I watched Tendai Biti on TV the other night saying that if Morgan Tsvangirai had a motorcade that warned people of his approach and made them get off the road then the tragic accident in which Susan died wouldn’t have happened. And so he appealed to Mugabe to give Morgan the protection he needed. True, Susan might have been spared but maybe the police outriders waving at the lorry driver would have been killed. Morgan might be prime minister, and Mugabe a dictator, but this doesn’t mean that either of them should be put on a pedestal. The outcome of this tragedy shouldn’t be more motorcades, it should be better policing of our roads, improved infrastructure and defensive driving. This would make us all safer in Zimbabwe. At the very least Mugabe’s obnoxiously large motorcade should shared with Tsvangirai instead of adding to the arrogance of politicians our roads.

Since the swearing in ceremony of the Prime Minister, his 2 deputies and ministers some 2 weeks ago l have been asking myself the question: Are we in a new Zimbabwe yet? The answer eludes me still. My hope, and l am sure many Zimbabweans and other well wishers shared this hope too, was that the consummation of the inclusive government would be the ushering in of a new era characterized by a bold paradigm shift on the part of government and a fresh and new way of doing things. In other words, with an inclusive government it cannot be business as usual. I desperately wanted to feel the winds of change blowing across the country, and to see the change with my own eyes.

It was with a heavy heart, but not entirely unexpected, that it dawned on me that a new dawn has not come to Zimbabwe. Only minuscule and purely cosmetic changes have taken place; there has been no paradigm shift on the part of ZANU-PF and certainly there is nothing tangible to reflect a change of heart and attitudes on the part of ZANU-PF. Robert Mugabe and company has simply made a little room for the MDC to squeeze in at the table without making any alterations to the menu. Those, like me, who expected ZANU-PF to suddenly embrace accountability, human rights and other democratic values were met with the a rude reality that its business as usual for ZANU-PF and that all newcomers to the business of government will learn the ropes at the feet of ZANU-PF.

It appears ZANU-PF has stood on the shores of the river of change, and, instead of crossing over to the land of transparency, good governance and democracy; ZANU-PF has beckoned to MDC to cross over to its side of the river which is blighted with corruption, lawlessness and repression. As soon as the inclusive government came into being ZANU-PF promptly began vomiting on the agreement. State Agents, no, State Thugs really, had the audacity to abduct Deputy Minister of Agriculture designate, Roy Bennett and incarcerate him on trump-up charges. Despite a High Court ruling by Justice Karwi granting Bennett bail, one Prisons Assistant Commissioner Albert Mandimika flatly refused to release Bennett. What more, Robert Mugabe at his birthday Party in Chinhoyi declared that farm invasions are not over until the last remaining white farmers leave their farms. These events provide conclusive evidence to those in doubt that we are certainly not in a new Zimbabwe. We are definitely in Mugabe’s old Zimbabwe where human rights and democracy are anathema. We are still in a dictatorship where human rights defenders are threatened with extinction.

That MDC is now part of government so far makes little difference. They have not demonstrated to observers that they will not take crap from Mugabe and his cronies. They are yet to demonstrate that they wield some power, beyond merely talking about it. I challenge the MDC to take decisive measures and to stand up to ZANU-PF and demand that ZANU-PF stops this nonsense. I urge the MDC to be open and transparent and resist ZANU-PF’s way of doing things. This is the only way to ensure we make a clean break with the past.

The MDC cannot be preoccupied with saving the so called inclusive government to the point of making concession after concession to ZANU-PF. Morgan Tsvangirai and his team must stand solidly and firmly on principle and refuse to move an inch from principle. If the government of national unity will collapse because Morgan insists on respect for human rights – so be it. A warning to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is this: Do not give ZANU-PF any quota, if you give ZANU-PF your hand they will want your whole arm. In the twinkling of an eye, ZANU-PF will swallow you whole. MDC remember your slogan and promise to bring about change; and please deliver the change we need in Zimbabwe.

Chinja Maitiro!

In as much as our education is concerned, it is derailed, demolished, dilapidated and finally decomposed into ashes. I am not talking about the ashes that remain behind after a fire has ceased, but I am talking about the ashes that are remaining after we are left education less.

Last week found me at college where I am studying for my BA Hons in African Languages and Culture. I had gone for payment of my 3rd year 1st semester fees since I am away from college for the whole year on industrial attachment. What I had to witness with my eyes left me wide mouthed as the telephone conversations I used to have with my friends there became reality. I attempted to get into one of these lectures so that I could have the necessary and on hand information and to my sight there were fifteen of us in the lecture room; the lecturer being the 16th member of the room. Having said a few notes on the module, a heavy knock descended on the door. My word, there was the man who is acting in the Office of the Registrar, Mr. Taguta, spectacles on and applying to himself a crocodile smile that even induced fear amongst students as they knew his obligation. Without reluctance in executing it, he ordered that those who had not paid their fees leave the room as it was not necessary for them to be at the college. I did not rise from the chair I had made myself comfortable in, watching him moving around and checking for receipts from everyone in the room.

It hurts me so much when certain Government directives are ignored only to the interest of a few people. The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education had directed that no one was to be sent from school on monetary grounds. That leaves me with the question in my heart and mind, on whose side are you? If you are for us then you have to respect whatever is our right, especially to education. To be fair and frank, there is actually no parent, even the elite ones, who can afford to pay US$1000 for a degree programme in a country with an unemployment rate of above 90%. Education to my belief is some form of investment but how can you invest where you are actually going to get a loss instead of profit. In comparison to South African universities, our own are charging fees that are way above what is expected. It seems cheaper to go and learn in South Africa than stay here.

This is a call to the responsible authorities to deal with the rotten elements of society. Once again we need to be a vibrant country in as much as our education is concerned.

Imagine that you’re a teacher in Zimbabwe and that your wage, as agreed upon by the new Unity Government is US$100/month, and a relative passes away, and you need to organise the burial. Below, in a recent statement, the civic organisation Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) points out that the dying wage that many Zimbabweans are earning is not enough to bury a loved one.

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) registers its utter disappointment and disapproval of the recently introduced burial fees structure by the City Council. The City council is charging US$460 burial fees for Warren Hills cemetery, US$350 for Granville and US$260 for Tafara. CHRA categorically declares that such fees are unaffordable and do not at all reflect the current socio-economic realities obtaining in the country where most civil servants are earning an average of US$100 per month. Furthermore, the city council arrived at such fees without prior consultation of the residents. The new burial charges come at a time when the 2009 city budget has not been approved yet the rates have been reviewed to astronomical levels of about US$130 (for low density areas) and US$25 to US$35 (for high density areas). While CHRA appreciates that the review of the service charges is meant to resuscitate service delivery, we are also worried about reports we are receiving to the effect that the council employees have awarded each other hefty salaries following the review of the service charges. CHRA is yet to confirm but has received reports that the least remunerated employee at town house is getting an average of US$300 per month. The Association urges the city councilors to review downwards all tariffs and levies against the residents. CHRA has since written to the City Council protesting over the new fees, levies and service charges structure. We have not gotten a response from the council, thus CHRA is currently consulting its membership over the next course of action. CHRA will continue to advocate and lobby for an accountable and transparent local governance system that provides quality and affordable service delivery on a non partisan basis.

This cartoon, from The Herald 25 February, reminded me of Joram Nyathi’s comment about the “treacherous teachers.” It’s not the teachers who are holding education hostage, it’s the government, who won’t pay teachers a living wage, that is holding teachers, learners and Zimbabwe’s future hostage.

Why are teachers – who themselves have lives to lead, families to feed, and children to school – blamed for wanting to earn a living wage? They signed up to be teachers – not slaves. Let’s pressure the new Ministers to send their Mercedes limousines back (and donate their value to infrastructure projects), and Robert Mugabe to decline his next $250,000 birthday party (having chosen instead to invest the funds into national development), instead of trash-talking teachers.

In Harare we’ve had several downpours since Friday. Today is overcast with intermittent drizzle. And that’s where this weather report ends. So there’s water all around except here at work where there’s none in our taps. Usually we rely on a couple of rickety taps in the car park to fill two white plastic 5l containers but today even they’ve run dry. Apparently though we can buy water from a shop nearby for US$2 per litre. Remember all those Zanu PF election posters and T-shirts with the slogan . . . 100% empowerment . . . according to Bob the Birthday Boy, that means a Zimbabwe with no water, no jobs and barely a meal a day.