A small update from an observer on the ongoing trial of Munyaradzi Gwisai +5:

The cross-examination of key sate witness, a state informer who claims to be Detective Sergeant Jonathan Shoko commenced today (Tuesday 1 November) at Rotten Row Court in Harare. Defence Attorney Alec Muchadehama seeks to prove the unreliability of Shoko’s evidence which was presented last week. The state is heavily depending on its informer in the trial of our comrades Munyaradzi Gwisai, Tafadzwa Choto, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Hopewell Gumbo and others. Meanwhile the trial has been adjourned to Friday 4 November 2011.

In this month’s Vanity Fair, the Proust Questionnaire interviews Desmond Tutu. Read his touching, thought provoking answers below:

The Most Reverend Desmond Tutu has recently celebrated his 80th birthday and the publication of a new biography, Tutu: The Authorised Portrait. Here, the Nobel laureate muses on rum-raisin ice cream, crybabies, and how he just loves to be loved.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
When we all live together in harmony as one family, in real interdependence; when all have enough to eat, have enough clean water to drink, have decent health care and we know war no more.

What is your greatest fear?
I fear we will destroy ourselves through our greed and our destruction of our environment.

Which historical figure do you identify with?
Jeremiah, the prophet.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I love to be loved.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
A disregard of others.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Rum-raisin ice cream.

Which living person do you most despise?
No one.

What is your greatest regret?
Not telling people they had done very well often enough.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My wife, Leah, and my mother.

When and where were you happiest?
On April 14, 1956, when our son Trevor, was born.

Which talent would you most like to have?
To be able to read music.

What is your current state of mind?
Joyful and serene.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Not wanting so much to be loved.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
It is collective: When we won our freedom.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
A mother.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?
As me.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Being treated as rubbish, as a nonperson.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Being a crybaby.

What do you most value in your friends?
That there is no humbug; they are themselves.

Who are your favourite writers?
Nadine Gordimer, Alan Paton.

Who is you favourite hero of fiction?
Sherlock Holmes.

Who are your heroes on real life?
Aung San Suu Kyi, H.H. the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, my mother, my wife.

How would you like to die?
Peacefully in bed, with my loved ones around me.

What is your motto?
“Everyone is precious, everyone matters.”

Source: Vanity Fair

The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) today reported on a new concern which has been raised through their complaints mechanism, Charity Maruta v/s Daily News, NewsDay and the Herald. According to VMCZ:

Charity Maruta has lodged a complaint with the MCC against NewsDay, The Daily News and The Herald in the manner that they have portrayed the supposedly three women rapists arrested by police in Gweru early this month. Maruta says the media organisations have taken it upon themselves to be the judges and have convicted the three women before they even appeared in court. She says this is irresponsible reporting of the highest degree. She wants the media to report the matter responsibly. Letters have been written to the concerned newspapers.

This is a valuable reminder to all of us that we can each make a difference. Holding our media accountable is something we can all take responsibility for. Contact VMCZ for more information about the media complaint mechanism.

We’ve walked the whole day and we’re not even in Mutare. The Inn on the Vumba hasn’t had power since 6am. I feel a bit like we’re doing a black out to black out national tour.

By 9pm Bev is lights out. Not that I can blame her. These days are long and hot and tiring.

This journey is hugely challenging. Taxing on the mind as well as the body. You have to think about something other than what you’re doing as you go. If you actually felt what your body was really feeling? You’d just stop dead.  But at the same time, I’m loving it. I find myself saying “I couldn’t be happier,” several times a day. And each time, I mean it.

Read the birthday adventure walk diary here

View the photostream here