We join everyone in Zimbabwe in saying to the whole team of "Music by Prudence," which won the award Sunday night at the prestigious Academy Awards in Hollywood, USA, Amhlope! Makorokoto! Congratulations!

Bill Watch 8/2010 of 6th March 2010 [Ministerial Functions Gazetted]

Unilateral Assignment of Ministerial Functions

The President, without any consultation with the Prime Minister, has gazetted the long-awaited legal instruments stating which Minister is responsible for the administration of which Acts of Parliament.  There are 33 statutory instruments in a Gazette Extraordinary late on 4th March.  In terms of the Constitution [section 31D] it is the President who assigns functions to Ministers, including the administration of Acts of Parliament [this involves responsibility for the implementation and enforcement of an Act, the making of regulations under the Act, and the initiation and preparation of any Bill to amend or replace the Act.] There are of course other functions to be carried out by Ministers [see note at end].

Now that there is an inclusive government and a Prime Minister, it would have been expected that there would have been consultation and agreement on the allocation of Ministerial functions.  It was one of the issues which delayed the formation of the inclusive government after the three parties signed the GPA.  It was with the aid of the South African facilitators that the issues were resolved, with South Africa and SADC as the guarantors.  The allocation of Ministers was to be reviewed after 6 months by the Parties with the assistance of the guarantors, SADC, AU and the Facilitator.  This was not in fact done.  It would not be surprising if the MDC-T were to take the issues raised by these SIs back to South Africa as Facilitator and to SADC.

A first reaction from an MDC spokesman was that "the Prime Minister was shocked", "that is like the renegotiation of the GPA" by one party, and that in some Ministries "the MDC have been left with the shell of a Ministry with vital functions taken away".

Below are brief notes [not a full analysis] on the gazetted Ministerial functions.  [All 33 SIs available on request from Veritas- 68kb zipped, 600kb unzipped]: There are a few typos and anomalies [e.g. the Cooperative Societies Act has been given to three different Ministries] so there may be some revisions to these SIs.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has called for a peacekeeping force before elections can be held and called for an end to violence.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai was addressing a Movement for Democratic Change rally in Chitungwiza on Sunday.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai said the Global Political Agreement (GPA) which he signed with president Robert Mugabe in 2008, states that an election will be held within 18-24 months after the formation of the inclusive government.

"We agreed that within the next 18-24 months we go for elections, so far we have gone through the first year and we are left with only a few months. We don't want a violent election but an environment for a free and fair election. We are not afraid of going for an election. I hear reports about violence about houses being burnt. We have to stop the violence before the election" said Prime Minister Tsvangirai.

"Let's bring in foreign observers. Why don't we have a peace keeping force so that everyone is going to exercise their democratic rights. Why don't we have a peacekeeping force so that we have peace and stability before we conduct an election. If we can't do it ourselves lets use SADC and AU to create that environment for a free and fair election," he added.

The Premier called for a conclusion to the interparty talks saying the MDC party was fed up with unending dialogue.

"We are sick and tired of endless talks," he said. "We shall take measures that there will be no more dialogue for dialogue's sake. We are a country in a transition, so get ready for elections."

Zimbabwe's last elections in 2008 ended in a dispute after Prime Minister Tsvangirai defeated President Mugabe in the first round of the elections but later withdrew from a second round citing State sponsored violence against his supporters.

Excerpted Remarks from the Prime Minister's Speech at the Occasion of the Celebration of the Life of Amai Susan Tsvangirai

Glamis Stadium, Harare

6 March 2010

"One Person Can Make a Difference"

We are here to celebrate Susan's life, to celebrate her belief that one person can make a difference - if you are a mother, a daughter a father, a son, a teacher, a bus driver, an accountant or a lawyer, all of us can do something to help someone else.

Everyday of her life she did something for someone - for those who needed something they didn't have, for those who were less fortunate.

We forget in this world that we are people in need, that we are first and foremost Soldiers in an Army of Service and Compassion. We celebrate Susan for reminding us of the importance of service and caring.

But she also lived a life of courage, always there in the MDC as fighter. She would be the first to say today that we should not rest on the victories of the past but move on and work hard to achieve the victories of the future.

Her courage, and the courage of many others who are not here with us, stand as a reminder of what lies ahead, that though there may be a unity government if there is not unity of purpose we stand with a job not done, not fulfilled.

I know if Susan was here she would whisper in my ear, "remind them, we need them, the job is not yet done". One person can make a difference.

But if Susan's life is a reminder to celebrate as we do today the POSITIVE difference that one person can make, there is also the reminder that one person can make a negative difference in people's lives.

I know Susan believed as I believe that in Zimbabwe we must walk as One, that there is no room for putting a tolerance of hate against a tolerance of love.

There is no room in a Zimbabwe of real change for white against black.

There is no room in a Zimbabwe of real change for poor against rich.

There is no room in a Zimbabwe of real change for fostering a culture of greed and corruption against change and hope for the future of all people.

We celebrate not just a life of service and compassion of hope and love. We celebrate a life of courage and commitment; commitment to see a Zimbabwe where all of us walk together with a common goal and vision.

After a year of soul searching and consultation, I am proud that in May of this year, the Susan Nyaradzo Tsvangirai Foundation will be launched to ensure the continuation and fulfilment of her dream of a better Zimbabwe for all our people.

In celebrating Susan's life, I am also challenged by her memory.  I will not stand here year after year and settle for something less than what I know she was committed to.

Yes, the journey may be difficult and the road may not be easy.  But you and I and Susan, and thousands like her did not make this sacrifice to settle for anything less than what we set out to do.

Today I thank you for joining me and our family on this wonderful occasion to celebrate Susan and her life.

I ask you to celebrate her life, her love, her commitment to service, her compassion, and her courage. Although Susan is no longer with us, her life, her legacy and her dreams will live on through her Foundation.

And, I ask you to make this promise to yourself and to everyone here to believe that one person stepping forward can and will make a difference in the Zimbabwe of tomorrow - for Susan and for your children.

God Bless you.