As an aging Mandela lies recovering from hernia surgery back in Zimbabwe the fight for who is like Mandela is on between President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai. Just when the political parties they lead are scuffling over who is popular now they have to scuffle over who is more like Mandela. When Tsvangirai visited Australia the PM likened him to Mandela. And when Lesotho’s PM visited Zimbabwe, he likened Mugabe to Mandela. Instead of focusing on whom among them is like Mandela they should acknowledge that Mandela is too great to match. He had his own share of struggles and victories. Of course Mugabe and Tsvangiari are also great men in their own right and if they concentrate more on doing what is right for the people then one day future leaders of the world will be likened to them.

Rufaro draws in the sand after school. The children find creative ways to entertain themselves despite the fact that they don’t have any toys.

Check out more photographs of Musha Wevana Children’s Home here

Photo credit: Kubatana.net/Leigh Worsley-Worswick

The Education Minister in Kenya has banned weekend and holiday lessons for school children. Under Kenya’s National policy on tuition no classes shall be conducted during holidays and weekends. The minister reiterated that children have a right to rest from classes on weekends and during holidays adding that availability of education to all was a human right. Private schools that violate this directive will risk de-registration.

This is in contrast with what is happening here in Zimbabwe where government and private schools are capitalizing on weekend and holiday lessons for children – popularly known as “extra lessons” to boost income. Children from these schools are forced to pay for the extra lessons that are conducted at the school premises, or risk getting left out. Some of the private schools charge their tuition fees on a monthly basis and in order to keep revenue flowing these schools only gives students a one-week break for resting.

Ester, also known as “Amai White” is 90 years old and originally from Malawi.

More portraits here

Photo credit: Kubatana.net/Leigh Worsley-Worswick

Simon Khaya is divorcing his wife of 32 years claiming “there is no more love and affection between the parties. There are no conjugal rights enjoyed between the parties. The marriage relationship has failed to live up to a relationship, which is a normal one and is expected in marriage relationships.” Ignatius Chombo’s divorce was recently finalised by the courts. Minister of State in Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s office, Sylvester Nguni had his own messy divorce which made headlines last year. It would be interesting to hear Jonathan Moyo’s opinion seeing he has plenty to say about Morgan Tsvangirai’s alleged indiscretions!

You can bet your butt that these things only happen in Zimbabwe: expecting mothers moaning and groaning as they wait their turn to deliver – doing the writhing not on a bed, but a hospital bench! And this week I met some nurses who recently finished their training and they said they were looking for jobs, wait for this, not as nurses but temporary teachers because government isn’t hiring! I was told some of their “fortunate” colleagues are working as till operators at some supermarkets in Bulawayo! And we vividly recall President Mugabe lambasting Australia and the UK for reaping where they did not sow by luring Zimbabwean nurses! Crap by any other name.