SW Radio Africa (London)
Lance Guma
13 October 2008
The Secretary General of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) Raymond Majongwe, and Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) leader Jenni Williams, have both called for street protests against Mugabe's move to grab the key ministries.
The state owned Herald on Saturday published a list of ministries allocated to ZANU PF and the MDC, by Mugabe using a government gazette. The ZANU PF leader grabbed Home Affairs, Defence, Justice, Information, Local Government and Foreign Affairs Ministries while giving the MDC minor ministries.
Speaking at a public lecture organized by pressure group Bulawayo Agenda, Majongwe urged, 'all members of civic society and Zimbabweans in general to get onto the streets, in all cities and towns, in a clear sign to Mugabe that we are not accepting this.' He described Mugabe's unilateral allocation of ministries as a betrayal of the power sharing accord signed last month adding, 'we cannot continue to let Mugabe hold the country and us to ransom.' WOZA leader Williams echoed Majongwe's call saying, 'Mugabe should not be allowed to steal away our future. The deal, despite it's shortcomings, is the only sustainable foundation to rebuild Zimbabwe.'
Meanwhile the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) says it is planning a big demonstration Tuesday to coincide with the opening of parliament. ZINASU President Clever Bere told Newsreel although the continued closure of the University of Zimbabwe would pose a challenge for them they had committed students who were still going to come and participate. Other colleges planning to join include the Harare Polytechnic and other tertiary institutions in the city. Bere said they wanted to hand in a petition listing their demands to the 'elected members of parliament.'
The students are demanding free and quality education, a people driven constitution that guarantees education as a fundamental human right, improvements in learning conditions, lifting of suspensions and expulsions for student activists, repealing of repressive legislation and an improvement in the working conditions of academic and non-academic staff.
ZINASU has also expressed its outrage at Mugabe's move to grab key ministries. 'The list effectively removes the two MDC's from being partners, to spectators in the governing and running of the affairs of the country,' the union noted. They also expressed disappointment that ZANU PF wants to control the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education despite the party demonstrating 'a history of failure as evidenced by the current collapse of the education sector.' Although the students have reservations about the power sharing deal they said, 'it provides a framework for moving ahead.'
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Dear Prem, please go on with your sharp comments. I read them daily. I think Mugabes policy is to let the inflation go sky rocket high. As a consequence Zimbos must cue outside the ATM machines for a couple of days to buy a bread with the latest banknote. As a consequence they do not have enough time for demonstrations. The main victims of the whole system is however the toiletpaperindustry. They see their sales go down every day while the whole country is in the shit. Nobody buys roles of toiletpaper with so many Heralds available. And otherwise new banknotes from a week ago would do. To be serious I think the whole Zimbabwean situation is a crossroad of deadend streets. With this lying lunatic still in position in the autumn of his lifenight history will repeat itself. I feel sorry for the people of Zimbabwe. They deserve better. Maybe some could come with a plan while cueing outside tomorrow at the ATM machine. They don't have to organize a meeting. They are already there. Congratulations Zanu with your world record of inflation. Maybe it's on the Olympic program in 4 years. Could bring another goldmedal for the glory of the nation. And a reward!
I am really disappointed with the civil soety leaders if Zimbabwe!
Their inability to garner wider support both inside Zimbabwe and in the SADC region has been one of the main factors why the murderer president of the rotten banana republic is still holding on to power although his position is illegitimate.
The Zim civil society leaders must realise that they alone will not dislodge Mugabe until they render effective common actions with alliances with civil society groupings in the SADC region.
It's a big shame that for over a decade the civil society grouping in Zimbabwe has not been able to show its teeth can bite! The sufferings of Zimbos have been as a result of a direct failure of Zim civil society to connect usefully to those who together can dislodge the murderer.
Nations in West Africa have shown that they can indeed defeat any dictator through street actions! Zimbos can do so also, Mugabe's Army and Police staff will ultimately choose to protect their families and relatives in case of confrontation.
However, it seems to me that too many Zimbos want to lead a British life style and they therefore do not want to undergo momentary sacrifices in the hope that they all can largely benefit after the disappearance of the rotten dictator.
It's never too late! Zims can also rise to the nationalistic challenge of sending to the gallows a former hero turned bloodstained murderer.