This disclaimer is usually written in hand writing which is illegible and very difficult to read especially for the elderly. Or the sign is displayed where you can’t see it. The main reason that has driven many shops in Zimbabwe to put up this disclaimer is the sale of inferior and substandard goods. Imagine … you buy a pair of shoes in a shop for your grandfather who lives in the rural areas. When you get there, the shoes don’t fit – either the size is too big or small, and when you try to return them the shop owner tells you “sorry we don’t take returns and we do don’t do refunds here”. When you try to dispute that’s when the shop assistant quickly points to the hidden disclaimer. If you win your argument with the shop owner its either you are told to take another product but most of them they don’t give you your money back. Popularly known as “mazhing zhong” these products are being sourced from the East and people are flocking to buy them because of the low prices. The economic hardships have left many Zimbabweans with little option but to buy these products. Zambia’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission outlawed this disclaimer 2011 in order to protect consumers from these fraudulent activities by shop owners who sell defective products.

As funny as it may sound donkeys at a tourist attraction park in Israel have now been equipped with routers around their necks for Internet connectivity. Visitors to the park can now upload pictures, videos and chat whilst enjoying the tour of the biblical park on the back of a donkey. Recently technology has allowed people Internet access from buildings to cars, and now animals, what next?

According to the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) 2010-11 conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency in June 2011 knowledge of HIV prevention methods has increased. Knowledge on condom use and limiting sexual partners in women has increased from 65% in 2005 to 77 % in 2011. The same sample also shows an increase from 71% in 2005 to 79% for men in the 2010-11 ZDHS. In order to curtail the spread of HIV infection the government has been working with civil society and international partners in the implementation of HIV prevention interventions.

The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare recorded a significant decline in both prevalence and incidences of HIV from a high of over 29% in 1999 to 14.2% in 2010. This decline has been attributed to a number of factors such as increased promotion and uptake of HIV prevention, treatment and management services. Some of these services have been provided to the people through funds from international donors and the government’s AIDS levy. Recently the United States government, through the President’s Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has approved an additional $39 million to fund HIV/AIDS programs in Zimbabwe.

In order to share scientific and community perspectives on HIV prevention interventions, the US Embassy Public Affairs Section hosted Dr Peter Kilmarx, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC- Zim) and Chamunorwa Mashoko an HIV/AIDS activist.  The meeting was meant to share knowledge on the new and emerging HIV prevention strategies in Zimbabwe and how the community is responding to these interventions. Some of the emerging HIV prevention strategies discussed included male circumcision; PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis); PREP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and provision of ante-retroviral therapy. However Dr Kilmarx noted that post-exposure prophylaxis is currently being used mainly for occupational incidents. Interesting figures in the use of female condom in Zimbabwe have put the country on the pole position in the world and an increase in the number of women who now access HIV testing through antenatal care has helped reduce new infections. Recently a study on a new intervention of over the counter/self testing was conducted in Malawi and the results proved to be successful though it is still subject to debate. Zimbabwe hopes to achieve coverage of 80% in male circumcision by 2015 despite the negative media reports the campaign has received so far.

During the discussion Chamunorwa reiterated that no intervention works in isolation and scaling up HIV testing is vital since it is an entry to accessing treatment. The community was also urged to share these new interventions through advocacy. Drawing experiences from his work in HIV prevention interventions, he also commended female participation in taking up the emerging HIV prevention strategies.

Art by Misheck Masamvu

Interview with Misheck Masamvu of Village Unhu

Why did you choose a career in visual arts, how and when did it begin?
I found solace in being creative. Being creative gave me more meaning. I started venturing into art as far back as 1998 and in 2000 that’s when I started to conduct art more professionally. Painting became my strongest way of communicating.

How would you describe your work environment?
It’s a place to share experiences. The studio creates some form of a discipline. It’s an environment where you can create ideas and it puts you into the right realm of thinking. It formalizes something that has always been on the periphery. The studio functions as an open space for anybody to come into the creative space and participation is open to whoever is interested.

What’s the first thing you painted?
It’s the image, “Who am I?” Who am I? is the main important thing, it asks plain simple questions. If they call me Misheck is that all?

What have been the greatest influences on your work?
Just the idea of wanting to know and being able to question the simplest thing has been the greatest inspiring part. The element of curiosity has influenced me most.

Describe the steps involved in creating your works of art?
I had to look first for the basic knowledge of art and the history. I try not to engage in things that I already know and which have a pre-determined result. I try to be curious enough. Looking and analyzing are the first steps. I try to be honest with who I am. Realizing that you are not going to do much which is completely new, but you are going to going to do something that is relevant to your time and hopefully for the next generation.

What do you find most appealing about working in this medium?
I think it is a question of; will you be relevant in the future? That is the most compelling thing for me in art and the prospects of success for most artists is zero percent.

What do you find most challenging in your work?
No to be pretentious, to be really honest and genuine in the whole process.  And the hardest is to be patient for the right work to come out.

How do you promote your work?
I don’t …  I do honest work and honest work has a place in the world. My work has to be good enough. My work became more interesting even when I stopped attending exhibitions and I don’t have to be there to explain my work. If I have done it, it should be good enough.

On a busy Thursday morning a police traffic officer tried to stop a commuter omnibus “kombi”. Two heavy strikes on the moving kombi windscreen by the over zealous officer left passengers sitting on the front seat in shock and with serious cuts.  Tempers boiled over when members of the public clashed with one of the police officers who uttered a statement claiming that, “the police have the right to smash windscreens to protect the public and there is nothing the public could do because the officer was carrying out his normal duties”.  What really angered the public is the fact that the kombi driver obeyed the instruction to stop and in the middle of negotiating his way out heavy traffic that’s when everyone was shocked to see glasses flying everywhere. The cheeky officer pounced on the driver and wasted no time in cuffing him turning a deaf ear to passengers’ pleas for help.

The wanton use of excessive force, usually physical, by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police is on the increase in the streets of Harare. From humans to cars, anything moving is now a victim of the police baton stick. Police misconduct usually goes unreported because the victim feels unsafe to report such cases when elements working in law enforcement have developed an attitude and sense of authority over society. Unfortunately nowadays the people who are supposed to protect us and help us when we are in need, can’t be trusted.

Members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police usually mount roadblocks at intersections in Harare to assist in directing traffic have increasingly targeted public transport operators which has resulted in high speed pursuits and the smashing of windscreens.