Act on your beliefs

On the 18th of January, in the company of good friend Jazinda Machache, reporter and True African Woman Shanee and with technical support from Kudzayi Manyau, we walked from Town House in Harare to Makoni Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza. We walked the 27km distance in a time under 6 hours.

We had Shanee walking with us and chatting with me half of the way. Kudzayi provided logistical support; we had an amazing halfway stopover at the airport on Seke Road with a bit of dancing to some cool house music. It was indeed a fun trip all round.

For me, this walk was meant to assess my physical condition before embarking on the 1,000km Green Walkathon that will take me across Zimbabwe in 38 days. The speed pointers were great. At a very leisurely pace, I will cover 4km an hour and this can be improved to almost 6km per hour. Thus my projected 30km per day is a reasonable target.

Physically, I had a few aches in both feet partly due to freshly purchased takkies. My toes burned a bit and briefly the sole of my left foot wanted to flare up. My left knee niggled a bit but settled down. All in all, I am convinced I can cover the 1, 000km albeit with some serious physical challenges.

I am doing this because I am convinced Africans should stand and be counted in telling the story of their continent. I believe there is need for serious discussion on the waste management chain in Zimbabwe and only drastic action will bring about this discussion and eventual progress on this issue.

I am doing this to raise funds for BIN-it Zimbabwe so that we can eventually say there is no litter in Zimbabwe. And this program can achieve this goal. We will put up crowdfunding appeals with different perks starting with Indiegogo. For home, we will encourage people to support through Ecocash.

I am attempting this walk so that you can come with me. I am asking you to support me. This is our huge pride factor as a people. Let us let everyone know that this is what some of us in the homeland are committing to. Share this post to your wall and everywhere on social media. TOGETHER WE CAN.

Tapinda tapinda mafera

Indeed we are in fellows. Into one more year given us by the almighty to exert our relevance on this earth. To leave a mark and be exalted by fellow humans as a person of worth. Yes, we are in.

The entrance into 2014 in Harare was rather hectic and colourful in contrast to the tepid 2013 we were leaving. Indeed there was money to be seen in the parties everywhere in the neighbourhoods. Popular joints rocked with bumper crowds drinking themselves into the New Year.

At exactly 0000CAT or 0200GMT, spontaneous fireworks displays erupted all over the city and I would like to imagine Zimbabwe as well as Africa. Not big fireworks but the small ones that still climbed up into the pitch black sky and exploded with aplomb and fanfare. Indeed, we are in people.

This is a time for being happy and speeding cars through neighbourhoods swollen with blaring music. It is also a time for introspection. What did you achieve in 2013? Did you leave a mark? What will you do in 2014?

We in Zimbabwe have oft wonder aimlessly in life here, waiting for the ticket to escape to some foreign land where we will arrive with purpose and passion. Some are too rich to be concerned about the unfortunate and have built their little Englands around Zimbabwe living as if in a bubble.

Either black and/or white, affairs of man are fast becoming cause for men. Thus my lack today is the rich man’s concern as I will be looking for means, legal or otherwise, to get a share of that wealth.

My appeal to you is simple, either at home or wherever, pick a cause. Stand for something. Be passionate about something broader than yourself. Live a life larger than you. Then you can claim a position in 2014, otherwise you are still in 1980.

Dear Proud Zimbabwean

Dear Proud Zimbabwean,  

We are inviting YOU to become a Msasa Network Partner of Proudly Zimbabwean Foundation.   We, Proudly Zimbabwean Foundation, are committed to sustainable development of our communities through people resident in or from those areas. We are convinced that every Zimbabwean either at home or in the diaspora has a part to play in realising local development.

Our pioneer program, BIN-it Zimbabwe is eradicating litter across the country and capacitating infrastructure in all CBDs. We have conducted clean-ups of CBDs and 2014 will see the program active in communities.  

Msasa Membership is our idea of getting ordinary people to be a factor of development and change. We are asking YOU to be a member. Your contribution is ONE DOLLAR PER MONTH payable YEARLY ($12.00), 2-YEARLY ($24.00) or 5-YEARLY ($60.00).  

The membership will be used to sustain the Foundation as well as fund some of programs and projects. 2014 particularly has a full calendar list of events that will move Zimbabwe towards clean communities and position our country as a tourist friendly destination.  

The biggest benefit to you will be knowing that you are participating in a program bigger than your immediate family and engineered to benefit the whole country. We will send you a membership badge & certificate that will carry a pledge (to development) for both YOU and the Foundation.  

We cannot do this alone. We need YOU. Become a member and change the  Zimbabwe narrative.  
You can send your desired membership amount to EcoCash Merchant Number 34567. We will contact you for more details and send you your certificate. You can also make a direct deposit into our account held with CBZ Bank.  

Alternatively you can come to office 225, 2nd Floor, Rainbow Towers, Harare (opening 6 January 2014) and pay your subscription in cash as well as meet the team.  

For the diaspora, we are in contact with progressive game changers in the UK who will champion the cause there. They will craft a contribution platform while putting in place a PayPal option that can be used worldwide.  

For more information, please contact us on 04-2913319, call/app/sms 0772867300 or email us on ProudlyZimbabwean@gmail.com  

Thank you.  
Fungai Chiposi, Mr.
Executive Trustee
Proudly Zimbabwean Foundation

Colonise me again, please

The effects of colonisation upon the African continent were immense. On one street, one meets with development and on the other lane, one encounters vices of subjugation. When the colonised narrate the experience, doom and gloom are order of the day. The colonizers cannot stop pointing at the lanterns they lit up during their prime.  

In all the melee, one can miss the obvious cry, please colonise me again.  

When colonisation occurred in similar civilisations, it transferred knowledge and systems, quickly bridging minor gaps that are wont to develop amongst various peoples. Europe, Asia and part of the Americas experienced this and it evened resources and development.  

When it jumped continents and became a scramble; clashing Stone and Industrial Ages, the effects where more than physical. Systems and development while being practised could not be easily assimilated by the colonised. The gene gap was way too wide to be bridged with a few colloquial sentences.  

The true legacy of colonisation was a false sense of achievement and entitlement. Real time accumulated knowledge was not present and continuity without the coloniser was a struggle documented with deficit of independent development and leadership for masses with false entitlement values not matched with work ethic and knowledge base.  

But the comforts of the colonialist are so ingrained we can no longer do without. A car is wanted by all when not even all as a collective can make a single car. Needs where put beyond means. The true legacy of colonisation was laziness.  

So today we cry, please colonise us again. Yet it is now inhuman and cannot be done with the flare of yore. Once in a while we declare dominion and assert false independence but those in the know run back to the coloniser and those who don’t know form their council of fools.  

All because of that one legacy, laziness.  

If you do not agree and remain silent I understand. Laziness.

Are you a Rhodie?

Proudly Zimbabwean Foundation and the UZ Enactus teams gather for a group photo after a great meeting on community development.

My mother was a fabulous woman. Sometimes visitors would come home and then I would start acting up, for attention I believe. My mother would studiously ignore me and carry on as if all was normal. Every once in a while, after the visitors had left, I would get the occasional thrashing with a strong talking-to. Ah the days.

The colonial system did not prepare Zimbabwe for the majority of people whom one can easily call black. The infrastructure was designed to serve the colonial masters mostly and benignly accommodate the inconvenient black pest in his multitudeness (of course I know the word should exist).

Every country on this earth has its problems. Even highly developed cities turned country such as the Vatican has the odd crack developing in the Basilica. The USA does not know what to do with black population and worse now when there is a black president amongst the white pigeons.

It can be a journey of tears for long lost glory or pride in rebirth. Proudly Zimbabwean Foundation prefers pride in rebirth.

I thus take great exception to people who want to demonise Zimbabwe and will not say a word in praise of anything being done on the ground. Beware brethren of riding the Rhodie frustration wave. Zimbabwe is no longer striving to build for a class of persons but all people. There will be challenges indeed but let these not hold back our eye from seeing the gems.

Like mother, take thine eye away from the political humdrum. Constant focus on those tangling bulls gives them more wings minus the RedBull. We are empowering them even more by focusing on them. We are aspiring for a more encompassing country despite the shortcomings, help us get there and not always point where the miniskirt is too short.

Get with the program or get marching out. This is your occasional thrashing you naughty kid harping on about what is wrong with Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe will shine! Which side are you polishing?