International Women’s Day (IWD) has just come and gone and after the fanfare, we are left to reflect more somberly on the issues still confronting us as women. In reflecting on our collective situation, l have decided to take a very different and very personal look at issues affecting women in Zimbabwe. Very often as activists there is the temptation to quote oft quoted statistics, to repeat phrases and slogans that while true, are now trite. Their over-use has somewhat desensitised people to the very important issues that we are confronted with. In most instances, we have removed the human face from the statistics and made them just numbers that we trot out. This IWD is especially important to me because a little later on in the month we are going to the polls to hopefully vote our next batch of leaders into power. I am sharing my story as a challenge to my fellow activists in civil society and to these would be leaders. To my fellow activists, the question is a simple one – are you asking the right questions of your friends who are running for political office? To the would be leaders; what are you going to do to address the problems that women face because they are women? For the full article please visit this link

Yesterday I received this on the ground report from Gerry Whitehead in Chiredzi. It makes for some interesting reading.

Husband and wife still prisoners
On Saturday I visited Digby and Jess Nesbitt who still cannot leave their home on their cane farm, this is because they know that if they do go into Chiredzi or visit friends, they will not be allowed back to their home and will loose all their possessions. Digby and Jess are looking stressed but are hopeful that the coming elections will be positive and bring the changes required to save Zimbabwe.

Shelves empty and no meal
The shelves are still empty in the supermarkets and there has been no meal (the staple diet) available for several weeks now, if you have a lot of money you are able sometimes to buy grain at $150 million a bucket from the councilors who get it from the Grain Marketing Board which is controlled by the ZANU PF government. The food situation for the poor is getting very serious here now.

The poor sick
Again it is the poor people who get sick first because they are stressed and undernourished. They now get turned back from the Chiredzi hospital because there is no medicine and no government doctors, there are however a few private doctors, but they are far too expensive for these unfortunates. The local chemists in Chiredzi do have some medicines but again much too expensive, so the poor are left to suffer and die. It seems that no one cares, certainly the ZPF government of Zimbabwe does not.

Anger and excitement
It’s hard to find anybody in the Lowveld who is not angry with the ZANU PF party who rule Zimbabwe, everybody is suffering, and those who are lucky enough to have employment are forced to support relatives in the stricken communal areas. Mugabe will only find some support in the Lowveld from those that he has bought with farms and even many of those are saying that they will not vote. Some say that they will vote for Simba Makoni for president, I have also had several well known ZANU PF recipients of farms come to my office and admit the situation cannot carry on like this and so will vote Morgan Tsvangarai. Last week I went into the Chiredzi South Communal areas to do some ground work for the elections and met many people who are A1 settlers on farms. They are admitting that the whole land issue has been handled badly and the only way out now is to vote for the MDC. Simba Makoni is not known here and is being described as a ZANU PF stooge.

In general, people are excited about the coming elections as they give them hope! I cannot see Mugabe even being able to rig the elections in these areas; the people seem to be mobilizing against this government just like they did for Mugabe when they, the people invaded the farms. The ZPF government has saturated the area with troops who are supposed to be on leave but have been told to force the people to vote Mugabe, but it seems that the troops in these areas are not very enthusiastic. A few weeks ago we did have a General arrive at Chikombedzi and threaten people at a meeting saying that if an opposition party won there would be war like they have never seen.

I used to have to work in these areas under the cover of darkness but now it seems that I am able to work in daylight and the people are waving at me.

The campaign is clearly underway. My feet know it. I got my flyer printed on Tuesday, and Wednesday went to the Mutambara/Makoni meet the candidate event at Northside Community Church, organized by Trudy Stevenson.

I arrived early, met some old friends, helped set up a bit, and stood in the car park and handed out my flyer. Quite unashamed. Then sat inside (very small turnout, about 60 people) and listened to the candidates – could not see them, there was no power! Highlights to hear were Margaret Dongo, Trudy herself and Arthur Mutambara. He is a serious academic. Made me feel like I was back in political science class at university. Very good speaker, and definitely smart, (he would do a fine job if he could implement what he says) just not ‘street’ talk.

Thursday day, I went street walking. Did Kensington and Avondale shops, and bits in between. Sore feet for it. The response – very good. People wanted to know who was Michael Laban? I guess they did not expect to see a poor white guy on foot and bicycle handing out his own leaflets. But the people who actually spoke to me will support me! Whether they were just being nice, or will actually put the X down beside my face on the day (if they are able to vote with this confusion), we will know afterwards. (Maybe on the 30th, but I suspect it will take longer than that – who wants to bring me food at the counting station?)

It was sad walking around. Aside from Avondale shops having no power (for two days some told me), the streets are BAD, there is rubbish everywhere (the stickiest lot is the ‘government’) water flows in many places it is not supposed to flow in – but the people are out there, trying to get by. Still friendly, non-violent, bearing up. My first stop was the Police station – maybe taking Openness and Transparency a little far, but thought I should let them know what their next door neighbour is doing – and the man on the desk was not concerned in the least. Accepted the flyer, smiled, wish me a happy day, etc. No sign he feels threatened by political violence in Zimbabwe.

A common question from the floor/street was, “What are you going to give us to vote for you?” It seems that vote buying is expected. After all, they get nothing between elections (not even meetings to express their wants). I just had to explain, I am ex-Zanu PF, and ex-MDC, and proud of it (proud that I have left!), and I do not buy votes. Vote for me now, and we will see if I can make a difference. To society as a whole, not to any individual. (That is why I describe myself as a Socialist.)

I also dropped off leaflets with old hands (who worked for me in the last elections), who want me in again. Which is very gratifying, and I hope indicates I did something right back then.

Over my many years walking, running and cycling the streets of Harare, one unfortunate, recurring theme of my experience has been men’s harassment of women, including myself. In struggling to find ways to deal with the often daily comments, stares, whispers and shouts, I’ve used a variety of tactics. Sometimes I ignore. Sometimes I try and rationalise. Sometimes I engage. But often, often, I think about what I, or anyone, could possibly do, to make it all stop.

A friend of mine and I sometimes discuss WWW: Women With Weapons. A few years ago, cycling to work and back every day, I had a recurring fantasy that my bike was kitted out with a bayonet in the front, and flame throwers out the spokes of my wheels. Pity the poor bloke who made some nasty comment at me, I’d think. He’d be a lesson to all other men. And then maybe, just maybe, eventually, the heckling would stop.

Of course, I know violence isn’t the answer. And I know that if part of what I resent about men’s harassment of women is the ways in which they generalise all women into the category “vagina” and treat them all as a potential fuck, then I also shouldn’t generalise all men as potential harassers.

For a much more constructive and thoughtful approach to issues of gender violence and harassment of women, visit our current eactivism campaign. It discusses the potential of the Vagina Vote for our upcoming elections in Zimbabwe. This is “the belief that a new paradigm can manifest itself in a political as well as spiritual form. It is the decision to ask those running for office as well as those already in office to make ending violence against girls and women a priority.”

Certainly that’s a much more level headed take on the whole thing. But something in my gut resonates much more closely with this poem from the Rape volume of Agenda’s Gender Based Violence Trilogy – Issue 74, 2007.

My vagina wants an Uzi
My vagina is tired of explaining why it needs one
My vagina is ready for the armed (vagina) struggle
My vagina is not my father’s kraal, or anyone’s for that matter
My vagina has its own culture “vagina friendly culture” VFC
VFC = no means no
VFC = justice before the law
VFC = I wear what I want and I walk where I want and I say what I feel, when I feel it

My vagina wants a world where it decides when and how and with whom
My vagina does not want a cock
No man’s cock
Ever
My vagina is a lesbian
My vagina is clear about that

My vagina is tired of being angry and afraid and sad
My vagina is sad more deeply than indigo, the colour of a vivid bruise, the colour of dried blood, the colour of women and children broken on the altar of culture

My vagina wants to be free
My vagina wants an Uzi

- Larissa Klazinga

Well, at times I wonder what to do or who to listen to, and I wonder who is in charge.

Yesterday I was shocked to read from one of our local papers in Zimbabwe saying it is illegal to possess more than Zim$500m in cash (US$10). According to a new regulation published last month, anyone found with more than Zim$500m in cash will be guilty of “unlawful hoarding”.

Many schools and supermarkets do not want bills settled by cheque because of roaring inflation rates. In the five or so days cheques take to clear, traders stand to lose a significant amount of money. As I have noticed yesterday when I was phoning enquiring about the prices of bond paper, they are asking for cash payments and if it’s by cheque or transfers (RTGS) then the price will almost double.

The authorities want to encourage the use of cheques and cards. But power cuts mean it’s often impossible to settle bills by electronic transfer of funds, and not all ATMs are working.

I refer you to an excerpt from The Herald published and dated Tuesday 22, January 2008:

“People must be allowed to take all their money which is to their credit without hindrance or restrictions up to the limits stipulated. Arbitrary limits are unacceptable.”

So, where am I guilty of “unlawful hoarding”?

In the interest of helping people make informed choices for the March 29 election, I’ve been looking for background information on the various presidential candidates and their parties.

The MDC (Tsvangirai) was pretty straightforward. Their policy document is on our site, and their website is updated fairly regularly.

Similarly, Simba Makoni’s website features a range of statements, photographs, and even Makoni’s CV.

I found “really dark horse” presidential candidate Langton Towungana’s phone number on the Telone directory online, of all places. And I was pleasantly surprised when he answered the phone himself. And was completely charming. As sceptical as I am about this election, and as convinced as I am that the “Plan B” – how we defend our vote after its been stolen – is an absolutely critical part of preparing for this election – I do have a soft spot for Towungana. It started when I first heard him in an interview with Studio 7. When asked about his election manifesto, he said “It’s there. But what’s more important than any manifesto is how we turn this economy around.” He reckons he’s on an assignment from God because of Zimbabwe’s “terrible situation.”

But what disappointed me entirely was trying to get some information out of Zanu PF. I saw that the Herald had published the introduction to the Zanu PF manifesto which they launched on 1 March. The investigating I did down various pathways online looking for the manifesto or the Zanu PF site all came up short. So I decided to give them a call. Even though they’re listed in the directory, it took four phone calls to find their correct number (+263 4 774 146). And I ended up having the most gobsmackingly ridiculous conversation with the woman on the other end of the line (who wouldn’t tell me her name). It went something like this:

Me: Hello, my name is Amanda. I’m phoning from Kubatana. I’d really like to find out more about Zanu PF. Please may you tell me your email address.
Her: Why do you want that?
Me: Because I saw that you launched your manifesto last week. I read Mugabe’s introduction to it. I want to send you an email to request that you send me your whole manifesto document and some other information about Zanu PF.
Her: I can’t give that to you.
Me: Why? Is your email down?
Her: Our email is there. But I can’t just give you the address.
Me: Why?
Her: Because I don’t know you. I can’t just give that information out to you without knowing you.
Me: Oh. That’s alright then. How about you just tell me the address for your website. Then I can go and have a look for myself. Maybe I can find your manifesto there?
Her: But who are you?
Me: My name is Amanda. I work at Kubatana. We help Zimbabweans find out more about issues that matter to them, like this upcoming election.
Her: I don’t know you.
Me: That’s alright. What is your website address?
Her: I can’t give that to you.
Me: Do you not have a website?
Her: The website is there. But I can’t just give you that information.
Me: Why not?
Her: Because I don’t know you. I cannot give you this kind of information over the phone. Best we sit down face to face and we see each other and we discuss. And then once I know you I can decide if I want to share this information with you.
Me: So you can’t tell me your website address unless you’ve met me?
Her: Yes.
Me: That’s interesting. Many political parties these days are hoping that people will vote for them. So they are sharing their information with all Zimbabweans so that the people know more about them so that they can win their votes.
Her: Yes they are.
Me: So I’m confused. I don’t understand why you would not want to share this information with me and with others. Why do you have a website if you don’t want people to go and view it?
Her: I don’t care what you think. This is our organisation’s policy. I cannot give you that information.
Me: Really? Not even an email address.
Her: No.
Me: So what is your name?
Her: Why?
Me: So I can come and see you and we meet face to face and then maybe you’re more comfortable giving me your website address.
Her: Why do you want to do that?
Me: So that I can learn more about your party.
Her: You don’t need to know my name.
Me: So then how am I going to come see you?
Her: Good bye.
Me (To the dial tone): Alright then. Thanks ever so much for all your help.

“Let the people’s voice thunder,” Mugabe said in launching the manifesto. But how are you going to thunder if you’re only willing to speak with people you know?