EDUCATION SHOULD BE A RIGHT FOR ALL.
By Khumbulani Maphosa (Media and Publications Officer)
The right to education should be a right for every individual and the government should have an obligation to ensure that it provides quality, affordable and accessible education to all. Participants made this call during the Education Sector Think Tank meeting held at the Habakkuk Trust Boardroom on 23 February 2010.
The meeting was attended by 31 participants who included students, teachers, members of Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA), the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), members of various School Development Associations and some civic society members concerned with the education sector.
Anele Dube from Matabeleland Empowerment Campaign stressed the need for tertiary institution in the region to adopt a quota system whereby a ‘large percentage of the students should be people from the region where the university is located’.
Mr Enock Paradzayi from PTUZ also presented some of the key issues they would want to see appearing in the constitution as an organisation. Some of them include: Accessible and affordable higher and tertiary education, fees that are not way above the salaries of government workers, government intervention in the operations of private schools so as to ensure quality and non-discriminatory education, education being done in minority languages, teaching being recognized as a profession, minimum wages above the poverty datum line, the right to participate in collective bargaining, among other issues.
‘What the human mind is to a teacher, is what the body is to a doctor’ explained Mr Paradzayi who was passionate about the issue of temporary teachers and lack of an independent teacher self-regulatory body.
Some participants further called for a constitution that will ensure that the education system of this country produces a wholesome human being and one that is ‘cognizance of the socio-economic needs of the society’. This they claimed can be achieved if the country ‘adopt a two-tier education system, that is, an academic and vocational system’ suggested Mr Printah Nkala a University Lecturer.
Mr Dumisani Ndlovu who represented ZIMTA stressed the need for ‘a law that questions any child of school going age who is seen not going to school’. This will also be complimented by ‘policies that may arrest a parent or guardian or parent who is able but does not take responsibility’ of sending a child to school.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
CALL FOR MEDIA FREEDOM IN NEW CONSTITUTION
By the Media and Publications Officer
Media practitioners who took part in the Habakkuk Trust Think Tank on the constitution have underscored the need for the new constitution to guarantee media freedom.
The participants who were drawn from various media houses, media organisations and media associations in the city convened to discuss the Media and The Constitution.
Contributing during the Think Tank proceedings one of the participants indicated that while the constitution acknowledges freedom of expression, this is not sufficient. ‘The constitution should guarantee press freedom and protect journalists as they do their work,’ he said.
A media student present in the meeting pointed out that having constitutional provisions is one thing but implementation of those provisions is more important. ‘ We should be allowed to carry out investigative journalism without fear of victimization by political leaders” he argued.
There was a call for that the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings and Zimpapers operate as public and not state broadcasters. There was also an outcry for the opening of media space for example by freeing the airwaves so as to allow more media players as this is a basic component of any democratic society‘ .The government should support the opening up of space creating room for community, commercial and public broadcasting.
It was agreed that further advocacy should be done around this issue. Journalists also demanded an independent and dully constituted Media Commission that is fully empowered to deal with violation of ethics. This will ensure that the media adheres to ethics that are fundamental to human rights and development.
Some participants actually called for the abolition of the Ministry of Information and Publicity, as the ministry is rendered useless where there are effective, independent and functional media bodies. They concluded that the Ministry of Information and Publicity is an autocratic tool used by dictator states to control the free flow of information .The media practitioners were unanimous in pinpointing the need of a self regulating structure for journalists by journalists.
The Think Tank meetings continue next week in which the focus will be on Languages as well as Arts and Culture.
*Please note: names of participants have been deliberately withheld for security reasons.
By the Media and Publications Officer
Media practitioners who took part in the Habakkuk Trust Think Tank on the constitution have underscored the need for the new constitution to guarantee media freedom.
The participants who were drawn from various media houses, media organisations and media associations in the city convened to discuss the Media and The Constitution.
Contributing during the Think Tank proceedings one of the participants indicated that while the constitution acknowledges freedom of expression, this is not sufficient. ‘The constitution should guarantee press freedom and protect journalists as they do their work,’ he said.
A media student present in the meeting pointed out that having constitutional provisions is one thing but implementation of those provisions is more important. ‘ We should be allowed to carry out investigative journalism without fear of victimization by political leaders” he argued.
There was a call for that the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings and Zimpapers operate as public and not state broadcasters. There was also an outcry for the opening of media space for example by freeing the airwaves so as to allow more media players as this is a basic component of any democratic society‘ .The government should support the opening up of space creating room for community, commercial and public broadcasting.
It was agreed that further advocacy should be done around this issue. Journalists also demanded an independent and dully constituted Media Commission that is fully empowered to deal with violation of ethics. This will ensure that the media adheres to ethics that are fundamental to human rights and development.
Some participants actually called for the abolition of the Ministry of Information and Publicity, as the ministry is rendered useless where there are effective, independent and functional media bodies. They concluded that the Ministry of Information and Publicity is an autocratic tool used by dictator states to control the free flow of information .The media practitioners were unanimous in pinpointing the need of a self regulating structure for journalists by journalists.
The Think Tank meetings continue next week in which the focus will be on Languages as well as Arts and Culture.
*Please note: names of participants have been deliberately withheld for security reasons.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
“CONSTITUTION SHOULD PROTECT OUR RIGHTS”: YOUTH THINK TANK
By Media and Publications Officer
Participants at the Youth Think Tank meeting held at Habakkuk Trust yesterday have stressed the need for the new constitution to protect the rights of the ordinary citizens.
Youths who spoke passionately on the need to have a constitutional framework that guarantees not only the freedom to exercise one’s rights also called for fair and just mechanisms for the protection of human rights.
This therefore calls for the capacity building of all law enforcement agents as they have been violating people rights both by default and by design, said the participants.
Francis, a university student, reiterated that “We have seen arbitrary arrests and searching on the streets and if you challenge it the police beat you thoroughly, and even if you comply they beat you again.” “We need to change from the current system where by the police, if they suspect you to be a criminal, they ‘shoot and then ask questions later’” pleaded Bhekumuzi Moyo.
The youths further stressed the need for the new constitution to mandate the government to speedily domesticate international laws and protocols. Other issues that emerged as pertinent during the meeting were the rights to information, the right to protection, the freedom after speech and freedom to exercise one’s rights without fear.
The meeting also brought out the need for the National Youth Council to be completely overhauled and be constitutionally constituted so as to effectively address the needs and concerns of youths irrespective of political affiliations.
“The National Youth Service was as a very noble idea that was unfortunately badly executed as it fell on the wrong hands,” observed Pastor Muchina who also said the institute should tap from international youth service institutions and concentrate in teaching life skills, values, and nationhood and empower youths to be responsible citizens.
The meeting that was attended by youths from various sectors that included CSOs, churches and Habakkuk Trust Action Teams discussed issues to do with Youth representation at decision making levels, the majority age and bill of rights.
The Habakkuk Trust sector Think Tanks continue today with a Think Tank for the Women and specifically tackling the thematic areas of Women and Gender, Land, Natural Resources and Empowerment and Bill of Rights.
By Media and Publications Officer
Participants at the Youth Think Tank meeting held at Habakkuk Trust yesterday have stressed the need for the new constitution to protect the rights of the ordinary citizens.
Youths who spoke passionately on the need to have a constitutional framework that guarantees not only the freedom to exercise one’s rights also called for fair and just mechanisms for the protection of human rights.
This therefore calls for the capacity building of all law enforcement agents as they have been violating people rights both by default and by design, said the participants.
Francis, a university student, reiterated that “We have seen arbitrary arrests and searching on the streets and if you challenge it the police beat you thoroughly, and even if you comply they beat you again.” “We need to change from the current system where by the police, if they suspect you to be a criminal, they ‘shoot and then ask questions later’” pleaded Bhekumuzi Moyo.
The youths further stressed the need for the new constitution to mandate the government to speedily domesticate international laws and protocols. Other issues that emerged as pertinent during the meeting were the rights to information, the right to protection, the freedom after speech and freedom to exercise one’s rights without fear.
The meeting also brought out the need for the National Youth Council to be completely overhauled and be constitutionally constituted so as to effectively address the needs and concerns of youths irrespective of political affiliations.
“The National Youth Service was as a very noble idea that was unfortunately badly executed as it fell on the wrong hands,” observed Pastor Muchina who also said the institute should tap from international youth service institutions and concentrate in teaching life skills, values, and nationhood and empower youths to be responsible citizens.
The meeting that was attended by youths from various sectors that included CSOs, churches and Habakkuk Trust Action Teams discussed issues to do with Youth representation at decision making levels, the majority age and bill of rights.
The Habakkuk Trust sector Think Tanks continue today with a Think Tank for the Women and specifically tackling the thematic areas of Women and Gender, Land, Natural Resources and Empowerment and Bill of Rights.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
CONSTITUTIONAL THINK TANKS KICK START.
Habakkuk Trust has kick-started the sector based Think Tanks with members of the community converging to discuss pertinent issues pertaining to the content of the Constitution. Present in the first think tank of 26 January 2010 were members of the Action Team members and representatives from churches who convened to discuss Arms of the State, Executive Organs of the State and Systems of Government.
Participants stressed the need for a new order that will ensure that there is proper devolution of power that will entail local people getting control of local resources. They also agreed that there should be provincial legislatures to enable legislatures to be in touch with the people. “Sikhathele ngokwenzelwa izinto yiHarare kasiphiwe lathi amandla okuzibambela okwethu” reiterated Masibonge Ncube from Entumbane. (We are fade up with the centralized system where the capital, Harare, controls everything. We should be given powers to run our own affairs).
Another participant stressed the need for the security services like the Army, the Police and the Central Intelligence Organisation to report directly to parliament instead of reporting to the presidency. This they said will help to protect the security of the civilians than that of individuals in power.
Reverend Sibindi pointed out that there should be clear mechanisms for government to
report back to the people instead of the one-way upward information flow that exists now.
Another issue of interest during the Think Tank was the presidential term of office. Participants consented that the term of office for the president should be two terms of five years.
The Habakkuk Trust Programmes Manager Miss Belinda Gumbo explains that there will be a series of Think Tanks targeting various community interest groups in preparation for the COPAC Constitutional Outreach programme. She also explained that the Think Tanks come in as a vital tool to mobilize the community to start thinking critically on the contents of the constitution so that when the Outreach Teams come, there will be informed contributions.
Today (27 January 2010) there will be another Think Tank targeting the Youth sector and themes to be discussed are the Youth and Empowerment and the Bill of Rights.
Participants stressed the need for a new order that will ensure that there is proper devolution of power that will entail local people getting control of local resources. They also agreed that there should be provincial legislatures to enable legislatures to be in touch with the people. “Sikhathele ngokwenzelwa izinto yiHarare kasiphiwe lathi amandla okuzibambela okwethu” reiterated Masibonge Ncube from Entumbane. (We are fade up with the centralized system where the capital, Harare, controls everything. We should be given powers to run our own affairs).
Another participant stressed the need for the security services like the Army, the Police and the Central Intelligence Organisation to report directly to parliament instead of reporting to the presidency. This they said will help to protect the security of the civilians than that of individuals in power.
Reverend Sibindi pointed out that there should be clear mechanisms for government to
report back to the people instead of the one-way upward information flow that exists now.
Another issue of interest during the Think Tank was the presidential term of office. Participants consented that the term of office for the president should be two terms of five years.
The Habakkuk Trust Programmes Manager Miss Belinda Gumbo explains that there will be a series of Think Tanks targeting various community interest groups in preparation for the COPAC Constitutional Outreach programme. She also explained that the Think Tanks come in as a vital tool to mobilize the community to start thinking critically on the contents of the constitution so that when the Outreach Teams come, there will be informed contributions.
Today (27 January 2010) there will be another Think Tank targeting the Youth sector and themes to be discussed are the Youth and Empowerment and the Bill of Rights.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
CONSTITUTION MAKING PROCESS MOVES INTO GEAR
By Khumbulani Maphosa (Media and Publications Officer)
The training of the Constitutional Outreach Teams by the Parliamentary Select Committee came to an end on the 13th of January 2010. However the teams are yet to be notified of their deployment details paving way for the actual beginning of the historic constitution making process.
According to the Select Committee there will be seventy Outreach Teams that will cover the seventy districts of the country. Each team was supposed to have nine members, that is, three Members of Parliament and six Civic Society representatives. However after a lot of political bickering and negotiations the three parties in government resolved to add three more rapportuers, each representing one of the parties. This has however irked discontent from some quarters that have observed the process as being heavily politicized.
The deployment of the Outreach Teams has not been finalized, as there is speculation that the Select Committee Secretariat is yet to do a thorough audit of the Outreach Team members. This follows an unfortunate scenario that saw about one thousand people being accredited and trained instead of the initially advertised six hundred and thirty-eight.
Ideally there are supposed to be three meetings per ward in the rural areas and one meeting per ward in the urban areas. This is meant to cater for the spatial geography of rural wards and the settlement patterns that are not as clustered as in the cities and towns.
Habakkuk Trust will continue monitoring the Constitution making process and disseminating information to various stakeholders on how the process is unfolding. The organisation will also work closely with its Advocacy Action Teams to mobilize communities to fully participate in the outreach meetings that are expected to begin soon.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
2009 budget carried over to 2010
The Bulawayo City Council conducted the second phase of the budget consultation process which saw them convening a stakeholders meeting on Friday 27 November at the Small City Hall. The series of meetings continued in different wards all over the city during the weekend and are expected to continue in the remaining wards the following week ending 6 December 2009. The budget consultation meetings being carried out are feedback meetings of the process that started in October in preparation for the 2010 financial year. The objectives of the budget consultation programme had been to establish implementation challenges for 2009, confirm priority areas for 2010 and to establish options for financing the budget and get stakeholders commitment.
Priorities for 2010 have been set out as water, sewer, health, housing, social services, education, public lighting and roads. Council has proposed to have a standstill budget which will see the 2009 budget being carried over to 2010 and the tariffs remaining unchanged. This is because Council did not achieve what they wanted to do and would not be logical to increase rates for 2010 when only 20% of the ratepayers were able to pay this year. The total budget for 2010 is US$ 123,402,271. Of this amount 37.5% will be for general expenditure, 33% for repairs, 27.5% for staff welfare, capital contribution will be 1, 8% and 0, 2% for capital charges.
Council went on to highlight the actual cost of some of their services and how much residents are currently paying:
Service
Actual cost
What consumers are paying
Dechoking
58.97
42.86
Ambulance
46.90
20.00
Maternity
71.19
55.00
Grave
43.22
38.99
Water
0.54
0.06
Fixed cost for water
7.82
0.66
Expected Bills
In terms of actual costs residents in areas like Emakhandeni might get bills in the range of US$18, Suburbs US$24, Mahatshula US$29 and Burnside US$39.Valuation of properties is so old and was last done in 1992 and was done in Zimbabwe dollars and as a result the system of calculating rates is not user based. Rates for properties in the high-density suburbs are based on supplementary charges that are usually lower than they ought to be whilst rates in the low-density suburbs are property based, that is they are based on the value of the property and the developments made thereof. The other contributing factor to the seemingly high rates is the element of water levy and roads levy which are usually about 50% of the actual cost and these increase rates. Council pledged to look into these levies and make necessary adjustments as residents lamented. As a recommendation from stakeholders present at this meeting it was agreed that the budget should run up to June 2010 then it should be reviewed to assess whether there will be any commitment from ratepayers to pay and if not try to interrogate why people are failing to commit themselves. More awareness should also be created to encourage people to pay so as to get improved service delivery. Council on the other hand should also go on an extensive marketing drive in order to attract funding from private companies so as to lessen the burden on ratepayers. Stakeholders felt that the issue of a website is long overdue and the City should upgrade itself in order to be accessible to the business community and other stakeholders. Council was encouraged to look for alternative sources of income and residents suggested the public private partnerships, council parks, swimming pools for commercial use amongst other sources.
It was saddening to note that the attendance for the stakeholders’ budget consultation meeting was very low. Awareness should be created so that residents as consumers of services being provided by City Council should be proactive and part of the budget process from the onset instead of merely reacting by not paying.
Priorities for 2010 have been set out as water, sewer, health, housing, social services, education, public lighting and roads. Council has proposed to have a standstill budget which will see the 2009 budget being carried over to 2010 and the tariffs remaining unchanged. This is because Council did not achieve what they wanted to do and would not be logical to increase rates for 2010 when only 20% of the ratepayers were able to pay this year. The total budget for 2010 is US$ 123,402,271. Of this amount 37.5% will be for general expenditure, 33% for repairs, 27.5% for staff welfare, capital contribution will be 1, 8% and 0, 2% for capital charges.
Council went on to highlight the actual cost of some of their services and how much residents are currently paying:
Service
Actual cost
What consumers are paying
Dechoking
58.97
42.86
Ambulance
46.90
20.00
Maternity
71.19
55.00
Grave
43.22
38.99
Water
0.54
0.06
Fixed cost for water
7.82
0.66
Expected Bills
In terms of actual costs residents in areas like Emakhandeni might get bills in the range of US$18, Suburbs US$24, Mahatshula US$29 and Burnside US$39.Valuation of properties is so old and was last done in 1992 and was done in Zimbabwe dollars and as a result the system of calculating rates is not user based. Rates for properties in the high-density suburbs are based on supplementary charges that are usually lower than they ought to be whilst rates in the low-density suburbs are property based, that is they are based on the value of the property and the developments made thereof. The other contributing factor to the seemingly high rates is the element of water levy and roads levy which are usually about 50% of the actual cost and these increase rates. Council pledged to look into these levies and make necessary adjustments as residents lamented. As a recommendation from stakeholders present at this meeting it was agreed that the budget should run up to June 2010 then it should be reviewed to assess whether there will be any commitment from ratepayers to pay and if not try to interrogate why people are failing to commit themselves. More awareness should also be created to encourage people to pay so as to get improved service delivery. Council on the other hand should also go on an extensive marketing drive in order to attract funding from private companies so as to lessen the burden on ratepayers. Stakeholders felt that the issue of a website is long overdue and the City should upgrade itself in order to be accessible to the business community and other stakeholders. Council was encouraged to look for alternative sources of income and residents suggested the public private partnerships, council parks, swimming pools for commercial use amongst other sources.
It was saddening to note that the attendance for the stakeholders’ budget consultation meeting was very low. Awareness should be created so that residents as consumers of services being provided by City Council should be proactive and part of the budget process from the onset instead of merely reacting by not paying.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
COUNCILLORS EXPRESS STRONG DISCONTENTMENT ABOUT THE ZIMBABWE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE (ZIMVAC)
By Khumbulani Maphosa
Councilors, Chiefs and members of the House of Assembly who attended the Gwanda Rural District Council full Council meeting on 25 September 2009, have raised their concerns on the way the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZIMVAC) is operating in the district.
ZIMVAC is a committee made of various government agricultural organisations and is mandated to make assessments on the food security situation in the country. Some of the organisations that constitute the committee are AGRITEX, AREX, Ministry of Agriculture, the District Administrator’s office and Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).
The Councilors were concerned that ZIMVAC has been producing yearly reports on the food situation in the district, yet they have never been seen carrying out any on-the-ground surveys in communities. There were also concerns that the Councilors have never received the survey reports, but they only hear of the results through the media.
Honourable M.P O.S Mlilo explained to the Councilors that ZIMVAC was a defunct organisation and will have to explain to them how they are carrying out their surveys.
“ZIMVAC is now defunct and has always been complaining that it is broke, so where do they get the money to move from village to village conducting surveys?” he said.
Clr Mlilo furthered that ZIMVAC has been carrying out surveys from the offices and thus misrepresenting facts. This issue came to light when some Councilors revealed that World Vision was cutting on the number of people who are eligible for food aid, contrary to the harsh reality of imminent hunger and starvation that is so real on the ground. World Vision then explained to the house that it takes reports and recommendations from ZIMVAC, which is a national organ co-coordinated from the District Administrator’s office.
World Vision explained that the ZIMVAC 2009 report that they received indicated that Gwanda communities have enough food and need little of food assistance from the donor community and other agencies.
During the same meeting the Gwanda Rural District Council Audit Committee chairperson Mr George Chipengo recommended to full council that a capacity building programme would add value to the operations of the Audit Committee “so that it’s able to monitor and advise council on pertinent issues.”
Mr Chipengo made the recommendations during his presentation to the full council meeting of the 2007 Externally Audited Accounts. The Audit report that was made by an external auditor Schmulian and Sibanda indicated that council complied with all expected financial procedures and systems in accordance with International Accounting Standards. The presentation was based on the following accounts:
Rates Account
Income Generating Project Account
Cattle Projects Account
Roads, Projects, Works and Planning Account
Human Resources Development and Administration Account
Salaries and Wages Account
General Reserves Account
Health Account
Education Account
Capital Development fund Account
Zimbabwe National Road Administration Fund (ZINARA).
The Councilors adopted the external audited account statement. They further adopted a recommendation to have Schmulian and Sibanda Chartered Accountants engaged to audit the council’s accounts for the year 2008.
Councilors, Chiefs and members of the House of Assembly who attended the Gwanda Rural District Council full Council meeting on 25 September 2009, have raised their concerns on the way the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZIMVAC) is operating in the district.
ZIMVAC is a committee made of various government agricultural organisations and is mandated to make assessments on the food security situation in the country. Some of the organisations that constitute the committee are AGRITEX, AREX, Ministry of Agriculture, the District Administrator’s office and Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).
The Councilors were concerned that ZIMVAC has been producing yearly reports on the food situation in the district, yet they have never been seen carrying out any on-the-ground surveys in communities. There were also concerns that the Councilors have never received the survey reports, but they only hear of the results through the media.
Honourable M.P O.S Mlilo explained to the Councilors that ZIMVAC was a defunct organisation and will have to explain to them how they are carrying out their surveys.
“ZIMVAC is now defunct and has always been complaining that it is broke, so where do they get the money to move from village to village conducting surveys?” he said.
Clr Mlilo furthered that ZIMVAC has been carrying out surveys from the offices and thus misrepresenting facts. This issue came to light when some Councilors revealed that World Vision was cutting on the number of people who are eligible for food aid, contrary to the harsh reality of imminent hunger and starvation that is so real on the ground. World Vision then explained to the house that it takes reports and recommendations from ZIMVAC, which is a national organ co-coordinated from the District Administrator’s office.
World Vision explained that the ZIMVAC 2009 report that they received indicated that Gwanda communities have enough food and need little of food assistance from the donor community and other agencies.
During the same meeting the Gwanda Rural District Council Audit Committee chairperson Mr George Chipengo recommended to full council that a capacity building programme would add value to the operations of the Audit Committee “so that it’s able to monitor and advise council on pertinent issues.”
Mr Chipengo made the recommendations during his presentation to the full council meeting of the 2007 Externally Audited Accounts. The Audit report that was made by an external auditor Schmulian and Sibanda indicated that council complied with all expected financial procedures and systems in accordance with International Accounting Standards. The presentation was based on the following accounts:
Rates Account
Income Generating Project Account
Cattle Projects Account
Roads, Projects, Works and Planning Account
Human Resources Development and Administration Account
Salaries and Wages Account
General Reserves Account
Health Account
Education Account
Capital Development fund Account
Zimbabwe National Road Administration Fund (ZINARA).
The Councilors adopted the external audited account statement. They further adopted a recommendation to have Schmulian and Sibanda Chartered Accountants engaged to audit the council’s accounts for the year 2008.
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