Time to bury the hatchet?

By Jonathan Benjamin
I think the time has now come for a spade to be called a spade and the hatchet between Zimbabwean and the powerful western block led by the United States and Britain. For far too long a clash of interests based on a conflict or core political principles has pushed and strained the relationship between the west and Zimbabwe almost to breaking point. Even in sport Zimbabwe seemed to be suffering due politically motivated actions and attacks backed by USA and UK. As if they couldn’t stand to see any one engaging with Zimbabwe in any way what so ever but the only people who suffered were sports men and women and your average Zimbabwean.
But with the creation of the inclusive coalition Government Zimbabwe had answered their critics by pulling together for the benefit of the people of Zimbabwe and however some may questions some of the policies now being implemented and adopted by the new government the evidence is there to suggest that transparency in the politics of Zimbabwe is starting to bear fruits and now is the perfect time to come together with the west and rebuild the country’s economy. President Obama last year pledged to aid in the process of reconciliation in Zimbabwe but has until now failed to do anything meaningful beside comment and propose ideas of further reform but I think now is the time get rid of the Economic Sanctions that have crippled the country almost to collapse, imposed on Zimbabwe by the western block.
Now is not the time to talk but act. For a long time the west has always been able to lobby other countries to act in their favour and support their calls to impose such sanctions. This is not right as it has caused many Zimbabweans to suffer and die and that’s the blunt truth. They encouraged countries in Europe and the Americas to stop all trade with Zimbabwe and how that can be seen as aiding the political stability in the country, I don’t know?
I respects the west’s love for democracy and fair and equal human rights to all but I also believe they should not abuse their powers which they have always done and got away with it but now Zimbabwe is showing signs of real recovery let us not stifle them in their attempts but help them get back up on their feet.

working together to build a better zimbabwe

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Bennett’s defining moment

By Jonathan Benjamin

MDC part official and nominee for the post of deputy agriculture minister has been acquitted on treason and terrorism charges after a High court judge in the eastern city of Mutare found him not guilty, sighting the prosecution’s lack of valid evidence. Mr Bennett’s trial had been the main sticking point in Zimbabwe inclusive coalition Government after he was nominated for a hotly contested seat in parliament is Deputy Minister for Agriculture.

After he was nominated for the post by now Priminister Morgan Tsvangirai he was arrested on charges of terrorism and treason after ZANU PF alleged that he was part of plot to try and over throw the government in a coup. Mr Bennett and the MDC have always maintained that these accusations were fabricated as to disrupt him being sworn in. Then there was the push by ZANU PF to get him reassigned to a new post a the felt his links to the old Rhodesian famers would see him put their interests at heart and felt that because he is white this would have a negative impact on his ability to carryout his duty with out bias. These report were quickly quashed but Mr Bennett has had a torrid last 24 moths in which he has spent most of his time behind bars or under house arrest and not being able to work and fend for his family or take on his role as minister.

How ever there was sweet music to his ears early Monday morning when he was cleared of any wrong doing owing to a lack of evidence on the part of the prosecution. Now focus has shifted to whether President Mugabe will swear him in to take up his post as Deputy Agriculture minister having previously refused to do so or will they lobby to get him pushed into another ministry, this  is one very interesting development in a saga that has dragged on for the last 3 years with and end no seemingly in sight!

for mor on this story visit www.newzimbabwe.com

Zimbabwe in an attempt to twin itself with Chicago

By Jonathan Benjamin

Zimbabwean Deputy Priminister Arthur Mutambara was in Chicago Illinois to discuss with the mayor of the American city, the proposal of twining the two cities and forging a potentially prosperous union as the two countries are slowly building bridges in relations. It is the first time that a Zimbabwean diplomat has travelled to the United States and been welcomed with open arms as two countries seek to bury the hatchet that had seen America become a thorn in the site to many Zimbabweans.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Deputy Priminister Athur Mutambara

Mutambara who is no strange to Chicago having studied there for three years previously held talks with Chicago mayor Richard Daley to see if the Zimbabwean capital can gain sister city status to President Barack Obama’s hometown.  As part of the discussions Mr. Mutambara highlighted that the key and most important area is the development of a transparent business relationship and showcase to the whole of the United States beginning with Chicago that Zimbabwe was once again open for business, ready and willing to engage with them.

Driving the gospel of the Inclusive coalition Government that now runs the country he talked of political stabilization finally being brought to the southern African nation. He touched on Zimbabwean being a state that heavily relies on the Agricultural sector sighting Chicago as the third largest corn producer in the United States and would love to compare and share skills and expertise in farming and assist Zimbabwe as it goes through an agricultural revolution and called on the like of Large Chicago based manufacturers John Dear and Caterpillar to help out where they can.

The talks are said to have been very fruitful and if his reception is anything to go by then the foundations of a potentially wonderful business relationship were forged.

for more visit www.newzimbabwe.com

A fine show by the green machine put smiles on the faces on Zimbabweans!

By Jonathan Benjamin

Caps United put up a spirited performance to secure the two-goal margin victory they required to make it into the last eight of the African Confederations Cup. The victory came courtesy of a goal either half from their “Mr. dependable” Nyasha Mushekwi and old war-horse Leonard Tsipa. Victory at home was the perfect tonic to cap a fine weekend for local teams and fans of Zimbabwean football, as barely 24 hours earlier Harare giants Dynamos had secured their passage into the mini-league faze of Africa’s premier club competition, the African Champions League, despite losing 1-0 on the day.

Caps Skipper Nyasha Mukumbi marshals the defence

A lapse in concentration by the “Dembare” rearguard as their followers affectionately know them in the 85th minute allowed to ghost in from the blind side and score the only goal of the game at the University of Gaberone grounds.

Caps put in a tremendous effort to exhibit a wonderful brand of attacking football that was a constant threat from the onset with the host knowing that any two-goal margin in their favour would see the reach the knock stages of the tournament that brings with it huge financial rewards, well to a club like Caps unite anyway. Football in Zimbabwe has always struggled because of a lack of investment from the corporate sector that has instead often opted to invest in cricket, tennis and golf. The game in Zimbabwe has been crying out for willing well-wishers of the game to step in and elevate the game to a professional level but as yet all their efforts have been unyielding.

I personally believe that football in the Zimbabwean community is vital as it gives the local something to cheer and talk about, a welcome break for a people of a nation that has gone through turmoil over the last decade or so and bring some type of sense of belonging as one and all can join in the celebration of the exploits of local soccer teams. The national league in Zimbabwe still has no sponsor but on the field the keep giving Zimbabwean football fans the world over something to smile about!

for more visit www.herald.co.zw

Has the dust really settled at MDC ?

Priminister Morgan Tsvangirai described the unrest that rocked the MDC camp in the last 3 weeks as similar to that which lead to factionalism with the camp and eventually caused a split.  How ever the PM has been quick to denounce talk of a new split within the MDC and insisting that it is nothing but an attempt to undermine the Government’s attempts to revive the economy of by drawing in negative press to the MDC.

First was trouble at the MDC headquarters in Harare when a group of supposed MDC youths stormed the party’s offices and assaulted a few members. The MDC youths were reportedly unhappy that party leaders are sidelining them when hiring people for internal jobs.

morgan Tsvangirai

Finance Minister Tendai Biti sparked even more unrest with in the MDC ranks by defying the government and announcing a wage freeze directed at civil servants sighting lack of fiscal space as the country was not making any money from tax and industry. MDC counterpart and Priminister Morgan Tsvangirai swiftly denounced his statement as non-Government policy, when addressing a May Day rally organized by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). Other ministers have weighed in the Tsvangirai-Biti saga with Public Services minister Eliphas Mukonoweshuro slamming Finance Minister Biti and accusing his MDC-T colleague of behaving like a “super minister” and causing “unnecessary anxiety” over public sector pay.

How ever Priminister Tsvangirai insisted that he and Secretary General Mr. Biti “will not allow the enemies of real change to succeed in derailing the people’s cause” to his credit Finance minister Biti has stuck to his guns and insisted that there was no tension within the camp but would not retract his statement. Some believe tha

t the dust has settled but I believe that there is a twist in the plot waiting to unfold and I will keep a close eye to any developments in the situation.

for more visit www.newzimbabwe.com

Zimbabwe United?

Mugabe and Tsvangirai in bid to lure investors

By Jonathan Benjamin

Former arch enemies Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai both put in a stellar effort to try and reassure investors that gone are the days of political turmoil in Zimbabwe inviting them to come and invest at the World Economic Forum for Africa. In a show of solidarity all three key players in Zimbabwe’s new coalition Government Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara urged investors that the present state of Zimbabwe offered potential for investment as the county has seen positive economic growth for the first time in a decade owing to the formation of the coalition Government and the dollarization of the economy.

However investor confidence has been dealt a huge blow be the introduction of a very controversial indigenization bill that was passed last month. The Indigenization and Economic Empowerment regulations, passed under a two year old legislation adopted by the ZANU PF government, requires all businesses valued at more than $500,000 (£324,000) to be majority-owned by “indigenous” people, from 1 March 2010. Companies owned by non-indigenous people were given five years to sell a 51% stake to indigenous people and were given 45 days to submit proposals on how this would be done.

Of late Zimbabwe’s Coalition has come in for great criticism for implementing such a contentious bill at a very critical time in the country’s recovery both economically and politically. “People have said it will drive away investment. We say it won’t,” Mugabe said at the World Economic Forum for Africa.

“Companies have been forthcoming … I don’t think it’s a painful thing for them. Forty-nine percent is a lot,” he told reporters.

“Zimbabwe is ready to do business. If Africa’s time has come for investment, then Zimbabwe cannot miss the boat,” Tsvangirai said at the meeting. “The political crisis does no longer exist. The country is making progress and it’s time that investors started looking at Zimbabwe from a different perspective. So that is the message we have been communicating.”

for more visit www.thezimbabwean.co.uk