Textbooks from UK spark fury in Zimbabwe

Members of president Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party have accused education minister David Coltart of advancing a “regime change” agenda – because he acknowledged the books were a gift from Britain and other Western countries.

More than 22 million textbooks are being provided to hundreds of impoverished primary and secondary schools across Zimbabwe.

Previously up to 20 children shared a single dog-eared copy. Britain contributed £5.6 million towards the textbook programme, which is being run by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).

Mr Coltart, a member of the smaller faction of the former opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, has had a foreword inserted into the front of each book.

Some members of ZANU-PF are furious because in it the minister acknowledges that the books come from Zimbabwe’s “generous” friends in the international community, including Britain, Australia and the US.

But Mr Mugabe, 88, tells Zimbabweans that Britain and the West have imposed sanctions on the country – even though in reality only the president, 112 of his cronies and 11 companies linked to them are still under EU travel bans and asset freezes. The Patriot, ZANU-PF’s newspaper, says Mr Coltart should have actually told pupils that the books “come from people who wish their parents ill”.

Pro-Mugabe writer Mashingaidze Gomo said: “Our children are being instructed to show gratitude to those who hate us, those whose illegal unilateral sanctions are making it impossible for us to meet their educational needs.”

Mr Coltart told The Scotsman the claim was “patently ridiculous”. He added: “When I wrote this I showed it to my permanent secretary [a member of ZANU-PF], I even discussed it with a former minister of education.

“There was a process of consultation before this foreword was written. I think it is a partisan comment coming from a relatively small number of people.”

The minister said the textbook programme had been recognised by Unicef as “one of its best programmes worldwide”.

“In some rural schools none of the children had textbooks,” he said.

Britain will hand over £80m in aid to Zimbabwe this year, much of it going to repair the education and health sectors, ravaged by years of misrule by the Mugabe regime.

“It is high time the big wigs in government… showed true appreciation of the massive funds being directed into this country, whether it be food aid, educational support or assistance to our health care delivery system,” said pressure group Sokwanele in a statement.

Although the textbooks were supposed to be locked away for safekeeping while not in use, some have been taken and are being sold by pavement vendors in the capital Harare, where they fetch up to £6 per copy.

Union officials say poorly-paid teachers may be to blame.

Meanwhile, ministers from Zimbabwe – one from ZANU-PF and one each from both factions of the MDC – have pleaded with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton for an end to the restrictive measures.

“Our position is that the sanctions should be removed unconditionally,” said justice minister Patrick Chinamasa.