North Korean Statues Open Gukurahundi Wounds in Zimbabwe

HARARE, Zimbabwe – The two North Korean-made statues were meant to honor a national hero but people were so offended because of Pyongyang's links to a blood-soaked chapter of Zimbabwe's history that one was taken down almost immediately and the other has not been erected.

Besides, at least one of them didn't even resemble Joshua Nkomo, a former guerrilla leader known as "Father Zimbabwe" who died in 1999 at the age of 82.

That the statues were designed and made by North Koreans is an affront to Zimbabweans who blame North Korean-trained troops loyal to President Robert Mugabe for massacring thousands of civilians as the government tried to crush an uprising led by Nkomo in the 1980s. The uprising ended when Nkomo signed a unity pact in 1987 and became a vice president.

No offense was intended by the choice of North Korea to make the statues, Godfrey Mahachi, head of the state National Museums and Monuments, told The Associated Press. He said North Korea was chosen simply because it won the bid for the work, promising favorable prices.

One of the Nkomo statues was erected briefly last month in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-biggest city, on the site where a statue of British colonial era leader Cecil John Rhodes once stood. Nkomo's family called his statue artistically "ineffectual."

While there were no organized protests, criticisms were widespread before the unveiling. Nkomo's relatives were quoted in newspapers complaining that they had not been consulted. Simon Dube, a Bulawayo businessman, said the Nkomo statue was shrouded under a black cloth under police guard. Dube, who glimpsed it, said the statue's head was too small for Nkomo's famously heavy and imposing build.

Organizers kept the police on hand during the unveiling ceremony and took the statue down within hours.

The other statue was to have been placed in the capital, Harare, outside an office tower known as Karigamombe, which in the local Shona language means "taking the bull by the horns and slaying it." Some saw that as adding insult to injury: the symbol of Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union party and his former guerrilla army was a rampaging bull.

Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi said that despite the kerfuffle, the North Koreans have been paid their $600,000 for the two statues, state media reported.

Mahachi said officials are considering where else to put the two 3-meter (10 foot) statues.

"We still have to look at different options. They might go to museums, but that will be discussed to reach a final decision," he said.

The Bulawayo statue is for the time being kept at the Bulawayo Natural History Museum, where the deposed statue of Rhodes is also kept.

Nkomo spent his adult life fighting colonialism and was also imprisoned for a decade for his political activism against white rule in Rhodesia, as Zimbabwe was previously called. "Father Zimbabwe" spearheaded black nationalist resistance to white rule well before Mugabe came on the scene. Nkomo's image has appeared on postage stamps and the Bulawayo international airport has been named after him.

Human Rights Watch Deplores Violence in Zimbabwean Constitutional Process

Human Rights Watch said the violence witnessed in connection with the constitutional outreach process shows that the country has not made much progress on respecting human rights Human Rights Watch urged the government of Zimbabwe on Tuesday to take urgent steps to end abuses during the country's ongoing constitutional revision process, saying violence and intimidation during community meetings on the basic document do not bode well for the eventual constitutional referendum or a future election. The Zimbabwe Peace Project meanwhile said the human rights environment has deteriorated considerably since the constitutional outreach process started in June. In a report on human rights violations in August it said the most violations were seen in Manicaland province with 199 cases, followed by Mashonaland East province with 182. Human Rights Watch said the violence witnessed in connection with the constitutional outreach process indicated the country has not made much progress on human rights since a unity government took power in 2009. The international non-governmental organization urged the repeal of repressive laws such as the Public Order and Security Act or POSA, which curtails the right of Zimbabweans to assemble. Human Rights Watch blamed supporters of President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party for violence against civil society activists and perceived supporters of the former opposition Movement for Democratic Change. Human Rights Watch Senior Researcher for Africa Tiseke Kasambala told VOA reporter Patience Rusere that her organizations is concerned the situation could deteriorate further with the death last week of an MDC activist who was severely beaten at the venue of a constitutional outreach meeting in Mbare, Harare. Elsewhere, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Revision agreed that outreach meetings in Harare should resume on Saturday. Select Committee Co-Chairman Douglas Mwonzora says that his panel has made six recommendations for the maintenance of peace in the 42 venues where meetings must be re-convened. Mwonzora said Patience the paramount concern is that adequate security be provided at meetings. In Beitbridge, on the border with South Africa, meanwhile, sources told VOA that meetings were abandoned after locals said they could not understand outreach facilitators, insisting on being addressed in the minority Venda language. Outreach team member and parliamentarian Martin Khumalo confirmed to a VOA Studio 7 reporter that locals said they could not understand either English, Shona or Ndebele.

* VoA

I Will Be Away For A Wee While

There are so so many things currently going on right now and I really need to settle down before I could do any secondary activities like blogging and youtubing.

I'm surely update you on everything once everything is in place.

Oh, before I forget, just to inform you that I had left Japan for good. Probably would go back some time to travel around but currently, right now, I'm at where I'm suppose to be. My home country.

Don't be too shock as this is something that I had forseen and anticipated.

So wish me luck in my endurings and I wish you good luck, and may everything that you do would be smooth sailing ^_^

p/s: nope, this is not a good bye post, just an absent notice.

Who is Likely to be Mugabe's Successor at Zanu (PF)?

Written by Garikai 'Agenda' Chimuka

As it stands right now, many progressive Zimbabweans will find it misguided to even debate the future of ZANU PF out of the understandable reality that the party belongs to the dustbin of history if Zimbabwe was ever a democratic country. However, to do so is to be naive. Given   the reality of how this party can ride roughshod by manipulating elections to its advantage, then by hook or crook this dying monster will be with us in the foreseeable future. In light of the advanced age and the reported failing of the health of its octogenarian life leader, Mugabe, it is important to look at what will happen in this party and its implication for Zimbabwe

Since its formation in 1963, ZANU has been under 3 leaders. The first leader being the inaugural president, the late Ndabaningi Sithole who was disposed off in a tribally inspired Mugabe schemed coup in 1976. During Sithole’s leadership, democracy was promoted in ZANU with leaders openly and in the spirit of comradeship, campaigning against each other at the inaugural congress in 1963 where Sithole emerged victorious with Mugabe coming in as SG. It was because of this openness that even in prison, Cdes like Tekere ousted Sithole from the leadership of ZANU in favour of Mugabe on the basis that he had betrayed the liberation struggle. Therefore, under Sithole, one can conclude that ZANU was a democratic party.

The other phase of ZANU is that from 1965 to 1975 when the external wing of ZANU was under national Chairman Herbert Chitepo. After getting authority to prosecute the armed struggle through the Sikombela declaration, Chitepo established the DARE, which is the equivalent of the politburo. It is important to note that office bearers of the DARE were elected at congress after every 2 years and no position was sacrosanct from contestation in one of the most democratic periods in the life of ZANU. Thus ZANU under Chitepo had elections in 1967, 1969, 1971 and 1973 before his untimely demise in 1975

When Mugabe fully assumed control of ZANU at the Chimoio conference in 1977, he abolished leadership by open elections and people were appointed to the Central committee of the party on the basis of behind the scenes consensus. This is what ZANU calls guided democracy. This was meant to manage the fallout likely to result from elections as the events that led to Chitepo‘s death clearly showed the danger of open contests and elections

Since 1977, there has never been an open contestation for any top position in ZANU. The only time such a contestation nearly happened was in 2004 but the Tsholotsho plot was ruthlessly crushed by Mugabe

Hence given the above, it is now a clear fact that Mugabe is not going to allow the contestation of the party’s leadership position as long as he is still alive. This is not only because of his propensity to be life president at all costs but also because he has never been democratic since he took over ZANU PF in 1977.Therefore to expect such an old dog to learn new tricks like democracy is to expect too much from the tired geriatric

Therefore given this history, people often ask who will succeed Mugabe and when?

Many people look at Mugabe’s age and feel that this term must be his last and that he must now be working in order to ensure that he manages a peaceful transition within ZANU PF. However, this will not happen because the man has no intention to quit and no one can challenge him in ZANU PF given that the consequences are obvious.Therefore people looking to the future of ZANU PF must look at ZANU pF constitution primarily from the time of Mugabe’s departure

In my view, Mugabe will only leave ZANU PF via death. There are various likely outcomes in the event of his demise. But given that Mugabe’s health is a guarded secret, then if he eventually goes several interesting outcomes are possible

Constitutionally, in the event of Mugabe’s death, ZANU PF will have to call for an extraordinary congress to elect a leader to take over from Mugabe both in ZANU and in the country (if he is still president which is most likely). In ZANU PF, provinces will sit down and nominate who they want as leader with the one getting the highest nominations out of the party’s 10 provinces becoming the first secretary and leader of ZANU PF. Naturally one would expect the vice –President of ZANU PF, Mai Mujuru, to take over if one is to apply the often conveniently punted “seniority” doctrine in ZANU PF. But it will not be that simple given that her faction has been involved in a serious asymmetric war of attrition against the other powerful Mnangagwa faction for the soul of ZANU PF

Therefore its obvious that the 2 factions will be at each other‘s throats. However, it must not be surprising if one or another faction also emerges for the demise of Mugabe will open floodgates of factionalism and narrow parochial interests. In my view, a likely  interesting third factor will be the withdrawal of ex- ZAPU members back to the relaunched Dabengwa led  ZAPU

But given the deep rooted mistrust and the limited time and the use of dirty money to buy votes in the run up to the extraordinary congress, in my view, the faction that will be able to muster the support of the security forces will emerge victorious.

As it stands now, it’s not very clear who has more support in the security forces between Mnangagwa and Mujuru factions. Given that Mnagagwa played a prominent role in DRC even though he was not Defence Minister at that time, his reported chairing of JOC in the run-up to the murderous 2008 runoff and his subsequent election as Minister of Defence, one may see him as a safe bet. The fact that one of his key strategists, Jonathan Moyo, who was hounded in the aftermaths of Tsholotsho was returned back into the party at central committee level and has acres of space in the Herald point out that Mnangagwa has an edge over Mujuru in the security forces support

However, it’s not a done deal for Mnangagwa because ZANU PF politics has never been divorced from tribal and ethnic factors since the formation of the party

The death of Chitepo in 1975 is widely known to have been a result of the power struggles between the Manyika and the Karanga factions of ZANU in 1975.The Vashandiri rebellion of 1977 in ZANU PF which was however ruthlessly crushed was also seen as an attempt by Karanga members of the former ZANU DARE who wanted to take over power after realising that although his surname at first sounded like Karanga, Mugabe was Zezuru. Although it’s not official, the death of Josiah Tongogara in 1979 is also seen as part of this power struggles between various tribal and ethnic factions in ZANU. Therefore in the struggle to take over from Mugabe, one can not rule out political assassinations especially given that the factions are now moneyed to sponsor such acts because of the rampant looting of Marange diamonds

Therefore, in my view, the fight for the control of ZANU PF post Mugabe will shift from ZANU PF provinces to the security forces who can either assassinate rivals of their preferred candidate or rig the congress in favour of their candidate through a campaign of fear and terror that will make 2008 June runoff a mere tea party

However, given this deep rooted factionalism in ZANU PF, can people honestly be convinced that the Zezuru heads of JOC bar only one, PV Sibanda, will say blood is thicker than water and give their allegiance to Mujuru faction instead of Mnangagwa at the crunch time? It’s quite possible and plausible but it will also depend on their interests. Given the alliances that has been forged around hard looting of the country’s resources like diamonds, interests might also get ahead of narrow village politics

The other issue that might arise, which will be very dangerous for Zimbabwe is the division among the security forces along the Mnangwagwa and Mujuru factions as well as the paramilitary forces like militia and War veterans. If this is to happen, the whole country will burn as a result of ZANU PF factional wars and such a scenario will make Rwanda and Somalia look as if they are a picnic

Another likely scenario is that if Mnangagwa wins through a brutal security forces marshalled campaign, its most likely that the Mujuru faction, aware that the Mashonaland provinces they control are the lifeblood of ZANU PF in terms of electoral votes, may take the campaign to the people by forming another ZANU PF faction that will stand for election knowing very well that they can get more votes than Mnangagwa if they can deliver all the Mashonaland provinces vote. If such a scenario is to happen, then any resultant general election that will also include the MDCs, ZAPU, Mavambo etc will be one of the most bloody and violent than ever witnessed in Zimbabwe

Therefore as it stands now, it’s likely that Mugabe is going to stand again for elections for presidency next year. Those who think that there won’t be national elections next year are day dreaming.Mugabe will use the same June 2008 runoff strategy of using the army. This time it will have devastating effects because of the resources galore due to the Marange diamonds. After emerging victorious, and to manipulate international pressure, he will then invite MDC or some few corruptible elements in the MDCs into an inclusive government under his own terms making them mere window dressers although they are likely to turn down such humiliation

After that then all the people of Zimbabwe will have to do is to look to the heavens and wait for the Lord to intervene and set another explosive phase in the history of Zimbabwe

Many people have been praying for Mugabe to manage the succession whilst he is alive so as to ensure his legacy, that of his young family and that of ZANU PF as a united party but to think that Mugabe can manage his own succession even when he is on his death bed is to expect too much. The old man would rather go down with the party and the country than seeing anyone take over from him in his lifetime

Therefore given the uncertainty and the realistic possibility of violence on a scale never seen before, it is in the interest of forces of reason in the 2 powerful ZANU PF factions to sit down and come out with a formula on how they can share power after Mugabe’s death. They can enter into the kind of agreement that Blair and Brown agreed with one going first and the other one going on later for the sake of peace in Zimbabwe

* Garikai Chimuka is a Zimbabwean Post Graduate Student based in the Netherlands. (garychimuka06@gmail.com)

MDC Statement on the Zimbabwe Constitutional Making Process

The MDC leadership met today to review the latest developments on the


work of the Parliament-led Constitutional Outreach Programme which was

scheduled to end in Bulawayo, Chitungwiza and Harare last weekend.



After considering all the evidence from our COPAC teams and from

independent monitors and observers drawn from civil society, the

leadership noted with concern the reported loss of life; the

disruptions; and the violence which marred the process. This process

fails to pass the test of legitimacy, credibility and people-

drivenness.



We have noted with concern the militarisation of the process,

interfering with a purely civilian process. Reports from all over the

country show the heavy involvement of the military in the process. In

the rural areas, ordinary people were under siege from similar cases

of military meddling. The military and state agents’ involvement must

be investigated and the principals must meet immediately to map the

way forward.



So messy was the process that it rendered the hearings unnecessary and

out of step with the slightest meaning of what could possibly be

regarded as a people-driven Constitution-making process. The

resurgence of violence is disturbing, much as it is regrettable, for

it simply derails our national path to a new dispensation. The spirit

of togetherness which was beginning to firm countrywide could easily

be lost if we regress into the past and pursue a programme of conflict

and confrontation which brought this beautiful country to its knees

during the past 30 years.



The needless violence and loss of life is a stark reminder to our dark

past and a serious threat to our common future. Zimbabwe’s vision can

never be determined by thuggery and lawlessness. Neither can a nation

put forward a claim to civility and dignity through intolerance and

banditry. Although the majority of our people are poor, their

interests are clearly defined.



They want real change; they want peace and prosperity; national

stability; jobs; food and a bright future for their children. They put

their trust and faith in the Inclusive Government as the best option

for the country. Anyone out of this national frame of thought and

sentiment stands no chance to stop us from realising our common

destiny as a people.



The senseless intervention of partisan gangs aided by state agents in

what should be a platform for a constructive national endeavour is

unfortunate and unnecessary. A national constitution is not a party

manifesto; a constitution is not an election message; a constitution

is an all inclusive, holistic set of guiding values for a nation based

on a shared storehouse of communal ethics, a defining culture and a

compelling philosophy.



Violence and intolerance have no place in such a revered guide which

should bind us as a family in a community of nations. For two years,

the MDC has counselled patience in our restless community; we have

appealed for calm and perseverance; we have begun to sew together a

nation that was dismembered by scenes similar to what we witnessed at

the weekend.



For two years, we have confounded critics and doubters about our

ability to restore our national esteem and national dignity; we have

created platforms for dialogue and set the stage for unity of purpose,

in the firm belief that our adversaries would see reason and

patriotism as baseline principles for Zimbabwe’s return to a normal

society.



Having carefully considered our position, and as directed by SADC, I

am going to meet with other principals to map the way forward.



Thank you

I Finally Got My Hands On...

The ever famous Chanel Paradoxal Nail Polish. Although I've yet to try out its application, but its color in the bottle looks every so gorgeous. A greyish dark purple that oozes sex appeal, dirty but yet sophisticated. Heard that this nail polish sells like hot pancakes and people are practically queueing for this a few months back (apparently, Chanel Khaki Vert and Rose are the popular ones right now).

Anyway, just to be a responsible blogger, I wanna inform you that this blog would go a bit slow. Which meant that the author would not publish as many posts as previous times. The reason? A bit of laziness, with a dash of illness and tons of no-opportunity-to-take-pictures-ness. Alright, I know that not that people would care, but I'm just sayin'.

GZF Applauds 2010 Women Peace Maker Nora Tapiwa!

The Global Zimbabwe Forum (GZF) is proud to announce that its South Africa national chapter Co-ordinator, Ms. Nora Tapiwa has been selected as one of the 2010 Peace makers by the San Diego University in California, United States of America.

Ms. Tapiwa flew out of Johannesburg on 11th September and is expected to attend a fellowship at the San Diego University Peace Institute for the next two months.

For more details please kindly visit the San Diego University Peace Makers weblink at:


http://www.sandiego.edu/peacestudies/ipj/programs/women_peace_makers/WPM2010.php

No to the Organ on National Healing, We Want an Independent TRC Say Survivors of Political Violence

Harare - About 250 representatives of victims of political violence gathered yesterday, 20 September 2010 in Harare to deliberate and come up with a concrete position on national healing and transitional justice. Survivors of political violence had a rare opportunity to express their expectations on the form and content of the national healing process and the transitional justice mechanisms necessary to achieve genuine peace.

They also had the opportunity to ask questions to the invited guest comprising of the Hon Prime Minister, Mr Tsvangirai, the Minister of National Healing and Reconciliation, Mrs. S. Holland and a representative from the JOMIC. The Government officials where grilled on why the country was failing to have peace and stability two years after the formation of the Inclusive Government.
One of the major demands made by the survivors was the need for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission that will replace the Organ on national healing which they dismissed as too compromised. The demand comes against a backdrop of the resurgence of political violence in most areas especially now during the ongoing constitution making process.

The survivors were grouped into five clusters namely:

· Those with permanent injuries

· Those who lost their property during the violence period.

· Those who were sexually abused.

· Widows and widowers.

· Those who were arrested, tortured and released several times.

· Relatives of those who disappeared during the political violence period and are yet to be located.

They deliberated on what they expect the Government to do in terms of healing and restoration. The demands were collaborated into a petition which was handed over to the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs and the Organ on National Healing. Heal Zimbabwe will compile a detailed report of the outcome of the Survivors Summit which will used as an advocacy tool to ensure that the voice and demands of survivors of political violence are addressed.
The survivors were scheduled to peacefully march in Harare and submit a petition to the Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs and the Organ on national healing and reconciliation but were denied the opportunity by members of the police. Pastors took turns to preach to the gathering on the need to instill peace and stability and called upon our political leaders to lead by example and desist from inciting people to fight each other. After the commemorations, two representatives managed to submit the petition.

Progress Over Zimbabwe's Constitution Disrupted by Zanu PF

Outreach meetings over a new Zimabawe constitution have been disrupted, some violently, by people loyal to Zanu PF president Robert Mugabe. The outreach program is drawing to an end with increasing numbers of public meetings abandoned. At a meeting Monday on the grounds of the Queen Elizabeth school, near Harare's city center, members of the public came to voice what they wanted in a new constitution. But Zanu-PF Party members disrupted the meeting and ordered two white Zimbabweans to leave, saying they had no right to contribute to any discussions on a new constitution. One of the whites said he replied that he was born in Zimbabwe. He said he and his wife were pushed and shoved and left the meeting. In Harare and Bulawayo several other meetings were disrupted at the weekend by rowdy Zanu-PF members, some of whom threw stones at members of the public and shouted down contributions to the debate, according to people who attended. One member of an outreach committee overseeing several of the gatherings, who asked not to be identified, said last weekend's meetings had been "horrible, and destructive." There have also been disputes about the infrastructure of the outreach meetings, with people employed as drivers for the committee members saying they have not been paid and refusing to turn up for work. Movement for Democratic Change Party legislator Douglas Mwonzora is co-chair of the parliamentary committee overseeing the constitution writing process. He said he was dismayed by the disruptions and violence, and said upcoming meetings have been postponed indefinitely. The non-governmental organization monitoring the constitutional outreach program, Sokwanele, says many outreach meetings have taken place peacefully and constructively, but the overwhelming number of disruptions, including violence, were instigated by Zanu PF. Sokwanele said that these disruptions were a gross violation of the two-year-old political agreement, which is the foundation of the inclusive government of Zanu PF and the Movement for Democratic Change that is to craft a new constitution. In statements made to state media controlled by the party, Zanu-PF leaders deny accusations party members have been behind most of the disruptions. Elsewhere in Harare more than 80 members of Zimbabwe Women Arise group were arrested as they marched toward parliament protesting police mistreatment. AP President Barack Obama presents Magodonga Mahlangu, a member of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) as Ethyl Kennedy looks on, center, during the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington Group co-leader Magodonga Mahlangu said the women were holding a peaceful protest demanding the police act impartially, particularly at constitutional outreach meetings. The Zimabawe political agreement calls for the draft constitution be put to a referendum. If accepted, new elections would bring the inclusive government to an end. Veteran Zimbabwean academic, Brian Raftopoulos says he hopes the elections take place later, rather than sooner, because of the violence at election time during the past 10 years. During 2008 elections, about 200 MDC supporters were killed and 3,000 injured by Zanu-PF supporters. VoA

ECONET Zimbabwe Slashes Call Costs by 50%

Harare — Econet Wireless, the country's largest telecommunications company, has slashed the cost of outgoing international calls by as much as 50 percent.

Chief executive, Mr Douglas Mboweni said Zimbabweans could now call destinations such as the UK and South Africa for as little as US24c per minute (US0.004c per second). The latest development will see calls to South Africa becoming cheaper than what is charged by South African operators for calls to Zimbabwe.

Mr Mboweni said the move by Econet to cut its international tariffs had been made possible by a drive by the company to improve efficiencies. He said that Econet was also able to make such huge cuts because the contribution of international calls to the company's overall income had fallen considerably over the years.
"During our initial growth phase, international calls contributed over 25 percent to turnover. Today, that contribution has fallen. International tariffs have been falling globally for a number of years, and that trend is likely to continue," said Mr Mboweni.

He added that the tariff reviews had been ordered by the company's board, which wants customers to enjoy the best possible service. "Last year our board told us to review tariffs and introduce per second billing once we had completed most of the expansion. "Our tariffs are now the cheapest not just in Zimbabwe, but they are now very competitive within the region," he said.

* All Africa

When the Relationship Between Humans All Goes Wrong

Not in the slightest good mood to write up a cheery post (there goes my goal of creating a optimistic blog). There's been so many things going on in my life that I'm just too confused as to what should I be handling/facing/solving 1st.


Maybe I'm too weak for challenges that comes into my life. Those itsy bitsy obstacle that ever so mischeviously dancing around me, trying to get me off my sanity track. And well, "you know what, obstacles? you WIN!"


When I tend to dwell deeper into my ever confusing thoughts, the more I see how pathetic my life could be. And I totally suck big time when it comes to dealing with people.


People may judge me based on materialistic stuff, by my looks, by my grades, by my acheivement. Not once where people judge me by me, by my personality, by my attitude, you know, just by... being ME.


That's why, I tend not to thread upon the ever fickle relationship between human. That's why I'd rather be alone, think alone, eat alone, drink alone, bathe alone (-__-'''), and live alone. That way, I won't get hurt. I won't feel the depression/hatred bestow upon me.


However, back to reality, I do need to put up with people. Because they are practically just everywhere, and humans are the ones that make the universe goes around. But as chicken as I sound, I decided, to run away from all of it. How??? I am yet to figure that out. 


I know, some of you might say, running from problems ain't gonna get you anywhere. But, when you think about it, sometimes, running away gives you the time to think about the source of all mishaps and gradually gives you back the courage to face them with a more appropriate/adjusted feeling. You won't feel patronized or defeated even before trying to solve all calamity. Running away, simply calms you down and present you the opportunity to see from a third person's point of view of how the pandemonium starts.


Where was I again??? Oh right, the human bonding. Well, you might have guess that I'm not good at inter-human relationship, be it infant, the kids, the elderly or even the same age ones. People were always encouraging me to learn how to maintain/earn more relationships. But to me, what's the point?? I always ended up being the pessimist that I always am and ruin it all.


Therefore, if you ask me to choose, I much rather be the girl who sits alone in the room, with the laptop and the internet, blog whatever I have to say, or rather make Youtube videos, than spend my time dealing with people.


I am much happier being alone.

Due to Lack of Words

Here's some vain self-portrait for myself for you to enjoy (not that you would enjoy that much, but still...). I don't think I want to complain to much on my blog as I think bad mood/depressing environment could instigate more negative feelings to my those who are reading this blog.

Oh well, so much for being considerate and empathetic.

On a lighter tone (and unrelated topic), what are you guys having dinner for tonight? Roast chicken? Pasta? Curry? Stir-fry? Fish?

Salary Increases for Zimbabwe President, Prime Minister, Spark Discontent

Reports that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and their vice presidents and deputy premiers secretly received salary increases of 400 percent from the Treasury in January have generated widespread resentment among public workers.




Presidential spokesman George Charamba confirmed to the ZANU-PF-leaning Sunday Mail that Mr. Mugabe was now receiving US$1,750 a month before other unspecified allowances. A ZANU-PF cabinet minister told VOA that Mr Tsvangirai’s salary was raised to US$1,650 at the same time.



A senior member of the judiciary told VOA that Mr. Mugabe demanded a raise after learning he was earning less than judges paid US$1,200 a month. Finance Minister Tendai Biti was ordered to provide funds to cover the increases, sources said.



Constitutional expert Lovemore Madhuku said that under the Presidential Salary and Allowances Act salaries of top officials must be made public, so the raises were unconstitutional.



Cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, soldiers, teachers and other civil servants blasted the government for neglecting them while giving big increases to executive officers. State workers have given the government 30 days to address their demands or face a possible strike.



Labor leaders objected to what they described as inequitable pay increases.



Deputy Secretary General Japhet Moyo of the Zimbabwe Congress of trade Unions said that the government should award state workers the same percentage increase as Mr. Mugabe.



Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe Secretary General Raymond Majongwe said his teachers feel left out by the large pay increases granted to top government officials.



Ministerial sources said the Cabinet will take up the issue tomorrow at its weekly meeting.



VOA was unable to obtain comment from Biti. Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara referred all questions to Biti saying he was in China.



Members of Parliament are also demanding increased compensation. Bulawayo East member of Parliament Thabitha Khumalo, a member of Parliament's welfare committee, told VOA Studio 7 reporter Blessing Zulu she was not aware that top executives had received pay increases.



In the private sector, meanwhile, The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe are said to be working to bridge the gap between the country's top earners and the shop-floor workers. The highest-paid executives in the private sector are said to be earning as much as US$20,000 a month, the lowest-paid no more than US$150.

* VoA

Zimbabwe Bars South Africa's Freshly Ground From Performing in Harare

JOHANNESBURG — A South African pop group known for its World Cup collaboration with Shakira has been barred from performing in neighboring Zimbabwe after releasing a video depicting President Robert Mugabe as a chicken, band members said Monday.




Freshlyground singer Zolani Mahola told The Associated Press the band was informed last week by Zimbabwean authorities that work permits for concerts planned next month had been revoked. Mahola said no reason was given, but she believes the spark was the "Chicken to Change" video, which the seven-member band released earlier this month.



Zimbabwean immigration officials have refused to comment on the work permits for Freshlyground, the band that collaborated with international star Shakira on "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" the official anthem for South Africa's June-July World Cup. It was the first World Cup played in Africa.



The video for "Chicken to Change," which is on the band's latest album, depicts Zimbabwe's longtime president isolated in his limousine, uncaring of his people's suffering. The video's Mugabe puppet transforms into a fearful chicken as Zolani sings for change in Zimbabwe, a country gripped by economic and political crisis.



Ridiculing the president is illegal in Zimbabwe. Even gesturing at his motorcade in a manner deemed disrespectful can result in arrest. It's common for people to be briefly detained and fined for insulting Mugabe.



Mugabe was hailed as a liberation hero when he helped lead Zimbabwe to independence from Britain in 1980. But he is accused of holding onto power ever since by jailing and beating dissenters.



Mahola said the band's Zimbabwean fans have applauded "Chicken to Change."



"Somebody has said something for them," she said. "We have to be able to speak. You have to be able to have a voice."



Bandmate Simon Attwell said Freshlyground performed in Zimbabwe in 2008, at a time when ballots were still being counted from an election that had seen widespread violence blamed on Mugabe loyalists.



"It felt like change was in the air," said Attwell, a South African citizen who attended boarding school in Zimbabwe.



Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai won that election, but not by enough to avoid a runoff. Tsvangirai dropped out of the runoff, citing attacks against his supporters. Mugabe was declared the winner, but eventually forced by South Africa and other neighboring countries to form a unity government with Tsvangirai.



The unity government has foundered, and there are fears elections expected next year will only bring more violence. Attwell said when Freshlyground returned to Zimbabwe after 2008, "there was a palpable air of dejection."



Some band members have been questioning whether to boycott Zimbabwe, the flutist said. Now the choice has been taken from them.



"We wanted to do something that's funny, that uses humor as opposed to being directly provocative," Attwell said. Something "couched in humor is a little easier to digest. But evidently not."



Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press

Questions for today

1. Mood: A little depress and with a hint of anxiety (don't ask me why, I haven't got a clue)

2. The last person you hugged? My mum ^_^

3. Have you ever shaved someone’s back? Nope. The people around me have hairless backs

4. What’s your specialty (cooking or otherwise)? Mmm... Cooking I guess.. Oh oh, and smiling for hours nonstop (is that a speciality?)

5. How many hours of sleep do you usually get? 8 hours **smiling sheepishly**

6. Habits you’d like to break? Procrastinating

7. One of your worst fashion disasters? Wearing a white skirt with a huge brown stain right on the spot where my butt lands T__T

8. Your favorite junk food? Chocolates and ice creams of any kind.

9. Over-the-knee boots — yay or nay? Yay (although I neve have a chance to try them)

10. Weekly goals: Try to be more serene and calm when dealing with hardships. Oh, and be more sociable.

This is What Happens When Your Fridge is Too Cold

U'll get a frozen egg. -__-'''

OMG!! I really need to start enhancing the quality of my life by incorporating more interesting events or I'll be labeled as Cindy The Boring (which I'm on the way there T__T).

But my purchases on makeup has reduced dramatically and I seldom roam around the mall or the streets. How can I not to be as boring as a pea? (wait, is a pea a boring item?)

Shit, I'm starting to talk crap on my blog. Suggestions for topics, please!?

Zimbabwe's President Mugabe Says Wants Restoration of Ties With West

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said Thursday he wants to see restoration of ties between Harare and the West, adding that Zimbabwe was “waiting for positive movement” from the United States and the European Union.

Mr. Mugabe told the Reuters news agency that government has recently made diplomatic forays to engage the Americans and the Europeans, but said he was disappointment ties remain frosty.

In a wide-ranging interview, Mr. Mugabe challenged the administrations of U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron saying, “If they decide the relations should remain what they are, then we will know that they too are aggressors and not different from their predecessors.”

President Mugabe also said Western sanction on Harare should be removed. He vowed to press ahead with his indigenization plans saying the regulations were aimed at empowering the black majority.

Political analyst Mandlenkosi Gatsheni said Mr. Mugabe should implement tangible political reforms that entrench democracy and human rights if he wants better ties with the West.

For a deeper analysis, VOA Studio 7's Patience Rusere reached former National Constitutional Assembly director Ernest Mudzengi and political commentator Llyod Msipa. Msipa said sanctions on Harare are illegal and should be removed.

President Mugabe also commented on his health, laughing off circulating media reports suggesting that his health was failing. Unconfirmed reports have recently speculated Mr. Mugabe could be battling with cancer.

The reports were fueled by snaps that captured the long ruling 86-year-old leader stumbling on door steps in Uganda and China, and showing signs of fatigue. But Mr. Mugabe trashed the reports Thursday saying he was in good health.

Pretoria-based political analyst George Mkhwanazi told VOA Studio 7 reporter Chris Gande that records of President Mugabe’s health should not be kept under wraps since he is a public official.

* VoA

Pick n Pay in Talks With Zimbabwe's TM Supermarkets Over Increasing Stake

Pick n Pay Stores Ltd., South Africa’s second-largest food retailer, may increase its stake in Zimbabwe’s TM Supermarkets to 49 percent from 25 percent as the country’s economy rebounds from a decade-long recession.

“There are negotiations underway,” TM company secretary Andrew Lane Mitchell said in a telephone interview from Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, today. “The negotiations involve a debt-for-equity arrangement” to raise money to recapitalize the grocery chain.

TM Supermarkets, majority owned by Meikles Africa Ltd., is Zimbabwe’s biggest supermarket retailer with 50 outlets across the southern African nation. The company controls about 25 percent of the food and grocery market, according to its website. Pick n Pay spokeswomanTamra Veley wasn’t immediately able to comment on the talks.

Zimbabwe is rebuilding its economy after a recession that followed a drought and PresidentRobert Mugabe’s seizure of white-owned commercial farms for redistribution to blacks deprived of land under colonial rule. The state-controlled Herald in Zimbabwe today reported that TM might raise $21 million through the Pick n Pay transaction. Lane Mitchell declined to comment on how much the deal might be worth.

Meikles Ltd. said on Aug. 26 that net income declined 44 percent in the six months through June, even as revenue and sales more than doubled to $144.3 million.

Drawn-out Demerger

Meikles Africa is involved in a drawn-out demerger from Kingdom Meikles Africa Ltd. Meikles will hold an extraordinary general meeting on Sept. 13 to discuss how it can separate itself from Kingdom, a Zimbabwean banking and stock broking company.

Meikles Africa also owns clothing and drug stores, hotels and tea estates.

TM competes mainly with OK Zimbabwe Ltd., Bon Marche Supermarkets, Spar and Town and Country Stores (Private) Ltd.

To contact the reporter on this story: Brian Latham in Durban at blatham@bloomberg.net.

Zimbabwe Govt in Permit Scramble

Zimbabwe's home affairs department, desperately short of cash and run by two ministers from rival parties, says it has begun the almost impossible task of documenting the millions of Zimbabweans living in South Africa illegally. 

South Africa announced last week that it would begin deporting undocumented Zimbabweans in December at the end of a special suspension of visa requirements that has allowed Zimbabweans to stay and work in the country.

South Africa says the situation in Zimbabwe has improved enough to allow exiled Zimbabweans to return, a claim dismissed by Zimbabwean exile groups. And although Zimbabwe government officials are anxious about the decision, they cannot publicly oppose the move, as doing so would be to support the view that little has changed under the country's unity government.

On Wednesday Zimbabwe's two home affairs ministers, Kembo Mohadi of Zanu-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change's Theresa Makone, said they were sending teams to Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town to help citizens acquire passports. They announced a cut in passport fees, hoping to entice citizens to register.

"When we negotiated for the removal of visa requirements, we were given six months to regularise all our people in South Africa and we negotiated for a further extension to December 31," said Mohadi. "It is now up to us to send our people to South Africa so that Zimbabwe citizens without papers are given the requisite travel documents. Those that do not meet the deadline will face deportation."

But there is little confidence that Zimbabwe can pull this off. Already, in Zimbabwe itself, getting a passport is a nightmare. Long queues form at dawn outside the crammed, dusty Makombe Building in Harare that houses the passport offices.

Underpaid workers and touts make a killing taking bribes to help desperate applicants. The ministers have little comfort for those desperate for documents. Makone said the government slashed the price of passport applications, but admits this will cause even more chaos.

"Queues are going to get even longer. We’re asking people to please bear with us while we clear the bottlenecks." The backlog for passport applications rose as high as 300 000 at the height of the political and economic crisis, but officials say it has now been cleared.

A passport now costs US$50, down from US$140. It is still a fortune in a country in which government workers earn US$150 a month, but it is a sacrifice many have to make. The coordinator of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Dewa Mavhinga, said Zimbabwe is not prepared for the flood of applications. 

Air Zimbabwe Tells Pilots to Return to Work as Strike Enters Third Day

Air Zimbabwe Ltd. told pilots to return to work or face disciplinary action as a strike over a salary dispute entered its third day.

“The board of Air Zimbabwe has declared the strike illegal and told the pilots they have 24 hours in which to return to work or they will face disciplinary action,” Air Zimbabwe chairman Jonathan Kadzura said today in a telephone interview from Harare, the southern African nation’s capital.

The strike has disrupted flights to local, regional and international destinations. Kadzura couldn’t immediately say how many passengers had been affected by the labor action.

To contact the reporter on this story: Brian Latham in Durban at blatham@bloomberg.net.