But two decades on, many black South Africans still live in grinding poverty in squalid shantytowns, official unemployment is just under 25 percent and analysts say actual joblessness is much higher. "The challenges are identical. If there are three categories of things, it will be unemployment, inequality with a racial overlay and poverty. The changes between 1990 and 2010 are not profound," said independent political analyst Nic Borain.
Crime is rife and South Africa has one of the world's highest rates of violent crime. The country also has to deal with one of the heaviest global HIV/AIDS caseloads.
RICH POOR GAP
Income inequality between different race groups has increased from 1995 and the World Bank describes South Africa as a country with "extreme differences in incomes and wealth."
At least 34 percent of South Africa's estimated 50 million people live on less than two dollars per day, according to the World Bank.
The economy under the African National Congress, which has been ruling since the end of apartheid in 1994, saw its longest spurt of growth on record until the fallout from the global financial crisis pushed it into recession at the start of 2009.
Although Africa's biggest economy emerged from recession in the third quarter of 2009, analysts said its growth prospects lagged other emerging market peers -- a situation which can only be changed through significant restructuring to address infrastructure and labor market constraints.
Two decades after Mandela's release, South Africa needed to put in place real change to address economic structural problems and the low potential growth rate, said Peter Attard Montalto, emerging markets economist at Nomura International.
"There is currently no one to lead South Africa to this consensus. We need to hunt for the next Mandela, not the nation builder, the economic revolutionary," Attard Montalto added.
Despite the obvious problems facing South Africa, much has changed since Mandela was released.
A strong black middle-class has emerged, a whole generation of schoolchildren born after 1994 -- known as the "born frees" -- have grown up in an multi-racial society and basic services like water and electricity have been extended to millions.
"The only black people you interacted with (prior to 1990) as a normal kind of person were servants and deeply poverty-stricken people. That is no longer the case and there is a general deracialism of wealth at least," political analyst Borain said.
(Editing by Giles Elgood)
World
Mandela's release on February 11, 1990, after 27 years in apartheid-era jails, set in motion the country's transformation to democracy which culminated in historic all-race elections in 1994 and his inauguration as the country's first black leader.
Some critics say Mandela's legacy has been blighted by his successor Thabo Mbeki's sacking as president by the ruling ANC and the latest sexual scandal involving current President Jacob Zuma which has damaged the party's image.
South Africa's change to democracy has been heralded as a miracle. Mandela's reconciliation drive won over hardline white conservatives, previously segregated communities are integrated and most blacks and whites now treat each other with respect.
But two decades on, many black South Africans still live in grinding poverty in squalid shantytowns, official unemployment is just under 25 percent and analysts say actual joblessness is much higher. "The challenges are identical. If there are three categories of things, it will be unemployment, inequality with a racial overlay and poverty. The changes between 1990 and 2010 are not profound," said independent political analyst Nic Borain.
Crime is rife and South Africa has one of the world's highest rates of violent crime. The country also has to deal with one of the heaviest global HIV/AIDS caseloads.
RICH POOR GAP
Income inequality between different race groups has increased from 1995 and the World Bank describes South Africa as a country with "extreme differences in incomes and wealth."
At least 34 percent of South Africa's estimated 50 million people live on less than two dollars per day, according to the World Bank.
The economy under the African National Congress, which has been ruling since the end of apartheid in 1994, saw its longest spurt of growth on record until the fallout from the global financial crisis pushed it into recession at the start of 2009.
Although Africa's biggest economy emerged from recession in the third quarter of 2009, analysts said its growth prospects lagged other emerging market peers -- a situation which can only be changed through significant restructuring to address infrastructure and labor market constraints.
Two decades after Mandela's release, South Africa needed to put in place real change to address economic structural problems and the low potential growth rate, said Peter Attard Montalto, emerging markets economist at Nomura International.
"There is currently no one to lead South Africa to this consensus. We need to hunt for the next Mandela, not the nation builder, the economic revolutionary," Attard Montalto added.
Despite the obvious problems facing South Africa, much has changed since Mandela was released.
A strong black middle-class has emerged, a whole generation of schoolchildren born after 1994 -- known as the "born frees" -- have grown up in an multi-racial society and basic services like water and electricity have been extended to millions.
"The only black people you interacted with (prior to 1990) as a normal kind of person were servants and deeply poverty-stricken people. That is no longer the case and there is a general deracialism of wealth at least," political analyst Borain said.
(Editing by Giles Elgood)
Friday, January 22, 2010
Working with displaced young men in Musina
With the support of UNICEF, Sonke and People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) have started working in the Limpopo town of Musina near the Zimbabwe border to address the very high-levels of violence against women and children (especially migrants) in the area. Musina is characterized by a huge number of migrants – particularly vulnerable and mobile populations from Zimbabwe, with approximately 1,800-2,000 Zimbabwean asylum seekers crossing the border legally and illegally each day. Girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation at border crossings at the hands of immigration officials, soldiers, police, and other criminal gangs which roam these areas.
The joint project aims:
to increase awareness around GBV and HIV,
assist survivors of sexual abuse and gender-based violence to have improved access to women-centred, responsive services, and
to increase men and boy’s involvement in activities to prevent violence against women and the spread of HIV.
The project is also challenging xenophobia,
working to strengthen community cohesion and
promoting human rights (especially those of migrants and asylum seekers).
Sonke is working with men from a number of community groups in Musina to develop their capacity to be advocates and activists in efforts to:
eliminate violence against women and children,
to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS and
to promote health, care and support for orphans and vulnerable children.
We will also extend the programme to reach men in the transport industry by working with taxi drivers and truckers in Musina and at the border area.
Other stakeholders working in Musina including Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and Save the Children UK have already started mobilizing boys and men living in the streets with the aim:
to raise public awareness and
address issues around water borne diseases, HIV/AIDS, and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
Sonke and POWA are also working to protect the many unaccompanied minors crossing the border from exploitation.
This is done through a variety of activities including; working with stakeholders through the organisation of community events, developing educational materials, and engaging in community mobilisation using the arts and other community events to stimulate discussions about human rights and the prevention of GBV. Sonke is specifically working with boys at the URC Boys’ Shelter getting them to share their personal experiences and empowering them to stand up against violence.
Commenting on the importance of working with boys in the area, Vusi Cebekhulu (the One Man Can coordinator working in Musina) notes, “One of the saddening phenomenon in Musina and nearby Beitbridge is that boys who are aged between 12 and 18 are sexually active, and already they are indulging in sexual relationships with commercial sex workers.” The levels of sexual activity and unprotected sex in the area are evidenced by the number of STIs reported to and treated by MSF.
Vusi also added saying, “A lot of boys are aware of the safer sex methods including condom usage, but the socialization process and peer excitement play a huge role in their decision-making processes”. When asked, the boys said that “women refuse to use condoms, and it’s not easy to think about condoms when the penis is erected”.
On 25 November, Sonke and POWA unveiled a mural to mark the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children. The mural was designed and painted by the numerous adults and children who have participated in OMC and POWA workshops since September. The paintings denounce acts of violence against women and children and aim to educate the community about HIV/AIDS.
The event was held at Eric Louw High School and included a poetry performance by migrant members of the community. More than 200 community members attended the event, including the Acting Musina municipality manager, Mr Pedro Nndwa, and a representative of the Department of Education, Dr N.S Phaswana.
Although the problems in the Musina area are vast, this project has the potential to make a lasting difference in the area. The involvement of government departments and international agencies in the area are strengthening the programme, and comments from participants in the workshops indicate that the attitudes of the men involved are changing: “My dad used to beat my mother, and I thought it was okay, but today I can see it destroys families”.
Author: Vusi Cebekhulu and Helen Alexander
The joint project aims:
to increase awareness around GBV and HIV,
assist survivors of sexual abuse and gender-based violence to have improved access to women-centred, responsive services, and
to increase men and boy’s involvement in activities to prevent violence against women and the spread of HIV.
The project is also challenging xenophobia,
working to strengthen community cohesion and
promoting human rights (especially those of migrants and asylum seekers).
Sonke is working with men from a number of community groups in Musina to develop their capacity to be advocates and activists in efforts to:
eliminate violence against women and children,
to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS and
to promote health, care and support for orphans and vulnerable children.
We will also extend the programme to reach men in the transport industry by working with taxi drivers and truckers in Musina and at the border area.
Other stakeholders working in Musina including Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and Save the Children UK have already started mobilizing boys and men living in the streets with the aim:
to raise public awareness and
address issues around water borne diseases, HIV/AIDS, and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
Sonke and POWA are also working to protect the many unaccompanied minors crossing the border from exploitation.
This is done through a variety of activities including; working with stakeholders through the organisation of community events, developing educational materials, and engaging in community mobilisation using the arts and other community events to stimulate discussions about human rights and the prevention of GBV. Sonke is specifically working with boys at the URC Boys’ Shelter getting them to share their personal experiences and empowering them to stand up against violence.
Commenting on the importance of working with boys in the area, Vusi Cebekhulu (the One Man Can coordinator working in Musina) notes, “One of the saddening phenomenon in Musina and nearby Beitbridge is that boys who are aged between 12 and 18 are sexually active, and already they are indulging in sexual relationships with commercial sex workers.” The levels of sexual activity and unprotected sex in the area are evidenced by the number of STIs reported to and treated by MSF.
Vusi also added saying, “A lot of boys are aware of the safer sex methods including condom usage, but the socialization process and peer excitement play a huge role in their decision-making processes”. When asked, the boys said that “women refuse to use condoms, and it’s not easy to think about condoms when the penis is erected”.
On 25 November, Sonke and POWA unveiled a mural to mark the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children. The mural was designed and painted by the numerous adults and children who have participated in OMC and POWA workshops since September. The paintings denounce acts of violence against women and children and aim to educate the community about HIV/AIDS.
The event was held at Eric Louw High School and included a poetry performance by migrant members of the community. More than 200 community members attended the event, including the Acting Musina municipality manager, Mr Pedro Nndwa, and a representative of the Department of Education, Dr N.S Phaswana.
Although the problems in the Musina area are vast, this project has the potential to make a lasting difference in the area. The involvement of government departments and international agencies in the area are strengthening the programme, and comments from participants in the workshops indicate that the attitudes of the men involved are changing: “My dad used to beat my mother, and I thought it was okay, but today I can see it destroys families”.
Author: Vusi Cebekhulu and Helen Alexander
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Women protest against Zimbabwe law review bias
Zimbabwe's troubled constitution making process has hit another snag after women threatened to disrupt the exercise arguing that it is biased towards men.
Women from across the political divide say they are not happy that the management of the committee in charge of Zimbabwe's second attempt to draft a new constitution since independence in 1980 is led by men.
The three principals in the unity government President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara co chair the management committee of the constitution making process.
Below them is a Parliamentary Select Committee also co-chaired by male legislators from the three parties that make up the unity government.
The disgruntled women almost disrupted a training workshop for the more than 600 people, who will make up the outreach teams that were being deployed on Thursday.
We call upon the co-chairpersons to redress the situation before of the beginning of the outreach programme by co-opting women into different committees to address gender parity, said Women's Affairs, Gender and Employment Development Minister Olivia Muchena after the protests.
Zimbabwe has already ratified the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and this should be respected. There was along stand off as male delegates objected to the issues raised by the women activists.
But the co-chairperson of the Constitution Select Committee Mr Douglas Mwonzora said women concerns would be taken on board.
"We are going to attend to that issue because its a genuine issue which all stakeholders should address. We are going to engage political parties and the Management Committee over that matter.
"This is because the issue of women has potential budgetary implications on our side if we ignore them," he said.
Zimbabwe's constitution making process is already behind schedule by more than six months because of unending squabbles in the unity government.
If the outreach programme to gather people's views is successfully concluded in 65 days, the draft would be put to a referendum by October.
It would then be sent to parliament for ratification, which might lead to fresh elections.
Zimbabwe currently uses a constitution that was crafted by its former coloniser, Britain during talks that led to its independence in 1980 and it has been amended 19 times.
By KITSEPILE NYATHI, NATION CorrespondentPosted Thursday, January 14 2010 at 17:51
HARARE
Women from across the political divide say they are not happy that the management of the committee in charge of Zimbabwe's second attempt to draft a new constitution since independence in 1980 is led by men.
The three principals in the unity government President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara co chair the management committee of the constitution making process.
Below them is a Parliamentary Select Committee also co-chaired by male legislators from the three parties that make up the unity government.
The disgruntled women almost disrupted a training workshop for the more than 600 people, who will make up the outreach teams that were being deployed on Thursday.
We call upon the co-chairpersons to redress the situation before of the beginning of the outreach programme by co-opting women into different committees to address gender parity, said Women's Affairs, Gender and Employment Development Minister Olivia Muchena after the protests.
Zimbabwe has already ratified the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and this should be respected. There was along stand off as male delegates objected to the issues raised by the women activists.
But the co-chairperson of the Constitution Select Committee Mr Douglas Mwonzora said women concerns would be taken on board.
"We are going to attend to that issue because its a genuine issue which all stakeholders should address. We are going to engage political parties and the Management Committee over that matter.
"This is because the issue of women has potential budgetary implications on our side if we ignore them," he said.
Zimbabwe's constitution making process is already behind schedule by more than six months because of unending squabbles in the unity government.
If the outreach programme to gather people's views is successfully concluded in 65 days, the draft would be put to a referendum by October.
It would then be sent to parliament for ratification, which might lead to fresh elections.
Zimbabwe currently uses a constitution that was crafted by its former coloniser, Britain during talks that led to its independence in 1980 and it has been amended 19 times.
By KITSEPILE NYATHI, NATION CorrespondentPosted Thursday, January 14 2010 at 17:51
HARARE
ZIMBABWE: Training Teachers to Cope with HIV-positive Students
Eleven-year-old Memory’s grandmother wanted her to drop out of school because she is not going to live long enough to complete her studies. And the ridicule and stigma Memory endures at school because of her HIV status does not make her education seem worthwhile. Especially since this ridicule comes from her teacher.
In a country where aids agencies estimate 120,000 children are HIV-positive, school teachers are finding themselves increasingly in the frontline of the epidemic.
The National AIDS Council recently carried out a study that found "teachers had not received enough HIV/ART education to carry out their supportive role in paediatric and adolescent care and support".
And from Memory’s situation it is clear that teachers are ill-equipped to cope with the number of HIV-positive children in schools.
Mbuya Tapera, Memory’s grandmother, listens daily as her grandchild relates how she has been ill-treated by her teacher. "Her teacher believes she is wasting time by coming to school when it is obvious she will die before she completes her studies." "I think she is better off at home than at school," says Tapera.
But the situation in the country’s schools has not gone unnoticed.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Harare Cluster office partnered with the ministry of higher and tertiary education to develop an HIV/AIDS manual for teachers.
The manual will be incorporated into the curriculum at teacher’s training colleges from Jan 11, the start of the new academic year.
The manual will also be distributed to teachers who are already practicing. Special courses and workshops will also be held for those teachers already practicing.
"The role of the teacher in the fight against HIV/AIDS among other social development issues cannot be overly emphasised," says higher and tertiary education permanent secretary, Dr Washington Mbizvo.
He says the ministry believes teachers have the ability to develop the intellectual and spiritual capacity of the child. "It is important to enhance teacher education as a means of attaining an HIV/AIDS-free society. We have to ensure that all teachers are grounded in their knowledge of HIV/AIDS," says Mbizvo.
The director and resident representative of UNESCO, Soo Hyang Choi, says the development of the manual was influenced by a realisation that the involvement of teachers would boost the fight against HIV.
"Education can no longer be business as usual, teachers have to acquire adequate skills to be able to address these children in a sensitive and informed manner," said Choi.
Tapera agrees. "These teachers have no understanding whatsoever about HIV. For them whoever has the virus has been sentenced to death. It seems they do not believe that one can live a normal life with it. And it seems they just do not care to listen to some of us," added Tapera.
Memory tested positive in 2005, the year she started primary school. Tapera and other relatives got assistance from community support groups which helped Memory to accept her status and believe that she can still have a good quality of life
"When she went to school, we all believed school was the best place for her," Tapera says. But things have changed. Now everyone at the school knows that Memo is positive, and that her mother died of an AIDS-related illness. "All this is because of her teacher who makes it appear like Memory committed a serious crime," Tapera says.
Other students across the country have also experienced this stigma from their teachers.
Because of the lack of support at their school a group of HIV-positive youngsters in Gwanda, the provincial capital for Matabeleland South, grouped together and formed their own support group. Despite their knowledge about the virus they are not allowed to speak publically to other students at school about issues surrounding HIV.
"If (we) are seen or heard talking about HIV/AIDS or condoms, (we) will be in trouble with our teachers," said Musa Dube*, a member of the group.
But with the introduction of the manual, Musa and others in the group hope their teachers will now support them in their effort to live positively.
But Portia Munyoro, a trainee teacher at the Morgan Teachers’ College in Harare believes teachers "are not that inhumane to ill-treat these (HIV-positive) children".
"As teachers, we know that our task is to help these children get a brighter future, whether they are (HIV-) positive or not," Munyoro says.
She says although she has attended a number of counselling workshops at schools and at ward level, she still finds it difficult when it comes to counselling children. "Counselling children is much more difficult than counselling adults because one has to simplify everything, and I hope this manual will equip us with ways of handling this challenge," Munyoro says.
"At times you try to use force for the children to open up, and this is probably where this talk about harassment comes from."
The manual was developed to address this, among other issues.
The manual has sessions on cultivating positive group dynamics, basic and technical information on HIV/AIDS, gender and sexuality.
Rita Mbatha, the founder and executive director of Women’s Comfort Corner, a non-governmental organisation that works with women at the grassroots in communities, said the manual will go a long way helping not only teachers and pupils, but also women who do most of the work as care givers.
"Educators play an important role in the fight against HIV/AIDS, particularly in terms of ensuring proper care among infected and affected children. Teachers are best positioned to handle issues of denial and stigma among and against school children," says Mbatha.
She says the impact teachers can make on their students would cascade to the rest of the community.
"The school offers a good foundation for shaping how people behave in society, and all this centres around the teacher. I have no doubt this manual will provide the link that has always been missing between parents or guardians and teachers of children living with HIV," adds Mbatha.
*Names have been changed
(END)
By Vusumuzi Sifile
HARARE, Jan 15, 2010 (IPS)
In a country where aids agencies estimate 120,000 children are HIV-positive, school teachers are finding themselves increasingly in the frontline of the epidemic.
The National AIDS Council recently carried out a study that found "teachers had not received enough HIV/ART education to carry out their supportive role in paediatric and adolescent care and support".
And from Memory’s situation it is clear that teachers are ill-equipped to cope with the number of HIV-positive children in schools.
Mbuya Tapera, Memory’s grandmother, listens daily as her grandchild relates how she has been ill-treated by her teacher. "Her teacher believes she is wasting time by coming to school when it is obvious she will die before she completes her studies." "I think she is better off at home than at school," says Tapera.
But the situation in the country’s schools has not gone unnoticed.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Harare Cluster office partnered with the ministry of higher and tertiary education to develop an HIV/AIDS manual for teachers.
The manual will be incorporated into the curriculum at teacher’s training colleges from Jan 11, the start of the new academic year.
The manual will also be distributed to teachers who are already practicing. Special courses and workshops will also be held for those teachers already practicing.
"The role of the teacher in the fight against HIV/AIDS among other social development issues cannot be overly emphasised," says higher and tertiary education permanent secretary, Dr Washington Mbizvo.
He says the ministry believes teachers have the ability to develop the intellectual and spiritual capacity of the child. "It is important to enhance teacher education as a means of attaining an HIV/AIDS-free society. We have to ensure that all teachers are grounded in their knowledge of HIV/AIDS," says Mbizvo.
The director and resident representative of UNESCO, Soo Hyang Choi, says the development of the manual was influenced by a realisation that the involvement of teachers would boost the fight against HIV.
"Education can no longer be business as usual, teachers have to acquire adequate skills to be able to address these children in a sensitive and informed manner," said Choi.
Tapera agrees. "These teachers have no understanding whatsoever about HIV. For them whoever has the virus has been sentenced to death. It seems they do not believe that one can live a normal life with it. And it seems they just do not care to listen to some of us," added Tapera.
Memory tested positive in 2005, the year she started primary school. Tapera and other relatives got assistance from community support groups which helped Memory to accept her status and believe that she can still have a good quality of life
"When she went to school, we all believed school was the best place for her," Tapera says. But things have changed. Now everyone at the school knows that Memo is positive, and that her mother died of an AIDS-related illness. "All this is because of her teacher who makes it appear like Memory committed a serious crime," Tapera says.
Other students across the country have also experienced this stigma from their teachers.
Because of the lack of support at their school a group of HIV-positive youngsters in Gwanda, the provincial capital for Matabeleland South, grouped together and formed their own support group. Despite their knowledge about the virus they are not allowed to speak publically to other students at school about issues surrounding HIV.
"If (we) are seen or heard talking about HIV/AIDS or condoms, (we) will be in trouble with our teachers," said Musa Dube*, a member of the group.
But with the introduction of the manual, Musa and others in the group hope their teachers will now support them in their effort to live positively.
But Portia Munyoro, a trainee teacher at the Morgan Teachers’ College in Harare believes teachers "are not that inhumane to ill-treat these (HIV-positive) children".
"As teachers, we know that our task is to help these children get a brighter future, whether they are (HIV-) positive or not," Munyoro says.
She says although she has attended a number of counselling workshops at schools and at ward level, she still finds it difficult when it comes to counselling children. "Counselling children is much more difficult than counselling adults because one has to simplify everything, and I hope this manual will equip us with ways of handling this challenge," Munyoro says.
"At times you try to use force for the children to open up, and this is probably where this talk about harassment comes from."
The manual was developed to address this, among other issues.
The manual has sessions on cultivating positive group dynamics, basic and technical information on HIV/AIDS, gender and sexuality.
Rita Mbatha, the founder and executive director of Women’s Comfort Corner, a non-governmental organisation that works with women at the grassroots in communities, said the manual will go a long way helping not only teachers and pupils, but also women who do most of the work as care givers.
"Educators play an important role in the fight against HIV/AIDS, particularly in terms of ensuring proper care among infected and affected children. Teachers are best positioned to handle issues of denial and stigma among and against school children," says Mbatha.
She says the impact teachers can make on their students would cascade to the rest of the community.
"The school offers a good foundation for shaping how people behave in society, and all this centres around the teacher. I have no doubt this manual will provide the link that has always been missing between parents or guardians and teachers of children living with HIV," adds Mbatha.
*Names have been changed
(END)
By Vusumuzi Sifile
HARARE, Jan 15, 2010 (IPS)
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