Being disabled is a challenge and even more when you become infected with HIV as each day you are faced with social exclusion and rejection. The United Nation notes that the growing relationship between HIV/AIDS and disability is an emerging issue and cause for concern as people with disabilities are at higher risk of exposure to HIV.  The majority of people with disabilities live in Africa where they are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection due to sex crimes and insufficient legal protection and education, This findings are based on a report done by World Bank in 2006.

This was also evidenced in a baseline report presented by Hamida Ismaili Mauto, the country coordinator for Disability, HHIV and AIDS Trust (DHAT), an organization which promotes rights based HIV and AIDS interventions responding to the needs of people with disabilities. The presentation included the use of sign language to cater for persons who are deaf who were in the audience at the Food for Thought session conducted at the Public Affairs section of the US Embassy on Tuesday.

DHAT undertook a baseline survey on issues on health equity for people disabilities in Zimbabwe. The survey was conducted in five of the ten provinces of Zimbabwe and focused on the challenges faced by people with disabilities and living with HIV/AIDS.

Persons with disability make up the majority of the poorest, highly marginalised and socially excluded groups in any society. Among some of the challenges faced by people with disability (PWD) are high unemployment and low literacy levels, less access to developed support networks and are more vulnerable to HIV infection than their able bodied counter-parts.  In her presentation Mrs. Mauto noted that there are 1.8 million people with disabilities in Zimbabwe and HIV has also contributed significantly to this figure.

The belief that sleeping with a person with disability can cure HIV has seen more (PWDs) being exposed to HIV infection. Also the perception that people with disability are asexual has resulted in more persons with disability shunning health institutions to seek medical advice on health and HIV issues. There also needs to be a review of literature on reproductive health targeted at people with disabilities so that the information can reach intended beneficiaries without compromising confidentiality. The fear of rejection from families and society has made it difficult for persons with disability to disclose their HIV status resulting in them failing to access treatment and behavior change information on time.

Civil society also came under fire for failing to address challenges faced by persons with disabilities in their programs with some organizations blaming it on the high costs incurred in the implementation of such programs.

Interview with Leofold Ndemera (Stone Sculptor) at the Chitungwiza Art Centre.

How did you get started as a stone sculptor?
I started stone sculpting some years ago when I dropped out of school after I faced challenges in paying school fees. So I moved to Chitungwiza where I lived with my uncle who was into stone sculpting at that time. I started by helping him in the workshop to do finishing touches on his pieces and later he taught me how to carve. It didn’t take me a long time to learn stone carving skills because I was passionate and I’m a fast learner.

Who has inspired you?
After both my parents died my grandfather raised me. So through the hardships I faced growing up I can say I inspired myself to be what I am today. I wanted to make a difference in my life so that my family will not live the same manner I was raised.

How would you describe your work environment?
Chitungwiza Art Center is a place, which was donated to artists by The National Arts Council in conjunction with United Nations Development Program. Artists here operate independently in terms of their sculpting techniques and their equipment, but pay a percentage of their turnover to the cooperative, which covers rent and other incidentals. Buyers of various types of art frequent the place making it a viable marketing place for art

What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your business?
In my line of trade I think the biggest challenge I faced so far is marketing my artwork. Customers are not coming in the manner they used to and when they do come they are not paying prices which make my business sustainable.

How do you market you work?
I use the Internet … Facebook to be precise, and I also use volunteering activities to publicize my work.

Do you have other means of earning a living?
I only survive on stone art.

What philanthropic activities are you involved in as a way to give back to the less fortunate?
I train young children, especially orphans, in the basic skills of stone sculpting. I also donate my artwork to institutions. In 2009 I worked on a project with Maunganidze Children’s’ Home based in Chitungwiza. Under the project I trained children in stone sculpting so that by the time they leave the orphanage they will be able to sustain themselves through stone art. I am also hoping that if everything goes according to plan I will be teaching stone sculpting at Mother of Peace Children’s Center in Mutoko.

Your biggest wish?
My biggest wish is to be able to assist as many children as I can in stone art.

What are your main concerns as a stone sculptor?
I am more concerned by the fact that art is mostly appreciated by people who come from abroad than the local people. So my wish is to have more local people having a better understanding of art and appreciating it as well.

What is your biggest fear?
I fear that one day I will wake up not feeling fine and not being able to fend for my family.

As election fever gathers momentum in Zimbabwe some sections of the population are quickly drawn back to memories of 2008 election thuggery.  Violence, which broke out in the 2008 during the presidential elections, left many families displaced and communities turning on each other. The most affected people were those who showed political allegiance to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Violence, destruction of property as well as the displacement of people unleashed under Operation Mavhoterapapi (how did you vote) left many people vulnerable and living in fear of victimization from local leadership especially in the rural communities. Local leadership in rural communities played a major role in coercing people to vote for ZANU PF in 2008 election or they risked losing their land.

Since the 2008 civil society has been working with local communities to come up with initiatives that promote reconciliation and national healing in areas where victims of political violence are still seeking redress and trying to overcome the horrendous acts. In an effort to use art as a tool in the engagement of communities in promoting human rights a local civic organization, Artists for Democracy in Zimbabwe Trust (ADZT), has been working in rural Zimbabwe to get peoples views on elections.

At a function graced by the Deputy Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Senator Obert Gutu, Artists for Democracy in Zimbabwe Trust launched the Cries for Justice documentary. The documentary which is a reflection of the people of Zimbabwe’s quest for justice is based on narration from victims of the 2008 election violence and is part of ADZT’s work in the area of human rights.

In her speech, ADZT board member, Mrs Gladys Hlatshwayo reiterated that the documentary alone cannot change Zimbabwe’s situation but can contribute to making Zimbabwe a better place to live in.

Speaking at the launch, Deputy Minister Obert Gutu highlighted that art has been used in Zimbabwe to criticize the government and speak on behalf of the voiceless and many artists have been blacklisted whilst others have gone into exile. Commenting on the progress of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Bill, the Minister told the gathering that the Bill would help to empower the Human Rights Commission to look at all transitional justice issues in Zimbabwe.

The effects of forced migration due to economic and political crisis which affected the country a couple of years ago will soon become apparent in this year’s national population census. According to figures on the IndexMundi website, Zimbabwe’s population as of 2011 was estimated at around 12 084, 304. This figure may  be subjected to debate with some suggestions of figures around 15 million including those in the Diaspora.  The demographic changes are mainly attributed to the socio-economic and political crisis the country has faced in the last decade and this has resulted in mass migration of Zimbabweans to neighboring countries such as Botswana and South Africa with others going as a far as Europe and America. Census figures are vital to national planning and some development agencies rely on the figures for their development activities.  It is almost a decade now since the last census was held in the country and the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) is preparing to embark on the enumeration exercise in August this year. This year’s census is the fourth since the country attained its independence from Britain. The first census was held in 1982 and the others were held at ten-year intervals.  ZIMSTATS recently came under attack for failing to publicize the event, which is estimated to cost $39 million dollars. Last year the organization received vehicle donations from the US government to be used in reaching remote areas when carrying out the national census and other surveys.

In an interview which was published in the Sunday Mail dated 01- 07 July 2012 the Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti was quoted saying that violence lead to the splitting of the Anglican Church. I would agree with the Minister if he were trying to say a well-known bishop used violence to remove Anglicans from their premises. The renegade Bishop who is now dabbling in politics is on a looting and invasion spree and violence has been his most powerful tool throughout the campaign. The Honorable should have asked for the correct position from the church, probably he could have given a better comment. Anglicans are peace loving and God fearing people and I am sure by trying to associate the Anglican Church with violence really does give a wrong impression of the real events. Since the Minister is part of the Inclusive Government, people expect him to give the correct picture of the Anglican saga.

The term of office for the United States of America (USA) Ambassador to Zimbabwe comes to an end this year. Ambassador Charles Ray took some time to reflect on his three-year term of office in Zimbabwe at a US Public Section function organized by DefZee yesterday. Ambassador Ray began his term of office in 2009 when he presented his credentials to President Robert Mugabe.  Prior to his current Zimbabwe mission Ambassador Ray served in the US army and retired with rank of Major. He held several key positions including serving as US Ambassador to Cambodia from 2002 to 2005 and Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Freetown, Sierra Leon.

In a brief speech Ambassador Ray challenged Zimbabwean youths not to restrict their learning to classrooms and textbooks but by reading widely. He also encouraged the youth not to fear failure. In his sentiments the Ambassador said taking initiatives to address some of the challenges affecting people in the community and not to wait for the government or other people to do it for them could create a better community in Zimbabwe.

In his three-year term in Zimbabwe the Ambassador highlighted how divisions have contributed to the challenges affecting the development of the country. Chief among them, the divisions in the society along tribal lines and those who view themselves as superior because they took part in the liberation war against those who didn’t, and the “born frees” against the older generation. Ambassador Ray said the best way for young people to participate in politics is by building better economic securities and this will enable youths not to be politicians but to be the power behind politicians. Responding to a question from the public on foreign trade the Ambassador concurred that every country goes into a business relationship with another for its self-benefit so there is need to exercise extreme caution in how a country does its business transactions. On how the Black community in America view President Obama, Ambassador Charles Ray said the once a president is elected into office in America he is guided by the constitution and he will be serving the American people not a particular section of the people in the country.

Commenting on the relationship between USA and Zimbabwe, Ambassador Ray pointed out that room for dialogue has been created and the two countries can now engage in discussions on how to find ways of making life better for average Zimbabweans.