Who could ever forget the picture of a grieving junior high school student, Antoinette Pietersen, running down a street of Soweto alongside a tearful Mbuyisa Makhubu who was cradling the lifeless body of Antoinette's 12-year-old brother, Hector, who had just been shot by Apartheid South Africa’s brutally racist police?
Yes, I am talking about the massacre of South African children, about 200 of them, who had dared protest against the imposition of Afrikaans as the language of instruction in black schools.
This happened 30 years ago, today June 16th. The South African Consulate in Toronto is hosting a cultural event to commemorate Youth Day on Sunday, from 11 am to 4 pm at the Mel Lastman Square. Lets all go and listen to survivor, Charles Mtombeni while we eat pap, biltong, boerewoers (sp) and dance to kwaito, umbaqanga, marabi and kwela.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
www.zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
Friday, June 16, 2006
GO ENGLAND, MAVS AND NADAL, GO
SOCCER - I admit, they did not play as well as I would want. Peter Crouch and Frank Lampard worsted chances, but the tallest man on the pitch finally delivered. Then, it was Steven Gerrard’s turn in injury time. Need I say it? Well, it was a typical 20-yard drive only Gerrard can deliver and we are in the second round.
The not-so-good performance is a good thing as far as I am concerned. It puts the necessary pressure on the team as it prepares for the tough matches ahead. I told you from the beginning and I repeat it now, “we are going all the way to Berlin.”
BASKETBALL – I am not gonna be denied the NBA championship. I have already budgeted to by a fan’s replica cup with “Dallas Mavericks” engraved on it. So, Avery, Dirk, Terry; I am angry at you for letting Shaq and them level up the series. The loss in Game 3 particularly was inexcusable.
Now, you boys need to deliver on Sunday and wrap it up on Tuesday. I do not feel like coming back to the American Airlines Centre to whip your behinds.
TENNIS – My man, Nadal is on the roll at Queens (he is in the quarter finals). This is just warm up for Wimbledon, of course, and he is one man I know is gonna deliver.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
www.zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
The not-so-good performance is a good thing as far as I am concerned. It puts the necessary pressure on the team as it prepares for the tough matches ahead. I told you from the beginning and I repeat it now, “we are going all the way to Berlin.”
BASKETBALL – I am not gonna be denied the NBA championship. I have already budgeted to by a fan’s replica cup with “Dallas Mavericks” engraved on it. So, Avery, Dirk, Terry; I am angry at you for letting Shaq and them level up the series. The loss in Game 3 particularly was inexcusable.
Now, you boys need to deliver on Sunday and wrap it up on Tuesday. I do not feel like coming back to the American Airlines Centre to whip your behinds.
TENNIS – My man, Nadal is on the roll at Queens (he is in the quarter finals). This is just warm up for Wimbledon, of course, and he is one man I know is gonna deliver.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
www.zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
Thursday, June 15, 2006
MOBUTU SEEN IN TORONTO
MOBUTU SEEN ON THE STREETS OF TORONTO
I knew I was not dreaming or hallucinating but I still pinched myself to be certain, and the pain was real, so I looked again and he was there. None other than Mobutu Sese Seko.
Of course, the former dictator of Zaire died a few years ago in exile after being deposed by current Democratic Republic of Congo president, Joseph Kabila’s father, the late Laurent Kabila. If people really meet after death, I wonder what those two say to each other.
I was approaching a bus stop along Carlton Street in downtown Toronto when I saw, among the dozen or so people waiting for the bus, a young man of the same build and even looks as a young Mobutu soon after taking power in Zaire in the 1960s.
The young man was resplendent in Mobutu trademark gray flannel pants, a matching checkered shirt and old-fashioned scarf round the neck (despite the high temperatures). To complete the impersonation, the young man topped it all with a leopard skin hat in the same triangular shape only ever worn by Mobutu. The only thing I did not see as I got on the bus, was an imitation of the staff that Mobutu and other African politicians of his era used to carry around as a symbol of authority.
I had to rush, so I did not have the time to talk to the young man, but I am certain he has a hell of a story to tell.
Anybody know this guy? Please give me his contact.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
www.zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
I knew I was not dreaming or hallucinating but I still pinched myself to be certain, and the pain was real, so I looked again and he was there. None other than Mobutu Sese Seko.
Of course, the former dictator of Zaire died a few years ago in exile after being deposed by current Democratic Republic of Congo president, Joseph Kabila’s father, the late Laurent Kabila. If people really meet after death, I wonder what those two say to each other.
I was approaching a bus stop along Carlton Street in downtown Toronto when I saw, among the dozen or so people waiting for the bus, a young man of the same build and even looks as a young Mobutu soon after taking power in Zaire in the 1960s.
The young man was resplendent in Mobutu trademark gray flannel pants, a matching checkered shirt and old-fashioned scarf round the neck (despite the high temperatures). To complete the impersonation, the young man topped it all with a leopard skin hat in the same triangular shape only ever worn by Mobutu. The only thing I did not see as I got on the bus, was an imitation of the staff that Mobutu and other African politicians of his era used to carry around as a symbol of authority.
I had to rush, so I did not have the time to talk to the young man, but I am certain he has a hell of a story to tell.
Anybody know this guy? Please give me his contact.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
www.zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
MUGABE’S PROPAGANDA CHIEF THREATENS JOURNALISTS WITH DEATH
Just picked up this unbelievable piece of news from Zimbabwe. A news alert I received this morning stated that Zimbabwe’s Minister of Information and Publicity, Dr. Tichaona Jokonya has threatened Zimbabwean journalists working for western media with death.
Addressing a press conference in Harare on Monday, Jokonya asked: “You know what the end of a traitor is?”
Of course, everybody knew, but to be certain his audience, of mostly journalists, understood beyond any doubt, he answered himself thus: “The end of a traitor is always death.”
“The unfortunate thing about a traitor is that you are killed by both your own people and the person whom you are serving," he said.
This is the latest in a series of threats against journalists by government officials since Prof. Jonathan Moyo was in charge of the ministry.
Such threats should not be taken lightly because they have long proved actionable by the Zanu PF government using its proxies of death; i.e. the army, the police, the CIO, the Green Bombers and the war veterans.
Since 2000, many Zimbabwean journalists have died, been maimed, exiled and jailed all because they were deemed traitors by a government that should, itself, be charged as a traitor regime.
What shocks me is that this threat comes from a man whose background is in diplomacy at the very senior level. Jokonya was Zimbabwe’s permanent representative at the United Nations. What a shame!!!!!!
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
www.zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
Addressing a press conference in Harare on Monday, Jokonya asked: “You know what the end of a traitor is?”
Of course, everybody knew, but to be certain his audience, of mostly journalists, understood beyond any doubt, he answered himself thus: “The end of a traitor is always death.”
“The unfortunate thing about a traitor is that you are killed by both your own people and the person whom you are serving," he said.
This is the latest in a series of threats against journalists by government officials since Prof. Jonathan Moyo was in charge of the ministry.
Such threats should not be taken lightly because they have long proved actionable by the Zanu PF government using its proxies of death; i.e. the army, the police, the CIO, the Green Bombers and the war veterans.
Since 2000, many Zimbabwean journalists have died, been maimed, exiled and jailed all because they were deemed traitors by a government that should, itself, be charged as a traitor regime.
What shocks me is that this threat comes from a man whose background is in diplomacy at the very senior level. Jokonya was Zimbabwe’s permanent representative at the United Nations. What a shame!!!!!!
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
www.zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
Monday, June 12, 2006
GOOD SPORTING WEEKEND
I really had a good sporting weekend, thank you. My World Cup Soccer team, England won their first match of the competition, always a moral booster.
My favourite NBA basketball team, the Dallas Mavericks, is leading the Finals 2-0.
My best tennis player, Rafel Nadal, won the French Open Championship.
What more can a man want, as far as sports are concerned, that is.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
www.zimcanada.com
www.jexcanada.com
My favourite NBA basketball team, the Dallas Mavericks, is leading the Finals 2-0.
My best tennis player, Rafel Nadal, won the French Open Championship.
What more can a man want, as far as sports are concerned, that is.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
www.zimcanada.com
www.jexcanada.com
Friday, June 09, 2006
MDC TORONTO - WHATS UP WITH THE RESIGNATIONS?
I am becoming careful what I say about MDC Toronto. The last time I said my piece of mind as a Zimbabwean with a right to express concern on the goings on in a political organization that supposedly represents all Zimbabweans, I was labeled a prostitute, unclean, enemy of the people and an inquiry was supposed to have been launched to investigate me.
Well, in these times of terrorism and other evils, a person with the kind of labels bestowed on me is wise to seal their mouth lest the next thing you know all security departments in Toronto are on you.
However, my journalistic stubbornness is gnawing at me. I just want to say once again:
There is something going on in the MDC Toronto executive.
Recently, the Secretary-General and her deputy resigned. People who criticize or seek answers are still being told to “shut up”. Surely an explanation is needed. Would somebody please tell me what is going on?
Talking about terrorism, a lot is going on, here in Canada, in Iraq and elsewhere. One thing clear though is that “GOOD WILL ALWAYS TRIUMPH OVER EVIL”.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
www.zimcanada.com
www.jexcanada.com
Well, in these times of terrorism and other evils, a person with the kind of labels bestowed on me is wise to seal their mouth lest the next thing you know all security departments in Toronto are on you.
However, my journalistic stubbornness is gnawing at me. I just want to say once again:
There is something going on in the MDC Toronto executive.
Recently, the Secretary-General and her deputy resigned. People who criticize or seek answers are still being told to “shut up”. Surely an explanation is needed. Would somebody please tell me what is going on?
Talking about terrorism, a lot is going on, here in Canada, in Iraq and elsewhere. One thing clear though is that “GOOD WILL ALWAYS TRIUMPH OVER EVIL”.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
www.zimcanada.com
www.jexcanada.com
WORLD CUP SOCCER - MY ENGLAND SHIRT
Well, the World Cup has begun in earnest. I bought my England supporter’s shirt and I will wear it each day my team plays. Naturally, I am elated that both Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and David Bekham are fit and ready to play. I can’t wait for Saturday.
It looks like Group A has already been decided. It is going to be Germany and Ecuador. If things change, then I pledge to … well, nothing because I really do not care if any of the teams in the group advance or go home.
I must admit though that there is just something gratifying in seeing an underdog team turn the tables.
Here is my prediction for the teams that will advance from the other groups:
Group B: - England and Sweden
Group C: - Argentina and Ivory Coast
Group D: - Mexico and Portugal
Group E: - Italy and Ghana
Group F: - Brazil and Japan
Group G: - France and South Korea
Group H: - Spain and Tunisia.
BASKETBALL – Go Mavs.
TENNIS – Nadal, Nadal, Nadal.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
http://www.thecanadian.ca/
www. zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
It looks like Group A has already been decided. It is going to be Germany and Ecuador. If things change, then I pledge to … well, nothing because I really do not care if any of the teams in the group advance or go home.
I must admit though that there is just something gratifying in seeing an underdog team turn the tables.
Here is my prediction for the teams that will advance from the other groups:
Group B: - England and Sweden
Group C: - Argentina and Ivory Coast
Group D: - Mexico and Portugal
Group E: - Italy and Ghana
Group F: - Brazil and Japan
Group G: - France and South Korea
Group H: - Spain and Tunisia.
BASKETBALL – Go Mavs.
TENNIS – Nadal, Nadal, Nadal.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
http://www.thecanadian.ca/
www. zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
US$1 MILLION OFFER I WONT ACCEPT
I am as poor as a church mouse and I welcome any financial help. But when someone I have never heard of e-mails me offering more than US$1 million for helping them repatriate some money from another country into Canada, then I would rather die poor.
Some of you might already know what I am talking about here. There is an old scam that usually originates from west African countries, particularly Nigeria, and it comes in a letter similar to the one I received and I reproduced below.
I want to warn you all to forego this “wonderful gift” and stay poor, at least you will keep the little you have. If you entertain any such offers, conmen will wipe you clean.
Enjoy the letter:
Mrs Mariam Sankoh
Tel: +225 06 29 12 08 12
BP 2114 Abidjan 12 COTE D'IVOIRE.
Assalamualaikum.
I am Mrs Mariam Sankoh, the wife of former minister of agriculture of the Republic of Sierra Leone and also diamond and gold merchant. Honourable, Paul Chieck Sankoh who died in December 4th 2002 in free town, Sierra Leone, as a result of political crisis in Sierra Leone.
I am writing you in absolute confidence primarily to seek your assistance to transfer of our cash of eleven million, five hundred thousand united state's Dollar($11.500.000dollars) now in custody of security and finance company here in Abidjan Cote D’Ivoire West Africa to your private account pending on our arrives to your country.
SOURCE OF MONEY:-
My late husband, honourable Paul Chieck Sankoh, a native of FALABA DISTRIC in the northern province of Sierra Leone, owned a large field of diamond and gold plantation before he became minister for griculture and later died in the peak of the civil war between the rebels force of Major Paul Koromah and the government.
To transfer this boxes containing the money to you through diplomat courier services in your name to your country. To make a good arrangement for a joint business investment on our behalf in your country and you will take care of the investments until my son finish his studies in UNITEED KINGDOM.
Once you receive one of the boxes, you will put hand inside the box and send money for me to claim the remaining two boxes. Then when you receive the box from the diplomat you will lodge the money little by little to your bank account until me and my son arrival your country.
Most importantly, the security company officials do not know the exact contents of the boxes, because it was declared as family valuable documents.
The whole documents issued after deposit is in my son’s name and under his care. Our assurance is that your role is risk free, I accord this transaction the legality it deserves and for mutual security of the fund, the whole approved procedures will be officially and legally processed with your name as the bonfire beneficiary of the above mentioned boxes. In return, me and my son have agreed to offer you 10% of the transferred sum, while 5% shall be set aside for incidental expenses (internal and external) between the parties in the course of the transaction, and the remaining 85% is for the family investment.
Lastly, I plead with you to keep this transaction strictly and confidential. Please try to reach us as soon as you get this letter. Thanks and hope to hear from you soon. You can reach me through this private email address :(http://ca.f880.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=mariam200100@yahoo.com&YY=11410&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b)God bless you.
Mrs Mariam Sankoh
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
http://www.thecanadian.ca/
www. zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
Some of you might already know what I am talking about here. There is an old scam that usually originates from west African countries, particularly Nigeria, and it comes in a letter similar to the one I received and I reproduced below.
I want to warn you all to forego this “wonderful gift” and stay poor, at least you will keep the little you have. If you entertain any such offers, conmen will wipe you clean.
Enjoy the letter:
Mrs Mariam Sankoh
Tel: +225 06 29 12 08 12
BP 2114 Abidjan 12 COTE D'IVOIRE.
Assalamualaikum.
I am Mrs Mariam Sankoh, the wife of former minister of agriculture of the Republic of Sierra Leone and also diamond and gold merchant. Honourable, Paul Chieck Sankoh who died in December 4th 2002 in free town, Sierra Leone, as a result of political crisis in Sierra Leone.
I am writing you in absolute confidence primarily to seek your assistance to transfer of our cash of eleven million, five hundred thousand united state's Dollar($11.500.000dollars) now in custody of security and finance company here in Abidjan Cote D’Ivoire West Africa to your private account pending on our arrives to your country.
SOURCE OF MONEY:-
My late husband, honourable Paul Chieck Sankoh, a native of FALABA DISTRIC in the northern province of Sierra Leone, owned a large field of diamond and gold plantation before he became minister for griculture and later died in the peak of the civil war between the rebels force of Major Paul Koromah and the government.
To transfer this boxes containing the money to you through diplomat courier services in your name to your country. To make a good arrangement for a joint business investment on our behalf in your country and you will take care of the investments until my son finish his studies in UNITEED KINGDOM.
Once you receive one of the boxes, you will put hand inside the box and send money for me to claim the remaining two boxes. Then when you receive the box from the diplomat you will lodge the money little by little to your bank account until me and my son arrival your country.
Most importantly, the security company officials do not know the exact contents of the boxes, because it was declared as family valuable documents.
The whole documents issued after deposit is in my son’s name and under his care. Our assurance is that your role is risk free, I accord this transaction the legality it deserves and for mutual security of the fund, the whole approved procedures will be officially and legally processed with your name as the bonfire beneficiary of the above mentioned boxes. In return, me and my son have agreed to offer you 10% of the transferred sum, while 5% shall be set aside for incidental expenses (internal and external) between the parties in the course of the transaction, and the remaining 85% is for the family investment.
Lastly, I plead with you to keep this transaction strictly and confidential. Please try to reach us as soon as you get this letter. Thanks and hope to hear from you soon. You can reach me through this private email address :(http://ca.f880.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=mariam200100@yahoo.com&YY=11410&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b)God bless you.
Mrs Mariam Sankoh
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
http://www.thecanadian.ca/
www. zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
Sunday, June 04, 2006
WORLD CUP - MY MONEY IS ON ENGLAND
Okay, its World Cup time again. Zimbabweans love their soccer and we will all be glued to the small screen and watch every one of the 64 matches if we could.
This is the time when temporary divorces are declared because "Dad" can't be bothered about anything else because it is World Cup time. The time when employees take vacations to go nowhere but to their favourite couch to slouch and watch soccer. If one cannot get a vacation then they will simply feign illness on the days their favourite team will be playing.
Anyway, since this is my blog, I want to tell you which team I will support and why.
If Zimbabwe or Canada were at the World Cup, I would support them as numbers one and two in that order, but they are not there.
Now, if I were to go the patriotic way, I would support Angola because they are the nearest to Zimbabwe. Next, I would support Ghana because they are our legitimate in-laws (politics aside - this is soccer). Then I would support Ivory Coast for they are the most exciting African team so far and I tip them to go beyond the first round. If I have to, I will also support Togo and Tunisia in that order.
Oh, I could also go the Third World way and support the likes of Ecuador, Trinidad and Tobago, Paraguay or be safe and go along with the obvious favourites, Brazil or Argentina or even France because they have Thierry Henry, the best striker in the world in my book and, of course, he plays for my favourite English team, Arsenal.
However, I put my little money on England. In my view England will win it this time. Their organization, player depth and grounded manner remind me so much of France in 1998. They are a really rounded team this time with every department well represented.
In Goal Paul Robinson beats the best on offer. The back line of Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, John Terry, Gary Neville et al, is as rock-steady as they come.
Then the mid. Oh, my God. Just Imagine a midfield marshaled from the centre by Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard and from the wings by skipper David Beckham and Joe Cole.
In front, forget Wayne Rooney and even Michael Owen. Peter Crouch is on fire, young Walcoat wants to prove a point, Jenas and others are also hungry to prove their potency. And, of course, Gerrard and Lampard hammer them in just like the best of strikers.
It is going to be England all the way in my living room.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
http://www.thecanadian.ca/
www. zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
This is the time when temporary divorces are declared because "Dad" can't be bothered about anything else because it is World Cup time. The time when employees take vacations to go nowhere but to their favourite couch to slouch and watch soccer. If one cannot get a vacation then they will simply feign illness on the days their favourite team will be playing.
Anyway, since this is my blog, I want to tell you which team I will support and why.
If Zimbabwe or Canada were at the World Cup, I would support them as numbers one and two in that order, but they are not there.
Now, if I were to go the patriotic way, I would support Angola because they are the nearest to Zimbabwe. Next, I would support Ghana because they are our legitimate in-laws (politics aside - this is soccer). Then I would support Ivory Coast for they are the most exciting African team so far and I tip them to go beyond the first round. If I have to, I will also support Togo and Tunisia in that order.
Oh, I could also go the Third World way and support the likes of Ecuador, Trinidad and Tobago, Paraguay or be safe and go along with the obvious favourites, Brazil or Argentina or even France because they have Thierry Henry, the best striker in the world in my book and, of course, he plays for my favourite English team, Arsenal.
However, I put my little money on England. In my view England will win it this time. Their organization, player depth and grounded manner remind me so much of France in 1998. They are a really rounded team this time with every department well represented.
In Goal Paul Robinson beats the best on offer. The back line of Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, John Terry, Gary Neville et al, is as rock-steady as they come.
Then the mid. Oh, my God. Just Imagine a midfield marshaled from the centre by Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard and from the wings by skipper David Beckham and Joe Cole.
In front, forget Wayne Rooney and even Michael Owen. Peter Crouch is on fire, young Walcoat wants to prove a point, Jenas and others are also hungry to prove their potency. And, of course, Gerrard and Lampard hammer them in just like the best of strikers.
It is going to be England all the way in my living room.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
http://www.thecanadian.ca/
www. zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
Saturday, May 27, 2006
BENNETT ASYLUM DENIAL – SA GOVT POLITICKING
So, South Africa has denied Roy Bennett political asylum. I see politicking in this case, if not outright racial discrimination by President Thabo Mbeki’s African National Congress (ANC) government.
From what I know of the United Nations’ definition of a Convention refugee or person in need of protection, Roy Bennett fits the bill of a consistently persecuted person.
The former Member of Parliament for Chimanimani personifies persecution of the opposition by the ruling Zanu PF and all its proxies. Right from President Robert Mugabe himself, his Security Minister, Didymus Mutasa and his Central Intelligence Organization (CIO), the army, the police, the government-leaning war veterans, the Zanu PF youth brigade (the Green Bombers), they have all had a go at Bennett.
Since he signed on and started campaigning for the Chimanimani seat in 2000, Bennett has suffered abuse ranging from verbal harassment, physical assault, imprisonment, destruction of property and seizure of the said property.
Yes, the trumped up charges, earlier this year, that he was part of a conspiracy to assassinate Mugabe (which is the primary reason he fled to South Africa), were dismissed. But does this disqualify him as a Convention refugee? I do not think so.
His problems have been well documented and publicized that it will be a waste of space and reading time to repeat them here.
This decision by South Africa has shown clearly that Mbeki and his government are really in support of the Zanu PF government, no matter how bad it gets. This explains Mbeki’s shilly-shallying over the issue of regime change in Zimbabwe. Its all about comrades in the armed struggle owing each other favours and Mbeki seems to be paying his dues.
The danger though is that this decision could be used as a precedent to deny other vulnerable asylum seekers because I cannot imagine anybody else being granted refugee status when Bennett has been denied.
I wish you good luck in your appeal, Roy, you need it.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
http://www.thecanadian.ca/
www. zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
From what I know of the United Nations’ definition of a Convention refugee or person in need of protection, Roy Bennett fits the bill of a consistently persecuted person.
The former Member of Parliament for Chimanimani personifies persecution of the opposition by the ruling Zanu PF and all its proxies. Right from President Robert Mugabe himself, his Security Minister, Didymus Mutasa and his Central Intelligence Organization (CIO), the army, the police, the government-leaning war veterans, the Zanu PF youth brigade (the Green Bombers), they have all had a go at Bennett.
Since he signed on and started campaigning for the Chimanimani seat in 2000, Bennett has suffered abuse ranging from verbal harassment, physical assault, imprisonment, destruction of property and seizure of the said property.
Yes, the trumped up charges, earlier this year, that he was part of a conspiracy to assassinate Mugabe (which is the primary reason he fled to South Africa), were dismissed. But does this disqualify him as a Convention refugee? I do not think so.
His problems have been well documented and publicized that it will be a waste of space and reading time to repeat them here.
This decision by South Africa has shown clearly that Mbeki and his government are really in support of the Zanu PF government, no matter how bad it gets. This explains Mbeki’s shilly-shallying over the issue of regime change in Zimbabwe. Its all about comrades in the armed struggle owing each other favours and Mbeki seems to be paying his dues.
The danger though is that this decision could be used as a precedent to deny other vulnerable asylum seekers because I cannot imagine anybody else being granted refugee status when Bennett has been denied.
I wish you good luck in your appeal, Roy, you need it.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
http://www.thecanadian.ca/
www. zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
Friday, May 19, 2006
MUGABE PREPARING TO RULE BEYOND 2008
If anybody ever doubted that President Robert Gabriel Chatunga Mugabe intends to stay in power at least beyond his much anticipated retirement in 2008, then news from Zimbabwe yesterday must have ended those doubts.
According to the weekly Zimbabwe Independent, Mugabe’s government is expected to soon implement a plan to have veterans of the liberation war incorporated into the national army.
This means salaries and other benefits for the more than 40 000 ex-combatants and its 1997 all over again.
For those who do not know, it was August 1997 when the former fighters were awarded Z$ 50,000 each in one-off gratuities plus more than Z$ 2,000 monthly allowances and free medical coverage for life.
That madness of 1997 turned Zimbabwe’s economy for the worst and it has been downhill since.
We all know that Mugabe is intelligent and still very alert. So are his advisers in this matter, former Zipra (Zimbabwe People's Liberation Army, the armed wing of late Vice President, Dr. Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo's ZAPU - Zimbabwe African People's Union) Military Intelligence boss, Dumiso Dabengwa, former Zanla (Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army, the armed wing of Mugabe's ZANU - Zimbabwe African National Union) Supreme Commander, Solomon Mujuru, and former Zimbabwe National Army Commander, General Vitalis Zvinavashe.
Mugabe, these three men and others around them, know what happened in 1997 and subsequently. Consequently, they know what will happen to the economy if they incorporate war veterans into the army.
They, of course, do not care because the ultimate goal is the absolute protection the zealots among them (who are the majority) will ensure for Mugabe to stay in power.
These guys are masters in intimidating the nation and like bees around their Queen; they sting to death without remorse. For this reason, Mugabe will have no problem bankrupting the country to stay in Zimbabwe House a little more than we are ready to allow him.
One guy who might gain financially, if you ask me, is folk singer, Steve "Dhongi" Makoni, if he re-releases his 1990s hit song “Handiende” (I will not leave). Is Dhongi still around anyway?
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
http://www.thecanadian.ca/
www. zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
According to the weekly Zimbabwe Independent, Mugabe’s government is expected to soon implement a plan to have veterans of the liberation war incorporated into the national army.
This means salaries and other benefits for the more than 40 000 ex-combatants and its 1997 all over again.
For those who do not know, it was August 1997 when the former fighters were awarded Z$ 50,000 each in one-off gratuities plus more than Z$ 2,000 monthly allowances and free medical coverage for life.
That madness of 1997 turned Zimbabwe’s economy for the worst and it has been downhill since.
We all know that Mugabe is intelligent and still very alert. So are his advisers in this matter, former Zipra (Zimbabwe People's Liberation Army, the armed wing of late Vice President, Dr. Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo's ZAPU - Zimbabwe African People's Union) Military Intelligence boss, Dumiso Dabengwa, former Zanla (Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army, the armed wing of Mugabe's ZANU - Zimbabwe African National Union) Supreme Commander, Solomon Mujuru, and former Zimbabwe National Army Commander, General Vitalis Zvinavashe.
Mugabe, these three men and others around them, know what happened in 1997 and subsequently. Consequently, they know what will happen to the economy if they incorporate war veterans into the army.
They, of course, do not care because the ultimate goal is the absolute protection the zealots among them (who are the majority) will ensure for Mugabe to stay in power.
These guys are masters in intimidating the nation and like bees around their Queen; they sting to death without remorse. For this reason, Mugabe will have no problem bankrupting the country to stay in Zimbabwe House a little more than we are ready to allow him.
One guy who might gain financially, if you ask me, is folk singer, Steve "Dhongi" Makoni, if he re-releases his 1990s hit song “Handiende” (I will not leave). Is Dhongi still around anyway?
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
http://www.thecanadian.ca/
www. zimcanada.com
http://www.jexcanada.com/
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
BUSH'S IMMIGRATION POLICY NEEDS CAREFUL CONSIDERATION
Well, after procrastinating for very long, United States President, George W. Bush has laid out his immigration policy. The pundits were already on his case before the cameras were turned off, poor guy.
Anyway, my concern is not whether the proposed border controls are good or not or whether his poll rating will go up or down into the teens. My concern is with the 12 million so-called illegal immigrants in the US, a significant number of who are my homeboys, Zimbabweans.
After all is said and done, Bush’s bill, if it passes in the Senate within the next few weeks, invites illegal immigrants to come forward and register themselves under an amnesty that allows them to stay and work in the US.
This is what most people in this situation have been waiting for. But I advise caution and thorough reading of the fine print and getting definite answers to ambiguous clauses and terms.
On the face of it, Bush is saying, you come and register yourselves, get an electronically traceable identity card that makes authorities track you wherever you go, whatever you do and with whom. How far will that go in so far as infringement of people’s rights and freedoms are concerned?
Bush wants immigrants to apply for temporary work permits. What is the cut off point in terms of the number of years one has been in the US? If one is out of the range, then what?
Immigrants will have to pay penalties for being in the US illegally. How much are these penalties? What of those who have been paying taxes (a majority of illegal immigrants actually pay taxes) but have not benefited from social services due to their status? Is that going to be taken into consideration?
Criminal background checks: those traffic tickets, the DUIs, domestic violence, shoplifting, how many will be excluded? Not that I advocate any criminal behavior.
Immigrants also have to consider, how many years will the temporary work permit allow, bearing in mind that when the permit expires, you will be required to go back home and reapply. The question really is, do you still have a home to go back to and even if you have, will you be allowed back to the US a second time around?
Worse, there are people who had gotten themselves into marriages of convenience and other extra-legal arrangements to stay in the US, how will their cases be handled? There are many more questions to ponder over and get answers before one takes their position in line to apply under this amnesty. Once again, the advice is caution.
Fortunately for those who fall under the Safe Third Country protocol between Canada and the US, among them Zimbabweans, Rwandans, Mexicans, Colombians, the border up north is still open. It might not be for long though.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.cawww.
zimcanada.com
www.jexcanada.com
Anyway, my concern is not whether the proposed border controls are good or not or whether his poll rating will go up or down into the teens. My concern is with the 12 million so-called illegal immigrants in the US, a significant number of who are my homeboys, Zimbabweans.
After all is said and done, Bush’s bill, if it passes in the Senate within the next few weeks, invites illegal immigrants to come forward and register themselves under an amnesty that allows them to stay and work in the US.
This is what most people in this situation have been waiting for. But I advise caution and thorough reading of the fine print and getting definite answers to ambiguous clauses and terms.
On the face of it, Bush is saying, you come and register yourselves, get an electronically traceable identity card that makes authorities track you wherever you go, whatever you do and with whom. How far will that go in so far as infringement of people’s rights and freedoms are concerned?
Bush wants immigrants to apply for temporary work permits. What is the cut off point in terms of the number of years one has been in the US? If one is out of the range, then what?
Immigrants will have to pay penalties for being in the US illegally. How much are these penalties? What of those who have been paying taxes (a majority of illegal immigrants actually pay taxes) but have not benefited from social services due to their status? Is that going to be taken into consideration?
Criminal background checks: those traffic tickets, the DUIs, domestic violence, shoplifting, how many will be excluded? Not that I advocate any criminal behavior.
Immigrants also have to consider, how many years will the temporary work permit allow, bearing in mind that when the permit expires, you will be required to go back home and reapply. The question really is, do you still have a home to go back to and even if you have, will you be allowed back to the US a second time around?
Worse, there are people who had gotten themselves into marriages of convenience and other extra-legal arrangements to stay in the US, how will their cases be handled? There are many more questions to ponder over and get answers before one takes their position in line to apply under this amnesty. Once again, the advice is caution.
Fortunately for those who fall under the Safe Third Country protocol between Canada and the US, among them Zimbabweans, Rwandans, Mexicans, Colombians, the border up north is still open. It might not be for long though.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.cawww.
zimcanada.com
www.jexcanada.com
Sunday, May 07, 2006
WORLD MEDIA ALWAYS FAILS AFRICA
UNESCO has declared May 2006, the month to reflect on the media and poverty and here is my own reflection.
Poverty is synonymous with African countries, their chronic hunger, diseases, civil strife and wars.
The word conjures, in our minds, pictures we see on television all the time. Babies wilting of hunger in Ethiopia and Niger, bone-dry farmlands in Sudan and Kenya, ghost-like people ravaged by the AIDS disease in South Africa and Zimbabwe and gun-totting youths in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia.
It makes for good pictures on television, correspondents from the world’s leading media organizations pitching their best “piece to camera” with the scourge of Africa playing out behind them or the best feature writers showing off their wordsmith prowess on major international publications, all the way to Pulitzer Prizes.
Then Bill Gates, Sir Bob Geldof and Angelina Jolie lead another phalanx of the best in media to showcase their goodwill and financial efforts to eradicate poverty on the forsaken continent.
Then, in the wink of an eye, deafening silence.
The babies have been fed nutritional supplements. Their hollow eyes dance excitedly as they drink from plastic mugs donated by well-wishers from thousands of miles away. What else do they need, right?
Wrong.
Just like the television pictures which suddenly vanish from our screens, the nutritional supplements soon run out and nobody knows whether the wilting baby ever grew to be a man or a woman.
This is the folly of the media reporting on Africa’s poverty. It is the dramatic images of suffering we chase and send our best to cover. There is never a follow up and this is where the media fails the continent.
Out of the media spotlight, the usual culprits, corrupt government officials and their cohorts, come out from behind their “champions of the poor” shields and their vulture instinct is back.
The food is diverted to their favored and already well-fed relatives. The money and resources donated by western benefactors is re-channeled to “more important” projects and programs; that is, arms to fight their own people, planes to fly over their dying subjects and such other “essentials”.
Without the media lurking around, experts’ advice on the best drought mitigating farming methods, the need to ensure democracy, the need to prevent and eradicate disease and the virtues of peace and power-sharing, are ignored.
Until the next round of drought, pandemics, wars and other vagaries of Africa, the continent (or whatever part of it that is not in distress) is truly dark.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
www.zimcanada.com
www.jexcanada.com
Poverty is synonymous with African countries, their chronic hunger, diseases, civil strife and wars.
The word conjures, in our minds, pictures we see on television all the time. Babies wilting of hunger in Ethiopia and Niger, bone-dry farmlands in Sudan and Kenya, ghost-like people ravaged by the AIDS disease in South Africa and Zimbabwe and gun-totting youths in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia.
It makes for good pictures on television, correspondents from the world’s leading media organizations pitching their best “piece to camera” with the scourge of Africa playing out behind them or the best feature writers showing off their wordsmith prowess on major international publications, all the way to Pulitzer Prizes.
Then Bill Gates, Sir Bob Geldof and Angelina Jolie lead another phalanx of the best in media to showcase their goodwill and financial efforts to eradicate poverty on the forsaken continent.
Then, in the wink of an eye, deafening silence.
The babies have been fed nutritional supplements. Their hollow eyes dance excitedly as they drink from plastic mugs donated by well-wishers from thousands of miles away. What else do they need, right?
Wrong.
Just like the television pictures which suddenly vanish from our screens, the nutritional supplements soon run out and nobody knows whether the wilting baby ever grew to be a man or a woman.
This is the folly of the media reporting on Africa’s poverty. It is the dramatic images of suffering we chase and send our best to cover. There is never a follow up and this is where the media fails the continent.
Out of the media spotlight, the usual culprits, corrupt government officials and their cohorts, come out from behind their “champions of the poor” shields and their vulture instinct is back.
The food is diverted to their favored and already well-fed relatives. The money and resources donated by western benefactors is re-channeled to “more important” projects and programs; that is, arms to fight their own people, planes to fly over their dying subjects and such other “essentials”.
Without the media lurking around, experts’ advice on the best drought mitigating farming methods, the need to ensure democracy, the need to prevent and eradicate disease and the virtues of peace and power-sharing, are ignored.
Until the next round of drought, pandemics, wars and other vagaries of Africa, the continent (or whatever part of it that is not in distress) is truly dark.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
www.zimcanada.com
www.jexcanada.com
Sunday, April 30, 2006
DO NOT JUST TAKE THAT MEDICINE, ASK YOUR DOCTOR
Recently, in the course of my work, I got in contact with someone who was later diagnosed to have tuberculosis (TB). My colleagues and I had not suspected anything, I mean the person did not have visual symptoms. In my case, I met the person two or three times and they did not cough or spit and I can’t remember if we shook hands.
Anyway, soon after the diagnosis, the person was taken to an isolation centre for treatment. Letters from the City of Toronto’s Health Department were sent to all those who had been in contact with this person. The department’s instructions were for us all to be tested for the disease.
Now, those of us from Africa, Asia and such other places prone to all sorts of hard to cure diseases, were vaccinated with Bacillus of Calmette and Guérin (BCG), a vaccine against tuberculosis that is prepared from a strain of the attenuated (weakened) live bovine tuberculosis bacillus, Mycobacterium bovis that has lost its virulence in humans by specially culturing in artificial medium for years. The bacilli have retained enough strong antigenicity to become an effective vaccine for the prevention of human tuberculosis.
BCG causes the TB skin test to come out positive even if you do not have a single germ that causes the disease. So, aware of that, I told the doctor that the skin test would not work on me. Why not go straight to the chest X-Rays?
“Well, we still have to do it because that is what they (health department) want,” says the doctor. So we do the test and sure enough it is positive. I go for the chest X-Rays which come out normal, in other words - no TB.
“So, doc, now that I am clear of this thing, I guess I go on with my life, right?”
No, he says. “Because you tested positive on the skin test, they (health department) want you to take medicine.”
“But doc, you know that was because of BCG.”
“Yes, I know but they still want you to take this medicine because you still have a 10 percent chance of contracting TB and if that is the case this medicine will kill the germs, if not, it will prevent it anyway,” he says.
What the heck, I can take the silly medicine, what harm can it cause, so I think to myself but to the doc I ask: “What is this medicine and how do I take it?”
“It is called Isoniazid or INH. You take it with a vitamin once everyday for nine months.”
“Huh??”
“Yes, that’s what it is.”
“Tell me doc,” I ask, “this kind of medicine would obviously have side effects. What are they?”
“Well, you could have hepatitis. Your liver and kidneys would be damaged.”
“And you say these people (health department) want me to take this medicine?”
“Yes. It is recommended to everyone in your situation (meaning a BCG positive, but TB negative).”
That didn’t make sense to me at all and it still doesn’t. I shudder to think what happens to those in my situation who have no presence of mind to ask the implications of taking this “treatment”.
Of course, I refused to take the medicine which had already been ordered for me. The doctor had to do the right thing (read cover his butt). He informed the health department that I had refused to take the pills. Calls were made back and forth and we reached a compromise.
I will go to the doctor whenever I have a fever, a chest raking cough and night sweats. (Who doesn’t go to a doctor when they have any of those?) Also, I should voluntarily go for chest X-Rays once each year for three years.
That to me sounds better than have my liver and kidneys damaged by medicine I clearly do not need.
However, if I had not asked, I could be taking it right? I feel a chill down my spine.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
www.zimcanada.com
Anyway, soon after the diagnosis, the person was taken to an isolation centre for treatment. Letters from the City of Toronto’s Health Department were sent to all those who had been in contact with this person. The department’s instructions were for us all to be tested for the disease.
Now, those of us from Africa, Asia and such other places prone to all sorts of hard to cure diseases, were vaccinated with Bacillus of Calmette and Guérin (BCG), a vaccine against tuberculosis that is prepared from a strain of the attenuated (weakened) live bovine tuberculosis bacillus, Mycobacterium bovis that has lost its virulence in humans by specially culturing in artificial medium for years. The bacilli have retained enough strong antigenicity to become an effective vaccine for the prevention of human tuberculosis.
BCG causes the TB skin test to come out positive even if you do not have a single germ that causes the disease. So, aware of that, I told the doctor that the skin test would not work on me. Why not go straight to the chest X-Rays?
“Well, we still have to do it because that is what they (health department) want,” says the doctor. So we do the test and sure enough it is positive. I go for the chest X-Rays which come out normal, in other words - no TB.
“So, doc, now that I am clear of this thing, I guess I go on with my life, right?”
No, he says. “Because you tested positive on the skin test, they (health department) want you to take medicine.”
“But doc, you know that was because of BCG.”
“Yes, I know but they still want you to take this medicine because you still have a 10 percent chance of contracting TB and if that is the case this medicine will kill the germs, if not, it will prevent it anyway,” he says.
What the heck, I can take the silly medicine, what harm can it cause, so I think to myself but to the doc I ask: “What is this medicine and how do I take it?”
“It is called Isoniazid or INH. You take it with a vitamin once everyday for nine months.”
“Huh??”
“Yes, that’s what it is.”
“Tell me doc,” I ask, “this kind of medicine would obviously have side effects. What are they?”
“Well, you could have hepatitis. Your liver and kidneys would be damaged.”
“And you say these people (health department) want me to take this medicine?”
“Yes. It is recommended to everyone in your situation (meaning a BCG positive, but TB negative).”
That didn’t make sense to me at all and it still doesn’t. I shudder to think what happens to those in my situation who have no presence of mind to ask the implications of taking this “treatment”.
Of course, I refused to take the medicine which had already been ordered for me. The doctor had to do the right thing (read cover his butt). He informed the health department that I had refused to take the pills. Calls were made back and forth and we reached a compromise.
I will go to the doctor whenever I have a fever, a chest raking cough and night sweats. (Who doesn’t go to a doctor when they have any of those?) Also, I should voluntarily go for chest X-Rays once each year for three years.
That to me sounds better than have my liver and kidneys damaged by medicine I clearly do not need.
However, if I had not asked, I could be taking it right? I feel a chill down my spine.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
www.zimcanada.com
Thursday, April 20, 2006
ZIMBABWE STOCK EXCHANGE BEST IN THE WORLD?
A journalist friend attended an economic conference in New York recently. On her return, she told me something that excited me initially and then made me sad.
A resource person at the conference was talking about stock markets. Somewhere in her presentation (the resource person that is) mentioned something about the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) being the, currently, best performing in the world.
It was just said in passing but knowing that I am from Zimbabwe, my friend could not wait to tell me about it. The ZSE, performing better than the likes of the London Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange? That could be a stretch, especially with the way the Zimbabwe economy is now. However, I would not dismiss that possibility completely.
Had a chat about it with a former bank manager back home. Her take? The runaway inflation which is officially pegged at 913 percent but is widely viewed in market circles to be beyond the 1 000 percent mark.
"The Zimbabwe stock is generally good and with constant hope that the political situation may change any day, there is a lot of speculation by investors.
I must say too, that the ZSE I know had always been viable anyway, even in the way it was run. I remember that in the late 1990s and around 2000 and 2001 when I used to cover the ZSE, it was a small but very viable market. Each day investors in such economic giants as London and Johannesburg waited impatiently for reports on trade on the ZSE.
In fact, guys at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange came to Zimbabwe twice to learn the ins and outs of the stock market from none other than the ZSE. Zimbabwe actually happens to have some of the world's best financial and economic minds.
Most of the companies that trade on the ZSE have links to British, American and South African companies, among such other strong economies, even now.
However, two things to note here: First, the good performance of the ZSE serves to show that Zimbabwe, with good economic management, can be the gem of Africa. Secondly, for any person who might have thought all is lost in Zimbabwe, there may still be a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel, we just need to reach out for it and we will fan it into brightness.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca/
A resource person at the conference was talking about stock markets. Somewhere in her presentation (the resource person that is) mentioned something about the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) being the, currently, best performing in the world.
It was just said in passing but knowing that I am from Zimbabwe, my friend could not wait to tell me about it. The ZSE, performing better than the likes of the London Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange? That could be a stretch, especially with the way the Zimbabwe economy is now. However, I would not dismiss that possibility completely.
Had a chat about it with a former bank manager back home. Her take? The runaway inflation which is officially pegged at 913 percent but is widely viewed in market circles to be beyond the 1 000 percent mark.
"The Zimbabwe stock is generally good and with constant hope that the political situation may change any day, there is a lot of speculation by investors.
I must say too, that the ZSE I know had always been viable anyway, even in the way it was run. I remember that in the late 1990s and around 2000 and 2001 when I used to cover the ZSE, it was a small but very viable market. Each day investors in such economic giants as London and Johannesburg waited impatiently for reports on trade on the ZSE.
In fact, guys at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange came to Zimbabwe twice to learn the ins and outs of the stock market from none other than the ZSE. Zimbabwe actually happens to have some of the world's best financial and economic minds.
Most of the companies that trade on the ZSE have links to British, American and South African companies, among such other strong economies, even now.
However, two things to note here: First, the good performance of the ZSE serves to show that Zimbabwe, with good economic management, can be the gem of Africa. Secondly, for any person who might have thought all is lost in Zimbabwe, there may still be a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel, we just need to reach out for it and we will fan it into brightness.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT; www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca/
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
THE GRAMMAR HAS IMPROVED
The grammar in messages posted daily by MDC Toronto's chairman, Mr. Andrew Manyevere, has improved quite noticeably. This is a good thing for all of us.
More still needs to be done, especially on the messages themselves. Many people, including myself, think that a message each day is a little annoying, especially if the message is a kind of an old song. Believe me, Mr. Manyevere, many people are deleting your messages before reading them. Hanzi nevakuru "Akuruma nzeve ndewako".
The point is: We know Mugabe and his cronies have ruined our country. We do not want to hear about that any more, unless it comes as background to solutions. We want you to come up with strategies and programs to solve the problem. We want to read about what you are doing or what we should all do to change the situation back home.
In his independence speech, Mugabe called on the 3 million Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to come back home and help him improve the country.
This is our chance to tell him why we left our beautiful home and tell him what we want him to do before we go back.
I suggest that for starters Zimbabweans in the Diaspora seek the right to vote. You, MDC executives in the Diaspora, should lead this campaign.
There are a million other things you could fight for actively and with great support from both Zimbabweans and sympathizers all over the world. With such programs underway, then you can bash Mugabe all you want.
More still needs to be done, especially on the messages themselves. Many people, including myself, think that a message each day is a little annoying, especially if the message is a kind of an old song. Believe me, Mr. Manyevere, many people are deleting your messages before reading them. Hanzi nevakuru "Akuruma nzeve ndewako".
The point is: We know Mugabe and his cronies have ruined our country. We do not want to hear about that any more, unless it comes as background to solutions. We want you to come up with strategies and programs to solve the problem. We want to read about what you are doing or what we should all do to change the situation back home.
In his independence speech, Mugabe called on the 3 million Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to come back home and help him improve the country.
This is our chance to tell him why we left our beautiful home and tell him what we want him to do before we go back.
I suggest that for starters Zimbabweans in the Diaspora seek the right to vote. You, MDC executives in the Diaspora, should lead this campaign.
There are a million other things you could fight for actively and with great support from both Zimbabweans and sympathizers all over the world. With such programs underway, then you can bash Mugabe all you want.
Monday, April 17, 2006
ONE MEMBER OF THE MDC EXECUTIVE RESPONDS
One of the Toronto MDC executive members responded to my “fabrication” and you can read it in the comments section. But, I have also responded.
Owen, your response is, of course, predictable. There is no way you could agree with me when I am criticizing your executive.
However, the fact that you admit that membership of the party in Toronto numbers over 100 now and only a third of them turned out vindicates me. It shows that something was not done to make sure at least half of them came. Maybe it was bad timing – planning a protest on a holiday.
Let us all wait and see if your message, which I really did not understand, will bring a response or reaction, for the better, as it should.
Yes, there is something wrong with an executive of a branch of a serious political party, with the majority of its members being unemployed refugees from an impoverished country, getting into a habit of organizing barbecues.
It is one thing to have cookies and soft drinks during your meetings, and yet another, to collect money from each other and go on night-long get-togethers. It is simply wrong. As political leaders, what are you saying to those who want to follow your party, what are you saying to our hosts and benefactors? Think about it. You have not even started solving the problems that brought you together as a branch, so what exactly are you getting together for?
There are political groups from other countries in Toronto, do they do it like that? Even in Zimbabwe, we hosted Thabo Mbeki and his ANC comrades in the 1980s and 1990s. We also hosted the likes of the late John Garang of the SPLA. Did they celebrate their suffering? No.
The Zimbabwe national anthem is in the three main languages, English “Blessed Be The Land Of Zimbabwe”, Shona “Simudzai Mureza WeZimbabwe” and IsiNdebele “Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe”. There is no compromising about it. You cannot substitute a national anthem, no matter what.
My point, Owen, is simple; you and your executive are representing a nation of about 14 million people at the highest possible level of politics in exile. Everything you do or say, we as Zimbabweans, our hosts and others in the same situation as us, are watching and we all want you to do better.
We look at you as future leaders of Zimbabwe, act that way.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT;
www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca/
Owen, your response is, of course, predictable. There is no way you could agree with me when I am criticizing your executive.
However, the fact that you admit that membership of the party in Toronto numbers over 100 now and only a third of them turned out vindicates me. It shows that something was not done to make sure at least half of them came. Maybe it was bad timing – planning a protest on a holiday.
Let us all wait and see if your message, which I really did not understand, will bring a response or reaction, for the better, as it should.
Yes, there is something wrong with an executive of a branch of a serious political party, with the majority of its members being unemployed refugees from an impoverished country, getting into a habit of organizing barbecues.
It is one thing to have cookies and soft drinks during your meetings, and yet another, to collect money from each other and go on night-long get-togethers. It is simply wrong. As political leaders, what are you saying to those who want to follow your party, what are you saying to our hosts and benefactors? Think about it. You have not even started solving the problems that brought you together as a branch, so what exactly are you getting together for?
There are political groups from other countries in Toronto, do they do it like that? Even in Zimbabwe, we hosted Thabo Mbeki and his ANC comrades in the 1980s and 1990s. We also hosted the likes of the late John Garang of the SPLA. Did they celebrate their suffering? No.
The Zimbabwe national anthem is in the three main languages, English “Blessed Be The Land Of Zimbabwe”, Shona “Simudzai Mureza WeZimbabwe” and IsiNdebele “Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe”. There is no compromising about it. You cannot substitute a national anthem, no matter what.
My point, Owen, is simple; you and your executive are representing a nation of about 14 million people at the highest possible level of politics in exile. Everything you do or say, we as Zimbabweans, our hosts and others in the same situation as us, are watching and we all want you to do better.
We look at you as future leaders of Zimbabwe, act that way.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT;
www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca/
Sunday, April 16, 2006
MDC TORONTO - YOU NEED TO BE SERIOUS
Yes, the Toronto MDC branch held its protest on Saturday, April 15, 2006 and as far as I am concerned, it was a big flop.
Any protest is supposed to have a well articulated ( in words and action) message to a well defined audience which is forced to take notice and must react. Did this happen on Saturday? No, and here is why;
First, due to poor preparation, only about 40 Zimbabweans turned up at Queens Park. Of that number, about two-thirds were the Toronto executive and their Niagara counterparts.
Yet, there are thousands of Zimbabweans in Toronto, most of who are members of the party. They would have really loved to come and take part, if only they knew exactly what they would be taking part in, where, why and for what. Members were never let in on preparations for this protest.
In fact, I remember one dedicated MDC supporter who e-mailed the executive suggesting a few things that could make the protest a success. That member was dressed down. He was told the executive had checked the membership register and since his name was not in it, he was not welcome to the meetings and, subsequently, the protest. The e-mail circulated among Zimbabweans, and with the kind of rebuke the member received, other people simply shied away.
To set off the protest, the executive led the protesters in singing “Ishe Komborera Africa” (God Bless Africa), can you believe it? Zimbabwe discarded the continental anthem 11 years ago. It has its own anthem called “Simudzai Mureza WeZimbabwe.” (Lift Up The Zimbabwean Flag). What kind of patriotism is that?
Then came the message, well, I can only describe it as muddled. I could not tell whether it was a history lesson or what?
After all this sham, what does the Toronto executive do, host a barbecue. Yes, its the second time this has happened. What are you now Toronto MDC, a social club?
I see political immaturity in the Toronto MDC executive. There is a lot of self-serving and self-importance on the expense of a serious party which represents a lot of Zimbabweans.
What Mr. Manyevere and his colleagues need to realize is that you are representing us all and whatever you do at Queens Park, in the name of MDC reflects on us all as Zimbabweans. If we do not take ourselves seriously, nobody will.
Maybe you should learn from the enemy, Zanu PF itself. When Mugabe and others were leading their party in exile, they represented us all with dignity. It is now your turn, take a leaf from them.
I suggest again that you seek advisors, consultants and other people to help you.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT;
www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
http://www.thecanadian.ca/
Any protest is supposed to have a well articulated ( in words and action) message to a well defined audience which is forced to take notice and must react. Did this happen on Saturday? No, and here is why;
First, due to poor preparation, only about 40 Zimbabweans turned up at Queens Park. Of that number, about two-thirds were the Toronto executive and their Niagara counterparts.
Yet, there are thousands of Zimbabweans in Toronto, most of who are members of the party. They would have really loved to come and take part, if only they knew exactly what they would be taking part in, where, why and for what. Members were never let in on preparations for this protest.
In fact, I remember one dedicated MDC supporter who e-mailed the executive suggesting a few things that could make the protest a success. That member was dressed down. He was told the executive had checked the membership register and since his name was not in it, he was not welcome to the meetings and, subsequently, the protest. The e-mail circulated among Zimbabweans, and with the kind of rebuke the member received, other people simply shied away.
To set off the protest, the executive led the protesters in singing “Ishe Komborera Africa” (God Bless Africa), can you believe it? Zimbabwe discarded the continental anthem 11 years ago. It has its own anthem called “Simudzai Mureza WeZimbabwe.” (Lift Up The Zimbabwean Flag). What kind of patriotism is that?
Then came the message, well, I can only describe it as muddled. I could not tell whether it was a history lesson or what?
After all this sham, what does the Toronto executive do, host a barbecue. Yes, its the second time this has happened. What are you now Toronto MDC, a social club?
I see political immaturity in the Toronto MDC executive. There is a lot of self-serving and self-importance on the expense of a serious party which represents a lot of Zimbabweans.
What Mr. Manyevere and his colleagues need to realize is that you are representing us all and whatever you do at Queens Park, in the name of MDC reflects on us all as Zimbabweans. If we do not take ourselves seriously, nobody will.
Maybe you should learn from the enemy, Zanu PF itself. When Mugabe and others were leading their party in exile, they represented us all with dignity. It is now your turn, take a leaf from them.
I suggest again that you seek advisors, consultants and other people to help you.
TO READ MORE OF MY WRITING, PLEASE VISIT;
www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
http://www.thecanadian.ca/
Thursday, April 13, 2006
MDC TORONTO - YOUR MESSAGE IS INCOHERENT
This Saturday the Movement for Democratic Change's Toronto chapter is "launching its first ever peaceful protest".
The organizers are calling for as much support as they can get from Zimbabweans and sympathizers in Toronto. Protesting is a good concept for anyone to draw attention to their problems; however, undertaking the protest successfully can be a challenge especially if the theme, message and preparation for the protest are not up to scratch.
I have tried to understand the theme and message of the MDC Toronto protest but I have since failed. There are so many issues the branch wants to bring to the world's attention, through badly written rantings of the branch's leaders.
We are in a part of the world where English is the first language and as Zimbabweans, we pride ourselves with our good command of the Queen's language. It is, therefore, a disgrace when people who claim to represent us at the highest level of politics in exile cannot string a single coherent sentence in long and winding streams of thought disguised as political messages. (See MDC messages attached below).
Toronto MDC, you need to do better than that. In fact, good leaders are those who acknowledge their weaknesses and/or limitations. Your weakness as a branch, or should I say the executive of the branch, is an inability to formulate a coherent message and to put it across in a language that is not only understood by your intended audience, but will attract even the uninterested.
There are advisors, consultants, spin doctors or wordsmiths, you need them badly. Back to the protest, the protestors would want Mugabe and his government to go.
Then they want the same government to stop or ensure a number of things, from stopping looting diamonds in the DRC to ensuring a free press and judiciary.
The question is: Do you want Mugabe and his cronies to go now or you want them to correct the anomalies you cited? Suppose they offer to be a truly democratic government and address all your concerns as you listed them, are you going to let them stay?
If it were me I would simply say, Mugabe has misruled Zimbabwe for a long time, he should just go and we will fix the problems ourselves.
Then there are other themes that really amount to demands that the EU, UN and others must intervene to ensure democracy in Zimbabwe through free elections, constitutional reforms and even peacekeeping - what peacekeeping?
What if these organizations all say we have actually intervened and here is what we have done on elections, constitutional reforms and other issues? My point here is that the MDC protesters' message is rather cluttered. There are too many issues to address.
They may all be important but you do not catch attention by overloading the message. I am also reliably informed that a petition will be handed to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Governor-General, Michaëlle Jean. I really want to see this happen.
Lastly, it is really a bad idea to allow everyone to talk to the press, especially if you give them a shopping list of messages.
TO READ MORE OF MY OWN RANTINGS, PLEASE VISIT;
www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
*****ATTACHED MDC MESSAGES*****
Last call on every Zimbabwean to turn up for our DEMO on April 15, 2006 which is an answer to the congress resoolution of March 2006 Congress when we have to seek change the none violent way through protests. Lets me emphasis that the protest is like a cry from and by Zimbabweans running down the meaninglessness of Zimbabwe independence. We all agree that Zimbabwe has probably seen its worst in the fall down of economy. If we remain quiet then our being under torture for political beliefs in the country, will mean nothing to the world too because it will appear as though what happens in Zimbabwe meet with the joy of those who have had temporary reprieve from terror of Mugabe. Is this true though? No! Never!!
But why keep silent? What ever explanation story you and I can can make, silence is a betrayal of a condition we did not approve of hence our being out of it, therefore it can only be regarded an excurse, which soon looses its hold on world opinion and therefore run down Zimbabwe Diaspora credibility. Yet our story only suffer from lack of a passionate witness from among ourselves victims of the system, otherwise publicity on Zimbabwe goes on as a troubled country. We as part of Zimbabwe Diaspora are changing the paradigms for the PROJECTION of our country political condition's deterioration and the lack of integrity from Zanu Pf government in their governance.
It is for this reason that we will stand before God to take our oaths that Zanu Pf government is a disaster to our country, our people, our culture and a betrayal of our human sacrificed struggle for our freedom. Its a prayer from those oppressed that the world watch our mother, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons and grand parents as they walk streets of our cities in protest against Mugabe and his regime.
Tell your friends in Canada, tell every Zimbabwean irrespective of political affiliation, because even though the Demo is led by MDC party structures in Canada, it is on the tragedy of Zimbabwe blinded by the admission that independence in such circumstances could be classified as WORTHY of celebrating at all. On the contrary it calls for LAMENTATIONS and REGRET.
***
Come join us, we from Zimbabwe and tell this story laudly.Ffirst PRESS RELEASE! PRESS RELEASE! PRESS RELEASE!
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
INDEPENDENCE PROTEST: ZIMBABWE
The Movement for Democratic Change of Zimbabwe, Toronto chapter, along its sister Diaspora districts in the UK, USA, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, launches its first ever peaceful protest in Toronto, Canada, on the 15th April 2006 a few days before Zimbabwe’s independence day celebrations due 18th April, 2006. The protest starts at 1:30PM. and the registered venue is Nathan Phillips Square on the City Hall grounds.
The protest demands:
1. That the corrupt Robert Gabriel Mugabe Zanu (PF)-led government: –
(a) Must go!
(b) Must stop illegal detentions from arbitrary arrests;
(c) Must stop torture, intimidation, terror and dehumanising women by the partisan security organs, CIO, PISI, ZRP, ZNA, youth militia, etc;
(d) Must stop corruption; seize illegal depleting mining of diamonds in the Republic of Congo;
(e) Must stop muzzling of the Press and Media;
(f) Must stop coercing, intimidating, patronising the judiciary
The Zanu (PF)-led government must:
(i) Allow peaceful protests; political gatherings; freedom of association; and free speech;
(ii) Guarantee security of everyone;
2. A free and fair election to restore meaningful independence in our country, Zimbabwe.
3. Intervention of the UN, EU, AU, the Commonwealth, and the Church to:
(a) Policing of the elections; Verifying of the voter’s roll;
(c) Peacekeeping well before, during and after elections for a reasonable time period.
4. A people-driven Constitutional reform.
5. Voting as a must by all citizens including those in the Diaspora.
6. The Honourable Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Governor-General Her Excellence Michaëlle Jean need to demand action from the United Nations, Commonwealth, European Union and the African Union on immediate solutions.
Contacts: Mr. Andrew Manyevere: http://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/ym/Compose?To=amanyevere@mdczimbabwe.org (905-492-0490 or 647-839-6612); Johannes Mutyanda: http://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/ym/Compose?To=jmutyanda@mdczimbabwe.org (519-208-0117); Mr. Andrew Mudzingwa: http://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/ym/Compose?To=amudzingwa@mdczimbabwe.org. (416-439-2781)
Dear party members,
See above the text of our press release which make up the focus of our demo.
The purpose of this communication is to guide any nature of media answers by members if approached by media personnel or you deem it necessary to entertain their question during the demo otherwise refer media to officials designated. See our cause for concern and follow the thought process without going off the mark. Mischief could have it from media personnel and they refer to ben manashe issue, as if it has anything to do with the demo or such issues as the home trouble of division etc, courtiously refer such to the chairman. Our success shall come from discipline, discipline of restraint, and to follow out text and refer when it is necessary. This is what is called organized party.
Obey our security personnel orders during the demo process and do not do anything that will betray the trust of the masses who devote thier everything including life to make sure that the party remains alive on the ground.
Call anybody including even those who are members of other political parties for this demo, because the demo has to do with CHANGE THROUGH DEMOCRACTIC PROCESSES and concern itself with devastation our society has endured through injustice promoted by poor leadership under Zanu Pf.
Come all in your big numbers and we share the making of History.
Manyevere M Andrew.
The organizers are calling for as much support as they can get from Zimbabweans and sympathizers in Toronto. Protesting is a good concept for anyone to draw attention to their problems; however, undertaking the protest successfully can be a challenge especially if the theme, message and preparation for the protest are not up to scratch.
I have tried to understand the theme and message of the MDC Toronto protest but I have since failed. There are so many issues the branch wants to bring to the world's attention, through badly written rantings of the branch's leaders.
We are in a part of the world where English is the first language and as Zimbabweans, we pride ourselves with our good command of the Queen's language. It is, therefore, a disgrace when people who claim to represent us at the highest level of politics in exile cannot string a single coherent sentence in long and winding streams of thought disguised as political messages. (See MDC messages attached below).
Toronto MDC, you need to do better than that. In fact, good leaders are those who acknowledge their weaknesses and/or limitations. Your weakness as a branch, or should I say the executive of the branch, is an inability to formulate a coherent message and to put it across in a language that is not only understood by your intended audience, but will attract even the uninterested.
There are advisors, consultants, spin doctors or wordsmiths, you need them badly. Back to the protest, the protestors would want Mugabe and his government to go.
Then they want the same government to stop or ensure a number of things, from stopping looting diamonds in the DRC to ensuring a free press and judiciary.
The question is: Do you want Mugabe and his cronies to go now or you want them to correct the anomalies you cited? Suppose they offer to be a truly democratic government and address all your concerns as you listed them, are you going to let them stay?
If it were me I would simply say, Mugabe has misruled Zimbabwe for a long time, he should just go and we will fix the problems ourselves.
Then there are other themes that really amount to demands that the EU, UN and others must intervene to ensure democracy in Zimbabwe through free elections, constitutional reforms and even peacekeeping - what peacekeeping?
What if these organizations all say we have actually intervened and here is what we have done on elections, constitutional reforms and other issues? My point here is that the MDC protesters' message is rather cluttered. There are too many issues to address.
They may all be important but you do not catch attention by overloading the message. I am also reliably informed that a petition will be handed to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Governor-General, Michaëlle Jean. I really want to see this happen.
Lastly, it is really a bad idea to allow everyone to talk to the press, especially if you give them a shopping list of messages.
TO READ MORE OF MY OWN RANTINGS, PLEASE VISIT;
www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Madawo_Innocent/
www.catholicregister.org
www.canadiannewcomermagazine.org
www.thecanadian.ca
*****ATTACHED MDC MESSAGES*****
Last call on every Zimbabwean to turn up for our DEMO on April 15, 2006 which is an answer to the congress resoolution of March 2006 Congress when we have to seek change the none violent way through protests. Lets me emphasis that the protest is like a cry from and by Zimbabweans running down the meaninglessness of Zimbabwe independence. We all agree that Zimbabwe has probably seen its worst in the fall down of economy. If we remain quiet then our being under torture for political beliefs in the country, will mean nothing to the world too because it will appear as though what happens in Zimbabwe meet with the joy of those who have had temporary reprieve from terror of Mugabe. Is this true though? No! Never!!
But why keep silent? What ever explanation story you and I can can make, silence is a betrayal of a condition we did not approve of hence our being out of it, therefore it can only be regarded an excurse, which soon looses its hold on world opinion and therefore run down Zimbabwe Diaspora credibility. Yet our story only suffer from lack of a passionate witness from among ourselves victims of the system, otherwise publicity on Zimbabwe goes on as a troubled country. We as part of Zimbabwe Diaspora are changing the paradigms for the PROJECTION of our country political condition's deterioration and the lack of integrity from Zanu Pf government in their governance.
It is for this reason that we will stand before God to take our oaths that Zanu Pf government is a disaster to our country, our people, our culture and a betrayal of our human sacrificed struggle for our freedom. Its a prayer from those oppressed that the world watch our mother, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons and grand parents as they walk streets of our cities in protest against Mugabe and his regime.
Tell your friends in Canada, tell every Zimbabwean irrespective of political affiliation, because even though the Demo is led by MDC party structures in Canada, it is on the tragedy of Zimbabwe blinded by the admission that independence in such circumstances could be classified as WORTHY of celebrating at all. On the contrary it calls for LAMENTATIONS and REGRET.
***
Come join us, we from Zimbabwe and tell this story laudly.Ffirst PRESS RELEASE! PRESS RELEASE! PRESS RELEASE!
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
INDEPENDENCE PROTEST: ZIMBABWE
The Movement for Democratic Change of Zimbabwe, Toronto chapter, along its sister Diaspora districts in the UK, USA, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, launches its first ever peaceful protest in Toronto, Canada, on the 15th April 2006 a few days before Zimbabwe’s independence day celebrations due 18th April, 2006. The protest starts at 1:30PM. and the registered venue is Nathan Phillips Square on the City Hall grounds.
The protest demands:
1. That the corrupt Robert Gabriel Mugabe Zanu (PF)-led government: –
(a) Must go!
(b) Must stop illegal detentions from arbitrary arrests;
(c) Must stop torture, intimidation, terror and dehumanising women by the partisan security organs, CIO, PISI, ZRP, ZNA, youth militia, etc;
(d) Must stop corruption; seize illegal depleting mining of diamonds in the Republic of Congo;
(e) Must stop muzzling of the Press and Media;
(f) Must stop coercing, intimidating, patronising the judiciary
The Zanu (PF)-led government must:
(i) Allow peaceful protests; political gatherings; freedom of association; and free speech;
(ii) Guarantee security of everyone;
2. A free and fair election to restore meaningful independence in our country, Zimbabwe.
3. Intervention of the UN, EU, AU, the Commonwealth, and the Church to:
(a) Policing of the elections; Verifying of the voter’s roll;
(c) Peacekeeping well before, during and after elections for a reasonable time period.
4. A people-driven Constitutional reform.
5. Voting as a must by all citizens including those in the Diaspora.
6. The Honourable Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Governor-General Her Excellence Michaëlle Jean need to demand action from the United Nations, Commonwealth, European Union and the African Union on immediate solutions.
Contacts: Mr. Andrew Manyevere: http://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/ym/Compose?To=amanyevere@mdczimbabwe.org (905-492-0490 or 647-839-6612); Johannes Mutyanda: http://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/ym/Compose?To=jmutyanda@mdczimbabwe.org (519-208-0117); Mr. Andrew Mudzingwa: http://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/ym/Compose?To=amudzingwa@mdczimbabwe.org. (416-439-2781)
Dear party members,
See above the text of our press release which make up the focus of our demo.
The purpose of this communication is to guide any nature of media answers by members if approached by media personnel or you deem it necessary to entertain their question during the demo otherwise refer media to officials designated. See our cause for concern and follow the thought process without going off the mark. Mischief could have it from media personnel and they refer to ben manashe issue, as if it has anything to do with the demo or such issues as the home trouble of division etc, courtiously refer such to the chairman. Our success shall come from discipline, discipline of restraint, and to follow out text and refer when it is necessary. This is what is called organized party.
Obey our security personnel orders during the demo process and do not do anything that will betray the trust of the masses who devote thier everything including life to make sure that the party remains alive on the ground.
Call anybody including even those who are members of other political parties for this demo, because the demo has to do with CHANGE THROUGH DEMOCRACTIC PROCESSES and concern itself with devastation our society has endured through injustice promoted by poor leadership under Zanu Pf.
Come all in your big numbers and we share the making of History.
Manyevere M Andrew.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
SAD DAY FOR ZIMBABWEANS IN THE DIASPORA
We all followed with keen interest the case of an unnamed Zimbabwean asylum seeker winning a stay of removel from UK last October, a victory all of us in the Disapora celebrated.
It is with some kind of deja vu that we learn today that the celebration might have been premature and that our brothers and sisters in the UK may have their cases revisited and some might find themselves sent home.
I am, of course, referring to the story; "UK wins Zimbabwean asylum appeal".
Zimbabweans with some form of legal status in whatever country they are exiled, may just shrug, but those still going through the process of seeking asylum in UK, US, Canada, Australia and elsewhere, this is bound to have a big impact on their psych.
I know fellow Zimbabweans who were banking on brandishing news articles of the victory in October in front of immigration officers and judges, as authoritative proof that sending them back home would be a violation of human rights.
I am reliably informed that some here in Canada and the US were actually given stay of removal on the basis of the October decision in the UK.
Refugee judges in the UK, US and Canada, particularly, and other countries too, somehow tend to use cases in each other's courts as precedents and I will not be surprised if immediately an immigration judge in Toronto or Houston will use today's decision in the UK to order an unfortunate Zimbabwean sent back home.
Well, we have a number of representative organizations in all these countries, here is an opportunity to fight for what is right.
We all know that Mutasa and his CIOs are itching to lay their fingers on anybody who is deported to Zimbabwe. What will happen to those people, we all fear.
MDC branches in the Diaspora, this is a cause to fight for.
It is with some kind of deja vu that we learn today that the celebration might have been premature and that our brothers and sisters in the UK may have their cases revisited and some might find themselves sent home.
I am, of course, referring to the story; "UK wins Zimbabwean asylum appeal".
Zimbabweans with some form of legal status in whatever country they are exiled, may just shrug, but those still going through the process of seeking asylum in UK, US, Canada, Australia and elsewhere, this is bound to have a big impact on their psych.
I know fellow Zimbabweans who were banking on brandishing news articles of the victory in October in front of immigration officers and judges, as authoritative proof that sending them back home would be a violation of human rights.
I am reliably informed that some here in Canada and the US were actually given stay of removal on the basis of the October decision in the UK.
Refugee judges in the UK, US and Canada, particularly, and other countries too, somehow tend to use cases in each other's courts as precedents and I will not be surprised if immediately an immigration judge in Toronto or Houston will use today's decision in the UK to order an unfortunate Zimbabwean sent back home.
Well, we have a number of representative organizations in all these countries, here is an opportunity to fight for what is right.
We all know that Mutasa and his CIOs are itching to lay their fingers on anybody who is deported to Zimbabwe. What will happen to those people, we all fear.
MDC branches in the Diaspora, this is a cause to fight for.
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