Now lest you think Kubatana is resolutely anti World Cup, we’re not! We’re busy drawing straws to see who gets to leave the office early on Friday to watch the opening ceremony and first match, and we included this announcement in our newsletter today:

Regional soccer solidarity . . .

Get your fingers tapping today!
Deadline: Wednesday 9 June 2010

Over the next few weeks the eyes of the world will be on South Africa for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup. The tournament starts on 11 June 2010 with the official opening ceremony and the opening game between South Africa and Mexico.

The hosting of the tournament presents us with an opportunity to get behind our neighbours and Bafana Bafana as they take on the best teams in the world.

SANGONeT, a South African NGO, is collecting and coordinating “NGO messages of support” for Bafana Bafana and the successful hosting of the World Cup.

All you need to do is to forward a short message of support from Zimbabwe (no more than 50 words), to info@sangonet.org.za by Wednesday, 9 June 2010. Please copy info@kubatana.net

All messages will be published on NGO Pulse – www.ngopulse.org

A consolidated document with all the messages will be submitted to the South African Football Association (SAFA) on 10 June 2010 to be handed over to the Bafana Bafana team before the start of the World Cup and their first game on 11 June 2010.

We’ve already received these messages of support from our subscribers:

Bafana!Bafana…this is an African cause . . . “Cry the beloved vuvuzela” . . . from the Cape to Cairo the echo of victory shall be heard!
- JM

You are like Excalibur, the great and mighty sword that never lost any battle. You have been given the platform to show the world what Africa is made of. Here is a good luck note from a Zimbabwean lady who is wishing all the best. I salute you.
- RZ

I believe I speak on behalf of many fellow Zimbabweans as I say to Bafana Bafana – “what ever the outcome . . . .we are proud of your our brothers, raise your flag high, and play from the heart . . . for Africa”
- IC

Bafana Bafana, you are the pride of our land,
South Africa, your light will shine to all,
You have already shown the world what you are made of,
You prepared for these games with pride and courage,
Now this is the time for you to shine to the whole world.
- CM

Congratulations on hosting the tournament. Play fair and do it the South African way. Make Africa proud by seizing the opportunity to keep the World Cup in Africa. Ishe Komborera Africa
- ZS

Viva Bafana Bafana Viva. I wish you and the people of South Africa triumph at the prominent Fifa Soccer World Cup Finals. Hold high the golden trophy for victory is already Africa’s. Viva Bafana Bafana.
- KM

Bafana Bafana 2010, it’s historic! Remember it is an African World Cup and belongs to Africa! Go Bafana Bafana you can win it. It is very possible!
- CM

Wish all African teams competing in this year’s World Cup all the best. Make Africa proud. To South Africa: Thank you for bringing the World Cup to our doorstep.
- SC

Get involved! Send your congratulatory message to Bafana Bafana. Write to info [at] sangonet [dot] org [dot] za by Wednesday, 9 June 2010 and cc info [at] kubatana [dot] net

At a press conference attended by the media and diplomats including a representative of the Embassy of Spain, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition condemned the persecution and harassment of civil society activists.  In a speech by Mr. Pedzisai Ruhanya, the Coalition demanded that the Government of National Unity brings to end the persecution.

Cases in point included that of Farai Maguyu, the director of Mutare based Centre for Research and Development (CRD). Mr Runanya said Mr. Maguyu handed himself to the police on the 3rd of June, after his family members and fellow CRD employees were severely threatened and harassed by state security agents. It is believed that Mr. Maguyu is being accused of publishing or communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the state in contravention of section 31 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. Mr. Maguyu is said to have had a meeting with the Kimberly Process Monitor for Zimbabwe, Abbey Chikane discussing human rights abuses and smuggling of diamonds from Marange.

The Coalition said that Mr. Maguyu was arrested in Mutare and transferred to Harare without any known reason, and was detained by the police for over 48 hours before trial, a period which is beyond the legal limit of detention before court trial. The Coalition views this detention as a punishment being put on Mr. Maguyu for “…exposing injustice and for speaking out for the oppressed people of Marange.” The Crisis also believes that the government is “…aware that Mr. Maguyu is supposed to travel to Israel later in June to give evidence at the Kimberly process plenary regarding abuses in Marange.”

The Coalition called upon the Kimberly process to order an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this arrest. The Coalition further warned the government that the world is following the development of this case and will not be silent about it. Mr. Ruhanya further warned the state against any further harm to Mr. Maguwu.

The Coalition saluted the CRD staff members who are reported to be still in hiding and promised to be firm in support of Mr. Maguyu whose arrest, they say, is unwarranted interference with his liberty and is not in recognition of Mr. Maguyu’s basic human rights.

The Coalition also expressed deep concern over the resurgence of attacks and harassment of civil society organization and activists. Citing various cases such as Mrs Getrude Hambira, the Vice Chairperson of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and Secretary General of the General Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union (GAPWUZ) who was forced to flee Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) director Okay Machisa who was arrested in line with a photo exhibition, and lastly the case of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) employees who were reportedly tortured in police custody and later granted bail.

The Coalition further called for a complete overhaul of the government system “…to ensure that the judiciary, public prosecutors and state security agents are non-partisan, independent, impartial and professional.”

During the conference news arrived that Mr. Maguyu was finally brought to court on the 8th of June 2010, and the state was opposing a bail application by Mr. Maguyu’s lawyer.

The Zimbabwean newspaper of 7 June 2010 reports that the Minister Kasukuvere threatened foreign business people with unknown action if they continue working in areas designated for locals by the law. The paper quotes Kasukuvere as saying,

“Come the 30th of June if they are still operating in areas which are reserved for our people by the Indigenisation law they will see what will happen to them. They have come in our country and taken our buildings, displaced our people and even gone to our rural areas to displace our small business traders. How do you come from all that far and come sell milk here in Zimbabwe where do you want milk from our people to be sold to when foreigners are taking the market?”

The head of the Zimbabwe Indigenous Economic Empowerment organization, President Paddington Japajapa, is also reported to have promised to incite local business people to attack foreign owned businesses if Kasukuwere failed to chase them away.

From the look of these threats there are plans to chase these business people the Murambatsvina way, which is grossly inhuman. After all a months notice is unfair. It should be known that these people never entered through closed doors. Neither did they just swarm to occupy these premises without the consent of the owners of the buildings and the government itself.

These entrepreneurs only took advantage of a niche that existed – where were our local businessmen when the premises were taken over?  Where were Kasukuvere and Japajapa? If they the foreigners are selling milk, it means no one was selling that milk before they came.

It seems our local entrepreneurs are not risk takers at all. They have watched the premises being taken by better innovative people. Now they are seeing success and are now resorting to the law to chase them away.

All I am saying is that there is no need to treat these foreigners without respect as if they raided our premises in our absence. There is no need to hate them as if they have not helped us in our times of need by investing in this country.

One of my favourite feminist quotes comes from Mary Wollstonecroft and it says “I do not wish them (women) to have power over men but over themselves” because I believe that is the essence of women empowerment.

I never resonate with the preoccupations of some activists with ‘demanding’ that men create spaces for women in politics, in education etc… the whole idea of creating quota systems sits rather uncomfortably with me.

For what a man gives to a woman, he has the power to withhold at some point and there is no empowerment derived from being ‘given’ – empowerment only comes with what one achieves, attains and realizes from their own efforts.

I don’t doubt women’s capabilities, potentials and talents – I don’t think they need men to ‘liberate’ them – I think they can pretty much liberate themselves – if they acquire education, work their way to the top, begin to actively participate in the highest echelons of decision-making, policy-formulation and governance.

In 2007, when I was at the University of Zimbabwe, we were witnesses to the first ever female candidate to run for the powerful (and often violently contested) post of Secretary General of the Students’ Executive Council, Maureen Kademaunga.

She won the elections in that year because she managed to galvanize the female students into one cohesive, critical mass of voters and became the most powerful student in the country at the time because student activism was very robust, radical and influential.

I have come to believe that what women need is to have power over themselves and that power manifests in overturning the status quo whenever it is employed to oppress, marginalize or discriminate against us.

Recently there was a landmark passport ruling by a Supreme Court Justice Rita Makarau ruled in favour of Margret Dongo who, two years after filing a constitutional challenge (seeking the, nullification of certain provisions of the Guardianship of Minors Act, which she claimed were discriminatory against married women who were not regarded as natural guardians of their children) finally triumphed.

I want to believe that having a female Justice presiding over the case had a lot to do with the verdict; I want to believe having a determined woman who knows her rights had a lot to do with Margeret Dongo daring to challenge the status quo.

I want to believe that the results of that ruling, which will impact favourably on married women were wrought through the actions of fellow women and that no man played a part in ridding us of that cumbersome piece of discriminatory legislation. I want to believe that these are just examples of women exercising power (not over men) but over themselves, over their lives and ultimately over the system of patriarchy that informs the conditions of their oppression, marginality and discrimination.

So, I too, wish that we as women, may choose to have power over ourselves, choose to exercise that power and choose to liberate and empower ourselves.

When I tell people that I am saving up to travel somewhere distant and exotic, they tend to look at me quizzically, as though I have lost my marbles.

“But why don’t you rather buy something sensible – say furniture or a car or a plot of land? Travel is surely not that important!”

More often than not, I am met with such responses when I start talking about my longed-for road trips through west Africa or some unexplored part of Asia.

It would seem to me that we as Zimbabweans, and Africans I dare say, don’t place much significance on becoming global citizens who know their world better.

Rather, when we travel, we’d prefer it to be on someone else’s tab – a workshop or conference where one spends the whole time in a hotel and then takes snaps around anything that bears the visited country’s name and proudly announces to all their Facebook friends, “Ndanga ndiriko! I was there!”

I will admit that once upon a time, I used to be like that. Back then, I figured that having a stamp in my passport that proved I had been to a place gave me authority to speak about it as though I had been born and bred there, even if I had only taken a few paces around some touristy places.

But then over time, I have come to realise that travel is more than just the physical act. There is such a wealth of learning – about people’s cultures and ways – waiting for you if you just take up the challenge.

I think that such experiences can be more valuable than buying things. Don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely important to invest in property . But there are things that travelling teaches you about yourself, about humanity and the sameness of us all amid our differences in geography, language, race and religion.

And also when I talk about travel, please don’t start pointing that accusatory finger at me and telling me that travel is for rich people.

Some of the best travel expeditions I have had have been on a shoestring budget and loads of adrenaline. Last year, a few friends and I bundled into a bus to Victoria Falls and stayed at a $5-a-night ‘lodge’ and had the most amazing time (eating baked beans and dry bread for breakfast and lunch, I might add!) interacting with the locals and just taking in the beauty of the majestic smoke that thunders.

And what about an even cheaper trail? How’s about a weekend exploring a part of your own city that you’ve never really paid attention to? Mbare, with all its history has a great atmosphere of life and living. Makokoba township, with its lively arts scene, is another place worth a visit.

I know there’s people living in their leafy suburban homes who would never dream of going on such tours fearing being seen ‘kughetto’. But those places we tend to look down upon harbour some of the most amazing experiences and people.

My favourite memory of visiting the Vic Falls last year was going to a bar in Chinotimba township where the music was far too loud for my ears and the half-drunk male revelers kept buying drinks for the designated ‘queen bee’ who stood in a corner gently tapping to the beat, making the jelly in her backside quiver to the men’s delight and unending attention. But each time one of them came up to her, she would shoo them away and say that she would only consider the guy’s advances on one condition – that he buy her some bottles of the beer she was plying herself with. Turns out she didn’t like any of the men anyway and used their interests to get herself sloshed! She left, very much alone, and very much unbalanced.

What a sight, and all on a working Wednesday night!

Here’s to travel and all the hilarious and mind-opening experiences that it brings.

And so next time I tell you my heart’s in Accra, please understand the itch in my blood to go to that legendary land. One day, just one day, my body will follow!

Mtunzini is a remnant 40 km fringe of unique dune forest that once claimed hundreds of miles of the Natal coast in South Africa.

The rest has been taken by holiday apartments and hotels, sugar cane farms, eucalyptus and pine forestry, and dune mining and a huge port for sea transport at Richards Bay.

This small untouched forest is where we go to shed our skins and watch with awe

As I write,
and despite the extraordinary efforts of the local conservancy who invite people in to experience this magical dynamic ecosystem,
these remnants are being visibly destroyed by drying of river sources by inland forestry
and damaged by a hotel consortium with chalets in the forest that endeavors to match their resort to meet the expectations of their visitors:

‘snakes/monkeys will get into the cottage if the trees touch the roof’
‘the paths through the forest must be clear of leaf-litter so we do not stand on a snake/scorpion/unseen death threats’
‘and the branches must be cleared above our heads’
‘and the trees that drop leaves and bird droppings and fruit on our cars’

‘Why are you here?’ I want to ask
as holes appear in the interconnections of the forest canopy where new alien plants  encroach
and my heart aches

Monavale is the small suburb in Harare, Zimbabwe, where we have lived for 30 years
It is a magic place – a large wetland enfolded by a strange outcrop of rocky hills with about 60 houses and an old age home.
The growing community has always been held together by a shared borehole (historically we had no municipal water)
For the past 10 years a number of dedicated residents in this community have established Monavale as one of the very few an urban bio-diversity centers in Southern Africa with the blessings of City Council and support from various environmental organizations.

It has been an exciting project which has involved huge work
we have now established  a wetland bird sanctuary,
protection of the unique local tree community,
an indigenous tree nursery,
vermaculture in our households,
community litter collections,
and bi-annual cleanups of dumping that have been left on the vlei surrounding us.

. . . I came home to the sound of cement mixers and banging and trucks

A 45m cell phone base station is being built 40m from our bedroom window
on the highest point at the centre of Monavale hill

no one, least of all the surrounding properties, were notified in advance

the places that I hold sacred
are being moved into that unseeing world
where development and safety and control
lay to waste to the wonder of the nature surrounds us.

This month, my friend and poet, Bev Schofield wrote in her poem ‘BUT’

I ranted and I raved
about world evil, all  the wrong
wrung out in songs and tortured poetry.
“Dear God” I cried “have you forsaken us?
If evil must be wrought then surely justice must be brought…”
“Good,” said God. “Go do it.”
“But me?” baulked I,

and like her, my heart shudders
as once again, I find myself being called to stand
at a time when my soul calls me to the garden and the simple tasks of daily living

BUT

from the first day the construction workers arrived, they were presented with the signed petition from members of the Monavale community
our letters of protest were sent to the cell phone company, to the city council, to the mayor, to every relevant authority,
and we called them in repeatedly

BUT

no legal permit to build has ever been produced
and our last feedback from the Deputy Urban Planner was as follows:
‘you will have to sue both us and the cell phone company to prove that you were not notified’.

the building continues as I write

And I rave at the unstoppable-ness of it all
how do I remember to love in this space of un-loving?

God flies past on butterfly wing
peeps over the windowsill  in a new-born bright-eyed gecko
whispers beauty in falling orange leaf
touches my coldly shedding skin with the warm sun

what is my place in all this?
is it in the stopping?
or learning to love before we have lost everything?