The Top 10 songs of the week are published every Saturday based on my music collection. I rank them based on the number of times I play a particular song during that week and how much it rocks me.
1. So Much Trouble in The World – Bob Marley & The Wailers
2. Gauteng – Joe Nina
3. Hey Kop – Mashamplani
4. Used to Love You – John Legend
5. Real Love – Drizabone Feat. Dee Heron
6. One Woman Man – Carl Thomas
7. Brown Sugar – D’Angelo
8. Overnight Success - Pointer Sisters
9. Sometimes – Brand New Heavies
10. Ankeli – MaWillies
Friday, April 27, 2007
New radio programme launching in May
A new radio programme called AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE will be launched on CHRY 105.5 FM on Tuesday 1 May 2007 at 10am-11am ET/2pm-3pm GMT. The programme team will comprise of Shadya Yasin from Tanzania and an African Studies and International Development Studies graduate from York University, and myself. We would focus on reporting and discussing issues from an African perspective.
This will be a very participatory programme, as we will strive to reach out to all Africans to give them a channel through which they can articulate their views and experiences to the Canadian audience and the global audience listening online.
The programming team aims to make Africa Perspective the premier radio programme on African issues in Canada.
The radio station broadcasts from York University on 105.5 FM around Toronto and on http://www.chry.fm on the Internet.
Programme promo will be out Friday evening and will be posted on this blog. Uploading of content onto our programme webpage will be done by Monday afternoon latest.
This will be a very participatory programme, as we will strive to reach out to all Africans to give them a channel through which they can articulate their views and experiences to the Canadian audience and the global audience listening online.
The programming team aims to make Africa Perspective the premier radio programme on African issues in Canada.
The radio station broadcasts from York University on 105.5 FM around Toronto and on http://www.chry.fm on the Internet.
Programme promo will be out Friday evening and will be posted on this blog. Uploading of content onto our programme webpage will be done by Monday afternoon latest.
Gono’s report dismaying
The Flip Side with Kuthula Matshazi
The interim review statement of the monetary policy delivered by the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Dr. Gideon Gono dismays as it reveals scheming against the economy, profiteering, huge appetite for unnecessary luxury goods, corruption and smuggling.
Gono reveals a picture of a nation with many of us setting the country on a path of destruction. In the midst of an economic crisis, many of us still fail to realise that no one but ourselves can salvage the mess in which we are entrenched. Gono tells us of a nation where some of its citizens fail to understand their right to receive assistance from the government and in turn reciprocate that civic entitlement with fulfilling their obligations as citizens towards the state.
As Zimbabweans, we ought to stop crying and blaming entirely the next person for our predicament but need to realise that we have rights and responsibilities towards our country to make the situation better for the greater number of our fellow citizens. It is not in the interest of Gono, Zanu PF or the Movement for Democratic Change, but in the interest of all Zimbabweans. A stable environment would be conducive as a basis for businesses to thrive and also for the people to benefit. According to Gono’s report, Zimbabwe should not be having as acute a problem of foreign currency because we have such a rich mineral resource base.
Besides the diminished sense of responsibility by some Zimbabweans, it is clear from Gono’s report that we have serious policy challenges and some very unscrupulous Zimbabweans in different sectors of the economy who are making the situation worse. It is self-defeating to engage in clandestine business deals because then we do not build anything that will sustain. Instead of engaging in our destructive behaviour, we might want, for instance, the mining sector to work efficiently – the private sector working with government - then we are going to earn foreign currency, which is critical to stimulating the economy and providing employment.
Of course, I am supposing that we achieve such efficiency in all the different sectors of the economy. For instance, if the black market is eliminated, greed is tempered, efficiency is achieved in agriculture and the sanctions advocates call for their withdrawal. This envisaged scenario is, of course, determinant on a number of issues especially the political environment. However, the current political environment can easily be sorted out when we all set ourselves in pursuing a pro-Zimbabwe agenda and stop sabotage acts.
Gono praises some of the several policy responses of the government such as the imposition of a foreign currency based vehicle importation duty, but also laments the slow pace with which some of the policies are implemented such as the need to take decisive action to stop diamond smuggling in Marange. Gono has also castigated the tepid approach to exploiting methane gas, which we have in huge amounts. This is self-defeat.
Our challenge is to be more flexible and action oriented in policy implementation if we hope to be successful in turning around the economy. We must keep in mind that there are huge chances of failing to turn around the economy if we, as Zimbabweans are not going to be as robust and responsible as the situation requires. Instead, we shall, by omission, abet the corrupt among us to enrich themselves and the saboteurs to justify their treasonous behaviour against the nation.
By implication, if the government fails to respond swiftly to the critical challenges, especially policy implementation, then they are failing to perform their duty and must be held to account. No single ministry must be found wanting in the performance of its duty as this is not a business as usual situation. Gono suggests that some of the ministries are dragging their feet in implementing critical policies.
In a thinly veiled attack on the International Monetary Fund, Gono implies that, once again this disastrous financial institution has been partly responsible for making us adopt disastrous policies. I say partly because there are basically three culprits. The other two are our local so-called experts who subscribe to the conventional classical economics, which does not entirely work in the situation we find ourselves. The government on its own is wrong as well for accepting the disastrous advice of the IMF.
First, way back in 1986, they are the very people who destroyed our strategic grain reserves and then followed our social services in the 1990s when they arm twisted us to implement the economic structural adjustment programme. In their Article IV Consultations in 2006 they pressurised government in collaboration with their Zimbabwean ideological chums, not to invest in public programmes, one being the irrigation rehabilitation programme.
Gono says “We estimate that…if we had completed irrigation rehabilitation on 500 000 hectares only, at an average yield of 4 tonnes per hectare, this country would have been self-sufficient on food provision”. It is incomprehensible why the government chose to submit to these people who have a distinguished disastrous track record. Now 2007 is a drought year and we have to expend the stretched resources to buy food. It is the Zimbabweans and not the IMF who will bear the brunt.
As Zimbabweans, we need to come together and work for the good of the country. It is far-fetched fantasy that we shall ever turn around the economy if we continue to behave so recklessly only because we are in temporary positions of advantage or profiteering. The future of our children is more important than these immediate selfish gratifications.
The interim review statement of the monetary policy delivered by the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Dr. Gideon Gono dismays as it reveals scheming against the economy, profiteering, huge appetite for unnecessary luxury goods, corruption and smuggling.
Gono reveals a picture of a nation with many of us setting the country on a path of destruction. In the midst of an economic crisis, many of us still fail to realise that no one but ourselves can salvage the mess in which we are entrenched. Gono tells us of a nation where some of its citizens fail to understand their right to receive assistance from the government and in turn reciprocate that civic entitlement with fulfilling their obligations as citizens towards the state.
As Zimbabweans, we ought to stop crying and blaming entirely the next person for our predicament but need to realise that we have rights and responsibilities towards our country to make the situation better for the greater number of our fellow citizens. It is not in the interest of Gono, Zanu PF or the Movement for Democratic Change, but in the interest of all Zimbabweans. A stable environment would be conducive as a basis for businesses to thrive and also for the people to benefit. According to Gono’s report, Zimbabwe should not be having as acute a problem of foreign currency because we have such a rich mineral resource base.
Besides the diminished sense of responsibility by some Zimbabweans, it is clear from Gono’s report that we have serious policy challenges and some very unscrupulous Zimbabweans in different sectors of the economy who are making the situation worse. It is self-defeating to engage in clandestine business deals because then we do not build anything that will sustain. Instead of engaging in our destructive behaviour, we might want, for instance, the mining sector to work efficiently – the private sector working with government - then we are going to earn foreign currency, which is critical to stimulating the economy and providing employment.
Of course, I am supposing that we achieve such efficiency in all the different sectors of the economy. For instance, if the black market is eliminated, greed is tempered, efficiency is achieved in agriculture and the sanctions advocates call for their withdrawal. This envisaged scenario is, of course, determinant on a number of issues especially the political environment. However, the current political environment can easily be sorted out when we all set ourselves in pursuing a pro-Zimbabwe agenda and stop sabotage acts.
Gono praises some of the several policy responses of the government such as the imposition of a foreign currency based vehicle importation duty, but also laments the slow pace with which some of the policies are implemented such as the need to take decisive action to stop diamond smuggling in Marange. Gono has also castigated the tepid approach to exploiting methane gas, which we have in huge amounts. This is self-defeat.
Our challenge is to be more flexible and action oriented in policy implementation if we hope to be successful in turning around the economy. We must keep in mind that there are huge chances of failing to turn around the economy if we, as Zimbabweans are not going to be as robust and responsible as the situation requires. Instead, we shall, by omission, abet the corrupt among us to enrich themselves and the saboteurs to justify their treasonous behaviour against the nation.
By implication, if the government fails to respond swiftly to the critical challenges, especially policy implementation, then they are failing to perform their duty and must be held to account. No single ministry must be found wanting in the performance of its duty as this is not a business as usual situation. Gono suggests that some of the ministries are dragging their feet in implementing critical policies.
In a thinly veiled attack on the International Monetary Fund, Gono implies that, once again this disastrous financial institution has been partly responsible for making us adopt disastrous policies. I say partly because there are basically three culprits. The other two are our local so-called experts who subscribe to the conventional classical economics, which does not entirely work in the situation we find ourselves. The government on its own is wrong as well for accepting the disastrous advice of the IMF.
First, way back in 1986, they are the very people who destroyed our strategic grain reserves and then followed our social services in the 1990s when they arm twisted us to implement the economic structural adjustment programme. In their Article IV Consultations in 2006 they pressurised government in collaboration with their Zimbabwean ideological chums, not to invest in public programmes, one being the irrigation rehabilitation programme.
Gono says “We estimate that…if we had completed irrigation rehabilitation on 500 000 hectares only, at an average yield of 4 tonnes per hectare, this country would have been self-sufficient on food provision”. It is incomprehensible why the government chose to submit to these people who have a distinguished disastrous track record. Now 2007 is a drought year and we have to expend the stretched resources to buy food. It is the Zimbabweans and not the IMF who will bear the brunt.
As Zimbabweans, we need to come together and work for the good of the country. It is far-fetched fantasy that we shall ever turn around the economy if we continue to behave so recklessly only because we are in temporary positions of advantage or profiteering. The future of our children is more important than these immediate selfish gratifications.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Neocons discredited
Click on image to read
Neoconservatism has suffered a string of failures as an ideology and has witnessed embarassments of its advocates who have been discredited in several ways.
Neoconservatism has suffered a string of failures as an ideology and has witnessed embarassments of its advocates who have been discredited in several ways.Article courtesy of The Economist
Myth of a globalised world
Nationalism still strongClick on article to read
Despite claims of a globalised world and global citizens, countries around the world and interestingly developed countries have demonstrated their devotion to the concept of nationalism. In any case, the current trends where political parties campaigning on anti-immigration policies are resonating with the electorate and fierce opposition to globalisation show us the commitment to nationalism.
Article courtesy of The Economist
Scottish nationalists fear pro-union parties 'ganging up'
LONDON (AFP) - The three biggest pro-union political parties in Scotland may band together to shut the Scottish National Party, which is campaigning for Scottish independence, off from power, its leader said in an interview published Friday. More...
Article courtesy of AP
Article courtesy of AP
Saturday, April 21, 2007
My Top 10 Songs of the Week
The Top 10 songs of the week are published every Saturday based on my music collection. I rank them based on the number of times I play a particular song during that week and how much it rocks me.
1. Mangigwetshwa – Freddie Gwala
2. Curiosity – Aaron Hall
3. Don’t Worry About a Thing - Incognito
4. Shake Your Pants - Cameo
5. If I Could Go – Angie Martinez
6. Video – India Arie
7. Don’t Mess With My Man – Lucy Pearl
8. Don’t Mess With My Man – Nivea Feat. Jagged Edge
9. Be Without You – Mary J. Blige
10. So Good - Davina
1. Mangigwetshwa – Freddie Gwala
2. Curiosity – Aaron Hall
3. Don’t Worry About a Thing - Incognito
4. Shake Your Pants - Cameo
5. If I Could Go – Angie Martinez
6. Video – India Arie
7. Don’t Mess With My Man – Lucy Pearl
8. Don’t Mess With My Man – Nivea Feat. Jagged Edge
9. Be Without You – Mary J. Blige
10. So Good - Davina
Friday, April 20, 2007
Emotional blackmail will not solve our problems
The Flip Side with Kuthula Matshazi
Increasingly, more and more Zimbabweans use emotions to try and get everyone doing what they want. Unfortunately, in public issues that is not exactly how we might want to approach issues because such an approach is not enough to solve the problems of Zimbabwe. Emotions are only relevant in so far as compassion goes but they cannot be substitute for reason and pragmatism. In fact, at worst these emotional pleas by some Zimbabweans have been stretched to a point of destruction where they have been used as blackmail. More...
Increasingly, more and more Zimbabweans use emotions to try and get everyone doing what they want. Unfortunately, in public issues that is not exactly how we might want to approach issues because such an approach is not enough to solve the problems of Zimbabwe. Emotions are only relevant in so far as compassion goes but they cannot be substitute for reason and pragmatism. In fact, at worst these emotional pleas by some Zimbabweans have been stretched to a point of destruction where they have been used as blackmail. More...
Sunday, April 15, 2007
2008 elections and the national interest
The Flip Side with Kuthula Matshazi
We are going into harmonised elections in 2008 that will see Zimbabwe hold local government, parliamentary and presidential elections simultaneously. It is without doubt that we need the outcome of the entire process to be legitimate and avoid any contestations otherwise it would throw the whole country into chaos.
It would be a big problem if any of the contesting parties should reject the elections results because, then no level of government would be functional and this situation could stall any anticipated progress for the country. More...
We are going into harmonised elections in 2008 that will see Zimbabwe hold local government, parliamentary and presidential elections simultaneously. It is without doubt that we need the outcome of the entire process to be legitimate and avoid any contestations otherwise it would throw the whole country into chaos.
It would be a big problem if any of the contesting parties should reject the elections results because, then no level of government would be functional and this situation could stall any anticipated progress for the country. More...
Stephen Gowans discusses the Left and Mugabe
Brendan Stone interviews Stephen Gowans on the subject of the left's support of demonized governments. [Play interview]
Audio courtesy of raceandhistory.com
Audio courtesy of raceandhistory.com
'I am an African', Thabo Mbeki
View part of the 1996 speech that defined Thabo Mbeki, then South African Deputy President, as umntwana weAfrica (son of Africa) who could never sell the struggle. The speech was presented at the occassion of adopting the South African Constitutional Bill by that country's Constitutional Assembly. [Play video]
I feel splendid as an African too!!!
Click here to read full speech
I feel splendid as an African too!!!
Click here to read full speech
US regime change saga: Zim parliament acts
USAID kicked out
By Munyaradzi Huni
THE Parliament of Zimbabwe has terminated its Memorandum of Agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) following claims by the United States Department of State that it is working with some portfolio committees of Parliament to discredit the Government. More...
Article courtesy of The Sunday Mail
By Munyaradzi Huni
THE Parliament of Zimbabwe has terminated its Memorandum of Agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) following claims by the United States Department of State that it is working with some portfolio committees of Parliament to discredit the Government. More...
Article courtesy of The Sunday Mail
Lesser Evil: bilateral, regional or international economic integration?
To read original article by Martin Wolf Click here
An interesting debate on The Financial Times’ Economists Forum, A Korean-American strand enters trade’s spaghetti bowl, touches on the myth of countries such as South Korea and Singapore as evidence that free trade and market led reforms bring about economic success. While these countries have experienced economic success, it is not according to the rules of market led reforms and free trade. On the contrary, we see that the successes of these countries have been driven by United States’ geostrategic interests. Countries such as these two who were and continue to be given preferential access to the US market in return of serving America’s geostrategic political interests in that part of the world has been largely responsible for their successes. It is important to mention that this arrangement is happening after the success of state led development.
South Korea’s development was not market led but State driven. This development trajectory is the same one pursued by the developed countries when they were still on the development path.
Why would that opportunity not be extended to the developing countries now as opposed to the dirty tactics of “free trade” within the contexts of both international and regional integration?
This discussion comes at an opportune time for comparison with another posting here that praises the achievements of trade. In its current form and within this regime, trade is very destructive to the developing world.
As I write, the G7 finance ministers are discussing the role of the International Monetary Fund with the aim of extending it from assisting country members facing balance of payments support problems to monitoring the spillover effects that financial problems in one country can have on others. It would be interesting to see how the IMF will use its new powers to organise the international financial structure.
Professor Robert Wade's contribution:
A comment on Martin’s general assessment of bilateral-regional trade agreements as compared with WTO agreements and then a comment on the Korea-US one. More...
An interesting debate on The Financial Times’ Economists Forum, A Korean-American strand enters trade’s spaghetti bowl, touches on the myth of countries such as South Korea and Singapore as evidence that free trade and market led reforms bring about economic success. While these countries have experienced economic success, it is not according to the rules of market led reforms and free trade. On the contrary, we see that the successes of these countries have been driven by United States’ geostrategic interests. Countries such as these two who were and continue to be given preferential access to the US market in return of serving America’s geostrategic political interests in that part of the world has been largely responsible for their successes. It is important to mention that this arrangement is happening after the success of state led development.
South Korea’s development was not market led but State driven. This development trajectory is the same one pursued by the developed countries when they were still on the development path.
Why would that opportunity not be extended to the developing countries now as opposed to the dirty tactics of “free trade” within the contexts of both international and regional integration?
This discussion comes at an opportune time for comparison with another posting here that praises the achievements of trade. In its current form and within this regime, trade is very destructive to the developing world.
As I write, the G7 finance ministers are discussing the role of the International Monetary Fund with the aim of extending it from assisting country members facing balance of payments support problems to monitoring the spillover effects that financial problems in one country can have on others. It would be interesting to see how the IMF will use its new powers to organise the international financial structure.
Professor Robert Wade's contribution:
A comment on Martin’s general assessment of bilateral-regional trade agreements as compared with WTO agreements and then a comment on the Korea-US one. More...
IMF sees sub-Saharan Africa '07 GDP growth at 6.7 pct
By Sujata Rao
Sat 14 Apr 2007
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa will accelerate this year to 6.7 percent, the highest in a decade, but more reform is essential if the gains are to stabilise and broaden, the IMF said on Friday.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its annual report on sub-Saharan Africa that while oil-exporting countries would likely see their economies expand by 10 percent or more, non-oil states will also grow by around 5 percent in 2007. More...
See comments section for my response
Sat 14 Apr 2007
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa will accelerate this year to 6.7 percent, the highest in a decade, but more reform is essential if the gains are to stabilise and broaden, the IMF said on Friday.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its annual report on sub-Saharan Africa that while oil-exporting countries would likely see their economies expand by 10 percent or more, non-oil states will also grow by around 5 percent in 2007. More...
See comments section for my response
Global Trade - a great achievement
Written by Bhekuzulu Khumalo
Tuesday, 03 April 2007
From time to time I receive an email from Robert Tracinski, who operates a site with a very American right leaning philosophy.
I like to read across the political spectrum as one needs to know what others think in order to be able to come up with decisions that are not clouded by a narrow perspective. While I do not agree with everything that Robert Tracinski writes I do agree with him when he argues that people forget probably the most important achievement of the 20th and 21st century is global trade.
This is such an obviously great achievement if one thinks about it. For decades, maybe centuries, there have been those wise people who talked of people trading with one another for more than economic reasons. When people trade they appreciate each other more, prejudices decrease and when people are interdependent, they are not likely to go to war as they would rather find a common dialogue to ensure that trade and wealth continues to grow. More...
Article courtesy of Rightthinker
Tuesday, 03 April 2007
From time to time I receive an email from Robert Tracinski, who operates a site with a very American right leaning philosophy.
I like to read across the political spectrum as one needs to know what others think in order to be able to come up with decisions that are not clouded by a narrow perspective. While I do not agree with everything that Robert Tracinski writes I do agree with him when he argues that people forget probably the most important achievement of the 20th and 21st century is global trade.
This is such an obviously great achievement if one thinks about it. For decades, maybe centuries, there have been those wise people who talked of people trading with one another for more than economic reasons. When people trade they appreciate each other more, prejudices decrease and when people are interdependent, they are not likely to go to war as they would rather find a common dialogue to ensure that trade and wealth continues to grow. More...
Article courtesy of Rightthinker
Bush, vote rigging and political firing of prosecutors
Editorial
The Fantasy Behind the Scandal
Published: April 15, 2007
The New York Times
The more we learn about the White House’s purge of United States attorneys, the more a single thread runs through it: the Bush administration’s campaign to transform the minor problem of voter fraud into a supposed national scourge.
When the public first learned about the firing of eight United States attorneys, administration officials piously declared that many of the prosecutors had ill served the public by failing to aggressively pursue voter fraud cases (against Democrats, naturally). But the more we examine this issue, the more ludicrous those claims seem. More...
Article courtesy of The New York Times
The Fantasy Behind the Scandal
Published: April 15, 2007
The New York Times
The more we learn about the White House’s purge of United States attorneys, the more a single thread runs through it: the Bush administration’s campaign to transform the minor problem of voter fraud into a supposed national scourge.
When the public first learned about the firing of eight United States attorneys, administration officials piously declared that many of the prosecutors had ill served the public by failing to aggressively pursue voter fraud cases (against Democrats, naturally). But the more we examine this issue, the more ludicrous those claims seem. More...
Article courtesy of The New York Times
Lessons of March 2007
AFRICAN FOCUS By Tafataona P. Mahoso
The month of March 2007 was a watershed in the struggle to secure the gains of the Second and Third Chimu-renga against imperialism and neo-Rhodesianism. The watershed was marked by the fact that a dual minority revealed its hand and defined itself for those with eyes to see.
Part of this minority is embedded within the ruling Zanu-PF and its ambition is to turn the liberation movement and its revolution into poor clients of a rich neoliberal minority, instead of working to enrich and empower the African majority and the popular party of that majority, Zanu-PF. More...
Article Courtesy of The Sunday Mail
The month of March 2007 was a watershed in the struggle to secure the gains of the Second and Third Chimu-renga against imperialism and neo-Rhodesianism. The watershed was marked by the fact that a dual minority revealed its hand and defined itself for those with eyes to see.
Part of this minority is embedded within the ruling Zanu-PF and its ambition is to turn the liberation movement and its revolution into poor clients of a rich neoliberal minority, instead of working to enrich and empower the African majority and the popular party of that majority, Zanu-PF. More...
Article Courtesy of The Sunday Mail
Saturday, April 14, 2007
My Top 10 Songs of the Week
The Top 10 songs of the week are published every Saturday based on my music collection. I rank them based on the number of times I play a particular song during that week and how much it rocks me.
1. Let Me Love You For the Night - Kariya
2. Livin’ in the Light - Caron Wheeler
3. Thobela - Boom Shaka (my all time favourite Kwaito song)
4. Time Will Tell - Bob Marley
5. Monyonyoba - Brothers of Peace
6. It’s a Love Thang – The Whispers
7. I’ll Go - Donell Jones
8. Freak Like Me - Adina Howard
9. The Message - Grand Master Flash & the Furious Five
10. Drift Away - Dobie Gray
1. Let Me Love You For the Night - Kariya
2. Livin’ in the Light - Caron Wheeler
3. Thobela - Boom Shaka (my all time favourite Kwaito song)
4. Time Will Tell - Bob Marley
5. Monyonyoba - Brothers of Peace
6. It’s a Love Thang – The Whispers
7. I’ll Go - Donell Jones
8. Freak Like Me - Adina Howard
9. The Message - Grand Master Flash & the Furious Five
10. Drift Away - Dobie Gray
Friday, April 13, 2007
Corrupt Wolfowitz exposed
Finally, United States former Deputy Secretary of State and current World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz has been exposed for his unfortunate lack of judgement which borders on corruption. This is the very person who champions clean governance and preaches anti-corruption messages. So much about righteousness!
This New York Times article is comprehensive and details the political economy of the World Bank. Its interest is that it demonstrates where the decisions are made regarding the supposed development institution, and how the few majority shareholders run the institution. The decisions of these majority shareholders reflect their views and preferences at the expense of the majority. This demonstrates beyond doubt that the World Bank is an undemocratic organisation. Now the Wolfowitz issue demonstrates that it is also corrupt to the extent we cannot really know!
The link below shows video footage of Wolfowitz accepting his corruption.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6550000/newsid_6550900/6550985.stm?bw=nb&mp=rm
Click story headline for full story
Article courtesy of The New York Times
This New York Times article is comprehensive and details the political economy of the World Bank. Its interest is that it demonstrates where the decisions are made regarding the supposed development institution, and how the few majority shareholders run the institution. The decisions of these majority shareholders reflect their views and preferences at the expense of the majority. This demonstrates beyond doubt that the World Bank is an undemocratic organisation. Now the Wolfowitz issue demonstrates that it is also corrupt to the extent we cannot really know!
The link below shows video footage of Wolfowitz accepting his corruption.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6550000/newsid_6550900/6550985.stm?bw=nb&mp=rm
Click story headline for full story
Article courtesy of The New York Times
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Of flawed analysis and a 'tipping point' that never was
The Flip Side with Kuthula Matshazi
Since the Zanu PF conference in December last year when the delegates did not adopt any resolutions, there has been extensive opinions expressed about 2007 being a watershed year where we would see major transformations in the ruling party.
The main claims were that some members of Zanu PF who wanted to assume leadership of the party - which would qualify them to stand as the party’s presidential candidate - were definitely going to block President Robert Mugabe from seeking a further mandate to lead the party with the ultimate aim of ousting him as party leader. These analysts also told us that the factions, one led by Vice President Joyce Mujuru and the other by Minister of Rural Housing Emmerson Mnangagwa, within Zanu PF were going to block the suggestion to have the presidential and parliamentary elections harmonised in 2010 if it meant President Mugabe continuing for the ensuing two years. These scenarios have however, been rendered irrelevant since Zanu PF has decided to harmonise the elections next year. More...
Since the Zanu PF conference in December last year when the delegates did not adopt any resolutions, there has been extensive opinions expressed about 2007 being a watershed year where we would see major transformations in the ruling party.
The main claims were that some members of Zanu PF who wanted to assume leadership of the party - which would qualify them to stand as the party’s presidential candidate - were definitely going to block President Robert Mugabe from seeking a further mandate to lead the party with the ultimate aim of ousting him as party leader. These analysts also told us that the factions, one led by Vice President Joyce Mujuru and the other by Minister of Rural Housing Emmerson Mnangagwa, within Zanu PF were going to block the suggestion to have the presidential and parliamentary elections harmonised in 2010 if it meant President Mugabe continuing for the ensuing two years. These scenarios have however, been rendered irrelevant since Zanu PF has decided to harmonise the elections next year. More...
My Top 10 songs of the Week
The Top 10 songs of the week are published every Saturday based on my music collection. I rank them based on the number of times I play a particular song during that week and how much it rocks me.
1. Mpundulu – Brenda Fassie
2. Thanayi – Hugh Masekela
3. Where I Wanna Be Boy – Miss Jones
4. Till We Meet Again – Inner City
5. All True Man – Alexander O’Neal (my all time favourite artist)
6. Mas Que Nada – Black Eyed Peas Feat. Sergio Mendez
7. Dreamer - BB&Q Band
8. Feel It Boy – Beenie Man Feat. Janet Jackson
9. Mind Up Tonight – Melba Moore
10. Umkhaya lo – Bayethe lomuyi uJabu Khanyile
1. Mpundulu – Brenda Fassie
2. Thanayi – Hugh Masekela
3. Where I Wanna Be Boy – Miss Jones
4. Till We Meet Again – Inner City
5. All True Man – Alexander O’Neal (my all time favourite artist)
6. Mas Que Nada – Black Eyed Peas Feat. Sergio Mendez
7. Dreamer - BB&Q Band
8. Feel It Boy – Beenie Man Feat. Janet Jackson
9. Mind Up Tonight – Melba Moore
10. Umkhaya lo – Bayethe lomuyi uJabu Khanyile
Friday, April 6, 2007
US confirms sponsoring Zimbabwe opposition
The story below confirms what we have always said but we were told that we were daydreaming. Now the United States have confirmed voluntarily. Going into an election year, this will inflict a deadly blow for the Western controlled opposition...just like that infamous CNN video footage where Morgan Tsvangirai was captured receiving "donations".
By Staff Reporter, NewZimbabwe.com
Last updated: 04/06/2007 11:20:01
THE United States government has acknowledged that it sponsors public events in Zimbabwe aimed at undermining the country's president, Robert Mugabe, in tactics it says are aimed at creating a more level political playing field.In its annual report on supporting democracy worldwide, the US State Department said its strategy for Zimbabwe also included steps to "support persons who criticised the government." More...
Article courtesy of Newzimbabwe.com
By Staff Reporter, NewZimbabwe.com
Last updated: 04/06/2007 11:20:01
THE United States government has acknowledged that it sponsors public events in Zimbabwe aimed at undermining the country's president, Robert Mugabe, in tactics it says are aimed at creating a more level political playing field.In its annual report on supporting democracy worldwide, the US State Department said its strategy for Zimbabwe also included steps to "support persons who criticised the government." More...
Article courtesy of Newzimbabwe.com
IPCC releases gloomy report on climate change
Africa
By 2020, between 75 and 250 million people are projected to be exposed to an increase of water stress due to climate change. If coupled with increased demand, this will adversely affect livelihoods and exacerbate water-related problems. ** D [9.4, 3.4, 8.2, 8.4]
Agricultural production, including access to food, in many African countries and regions is projected to be severely compromised by climate variability and change. The area suitable for agriculture, the length of growing seasons and yield potential, particularly along the margins of semi-arid and arid areas, are expected to decrease. This would further adversely affect food security and exacerbate malnutrition in the continent. In some countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50% by 2020. ** D [9.2, 9.4, F9.4, 9.6, 8.4]
Local food supplies are projected to be negatively affected by decreasing fisheries resources in large lakes due to rising water temperatures, which may be exacerbated by continued over-fishing. ** N [9.4, 5.4, 8.4]
Towards the end of the 21st century, projected sea-level rise will affect low-lying coastal areas with large populations. The cost of adaptation could amount to at least 5-10% of GDP. Mangroves and coral reefs are projected to be further degraded, with additional consequences for fisheries and tourism. ** D [9.4]
New studies confirm that Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate variability and change because of multiple stresses and low adaptive capacity. Some adaptation to current climate variability is taking place, however, this may be insufficient for future changes in climate. ** N [9.5] More...
Article Courtesy of IPCC Working Group Report
By 2020, between 75 and 250 million people are projected to be exposed to an increase of water stress due to climate change. If coupled with increased demand, this will adversely affect livelihoods and exacerbate water-related problems. ** D [9.4, 3.4, 8.2, 8.4]
Agricultural production, including access to food, in many African countries and regions is projected to be severely compromised by climate variability and change. The area suitable for agriculture, the length of growing seasons and yield potential, particularly along the margins of semi-arid and arid areas, are expected to decrease. This would further adversely affect food security and exacerbate malnutrition in the continent. In some countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50% by 2020. ** D [9.2, 9.4, F9.4, 9.6, 8.4]
Local food supplies are projected to be negatively affected by decreasing fisheries resources in large lakes due to rising water temperatures, which may be exacerbated by continued over-fishing. ** N [9.4, 5.4, 8.4]
Towards the end of the 21st century, projected sea-level rise will affect low-lying coastal areas with large populations. The cost of adaptation could amount to at least 5-10% of GDP. Mangroves and coral reefs are projected to be further degraded, with additional consequences for fisheries and tourism. ** D [9.4]
New studies confirm that Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate variability and change because of multiple stresses and low adaptive capacity. Some adaptation to current climate variability is taking place, however, this may be insufficient for future changes in climate. ** N [9.5] More...
Article Courtesy of IPCC Working Group Report
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Myth: Eliminating jobs boosts productivity, creates better jobs
Click on image to enlarge and readThe philosophy that guides businesses many of us do not know:
“In manufacturing, you measure success by the number of jobs you eliminate, not the number of jobs you create” - Neil Reymonds.
Astounding Myth
“It’s not useful to lament the lost jobs. Through increased productivity, lost jobs finance new jobs-most of them paying higher wages” - Neil Reymonds.
This article lays it all bare. Quite a frank confession!!
However, what this article does not tell us is the level of job intensification per capita of the reorganised tasks. They also do not tell us how many people have been underemployed, underpaid, exploited or threatened because of the existence of abundant reserve labour force; how benefits are being reduced and in some instances disappear for workers that remain and the trend is to put workers on contract and part time basis; trade unions are being dismantled at an alarming rate. In short, economic rights of workers are trampled with little regard for economic rights.
Why do we cry about political rights when we cannot get economic rights? We are told that economic rights are higher-level rights that are negotiable as opposed to political rights that are fundamental and therefore not negotiable. I argue that economic rights are not negotiable and are at the same level with all other rights because no one can claim political rights when they do not have economic rights. They would be dead anyway! We do not eat political rights. Rather, we should see these rights as equally critical and mutually reinforcing.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Diamond looting, smuggling cost Zimbabwe US$400m, Gono
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono is reported by The Herald saying that Zimbabwe lost diamonds worth US$400million in the last nine months through looting and smuggling.
The Herald quotes Gono saying, "The diamonds are in Zimbabwe, in areas where Government enjoys full support, no opposition, no foreign government interference, no sanctions, no drought. What more do we want? We are our own worst enemies".
"There is no other area where implementation inertia is as glaring as that of the area of diamond mining. It’s almost criminal the extent to which we are sitting on such a resource. Showing indecisiveness while Rome is burning. "We are struggling to get foreign currency for food, drugs, fuel and debt servicing among others. We are also sitting on methane gas — the largest reserves in sub-Saharan Africa — yet we are crying for foreign currency".
If government could successfully undertake the radical land reform programme, why can they not deal with this diamonds issue decisively? This gross and barbaric thieving has a direct implication for the lives of our people. If we know how the trend is happening then why can we not stop it? Surely, this disheartening.
What is it about the "top officials" that they can just get away with murder. This is murder. If we lose money to buy food, drugs and other essentials its tantamount to HOMICIDE.
Are we giving some people among us, the right to commit and get away with homicide?
To read full story click here...
The Herald quotes Gono saying, "The diamonds are in Zimbabwe, in areas where Government enjoys full support, no opposition, no foreign government interference, no sanctions, no drought. What more do we want? We are our own worst enemies".
"There is no other area where implementation inertia is as glaring as that of the area of diamond mining. It’s almost criminal the extent to which we are sitting on such a resource. Showing indecisiveness while Rome is burning. "We are struggling to get foreign currency for food, drugs, fuel and debt servicing among others. We are also sitting on methane gas — the largest reserves in sub-Saharan Africa — yet we are crying for foreign currency".
If government could successfully undertake the radical land reform programme, why can they not deal with this diamonds issue decisively? This gross and barbaric thieving has a direct implication for the lives of our people. If we know how the trend is happening then why can we not stop it? Surely, this disheartening.
What is it about the "top officials" that they can just get away with murder. This is murder. If we lose money to buy food, drugs and other essentials its tantamount to HOMICIDE.
Are we giving some people among us, the right to commit and get away with homicide?
To read full story click here...
US Professor confirms Castro's claim of catastrophe to 3 billion plus people
Click on image to enlarge and read
This is the Western version of the story written by Fidel Castro on the United States plan to starve more than 3 billion people in the world because of their desire to produce fuel for their cars. The difference between these stories is that Castro's is more detailed while this one outlines in general terms how the concept is being operationalised. There is more suffering for the people in developing countries as they will toil to satisfy the needs of the US. If you want to know how, read Castro's article (Archive 04/01-04/08) titled "Bush ethanol plan threatens to starve 3 billion plus people worldwide" and see that the numbers do not add up. Even in this article, one can deduce, if viewed from the demand and supply position. The main word in this article is COST. There shall be severe COSTS especially to the already poor.
Article courtesy of The Globe and Mail
GATT, preferantial trade and liberalisation
A Korean-American strand enters trade’s spaghetti bowl
Martin Wolf, Financial Times, London (UK)
Apr 4, 2007. pg. 15
"I will never falter in my belief that enduring peace and the welfare of nations are indissolubly connected with friendliness, fairness, equality, and the maximum practicable degree of freedom in international trade." Cordell Hull, US secretary of state 1933-44.
This month marks the 60th anniversary of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, of which Cordell Hull was a founding father. It also sees the announcement of a "free trade agreement" between his country and South Korea. The core of the Gatt was non- discrimination. The core of the new agreement is its opposite. Thus has the US taken the betrayal of its erstwhile principles even closer to its logical conclusion.
At a first glance, the new FTA does deliver a substantial opening between the world's largest economy and its 11th largest: nearly 95 per cent of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products is to become duty free within three years, with most remaining tariffs abolished within 10; South Korea is to liberalise access for many US farm exports, though not rice; US investors are to receive greater protection; access for the US service sector will be liberalised, including for legal, accounting and audiovisual services; intellectual property is to receive greater protection; government procurement is to be substantially opened up; new commitments are made on customs administration and rules of origin; and, not least, a new dispute settlements body is to be established.
Why do I object? Is such trade liberalisation not precisely what most economists interested in trade believe in? The answer to this question is "yes and no": yes, because liberal trade is desirable, but no, because this form of liberalisation is not necessarily a move towards liberal trade. As Jagdish Bhagwati of Columbia University has argued, "free trade agreements" should, instead, be called "preferential trade agreements". I would prefer "discriminatory trade agreements".
In this case, the US and South Korea agree to discriminate in favour of exporters or investors based in each other's territory. The obvious potential economic cost of such an agreement is what Jacob Viner, the great inter-war trade economist, called "trade diversion". In other words, the partners might shift from more competitive to less competitive suppliers. In this case, however, trade diversion may be modest, since these two countries are among the world's most competitive suppliers of a wide range of goods and services.
A more significant economic cost, however, is systemic. The number of preferential trade agreements has exploded upwards in recent years (see chart). An agreement between the US and South Korea is itself a quantum leap in this progression. The US was the world's largest importer of merchandise products and South Korea the sixth largest in 2005 (if the European Union's internal trade and Hong Kong's re-exports are excluded). The US is also the world's largest importer of commercial services, while South Korea is the 12th largest (this time with EU internal trade included). Other countries will be desperate to avoid the adverse effects upon them. This makes probable yet another jump in the prevalence of such agreements.
That will have at least two further economic consequences. First, an increasing proportion of the world's trade is sure to be governed by the diverse rules of origins and special procedures of a host of discriminatory bilateral and plurilateral agreements. That guarantees an explosion in administrative complexity. Second, every further bilateral agreement will alter the degree of preference enjoyed by existing suppliers. That guarantees an explosion of business uncertainty. These are indeed inevitable results of what Prof Bhagwati has called the "spaghetti bowl" of preferences.
The political consequences of this development are, however, at least as important. First, a company's market access will depend increasingly on the power of its own government to lever open other markets rather than its competitiveness. Second, big powers will compete with one another to wrest more favourable terms for their own producers. The emergence of such power-driven trading blocs is a world away from the hopes of the founding fathers of the Gatt system.
Political and diplomatic capacity is also limited. While the US is focusing on preferential agreements, the Doha round of negotiations is incomplete. The EU is at least as culpable as the US for the failure to complete a round that would bring far greater benefits to world trade than any conceivable bilateral agreements. But if the attention of the US is diverted from multilateral to bilateral trade agreements, the Doha round is even less likely to be completed.
I am not totally opposed to the idea of preferential trade agreements. Regional agreements at least have a natural political and economic logic. More imaginatively, a free trade agreement open to the world could be the best route to global liberalisation, after the Doha round. Liberally minded countries could agree to a single free trade agreement open to any country prepared to sign up. Such an agreement could then ultimately be a template for global free trade.
As it is, however, it is far more likely that the move to discriminatory trade will end up fragmenting the world economy rather than integrating it in this imaginative way. If they were so minded, the members of the World Trade Organisation could sign some 10,000 different bilateral agreements among themselves. Does anybody think that this would be sensible? If not, at what point would the Gadarene rush cease? If the US, as the dominant economic player, makes discrimination a central principle of its own policy, how can it fail to become a global model, with predictable and disturbing results?
John Maynard Keynes stated the fundamental issues clearly just before his death in 1946: "The separate blocs and loss of friendship they must bring with them are expedients to which one may be driven in a hostile world where trade has ceased over wide areas to be co- operative and peaceful and where are forgotten the healthy rules of mutual advantage and equal treatment. But it is surely crazy to prefer that."Let us hope that we do not have to re-learn just how crazy it would be. I am a long-run optimist on this. As the number of agreements explodes upwards some wise policymaker will surely ask why his or her country conducts trade policy through a hundred or more bilateral agreements. Why, he will ask, do we not have a single multilateral agreement, instead? He may even want a name for this new agreement. I know. Why not call it the "World Trade Organisation"?
Martin Wolf, Financial Times, London (UK)
Apr 4, 2007. pg. 15
"I will never falter in my belief that enduring peace and the welfare of nations are indissolubly connected with friendliness, fairness, equality, and the maximum practicable degree of freedom in international trade." Cordell Hull, US secretary of state 1933-44.
This month marks the 60th anniversary of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, of which Cordell Hull was a founding father. It also sees the announcement of a "free trade agreement" between his country and South Korea. The core of the Gatt was non- discrimination. The core of the new agreement is its opposite. Thus has the US taken the betrayal of its erstwhile principles even closer to its logical conclusion.
At a first glance, the new FTA does deliver a substantial opening between the world's largest economy and its 11th largest: nearly 95 per cent of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products is to become duty free within three years, with most remaining tariffs abolished within 10; South Korea is to liberalise access for many US farm exports, though not rice; US investors are to receive greater protection; access for the US service sector will be liberalised, including for legal, accounting and audiovisual services; intellectual property is to receive greater protection; government procurement is to be substantially opened up; new commitments are made on customs administration and rules of origin; and, not least, a new dispute settlements body is to be established.
Why do I object? Is such trade liberalisation not precisely what most economists interested in trade believe in? The answer to this question is "yes and no": yes, because liberal trade is desirable, but no, because this form of liberalisation is not necessarily a move towards liberal trade. As Jagdish Bhagwati of Columbia University has argued, "free trade agreements" should, instead, be called "preferential trade agreements". I would prefer "discriminatory trade agreements".
In this case, the US and South Korea agree to discriminate in favour of exporters or investors based in each other's territory. The obvious potential economic cost of such an agreement is what Jacob Viner, the great inter-war trade economist, called "trade diversion". In other words, the partners might shift from more competitive to less competitive suppliers. In this case, however, trade diversion may be modest, since these two countries are among the world's most competitive suppliers of a wide range of goods and services.
A more significant economic cost, however, is systemic. The number of preferential trade agreements has exploded upwards in recent years (see chart). An agreement between the US and South Korea is itself a quantum leap in this progression. The US was the world's largest importer of merchandise products and South Korea the sixth largest in 2005 (if the European Union's internal trade and Hong Kong's re-exports are excluded). The US is also the world's largest importer of commercial services, while South Korea is the 12th largest (this time with EU internal trade included). Other countries will be desperate to avoid the adverse effects upon them. This makes probable yet another jump in the prevalence of such agreements.
That will have at least two further economic consequences. First, an increasing proportion of the world's trade is sure to be governed by the diverse rules of origins and special procedures of a host of discriminatory bilateral and plurilateral agreements. That guarantees an explosion in administrative complexity. Second, every further bilateral agreement will alter the degree of preference enjoyed by existing suppliers. That guarantees an explosion of business uncertainty. These are indeed inevitable results of what Prof Bhagwati has called the "spaghetti bowl" of preferences.
The political consequences of this development are, however, at least as important. First, a company's market access will depend increasingly on the power of its own government to lever open other markets rather than its competitiveness. Second, big powers will compete with one another to wrest more favourable terms for their own producers. The emergence of such power-driven trading blocs is a world away from the hopes of the founding fathers of the Gatt system.
Political and diplomatic capacity is also limited. While the US is focusing on preferential agreements, the Doha round of negotiations is incomplete. The EU is at least as culpable as the US for the failure to complete a round that would bring far greater benefits to world trade than any conceivable bilateral agreements. But if the attention of the US is diverted from multilateral to bilateral trade agreements, the Doha round is even less likely to be completed.
I am not totally opposed to the idea of preferential trade agreements. Regional agreements at least have a natural political and economic logic. More imaginatively, a free trade agreement open to the world could be the best route to global liberalisation, after the Doha round. Liberally minded countries could agree to a single free trade agreement open to any country prepared to sign up. Such an agreement could then ultimately be a template for global free trade.
As it is, however, it is far more likely that the move to discriminatory trade will end up fragmenting the world economy rather than integrating it in this imaginative way. If they were so minded, the members of the World Trade Organisation could sign some 10,000 different bilateral agreements among themselves. Does anybody think that this would be sensible? If not, at what point would the Gadarene rush cease? If the US, as the dominant economic player, makes discrimination a central principle of its own policy, how can it fail to become a global model, with predictable and disturbing results?
John Maynard Keynes stated the fundamental issues clearly just before his death in 1946: "The separate blocs and loss of friendship they must bring with them are expedients to which one may be driven in a hostile world where trade has ceased over wide areas to be co- operative and peaceful and where are forgotten the healthy rules of mutual advantage and equal treatment. But it is surely crazy to prefer that."Let us hope that we do not have to re-learn just how crazy it would be. I am a long-run optimist on this. As the number of agreements explodes upwards some wise policymaker will surely ask why his or her country conducts trade policy through a hundred or more bilateral agreements. Why, he will ask, do we not have a single multilateral agreement, instead? He may even want a name for this new agreement. I know. Why not call it the "World Trade Organisation"?
SA position on Zim issues after SADC Summit
These excerpts below, were taken from South Africa’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Aziz Pahad’s briefing of the media (4 April) on the way forward after the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Extra-ordinary Summit of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation on 28-29 March 2007:
On national Elections
Parliamentary elections will be held concurrently with the presidential election. There is no need for a constitutional amendment as the President is allowed, according to the current constitution, to bring parliamentary elections forward.
On Presidential Term
The Presidential term will be reduced from six to five years and this will necessitate a constitutional amendment.
On Presidential Succession
Previously the constitution stated that presidential elections should be held within 90 days of the retirement, death, or resignation of the President. The Central Committee decided that should the incumbent President resign, die or be not capable of continuing with the duties of President, Parliament will sit as an electoral college and elect a new President.
On Local Elections
Local government elections will also be held in 2008, which will mean that [they] will be held every five years instead of every four years.
On the senate
The elections for the Senate will be scrapped and senators will now be chosen on the basis of proportional representation. In other word the number of votes garnered by a party in the elections for the House of Assembly would be allocated on a proportional basis to decide on the number of representatives in the Senate. During the 2005 Senatorial elections, senators were elected according to constituencies specifically demarcated for this purpose.
On the House of Assembly
The number of seats in the House of Assembly will be increased from 150 to 210 while seats in the Senate will go up from 66 to 84. It is not clear how this will impact on President Mugabe's presidential prerogative to nominate some MP's and senators. Until now President Mugabe could nominate 20 parliamentarians to the House of Assembly. Of the 66 members of the Senate, President Mugabe nominated six and ten senators came from the ranks of the traditional leaders - in effect another ten pro-government senators.
On Sabotage
To ensure that the necessary climate is created, all Zimbabweans must act with restraint and within the rule of law. Decisive action must be taken against those that are carrying out sabotage activities. Zimbabweans must continue to respect the independence and integrity of the justice system.
On creating an environment for free and fair elections
Given that there has been movement with regard to the situation in Zimbabwe, the principal challenge facing all Zimbabweans is what should be done between now and the elections (possible in March 2008) to create a climate that will be truly free and fair elections for an outcome that will not be contested by anybody.
Who is responsible for Progress?
"It is the view of the region that the only way to deal with these problems and the only way to achieve results, is if we encourage the Zimbabwean political parties to engage with one another” – President Mbeki
On Regime Change
[W]hile we are concerned about the negative effects of the crisis in Zimbabwe on the region, we would not ever support any proposition about regime change. So that is not an option for us, whatever other people might think in the rest of the world.
Excerpts courtesy of the South African Department of Foreign Affairs
On national Elections
Parliamentary elections will be held concurrently with the presidential election. There is no need for a constitutional amendment as the President is allowed, according to the current constitution, to bring parliamentary elections forward.
On Presidential Term
The Presidential term will be reduced from six to five years and this will necessitate a constitutional amendment.
On Presidential Succession
Previously the constitution stated that presidential elections should be held within 90 days of the retirement, death, or resignation of the President. The Central Committee decided that should the incumbent President resign, die or be not capable of continuing with the duties of President, Parliament will sit as an electoral college and elect a new President.
On Local Elections
Local government elections will also be held in 2008, which will mean that [they] will be held every five years instead of every four years.
On the senate
The elections for the Senate will be scrapped and senators will now be chosen on the basis of proportional representation. In other word the number of votes garnered by a party in the elections for the House of Assembly would be allocated on a proportional basis to decide on the number of representatives in the Senate. During the 2005 Senatorial elections, senators were elected according to constituencies specifically demarcated for this purpose.
On the House of Assembly
The number of seats in the House of Assembly will be increased from 150 to 210 while seats in the Senate will go up from 66 to 84. It is not clear how this will impact on President Mugabe's presidential prerogative to nominate some MP's and senators. Until now President Mugabe could nominate 20 parliamentarians to the House of Assembly. Of the 66 members of the Senate, President Mugabe nominated six and ten senators came from the ranks of the traditional leaders - in effect another ten pro-government senators.
On Sabotage
To ensure that the necessary climate is created, all Zimbabweans must act with restraint and within the rule of law. Decisive action must be taken against those that are carrying out sabotage activities. Zimbabweans must continue to respect the independence and integrity of the justice system.
On creating an environment for free and fair elections
Given that there has been movement with regard to the situation in Zimbabwe, the principal challenge facing all Zimbabweans is what should be done between now and the elections (possible in March 2008) to create a climate that will be truly free and fair elections for an outcome that will not be contested by anybody.
Who is responsible for Progress?
"It is the view of the region that the only way to deal with these problems and the only way to achieve results, is if we encourage the Zimbabwean political parties to engage with one another” – President Mbeki
On Regime Change
[W]hile we are concerned about the negative effects of the crisis in Zimbabwe on the region, we would not ever support any proposition about regime change. So that is not an option for us, whatever other people might think in the rest of the world.
Excerpts courtesy of the South African Department of Foreign Affairs
IPCC to release report on climate change
The Working Group II contribution to the "Climate Change 2007" Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will present the report in Brussels on Friday, 6 April 2007.
According to IPCC, the report is expected to assess the "latest scientific, environmental and socio-economic literature on "Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability". It provides a comprehensive analysis of how climate change is affecting natural and human systems, what the impacts will be in the future and how far adaptation and mitigation can reduce these impacts".
Even the right wing is responding positively to environmental concerns, demonstrating the impending dangers of environmental destruction. Yet, only yesterday, the very same people were refusing to acknowledge this fact and throwing contempt and demonising those who were facing reality.
Of course, the sin of these environmentally conscious people was that they were thwarting the right from the wholesale capture of resources and exploiting them to rack in super profits. They also told us that "No problem, technology will take care of the situation". Really!!
Here now they are panicking just like every one of us after awakening to reality.
To read the rest of press release click here...
According to IPCC, the report is expected to assess the "latest scientific, environmental and socio-economic literature on "Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability". It provides a comprehensive analysis of how climate change is affecting natural and human systems, what the impacts will be in the future and how far adaptation and mitigation can reduce these impacts".
Even the right wing is responding positively to environmental concerns, demonstrating the impending dangers of environmental destruction. Yet, only yesterday, the very same people were refusing to acknowledge this fact and throwing contempt and demonising those who were facing reality.
Of course, the sin of these environmentally conscious people was that they were thwarting the right from the wholesale capture of resources and exploiting them to rack in super profits. They also told us that "No problem, technology will take care of the situation". Really!!
Here now they are panicking just like every one of us after awakening to reality.
To read the rest of press release click here...
The internationalization of genocide
Reflections of President Fidel Castro
THE Camp David meeting has just ended. We all listened with interest to the press conference by the presidents of the United States and Brazil, as well as news about the meeting and opinions stated.
Confronted the demands of his Brazilian visitor regarding import tariffs and subsidies that protect and support U.S. ethanol production, Bush did not make the slightest concession in Camp David.
President Lula attributed to this higher corn prices which, according to him, had gone up by more than 85 percent.
Previously, The Washington Post newspaper published an article by Brazil’s top leader discussing the idea of converting food into fuel.
It is not my intention to hurt Brazil, or to meddle in the internal politics of that great country. It was precisely in Rio de Janeiro, where the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development was held exactly 15 years ago, where I vehemently condemned, in a 7-minute speech, the environmental dangers threatening the existence of our species.
At that meeting, Bush Sr. was present as president of the United States, and in a gesture of courtesy he applauded my words, just like all the other presidents.
Nobody at Camp David responded to the main question. Where and who is going to supply the more than 500 million tons of corn and other cereals that the United States, Europe and the rich countries need to produce the volume of gallons of ethanol that the big U.S. companies and those of other countries are demanding as compensation for their sizeable investments? Where are who is going to produce the soy beans, the sunflower and colza seeds, whose essential oils are going to be converted by those same rich countries into fuel? More....
Article courtesy of Granma International
THE Camp David meeting has just ended. We all listened with interest to the press conference by the presidents of the United States and Brazil, as well as news about the meeting and opinions stated.
Confronted the demands of his Brazilian visitor regarding import tariffs and subsidies that protect and support U.S. ethanol production, Bush did not make the slightest concession in Camp David.
President Lula attributed to this higher corn prices which, according to him, had gone up by more than 85 percent.
Previously, The Washington Post newspaper published an article by Brazil’s top leader discussing the idea of converting food into fuel.
It is not my intention to hurt Brazil, or to meddle in the internal politics of that great country. It was precisely in Rio de Janeiro, where the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development was held exactly 15 years ago, where I vehemently condemned, in a 7-minute speech, the environmental dangers threatening the existence of our species.
At that meeting, Bush Sr. was present as president of the United States, and in a gesture of courtesy he applauded my words, just like all the other presidents.
Nobody at Camp David responded to the main question. Where and who is going to supply the more than 500 million tons of corn and other cereals that the United States, Europe and the rich countries need to produce the volume of gallons of ethanol that the big U.S. companies and those of other countries are demanding as compensation for their sizeable investments? Where are who is going to produce the soy beans, the sunflower and colza seeds, whose essential oils are going to be converted by those same rich countries into fuel? More....
Article courtesy of Granma International
Bush ethanol plan threatens to starve 3 billion plus people worldwide
Reflections of President Fidel Castro
MORE THAN three billion people in the world are being condemned to premature death from hunger and thirst.
MORE THAN three billion people in the world are being condemned to premature death from hunger and thirst.
This is not an exaggeration; this is rather a conservative figure. I have meditated for quite a long time on that after the meeting held by (United States) President George W. Bush with US automakers (carmakers). The sinister idea of turning foodstuffs into fuel was definitely established as the economic strategy of the US foreign policy on Monday, March 26.
A wire service issued by the AP, a US information agency with worldwide coverage, literally reads: WASHINGTON (AP), March 26 — President Bush touted the benefits of "flexible fuel" vehicles running on ethanol and bio-diesel in the Monday, meeting with automakers to boost support for his energy plans. Bush said a commitment by the leaders of the domestic auto industry to double their production of flex-fuel vehicles could help motorists shift away from gasoline (petrol) and reduce the nation’s reliance on imported oil. More...
Article courtesy of Granma International
A wire service issued by the AP, a US information agency with worldwide coverage, literally reads: WASHINGTON (AP), March 26 — President Bush touted the benefits of "flexible fuel" vehicles running on ethanol and bio-diesel in the Monday, meeting with automakers to boost support for his energy plans. Bush said a commitment by the leaders of the domestic auto industry to double their production of flex-fuel vehicles could help motorists shift away from gasoline (petrol) and reduce the nation’s reliance on imported oil. More...
Article courtesy of Granma International
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
The hidden costs of private clinics
Click on image to enlarge and readAdvocates of privatisation (the right wing) of a basic need like healthcare tell us that it would be delivered in an affordable and efficient manner. However, this article uses an existing example to highlight the ideological weaknesses of the argument as well as the shortcomings in such a practice.
In Zimbabwe, we have this silent problem, which few of us have stood up to challenge. The "economic reforms" that the right/reformists want us to undertake in Zimbabwe will certainly creep and capture the health system. It would be better if we are thoroughly informed of the tricks used by the time we get there.
Article courtesy of Toronto Star
Monday, April 2, 2007
Zimbabwe’s Lonely Fight for Justice
By Stephen Gowans
Global Research, March 30, 2007
Ever since veterans of the guerrilla war against apartheid Rhodesia violently seized white-owned farms in Zimbabwe, the country’s president, Robert Mugabe, has been demonized by politicians, human rights organizations and the media in the West. His crimes, according to right-wing sources, are numerous: human rights abuses, election rigging, repression of political opponents, corruption, and mismanagement of the economy. Leftist detractors say Mugabe talks left and walks right, and that his anti-imperialist rhetoric is pure demagogy.
I’m going to argue that the basis for Mugabe’s demonization is the desire of Western powers to change the economic and land redistribution policies Mugabe’s government has pursued; that his lapses from liberal democratic rectitude are, in themselves, of little moment to decision makers in Washington and London; and that the ultimate aim of regime change is to replace Mugabe with someone who can be counted on to reliably look after Western interests, and particularly British investments, in Zimbabwe. More...
Article courtesy of Global Research
Global Research, March 30, 2007
Ever since veterans of the guerrilla war against apartheid Rhodesia violently seized white-owned farms in Zimbabwe, the country’s president, Robert Mugabe, has been demonized by politicians, human rights organizations and the media in the West. His crimes, according to right-wing sources, are numerous: human rights abuses, election rigging, repression of political opponents, corruption, and mismanagement of the economy. Leftist detractors say Mugabe talks left and walks right, and that his anti-imperialist rhetoric is pure demagogy.
I’m going to argue that the basis for Mugabe’s demonization is the desire of Western powers to change the economic and land redistribution policies Mugabe’s government has pursued; that his lapses from liberal democratic rectitude are, in themselves, of little moment to decision makers in Washington and London; and that the ultimate aim of regime change is to replace Mugabe with someone who can be counted on to reliably look after Western interests, and particularly British investments, in Zimbabwe. More...
Article courtesy of Global Research
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Zimbabwe's Ambassador Takes Issue with 'Arrogant' Editorial
Embassy Newsletter,
March 28th, 2007
LETTERS
Your editorial is unfortunate since it borders on inaccuracies and arrogance (Re: "Failure on the Horizon" March 21). The mere fact that the article was written as an editorial was a trick to avoid writing a comprehensive story that could have brought out compelling facts about the abundantly proven violent nature of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change. In an editorial you can offer your opinion as you wish, which still does not make it fair journalism because, as your editorial shows, you only heard and considered one side of the story. More...
March 28th, 2007
LETTERS
Your editorial is unfortunate since it borders on inaccuracies and arrogance (Re: "Failure on the Horizon" March 21). The mere fact that the article was written as an editorial was a trick to avoid writing a comprehensive story that could have brought out compelling facts about the abundantly proven violent nature of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change. In an editorial you can offer your opinion as you wish, which still does not make it fair journalism because, as your editorial shows, you only heard and considered one side of the story. More...
Failure on the Horizon
Embassy Newsletter
March 21st, 2007
EDITORIAL
Last week, members of Zimbabwe's opposition party were arrested and beaten during a peaceful rally in which, ironically, participants were praying for change within the impoverished country.
More beatings and arrests followed, and several parliamentarians were forbidden from leaving the country even for medical treatment in neighbouring South Africa. More...
March 21st, 2007
EDITORIAL
Last week, members of Zimbabwe's opposition party were arrested and beaten during a peaceful rally in which, ironically, participants were praying for change within the impoverished country.
More beatings and arrests followed, and several parliamentarians were forbidden from leaving the country even for medical treatment in neighbouring South Africa. More...
O'Reilly Bashes the Left on Fox News
While it is no scandal to know that Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly is right wing and has the enthusiasm to bash the left, it is scandalous in how he scandalises the left, insults and demeans them using what he calls “experts”. Note that his “experts” in this Rosie O'Donnell bashing are right wing as well. But surely we need a semblance of balance in discussing issues. Instead of discussing the merits of O’Donnell’s claims about Britain and United States’ intention of attacking Iran, he carries an accusatory and treasonous tone. It’s a shame and that indeed is a SCANDAL.
By the way, leftists have come to O’Reilly's show (The O’Reilly Factor) and have been demonised.
To watch video of Bill O’Reilly on Rosie O’Donnell click here.
By the way, leftists have come to O’Reilly's show (The O’Reilly Factor) and have been demonised.
To watch video of Bill O’Reilly on Rosie O’Donnell click here.
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