Friday, November 16, 2007

10 ways why we Ndebeles are the same.

1) Do not want to try.

2) We take ourselves too serious.

3) Always want to follow behind.

4) Afraid to fail.

5) Do not want to share ideas.

5b) To us everything is a secret.

6) Always think About ourselves only.

7) Content with a bicycle, a 10kg roller meal and greens in the garden.

8) We all worked hard for everything we have.

9) Think everyone has go to through the same ladder you used to achieve success.

10) Will try by all means to portray that everything is alright and we do not need help.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Tribal hangups still exist.

While most people would rather be politically correct, it is interesting to note that tribal hangups still exist in Zimbabwe. Due to the sensitivity of the matter most people have resigned themselves to " see no evil hear no evil". Such kind of attitude is not only wishful thinking but also unrealistic, presumptuous and ambitious. I must admit that going with the flow is easier than taking the high way. People in the public offices and media institutions have adapted ways of dealing with this problem just in order to sound and appear diversified.

Just recently a day before the much waited soccer derby between the two Zimbabwe giants Highlanders and Dynamos the Herald nicknamed the game "The battle for Zimbabwe 11"Its one thing to allegories or promote a game and its another to be disrespectful and tribal. If the match between these two teams is the battle for Zimbabwe 11 the paper needs to tell us how he qualifies that statement. To me it sounds mischievous. How can a soccer game which is a weekend leisure and family fun be elevated to such a political status? A statement like that sounds familiar. I have heard one political party reduce another in a similar way during campaign slogans. What is at stake here? Were the two teams fighting for Zimbabwe? What is it about Zimbabwe that they were fighting for?

If they were then when and where was the first battle? Which then of the two teams is more Zimbabwean than another? One can use words the way they want but irresponsibility in using words is not acceptable especially at professional level like that. Again I will ask Who's side was the reporter on. Have not these two teams represented the country at one point or another? Is it that there is so much hate that one would go to such an extent. Is not soccer just a sport. Maybe I took it the wrong way but its clear to me that tribal hangups still exist.

Ten ways to know that you are poor.

1) your paycheck is spent before you get it.

2) Work from sunrise to sunset and your bills still keep pilling up.

3a) If you cannot go to the grocery store without a calculator.

3b) You shop furniture and electrical goods the same place you buy your groceries.

4) When you are excited about going shopping at clothes at Goodwill thrifty shop.

5a) Going to the ATM machine you do not know if anything will come out.

5b) When you can spell the words "insufficent funds" very well.

6) When in community meetings the chairman doesn't narrate your point.

7) When you live in a neighborhood where there are more people sitting outside than in.

8) You have never paid the dentist a visit for all your life.

9a) When you invite your friends to your home, they all give excuses.

9b) When your wife is always yelling at you.

10a) Every month you pray for a miracle to happen in order to pay your rent and electric bills.

10b) Not even the Pastor gives you a hug after church.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Ten reasons why we all need blogs.

1) To write our wrongs.

2) To confess for faults indirectly.

3) So that one can sounds intelligent.

4) Let out bottled anger.

5) A platform to fantasies one ambitions.

6) A good way to learn typing.

7) So that for the first time your name is on the Internet.

8) If you are bored.

b) If you think you are misunderstood.

9) Only way to claim to be popular.

10) Easy way to spread rumours.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

People's mayor looses third term bid.

In one of the most unbelievable and shocking events in the history of politics, the much favored mayor of Indianapolis Mr Bart Petersen lost the bid for the third yesterday. Petersen a charismatic man was for the first time out of words. Six months ago no one would have believed that Greg Ballard could win the election against such a political heavy weight. He was the only one who believed. Mr Ballard who has never run for an public office before will have to face many challenges ahead. Among them is crime. Without doubt the people of Marion County were hard hit by the property tax mess up. This would have seen home owners paying up to $12,000 a year at least. This also was worsened by the plunging housing markets. Marion county or the city of Indianapolis leads in fore closures.

It said that Petersen will be the first incumbent mayor in 40 years to loose a third term bid. It was like David and Goliath fight. It does not sound good for immigrants especially the non documented ones seeing the Republicans have no tolerance whatsoever. Mr Ballard like every Republican might use the illegal immigrants as scape goats for mobilising and reviving the political base. Indianapolis has always been a friendly city to all. The change that Mr Ballard talked about will be felt sooner than later. With the failure of the Congress to address the immigration issue, the city Mayors are now dealing with it in their own way. The USA today probably the largest and widely reader newspapers in the country reported that some major cities are now issuing illegal immigrants drivers, licenses while some are going the extremely opposite direction arresting and deporting them.

Families have been split in the process. Indianapolis had not yet had cases like that before. Most of those who will be African and Mexican immigrants. Just two weeks ago the outgoing Mayor had a meeting with the African community encouraging them to get involved in sharing the Indianapolis cake. It remains to be seen if Greg Ballard will be elected into the second term.

Monday, November 5, 2007

The Little mother's language quiz: Abatsha basakwazi lokhu na?

1
Ubude abuphangwa [ No hurry to be rich]

2 Akuqhili lazikhotha emhlana [No crook is clever than everyone]

3
Udwayi udobhe inqhonqho [Too happy for something]

4
Otshotshi abagelani [ No cheater shares his tacticts]

5
Zobohla manyosi [ It will one day be finished ]

6
Zimbila zantabanye [They think the same or do the same]

7
Kusinwa kudedelwanwa [Give each other chances]

8
Kuguga othandayo [Keep young and smart]

9
Ukwenda akuthunyelwa gundwane [ Wish you knew how difficult marriage is]

10
Likhupha inhlanzi emanzini [ Too hot over 100 d.c.]

Sibonga uMfundisi Mthombeni ngaleizitsho lamazwi ahlakaniphileyo. Sibone ukuthi ngubani ozaphendula lezi ezilandelayo.
Nxa ufuna ungengezelela ezinye.

Kuhleziwe kwakhiwe kudliwa kukhonjwa ngophakathi kufuyiwe komtwakazi Inyamazama zazilamabizo Awe Zinja

1 O khulumutshiye

2 O Bathi'angithini

3 O Bazangenzani

4 O Bangcolile

5 O Bayangizonda

More next mail

Ikhon'ndaba

Friday, November 2, 2007

The good old Christmas.

Ho ho ho! The bells and the music and the rush. You know what time it is. Christmas time, you all. Whether you celebrate Christmas in the city or in the country (emaphandleni) by now I suppose you are ready. As for me I am a city boy no doubt and no apologies. I do have a little rural background up to the third grade. This balances me up really good because at 10 to 12 yrs in the rural areas one is a man. Literally at that age one can do any daily responsibilities. So by the time I came to the city I had already had my training.I must admit the adjustment was hard. Language and other facilities. Town people use a little bit of English every other word. "Ngangiyibhare" I was a jake.

In the country we say "esitolo" while in the city they say "emagrocer". Even the greeting is different, the country people say "Sakubona" while the town folks say "u sharp? Coming form the rural one is considered infirior or substandard . One's accent is rough while the city people's accent is refined. Its like one throat needs few glasses of water before talking and some training.The city has a lot of slang. Everything has a nickname. For example bread and money have many names. "Inyuku" money "uqgu" for isinkwa. For home in rural ares they say "ekhaya" while e toni sithi endlini in our house or "edeni. Nxa sisithi buyisa lapha etoni sithi faka lapha kumbe ngifakela." Some really use proper Ndebele words just as a mockery, like ivinkili for store .I wish my topic was "Coming to the City" I hope to talk about this topic some time.

Christmas time is family time. For most African people in cities, this season time is the only time to visit family back country side. "Emadeni kumbe emadladleni" Most people who do not associate themselves with the rural during the year, will eventually be seen at renkini or other bus terminus heading home. For some reason most people love to celebrate Christmas in the comfort of their mother's huts.That is why there is always too much traffic during the festive season. The dust rural roads gets busy for once. Chicken is the main thing for Christmas. Bread too. Dozens of loves are loaded on top of the buses in sacks with the rest of the goods. "Isinkwa asingcoli"

Christmas is also about food, drinks, new clothes and pretty much just funny. That is the only day when every home or house has a party going on. During the old days we would play new releases from musicians like Lovemore Majayivana, Frddie Gwala, Platform one, Chicco, Peter Tenet, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and the late Brenda Fassie. Coming to really life here in the diaspora, Christmas is different. For most American the day is about the tree and the gifts more than the party and the food. For us the day is sharing with family and friends. A home most people will go to church and get some blessing before going home to party. (eat and drink)

Christmas is commercialised be it at home or abroad. Not much to do with Jesus coming down to earth even though religious music is played everywhere. I miss the old good Christmas even though I am learning the American ways.To post your comment click on the word comment. Share your Christmas with us.Remember the reason for the season.