Unity trumps politics Cyclone disaster brings rivals together
ZIMBABWEAN political leaders yesterday rose above their political persuasions and showed the world that they can work together for the common good of the country after they toured the cyclone ravaged districts of Chipinge and Chimanimani as a team to assess the damage caused by the disaster.
At least 18 leaders of political parties that are taking part in the national dialogue visited almost all the areas that were affected by Cyclone Idai in the two districts and witnessed the work being undertaken by Government to rebuild damaged infrastructure.
President Mnangagwa who led the high powered delegation visited Nhedziwa and Machongwe areas before delivering a key note address at Ngangu Township in Chimanimani.
In his address, President Mnangagwa hailed the unity showed by the political parties in face of the natural disaster which required all Zimbabweans to come together to assist the affected communities.
Said President Mnangagwa: “Zimbabwe is a unitary State. We are one people. We are a democracy. Our constitution allows anybody to create a political movement of any sort in the country. This is why in the last election we had 123 parties. It’s a symbol of thriving democracy in our country. However, 23 of the political parties including my political party contested for the Office of the President so I have invited the 23 including myself. I am happy that when our people are faced by this tragedy we put our politics aside and approach the issue as a humanitarian that has befallen our country. Together with 18 other presidents who are here the focus is that our people have been visited by this disaster.
“It (disaster) never asked any political card and say what card do you have so that I can avoid you whether you are Zanu-PF, MDC, NCA, whatever. On that basis we are united. We speak the same language.”
President Mnangagwa said the country was receiving overwhelming support from several PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday surprised people of Chimanimani after he joined them in a community project to construct a damaged road in Ngangu Township as part of the National Clean-up Campaign.
Initially, the community thought the President was only in their area to address them but was shocked when he and the other political leaders joined the queue of people who were collecting stones that were being used to divert the flow of water that was damaging a newly constructed bridge.
It was a marvel for the people of Chimanimani as the President took time to work with them while barking instructions.
The Head of State participated in a human conveyor belt that lifted rocks and rubble that was left in the wake of the destructive Cyclone Idai a fortnight ago.
President Mnangagwa was flanked by MDC-T leader Dr Thokozani Khupe and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga while other leaders and Government officials completed the chain on either side.
To motivate the President and his workmates, Buhera West legislator Cde Saul Nzuma started singing a South African song that boosted the morale of the team.
The clean-up in Ngangu which the President specifically brought forward for his delegation of fellow political leaders and himself was symbolic as it epitomised Government’s commitment to rebuild infrastructure destroyed by Cyclone Idai.
In his address to the people gathered at Ngangu Primary School, President Mnangagwa explained the importance of the
countries as a result of his policy of engagement and re-engagement.
“As you are aware, our relations with Britain are Clean-Up Campaign.
He said the nation will today join hands in cleaning their communities as part of the campaign.
President Mnangagwa said one of his deputies Cde Kembo Mohadi would represent him in Victoria Falls in leading the Clean-Up Campaign.
“Vice President Mohadi was supposed to be with us here today,” he said.
“I have sent him to go and represent us at the National Clean-Up Campaign in Victoria Falls tomorrow. I thought I should explain that to you.”
President Mnangagwa said his second visit to Chimanimani was in fulfilment of the agreement he had with leaders of other parties participating in the Zimbabwe National Dialogue to come and have an appreciation of the disaster that had fallen the people in the area.
He briefed the people of Chimanimani on the progress that Government had made so in trying to locate all the missing persons after the cyclone.
He said sniffer dogs had identified 46 places where people were suspected to buried under rocks.
“If there are bodies there by now they are already in a bad state,” he said.
“There are huge boulders in the places and our military officials are not able to push them meaning that we need to deploy machinery there. The challenge is that we need bridges for us to be able to carry the machinery here but we are happy with the progress made so far to reconstruct the damaged bridges.”
The President was accompanied by VP Chiwenga, leaders of other political parties and several Cabinet Ministers.
not that sound but after this disaster I received letters of consolation from Queen Elizabeth and the entire members of the British Royal Family saying the people of Zimbabwe our relationship dates back to years ago,” he said.
“Only yesterday, President Trump of the United States of America sent his ambassador to give us US$2,5 million. We are overwhelmed by the support we are receiving.”
The President said more support came from other Sadc countries such as Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania.
He said the country also received huge support from the United Arab Emirates following his visit Abu Dhabi recently including tents, medical drugs and food among others.
President Mnangagwa said Government was working on measures to relocate other people from affected areas whiles others would be assisted to build strong housing structures.
He said no one should die because of hunger whether they were affected by the cyclone or not.
MDC-T president Dr Thokozani Khupe said Zimbabwe stood to benefit more as a united front. “I agree with His Excellency the President,” she said. “What happened here had brought every Zimbabwean under one roof so that we speak with one voice, so that we do everything together. We want to make sure that what is here we tackle it together. Over and above that we want to transcend what happened here. We want to build our country together. Our coming together here is a clear demonstration that we can indeed work together as a country.”
National Constitutional Assembly president Professor Lovemore Madhuku said: “When you are faced with such a calamity except to be united and look forward together and we must track this to all other avenues of our country including the economy and everything else. That is the spirit that we needed as a country. Every other successful country has succeeded through the same spirit.”
All the leaders of the political parties who visited Ngangu were given an opportunity address the people.
They all thanked President Mnangagwa for uniting the nation by initiating the process of national dialogue and leading the entire delegation to visit all the areas affected by the cyclone. POLICE have arrested a Kadoma man who was filmed in a 45 second-video that has gone viral savagely assaulting a hapless man accusing him of stealing from him.
Litten Chikoore was arrested days after the video in which he was captured assaulting Mr Pedzisai Mangisi (30) with a hosepipe was widely shared on social media leading to his identification.
In the video, the energetic Chikoore is seen whipping Mr Mangisi and vowing to stop the savage attack once he gets tired.
Mr Mangisi is seen lying on the ground wailing and pleading his innocence while Chikoore continues beating accusing his victim of theft.
As the video is ending, Chikoore is heard asking for “electricity” which some claim could have been an electric cord which he could have further used to assault Mr Mangisi.
Chikoore does not mention in the video what his victim had “stolen”.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed Chikoore’s arrest.
He said police also located his victim, who together with other witnesses are helping law enforcement agents with investigations.
“We are still recording some witness statements and the full information will only be available after the investigation has been concluded,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said no one should take matters into his or her own hands.
“No one has got the right to assault or to mete out instant justice to any other person despite any wrong that one feels has been committed against him or her,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
Earlier police had twitted that Chikoore handed himself to the police.
“The accused handed himself to the police accompanied by his lawyer. The due process of the law will now take its course and the accused will appear in court soon. The ZRP wishes to thank members of the public for the cooperation rendered in the inquires.
“The complainant Pedzisai Mangisi (30) has since been located while the accused person Litten Chikoore has been arrested,” said the ZRP on micro blogging site Twitter.
Last month, police in Matabeleland South arrested two men who shot a video while brutally assaulting a girl (15) for allegedly having love affairs with both of them in Phumuza village, Plumtree.
Police have repeatedly urged members of the public not to resort to violence in solving differences as some of the incidents end up being fatal.—@nqotshili
the gap,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said Apex council was asking for a minimum of 1 700RTGS and that has not been granted.
“When they were making their submissions in January they were asking for 1 700RTGS being the basic a teacher was supposed to get.
“PTUZ was asking for 3 056RTGS but now when the salaries for the lowest paid are $580 and we are wondering what could have happened because inflation has eaten up this increment even before we have gotten it,” he said.
He proposed that Government should review the remuneration of workers soon and give them land as well.
“They are supposed to give us land in lieu of the salary increment. The reason why we need land is we must take care of our needs when we retire and housing is the critical one. If Government is serious let them give land to civil servants at low cost then we can start talking,” he said.—@AuxiliaK