Call me not a “born free.” Where in the world will my parents get that kind of money? I used to attend college hungry and on a shoe-string budget, now this. Franklin Roosevelt said “necessitous men are not free men.” If unfree then it is an un-democratic situation. And if not democratic then it is tyranny.
This social evil has characterised Zimbabwes educational sector. From the toddler in pre-school, through to primary and secondary school pupils, and all University and college students, we have been victims of this injustice. But above all, it has been a struggle for our parents: the ordinary workers and peasants who have had to cover up for the evils of this system.
The more I think about it, the more I realise that the cry cannot be limited to the University of Zimbabwe. One might be excused if they then swore eternal hostility to unilateral decision-making as Mudenge and Levi Nyagura did on the fees structure. Similar to how long it took them to get to a decision to re-open the University of Zimbabwe.
This duet once chucked 4,000 students out of residence on July 9, 2007. Certainly, they have not changed their undemocratic culture. These fees are retrogressive for national healing. They cause open wounds to fester for the sin of having to add a year on every students academic chart. It is a year, because the University has been effectively shut down for that amount of time.
It would have been proper if Nyagura had stepped down. The institute of the Vice Chancellor has become the symbol of student problems and Nyagura as the perpetrator. Maybe he is a victim of circumstances but I think just like Gono, Chihuri, Chiwenga, Zimhondi, Bonyongwe, Tomana, Chinamasa, Muchechetere, George Charamba, Jonathan Moyo etc., they have successfully transformed themselves into public enemies. These guys are simply extremely unpopular. Maybe they should just go! It angers me that one person can hold the 13 000 UZ population to ransom, just as that small “clique” can hold a whole nation of 14 million hostage.
Last but indeed not least, the Chancellor (President Robert Mugabe) is the acme of all wrongs. He runs the whole chaos and what a fiasco it has been. MAYIBUYE, by e-mail
Where the heart is
EDITOR – I am writing this letter because I have been moved by reports of Zimbabweans who are living and sleeping in the streets of South Africa. I know it has been every Zimbabweans dream to see change in their lives. Most have gone to different countries seeking a better life and so they can help people back home. It has been our prayer, and still is, to see this country become a better place. We have fought a battle of survival, and to be where we are today means that we have proved that we are survivors.
Things have improved, but we hope for a time when we can look back and say, “there was a time” and we can stand and testify as a nation that God touched us.
The Bible in 2 Chronicles 20:15 says,”…Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s”. I believe we cannot win our battles without God’s help. I know not everyone is a Christian, but I believe we all have one thing in common – to see change.
It is not only in our individual lives that we go through the hard times for a reason, I believe that as a nation we suffer hard times in order that we might gain strength.
They say home is the best and no matter where you go, your heart is always there. I believe in that, but I also believe that when you leave home, you are going to find your place in the world and when things do not turn out the way you expect, it is always wise to come back home.
We should come together and build our own nation instead of continuing to build other people’s systems. It has to be better than sleeping on the street. TSITSI MUNDA, by e-mail
Divide and rule
EDITOR – Robert Mugabe, his wives in the politburo, and his Junta managed to divide the unsuspecting Civil Societies Alliance. This includes NCA, NANGO, ZCTU, ZINASU, MDC, PF ZAPU and the majority of people in Zimbabwe who campaigned for a no vote during 2000 referendum.
Unity is strength and Zanu (PF) could not challenge the peoples power through the ballot. NCA, ZINASU, ZCTU, NANGO, MDC , PF ZAPU and all Stakeholders were tricked by the deliberate inclusion of the Parliamentary Select Committee and the Kariba Draft in the GPA. This was a hammer thrown in a moving engine.
The united Civil Societies were too strong for Zanu (PF) and therefore they had to use divide and rule tactics, to weaken the opposition. The Civil Societies, PF ZAPU and MDC need to think quickly and unite to defeat Zanu (PF) in the next referendum.
The aborted all Stakeholders Conference hullabaloo was deliberately sabotaged by the Zanu (PF) politburo. The brain-washed militant-born CIOs such as Chinotimba, Kasukuvere and the alien Patrick Zhuwawo were behind it. These are the strategies used by a failed government.
Zanu (PF) has expired. The old man is too tired.
We need outside help to write an all peoples Constitution. The role of the politicians should be to facilitate. THE BUSH LAWYER, by e-mail
Mugabes reconciliation
EDITOR – Reading the Bill Watch of July 17, 2009 in which Mugabe issues a decree on
national healing is beyond belief! Or is it? Is he living in Zimbabwe one
wonders?
Perhaps a few simple stats might wake up those people who think that a three day dedication program to National Healing and Integration is the answer to the brutality, rape, arson, murder and torture of last year. Let alone Gukuruhundi, Murambatsvina, Operation Mavhoterapapi, Operation Elimination…
Army, CIO, Zanu (PF), war veterans and ZRP are named as the perpetrators of last years crimes against the people of Zimbabwe. This includes sitting and losing ZPF MP’s and 12 Chiefs.
While this pious declaration is made, war vets are being instructed to regroup militia and ZPF youth to “persuade” the people to vote for the Kariba Draft constitution. Was September the month set down by ZPF to start their “persuasion”?
No apologies for the cynicism, this is how ZPF operates, always has and always will. I would love to be proven wrong.
The rule of law, justice, then reconciliation and healing. It has never worked the other way around. Ask the members of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. ANON., by e-mail
Gono held to account
EDITOR – The recent revelations that Gideon Gono had written to President Robert Mugabe recommending that businessman Mutumwa Mawere be given back his businesses were very worrying. Gono was at the fore front of having Mawere arrested for externalisation.
Mawere had to flee Zimbabwe in order to avoid arrest although all along he supported by other Zimbabweans had pleaded his innocence.
But Gono would have none of this and used his powers as Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor to have Mawere arrested and stripped of his assets.
Although it is refreshing to hear Gono advising Mugabe that Mawere should be allowed to reclaim his assets, it is also very worrying to note that the same Gono has been at the front of persecuting bankers, businessmen and the ordinary people by using quasi-political programmes to run the RBZ.
Hundreds of people have been forced to flee their country as Gono went on a rampage to have these people arrested on flimsy charges.
Scores of high-profile businessmen and bankers have been arrested on Gonos orders, and had to spend months in remand prison, only to have their charges dropped due to lack of evidence.
Worse still, millions of Zimbabweans have been made paupers after Gono continued to print the Zimbabwe dollar amidst soaring inflation.
People died from curable diseases while others had to spend sleepless nights hungry as they failed to get money from banks because of Gonos abuse of the RBZ and the banks.
After all this, one begins to understand and appreciate calls by the MDC and other progressive forces that Gono should resign in the interest of the nation.
Gono says Mawere should be given back his companies in order to restore international investor confidence in the country. But he should also resign in the interests of international confidence as he is one of the prime reasons why the international investors are unwilling to invest in the country.
Gono has caused unnecessary problems and it is high time that he should be shown the door.
In my own view Gono should be arrested for causing this mess in the economy. AGRIPPA ZVOMUYA, Harare
When will it end?
EDITOR – So much has been happening in my country in the past eight years, so much has been lost, bloodshed, people made homeless, all for political expediency. When are we going to get out of it? We need to, NOW! ANON., by e-mail
Returning Zimbabweans
BY FUNGI KWARAMBA
When the coalition government assumed office calling for Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to come back home and help rebuild the nation, Rangarira Runesu took heed and was one among thousands who returned.
Now its more than a hundred days since the formation of the Unity Government and Rangarirai hopes of getting his job back as a policeman have not come to fruition.
I thought that I could come back home and get my job back. I applied but they never replied. I went to the Charge Office Police station many times, the authorities told me that the reply had already been sent. I even went to the post office and they did not have the letter. Its now over three months waiting for the reply which will never come, he said.
Thousands of Zimbabweans flocked back to the country from the Diaspora, especially South Africa. They left their jobs in construction or as domestic workers.
With my Human Resources Diploma I went to South Africa hoping to find a good job. It was not the case and I ended up in Cape Town where I worked as a building assistant. It was hard labour but I soldiered on in order to provide for the needs of my family. After Tsvangirai agreed to join with Zanu (PF) I thought it was time to go back home and help rebuild the nation.
The wrong decision?
To date it has been a long wait for any opportunity to present itself for the former policeman who has tramped the streets of Harare in search of employment. He now questions his decision to leave Egoli.
I wish to go back South but I doubt that I will be lucky this time around to find a job.
The scraping of visa requirements for Zimbabweans wishing to cross the Limpopo has resulted in thousands of Zimbabweans trekking down south in spite of the Unity Government. According to the Immigration Department in Beitbridge, nearly 8 000 Zimbabweans cross the border daily.
Professionals who left the country for greener pastures have ended up in the streets of Johannesburg selling sweets or begging.
I used to earn R350 a week, which few in Zimbabwe could earn in a month. Now I am back home and unemployed, I cant go back to South Africa because of the way Zimbabweans are treated. I hope that industry will open up and people get back to work again, said Rangarirai.
Even though shops have reopened and are well-stocked, unemployment in the country still stands at over 85 per cent. The opening up of manufacturing industries has been slow, and this has resulted in Zimbabwean shops continuing to buy from South Africa. This forces the price up. Only recently the government had an Investor Conference that sought to convince the world to trust and invest in Zimbabwe again.
For Rangarirai, the waiting continues.