Africa Day is a celebration of African unity across Africa. On the 25th of May every year Africans celebrate Africa Day knowing that they are free from the bondage of colonization and apartheid. I remember reciting the poem “Founding Fathers of the OAU We Salute You” when I was still in primary school. It was a wonderful poem.

In 1999 African leaders made a Declaration for the formation of the African Union with the view to accelerating the process of integration in the continent, to enable it play its rightful role in the global economy while addressing multifaceted social, economic and political problems compounded as they are by certain negative aspects of globalization. The changing of the organization’s name did not change African problems as right now the African continent is riddled with conflicts, famine, human rights abuses and under-development. Recently North Africa was at the epicenter of conflicts and the masses took to the streets denouncing poor leadership. Lives were lost on the streets and the African Union failed to come up with concrete resolutions. The intervention of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in Libya and Ivory Coast exposed the AU and left many people asking whether African problems should be solved with African remedies. The hard won independence by South Sudan was short lived as the battle for the vast oil reserves with Sudan rages on. Regional bodies like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has proved to be much more effective than the AU in trying to solve political impasses that had erupted in the West Africa region

Southern Africa has not been spared either as evidenced by the continued human rights abuses by the member states. Governments of National Unity are now the order of the day in Africa as the rule of law and the will of the people no longer counts. Most governments continue to rely on donor funding for sustenance and food aid to avert hunger.  The African Union’s new headquarters where the African leaders converged on the 25th of May was built using funds from the Chinese government. Africa has become the dumping of foreign products especially from our friends from the East. Sub-standard goods have flooded African markets resulting in the shutting down of local industries. Africa’s participation in the global village is facing challenges due to the fact that the continent continues to export unprocessed goods. Poor remuneration has resulted in massive brain drains across the continent. HIV and Aids has also taken its toll in Africa. Each year passes and more problems continue to affect Africa while the continental body loses its relevance.

“Zanu PF Politburo member Professor Jonathan Moyo on Wednesday said Africa was facing a serious deficit of leaders with true African values,” reported the Chronicle of 1 June 2012. Moyo couldn’t have said it better, but then he is the type of fellow who does not listen to what he is saying! In the same story he extolled the (rabid) nationalism of South Africa’s Julius Malema, naming him along your regular pan-Africanists in the mould of Kenyatta, Nyerere, Kaunda and Nkrumah. I wondered what these men would have to say about that, but then dead men tell no tales. But it is agreed that Africa faces a serious leadership deficit and we certainly do not have to only look at the troubles that spurred the toppling of Mubarak who has just being given a life prison term for presiding over the unnecessary slaughter of his compatriots. In fact, we have Moyo’s very own Zanu PF where his party’s leader has said he is not ready to leave his post (despite the Wiki revelations from non other than Moyo, Muzembi and many others that the old man has no place in contemporary power games) because there simply isn’t a suitable candidate within the ranks to succeed him. Not even Moyo apparently! Yet by “slamming” the new crop of African leaders, Moyo betrays Zanu PF’s disregard for the popular vote as these new African leaders came to power not by jambaja but by what would be electoral processes anathema to Zanu PF. After all, one cynical political science don has commented that Moyo’s party is rejecting the draft constitution because it is too democratic for Zanu PF’s liking!

Did you ever notice that when a politician does get an idea he usually gets it all wrong. – Donald Robert Perry Arquis, American poet (1933)

Invitation to an Art Talk by Mr Saki Mafundikwa  @ Hellenic International Academy 31 May 2012

Hellenic is pleased to announce that this terms Art Talk will be given by the Founder and Director of ZIVA:  Mr Saki Mafundikwa.  If you are discussing typography in Africa then you will come across Saki Mafundikwa who is a visionary graphic artist that has influenced typography and graphic design all around the world. He holds a Masters of Fine Art at Yale and a BA in Telecommunications and Fine Arts from Indiana  University. He left a successful design career in New York to return to his home country and open Zimbabwe’s first Graphic Design and New Media School in Harare called the Institute of Vigital Arts (ZIVA).

Saki is the author of ‘Afrikan Alphabets: The story of writing in Afrika’, a comprehensive review of African writing systems. He has participated in exhibitions and workshops around the world, contributed to a variety of publications and lectured about the globalization of design and the African aesthetic. His ambition is nothing less than to jump-start an African renaissance. We are honored to say that Saki will be talking about Afrikan Alphabets at Hellenic Academy. This will be a rare treat to hear such an accomplished artist and writer.

Thursday, 31 May, at 5.30 in the Art Room , Hellenic International Academy, 42-26 Basset Crescent, New Alexandra Park, Harare Refreshments will be served.  No tickets required (voluntary donation on door).

Volunteer: African Mobility Organisation (AMO)
Deadline: 31 May 2012

The African Mobility Organization (AMO) is a Zimbabwean trust that seeks to put the youth at the forefront of Africa’s development. The organisation was created as a direct response to the urgent need for Pan-African policies and programs that empower the local people, particularly the youth, to be on the move and take responsibility and ownership of the fate of their communities.

AMO is seeking to recruit the following posts: N.B.
-The person’s assigned these posts will be volunteers
-AMO is an equal opportunity employer
-All positions are full time

Researchers – Book of African Records

Background
Over the centuries Africa has received negative publicity which has created an impartial image of the continent whilst drowning the contemporary and historical achievements of the African peoples and civilizations over millennia. Over the years it has become clearly understood that none but the African people themselves must give a voice and accentuation to their own accomplishments and contributions to global civilizations. The AMO through the educational elements of the Book of African Records (BAR) project seeks to give the African people a voice thereby enabling them to give prominence to their own accomplishments and contributions to global civilization. The BAR is unprecedented, educational, scientific, and informative and will become an inspirational reference point on all facts African.

Goal: To research and compile measurable African facts for entry into the BAR

Essential duties and responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Editor-in-Chief and Project Coordinator, the Researchers will perform the following duties:
-To provide support required in the research and compilation of measurable African facts in an assigned discipline for entry into the Book of African Records
-To provide administrative and logistical support as required, which will include requesting and keeping records of stationery and other utilities, and ensuring maintenance and securing of all organisational utilities and assets
-To facilitate on job training for personal and peer growth
-To compile weekly and monthly reports of progress pointing to meeting of assigned objectives

Requisite skills
-Strong analytical skills
-Motivated, with the ability to work with minimal supervision
-Proven desktop and field research expertise
-Extensive computer skills, including email and Internet

To apply email an Expression of Interest to mdkubwalo [at] africanmobility [dot] org or call on +263 779 923372 for more information.

On the 18th of April each year Zimbabwe celebrates its hard won independence from Britain. The liberation struggle which gave birth to a new nation in southern Africa was fought so that every Zimbabwean regardless of tribe, color and creed will enjoy all the freedoms enshrined in constitution. Independence Day in Zimbabwe is no ordinary day like what other people may see it. It is not a one party celebration as it maybe perceived by those from the opposition.  We may differ on political opinions and support different political parties but lets put all that behind us and show unity when we celebrate our 32 years of independence. Even in America they have the Democrats and the Republicans but they have reserved 4th of July as day to celebrate their independence. The liberation struggle was fought so that every person can enjoy the freedom to support any political party of choice and to have the freedom to associate and express themselves. So on Independence Day be proud to fly the colors of our national flag high because those colors don’t belong to any party and sing the national anthem loud enough because its not a campaign jingle. Celebrate your independence Zimbabwe!