I laughed my lungs out reading President Mugabe’s words to encourage women of Zimbabwe to have babies. “We want more children. Give us more children you women. Muri kurambirei navo? Mimba makapirwei? Aiwa musanyime (Why are you refusing to have children when you have the wombs. Do not be stingy).

Many have attacked the President for encouraging this in such an economy. Talk of HIV, poor health care facilities, unemployment … the list is endless. Some have affirmed his words saying increased numbers will mean increased strength for the nation. I was really touched in the sense that the President’s ‘joke’ portrays the African belief that failure to have a child should be blamed on the woman.There are many childless marriages in the country and in some where adoption is not an option for them, the husband remarries another wife to bear children for him. But who said a childless marriage means the woman is barren or is at fault?

Zimbabwe Youth Festival artistic director, Tenford Chitanana, has launched his documentary titled, “Toindepi: Reflections of a Discarded Generation”. The documentary which details the lives of youths in Zimbabwe’s Hatcliffe area which was greatly affected by Operation Murambatsvina. Speaking at the launch at a Food For Thought session at the US Embassy Public Affairs Section Chitanana said, “The future is not inherited but I feel it is borrowed. Its unfortunate young people have no space to walk into the future”. These words conceded with the various views shared by youths present who felt they were being marginalized and abused in some instances.

The film goes through the lives of three youths who face various challenges. From being an unemployed breadwinner, a young mother, and dropping out of school but despite the challenges they face in their community these youths have dreams they wish to achieve one day. Moreblessing, who chronicles his life mostly in the film, dreams of being a politician and wishes to run as a Councilor for his ward in the next elections.

They work hard and they dream big but the system has failed to provide at least just one of their major needs which is education. There is only one formal high school in the community, which cannot meet the needs of all the youths in the area. Thus the youths are forced to attend ‘make shift schools’ which at the end of the day mean nothing since they are not recognized by the education ministry and prospective employers. The young mother sees her future brighter if only she can be afforded decent education in her community through the building of a formal school for all. Not only for herself but also for the generations to come.

Chitanana hopes that his film will inspire the youths of Zimbabwe to envision their tomorrow despite today’s challenges and struggles. Thus he poses the question Toindepi (Where do we go) and hopes from this documentary and other works that the youths will be enabled to come together and map a way forward to work together for the future.

I find it ludicrous that a Church can order anyone to leave the country. In fact, that the Church can deport anyone sounds rather from the Dark Ages. We always thought this was the job of the Immigration Department.

According to more than 260 international and local news reports listed by Google search last night, that’s exactly what the Salvation Army has done to a Canadian physician stationed in Chiweshe’s Howard Mission. And not surprisingly perhaps, at the centre of the brouhaha are allegations raised against the Church leadership of misappropriating donor benevolence, an all-too-familiar story in Zimbabwe. By assuming the role of border control, the Salvation Army could well be cutting its nose to spite the face. So, to hell (literally!) with villagers who desperately want the only doctor they have known for 17 years and want him to stay? And we always thought the men and women of faith knew better.

Most people don’t grow up. It’s too damn difficult. What happens is most people get older. That’s the truth of it. They honor their credit cards, they find parking spaces, they marry, they have the nerve to have children, but they don’t grow up. Not really. They get older. But to grow up costs the earth, the earth. It means you take responsibility for the time you take up, for the space you occupy. It’s serious business. And you find out what it costs us to love and to lose, to dare and to fail. And maybe even more, to succeed. What it costs, in truth. Not superficial costs—anybody can have that—I mean in truth. That’s what I write. What it really is like. I’m just telling a very simple story.
- Maya Angelou

According to a Reuters news agency report over the weekend, a 50-something year-old man committed suicide by burning himself outside the Italian parliament. He was protesting against his joblessness, and according to the report, this was one of many suicides related to unemployment as Italians reel under harsh government austerity measures.

It got me thinking about the tough conditions Zimbabweans have endured since good governance and sound management of the economy went out of fashion. It got me thinking about the 80-plus percent unemployment in the country and just how far the jobless have tolerated their circumstances, just what figures we would be counting of self-immolation outside parliament. It does cast a very bad light on the economic injustices that have been endured here, the indignity of fathers failing to provide for their families. Indeed, troubled mothers have been heard saying such horrible things as, “if I could swallow back these kids, I would.”

That’s how bad economic injustice can be, yet the worst that emerges from these miserable circumstances is insistence by the same politicians who sow these seeds of abject misery that they deserve the people’s vote come elections.  From petty crime to crossing the crocodile infested Limpopo to larger-than-life government corruption, all this in different ways has gave its own forms of death and its time we asked ourselves tough questions as we prepare for a bruising time ahead of elections about where are headed and who we want to preside over our economic destiny.

Already, we know that some humanitarian agencies have attracted Zanu PF’s ire for claiming some people have died over the years because of starvation. How do we know some didn’t kill themselves because they couldn’t take it anymore? The story of that Italian is very telling. Yet some will say different societies have different value systems that determine how they deal with these such things suicide, yet the human condition essentially remains steeped in the basic pursuit of happiness.

And politicians have made it their sworn mission to deny people this right to happiness.

A statement just in from SAFAIDS:

Homophobia and Violence will not Prevent HIV

SAfAIDS Statement on violence on Sexual minorities in Zimbabwe SAFAIDS

HARARE – SAFAIDS would like to express its solidarity with GALZ whose members have been subjected to recent arrests. As an HIV organisation involved in the prevention of HIV, we would like to raise awareness on the implications of violence on sexual minorities on the fight against HIV.

Research has shown that sexual minorities contribute to HIV prevalence (9-25%). The violence on sexual minorities only pushes them to go into hiding where it is hard to reach them with the relevant protective messages and services. Some have gone to the extent of getting married to women while having partners secretly. This puts these families at even higher risk. As SAfAIDS we believe pushing sexual minority groups into hiding because they are afraid of being arrested is not a public good.

The Zimbabwe National Strategic Planning Document clearly acknowledges MSM as an important population that needs targeting for HIV prevention. This can only be achieved when people are open about who they really are. How do they do this if they risk being arrested? The current achievements that we have in our HIV response are a result of sound and progressive policies and practice. We need not reverse this now- ending HIV is within our grasp now, achieving Zero HIV, Zero Stigma, Zero discrimination can only be realized when we reach everyone who is sexually active .

As SAfAIDS we are appealing for tolerance and respect of people of different sexual orientation from what we consider as norm. These people are our children, sisters, brothers and children, let’s accord them the space to live without fear.

As Zimbabwe joins the world towards the goal of zero new HIV infections, SAfAIDS believes we must break down all barriers of stigma and discrimination and ensure that people of all sexual orientation have access to quality legal, and health services that meet their needs. As an organisation, we support efforts to ensure that the country continues in its success path and this can only be realized through respecting the rights of all populations. With tolerance and acceptance to diverse groups, together we Can Prevent HIV.