The African National Congress under the leadership of President Zuma today stamped its authority by suspending the ANC Youth League executive.

Julius Malema the most controversial African National Congress Youth League leader has been suspended from the party for five years for provoking divisions within the ruling party and bringing the organisation into disrepute.

Malema popularly know for his reckless statements especially with the one he made in the media advocating for regime change in Botswana had his other executive members also receiving suspensions. Julius and his team recently led marches in Johannesburg, South Africa under the disguise of economic freedom for the poor yet he is living a lavish lifestyle. Just after leading the economic freedom marches Malema flew to Mauritius to attend a friend’s wedding leaving his supporters wondering whether the marches were for a real cause or just a way of diverting attention from hearings which were on going during that time.

Malema’s political career has been marred with allegations of corruption involving the awarding of tenders worth millions of rands.

The suspension of the ANC Youth League executive should be an example to other political parties in the region on how to discipline unruly party members.

In an ironic twist in the Gwisai case, the state’s key witness has been exposed as a fake – thanks in part to his Facebook profile.

This story made my night yesterday. I mean surely Rule #1 for a prospective undercover agent: Don’t develop social networking profiles with your real name. And certainly don’t use a picture of yourself!

In this month’s Vanity Fair, the Proust Questionnaire interviews Desmond Tutu. Read his touching, thought provoking answers below:

The Most Reverend Desmond Tutu has recently celebrated his 80th birthday and the publication of a new biography, Tutu: The Authorised Portrait. Here, the Nobel laureate muses on rum-raisin ice cream, crybabies, and how he just loves to be loved.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
When we all live together in harmony as one family, in real interdependence; when all have enough to eat, have enough clean water to drink, have decent health care and we know war no more.

What is your greatest fear?
I fear we will destroy ourselves through our greed and our destruction of our environment.

Which historical figure do you identify with?
Jeremiah, the prophet.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I love to be loved.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
A disregard of others.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Rum-raisin ice cream.

Which living person do you most despise?
No one.

What is your greatest regret?
Not telling people they had done very well often enough.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My wife, Leah, and my mother.

When and where were you happiest?
On April 14, 1956, when our son Trevor, was born.

Which talent would you most like to have?
To be able to read music.

What is your current state of mind?
Joyful and serene.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Not wanting so much to be loved.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
It is collective: When we won our freedom.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
A mother.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?
As me.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Being treated as rubbish, as a nonperson.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Being a crybaby.

What do you most value in your friends?
That there is no humbug; they are themselves.

Who are your favourite writers?
Nadine Gordimer, Alan Paton.

Who is you favourite hero of fiction?
Sherlock Holmes.

Who are your heroes on real life?
Aung San Suu Kyi, H.H. the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, my mother, my wife.

How would you like to die?
Peacefully in bed, with my loved ones around me.

What is your motto?
“Everyone is precious, everyone matters.”

Source: Vanity Fair

The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) today reported on a new concern which has been raised through their complaints mechanism, Charity Maruta v/s Daily News, NewsDay and the Herald. According to VMCZ:

Charity Maruta has lodged a complaint with the MCC against NewsDay, The Daily News and The Herald in the manner that they have portrayed the supposedly three women rapists arrested by police in Gweru early this month. Maruta says the media organisations have taken it upon themselves to be the judges and have convicted the three women before they even appeared in court. She says this is irresponsible reporting of the highest degree. She wants the media to report the matter responsibly. Letters have been written to the concerned newspapers.

This is a valuable reminder to all of us that we can each make a difference. Holding our media accountable is something we can all take responsibility for. Contact VMCZ for more information about the media complaint mechanism.

Bulawayo residents held a “peaceful march” yesterday to protest against Zesa for what we already know is lousy service. No police to beat up the marchers apparently. Here is the catch as later reported on national radio: the marchers demanded the resignation of the Parastatals minister and his energy colleague. It ain’t no coincidence that they both belong to the PM’s MDC. Now juxtapose that with previous marches by WOZA protesting about the same bloody shoddy service. One August  headline screamed “28 arrests in Woza demo over Zesa bill.”

And we all know whose resignation WOZA has always demanded!