Kati AmaNdebele eZimbabwe akhalelani?

Kulesaga sesingisi eisithi akalantuthu kungelamlilo. Lokhu kutsho ukuthi konke lapho okulentuthu khona phakathi emkenkeni ukhona umlilo. Lanxa lesi saga singatgsho intuthu yomlilo yona ngokwayo.Sitsho ukuthi ungezwa abantu bekhonona kukhona okukhona. Ezinsukwini ezimbalawa kumbe ngeqe ngithi eminyakeni embalwa eyedlulileyo sibona antu abanengi besiNdebeleni kumbe ngithi izizwe zehalngothini lwesiMandebeleni jikelele zitshengisa ukungasuthiseki ngesimo langesiphatho elizweni leZimbabwe. Ukwanda kobandlululo kakhulu nxa sokufika ekwabeleni inotho kumbe inzuzo yelizwe kuba sobala ngaso sonke isikhathi kumahlabezulu.

Kuyadanisa ke ukuthi laloba usukukhangela ngayiphi indlela ubandlululo lukhulu futhi lukhona okungabuzwayo. Mthwakazi sesihlaselwe! Singakhala ngezinto ezincinyane ezinjenge ziphele kodwa iqiniso yikuthi inyoka isengena ekhaya yanaba yachiba. Lezi zinto aziqalanga namuhla Mthwakazi kandaba, kudala ziqalile thina sikhona sivuleka amehlo selidume ledlula. Ungakubalisa kube kunengi ukuswelakala kwemisebenzi koBulawayo, lakweleMandebeleni jikelele, lokuswelakala kwamathuba ezemfundo engaphezulu, amacolleges konke kukhoma nto yinye.

Kukho konke lokhu lokunye esikawayo into edanisayo yikuthi lanxa silamandla okuguqula izinto sisuka singabe sisayasebenzisa. Sithengisa ubuyothi bethu ngexa yezwe lonke kodwa lona izwe lonke alilandaba lathi loba langa linye. Kuthi nxa sokuvotwa sithi thina ye asifuni ukuvotela okwakithi ngoba yikuba yinkethabetshabi thina sikhangele umuntu ongabusa izwe lonke. Yokho nje lapha esisuka silahleke khona. Amandla silawo kodwa asiwananzeleli ukuthi singawasenenzisa njani ngoba sithi thina sibalutshwana ngeke senze mehluko oyangaphi. Singasola zonke lezi izinto ezenzakalayo kodwa kumele sihlale phansi sizinuke amakhwapha sithi kati kubgaphi lapha esiphambanisa khona. Ngesingis bathi " Charity begisna at home"
 Ngiyaqeda!

Ten things we can learn from Vice President Joyice Mujuru's dilemma

The recent fallout of the Zanu PF heavy weights among them Vice President Joyice Mujuru,  Rugare Gumbo , Jabulalni Sibanda, Didmus Mutasa, Dzikamai Mavhaire  and many other in the ruling party last month shows that the President Mugabe has no friend when it comes to power. For many of us onlookers who are watching this thing play out it in public,  it becomes a clear confirmation that the ruling party is a Mugabe cult.

While it is difficult not to sympathize with those fallen from "grace". It is also a reminder of what the party stands for. In the past for weeks we saw Joyice Mujuru former known as Teurayi Ropa Nhongo during the liberation war virtually stripped of her credentials. All these years she was known a decorated war veteran who once brought down a Rhodesian plane using a AK 47. It was more saddening that funny to see her being embarrassed in public like that. Not that its something new in to degrade somebody in that manner by the ruling party cronies. It is normal. And sadly to see them do that to somebody in their own party and government is taking it to another level. Not one political analyst would have predicted that. I have always said that the liberation movement was hijacked by power hungry folks and nothing could be further form the truth.

It is worth noting that Grace Mugabe personally discredited and embarrassed his husband's assistant. For along time Mujuru maintained her composure in the face of face of attacks form the left right and center. Grace would go on to say that if she the VP does not quit on her own, she would personally make sure that she is removed, not before dishing out her corrupt business practice in public. The President's wife  acting as the heir to the highest office in the land ,took no prisoners. She left a trail of blood everywhere she went. People were falling form the left right and center. Those who were not on his side were against her, and were quickly replaced, suspended in some cases banned from the party.  

To be continued. 

More on Jabulani Sibanda and others!

What we can learn from Ferguson Tragedy

Ferguson!

 My opinion!
I am usually outspoken about different social issues. My take take on Ferguson tragedy is somehow very limited since I did not follow the whole story from the start. I must however be clear to say that tragedies like the recent one in Ferguson Missouri and the (Oakland C.A in the 90s) happens everyday in many American cities everyday. Race related issues tend to divide a nation. Or should I say that they expose the division within a nation. If you ask my opinion on the issue of race relations and racial disparities in America today. I will tell you that this is a nation that has made great progress in this regard and I will also tell you that a lot can still be done. The real Ferguson is in mainstream of governing systems, that includes the lawmakers, Law enforcement, Judiciary, Prosecution, Public Safety and various communities in different counties and zip codes.

One of the test question that I was asked a lot in my early years when I first came to this great country is, How is America? Or " What do you think about America? I hesitant to answer this great question for fear of trying to form a quick opinion on such a big port of stew. I am grateful that I resisted that temptation.Fourteen years later, I am still learning new things about this country and its people. Here is what I have learnt in short. I have observed that people are different.Someone might says yea that is obvious and what do you expect. Well I meant that not all black people think the same. The same applies to white to people, they look similar but their are different. I also discovered that people of color that includes black people or "African Americans" do not subscribe to the same school of thought.I can safety say this because, I have had the opportunity to interact with a lot of people both in work places and at their homes.( I once had a job that gave me an access to see people in their residential places) I also worked in various public places.

I interviewed black people of various classes on various issues and various age groups both male and female. The result were stunning. I was amazed that even during the time of the late Rev Martin Luther Jr, not all black people or (Negroes if you like) supported the cause that he fought for. There was never one school of thought. While still there, for those of us who have seen the non racial movements video clips of the fifties and sixties on television, you cannot help will realize that white people also played a vital role in many areas including marches. Some to the the point of death. America is a country that thrives on ideas. The history of this country is filled with great heroism even from the times of ending slavery to desegregation in the sixties. Speaking at the NCCAP the former President George W Bush noted that as much as the American constitution begins with the phrase, "All men are created equal, it was only in the last fifty years that the phrase became a reality" I must also point  out that there are some scholars who argue that desegregation  dealt a great blow to black people. They say because "the best of the best" left their communities and as a result the black community suffered a great deal.

Now here is my opinion if you have been waiting for it. First and foremost I do not want to sound apologetic to racism in any way shape or form. Let me be clear as I stated earlier that I think this is nation that can still make progress. The late Rev King famous speech "I have a dream" delivered on the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 calling to end racism in America, is in itself a standard and a scale that we can use to measure the progress in racial equality. Obviously the ground is not yet level. Many scholars on the other hand argue that America has not progressed fifty years later. That I agree. The dream of vision of "Negroes child playing side by side with white counterparts was not an end but was a means"  It was not a promised land. Rev Martin Luther himself noted that the haves not are in many colors. It is now harder that ever to make a case of racism and discrimination because the issue is not hundred percent color. The are many factors involved. I have seen favoritism in work places,white privilege, sexism and so. And funny enough in some places its mere ignorance about the people of a different race, hence one feels threatened by them.

I have lived mostly in so called white neighborhoods and I know how it feels when you get the feedback that you are an outside, even without you do anything. I will never forget a "funny incident" that I saw on one television news broadcast. It happened that a bank in a small town was robbed allegedly by a black person. Seeing the story on TV, I concluded that that small town must have had zero percent black people. The Sheriff appeared after the robbery announcing that if anyone sees a black person, they must report him to the Police right away" I did not know the end of the story but I to me it was sounded racially sensitive. Again that news cast was meant specifically for that small town. Putting myself in their situation, How else would the Sheriff had phrased it? I am pretty sure he meant no offence but hey that was what he said.

Co-operation with Police is key.

I still remember a time back in 2002 when I was fairly new here in Indiana. I lived in town called Speedway.Its situated within the city limits of the capital Indianapolis. I was driving from a late night shift after a daily work schedule. I was pulled over by a Police officer, who was under the impression that I had consumed alcohol considering what time of the night it was. He asked me if I had any drink and I replied him confidently, "Sir I have never consumed alcohol in my life" He then asked to hand him my driver's license of which I complied. After going back to his car to verify my documents, he then asked me to pull out of the car slowly with my hands lifted up above my head. Again I complied. He asked me to walk straight putting my foot one after another in such away that had I been drunk I would have fallen over in the process. I passed the test. He made me count down from thirty thousand to one thousand. Again I passed. He made me do another sobriety test for the third time. I willfully and gladly complied. While all this was happening, five other troops had gathered to support him in just in case. I was surrounded by police officers flashing every light each in their cars, all armed to teeth, some with dogs. In no time the other guys seeing my co- operation drove away. "Lo and behold" I was left with this officer who first pulled me over, and he is still trying hard to find something wrong with me. And Luckily he did not find anything.It does not mean that they are not going to be racists.I know a lot of friends who got their drivers license messed up this way.

 In some States tickets or license suspension is considered a felony and therefore it makes it hard for one to get a good job. No matter how qualified, especially if its DUI. We have to teach our young people how to behave when dealing with Police. And surely I know that its not always that the kids are wrong, but either way we are losers. The system has double standards does not care about us at all The biggest tragedy after the long and hard fought struggle for racial equality is that it was not narrated well to  this generation. They do not vote.Some times its by choice or default. It is also estimated that there are over two million black men in America's prison today. To put it in perspective that is like the whole population of Botswana. I must also mention that there is an increase in number of Police officer who die very year in most cities both black and white. I would suspect that is the reason why Police are so much alarmed. Either way its a tough situation because they are the ones who protect us. And really we are the ones who sends them. As for personal judgement in as far as their safety is concerned. Its a gray area. We will never know the truth. Its been said that the only reason why history repeats itself is that so many people were not listening the first time. We would hate to a have another Ferguson tragedy.

Is Bulawayo a sleeping a giant?

One thing that has always baffled my mind about the mindset of our people especially in Matabeleland region is the fact that most people do not understand the power they have at their disposal. This is in reference  to both in as consumers and as citizens in general. Many will argue that there are many factors leading to this. It would be foolish to deny that the people of this region have faced more intimidation that any other region to the point of death itself. As much as we all know that Bulawayo is traditional the political capital of Zimbabwe, since the fall of King Lobhengula back in 1893. History also has it that the biggest political movements started in Bulawayo in the early fifties all the way to the sixties. Even the present political leaders know and understand that in order for them to announce any major political developments they have to come to Bulawayo. Also a former industrial hub of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo is still positioned as a major link in the whole Southern African region. Both on rail and by road.

President Mugabe who in his time as the leader of free Zimbabwe has done everything in his power to make sure that Bulawayo and the surrounding areas are not only under developed, but also stripped of the glory that they had before Independence. President  Robert Mugabe a self confessed hater of the City of Kings has done all to render the city a white elephant. He has from time to time told his supporters how glorious the City was back in the 1940s when his father left his mother for and married Ndebele woman kontuthu "ziyathunqa". Many people suspect that young Mugabe is still fighting for the jealousy and envy caused by his father's descent. As evidenced by his madness and anger towards the region of Matabeleland back in the early eighties when he first gained power from Ian smith. Prime Minister Robert Mugabe did not waste his time flexing his power on the people of the region. This would be his only ticket to his ambitious one party state system. It is known how many people died in this operation witch hunt effort orchestrated by a military winged formed outside the normal National Army channels known as the Fifth Brigade.This were hand picked form the ZANU PF Youth supporters and brain washed trigger happy child militias.

The then ZAPU leader Joshua Nkomo who at the time was the only viable opposition suffered humiliation as he had to flee to England after Mugabe had instructed every member of the army to shoot and kill him. Some estimates put the number of those who died to a least twenty to thirty thousand. It lasted over five years. Those who survived were subjected to curfews and random home raids. This strategy was effective in making sure that people understood that they were under surveillance at any point and time. Some people disappeared over night without a trace up to this very day. Dr Nkomo had no choice but to give in tot he Unity Accord agreement. This infamous Accord was successful in stopping the violence that ZANU PF had long perpetrated on Ndebele people or any ZAPU supporters in Matebeleland and Midlands. A famous Bulawayo artist Maseko would later paint Dr Joshua Nkomo signing the unity accord while he under strict security surveillance and had blood was flowing down his head . Maseko could not have put it any better. To be continued!

More than politics

A picture says thousand words

You know things are not right when political parties are using traffic signs as campaign billboards.  Evidently this symbolic as you can see  is the ruling party's poster. This poster has been here for over a  year  half and nobody dares try to remove it, long after the elections of 31st July 2013.

The message on this picture is clear for all to see, that the ruling party has no respect for rules and ordinances as well as by laws of the cities, town ,villages or even councils. They are the law unto themselves, and they alone. In short its called lawlessness . The past few months have seen a renewed illegal land grab by the ruling party officials in selected areas around the country. This is without regard to the High Court ruling. President Mugabe himself was heard saying that "No white person will own the land in Zimbabwe anymore" The public responded with a huge outcry on many social media forums. Even the President's favorite minister " Minister of tourism appealed for some sense. Not to mention the Justice Minister who literally too away the President's hate full words and modified them when he was answering a question in Parliament that same week.

One instance that stood out was when the war veterans illegally camped in Cde Dumiso Dabengwa's personal farm in Figtree. At first it all sounded like a big joke but after two weeks the former Zipra intelligence commander soon realized that ZANU Pf was out to punish him big time. With support of the people of Matabeleland and the youth in particular the war vets felt the pressure mounting and they gad to move. Needless to mention that they had defied the High court orders as usual. Some where already occupying the Conolly farm not to far form that area. There are reports of farm invasions in Umguza area and one of them belongs to the Bulwayo City council. It serves as a nature reserve place.

This an arrogant government which neither fears God not regard men. People are robbed in broad day light from the left right and center. I will not not tell you how many police and Zimra agents are all over  the  roads. I had to undergo  many road blocks during my nine days visit. It is unbelievable that   people do not even question these things any many more. You just pay whatever they demand and off they go!

They are forced to pay for many services that they do not even use. There is serious load shedding and regular water rationing in most cities. The civil organizations are sounding faint every day. Its a dog eat dog. Poverty is rampant, those who are making it are really making it whilst the rest are below poverty datum line. People are sen walking along the main roads because they cannot even afford public transport. There is no money flowing anymore, Even civil servants do not know when they are going to get paid. Better are those who are connected to the ruling party shefs.  Everybody is backing for their supper as one writer put it!

Life , religion, politics, economics and theater

Indeed  I have been away for a long time from this desk. I am thankful to finally be able to make it back again. I must admit that as much as I like to write about world events I find myself not knowing where to start. I am pretty sure we all fell the same in our own ways as individuals. Everything seem to be happening fast in our world. It could be the fact that the definition of the term "our world" has  changed thanks to social media and other modern forms of communication.Whether we like it, or not we are now more connected to other human beings more than any other time in the history of human race. For example if I can try to write about things that has happened in the last three months I would write a book. Here is what comes to my mind right away, US and Russia stand off! The Ebola crisis in West Africa! the rise of ISIS terrorist beheading people's head alive in the Iraq. Factionalism in Zimbabwe's ruling party and the Rise and rise of Grace Mugabe and her speedy PHD that she acquired in just two months!

How about starting on my journey to Zimbabwe for the second time in fours years. I was glad to sneak into the country this past June just for a few days to check on my family. I was only away for two weeks of which I spend over a week literally on the road or on air. I went to Zimbabwe on a very slim budget but thank God I managed tot make it back regardless. I was able to see my relatives and most importantly my parents. I could not have bee more happier to see my dad who is yet to recover from the terrible stroke he suffered about six years ago. It is in such circumstances that one can really count their blessings. In Zimbabwe and indeed in most African countries "we bury people alive" Most hospitals are a joke. There is no health care at all, except for the few rich who can afford to go out of the country like President Robert Mugabe who visits Malaysia regularly for medical attention. I wonder how many ordinary people can afford that in a country where there is literally no employment at all! Most can can hardly get enough to eat or let alone send their children to school.

In short life is difficult. It seems to get hard especially for us African people everywhere. Just last month over a 115 people were killed when a building collapsed in a Nigerian church known as the Synagogue of nations. This saw over 85 South African who had visited Africa's populous nation perish in a instant collapse of building without warning. We are seeing more bizarre things happening around the continent especially in terms of politics and religion. God forbid, church minister are becoming desperate for miracles, signs and wonders. One church minister is said to be going around making church congregation eat grass and drink some petrol fuel. There are a lot of things that are going around that one may need to hear to believe. Its all happening in the theater of life.

Ikhonaindaba.blogspot forum celebrating 7 years of beating the drum.

125 000 readeship and still growing! Thank all MahlabezuluSiyabonga Mthwakazi kandaba ondlela zimhlophe! Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu

Mugabe warns white farmers to clear out the land in Zimbabwe!

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe today told white farmers, defying orders to hand over their land, that he stands by an August deadline for them to clear out and pave the way for his black resettlement land reforms.

"We set ourselves an August deadline for the redistribution of land and that deadline stands,"

Mugabe said in a televised address during a funeral for a former finance minister.

Mugabe's government had ordered 2,900 of the remaining 4,500 white commercial farmers to surrender their lands without compensation to black settlers by midnight (2200 GMT) last Thursday, August 8.

"We, the principled people of Zimbabwe, we, the true owners of this land, shall not budge. We shall not be deterred on this one vital issue, the land. The land is ours," Mugabe told more than 15,000 supporters.

Farming sources have estimated that about 40 percent of the farmers had obeyed the instruction but others were holding on in the hope of a reprieve from the country's courts or from Mugabe.

Mugabe said the deadline would allow new owners of the land enough time to prepare and plant for the new crop season, which should start in October.

White farmers defying the order to leave their land face up to two years in jail.

Returning to his regular condemnation of Britain's role in opposing his government and its land seizures, Mugabe said:

"No gold, no silver is precious enough to buy our sovereignty. We are not for sale. We are not for sale, and Zimbabwe is not for sale. Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans. We are not for the highest bidder in Europe or elsewhere.

"Let (British Prime Minister Tony) Mr Blair hear it. We are not for the British bidder either," said Mugabe, who led the country to independence from Britain in 1980.

Farmers facing an abrupt end to a lifestyle they have lived for generations had hoped for a reprieve on Monday, but Mugabe did not back off.

Local government minister Ignatius Chombo was quoted earlier as telling the black farmers at Blanket, 100 km (60 miles) northwest of Harare: "Those (white farmers) who have not moved out of designated farms should immediately do so.

"The law will deal with those who continue to defy the government directive."

But police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena told the Herald police had had no reports of farmers resisting orders to leave their properties and believed the process was moving smoothly.

Zimbabwe's land reform programme, a trigger for tightening Western sanctions against Mugabe and his top aides, is being driven to a climax amid a worsening regional food crisis.

Up to 13 million people, close to half of them in Zimbabwe, could starve over the next six months as a result of drought and political mismanagement across six countries in the region.

Whites owned more than 70 percent of the best farmlands when colonial rule formally ended in 1980, but most have said they are willing to give up some of it under an organised programme.

History text book teaches tribal superitority in Zimbabwe's schools

Has anyone read the Dynamics of History Book 3, that was written by S Mukanya?  It was published by the College Press in 1995 and has been re-printed since then through 2011. People this book is being used nationwide by form 3 pupils as a text book.  Our history is being distorted in front of our eyes and we are not doing anything about it.  Our languages are slowly being compromised and we are not doing anything about it as a collective body.  There are quite a number of individuals that have tackled this issue as single-handedly, and I must say unless we approach this as a collective body, we will lose this battle if we have not already.   

Are our people aware of this distortion of our history. Surely something needs to be done to correct this:

On page 100, in the last paragraph, the book confidently claims that: "Lobengula died of Malaria."

On page 102, in chapter 10, titled: Chimurenga, the first sentence reads: "Chimurenga (Impi katthoka elibomvu) is the first liberation war in this country, from March 1896 to October 1897 and was to resume in the northeast under the leadership o Mpondera and Chingooo in 1901," it says.

This is despite the fact that the first resistance to the encroachment of imperialism in Zimbabwe was done by the Ndebele in the Anglo-Ndebele war of 1893. 

On page 111, the innocent and unsuspecting form three pupils are taught that: "At full noon in June, the slaughter of the whites was to start in Mashonaland, what then broke out at full noon in June was the Shona phase on Chimurenga 1.

"But although colonial historians would like it to look like two separate risings, it is interesting to note that what they call the Ndebele Rebellion was started not by the Ndebele but by the Shona people of Mberengwa.

 Whereas, on page 114, the book claims that the Ndebele were treated by the white settlers as 'dangerous' neighbours and the Shona as 'cowardly.' It was therefore a 'surprise that the very Shona people plunged into war in 1896.'

 The book goes on: "The second surprise was that the Shona fought on for more than a year and demonstrated greater determination than the Ndebele," it says.

On page 172, the book claims that Joshua Nkomo was weak and indecisive and preferred to negotiate and not fight the Ian Smith regime. It claims that Nkomo chose to go and see Julius Nyerere in Dar es Salaam for the purposes of forming a government in exile. It is said that on arrival in Tanzania, Nkomo and his team were 'surprised' that Nyerere did not 'want them' because he (Nyerere) like Robert Mugabe, believed that the struggle had to be fought and won at home. This is said to have made other leaders look down on Nkomo.

 "Inevitably, the other leaders were embarrassed and lost faith in Nkomo. On August 8, 1963, Zanu was formed in rebellion to Nkomo. Its president was Ndabaningi Sithole, the chairman was Hebert Chitepo, the secretary general was Robert Mugabe and the secretary for youth was Morton Malianga. These leaders needed dynamic and decisive leadership. They were for outright military confrontation with the settler regime," the book says.

On page 184, under a sub-chapter titled: The 1978 March 3 Agreement, the book says, Nkomo and former Zambian leader Dr Kennedy Kaunda feared elections and sought to by pass them.

It reads in part: "It became apparent that both Kaunda and Nkomo dreaded elections and wanted to by pass them to take over the control of the country against those confident of winning elections. Each of the settlement protagonists has his own candidate and each wanted his candidate to succeed Smith," reads the book in that section.

On page 193, the book claims that Zipra cadres disturbed development in Matabeleland and surprisingly the same chapter details history from 1980 to 1992 and has nothing about the Gukurahundi atrocities which claimed more than 20 0000 innocent lives.

Mugabe has described the period as a "moment of madness" and other Zanu-PF functionaries have like Emerson Mnangagwa have said the Gukurahundi case is a 'closed chapter.'

Reads the book: "However some sections of Zapu-PF did not accept electoral defeat of 1980. Although their representatives were brought into the government, they continued to plot a coup.

"…..In 1982, fighting erupted in Esigodini between Zanla and Zipra that were being integrated. Many lives were lost and most of the Zipra cadres retreated into the bush to continue fighting as guerrillas.

"They disrupted all government efforts to reconstruct Matabeleland and many schools closed" reads the book in part.

The book also says the 22 December 1987 was signed to stop Zipra banditry.

- Byo24News

Dual citizenship in Zimbabwe

Regional leaders speak out about non Ndebele teachers.

Ex-Zipra combatants angered by army magazine

Bulawayo News 24 reports

Related Stories

EX-ZIPRA combatants have been angered by a claim in the Zimbabwe National Army magazine’s first edition of 2014 that the then Salisbury fuel tanks were blown up by Zanla forces in December 1978.

Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith described the blaze at the fuel tanks as a great disaster and "one of our biggest setbacks since the war started".

The fire raged out of control and was only contained when a Johannesburg City Fire Department fire engine was flown in to help spray protein foam imported from South Africa.

An article authored by Colonel Charles Matema titled: The Demise of the Rhodesian Economy on Page 37 of the magazine carried a picture captioned: 15-16 burning petrol storage tanks in Salisbury’s industrial area after a Zanla attack in December 1978 . . .

However, the claim angered ex-Zipra cadrés who told Southern Eye that it was false and misleading because that attack was not carried out by Zanla forces. Former Zipra combatant Zephaniah Nkomo attacked the article as misleading saying it was part of a deliberate ploy by Zanu PF to systematically erase the critical role Zapu and its military wing played in the liberation of Zimbabwe.

Nkomo said it was Zipra forces that attacked the tanks with Russia-made weapons and not Zanla as the article claims.

Nkomo said Zanla did not have sophisticated weapons and neither did it have urban units and was assisted logistically by Zipra through an arrangement with the then Organisation of African Union (OAU).

"The article is meant to misinform the youths of today and totally erase the pivotal role Zipra played in the liberation of this country," he said.

"The weapons that were used came from Russia and the Russians can confirm that. It was Zipra which had contact with the Russians and not Zanla.

"We as Zipra, are the ones who blew up the fuel storage tanks and Highfield residents who were old enough then can testify to that. In the attack, we lost one of our colleagues who was caught and necklaced to death with burning tyres by the Rhodesians. Zanla did not have sophisticated weapons as such weapons were not available in China at that time. Zanla used to get logistical support from us through the Patriotic Front, an arrangement that was made with OAU," Nkomo added.

Retired Brigadier Abel Mazinyani said it is wrong to try and change history since those who executed the attacks are still alive.  

Mazinyani said two of the ex-Zipra cadrés who executed the operation are still alive. One lives in Centenary and the other in Kadoma. He said the third one was in South Africa. Mazinyani said although Zanla had its notable victories, the fuel tanks were destroyed by Zipra and no amount of misleading information would change that.

Retired Colonel Marshal Mpofu said it was wrong for Zimbabwean to be told lies all the time about the history of the liberation struggle.

"Zanla did not have an urban unit and only special weaponry could have been used to destroy those tanks. Only Zipra had them," he said.

Another retired Colonel, Buster Magwizi, said it was sad for people to continue being given false information about the history of the armed struggle. He said this was tantamount to giving people a distorted heritage.

Magwizi said people should research before writing what they would have heard, adding that ex-Zanla members were in the habit of claiming victories they knew nothing about.

"People can get the true information in The Herald publication of December 2 1978," he said. "After all Zanla and its Zanu won on the table not on the ground."



Another ex-Zipra combatant said the day the tanks were blown up, Zapu leader Joshua Nkomo was supposed to return from London to Lusaka, Zambia. He said the Rhodesians had planned to hijack the plane and capture Nkomo, but an informant had tipped off the late veteran nationalist who got off the plane before take-off.

He said when the plane was in Nairobi, Kenya, it was announced that it was foggy in Lusaka and the plane would not be able to land and it was diverted to Malawi where it landed. He said as soon as the plane landed, the Rhodesians stormed it hoping to capture Nkomo, but in vain.

Zapu leader and former Zipra intelligence supremo Dumiso Dabengwa said Zanla made many false claims about victories in battles they knew nothing about for purposes of publicity. Dabengwa said it was part of Zanla’s tactics to claim victories in battles they did not fight

- See more at: http://bulawayo24.com/index-id-News-sc-National-byo-49392.html#sthash.0NHDQYHQ.dpuf

A collective approach can reduce the amount of road carnage in Zimbabwe?

There is  no doubt road accidents  are now the leading cause of death in Zimbabwe today. Just last week on my visit short there, I attended a public prayer meeting outside Bulawayo City hall. This meeting was a deliberate effort by certain Christian denominations to pray  God to have mercy for daily travelers around the country. By the way it was also worth noting that most Zimbabweans now looking for divine solutions to every problem. Throughout my travels locally, I used public transport such as Kombis and buses. Almost ninety percent of them begin their journeys by praying and asking God  for guidance and safe travel. This is how bad the situation have become, nothing wrong to prayer. It just didn't  use to be the case not too many years ago. Whichever way you look at it, its quite clear that road traffic accidents are on the increase. Not a  week passes without a major catastrophic road accident on the major road net work country wide. From Matabeleland to Mashonaland or even Manicaland , Midlands all the way to Masvingo.

One would would ask the question: What can Zimbabweans do to prevent the monster called road accidents? If there anything that we as the members of the public can do other that just pray? Beside we are not just members of the public but also commuters and passengers in this system. I must also say that there are a lot of measures that the govt can do thorough the Ministry of Transport and public safety department. Some good and well intended  measures have been tried but have been frustrated by both corruption and nepotism in the high places. Not to mention that most roads are outdated and traffic has increased over years. All these and other factors come into play. Did I mention over speeding? This is probably one of the major causes of roads accidents. We have transport operators racing in the speed of light to get to their destinations in record time to double or triple their revenue collections.

I am convinced that the time has come for the nation to sit down and talk about this problem once and for all, otherwise we will see more of the same if not worse. I am of the opinion that we as passengers have a duty to play in mapping our own safety. It saddens me that so many times we have this idea that the government will solve every problem . I really wish they would, however evidence on the ground show that we are on our own. We must start by raising awareness within and among ourselves in every and medium we possible can get our hands on. Mostly effectively the word of mouth. No cause is more effective until it is personal. As long as this is a cause somewhere out there, it will never be effective neither will it take off the ground. I will not tell you how many times I had to kindly tell Kombi and bus drivers to slow after they were  literally flying  on the country roads. With live stocks going around loose, one would think people would be do well to be extra careful driving around. Prayer alone will not help us if we do not make a deliberate effort to create and maintain  a safe  environment on the ground.

Please do something Mzansi ( South Africa)

I happened to be listening to Julius Malema's response to South African President Zuma's State of the Nation speech this morning. One thing that he mentioned among other things was that the former built World Cup stadium in 2010 but fails to built public restrooms. It is interesting to me to note that while I was in SA on my way to Zim, I was struck by the fact that while I was in Oliver Tambo international airport there were over hundreds if not thousands of clean restrooms with at least two smiling attendants. However not so a much rich traveler, I had to go through Park Station in central JHB. Park station provides transportation to thousands of local and regional customers through buses services.Some go as far as Malawi, Zambia, etc. I should have mentioned that going thru Park station did cut the expenses of my journey by half. I could have paid double the fair to reach Byo or Vic Falls by air which might gave meant that the whole trip was out of reach for me. Up until then the whole trip was platinum, but lo and behold if you want to see that you are in Africa and that we Africans treat each other badly go by bus to Beit bridge border. Lapho ya! I am as African as they come but I am seeing this from my America airline and Lufthansa airline, not to mention the Star member alliance of South Africa airline. To cut the long story short there is one toilet sit in Park station for all those thousands of poor African travelers. I am pretty sure just by travelling there we are creating jobs and boosting the economy of South Africa in our small ways with our Shangane bags and empty plastic containers but one deplorable toilet sit that is barely attended to? I will not go into South African politics neither do I endorse Julius Malema but something needs to be to. I will send part of this message to South Africa airline, Grey hound and other travel representatives. In short I experienced two sides of South Africa in one travel.Mzansi we deserve better

For most Zimbabweans 34 is "Much ado about nothing"

All is not good!

Celebrating  the age of 34 the Zimbabwe of today is not in the best shape as compared to its conception back in 1980.

 

 

- No health care.
-Education is now very expensive
-Low life expectancy
-Over 86% unemployment
-No Zim dollar the local currency. (Ten currencies are now officially used)
-No longer Africa's bread basket.
- Now ranked among the poorest countries in the world!
-Roads infrastructure network now at its worst state ever.
- Massive corruption and looting from those of the ruling class
-No more freedom of expression, even the social networks are spied
-Over five to six million people are outside the country as refugees somewhere
-Most of them in South Africa and Botswana.
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Siphepha Nkomo sues Zimbabwe Govt over devolution

FORMER minister and member of the National Assembly for Lobengula in Bulawayo, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, has dragged Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo, Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa and the government to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) for breaching the country's constitution by failing to implement devolution.
Chombo is cited as the first respondent as he is responsible for the administration of the Provincial Councils and Administration Act. Mnangagwa is the second respondent as he deals with the constitution, Bills and other legal matters on behalf of government, which is the third respondent.

Through his lawyers, Tendai Biti Law, Nkomo argues failure by the respondents to operationalise Chapter 14 of the new constitution, in so far as it deals with local governance, was a violation of his right to equal protection and benefits of the law.
He wants the respondents to bring before parliament bills which would ensure devolution is implemented. The application was filed on Tuesday.
The constitution received overwhelming endorsement in a referendum in March last year.
In his founding affidavit, Nkomo argues that the respondents have failed or neglected to cause the enactment of an Act of Parliament that would give effect to the provisions of Chapter 2 and Chapter 14 of the constitution.
"Indeed as a result, the respondents have failed to operationalise the key constitutional question of devolution in this country. Chapter 14, in so far as it deals with the provincial tier of government, has thus remained moribund or non-operational," said Nkomo.
Section 2 of the constitution states that the constitution is the supreme law of the land and the obligations imposed by it are "binding on every person, natural or juristic, including the state and all executive, legislative and judicial institutions and agencies of the government at every level, and must be fulfilled by them".

He argues the delay to operationalise devolution was therefore a breach of the law and says he had approached the ConCourt because it was the watchdog of constitutional compliance.

"The issue of devolution is key and central in the part of the country I come from and in the constituency I represent. I was chosen to represent my constituencywhich expects me to serve in the Bulawayo Metropolitan Council and represent its interests. I want to serve in this important institution so that it can perform and execute its developmental roles as defined by the constitution," said Nkomo.
During the constitution-making exercise the MDC formation headed by Welshman Ncube was the most vocal in supporting devolution, which became part of their poll campaign in the run up to the July 31 general elections.
According to the constitution, there should be a provincial council for each of the country's provinces which should consist of the provincial governor, members of both houses of parliament, mayors and chairpersons of all urban and rural local authorities in the province.

The provincial councils are supposed to be responsible for the social and economic development of the province as well as planning and implementing social and economic development activities, preparing annual development plans for the province while also coordinating and implementing governmental programs.
The provincial councils are also mandated with coordinating the conservation, improvement and management of natural resources, monitoring and evaluating the use of resources in the province and reviewing and evaluating the implementation of development plans and policies within the province.

Chapter 14 of the constitution lists the objectives of devolution as:
To give powers of local governance to the people and enhance their participation in the exercise of the powers of the state and in making decisions affecting them;
To promote democratic, effective, transparent and accountable and coherent government of Zimbabwe as a whole;
To preserve and foster the peace, national unity and indivisibility of Zimbabwe;
To recognise the right of communities to manage their own affairs and to further their development;
To ensure the equitable sharing of local and national resources;

To transfer responsibilities and resources from the national government in order to establish a sound financial base for each provincial and metropolitan council and local authority.
Nkomo argues that although devolution was a contentious issue during the constitution-making exercise, particularly because of Zanu PF's scepticism as it feared it would be interpreted as federalism or secessionism, it was one of the most popular issues during the constitution-making exercise. He also says the constitution was a people-driven process where more than three million people were consulted.
"The bottom line therefore, is that the question of devolution and decentralisation was an issue that was popular amongst people of Zimbabwe.
"It was also an issue that was heavily contested amongst the three political parties, all of whom appreciated its importance. Having been so agreed and incorporated in the new constitution, surely there should be no reason why it is taking the respondents months and months before the same is implemented," Nkomo argues.
The respondents were given 10 days to file a notice of opposition if they intend to oppose the application, failure of which the application will be set down for hearing at the ConCourt without further notice.
The government's continued dragging of feet in implementing the devolution of governance to the provinces violates the Constitution; this was said recently by participants at a civil society meeting in the province.
National Youth Development Trust (NYDT) recently reported that youth who had attended its forum at St. Peters' Hall in Pumula called into question the government's continued delay in enacting the law, which would establish provincial councils.
They said the current form of governance was unconstitutional.
Godwin Phiri, director of the youth group, Intscha.com said: "As things stand, devolution of power is hanging.
"It is there in the new Constitution, but it is not there on the ground, and it's almost a year since we've had the new Constitution.
"What is happening is actually a violation of the new Constitution."
Section 264 provides for the devolution of government powers and responsibilities to the council which should be established in the 10 administrative provinces of the country.

The objectives of devolution outlined in the new Constitution include: to promote equitable sharing of local and national resources; recognise the right of communities to manage their affairs; and promote unity, peace and the indivisibility of Zimbabwe, among others.
The new Constitution became fully operational in August 2013, after the swearing-in of President Robert Mugabe for a seventh consecutive term.
Celani Ncube, who represented the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Professor Welshman Ncube, said devolution was necessary to ease the widespread of poverty in some provinces viewed as exploited, marginalised or receiving little attention from central government.
"Devolution of power is not about Matabeleland only, even people in Marange should have a say in it and benefit from diamonds," Ncube said.
"Living on government hand outs is unsustainable."
Hector Chikowore, a Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) youth leader, said there was need for unity by all Zimbabweans in calling for devolution to be brought into life.
"There is need for people to speak with one voice, different political parties and civil society should work together for devolution to be implemented," Chikowore said.
The ruling Zanu-Pf party was in opposition to the decentralised governance formula during the writing of the new Constitution, which was done under the Government of National Unity (GNU). -

Strive Masiyiwa finally breaks the silence about his persecutions: Credits Joshua Nkomo!

Writing in his face book page business mogul and leading philanthropist finally spoke out about his past experiences with the government of Zimbabwe. In a moving article that attracted thousands of comments and likes in a space short space of time, Masiyiwa credited Dr Joshua Nkomo  for his integrity and leadership during that period in his life.Here are his words!
The Meeting with Joshua Nkomo (Part 14).

 Joshua Nkomo is one of the fathers of African nationalism, and stands alongside Africa's greatest fighters against colonialism, and injustice. He is right up there with the greatest of them.

He was... the epitome of courage.
Although he was now in his eighties, he had still kept much of the huge frame, which was one of his distinguishing features. He also had a quick temper:
Even as I entered his office, in the central government offices, he shouted loudly at me:
"What are all these bad things I hear being said about you, young man?"
I stood there, frozen, at first. Then he gestured to me, with his walking stick, and pointed at the door; telling me to shut it, behind me. I then sat down on a chair in front of his desk.
"Baba", I said in a quiet voice, "you do not believe that, do you?"
He stared at me, for a few moments, then he shook his head, slowly, "No, I don't. But let me hear your side of the story."
He listened quietly, and intently, occasionally asking sharp questions. It was clear that he had been well briefed about it. I also realised that the shouting had been for people outside the room to hear, as there were always large numbers of people, in his reception. He was a very shrewd man.
I shared with him, pretty much, all that you all know now, including my deep faith and trust in God. I even shared with him some of my testimonies. He wanted to know everything.
Finally, he rose up, and asked me to stay where I was sitting. Initially, I thought he had gone to the bathroom, but he was gone for what seemed like an hour. I just sat there, and prayed. When he returned, he slumped himself in his chair, and began muttering audibly to himself. I heard everything that he said. He looked deeply concerned, and shook his head, several times.
After a few minutes, he asked me to walk out the office with him. We walked out slowly, together, into the bright African sunlight.
He insisted that I walk by his side.
He wanted people to see me, walking with him, and I escorted him along the corridors to his waiting car. Several people, seeing me, walking with him, came nervously out of their offices, and also shook my hand, or patted my back. Others just stared.
On a number of occasions he said loudly, to people who came up to greet us, "this one is not a sell out. He is true son of Zimbabwe."
People loved him.
The persecution against me, ended that day.


Masiyiwa later established a Joshua Nkomo's scholarship
The History of Joshua Nkomo Memorial Scholarships.
Joshua Nkomo died on July 1, 1999.
My wife and I consulted extensively with his family, and close associates such as Joseph Msika, John Nkomo and Simon Khaya Moyo, on our plan to launch a memorial scholarship in his name.
The Joshua Nkomo Scholarship Trust has now been going since 2005..
It selects the 100 top students (10 from each province) in Zimbabwe's national exams, irrespective of race or religion, every single year.
50% must be girls.
To date it has provided funding to 871 students. It has produced some of the finest scholars in the world, many of whom have achieved degrees and even doctorates, at the leading universities of the world. A few years ago, Gordon Brown the then British Prime Minister, recognized a young Zimbabwean, brain surgeon who had just completed his degree at Oxford.
There are currently 54 students at top American students, who started as "Joshualites".

The Joshua Nkomo Memorial Scholarship, is not the same as our Capernaum Trust Scholaship program, for orphans, and children of Pastors, and widows. The CT program, started in 1990, and currently supports over 42,000 students from several African countries. There are currently over 300 students in America, that came from Joshua Nkomo, and Capernaum a Trust combined.

Be the Shepherd of my Father's people in RSA: Gumede told

Chief Gumede
JOHANNESBURG - History was made on Saturday the 22nd of March 2014 when the Matebele in South Africa celebrated the inauguration of their chief who will represent their ethnic group, (uMthwakazi) in South Africa.
The magnificent event took place at the Yeoville Recreation Centre in Johannesburg. The appointed chief, Albert Zwelibanzi Gumede, was installed under the South African Law and his chieftaincy will be in South Africa.
According to the Traditional Framework Act of 2003, it was last amended in 2009: a chief can be chosen by a traditional King or by a group of people who have called for a gathering (Imbizo) meant to choose a chief. This gave the Matebele an opportunity to legitimise their chief. Vibrant cultural group Inqama was chosen to spearhead the initiative alongside several different groups.
Chief Gumede was sworn in by the royal Khumalo family headed by Hlabezulu of Mava of Sehlaphi of Magidi of Mbamba of Mangwana of Mzilikazi. Other Khumalos who were present included Dumezweni, Frank, Borman and many others.


When Dumezweni Khumalo from Mbonambi's house, gave Gumede an Intonga (stick for chieftaincy), He said "We are giving you this stick, infront of all people here as witnesses, for you to be the shepherd of my father's people in South Africa and please lead my father's children wisely.”
The "father" that Dumezweni was referring to is King Mzilikazi Khumalo the founder of the Matebele nation also known as uMthwakazi kaNdaba, isizwe saMahlabezulu.
Traditional notables who were present included the Zulu Prince Thulani, Zulu Princess Patricia, who is King Zwelithini's younger sister, Prince Elijah Zulu waseNjikini of Mqundeni's house, Inkosi Luter Elijah Sikhosana who represented King Makhosonke Mabhena of the amaNdebele kaMusi (isizwe saManala), Maphenduka Ndlovu from iNjelele shrine in Matebeleland, Christmas kaBhayiskopo Nyandeni, Hlabangana, Shenge, Ngobese of the Mazibuko hostel and James Bhekiseni Ndwandwe, the descendant of Somaphunga of Zwide the Ndwandwe King.


One of the prominent South African businessman invited in the event was Mr. Thwala advised said there must now be an UMthwakazi Foundation which will help abeThwakazi (Matebele people) with scholarships and bursaries. The mayor of Zululand, Zanele kaMagwaza Msibi was also present. She heard about the magnificent event and went to join an extraordinary event.
The publicity team would like to thank everyone who attended the inauguration of the Matebele Chief in the South Africa. The multitudes who attended proved it right that the Matebele people are a proud people, proud of their identity, cultural values and norms.
Various gifts poured in from the community in the form of cattle, sheep, goats and many other gifts, and they were greatly appreciated by the Chief.


Three cows proved not enough to feed the multitudes that came to the inauguration and that was testimony that AbeThwakazi graced the event in huge numbers.
Much bigger and greater events are still coming and people will be notified. We would like to advise our fellow brothers and sisters that they must take caution on the social networks.
Unauthentic media stories devised to indignify everything about our cultural revival and restoration are posted at an everyday basis by a handful of individuals in a bid to cause chaos amongst people of the same cult. Let us not fall prey to such baseless attempts and skeletal criticism. This is an official statement by the officially appointed publicity team. We are proudly Ndebele, proudly amaHlabezulu and proudly Mthwakazi.
We would like to thank the talented musician and poets from Matebeleland that served as lubricants to the fantastic event. We had Amakhosi Amahle, Insukamini, Inkanyezi zeZulu, Abafana bakaMashobana, Abafana bakaMzilikazi, Mehlokazulu, Zinjaziyamluma and Is’banes’namandla. A great stamp was put via the Poets (imbongi) in Thabani Dibi Sibanda and Juniour Ngwenya’s talents.
There was also the pride of all prides in the Nation (Imbabazane) also well known as (amatshitshi) ‘imbali zesizwe,’ flowers of the nation.
Credit goes to the entire crew comprising of these teams: Publicity, Entertainment, Finance, Security, Ushering and Catering. Siyabonga Mthwakazi kaNdaba, ondlela zimhlophe, onduku zibomvu

Welshmen Ncube needs a reality check!

Is a devolution a disillusioned idea?


If  MDC Welshmen Ncube still believes that his party will campaign on the idea of devolution he will not only take the people for a ride, but also be considered irrelevant in Zimbabwe's politics  despite him being a great and integral leader. Devolution will work  in perfect environment. And to be political incorrect and blunt, we have seen that other than being tired of the same old boys gravy train, the rest of Zimbabweans dread the rule of a man who is not Shona. (This is a great shock, did you say that) So what more of a man and a party that comes with a big banner than that confirms their worst  fears. The rest of Zimbabwe does not live in Matabeleland and Midlands. They do not know how it is to be travel all the way to Makombe building in the capital just to get one's  personal documents. Beside devolution stands on the way of the march needed self rule in Matabeleland and Midlands. Its like you want to ask for isitshwala and meat and end up asking for mahewu so that at least your are given something. Sadly you are not even given that mahwewu, so what do you do. Keep wasting time and energy asking for Mahewu?

Exiled white Zimbabweans disgusted over a White Anti Sanctions committe !

  I can only tell the story of life in Zimbabwe from my perspective and my snapshot this week is of the good, the absurd , the annoying and the utterly shameful.

The good helps to maintain sanity and on an early morning trip to Harare a long crested eagle sits on a telephone pole just as the sun breaks over the horizon. The feathers on the eagles head provide a majestic silhouette in the golden dawn while a swirl of mist hugs the ground, curling along the twists and turns of an unseen river. The ripening summer grass is heavy with gold, purple and white seed heads, gently swaying and bowing in the dawn breeze. I pass a man riding a bicycle with a broken bicycle tied onto his carrier rack while above him many thousands of red footed kestrels sit side by side on the electricity cables, waiting for the day when it’s time to leave on their winter migration to Asia.

In the capital city bureaucracy consumes every task, testing the patience of a saint. Not being able to make a simple payment to the tax authorities despite their lines of tellers and cashiers because the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority don’t accept money. All payments have to be made into one specific bank and the deposit slips then taken back to the tax authorities to be stamped. Is this because they don’t trust their staff you wonder? It gets worse though because when you find that one specific bank that accepts tax payments, it takes half an hour to make a simple cash deposit. That’s because all deposits have to be double checked and the deposit slip counter signed by the Accountant. Is that because they don’t trust their staff you wonder, as you trudge back to the tax offices again?

Then comes the downright annoying as born, raised and permanently resident Zimbabweans have to queue at Immigration offices for an annual ‘resident’ stamp in their passports. This is because we are classified as ‘Aliens’ if our ancestors weren’t born here, despite our new constitution which stipulates that every born Zimbabwean is automatically a citizen.

And then, after enduring all this, there comes the utterly shameful. A group of 3,000 people who are predominantly white Zimbabweans, have formed a lobby group called Zimbabweans Against Sanctions. They are calling for the lifting of all targeted sanctions against Zanu PF individuals by the EU and US. There are only two individuals left on the EU targeted sanctions list, namely President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace, along with one company, the Zimbabwe Defence Industries.

The white lobby group say they approve of the compulsory 51% indigenous shareholding of all companies and they blame targeted sanctions for the collapse of Zimbabwe’s economy. Their Chairman, Matthew Smith, says targeted sanctions should be lifted because: ‘the truth about Zimbabwe needs to be heard … and needs to be told from our perspective, especially as white Zimbabweans on whose behalf these damaging sanctions were supposedly imposed.’

It’s ironic that a predominantly white lobby group thinks sanctions were imposed because six thousand white people had their farms seized and not because twelve million Zimbabweans lost everything in our country’s decade long collapse. Denying that their motive is to protect their own businesses from being seized by Zanu PF, Matthew Smith said he was making this call now because: ‘the time just feels right.’

What a shame for Zimbabwe that the time didn’t feel right for these white people to speak out when half a million or more farm workers and their families were rendered homeless and destitute in land invasions; when at least 850,000 people were left bereft and desperate after government bulldozers destroyed their homes and livelihoods in Operation Murambatsvina; when at least 4,000 people died from cholera in 2008; or when countless hundreds of thousands of black Zimbabweans were the victims of political violence in the 2002, 2005 and 2008 elections.

It’s also ironic that retired Zimbabwean cricketer Heath Streak is one of the lobby group’s prominent members despite the black armband ‘death of democracy’ protests and subsequent exile from Zimbabwe of his colleagues, and our country’s most famous cricketers, Henry Olonga and Andy Flower.

Where were the voices of these 3,000 white Zimbabweans when millions of Zimbabweans, black, white and brown, were going to bed hungry, crawling under razor wire border fences, running from violence, hiding from persecutors, being beaten, burnt, raped and tortured.

This Zimbabwean is ashamed. Until next time, thanks for reading, love cathy.

This is an extract from Cathy Burke. She is the is a blogger and editor of The Zimbabwean online news source!