Cartoon: The Herald, 6 March 2012

The announcement recently that ‘litter bugs face arrest’ has been met with understandably mixed reactions. The requirement that shops and combi ranks have rubbish bins is welcome – but what good are rubbish bins if, as Bev Clark pointed out last week, refuse isn’t collected from bins, or elsewhere? Without regular, reliable rubbish collection, bins just over flow and become health hazards in their own right. Rubbish dumping is free at Pomona Dump on weekends – for those with the wherewithal to take their rubbish there. But the city needs to uphold its side of the bargain. Rubbish hasn’t been collected in my suburb for over three weeks. In desperation, residents have taken to leaving their rubbish out on the street day and night – on the off chance the city finally comes round to collect it – turning our entire road into an effective dumping site.

The just ended 21st February Movement gala held over the weekend was yet another opportunity to ponder over media reforms in the country and commitments made in the GPA about this and other issues pertaining to easing the stranglehold on media plurality. For starters, it recalled the abuse of the national broadcaster by political elites who remain the same people who made commitments under the GPA to ensure equal representation. The gala “pungwe” which stretched well into Sunday midday indeed rekindled the debate over where does Zimbabwe draw the line between State/public media?  Then Deputy Minister of Information Jameson Timba is on record saying Zimbabwe has the capacity to have more than 10 broadcast stations at the least, and this is exactly the same stuff that gives relevance to complaints why viewers who are expected to pay licences have to endure watching the gala when in fact they can switch channels. And not SABC channels as presently is the case with many who cannot afford DSTV but their own. It is no wonder then that MISA-Zimbabwe is being taken to task about its programmes concerning community broadcasting: the media czars know too well that this is a sector they cannot “forfeit” to the masses as this just what the democratic processes demand, and as one of their own said not so long ago, it would be equal to legislating oneself out of power!

About the gala, someone asked who finances these pseudo-Woodstocks, if space is bought from ZBC, how much the Machesos are paid, how much the organisers sell a pint of lager, and just how this whole business works for viewers to be subjected to that mass buffoonery as adults both on and off the stage play make believe singing songs of praise when everyone knows better. But these are questions that have been rationalised into the psyche of many here, and a wisecrack actually noted that the naivety of doctors of spin knows no bounds: the numbers of these gyrating gala guests do not necessarily translate into votes! If only. And this in light of the President’s speech reminding the people from that region that it was time to claim the vote lost to the MDC-T in previous polls.

Also worth mentioning were these stupendous promotions being run alongside the gala and an interesting caveat apparently betrayed the whole farce: the promoters had the right to suspend the competition without warning, meaning they could take the money and run, after all this was the military running the show, so hey, they could do as they pleased! We will obviously watch the space to follow-up on the winners of those holidays for two and incredible spending money.

On the big issues, just say for example, stimulating the manufacturing industry, reducing the levels of unemployment in Zimbabwe, not to mention a generally repressive human rights environment, the Unity Government, (those fellows the MDC and Zanu PF cuddling together in the same bed), are also right, royally, screwing things up on a local level too.

Where I live, in Greendale, there hasn’t been rubbish collection for three weeks. In the hope of catching a City of Harare refuse collection vehicle (a rare and uplifting sight) home owners have taken to leaving their rubbish, and adding to it, out on the street. Rubbish is piling up. It smells. Its ugly. Its a health hazard.

Then there’s the trickle of municipal water sporadically dripping out of our taps. A common sight on our neighbourhood streets is men and women heaving under the weight of water, being carried either on their heads, or pushed in wheelbarrows. The water having come from friendly and helpful homes that have boreholes.

Then there’s the issue of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and their inability to deliver power. During the past week we’ve had power between 9pm and 5am. While we’re sleeping, ya dig.

Oh. And then there are the pot holes, or craters, as people like to call them. They are  getting deeper, and deeper, and wider and wider.

Meanwhile along Borrowdale Road, the President’s drive-way, we have minions cutting the grass on the island, with … wait for it: hand held grass cutters. Whoa. Of course, why be surprised by both the inequity and the stupidity of initiatives like this?

However, nothing would be more stupid than all of us voting in (again) or letting our vote be stolen (again) these people who treat us like dirt.

I don’t trust Gideon Gono with my money. I lived through enough of his quasi-fiscal policies not to trust him at the helm of the Reserve Bank. My other thinks I protest too much, but I will not open a bank account until he is removed from office. Why should I trust a man who authored a book titled “Casino Economy” whilst in the midst of playing Russian roulette with the nation’s livelihoods?

I’m no fan of former Gono Advisor Munyaradzi Kereke either. Given that he was a senior Reserve Bank official during that chaotic decade he is just as culpable. Kereke also allegedly raped his 11 year old niece.  The Harare rumour mill purports that the rape was for ritual purposes, not that it has helped him in his present predicament.  Rape of a minor is an egregious offence, more so at gunpoint. It is curious that despite evidence and charges being filed on behalf of the minor, the police and Attorney General have apparently refused to investigate and prosecute.

Once thick as thieves, it seems that Gono and Kereke have had a falling out, one which the local media, both private and public refuse to give coverage. Curious, considering the nature and scope of allegations made by both parties against each other.  Kereke’s most recent letter, published in the Zimbabwe Mail reveals that Gono was willing to betray his paymasters. This is not anything new – the Wiki Leak cables concerning him revealed as much. Kereke also alleges that Gono has the Anti-Corruption Commission in his pocket, closed banks on a whim, violated the State Secrets Act, looted tens of millions of Public Funds and authored draft legislation that, if passed, would spin Zimbabwe into a civil war.

Kereke appears to be the underdog in this fight. Gono, despite the numerous rumours and allegations that surround him, clearly must have some influence. Whether it is enough to silence Kereke remains to be seen. It makes for interesting reading and speculation, like something out of a novel about an imaginary African state governed by the power hungry who employ witchcraft, sex, lies and betrayal to further their goals. If it were my story to write I would have a third major, but shadowy character, the seemingly benevolent but actually ruthless leader. The Leader would be the puppet master who would watch this drama unfold, and protect both just enough to make the fight between them fair, ensuring that each causes the destruction of the other.

I interviewed tech-entrepreneur Tatenda Furusa yesterday. Having just returned from the United States and established his own venture, Mealie Media, here in Zimbabwe, I asked him what advice he’d give Zimbabweans who are looking to come back and do the same:

First research and homework. Do your online research, read news articles as much as you can, check Kubatana or whatever journals of whichever sector you’re in. Call people back home, who are there and ask them what’s going on for raw feedback and the truth. Ask them what they would do if they had fifty thousand dollars. Thirdly, take time off and take a trip here. Don’t come here for two weeks, or during December and January because it’s just a bubble. Come through in August and September, in the last quarter of Zimbabwe’s financial year when it’s a little difficult to find money. Come back for a month, visit people, speak to people, and learn about what’s going on. By that point you’ll know if the pros outweigh the cons. It’s a place where you’ll definitely need a pool of funds, anything starting from I think, $5000 upwards. Capital that allows you to do your work freely and quickly is very important. Make sure or try your best to get a joint venture partnership on your trip here, if you can work with someone who’s been here for ten plus years or who’s been here and never left. Or if you’re going to start the business on your own give yourself a year to eighteen months.

Zimbabwe’s education system has been regarded as one of the best in Africa but recently it has been falling behind the times. The global trends in the use of ICTs in education have left gaps in our education system and calls for the review of the education curriculum is currently underway.

Speaking at a no holds barred function hosted by DefZee at the US Embassy Public Affairs Section members of the public had an opportunity to direct questions to the Minister of Education Arts, Sport and Culture, Senator David Coltart. During the session the Minister revealed that Zimbabwe’s education curriculum was last comprehensively reviewed as far back as in 1986. Therefore government has embarked on a curriculum review process to try and transform the system and embrace the use of ICTs in schools. Just like the constitution process the education review process was started through consultations with teachers, parents, children and partners in the education sector in Zimbabwe. The process will be finished by the end of the year. Some of the key areas where there are gaps in the education system include the teaching of civic education, tolerance and the use of non-violence in resolving conflicts.

Commenting on how government is going to help children who are not academically gifted the Minster referred back the findings of the Nziramasanga Commission of 1999. In the report findings it is stated that the 100% academic orientation was not beneficial to the nation and part of the key recommendations was to balance our education curriculum between academic and vocational orientation. Unfortunately these recommendations have not been implemented up to now, so government is trying to promote entrepreneurship through the introduction of vocational education in the new curriculum.

The Minister said he will be presenting a five year plan to Cabinet and he hopes by the year 2015 the Ministry will have implemented a comprehensive change of curriculum for both primary and secondary schools.

Responding to a question on the introduction of the early childhood development progamme in schools the Minister said the theoretical policy behind pre-school education is to cater for children who come from poor backgrounds. Thus government had to come up with an early childhood education progamme. Still on that same matter the Ministry of Education is lobbying for more resources and the introduction of rural allowances in order to place more qualified staff in rural schools. The Minister also suggested that schools should not be used as places for partisan politics and as a minister he is going ensure a safe working environment for all teachers in Zimbabwe.

In an effort to promote arts and combating piracy in Zimbabwe the Minister said the National Arts Council should come up with an electronic inventory for all artists in Zimbabwe and develop marketing strategies for the artists in order to compact piracy. Artists should also be trained in how to market themselves. The Ministry has made tremendous efforts in trying to promote local culture through the teaching of mother tongue languages and recently the Tonga language has been introduced in primary schools and is now being examined at Grade Seven level as well as to secondary level.