Living Zimbabwe

Tag: Leaders

  • 1980 – The Year of the People’s Power

    1980 – The Year of the People’s Power

    1980 – The Year of the People’s Power (Gore reMasimba eVanhu – Umnyaka Wamandla Abantu) is a publication that was put out in 1980. It is a New Year Message to the people of Zimbabwe by Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe, the President of the Zimbabwe African Union ZANU (PF).

    In it, he talks about the revolutionary triumphs and misfortunes that they face along the way. It also touches on the progress of certain objectives such as the ZANLA Forces Eleven Tasks, British colonisation, traitorous puppets working against the victorious Zimbabwean masses and other significant events in the liberation war (Chimurenga).

    Here is an excerpt of the first two paragraphs:
    Revolutionary and New Year greetings to all the struggling and victorious masses of Zimbabwe, Revolutionary and New year greetings to all our ZANU Members within and without the country, Revolutionary and New Year greetings to all our friends and allies outside Zimbabwe.

    I wish to address you, the revolutionary masses of Zimbabwe with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow: joy, because we are now on the dawn of victory when the enemy’s military machine has crumbled and the puppet regime it tried to prop has fallen; but sorrow, because the dawn of ZANU’s victory, the dawn of your victory, has become a dark moment for us all, for we have suffered the tragic loss of our Secretary for Defence, Comrade Josiah Magama Tongogara.

    The full 12 page publication is available in PDF format for US$0.50. To purchase the publication visit the Living Zimbabwe Store or by clicking on the Buy Now button below which will take you through to PayPal

     

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  • Heather Bennett Says It All

    MDC Treasurer, Roy Bennett returned to Zimbabwe on the 30th of January after living in exile in South Africa since 2006. He flew Zimbabwe to support MDC decision to join forces with Mugabe’s Zanu PF and also after assurance from Morgan Tsvangirai that everything would be okay if he returned. He was however arrested on February the 13th at Charles Prince Airport whilst on his way back to South Africa. He was first charged with treason but they have since changed to attempt to commit terrorism, banditry and sabotage and now he being charged under Section 61 of the colonial, Apartheid type law, Public Order and Security Act (POSA) – conspiring to acquire arms with a view to disrupting essential services.

    He is being held at the Mutare police station and he is no stranger to prison. In 2004 he spent eight months in prison after a scuffle with the then Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa who called his ancestors ‘murderers and thieves’. A short while after his release from prison the secret police were after him again with all sorts of accusations which is when he decided it would be best to slip out of the country.

    Heather Bennett, Roy’s wife spoke to SW Radio Africa about her husbands arrest and there were a couple of things she said that struck a cord viz;

    “If Morgan Tsvangirai has no power to protect his top leadership, the rest of the country is in big trouble because nothing is going to change.”

    “If they get away with this Morgan Tsvangirai may as well not even be there because they will walk all over him. And unless he shows the leadership now it is going to be a waste of time having an inclusive government anyway.”

    This is the start of power sharing and it just goes to show who is in control. Roy Bennett’s arrest is something that is unwarranted and those holding him know it too – just look at how they can’t decide on what to charge him with. Going back to Zimbabwe at the time he did may not have been a good idea and why he decided to is anyone’s guess. Nonetheless, what Mrs. Bennett had to say about the GNU was straight to the point and a fact that cannot be ignored. If Tsvangirai cannot protect Roy Bennett, what is the point of him being Prime Minister?

    Listen to Heather Bennett’s interview on SW Radio Africa here

    Roy Bennett – Movement For Democratic Change Treasurer

  • Q & A with Hopewell Chin’ono

    Hopewell Chin’ono Being Presented With the 2008 CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Award by Ghana's President John Agyekum KufuorOver the past year or so, Zimbabwean journalist and filmmaker Hopewell Chin’ono has been celebrating a number of successes with the most recent one being his win of the CNN-sponsored African Journalist of the Year competition for the documentary, “Pain in My Heart”. His successes are leading towards bigger and better things for himself and his work helps to make a positive change in people’s perceptions of certain issues faced by various communities. To get to know him a bit more I asked him a few questions which he was kind enough to answer.

    Q: What got you into journalism and how long have you been at it?

    A: I got into journalism in 1990 when I started writing for a music magazine called Prize Beat when I was in high School.

    Q: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

    A: I draw my inspiration from people who were ordinary and have done more for their community than themselves.

    Q: What is the most satisfying thing about the work that you do?

    A: I enjoy it when my work changes people’s negative attitude towards other members of society.

    Q: Earlier on in the year it was reported that you were blacklisted from covering the March elections. Was there a specific reason why you were on the list?

    A: I was never given a specific reason for my banning. They just said I could not report. But I have put it behind me as it reflects work of small minded people.

    Q: With the media clamp down in Zimbabwe, how much of a hindrance has that been on you working to your full potential?

    A: I have not been able to work properly because you have all sorts of people trying to stop you from just taking out your camera.

    Q: This year has been particularly good for you with your recent win of the African Journalist of the Year Competition and the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellowship awarded earlier in the year. Were these awards you ever saw yourself receiving and what do they mean for you and your future?

    A: I am motivated by reflecting on what’s around me. Awards are a reflection of what your peers and society think of your work.

    Q: Has ”Pain in My Heart” had any sort of impact on the people in the documentary and other people living with HIV/AIDS?

    A: It has made sure that the children of the late Angeline are assured of a brighter future.

    Q: Will there be a follow up to “Pain in My Heart”?

    A: I am working on something different from that. A reflection of the Zimbabwean election.

    Q: What advice would you give to young aspiring African journalists?

    A: I would say hard work pays and a lot of reading is important to understand issues.

    Q: Where can people go to take a look at more of your work?

    A: I will be setting up a website soon.