On the big issues, just say for example, stimulating the manufacturing industry, reducing the levels of unemployment in Zimbabwe, not to mention a generally repressive human rights environment, the Unity Government, (those fellows the MDC and Zanu PF cuddling together in the same bed), are also right, royally, screwing things up on a local level too.

Where I live, in Greendale, there hasn’t been rubbish collection for three weeks. In the hope of catching a City of Harare refuse collection vehicle (a rare and uplifting sight) home owners have taken to leaving their rubbish, and adding to it, out on the street. Rubbish is piling up. It smells. Its ugly. Its a health hazard.

Then there’s the trickle of municipal water sporadically dripping out of our taps. A common sight on our neighbourhood streets is men and women heaving under the weight of water, being carried either on their heads, or pushed in wheelbarrows. The water having come from friendly and helpful homes that have boreholes.

Then there’s the issue of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and their inability to deliver power. During the past week we’ve had power between 9pm and 5am. While we’re sleeping, ya dig.

Oh. And then there are the pot holes, or craters, as people like to call them. They are  getting deeper, and deeper, and wider and wider.

Meanwhile along Borrowdale Road, the President’s drive-way, we have minions cutting the grass on the island, with … wait for it: hand held grass cutters. Whoa. Of course, why be surprised by both the inequity and the stupidity of initiatives like this?

However, nothing would be more stupid than all of us voting in (again) or letting our vote be stolen (again) these people who treat us like dirt.

I don’t trust Gideon Gono with my money. I lived through enough of his quasi-fiscal policies not to trust him at the helm of the Reserve Bank. My other thinks I protest too much, but I will not open a bank account until he is removed from office. Why should I trust a man who authored a book titled “Casino Economy” whilst in the midst of playing Russian roulette with the nation’s livelihoods?

I’m no fan of former Gono Advisor Munyaradzi Kereke either. Given that he was a senior Reserve Bank official during that chaotic decade he is just as culpable. Kereke also allegedly raped his 11 year old niece.  The Harare rumour mill purports that the rape was for ritual purposes, not that it has helped him in his present predicament.  Rape of a minor is an egregious offence, more so at gunpoint. It is curious that despite evidence and charges being filed on behalf of the minor, the police and Attorney General have apparently refused to investigate and prosecute.

Once thick as thieves, it seems that Gono and Kereke have had a falling out, one which the local media, both private and public refuse to give coverage. Curious, considering the nature and scope of allegations made by both parties against each other.  Kereke’s most recent letter, published in the Zimbabwe Mail reveals that Gono was willing to betray his paymasters. This is not anything new – the Wiki Leak cables concerning him revealed as much. Kereke also alleges that Gono has the Anti-Corruption Commission in his pocket, closed banks on a whim, violated the State Secrets Act, looted tens of millions of Public Funds and authored draft legislation that, if passed, would spin Zimbabwe into a civil war.

Kereke appears to be the underdog in this fight. Gono, despite the numerous rumours and allegations that surround him, clearly must have some influence. Whether it is enough to silence Kereke remains to be seen. It makes for interesting reading and speculation, like something out of a novel about an imaginary African state governed by the power hungry who employ witchcraft, sex, lies and betrayal to further their goals. If it were my story to write I would have a third major, but shadowy character, the seemingly benevolent but actually ruthless leader. The Leader would be the puppet master who would watch this drama unfold, and protect both just enough to make the fight between them fair, ensuring that each causes the destruction of the other.

Who controls revenues from Marange diamonds?

A case study of Mbada and Anjin companies by Global Witness.

This paper reveals the control exercised by the Zimbabwe security sector over Anjin and the transfer of 25% of Mbada, a valuable diamond mining company, to a firm based in series of tax havens and secrecy jurisdictions with unidentified beneficial owners. The secrecy surrounding the real owners of Mbada has a number of potential consequences, including a possible loss of tax revenues, and the potential opportunity for officials or military figures to personally benefit from a state asset. The partial control of Anjin by the military and police creates opportunities for off budget funding of an unreformed and partisan security sector.

You can read the case study on the Kubatana web site

At 9.50 this morning I was stopped at a police roadblock just before the service station near Harare International Airport. The roadblock was manned by three police persons, two women and one man. The male police officer was in visible possession of a ticket book. When I pulled over, the police officer asked me for my driver’s license, which I gave him. He then inspected my car and demanded that I pay a spot fine of $20 for failing to display a third license plate on my car.

I’ve watched several episodes of Dr. Phil when he counsels people with anger problems. He always asks the person involved to identify their anger trigger. I don’t think I have an anger problem, but I’ve discovered that at police roadblocks I have a trigger. It’s when the officers threaten to impound my car, or arrest me because I have stated that I do not have the fine amount demanded and have politely asked for a ticket. I have yet to meet a traffic policeman who does not issue these threats. And I’ve been detained at many roadblocks. My trigger is that the ticket is a last resort for the police, when it should have been the first. What makes me even angrier is when upon learning that I don’t have cash on me, the officer arrogantly informs me that I do in fact have a boyfriend/husband/relative/ or other who can and will bring the money necessary. ‘Make a call’ he says. As though he himself has spoken to that mysterious other person and knows they will come running to pay him the fine money.

I used to yell at police officers that they were not privy to the affairs of my household and should not presume to know so. I used to tell them that they had no right to demand immediate payment, and that in fact it was illegal. I used to demand the officer’s force number for my records, whereupon they would leave me, I assume, to calm down a bit. I used to yell so much, that I, a light-brown skinned woman would get very pink in the face from pure, unadulterated rage.

I’ve stopped yelling. I’m polite but firm. I can keep calm now because I already know the steps in the dance. He will demand money; I’ll ask for a ticket.  He will threaten me and then detain me hoping that I’ll be in enough of a hurry to be coerced into paying. It’s a tactic that I’m certain must work in a busy Zimbabwe. I will not be forced into paying a fine when a police officer is unwilling to issue a ticket. Like George W Bush, I’ve declared my own ‘war on terror’.

One of the main reasons why Hitler lost to Stalin on the Eastern Front in World War Two was because of the German Army’s poor supply lines. This was then exploited by the Russians who used a scorched earth policy most effectively against the Germans. My war is primarily psychological, but from this example it’s obvious that supplies are integral to success. Therefore, as Sun Tzu advises, I shall secure my supplies in case of extended siege. I’m creating a roadblock kit to keep in my car. It will include water, because sitting in Zimbabwe in summer in a parked car is like choosing to live in an oven; chocolate for that instant sugar hit that will make everything a little better (maintaining morale is crucial to any war); nuts for long lasting energy to survive the roadblock; a book to pass the time; and enough data and battery on my phone to document these acts of terrorism.

I open the Mail and Guardian to see a report on Malaria, and the drugs to (not) treat it, that are counterfeit and being brought in and sold. Cheap drugs, sold at full price. Very clever. If you want to make a quick buck. Get rich.

But not so clever (or should I say, criminally murderous), for the people of Africa, where it seems Malaria is developing strains that are impervious to drugs, since they only get a little bit of the drug, enough to kill off the weaker strains, and make the other strains hardy and impervious to further, larger doses. “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger” – the Neitzsche quote used in the Conan the Barbarian movies. So, we have malaria that cannot be cured. More people dieing. Surely the donors are wondering, “what the fff…” “why do we give?”

And you’ve got to agree with them! Who are African’s worst enemies?

Lets start with the Atlantic slave trade (the one to Brazil, Jamaica, Cuba, USA, not the one to Saudi Arabia and India). Who did the buying? The americans (north and south) and caribeans. Who did the transporting? The Europeans. And who did the selling? The Africans.

I was going to say, “Short term gain, long term disaster”, but it seems many of the slaves who survived are doing much better (even in Brazil where there still seems to be a racial problem) than the people who sold them (and Nigeria produces how much oil?) Not too many trying to get back. Even Obama (who at least is an Afro-American) is in no hurry to settle in to Granddad’s place.

So maybe the short term gain long term disaster is a recent thing? For example, rhino horn. That vital ingredient for… no, I am not sure exactly what it does. Something like viagra, does the same sort of thing, I think. Not that I need anything in that part of my anatomy!

So, why the unsustainable harvest? Surely, if you have this very valuable commodity, you want to keep the livelihood going? Why kill them all? You cannot reap what you did not sow. It makes little sense, in the long term. But then, what do I know? If I was involved in the trade I would poison the horn and kill all my customers.

The Herald of 15 January talks of new licence disks. That cannot be forged. Apparently the country has “an estimated vehicle population of 800 000. However, of these, only 478 000 were licensed authentically”. So, why don’t the roads work? Because we will not pay to use them. Sorry, but who uses our roads? The Filipinos? Australians? No, Zimbabweans (that is to say, Africans). And who will pay to fix the roads? Not half of the Zimbabweans it would seem. So who are African’s worst enemies? Africans.

Maybe we are being taught by our leaders. Following their example. Politics in Zimbabwe (like the rest of Africa) is a job. How do you know if you are successful in your job? You make lots of money. On other continents, it may be quite similar, but they have people who know this, and areas of industry (the press) who know how to ‘regulate’ them. But here, if you are good at your job you make a lot of money. If you are a good politician, you make a lot of money. Civil servant be damned. Public office? Get real. Besides, no one is there to check you. So, you go into politics to make money. And make it now, quickly. Short term gain. Long term? You are going to lose power in the long term anyways.

Why do we put up with unaccountable leaders? We pay their salaries. They work for us. They are our servants. Why do we put up with fellow Africans as our worst enemies? They work for you. Have them report back (in person) and tell you what they have done.

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