I finished watching the movie "Che" yesterday. It was about four and half hours long, and was worth every minute. Damien Bechir is superb as Fidel Castro, and I think Benicio Del Toro was well-cast in the leading role. I think that the 60s revolutionaries really missed a golden opportunity to reshape the world to be as humane as possible. If only they'd allowed regulated market forces to co-exist side-by-side with all the positive dictates of left-wing ideology.
Free schooling, free health-care, women's rights, WITH regulated free-markets and democracy, might have made the rest of the world look like a poorer version of Scandinavia, rather than a scarier version of Miami, as it is now with its Neo-Liberal dogma.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Education, Education, Education
Any country that abandons its education system is doomed to failure. The coastal elites of Sierra Leone used to be known for their education. Now two thirds of Sierra Leonese are illiterate and Fourah Bay College is a total wreck. Makerere in Uganda is now a shadow of itself, and one third of Ugandans still cannot read and write, 48 years after independence.
The Univ of Zimbabwe used to produce outstanding graduates, but now most of the teaching staff have fled for greener pastures and Zimbabwe's formerly outstanding education system is literally falling to pieces. Zimbabwe's President Mugabe is now admitting that Zimbabwe's once-stellar educational system is now in tatters. Governments that kill the education system, also kill any hopes of future development.
The Univ of Zimbabwe used to produce outstanding graduates, but now most of the teaching staff have fled for greener pastures and Zimbabwe's formerly outstanding education system is literally falling to pieces. Zimbabwe's President Mugabe is now admitting that Zimbabwe's once-stellar educational system is now in tatters. Governments that kill the education system, also kill any hopes of future development.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Shona Zvidawo & Totems
The Shona-speaking peoples of Zimbabwe use several cultural markers to identify a person and to show their origin. The most important cultural marker is one's totem (usually in the form of an animal). My totem - mutupo in Shona - is Mhara/antelope. Male members of the Mhara totemic lineage go by the honorific name of *Chikonamombe* ( *mombe* means cow in Shona). The honorific name, *Chikonamombe* can also be rendered as *Chikonan'ombe* . In Shona, this honorific name is known as a *chidawo*.
Zvidawo (plural of chidawo) can also be used as family names, hence *James Chikonamombe*. Every totemic lineage has a praise poem that is associated with that lineage. A single line of this praise-poem is called a *detembo*; several lines are called *madetembo*, and to be showered with praise using your lineage praise-poem is known as *kudetembedzwa* .
Here are some lines from my lineage praise-poem: Mbuya Chikonamombe, chigumbu chinounye... ....Gusho, vari Rare.....vari zihota...vemuto munyere....vakazadzwa mhezi neVaranda. The reciting of the praise-poem is often accompanied by the ritual clapping of hands (kuwombera maoko). If you ever see two Zimbabweans clasping and clapping their hands, as they exchange pleasantaries, don't be confused....you will actually be witnessing a ritual greeting.
Shona *madetembo* often include ritual attributes of that totemic lineage (sometimes in jest), and some geographic attributes. For example, in ours, there is reference to *vari Rare*. Here, *Rare* refers to an area in Chikomba (my home district) now known as *Range*. During colonial times it was known as *The Range*. In our poem, the line with *vemuto munyere* refers to our legendary love of meat. When Zvikonamombe (plural of Chikonamombe) are at the table then be forewarned: there are no vegetarians in the family, and baby-carrots and mushy peas just won't suffice!
Honorific names are how adult (male) Zimbabweans address one another, either in person or in correspondence (and not by their given family names). For example, PM Morgan Tsvangirai is addressed in person as *Save*, and not *Morgan* or *Morgan Tsvangirai*. You might have read of *Gushungo* in passages about Zimbabwe. The *Gushungo* they are referring to is President Robert Mugabe. The respectful and proper way to address President Mugabe in person is by his lineage honorific name of Gushungo, and not *Bob* or *Robert*.
Zvidawo (plural of chidawo) can also be used as family names, hence *James Chikonamombe*. Every totemic lineage has a praise poem that is associated with that lineage. A single line of this praise-poem is called a *detembo*; several lines are called *madetembo*, and to be showered with praise using your lineage praise-poem is known as *kudetembedzwa* .
Here are some lines from my lineage praise-poem: Mbuya Chikonamombe, chigumbu chinounye... ....Gusho, vari Rare.....vari zihota...vemuto munyere....vakazadzwa mhezi neVaranda. The reciting of the praise-poem is often accompanied by the ritual clapping of hands (kuwombera maoko). If you ever see two Zimbabweans clasping and clapping their hands, as they exchange pleasantaries, don't be confused....you will actually be witnessing a ritual greeting.
Shona *madetembo* often include ritual attributes of that totemic lineage (sometimes in jest), and some geographic attributes. For example, in ours, there is reference to *vari Rare*. Here, *Rare* refers to an area in Chikomba (my home district) now known as *Range*. During colonial times it was known as *The Range*. In our poem, the line with *vemuto munyere* refers to our legendary love of meat. When Zvikonamombe (plural of Chikonamombe) are at the table then be forewarned: there are no vegetarians in the family, and baby-carrots and mushy peas just won't suffice!
Honorific names are how adult (male) Zimbabweans address one another, either in person or in correspondence (and not by their given family names). For example, PM Morgan Tsvangirai is addressed in person as *Save*, and not *Morgan* or *Morgan Tsvangirai*. You might have read of *Gushungo* in passages about Zimbabwe. The *Gushungo* they are referring to is President Robert Mugabe. The respectful and proper way to address President Mugabe in person is by his lineage honorific name of Gushungo, and not *Bob* or *Robert*.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Robert Mugabe & The Breetish
As we all know, you can never travel back in time and there is no such thing as 20/20 hindsight. The Lancaster House talks that decided the fate of Zimbabwe took place in Dec of '79. I was too young at the time to have taken part; I was just a toddler. Nevertheless, I wish to point out some key mistakes that were made by all the parties involved, and which have led to the land-issue problems we face today .
First of all, the Patriotic Front conceded to clauses in the agreement that called for land to be transferred to the African majority on a willing buyer,willing seller basis. Furthermore, these land transfers were to be funded by the British govt -- That was a fatal error. Why bring the British into it? Any future British govt, that was to provide these funds, would obviously bring its concerns, worldview, biases, and economic interests to the table.
Britain is a democracy, and any British Govt has to answer to its electorate. This electorate is swayed by appearances, perceptions, and raw emotions. In no way could any British leader APPEAR to be abandoning the white Zimbabwean farmers to their fate. Nevermind, that your white farmer seen on TV is a Dutch Boer named Cloete, who hates the "English" and has never set foot in the British Isles. But, that's besides the point: it's PERCEPTIONS that count; these perceptions sway the British public; and any British govt cannot appear to be blind to the raw emotions of the British public (especially in an election year)
Back in Zimbabwe, our President never tires of lashing out at the "Breetiish" at every opportunity. Every occurrence, from drought to cholera, is blamed on the "Breetiish". This leads me back to the original sin, of asking the British Govt to fund land transfers as specified by the Lancaster House agreement. The parties involved should have been told,in very strong terms, that there was to be no third party guidance, funding or overseeing of any of the agreed-upon stipulations of these agreements. That would have forced all the parties involved, The Patriotic Front (Zanu,Zapu) and the Rhodesians to cobble together any future arrangements on their own.
James Chikonamombe
First of all, the Patriotic Front conceded to clauses in the agreement that called for land to be transferred to the African majority on a willing buyer,willing seller basis. Furthermore, these land transfers were to be funded by the British govt -- That was a fatal error. Why bring the British into it? Any future British govt, that was to provide these funds, would obviously bring its concerns, worldview, biases, and economic interests to the table.
Britain is a democracy, and any British Govt has to answer to its electorate. This electorate is swayed by appearances, perceptions, and raw emotions. In no way could any British leader APPEAR to be abandoning the white Zimbabwean farmers to their fate. Nevermind, that your white farmer seen on TV is a Dutch Boer named Cloete, who hates the "English" and has never set foot in the British Isles. But, that's besides the point: it's PERCEPTIONS that count; these perceptions sway the British public; and any British govt cannot appear to be blind to the raw emotions of the British public (especially in an election year)
Back in Zimbabwe, our President never tires of lashing out at the "Breetiish" at every opportunity. Every occurrence, from drought to cholera, is blamed on the "Breetiish". This leads me back to the original sin, of asking the British Govt to fund land transfers as specified by the Lancaster House agreement. The parties involved should have been told,in very strong terms, that there was to be no third party guidance, funding or overseeing of any of the agreed-upon stipulations of these agreements. That would have forced all the parties involved, The Patriotic Front (Zanu,Zapu) and the Rhodesians to cobble together any future arrangements on their own.
James Chikonamombe
Sunday, March 14, 2010
It's Our Turn To Eat
Just read the book by Michaela Wrong, "It's our turn to eat". What a great book. Michaela Wrong is a great wordsmith, and she knows her Africa. She doesn't spout useless cliches like some other "experts" on Africa. The main character in all of this, John Githongo, had the guts to take on the whole, corrupt, Kenyan establishment. I wish there were more Africans like him. The man has got b***s!
It's good to know that Ndugu Githongo is still alive-and-well, still in the fight against corruption. In the book, Michaela Wrong describes how some of Githongo's ex-workmates traveled to London to try to get him to drop his endeavours and return to the fold. At least the Kenyan establishment still has some decency; they don't kill all of their enemies, unlike their cousins in Zimbabwe.
It's good to know that Ndugu Githongo is still alive-and-well, still in the fight against corruption. In the book, Michaela Wrong describes how some of Githongo's ex-workmates traveled to London to try to get him to drop his endeavours and return to the fold. At least the Kenyan establishment still has some decency; they don't kill all of their enemies, unlike their cousins in Zimbabwe.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Captain Solo
Now that coups are back in vogue, I was wondering to myself: whatever happened to Zambian coup-plotter, Steven Lungu, alias Capt Solo. This man had gumption. Back in the 90s, Capt Solo literally waltzed into the headquarters of Zambian broadcasting, grabbed the microphone, and then announced - to an astonished nation - that he had taken over. And he was stone drunk when he did this. This man had b***s!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Chinese in Africa
With all due respects to China-bashers, like professor George Ayittey, I can say that, overall, the benefits of China's engagement with Africa heavily outweigh any negative consequences.
Firstly, with China's large population it's natural that it would look to Africa to satisfy its resource needs. The Europeans have been sourcing all their resources from Africa for 500 years now, and no-one even bats an eye-lid.
Secondly Africa can gain from Chinese engagement in terms of infrastructure development. The fact that the Chinese often bring in all their workers is a sign of a pitifully low skills-base in Africa itself, rather than in "labour-dumping" by the Chinese. For example, only 11% of Niger's secondary-school age population are actually enrolled in secondary school. It is not possible for Chinese investors in Niger (or Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea Bissau) to employ a semi-literate and unskilled work-force. The Chinese are basically FORCED to bring in their own work-force in many of these countries.
Finally, the Chinese in Africa are often at the receiving end of unnecessary xenophobia. People complain about their culinary habits and their living conditions etc. These basically racist put-downs are really trivial and demean all the contributions that China has made to Africa, especially the aid given to Southern African countries in their independence quests.
Firstly, with China's large population it's natural that it would look to Africa to satisfy its resource needs. The Europeans have been sourcing all their resources from Africa for 500 years now, and no-one even bats an eye-lid.
Secondly Africa can gain from Chinese engagement in terms of infrastructure development. The fact that the Chinese often bring in all their workers is a sign of a pitifully low skills-base in Africa itself, rather than in "labour-dumping" by the Chinese. For example, only 11% of Niger's secondary-school age population are actually enrolled in secondary school. It is not possible for Chinese investors in Niger (or Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea Bissau) to employ a semi-literate and unskilled work-force. The Chinese are basically FORCED to bring in their own work-force in many of these countries.
Finally, the Chinese in Africa are often at the receiving end of unnecessary xenophobia. People complain about their culinary habits and their living conditions etc. These basically racist put-downs are really trivial and demean all the contributions that China has made to Africa, especially the aid given to Southern African countries in their independence quests.
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