Just when you think you have got something, it goes away. I tell you I thought I had it but that was not so. I could almost see the ten thousand strong crowds at various venues around Europe cheering for more. When I first auditioned for the Daughters of Africa European tour, that was my hope and dream. Forgive me but that is like the dream of every performer in the world – to be applauded for something that comes so natural to you but that is so hard to sustain and maintain. Maybe that was my problem; that I forgot that it’s a full time job to always be calm as a performer. So when I made the next stage of the auditions, the top 10 in fact, I was sure this one was coming to me. My turn came and boy did I shake like I hadn’t ever sung in my life before. I was very aware of this feeling but I tried so hard to impress the judge that I did not take the time to persuade myself to calm down. And to tell myself hey you, you have sung before . . . Yes not in front of a big shot arts promoter, but you have sung before. But I guess if it’s not yet time things don’t always go the way you want. So as I write this I don’t write with a heart full of pain but full of lessons learnt; one of them being always come prepared to feel that one person in front of you might feel like ten thousand, and also be prepared and aware of the nerves running through your body.

I never thought it possible to have patriotic Zimbabweans any more. Especially when it comes to young people of my generation. These patriots are young scholars based in the USA.They have come together to form a miniature Zimbabwean government. In it they appoint a Minister who gets to research on the field given to them. Not only do they research but they get to ask themselves what wrongs are being done in the real government and they propose policy ideas. If implemented they could really make a difference in our country. So when the young men addressing us told us they had put together a 100 plus paged document that has policy ideas, and suggestions to change the way the real government is doing work.  I almost stood to attention and said soldier on boys! Because I really think that with such innovative young minds, my beloved country can go back to her former glory and be called the “bread basket of Africa” again. But my mind went on a stand still when I heard them say they hoped to hand the document to the Prime Minister. One thing that came to mind as these boys were talking is what if they do not get chance to meet the Prime Minister, what happens to all those ideas? Who do they turn to, are they going to be considered a threat by the oldies in the real government? Then I remembered that we are in a new dispensation, and those old guys would be dumb not to consider the possibility of a break through from that document. I say this not because these guys are US based scholars but I sincerely have hope and believe in the power of young minds.

Last time I wrote I was talking about Transitional Justice, it’s benefits and so on and so on. I got thinking: for Transitional Justice to be implemented, we need a Transitional Government right? But the question is, are we seeing any transitional happenings? I for one have seen tangible change. I believe in transition you see, in moving on with the little things in life. I try to picture Zimbabwe two years back; it was a mess and I remember the days when I would go to sleep on an empty stomach. Zimbabwe has changed. It is slowly moving on and I think it’s our duty as Zimbos to see transition in our day-to-day life. I am queuing at Chicken Inn waiting my turn coz, yes, they now have potatoes to make the hot chips which they did not have towards end of year 2008.  And at that moment I forget those sleepless nights of hunger. My point is if you have moments when you forget what happened to you during those horrid times you are slowly moving on and forgetting and hopefully forgiving. Like with Chicken Inn – I had vowed I would never eat there ever again. But two days ago I was there queuing at the end of a long queue all forgiven and totally forgotten. So maybe don’t answer my question. If you and I move on and start to forget the Zimbabwe we lived in a couple of years ago, maybe we don’t need to look to the government for transition.

Last Tuesday I was at a very enlightening meeting that highlighted a lot of issues in relation to the current economic and political cloud over our country. This particular discussion was headed by a human rights lawyer who was addressing us on Transitional Justice: Forgiving, Forgetting and Reconciliation. He gave us what I think we all need to know about this Transitional Justice thing. One of the issues that springs to mind is that we should create a historical record and prevent repetition of human rights violations. I think that is what we must concentrate on. Because for those who were beaten and stripped of all dignity during election time, to forgive and forget we want to be assured that it’s not going to happen again. The other thing that was raised as a goal for Transitional Justice is that all people should be treated equal before the rule of law. Can you imagine me and a minister being treated the same way before a court to say both you guys committed a crime so you are getting the same sentence. If things could go like this then this country would be heaven. Now one other goal that toppled my day is that Transitional Justice seeks to hopefully reform state and non state institutions. This means that the police will not be pro party but will work on neutral ground. Therefore that would allow me to report policeman so and so for harassment at these pop up road blocks they have. But one thing that got me thinking is: should we go the criminal proceedings way and arrest all people we saw beating us up and taking our livestock? Or should we go the reparations way and say what you took bring back? As for me and my household I say forgetting and forgiving is the way to go. Don’t know about you?

My culture, and my religion have taught me to act in a certain way. Especially when it comes to “izinto zothando, nyaya dzerudo” (matters of the heart). Don’t you ever show him you like him just play easy? But don’t we also say what he don’t know wont hurt him? I say what he don’t know will leave me the laughing stock of my peers. Others are married and me still waiting for a miracle that someday he is going to say something. Ha! I have taken it upon myself to embark on the mission I call, hunter hunted. Instead of me sitting about waiting for some guy I think is cute and listening to my mum who has her husband, saying my child it is not the woman’s place to initiate courtship, I will just do what a girl has gotta do. It’s not everyday you meet an American guy who is a potential immigration ticket or the 99cent shop. Since he has left for the U.S.A what is the worst that could happen if I hinted that he left a spark in me. Besides what my mother don’t know will save me from a lecture. Like all internet exposed persons I am just going to take advantage of the many, many, many internet services that are going to make it possible for me to put phase one of the plan into motion. So I send a friendship request from Facebook and boom within minutes request confirmed! God bless the Facebook inventors. And what do you know; he still remembers me, and yes, we get talking. The rest is history.