THE MEDIA REMAINS SCEPTICAL

The ongoing briefing and updating on the progress made in resolving the "outstanding issues" to the facilitation team from South Africa has reduced the media to play a speculative mandate and this truly undermines the core business of the media which includes informing the public.The black out in terms of information on the progress made, uundermines democratic peoples' rights such as right to information.The setting up of a management committe that comprises of the chief negotiators from the three political parties also contradicts the formation of The Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee(JOMIC)  whose function is to monitor the function and implementation of the Global Political Agreemenrt(GPA).Dont the negotiators themselves think that the GPA has been undermined and compromised?There was need to empower bodie like JOMICso that they really deliver.The SADC deadline set up was not met and yet the negotiators have remained defiant by continuing to deliberate leaving the people completely in darkness in terms of what is the situation on the ground.One  of the mistakes that the MDC made was that they never  consulted the people whether they should join the Unity government.If they did they really did it as a formality because they had already decided.What many should ask is are the people being represented fully?Idont think they are because what we have been seeeing is that peoples' views have been shelved and discarded and yet at the end of the day all the political parties claim to represent and serve the people.

THE MEDIA REMAINS SCEPTICAL

The ongoing updating and briefing of the resolutions to the outstanding issues in the Inclusive government has reduced the media to play a speculative role in  disseminating information and fulfilling its mandate.Do you think the media should be informed on any progress made by the negotiating teams?Is this in line with democratic principles such as the right to information by every citizen?Feel free to leave your comments.Speak out your mind.information is an aphrodisiac for change.So do it now>

THE MILLSTONE AROUND WOMENS’ NECKS

A millstone in ancient times was one of the largecircular stones used in the grinding of corn.The phrase alludes to a method of executing people by throwing them into deep water with a heavy stone attached to them,a fate believed to have been suffered by early Christian martyrs.
The above idiom is reflective of the severe impediments and disadvantages women in Zimbabwe are facing.Are we still living in a patriachal era?This question appears more poignant with eachday that passes and continues to haunt many women today.For example there has been lack of legargy especially in government over the promotion of women's rights.Of course one can argue but in my own view the sycophantic retort that government promotes the role of women is misleading.What we have witnessed in the past are promises that never translate into action.This is not to overlok the progress made especially in promoting women's rights but the snails' pace with which the empowerment of women is moving is rather disheartening.Women continue to be victimized just because are women.
One disturbing story that i once read from the press involved a 13year old minor who was raped by MDC legislator for Kwekwe central,Blessing Chebundo.To my surprise he was found not guilty of the charge.The story went on to say that Magistrate William Bhila cleared him of the charges after the complainant was found to have been an unreliable witness in the case.The reason for his acquittal was because the the young girl took 5months to report the case.Chebundo dismissed the rape charges saying they have been "manufactured" by his political opponents.
This whole drama that transpired forces one to question the efficiency of our judiciary system today.Our judiciary is very magnamious with criminals who abuse women.The truth of the matter however is that Chebundo had sex with a minor which is a form of child abuse since the girl was below the age of 18.
This same tragedy also makes one want to question the role of None governmental organisations that deal with women and children rights.I thought that the following morning i was going to hear a furore over the injustice that has prevailed but there was surreal silence.For once,satire has disappeared from these organisations that claim to deal with with issues that affect  vulnerable children and women.When you claim to serve the interests of girls it is not only confined to equal rights.Sexual abuse is also a serious issue to advocate against even if it means challenging court rulings.
Chebundo took advantage of the girl in the sense that he might have used his position or money to lure the girl into bed.Either way it was a violation of the her rights.NGO's that deal with chidren must not just be vocal when it comes to politics aand gender issues but they should adhere to their core business of protecting childrens' rights.Girl Child Network where are you?Shouldn'n you have at least condemned the ruling or challenged it.Which girl child are you protecting?
This injustice that now characterises our judiciary is going to encourage more men to to sexually abuse young girls because they know that stifferb penalties are not in place.Our judiciary now is in a state of confusion and disarray and a lot of people have since stopped taking their cases to court because failure to get a lawyer will result in them loosing the case.
The relegation of women to second class citizens is not only confined to the judiciary and courts but it cuts across politics,media and economy.In politics we have 7female Ministers who are full time ministers.This numer is against more than thirty male ministers who occupy leadership positions and are usually head of ministries..The number of female ministers explicitly reveal that the seven female ministers might not represent the views of more than eight million women in the country.
The global  political agreement was negotiated merely by men though there is Priscilla Mushonga from MDC-M whose input into the talks might be thwarted by male figures.So it can be said that the agreement was negotiated by male figures who have continued to dominate it,who will also "engage" and "disengage" while women play a spectator's roleDoes this mean that women cannot input any meaningful suggestions?In my view i think they can if afforded the chance.
Whenever journalists want a comment on any topical issue,they always quote a male figure and the last and hopeless resorty will be a female?This is because the media also is biased towards gender equality.Does this mena that women cannot comment on anything or ti is just gender segregation.A lot of campaigns have been done  but their contribution have been futile and void because of lack of political will especially upon government to put in place sound legislation that promote and improve the ststus of women.
Women are as important as men and one fact that a lot of people forget is that they outnumber men.For example in the current constituion making process,women are rarely given a voice even though they have a deciding voice in the coming referendum.Repugnant legislation that degrade the role of women must be repealed but the question that many ask is"are women willing to be liberated from the gallows of patriachy?"Only they can speak for themselves.

WAS THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE VICE PRESIDENCY FAIR?

To nominate Nkomo and Mujuru is something that a lot of people within ZANU PF never liked.Who do you think deserved the posts.You can leave your comments.

IS THIS THE MDC WE KNOW?

When the MDC was formed in 1999 it received unflinching support from supporters who were frustrated by Mugabe's rule characterised by human rights abuses,looming poverty and the absence of the rule of law.This was an opportune time for people to voice out their concerns through a swift and democratic vehicle called the MDC.The MDC became such a formidable force to reckon with through extolling efforts and support from its supporters.Tsvangirai did not rise to power simply because he had any political clout but because the people were frustrated by void and null promises made by Mugabe that have not been fulfilled after independence.The inclusive government has offered  the MDC a platform where they can fulfill their democratic struggle of improving the lives of many people who have sufferered political and economic neglect by the self enriching regime of Mugabe and his cronies.Pulling out of the inclusive govenrment is an ill-advised step and a gaffe.Morgan Tsvangirai was harangued by some of his members at their party's 10th annivessary who wanted the MDC to pull out of the Inclusive government.The MDC must realise that this is an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime especially when dealing with ZANU PF which carefully calculates its every move.There is need for a paradigm shift in MDC's "tactics and strategies" this time when dealing with ZANU PF.MDC's main prognosis has been its failure to speak  in harmony and with one voice.ZANU PF has identified the Achilles Heel of the MDC and has capitalised on it.Whenever there is unneccessary confusion within the MDC camp ZANU PF apologists and loyalists always take a scorn on MDC.What the MDC needs right now is to get its house in order and revert back to its old self where it was tough,thorough and informed.The people of Zimbabwe are pinning their hopes on MDC if a democratic,peaceful and free Zimbabwe is to be achieved.This is also their time to represent the people,speak for the people and act for the people.Pulling out of the deal is a slap in the face to the people of Zimbabwe and really shows a lack of foresight coupled by tunnel vision.They must put structures in place in their party so that whenever they release statements they wont be any contradiction among themselves.The people who have suffererd torment,hunger,violence death and abductions are waiting on the MDC to take them out of  these dire conditions that have stood firmly against them for 29 years

ZIMBABWEANS DESERVE A BETTER LIFE.

Since independence there has not been tangible or evident peace of mind in any Zimbabwean's mind.Right from independence abductions,torture and murder embraced people who had just thought were free from white minority.The Gukurahundi atrocities caused a major dent on the image of the new government.For the first time blacks were now governing themselves.The fissure on the new government horizon was far from being mended.The 1987 unity accord never did justice  in that it never addressed the issue of reconciling  opposing groups.So it was just a an agreement that overlooked a lot of unresolved issues and the new government never offered some form of assistance to the victims of this genocide.Given the fact that Matebeleland is a semi-arid region,the people there continued to live under dire conditions because  the government never sought to address the isssue of food and water in that region.Zimbabweans never enjoyed the taste of true independence that most of them have dreamt of.The new government quickly overlooked unresolved issues.Then came the compensation for the "gallant sons" in the form of Z$50000 .At the centre of this acrimonious move was the  transparency of the whole "compensation" issue.The whole process was marred by cheating and faking on who the real ex-combatants were.Most of the real mbuyas and sekurus in the back of beyond never got any money because they didn't have someone in high office despite the fact that they participated in the liberation war.Any honest Zimbabwean would agree with me that if you  travel to the rural areas you will meet your old relative who would tell you about how bad the war was but never received any form of compensation and might be living in sheer poverty.Then the year 2000 saw the controvesial  land reform which was characterised by Mugabe's diatribe against the former colonisers who were keeping the  Agricultural sector productive.He went on to sing his new song of "blacks being landless".Well, what must be understood is the definition of the "landless blacks" he referred to..There was never any black empowerment but ZANU PF empowerment.Most of the few who claim to have been empowered actually have unproductive land with most of them having been resettled in plains.Most of these stalwart supporters of the land reform are actually ZANU PF loyalists and apologists.Mugabe even tried to impose and extend his rule in this same year which the people refused through a referendum.With the 2002 presidential elections in sharp focus,Mugabe had to act quickly.He had to hire the services of a new kid on the block,a spin doctor,Jonathan Moyo, who went on violent campaign against the independent media.With the legislation of draconian laws such as AIPPA and POSA,many publications were closed down.Who was going to give the innocent Zimbabweans a voice in voicing out their concerns.The attrition of the independent media was now at full scale.The furore over the closure of the Daily News reached critical levels but still the spin doctor continued his violent campaign against the independent media.Now it is the same political chameleon Jonathan Moyo who is back in the the ZANU PF fold.One question now haunts the mind of innocent Zimbabweans who had found new hope in the form of the inclusive government, as to what the spin doctor has  up his sleeves this time.After perfoming dismally in the 2005 parliamentary elections, Mugabe was determined to punish the urban folk for voting against him.He unleashed Murambatsvina especially in Harare where thousands if not millions lost their homes and  left destitute.The MDC's victory in the 2005 parliamentary and 2002and 2008 presidential elections was not because it had any political clout  but because ZANU PF's promises after independence were null and void.It seems as if every time people's hopes begin to gather momentum,ZANU PF always takes away that hope.For example the strict stance taken by Mugabe that his party wants the Kariba Draft adopted as the basis of the new constitution proves this.So evil and cunning and calculating is Mugabe.He allows people to raise their hopes and before their hopes materialises into reality,he takes it away.He has reunited with his protege and servant, Jonathan Moyo once again and the peace,hope and optimism the people now had in the inclusive government is starting to fade away every day. What a life we Zimbabweans have.The issue of national healing  needs a holistic approach and therefore the inclusive government is not giving it due attention.All the instigators of violence in the past have to be aprehended so that society dwells in true peace and harmony.When are we going to have a peace of mind and peace in the back of our minds?Would it not be a good thing to be at peace knowing that on the political arena, all is well.