Denford Magora's Latest Zimbabwe News Blog

In a tight spot: Morgan Tsvangirai, twisting this way and that, is poised for a battle with his more realistic Secretary-General and Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, who is taking a more realistic approach to the troubles facing the constitution-making process. Tsvangirai's chosen route of being all things to all people is, Tendai Biti, realises, destined to leave the Prime Minister with egg all over his face, since Tsvangirai has made it clear that he is not going to let this issue decide the fate of his precious unity government with Mugabe Harare, Zimbabwe, 22 August 2009 A bruising encounter is brewing between Tendai Biti, the MDC-Tsvangirai Secretary-General (also Finance Minister) and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai over the constitutional process. Biti (as confirmed by this week's Zimbabwe Independent) confronted Advocate Eric Matinenga about his statement that the Kariba Draft Constitution was not a factor in the current process, asking him why he had gone ahead to issu...

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Secretary General, told journalists in Chinhoyi this last week that the presence of the MDC-Tsvangirai in government has not improved the lot of workers at all. He says the Union reserves the right to withdraw its support of the MDC-T Harare, Zimbabwe, 03 August 2009 Wellington Chibhebhe, Secretary General of Zimbabwe's massive Trade Union grouping known as the ZCTU, told an audience of journalists in Chinhoyi that the presence of the MDC-T in government has done nothing to improve the lot of Zimbabwe's struggling workers, saying: "We reserve the right to withdraw our support (for the MDC-T)". Chibhebhe echoed a sentiment I have repeatedly expressed saying: "It's a question of priorities. Money to provide three vehicles to each minister following the formation of the so-called Inclusive Government was easily made available. Why don't we share the burden of the economic hardships?" Chibhebhe made it clear that ...

Deputy Prime Ministers Thokozani Khupe and Arthur Mutambara are seen here with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at State House in Entebbe. The two were taken on a junket by Robert "The Solution" Mugabe as he starts his offensive to charm the MDC-T leadership into submitting to his will. He appears to be winning. Meantime, back home, all hell is breaking loose, with Civil society partners of the MDC-T declaring their marriage to the opposition party dissolved. Former allies of the MDC-T, the Zimbabwe Congress Of Trade Unions and the National Constitutional Assembly have blasted Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe over their failures on not only the constitution but also the running of the country in general. Almost all of the criticism was directed at Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC-T, signalling that the myopic days of "why criticise Tsvangirai, criticise Mugabe instead" are over. Indeed, it serves no purpose to harp on about the geriatric Mugabe, who everyone agrees...

Dr Simba Makoni is seen here at the World Economic Forum, addressing the "Reconstructing Zimbabwe" Session The launch of Mavambo as a political party, which had been agreed by the Party Formation Steering Committee to be set for today, 13 April 2009, has now been put back. At a meeting of Conveners (Heads of Department) last Saturday, held at the Mavambo offices in Harare, the Conveners asked for more time to finalise plans for the launch ceremony in their own areas. Because the launch ceremony can only be held once and the new party wants to launch with a huge bang, they felt that they would rather delay than rush headlong into the whole affair. So, later this month, detailed plans for the launch ceremony itself, as well as the logistics, will be finalised at a retreat of the Party Formation Steering Committee, which will also be attended by what Mavambo structures are there in the Diaspora (South Africa and Botswana are particularly active at the moment), at a secret locati...