Posted by STATEMENT BY MDC SECRETARY GENERAL, HON. TENDAI BITI
Wednesday 3 February 2010
Over the past 12 months the MDC has repeatedly shown its willingness to work with Zanu PF to rebuild Zimbabwe, restore the people’s
freedoms and deliver real change as agreed in the Global Political Agreement (GPA).
In this government, the MDC has unleashed its positive energy for the benefit of all Zimbabweans to restore basic services, and deliver hope
and real change to our nation. Despite the sincerity we have displayed (some would say naivety) and the legitimacy we bring to the government
as a result of the overwhelming support we have from the people of this great country, Zanu PF has refused to acknowledge that their
failed policies of the past have been soundly rejected by the masses and that process of change is irreversible.
Instead, they have continued to use the inclusive government to wage war against the MDC, our supporters and the people at large. Zanu PF
continues to use the public media, the constitutional process, the commercial farms, the diamond mines and the civil service as the
battlefields for its destructive agenda aimed at perpetuating their selfish grip on power.
Their determination to enrich themselves at the expense of national development risks keeping all our citizens mired in poverty. In
addition, they have committed themselves to conducting an overt onslaught against the person, principles and agenda of the President
of the MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai, to thwart his vision of delivering real change to the people of Zimbabwe.
Rather than blaming President Tsvangirai for imaginary wrongs, it is time that Zanu PF took responsibility for the dark decade of poverty
and violence their policies unleashed on the innocent people of this nation. In the last four weeks, following the Zanu PF congress, we
have seen an acceleration of destruction and insanity on the part of the former ruling party. We have seen an increase in the decibels of
destabilisation and recklessness. This has been manifested in unlawful farm invasions, disobedience of lawful court orders, the above-
referred vitriol against the President of the MDC and intransigence at the negotiating table.
It is clear as a pikestaff that Zanu PF is creating the conditions for the total breakdown of the inclusive government. It is clear to us
that Zanu PF are making a case for the establishment of irreconcilable differences amongst the parties leading to a total breakdown of this
relationship. Our message to Zanu PF is that we will not be baited by these nocturnal acts of self-destruction. However, we will also not
allow ourselves or the people of Zimbabwe to be bullied or abused by a coterie of men and women who have never put Zimbabwe first.
This government was born out of hope, courage and the commitment of the people to peaceful, democratic change. It is clear that Zanu PF is
trying to strangle this fledgling authority on its first birthday and if they continue their regressive policies they must be prepared to
take full responsibility for the irretrievable breakdown of the inclusive government.
Zanu PF must however understand that there is a price to everything. The inevitable consequence of their homicidal actions would be the
holding of free and fair elections under the protection and supervision of SADC to ensure that the dreams of the people are never
again dashed nor denied.
The MDC is ready for this election.
Zanu PF cannot continue to have their cake and eat it. They cannot continue to be normative members of this government when in fact they
are working against it at every turn. It is simple. Either they are in or they are out. If they are in, the onus is on them to cease their
violations of the laws of Zimbabwe, start respecting our party President and implement the commitments they signed up to in the GPA.
If they are out, then bring on the election.
Zimbabweans are tired of political bickering and their hope for 2010 is that all members of this government will have one common vision,
that of rebuilding our economy, creating jobs, restoring food security and promoting the people’s freedoms. Whatever choice they make, the
process of change in Zimbabwe is irreversible and the MDC remains committed to standing by the people and by the ideals of the
liberation struggle to deliver hope and real change to every Zimbabwean.
Together to the end, marching to a New Zimbabwe.
HARARE – The bankrupt Zimbabwe government has somehow blown nearly ZAR86 million (US$11,6million) in one year in school fees for children and relatives of mostly top Zanu PF officials who are studying in South African Universities at a time when local universities are struggling to function due to serious financial constraints. This is despite claims that the students are on presidential scholarships which should come from President Mugabe’s personal resouces. (Pictured: Cape Town University: “This is shocking and it really shows that some people in government are not serious with education.”)
Although Finance Minister Tendai Biti has repeatedly claimed that government has stopped unnecessary spending, information sourced from his ministry shows that more money is expected to be disbursed to South African universities soon. A former top aide of Mugabe and now Manicaland governor, Christopher Mushowe administers the presidential scholarship fund although the final decision to transfer the funds rests with the minister of finance.
According to documents leaked from Ministry of Finance, the money was transferred through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) in South African Rands between February last year and January this year. The biggest beneficiary of the scholarship is Fort Hare University which gobbled up about 48 million South African rands in just a year.
Some of the colleges in South Africa which benefited from government’s free spending since last year are the universities of Venda, Johannesburg, Walter Sisulu, Rhodes, Limpopo, Cape Peninsula, Western Cape, Cape Town and Kwazulu – Natal.
On 10 January 2009, the following transfers were made from RBZ: Fort Hare ZAR 1 million, Kwazulu Natal ZAR 176 175 and Rhodes ZAR 300 000. On 10 June 2009 the following transfers were made: Cape Peninsula ZAR 3 073 877, Limpopo ZAR 240 186, Cape Town ZAR 83 040. On 15 September 2009 the following transfers were made: Fort Hare ZAR 10 million, Venda ZAR 3 million, Johannesburg ZAR 2 million and Walter Sisulu ZAR 2 million.
On 29 November 2009 more transfers were made to: Fort Hare ZAR 17 677 600, Venda ZAR 7 357 306, Johannesburg ZAR 550 690, Walter Sisulu ZAR 3 105 730. Only last month on January 25, more transfers were made and these are: Fort Hare ZAR 20 million, Rhodes ZAR 3,5million, Limpopo ZAR 300 000, Venda, ZAR 4 million, Cape Peninsula ZAR 2 million, Western Cape, ZAR 2 million and Johannesburg ZAR 4million.
While the criteria used to select students for scholarships remains a mystery it is well known that most of those who succeed are relatives or children of top government officials. Radio VOP has it on good authority that although Biti initially resisted authorizing the transfers he was arm twisted and eventually succumbed. Zimbabwe has about 10 universities and 34 teachers’ colleges and polytechnics all of which are struggling to survive due to lack of funding.
Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) president Joshua Chinyere attacked the government for what he described as outrageous extravagance at a time when local universities were crying out for funding. “This is shocking and it really shows that some people in government are not serious with education. We have thousands of brilliant students in the country, that are not politically connected but who could learn at local universities using the money they are wasting at South African colleges.
“Why don’t those students come back and learn in Zimbabwe, why is the government not directing the money to our universities. Right now our universities have no books, they have no water and electricity – why not use the money to buy generators and install boreholes at universities and colleges. Why not pay the lecturers so that they do not go away or they do not strike. “It simply does not make sense. The student body will have to confront government on this.
“We are not saying people should not go and learn in South Africa – it’s their choice so they must pay for themselves. This is tax payers money which is being abused,” said Chinyere.
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Then in another breath Tsvangirayi resists Zuma’s calls for new elections and says things are working and in the same breath tells the west to ease sanctions for what has been done to date………make up your mind MDC. Elections or perks and privilege.
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Has there ever been a free and fair election in Zimbabwe? Well don’t bank on it now. Not even South Africa can guarantee such a thing. Sad but true.
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Forward always backwards never ! The country is for all who live in it not just for Zanu. Change is inevitable … change or be run over by change the choice is yours. Elections now !
Chinja Iwe!
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