VICE-PRESIDENT Joice Mujuru has urged politicians across the political divide to desist from attacking each other and instead explain to the people what they can do for them in this time of unprecedented economic crisis.
Addressing thousands of people in Mazowe on Sunday, the Vice President said that politicians had a role to play in ending the current problems bedevilling the country and in ensuring that the country remains united.
Mujuru criticised politicians who were trying to divide the ruling party saying the factionalism that is written and discussed in many circles is a figment of their imagination.
“Zanu PF is a united party and those who try to divide the party have to understand the implications of their actions on the whole country,” said Mujuru adding that “the supposed divisions in Zanu PF are being encouraged by those who do not understand the history and struggles of the party.”
Mujuru said many people had not voted for the ruling party in the March elections because of the economic problems they were facing as a result of the sanctions encouraged by the Movement for Democratic Change party.
The VP also took a swipe at those members of the ruling party who betrayed it at “the last minute” saying at a time when the party was supposed to be united in fighting a hostile enemy many people had deserted the party. She said the party was restructuring and would come out stronger than before.
“We are undergoing a restructuring exercise in the party and we will prevail. Those who abandoned the party at the last minute should never call themselves revolutionaries.”
“We are aware of all those people who wish we were divided. We go through our own challenges as a party, we have always had challenges, but we always prevail,” added Mujuru.
The VP who is also Member of Assembly for Mount Darwin said she was aware that many people who politicizing food aid distribution – a move not encouraged by the ruling party and a move aimed at discrediting President Robert Mugabe.
“We are aware of the politicization of food aid and as a government we will never encourage such a move. Those who engage in such politicization are only trying to market themselves at the expense of the party and President Mugabe,” said Mujuru.
“As a Government we say to those politician who are trying to market themselves using food aid, this is unacceptable. Politicians should desist from marketing themselves in such a manner,” she added.
Mujuru said she was confident that a deal reached between the ruling Zanu PF party and the opposition MDCs is a step in the right direction in taking Zimbabwe out of its current problems and said that Zimbabweans were resilient people who fought hard the effects of the sanctions imposed on the country by the West.
VP Mujuru also paid tribute to the First Lady, Grace Mugabe whom she toured the region with and commended her for her efforts in donating agricultural implements in the region and her visits across the country meeting the people.
The First Lady donated hundred tones of maize and farming equipment and implements under the Government’s farm mechanization programme.
Mhofeti • pasizw@yahoo.co.uk Subject: THE BIGGER PICTURE Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:01:18 • Deal this week, your so called bigger picture is actually bigger than your reasoning. Obsession is too poor a choice of vocabulary for mentioning a one off issue whose point I think was noted by the editor anyway. You are not alone in that kind of reasoning because I remember one football fan saying Wayne Rooney's abuse of officials is immaterial as he likes his football. As if those saying the abuse is not right are saying he's not a good footballer. If you mix issues you lose objectivity.
Deal this week • denenga@gmail.com Subject: THE BIGGER PICTURE Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:04:12 • Those who were complaining of a mere e mail add are side netting! I tell you that it is a minute distraction from the issues the guy touched on. Why are do you get obsessed with smaller issues when you can see the bigger picture? I like the Buhera arguments though. Somehow, they come in a true you know
paul • paul02katiyo@yahoo.co.uk Subject: mudhara usafire pachigaro Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:03:12 • ko nyika ingafamba sei if zanu pf iri kurambira the most powerful ministries ndiayani angada kuisa mari yake mumaoko embavha idzodzo .All investors are waiting for a change especially panyaya dzemari uye nerunyararo munyika mugabe ne zanu yako matadza chibvai panyanga papinde tsvangirai
Mhofeti • pasizw@yahoo.co.uk Subject: Sanctions Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:23:40 • What's your point na? In this article you'll be surprised that common sense is not that common.
na • na@na.com Subject: sanctions Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:16:29 • Anybody remember this? Are they going to lifted?
The Herald Online
Last Updated: Friday, 8 November 2002
Zim hits back on sanctions
Herald Reporters
ZIMBABWE yesterday imposed retaliatory sanctions against Britain while London introduced visas for Zimbabweans travelling to the United Kingdom in response to the growing number of people entering the country on unfounded claims of political asylum.
In a statement, the Government said the decision to impose the sanctions was taken to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, secure its national interests, peace and stability.
The sanctions are with immediate effect.
The Government will also freeze with immediate effect, all local assets associated with or traceable to the listed persons.
In addition, the Government downgraded the United Kingdom from category A to category B of its visa regime with effect from today.
This means all persons travelling to Zimbabwe on British passports will require visas either in advance through Zimbabwe’s diplomatic missions or at the port of entry, the Government said in the statement.
A total of 23 members of the British Cabinet including Prime Minister Tony Blair and his deputy Mr John Prescott are now banned from travelling to Zimbabwe.
At least 70 junior ministers and heads of government departments cannot also enter Zimbabwe.
Members of Britain’s opposition Conservative shadow cabinet and leaders of other opposition parties have also been slapped with travel restrictions.
Others affected by the sanctions are members of organisations that have been campaigning for the isolation of Zimbabwe and those which Britain has been using as conduits to fund the opposition MDC.
Five patrons of the Zimbabwe Democratic Trust (ZDT) — Sir John Collins, Lord Hurd, Lord Steel of Aikwood, Lord Taylor and Malcolm Rifkind have been banned from visiting Zimbabwe.
Three members of the board of governors of the Westminster Fund for Democracy — MP Ernie Ross, MP Michael Moore and MP Michael Trend have also been slapped with the sanctions.
The ZDT and the Westminster Foundation are two of the organisations that Britain has been using to fund the MDC.
Seven members of the European Parliament Parties – Chris Pattern, John Corrie, Nirj Deva, Jacqueline Foster, Glenys Kinnock, Neil Parish and Geoffrey Van Orden – are also banned from travelling to Zimbabwe.
Nine workers of two radio stations SW Radio Africa and Voice of the People, which have been broadcasting propaganda against Zimbabwe, have also been slapped with the travel restrictions.
Among the nine are Zimbabweans and former ZBC radio and television personalities John Matinde, Gerry Jackson, Georgina Godwin, Simon Parkinson, Mandisa Mundawarara, Violet Gonda and Tererai Karimakwenda who are all with SW Radio Africa.
Graeme Counsel completes the list of the station’s workers banned from entering Zimbabwe while Lodewijk Bouwens of Voice of the People is also restricted from visiting the country.
Britain, other European Union members, the United States, New Zealand and recently Australia, have imposed travel sanctions on senior Government and Zanu-PF officials as well as businessmen and bankers.
On the other hand, Britain announced yesterday that Zimbabweans intending to travel to the UK are now required to have visas.
London also admitted for the first time that a lot of Zimbabweans were entering the UK after making unfounded claims for political asylum.
It (the visa requirement) is a response to the large and growing number of Zimbabweans seeking to enter the UK contrary to immigration rules, failing to return at the end of visits or making unfounded claims for political asylum, reads a letter by the British High Commission to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Zimbabweans wishing to enter into the United Kingdom would now have to fork out an extra $72 000 for a six month visa from tomorrow.
British High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, Mr Brian Donnelly, told journalists at a press conference that even those on transit would have to buy a direct transit visa at $54 000.
There were no visa requirements for Zimbabweans who entered the UK in the past.
But even having a visa is not a guarantee for one to have their way into the UK since the final say rests with the immigration officers at the country's entry points.
Mr Donnelly said the move was necessitated by the increasing number of Zimbabweans who were being turned away at British airports.
We want to make life as easy as possible for genuine Zimbabwean visitors, said Mr Donnelly. But the final arbitrator will be the immigration officer so the visa is not a guarantee.
But Mr Donnelly struggled to explain why a transit visa was needed if one proved that they possessed all the documents required by the country they were visiting.
Mr Donnelly said there was nothing sinister on the visa requirements since people from other African nations also required visas to visit the UK.
Mr Donnelly said genuine visitors would be those who had means to sustain themselves while in the UK without seeking employment and could afford the airline ticket.
The British used the black market rate to come up with the visa fees since the international visa fee for those entering in the UK is at 36 pounds.
The official rate for the British pound is at $88, which means the visa should have been pegged at $3 168 if the official rate was used.
But the British used the rate of one pound to $2 000 to come up with the visa fees.
The visa requirement was earlier announced by the British Home Secretary, Mr David Blunkett in the UK.
The application for the visas would be lodged with FedEx that would take them to the British High Commission for processing.
There is no need to visit the High Commission in person, said Mr Donnelly. Straight forward applications will be dealt with within seven days.
If there is a query, you will be invited for an interview at the High Commission. FedEx will deliver your passport with a visa to your home address if your application has been successful.
Mr Donnelly said those who did not require a visa to UK included those who were legally settled in there and have been away for less than two years.
Those previously granted leave to enter or remain in the UK for a period of more than six months and who were returning for the same purpose before that period expired were also not required to have the visa.
This also applied to those who had a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode in the UK.
Those who had already made arrangements to visit the UK were granted a two-week grace period.
Mr Donnelly said at least 60 000 Zimbabweans visited the UK last year, with 2 115 being asylum seekers and only 115 being granted asylum.
He said at least 852 Zimbabweans were turned away from the UK in the first three months of this year.
A return ticket to London now costs more than $1 million and it would be difficult for ordinary Zimbabweans intending to visit the UK to raise the extra money for the visa.
But Mr Donnelly said the fact that those people could afford the expensive airline ticket meant they could also afford the visa.
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Mhofeti • pasizw@yahoo.co.uk Subject: Let's face the truth Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:25:07 • You may have missed my point dear friend. My comment was all about the email address of Die hard Zanu supporter nothing more or less. My opinion was the editor could have used his discretion and left out that email address only because it is vulgar in my world of opinion. See how easy it is to start calling each other names on the basis of your perception of what someone is trying to say. Sometimes it helps to be quick to hear and slow to speak.
SuperT • n/a Subject: Die hard Zanu PF supporter Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:16:46 • I agree with Mhofeti's concerns about Die hard Zanu PF supporter. Editor I also believe that contribution should not have been published in its current form. I believe in calling a spade a spade. The email address used by the contributor in question is to say the least crudely racial, abusive and derogatory to the white community.
Why would some one stoop so low as to be that abusive to varungu. Is this not the hate language that is dividing us as a nation? Editor this publication is guided by very clear professional ethics which I believe have been breached by Die Hard Zanu PF supporter. Does this suggest complicity on your part Editor?
This site has been doing extremely well at screening abusive and derogatory contributions. That email address leaves a lot to be desired and based on that account only I feel the contribution should have been referred back to the owner for rectification.
The email address used does not do justice to the otherwise good intentions of the contribution. There are websites which allow such things to be published and hence the contributor should have been referred there. As a stakeholder in your publication Mr Editor I believe this aught to be condemned.
Pamberi nehondo • desk@hotmail.com Subject: WE ARE STUCK WITH ZANU Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:33:41 • Bear in mind that even some of us are arch supporters dze zanu we are stuck with rotten leadership. Mugabe ndiye the only murume pavarume ari sharp. Mistake yake kutrusta madhara iwaya, ma grage 7 ake vana Chiwenga neShiri idzi, kuve suspicious of others around him rightly so, (eg Mnangagwa) and his failure to find a suitable 'candidate' to take over from him.
Pane nyaya ukaudza Mugabe nezve younger generation anoshatirwa because he feals that somehow it has betrayed the cause (Vana Nkosana Moyo, Makoni, Dzvairo, Erasmus Moyo, Mawere, Makamba, Mudekunye, Chekeche, Madhuku, Mutambara and Nhara to name just a few. I speak from a well informed position.
Ma fanctions operating in Zanu at the moment breed the culture yekuhwandana and camps are not comfortable to take initiatives in case they are caught wrong-footed. Ndiyo inonzi Zanu yacho - hanzi inoita sesiki (sinjonjo) inorumira nemukati. We know all this and much more.
Nhinhi Hadzifi dzakaibva, Hwedza • nhinhi@gmail.com Subject: Vanhu ve ZANU PF hamudi chokwadi Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:52:10 • Actually that woman (body guard or support staff or civil servant or a villager) ari kuseri kwaMai Mjuru in the picture is fit enough to be one of the many vice pres of Zimbabwe/
Criterion for choice - forget. Let the truth be told and stay damned muZANU. Tirimo tese and the pitfall has been the systematic suppression of brilliant and new ideas. That other guy is telling us what we don't want to be told in ZANU PF, chero paCogress kana pa ZANU PF HQ. We are now good at pretending, and have lost our true souls to a few dominating devils within the party. Taurai ka ma Democrats e zanu
Lets Face the Truth • jacob@hotmail.com Subject: Dear Mhofet (Contribution below) Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:41:21 • That Buhera guy is just telling us the truth. He is a ZANU PF supporter and he is disgruntled about the way in which his party is functioning to the current challenges of the proposed unity government.
There is a lot of truth in his fears> We used to be ZANU PF as well, but we abandoned the party tawona kuti there is an iron curtain that keep out younger generation. Indeed, at 86 years, what is it that Msika will produce, if at all he is not yet on his ZIMO frame? Ko vasingafambe nemudonzvo ZANU PF inotyei kuvaita appoint to influencial positions, then madhara madhara ayo then operate from the back seat? Kuna vakawanda who can take over the reigns of power!
Mhofet you lament the limits of freedom of expression woda kuti dai munhu ane opinion yake aitwa CLOSED OFF. This is sad, zvenyu zvamakajaira kuZANU kuvhara opinions and diverse ideas, kutora iyezvino ZANU ine same mindset, expressed in the same newspaper (Herald) same madhara, same umbavha, same madofo, same huwori! Baba, makasarira shure senhembe!
The same reason baba Mhofet that literally every cadre and everyone ran away from ZANU are the very reasons why you thinking should be consigned to history. We are living in a dynamic world and ZANU PF big wigs can never change now because they are too old. Remember the history of the Bolshevicks, they fell because most of them failed to adapt to socio-political changes that were taking place right in front of their noses!!
Vanhu veZANU magara munonetsa hamudi kuudzwa chokwadi, and you are stuck in the past slogans.
Isaac Bwoni • ibwoni@gmail.com Subject: Teurai ropa Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:58:39 • You can say that again Cde Mujuru. yours is a mature statement that is coming from a distinguished lady who survived many bullets fired by British backed imperialists during the Chimurenga struggle that eventually put to an end the white minority rule in Zimbabwe. Not many man achieve what you achieved Great Mama. Pamberi nemi, kunyangwe mukafira pachigaro tinozvida. Sendekera!
Mhofeti • pasizw@yahoo.co.uk Subject: Die hard Zanu supporter: weBuhera Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:09:30 • With all due respect to the views held by Die hard Zanu supporter I don't think it was proper for you editor to publish that email. Even freedom has its unacceptable extremes and that is a typical example. Personally I try in my own way to maintain a level of intergrity to earn my colleagues' respect for my comments. This site is far much better than that or is it?
DIE HARD ZANU PF SUPPORTER: weBuhera • EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED FOR PROFANITY Subject: ZANU YAWORA - VODA KUDZIKA MUMARINDA NE PARTY Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:47:00 • Ndizvo zvinonetsa izvi muZANU - same old faces, same horses and same geriatrics! Ko mashaya here younger generation nhai Vakomana? Look at the demographics for world leaders - Sarkozy, Obama (or even Tony Blair), Cameroon, Boris, and his youthful team of conservatives. Imi munoda kufira pamasimba mega mega. Why are you not appointing ZANU PF opposite numbers dze MDC (in terms of youth/ age profiles?) Hapana vamwe vanhu here? Tave kuzokutizai manje - if ever anyone of my age (40s) is still in ZANU. This stinks and is very disgusting!
Apa cabinet is going to expand because of politics of patronage - 4 ma vice president - ndicho chii nhai veduwee? Expanded ministries, duplicated functions and shared duties dza Tsvangsen and Mugabe? He he hee, nhaka munondiwona. Matakanana and they say these are all the last kicks of a dying horse - I think they could be right - there is a think membrane in ZANU PF mindset between memory and forgetfulness! That country will never ever prosper zvakare - not in our generation!
N/A • N/A Subject: OKUNYE KAKHUPHELI KUBAKUTSHA Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:28:06 • Melunkomo should know that organisations renew themselves. Yes you may wish for Zanu to dissappear, but you know it can renew itself and prevail as has been indicated by mai Mujuru.
Abakho Melunkomo are still there why? Cause they have been renewing themselves through their progeny. As long as they continue to do the procreation activities and night and during the day, abakhomelunkomo will continue generation after generation.
The same can be said for Zanu PF. You may wish its clan to disappear, but if they continue to procreate, you are in for some shock for generations to come.
melusi • melunkomo@yahoo.com Subject: n/a Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:35:35 • We are undergoing a restructuring exercise in the party and we will prevail...
HELLO?? HOW MANY YEARS HAVE ZANUPF BEEN 'RESTRUCTURING'? THIS SHIP IS SINKING...IT MAY BE SLOW BUT ITS SURELY COMING TO A HALT...Lets hear what Mbeki has to say about the allocation of Ministries without the agreement from both MDCs..Okungapheliyo kuyahlola bantu!!
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