Of Grace and Double standards

The old adage goes, 'People of double standards never experience happiness'. That the First Lady of Zimbabwe is surrounded by controversy informally and formally, is no news to the international scene. Her spirited desire to present herself as a "unifier" par excellent to the nation fall short of the trumpets that will be blowing at her as she speaks at party gatherings. Voltaire once said, "It is forbidden to kill, therefore all murderers are punished, unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets". Applicability of this is stuck to Grace Mugabe aka Dr Amai who has but proved that for the powerful, as her, crimes are those that others commit. 

Within Zanu Pf, Grace has assumed a more powerful role even beyond her position as the Women's League Chair-lady. As much as debate can rage on her role, it has become increasingly visible that the party decisions are somehow based on what she comes to say. That her appointment to the highest decision making organ of the party came at the heels of the start of factionalism that led to the expulsion of Joyce Mujuru and allies comes as no doubt. Albeit the appointment, there started a larger and much longer journey to her political rise, mainly on the hands of those that wanted her to push their agendas. Quick jump to the rise of the Lacoste and G40 factions, Grace was not ashamed to show her allegiance to the Young Turks and was quick to stamp foot whenever any talk of succession came by. At a point, there she was at a rally saying that even in the wake of nature, the whole Politburo and cabinet were going to have meeting conducted at the President's graveside. 

Moreover, she ruled out any chances of the President resigning on health grounds as she affirmed that he will even rule from the wheelchair. The politics of that and those statements aside, recently at a Women's League meeting (which had many men from the party attending as V VIPs) she implored the President to name his successor. Shocking right!! Yes, she shocked party members and members of the War Veterans who are largely vouching for the Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa to the highest seat in the land. Her sentiments however came at a time when Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Prof Jonathan Moyo had rubbished down any plans of appointing a successor anytime soon as long as the center of power was still alive.

More revelations of the double standards character of the First Lady were shown at the Youth Interface Rally in Chinhoyi. That was a point in time when the G40 members felt their safety was guaranteed and their plans to ascension hidden behind supporting the First Family was given a boost. Grace Mugabe called and embarrassingly reprimanded the Presidential Spokesperson and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, George Charamba. That Charamba is below the Ministers is within the public domain as much as it is that the Ministers are below the Vice Presidents. That Grace Mugabe, who claims to be a mother in her reprimanding and rants, can tell the Permanent Secretary that he should not respond to Ministers, while not telling the Ministers not to talk ill of the Vice President is a direct show of whose agenda she is pushing. If Charamba was wrong in talking and responding to Ministers, in the same vein she should have asked the Ministers not to talk bad of the Vice President who happens to be above the Ministers. But being Grace Mugabe, as long as she has spoken then it’s taken into consideration no matter how trivial and controversial. Having to single out Charamba amidst the factional battles taking place and loudly saying “I am speaking as a mother….” was a smack in the face of what motherhood is all about. What a mother does in the event of a scuffle between her children goes beyond what she did. Not reprimanding Prof Moyo for undermining the office of the Vice President as he does willy-nilly on social media and dialogues is a sign whose battle she is fighting and is using her influence not for unity purpose but to divide the revolutionary party on factional grounds.  

That she spoke of not meting violence on women while she goes on to grievously injure a South African model is another case for another day.

An Oscar? For who and why?

The whole continent is rejoicing and messages are awash on Lupita Nyong'o's recent Oscar on her role in 12 years a Slave. Well to have a light side of it, i appreciate the role that she played in that movie and she did exceptionally well. her being a woman makes me heap praises on her with a shovel. There however is a lot at stake here. What exactly are we celebrating as Africans? Is is a sister who has done well in a foreign continent or is it the movie that we are celebrating?
I have watched the movie after i continuously saw it on some of my recommendations for something to watch and i can say, personally i wasn't that much intrigued by the movie. What people say it stands for ain't what it is for. Coming at the heels of Django, this was supposed to be a better offering which however failed to live to the billing. You might start to say I'm writing hogwash but there is a certain abruptness in the ending which leaves everyone hanging as to wanting to know what happened to the people that remained behind when Solomon was "released" from the hands of the white oppressors. Was his release showing an end to slavery? Did it matter to those that remained behind that one of us is gone and will seek our release as well?

All this brought me to a conclusion that Lupita's Oscar was actually a farce and a mere brush in the face by the Western world. Its an Oscar that they alone can celebrate. I came up with a conclusion that there is no point in their life where "white people will clap hands where their interests are not vested". What interests in a movie you may ask? The portrayal of black inferiority is rampant even in the 21st century as much as it was during the slave trade era. They have moved from physically doing it but attack through the mind and use various media to show that blacks are still under their wraps. A look at how Solomon was released only after the intervention of another white slave and then some whites in authority came to release him. If they was knowledge of illegal person ownership, then who owned him legally? It all boils down to the fact that it needed the "whites" to intervene in Solomon's release as there was nothing he or any black man could do. It then follows that whatever is being celebrated in Awards and stuff is just a face save for the characters and little is gained in such Awards when it comes to emancipation of the black men. Apparently in one of her acceptance speech she reads out a letter by a fellow black woman who however thinks its time to be proud of being dark skinned simply because Lupita has made it. A lot is hidden and in no time we shall hear of the Oscar that never was. Reminds me of how our very own Prudence Mabhena was carted from Bulawayo to the ever lighted streets of Los Angeles for an Oscar on her documentary Music by Prudence. She has the leading role in that documentary but proceeds from the award all fall in the hands of a white, ruthless director Roger Ross Williams who told her plainly that there was nothing for her.

What has this all to say at the end of the day? Do we really need to be celebrating an identity situation or we should just celebrate with Lupita on her role? There is always something sinister when these white guys raise you so high, and a parachute is always required lest you fall anytime soon. And once again, i say Congrats to the girl of the moment....

Roger Ross Williams

Roger Ross Williams

The whole truth

I have been following many stories of Pastors and Prophets rising in the countries South of Sahara and many have left dazzling thoughts in my mind. well to say the least, i am not a spiritual affairs commentator but however if issues spill to the flesh, where everyone dwells most of the time then i am compelled to poke my nose into that. So dont hang me.

From Gumbura to Prophets' wealth being exposed and also some others confessing their evil works in their churches through serious manifestations at other high man of God enclosures, it leaves a lot to be desired. digging deep in the pockets of truth, what has come under attack here are neither the men of God in question nor their personalities, but the CHURCH as a body. There has always been a new wave of Pentecostalism from time to time but the new generation of pastors has been and is giving the world mileage as to rebuking the role and initial purpose of the church. We are no longer feeling comfortable to say and talk of our Christian standing because we are always being found on the Defensive always as we try to prove and justify how man of God A has behaved.

Pastors being exposed of their origins of power havent done justice either to the people that follow them. I dont take such deliverance to mean one is now a true man of God like someone once mentioned, but it leaves me thinking whose spirit they have been using all along before the exposition. And to think of it you will be having these strong defenders standing behind the man in full force....AHHhh people!!

Your views....watch out for the next blog for more

Education and the MDGs

The role of education in the global village is largely seen and summarised in the total achievement and advancement towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is in every aspect of these goals that education is seen as a stepping stone and moreover, a refuge in adversity. As highly proven, education opens doors to jobs and credit and thus help lif people from poverty. Recent UN reports suggest that every additional year of schooling can lift average annual GDP of any country b 0.37%. The importance of education is in its ability to equip people with knowledge and skills needed to increase income and expand employment opportunities.

Noteworthy, is the fact and truth that equal education for both boys and girls is the foundation for development. It is paramount to note that there can be no other catalyst to development of any nation than education of women and girls, thus the saying “Educate the girl child, educate the nation”. This is largely bent on promoting gender equality and empowering women. Statistics have however shown a disparity in the number of girls who are out of school as some 54% of the world’s out-of-school children are girls. Nonetheless, in many countries to cite Bangladesh, India and Nepal among others, several million more girls are attending school and girls’ access to education has improved from the year 2000.

In achievement of goal 2 of the MDGs, Botswana has walked the talk as every child has the right to go to school. Policies have been put in place to ensure there is universal, free primary education in the country. In definition, the MDG report states universal primary education as involving entering school at an appropriate age, progressing through the system and completing a full cycle. According to a UNICEF report on the education status in 2011, primary school enrolments have increased dramatically in sub-Saharan Africa as well as in South and West Asia. It however reflects that there are around 72 million children still out of school and nearly half of these live in sub-Saharan Africa. This shows how many governments are neglecting the “education poor” and thus all children who are being left behind should be reached.

By being a pivotal point to every aspect of life, education is an important tool as it ensures that nations develop, economies are built and individuals are alleviated from poverty. It thus should be viewed rather as a basic necessity rather than a luxury for the poor as it is the basis on which all things happen.

International Mother Languages Day

Today marks International Mother Languages day, but hardly a few would celebrate their mother languages. It actually seems there is a lot at stake when it comes to appreciating one's mother language. Talk of the shame that mother tongues have gained over the years at the expense of other children's mother languages. Africans stand exposed in celebrating the languages of colonial masters rather than their own languages. 50 or more years down independence line yet some countries are still holding on to the colonial mentality and fear of isolation if they concentrate on building their mother languages.

Are we really proud to be what we are as Africans?

Food for thought.....