By Freedom Mazwi

POLITICAL developments in Zimbabwe over the past two months have been worrisome and yet revealing, providing an opportunity for democratic players, both in the civic society and progressive political formations, to start seriously thinking about the future of the country by rising above narrow partisan  interests.

SO, Webster Shamu chose World Press Freedom Day to threaten to take off his gloves if the independent media persisted with “an anti-African and anti-Zimbabwe frenzy”?

IN about two months, the Minister of Finance Tendai Biti is due to present his 2012 mid-year budget review.  It is yet again a most unenviable task, for not only must he valiantly (but inevitably unsuccessfully) try to ensure a balanced budget and results in tandem with budget, but he also has to persevere in his efforts to assure economic recovery and growth.  That is a virtually impossible task as long as his government “colleagues” continue to pursue diverse counter-productive and destructive policies. 

Elias Mambo

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s calls for an end to political violence and factionalism in Zanu PF ahead of general elections should be regarded with suspicion since he has immensely benefited from those problems to keep himself in power for 32 successive years.

Gideon Chitanga

IN the article, “Is Zimbabwe Poised on a Liberal Path? The State and Prospects for Parties’’, one of Zimbabwe’s top pro-democracy scholars, the late Professor Masipula Sithole recites views of a certain observer of the liberation struggle during the 1970s on the issue of factionalism.

By Dumisani Nkomo

THE Select Committee of Parliament on the New Constitution (Copac) continues to be mired in speculation, innuendo, polarisation, endless negotiation and growing confusion.

IF you read the state media you would think Zambian President Michael  Sata was a stand-up comedian. Indeed that’s what they called him. One example of his humour was his comment at Heroes Acre that more women should die to make membership there more gender-balanced.   “I think more women should die and be buried here,” he joked.

SOME weeks back Indigenisation minister, Saviour Kasukuwere, was reported to have made an allusion of himself as the modern-day Adolf Hitler. This column contended that he was achieving, using different means, the decimation of the economy as Hitler had done in post-1945 Germany.

Brian Chitemba

THE two MDC parties in the tripartite coalition government with Zanu PF could find themselves in a tight spot should President Robert Mugabe defy them and regional leaders and unilaterally announce election dates before the full implementation of the poll roadmap, including a new constitution.

Ibbo Mandaza

EVEN as it claims to have at last completed its task (after a whopping 36 months!), the Constitution Select Committee, Copac, has failed to dispel the growing public perception that it is largely a failed and wasteful exercise. 

By Dumisani Nkomo

AS Zimbabweans we need to get past our fixation with Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF and begin to forge a very clear path to the future characterised by economic growth, improved service delivery, access to basic services such as health, education, water, energy and availability of jobs, steady incomes and housing.

Psychology Maziwisa

IT might be too early to make any conclusions, but it looks quite possible that historians will look back at President Robert Mugabe’s hour-long speech on Independence Day two weeks ago and conclude it changed our politics forever.

MUCKRAKER is frequently struck by the naivety of diplomats appointed to this country. Instead of spelling out the principles by which their nation’s foreign policy is guided, they are more inclined to say such principles don’t matter.

ONE of the greatest tragedies of the political and economic morass which has affected Zimbabweans for more than 15 years has been the large number of Zimbabweans who have left the country.

Clive Mphambela

THE role of the  Reserve Bank OF Zimbabwe (RBZ) in the prevailing multicurrency dispensation has been brought back into sharp focus following the recent establishment of a monetary policy committee within the bank at a time when the country has no domestic currency, while government no longer has the margin to borrow or print money to expand its limited fiscal space.

Qhubani Moyo

THE ongoing debate about the constitution-making process is crucial and as such Zimbabweans should freely engage the subject to contribute in shaping their future framework of governance. The process is critical as it seeks to consolidate a set of fundamental principles or establish precedents according to which the country will be governed.

Sydney Chisi

THE world today is still fixated with developments triggered by the Arab Spring across the Middle East and North Africa. Young people in Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, Syria and many other places in the region have been a catalyst of social and political change. Their energy has been fuelling democratic change and civic participation in reshaping public policy and the future of their countries.

IN THIS  32nd   installment,  we explore the doctrinal and legislative basis of the concept of trademark dilution.

Transformation of trademark nature and function
The concept of trademark dilution was first crisply articulated by Frank 1 Schetcher in his 1927 seminary paper in which he adamantly advocated for broader protection of uniquely distinctive trademarks owing to their intristic transformatory nature and function to modern commercial practices, against their vulnerability to predators. In his postulation he drew much inspiration and insight from European jurisprudential pronouncements, particularly the German judiciary.

REWARDING employees takes a number of initiatives other than paying them cash remuneration. These initiatives include development opportunities, work-life balance and recognition among others. In this instalment, we will discuss the aspect of recognition through giving feedback for good work done.

IF Procter & Gamble (P&G), the multi-billion dollar-earning diversified pharmaceutical giant can deliberately share product innovation secrets with its competitors, Zimbabwean firms should be comfortable to receive ideas from non-competitors. In fact, they must craft deliberate strategies to source and bid for these ideas.