Unhappy Independence Day Zimbabwe!

Forty Years of Ruin.

Today marks forty years of Zimbabwe’s Independence Day celebrations.
I pay tribute to the struggle for liberation and respect the sacrifices incurred for our independence, but what do we have to show for it, a nation divided within itself, an elite group of self-centred leaders in government and in some business.

What is meant for a time of supposedly joyous celebrations for a nation is a moment met with many different emotions, expressions, and feelings.

Robert Mugabe and his cronies (Zanu PF) took over a nation in 1980, of which it was a country that was the envy of many and the breadbasket within the Southern African region.

Robert Mugabe and his government at that time made a promise to uplift the lives of its citizens.

In the early 1980s Robert Mugabe presented himself as a sophisticated, sensible and a well-balanced man when he took over the reins of power.

But it was not long that for most of the population it became clear that it didn’t take much time for a change to be evident from Robert Mugabe, he ordered a massacre of the Matabele tribe in the early 1980s close to twenty thousand people lost their lives. Robert Mugabe sent his Korean-trained troops into Matabeleland to conduct a campaign of torture and murder that has still yet to be fully exposed.

An estimated twenty thousand civilians were murdered and as many disfigured and tortured in what is now known as the Gukurahundi: the washing away after the storm.

Because of such actions, this has fuelled a hatred between the Ndebele and the Shona people, with no resolution in sight.

Since then little development has happened for the Matabeleland region, worse for Bulawayo, which is Zimbabwe’s second city, the centre for trade because of its proximity to the neighbouring countries.

As a result if been neglected Bulawayo has become a ghost town over the years.

As Robert Mugabe and his Zanu Pf administr ion continued to rule over the years facing little opposition, or maybe a case of total disregard for any opposition, it slowly became evident that nepotism, corruption, and a total disregard for the rule of law became the order of the day.

Moving on into the 1990s, the government realizing its shortcomings, then tried to implement the so-called, market-friendly - Economic Structural Adjustment Program, known as ESAP. This did not realize any benefits and subsequently slowly begun the breakdown.

Even after 1980, the Zanu PF government allowed white farming, industry, and mining to continue. While using the state to improve the education and health sectors, the result was modest growth, but the ESAP program only brought more difficulties the government could not handle, thus ESAP was introduced to encourage growth and employment amongst other benefits, but growth was poor and employment contracted, and many firms even closed down. So many other reasons can be listed about the failures of this ESAP program.

Even so, nothing can top the worst moment and decision in 1999 of Zimbabwe's government in its foolishness of the land invasions, the so-called land redistribution program – whatever one wants to call it – many having a different view on what it meant, although many Zimbabwean farmers lost their property, some lost their lives, while others sought refuge in other neighbouring countries.

This brought on condemnation from many world leaders, but even so, many Zimbabweans had hope that this move would bring about an equal standing and betterment to production from the land, if this was done appropriately but lack of transparency in the process only fuelled corruption and left most of the land futile.

No doubt such action brought about the imposition of targeted sanctions upon some government officials and some business leaders. These targeted sanctions have become the battle cry of this government and its sympathisers, bringing a whole new meaning to poverty upon this beautiful county.

Cry My Beloved Country.

In November 2017 Robert Mugabe was ousted out of power, in a coup that was not a coup, as Zimbabweans took to the streets to celebrate the end of a tyrant, having hopes that freedom from the dictator and freedom from oppression and economic mismanagement would bring much-needed relief.

As confusion lingered everywhere, as hope took hold of the nation in a façade of what was meant for a betterment.

It has been 28 months since that moment when a coup that was not a coup has proven to be the worst Zimbabweans least expected.

So how do we celebrate such Independence, all I can say is unhappy Independence Day Zimbabwe!

The making of history

These times to remember

Locusts, Novel Coronavirus – Covid 19, Pandemic, Social distancing, Lockdown, Infections, Deaths, Recoveries, and conspiracy theories.

To this point the year 2020 so far would make for a great chapter in the bible.

By Gods grace should we survive through this chaos, I believe this season will without a doubt bring out a change in us as humans and our way of life.

Dealing with restricted access to our daily habits and necessities, for many is proving quite the challenge. I will take a wild guess and say for most of us bad habits were the first to became painfully highlighted during these frantic times.

One thing I am certain of, these are moments and markings of great history in the making and of stories we will live to tell, should we be the lucky ones to survive.

Connecting makes a difference

A good friend included me to join in on a group session of a 21-day program of self-awareness and understanding of thought control, today being the 17^th day, I have to admit It has been extremely beneficial and supportive in dealing with the mental challenges under the circumstances.

Not only has this program been helping me to gain a positive outlook and awareness of the thoughts I allow to flow through me, as we manifest what we think about. I am appreciative that it has helped me to be able to work through some of the bad habits that were my struggle and work through the difficulties of letting go of such.

I can be sensitive and ruled by my emotions and often present a good amount of tolerance, but there is part of me that exposes a ruthless and demanding side of me that can lead to some regret at the end of it all.

I am grateful to be reminded that I have control over what I allow as my thoughts and I have control over my feelings that will help me become a better person I know can become.

Through these testing times I only hope for a better tomorrow.

      

Attention to current affairs

Attention to current affairs

I have always had an interest in following world events through various news reports from around the world. It always felt like checking up on the well-being of the world which gave me a sense of understanding of the many issues that would be revealed, at best an understanding of the events happening around the world.

I was in Cape Town, South Africa, with my partner, Akin Akintayo, who resides in Manchester, United Kingdom. We spent just over a month together during December 2019 through January 2020 and as we are trying to build a solid relationship we have been meeting up in South Africa for most of 2019.

it is because of some bureaucracy issues that South Africa has made it the best for our chance of being together.

It was sometime in late December 2019 that a news report broke out that the Chinese authorities treating dozens of cases of pneumonia of an unknown cause that broke out in Wuhan, a city in China.

I felt unthreatened at that time as it seemed this was very distant from ever affecting my life. Although it did spark an interest to make it of news to keep abreast with.

In mid-January 2020, the time came to be separated from the one I love so dearly, as we parted and made promises to work at ending the distance between us, unbeknown to us at that time, the world was slowly changing.

Staying focused and strong.

As I continued to focus on the many issues at hand for me at that point in time.

I watched silently with interest as the Chinese authorities continued to battle with this virus that was now affecting many through the city of Wuhan and news reports became much more intense focusing on this issue.

It didn’t help that my partner, at the time of his return to his home fell seriously ill, affected by a water-borne infection, of which, after much anxiety and distress, he fought through the illness and has become much stronger, and we continue to plan ahead for the betterment of us being together.

I remember watching a news report end January 2020, as the World Health Organization (W.H.O) declared a “public health emergency of international concern” this after it seemed this virus was now spreading beyond Wuhan to many other places around the world.

Where to from here?

News of the Novel Coronavirus, an acute respiratory disease, now known as Covid_19, has now spread around the world and without a doubt is making a change to the way the world operates, even after the lock-down measures imposed in many countries around the world, no one has an answer as to what will happen next as the situation unfolds.

One thing that is certain is that it has exposed the incompetence of many so-called world leaders, some implying it would just miraculously disappear within a few weeks, while another advised to just let it sail on through, the strong will survive.

Worse, In Africa, some leaders just copy what other countries are doing without offering any sort of concrete measures for the protection of its citizens to fight this virus.

Do it for yourself and those you love.

We have at best the advice from the scientists and those fighting it on the frontlines to keep proper hygiene practices, disinfect surfaces in our homes and better to practice social distancing, which all seems to be the best options we have for now until such a time a vaccine can be found.

Remember a person is most infectious when they do not show any signs or symptoms of this virus, so it is best to avoid any contact with any person as much as possible.

May we all keep safe, keep strong and remember we are all in this together, it is not the best of times, but we will get through this and can only become stronger.

This too shall pass.    

Hello! who are you.?

Hello! who are you.?

It seems this is the first question we ask each other when we meet for the first time and better still should we just feel a spark of interest, we become ignited and open to exploring what might come of the acquaintance.

I have always admired people who can answer this question almost instantaneously and exude so much confidence and a display in brief of their accomplishments with ease.

If you ask me this question be prepared to hear from the onset of how I was born just eleven months after my older sibling, on a birth date of all sevens, in a country with one of the seven natural wonders of the world, a surname with seven letters, and being my father’s seventh child and trust me this list of sevens can go on.

Made of moments and memories. Is this really who I am.

I am eternally grateful to my maternal grandmother for her earnest aid in my early development of life. Considering being of twice and tried failed abortions on me, I guess I just have been that stubborn from conception, but this woman made sure I lived.

Of the very few childhood memories that still live on, is that of school going age of having to realize I must live with and get to know who my siblings are, having to rediscover and understand a total family setting, It wasn’t easy.

I never fitted into their patten, looking back now with a little understanding I can compare it to as trying to fit into a clique.

  

In school, amongst my peers it was easy, I was everyone’s friend and could make connections effortlessly but still not being able to create a real friend.

I grew to appreciate being in my own company, in some way maybe it helped in giving me an opportunity for early development to the understanding of human interactions.

As time would have it, I never really got to make a connection with my siblings throughout my life, we seemly couldn’t make a common connection. In many aspects I found I had to gain dependence on self, I was just this tall skinny boy always alone and so came the nickname string bean.

Freedom, Growth and love.

As much as provision was made for me, I watched as my siblings were given much opportunity and provision as to develop their lives, while anticipation continued to grow for my chance to come for such, the opportunity never arrived.  

My freedom came when I eventually left schooling and forged my way into employment that offered a chance to further my own growth into adulthood and begin life as I know it.

I did well in demonstrating my ability in the workplace which allowed for some promotions providing me with a skill and opportunity for some growth and development.

She Chose me!

Growing up I stumbled in trying to find a common connection with my siblings, they all seemed to have an understanding with each other, to say my siblings just rejected me is an understatement.

I felt no attachment with them no matter how hard I tried; I just never felt being a part of them.

It wasn’t until one of my elder sisters at a young age brought in the first grandchild.

Before the birth of this child, the marriage was very formal, very Catholic, probably still the best weddings to date I ever attended, it was amazing and so beautiful. Attended by so many prominent members of society, family and friends.

As time would have it and the child conceived from these nuptials seemed to take an unprecedented liking unto me, the child would cry endlessly for me to attend to her every need, to the disgruntlement of the parents and those around, at first, it seemed all innocent but from as early as the age of three years it seemed like I was both mother and father to this child in the way that she behaved.

It got to a point where at times her parents would drive at night to bring her to me because she would not stop crying for wanting me.

As time would have It, it so happened that this marriage my sister was involved in didn’t last, she gave up on what was seven years of married life and eloped with the man that was her first love, leaving behind her husband and at that time a five-year-old girl child.

I guess for the child it felt normal as I automatically took total responsibility for her, with the occasional help of the clueless father we did the best we could as I began to learn to take responsibility for a little life with no manual for a guide and of my own parents this child refused.

I always felt maybe it was because I was exposed to hard issues in life that at a very early stage, I was able to control such a trial of life. Having hope that in good time my sister would get her head right and return to take control, of that just wishful thinking.

I did my best to continue with life, trying to understand my own challenges and at the same time having to develop a little human I found myself now being responsible.

Having a child was not a part of the plan, worse in early adulthood. Having this imposed on me I took up the responsibility.

Probably in some way it helped to remove a few scales around my ideas of what life can be about, that in some way brought some understanding to many issues I never understood.

Walk your own path.

I never for one day received any kind of assistance from my other siblings, I forged a way in providing not only for my own needs but for that of those I found myself being responsible for, so I began and forged my way through life trying to make for betterment for those in my care.

In my years of gainful employment, I proved myself worthy and competent, I saw myself getting promotions not only because I interacted well with my colleagues but that I proved myself worthy and able of the tasks set before me and I excelled in my expertise, gaining knowledge of many things in and around me.

Life has always brought many new learning experiences for me, and with this my very own first blog I hope I will be able to share my experiences and views on many issues with the hope of gaining more understanding about myself and the world around me.