CONSULAR OFFICIALS IN CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND

Please be advised that Consular officials will be in Christchurch New Zealand from 4 – 9 June 2012. Venue to be advised in due course.

Kindly inform other Zimbabwean nationals who wish to apply for their passports and birth certificates (for children born outside Zimbabwe). You can visit the Embassy website: www.zimembassycanberra.org.au for the requirements of passport applications and birth certificates.

Your usual cooperation is highly appreciated.

Venue: KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 28 Bealey Avenue, Christchurch CBD:

Monday 4th June to Friday 8th June 09:30 - 5pm

Saturday 9th June 09:30 -12pm

ZIMBABWE ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INC.  ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Zimbabwe
Association of New Zealand will be held on Saturday, 2nd June 2012 at 2.00pm. 
 
The venue for the meeting is: 31-35 Hargreaves St, St Marys Bay, Ponsonby, Auckland (Offices of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation)

The purpose of the meeting is to:

1. Receive the President’s and the Treasurer’s reports
2. Elect New Board members

 
Dated this Tuesday, 16 April 2012 at Auckland
 
By Charles Namba
Secretary General
Mobile: 027 577 5479

Happy Birthday Zimbabwe
The recent false reports that President Mugabe was in his last moments and had handed over power to Munangagwa have revealed an important point previously unclear, at least to me. The point is that there is genuine fear on both sides of the political divide that if  Mugabe was to leave the stage without putting in place clear  arrangements for the country’s governance then Zimbabwe’s stability will be at risk. If this is true I am wondering if this is not an admission that the country is better off with him than without him especially in the absence of clear constitutional arrangements.  A friend of mine who is planning to visit Zimbabwe shortly told me that his plans are on hold until Mugabe’s health is clarified and to be clear he is not a fan of Mugabe.   Despite the collective relief, albeit for different reasons, of seeing him arrive at the airport in a rather subdued mood the false news reminded everyone that his journey to the crossing point of the chilly waters of the Jordan River is now a short one.

As we mark the country’s 32nd Independence it is the opportune time for every individual, and organization to start building consensus around the country’s future governance. The focus must shift from the causes of our differences to the things that we agree on and on these we can build a better future and inheritance for the next generation. It remains my belief that those who took arms against the oppressors had a genuine desire to see justice and freedom for all. If I am right then we should remind each other of these values and live by them as compasses to direct every policy and decision. In reality the things we don’t agree on are far fewer than the things we agree on as a nation but we use magnifying lenses to exaggerate those differences.  We have wasted a good chunk of 32 years and we can never redeem that time but it’s wise to start now and work out solutions to some long outstanding issues:

Finalise the Drafting of a new constitution
Allow political freedom and ensure the delivery of justice
Harvest the natural resources to benefit all citizens
Design policies that ensure fiscal responsibility and deal with corruption.
Respect property rights
Distribute resources to ensure that historical imbalances are corrected
Hold elections peacefully.

None of the above is in the realm of the miraculous. This year let us celebrate our future even as we celebrate a break with our divisive past.

Congratulations Zimbabwe and happy 32nd birthday.

ZANZ 2012

The Quest is a project to identify talent and form a band, mass choir, drama group and dancers to entertain, minister and promote unity in diversity of culture in a manner consistent with people who live for a higher calling and purpose other than self.

The project will be implemented in two phases as follows:

1. Choir and Band - During this phase musicians and singers will be auditioned and undergo training by experts and practices will take place at carefully planned sessions.
2. Dancers and actors will be auditioned and undergo training and practices under the guidance of professional trainers.

The timing of phase 2 will depend on how phase 1 takes off. Phase 1 is already underway. Please read the attached material and register without delay.

THEY LEFT US: Good bye, Fambai zvakanaka, Hamba kahle

In 2011 we witnessed the deaths of some prominent Zimbabweans.

We remember the following people involved in the music industry:
"Prince" Tendai Mupfurutsa, Tongai Moyo, Khumulani Chaka, Takunda Mafika, Khumbulani Gibson Magaya, Cephas Mashakada, Clement Chinyama, Adam Chisvo, DJ Hilton Mambo, music promoter James "Jimalo" Chiyangwa and Sam Mtukudzi.

We also remember the following politicians:
General Solomon Mujuru, Vice President John Landa Nkomo, Edgar Tekere and Elphas Mukonoweshuro

No doubt there are others - we remember them too.

Last but not least we remember our family members and friends who passed on in 2011. We convey our deepest sympathies to all who suffered bereavement in 2011 and may God continue to comfort you as you live through 2012.

Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting  (1 Corinth 15:55)

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. (1 Thes 4:13)

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM ZANZ PRESIDENT

Very little sand is left in the hour glass and 2011 will end in a matter of days. Perhaps it's time to reflect on the year soon to end.

So much has happened in the world, a catastrophic earthquake in Christchurch, a tsunami in Japan, Osama Bin Ladin was finally killed. The ambers of the Arab Spring are dying in places while there are signs of growing tensions in others.  To various degrees the revolution has affected Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria, Yemen, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco and Oman. With such a growing list it looks like we need to take off our shoes to count the toes too!

But there is news other than war, death and destruction. New Zealand clinched the Rugby World Cup. The New Zealand Breakers clobbered the Cairns Taipans 85-67 in the final game of the playoffs to lift the championship. The Breakers are the first New Zealand first-grade team in any sport to win an Australian-based sporting championship.

The National Party won elections for a second term. Talking of elections I went to cast my vote in the morning and was greeted by friendly officials who helped me through the process. In less than 10 minutes I had finished voting and there was no hint of a threat. I found myself wondering why it is that in my home country Zimbabwe people have to be beaten and killed because they happen to belong to another political party.

Until 2008 Zimbabwe was virtually a one party state. But hopes were raised after Robert Mugabe, agreed to an historic power-sharing deal with the two opposition parties in September 2008. The relationship has not been smooth but has taken the country through a period of relative peace and economic improvement. As we heard towards the end of the life of this union there are ominous signs that things are about to unravel. We pray not.

Elections are supposed to be held after a new constitution has been made. A three member team is currently drafting the constitution amid threats mainly from ZANU(PF). Recently Robert Mugabe declared he would stand as the candidate for ZANU(PF) and promised that elections would be held early next year. It is impossible to have the constitution ready before “early next year”. Following his speech we heard that The ZANU-PF co-chairman of the parliamentary select committee on the constitution, Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana, had said the drafters ignored a national report based on information gathered in the public outreach program during 2010 and should be removed. Mangwana has since been told by the Constitutional Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga, that he has no power to unilaterally stop the process.

The MDC-T has asked that the issue of dual citizenship and voting rights for those in the diaspora be included in the new constitution but ZANU(PF) continues to resist. That millions of Zimbabweans are now foreigners thanks to an archaic law seems to be of no import to ZANU(PF). As an association we would like to see this issue addressed in the constitution. It is inconceivable that anyone in Zimbabwe could be insisting that the millions who have become citizens of their adopted countries should lose their Zimbabwe citizenship.

The economy appears to be stabilising after years of hyperinflation, disinvestment and shortages of food and fuel.

According to the Finance Minister Tendai Biti the economy is expected to grow by 7.8% to 9% percent in 2012, compared to a growth rate of about 9.3% in 2011.  The main drivers will be agriculture and mining. Other sectors such as tourism, manufacturing, transport and communication will also contribute to the growth.

Inflation is expected to increase from 3.7% in 2011 to 5% in 2012.

The national budget for 2012 will be $3.5-billion, up from $2.7-billion in 2011. Included in the budget is funding for a constitutional referendum and elections. $2.1 billion will cover wages. A review of the civil service is required to determine if its size is appropriate for the economy.
$4.6 billion is expected from exports next year an increase of 11% on 2011.  Due to improvements in agricultural output food imports are expected to drop by nearly 33%. We hope this trend will continue and that by 2015 Zimbabwe will be self sufficient again.

The current account deficit, the shortfall between exports and imports, is projected to improve from $1.6 billion in 2011 to $1.2 billion in 2012.

Of concern is the omission in the budget of new capital investment. It is also disappointing to hear that the government spent $40 million in foreign travel and there is no information given as to how much business was generated from those travels. We recommend that the government do a proper cost benefit analysis of the travel costs.

Overall we commend the government for taking the bold step to abandon the Zimbabwe dollar to stop the high inflation. However we are concerned about the recent comments by the Reserve Governor Gideon Gono that he intends to bring back the Zimbabwe dollar and hope that the idea will be rejected.

With international relationship with the West beginning to improve more effort is still required to attract investment. We recommend that the government form partnership with those in the diaspora to help compliment the efforts of embassies in strengthening ties with host governments. Some governments respect Zimbabweans living in their countries and the Zimbabwe government could leverage on those relationships through Associations such as ours.

As an association we have been quiet this year and in September we organised a dinner & dance event which as expected was poorly attended. We also in the same month arranged the Zimbabwe Community to meet the Ambassador. The low turnout was shameful to say the least. We are grateful for the few who continue to support events organised on behalf of the community.

From the ZANZ board we wish all of you a Merry Christmas and prosperous 2012.

God bless Zimbabwe