Kubatana.net ~ an online community of Zimbabwean activists

Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

Bully for the victims

del.icio.us TRACK TOP
Monday, February 14th, 2011 by Thandi Mpofu

I watched in bewilderment the other day, when in the foyer of one building, a crazed woman tore the head off  security guard who had asked her to sign-in before she could proceed upstairs.  She unleashed an unbelievable, unwarranted, temper tantrum of great magnitude.  Having gotten her way, the woman sashayed on upstairs, self satisfaction obvious in each step, while the guard was left embarrassed and virtually cowering behind his desk.

I believe that what I witnessed that day was “bullying”.  The woman was deliberately hostile and aggressive and her actions caused pain, distress and humiliation.  A classic bully.  Statistics say that adult bullying occurs more commonly than we think.  Observation of life confirms this fact.  We are all familiar with that person who habitually victimises waiters, other service staff, colleagues at work, family members, “friends” etc.

It is one thing to assert one’s position not to sign-into a building or to insist on a good standard of service or level of work.  It’s completely unacceptable when anyone treats another like their personal punching bag.  That can never be justified and it is never right.  Such behaviour says a lot more about the bully than it does about the dawdling waiter or timid electorate.

Characteristically, bullies lack empathy for others.  They take advantage of individuals perceived as being vulnerable and they aim to gain control over their victims.  Bullies make life miserable for others, particularly those who do not conform to their way of thinking.

However, bullies can and have been known to be beaten.  Experts suggest negotiating with the bully or enlisting the help of a third party in order to prevent further bullying.  This is the more peaceful and preferred route.  Of course, the bully might be beyond reasoning with, the stubborn and arrogant sort.  In this case, former-victims are forced to rise up and fight back.  They may resort to confront the bully so as to regain their lost dignity and once more control their destiny.  And when that day of reckoning comes, the bully will stare in the face of forceful, relentless and unprecedented retaliation.

Hosni and others who have met an unceremonious exit can attest to that.

Dictators be warned

del.icio.us TRACK TOP
Saturday, February 12th, 2011 by Bev Clark

An activist in Egypt tweets:

The criminal has left the palace

Can’t have two leaders in one nation

del.icio.us TRACK TOP
Friday, February 11th, 2011 by Bev Clark

An SMS sent to the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper:

We want elections now. We can’t have two leaders in one nation. Its either we have Robert Mugabe or Morgan Tsvangirai.
- Muroro.

Bearing witness

del.icio.us TRACK TOP
Friday, February 11th, 2011 by Bev Clark

I had exactly the same response as Penelope Chester when I read Ethan Zuckerman’s blog about the events in Gabon. I immediately Googled Gabon and found that the top stories were about football, not the political crisis in that country.

What makes the events in Egypt more compelling for media houses and news agencies around the world? Read both Penelope and Ethan to learn more about the situation in Gabon.

Ethan reminds us:

We are challenged to witness people’s struggles, whether or not they take place in countries we already know and fear. We are challenged to ensure that authoritarian regimes don’t crush dissent because they know no one is watching. Increasingly, we have the tools to pay attention to revolutionary change anywhere in the world – now we just have to live up to our responsibilities.

Selling is better than just sitting

del.icio.us TRACK TOP
Thursday, February 10th, 2011 by Zanele Manhenga

My name is Mai Machafa and I have been selling since 2003. What made me keep on selling is that I realized it is better to be my own boss than to work for some one else. I think selling as a vendor is better than just sitting. I would love to do something else besides selling vegetables but right now there in nothing worthwhile to do besides being a vendor.

What I would say is a big problem is the council. We are paying money to them but they do nothing in return with our money. The money they want us to pay is too much when we do not have water. The toilets are bad and we don’t have electricity so we can’t sell at night.

The future I wish to see in Zimbabwe is a future that is good like what we once had. A life that where we struggle less. We want to be able to have and afford stuff. I want the future to be good for my 4-year-old son so that he doesn’t become a vendor like me. I want him to be able to have a good job and for him to have a good education.

The advice to people that do not have anything to do I would like to say you can start selling even at your gate. Sell anything – mangoes in your yard or even the vegetables from your garden. Do something that would ensure that you have food in your house.

Compulsory Zanu PF education?

del.icio.us TRACK TOP
Thursday, February 10th, 2011 by Bev Clark

ZANU PF youths have taken their terror further by informing headmasters in Harare that they must leave at least two days a week for lessons about the liberation struggle, Radio VOP can reveal. “We have been asked to teach for three days and the other two days we must teach children about Zanu PF and the liberation war,” a headmaster told Radio VOP in an exclusive interview.