It’s curious and pleasing to see The Herald, commonly referred to as the mouthpiece of mugabe, publishing comments criticizing their biased coverage of events in Zimbabwe:

We are not little children, Its ZANU PF youths who are attacking people and in this case looted while their victims are being arrested. You might lie but we are not stupid. Hope this time you will publish my comment

Its a shame really that your paper and the ZRP tries hard to apportion blame on unknown and unruly elements who looted shops when everyone knows it is the unruly Zanu Pf thugs who act with impunity that looted those shops. Shame on you Zimpapers. I challenge you to publish these comments in an objective manner. If you want evidence to prove it was Zanu Pf thugs…well the writing is on the wall for all to see BUT Zimpapers and ZRP.

Only the truth can set you free. Herald editorial, please dip deep inside you to find it. Humans should learn to work for their chocho.  Organisers of any demo must be organised first before they can try and organise anything. Even chaos requires organisation for it to be seen as it is.  We have too many Zimbabweans abroad than we have foreigners here. ” Hebrews 13:1-2 – Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers…” ***** Ex- 23:9 Don’t mistreat strangers.
**** Jeremiah 22:3 Defend the helpless and oppressed; don’t harm strangers, widows, orphans, or other innocent people.

Why is “The Herald” hell-bent on blaming ZANU violence on the MDC?? Are editors of this paper so incorrigible to the extent that they’ll sell their souls just to parrot ZANU lies??!! Its so sad – instead of correctly informing the nation that it was ZANU youths who looted other people’s hard earned resources this paper is just hell-bent on mis-informing the public in order to prop up a dying beast. Shameless yellow journalism at its worst!!!! I hope all comments condemning ZANU violence will be published here & not editorialized or denied coverage…

Here’s the Herald article:

Looters hit city shops

Herald Reporters

A DEMONSTRATION by Zanu-PF youths in Harare yester-day against what they said was slow implementation of indigenisation policies turned into a looting spree after being hijacked by rowdy elements. When the youths gathered at the Zanu-PF Harare provincial headquarters at around 8am for a demonstration that police had sanctioned, they cited among their grievances the Government’s alleged snail’s pace in implementing indigenisation policies. They were particularly incensed by Harare City Council’s decision last year to get into a joint venture with a South African firm to manage municipal parking, saying a local company could have also done the job. The youths said they were missing out on advancement opportunities because they could not compete with cash-rich foreigners who could rent expensive retail space in the city and pay large sums of money as “goodwill” to sell their wares. The toyi-toying youths marched into the city centre under police escort, but things turned nasty when another group joined them as they moved towards the Gulf Complex near Market Square, which houses numerous small retail shops. Many of these shops are understood to be run by non-indigenous people who have the advantage of paying higher rentals than locals and thus make it difficult for the indigenisation policy to take effect within that sector. The arrival of the other group resulted in a looting orgy at Gulf Complex and police say they are still investigating the matter. Shop owners hurriedly closed their shops and fled, fea-ring attacks similar to those seen recently in Mbare, Budi-riro and Epworth, after which several youths reportedly aligned to MDC-T were arrested. Harare Province police spokesman Inspector James Sa-bau said police arrested eight people for looting. “The original demonstration was supposed to take place from Zanu-PF Harare Province offices to Town House. The original demonstration was against the awarding of the parking tender to Easipark of South Africa. “We had deployed our personnel on that route. But when people were gathering, we heard there was another group at the Gulf Complex. We are still investigating the origins of that group,” he said. Insp Sabau said police arrested some known Mbare cri-minals who were on the police wanted list. He said police had since recovered some of the property looted yesterday. Chaos at the Gulf Complex saw people looting electrical appliances and household goods. The rowdy group ransacked shops and left many shelves bare. One of the looters jumped off the second floor of the complex when riot police cornered him and he reportedly broke both legs. Shop operators complained of huge losses, with some estimating them at up to US$20 000 each. Mr Moreblessing Muhamba said he lost goods worth US$10 000. “I sell original cellphones. They are all gone,” he lame-nted. Mr Derick Mawire said it would be difficult for many of them to resuscitate operations. “How do I come back? I’ve been wiped clean. I lost goods worth over US$5 000,” he said. Mr Nqobile Chidhobha said he lost laptops, television  sets, computer hard drives and four boxes of cell-phones. A survey showed that the complex — with close to 240 shops — has less than 30 Nigerians operating and a few Chinese. The rest of the operators are black Zimbabweans. The survey was prompted by allegations by some of the looters that foreigners had hijacked the complex. However, a Zimbabwean at the complex said: “If they need shops, they should follow procedure. “They should identify the shops operated by the Nigerians if it is what they want.” Mr Scott Sakupwanya, the president of Upfumi Kuvadiki — the organisers of the original demonstration — slammed the looting. “As youth we feel that the entry of Easipark from South Africa (to manage municipal parking) defeats indigeni-sation. “Youths should have been empowered to partner the city in the venture. “The demonstration was not partisan and included youths from all walks of life, but some hooligans hijacked the programme. “It is totally unacceptable and does not help our legitimate cause. “Indigenisation should benefit everyone regardless of political affiliation, but when people go and steal things then they hurt us when we are already hurting. “However, we will continue demonstrating until the ma-tter is resolved.” He said police should arrest everyone implicated in the looting. Their organisation will today deliver petitions to Harare Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda, town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi, Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo and his Empowerment counterpart Saviour Kasukuwere dema-nding Easipark’s withdrawal from the city. By mid afternoon, Easipark marshals were not visible on the streets though it was not clear if they had been called off or had left of their own volition. It has been alleged that senior council officials have shareholding in Easipark and have employed their friends, girlfriends and party campaign managers. Zanu-PF Harare provincial youth league chairman Cde Jimu Kunaka said unruly elements hijacked the demonstration and they had then called their members            off. “We were infiltrated. Once we realised that, we called off the demonstration. We do not know who the looters are.” Sporadic demonstrations have been noted in Mbare, Bu-diriro and Epworth. These follow suggestions by MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai that the kind of chaos seen in Tunisia and Egypt in recent weeks was acceptable.

http://www.zimpapers.co.zw/news-categories/top-stories/1789-looters-hit-city-shops.html

Here’s a press release from Radio Netherlands:

Radio Netherlands Worldwide is launching a video blog ‘What’s Up Africa’ on its African website. This weekly video blog takes a look at African news in a fresh, funny and critical manner. RNW aims to combine independent information and humour in this new series in order to focus on socially relevant issues. The first episode can be viewed on http://www.rnw.nl/africa/video/rnw-africa-launches-video-blog.

What’s up Africa is presented by RNW producer Ikenna Azuike, who was inspired by the successful American video blogger Ray William Johnson. In his video blog Ikenna takes a quizzical look at what’s hip, hot, eye-catching or unusual in South, West and East Africa.

This video blog forms a fine addition to the African website’s news and current affairs stories. The topics handled in What’s up Africa range from lifestyle to politics, sport to music. The basic principle is that the content is always relevant for a young African audience and that there is a recurring Dutch element. In 2010 the Africa Desk launched Fun in Africa, in which stand-up comedians gave their perspective on the news from Africa. That series can still be viewed on www.rnw.nl/africa and www.rnw.nl/afrique.

From Bulawayo Agenda:

Villagers in the remote area of Madlambuzi in Plumtree are being forced by their village heads to sign the anti sanctions petition. The petition is a ZANU PF project headed by the self proclaimed war veterans leader, Jabulani Sibanda. The party is targeting more than one million signatures on the petition, which shall be presented to the three principals in the inclusive government. The unsuspecting villagers are allegedly told to sign without questioning the contents of the petition.  Anti-sanction fliers are also being distributed by ZimPapers. Sunday Newspaper readers were surprised on Sunday morning to find anti-sanction fliers inside the newspaper, a clear indication that Zanu PF is not joking about the removal of sanctions.

There’s a police roadblock on Enterprise Road just near Greenpark. Last Sunday when I was running up Enterprise Road, I saw the police stop a commuter (one of many pulled over). The driver got out and ran over to one of the officers. In his hand was some money, at the ready. In other words, a bribe. Perhaps Minister Makone should take a commuter trip or two and see first hand what’s going on.

Here’s a report from the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association:

Commuters in Bulawayo have again expressed displeasure with the conduct of police officers. This comes as commuters continue to bear the brunt in the continued war between the traffic police and commuter omnibus operators. Residents have complained that of late, police officers all seem to be more concerned about traffic offences, ignoring other crimes. It has been alleged that police officers solicit for bribes from commuter omnibus operators in full view of commuters. Due to this, commuter omnibus operators are operating vehicles that are not roadworthy confident that they will get away with it due to the culture of bribing. This is putting the lives of commuters at risk. Further to this, traffic operators are taking longer routes to avoid roadblocks, inconveniencing commuters in the process.

In the same vein, commuter omnibus operators have raised concerns that the spot fines they are made to pay are too expensive considering the profits they make. The traffic police officers that mount road blocks and those that patrol the city haunt commuter operators charging them exorbitant spot fines of up to $80 when they make between $80 and $100 a day. This scenario is forcing kombi drivers to over speed in a bid to escape, putting the lives of residents at risk.

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