Econet is celebrated in Zimbabwe as one of THE brands that have made a permanent presence in people’s everyday life, every businessman’s dream no doubt. But the service we are getting is only serving to give that Strive guy a very bad name as  many know him as the face of Econet from the days when the now VP Joice Mujuru was one of many opposing the late VP Joshua “Father Zimbabwe” Nkomo to give the young man [Strive] an operating license.

Ever since subscribers rushed to buy those simcards after Econet hit the nation with broadband excitement and then the demand to register the lines by POTRAZ, there has been a lot of furious anger aimed at Econet and with good reason. I bought a line a few months ago, had it registered as demanded based on the threat that failure to do so I would be switched off on the 31st of March 2011. But what do you know, despite having registered the “line,” the morning of April 1 found me without any form of communication as I had been switched off. Thinking this was an April Fools gag, I made my way to the Econet offices only to find hordes of fuming subscribers who all had the same story to tell: they had been switched off despite having registered their lines as duly demanded. And the arrogant people that Strive employs have not been very helpful, you just have to ask if that man knows this is what Zimbabweans who have given his wealth are going through.

Zimbabwe being a land of conspiracy theories, whispers galore that this is no inadvertent glitch: some dark forces have interfered with people’s only communication tool through these mass disconnections which are causing mass hysteria as every Nhamo, Themba and Sihle is now on Facebook thanks to Econet broadband. And the dark forces, only being too aware of what social media has wrecked in the Maghreb, well, one cannot be too careful!

The haughty types at Econet told us on Friday 1 April 2011 we would be reconnected by the end of the day, and we were not. Monday 4 April 2011 we were again told we would be connected by the end of the day, we were not. Are these people taking our peace loving nature for granted, someone in the crowd wondered aloud? I am not sure whether this was directed at Econet or the dark forces! Elsewhere there would be a mass public campaign to boycott Econet the company Strive built.

I had a lengthy chat the other day with a senior female politician about wide ranging issues and wondered why the country is in such a mess when there are people like her – and no doubt many others – whose passion for a better Zimbabwe is up there with ordinary men and women of goodwill who toil each day wondering where the kcuf we are going thirty one years on. She went beyond the usual calls for women’s empowerment, gender parity, the usual stuff one would hear from politicians and some such types.

The 21st century is full of gender-bending/gender-mending cliches and contradictions, and I heard it even from Zanu PF’s Aeneus Chigwedere on national television the other night: educate a woman and you have empowered the nation, and sure the women in the audience clapped till their palms hurt. But then with some folks, you know they don’t always mean what they say: three decades is long enough to know someone, ask folks married for that long.

From the despair of the female politician about the long tortuous journey not only to break the glass ceiling but also good governance, better, cheaper sanitary hygiene it struck me she mentioned that if women’s progress in Zimbabwe is to leave a lasting imprint for generations to come, why not start this enlightenment, empowerment, future female politician, gender parity crusade in centres of higher learning; that is, the university and tertiary institutions where young bright females can be encouraged to take up issues that will prepare them for future participation in shaping national policy and issues of governance.

While some female politicians cut their teeth in the bush before independence and others in trade unionism after independence, what contemporary social circumstances and institutions present that opportunity for the continuity of female political participation on a national level? Tertiary institutions right?  Of course it made sense. And then I read on these pages a sad if not bitter letter from a female student in one of the country’s tertiary institutions about her experience with sanitary hygiene.

This is an issue the female politician spoke passionately about concerning how women in Zimbabwe continue being humiliated, as Neanderthal male politicians still dismiss it as an issue that does do not demand street protests! This is exactly what that obviously bright young woman – the letter writer referred to here – was raising in her ire that she says almost saw her leaving a used sanitary pad outside the principal’s office as a form protest.

In the end one has to ask: how do the policy czars balance their calls for women’s participation in portfolios of national relevance when the same young women are denied the conditions that will prepare them for that ascendance? The world – and indeed Zimbabwe – is full of contradictions. One has to wonder what it will take to take anyone who stands on a pedestal and purports to speak for humankind’s greater good. Some would say it is such appalling conditions that will spur them into politics as they are driven to change and better women’s lot not from the couch but from the trenches like their sisters in the bush and later in the trade unions. But then that could well be empty theorizing.

As said by the female politician, young females who have an opportunity to go to university will forever be interested in getting their degrees, then a job with some NGO and just say “kcuf politics” as long as there is no seriousness in addressing issues like what she [and that student and many others] remains passionate about: sanitary hygiene.

This video shows 3000 that joined MSF in New Delhi in protesting against the EU-India Free Trade Agreement.

In the past decade India has earned the moniker ‘pharmacy of the developing world’, through the manufacture of cheap generic drugs which have gone to save countless millions of people who would otherwise be unable to afford life-saving medicines. In particular Anti-Retroviral Therapy for HIV has come down from $10 000 per year in 2000, to $70 per year today because of Indian generics. It is estimated that roughly two and a half million people rely on Indian manufactured generics for their HIV therapies. All this could come to an end with a proposed free trade agreement being negotiated between India and the European Union.  Certain hidden clauses in the agreement could prevent the registration of Indian drugs.

For several months now activists around the world have joined global health organizations like Oxfam, MSF and the WHO in expressing their deep concern about the impact of the agreement on people living with HIV around the world.

It is estimated that Zimbabwe has 2 million people who are living with HIV, with 300 000 people on the free national Anti-Retroviral Programme.

Find out more and join the global protest  here.

An excerpt from a publication by the Katswe Sistahood:

Sanitary What? Sanitary Where?

Must I roll up my used sanitary pad in a piece of tissue and carry it in my bag all day so I can dispose of it when I get home? Alternatively, I could just leave the pad on the floor in the campus toilet because there are no bins for sanitary wear in the toilets across campus, save for those in the hostels. As a day scholar at the institution I am not allowed entry into these hostels.

So, this is how the story goes, the entire institution is run by a male principal and his male cabinet who haven’t got the slightest idea what the needs of young women on campus are. Quite frankly I’m disgusted by this. The question is, am I the only one who is troubled by this horrible situation? Health and hygiene should be of paramount importance in our educational institutions and work places. We need to make sure those responsible are taken to task to deliver on these basic services. Just between you and me, I was tempted one day to leave a soiled sanitary pad outside the principal’s office. It’s too drastic I know, but what must we do to get the necessary response to such an important issue. We need sanitary wear bins in all female toilets on campus in Zimbabwe. And functional incinerators.

- Disgruntled student!

The power-sharing government in Zimbabwe has been expected to put an end to human rights violations, restore rule of law and cease politically motivated violence in the country. However, two years have since passed since its formation and human rights violations remain a grave problem in Zimbabwe. In February this year, police raided and arrested a gathering of social and human rights activists who were discussing the political events in Egypt. Some were allegedly beaten and tortured and were charged with treason. This incident is a true reflection of the violations of human rights in Zimbabwe.

Human Rights Watch published a 40-page report, “Perpetual Fear: Impunity and Cycles of Violence in Zimbabwe.” This reports indicates that violence and human rights violations are being fueled by the unity government’s failure to investigate and prosecute cases. Most of these cases of abductions, killings and torture are crimes that occurred in the 2008 elections and little or no accountability has been done.

The Organ for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration, which was set up after the formation of the unity government, does not seem to be achieving its mandate.

“The mandate of the Organ is to lay the foundations for a society characterised by mutual respect, tolerance, and development where individuals enjoy the freedoms as enshrined in the Constitution. The mission of the Organ is “to heal the wounds caused by generations of injustice, intolerance, exclusion and impunity so as to reconcile Zimbabweans to become One Nation focused on social, political, cultural, and economic development in order to improve the quality of life for all.” On 5 January 2011, a ten member team of artists performing a drama called “Rituals” based on national healing were arrested at Nhedziwa Business Centre in Cashel Valley and detained for two nights before being released. They were being charged with “criminal nuisance” under the Criminal Law (Codification & Reform) Act. According to filed papers, the group allegedly “intentionally and unlawfully made noise or disturbance and beating drums in a public place performing drama reminiscent of political disturbances of June 2008 elections. The drama incited the affected members of the public to revive their differences”.

Human Rights Watch, in their report, calls on the unity government to take all necessary measures to end impunity by setting up an independent commission of inquiry with credible civil society panel members to investigate serious past human rights violations, including those committed during the 2008 election period. And to discipline or prosecute those responsible, regardless of their position or rank.

There’s no doubt that it’s time for real justice to be delivered in Zimbabwe.

First it was near Glamis, then it was Zimbabwe Grounds, and then it was Budiriro 1 Shopping Centre. The MDC purports to be the party of Real Change. The only changes they’re making is the venues of their rallies. A friend of mine got a text message from the MDC in reply to her enquiry about whether last Sunday’s rally was actually going to happen . . . “no . . . i don’t think so”. Doesn’t fill you with much confidence does it?