Sir Nigel's Journey…

This is the first series in this ongoing Lobola discussion. I desperately wanted to write about this pertinent issue after various and often heated discussions both on and off Twitter & Facebook. For too long, there has been a massive grey cloud over this tradition especially amongst those living beyond the borders but more importantly amongst young men and women in my own generation. The current practice has left many confused, frustrated and upset with the typical lobola practices that are currently going on. I have also gathered that part of the misconception about this practice has resulted from situations that probably turned sour during and/or after the actual ceremony.  I leave it here for now but will detail below an example of a recent Lobola checklist used earlier this year.

A Typical Shona Lobola Checklist

A)     Roora

-          Ndiro

-          Kupinda mumusha

-          Vhura muromo

-          Sunungura homwe

-          Dare

-          Matekenya ndebvu

-          Chiuchiro

-          Makandidzwanani

B)      Zvamai

-          Mafukidza dumbu

-          Hotamiro

-          Mbariro

-          Bvuri

-          Mwenje

-          Kunhonga musikana

C)      Pasuru

D)     Rusambo

E)      Dangarababa

-           X(insert a figure) live beasts (dzemunongedzo)

F)      Majasi  -

-          baba (1 x suit) (1 x shoes) (1x shirt) (1 x hat) (1 x umbrella) (1 x overcoat)

-          Amai TBA

G)     Masungiro

-          Mudya

-          Mbudzi  a) yamai b) yemusha c) yababa

-          Mombe yechishava

-          Mombe yemusungiro

If applicable: Mhosva (Damage)

Please note that the information detailed above is only guide. There are variations depending on tribe and/or region.

The US volunteer surgical team Operation of Hope returns to Zimbabwe this July to offer free surgical repair for anyone suffering from cleft-lip and cleft-palate facial deformities.

Venue: Harare Central Hospital, Lobengula Street, Southerton
Screening Day: Sunday 31 July 2011 at 8am
Surgery schedule: 1 August – 9 August 2011

All potential patients are encouraged to attend screening examinations at Harare Central Hospital (peds ward) on Sunday 31 July at 8am. Please bring all pertinent medical records and information.

If previously operated on by Operation of Hope, we will provide a free follow-up examination during our visit.

All surgeries are free of charge. There is no cost to the patients or families.

Care is for all ages. (Babies must be 3 months or older and as healthy as possible)

For more information please visit www.operationofhope.org

Source: Kubatana newsletter

Deadline: 15 June 2011

In the context of the International Year for People of African Descent, the Anti-Discrimination Section of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is launching a Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent from 10 October to 4 November 2011.

The Fellowship Programme will provide participants with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the United Nations Human Rights system and its mechanisms, with a focus on issues of particular relevance to people of African descent.

This will allow the fellows to better contribute to the protection and promotion of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of Afro-descendants in their respective countries and communities.

Who can apply?

• The candidate must be an African descendant.
• The candidate must have a minimum of 4 years experience dealing with afro-descendant or minority issues.
• The candidate must be fluent in English.
• A letter of support from an afro-descendant organization or community.

Selection Process: In selecting the fellows, gender and ensuring a regional balance will be taken into account. All documents submitted must be in English.

Entitlements: The selected candidate is entitled to a stipend to cover accommodation, basic living expenses in Geneva, basic health insurance as well as a return economy class plane ticket.

Application: Interested candidates are requested to submit their application by email to: africandescent@ohchr.org or by fax to +4122-928 9050 with a cover letter clearly indicating “Application to the 2011 Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent” with the following documents:

• An application form
• A Curriculum Vitae
• A letter of motivation (maximum 1 page) in which the candidate will explain his/her motivation for applying, what he/she hopes to achieve through this fellowship and how he/she will use what they learn to promote the interests and rights of afro-descendants
• A letter of support from an organization/entity they are affiliated with.

The deadline to receive applications is 15 June 2011. Please note that only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

Source: Kubatana newsletter

Picture this: -

1. Ben – Truck Driver
2. Tom – Tollgate Officer
3. Jerry – Tollgate Officer
4. Tendai – Tollgate Officer
5. Farai – Tollgate Officer
6. Terrance – Police Officer

Ben is a truck driver for a certain Harare based company. Ben often makes deliveries to Chegutu. Chegutu is approximately 110kms from Harare. He passes through this particular toll gate on the way there. Truck drivers pay a toll gate of $5 each way. Ben has $10 on him that day. So, on his way to Chegutu he pays the $5. Tom is the toll gate officer who deals with Ben as he passes this toll gate on his way to Chegutu. As Tom hands Ben the $5 receipt for the truck, he casually asks him if he is returning to Harare that day (you will see why later).

Ben arrives in Chegutu, empties the truck, picks up another consignment and makes his way back to Harare. This time Jerry speaks to Ben and remembers that Ben passed through this toll gate earlier on that day. Jerry asked Ben to simply give him the toll gate receipt from the previous journey. Ben is then allowed to drive through without paying. Ben is thrilled as he has just scored an unexpected $5. His wife will be thrilled I’m sure! Jerry then uses the receipt for another unsuspecting truck driver. So the toll gate crew is now made an extra $5 from a used receipt. In total, the tax department has lost $10 in that whole transaction.

So the entire toll gate crew including the police officer run this transaction all day long with the official tax department only receiving their share once everyone else including Terrance the police officer has had their share first.

This is based on a true story

So I tend to find myself involved in various conversations with different kind of people on a daily basis. I wanted to share some of those interesting conversations or at least give an insight into what some people are thinking or discussing.  I’ve decided to call the various blogs associated with this – ‘The Overheard Series’. Be on the lookout for that.

Off to a shop opening event…

I was talking to a close sister of mine on Sunday afternoon. Wait wait wait! Let me start from the very beginning. Actually I was craving KFC – typical occurrence every 6 months or so I might add. I found the closest KFC to me, ordered my meal and sat down to eat. In the midst of all this, I received the call from this close sister and we chatted for some time whilst I demolished (emphasis here) that KFC meal. So sister and I spoke about relationships and the challenges faced by some Zimbabweans in the diaspora. I recall another twitter friend of mine who tweeted something about how she had noticed the high number of divorce rates amongst us Zimbabweans (emphasis on the under 30 bracket here), once again in the diaspora. In fact now that I’m thinking about this, in the last 2 months or so I’ve been involved in various discussions with friends about this very issue. I can’t seem to put my finger on the reasons why the rate is as high as it is. Is it because we tend to be so far away from the rest of the family and therefore feel no pressure to make things work out i.e. we give up too easily? Are we just impatient? Not realistic enough? Are there family interferences especially with the distance? Are we too materialistic? Have we adopted other cultures too quickly too soon without fully understanding our role/position/thoughts in that? Are we simply lost? Is this the reality i.e. if we were back ‘home’ we’d probably stay together to save face? Are we struggling with the pressures of being a Zimbabwean, an African and living away from ‘home’? What? What is it? I’m struggling to find the answers myself and I know that every situation I discuss or hear about is different so I don’t want to generalise here.

So ask you, the reader, what are your thoughts? What are your experiences? What is going on? Or am I just making this up? You tell me…

Emang has fast become one of my favourite bloggers and this is an example to illustrate my point. This particular blog is entitled ‘I grew up…’ I wrote a verse in June 2008 which was meant to be part of a series of scribes – the ‘For my Sister’ series. Needless to say I never got round to doing that or indeed thinking about the next instalment until I read this blog post. You see I am personally interested in the intricacies of relationships (marriage, dating and so forth) within the African community, the effects of new world we live in and the challenges faced by those in the diaspora. Below is my first piece for the series that was never completed – this piece is entitled TrueStory. But PLEASE do pass through www.africaontheblog.com and read Emang’s ‘I grew up…’ piece. Please feel free to comment and leave your thoughts as others have done.   

TrueStory

I often wonder…
…if she even realises the truth
that no matter what happens
Brother man ain’t never gon’ be like Daddy
Sadly…
Sister doesn’t see that yet

Society got the masses thinking
Feeling
Like this life deal is a constant battle
Who controls versus the rest of us
Seems like we all forgot about trust
Forgot about the kind of love Free-Free spoke so eloquently of
Forgot about the ‘real’ reasons why we got involved in the first place
Spitting copious amounts of clichés
‘Baby you complete me’
Can’t live without them we claim
Yet we manage to subject them to our insecurity-inspired actions
Photocopying factions
Mummy versus Daddy situations of old
Sister declaring she ain’t never gon’ be Mummy
For in her mind Mummy is weak
And Sister is strong
Same Sister who meets a good Brother man and runs away
Yet openly declares good Brother men don’t exist
Same Sister who finds a good Brother man and plays defence the whole time
You see Sister doesn’t want to end up like Mummy
All Mummy ever did wrong was to actually trust
Submit
And embrace love
Daddy did too
Yet Sister never acknowledges the latter
Only focusing on a one-sided affair
All she seems to recall is abusive Daddy
Verbal or otherwise
So now Sister wanders this sphere very afraid
Afraid to embrace this thing they call love

Meanwhile Brother man knows not of these struggles
Unaware of Sister’s internal battle
You see the Sister struggles
Fighting constantly
With herself
Attempting to deal with societal pressures
So she fires her frustrations at him
Bombarding Brother man with issues that don’t relate to his own actions
No rhyme or reason thinks Brother man
Shrugs and moves on with life
Sadly
There stands a man
Ready
Willing to embrace real love
And yet time is running
Running out I mean
Patience was never his to embrace
True story

*Taken from the ‘For My Sisters’ series

Earlier this week I was interviewed by Mama Afrika. The interview was broken down into 2 parts posted here

Part 1 – Read more

Part 2 – Read more

Admittedly some of the questions were tough but I was honest and gave my thoughts on the various issues  – Zimbabwe, Africa and the development of my beloved continent in general.

Deadline: 13 August 2010 (Module 1)

Venue: St Lucia Park Training Centre, Marlborough, Harare
Price: USD 160 per module – includes teas, lunches & materials

This program is the first of its kind designed to offer the very best in PhD research support & offer Participants a distinctive advantage. The Program offers PhD students flexibility, continuing personalised help & a gateway to completing their studies successfully & on time. This open study program features six modules of two days each held on weekends during August through November. A Masters degree research program is also available for Masters degree students enrolled in any University Social Science Program.

Topics covered include:

• Module 1 – Research philosophy, theory & paradigm selection & Research Designs
• Module 2 – Methodological approaches & Research Method selection
• Module 3 – Data Analysis Statistics 1
• Module 4 – Data Analysis Statistics 2
• Module 5 – Topic Selection, Proposal, Report Development & Practical advice Supervision issues
• Module 6 – Theory-Building, knowledge development & dissemination

As this is a comprehensive PhD level program, Participants must strictly be current holders of Masters degree certificates from any Social Science discipline. Examples include: Business, Education, International Relations, Economics, Humanities, Agriculture, Gender studies, Journalism, Law, Philosophy, Anthropology, Military & Strategic studies, Linguistics, Nursing, Development studies, Political Administration, Psychology, Religious Studies, etc. Participants should either already be on a PhD Program or intending to start on one in the near future.

Participants not already in advanced stages of study on a recognized PhD Program, are encouraged to attend all modules sequentially.

Support Services

• Post-course coaching clinics are available to Participants in order to “hold the Participants’ hand” as they develop their own PhD theses.
• PhD Supervision is offered to selected Program Participants & Supervisor brokerage services are provided for Participants.
• Participants in both early & advanced stages of study on a recognized PhD Program, will be afforded separate colloquium forums with leading experts & other PhD students at similar levels of study, to present their work & receive valuable input for their benefit.
• Participants are offered separate colloquium forums to present their Journal papers & are assisted in developing papers for publication.
• Administrative Matters & Program Advantages

For more information on course offerings, requirements and application deadlines please contact Dr. B. Mtigwe directly on 0912-246 369, bmtigwe@yahoo.com

Compiling ‘the list’ taught me more about Zimbabwe than I had ever imagined. I had to research all these people, find out what they did and what some continue to do in their respective lives for, in or around our beloved Zimbabwe. I tried to imagine handing ‘this list’ to a complete stranger and suggesting that they study it extensively if they wanted to understand the ‘who is who’ of Zimbabwe. I only hope that I have some small measure of success in my attempt. I know that there are obviously some Zimbabweans I have omitted partly in my attempt to keep the list reasonably ‘short’. This of course was not intentional. I also tried (extremely hard I might add) to compile a list that would reflect the diversity within Zimbabwe as a whole. My secondary objective involved producing a list that would resonate with both readers in Zimbabwe and those in the diaspora. In no particular order: -

1. Trevor Ncube – Media entrepreneur (Mail & Guardian in South Africa, The Standard, The Independent & NewsDay in Zimbabwe)
2. Roy Bennett – Zimbabwean politician
3. Robert Mugabe – President
4. Cara Black – Professional tennis player – More info here
5. Philip Chiyangwa – Flamboyant Zimbabwean businessman – More info here
6. Nicholas Zakaria – Zimbabwean musician also known as ‘Senior Lecturer’ or ‘Madzibaba’
7. Abel Murorewa – He served as Prime Minister of ‘Zimbabwe Rhodesia’ in 1979 before the Lancaster House agreement
8. Andy Flower – Former Zimbabwean cricketer & currently England Team Director – More info here
9. Strive Masiyiwa – Founder and CEO of Econet Wireless Holdings – www.econet.co.zw
10. David Coltart – Human rights lawyer in Zimbabwe since 1983 & now currently the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture – www.davidcoltart.com
11. Dr Gideon Gono – Current Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)
12. Eric Bloch – Economist and columnist
13. Stella Chiweshe – Zimbabwean musician who famously plays the ‘Mbira’ – www.stellachiweshe.com
14. Betty Makoni – Activist & Founder of Girl Child Network in 1998 – www.girlchildnetworkworldwide.org
15. Bernard Chidzero – Economist & first Minister of Finance in 1980 – More info here
16. Shingai Mutasa – Executive Chairman of TA Holdings – www.ta-holdings.com
17. Tendai Biti – Finance Minister in current Zimbabwean government – More info here
18. Henry Olonga – First black cricket player. Currently a musician & author – www.henryolonga.net
19. John Robertson – Economist and commentator
20. Jonathan Moyo – Former Minister of Information from 2000 to 2005
21. Honour Mkushi – Lawyer & was part of the legal advisory team at the constitutional conferences held in Geneva & at Lancaster House London in the late 1970s – More info here
22. Joshua Nkomo – Leader & founder of ZAPU (passed away)
23. Kiri Davies – Leading beauty & fitness specialist – More info here
24. Benjani Mwaruwari – Ex Manchester City Football player
25. Albert Nyathi – Poet & writer – More info here
26. Nick Price – Professional Golfer – www.nickprice.com
27. Kirsty Coventry – Swimmer & current world record holder – facebook Group
28. Joyce Mujuru – Vice President
29. Fay Chung – Author, educator & former Minister of Education, Sport and Culture in 1988 to 1993
30. Thomas Mapfumo – Zimbabwean Musician – More info here
31. Cannan Banana – First President of Zimbabwe from 18 April 1980 to 31 December 1987
32. Farai Munyuki – First black editor of The Herald after Independence in 1980
33. Irene Staunton – Publisher – www.weaverpresszimbabwe.com
34. Morgan Tsvangirai – Prime Minister – www.zimbabweprimeminister.org
35. Moses Chunga – Former soccer player. Currently the Shooting Stars Coach in Zimbabwe
36. Mutumwa Mawere – Exiled businessman – www.mmawere.com
37. Heath Streak – Former cricketer & currently Zimbabwe Cricket Bowling coach – More info here
38. Charles Mungoshi – A well-known writer,actor & poet – More info here
39. Jenni Williams – Activist. Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) – www.wozazimbabwe.org
40. Angeline Kamba – Chairperson of HIFA – www.hifa.co.zw
41. Kubi Chaza – Development activist, businesswoman, producer of ‘I am the Future‘ & actress. Kubi is also a member of the Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe
42. Dr Kombo Moyana – First Reserve Bank Governor of Zimbabwe in 1980, now back at RBZ as a board member this time
43. Byron Black – Former professional tennis & Davis Cup player
44. Arthur Mutambara – Vice President – More info here
45. Dr Solomon Guramatunhu – Renowned Ophthalmologist, Medical Director, Greenwood Eye Centre, Founder & Chairman of Eyes for Africa, Honorary Lecturer, University of Zimbabwe
46. Edson Zvobgo – Lawyer by profession, spokesman for the incoming government at Lancaster House in 1979
47. Elliot Mujaji – Winner of the gold medal in the 100 metres sprint – Zimbabwe’s first ever Paralympic gold medal (Sydney 2000) and again in 2004 at the Paralympic games in Greece
48. Nigel Chanakira – Founder & Director – Kingdom Financial Holdings Limited (KFHL) – www.kingdom.co.zw
49. Enoch Dumbutshena – He became Zimbabwe’s first black judge in 1980 & served as Chief Justice from 1984 to 1990
50. Fungai Tichawangana – The Zim celebrity & lifestyle website – www.zimbojam.com
51. Gedion Nyanhongo – Sculptor – His work on display at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (Atlanta) – www.gedionnyanhongo.com
52. Munashe Gumbonzvanda – Founder of Techmasai.com, Slybeaver & personal website – www.munashe.com
53. Vernon Mwamuka – First black architect in Zimbabwe. He left his mark on the Zimbabwean urbanscape with high profile projects that included, Southampton Life Centre, Construction House, the Kopje Plaza in Harare & the recently opened Joina Centre in Harare (passed away)
54. Carl Joshua Ncube – A pioneering animator, Carl Ncube wrote and directed Nyami-Nyami, the first animated film to be shown in the history of the Zimbabwe International Film Festival – www.carljoshuancube.com
55. Professor Walter Kamba – First Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe. Accompanied Joshua Nkomo & Robert Mugabe to Lancaster House as part of the legal advisory team (passed away)
56. Wayne Black – Former professional tennis & Davis Cup player
57. Simon Muzenda – Former Vice President (passed away)
58. Viviyata Chivhunga – Founder & MD of Vivi Fasions – More info here and More info here
59. Petina Gappah – Geneva-based legal aid counsellor for developing countries – www.petinagappah.com
60. Timothy Stamps – Medical doctor & former Minister of Health from 1986 to 2002 who oversaw a substantial expansion of the Zimbabwean healthcare & public health systems in the late 1980s and early 1990s
61. Prudence Mabhena – Music By Prudence, head of Liyana, a band of 8 Zimbabweans with varying disabilities – More info here & www.liyanaband.com
62. Peter Ndlovu – Ndlovu is the all-time leading scorer for the Zimbabwean national soccer team
63. Sally Mugabe – Robert Mugabe’s late wife – More info here
64. Tsitsi Dangarembga – Writer whose novel ‘Nervous Conditions’ has become a modern African classic – More info here
65. Oliver Mtukudzi – Zimbabwean musician

Worthy mentions: -

1. Jairos Jiri – Founder of The Jairos Jiri Association which was founded in Bulawayo in 1950
2. Brian Dzingai – athlete – www.athletepreneur.com
3. Eska Mtungwazi – Musician – More info here
4. Tatenda Taibu – First black captain – More info here
5. Norman Mapeza – Former Zimbabwean soccer player. Currently the Zimbabwe National Under 23 Head Coach & the current Caretaker coach for the Zimbabwe National Team
6. Beatrice Mtetwa – Human rights lawyer – More info here
7. Billy Rautenbach – Businessman – More info here
8. Owen Maseko – Artist – www.owenmaseko.com
9. Vimbayi Kaziboni – conductor & percussionist – More info here
10. Andy Brown – Zimbabwean musician