Saturday, 14 April 2012

MALEMA DISRESPECTS SUSPENSION CONDITIONS





Julius Malema defies suspension
The suspended ANC Youth League president Julius Malema has reportedly addressed the congregation at a Good Friday church service in the Eastern Cape despite being barred from doing so according to his suspension conditions. In the address, Malema chastised the ‘individuals trying to silence him’.
Malema’s repeated unruly behaviour has reflected that he has no sense of discipline and I hope that the ANC’s national disciplinary committee will take extremely tough disciplinary measures against him. The NDC must not tolerate his disappointing actions anymore. What disappoints me the most is that what he says in every congregation he addresses, lacks political maturity and knowledge. That is the reason why I had totally respected the NDC’s move to gag him and temporary suspend him from exercising any duty as an ANC member, president of the ANCYL or member of the Limpopo provincial executive committee. I think that he truly needs to be ‘silenced’ so that he does not address any more nonsense to the public. Now that Malema has compromised the terms of the suspension, he needs to be shown no mercy.
The comments that he made about ANC President Jacob Zuma being a dictator and that he was suppressing the ANCYL makes me wonder if he thinks that he is in any way better than Zuma. Seriously speaking, Malema has in the past and up to now portrayed his weaknesses as a politician. He has indeed divided the ANC party and brought it into disrepute. 
http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/malema-defies-suspension-conditions-1.1271624?showComments=true
http://www.iol.co.za/polopoly_fs/malema111012-1.875137!/image/283499924.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_501/283499924.jpg 

Friday, 13 April 2012

MAKONI RUBBISHES MUGABE'S ATTACK



Simba Makoni promises Mugabe 'rude awakening'

Simba Makoni (Former finance Minister and Mavambo Kusile Dawn leader) has rubbished President Robert Mugabe’s remarks that the MKD leader has no followers.Makoni promised the 88 year old Mugabe that he faces a rude awaking at the next elections.

I am really finding it hard to believe that Makoni might truly surprise Mugabe in the coming elections. Makoni’s claims are just empty promises that he will never be able to fulfill as he is most likely to face the same 2008 situation and embarrass himself again in the coming elections. I however understand that on his part, this might be an attempt to come into the limelight after a long time of silence.He is trying to gain the public attention and approval so that people do not disappoint him again as they did in the 2008 elections. Surely how can a candidate who got 8% of the possible votes in the last elections expect to win the next elections? What I think about Makoni at the moment is that  his lame promises will not uplift his political status but instead will make him appear more stupid and confused.Seriously speaking,at first I had believed the promises he made just before the 2008 elections when he said he had several Zanu PF bigwigs who would support him to his victory,in the end however I was disappointed  when only Dumiso Dabengwa and a few  people voted for him.I cannot deny that when I first heard his claims, I really thought that he will get  98% votes instead of the 8% he ended up getting.It then makes me wonder what will be different this time, it is high time he wakes up and face reality that he really has no followers before he is humiliated again.

Tuesday, 3 April 2012

“88 year old machinery need replacement”-Tsvangirai

88 year old Mugabe
Mugabe accuses Tsvangirai of indirectly attacking him about his age

Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai’s remark was not just an innocent comment about the ageing 88year old machinery that needed replacement. It was in fact, an indirect attack on Mugabe and was a way of telling the 88year old leader that it was time for him to step down and make way for young and energetic potential leaders.
The outlash from Mugabe in reaction to Tsvangirai remark is a reflection of how the 88 year old leader is so insecure about his age. Even though Mugabe has received enough attacks about his age and reported ill health and how he needs to step down, Mugabe is still resistant to do so. I suppose the Zanu PF members who have been hoping that Mugabe will step down anytime soon because of his old age are beginning to lose hope because Mugabe has been vowing to stay in power.I actually do not understand why Mugabe is so much reluctant to resign as the President. If he is worried and insecure about what the others are thinking and saying about his age, why can he not just step down and take a break from that.
http://nehandaradio.com/2012/03/30/mugabe-tsvangirai-spar-in-public-over-age/
http://nehandaradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mugabe-tsvangirai-joke-590.jpg 
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/02/23/article-2105245-0C483524000005DC-571_233x348.jpg

Saturday, 31 March 2012

US SUSPENDS NORTH KOREA FOOD AID


The US has suspended its food aid to North Korea over Korea's plan to launch a rocket next month.According to US, North Korea has broken the terms of a peace deal that these two countries had agreed upon. To US, N.Korea has embarked on a missile test that will prove to be a threat to regional stability.

United States has to understand that its decision will have have catastrophic consequences.It will only affect millions of starving innocent people who are in urgent need of food aid.According to CNN news (28/03/12), such people amount to 6 million.
I strongly believe that the political negotiations that US undertook with N.Korea do not have to affect the humanitarian assistance it has to offer N.Korea.I am dissapointed that US is prepared to priorities its political interests first before having the interests of Korean citizens who urgently need this food aid from US.US would rather have people dying from starvation until N. Korea decides to cancel its rocket launch plan, whenever that may be.This seems unreasonable and totally unfair.Even though North Korea's plan to launch a rocket may be irresponsible and dangerous, that does not justify US to disadvantage starving people in need of its aid.
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120328/DEFREG03/303280008/U-S-Suspends-Plans-Food-Aid-N-Korea-Pentagon-Officia
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMzDQeZ6-J8ibOclJE58JwqADaFYqebkNCliYMBT2OwoOrypIPlzqGX-KjclUcr2rQpX8VFG5zHQWGR_zvXC6xdvQoTIfey6eapaBcyKJRZYIDSmZYmCWQyObk0gEuFcSqT79jysqsJM/s1600/North_Korea_Rocket_Launch.jpg

  

UN PEACE PLAN FOR SYRIA FAILS




Syria has failed to implement the peace plan

The Syrian fighting has escalated though it had accepted peace plans by Kofi Annan. According to CNN news, activists say that at least 26 people have been killed in the latest fighting. The Iraq tribal leaders are also reported to have been sending money, expert bombers and arms to assist the opposition in Syria.

The fact that Syria has disrespected the UN peace plan means that UN will face a number of problems in the future concerning helping the Syrian government and its opposition settle their disputes. Syria has reflected in this sense, that it still has a long way to go before the situation becomes stable. As long as countries such as Iraqi keep on assisting Syria rebels with money and arms, there is no hope that the crisis will ever end anytime soon. Syria has disappointed UN in that it has been just talk and no action on its side.President Bashar al-Assad was asked to step down but he has not.
 
I however understand why  Syria has fail to implement the plans, they cannot be expected to immediately drop arms and embrace peace. For Syria, reaching stability after such heavy fighting is going to be a slow process that can not just take place in days but will take months or even years.

I wonder what the next step for the UN on Syria will be. I wonder whether UN will give up on this country which does not seem to care about UN’s cry for peace or whether it will take the matter in its own hands and forcibly remove the Syrian president from his position.
While this crisis is still going on in Syria, Sudan and South Sudan in contrast have decided to talk and resolve a number of disputes.These countries have been in conflict over an oil field.The leaders of both countries however made it clear that they do not wish to eventually reach a full scale war.It is high time they put aside their differences and make peace. 
    

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Macky Sall becomes the new President of Senegal


supporters of Macky Sall celebrating his victory

I was impressed by the kind of democracy that has taken place in Senegal.Mackey Sall (Former Prime Minister of Senegal) was voted as the new President of Senegal whilst the former president, Abdoulaye Wade submissively stepped down from power after a 12year rule when the people of Senegal voted him out of power.

 This kind of democracy is absent from countries such as Zimbabwe and Angola in comparison where there are no free and fair elections and the presidents are still clinging to power up to now.
Some rulers have even gone to the extent of rigging elections so that they could stay in power, such was the case in Zimbabwe in the 2008 elections. The 12 years of rule is decent as compared to President Mugabe’s  years in power and the Angolan President Dos Santos’ years. What also moved me as I was watching the evening news yesterday is seeing the bright faces of the people in Senegal, how they were hopeful for a brighter future now that they had a new ruler whom they had elected into power. Among the goals set by Macky Sall included reducing the Presidential term to 5 years. I believe that democracy in a country can take place when citizens are free to vote for any candidate they wish to represent them and if they are not satisfied with the President they would have chosen, they are free to vote him out of power in the process of free and fair elections.

  
 




Saturday, 24 March 2012

Human bones exracted from a mass grave in Libya


an uprising in Libya
Piles of bones have reportedly been exracted from a mass grave just a few miles outside Tripoli.According to human rights groups, there are as many as 8000 people missing or having dissappeared in Libya during the last year revolution against the Gaddafi regime.

I agree that the revolution against Gaddafi was for a good cause, the Libyan people had suffered enough under the former leader's tyranny rule and they could no longer tolerate it.Howeever on the other hand, although that was justified enough, many lives were also lost in the process.This therefore becomes one of the  disturbing consequences that arise from uprisings.Many Libyans up to this day have no idea where their relatives and friends dissapeared to, whether they are dead or alive.According to the reports from BBC news, many of the bodies that were extracted from the mass grave were unidentifiable.The Libyans were successful enough in getting rid of Gaddafi and there were celebrations everywhere, but some Libyans are still mourning the deaths and disappearance of their loved ones.To them, the revolution was a nightmarish experience that would forever remain etched in their minds, giving them no peace in their lives.I sometimes ask myself over and over again when I think about Libya, was the revolution truly worth it? Was it truly worth it to sacrifice the lives of 8000 people just to get rid of 1 person?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/world-africa-17429113
http://previous.presstv.ir/photo/20120319/reportint20120319160948487.jpg

Friday, 23 March 2012

WHEN POLICE BECOME ENEMIES


The police brutally beat civilians
I was deeply affected when I read the story about a group of police officers who brutally beat a mine worker to death in Shamva. What also worried me is that this attack was over goods allegedly stolen from the senior officer’s wife,according to "myzimbabwe.com", the wife had lost a purse which contained a $1 note. Surely how can such a case drive the security officers to savagely assault a man till he dies from his injuries? What the police did was unacceptable and inhuman .This behavior among police angers me in the sense that they are the ones who are supposed to protect citizens not the ones to instil harm. However Zimbabwe has become a place where no one feels at ease or safe  if the police are around.People  succumb to fear even if they just happen to come across a policeman walking by, wearing his uniform and carrying a baton stick . The police have lost the trust of the people as they have become perpetrators of violence.It is their duty to instil law and order in the country but instead they go about perpetrating violence to innocent individuals.My wish for these police officers who committed this hideous crime is that they must be severely punished without any leniency.Even if it means that they are sentenced to 40 years in jail or even given a life sentence, so be it.


MDC-T will not be bullied into elections



Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party have lately reflected strong signs that they will not give in to Mugabe and Zanu PF’s demands for new elections.MDC-T takes a stand that there be certain reforms first such as the completion of the constitution making process.
The fact that Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party have at least shown signs that they stand their ground concerning political, economicand military reforms before elections reflects that there is still hope for a better Zimbabwe. This stand shows a high level of maturity and political strength  on their part in that they have resisted Mugabe’s bullying tendencies of forcing them into making decisions.Rushing into elections will have disastrous consequences so MDC-T has made a wise decision to wait first.I believe that Mugabe is eager to rush into elections so that he repeats the same stance he took in the 2008 elections, Tsvangirai thus has shown him that he can not be made a fool of again.I am sure this move has left Mugabe and his party in the cold, who knows, maybe they are the ones who will end up submitting to the MDC-T decisions and not the other usual way round.

Government grain loan scheme, not the only solution

More than 93 000 people urgently need food aid in Masvingo and the number is expected to increase as the drought begins to take its toll in the province.
The increase of the number of people in urgent need of food aid in Zimbabwe has coincided with the banning of 30 NGOs in the country. This reflects how grave the situation is, considering that a number of people had been sorely relying on these NGOs.It can happen that the Government might even fail to manage the effects of drought in the country.Athough the government has introduced the grain loan scheme, there is no guarantee that this system will be efficient enough to curb the effects of drought in the province and other parts of the country facing similar drought effects. The government grain loan scheme will not be helpful to this large number of people who are affected by drought when its operating on its own. It needs the help of several NGOs who will assist in providing food aid to the people. Therefore, Titus Maluleke’s ( Masvingo Provincial Governor) decision of banning NGOs in this situation when a number of people in the country are in urgent need of them was a nonsensical and a selfish move. I think that the introduction of the government loan scheme might not be the only perfect solution right now. What the people need most is help from various NGOs operating in the country. 
Sunday News-18-24/03/12

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

IS SADC GIVING UP?




I have realised that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) no longer has the same punch it once had in dealing with the political crisis in Zimbabwe. Gone are the days when it imposed its toughness on the Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe and displayed that it will not tolerate the 88 year old leader’s behavior. Characterising its summit last year were media reports that former Zambian President Rupiah Banda even told Mugabe to “shut up and stop talking nonsense.”However a year after, the SADC seems to have lost its firm attitude towards Mugabe and his Zanu Pf party, Mugabe has once again emerged as the “hero” amid all the crisis. He has vowed that the elections are going to take place this year, with or without reforms and he seeks to dissolve the SADC proposed government of national unity, violence has been perpetrated in urban areas by the Zanu PF’s Chipangano group, 30 NGOs in Zimbabwe have been banned and journalists have been arrested. All these indications reflect that Zimbabwe is sliding further into an irresolvable political catastrophe and the SADC appears passive in all this. This can be a sign that the SADC is fed up with the ongoing squabbles between Mugabe and his Zanu pf party and the MDC parties. The SADC seems to be giving up and letting them to sort out their own problems.

http://www.businessday.co.za/toolpages/thumbnail.aspx?id=385002&type=img 

Friday, 9 March 2012

UNEDUCATED COUNCILLORS EXPOSED


BCC has exposed most of its councillors as academically challenged and having attained only standard 6 passes and driver’s licences as their only qualifications. This follows local government Minister, Ignatius Chombo’s attack in January, against MDC-T councillors when he described them as “dull and incompetent”.

Over the years I have witnessed a number of politicians and those in powers of authority who are highly educated and have Doctorates and Masters’ degrees complementing their academic qualifications but then proved to be incompetent and failed to live up to the people’s expectations. They failed to professionally carry out their assigned duties and in the end exposed themselves as corrupt, greedy and selfish individuals. This made me wonder if academic qualifications really matter in the political field or what matters rather is an individual’s moral character, whether he or she has the people’s needs at heart and whether the individual naturally has the qualities of a good leader . The BCC and Mr Chombo’s concerns might not make any difference, it might happen that the people they believe are gifted academically might disappoint them once they  have been appointed. The BCC has since ordered all 29 ward councillors to submit their current CVs to facilitate the selection of committee chairpersons.

Saturday, 3 March 2012

MALEMA IN A DILEMMA



Julius Malema is in a tight situation as his future looks uncertain.If his 5year suspension from the ANC is upheld or worse, if he is eventually expelled, the 30 year old ANC youth league president might be left out on his own in the cold.Malema was one of the ANCYL officials who were found guilty by the ANC's national disciplinary committee in November for creating chaos and sowing division in the ANC party.The tragedy that Malema might face is that his political "friends" will in the end realise that Malema is no longer of any use to them and will surely drop him.Malema's friends who supported him politically and even financially will all become history to him.In February the  ANC's appeals committee announced that the attempts by Malema and the other party officials to have the guilty verdicts against them overturned had been dismissed.Malema's future looks bleak.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/55008000/jpg/_55008648_012758762-1.jpg
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-7351-Minister+Malema+expulsion+a+%E2%80%98tragedy%E2%80%99/news.aspx 

Friday, 2 March 2012

NO JUSTICE IN ZIMBABWE



The justice delivery system in Zimbabwe is crippled

Zimbabwe has witnessed for so many years a number of some top Zanu PF officials and activists who have committed murders and other hideous crimes but have not been arrested or tried instead they are seen walking freely .
One example I can give to raise my concern is the issue on Joseph Mwale, a CIO agent who allegedly brutally murdered two top MDC-T activists who were burnt to ashes in a petrol bombing in 2000.In 2006 the police are said to have brushed away the written order from the Attorney General’s office to arrest Mwale.In the same year, although the high court judge Justice James Devitte ordered Mwale to be brought to trial, that has not taken place up to now.
What bothers me is that Mwale, an alleged murderer has reportedly been promoted within the CIO ranks and has been recently been given the honour to being a part of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s security team. Up to now, Mwale has remained free, his co-accused was indicted to two counts of murder in 2004 but he was never arrested. The other three Zanu PF activists who are also accused of being the perpetrators of the murder alongside Mwale are still free on bail and there is no sign that the case will proceed. Their crimes have just been swept under the carpet and Mwale has suddenly emerged as an innocent man without even a smear of blood on his hands.
The form of justice delivery system in Zimbabwe is crippled, those in power can easily get away with murder without being made accountable for their crimes. That makes me wonder if there would ever be any justice in Zimbabwe, where every individual who commits a crime is made to face the full wrath of the law regardless of class, race or gender. If that would ever happen then it would have taken a big step needed for a positive change.

Friday, 24 February 2012

THE OIL RICH BUT POOR COUNTRY


Nigeria is the biggest oil producer in Africa but most of its citizens are living in absolute poverty.The paradox here is that despite its growing economy, the country is characterized by almost 70% of its population living on less than a $1 a day.
For a country whose economy is striving, I sometimes wonder how  or why Nigerian citizens are languishing in poverty.I believe that although there are a number of factors that have constituted to this situation, one outstanding factor is a corrupt political system.The government is supposed to make use of the revenues it gets from oil production to better the living standards of its people but that seems not to be the case in Nigeria.

There is too much corruption and mismanagement in the oil production sector.The oil production revenues,which are supposed to benefit the people of Nigeria are instead diverted to other personal uses.Industry sources have said that at least 1000 barrels of  national oil exports are stolen everyday.

Nigerian citizens protest against corruption
  for Nigeria to strive in all spheres, President Goodluck Jonathan has to make sure that there is complete eradication of corruption in the oil sector.In that way, the country will be set to witness a number of major improvements.


sources-www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2004/12/17/corruption
allafrica.com/stories/201202210674.html
image-nigerianews.com

MUGABE ATTACKS ZUMA


This is one of the rare moments in my life where I am forced to agree with President Mugabe, though partially of course. Well, he might be right after all in threatening to ditch the South African President, Jacob Zuma as a mediator for Zimbabwe. Let us face it, it has been about 3years since Zuma became the mediator and there has not been any evidence to show that he has been doing his job. The situation in Zimbabwe is in fact getting worse as the country is spiraling further into disastrous social, economic and political situation. My question is, why still keep him as the mediator of Zimbabwe if there is no progress at all?
However, although I support Mugabe on this matter, I have to question why Mugabe is so eager to do away with Zuma,it might be that Zuma is advocating for the full implementation of the power-sharing Global Political Agreement including the setting up of the new constitution before elections are held of which I totally agree with him. Mugabe and his Zanu PF party strongly oppose this, they want the elections as soon as possible without any reforms so as to maintain their stay in power and dissolve the coalition government.
Story taken from- www.thestandard.co.uk
  image link is-www.google.co.zw/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mwonl/data/files/images/

the two leaders in happier times

Friday, 17 February 2012

SUSPENSION OF THE NGOs,A MISTAKE

I am utterly disappointed and outraged by the decision taken by the Masvingo Provincial Governor Titus Maluleke to suspend over 30 local and international Non-Governmental Organisations from operating in the province.His reason being that these Organisations are defying a directive to register with his office.This suspension of the NGOs reflects the chaos and instability which characterises Zimbabwe.

My main worry here is that Mr Maluleke who is also the Zanu PF senator for Chiredzi seems not to realise or is equally ignorant of the negative impact this move would have on a number of  villagers and other ordinary Zimbabweans who had been relying on these organisations for food, medical aid and other much needed basic requirements.The current drought in Zimbabwe has also led most people to sorely depend on these Organisations for survival. Some of the organisations which have been suspended include HIV and AIDS groups,Care International Bikita, Zvishavane Water Project Chivi and FACT.
His reason for suspending the NGOs is overshadowed by the fact that Zanu PF has always had a negative attitude towards the NGOs mainly those in humanitarian,human rights,governance and developmental sectors in the country. So Mr Maluleke's decision may be politically motivated in that it might be a way of totally getting rid of the NGOs who are accused   of working for the MDC party by ZANU PF.

The tension between  ZANU PF and the MDC is affecting ordinary citizens of Zimbabwe.Mr Maluleke must also take the needs of the people at heart and take that as the first and foremost priority above  political ambitions.His suspending the NGOs is therefore not a solution and it is a wrong turn which will set up disastrous consequences in the end.  


Tuesday, 14 February 2012

ISRAEL, IRAN CLASH

The tension between Israel and Iran has escalated after the Israeli Embassy vehicles were bombed recently in India and Georgia, an act which has outraged Israel.In these attacks, Israel has not been hesitant in pointing a finger at Iran as the one responsible. The Israeli Prime Minister has expressed his bitterness towards the bombing which he termed the "terrorist attacks" from Iran.In defense, Iran has denied any involvement in the attacks.These attacks follow the attacks and killings of  Iran nuclear Scientists by Israel. Could this be Iran's way of revenge against Israel? 

VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN SYRIA

The violence in Syria is escalating as death rates keep on increasing each day.The United Nations debates have come up with a plan to send peacemakers to Syria as soon as possible. According to UN, further delays in solving the crisis may strengthen the Syrian Government's will in crushing opposition.The UN is mainly concerned about the ordinary citizens of Syria who are suffering from these attacks.It has labelled the Government's attacks on the citizens as "crimes against humanity". The citizens need urgent aid in the form of food, water, medical attention and other basic requirements. The Ambassador to Syria pointed out that the Government in Syria has a right to defend its people against ''terrorism". So far there has been a lot of talking but little action in solving the crisis.If the Government continues to launch its attacks on opposition ,the attempts of the Syrians to oust their leader might prove to be futile in the end.

Friday, 10 February 2012

Syrian crisis, what needs to be done?

The Syrian crisis has escalated and there seems to be no hope in it ever ending.The opposition in Syria is dissatisfied with the rule of President Bashar Al Assad and wants him to step down.In all that,the Syrian government has emerged to be the villain as its security forces have been attacking the civilians there.The government  is termed to be waging a war against its own peopleIts justification has been that the attacks are aimed at gangs and terrorists.The situation has been described by the media as miserable as the U.N has recorded the deaths of 6000 people since the start of the uprising.There are fears that it could breakdown to a civil war and eventually a regional conflict.Syria seems to be in a tight situation because there seems to be no nation helping it at the moment.Complaints and discontentments have arisen among the Syrian people who have lost hope,their dissappointments lie in the fact that U.S and some nations helped Libya but they have not offered any assistance for Syria.Syria has been isolated and Libya has reportedly severed its ties with Syria.Will there ever be any hope for Syria?