Kubatana.net ~ an online community of Zimbabwean activists

Author Archive

Get involved – Report violence

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Monday, February 20th, 2012 by Amanda Atwood

The Zimbabwe Justice Project calls for people across the country to take action to stop the violence and to stand up for their rights. The first step is to report all the people who have committed acts of violence and to ensure that they are held accountable. Victims of violence are asked to fill in “Stop the Violence” forms, which can be downloaded here

Where children sleep

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Thursday, February 16th, 2012 by Amanda Atwood

Where Children Sleep – A gripping, disturbing, poignant photo story juxtaposing children, and their bedrooms, around the world. View more

Lettuce: The new energy food?

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Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 by Amanda Atwood

The other morning I saw a fit-looking woman in her sports clothes at the shops: long sleeved sports top, running shoes, stretch pants, backpack. Nothing too unusual. But she wasn’t consuming a power bar or energy shake as she wandered between the cheeses and cold meats. Instead, I couldn’t help but notice the large, leafy, bright green head of lettuce clenched tight between both hands. From time to time, she’d bring it to her mouth, and take the largest, most enthusiastic bites out of it. Then she’d masticate furiously, her mouth wide open. Between gulps, her tongue and lips moved vigorously, trying to get all the bits of lettuce out from between her teeth. Other times, she’d tear a chunk of lettuce of the head with one hand, and shove it between her lips. Eventually she did a duck into the toilets – maybe to rinse her mouth out? – and left empty handed, still sucking her teeth.

Harare tap water

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Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 by Amanda Atwood

No, that’s not iced tea. Or even really weak coffee. After 5 days, the water finally came back on at our office block. And this is what it looked like. Yikez.

2012 Constitution – First Draft

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Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 by Amanda Atwood

On 10 February, The Herald published an insert of the 2012 Constitution – First Draft. As Veritas points out, COPAC has not confirmed whether this is the draft they are currently reviewing, and the document itself does still have some gaps and omissions. However, even if the Constitution is still in draft form, it is important that we begin to know what is in it, so that we can know what changes, if any, we want made to the draft.

I’m pleased to report the Kubatana team have put their fingers to the test and done quite a bit of work to tidy up – and fill in the gaps! – of the version of this draft published on The Herald website. You can download this more comprehensive version here.

Let us know what you think of the draft so far. Email info [at] kubatana [dot] net or share your thoughts with COPAC directly using their online contact forms: http://www.copac.org.zw/contact-us/copac-secretariat.html

Guerilla gardening – Zimbabwe style

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Friday, February 10th, 2012 by Amanda Atwood

On a walk on one of Harare’s upmarket streets in Borrowdale Wednesday, I turned a corner and was struck by this perfect square patch of tall, lush mealies planted in the verge outside a house. It reminded me of an urban gardener in London, who plants tiny gardens in sidewalks.