Three headlines in today’s Herald newspaper paint a dark (sorry) picture for Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), already struggling with electricity demand that far outstrips supply, and frustrated customers who believe ZESA over charges them on bills – and under delivers on power.

• ZESA takes PM’s brother to court over bill (He’s certainly not the only one who hasn’t been paying,and ZESA complains that unpaid bills is part of why they can’t deliver service.
• ZESA workers threaten to switch off power (The lowest paid ZESA worker currently earns just $190 / month. They argue management has received pay increments, but not lower grade employees)
• Debt cripples Kariba Power Station ($21 million in debt, with $7.5 million in interest. Ouch. Meanwhile, outdated equipment at the power station runs up ever higher maintenance and repair bills.)

It’s a shame that with all the revenue collected through tollgate fees, vehicle licenses, abnormal load fees, and the fuel levy, our roads in Zimbabwe are still in a bad state. Along one of Harare’s major roads, Second Street Extension, which connects many suburbs and leads to Mazowe and Bindura, a ‘double’ speed limit sign exists. The speed limit sign pictured has been there for the past years. Its evident that due to the nature of high traffic on the road there was a need to increase the speed limit to 70, but seriously … writing the number 7 on top of the existing number 6 is very disturbing. This illustrates the abuse of funds. Under Kubatana’s fix.this campaign, these are the many little things we would like relevant authorities to address in our communities.

When we first moved into our offices we were a bit glum about all the ugly partitions. But we’re not the types to suffer stuff we don’t like so we engaged a few creative schoolgirls from a Harare high school and asked them to paint whatever they liked (we told them a bit about our project) on grass mats, which we then hung on the partitions. So the partitions are still with us but they’re covered in Made in Zimbabwe art.

Here you go:

I found this A6 flyer on the ground last night, produced by Zimbabwe’s Constitution Select Committee (COPAC). On the one side, it has 9 milestones towards a new Constitution for Zimbabwe, and on the other, a calendar for 2012 and COPAC’s contact details. Great way to spread the word and get more people to know how to reach you. And according to The Herald headline today “COPAC draft constitution complete,” they’ve gotten as far as milestone 6. But I do find it telling that they didn’t put any estimated dates by when the various milestones might be achieved this year . . . .

An African elephant has been euthanized at Zoo Miami
Machito is the first elephant to die at the zoo. The male elephant was 32 years old and arrived at the zoo as an orphaned calf from Zimbabwe. Zoo officials told the Miami news station WTVJ that Machito had been treated for weeks for an illness that began as a stiff front limb and progressed to lethargy, weight loss and breathing problems. The elephant eventually was unable to sleep or lie down. Zoo Miami says Machito was euthanized when staff could no longer prevent him from suffering. The illness that afflicted the elephant has yet to be diagnosed. A necropsy will be performed. Zoo Miami is home to five other elephants. All those animals are more than 35 years old. – AP

It’s so sad to read some remarks that the President of Zambia makes in public. During his first days I used to give him the benefit of the doubt that the media had just caught his out of context words and that he was more on the humorous side.

I have picked two remarks made by Sata, which I found to be rather disturbing.

At the Rio+20 world conference on climate change and sustainable development in Rio, Brazil, President Sata who was inviting delegates to the United Nations World Tourism Conference next year had this to say:

“Come to Zambia and see what we have. We will waive some visa requirements and give you a visa on arrival. We have enough water for everyone, including the Greeks and Italians. We have wild animals and there is a lot more to see. The only thing we do not have in abundance is whiskey and that is because whiskey pollutes the environment.” Read story here

On a visit to Zimbabwe to officially open the 53rd Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo, and having arrived at State House for a State Banquet, President Mugabe asked the First Ladies Grace Mugabe and Dr Christine Kaseba to join them for a photo shoot. But President Sata retorted: “Let them wait. After all they joined us later in our lives.” Read story here

Does Zambia have a clown in their state house?