Dual Citizeship in Zimbabwe clarified by David Coltart

David Coltart
STATEMENT REGARDING DUAL CITIZENSHIP AND THE RIGHT OF ZIMBABWEAN CITIZENS BY BIRTH TO REGISTER AND VOTE

In terms of sections 36 and 43 of the new Zimbabwean Constitution ALL Zimbabweans born in Zimbabwe who have at least one parent who was either a Zimbabwe citizen at the time of their birth or one parent who is/was a citizen of any SADC country (and the person claiming citizenship must be currently resident) are entitled to citizenship AS OF RIGHT.

As soon as the new Constitution was published, Mr Mutumwa Mawere, a Zimbabwean by birth who subsequently acquired South African citizenship, approached the Registrar-General to have his Zimbabwean citizenship recognised in accordance with the new constitutional provisions. The Registrar-General informed Mr Mawere that he was not entitled to dual citizenship under the new Constitution, and that he had to renounce his foreign citizenship in order to acquire Zimbabwean identification documents. Mr Mawere lodged an urgent application at the Constitutional Court requesting that his entitlement to dual citizenship be confirmed and asking that, to protect his right to vote in the upcoming elections, the current “special and intensive” voter registration exercise be postponed pending the court’s decision. Immediately after hearing the case on 26th June, the Constitutional Court granted an order confirming his dual citizenship and making the following declaration: “ ... the refusal or failure to issue the applicant with a national identity document upon application on May 27, 2013, was unlawful and in contravention of section 36(1) and applicant’s right to vote enshrined in section 67(3)(a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. The [Registrar-General] is interdicted from demanding the applicant to first renounce his foreign-acquired citizenship before he can be issued with a national identity document”. The court’s reasons for judgment will be handed down later.

Th effect of this judgement is that all those born in Zimbabwe (and who comply with the above mentioned conditions) who have foreign passports cannot be denied the right to a Zimbabwean passport, the right to register and the right to vote. You do not have to surrender any foreign passport you have or renounce any foreign citizenship you have - you are a Zimbabwean citizen and have the RIGHT TO DUAL CITIZENSHIP.

I have received numerous complaints from constituents stating that the Registrar General's staff are ignoring the judgment and demanding that holders of foreign passports surrender them before being able to change their IDs from "alien" to citizen - and then of course to be registered.

If this has happened to you or anyone else please do not give up and encourage others not to give up. Please let me know the details and we will try what we can to argue on your behalf.

I have no doubt that this is a deliberate and desperate measure by the RG's office to deny thousands of Zimbabweans the right to vote because they know that all those citizens who have been regarded as "aliens" and treated with such contempt by Zanu PF during the last decade will not vote for Zanu PF.

I appreciate that this policy is designed to frustrate and deter citizens - so that they simply give up and cannot vote. Please do not give up - please be determined to get your citizenship back, to register and then to vote these people out of office.

Edmund Burke said "all it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing." Please don't allow that to happen. The future of our country is too important for us just to give up in the face of people who want to frustrate us and deny us fundamental rights. It is going to take patience, dogged determination, endurance and time to do this but it is critical that everyone tries. You only have until the 9th of July 2013 to get registered so please make time to stand up for your future, the future of your children and the future of Zimbabwe - this week.

Senator David Coltart.
Secretary for Legal Affairs
MDC
30 June 2013

Matabeleland MP candidants for Zim election 2013

 Matabeleland South:
BEITBRIDGE EAST:
Kembo Mohadi Zanu-PF
Morgan Ncube MDC-T,
Keabetso Dube (MDC),
Lawrence Tshili (Independent)
Mr Enos Tshili (Independent).

Beitbridge West,
Metrine Mudau Zanu-PF
Moffat Ndou MDC-T,
John Tlou (MDC),
Tambulo Muleya (Independent)
Ayiseli Mudau Zapu.

Gwanda North:
Madodana Sibanda Zanu-PF
Thandeko Zinti Mnkandla (MDC-T),
Paul Themba Nyathi (MDC),
Mika Viyani Masiye (Zapu)
Gift Sibanda independent.

Gwanda Central,
Edson Gumbo ZANU PF
Patrick Dube MDC,
Juliet Nkiwane (MDC-T),
Mthetho Mlilo Zapu.

Gwanda South,
Abednigo Ncube Zanu PF
Akem Moyo (MDC-T),
Garfield Makwati (MDC)
Rabson Ncube (Zapu)

Bulilima East:
Mathias Siqhoza Ndlovu Zanu- PF
Norman Mpofu (MDC-T)
Pilate Ndebele (MDC)
Solani Moyo Independent

Bulilima West,
Major Lungisani Zanu-PF
Moses Mzila Ndlovu MDC,
Read Ndlovu (MDC - T)
Artwell Ndlovu Zapu.

Mangwe:
Obedingwa Mguni Zanu-PF
Moses Mkhosi (MDC)
Jessi Ngwenya (MDC-T)
Matthew Sibanda (Zapu).

Insiza North,
Andrew Langa ZANU PF
Bekezela Mpofu (MDC-T)
Qhubani Moyo (MDC)
Ernest Ndlovu (Zapu).

Insiza South:
Malaki Nkomo Zanu-PF
Siyabonga Malandu Ncube MDC,
Ntandokayiphikiswa Ndlela (MDC-T), Nkululeko Sibanda, MDC-T
Dumezweni Dube Independent

Matopo North:
Never Khanye Zanu-PF
Lovemore Moyo (MDC-T),
Moses Ndlela of MDC
Nicholas Dube (Zapu).

Matobo South,
Soul Mahalima Ncube (Zanu-PF)
Gabriel Ndebele (MDC-T),
Decent Bhajila (MDC)
Joachim Moyo (Zapu).

Umzingwane,
William Dehwa (Zanu-PF)
Nomalanga Khumalo (MDC-T),
Ngqabutho Dube (MDC)
Mildred Mnkandla of Zapu.

Senators Matabeleland South:
ZANU PF:
Simon Khaya Moyo (Bulilima-Mangwe), Tambudzani Mohadi (Beitbridge)
Ananias Nyathi (Matobo),
Alma Baloyi Mkhwebu (Gwanda),
Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu (Insiza) Hallet Sibanda (Umzingwane).

MDC-T
Sithembile Mlotshwa,
Watchy Sibanda,
Tendai Moyo,
Dumile Nkomo,
Kembo Dube,
Kemos Jamela

MDC:
Joyce Ndlovu,
Albert Ndlovu,
Peggie Khumalo,
Jonathan Sibanda,
Lorraine Sibanda
Alfred Moyo.

ZAPU:
Nathaniel Basuthu,
Phathekile Moyo,
France Ndlovu
Madeya Siziba

This weeks winners and losers on the news at random!

This weeks winners and losers on the news!

 US supreme court overturns an important civil rights act, giving power to states to change voting laws at will. Minorities suffer a great lose in fifth years. President Obama is not happy, and is the Attorney General Eric holder and many other civil rights groups.
Immigration laws passed the senate. Illegal immigrant are closer to victory for the first time in many way.
Gays lose as the Supreme court denies them a most wanted status of legalizing their relationship.

Russian refuse to hand over Snowden, denying US a chance to catch the most wanted fugitive.

Paula Deen, a celebrated host of a famous food network and television program lose multi million endorsements as she is accused of using the N word, and has a lawsuit pending.

In Zimbabwe, Aliens or children of parents of foreign immigrants are finally able to able to enjoy the full status as citizens after a  law clause change.

Tennis champion Nadal loses badly on the first round. Also Maria Sharapova lost again!

Trending now :Secrecy sorrounds Nelson Mandela's health status?

Newspapers and bloggers as well as news Channels everywhere are worried over the secrecy that surrounds the health status of Former South African President Nelson Mandela. Its been two day after he was reported to be in critical condition and since then no word, has come out form the family and government about his condition. Some online news sources have reported to have seen grave diggers working on the Mandela clan grave yard yesterday. It is said that the Madiba family grave yard has been cleaned, and it also coincided with the family the clan family meeting. It is said to be a taboo in Xhosa and other African culture to talk about death preparations while someone is still alive.

Meanwhile, American president Barack Obama's trip to South Africa which was scheduled this week is said to be in limbo, following the events and developments of the last two days. Security at the hospital where South Africa and one of the world's beloved icon and civil rights activist as well as human rights champion is said to have been further tightened. Only the family is allowed in and out.

One online news also reported  that as much as it is a taboo to speak about preparations for the death of somebody, the clan people and entire family must prepare for the worst. Nelson Mandela is said to be on life support.

Mugabe and Mandela's stricking differences? Opinion:

 

Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo

I respect Nelson Mandela, The Mandela Family and South African Government in that no matter how critical Madiba's condition deteriorates they have kept him in the care of South African hospitals and not decided to fly him out for treatment in a foreign country.

We wake up this morning with news that our President has been in flown out to Singapore for urgent medical attention. My wish is that all these people running around for our votes will see the importance of improving our health and education sectors before their pockets and personal properties. Almost all our leaders get treatment outside the country and their children are in well up schools outside the country what message are you telling us here at the bottom?

How much money are you spending on the foreign hospitals while our local hospitals do not have the most basic of drugs like Paracetamol?
...
DEVOLUTION FOR HEALTH PROVISION.

W4P2013

Is it time to talk about Mandela's legacy yet?

 As I write this article, Nelson Mandela a former South Africa first black President, and one of the world's recognized human rights activist, and icon is said to be in critical condition in Johannesburg hospital. The whole world is praying for him to recover. According to the sitting South African President Jacob Zuma, Mandela has been well taken care of in the hospitals by specialist Doctors since he was rushed there about three weeks ago. Zuma mentioned that Mandela had seven doctors taking care of him at some point. We all pray that Nelson Mandela will recuperate. I personal pray that he does, not only because he is an renowned icon, but because he suffered so much in prison losing twenty seven of his life jailed by the apartheid government for fighting oppressive system that discriminated the black people.

It is also worth noting that the media is all camped up in the street corners of the hospitals waiting to be the first to delivery the sad news! As we all know that news business is now cut throat business where each and very media institution competes to be at the top. Journalist want to be remembered as the one/ones who first brought this news for many years to come. In case Tata does not make it, we will obviously remember where we where, and what we were doing that day and hour. In other words this could be a historic event. Some of us still remember where we were on the day that we heard that "Nelson Mandela has been released from prison way back in 1990". Most of our generation grew up  knowing that Nelson Mandela was in prison for freedom and equality of all black people in South Africa. So when he was finally released after a lot of bloodshed and international diplomatic talks, we were all relieved.  The whole world said, Free at last!

In case you are reading this article with a negative attitude towards the legacy of Mandela. I have two words for you tough luck! I am a big fan of Mandela and an objective one too. Nelson Mandela's legacy played right in my own eyes. For that reason I would not and cannot have taken away from me. Most people who are critical of Mandela calling him a "soft leader on whites" do not understand something. They do not understand that what he did brought huge gains for the country and the world at large. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.  Having said that I must be clear that Madiba only ruled South Africa for five years and in those five years, we all know that he was a ceremonial President. He had left administrative issues to then then deputy Thabo Mbeki if my memory serves me well.

I must be clear that poor South Africans have right to express themselves. If they feel that Mandela let them down then let it be! Its been over twenty years after the country gained Independence and  they honest  have a right to demand that the government fulfill the promises.  South Africa is one country with many demographics. This is a country with some of the world's richest people and at the same time the world's poorest.  How can there be an equitable way to both distribute and partake of the resources in the nation of South Africa? Quite clearly, time is running out. People cannot wait any longer. I must say that there are some black people who have benefited since Independence, some through education and other programs especially within the ruling party ANC. Having said that, one might think that I am not a big Madiba fan as I confessed earlier. The issues here are bigger that Mandela. South Africans need to start deliberating on issues of the day. Mandela was relevant on his day as a leader. If educated black South Africans can bridge the gap by mapping out a way of balance the equation. Ignoring the poor could be catastrophic. Its a ticking time bomb.

 Madiba did not hold on to the office long and the blame should not be on him alone. If anything let us look at what his predecessor  did. What was Thabo Mbeki doing in the office all those years? If anything the legacy in question is Thabo Mbeki's not Nelson Mandela. The poor South African must seek the answer to this question by courting Thabo Mbeki. Mandela's legacy cannot be changed. What he did is clear for everybody to see. He said I have fought for all South Africans, black and white, Asians and coloreds alike.  Whether he lives or dies, Madiba's legacy is shining and will be shinning for many generations to come. Amandla. Let us all try to remember the Mandela that brought down the walls of apartheid and racism in South Africa. Hence the rainbow nation.  The key to South Africa after Mandela is talking to each other period.  Mandela played his role. Get well Tata, get well  Madiba. (NB Nelson Mandela passes away on the 12/05/13 and was buried a week alter in his hometown in Qunu in a what would be the most attended burial of ay person in out times.)

Interesting dissection of our American dream lives by a Nigerian.

Warning this might be offensive to some readers. The article do not reflects my views but some of you might like it.

This American life by Rudolf Ogoo Okomkwo
Lest we become the personal in the story!

Interesting dissection of our American dream lives by a Nigerian.
This American Life By Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo

Being an African in America

Correct Me If I Am Right....... You come to America, young and dashing, on full scholarship, finish school, get a great job, marry a glamorous spouse, have cute children, and retire at a young age with a great pension, portfolio and posture. …And live happily ever after. Yes champ; rub it in. For the rest of you, life abroad is a crest of trajectories. You come into America, by air, by sea, or via a midnight sneak-in across the Mexican border; fooling the Minute Men and Lou Dobbs all at once. You come to school, to join your spouse, to work after winning the Green Card Lottery, or to raise your hand at the airport and claim persecution in your own country because you are a Mormon as well as a leader in MEND. You behold America the beautiful. The triple-decker burgers and the giant cup of coke and cars that are wider than your village road and you wonder what took you so long to get here. You get on with schooling. For now any cheap school will do. You study the things people who came before you say brings money – the things Americans do not want to study- to prepare you for the job Americans do not want to do. You hear nursing, bloody, nursing.

 You say, bring it on. You get on with marriage - the convenience marriage-discovering that you married three persons at once; the person you thought you married, the person your spouse really is and the person your spouse becomes because you got married in this America. For work, you do anything for a dollar; fast food restaurant, drive a cab, guard the parking lot of company executives younger than you, even care for the disabled, breaking your back to pay the bills. Then reality hits. The dollar is not adding up. There’s more going out than coming in. Time is running. Letters, emails and phone calls are enveloping you from home. School is done; where is the job? Your accent is a problem. Racism is real. You’re finally squeezed in. Corporate job at last. Work place politics really sucks. Meanwhile, the American spouse is gone but your residency is established. Now where do you find someone to marry for real? A Blind date? E-harmony.com? Town conventions? What of picking up someone from your village? But these are all packages which content you cannot ascertain. Somehow, you settle with one. Honeymoon over, now what is the state of the marriage? First mission accomplished, now what next? You start a house in your village. A big house. You sink in any money you can get. Some of it goes to the house but most of it goes to your family member who is supervising the construction. It costs more than it will to buy a comparable house in America. You afraid to calculate how many days you will sleep in this house in your life time.

 You say, Tufiakwa. It will not be your portion. You need to do it not just because everyone is doing it –your daddy is demanding it. He’s asking you to wipe away the shame on the family’s face. Your daddy dies. Your dentist extracts a tooth. Then America begins to reveal itself quietly. Oh tribalism again; discrimination at the work place. Your head touches the virtual ceiling for immigrants. You now understand affirmative action. Kids come but housemaids are tagged slavery, who will care for them? Now you have day care, mortgage, after school sport activities, mid-life career crisis, more phone calls from home, and marital problems. If only some of these can wait. You can call marital problems by its real name- money problems entangled with control problems, decision making disagreements, tasks and privileges, status problems and in-law problems. Maybe you will stay home with the kids. Maybe your mother will come and help … and incense your spouse.

With caning banished, you raise teens with your hands tied to your back. Marital problems persist because as your fortune falls that of your spouse rises. You have done your calculation. Something has to give. You try selling real estate. You prepare taxes. You sell insurance. You run out of contacts. You buy cars from the auction and ship them home. You get duped by friends and family. Nothing is adding up. Fast insurance fraud deals? You try other businesses on the side, but total dedication is needed. You quit your job entirely and start a business. Cleaning business. Staffing business. Medical equipment. Home Health business. Escort service. Oh, these taxes, running costs, government paper works and lack of patronage by your own people. Marital problems persist. You wish you had married the lover you left in Nigeria to come to America. You take the divorce option. Half of your wealth is wiped out. Now rages the battle for visitation rights, alimony and child support. You’re estranged from the kids because of the stories your spouse made up against you to win custody. But you keep paying up. You have no option. You start afresh. A new apartment. Maybe a new spouse? No, that can wait. Your classmate at home becomes the CEO of a multinational company.

 A chieftaincy title follows and you wonder what happened to you. You consider a fast 419 advance fee fraud deal. You remember those acquaintances still doing time in US prisons. You hold off. You dream of a contract from the government at home. You write a proposal. You get in touch with an old classmate who has done well. Home looks attractive. The people you left behind are doing better. You conveniently forget the majority who are not making ends meet. You are overwhelmed. High blood pressure is diagnosed. High cholesterol. Heart problems. Another tooth is extracted. You join the gym. You stay away from garri and farina. You join a church. You can be a pastor too, but you don’t like that lifestyle of pretending to be what you’re not. Life is no more fun. You go home, dabble in business, in politics, in entertainment. You are burnt. You return. You start afresh. No, you won't take the divorce option. You will manage. You will live like roommates, until the kids are grown and are out of the house. You will wait for retirement. You need just ten more years. At 56, with social security plus pension pay and 401K, you can go to the village, if kidnappers permit, and enjoy your old age. And start afresh. Maybe marry anew. Maybe teach in a college in Nigeria. Yeah! You register for a PhD with an online college. Your Mummy dies. Your dentist extracts another tooth. Your doctor suggests knee and hip replacement. Your shrink prescribes Prozac. In spite of your wahala, the children grow. The girls do well in school

. The boys go from four-year colleges to two-year colleges, in between gang membership and police troubles. The boys marry White girls. The girls marry African-Americans. You’re glad the girls did not get pregnant out of wedlock. You thank God the boys did not throw a coming out party to announce that they are gay. One lives in Arizona and another in Hawaii. Your house is empty, calls come on holidays only. It is now time to really go home. But what about managing the diabetes? Do you trust the doctors at home to handle your dialysis? Your medication cocktail will be hard to find at home. Daddy and Mummy are dead.

You have to make new friends again. The ones you used to have are now strangers to you. Your spouse refuses to go with you. Spouse cannot deal with the sound of electric generators, untreated well water, Afor Igwe meat without an FDA inspection tag. You retire. You sell the big house and move into a small condo. When you cannot wipe your behind, you go from the condo to a nursing home. Your children are too busy to have you share their homes. They visit every presidential election year. Once again, you think of going home but no, it is rather too late for that. The twelfth tooth is gone. You now take more pills than the teeth in your mouth. So you stay until your autopsy is ready. Your townsfolk contribute money to ship you home. As your coffin lands in Lagos, your relations who have gathered to receive you for the last time mutter in between breaths, Tufiakwa. Yes, the same tufiakwa that you said the time you read the article called ‘This American Life’. Oh, about your kids, well, some of them went home with your body. Those few times you cleaned your bank account to take them home paid off. They watch as sand lands on your coffin. One even remembered how to say, ‘Kedu’. They leave soon after. They will come back one more time – when they accompany your ex on the final journey home.
 

Maybe your mother will come and help … and incense your spouse. With caning banished, you raise teens with your hands tied to your back. Marital problems persist because as your fortune falls that of your spouse rises. You have done your calculation. Something has to give. You try selling real estate. You prepare taxes. You sell insurance. You run out of contacts. You buy cars from the auction and ship them home. You get duped by friends and family. Nothing is adding up. Fast insurance fraud deals? You try other businesses on the side, but total dedication is needed. You quit your job entirely and start a business. Cleaning business. Staffing business. Medical equipment. Home Health business. Escort service. Oh, these taxes, running costs, government paper works and lack of patronage by your own people. Marital problems persist. You wish you had married the lover you left in Nigeria to come to America. You take the divorce option. Half of your wealth is wiped out. Now rages the battle for visitation rights, alimony and child support. You’re estranged from the kids because of the stories your spouse made up against you to win custody. But you keep paying up. You have no option.

You start afresh. A new apartment. Maybe a new spouse? No, that can wait. Your classmate at home becomes the CEO of a multinational company. A chieftaincy title follows and you wonder what happened to you. You consider a fast 419 advance fee fraud deal. You remember those acquaintances still doing time in US prisons. You hold off. You dream of a contract from the government at home. You write a proposal. You get in touch with an old classmate who has done well. Home looks attractive. The people you left behind are doing better. You conveniently forget the majority who are not making ends meet. You are overwhelmed. High blood pressure is diagnosed. High cholesterol. Heart problems. Another tooth is extracted. You join the gym. You stay away from garri and farina. You join a church. You can be a pastor too, but you don’t like that lifestyle of pretending to be what you’re not. Life is no more fun. You go home, dabble in business, in politics, in entertainment. You are burnt. You return. You start afresh. No, you won't take the divorce option. You will manage. You will live like roommates, until the kids are grown and are out of the house. You will wait for retirement.

You need just ten more years. At 56, with social security plus pension pay and 401K, you can go to the village, if kidnappers permit, and enjoy your old age. And start afresh. Maybe marry anew. Maybe teach in a college in Nigeria. Yeah! You register for a PhD with an online college. Your Mummy dies. Your dentist extracts another tooth. Your doctor suggests knee and hip replacement. Your shrink prescribes Prozac. In spite of your wahala, the children grow. The girls do well in school. The boys go from four-year colleges to two-year colleges, in between gang membership and police troubles. The boys marry White girls. The girls marry African-Americans. You’re glad the girls did not get pregnant out of wedlock. You thank God the boys did not throw a coming out party to announce that they are gay. One lives in Arizona and another in Hawaii. Your house is empty, calls come on holidays only. It is now time to really go home. But what about managing the diabetes? Do you trust the doctors at home to handle your dialysis? Your medication cocktail will be hard to find at home. Daddy and Mummy are dead. You have to make new friends again.

 The ones you used to have are now strangers to you. Your spouse refuses to go with you. Spouse cannot deal with the sound of electric generators, untreated well water, As for Igwe meat without an FDA inspection tag. You retire. You sell the big house and move into a small condo. When you cannot take care of yourself, you go from the condo to a nursing home. Your children are too busy to have you share their homes. They visit every presidential election year. (Once in 4 years) In your mind you are still entertaining thoughts of going home. Its rather too late for that. The twelfth tooth is gone. You now take more pills than the teeth in your mouth. So you stay until your autopsy is ready. Your townsfolk contribute money to ship you home. As your coffin lands in Lagos, your relations who have gathered to receive you for the last time mutter in between breaths, Tufiakwa. Yes, the same Tufiakwa that you said the time you read the article called ‘This American Life’. Oh, about your kids, well, some of them went home with your body. Those few times you cleaned your bank account to take them home paid off. They watch as sand lands on your coffin. One even remembered how to say, ‘Kedu’. They leave soon after. They will come back one more time – when they accompany your ex on the final journey home.

Disclaimer, this article was sent to my by a friend. I thought it was interesting.

 

Home Affairs Ministers Mohadi to consider declaration of Joshua Nkomo holiday

 

 

 

Kembo Mohadi, the Home Affairs co-minister says he would "consider the application" when he does receive an application to have July 1 declared a national public holiday in honour of the late nationalist and former Vice President Joshua Nkomo.
The aforementioned application is expected to be made soon by the Matojeni Cultural Society to mark the date when Nkomo died in 1999.

Two years ago, the leadership of Zapu called the government to declare July 1 a new annual public holiday to commemorate the anniversary of the death on Nkomo, following the 10th anniversary of the late Vice President.
The son of the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo, Sibangilizwe and the Matojeni Cultural Society had said they will unilaterally declare the day a holiday if government refuse to entertain their request.
They said preparations to unilaterally declare July 1 as Joshua Nkomo and Liberators' Day are at an advanced stage.
Sibangilizwe, who appears to be on a collision course with the government, says he has written several letters to the Home Affairs ministry to have a holiday declared in honour of his father, but these have been ignored.

"What is surprising about the government is that it does not respond to our communication, but in the past two years, political parties have graced our celebrations," he said.
Sibangilizwe revealed that the police have given them a go-ahead to hold a procession from Blue Lagoon to Stanley Square.
Nkomo died on July 1 1999 and Sibangilizwe says there will be celebrations to mark his 14th anniversary at Stanley Square, Makokoba. Online reports.

Former South African President Nelson Mandela hospitalized in serious condition

South Africans on Saturday said their thoughts were with former President Nelson Mandela, who was in "serious but stable" condition after being taken to a hospital to be treated for a recurring lung infection.
Mandela, who is 94 years old, was treated in a hospital several times in recent months, with the last discharge coming on April 6 after doctors diagnosed him with pneumonia and drained fluid from his lung area. He has been particularly vulnerable to respiratory problems since contracting tuberculosis during his 27-year imprisonment under apartheid.
While serving as South Africa's president in 1998, Mandela speaks to Mary Grace Mandela Michel, the daughter of Saint Lucia's Deputy Prime Minister, who was named after Mandela. (Reuters)
A small girl and her father stood outside Mandela's Johannesburg home with a stone on which was written a get-well message for Mandela, who helped end white racist rule and became the country's first black president in all-race elections in 1994. A young boy brought a bouquet of flowers that he handed over to guards at the house.
Elsewhere in the city, some worshippers prayed for Mandela during an outdoor gathering.
"If the time comes, we wish for him a good way to go," said Noel Ngwenya, a security officer who was in the congregation.
"During the past few days, former President Nelson Mandela has had a recurrence of lung infection," said a statement from the office of President Jacob Zuma. "This morning at about 1:30 a.m., his condition deteriorated and he was transferred to a Pretoria hospital."
It said Mandela was receiving expert medical care and "doctors are doing everything possible to make him better and comfortable."

• Read about the life and times of Nelson Mandela

Zuma wished Mandela a quick recovery on behalf of the government and the nation and requested that the media and the public respect the privacy of the former leader and his family, the statement said.
Mandela's wife, humanitarian activist Graca Machel, cancelled an appearance at an international forum on hunger and nutrition in London on Saturday, citing "personal reasons," said Colleen Harris, a spokeswoman for the meeting.
Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said Machel had cancelled her attendance at the London meeting on Thursday, and had accompanied Mandela to the hospital on Saturday morning, the South African Press Association reported.
"We need to hold our thoughts and keep him in our minds," Maharaj said. "He is a fighter, he has recovered many times from very serious conditions and he will be with us. Let's pray for him and help him to get better."
The African National Congress, the ruling party that has dominated politics in South Africa since the end of apartheid, said it hoped Mandela, known affectionately by his clan name Madiba, would get better soon.
"We will keep President Mandela and his family in our thoughts and prayers at this time and call upon South Africans and the peoples of the globe to do the same for our beloved statesman and icon, Madiba," the party said in a statement. National Current reports.  (Madiba passed away on the 5th of December,  2013 and almost the world word mourned his death)

Keeping it in perspective!

The flip side of civilization.

Kids grow up in the homes without parental guidance, parents fear to tell kids the truth, kids are raised by video games and movies in all these gadgets. parents are more or less friends than parents. I am watching this show on CNN, this guy killed his parents as a young teenager. He said he was a ticking time bomb because of his rage.

He said people must watch out ...for signs. He further says that nobody just goes out and kill people they plan it first. Sometime we see them and ignore them up until something tragic happens. Its like we are feeding snakes that will bite us in due season.

Kids be merciful to your parents. First commandment with a promise says honor your parents, so that you days will be many on earth. We grew up where no father or mother ever told you they love you, yet they would sit down with you and put you in check if possible. We are poor but we are vey rich. Shame civilization. Just keeping it in perspective!