Our little chalk board outside the office door has a message scribbled on it that says; if you could change one thing, what would it be? We often receive many visitors, some of whom simply want to engage our humble but free services to ask for all kinds of information ranging from where they can find such and such an organization, to how far with the talks? Fortunately our front-desk man always somehow manages to stifle the temptation to say: this ain’t the effing Salvation Army!

Today this pleasant gentleman waltzed in and the first thing he asked me was what I would change if I could. I said well, that question is for anyone who walks in here, including himself. When I threw back the question to him he said simply, Mugabe. That one change, he explained, would result in an unimaginable ripple effect that will see a stream of other important changes take place to make this country a better place.

Frankly, I hadn’t thought of it that way. I mean, I had sort of perceived that question to somehow elicit a response that is more personal, like what one would change about oneself in terms of say, physical appearance or character. But now that I think of it, he has a point.

On my way to work yesterday I had to maneuver and take the longest route round because I had overlooked the fact that Parliament was being reconvened and a lot of the city’s roads would be cordoned off. I couldn’t help feeling that sense of dread that creeps up on me whenever I encounter the self-important goons in the security service with their polished shoes, neat uniforms and empty stomachs. They just cease to think properly whenever Uncle Bob is playing in the area. I mean, what’s the logic behind sealing off all the backstreets behind Parliament building even to pedestrians, and dictating that they may not walk across here but can do so there? What the hell do they honestly think we can possibly do to that old man (if at all you can see him)? There is no history of suicide bombings here and lets face it, some people just aren’t worth dying for.

If I could change these guys, I’d make them a little more sensible and less condescending. It would be nice to wipe those complacent, smug expressions off their faces.

And what about those clowns masquerading as political leaders with our best interests at heart? Apparently that’s why they spent three weeks at the circus in Pretoria, carefully deliberating our future. Yesterday they are at it again in a less elaborate venue called Parliament. Radio VOP has just reported that there was drama as women’s leagues from the main parties clashed outside Parliament. Apparently they engaged in a battle of the vocal chords whereby the MDC women prevailed by chanting “chinja” (change) and “you are now the opposition” at the top of their voices allegedly shocking their contenders into silence.   When will they realize that they shouldn’t fight each other but rather direct their attention to that one man? If I could wave a magic wand, would I not change their thought processes or better yet, make them all disappear and save us all from their nauseating shenanigans?

And how about hypocrites and opportunity-snatchers that shy away from the fields they are experts in, like rocket science, and choose rather to enlighten us all to the hidden schemes and neo-colonial tendencies of the West. Like rapists, I despise hypocrites. They are anything between a cockroach and that stuff that accumulates at the corner of your mouth when you are extremely thirsty.

I’d probably change them too, if I could.

As a matter of fact, I’d like to change a lot of things, wouldn’t you?  But as our friendly visitor suggested, let’s start with that one stubborn man. Change him, and you’ve changed everyone and everything else in Zimbabwe.

Between 14-15 August, the Women’s Trust held a post-election review conference with the theme “Celebrating women’s leadership: Mapping our future.” Over 350 women and several men congregated at the Celebration Centre to share experiences and challenges from the Women Can Do It campaign. Another objective of the gathering was to develop a national strategy for women’s overall involvement in national structures of governance and in the view of ongoing talks, establish a united position concerning women’s expectations and what they would like to see in a new Zimbabwe. The post-election review also focused on the process of lessons learnt and celebrated this first ever successful campaign to empower women in national political processes.

Here are a few of the challenges faced by women candidates:

- Male candidates used political platforms to de-campaign women sometimes using derogatory remarks such as women who delve into politics have failed as wives.

- Lukewarm political party promotion and support of their women candidates. Often constituencies and wards were dictated for them and these were sometimes either the most inaccessible or the opposition stronghold they would obviously not win.

- Women found themselves pitted against opponents who had more financial resources – an aspect that greatly reduced their chances of success. Sometimes they could not afford to hire campaign vehicles or buy beasts with which to feed people at rallies.

- Women vigorously campaigned against other women from their opposition, an aspect that defeated the initial endeavour to empower women in politics, whatever their political dispensation.

- Partisan voter registration and education.

- Limited media exposure and difficulties in mobilizing especially in regard to enabling grassroots women to stand for office.

An overall view shows that violence and lack of resources remain the biggest hurdle women candidates faced.

The Women Can Do It campaign played a crucial but limited role in resource and material mobilization by providing fuel and campaign regalia among other things. The campaign also actively trained all parties’ candidates in public speaking, communication and leadership skills. It also campaigned vigorously at the national level for the recognition of women participants, an aspect that bolstered a lot of women to be emboldened enough to stand for office.

The resultant 14% representation of women in parliament can be directly attributed to the Women Can Do It campaign. As the representative from the MDC-T Women’s Assembly, Evelyn Masaiti put it, the campaign was an eye opener for a lot of women.

The conference challenged women who made it into office to represent the homeless, faceless ordinary citizen on the streets of Zimbabwe and not see this as an opportunity to amass wealth.

However while the few successful candidates indeed had something to celebrate, the majority of ordinary Zimbabwean women have nothing to celebrate. The violence surrounding the elections is still fresh in their minds and the ongoing talks keep hitting a brick wall making the future less and less certain.

A challenge went to the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Hon. Oppah Muchinguri to expand dialogue on the issue of rape and violations of women’s bodies that characterized the elections. There was general consensus that little or nothing is being done to bring justice for victims of this and other kinds of violence.

Recently I have noticed that our primary school children are being turned to enjoy this situation we are in. To them it’s normal and for sure it is. They are just own their own!

Going to school is as good as attending Sunday school at churches with no teachers in class to teach them maths and content lessons or to be ‘treated’ for not having done their homework. The freedom they have is just too much and a challenge to the nation. After school they go home to join their friends on the streets to play money-games (soccer) where these coins are now exchanging hands. They can pick them easily from the dumping sites.

In the evening they join the rest of the family where everyone is just paying attention to the TVs and radios to wait for any announcement of the results of talks.

No one pays attention to them whether they have bathed, done their homework, or how they performed at school. The father will be dozing in a corner after working on a hard rock to make three-quarter stones for sale. On the other side of the room their mother is busy counting some coins and a few of these new notes recently introduced after a busy day playing hide and seek with the policemen for selling her goods ‘illegally’.

So with all this happening in their own homes and the environment they live in our children don’t know what is normal and what isn’t. To some extent they even cherish to become a hwindi (conductor) because they don’t have the proper guidance and education for anything more.

The political situation in Zimbabwe is even making matters worse in every sector. The task is simple as it is complex – to rebuild the country and the future of the Zimbabwean child we need bold steps in rehabilitating education, housing and health. So far I see precious little improvement in any of these areas that inspires confidence or offers peace of mind.

If Mugabe convenes Parliament next week he will violate the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding. Surely this provides an opportunity for united action from both MDC factions? The action being the boycott of the opening of Parliament.

This is a test that Mugabe is setting for the MDC knowing full well that the foundations of the MDC are flimsy and fragile. The scent of a free oxtail and mashed potato lunch after lolling about in Parliament for a few hours will sorely tempt a host of opposition MPs who are likely in it for what they can get. And this doesn’t necessarily equal freedom for Zimbabwe.

If Parliament is convened and if we don’t see united action on the part of both factions of the MDC then Zimbabweans should recognise that we’ve really got our work cut out for us, battling both a bankrupt opposition and a devil of a dictator.

Hey, here’s something for you to do on a Friday afternoon. Join the Avaaz action and send Mugabe a red card. You can learn more about Avaaz at www.avaaz.org . . .

Click here to send a red card.

Hopes are slipping away for a deal to resolve Zimbabwe’s political crisis. Yesterday, Robert Mugabe announced plans to ignore the ongoing negotiations with the opposition MDC party, form a sham “Government of National Unity” with a breakaway opposition faction, and open parliament next week.

This weekend, when Southern Africa’s 15 leaders, including Mugabe, meet at a major summit in Johannesburg, they will look out upon a sea of red. Thousands of Southern African trade unionists and other citizens will march to the summit waving red cards — the football penalty symbol for expulsion — and call for Mugabe to go. The organisers have appealed to Avaaz for international support, and will carry signs at the march representing the “red cards” sent by Avaaz members.

The region’s powerful trade unions have threatened that unless Southern African leaders take action now, they will refuse to handle goods coming to or from Zimbabwe and will squeeze Mugabe out. A massive march this weekend backed by 100,000 supporters from around the world will be a overwhelming signal to Southern African leaders that they must act now before the crisis becomes even more desperate — to announce that the Mbeki-led negotiations have failed, and to launch a new and fairer negotiating process immediately.

Four and a half months have passed since the people of Zimbabwe voted for Morgan Tsvangirai and the Movement for Democratic Change on 29 March. Hyperinflation has exploded to an unimaginable 40,000,000%, and millions now face starvation. The EU, US, and UK have pledged a $1.9bn financial aid package to stabilise Zimbabwe’s economy, feed the hungry and combat hyperinflation — but only if Mugabe is removed.

Meanwhile, distribution of food aid by local and international humanitarian agencies has been prohibited by Mugabe’s government. Torture camps remain in operation, political violence continues in some rural provinces, and 12 opposition MPs languish in jail on trumped-up charges. The Mbeki-led talks are collapsing, as Mugabe and his military high command insist on retaining control.

The people of Zimbabwe need strong allies willing to take bold action. Already, more than 300,000 Avaaz members — including tens of thousands in Africa — have signed petitions, donated funds, and written to their leaders in global campaigns for democracy and justice. After Avaaz flew a 280-square-metre banner over an Mbeki-chaired United Nations meeting, South Africa finally called for the release of elections results. In April, trade unions and civil society groups including Avaaz led a successful campaign to block a Chinese arms shipment to Zimbabwe. Now, as the crisis accelerates, our voices matter more than ever — we can send an electronic wave of red cards to Johannesburg and bolster the efforts of on-the-ground advocates pressing for change.

Join the global outcry now.

“Fucking bastards, fucking bastards” my colleague shouts in my ear as we read the latest bullshit proposal coming out of those who mismanage this failed state.

Get this: the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) cannot supply enough power to homes and businesses on a regular basis. This means incessant power cuts. It also means that many people have had to go out and buy generators at great expense. These generators also need to be serviced (often) and they need fuel. Not a cheap endeavour.

However this is now seen as a way for the authorities to make some money. According to The Zimbabwe Independent, “the government has introduced a legal instrument which now makes it an offence to own a generator either for domestic or industrial purposes without the approval of the Zimbabwe Electricity Regulatory Commission (ZERC).”

Apparently ZERC will charge US$ fees for the “verification and inspection” of generators.

Come on Zimbabweans . . . go tell the government where to shove their levies, preferably in a place where the sun doesn’t shine.