There seems to be a growing trend in Zimbabwe where politicians strive to derail every progressive process seeking to redress national ills while pretending to be fighting for the equality of all citizens. 

BY CONIE TADZINGWA

That Vice-president Joice Mujuru is a role model cannot be over-emphasised. She fought alongside male cadres during the war of liberation. She was in the thick of things when guns were blazing.

Grace Mutandwa

More and more young women are running very taxing small special projects in a bid to keep up appearances.

President Robert Mugabe on Friday complained about vote buying and the imposition of candidates in Zanu PF. A visibly angry Mugabe sought to blame some unnamed elements for destabilising the party. His rant confirmed that Zanu PF is now out of sync with its founding ideals that inspired the masses to fight against colonial dictatorship in the 1970s.

Mining can never be detached from politics but Zimbabwe’s  politicians try to justify and magnify their party ideologies, thus,  the existence of abundant natural resources generates a series of economic and political distortions.

Zimbabwe last Thursday commemorated World Press Freedom day with the rest of the world. This came at a momentous time when the echoes of our 32nd independence celebrations, have not yet completely died. 

It seems there are three schools of thought in Zanu PF regarding the writing of a new constitution; one is decidedly against the process, the second is for the writing of the new governance charter, while the third wouldn’t care one way or the other.

Grace Mutandwa

I was working on the next chapter of my novel when an “Aha” moment hit me very hard.

PARTIES in the inclusive government are planning to have more women in parliament in order to ensure gender parity in the legislative assembly.

Though in principle the idea is noble, what boggles the mind is that the parties think they can only achieve gender parity by increasing the number of MPs.

Figures revealed last week show that up 90 more seats could be created in Parliament, pushing the number of legislators to a whopping 300 members.  The government, already struggling to meet the demands of the current 210 seats, has no resources to finance the needs of more MPs.

More worryingly, these MPs don’t need to drop a sweat to be in Parliament as they will be appointed by leaders of political parties.

In the case of Zanu PF, it will be President Mugabe who will appoint his party’s MPs. Other principals will also do the same, meaning those who get into Parliament would most probably merely be protégés selected for their unwavering loyalty to their political masters.

Mugabe has in the past rewarded loyal chiefs by appointing them into Parliament. That way, he managed to create a group of unelected legislators that only served his interests. The 90 MPs that could join Parliament are likely to serve the same purpose.

Clearly, such a political arrangement would not work in the best interest for Zimbabweans, who are still fighting dictatorial tendencies. What they need is a Parliament that is responsive to their needs not those of their political grandmasters.

While women are evidently disadvantaged in the Zimbabwean society, parties should seek to create conditions that allow for fair competition between men and women. Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe and Vice-President Joice Mujuru, among others, show women can succeed against all the odds in politics.

Where women are clearly disadvantaged, parties can reserve constituencies for women as Zanu PF has done in the past. Parliament can also create laws that allow for gender equality.

Hoping to solve the problem by increasing the number of MPs is a wrong recipe for a country struggling with a bloated wage bill.

SO much has been said  in the media and other discussion forums concerning the usefulness of special interest councillors within local authorities as provided for in the Urban Councils’ Act (Chapter 29:15), administered by the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, who shall be referred to as the Minister throughout this instalment.

Grace Mutandwa

A friend of mine is getting married again this year. I say again, because this is going to be her second marriage.

Last week there was a hullabaloo about the aborted Castle Lager Premiership match between CAPS United and Motor Action after the latter chose not to fulfill the fixture at Gwanzura because they were not given the chance to choose a venue of their choice as they were the home team.

President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday made what ranks as his most passionate call for peace in Zimbabwe in recent years. Addressing thousands who gathered for the Independence celebrations at the National Sports Stadium, Mugabe said violence of the past should be “buried” and called on everyone, including security forces, to ensure that peace prevails in the communities.

As the spectre of elections becomes a certainty, Zanu PF has moved a gear up in efforts to reincarnate itself from oblivion by espousing a rushed indigenisation policy onto a reluctant electorate.

As local politicians turn the heat on each other in the race to own minerals, which are part of the vast natural resources Zimbabwe possesses and amidst the hullabaloo of indigenisation, an interesting question arises: Who owns and controls the country’s natural resources? Is it the government, private capital, local communities or the politicians themselves?

The other day I bought mixed vegetables worth US$2,95 and was given a sweet as change because of the lack of coins. Before the till operator gave me the sweet I had asked for a carrier bag but she said the  plastic bag they had cost US10c.

BY LANCE MAMBONDIANI

A year ago, David Brown — the head of Impala Platinum — believed Zimbabwe’s indigenisation plans for foreign-owned mines “would not happen”. The policy, which required all companies with a share capital above US$500 000 to arrange for 51% of their shares or interests to be owned by indigenous Zimbabweans, was taken as a bit of a joke  — a populist policy by the government to win votes ahead of elections. It’s not so funny now.

By Youth Forum

Six police officers who recently butchered a Shamva mine worker, Luxmore Chivambo,  and fatally injured 11 others have been granted US$50 bail each.

Grace Mutandwa

The more I interact with married couples, the more I am convinced someone out there needs to establish a school of marital politics.
Forget about marital counselling because when couples seek that at times it is already too late. In any case most couples lie about their true feelings when in counselling.

Rosie Mitchell

Last year, a last-minute decision to squeeze Two Oceans in just before Hifa, led to my happy discovery of the new Two Oceans 22km Trail Run — the Half Marathon being fully subscribed. I do most of my training on trail, treating it as a chance to get out into the semi-wild on the outskirts of the city and enjoy scenery, birds and occasional game.