Shame, poor Tendai Biti, for all his well meaning it seems his partners in Zimbabwe’s economy, our so called captains of industry, are only in it for short term profits and themselves. It wasn’t that long ago that Zimbabweans were making trips across the border to Musina and Francis Town en mass to buy their monthly groceries. And now our so called captains of industry are doing their best to revive what had become a dying means of survival.

The logic behind a reintroduction of import tariffs cannot really be faulted. According to an analysis in the Financial Gazette, there had been an improvement in the supply of basic goods on the market, and local producers needed protection from government to allow their industries to grow. But before the ink had even dried on the Minister’s midterm fiscal policy, retailers, local manufacturers and even hoteliers practically fell over themselves in their rush to increase prices.  By the end of July not only had the prices of the commodities listed by the Minister increased, but also the prices of those that were not listed including bath soap, detergents and hotel accommodation.

Let’s be honest, the quality of Zimbabwean goods has decreased so much that they would be unable to compete on an open market. My most favourite thing to snack on is potato chips, and in the 90s I was a Willard’s tomato flavoured chips loyalist. Yet when Willards potato chips returned to supermarket shelves, my favourite flavour had a bitter after-taste and was far more expensive than imported Simbas or Lays. So I stopped buying them. In terms of cooking oil, I’ve found that the cooking oil I used to buy in Mbare during gore renzara, that had been pressed from soya beans and sun flower seeds left food without any strange tastes or smells after frying unlike the locally produced cooking oils I’m now supposed to start buying. And, it’s all very nice that a certain locally produced soap lasts and lasts, but it would be nice if the manufacturers reduced that soaps percent content of perfumes, because it’s scent also lasts and lasts. And how about diversifying that product range to include shower gel and body lotion.

In a post about the launch of the ‘buy Zimbabwe’ campaign, blogger Zakeo Zakeos observed:

… it amazes me that some people still choose to have seminars and such without consulting me first. Because if these learned gentlemen had taken 2 minutes to brief me that they are concerned about Zimbabweans not buying enough local products, I would have given them one devilishly simple but amazingly effective strategy: Stop making shit.

From Flavorwire:

Australia-based artist Ghostpatrol is turning the tables on the drawing process by transforming the pencil from tool to canvas in playful art that combines sculpture with illustration.

At the unveiling of its flag Mthwakazi Liberation Front Vice President Edgar Gumede told the NewsDay that:

“It is time we face reality. The naked truth is that we are under black colonial rule, masterminded by the Mugabe-led regime. It is not true that we in MLF hate Shonas. No, no, no, we don’t! We hate the colonial system of government that they imposed in Mthwakazi.”

This is a South Africa based party, which was launched to protect and safeguard the interests of Mthwakazi State.  But one wonders who are the Mthwakazi and who are they fighting against and who colonized them in the first place? If my memory serves me right MLF supporters clashed with MDC supporters during the SADC summit held in South Africa a clear sign that the party is serious in its fight against any political party and tribe Zimbabwe, especially the Shonas. During the skirmishes MLF supporters went on to burn the Zimbabwean flag and recently the same party made news headlines when they said they wanted to unveil Mthwakazi flag and currency.

In my own view even if a new government comes to power MFL will continue with its struggle for independence. Whether MLF is a genuine party or not is a question that many people would ask since this party is only heard in the newspapers and operates mainly from South Africa.

In a follow up to my disappointment with the MDC’s cancelled Minister’s feedback meeting, I was interested to get a new text message last night from them:

You are invited to attend the MDC 12th Anniversary Rally at Gwanzura Stadium on Saturday 10 September 2011, Time 10:30am – 4:30pm.

So the community feedback meeting is cancelled. But not the anniversary rally?

It’s hard not to be cynical that this is because politicians find it so much easier to talk at people, rather than speak with them.

It’s funny how suddenly hearing an old song can transport us to a different time and place. A bit like childhood smells but we won’t explore that thought any further. And how our appreciation of music develops and changes. I was going to say, “matures” but let’s face it, some of us haven’t. I can clearly remember my music choices being almost exclusively the popular choice of the day – the Neil Diamond record was carefully hidden at the back of the cupboard (even today I wouldn’t easily admit to listening to him) – but then there are Michael Bolton fans ….

I can vividly remember driving around Austria, young and slim (who says alcohol is fattening?), with several beaus of varying potential awaiting my call (it’s true I tell you) and listening to “Antenna Steiermark” (radio station) who had a summer of non-stop rock’n'roll and catchy, upbeat music. The window rolled down, on my way paragliding. Let me tell you that there is a marked difference between running down a slope, and jumping off something – a bridge for instance, or swimming or meeting someone for coffee.  I had all the time in the world.

These days I find myself listening to really crap music because the lyrics are sublime. And also listening to really beautiful music but having no clue what that chap Eros Ramazotti is singing about. The name says it all, Italian crooner, good-looking, macho … yes I have spent some time studying the CD cover.

I dance to DSTV’s contemporary music channel with the kids. Sometimes we pretend we’re a band. We use tennis racquets for guitars, a hairbrush for a microphone and multi-coloured wigs and if dad is lucky we force him to sit through a show. Unrehearsed because we can’t decide on the music in advance, so inevitably no one knows the words. It must be a bit painful to be on the receiving end.

Come to think of it he never sits through more than 3 songs so I don’t feel too bad.

From allAfrica.com:

News: South Africa: Know Your HIV Status
6 September 2011

JOHANNESBURG – With nearly 15-million South Africans having voluntarily tested for HIV since the launch of the government’s HIV Counselling and Testing campaign, the call has gone out for people to test regularly, and for those not yet tested – especially men to join the drive for HIV awareness and self-responsibility.

14.7-million tested

Addressing journalists in Cape Town last week, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini said that, by the end of June, the HIV Counselling and Testing campaign had reached over 14.7-million South Africans.

This is only just short of the government’s initial 15-million target, and represents a sixfold increase in the number of people testing for HIV compared to the previous year.

This was the first time, Dlamini said, that South Africa had created a “unified, coherent and effective” public awareness drive on HIV/Aids, adding that empirical evidence indicated that HIV transmission rates had “significantly declined” from 8 percent to 3.5 percent nationally.

“The significant achievement this campaign has attained in one year is indicative that we are slowly restoring public confidence in public health.”

Men lagging behind

However, the figures show men lagging women, with between 30 and 35 percent of those who had taken the test being male.

“We have a problem with males when it comes to testing, and we call on them to join the women and test – the 30 percentage point difference is too much,” Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said at the launch of a major testing drive by Absa Bank in Johannesburg in July.

Testing ‘not a once-off thing’

Motsoaledi added that testing should not be a once-off thing, but that people needed to do it at least once or twice each year. “I’ll be doing my fourth test today and I encourage you to test,” he said.

HIV activist Lucky Mazibuko, speaking at the same event, stressed that it is possible to live with HIV and be productive and successful, adding that testing had become second nature in his life and that he would continue testing. He urged people to change the acronym for Aids to “Another Interesting Day Still”.

“After 20 years of living openly with the disease, my viral load remains undetectable with a 593 CD4 count, and I’m far healthier than most people in this place,” Mazibuko said.

“With more practical knowledge about HIV, the more it becomes disempowered and leads to effect sexual behavioural change. It becomes easier to prevent HIV than flu. I enjoy safer sex more since I know my status,” Mazibuko added.

‘Return to start treatment if HIV-positive’

Of those tested so far, around two-million people were found to be HIV-positive and referred for further care.

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, chairing a meeting of the South African National Aids Council (Sanac) in August, urged all South Africans who tested positive to go back to their local clinics to receive care.

The government has massively increased its capacity to care for people living with HIV and requiring antiretroviral treatment (ART).

The number of public facilities now providing comprehensive ART has increased from 490 to 2001. More than 1750 nurses have also been trained on Nurse Initiated and Managed ART, making it possible for professional nurses to put people onto treatment.

Online at: http://allafrica.com/stories/201109051917.html