A local NGO based in Harare is taking on the subject of Sex. Here’s some information, and a call for participation in their new project.

Have you ever felt so awkward asking your doctor about sex that you found yourself using all sorts of euphemisms and left the poor practitioner confused? Does the mention of the word “sex” make you want to run for cover or sizzle in anticipation? International Video Fair (IVF) will be exploring these and other questions in its Sex In the City documentary and is calling for men and women aged between 22 and 60 years to be participants. Whether you are worldly wise, old, young, religious, non-religious, an activist, not an activist, well known or “ordinary”, come and help unearth what the city of Harare really thinks about sex.

IVF, a non-profit regional organisation that uses mobile cinema and video as tools for social transformation, invites you to take part in stimulating discussions on what people think and do when it comes to sex and sexuality. These hot topics will be explored and recorded in an exciting, innovative way over 3-5 days in a great location in/around Harare. Transport to and from the location will be provided and participants will have to commit to the full 3-5 filming days, inclusive of nights. All meals and accommodation will be provided and a participants’ fee is included. Participants will be required to sign release forms for the documentary film, which will be screened locally and regionally.

IVF operates in Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The organisation’s vision is a Southern Africa where communities are able to access and impart to others, information and knowledge that can enhance social transformation. Sex In the City is an IVF project and conducted as part of the Zimbabwe Film Practitioners Joint Programme funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Harare. For more details, telephone IVF on 04-790515 / 797285 or click here for an email address. All applications must be received by Monday 30 June 2008.

From a citizen reporting from Mwenezi, and a reminder to vote out this sort of violent arrogance on 27th June.

. . . . Several campaign posters featuring the President’s image were promptly stuck on Mr Ngorima’s front door and many of the nearby trees. He was threatened with his life should Colonel Hungwe return and find that the posters had either been defaced or removed . . .

Read, watch or listen to any of the Zimbabwe government’s mouth pieces and you will feel yourself drowning in a sewer of distortion, bias and brazen untruth.

There must be a lexicon of words and phrases to describe this level of manipulation and blatant fabrication and distortion. I’d appreciate it if readers would share them with me because at the moment I’m struggling to find words adequate to express my disgust.

Anyone familiar with the work of WOZA (Women of Zimbabwe Arise) will know that this group of grassroots activists has practiced and preached the doctrine of non-violent protest for years now. Most recently they gathered in Harare on May 28 to commemorate Africa Day and to protest against the political violence being perpetrated in the weeks leading up to the Presidential run-off election of June 27. In near silence they walked together, holding up placards calling on SADC and others to act on the crisis in Zimbabwe.

Riot police quickly mobilised and arrested 14 of the protesters. It took 17 days and great persistence to gain the release, on bail, of 11 of those arrested. Leaders, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu are still in custody on the spurious claims by the State that these women intend to orchestrate Kenya-style violence ahead of the presidential run-off election on June 27. And pigs too may fly!

It is exactly this kind of fabricated nonsense that exposes the rest of the government’s propaganda for what it is. An abuse of public funds and a mockery of the cruel reality we live here.

Previously I wrote that I believe HIV/AIDS warrants exceptional status largely because of the complex mix of biomedical, economic, judicial, ideological, political, and socio-cultural factors at work. I’m not changing my stance, but I am annoyed how exceptional status comes to be interpreted and misused.

The Zimbabwean government has directed NGOs to suspend field operations. Seems the directive, like the country, is subject to inflation. At first the order targeted programmes believed to be using food distribution as a way to advocate political change. Next, the order grew to no food aid at all. Next, the word food was inflated to mean humanitarian. Now the directive, unlike the country, is subject to deflation, but not in a good way. The government has indicated that HIV/AIDS organizations are allowed to operate . This is a case of using the exceptional status of HIV/AIDS for political gain. Almost as if the government feels it can deal with bad press associated with letting people starve. However, HIV/AIDS is so exceptional that it would be too much to deal with bad press about people loosing access to HIV/AIDS-related services.

Worse is that the reinstatement is partial and shortsighted. Social and Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche stated the suspension on NGO operations “Does not prohibit those on ARV [antiretroviral] therapy and those benefiting from home-based care programmes to continue accessing drugs and therapeutic feeding from clinics and hospitals.”

It’s a troublesome choice of words – drugs and therapeutic feeding. Is work around HIV/AIDS only about feeding people drugs? Do people get therapeutic feeding only from home-based care, clinics, and hospitals? What about the other ways people need assistance and support to cope, be informed, and heal? The path has emerged such that the government has taken away rights as political citizens. Now the government, given its selective reinstatement of HIV/AIDS work, is largely rendering those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS to be clinical, biomedical, therapeutic citizens only.

Someone recently was commenting on Zimbabweans’ so-called patience. She said that it’s as if the challenges of the past few years have taught us that we have a deep reserve of resilience, and given us a confidence that we can survive just about anything. There is a resignation that goes with that, but also a deep reserve of strength. The worst may yet be on its way. But:

People are just waiting patiently, hopeful that there will be change. People are not really worried about the intimidation. The army are trying to create civil unrest but the people are just waiting patiently. The actions being taken by the powers that be show weakness. They are trying to provoke people. This patience Zimbabwean people have may be seen as a weakness but it is really a strength. They won’t be able to squash us. Nothing remains the same. It’s a revolution in its own way. It’s a question of time. Those alive by then will see the fruits of our patience.