Stephen Chadenga

Zimbabwean children endure the worst poverty as political leaders dilly-dally on key decisions

Chirumanzu, Zimbabwe-From a distance, tiny bodies make swift movements on branches of a huge wild fruit tree. One would mistakenly think they are wild animals scavenging for food, but a closer move to the tree shocks one’s life. Children as young as five years hang on branches as they make and search for today’s meal.

International aid to Zimbabwe and the unconcluded power sharing deal

Zimbabwe’s economy has been in the deep abyss for more than a decade now. Inflation is currently at a world record high of 11.2 million percent. People’s standards of living are still pathetic. Very few can afford to put three meals a day on the table. Part of the problem bedevilling this once prosperous Southern African country is largely political. With the signing of the power sharing deal on September 15 which saw Robert Mugabe of Zanu PF emerging as President, Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC), as Prime Minister and Professor Arthur Mutambara (MDC) breakaway formation, Deputy Prime Minister, the aid pledges made by mostly Western countries to assist economically and still in the face of an unconcluded deal, what is to become of the international aid packages?

Zimbabwean youths should shift focus

When Zimbabwe’s political party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) celebrated its ninth anniversary on September 7 this year, an information pack in a thin blue folder from the party’s Information and Publicity department was issued to guests. An eye-catching, nine- page document dubbed “MDC’s Roll of Honour” had a list chronicling how 314 people alleged to be “MDC supporters who were callously murdered in state sponsored violence since 2000.” Though the above allegations are subject to debate, of great concern however is the number of deaths purported to have been directly caused by not necessarily ‘Zanu PF youths’ but youths in particular.

Daily struggles for the ordinary Zimbabwean continue despite power sharing deal

Harare, Zimbabwe-A middle-aged woman (Mrs Moyo) wakes as early as 4 a.m. to rush into town. Today she hopes to beat the long zigzagging queue at the bank and possibly be in the top ten who are going to be served first. But alas, when she reaches the building society along Sixth Street, much to her dismay, there are already thirty people. Other women, older than her are wrapped in blankets, a sign that last night they made their home in the pavement leading to the bank’s entrance.

Consensus vs. Dominance in Zimbabwe’s political deal

When Zimbabwe's political rivals signed a power sharing deal this Monday in Harare, in the presence of African dignitaries from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), diplomats and other invited guests, the key message from the three signatories Zanu PF’s Robert Mugabe, the two MDC’s Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Arthur Mutambara, was commitment to ‘work together’ and see the deal pull the country out of the political and economic mud it has stuck in for a close to a decade now.

Can water and fire now mix in Zimbabwe?

Just a few hours after Zimbabwe’s main political parties, Zanu PF and the Movement for Democratic Change reached an agreement for an inclusive government last Thursday night, President Robert Mugabe reportedly told the council of traditional chiefs at their (chiefs) annual conference in the country’s second largest city, Bulawayo, the following morning, that Zanu PF and MDC are like “fire and water” and that “they will never mix.’

Zimbabwe parties finally reach a power sharing deal

Zimbabwe political parties, Zanu PF, led by Robert Mugabe and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Morgan Tsvangirai and a breakaway MDC formation under Professor Arthur Mutambara finally reached a political settlement deal last night

Zimbabwe’s government reacts to Canada’s sanctions

Last week’s move by the Government of Canada to impose targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe, citing “intimidation and violence” on opposition political parties by Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party, has been viewed by that government (Zimbabwe) as Canada’s joining of “the league of the country’s enemies.”

Zimbabwe MDC celebrates 9th anniversary

Gweru-Zimbabwe-It is a hot mid-morning Sunday in Zimbabwe’s third largest city, Gweru. Hordes of people fill the narrow tarred road leading to Mkoba stadium. One would mistakenly think that people are attending a big church service. But a further probe in the sports arena will find a birthday bash for a nine-year-old baby. That “little one” is the Movement for Democratic Change party celebrating nine years of existence today, in a bid to dislodge a revolutionary party, Zanu PF, led by 84-year-old Robert Mugabe. MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai said to the gathering at the rally that the delay in the signing of the talks between his party and Zanu PF is because Mugabe does not want to cede “sufficient” powers to him.

When getting food becomes a preoccupation overriding other human rights

At Sunday school in the early 1980s, we used to sing the following verse with glee,

“One party state mentality” threatens Zanu PF-MDC power sharing deal

Prospects of reviving Zimbabwe’s political and economic fortunes through inter-party dialogue between Zanu PF and the Movement for Democratic Change in an expected political power split between President Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, is facing obstruction due to Zanu PF’s “one party state mentality”, a Senior MDC official has said.