Award presentation at Syracuse

It comes with a lot of hard work, commitment and passion for the profession.

(Pic: Nikky Allem and the Dean of the university present the award to Frank Chikowore)

Frank scoops the Free Speech Award

I was honored with the Tully Center Free Speech Award here in the United States on Tuesday night.

I would like to thank the Tully Center, the people and organizations that nominated me for this award, not forgetting the panel of judges that saw it fit to recognize my work in poor Zimbabwe as well as all the people who braved the snowy weather to attend the awarding ceremony in the auditorium. It was "fantabulous".

I owe the award to the Zimbabwean people whose right to express themselves has been taken away. Freedom of expression is curtailed with impunity yet citizens continue to be exposed like a defenseless chick besides a hawk.

I must also say that there is freedom of speech in Zimbabwe but there is no freedom after the speech. Thanks again to the Tully Center and I would want to urge to continue the struggle for speech throughout the world.

Students Campaign for Mugabe's Deportation

The Zimbabwe National Students Union yesterday, the 26th of January 2009 launched a campaign dubbed "Bring Bona Mugabe back to Zimbabwe". Please find below the petition to the Chinesse Embassy demanding the immediate return of President Mugabe''s daughter Bona back to Zimbabwe who is advancing her education at Hong Kong University.


27 January 2009
Chinese High Commissioner
Chinese Embassy
Baines Avenues
Harare,
Zimbabwe
c/o
Bona Mugabe
Corner J.Tongogara and 7th Avenues
Harare
RE: BRING BONA MUGABE BACK TO Zimbabwe Campaign
The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), representing the students of Zimbabwe calls for the return of Bona Mugabe, the daughter of the President- designate Mr Mugabe back home to come and suffer with other patriotic students studying in the State Universities. It is disheartening to note that the first family insolently sent daughter Bona Mugabe under an assumed name to the University of Hong Kong, China to further her studies while students in Zimbabwe suffer. Colleges and Universities in the country have failed to open since 2008 amongst other reasons, exorbitant and dollarization of fees, lecturers striking over poor remuneration, serious brain drain of staff resulting in students failing to sit for examinations.
It is the obligation of the Government to oversee that education is accessible to all. The failure by the Mugabe led Government to administer the education sector has seen the once prestigious education sector dilapidated from being one of the best in Africa. According to a UNDP 2006 report, Zimbabwe's literacy rate was at 86% in 1996 but has fallen to 46%. The state of education system is so deplorable that the President has seen it fit to trust the Chinese for the education of his daughter whilst ordinary students are failing to get decent education. The following issues have hit hard on the education system and the Mugabe led Administration has to take immediate action in resuscitating the education system:
· Dollarization of education
The proposed new fee structure quoted in foreign currency has forced thousands of students to drop out of college as a result of failure to pay fees.

· Brain drain
The mass exodus of teaching personnel has resulted in many colleges operating below capacity. Lecturers have migrated to neighboring countries in search of greener pastures and this has had led to the deterioration of the quality of education as many colleges were left with less qualified lecturers resulting in the manufacturing of half baked graduates.

· Academic freedoms
Academic freedoms have ceased to exist in the institutions of higher learning. The imposition of suppressive laws like the Ordinance 30 at colleges has led to the violation of the freedom of expression. Student leaders have been expelled, suspended, arrested for staging peaceful protests against the college administration and the Government over the deteriorating education system.


· Examinations
Lecturers have been on industrial action the greater part of the 2008 academic year and up to date and this has resulted in students failing to write end of semester examinations. 2008 can be declared a non academic year as no meaning learning took place . Grade 7, Ordinary and A Level students were forced to write final examinations without learning the whole year.

In conclusion, ZINASU demands the return of Bona Mugabe as a way of mounting pressure on President Mugabe to resuscitate the once prestigious education system.


Yours Faithfully
Blessing Vava
ZINASU Spokesperson
+263 913 022 456

ZINASU is a national union of students representing all institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe. Its vision is to see a robust education system in a democratic Zimbabwe. And its niche is to defend academic freedoms in Zimbabwe.-- Zimbabwe National Students Union353 Samora Machel Ave, Harare, Zimbabwe,+263912471673/ +263913010369http://us.mc1113.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=zinasu@gmail.comhttp://www.zinasu.org/ZINASU is a national union of students representing all institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe. Its vision is to see a robust education system in a democratic Zimbabwe. And its niche is to defend academic freedoms in Zimbabwe

Full Text: SADC Communique on Zimbabwe Crisis Talks

The Extraordinary Summit of the SADC Heads of State and Government met at the Presidential Guest house in Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, on January 26-27, 2009. The Extraordinary Summit met to review the implementation of the Zimbabwe Global Political Agreement.

2. The Extraordinary Summit was chaired by H.E. Kgalema Motlanthe, Chairperson of SADC and President of the Republic of South Africa

3. The Extraordinary Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government or their representatives:
Botswana H.E. President Lt. Gen Seretse Khama Ian Khama
Lesotho Right Honourable Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili
Mozambique H.E. President Armando Emilio Guebuza, Deputy Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
Namibia H.E. President Hifikepunye Pohamba
South Africa H.E. President Kgalema Motlanthe Chairperson of SADC
Swaziland H.M. King Mswati 111, Chairpeson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation
United Republic of Tanzania H.E. President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete
Zambia H.E. Rupiah Banda
Zimbabwe H.E. President Robert Gabriel Mugabe
Angola Hon Assuncao Dos Anjos, Minister of External Affairs
DRC Hon Alexis Thambwe Muamba, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Seychelles Honourable Patrick Pillay, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Malawi Hon George Chaponda, Minister of Local Governmnt and Rural Development
Madagascar Hon Dr Denis Andriamandroso, Madagascar Ambassador to South Africa
Mauritius Mr Anund Priyay Neewor, GOSK, Secretary of Foreign Affairs
4. The meeting was also attended by His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, Former President of the Republic of South Africa and SADC Facilitator on the Zimbabwe Political Dialogue, Leaders of MDC Formations, Right Honourable Morgan Tsvangirai, Prime Minister Designate and Professor Welshman Ncube, representing Professor Arthur Mutambara, Deputy Prime Minister Designate of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and the Executive Secretary of SADC, Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão.

5. In his opening remarks, His Excellency President Kgalema Motlanthe, Chairpeson of SADC and President for the Republic of South Africa welcomed all delegates to the meeting and re-affirmed SADC’s commitment to finding a lasting solution to the implementation of the Zimbabwe global political agreement.

6. The Extraordinary Summit noted that the people of Zimbabwe are faced with difficult challenges and suffering that can only be addressed once an inclusive government in in place.

7. In view of the above, the Extraordinary Summit decided as follows:
(i) the parties shall endeavor to cause parliament to pass the Constitutional Amendment 19 by February 5, 2009;
(ii) the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Ministers shall be sworn in by February 11, 2009;
(iii) the Ministers and Deputy Ministers shall be sworn in on February 13, 2009, which will conclude the process of the formation of the inclusive government;
(iv) the Joint-Monitoring Implementation Committee (JOMIC), provided for in the Global Political Agreement shall be activated immediately. The first meeting of JOMIC shall be convened by the Facilitator on January 30, 2009, and shall, among other things, elect the chairpersons;
(v) the allocation of ministerial portfolios endorsed by the SADC Extraordinary Summit held on November 9, 2008, shall be reviewed six (6) months after the inauguration of the inclusive government;
(vi) the appointments of the Reserve Bank Governor and the Attorney General will be dealt with by the inclusive government after its formation; and
(vii) the negotiators of the parties shall meet immediately to consider the National Security Bill submitted by the MDC-T as well as the formula for the distribution of the Provincial Governors;

8. the Extraordinary Summit expressed its appreciation for the efforts of His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, Former President of the Republic of South Africa and the Facilitator of the political dialogue on Zimbabwe in helping to find an amicable solution to challenges facing the Republic of Zimbabwe and encouraged him to continue with his facilitation efforts.
9. the Extraordinary Summit commended the political parties to the Global Political Agreement for their openness and constructive engagement in finding a lasting solution to the challenges facing Zimbabwe.

10. SADC shall remain seized with the Zimbabwe situation in keeping with its obligations as guarantor of the Global Political Agreement.
11. the Extraordinary Summit directed the chairperson of the SADC to present the African Union at its forthcoming summit a progress report on the implementation of the Sham- El-Sheik Resolution.

12. the Extraordinary Summit received a brief on the prevailing security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and supports the government efforts to finding a lasting solution to the conflict in the Eastern part of the country. The government of the DRC expressed it gratitude to SADC for the support thus far rendered.

13. the Extraordinary Summit also urged the international community to continue providing the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo with humanitarian assistance.

14. His Excellency President Kgalema Motlanthe officially closed the extraordinary summit.
Pretoria, Republic of South Africa

January 27, 2009

Frank in Syracuse, New York

I have just arrived in Syracuse, New York and it's snowy here. I have met Barbara Croll Fought and Nichole Allem of the Newhouse School of Communications at the Syracuse University. They are both sociable and very accomodative.

I must say that I am pretty tired but I will be giving you more details when I get up; that is if the snow does not kill me.

I guess you are asking yourself what I am doing here! Just watch this space.

Tsvangirai returns from exile

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai returned to Zimbabwe today from self-imposed exile and immediately challenged President Robert Mugabe to respect the aspirations of the Zimbabwean people.

"I would like to emphasize that the MDC would be bulldozed into entering into a deal that does not reflect the aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe", said Tsvangirai.

He was referring to participation in an inclusive government with Mugabe and MDC faction leader Arthur Mutambara.

The MDC says it will not take in the coalition government if key ministries such as Home Affairs, Local Government and Defence, were distributed equiatably amongst political parties.