The Education Minister in Kenya has banned weekend and holiday lessons for school children. Under Kenya’s National policy on tuition no classes shall be conducted during holidays and weekends. The minister reiterated that children have a right to rest from classes on weekends and during holidays adding that availability of education to all was a human right. Private schools that violate this directive will risk de-registration.

This is in contrast with what is happening here in Zimbabwe where government and private schools are capitalizing on weekend and holiday lessons for children – popularly known as “extra lessons” to boost income. Children from these schools are forced to pay for the extra lessons that are conducted at the school premises, or risk getting left out. Some of the private schools charge their tuition fees on a monthly basis and in order to keep revenue flowing these schools only gives students a one-week break for resting.

Ester, also known as “Amai White” is 90 years old and originally from Malawi.

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Photo credit: Kubatana.net/Leigh Worsley-Worswick

Simon Khaya is divorcing his wife of 32 years claiming “there is no more love and affection between the parties. There are no conjugal rights enjoyed between the parties. The marriage relationship has failed to live up to a relationship, which is a normal one and is expected in marriage relationships.” Ignatius Chombo’s divorce was recently finalised by the courts. Minister of State in Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s office, Sylvester Nguni had his own messy divorce which made headlines last year. It would be interesting to hear Jonathan Moyo’s opinion seeing he has plenty to say about Morgan Tsvangirai’s alleged indiscretions!

A subscriber saw this paraffin queue in Hatcliffe this weekend and sent in the above picture, commenting:

As the people in Hatcliffe gather to buy paraffin at the service station, the seller seemed to be ignorant and could not feel any passion for these people. Is it not because of the prolonged loadshedding?

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has launched a Vote Yes campaign for the new Draft Constitution for Zimbabwe. But what are they doing about the fact that Zanu PF seems to have a very different draft in mind? Ignoring the reality of the political impasse the Constitution-making process has reached isn’t going to get us to a 2nd All-Stakeholder’s Conference, Constitutional Referendum or new elections any quicker.

You can bet your butt that these things only happen in Zimbabwe: expecting mothers moaning and groaning as they wait their turn to deliver – doing the writhing not on a bed, but a hospital bench! And this week I met some nurses who recently finished their training and they said they were looking for jobs, wait for this, not as nurses but temporary teachers because government isn’t hiring! I was told some of their “fortunate” colleagues are working as till operators at some supermarkets in Bulawayo! And we vividly recall President Mugabe lambasting Australia and the UK for reaping where they did not sow by luring Zimbabwean nurses! Crap by any other name.