I have always had this wild imagination and always likened life to Pacman, a very captivating computer game. I am sure it rings a bell with many of you. I found it so fascinating when I had to eat my way to survival to get to the next level. And by the way it was survival of the fittest. Every time I got to the next level I would wipe my forehead and just sigh with relief ” Phew, I made it”. In the end I became a pro and obviously invincible.

One songwriter wrote, “You’ve got to live every moment as though it was your last, before the thief of always steals tomorrow from your grasp” which the beautiful and magnificent Jacque Velasquez sang so eloquently. She went on to sing “And time waits for no man, seasons come and go, in the midst of an ever-changing world”. I got confused at first before I had to intelligently reason with myself. At first I thought as an immature and raw individual taking the literal sense of the song. What immediately came to mind was going out and partying hard, you know what any party freak would do. If only “Las Vegas” was in Zimbabwe. Then again the song says live everyday and I couldn’t help but imagine partying hard on a daily basis. That would be suicide at its best – an antagonizing hangover each morning. Would I live to live life to the fullest like that, I don’t think so…

Life is indeed like a taxi, the meter keeps ticking whether you are stagnant or not, and it only stops once you have reached your final destination. What am I doing with my life? Am I passive or proactive, making positive or negative impacts in the lives of other fellow brothers and sisters in this so-called ever-changing world? I definitely want to be remembered. I fancy my parents standing tall and telling the whole world how proud they are of me and never run out of words to say. I have heard people say they have attended funerals where people find it difficult to say just a few words.

I will make it a point that when given a chance to prove myself in what every aspect of life, giving it my best shot would be quite rewarding. Everyone wants to be labelled an achiever, and so do I. Even Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs does mention self-actualisation as the greatest need in our lives. The need to realise that one is an achiever and recognition for that achievement is of great significance. Without that self-actualisation then there is no satisfaction until that goal is reached. The hunger, passion and zeal for accomplishment, attainment and success are push factors that should keep you and I going.

What is it that I need to achieve in life, the goals that I so badly want realised? The list is endless. Nothing can stop me as long as I focus on those goals. Another songwriter wrote “If at first you don’t succeed, you can dust yourself off and try again” – for me that is living life. Acknowledging that in life there are obstacles that will try to deter me and lose track of where I am going but those are merely part of life’s lessons. Those obstacles are there just to make me a stronger and better person at the end of the day.

Life is an adventure … dare it! It is also a mystery … so why not solve it? What is there to lose?

From the ZRP Public Relations department:

If you feel that while you are being questioned or searched at a roadblock, the details involved have harassed you, hinted for bribes, or been generally aggressive, you are advised to contact the ZRP Officers listed below.

The intention is for all ZRP details to have their rank, name and numbers on their uniforms but with current constraints this is not always possible.  Each Police Officer has a force number which should be given out if requested.

It should be noted that there are NO SUCH THING AS SPOT FINES, without an OFFICIAL RECEIPT, that is Form Z69 (j) Admission of Guilt.  Many Toad Blocks carry Z69 (j) for the convenience of the public.  Should it be inconvenient to pay immediately a “ticket” on Form 265 for payment at a Police Station within 7 days should be requested.  Failure to report to a Police Station within 7 days once Form 265 is issued will lead to prosecution.

Superintendent NCUBE: 0772 719 730 or 0712 769 768
Superintendent KANGWARE: 0712 415 491
Spokesperson Traffic Inspector Chigome: 0772 965 030

NATIONAL COMPLAINTS LINE: 24 HOUR Service (04) 703 631

It might seem hysterical, but I suggest you print this and keep it in your car.

Photographed at Mabelreign High School in Harare.

The generals in Zimbabwe are holding President Mugabe upright because they are afraid of the retribution that will come for what they’ve done under his regime. The same thing happens in other countries. And therefore you need to find a formula. In South Africa we settled on a formula of massive amnesty that actually went further than I wanted to go.

From: A Recipe for Freedom – Five lessons from South Africa’s transition to democracy. Excerpts from a recent speech by the country’s ex-president, F W De Klerk.

Read the article, learn the five lessons, on Foreign Policy Magazine

As a matter of record the following pleasing developments have been recorded.

- Carjacking and armed robbery of vehicles has virtually gone.
- The looting of goods, transiting our country from neighbouring countries, for example, copper from Zambia, is now a thing of the past.
- Fatalities in the roads have been reduced to the barest minimum.
- Chaos on the roads and the creation of unnecessary traffic jams has been minimized.
- Illegal operators have been flashed out.
- Though there are more cars on the roads and roads are narrower through lack of dualisation, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has managed to bring sanity to traffic movement.

An excerpt from: The State of Policing in Zimbabwe
An address made by the Commissioner General of Police Cde. A Chihuri at a Pass out Parade at Morris Depot, 23 February 2012

Mr Chihuri also said:

Let me state categorically that the reckless and misguided call to remove the traffic police from the roads is a non-starter. By nature of their job, Police operate from out there and not in offices. The Police must be vigilant and must continue to be out there to ensure total peace, security and safety of all, all the time. As Commissioner General of Police I will be grossly irresponsible to take the officers from the roads and accommodate them in offices just to lazy around. Their work is out there and they will remain out there. The Zimbabwe Republic Police will never tolerate any act of corruption, not only on the roads, but also in all areas of operation and within its rank and file.