Row over fresh Mt Darwin human remains

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE MT DARWIN – The exhumation of remains of an estimated 2 000 people from a disused mine in Mt Darwin by war veterans has aroused suspicions after some bodies were retrieved while still intact. Zanu PF says the bodies were of women, children and liberation war fighters killed by Rhodesian forces 32 years ago and thrown into the Monkey William mine in Bembera village. The exhumations have become yet another grand Zanu PF campaign strategy with the state media being used to whip up emotions ahead of elections expected later this year. But journalists who witnessed the exericise on Friday were shocked to see bodies that were still intact. One of the bodies still had visible hair while others had their clothes intact. A member of the team said one of the bodies had fluids dripping from it. A strong stench still permeates the 15-metre deep mine shaft where journalists were taken down the tunnel to see the bodies that were still underground. A pathologist who spoke on condition of anonymity said there was no way there could still be such a stench at the mine, three decades after the bodies were allegedly dumped. “Ordinarily by this time there should only be bone-remains,” the pathologist said. “Although chemicals poured on the bodies could have slowed down decomposition, 33 years is a long a time. “Certainly there should not be any smell at all from the remains over 30 years after those people died.” This has led to some people speculating that although the mine shafts might have some remains of freedom fighters, there could also be corpses of MDC activists killed during the past violent elections. They also suspected victims of Gukurahundi atrocities were among the corpses. The Fallen Heroes Trust, which is overseeing the exercise, on Friday said it had so far retrieved 640 bodies. There are four other open shafts where exhumations would also be done. George Rutanhire, a member of Zanu PF politburo and coordinator of the Fallen Heroes Trust said the mass graves were first identified in the 80s. Asked why it had taken so long to exhume the bodies and give the victims a decent burial, Rutanhire said they did not have the resources to carry out the mammoth task. “There were no resources, people had also not organised themselves to carry out the exhumations,” he said. “The reason why we are exhuming them now is because panners were now vandalising the mine shafts in search of gold so we had to take action.” However, two other war veterans said the mass graves were discovered in 2001 and 2008. Zanu PF Senator for Mutate-Mutasa, Mandy Chimene said the graves were first discovered in 2001. The war veterans also wanted journalists to interview people they had selected themselves so that they wouldn’t “give out wrong information.” School children, teachers and villagers were forced to go underground and view the bodies so that they would appreciate the extent of the brutalities of the Rhodesian army. Zanu PF slogans and songs were the order of the day during the exhumation while the cash-strapped ZBC donated protective clothing and food to the Fallen Heroes Trust.

Men too must take the blame for abortions

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE Society should stop blaming women alone in cases of infanticide, baby dumping and abortion, social commentators have said. They said men too should take the blame as pregnancy is supposed to be a shared responsibility. The commentators said though men are also responsible for the pregnancies they are normally left scot free while women are labelled, punished and made social outcasts. Television personality Re-becca Chisamba, popularly known as Amai Chisamba, feels that it is unfair to blame women alone as it takes two to tango. She blames the African culture for letting men responsible for the pregnancies and babies go unpunished. However, she was quick to point out that women should not be short-sighted, thinking only about sexual pleasure, forgetting the consequences of unprotected sex. “A baby is not a curse, but a gift,” she said. “However it’s not a woman’s problem alone, men should take responsibility for their actions as well. They must take care of their children.” Amai Chisamba also blamed parents for pushing their daughters, impregnated out of wedlock, to the extremes. “I feel that as parents we are also to blame. We chase our children from home to go and elope and when they get there the men also chase them away. We make our daughters feel unwanted, unprotected and they end up dumping babies, killing the babies or having an abortion,” she said. ‘Men must take responsibility for their actions’ Eddington Mhonde, programmes coordinator for Padare/Enku-ndleni/ Men’s Forum On Gender said society should not be quick to blame women. “We should not be quick to blame women who sleep with older men yet men are the worst prostitutes, because they sleep with these young girls and impregnate them before dumping them,” said Mhonde. He added: “As society, we should be fair and also deal with men who deny responsibility for their actions. Although what these women are doing is wrong, society should understand the pressure of being disowned by family, and lack of solace and comfort these women go through alone.” “As society, we have failed to deal with the real culprits and we are now diverting our attention to the five men that were raped forgetting the countless women who have suffered the same fate at the hands of men.” Mhonde was referring to increased reports of men being raped by women. Executive director of Women Federation of Southern Africa, Edinah Masanga urged women not to abort their babies but instead explore other options like giving them up for adoption. “Women sometimes go through unbearable pain and end up resorting to things like infanticide. As society we must try and help women to get counselling and desist from shaming them,” said Masanga. Masanga blamed ge-nder imbalances between men and women where boys and men are preferred over women in terms of education and financial opportunities. This scenario results in more women who are poor and unable to look after their babies or themselves.

MPs face probe over constituency funds

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE THE government has launched an investigation into how MPs used the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) after it received reports that several legislators had embezzled the money, The Standard has heard. The MPs were each given US$50 000 last year to develop their constituencies but initial indications are that many of them have since converted the money to personal use. Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs, Virginia Mabiza confirmed that her ministry was carrying out an audit into how MPs had used the funds. Mabiza said the ministry had been inundated with phone calls from the public complaining about how MPs were blowing away the money. “We are carrying out an audit and MPs are warned to be cautious on how they are using the money,” said Mabiza. “We are sending our teams on fact-finding missions in their constituencies.” Mabiza could not disclose how many MPs were alleged to have misused the funds saying investigations were still in progress. She however said there was a lot of public concern that the money was not being used for its intended purposes. Mabiza said among the many complaints raised were that the funds were not only personalised but were politicised by the MPs. There was also a general lack of transparency in their use. The Acting Permanent Secretary said most MPs were failing to furnish them with receipts of what they had used the money for. There is a statutory requirement that MPs should submit returns, stating how the funds were utilised. MPs should follow what is stated in the CDF constitution and the accounting officer’s manual or instructions already supplied to them by the Ministry of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs. Separate investigations by The Standard have revealed that some MPs (names supplied) bought school furniture and stationery for not more than US$5 000 and donated them to schools in their areas before squandering the rest of the money. Other MPs are alleged to have bought a few bags of seed maize from the US$50 000 which they donated to their communities. Some MPs are required to account for at least US$40 000.

The mystery of fibroids

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE Many Zimbabwean women have uterine fibroids but they are not aware of it, a Bulawayo-based gynaecologist has said. Uterine fibroids are described by the PubMed Health website as a pelvic tumour whose causes remain unknown. According to the gynaecologist who, for professional reasons, spoke on condition of anonymity, fibroids are most common in women who fail to conceive for a long time or those that take a long time in having children again. “They may cause so much pain, heavy periods, can make someone have difficulty in conceiving, and pressure on the bladder leading to one visiting the toilet frequently,”  the doctor said. He said fibroids are most common in African women, with research saying at least one in two African women have them. Fibroids can be so tiny that one needs a microscope to see them but they can also grow to be big tumours filling the entire uterus. Although it is possible for just one fibroid to develop, usually there are more than one, according to the PubMed Health website. “The fibroids can be as big as between 6-10kg,” the doctor said. “We have removed such big ones. “They suck the blood from the uterus thereby taking a lot of blood and causing anaemia. “It’s true that so many women have them but they don’t know it. Some women have tiny ones that they never experience any pain.” He concluded that most women had mistaken uterine fibroids for pregnancy.

Tobacco selling season: Wives camp at auction floors

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE AS the tobacco selling season gains momentum many women whose families grow the golden leaf have decided to follow their husbands to the auction floors to ensure that their spouses do not squander the money on booze and commercial sex workers. However the agony of having to spend as much as two weeks queuing to sell the tobacco is now clearly visible on these women. The women with children as young as four months old strapped on their backs have spent at least two weeks holed up at the auction floors waiting in queues to sell their crop. The conditions are deplorable as ablution facilities are scarce and food and accommodation is difficult to get. Over the past years many male tobacco farmers have fallen victim to Harare’s commercial sex workers whom they found too good to resist. Most of them end up going back home without their earnings, which they lose to the prostitutes. Grace Mashami who has an eight month old baby said she decided to come to Harare and sell the tobacco herself because she could not trust her husband. “You know men can’t be trusted with money,” she said “He will come here and sell the tobacco and spend it all on commercial sex workers and beer and come back home with nothing.” Mashami said she had not bathed her child for almost two weeks because of the poor conditions. She said her biggest nightmare was the unhygienic conditions she was exposing her child to. She also bemoaned the lack of ablution facilities at the auction floors. “My baby hasn’t had a proper bath ever since we came here 10 days ago. “I can’t bath her in those unhygienic bathrooms which are opened at 2am for us to use before they lock them up shortly after. “She also hasn’t eaten porridge in as many days. Tapiwa Kangausaru from Tengwe in Karoi who also has a six month old baby was in a similar predicament. “You can’t send your husband and risk having all the money squandered away by someone who did not struggle for it,” she said. “It’s not easy to grow tobacco and see your husband bring home another woman from what you toiled for on your own.” Garikai Vengesai from Karireshi in Magunje whose three year old son was crying from hunger said they have been surviving on food handouts from well wishers. Vengesai said she had to sleep in the open with her child in a crowded area together with other men and women. “We sleep in the open and we didn’t come with warm blankets and sometimes it rains and becomes quite chilly,” she said. “My son last had a meal yesterday around 6pm when someone gave him rice to eat, “So he hasn’t eaten ever since.” Vengesai who came to sell her five bales of tobacco said she could not leave the child at home because there was not one to look after her.  This year’s tobacco selling season opened in February and expectations are that this year’s crop will exceed the 170 million kgs sold last year.  The average tobacco price is expected to remain at more than US$3 per kg until the end of the marketing season.

‘Slap in the face for Jonathan Moyo’

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE ZANU PF desperately wanted to win the Speaker of Parliament position last week because the post is of symbolic value to the party, political analysts contend. According to the analysts, the loss of the post to Lovemore Moyo was a slap in the face for Jonathan Moyo, who together with some MDC MPs had contested the 2008 election of the MDC-T chairman in the Supreme Court. Moyo’s victory saw him become the first Speaker of Parliament who was not elected on a Zanu PF ticket since independence in 1980. Political analyst Charles Mangongera said though the position was largely of symbolic value, whichever party commands it had an advantage over the other parties in Parliament. In the long run, one of the three main factions within Zanu PF which would have won the Speaker of Parliament position would have been in a strategic position to deal with President (Robert) Mugabe’s succession issue, he said. “They all know Mugabe’s age is advanced and anything can happen at any time so they have to deal with the possibility of a succession battle arising,” said Mangongera. “Moyo’s victory was really a slap in the face for Jonathan Moyo because it obviously derails any political ambitions he had. He wants to be seen as the kingmaker in Zanu PF.” Moyo launched a court challenge that resulted in another election being called for the position of Speaker of Parliament. National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) chairman Love-more Madhuku feels that Zanu PF wanted the position because the party wanted “a feel good” scenario that would lift up the spirits of its members ahead of the next elections. “The post is symbolic and Zanu PF wanted to show its supporters that they had recovered from the 2008 loss.” Madhuku however said the loss was a temporary setback for the Zanu PF spin doctor and former Information and Publicity minister. “It is a temporary setback for Jonathan Moyo. “Zanu PF has nowhere to go while Jonathan has no competitors in Zanu PF.”

Ailing Zimbabwe First Lady, Grace Mugabe, rushed to Singapore

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe again left the country for Singapore on Friday evening amid revelations that it is actually the First Lady Grace Mugabe who is this time seeking treatment in the Asian country for a serious ailment. Mugabe has been frequenting Singapore since his annual leave in January and his spokesman George Charamba last month clai-med he was going for a review after undergoing an operation to remove a cataract in his eye. But impeccable sources have since told The Standard that Grace Mugabe slipped and fell in the bathroom at their Borrowdale house and is suspected to have suffered a dislocated hip. She has reportedly not recovered from the injury and could be seriously ill. Charamba yesterday confirmed that the First Family was in Singapore but said he did not know the purpose of their visit as he was in Kadoma when they flew out of the country. Mugabe’s trips to Singapore are said to have gobbled US$12 million from the public purse. Charamba, however, hinted that the First Lady is battling illness. He disclosed that she has not fully recovered from a complication she suffered while giving birth to her last-born son Chatunga 14 years ago adding he was not aware of the hip dislocation. “I would not be privy to that kind of information,” Charamba said. “I have not heard about it. However what I know is that the First Lady, after the birth of Chatunga, developed some slight discomfort with her back but that was a long time ago.” Charamba also confirm-ed that the President had gone to Singapore but said it was not an “official visit.” But the fact that the presidential spokesman was not briefed about the trip hints to the fact that it was an emergency. Charamba said there were two possibilities why Mugabe went to Singapore. “It could be that they went to visit their daughter (Bona) who is on attachment in China, because they usually meet up in Singapore but then maybe there is something else,” Charamba said. “However it cannot be anything serious. Usually, if I am in Harare, I will go and see him off at the airport and I would be briefed on the reason on why he is travelling but I am in Kadoma attending a Zimbabwe Media Commission conference.” As usual Mugabe and his wife took an Air Zimbabwe plane and striking pilots had to be recalled to fly them. Air Zimbabwe board chairman Jonathan Kadzura justified the move yesterday saying the flight was not a commercial one but the pilots were on “national duty.” “There is a difference of going on strike for commercial flights and flying on national duty,” he said. “You can’t say no to national duty because yesterday’s flight wasn’t a commercial one.” Grace Mugabe has not been seen in public in a long time, further fuelling speculation about her health. However, the speculation had mainly centred on her 87-year-old husband who was driven in a golf cart during the Southern African Development Community troika summit in Livingstone, Zambia recently. Mugabe was seen struggling with his step. There have even been reports that he is suffering from prostate cancer.

Tomana accused of intimidating judges

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE LAWYERS for Energy and Power Development minister Elton Mangoma have lodged a protest against Attorney General Johannes Tomana accusing him of trying to intimidate High Court judges into treating the top MDC-T official unfairly. The protest letter to the Judicial Services Commission was in reaction to reports that Tomana had lodged a complaint to the Judge President George Chiweshe and the Judicial Services Commission alleging that High Court judge Justice Samuel Kudya passed judgement on factual issues before Mangoma’s trial. Tomana was said to be not happy with Kudya’s remarks when he granted Mangoma bail on March 15 on the grounds that the state’s case appeared to be weak.  The minister is accused of sealing a US$5 million fuel deal with a South African company NOA without going to tender. In remarks that have drawn parallels with comments that saw Zanu PF apologists calling for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo’s arrests on alleged contempt of court charges, Tomana appeared to be calling for action against Kudya. But Mangoma’s lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, in a letter seen by The Standard accused Tomana of attempting to bully members of the judiciary and interfering with their independence. “In our respectful view, if the Attorney-General was unhappy with the judge’s findings in the bail application, his proper course would clearly have been to seek to appeal against judgement,” reads part of the letter. “Traditionally and taking into account what the state would have placed before a court, judicial officers have always considered the strength or weakness of a case in considering a bail application and we do not consider that the judge in this case went  beyond this traditional consideration.” She said although they had read about Tomana’s complaint in The Sunday Mail, it appeared it was intended to intimidate the judges handling Mangoma’s cases. Tsvangirai last month threatened a “clean divorce” from the unity government following Mangoma’s initial arrest last month saying the prosecution and judicial system were being manipulated to persecute his party. But he was forced to apologise after President Robert Mugabe’s sympathisers pushed for his arrest. The complaint by Mangoma’s lawyers will resurrect debate about the alleged conspiracy. “Whatever the ‘complaint’, it is our view that the Attorney General’s ‘complaint’ is nothing but an attempt to intimidate members of the judiciary into not exercising their independence in matters that come before them,” Mtetwa wrote.

Zanu PF tried to bribe me: Mtetwa

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE AWARD-winning human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa says Zanu PF officials tried to bribe her so that she would stop representing President Robert Mu-gabe’s opponents. Mtetwa, who was last week announced the winner of the United States’ Case Western Reserve University’s 2011 Inamori Ethics Prize said she had resisted offers of a farm and appointments to boards of parastatals. But she refused to name the officials who attempted to bribe her. “I have also been offered perks if I abandon my human rights work,” Mtetwa said. “In 2001 in particular I was offered various positions, boardships in parastatals, even a farm if I abandoned my human rights work. “I found it very interesting because the people making those offers were people I had once represented when their own rights had been violated by the very system.” Mtetwa said she turned down the offers because she was not doing her work for financial benefitbut simply because she believed in what does.

Families of slain MDC-T activists feel abandoned

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE FAMILIES of slain MDC-T activists have accused the party of abandoning wives and children of members who died while serving the party. At an emotional memorial service on Wednesday at the Dutch Reformed Church in Harare, relatives of Tonderai Ndira, Better Chokururama, Cain Nyevhe and Godfrey Kauzani told stories of broken dreams, untold suffering and abject poverty. The activists were brutally murdered during the run-up to the June 2008 presidential election run-off election where the leading contender, MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai was forced to withdraw because of violence. Their mutilated bodies were found dumped in Goromonzi and Murehwa. Kauzani’s wife Sarudzai Chiutsi told The Standard that her husband’s death had driven her into abject poverty. An emotional Chiutsi said she now regreted why her husband ventured into politics. She chronicled how she struggled when her disabled son who had a hole in one of his ears that stretched to the brain fell ill and eventually died in February. Chiutsi claimed the MDC-T refused to provide her with transport to take her seriously ill son to Harare Hospital. “I am now both mother and father to my children,” she said. “I struggled with my son alone and they even refused to give me a car to transport my son’s body for burial. They only gave me US$100. The coffin cost almost US$200 and I had to borrow money from work which I am still paying back. I have nothing to show for my husband’s struggle.” But Chiutsi exonerated Tsvangirai, saying she did not believe he was aware of their plight. She said she last got assistance with school fees for the children, rent money and food two years ago. “I am grateful the party helped me get a job but the money is not enough,” she said. “In the past we used to go to the MDC-T offices seeking audience with Tsvangirai but those people who work there always denied us that opportunity,” she said. Ndira’s elder brother Cosmas, who was choking with emotion, also had no kind words for the MDC-T. “There is no money to pay school fees for Tonderai’s children,” he said. “It pains us that his children are suffering and living in abject poverty. Tonderai used to look after his children well when he was still alive.” Cosmas said it pained them to see senior MDC-T officials driving luxury cars and assisting their relatives to get jobs while people who bore the brunt of their fight against Zanu PF were wallowing in poverty. Nelson Chamisa, the MDC-T spokesman maintained that the party had done a lot for the families by helping some of them get jobs, start income generating projects and secure scholarships. “In fact we have exceeded our capacity to help the children, wives and husbands of survivors,” he said. “Unfortunately, those who perished run into hundreds if not thousands and survivors run into tens of thousands. Considering the task before us, the party is bound to be overwhelmed and this is why we have called for restorative and rehabilitative justice at a national scale from the government of the day,” he said.

Mugabe wins on Bennett

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe will finally have his way in the stalemate over the appointment of MDC-T treasurer general Roy Bennett as deputy Agriculture minister when Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai withdraws the former commercial farmer’s nomination to Senate this week. Tsvangirai has been forced to take the drastic action after the popular politician missed 21 consecutive seatings of the Senate. He was forced into self-imposed exile in South Africa by sustained Zanu PF persecution. According to the law, if a senator misses 21 consecutive sittings he loses his seat. It was not clear yesterday who Tsvangirai had chosen to replace Bennett as senator and deputy Agriculture minister designate. Mugabe refused to swear in the former Chimanimani MP citing his race and colonial past. Bennett said he feared arrest if he returned to Zimbabwe after police indicated that they were looking for him in connection with a US$1 million lawsuit filed against him by High Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu. His legal woes came hard on the heels of his acquittal on terrorism, banditry and insurgency charges. MDC-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa yesterday confirmed the new developments. “It is true that Bennett’s period of absence outlived the stipulated time in parliament,” he said. “The next step would be taken in consultation with the other principal Mugabe with the MDC-T informing him on who it wants to replace Bennett. As you know, it’s a non-constituency post.” However , Chamisa refused to shed light on Bennett’s possible replacement although unconfirmed reports indicate that it would be a toss between Marondera Central MP Ian Kay’s wife Kerry and united MDC founding youth secretary-general Bekithemba Mpofu. Bennett, also popularly known as Pachedu by many MDC-T supporters, is the only ministerial designate Mugabe refused to accept. He is also likely to lose his post at the MDC-T congress with Mpofu, who holds a PHD in Finance from the UK, again being linked to the position.

Grace Mugabe mystery deepens

THE mystery surrounding First Lady Grace Mugabe’s whereabouts deepened yesterday with President Robert Mugabe’s spokesman saying he does not know where she is.  Grace is reportedly in Singapore where she is seeking treatment after she allegedly dislocated her hip in an awkward fall at their Borrowdale house. Last Friday her husband flew to the Asian country but returned home for the burial of Central Intelligence Organisation deputy director general Menard Muzariri who was declared a national hero. His wife, who usually accompanies him to state occasions, was conspicuously absent. When asked whether she had returned home, Charamba who last week confirmed that the First Family was in Singapore said: “I am not in touch with that side.” But last week, Charamba hinted that Grace could be battling an illness. He disclosed that she had not fully recovered from a complication she suffered while giving birth to her last-born son Chatunga 14 years ago. Her principal private secretary Lawrence Kamwi yesterday refused to comment saying he was not the Mugabes’ spokesperson. “I am not their spokesperson,” he said. “There is one spokesperson and you should go to him.” Sources last week said Grace actually left the country soon after the burial of Harare governor David Karimanzira on March 27. Some publications last week tried to rubbish The Standard story claiming that it was planted to divert attention from Mugabe’s own health problems. However, the 87-year-old Zanu PF leader appeared fit at Muzariri’s burial and spoke for more than an hour. —Patience Nyangove

Mugabe’s Singapore trips cost $3m each

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE PRESIDENT Robert Mu-gabe left the country on Friday to collect his ailing wife in Singapore; they are expected back home on Wednesday, sources have revealed. Mugabe’s sixth trip to Singapore since the beginning of the year came amid revelations that the ageing leader demands at least US$3 million from Treasury each time he leaves the country. Impeccable sources have revealed that soon after his return Mugabe will be off to Rome on Friday for a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) summit. Grace Mugabe has been receiving treatment in Singapore since last month and this has forced her husband to travel to the Asian country frequently. She allegedly dislocated her hip during a fall at their Borrowdale house sometime in March and doctors have been battling to rehabilitate her. Her 87 year-old husband, according to his spokesman George Charamba, had an eye operation to remove a cataract in January also in Singapore. Impeccable sources told. The Standard that Mu-gabe’s handlers demand US$3 million from Finance minister Tendai Biti each time he leaves the country. The money is believed to be for medical bills and travel expenses for his usually large entourage. Mugabe is known for travelling with as many as 80 people as part of his entourage that are all given hefty allowances. Sources in the inclusive government that spoke on condition of anonymity said Mugabe’s demands had become excessive and were threatening to cripple the cash-strapped coalition. The sources said Biti had tried to stand his ground but was now forced to release substantial amounts after sustained pressure. “The travelling expenses have shot up to an extent that they have gone out of hand,” the source said. “They are now crippling government operations. “The demands are unlawful and if you look at it they have gone there almost six times this year. “However, Mugabe is not given the US$3 million he demands because the money is just not there.” Repeated efforts to get a comment from Charamba were fruitless. One of Biti’s major challenges since he took over the hot seat in 2009 has been to reduce money spent on foreign trips by the government but the MDC-T secretary general appears to be losing the war.

Daggers out ahead of MDC-T congress

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is the only MDC-T leader who will not be challenged at the party’s congress which opens on Thursday. A list of nominations released yesterday showed that many heavyweights, save for Tsvangirai, risk returning from the congress as ordinary card-carrying members. Final nominations will be announced on Tuesday after elections are concluded in Bulawayo. The polls were abandoned for the second time after a fistfight broke out between rival factions. At the congress, Tsvangirai’s deputy Thokozani Khupe will have to slug it out with veteran politician and MDC-T national executive member Norman Mabhena. Kuwadzana MP Lucia Matibenga, who was controversially sidelined from the contest for the leadership of the Women’s Assembly in 2005, is challenging party chairman Lovemore Moyo. Co-Home Affairs minister Theresa Makone is pitted against Matibenga, Eveline Masaiti and Editor Matamisa for the leadership of the Women’s Assembly. Another interesting duel will be between Finance minister Tendai Biti and his Public Service counterpart Eliphas Mukonoweshuro for the powerful post of secretary-general. Sources say nine provinces nominated Biti while Mukonoweshuro received two nominations. Elias Mudzuri will have to outwit party spokesman Nelson Chamisa to retain his post of organising secretary. Mudzuri and Chamisa’s fight has already turned dirty with the former Harare mayor  accusing his rival of using the media to fight his wars. Chamisa’s nomination for the powerful post opened the door for Nyanga North MP Douglas Mwonzora and Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment minister Tongai Matutu to contest for the post of secretary of information and publicity. Former Nkayi South MP Abednico Bhebhe, Thamasanqa Mhlangu, Dennis Murira and Mudzuri have also been nominated for the post of deputy organising secretary. Announcing the nominations, Chamisa said those nominated more than once would have to decide by Monday which position they wanted to contest as one person could not contest in two or more positions. For the post of deputy chairperson, Morgen Komichi will be battling it out with Blessing Chebundo, Alexio Masundire and Matibenga, if she decided to go for this post. Deputy Mines minister Gift Chimanikire has been nominated for the post of deputy secretary-general where he is set to wrestle it out with the incumbent Economic Development minister Tapiwa Mashakada, Bekithemba Mpofu and Paurina Gwanyanya. Current national chairman Moyo has also been nominated for the post but sources said chances were nil that he would contest for the lower post. Exiled treasurer general Roy Bennett is being challenged by Energy and Power Development minister Elton Mangoma and Sekai Holland, the co-minister in the Organ of National Healing and Reconciliation. The youth assembly chairperson post will see Solomon Madzore, Amos Chibaya and Promise Mkwananzi fighting it out. It’s understood that Chibaya was nominated by seven provinces, Madzore by three and Mkwananzi one. Chamisa said the elections would be conducted through secret ballot. “Elections will be by secret ballot,” he said. “We have retaining officers that are non- party leaders nor in our structures. “They are from civic organisations so that we eliminate any bias.” The jostling for posts has left the party badly divided. Last weekend Tsvangirai warned that vote-buying and violence was threatening the existence of the party.

MDC-T minister suffers Tsvangirai’s wrath

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE MDC-T Deputy Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment Tongai Matutu was ejected from a meeting a week ago in Masvingo by party president Morgan Tsvangirai for making noise. According to other party members that spoke on condition of anonymity, Matutu, who last year was convicted of assaulting Chief Serima, kept on interjecting while Tsvangirai was addressing a meeting before he was finally ordered out. Tsvangirai had gone to Masvingo to try and unite different factions of his MDC-T party after provincial elections held recently left the party more divided ahead of the party’s national congress expected to be held in Bulawayo at the end of this month. Matutu confirmed that he was ordered to leave the meeting. “That’s what happened,” he said. “I did not even last five minutes outside, before he called me back in again,” Matutu said.