Zim Diaspora’s Changed(ing) Political Character About ‘Home’
By Takura Zhangazha* Recent media reports have indicated that in the last two years, Zimbabwe’s Diaspora has remitted at least US$ 1, 4 billion dollars into the country. The majority of these Zimbabweans reside in the United Kingdom, South Africa,…
African Union, ICC and the Omar Al-Bashir Incident of the Flight in the Day Time
By Takura Zhangazha* Before the end of the 25th Ordinary summit of the African Union (AU) had officially occurred in Johannesburg, South Africa, a serving African president had fled from an African country. Omar Al Bashir, President of Sudan, wanted…
The MDCs’ Scramble for Joice Mujuru:Putting their Carts Before their Horses (Sadly So)
Zimbabwe’s mainstream opposition, now in the form of a number of MDC offshoots, has been having a bit of a spat over former Zanu Pf second secretary and national vice president Joice Mujuru. It began with the MDC Renewal’s Elton…
Bond Coins, Bananas and Bonding Ourselves to International Debt
A couple of weeks back I sought to buy a couple of bananas from a young man pushing a wheel-cart. I had the rather ubiquitous South African two rand coin and handed it over to him. He looked at it…
Bad laws, not malice responsible for poor journalism
Much has been said recently about the current quality of journalism inZimbabwe. The Information and Media Panel of Inquiry (IMPI) findings attest to concerns raised by the public about the quality that it has gone down to the gutter. The…
‘Vending’ and Zimbabwe’s Economic ‘Shock Doctrine’ and ‘Socialism of the Rich’
Ever since this year’s workers day commemorations on May 1, there has been a lot of social media debate and attendant dry humour concerning whether Zimbabwe is a nation of vendors or workers. Not that this debate was particularly new…
Are We Paying the State to Protest? Public Order and Processions in Zim
By Takura Zhangazha* In Zimbabwe citizens are not allowed to embark on public demonstrations/ processions without prior notification (and agreement) of a ‘regulatory authority’ of a geographic area. This regulatory authority is generally a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer commanding…
Real Issues Behind the Confusion Over Civil Servants Bonuses
By Takura Zhangazha* The issue of cabinet discordance over civil service bonuses is one that should correctly raise eyebrows as to what exactly government’s actual intentions are. When President Mugabe, at the 35th independence day celebrations, called an announcement by…
Mediating electoral violence in a polarised society
By Admire Mare & Stanley Tsarwe Elections are generally divisive and conflictual especially in developing societies where democratisation has not yet been institutionalised. Given that elections are accompanied by competitive struggles for power and the mobilisation of people and dormant…
Zim’s 5 Grim Realities: Optmism is Not Only Key, It is Fundamental.
By Takura Zhangazha In the last three months there have been at least two articles by renowned academics outlining how Zimbabwe is either undergoing the ‘politics of despair’ or alternatively how our ‘darkest hour is not before dawn.’ These articles…