THE year 2012 had a fair share of newsmakers — those who made news for the right reasons; and the noisemakers — those who graced the news pages for the wrong reasons.
Report By STAFF REPORTERS
Below we randomly list the newsmakers and noisemakers of the last 365 days.
Morgan Tsvangirai
Prime Minister and MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai dominated the news playing an active role both in the formal and informal arena. His perennial political clashes with Zanu PF leader President Robert Mugabe constantly kept him in the spotlight as the two relentlessly fought to outdo each other on policy issues and constitution-making process ahead of the constitutional referendum and harmonised elections expected this year. His bruising court battles with ex-lovers Locardia Karimatsenga-Tembo, Nosipho Regina Shilubane, Loretta Nyathi and Aquiline Pamberi before he settled down for Zanu PF central committee member Joseph Macheka’s daughter Elizabeth kept him under public scrutiny. The MDC-T leader also had a torrid time pacifying dissenting voices in his party following the expulsion of 12 corrupt councillors and alleged imposition of candidates for council and parliamentary seats.
President Robert Mugabe
Known as a tough-talking and no-nonsense leader, Mugabe this year was a man of peace and preached peace at any given opportunity though he regularly retreated to his usual iron-fist stance, threatening to disentangle his party from the coalition government and proclaim an election date before completion of the constitution-making process. His failing health and age kept him under public microscope. He also found himself busy dousing internal flames caused by the unilateral disbandment of the party’s district co-ordinating committees and the unresolved succession issue.
Obert Mpofu
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- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
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The Mines and Mining Development minister and Zanu PF Umguza MP hogged the limelight with his lavish birthday party, expansion of business interests and clashes with party national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo, among other things. In January this year, Mugabe’s “ever-obedient son” Mpofu hosted a birthday party which attracted a record 10 000 people. The politician, who has interests in the hospitality, tourism and mining sectors through his company Trebo and Khays Limited, also acquired a controlling stake in the Zimbabwe Allied Banking Group. He was involved in a spat with his party’s national chairman Khaya Moyo during a politburo meeting over the suspension of Matabeleland North acting provincial chairperson Zwelitsha Masuku at the time believed to be an ally of Mpofu. Mpofu and Khaya Moyo are reportedly battling to replace the ailing Vice-President John Nkomo and have been making moves to control party structures in the Matabeleland region. Mpofu then declared himself the strongest and richest politician in the Matabeleland North. Recently, Mpofu pledged to assist with burial arrangements for late football legend Adam Ndlovu who died in a car crash in Victoria Falls while travelling with younger brother Peter who was injured in the accident. He also pledged to cover Peter’s medical expenses.
Emmanuel Makandiwa
The youthful United Family Interdenominational Church founder Emmanuel Makandiwa stole the thunder from the usual newsmakers mainly due to his prowess to attract huge crowds at his church functions with his Judgment Night attracting a record 100 000 congregants. He also initiated a number of attention-catching projects, among them construction of a traditional leader’s house and free medical checks for villagers in Muzarabani and Centenary. The charismatic church leader, however, made negative publicity when his name was dragged into the controversy surrounding alleged illegal purchase of church stands in Chitungwiza.
Uerbert Angel
Makandiwa’s trusted friend stole the limelight for his birthday where he auctioned his shirt for $10 000, a pair of socks for $1 500; a tie $700; another shirt $4 000 and an air rifle $5 500. The Zimbabwean prophet and Spirit Embassy founder ended the year on a high note by raising more than P2,4 million during a “miracle money” crusade in Botswana. Henrietta Rushwaya The former Zifa chief executive officer stole the limelight after her name continuously popped up during investigations into the Asiagate football match-fixing scandal.
Kembo Mohadi
The Home Affairs co-minister was in the news throughout the year due to his ongoing court fights over land and business with villagers and a Beitbridge businessman.
Ignatius Chombo
The Local Government minister continued his crusade against MDC-T councillors and mayors suspending and firing them at will for alleged incompetence and corruption.
And now to the Noisemakers
Nolbert Kunonga
THE excommunicated Anglican bishop has topped the list as the noisemaker of the year because of his continued persecution of members of the rival Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) led by Chad Gandiya. Kunonga continued with evictions of church members, teachers and support staff at the church premises during the year saying he was the rightful owner of the properties. Even after the Supreme Court had ruled against him in November, Kunonga continued his offensive, challenging the court ruling and defying court orders. In the process, Kunonga threatened to shoot journalists covering his eviction from the church properties.
Saviour Kasukuwere
Indigenisation and Empowerment minister Kasukuwere has also been nominated as noisemaker of the year for troubling companies with his indigenisation programme. He was quoted in the media saying there were no sacred cows in the business sector and that all foreign-owned companies should cede 51% of their shares to locals. Kasukuwere also threatened to extend the company seizures to banks. Locardia Karimatsenga
Tembo, ex-lover of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, is also in the list of the noisemakers after she successfully blocked the MDC-T leader from wedding his new-found love Elizabeth Macheka. She also made news headlines when she filed a record $15 000 monthly maintenance claim against the Premier. Jonathan Moyo
Moyo was also nominated noisemaker of the year for his unending attacks on the constitution-making process by attacking the Copac leaders and accusing them of trying to derail the process. He also went on to write countless articles in the State-run Sunday Mail where he labelled Copac a mafia. Webster Shamu
Media, Information and Publicity minister Webster Shamu made it into the list of noisemakers for his constant attacks on the private media and his refusal to implement media reforms as prescribed under the Global Political Agreement. Shamu in September also threatened to revoke the operating licences of media organisations which he accused of abusing media freedom to denounce the country and its leadership. As Zanu PF political commissar, Shamu also found himself on the wrong side of the coin after his countrywide restructuring exercise exploded in his face, threatening to split the party into tiny fragments. Cain Mathema
The Bulawayo Metropolitan Governor is the paper’s Noise Maker of the Year for his dismissal of Tsvangirai’s calls for Gukurahundi victims to be compensated and snubbing of recently appointed United States Ambassador Bruce Wharton. Mathema, who is also Zanu PF deputy national spokesperson, labelled as “stupid and daft” politicians and civic society leaders clamouring for compensation for victims of the 1980s Gukurahundi massacres. He is also on record blaming poor service delivery in Bulawayo on “uneducated MDC-T councillors” whom he equated to touts.
