MDC Southend Branch Elections 13th February 2011

All roads lead to MDC Southend-On-Sea Branch Elections to be held at 268 Sutton Rd, Southend-On-Sea, SS2 5ET. A new team of tried and tested cadres will be elected to steer the branch and the party for the final elections to remove the despot Robert Mugabe and his regime, to us members of Southend-On-Sea it is not a question of positions but team work and commitment, it is a struggle which has taken to long to accomplish and will not need people who will tier before achieving our fundamental goal, MDC is a party of excellence and a government in waiting and out branch will strive to meet and satisfy the demands of our founding principles, i kindly invite you all to this important meeting and be part of the history, it’s not a day to miss, your vote is important.

Linah Mutambanuki
MDC Southend Hausunde

Zimbabwe Weekly Headlines February 4th, 2011

President Robert Mugabe has publicly stated last week that elections will be held this year with or without a new constitution. He added that he has the constitutional right to dissolve Parliament and call for fresh polls.

THE Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T), whose national executive met last weekend, has passed a resolution to the effect that the party will not contest any national election before the adoption of a new constitution. The party also demanded that there should be a clear roadmap on the polls after the adoption of the new constitution to replace the current compromise Lancaster House document.

……….

National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (Noczim) last week had their entire cash resources seized by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) due to default in payment of fuel importation duties and other imports. With the seizure of its funds, Noczim was unable to effect payment for the petroleum which it had purchased, which petroleum was in tanks at Beira, in Mozambique, pending forwarding to Zimbabwe through the Beira Corridor pipeline.  As a result, a fuel shortage in Zimbabwe was imminent, with a major scarcity already prevailing in Harare.

Bearing in mind that Noczim is a government parastatal, and that Zimra is government’s revenue collection vehicle, I wonder what steps the government will take to prevent the wheels of the economy from coming to a complete halt.

……….

To many senior government officials in ZANU PF, the violent and chaotic land reform programme presented a perfect opportunity for them to get rich overnight.  They descended upon the most viable agricultural enterprises across the country like hungry vultures and devoured the assets. But today, the farms are ruined and without their equipment which was either sold or lay broken in the fertile agricultural soils. And consequently, the nation’s economy has crumbled to its knees.
It emerged last week that ZANU PF officials operating as the so-called Masvingo Initiative intend to seize a number of private preserves belonging to Germans, including the Save Valley Conservancy Trust.
A mob of about 150 seized Lake Chivero Recreational Park, Kumba Shiri resort, and several other sites around the lake, forbidding guests and employees from leaving.
Robert Mugabe's nephew, Patrick Zhuwao, has claimed responsibility for the invasions. Ironically, the invasions occurred while Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi was at a conference in Spain where he branded Zimbabwe ‘the world of wonders’.

……….

Traditional leaders and soldiers are being used by ZANU PF to force villagers in remote areas of Zimbabwe to sign a ZANU PF ‘anti-sanctions’ petition. The campaign is an attempt by ZANU PF to get more than a million signatures on a petition against the targeted restrictions that were placed on Robert Mugabe and his close allies by the E.U., the U.K. and the United States.  The petition shall then be handed to Western ambassadors for onward transmission to their capitals.

“Ticha gura maoko nemazino,” meaning ‘we shall be breaking hands and teeth’, was the chilling message sent out to villagers of Rusape, Gokwe and Masvingo province who fail to sign the document. If ZANU PF is so desperate to have sanctions removed, the simple and cost effective way of achieving this is by employing democratic principles that they vowed to when they took over power from the Rhodesian government.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has held an urgent meeting with Robert Mugabe to discuss escalating violence perpetrated by ZANU PF militia on MDC structures. The Prime Minister, who is under severe pressure from his party colleagues who are demanding protection,  is angered by  the way the police are selectively applying the law. As usual, Robert Mugabe denied planning the violence and shouldered the blame on mischief makers.

………

It seems that convicted serial rapist Madzibaba Godfrey Nzira,  a self proclaimed prophet and ZANU PF supporter,  was pardoned and released from jail by Robert Mugabe in order to start a campaign to coerce members of the Apostolic sect to rally behind ZANU PF.  The convict, originally sentenced to 20 years, only served 7 years of that sentence.

……….

Zanu (PF) youths popularly known as Chipangano have this week visited vendors in Mbare demanding President Mugabe's birthday donations of $1.00 and voter registration receipts for the forthcoming referendum to choose a new constitution for Zimbabwe. The President turns 87 on the 26^th of this month.

Joao Matandirani
MDC Southend Hausunde

Branch Meeting 30 January 2011

VIP Guests: Khama Matambanadzo (The Interim District Chairperson)

                     Ian Gilbert (Leader Of The Labour Group Of Councillors Southend On Sea)

                     Judy McMahon (Labour Councillor Candidate)

The meeting was well attended. Mr Biti suggested that he and his leadership team would stay on in their current positions to avoid a power vacuum between now and the elections. This was met with approval all round. The Treasurer, Vincent Mashakada, gave Branch financial report and the account statements circulated. 

Ian Gilbert

Councillors Mr Ian Gilbert and Ms Judy McMahon of the Labour Group Councillors graciously attended the meeting. Mr Gilbert opened by highlighting the strong relationship that Labour and the MDC share. The MDC was born out of a labour movement.  Mr Gilbert told those present that the Coalition Government intended to cut at least £15million from Southend council’s budget. This figure represented a tenth of the already overstretched budget. He also reported that among others the hardest hit services would be the Youth services, Sure- Start centres, 178 council jobs, Safer-Stronger Communities which caters for deprived youth and the homeless.  Mr Biti asked the councillors for their support on a number of issues:


WORKING VISA
Mr Biti asked that the councillors recommend to the government that those people that are going through the process of regularising their stay in the United Kingdom be given a working visa as is the norm in countries like Australia. This would reduce the financial burden on the taxpayer. Both Mr Gilbert an Ms McMahon pledged their support.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP

Mr Biti asked that those people that have leave to remain in the UK be automatically given dual citizenship. Both Mr Gilbert an Ms McMahon pledged their support.

ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Mr Biti reported to the councillors that at present those in the process of regularising their stay in the UK had access to primary and secondary education. When it came to higher education they are left behind.  The University of Essex does not take the ARC card which Newham College does. This means that those living in Southend on Sea are at a disadvantage to their counterparts in London. Mr Gilbert promised to table this during council sessions.

LOCATION FOR CLINICS
Washington Ali noted that there wasn’t a place for the Southend – Zimbabwe Network to meet during the week and get information. Ms Judy McMahon suggested the facility at Chase Road could be used for clinics and community meetings. She said she would be glad to speed up the process. This was well received.

Matambanadzo

The Interim District Chairperson, Mr Matambanadzo arrived after a fraught journey on the public transport system.   He arrived in good spirits and congratulated the outgoing branch leaders for a job well done.  He implored branch members to not grow weary in well doing. Mr Matambanadzo so admired the branch that he stated he wanted to become a member of Southend Branch. There were cheers all round. The minutes of the previous meeting were adopted. It was announced that in the next 2 weeks we’d be having branch elections. The posts on offer are:

• Branch Chairperson
• Vice Chairperson
• Organising Secretary
• Secretary
• Youth Chairperson
• Women’s Chairperson
• 3 Committee Members

In closing the Outgoing Treasurer Mr Mashakada said that the qualities that were needed in those to be elected are respect accountability and transparency.

Audrey Charowa
MDC Southend Hausunde