ParliamentaryParliamentary MonitorMonitor A Weekly e-Newsletter Published by the Parliamentary Monitoring Trust of

18 January, 2013. issue 2.3

Ordinary Voices Xtra-ordinary Impact RIPRIP VPVP NKOMONKOMO

To be neutral is to stand for the poor,to meet their needs,to see to it that Zim citizens have their dreams real- ised so that they can stand up chest out amongst other citizens from other nations,to bring back the eroded dignity to a Zimbo when he or she is VP Nkomo is an eminent na- We have lost a real revolution- standing on the inter- ary, fighter for freedom, friend of tionalist, a liberation war icon national stra- the people and lover of children. and a committed patriot who tum - Falcon “He will be dearly missed by all will be sadly missed by all Amos of us.I want to express on behalf Zimbabweans - PM Tsvangirai In this issue of government, my party Zanu PF and the Cabinet our sincerest What they said 2 condolences to the family, his Village Observer 2 relatives and all his friends.— Whether as a teacher, a politician, an ad- Social Media 3 President Mugabe vocate for Zimbabwe’s independence, or Back Page 4 as a public servant, Vice President Nkomo was a patriot who dedicated his life to As a party we are convinced Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and prosperi- The Bottom-line that the pursuit of peace ty. As a leader of PF ZAPU and ZANU-PF, and justice will be the great- Zimbabwe is a nation,lets Mr. Nkomo played an important role in work towards improving its est gift we can ever give in shaping the course of Zimbabwean histo- citizens,not advancing our honor of John Landa Nko- ry. May he rest in peace. - US Embassy political agendas and im- mo—MDC President proving our political party image.Hospitals need medi- cine. www.pmtz.org [email protected] Ipalamente yethu ilizwi lethu our parliament our voice paramende yedu izwi redu Page 2 Parliamentary Monitor 18 January, 2013. issue 2.3 on...fb.me/1s777aozk Mobile Web (M2)

RT @Welshman_Ncube: The MDC values the contribution John Nkomo made to a Welshman_Ncube10:15am stable and peaceful political environment in via Web NehandaRadio10:28am via the country as co-Chair of the NHRI organ As a party we are convinced that the pur- web RT @nyanyadzi: Controversy seeking suit of peace and justice will be the great- gone wrong. RT "@NehandaRadio: Roy est gift we can ever give in honor of John Bennett attacks US hypocrisy on John Landa Nkomo Nkomoshar.es/4V9jJ via @NehandaRadio" Welshman_Ncube10:15am via web As a party we are convinced that the pursuit of peace and justice will be the greatest gift we can ever give in honor of Welshman_Ncube10:14am John Landa Nkomo via Web We painfully note he departed at a time when his appeal for peace n unity was nyanyadzi10:26am via Twitter about to go for litmus test in this year’s for BlackBerry® Controversy seeking gone watershed elections wrong. RT "@NehandaRadio: attacks US hypocrisy on John Nko- mo shar.es/4V9jJ via @NehandaRadio" Welshman_Ncube10:13am via web The MDC values the contribution John Nkomo made to a stable and peace- ful political environment in the country as Welshman_Ncube10:13am co-Chair of the NHRI organ via Web The MDC values the contribution John Nkomo made to a stable and peace- Fjeeezy10:26am via web ful political environment in the country as co-Chair of the NHRI organ RT @Welshman_Ncube: As a party we are convinced that the pursuit of peace and justice will be the greatest gift we can ever DavidColtart10:08am via So- give in honor of John Landa Nkomo cial Proxy by Mailchimp John Nkomo: what they said: New Zimbabwe 16 January 2013 VICE President John Nkomo lost his battle DavidColtart10:08am via So- with ...davidcoltart.com/?p=5234 cial Proxy by Mailchimp John Nkomo: what they said: New Zimbabwe 16 January 2013 Bulawayoagenda210:21am VICE President John Nkomo lost his battle via web We send our condolences to the with ... Nkomo family,friends and the rest of Zim- babwe on the passing on of VP John Nko- mo.May his soul rest in peace Mugrade710:07am via Face- book MY LONG SUFFERING FATHER HAS FINALLY RESTED - JOHN NKO- MO'S SON SAYS VP John Nkomo’s son, Jabulani says the... fb.me/2uy0roTB0 _DIAMOND_110:33am via Twitter for iPhone R.I.P Vice President John ugandapicks110:21am via Landa Nkomo twitterfeed Zimbabwe’s Vice President John Nkomo Dead: Zimbabwe’s Vice Presi- dent John Nkomo has died at the age of 79, Stat...bit.ly/Scm3BR Sizzle7610:06am via web

RT @NehandaRadio: Roy Bennett attacks DavidColtart10:33am via So- US hypocrisy on John Nko- cial Proxy by Mailchimp Vice-President John mo shar.es/4V9jJ via @NehandaRadio Nkomo dies: News Day By Philip Chida- vaenzi 18 January 2013 Vice-President timmaks10:17am via Twitter for (VP) Jo... davidcoltart.com/?p=5252 iPhone

Zimbabwean Vice-President John Nkomo has died after treatment for cancer in Welshman_Ncube9:59am South Africa.” Not a good time to be a poli- via web Condolence message on the pass- ing on of Vice President John Landa Nko- usembassyharare10:29am tician. :( momdczim.net/article/185/co… via Facebook The Embassy of the United States of America expresses its condolences to the family and the people of Zimbabwe TheRedFoxx_5410:15am via Parliamentary Monitor 18 January, 2013. issue 2.3 18 January, 2013. issue 2.3 Page 3 Virtual Public Gallery ……. Using Social Media to Monitor Parly

PMTZ’’s facebook group Parliamentary Monitor is an interactive virtual public gallery where instead of being spec- tators, citizens raise issues and seek solutions. As part of the integration of the social media platform and this e- newsletter, we take excerpts of some of the posts on the facebook group and share with others.

stand for the poor,to meet their needs,to see *Thula mungane wami,impilo yakho to it that Zim citizens have their dreams real- yizoba right One Day my poor ised so that they can stand up chest out amongst other citizens from other nations,to friend* :~chu Falcon Amos bring back the eroded dignity to a Zimbo when he or she is standing on the interna- If wishes were horses,I would think of Like · · Follow post · 14 December 2012 at 02:31 2 people like this. tional stratum:~chu a neutral Zimbabwean Commission that monitors activities being carried 8 January at 23:36 · Like · 1 out by our political parties.As all politi- cal parties are trying to outdo one an- other,demanding and luring attention Jones Musara Be the change of potential supporters,weighing each you want to see Falcon Amos 14 December other to see who makes the 2012 at 02:39 · Like · 1 Ranganai Chiwara The money most,loudest,colourful noise ever,in to attend to our plight is there, we don't the misdt of all this,The Zim Commis- need to liquidate national assets to finance sion would make a Declaration state- poverty alliviation programs. The wasted ment for every political party to halt in money on the draft ,culd hve bn allocated for better use than this. their blind path of insatiable thirty to Falcon Amos True there Czar get into power and ask them to first Jones Lion Musara.A thought is the Nebula of 8 January at go back to the people,urgently attend all actions under the earth.Just a mere thought landed a man on the moon.:~chu 14 23:54 via mobile · Edited · Like · 2 to people's plight first. December 2012 at 02:44 · Like · 1 If we were to analyze and audit all the funds that have been used so far in these political campaigns from all po- litical parties it would be shocking I Ranganai Chiwara But because tell you.And would we be able to lo- Jones Musara good one, no national interest is not a piority, we tend to cate activities that are supporting the problem 14 December 2012 at see all in the name political parties poor in all these campaigns?I won- 02:46 · Like · 1 der.Lets not stoop so low to ignore the 8 January at 23:50 via mobile · Like · 2 plight of our people we purport to lead and squander all the funds in our bid to seek to be elected in the forthcom- ing elections.Zimbabwe is a nation,lets Kudzie Muhlanga My question work towards improving its citi- is, who is neutral? 8 January at Falcon Amos And why is it tak- 19:37 via mobile · Like · 1 zens,not advancing our political agen- ing this long for COPAC to come up with the das and improving our political party much awaited Draft document?Are we travel- ing to the diaspora to collect what people are image.Hospitals need medicine. saying out there?People had some high If we were to sell,say,4 helicopters hopes to see what they had said in the Draft from our military or some of those but alas,it has remained a dream.:~chu Kudzie Muhlanga My question shiny expensive fleet of PM's vehicles is, who is neutral? 8 January at and redress our sanitary system in our 19:37 via mobile · Like 8 January at 23:57 · Like · 1 cities,surely that will go a long way in alleviating poverty.Too many idle na- tional assets which can be disposed of to raise funds to save lives.Lets think about it. Falcon Amos To be neutral is to Feedback? [email protected] 18 January, 2013. issue 2.3 Page 4 Parliamentary Monitor VP Nkomo Condolences Politics Within Politics

Jones Musara @Cde Ranganai Nyamutatanga Makombe Taungana B. Ndoro That Chiwara: "The money to attend to our plight is With what is happening in MDC (Ncube) is the outcome of parties formed there, we don't need to liquidate national as- is it not proper to raise issues pertain- as a spoil-sport; a pitiable dooms- sets to finance poverty alliviation programs. ing to 1) Crossing the floor 2) Recall 3) day eventually beckons as it disin- The wasted money on the draft ,culd hve bn tegrates into nothingness. If the allocated for better use than this." exactly!! Whipping party members especially Austrian statesman Klemens Wen- excellent!! ditto!! MPs. Like · · Unfollow post · 21 November zel von Metternich was alive today 2012 at 09:33 he would call the MDC-N "a loud- 9 January at 00:58 · Like · 1 sounding nothing" while Viscount Castlereagh the British Foreign Minister of the early 1800s would Joel Tichaona Chifamba Raise call it "a piece of sublime mysti- the issues and let's hear. cism and nonsense." 21 November 2012 at 10:56 · Like · 1 Jones Musara Falcon Amos: The 21 November 2012 at 09:57 · Like long delayed COPAC process has been a sheer waste of money and time for sure. As Cde Ranganai Chiwara has indicated, all the Joel Tichaona Chifamba What time and resources that are being wasted on would they call Mutambara's MDC? 21 Novem- COPAC could have been used to address the ber 2012 at 11:04 · Like real pressing issues of...See More Nyamutatanga Makombe Joel Tichaona Chifamba My take is we should have a clause for recall in the constitution, but I also 9 January at 01:04 · Like · 1 wanted to hear what others think on floor crossing, is it OK or bad for democracy, whose Taungana B. Ndoro The British interests are served when one crosses the Conservative Prime Minster 1923-24 Stanley floor? 21 November 2012 at 10:01 · Like Baldwin would have quipped ""I would rather be an opportunist and float than go to the Falcon Amos We are enemies of bottom with my principles around my neck!" our own progress.You have summed it up very 21 November 2012 at 11:24 · Like · 1 well Jones Musara:~chu 9 January at Joel Tichaona Chifamba I think 01:06 · Like · 1 Zimbabweans tend to vote more along party lines than for particular individuals. Only inde- This issue is dedicated to the late VP pendent candidates like in the Vimbai Zinyama Mushonge- last election may have some room to choose a John Nkomo. We may have differed ra And I would call them cheap opportunist party to align with, but this may still be viewed and tarnished ghost of Napoleon 22 November in some respects but it was hearten- as betrayal by the voters who may have opted 2012 at 07:20 · Like · 1 ing to see how Zimbabweans across for independent candidates in protest against the political parties. Tricky one this. 21 No- the divide united in mourning him. vember 2012 at 10:11 · Unlike · 2

Roy Bennet torched a storm accusing the US of hypocrisy when they send a condo- lence message to Nkomo’s family (see page 1). Bennett said: ... I’m not sure what the Madisnyongoro of the American agenda is, but this is total rubbish. How can anyone with any sense say that John Nkomo dedicated his life to Zimbabwe’s prosperity. Since the 1980s, he has sat at Week???? the heart of the beast that has destroyed Zimbabwe’s economy. He has held the hand of the dictator that has obliterated our hopes and freedoms. He must now be remem- bered by the choices he made. He chose to oppose the people, rather than serve them. He walked around in tailor-made suits while Zimbabweans walked in rags….Does he deserve to be madisnyongoro or he was speaking for the people. Tell us

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