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Musings & Sketches from Down-to-Earth but Versatile Minds

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Nov 17

Testimony from Lovejoy

Anti-Aids Club, Newsletters, Publications Comments Off

I am Lovejoy from Simchembo Secondary School. I am a teenage and a member of the Anti-Aids Club (AAC). Our aim is to prevent the spread of HIV.

I wanted to be one of those tested sexual activist while l am still at school. As l had that it is nice and didn’t know that this fruit will make my life have an ugly tomorrow as l will soon be HIV positive. Pupils at my school knew no one to speak to about HIV and AIDS; the behaviour of students was becoming wayward as they had no one to look up to. But the introduction of the AAC opened the eyes of my fellow peers as they got facts about HIV and AIDS, and also its effects to young people.

As a club we are now well informed and we are spreading information about HIV and AIDS to our communities including our on families, we are hopeful that by God’s grace we are going to combat the disease.

I am really grateful to Concern Worldwide for the support they are giving to our AAC club.

Written by Lovejoy Ncube (form 3)
Simchembu Secondary School, Gokwe North, Zimbabwe

Nov 17

The Story of Tendai and Tapiwa

Anti-Aids Club, Newsletters, Publications Comments Off

Tendai and Tapiwa are good friends. They became lovers. Both of them attend the same school. One day Tapiwa decided to have sex with Tendai to prove that they loved each other. He decided to approach Tendai about this. When Tendai heard Tapiwa’s proposal, she was very surprised and she refused to have sex with him.

Tapiwa then said to her girl friend “l will abandon you and look for other girls who might dance to my tune”. But Tendai knew a lot about HIV/AIDS transmission because she is a member of the Anti-Aids Club.

There are many ways in which people can protect themselves from HIV/AIDS for example, avoid sharing sharp instruments, no sex before marriage, sticking to one faithful partner. Anti-AIDS Clubs help to disseminate information through drama, sports and lessons etc.

According one of our sessions it was learnt that a mosquito can not spread HIV and also that HIV AND AIDS can not be spread through shaking hands.

Written by Trust Sinamapande (Form 3)
Simchembo Secondary School, Gokwe North, Zimbabwe

Nov 11

Ndinoda

Anti-Aids Club, Literature, Culture & Language, Newsletters, Publications, Shona or ChiVanhu, Zimbabwean Poetry Comments Off

Nhetembo iyi yakanyogwa na Frolic Moyo
Kasango Secondary School, Zimbabwe

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Nov 11

It is a matter of choice

Anti-Aids Club, Literature, Culture & Language, Newsletters, Publications, Zimbabwean Poetry Comments Off

A poem by Adijar Chamatwa
Chevecheve High School, Gokwe South, Zimbabwe

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Nov 11

If only I had known

Anti-Aids Club, Literature, Culture & Language, Newsletters, Publications, Zimbabwean Poetry Comments Off

A poem by Thubelihle Norufure
Grade 7A, Gwanyika Primary School, Gokwe South, Zimbabwe

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Nov 11

Child Abuse in Zimbabwe

Anti-Aids Club, Literature, Culture & Language, Newsletters, Publications, Zimbawean Children's Writings Comments Off

Child Abuse

Child abuse in not only sexual abuse but it includes not giving a child enough food or beating up the child very time.

If a child you know is abused, you should quickly report the matter to the police.

You can also tell your elders or the leaders of clubs in your area so that the victims of abuse can be arrested.

Written by Confidence Nyoni
Form 2A, Gomoguru Secondary School, Zimbabwe

Child sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse happens when a person uses a child for their sexual pleasure. Sexual abuse is not sexual intercourse when an older person touches child’s private parts. Showing children pornographic pictures and movies is also sexually. Both girls and boys can be sexually abused, usually the abuser is the person they know and trust fathers, uncles, grandfathers and sometimes teenage brothers or neighbours can also be sexual abusers. Women can also sexually abuse children.

Written by Felisas Dimbudzai (17)
Mashame secondary school, Gokwe North, Zimbabwe

Child sexual abuse happens when a person uses a child for their sexual pleasure. Sexual abuse is not sexual intercourse when an older person touches child’s private parts. Showing children pornographic pictures and movies is also sexually. Both girls and boys can be sexually abused, usually the abuser is the person they know and trust fathers, uncles, grandfathers and sometimes teenage brothers or Neighbours can also be sexual abusers. Women can also sexually abuse children.

Written by Felisas Dimbudzai (17)
Mashame secondary school, Gokwe North, Zimbabwe

Nov 06

Social Identities in the National Youth Service of Zimbabwe

Literature, Culture & Language Comments Off

This dissertation, by Rejoice Shumba, reports on a study that investigated the construction of identities within the National Youth Service of Zimbabwe (NYSZ). Modern youth in Zimbabwe have tended to prefer Western culture and to abhor African culture. This also extends to identities since these are essential aspects of culture. Rejoice Shumba’s dissertation explores the construction of identities within the context of the NYSZ, one of whose objectives was/is to engender African identities in the youth of Zimbabwe. This should be an interesting piece of reading.

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Oct 31

Sanctions of the ZDERA Sort!

Politics, Zimbabwe Comments Off

The Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZDERA)) of 2001 says that U.S. sanctions are against the Zimbabwean “government”. Is this not a euphemism for “the people” of Zimbabwe? ZDERA also says that these sanctions will continue as enacted until the U.S. President (currently, Obama) certifies that the “rule of law has been restored in Zimbabwe, including respect for ownership and title to property. . . and an end to. . .lawlessness.”

Literally, ZDERA 2001 is extraordinarily intended and reads eloquently benevolent. However, no matter how well-intentioned, ZDERA 2001 is clearly not targetted towards ZANU-PF functionaries alone. ZANU-PF functionaries are only loosely and indirectly handled in ZDERA 2001, Section 6, whose wording indicates Congress’ admission that ZDERA did not target them.

The impact of ZDERA 2001 has a devastating effect on the ordinary peasants on the “Red Hills of Home”. The influence of ZDERA 2001 goes beyond the USA’s jurisdiction. Of particular interest is the fact that USA decided to help the people of Zimbabwe by using an Act of Congress whose objective must be achieved outside the USA jurisdiction where the people on the “Red Hills of Home” who are affected have no access to the US Congress. For those who have not yet read the actual text of ZDERA 2001, read on.

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Oct 31

A Poet’s Critique of the Betrayal of Independence

Literature, Culture & Language, Politics, Zimbabwe Comments Off

Chenjerai Hove is a Zimbabwean poet and writer. Only in the past ten years, did Chenjerai start to write direct political commentaries in the media. Before this, his political writings were mainly in the form of poetry that is loaded with political commentaries. Thus, Hove’s involvement within the political domain did not start in the last ten years as many people may think but started long back in the Rhodesian era. Many people may not have had access to Hove’s political thoughts from 1980. This is mainly because not many of us would read poetry unless it is part of our literary studies in school or college. I used to make sure that I always buy the next poetry volume that Hove publishes. “The Red Hills of Home” is one collection that I read many many times in the late 80′s and loved everyone of the poems. The poems struck a poignant code in me mostly likely because it made me to re-live a childhood spent in the pre and post colonial “Red Hills of Home”. Here, I would like to share a very good piece of commentary on the “Red Hills of Home” by Maurice Taonezvi Vambe.

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Oct 21

The Politics of the Womb in Pre-Colonial Chivi

Literature, Culture & Language, Politics, Shona or ChiVanhu, Zimbabwe Comments Off

Mazarire, Gerald C., ‘”The politics of the womb”: women, politics and the environment in pre-colonial Chivi, southern Zimbabwe, c.1840 to 1900′, Zambezia 30 (2003) 1, 35-50

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