World Press Freedom Day Remembered

Pic: Gift Phiri leaving the megistrate courts last month.


In remembrance of the world press freedom day, some of us (journalists) gathered at the press club to share our thoughts about the media environment in our country among other things. We had a speech read by Foster Dongozi (Zimbabwe Union of Journalists secretary general) on behalf of the International federation of Journalists IFJ which highlighted a number of issues regarding our working environment.

"Impunity should no longer be tolerated when a journalist is killed, attacked or threatened" he read."In Africa it is sad to note that press freedom is constantly under.....violent attacks on the media, arbitrary arrest and detention without trial, utilisation of draconian law to imprison journalists, impunity and bad working conditions are the main factors that continue to confront journalists.... in the continent" he said.

Such a scenario highlighted by the speech Dongozi read, followed some very interesting comments and contributions from some journalists who had attended. It is sad to note that the press freedom day came during the government's intensified campaign against journalist who are mostly from the private media. This year alone we saw the killing of Edward Chikomba by unknown assailants, the arrest and torture of Gift Phiri a journalist with the Zimbabwean and other journalists being denied accreditation. Furthermore concerns were also raised about the poor remuneration and working conditions journalists are being subjected to.

In his solidarity message Dongozi highlighted the lack of activity amongst Zim Journalists when it came to resisting government threats. ' We need to come with programmes of action that will hold the authorities accountable" he said.

In the year 2000, the supreme court of Zimbabwe ruled that monopoly of the airwaves is unconstitutional. To the contrary, the playing field in the operations of the media is uneven with the government holding the monopoly of the airwaves. The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation is being abused, as one journalist said, and almost operating like a propaganda machine of the ruling party. The media by and large is channeling hate messages and thus playing a dangerous roll, another journalist said. People in the highest offices are seen uttering and given prominence to say messages like"instill fear in the hearts of a white man".

We now have a situation where we have trial by the media another sited. The official media saw it fit that they become the courts of this land. We have often seen headlines like "MDC petrol bombers" even before they (alleged MDC bombers) are proven guilty of such crimes. Quite a number of issues were discussed including the need for journalists to come up with a petition to bring to attention our concerns as journalists before the government and the issue of the media council. A minute of silence was then observed in remembrance of Chikomba.

Harare is all Yours Gazza

Pic: Namibian Kwaito star Gazza doing what he knows best at the Harare International Festival of the Arts.

HIFA Opens With a Bang

Pic: HIFA Opening

The HIFA opening show on Tuesday was a fantastic moment to those fans who had long awaited for its coming. It was a fusion of so many artistic acts- music, ballet- just to mention a few. What was really magnificent about the presentation was the systematic arrangement of the presentations as the fusion of the acts would flow without noticeable breaks.

My biggest highlight of the show was the presentation by Namibian Kwaito star Gazza. This young man is the new wave of the volatility of Kwaito. I have had the privilege of watching many South African kwaito artists play, but Gazza's act was rather unique. It is his ability to wow the public with his easy going dances, heavy beat and outstanding voice. This goes to show that music is such a powerful. Some of his songs that "rocked" were the likes of KKN, Vistan, Oshinima and many from his new project. I will recommend anyone to track this guy.

The festival is still going on. There is the much awaited show on sunday when Thandiswa Mazwai from South African music outfit Bongo Muffin is to present her show as a solo artist. Zimbabweans are so used to her acts and hits as a group and not as a solo artist. We still wonder how she is going to put up a brilliant show without Speed and Jah Seed.

Devaluing our Lives

Pic:VALUELESS, A man steps over a 10 dollar note at one of the shopping centers in Harare.


The Governor of the Reserve bank of Zimbabwe Dr Gideon Gono anounced in his monitory policy statement on Thursday, the further devaluation of the Zimbabwean dollar from 250 to 15000 to the US dollar. This came amid cries from the business sector that the 250 rate was not sustainable. But the governor would not want to succumb to the cries for devaluation without some tricks. The Governor has always been anti devaluation in the past and i think he did not want to be seen as making a u-turn on his policies. The guy loves his image more than anything else and is overloaded with pride.

Gono said the devaluation only applied to what he termed the Drought Mitigation and Economic Stabilisation Fund. He emphasised that this does not mean devaluation. But Mr Governor! you said the new exchange rate covers embassies, farmers, tour operates,NGOs', International transporters,farmers, people in the diaspora AND, AND, AND individuals. Can anyone explain to me in another way. Probably i lost it. Doesn't it look like the above statement covers the entire population.

The devaluation has further escalated the price of basic commodities in shops. By the time the governor had shut his mouth to close his statement, most supermarkets had already changed the prices of most of their products. For example, i went into one of the supermarkets in Harare's Eastlea suburb to buy fresh milk. I had bought it (milk) in the morning at 3500. By the time i arrived around 5pm it had shot up to 12000. What does this translates to, under an environment where the government is keen on slashing price increases? We are going to see more shortages of basic commodities, more queues, more headaches,more stress related illnesses and more pressure on our ill- equipped medical centers, more deaths etc. Cry my beloved country.

A Squatter Camp in Malibu

Pic; In Harare's northern suburbs is an upmarket location where the rich and famous live called Follyjon. One wouldn't expect to see a stray dog let alone tuck shop in the area. But to the contrary, some squatters have found their way into one open space in Follyjon and have built their "fabulous" dwellings to compete with those of their billionaire neighbours. A very tight competition where honesty is the judge. But the legal residents are complaining that these squatter camp have become a haven for thieves. They are losing their electric gadgets to these invaders. Where are they going to plug in their gadgets if their only source of energy is a match box and firewood?. Let them have a feel of your saunas, private bars, dinner tables and hammers. Tomorrow, you might find yourself regaining peace.

Dancing With a Difference

Pic: FLYING WITHOUT WINGS, Hwamanda dance group in action.

I caught up with Hwamanda Dance Group at a agriculture field day in Shamva. Its a fantastic group that displays some dance routines that have a combination of traditional acts and those one could say are borrowed from gymnastics. I understand the group will be performing in Harare soon and iam very anxious about watching them once more.

The group, including all other dance groups that are spread in the country that i have watched over the years, have a hidden message emanating from their displays that so many people seem to miss. I have recently discovered, after watching Hwamanda perform that, traditional dances, besides entertainment, often dig deep into our minds for one to question his/her level of "Africanness" (attachment to our roots). The dances and songs that accompany them carry me back to my rural home and how i used to play around with my home boys in dusty dry lands of Mazvihwa. They are a reflection of our past and how we could possibly embrace it in the present time. I always visualise a society that has long gone where all those fairy tales and sound proverbs we grew up listening to, made real impact to society.

That was then, when grandpa was still a young boy. When most of the things were just "natural". There were no tarred roads, C02 emissions, GMOs', coca cola, cakes, Levis jeans and anything digital. Life was a friend of the natural. Is it true that life was so organised by then, as how my daddy puts it now?. There is one important factor that modern life seem not to change from all of us- that is our colour. Black or brown, iam still proud to be African, something i value especially through listening and watching traditional dances. I went to Europe this other year and within a few days i was already missing home. Not my two bedroom flat i once rented in the city, but my rural home. I missed my parents, homeboys and even the dry land that often grilled my skin. That is one hidden secret about my culture. Its like a companion you can trust and live without. Can someone make a movie out of it. I will suggest the title could be "When songs and dances shaped a man"

Hifa Cannot be for the Entire Nation

HIFA cannot be for the entire country, let alone for my rural people of Belingwe, states a comment on my blog. The person suggests that it is probably a Harare event. I would love to buy that point straight, but my assumption is rather tied to facts. According to organisers of HIFA, the event attracts people from across the entire nation (visitors) including traditional acts from far deep as Venda tribes in Beitbridge. Probably if the argument could be on coverage. But then Dead BC through its reporter, Terence Mapurisana claims every year that they spread the show wide for many Zimbos to watch. The argument can best be put to light if we say HIFA only accommodates for a certain class of people. A farmer from West Nicholson, a manager in Victoria falls and a business man in Mutare. If I would concur with your suggestion (which I have already done) I will stop using the word "entire" just for this reason. Its out of way. Thanks.