I know the city council has not been able to remove rubbish from some parts of Harare but that does not we citizens should enjoy it. There is this rubbish pile by Kuwadzana and instead of the people burning it or even sitting as far from it as possible, some vendors sit near it and enjoy it. Life carries on like there is no serious harm to their health and that of their customers. I was amazed that people can actually sit that close to a rubbish pile and laugh and enjoy themselves. There is also a lady who was picking up some plastic papers, taking her time while she was bending towards the rubbish. She did not seem to be bothered by the foul smell coming from there. I do not even want to imagine what she wanted to with the plastic papers, I just hope she wanted to light a fire or something along those lines.

I really think Zimbabweans have become content with things going wrong. People seem not to care enough to at least do something about it no matter how small. I know the rubbish pile might not be going anywhere soon but people can at least burn it.

If they can’t burn at least stay away from it.

A wise woman my mum, has always told me that short cuts have short falls. It is easier do things the long way and not skip a process than to go back to stuff you should have done long back she would say.

I have come to believe her because of events on Wednesday when my colleague and I at Kubatana were doing our monthly delivery of the vendor wrapping sheets. This is an exceptional one of a kind in a realm of its own project in Zimbabwe I must say. The project seeks to give vendors a space to be heard and also be given information on issues that concern the everyday person on the ground.

We decided to take a short cut that was to lead us straight to Epworth in no amount of time. And there it was. This big pothole turned into a little dam in the middle of the road. Turning back was no option because before the dam site the car we were in almost got stuck in the mud. In fact we had left a couple of men trying frantically and in vain to lift a truck that had been swallowed by the mud. So we decided to move forward and brave it out. Thanks to our lucky stars we managed to get out of that little dam alive and kicking.

I would like to say to my mum I am absolutely positive that when you used to say short cuts don’t pay off, your words got in with the ear and left with the other. I guess experience is the best teacher. So I would like to repeat the words of a wise woman and say in this case short cuts have short falls that have potholes turned into little dams.

Anyone thinking of using that road take it from me shortcuts have short falls and I have evidence.

On her way from work one night two men approach Cecilia and say, “Happy new year”. She responds and says, “Happy new year” and continues to walk. As they pass her one guy says, “Damn girl, Santa must have left you as a late Christmas present for me”. As Nyasha walks down the street passing a bus terminus, a group of kombi touts comment about her figure, “Iri iheavy” (‘You tight’) and before she even knows it she is the centre of attraction and the men are singing, ‘mutumba asekuru!!’ These are remarks women are given in the public and most women can relate to Cecilia or Nyasha’s experiences.

Holla Back, a group that works to fight against street harassment by encouraging people to speak out against gender based harassment provides a definition of public harassment as:

“Occurs in a public space when one or more individuals (male or female) accost another individual-based on the victim’s gender-as they go about their daily life. This can include vulgar remarks, heckling, insults, innuendo, stalking, leering, fondling, indecent exposure and other forms of public humiliation. Public sexual harassment occurs on a continuum starting with words, stalking and unwanted touching, which can lead to more violent crimes like rape, assault and murder.”

Public harassment has serious adverse effects on women. Susan Griffin in her book ‘Feminism and Psychology’ discusses the ‘protection racket‘, where harassed women seek male escorts in public to protect them. In addition women associate their bodies with shame, fear and humiliation due to the lewd remarks they hear from the streets. Victims can also become suspicious of innocent gestures and hostile towards non-harassing men.

The Sunday Mail of December 12-18 2010 had a feature in their In-depth titled “Relief for Heavily Built Women“. The reporter wrote that as a heavily built woman made her way past a bus terminus in Harare she was subjected to whistles and lewd remarks. ‘Mutumba asekuru’, a derogatory slur was being used to describe her heavily built woman’s stature. Lawyers and non-governmental organizations have pointed out that calling women offensive names is a sexual offence.

Chapter 9:23 (77b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act says that:

“Any person who knowingly or realising that there is a real risk or possibility that he or she will be heard, utters or makes use of indecent or obscene language in or near a public place, or in or near a private place within hearing of another person shall be guilty of public indecency and liable to a fine not exceeding level nine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or both.”

In November of the same year a beauty queen who held the Miss Big Matofotofo pageant title had a hugely embarrassing moment in a local bar. As she entered the bar people started to sing ‘mutumba asekuru’. As if this was not enough, two young men blocked her way and fondled her buttocks. The beauty queen took the two to court in December 2010 in December 2010 and they were slapped with a US$80 fine or two months in prison. Public verbal harassment is a growing issue of concern and has multiple depressing effects on women and society at large. However very little attention is being directed towards this matter. This could be because both women and men view harassment as minor and with a tender heart. Gardner (1995) reported that many women use romanticised rhetoric in response to harassment. From this perspective women may view harassment as flattery, due to the nature of men (i.e “boys will be boys”) or as harmless.

It is interesting to note that in countries like Japan, Mexico and Brazil ‘Women Only Public Transportation‘ has been introduced to prevent the sexual harassment females face. However, I feel that such measures where there is gender segregation to try and curb harassment will not work in most situations, as it does not address the root problem. What I think is more ideal is that women should be encouraged to speak out and take their offenders to court. At the same time men should refrain from making comments about women.

Election dates are my secret weapon.
Daniel arap Moi

I love fashion. I seriously do. In fact I sometimes travel the fashion dream express and see myself as a trendsetter. I hear people asking me how I came up with such extraordinary style. I can almost close my eyes as I protect them from the flashing of the camera as I’m writing this. But when reality hits me hard I realize maybe to be up-tempo with fashion and to be in the season of what is happening in the fashion world is not for me. Correct me if I am wrong, but what am I missing here with those boot sandals that have infected the City of Harare? Why on earth would I wear a boot and a sandal at the same time? A boot for winter combined with a summer shoe? Nooooo … On my fashion dream express I do have nightmares. Instead of being commended on wearing such an innovation, I see people laughing behind my back. That shoe is what my nightmares are made of. To me the boot sandal is a fashion boo boo. I will not be caught alive wearing that shoe – never. Why, ah why – seriously ladies – I know things come into fashion and people have to be daring and different and all that but I do not see the fashion and sense of that shoe. Help me out with the math behind a sandal that is a boot. The way they are just asina irombe mutown (if you don’t have it, you are poor). Please enlighten me.

This is a picture of Bulawayo water this morning 5 February 2011.

Try drinking that!