This list, which is by no means definitive and is in no particular order, is my way of celebrating the achievements of Zimbabweans. These are young people, living and working in Zimbabwe, and making a success of themselves.

Carl Joshua Ncube
Carl is a multi-talented animator, graphic designer, activist and storyteller. His skill lies in telling unusual stories in unusual ways. Carl wrote, directed and animated Zimbabwe’s first ever animated film series Nyami Nyami 1 and 2. He has directed Zimbabwe’s national awards shows including the National Arts and Merits Award and the Zimbabwe Music Awards. Lately, Carl has taken his story telling talent to the stage, in the comedy show ‘Carls Big announcement’.

Prudence Mabhena
She is a young singer, who along with the band Liyana has been featured in the Oscar winning documentary Music by Prudence. Despite having suffered abandonment and neglect in her childhood due to arthrogryphosis, Prudence Mabhena and her band have struggled, and triumphed. Prudence composes music in five languages, and even choreographs from her wheelchair. The film Music by Prudence has become the cornerstone of an advocacy campaign and has been embraced by the UN, Human Rights Watch and the disability community as an unprecedented portrayal advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities.

Fungai James Tichawangana
Founder and creator of Aripano Infinity Fungai James is a digital entrepreneur, journalist and photographer. His mission in founding Aripano Infinity is to tell African stories. In his own words: “I build skyscrapers on the Internet. I take words from my head and put them on paper. I capture life in pixelated moments”. Aripano Infinity’s projects include Online Artist Promotions, Law and Justice in Zimbabwe, Zimbablog and the Zimbojam. Zimbojam is the premier online resource for news and information about Zimbabwe’s burgeoning entertainment industry. Wherever it is, whatever is happening Fungai is usually there with his camera.

Rumbi Katedza
Rumbi has worked extensively in film for the past decade. Her feature films include Danai and the multi award-winning Asylum. She is a writer whose story ‘Snowflakes in Winter’ was part of Weaver Press’ Women writing Zimbabwe collection. She served as Festival Director for the Zimbabwe International Film Festival from 2004 until 2006. Rumbi currently produces documentary and feature films with her production company Mai Jai Films.

Max Soutter
Max is the Managing Director of the Business Set-up Group, an organisation dedicated to helping entrepreneurs start up and grow businesses the smart way. He specialises in assisting Zimbabwean start-ups to grow. Max has worked with more than 200 businesses in 35 different countries.  He is an author who has written several books some of which are available for free download from his site. He also runs several blogs and websites and is a very active Internet strategist.

Talent Jumo
Talent is a woman with a big dream to transform the world. She is one of the coordinators of the Young Women’s Leadership Initiative (YOWLI). Yowli was formed in 2007 when a group of young women decided to break the silence and talk overtly about issues if sex and sexuality. Talent is passionate about feminism, and as an activist is deeply committed to working with young women. Her work is informed by her experiences as a young black woman from Africa, who was born and bred in an independent Zimbabwe, but is herself not free.

Even when the GNU was inked in 2008, progressive, cerebral and visceral analysts – and even pseudo-intellectuals – greeted the marriage of inconvenience with the same cynicism that Zanu PF game planners are considering the outcome of what many see as this rushed election.

Reasonable men and women wondered how Zanu PF- a nationalist and rightwing party – could capitulate to any demands placed on the table by the MDC, and this based on previous pronouncements that they did not see any reason why in their opinion people with no liberation war credentials could be allowed to rule the country. And now we have Khaya Moyo and Chihuri speaking the language of Chinotimba we pretend to be surprised, only because another election is looming despite popular opinion that this will be the death of us as the conditions for a credible elections are palpably absent.

In this newest discourse on the future of the country, the issue then becomes what has to be done to have a consensus that the country can go head and have elections, not to mention the referendum. Based on what we already know about the Zanu PF collective and the congenital and abysmal attitude to democracy and the people’s right too choose a government of their own, it would be safe to say that what has been missing in this crisis is outside leverage to make Mugabe bend.  Yet we also already know Mugabe’s attitude toward outsiders “interfering”  in the internal affairs of “his” country.

What choices then do Zimbabweans have on the face of these apparently intractable contradictions as defined for the whole nation by Mugabe and Zanu PF? You get Jonathan Moyo saying the MDC will never win an election, and you have to ask what informs such careless statements: who is voting, the people of Zimbabwe or Zanu PF? Obviously Zanu PF will never vote for the MDC, and in an election where only Zanu PF elements vote, you can guarantee an MDT thrashing – much like the June presidential run-off farce – but for God’s sake it does not work that way and you somewhat understand why Zanu PF would insist on having these elections, because they figure there wont be any MDC supporters to vote thanks to the patriotic efforts of Jabulani Sibanda and Chinotimba!

But then it has to be asked for how long Mugabe and Zanu PF are going to ride roughshod over the wishes not only of Zimbabweans but standards set by the international community which has – albeit feebly – tried to steer this country to placid waters? Imagine the progeny of Zanu PF hawks embracing the same militancy half a century after Zimbabwe’s independence and telling us that no one without liberation war credentials is fit to rule! You then understand the belligerency Africa has seen in its many troubled spots where obdurate nationalists and despots are responded to by matching militancy from frustrated opponents who decided the ballot was just but a fart in the wind as far as the nationalist despots were concerned.

Another thing that has brought the rather unnecessary stretching of this crisis, some contend, is the mediation by SADC and how useless the whole exercise has been since the Mbeki years. International relations and diplomacy efforts only work when local parties involved in negotiations see themselves as equals, after all this is what has brought to an end some of the continent’s most atrocious human crises. Zimbabwe however offers an example that negotiations can drag for centuries as long as one party to the negotiations obsesses about entitlement to political power despite the good intentions of mediators to make repair the limping country.

Meanwhile, with this insistence on elections by Zanu PF, we do not have to brace ourselves that the victory Zanu PF is already claiming will be disputed: we already know that the mediators will persuade the MDC to accept a Zanu PF victory while those who voted for change and the international community who question the outcome will be told once again to go to hell. And where does that leave the ordinary man, woman and child? Well, just blame the MDC for not being tough enough on Mugabe and Zanu PF, yet you still have to empathise with those so-called MDC hardliners who were – and still are – against this marriage that has inconvenienced us all when we could be using our brains to understand better things other than how Zanu PF the party Simon Khaya Moyo so much extols lost the bush war plot, how this neo-patrimonialism crap came to make supposedly good man bad.

I saw and wept the other day at the response to Gabon’s run-off election where results were torn in front of television cameras by an official from the party that was sensing sure defeat, and you understand Zanu PF’s thesis that they will never accept an electoral outcome that does not favour them as a culture from the Dark Ages where the rule and the will of the people has no place in their definition of self-rule and self-determination. The question obviously becomes, why hold elections if you are not going to accept the results? Chinotimba answered that already in a Newsday interview:

That’s how we do things in Zanu PF!

The following is a short story written by Robert McLaren the national director of CHIPAWO. Founded in 1989, CHIPAWO is an arts education Trust that is all about sharing. Children of all backgrounds and abilities from age 4 and schoolchildren of all ages learn to sing, dance, play music, act, make videos and work together, communicate, develop confidence and life skills, build through criticism and so much more – in short, arts education for development and employment. If you would like to make a donation, or support the work of CHPAWO, please contact them here.

ANGEL SAVES CHIPAWO LIFE

If you read the heading carefully you will see that it does not say “Angel saves CHIPAWO’s life”. That would imply that the angel did something to help CHIPAWO out of a sticky situation. No, this angel actually saved the life of a member of the CHIPAWO family.

What happened was this. There is a young lady, a graduate, who works for CHIPAWO as the Programmes Officer, whom for the purposes of this news item we shall call Patience. She was the one who went to India a few months back to teach children Zimbabwean dance and culture. She was also involved in the recent road accident and had her leg in plaster for some weeks. Currently she and her sister are living with me as their family was illegally evicted with many other families from a huge apartment complex by the landlord.

About three weeks ago Patience began to complain of pains, weakness and loss of appetite. I was away and when I returned and heard her symptoms I thought at first that she might be anaemic. She went onto iron tablets and for a day or two this seems to have brought about a marked change for the better.

However on Thursday last week, I was called to fetch her from the office as she was not well. She was shivering with cold and very weak. The next day her family took her to Parirenyatwa Hospital. This hospital is the main referral hospital in the country. If we had abided by the treatment that was dished out to her there, she would be dead today.

Patience and her family spent the whole day at the hospital. The first doctor said it could be malaria. The second said it wasn’t and pronounced with great helpfulness that it was ‘fever’. Even as a layman, I know that fever is caused by an illness and that there are many different types of fever. The ‘fever’ was treated but the cause was not investigated. She bought the prescribed pain-killers and antibiotics and came home.

By next morning it was clear that she was in serious distress. She was panting and could no longer walk. I did not know what to do. I could see she needed professional attention. So I decided to take her to a local private Medical Centre.

Though at one stage in Zimbabwe most working families had some kind of medical insurance, few have today. With the economy slowly stabilising and people trying to scrape together enough to pay the basics, medical insurance is only gradually becoming a possibility again. CHIPAWO had in place a comprehensive group medical insurance scheme for its staff until the big crash earlier this year. Now it has nothing.

Patience’s family had no insurance and so that was going to mean cash on the nail – up front. Whereas Parirenyatwa is affordable by almost all, the local private medical centre can only be accessed by the relatively well-off.

The first down payment was the consultation fee – US$30. But Patience at last began to receive proper medical attention. Meanwhile I phoned her mother and arranged to meet her and bring her to the medical centre. Before we could get back, I got a call from the doctor at the centre, saying that she needed X-rays and a pelvic scan. I told him we were on our way.

When we got there the doctor gave us the alarming news. The patient had septicaemia. He said she had an infection caused by a suspected abdominal abscess. The infection had spread to the blood stream and now was affecting the whole body. At this point one began to fear the worst. She needed to go for two X-rays and a scan urgently.

The bill at the medical centre was US105. The ambulance  would be another US$40. When I said I would take her in Nzou (the legendary 1983 Ford Cortina station wagon), the sister pointed out that Patience really was very sick. So the ambulance it had to be. The two X-rays and the scan were going to come to over US$200 but since it was Saturday and we would arrive after 12 noon there was going to be a surcharge of another US$60.

The cash I happened to have with me – or available for that matter – would cover the costs at the medical centre and the ambulance but there was no money for the X-rays and the scan. What to do? We needed money and we needed it quick.

CHIPAWO had nothing. It was too late to raid the bank and in any case CHIPAWO staff were busy at the National Arts Council’s Jikinya Primary Schools dance competition finals, where CHIPAWO children had been contracted to perform. I seem to have very few friends who are able to help in such circumstances. Those I have were not available.

That is when I phoned the CHIPAWO angel. She is a highly-educated professional, who has supported CHIPAWO, attended CHIPAWO functions and generally shown her appreciation of CHIPAWO’S work over the years. I managed to get hold of her. She was on her way out but agreed immediately, asked me where the medical centre is and drove over with the money. I told her she was an angel. I meant it in both meanings of the word. An angel can be a benefactor as in angels of a particular theatre that they support with yearly donations.

After handing the money over and as she drove away she said: “Don’t bother to pay it back. I know CHIPAWO is poor. Take it as a donation.” I called after her: “CHIPAWO is rich – but not in money.” Laughing, she said “Whatever!” and drove away.

The scan and X-rays revealed that indeed there was a problem in her abdomen. She was immediately sent off to hospital – Parirenyatwa again as it happens. But this time to a specialist who had been well briefed by the young doctor at the centre. She was operated on at 1am this morning and seems to be making a good recovery . Let us hope for the best – and thank the ‘angel’ and the staff of the centre that I believe really did save a CHIPAWO life.

I couldn’t help being struck by the irony of those queues at Parirenyatwa and one or two probably junior or student doctors struggling to attend to all those who needed them and the nice, competent young doctor at the private medical centre, lounging against a piece of furniture chatting with the sister after he had finished attending to Patience. A day’s waiting for poor medical delivery for those who do not have the money and instant attention and excellent care for those who do! And what would have happened if there had been no angel?

In truth, those who have, have and those who have not, have not.

PS Patience was operated on at 1am that night. The operation was successful. She is now out of Intensive Care and recovering well. Hats off to Parirenyatwa after all. The nursing care has been exemplary.

The Harare Residents Trust recently issued this letter to councillors in Zimbabwe’s capital city:

Dear Councillor

I hope this letter finds you well. Firstly the Harare Residents Trust (HRT) is greatly disappointed due to the fact that we just discovered by coincidence about your meeting today. As HRT, we anticipate that as our elected leader you side with the struggling resident of Harare. The residents of Harare are facing serious problems at community level with particular reference to service delivery. Communities continue to bear the brunt of a collapsed road network, street lighting, refuse collection, polluted water, burst sewerage pipes, overgrown grass in public spaces, dilapidated social infrastructure, and unsustainable bills.

Not to mention ineffective representation of residents in local government issues. Below are the suggested figures from communities:

• Refuse – $ 1, Rentals – $5, Water -$2, Sewerage reticulation – $2, Cemetery charges – $10

• Maternity fees- Zero, Supplementary charges – $1, Clinic charges – $1 for consultation

• Parking in CBD – $1 per day, Hall booking – $25

• Library fees -$1 per month, Flea market – to reduce by 50% current rates

• Council schools – to reduce by 40%

• Salaries and administration – the residents want the city to reduce by 20 percent its workforce in the 2011 City budget

The HRT through its community advocacy work is communicating the wish and aspirations of communities. The HRT challenges you to think seriously on these issues or suggestions raised by the communities. This will enable Harare residents to participate in the issues that affect them on a daily basis. This is critical as poor and unaffordable services being offered currently to areas are impacting negatively on the welfare of the vulnerable and disadvantaged members of Harare communities which include women, children, the unemployed youths, the elderly and the disabled to mention a few.

The HRT strongly believes in the principles of social justice, participation, transparency and accountability and these fundamental issues should be prioritized and attended to through your esteemed office. We believe in a “bottom up approach” to local governance rather than a “top down approach”.

It’s “TIME OUT” for ineffective representation at local government level, poor community service delivery and a lack of action on your part as our councilor. It’s also time for you to realize and appreciate that “leadership is more of a responsibility rather than a privilege”.