We just got this article from Robert Tapfumaneyi who is clearly out of sorts about how the Diaspora has apparently liberated women. Here you go . . .

Women citizens of the adopted country

In the height of political and economic discord in Zimbabwe, from 2000, most Zimbabwean men allowed their women to retrace colonialism, by going to the United Kingdom, in search for greener pastures.

Men were left behind, looking after the kids, while their wives sent money for amenities. Little did husbands know that they had let their wives out of the noose?

The United Kingdom is a developed country, which champions democracy in the empowerment of either sex. Worse still, coming to Diaspora without the company of the usually oppressive gender, meant that they had the chance to experiment with challenges that came along. In fact, it toughened their resolve to be independent forever.

By the time their husbands trooped to join them, things had totally changed. Because of Zimbabwe’s publicity, that is when almost everyone in the Diaspora, especially in UK, took advantage and sought asylum or refugee status.

This also enhanced the women’s standing. For every man who was to follow, he was regarded as a dependant. Dependant in the sense that women were acknowledged as Citizens of that adopted country.

In the event of disagreements, the law would always protect the woman. If the woman felt otherwise, the man could be deported forthwith.

As I write, almost all men who followed their women to the United Kingdom fall under the umbrella of their wives because of VISA requirements.

In other words, it’s now easier for our dear wives to divorce husbands in the UK, than back home. It is because of this trauma that men especially in the UK, are secretly building their empires back home because they are not sure of what tomorrow has for them in Diaspora.

Recently, I went to the garage owned by a Zimbo (lingua for Zimbabweans). There I met guys from Zimbabwe, and whilst we were discussing the political situation back home, the issue of Zimbo women’s independence was brought to the fore.

As much as all men agreed that it was worthwhile to immigrate to UK, we all agreed that we made the worst blunder of letting our wives come earlier to achieve this independence.

The sad reality though is that having experienced the first world life experience, it’s pretty unthinkable that our women consider Zimbabwe as their home.

Don’t be mistaken to hear your wife referring to Zimbabwe as kuAfrica. To be honest, almost all men in the Diaspora are in a catch 22 situation. Of course I agree that the world is a global village, but the question to ask is whose village? Our situation is made worse because we have exposed our kids to this eccentric environment. They no longer regard themselves as part of the culture that we always strived to engrain in them.

Life in diaspora has a plethora of challenges that will leave every man in awe!

Robert Tapfumaneyi

Upcoming Lecture

‘A Shadow of Its Former Self? Robert Mugabe & Zimbabwe’s Education System’

by Peter Godwin, award winning foreign correspondent, author, documentary maker and screen writer

Chaired by Baroness Bonham Carter

on Thursday 9th June 2011 at 6pm, followed by a reception, 7.30-9pm at the New Academic Building, Lower Ground Floor (LG.09), London School of Economics

PLEASE RSVP TO: zimbabwe.cara [at] lsbu [dot] ac [dot] uk

Admission is FREE but donations welcome on the door, towards CARA’s work supporting Zimbabwean academics and the re-building of the country’s higher education system.

Raviro, a Kubatana member, recently shared her experience of having her first kiss:

Saturdays were always a girl’s day out. I had planned the day before with my friends that we would go out to Avondale to watch a movie and later get a quick snack at Nandos.  I woke up as usual on that Saturday and did the household chores because that was the only way my mother would give me pocket money and also permission to go out.

I finished my household chores and made a few phone calls with the landline on the logistics with my friends since cell phones weren’t a popular device back in 2002in Zimbabwe. I got ready for the outing and I dressed in my black paddle pushers and a spaghetti top as it was the fashionable clothing at that time.  I got a lift from my neighbour hood and dropped off at the Copacabana bus station to get another lift, which would take me to Avondale Shopping Complex. I dropped off at the Avondale bus stop. I met up with my other friends and went to the 7 Arts movie house and watched the Juwwanna Mann, a romantic comedy that was the talk of most high school students. During the movie one of my friends who had a cell phone at that time had made frequent calls to some of the boys that we were at school with. We were not aware of what she had told the other guys. But we enjoyed the movie and it ended in a very romantic way that even my feelings were aroused.

We went to Nandos food court and grabbed some snacks. Whilst we were eating one of the boys that I learnt with whom I had a deep crush on came and we chatted. Whilst we were chatting I realised that all my friends had given us space and I was left alone with him. He asked if I could escort him to his brother’s car to meet his brother. Little did I know that I had been fooled. The brother was nowhere in sight. We sat on the backseat of the car and continued with our chat. However we ran out of stories and within minutes we were cuddling. I couldn’t control myself however as my feelings had been aroused by the movie that I had been watching.  I just found myself on top of him kissing him. At first I thought I was dreaming. I pinched myself only to realise it was true. “I HAD MY FIRST KISS”. All my dreams had been shattered because I had always dreamt of giving my first kiss to the man who would marry me, and walk me down the aisle.

My crush with this boy ended that very day because I failed to trust him since he had lied to me that I was going to see his brother. Even though I put the blame on him I also failed to control my feelings.

Action for Southern Africa press release
3 June, 2011 [London, UK]
For immediate release

Albertina Sisulu: a tribute from Action for Southern Africa

Albertina Sisulu who has died aged 92 is one of the truly inspirational and heroic figures in South Africa’s struggle against apartheid, for democracy and rights. ACTSA joins with the people of South Africa in mourning her passing, remembering her qualities, achievements and celebrating her life.

Albertina Sisulu was selfless and steadfast. She was an activist who by her actions, values and example inspired others. The injustices of apartheid compelled her to take a stance for democracy and dignity. She was the rock that Walter Sisulu could rely on.

Albertina showed what a person could contribute as a leading part of a progressive and transformational movement for change. Her openness, integrity and decency shone through. She is rightly remembered as one who suffered greatly for her beliefs and actions but also transcended these to make an immense contribution to the democratic South Africa of today.

Albertina’s life and example should inspire us to renew our efforts to create a better, fairer, more just and sustainable world imbued with respect and dignity.

Statement from the Founding of the UDF

“We, the freedom-loving people of SA, say with one voice to the whole world that we cherish the vision of a united democratic South Africa based on the will of the people. We will strive for unity of all people through united action against the evils of apartheid … and in our march to a free and just South Africa we are guided by these noble ideals, we stand for the creation of a true democracy in which all South Africans will participate in the government of our country, stand for a single, non-racial, unfragmented South Africa, a South Africa free of Bantustans and Group Areas. We say that all forms of oppression and exploitation must end.”

Ends
Notes:

1.  Albertina Sisulu born 1918, died 2 June 2011

2. She was President of the United Democratic Front (UDF) formed in 1983 in South Africa as the ANC and other organisations were banned at that time.  The UDF brought together the trade unions, churches and civil society organisations which linked to the liberation movement and mobilised communities to overcome apartheid.

3.  Imprisoned many times Albertina was banned for longer than any other person by the apartheid regime.

4. She was married to Walter Sisulu, he died in 2003. Walter was mentor to Nelson Mandela and sentenced to life imprisonment alongside him in 1964 and released in 1989.

5. Action for Southern Africa is the successor to the Anti Apartheid Movement, it campaigns for justice, rights and development in solidarity with the people of southern Africa.

Uganda’s Walk2Work campaign, growing public consciousness in Kenya, Swaziland’s pro-democracy demonstrations, public sector protests in Botswana and the still invisible LGBTIQ movement feature in this week’s reflection on struggles for social justice across the continent, by Sokari Ekine. More here

Clifford Chitupa suggests that our MPs blundered by ratifying US$98m loan for a spy centre:

Zimbabwe’s Members of Parliament blundered by ratifying the US$98m for a spy centre on Wednesday 1st June 2011. They should have known better that the country cannot afford the multi million dollar Chinese loan nor does Zimbabwe need a defence college before rubber-stamping Zanu-pf’s suspicious project. Although, the ratification was preceded by a ‘heated debate’, it is ironic that the MPs lost sight of an appeal on the same day by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for US$6 million to continue treating Zimbabwe’s water.

It seems the MPs are not keeping their eyes on the ball because UNICEF has already given $40 million of support to water and sanitation programmes in Zimbabwe a vital necessity for everyone regardless of political affiliation, unlike the spy centre. One would have thought that Bill Gates’ advice to African countries to work harder to get life-saving vaccines to children in order to save millions of lives was heeded (AFP, 17/05/11). The founder of Microsoft and philanthropist Mr Gates puts his money where his mouth is.

The Chinese loan is far from Zimbabwe’s national priorities, which we know to be food security, efficient electricity supply (or refurbishment of ZESA), road construction and maintenance, housing, railways, health and education which are all critical for the industrialisation of the country and employment creation. There are two key issues here: Do we need a foreign loan at this juncture? Secondly: Do we need a spy centre?

Zimbabwe is least advised to take any loan at the moment because the country’s total domestic and foreign debt was US$7.1 billion as at March 31, 2011. At
105% of the Gross Domestic Product, it means every Zimbabwean owes US$500 million! It appears the country’s leaders momentarily forgot the advice given by the African Development Bank vice-president for operations, Aloysius Uche Ordu when he said:

“Arrears clearance is so important because it’s the only way to re-engage the multilateral finance institutions” (AFP, Jan 18, 2010).

MPs should be reminded that voters will be more likely to be influenced by day to day problems like ZESA blackouts and its excessive tariffs, unemployment, hunger, erratic water supplies, a potholed road network, sub-standard health and other essential services than the number of spies produced by the Chinese college. The MPs should have declined to ratify the loan agreement for the simple reason that the country cannot afford it.

It’s very distressing to note that the loan will be repaid from proceeds to be brought in by Chinese mining firm Anjin Investments which is mining diamonds at Chiadzwa and would be repaid over 20 years at an interest rate of 2% per annum. You don’t have to be an economist to tell that such terms are unacceptable, at least for two reasons – mortgaging our diamonds for a non-essential like a spy college and the high interest rate due to Zimbabwe’s current poor credit worthiness. What happens if Anjin goes bust? Next: Do we need a defence college at the moment? Did the MPs benefit from an independent Value for Money audit let alone a Risk Assessment before endorsing the setting up of the spy centre? Do they know the full implications of a spy centre in the country?  Do the MPs fully know what is going to be done at/by the centre?

Zanu-pf Defence Minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa reportedly said the college will provide senior military officers with intellectual tools to address complex defence and national security challenges which in turn will contribute to national security. At least the MPs should have asked the Minister to explain how Zimbabwe has been meeting those needs since 1980 when it managed to fight in the Democratic Republic of Congo and before that against the Renamo in Mozambique.

The spy centre is expected to produce Cryptologic Linguists, Signals Intelligence Analysts, Human Intelligence Collectors, Military Intelligence
(MI) Systsms Maintaners and Integrators, Counterintelligence Agents, Imagery Analysts, Common Ground Station (CGS) Analysts, Intelligence Analysts, Signals Collectors or Analysts.  ‘All this expertise will be provided by the Chinese’(The Zimbabwean, 15/05/11).

It is further claimed the college will offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Intelligence and Master of Science degree in Strategic Intelligence working closely with the University of Zimbabwe. The likelihood of non-Zanu-pf candidates being recruited on a non-partisan basis into these sensitive programmes ranges from slim to zero.

Based on Mugabe’s reluctance to reform the security sector, this may be another Zanu-pf top secret project with help from the Chinese since radio jamming. In my view, the MPs will soon rather than later regret their big mistake. The spy college is likely to have short and medium-term implications for the economic revival in addition to the damage caused by the implementation of indigenisation laws – harshly, haphazardly and selectively.

Notwithstanding the generous Chinese assistance during the struggle against colonialism, however, it appears Zimbabwe is undergoing colonisation by the Chinese with the way things are. For example for the next 20 years the Chinese will be guaranteed of jobs at Anjin diamond mine in Marange, thanks to that loan agreement. Furthermore, there are concerns that project’s sensitivity might impact on the conduct of the forthcoming referendum and
2011 elections in the wake of the ongoing militarization of the state.

Another factor arising from globalisation is the discovery of a vast Chinese cyber-espionage network codenamed GhostNet that is designed to infiltrate sensitive ministries and embassies and has allegedly penetrated 103 countries and infects at least a dozen new computers every week, according to UK’s Daily Telegraph on 29 March 2009. However, the paper says, it remains unclear whether GhostNet was built by the Chinese government, or by independent hackers inside the country. Hopefully there will be no regrets.

©Clifford Clifford Mashiri, Political Analyst, London,