SA talks: Zim breakthrough or death knell

Zimbabweans, smarting from a decade of acute economic meltdown, plummeting standards of living, unemployment, and of late, the cholera epidemic, await with bated breaths the talks being held in south Africa tomorrow. A process which took the whole of last year with an ill-fated September 15 agreement, have now been christened jokes unarguably due to their sterility in solving the country's problems. what is disturbing tio most Zimbos is the announcement thaat ZANU PF will form it's government without Prime Minister designate and winner of the March 29 2008 election, Mr Tsvangirai and consequently, his MDC Party, which holds majority in Parliament. Many are of the view that this would only amount to a dead, rotting horse as these are the same culprits who presided over the downhill plunge of living conditions and business sector in Zimbabwe. This would only prolong suffering of the general populace and civil strife. This may escalate into armed conflict as a former American president said: "if you make peaceful revolution impossible, you make violent revolution possible".

Of Gono’s withdrawal limit and train rides

By Abel Dzobo

The paltry Z$100 billion withdrawal bank limit imposed by the Central Bank Governor, Gideon Gono, has relegated Zimbabweans, among them University students, to the tortuous train ride instead of buses as one cannot amass the Z$1 trillion that most of the conventional public transport are charging as fares.

Midlands State University students, who spoke to this reporter, said that though they had wanted to use road transport, they would now settle for the train as they had failed to raise the bus fare.
“I get Z$100 billion from the bank a day and bus fare from Gweru to Harare is Z$800 billion. How can I realistically come up with such an amount,” a student who had just finished writing exams said.

Another student said that commuting to and from town now cost $Z40 billion, hence one could only carry home Z$60 billion.
“With Z$60 billion a day, I must go to the bank for 10 days for me to come up with $600 billion, which is barely enough for the train,” he said.
The train fare has surged from Z$65 billion to Z$400 billion, a rise of about 615 percent that has compounded woes of the students and ordinary Zimbabweans.

The bank withdrawal limit cannot buy any commodity of great significance in the home, except green vegetables. Currently, a loaf of bread is going for between Z$150 to Z$200 billion, thus the withdrawal limit can only buy half a loaf. Airtime now ranges from $200 billion, especially for Econet Wireless (Buddie and Libertie).

Zim Varsity students eye Diaspora window

Zimbabwean immigrants wait to be deported from the Lindela Repatriation Centre outside Johannesburg in this August 22, 2007 file photo.

By Abel Dzobo

While Zimbabwe is reeling from a massive brain drain that has almost crippled he engineering, medical and teaching sectors, among others, the tide is set to increase as University students are set to leave in droves.

They said that even the xenophobia attacks that once ravaged South Africa will not deter them from seeking their Eldorado as they want to maximise on their four years of grueling study by finding employment where they would afford high living standards. A survey by the writer of this story of students in their fourth year and final semester at Midlands University in Gweru revealed that 90 percent of them have set their sights on lush pastures across the border. Of the 50 students studied in this survey, 45 of them, that is, 90 percent, said that they are definitely going into the Diaspora. 6 percent said that they would not be going anywhere due to family commitments (members of child-headed families) while 4 percent said they believed Zimbabwe still had a lot to offer for entrepreneurs.

“Ten years ago one could buy a bed, stove and a televison set using one salary, but now if you work in Zimbabwe you may never buy all that for the rest of your life. You find that commuting to work costs more than your salary,” an Accounting student said.
A Media and Society studies student said that she was leaving such that she could make up for the torture of her four year degree period.
“It was four years of suffering, characterised by hunger, lack of money, queues for mealie-meal and other basic commodities. I also want an enabling environment where I can pursue my career and advance my studies,” she said.

A male student, giggling shyly, noted that he wanted to marry in a year’s time and wanted to raise money, thus had to cross the border.
“I want to marry next year, my fiancé and I have been in love for the past four years. If I stay here, I will never amass the money needed to pay lobola and also wedding expenses,” he said.
High inflation, unemployment rate over 70 percent and an unprecedented market distortion that has seen teachers, nurses and most of formal employees living like paupers are reasons that have solidified the resolve in the youngsters to jump ship.

Those in informal employment have become rich overnight, a list that includes black market basic goods peddlers, street forex dealers and illegal miners (makorokoza), while their “highbrow” counterparts are bonded in a vicious circle of poverty. Although talks are underway to thaw MDC-ZANU PF stalemate, the respondents are of the view that it would still take more time for Zimbabwe to canter on an even keel. Possible destinations cited during the interview are Botswana, South Africa, Malawi, UK and Australia.

A study undertaken by the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC) in 2003 found out that 479,348 skilled personnel had left the country. SIRDC further pointed out that most Zimbabweans who had left the country since 1990 had gone to the United Kingdom (36.8 percent), Botswana (34.5 percent) and South Africa. South African government minister recently said there were two million Zimbabweans living in South Africa - Joyce Dube of the South African Women’s Institute for Migration Affairs estimates the figure to be even higher, around three million.
The Zimbabwe Diaspora Civic Society Organisations (CSO) Forum, a coalition of about 40 Diaspora based Zimbabwean civil society organisations in South Africa, whose chairperson is Daniel Molokele, has been formed to represent Zimbabweans in the Diaspora.

University ladies drooling for Batista

By Abel Dzobo
While the “sexy” charts have been dominated by soccer superstar David Beckham, a survey by this writer at Midlands State University in Gweru, Zimbabwe, has revealed that Dave Batista, “The Animal”, has worked his way into the soft cleft of ladies’ hearts. The three time World Heavyweight Champion’s liking by ladies stems from his commanding physique, the sheer brute ton of, muscle and his rugged looks. A fourth year Media and Society Studies student said that she would not hesitate if he were to ever ask her out.
“I woudn’t even think twice. If he were to ask me out, I would rush to his side. He is so handsome,” she said.
“He is especially captivating when he is sweating in the ring, his big chest glistening, it gives him such a sexy look,” said a second year Human Resources Management female student. It also emerged that Batista’s ‘machine gun” entrance has not gone unnoticed by the feminine world. Another female student, recently married, said that she finds herself on her feet every time he performs that antic.
“Whenever he ‘fires’ that machine gun on entering the ring, I get up on my feet and imitate the act. He is so sexy,” she gushed.
She added that she has posters of the superstar all over her house. Trailing a distant second on the ladies’ rankings is Jeff Hardy and on third, Randy Orton “The legend Killer”. Soccer came in the form of Ivory Coast and Chelsea international striker, Didier Drogba, anchored fourth and his eyes were cited as gorgeous, though the ladies pointed out that his hairstyle is not flattering to them at all. Batista won his first World Heavyweight Championshipship on April 03 2005 when he turned the act on his mentor, Triple H “The Game”. The second came on November 26 2006 when he nailed King Booker for the gold. His next victim was the Great Khali whom he defeated on September 16 2007. However, he lost it to Edge in December 2007 and has been denied by the Undertaker “The Phenom”. Now that The Dead Man is out of WWE, it will be very difficult to stop The Animal.

Kill, kill, kill and rule

After their summit, the AU have decided, unashamedly, that GNU is the way forward for Zimbabwe. How can African leaders fold their hands while the death toll in Zimbabwe keeps its upward surge? Does it mean that the rogues of this world should have their way? What lessons are we leaving for Africa? What doctrine are we extolling? Mugabe lost his elections on March 29. And then from there to June 27, the socio-economic and political scene in Zimbabwe further receded into the grotto. No way that man could have won. According to Independent MP, Prof Jonathan Moyo, defending Mugabe is like defending a dead donkey.

Then there was a reign of terror, confirmed by civic society leaders and the MDC. Death squads were, and are on rampage, killing, burning, maiming, at will. Over 90 MDC supporters have been killed. NGOs that extended humanitarian aid to an economically emaciated populace were banned from executing their works of charity. So when African Union leaders congregate to talk about unity, what do they mean? How far should hypocrisy go before it is rapped?

An election that took over a month before results were announced was lauded within 48 hours. A miracle, eh, Thabo Mbeki? A political resurrection, aha? So Mugabe deserves to be in a government of national unity (GNU) because he coerced the rural populace into voting for him? Is it because he traded the vote for the bullet? So democracy my leg! If you are voted out of power, kill people and you will be restored back to office. Because we all have to be accountable to society.

So by 2013, how many Zimbabweans will still be alive? During the 2013 elections how many more will be killed? Numbers, numbers, numbers and numbers.

Kill for power. Beat, maim, and instil terror? What a shame!

By Abel Dzobo (edzaidzobo@yahoo.com)

 

Bullet, Ballot or Belly?

Bullet, ballot or belly?

By Abel Dzobo

 

Is it the post election blood bath in Kenya? Or is it the callous partisan, government-sanctioned murders in Zimbabwe, that is vote or bullet? Or maybe, the stomach politics, full belly first?

 

Perhaps that is the way of explaining poverty in Africa. Isn't poverty a political motor force in Africa, a mechanism of social control that is brandished by politicians to incite the hungry into the most unimaginable stooges? Whereby the starving become a political powder keg, very volatile and ready to explode? While democracy extols the sanctity of the vote, in Africa it has been adulterated, the vote buys a morsel of food.

 

Is Mother Nature in acquiescence with greedy politicians, who capitalise on such catastrophes to reward supporters and punish foes with empty bellies?  During the run up to the Presidential run-off in Zimbabwe in 2008, Robert Mugabe banned non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that were distributing food to he famine-besieged rural populace as the despotic leader believed it was responsible for his shabby showing on March 29 when he lost to Morgan Tsvangirai. On a grand scale, Robert Mugabe and President Ahmadinejad of Iran were excluded from the dinner banquet in Italy thrown by Silvio Berlusconi as a symbol of rejection on the international fora at the just-ended 2008 Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) meeting.

 

But I strongly feel there is need for poverty eradication first if ever democracy is to set foot on Africa. Otherwise, it's a mere prostituting exercise, whereby it surfaces and gets submerged in the scramble for resources, something typical of Man Booker Award Prize winner, Chinua Achebe's A man of the people. Corruption with a capital letter C has become a legal resident on this continent.

 

Is it time to say goodbye to democracy? Are we agreed as  world, that good should overcome evil?

Caption: TWO FSH AND FIVE LOAVES OF BREAD . . . Can the miracle be relieved? 100kg of mealie meal for 10 families?

Zim graduands: Hawkers or professionals?

DELICATE BALANCE . . .This student at Midlands State Univerity reads books and sells maputi and lollipops at the Hunger Square, an open space where students sit and talk as diversion from gnawing hunger.

University students, who have been exposed to the full wrath of the prevailing harsh economic environment, have been forced to use implement serious fire-fighting measures to keep the wolf at bay.

Parents and guardians’ disposable incomes have been rudely trimmed, consequently shortening “the hand that giveth” Hence students are at the wrong side of the bank account. While maputi, lollipops, roasted ground nuts and other foodstuffs enjoyed copyright at Mbare Musika and other like areas, hawking has become a major source of income for students at Midlands State University in Gweru, and other institutions of higher learning.

So the question is on the caliber of graduates that Universities are churning out. These are graduates who have survived on selling maputi. Can they formulate any meaningful company growth objectives? Can these starved, hand-to-mouth-is-my-business graduates become real corporate players who can be trusted with shareholders’ money? Because most of them are peddlers first and academicians second.

Maybe it was time serious mitigation maneuvers were chore-graphed such that we stem the downturn in our education sector.
By Abel Dzobo (edzaidzobo@yahoo.com