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Free yourself from fattening the ruling party

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In a recent Kubatana email newsletter I asked our subscribers to write 800 words on tactics to challenge oppression. One of my favourite responses is from a woman who offered some real basic suggestions to help improve our lives in Zimbabwe. Here is some of her advice:

Free yourself from fattening the ruling party and any government institution by:

Avoiding all occasions you can be forced to donate for birthday bashes of the president and others like him.

Do not harm yourself and family but if possible do not attend functions that have no other meaning than glorifying the ruling party and the existing politics.

Give support to those that are standing up against the devastating government policies by providing safe accommodation.

Only pay taxes when you really have to.

Annoy ruling party officials and government institutions with rightful requests:

Report potholes in the road, uncollected waste, burst water pipes.

Visit the ministries/the town council/Zesa and put down claims about all issues caused by lack of maintenance.

Reach out and help someone (and yourself)

If you have a room free at the place you live, rent it out to a fellow Zimbabwean at a fair price.

Keep on talking with each other about what’s happening and what’s possible, support each other not to give up but that everyone is needed to bring change.

If you haven’t done so yet start wherever possible in your vicinity with growing maize, potatoes, veggies, pumpkins, tomatoes and onions.

Make use of all reusable plastics, pots, pans and bottles as planting material and fill it with seedlings.

Plant an easy growing fruit tree and a Moringa tree close to your dwelling to help you to maintain your health.

Take care of young people and encourage them to go to school and not to join the national service, the army or the police out of despair.

Befriend policemen and soldiers living in your vicinity. Make them see that serving the people means something else than serving the ruling party.

Do not buy The Herald because it only reflects Government viewpoints.

Don’t watch ZTV and do not listen to the radio. Instead meet with friends and family, sing and dance together, tell stories, read a book to your children.

2 comments to “Free yourself from fattening the ruling party”

  1. Comment by …My heart’s in Accra » links for 2007-02-15:

    [...] kubatanablogs.net ? Blog Archive ? Free yourself from fattening the ruling party Practical suggestions for surviving in Zimbabwe today (tags: zimbabwe africa activism freespeech) [...]

  2. Comment by Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Zimbabwe: how to challenge oppression:

    [...] Kubatana blogs on tactics to challenge oppression in Zimbabwe, “In a recent Kubatana email newsletter I asked our subscribers to write 800 words on tactics to challenge oppression. One of my favourite responses is from a woman who offered some real basic suggestions to help improve our lives in Zimbabwe.” Ndesanjo Macha [...]