Rastafarian Zimbabwean

Ce-Ce and Farai Chisango are the Ben HaMelech/Bayna Amlak, the King’s Sons

2011-01-15T15:28:00.000-08:00

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“What is your book about?”
“It is about a sister and brother team of private detectives who are Rastafarians.”
“Detectives? I-man nuh deal wit’ detective an’dem kinda t’ing yuh know!”
This response, and its many variations is characteristic of what passes for wit in some circles of the Rastafarian community. Apparently, one cannot be a Rastafarian and a detective at the same time. To those who articulate this bizarre hypothesis, a detective is an instrument of Babylon, spying on the people. Therefore, a novel that depicts a pair of Rastafarian detectives must be part of a nefarious conspiracy to infiltrate the Rastafarian movement with detectives spying on every one.
Obviously, any one who makes this wild claim has never actually read any of the Dread Eye Detective Agency novels. It is likely that such people can read properly at all. What is disturbing is that once such a claim is repeated on the internet, it can be taken up by those seeking further knowledge of the Rastafari culture and faith.
Why can’t Rastafarians be detectives? Do we not have the same desire as the rest of the human race to see communities enjoy peace and security? Do we not have the same intellectual capacity to investigate crime and bring offenders to justice?
I submit that the empty vessels repeating this absurd piece of pseudo-intellect are part of the Western lumpenproletariat that, by some strange twist of irony, have managed to establish themselves in the public eye as representative of the Rastafarian community. Not willing to work, blaming the “system” ad nauseaum.
It becomes more disturbing when one hears a Zimbabwean youth with dreadlocks repeating the same line: “I-man nuh deal wit’ detective an’dem kinda t’ing yuh know!” in the same accent. But then, he is just repeating what he has read, what is widely available to any one seeking information on Rastafari.
My heroine, Ce-Ce Chisango, tried to join the Zimbabwean police and was turned down because of its policy against dreadlocks. I don’t think there could be anything more contemporary Rastafarian than facing a type of discrimination that should have gone about the same time apartheid was lifted with the attainment of majority-rule in 1980, and finding an alternative route in life. Ce-Ce represents all that is good about the Rastafarian identity; she is educated, she has survived a bad marriage, she is accomplished and beautiful. If I could raise a daughter, I would want her to be like Ce-Ce. For anyone to see anything bad in that is strange.
There are police in the Bible. Many readers would have missed them because they are not called police or detectives in the Scriptures. They go by a rather curious name.

Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son- II Chronicles 18:25.

In Ancient Israel: Its Life and Institutions, Roland de Vaux notes “ The expression ben hammelek, ‘son of the king’, is, however, used several times in contexts which seem to imply that it does not mean a son in the proper sense” He cites several other Biblical references and concludes, “None of these men appear to elsewhere as a member of the royal family. It seems therefore that in these four instances the title ‘king’s son’ denotes an office. This conclusion is perhaps confirmed by two discoveries in Palestine, one of a seal, the other of a stamp from a signet-ring: both have a proper name, followed by ‘king’s son’ in the place where other seals mention their owner’s office. These officials were not of very high rank; Yoash is named after the governor of the city and in three instances out of four their intervention is connected with prisoners. Probably, therefore, the ben hammelek was a..... police officer. The explanation may be that this officer was perhaps chosen originally from among the king’s sons.”
As it turns out, I can actually corroborate this observation with one of the culture of Zimbabwe. Today, the various traditional leaders tend to have their enforcement officer from among their own sons or grandsons or nephews. I remember one time when my grandfather came to the city to ask my older cousin if he would take up the post. Even the modern police are referred to idiomatically as “vana vamambo”, literally, “the king’s sons”. How many have queried the origin of this expression without realising that it has comparisons in Old Testament times?
It is this heritage that Ce-Ce and Farai Chisango draw their inspiration from. The King whose sons they are is His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I. It is the Rastafarian ideals of justice that they uphold. It is the desire of the Rastafarian people for a society where the powerful are righteous and the weak secure that guides them.

Long time since I blogged

2010-12-07T08:35:00.000-08:00

I've just been too busy to sit down and do this. Trying to meet deadlines and at the same time settle in to Middlesbrough. Hard work for one man, but I am doing it!

Last Sunday I went to Castle Eden with an actor friend who was doing a pantomime there. The place is called that, but there is no castle and the latter part is actually a corruption of Yew Dene, which is how it was cited in the Domesday Book. Still, I liked the atmosphere. The people are welcoming and very well-mannered. I wouldn't mind staying in a place like that at all.

I will be posting up some more interesting stuff. Thanks be to all those who do visit this page. Rastafari Bless

Leaked CIO papers; Masimba Musodza exposed

2010-08-14T02:48:00.000-07:00

Away with the Fairies

2010-03-28T04:04:00.000-07:00

The last two weeks, Zimbabweans have been getting all worked out by rumours that the MDC was pushing for "gay rights" to be included in to this new Constitution that is supposed to be written before any new elections. Then Mr Tsvangirai came out and said he supported Mugabe's stance on homosexuality. I'll need to go through the articles again to see if the word "principled" was used.

So, of course, we have seen a plethora of writings-commentaries, letters to the editor etc reminding us that the Bible says homosexuality is a sin. (So are oppressing the nation, raping women, prostitution etc, but no one seems to mind these) If any of these writers bothered to actually read the Bible, they would note that Zimbabwean society has sunk so low that it lacks the moral ground on which to stand on and denounce homosexuality. The statistics on child neglect, prostitution, divorce rates, illegitimate children, corruption, substance abuse all paint a picture of a whole nation needing God's personal intervention.

In all this furore, it was forgotten that the "Gay rights" clauses were soundly rejected before the NCA authored constitution was adopted. This I was told by a cousin who was present. There was a huge uproar when someone asked what "sexual orientation" meant. The people were not going to stand for it then, they are not going to stand for it now. We are just not the sort of nation that is going to commit to paper the idea that a man and another man in a relationship is normal or the same as a man and a woman.

While everyone is flapping their lips about this matter, homosexuality continues. It has been part of Zimbabwe from day one, when President Banana liked to help himself to kudya kwevakuru. It is to be noted that there was never any public outrage, although everybody knew that it wasn't just for football that Prof. Banana liked to spend a lot of time with the soccer teams and boys's schools. It is also to be noted Mr Mugabe, who was then Prime Minister, never objected to his President's activities. He certainly knew about them, which was why he transferred all the aides and bodyguards who complained.

It's almost as if popular outrage against homosexuals is cued by Mugabe.

Whether a law is passed or not, there will still be men in Zimbabwe who prefer a stiff cock up their dirt tracks over the national pastimes of small house management, muramu rape, step-daughter incest and all the other practices that make us a well-rounded, warts-and-all nation. Keeping "Gay Rights" out of the constitution is not going to stop the homos. No, Siree.

So, why are we making a big fuss about that? Surely, there must be bigger issues right now?

Try this one for size:
_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

This is Owen Maseko, a Zimbabwean artist who was arrested on Friday together with the director of the Bulawayo National Arts Gallery, Voti Thebe, following the launch of an exhibition the day before. At the time of the arrest, they were not charged, prompting a human rights activist to remark that this was an unprecedented situation where people are arrested first and then charged later.

It has subsequently emerged that when they appear in Court tomorrow, they will be charged with "inciting hatred". This is because the subject of the exhibition is the Gukurahundi.

This arrest follows the confiscation of photographs at an exhibition in Harare and the arrest of the gallery's director. In the case of the Bulawayo National Arts Gallery, it was impossible for the police to seize the pictures as Maseko painted them on to the walls of the gallery. So, the police ordered everyone out.

These are clear cases of repression, and show to anyone that things have not improved. The people are still oppressed, there is no freedom of expression and our artists live in danger from the state.

But what do Zimbabweans get all worked up about? What outrages us enough to say something? Homosexuals, who are still having sex anyway, law or no law! And this is why we are still in this situation, even with the people's choice now a part of Government. Zimbabwe, you can stop it being put on paper as legitimate, but you can't stop a man from poking another man if they both agree to do it. Hell, unless you are actually there and are physically stronger or armed, you can't stop a man from poking another man even if the other man doesn't want to be poked. Same as you can't stop a lot of other sexual practices that do happen in Zimbabwe.

What you can stop is the continuing tyranny of Mugabe and this cosy arrangement they call the GPA. What you can stop is the police telling us what we can express ourselves about and what we can't. There were homos in 1980, and there will be homos in 2080, but should there be Mugabe still giving this nation a hard time?

Will you have the guts to rise up, or is it we only become bold advocates when it comes to a small group of people who could leave plenty of luggage room if we got them on a plane to where what they do is considered normal?

Priorities, Zimbabwe.

So, it's Tsvanctions now, is it?

2010-01-30T12:14:00.000-08:00

"I hope and believe that the people of Zimbabwe will hear one message from this House today, that we stand with them at this moment of opportunity for their country and that we share their demand for a democratic future. For obvious reasons, the fragility of the current situation means that I, and I am sure all Honourable Members, will want to choose their words carefully, given the risk that what we say will be distorted....Mr Speaker, no one in this House would want me to hand Zanu-PF a propaganda coup...", David Miliband, M.P., British Foreign Secretary, statement to the Commons, April 2008

It would appear that Mr Miliband should have taken his own advice, and chosen his words carefully lately. These have been distorted, and effectively given Zanu-PF a propaganda coup. Even the appendix in Zimbabwe's political corpus (or should that be corpse considering the viability of just about every other organ?) Professor Arthur Mutambara dusted his soapbox and came out in a tirade against the British. Most of us had even forgotten about him. And how they have been crowing over it! According to the Herald, this was the ultimate proof that it is the MDC that told the British to impose sanctions.

Reason Wafawarova, who has reduced Zimbabwe's options to just two-homeland or death- and chose Australia and life for himself, came out questioning whether MDC-T is a democracy or aristocracy. If you think the heading is meaningless, you haven't seen the opening remarks. Objectively, of course, Wafawarova is an excellent writer in the finest Orwellian tradition. Orwellian as in Ministry of Truth doublethink, that is. "David Miliband, the British foreign and Commonwealth secretary articulately enlightened the whole world in the clearest of terms that the British foreign policy on Zimbabwe is "above all" guided by the MDC-T leadership." Did he now, Reason?

The Herald even came out with an "expose" on the Bilderberg Conference. I know it was trendy in the 1920s, but most intelligent folk cringe now when they see conspiracy theories aired in mainstream newspapers. But most intelligent folk do not read The Herald any more, unless, like me, sometimes they absolutely have to. As one friend puts it, "It's like a prostitute, you know she's probably got some fungal infection or worse, but she's there, and you got a few dollars to spare and you're lonely and no one need know." Disturbing, yes, but so is a newspaper that reinvents reality constantly.

Pet hate, the smug pseudo-revolutionary Dr Tafataona Mahoso, has brought out Klein again. He must not have noticed that Zanu-PF's own policies are tantamount to an application of The Shock Doctrine on Zimbabwe.

All these are just words, of course. The real action has been the threat by Zanu-PF to abandon the GPA talks unless MDC-T calls off the sanctions. According to them, it's no use saying that a Zimbabwean party cannot dictate foreign policy to the British Government because the British Foreign Secretary told the Commons that his Government will get advice from the MDC on when to lift the sanctions.

Does anyone, whether in Zanu or opposition, seriously believe that MDC can tell the British what to do? Whether the British can tell MDC what to do is still being contested in saner circles, but has been established as fact by Herald House and Homeland-or-Death Wafawarova and a dozen fringe "Pan-African" groups in America. Given by the media furore over the matter, I suppose the answer to my question must be a sad yes.

They are being called British sanctions, but they are in fact EU sanctions. They were imposed on Zimbabwe not because of the land issue, but came after the Mugabe regime refused to allow an EU elections observer team to visit polling stations. The EU is accusing the Mugabe regime of undermining democracy in Zimbabwe. I don't need to refer to articles or cut and paste stuff from the net for that one- I was in Zimbabwe at the time and can state that the Mugabe regime was in fact undermining democracy. Whether the EU was right in imposing sanctions is something I will not say.

Fast forward to the GPA. I have opposed the GPA from day one because I felt that there was insincerity on both sides. (OK, 3 sides but no one really voted for Mutambara, you know) It struck me that Zanu is going for it because it is a time buying measure. In fact, for the last decade all they have been doing is buying time. And MDC is in it for the fact that they may be getting tired of the struggle and want a taste of the good life that being a Zimbabwean Government minister offers. For Zanu, the GPA was never meant to reach its declared objective- free and fair elections.

David Miliband's words have given them something to grope on in their desperate bid to prevent free and fair elections from ever happening.

Betty Makoni needs to talk to the people

2009-12-28T09:33:00.000-08:00

About a month ago, she was on every body’s lips. For she was poised to win the CNN Hero of the Year Award in recognition of her work through the charity she founded, the Girl Child Network, to direct public attention to the widespread sexual abuse of young girls in Zimbabwe. She had also played a major role in garnering public contribution towards Taremeredzwa Nomatter Mapungwana’s operation to remove a tumour that had disfigured her face and had just about made eating and breathing impossible. For many of us, Betty Makoni or Muzvare Betty Makoni as she is popularly known despite being a married woman (Muzvare means “Miss” but it is still proper for her to use the title as Makoni is her maiden name) represented Zimbabwe’s most noble values.

My admiration for her predates these recent campaigns. Like her, I am a firm believer in the empowerment of women through education. I share the sentiments she expressed once in an interview that the content of some popular music, which depicts girls merely as sex objects is fuelling a culture of abuse. In fact, it was through her work that I was inspired to write the forthcoming Zizi reRima (alternatively titled Shavi Rechikadzi). I included her on my list of Zimbabwean heroes.

The Taremeredzwa campaign struck me as ushering a new era in Zimbabwean philanthropy. It signified to me that as an African nation, we had decided to make a difference without the paternalistic guidance of Western donor agencies. It attested to that Obama catchword-Yes, we can! After this, it seemed as if there is nothing that we cannot do.

This week, this new vision is falling apart. Just as at the Tower of Babel, we have woken up and found ourselves speaking languages incomprehensible to each other. It is as if some higher power, having seen that "Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."

Well that is just one way of looking at the recent developments; the allegations doing the rounds that Muzvare Betty Makoni may not be quite the selfless champion of young girl’s rights we all thought she was. OK, maybe selfless is not quite the word to describe a woman who displays pictures of herself in the company of world celebrities, but the fact remains that Makoni had become established as a Zimbabwean icon. Not since the days of Mai Musodzi have we seen a Zimbabwean woman become widely noted as our answer to the likes of Florence Nightingale, Mary Seacole and others. (Amai Sally Mugabe, unfortunately, is too associated with an unpopular political regime and will be remembered more sending money to Ghana than her work with orphans.)

Now, Muzvare Betty Makoni is being accused of being responsible for financial irregularities within both the Girl Child Network and the Taremeredzwa Campaign. Some of the accusations come from Zimbabwe, where it has been said that she may have a case to answer regarding the use of donor funds. Then, there are allegations that some of the girls she helped would like to change their statements about alleged rape, statements which may overturn many convictions. It is further alleged that some of the centres that were supposed to house the girls do not exist or have been abandoned. There are also bizarre stories involving witchcraft and tame C.I.O. agents used to intimidate people who questioned the modus operandum of the Girl Child Network and financial irregularities.

Are any of these stories true? I have been hearing them for a long time, but I have to say at this stage that I cannot answer that one. Nor have I asked Makoni or any of the people who worked with her, including those making some of these allegations to confirm or deny them. I gather that the police in the United Kingdom have been approached, so it may be soon that we hear the facts.

Right now, I am more concerned at the damage that these allegations have begun to impact on what had begun to emerge as Zimbabwean charity. The Taremeredzwa Campaign had shown that we Zimbabweans do not need some glib Western NGO to show initiative and perseverance and that we can achieve visible results. Some time ago, when the End Poverty Campaign was all the rage in the United Kingdom, Metro newspaper featured an article in which an expert said that it was Africans living abroad who made a more meaningful contribution to the Motherland than all those aid agencies. Not to take away anything from Oxfam, The Red Cross etc, but Africans are more aware of the problems back home and what would make a real difference and what wouldn’t. African generosity to one’s own community is not guided by the vagaries of international politics.

Now, that surging confidence is dealt a deadly blow. Who wants to support a campaign when the fear that in a matter of weeks they will be reading about how those spearheaded the campaign made the money disappear as “expenses” or organised workshops in plush hotels with it, or that they may have exaggerated a little on the extent of the problem that needed those funds?

Whether the allegations are true or not, this should have been a major concern for Makoni as a pioneer philanthropist. Whether it is or not, I feel she has not done enough to show it. She should realise that if her name and the work she is doing are in disrepute, it will be a smear on the whole of Zimbabwe. That is not fair, I agree, but that is how this world works.

Responding by “exposing” some of those who have written about the allegations as agents of the Mugabe regime is not a very wise move. Every body knows that Makoni survived this long in Zimbabwe by not getting involved in politics. It is even rumoured that she is a beneficiary of the farm invasions. Nothing sinister in that, yes, but it throws water out of any claims of bad blood with the Mugabe regime. Blaming Mugabe for everything has become a tired old record; it doesn’t seem to be working for Peter Thatchell who points a finger at the beating he had a few years ago by the despot’s bodyguards for the fact that he won’t be standing for Parliament. We had all forgotten about that beating. In fact, we had all forgotten about him.

Posting alleged messages from Taremedzerwa on facebook is not going to help either, even if a dozen sycophants click the "like" button or dutifully leave a comment. It is asking too much of your average Zimba's credulity. If the young lady has something to say, why doesn't she do it herself? The fact that some of the rumours circulating include allegations of intimidation and bullying on the part of Makoni do not help at all. Tare should make her own statements, but so too should Makoni.

Here’s a possible statement I would have issued if I had been Makoni’s PR guy.

“Ms Makoni is deeply upset by the allegations circulating which question the work that she has been doing over the last few years. She is concerned that such allegations, which she denies emphatically, could have an impact on that work as they will undoubtedly shake some of the confidence that members of the public have placed in her and in the Girl Child Network.

At this stage, Ms Makoni feels that she may have overlooked the stringent charity and banking laws of this country and has initiated steps to acquaint herself with them and to restructure the Girl Child Network accordingly. She hopes that members of the public will consider the fact that she has only started operating in this country for a few months, and while there could have been more diligence on the part of not just herself but other members of staff more directly involved with the funds, Ms Makoni stresses that there was never any transaction conducted in bad faith. Even now, the matter is being resolved internally, although she will welcome any enquiry by the Charities Commission or even the police.”

Magnanimous enough to make people stop and think before joining what may become a lynch mob. I am one of those still hoping that all these stories will be found to be untrue. There is much more at stake than just one personality. There is the whole idea of how we Zimbabweans can transform our society. That is too important to leave to sensationalism, wild speculation and denial.

Rastafarian Crowned King in Malawi

2009-12-01T02:23:00.000-08:00

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I at His Coronation as the "Great King of Malawi" by that nation's traditional rulers on his visit in 1965. One of these rulers is Limbane's forebear. And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord and his name one-Zecharaiah 14:9

The Rastafarian world receieves with great joy the following news from Malawi, courtesy of Bro Paliani Chinguwo:

Rastafari greetings!

This coming sunday 6th of December 2009 will enter the annals of history as far as the Rastafari faith is concerned. A man of the Rastafari faith will be crowned king in Malawi. This will be the first Ras ever known to become a king in Malawi and probably the first one across the whole world unless proven otherwise. Of particular interest is the fact that a distant grand father of this Ras by the name of King Mponda was one of the three kings representing the nations of Malawi who crowned His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie on 3rd August 1965 as 'GREAT KING OF MALAWI.' This was during HIM's historic visit to Malawi.

Rases acrosss the world are hereby encouraged to send congratulatory messages to this king. SmS texts would do. The number of this Ras is:+265 999 289 094 and his name is Ras Limbani.

I phoned him this morning and he told me that the ceremony was initially scheduled to take place yesterday the29th December 2009. But it had to be shifted to next sunday inorder to accomodate a member of parliament in the area where the coronation is to take place.

Find attached a newspaper article about this which appeared in one of the dailies in Malawi. It is in the local language. But effort has been made to transilate it into English. Hence find the transilation which is below:

MALAWI NEWS 28TH NOVEMBER T0 4TH DECEMBER 2009

Coronation of Makata In Ndirande Tomorrow!

People of the Rastafari Faith are generally despised by the society as hemp smokers and counter productive in all aspects of community life. The coronation of a Rastafarian by the name of Limbani Evance Somanje Makata as King Makata poses to disprove this entrenched misconception. His coronation takes place in Ndirande (Blantyre city) tomorrow and will be witnessed by the district commissioner of Blantyre (governor), kings from within Blantyre city like King Somba, King Makata and King Kapeni among others. The 32 year old King told the reporter that society should patiently wait for the manifestation of the works of his hands rather than prematurely judge him on the basis of his faith.

Paliani

Just as African people felt that the election of Mr Barak Obama as President of the United States, so too Rastafarian people will see the coronation of Limbani as an event that we can all take pride in as a sign that we are emerging from the fringes of society.

And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?-Mark 12:10-11

Glory be to the King of Kings who makes these things possible.

What's this Twat's Problem?

2009-10-23T17:17:00.000-07:00

For once, the holder of the prestigious Complete-and-Utter-Twat-of-the-Week Award is not a Zimbabwean politician. Nor is it Dr Mahoso, or any of my other pet dislikes. The winner lives right across the Atlantic, and he does share much with this lot.

Meet Jon Falkowski, aka Ras Jon Falkowski, aka Ras Jon Jon, aka Yohanes Falkowski, aka Ras Yohanes aka Ras Jon Far I ("my spiritual name, bitch!") of Chicago, Illinois in the land that a fictional Kazakh reporter refers to as the U.S. and A.

I first came across Mr Falkowski on the rastafarispeaks message board, where I argued in favour of racial integration and accommodation of Rastafarians who are not necessarily of African descent. He then sent me an e-mail explaining that as he was Polish-Hispanic, he had faced rejection in some Rastafarian circles. As we discussed issues, he would express outrage at the comments directed at me from some of the American and West Indian Rastafarians. "They call you an uncle tom, but you're a freedom fighter" he gushed. Several times he would insist that I was his mentor. We also talked on the phone a few times.

Let me state that I never encouraged any of this fawning praise. I only tolerated it because I got the impression that here was a young man who wished to belong to the Rastafari nation and was being discouraged because of the racist attitudes that seem prevalent in America. At any rate, I correspond with thousands of people over some 4 e-mail accounts.

The following message was sent to me by a very distinguished Jamaican Rastafarian as early as 2007:

"Blessings
Jon has a MySpace where you can find him. I have no email address.

i get a little paranoid when people ask so many questions. I have
encountered too many intelligence officers parading as 'journalists'. Jon
seems too interested in using me as an info source, when all the info he
needs about Rasta can be found online. Asking me about individuals seems
like he wants my opinion - negative or positive - that can be used
elsewhere.
I have stopped writing to him.

ONE LOVE"

To which I replied:

"Rastafari Greetings
>
>First, I must apologise for the silence. But with this
>work, there is no chance for me at the moment.
>
>Ras Jon Falkowski is a young man from Chicago. He's of
>Polish and Latino extraction, but identifies himself
>more with his Aztech heritage. I don't blame him, when
>they weren't flaying prisoners of war and dancing in
>their skins or dashing the still palpitating hearts of
>victims against altars to ensure sunrise, they were
>terrific people.
>
>Yes, now that you do mention it he does come accross
>as someone more interested with people than the
>philosophy of Rastafari. I would it put it down to his
>age ( boy, I'm getting old to be able to say that). He
>is at that stage where he is still fascinated by the
>idea of associating with distinguished Rastafarians,
>he is seeking a place to belong. But he does have many
>questions to ask, so I think he 's just trying to soak
>as much knowledge as he can from the foremost
>authority on the subject.
>
>But at the end of the day, like you suggested, he
>could be suspect. Still, what is he going to do?
>
>Are you still in touch with him, because I haven't had
>a chance to link up in a long time. Let me check my
>other inbox, his messages must be piling up
>
>Stay blessed. "

And to which I got the following:

"Re Jon, he is not just curious. For instance, for someone trying to be
Rasta, he NEVER uses Rasta greetings, praises or words in his messages.
Then, he seems to me always trying to get me to give him information about
PERSONS, while such information is available online. I feel him trying to
find out what I think about that person, whether I am involved in whatever
that person is doing. I've been 'interviewed' by so many intelligence
officers from around the world, that I've gotten used to sorting them out
from the merely curious.

I won't go into any other details of my suspicion about 'Jon", but I keep
him in my MySpace Friends just to see what he will come up with next. It's
always good to be aware when one is an 'person of interest'. I am certain
you fall in this category also, so exercise similar caution, please.

ONE LOVE"

I thought this distinguished person was reading too much in to this. But she is from an older generation from mine, from a time when the Rastafarian Movement began to become visible all over the world and alarmed governments began to take an interest in it. Documents that are now being made public show that in many countries, intelligence was gathered on the faith and its adherents. So, I would not say she was being paranoid. But at the same time, I was hardly in a position to share her suspicions as I am from a generation where Rastafari does not attract that kind of attention from the authorities.

By the way, I have declined to name this "distinguished Rastafarian" for the simple fact that the correspondence was private.

Nevertheless, her warning came to mind when I added Falkowski to my friends list and then he started adding members of my family to his own list!!! At first, I raised an eyebrow at this, but then I got the following message from one of them. Translations are in parenthesis.

August 9 at 7:17pm
ko ndakubvunzwa nezvako chii. taura neni. [By the way, I am being quizzed about you. What's all that about. Talk to me.
Sent via Facebook Mobile

My reply: August 10 at 5:03pm
Hmm. What do you think?

August 11 at 11:42am
i thnk his a lner, lunatic, psycho, every thng negative...why is he duin it? morning,
Sent via Facebook Mobile

To which I reply: August 11 at 12:21pm
This is where the problem is. Until I can work out why he's doing it, I am not sure what course of action to take.

August 11 at 12:42pm
jus hope he is nt out to harm u,,,kind of thng..
Sent via Facebook Mobile

To which I reply: August 11 at 1:00pm
Well, he may not be trying to harm me, but the information he harvests may be of use to those that do.

In the end, I asked those of my family to remove him from their friends' lists. A few weeks later, uploaded pictures of a talk I gave at a London library, attended by one of my aunts. Falkowski passed what I regarded as inappropriate comments and I cautioned him against this behaviour. However, he carried on, so I removed him from my friends' list.

Between Ras Yohannes Falkowski and You
Julius Masimba Musodza August 28 at 5:26pm
I'm not going to ask you again to leave my aunt alone

Ras Yohannes FalkowskiAugust 28 at 9:49pm Report
sorry man

I didn't know man, sorry i just thought she was someone else bro sorry man i apolagaise for that my man.

RAS JON Ras Yohannes FalkowskiAugust 28 at 10:04pm Report
plus
why you figthing i over my post of who the true isreal is, from Ras Yadon site oh i suppose you belive ephraim and mannesah is england and america like the brtish-isrealis belive, or are you going to put fact with history that black and brown, and the red aka native americans are the real isrealites, even most native people belive they come from a tribe in isreal.
RAS JON

At the same time, I had expressed my disagreement with the Hebrew-Israelite doctrine that he had started to embrace.

And so the e-mails flew; protests, pleas etc. I explained to him that I was OK with the faux pas over my aunt-we are from different cultures-but I felt that it was best that contact with my family was kept to a minimum. ( I don't have any links with his family or friends) As for the Hebrew-Israelite stuff that he was now in to, as far as I was concerned that was not part of the Rastafarian Faith. He was free to choose his own path, of course, but I no longer wished to be associated with him.

And that is what leads us to the following verbal diaorrhea. There is more-comments on my youtube channel:These are both from 23 October 2009

Falkowski82 (21 hours ago) Remove | Block User | Spam Marked as spam
why don't u write a book about what we can do for zimbabwe, and africa and the world and stop wasting your time on this cop nonesense.
RAS JON FAR I

Falkowski82 (21 hours ago) Remove | Block User | Spam Marked as spam
Rasta's are not cops.Cops hate rasta's and u want to write story's about rasta cops, man i think you are informant for mi-6.
RAS JON FAR I

The following is the bulk of the e-mail from this guy. I am publishing it here because I have reason to believe that he will be on some sort of campaign against me on the internet. This is a man with plenty of time on his hands, it would appear. Why he would choose to focus on me is nearly impossible to fathom, not even my other haters from rastafarispeaks etc have time for me. I know that most Rastafarians are not as excitable, but just in case anyone is wondering if there is more to this very disturbed young man these e-mails may make interesting reading.

I don't think that he can harm me in any way, but as I said-the things he says may be used by those who can. The only changes I made there were to remove my e-mail address. A futile move, as he may circulate it.

Read on, please......

Re: none Print | New Window Full Message Jonathan Falkowski to you - 4 hrs ago
More Details From: Jonathan Falkowski Hide Add to: To Do, Calendar To: MASIMBA MUSODZA Cc:Bcc:Date:Sat, Oct 24, 2009 6:55 pm I18N YGP.SaveAll I18N YGP.SaveProgress I18N YGP.ViewAfterSave

plus

I stop talking to you, but that dosen't mean i won't respond to anything you write on any boards or anything cause i man talk to so many people who see how confuse you are on your posts and all that and they well be responding to you, after how you talk to me and they call you plenty of names but let it be knows wasn't i who started this, it was you cause you have issues with people who think diffrent then you and you attack them for no reason instead of saying ok that's what Ras Jon belives so be it, but no you got fight i and fight you got cause you have so no good responses to i at all. So you see i see why you ain't married and never get a women, or ever unite with other rasta's cause you are all about yourself and that's that, so i still consider u a rasta brother by faith but's that's that and nothing else, and i know plent of zimbaweans who are more open minded then you and there in zimbabwe.

So again we end here, but i man say you have a lot to learn in this trod of life.
RAS JON FAR I

Re: none Print | New Window Full Message Jonathan Falkowski to you - 4 hrs agoMore Details From: Jonathan Falkowski Hide Add to: To Do, Calendar To: MASIMBA MUSODZA
:Bcc:Date:Sat, Oct 24, 2009 6:48 pm

maybe?

RAS JON FAR I

From: MASIMBA MUSODZA
To: jonf112482@yahoo.com
Sent: Fri, October 23, 2009 4:28:35 PM
Subject: Re: none

Mr Falkowski

Thank you so much for being done talking to me. I assume this will mean that you will leave me in peace?

From:
Jonathan Falkowski Hide
Add to: To Do, Calendar
To: MASIMBA MUSODZA
Date:
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 9:48 pm

plus

Honestly i am done talking to you, but i well link the sanctury and we well reson and isn't funny how you can't link them but i got someone who knows them and well have me link them, cause i man never give up and i am a rastaman a isrealite one. You my friend see how all rasta's or most ones i know view you and your thoughts and they laugh at you and call u out, but you act all tough here on the net but i bit you a little sissy and wouldn't talk to me like this face to face, cause you be on the ground and you see all my rasta friends are blacks from africa, jamaica, and black americans most are ones you never want to miss with, and you are a traitor to your country, and i am sure most sanctury rasta's agree with i about zimbawe and mugabe and see what a sell out you are. Plus i see you on any forum spreading misinformation i have my peeps ready to respond to you cause there on alert, about you so be on the look out plus no one i know cares about your books cause they don't deal with rasta, just rubbish and nonesense and you see how you can't fit any rasta group cause when they speak about liberation u told me you walk away, and your waste of time and i see how you are, hyper senstive human being like how you left facebook even after i said i was sorry, and many of your relatives on there i still talk to and they can't understand why you got so angry about that.

But this is the end, and if i see you in london i wonder well you come to my face or well you turn and run away i bit you do the last.

RAS JON FAR I

From: "MASIMBA MUSODZA"
To: jonf112482@yahoo.com
Sent: Fri, October 23, 2009 3:14:40 PM
Subject: Re: none
This should be interesting. Tell them I am MI-6 and all that. I can see Asheber and all the clergy laughing themselves silly at you.

Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Falkowski
To: MASIMBA MUSODZA
Sent: Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:59 pm
Subject: Re: none
oh by the way

I got a link for the holy sanctury in zimbabwe, someone told me they know someone who i can link with and i well tell them about you belive me.

RAS JON FAR I

From: "MASIMBA MUSODZA"
To: jonf112482@yahoo.com
Sent: Fri, October 23, 2009 1:50:05 PM
Subject: Re: none
I didn't say you dress like Ali Baba, I asked if you do. Why are you afraid of questions, Mr Falkowski? Who told you the Hebrew-Israelites dress is based on Coptic and Ethiopian garments? All those links you sent me, didn't see a single qamis, shamma or kuta.

Are you backtracking on the whole Hebrew-Israelite thing now? Which is which now? Are you or aren't you?

-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Falkowski
To: MASIMBA MUSODZA
Sent: Fri, Oct 23, 2009 7:37 pm
Subject: Re: none
Trying to educate you

You are no rasta and you no african, your a white man and a shell that you are in and your books suck ass cause no rasta is a cop or dective, and everything you belive is anti-rasta your the racist for saying i dress like ali baba, when the isrealites base there dress codes on coptic and ethiopian garments. I ain't no isrealite or bebrew isrealite follower but i raspect a bit of what they say, as i do garveites,muslims, moors, percenters etc, we may disagree here and there but we still get along, plus i ain't the one who belives in people taking body shape forms like reptillan allies like u do, i am nuts for beliving in the true isreal.

See told u must rast's laugh at you, and what friends do u have who go against what i say?

RAS JON FAR I

From: "MASIMBA MUSODZA"
To: jonf112482@yahoo.com
Sent: Fri, October 23, 2009 12:25:11 PM
Subject: Re: none

Hey, Falkowski, have you noticed that you are more obsessed with skin-colour (both yours and mine) than anything else. What exactly does your friend mean when he says you are doing a good job. What job is that?

-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Falkowski
To: MASIMBA MUSODZA
Sent: Fri, Oct 23, 2009 4:15 pm
Subject: Re: none
Ras Jon, everything is well, how are you and how's the family? I read your words, you are doing a good job, them man deh a sell out, Ras Jon, he's trying to be like a european to fit in their society. Let me know when i can telephone you and we can reason about this.Take care, liviana say hi, one love Jah RastafariRas Order

This is from a rasta mentor of mine, a binghi elder who dad was one of the first rasta and he read your words and said this about u, and oh he is jamaican.

So u see who are my friends know bitch.

RAS JON FAR I

From: "MASIMBA MUSODZA"
To: jonf112482@yahoo.com
Sent: Fri, October 23, 2009 4:59:52 AM
Subject: Re: none

White side? I thought you said you were darker than me or something. You are still Polish though, that is your father's bloodline-that is the only one that is considered in my culture, not the colour of your skin. There is no such thing as mixed-race in my language or part-this or that. Who's the racist now, Mr Falkowski?

-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Falkowski
To: MASIMBA MUSODZA
Sent: Fri, Oct 23, 2009 3:43 am
Subject: Re: none
Why are you so fiated on my white side.

Cause u want to be one which is obvious, look you are a uncle tom cause you blame everything on your country on mugabe and knowing he is doing what most africans should do stand up to the west. And grab them by the balls and make them see the wrongs of there ways, most zimbabwean rasta's especially bobo support mugabe and i show them your posts and think your a lost cause.

So what do u do, for zimbabwe tell me what? i man am helping ones down there and sending money and u just bitching in a country that created the situation for u in the first place.
RAS JON

From: "MASIMBA MUSODZA"
To: jonf112482@yahoo.com
Sent: Thu, October 22, 2009 4:52:29 PM
Subject: Re: none

Mr Falkowski, this is all very interesting, I am sure, but what does it have to do with you being a Polish-American? What does you talking to my dumb ass or being an uncle Tom have to do with it either? These other rasta, are they Polish-American as well?

-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Falkowski
To: MASIMBA MUSODZA
Sent: Thu, Oct 22, 2009 10:35 pm
Subject: Re: none
U know what

I am tired of talking to you your dumb ass, in fact i well still be watching your post and i already have your things you say sent to other ras i know who know about u and what u say, And let it be known next time you hear from me you well hear from other rasta's as well. I am going to warn all my idrens about you and who u are, and i already send this discussion when been having today to them, and they tell me and know about u from your post on you tube, world of jah and all that so next time u want to say something to me it well be more parties invovled, so i suggest u watch what u say.

RAS JON FAR I

From: "MASIMBA MUSODZA"
To: jonf112482@yahoo.com
Sent: Thu, October 22, 2009 4:16:25 PM
Subject: Re: none

Falkowski, tell me something I don't know. I think Beethoven's African ancestry is a matter of record. But what does any of this have to do with you being polish-American?

-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Falkowski
To: MASIMBA MUSODZA
Sent: Thu, Oct 22, 2009 9:50 pm
Subject: Re: none
oh

So you belive the european white man thing, so i guess you worship a white christ and hanson was a black man and there even pics and proff of him that are on the net, so i see you just should me what type a person you are a fucking boot licking uncle tom, the other one i sent you was vincentte guerro who was mexico first black president.

See u proved yourself, you ain't no african or black man you a negro uncle tom you are what malcom warned us about and u should it.

So i suppose u think beethoven ain't black either right?

RAS JON FAR I

From: "MASIMBA MUSODZA"
To: jonf112482@yahoo.com
Sent: Thu, October 22, 2009 3:44:52 PM
Subject: Re: none
Everyone knows this type of info, Falkwoski. Those of us who have actually researched in to the subject know that the John Hanson who led Congress was a White man. The other Johnson who is Black is in fact a Liberian Senator, who existed some 100 years later from the first one.

Oh, I am roasting. Any more things you think are important?

-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Falkowski
To: MASIMBA MUSODZA
Sent: Thu, Oct 22, 2009 9:31 pm
Subject: Re: none
http://www.dickgregory.com/dick/14_washington.html

Suppose u didn't know this type of info.

RAS JON FAR I

From: "MASIMBA MUSODZA"
To: jonf112482@yahoo.com
Sent: Thu, October 22, 2009 3:15:42 PM
Subject: Re: none

Mr Falkowski, it has been interesting. Now will you find someone else to burn?

-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Falkowski
To: MASIMBA MUSODZA
Sent: Thu, Oct 22, 2009 9:09 pm
Subject: Re: none
And

You are a uncle tom negro, ask u this how come everyone know in zimbawe supports mugabe everyone i know there does and likes him and agrees with what he does, onasis does and some other people i know down there agree with him, and see him as a leader.
so u see i man see u as a liar and a person of misinformation, and hell no i ain't going away so u better get your dukes up and fight and stop being a little pussy.

RAS JON FAR I

From: "MASIMBA MUSODZA"
To: jonf112482@yahoo.com
Sent: Thu, October 22, 2009 2:58:24 PM
Subject: Re: none

I said AMERICANS are vulgar. Drop as many names as you like, but you are still Polish. Now go away

-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Falkowski
To: MASIMBA MUSODZA
Sent: Thu, Oct 22, 2009 8:54 pm
Subject: Re: none
well

If you know your history which you don't most latin americans, are mix with a variety of thingseven though where brown and haven maybe white names are minds are brown minds and some like u sell out to the cracker. Polish i man drop that name and got a bless spritual name from a binghi idren RAS JON FAR I which no one ever gave u name, and no i am not leaving you alone cause i am burning fire on you and i suggest, you watch what u say cause i man been trained by many ras on spritual warfare and i am study many texts in amharic as well, and no things you don't so be warned.

plus you saying all mexicans are vulgar, yeah ask the zimbwean girl that after i got done with her that one time, why u think women like us so much.
RAS JON FAR I

From: "MASIMBA MUSODZA"
To: jonf112482@yahoo.com
Sent: Thu, October 22, 2009 2:33:52 PM
Subject: Re: none
Let's not split hairs, American. Being born in Mexico doesn't mean anything. If you want an ethnic group, then you are Polish where I am sure they'll be having a Black President soon too.

You talk like one. You are as vulgar as one too, and have the same preference for crankpot theories and pseudohistory over simple facts.. As you Americans say, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck....

-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Falkowski
To: MASIMBA MUSODZA
Sent: Thu, Oct 22, 2009 3:27 pm
Subject: Re: none
First off

I am not american by brith, i was born in mexico where we had the first black president in history vincentte guerro a warrior.

So don't call me an american.

JON

From: "sayfu@mail..com"
To: jonf112482@yahoo.com
Sent: Wed, October 21, 2009 9:12:59 PM
Subject: Re: none

"Well man also i nah hold grudge and i man still want to reason with you, and talk just because we have diffrent viewpoints don't mean we still can't talk. All i am saying is why u fight the belive that blacks, hispanic, and native people are the true isreal. when u know we are, cause it says so in the bible and just study history i send u a wealth of info you should study and then come to a conclusion."

I think I made it quite clear that I do not subscribe to the doctrine that you are propounding, so why are you saying "when you know we are". It doesn't say so in the Bible, not in mine anyway. Your "wealth" of "information" is based on what is now commonly called PSEUDOHISTORY..

Speaking of open minds, I have a saying; If you open your mind too much, your brains will fall out.

It doesn't matter if its from Yadonis or Ladonis or indeed any other donis-it is a distortion of Rastafari, something which you Americans seem to make some sort of life's work.

Look, basically when I see you swallow this "true israel" nonsense, you lower yourself in my eyes. I don't think you are the sort of company I care to associate with. It's been nice knowing you, I am sure you will find plenty of like-minded people on the internet to be israel with.

Now stop bugging me.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Falkowski
To: MASIMBA MUSODZA
Sent: Wed, Oct 21, 2009 7:48 pm
Subject: Re: none
Nah man

Not denounce you i wanted to at least be open minded and see the facts i was presenting, and give it a chance without jumping to conclusions. I am not a hebrew isrelaite thought a rastaman is a isrealite because we are the true isreal. And i man nah even agree with most of them the facts i was showing you, was from yadonis and other ras cause it's facts, and you didn't want to give it a chance which is sad cause as a rasta u should be open to everything, and know right from wrong.

So what about it, u don't agree with cause you being froma hebrew isrealite sect of rasta should at least understand what we are coming from.

RAS JON

From: "MASIMBA MUSODZA"
To: jonf112482@yahoo.com
Sent: Wed, October 21, 2009 11:56:24 AM
Subject: Re: none

You are amazing. Did you not denounce me as lost a few messages ago after I refused to go for that Hebrew-Israelite stuff that you are in to? So, what do you want from me now?

-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Falkowski
To: MASIMBA MUSODZA
Sent: Wed, Oct 14, 2009 7:01 pm
Subject: none

Idren how are u, please linki man still want to be the i friend and reason more i miss are talks please keep in touch.

RAS JON

Jonathan Falkowski Hide Add to: To Do, Calendar
To: MASIMBA MUSODZA
Cc:Bcc:Date:Mon, Sep 7, 2009 3:11 am I18N YGP.SaveAll I18N YGP.SaveProgress I18N YGP.ViewAfterSave

Re: none Print | New Window Full Message Jonathan Falkowski to you - Sep 3More Details From: Jonathan Falkowski Hide Add to: To Do, Calendar To: MASIMBA MUSODDZA Cc:Bcc:Date:Thu, Sep 3, 2009 3:52 am

http://www.houseofdavid.info/HispanicHistory..html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: MASIMBA MUSODDZA
To: Jonathan Falkowski
Sent: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 7:03:32 PM
Subject: Re: none

A book I seriously recommend is this one http://www.amazon.com/Mumbo-jumbo-Conquered-World-Francis-Wheen/dp/0007140975/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251936492&sr=1-2 ;

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Falkowski"
To: "MASIMBA MUSODDZA"
Subject: Re: none
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 14:14:17 -0700 (PDT)

Greets

I send you the article again with the scriptures tribes, and all that regarding this topic and that is the best way to show you what i am saying. And if you can't see the truth with the biblical refernces and all that then that's you maybe it's time to lay off the stephen king, and james bond type stories and write about us the oppress masses of humanity who are still deaf, dumb , blind in this world.

Know i am talking to you like the hebrew isrelaites when it come to the emperor, but at least they understand these simple facts and when you show them things they get it.

so this is my last time discussing this with you.

RAS JON

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: MASIMBA MUSODDZA
To: Jonathan Falkowski
Sent: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 3:40:40 PM
Subject: Re: none

Selamte

Before we delve in to all this, I asked you about the list of tribes, which places Black Americans as Judha, Haitans as Levites etc. Can you answer how this was arrived at, with all the documentation?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Falkowski"
To: "MASIMBA MUSODDZA"
Subject: Re: none
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 19:54:35 -0700 (PDT)

Bible Says

We are strangers in a strange land, we well be taking to a new egypt this time in boats in we well be here for four hundred years who you think there talking about, The black slave descendents in the west america and the carribean and latin america why you think there black olmecs in mexico and all that, also we the native people are isrealites by lineage and plus with are descendents from africa we have many isrealite customes, study the aztecs, apaches, incas your answear well be there, plus they use to call mexico city new jeruslaem.

So who you think are the isrealites are, if it's not the black and mexican native people answear that.

RAS JON
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: MASIMBA MUSODDZA
To: Jonathan Falkowski
Sent: Tuesday, September 1, 2009 3:24:44 PM
Subject: Re: none

Selamte

You haven't showed me ANY evidence to support your claims, I'm afraid.

Take this for example

JUDAH = So-called "African-Americans"; NEGROS

BENJAMIN = So-called "West Indians"; Afro-Caribbeans

LEVI = HAITIANS

SIMEON = DOMINICANS

ZEBULON = GUATEMALA to PANAMA

EPHRAIM = PUERTO RICANS

MANASSEH = CUBANO

GAD = North American "INDIANS"

REUBEN = SEMINOLE Indians

NAPHTALI = ARGENTINA & CHILE

ASHER = COLOMBIA to URUGUAY

ISSACHAR = MEXICANS

How did you arrive at this? where is the proof?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Falkowski"
To: "MASIMBA MUSODDZA"
Subject: Re: none
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 06:20:14 -0700 (PDT)

Greets

Well get back to me why you think we are wrong, when we say isreal is a black and brown nation i showed you some of are evidence tell me what your findings.

Ras yadon and i talk about what you said last night.

RAS JON

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: MASIMBA MUSODDZA
To: Jonathan Falkowski
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 6:05:24 PM
Subject: Re: none

This is what I am saying man, the cultural divide is there and you have to be sensitive to it. That lady you saw may be a little girl, but my mother-who is old enough to be her mother-pays homage to her and calls her "my husband". I don't expect you to understand, of course. Any example that you have from your own family doesn't mean anything at all.. Like I said, as far as I am concerned the matter is closed, apology accepted etc.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Falkowski"
To: "MASIMBA MUSODDZA"
Subject: Re: none
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:20:25 -0700 (PDT)

Also

One last thing on this topic, i man had a pic of my mom on myspace and i did and people where like she preety and attractive i take it as a complament cause that where i got my looks from i won't go all ape-shit like u, i didn't say anything wrong or bad just made a polite comment but you have to act like mr sesitive and i told all my idrens about it and they say your way over sensitive, some of my idrens say why i am friends with something like that and make a big scene over pity shit.

RAS JON

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: MASIMBA MUSODDZA
To: Jonathan Falkowski
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 2:58:43 PM
Subject: Re: none

Selamte

Why are you mixing two unrelated issues? I'm cool over that business with my aunt. But I don't think I should share any more facebook links with you. You don't seem to realise the trouble you have caused, I do and I think this is the best way to contain it.. That one is over and done with and will not be spoken off again.

The second issue; whatever I may feel about Iyadonis does not mean I have to agree with everything the man says. At any rate, I haven't heard it from him, but if he did say that stuff about Hebrew-Israelites, he is definitely lost it now.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Falkowski"
To: "MASIMBA MUSODDZA"
Subject: Re: none
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:10:51 -0700 (PDT)

Also

I see you as a two face person, cause you use to love ras yadonis high and low and love his works and know cause i posted something about the orginal people of africa and the america's as the real isreal u fight i, well i see maybe your a wolf in sheeps clothing and that's why so many people on rastafari speaks fight with you so much and i defended u all the time.

Well forgive them Jah, they know not what they do.

RAS JON

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: MASIMBA MUSODDZA
To: Jonathan Falkowski
Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2009 3:22:42 PM
Subject: Re: none

Listen Joe, I don't put up pictures of members of my family so that every dimwit can pass comments on them. Such behaviour maybe acceptable in America but as someone who claims to be a Rasta, you should have known better. Keep away from my facebook page and those of my family.

As for the other question you keep asking me about- I don't care who told you, Iadonis or Myadonis or whatever-the idea that Blacks and Hispanics are "true Israel" is a load of shyte. I used to think you were an intelligent lifeform, but I can see that if you can swallow this nonsense you are obviously not.

Please do not try to call me at 2a.m in the morning.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Falkowski"
To: sayfu@mail.com
Subject: none
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:32:20 -0700 (PDT)

Greets

Rasta i see you delated your site, on facebook look i man said sorry to you i didn't know that was your aunt and if i offended you i am very sorry, plus i man sent you a message saying sorry and also why did you fight me on my post i got from Ras Yadon on the true iisreal being blacks and hispanics.

Link me ras, i called you get back to me man i don't want to lose your friendship.

RAS JON

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Nestlé gorges on Zimbabwe

2009-10-02T11:19:00.001-07:00

There is a campaigan against Nestlé over its use of milk purchased from a farm now owned by the Mugabes and reportedly one of those seized from white farmers during the last few years. We are told that this campaign is being spearheaded by the West, and by those same white farmers who are bitter at their loss.

Has Nestlé joined the list of unsavoury characters, corporations and states that, alongside the likes of Stephen Gowans ( who?), Joe, Luciano, Ayinde Hotep Trinidad (seriously, people with names like that exist) the Mugabe regime likes to present as proof that it has some sort of standing in the world? The Herald today carried an article in which "NESTLé (sic), an international food and beverages giant, has become the first foreign company to openly hit out at the West’s illegal economic sanctions regime saying an ongoing spirited campaign to have it shut down its Zimbabwe operations will not and will never lead it to close shop. Over the past week, Western media organisations have carried out a co-ordinated effort to harass Nestlé into pulling out of Zimbabwe because one of its milk suppliers is Gushungo Farm, owned by the First Family. However, Nestlé, which is headquartered in Switzerland, has hit back saying it would never consider closing shop in Zimbabwe just because some individuals in the West do not like President Mugabe."

The fact that this article was written by Farirai Machivenyika and Mabasa Sasa (who has taken up conspiracy theory just as it falls out of fashion with alternative media) makes me doubt that anyone at Nestlé, no matter how desperate they might be to do business in Zimbabwe, actually said that last bit. And as for being the first company to openly hit out at the West's illegal sanctions regime...that bit too can't possibly be verbatim quote.

The impression this article gives is that Nestlé is some sort of champion of the Mugabe regime's purported war on imperialism and neo-colonialism. Anyone wondering what these -isms are all about should take comfort in the fact that the caparine-bearded Dr Tafataona Mahoso, having chirped with all his might about the splendour of his emperor's new clothes, has recently been given another chance to fill media paid for by our taxes with explanations on these favourite bywords.

How many ardent champions of the war against imperialism and neo-colonialism and all that will seriously believe that Nestlé is on their side, ready to break ranks with the evil West which is hounding Mugabe for standing up for economic independence for the third world? Isn't this the same Nestlé that evokes images of 1.5 million children dying annually of its infant formula? Apparently, Nestlé started off by giving it away for free in maternity wings across the third world. When mothers went home, however, they found they had to buy the formula and this time they really had no choice as its use in the hospital had already disrupted their own lactation cycle, meaning they could not give their children their own breast milk. Nestlé's profits last year were in the 100b category.

Any one with time can have a look at the catalogue of atrocities carried out by this company in its quest for the dollar. My favourite Nestlé Nasty is the revelation in 2006 that they use slave labour in their cocoa plantations in West Africa.

Doesn't this whole scenario-where the epitome of neo-colonial multinational corporation infamy is touted as the ally of a self-proclaimed hero of the third world masses bear an obscene resemblance to the last pages of Animal Farm, where the pigs began to do business with the human owners of the neighbouring farms?

Oh, and back a bit on my opening statement. I am not aware of a massive campaign by the West. I am sure there are people in the West who sympathise with us, but they too have matters of concern in their own countries right now. And I can understand a white farmer being bitter. You don't have to be white farmer to be bitter. Any one would be bitter if they had just lost a farm, let alone got beaten up. But the majority of the campaign against Nestlé's shameful ties to the Mugabe regime is being led by ordinary Zimbabweans like myself who know quite well that the money earned in this venture is only to keep Mugabe in power and comfort. It is for this reason that this campaign is a righteous cause.

As Bob Marley sang, "soon we'll find out who is the real revolutinary".

Addis Amet

2009-09-17T15:42:00.000-07:00

A New Year. Determined that it will NOT be filled with the same-old.

You can't fool anyone, Mr Tsvangirai, except yourself!!!

2009-06-21T06:23:00.001-07:00

Word that's coming out is that Mr Morgan Tsvangirai- Prime Minister of a Government whose "legitimacy" is based purely on the continued supression of democracy in Zimbabwe-was jeered at Southwark Cathedral when he tried to ask Zimbabwean exiles to come home. Reports have it that he was surprised at the reaction. Well, any one who still holds on to the belief that Mr Tsvangirai has at least the mental agility of a door knob would be surprised too. Just what the hell did he expect? Fawning adulation? For what? We are not Zanu supporters, and this is why we do not applaud people just for the sheer hell of it. Mr Tsvangirai has been hanging around that crowd so long he is starting to think like them.

Zimbabwe needs her exiles. We have the skills, capital and youthful vigour that will make the country turn around. But, Mr Tsvangirai and those who sent him-ironically, a few months ago they were saying he was sent to them by someone else, but that is another matter-need to remember the reason why we left Zimbabwe in the first place.

Some left because they didn't like the regime's accommodation arrangements at the bottom of a lake in Marondera with a whole new career as fish food. Some simply felt there was no point in living in a country that was sliding towards the precipice to the sound of Hondo yeMinda when there are other countries that are still keen on progress, stability etc. The reasons are many, but they all boil down to the fact that Zimbabwe has become unliveable. When we were denied our right to vote in to office those who we thought could deliver, we decided to vote with our feet.

While the state may have lost immeasurably in terms of skills and capital, certain elements in the regime made quite a bit out of the situation. We all know who owns all those money-transfer bureaux in Slough, London and other places and it wasn't the Rothschilds. More like the Msikas. So, Zanu officials who have remained in office due to a situation that has forced millions of Zimbabweans abroad, have profited from dealing in the money sent home by these same exiles to keep those who have remained behind and are suffering alive.

Think on these things, Chematama.

While you think on these things, let me tell you why we don't believe things have gotten better in Zimbabwe. Because Mr Mugabe is still there. Because all Zimbabweans resent having to work so hard to prop up a political arrangement that we did not even ask for in the first place. We asked for free and fair elections, so until we get those, please shut the fuck up!!!

This whole GPA, or GNU or whatever you call it, we have been there before the last time we had an unrepentent dictator who blamed everyone except himself for the mess the country was in.
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No one, not even the foreign allies of the different sides seriously believed that it would work or that it even represented a government of unity. Why? Because people still did not have the vote!! Like Tsvangirai now telling us that things are better, there is that picture of Muzorewa standing in the rain appealing to guerillas to lay down their arms because there was nothing to fight for any more as there was now a Black Prime Minister. And today, Muzorewa is still vilified as the one who compromised with an evil political system that caused death and misery to Black people; precisely what Zanu PF under Mugabe has made a career of.

Let's not forget a similar GNU arrangement from history that arose under circumstances similar to the ones that have made you Prime Minister-after orchestrated violence using state organs such as the army against opposition strongholds in the Matebeleland region, Mr Mugabe effectively held the people's suffering hostage and persuaded Joshua Nkomo to join him in a unity government.

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His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie said that those who ignore the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them. The Mugabe-Nkomo is all the more significant because it saw the abolition of the post of State President, and effectively placed all State authority-including that of nullifying the results of elections in the hands of Mugabe. It certainly did not see any moves towards consolidating the democracy that was achieved with the attainment of majority rule in 1980. Rather, with the effective dissolution of the opposition, Mugabe began to talk of formally declaring a one-party state.

Another picture that speaks for millions of Zimbabwe about this new arrangement with Zanu PF and MDC-Mutambara.
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This is what this GPA really means, Mr Tsvangirai. The absorption of the MDC-and de facto, all opposition-to Zanu PF's continued rule and the belief that the MDC has access to much-needed funds from the West. By much needed I mean much needed for the maintenance of a lifestyle to which Zimbabwean politicians believe they are entitled to for no apparent reason than the fact that they believe this.

Well, we are having none of it, sir.

So why don't you head back to Ha-Ha-Harare and wait for the real revolution to happen or Zimbabwe to turn in to a total wasteland, whichever comes first? Tell old Beelzebob and the Robot Scientist and the 101 ministers on your gravy train that Zimbabweans are not so easily deluded. We know what is good for us and what is not good for us. This GPA or GNU is good for dishing out posts and offices to the thousands of opportunists, but little else. It is good for justifying the continued tenure of people we asked to leave over a decade ago, but little else.

By the way, all those MDC activists who think it is safe now;a friend who has an aunt in Zanu PF tells me they have been asked to compile a list of MDC members. They have also been told to remain in Zanu PF and not join MDC because "panguva yekumaelections tiri kuda kuvabika!"

His Imperial Majesty's Victory Day Speech

2009-05-05T14:47:00.000-07:00

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These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.-Revelation 17:14

No human lips can express the thankfulness which I feel to the merciful God who has enabled me to stand in your midst on this day of which the angels in heaven and the creation on earth could neither have thought of nor known. Before everything else I want to tell you and to make you understand that this day is a day on which a fresh chapter of the history of the New Ethiopia begins. In this new era a new work is commencing which it is the duty of all of us to perform.

If we desire to be reminiscent of the affliction which befell Ethiopia during the past years we shall only speak of her recent history. When Ethiopia, who has preserved her independence for many thousands of years, was attacked in 1888 E.C. (1896 Gregorian Calendar) by Italy, who had harboured aggressive designs against her for many years before with the intention of destroying her freedom, her brave sons fought at Adowa and she saved her independence. The Treaty of Wuchali (Uccialli 1889) was not the only cause of the battle that was fought at Adowa. It was only a pretext for the constant desire that Italy had had of ruling Ethiopia. Although the Great European War interfered with her plans for a time, and in spite of her outward protestations of friendship, Italy revealed in recent years the preparations she had been making against Ethiopia after her defeat at Adowa, because of her resentment that justice should have prevailed against her.

When Italy began to make a war of aggression on Ethiopia, although we knew we were not as well armed as she was, we went against her with what strength we could muster, because it was our duty to resist an enemy that had come to seize our country. But as it was apparent that she was bent on exterminating our people with poison gas, the use of which was prohibited by international law, we went to appeal to the League of Nations and to claim justice. As it was feared that this hostility started by Italy might spread all over the world, and as it was a period when all those who were charged with the responsibility of government were trying to save the world from the catastrophe which has since befallen it, they were working to bring about understanding in the world to prevent the spread of the conflagration. At that time our true friend, Great Britain, received us with sympathy. I remained there working, but constantly being in spirit with my countrymen whose blood was being uselessly, and ruthlessly shed at the hands of the Italians: with the monasteries and churches that were being burned down; with those forced to take refuge in foreign lands; and with those suffering and being afflicted in the wilderness, in the caves and in the forests of their native land.

Thousands Perished

How many are the young men, the women, the priests and the monks whom the Italians pitilessly massacred during these years? You know that in Addis Ababa alone many thousands perished during the three days following St. Michael's Day on Yekatit, 12, 1929 (19th February, 1937). The blood and bones of those who were killed with spades and pickaxes, of those who were split with axes and hammered to death, pierced with bayonets, clubbed and stoned, of those who were burned alive with their little children in their homes, of those who perished of hunger and thirst in prison have been crying for justice. Everybody knows that this act of barbarism and cruelty was not perpetrated in Addis Ababa alone, but more especially in the provinces of Ethiopia. There is hardly anyone who has not been caught and beaten, kicked, humiliated and imprisoned.

Now we shall pass on to the new history that is before us. Five years ago today the fascist forces entered our capital city. Then Mussolini announced to the world that he had established a Roman Empire in our country, Ethiopia. He believed that the land he declared he had conquered would forever be in his hands. The heroism of the Ethiopian people is known in history. But as we had no port through which to import modern armaments necessary for our people, we were unable to obtain them. Fifty-two nations condemned Mussolini for his deed. But he boasted of his violent deed and took no notice of their condemnation. The past five years have been years of darkness for you, my people. But you never lost hope, and little by little you spread on the Ethiopian hills. The enemy never ventured to come near the mountains on which you were because, enduring every hardship and affliction, you, the warriors of Ethiopia, safeguarded your freedom during the past five years. But in spite of the fact that he could not conquer the country, he spent many thousands of millions of lire, saying that he was civilizing what he could hold. He spent all that money not because he desired to improve the condition of the oppressed Ethiopian people or to mitigate the injustice he had done. It is because he wanted to plant a fascist colony in our sacred land of Ethiopia and to impose on her the rule of oppression which he had planned. He tried to exterminate the Ethiopian race, and did not even entertain the idea of giving her the administration of a mandate or a protectorate, which in any case would have been considered a heavy yoke for a free people. But all the money that could be counted by the thousand million and all the prepared armaments served a purpose which Mussolini never intended them to serve. At the time when Italy revealed her intentions of entering the war in order to be able to snatch from defeated France as much as she could, the number of soldiers, the amount of money and the armaments she had sent to Ethiopia was enormous. The regular troops she concentrated were not less than 250,000; she also amassed provisions to last for many years in case she was encircled. Trusting in, and bragging of, the invincibility of this military force, the fascist government proceeded with planting totalitarian rule in our country. But something happened which the fascist government did not take into account. The fighting spirit which is essential in modern war revealed in you.

Formidable Adversaries

You were able to destroy the enemy who were superior to you in number and equipment, because you are a people possessed of bravery and mercy and because you co-operated and knew the stratagems of war.

The British troops, who were fighting for human rights on other fronts of the war, needed time to get ready to come to the assistance of Ethiopia and free her. But you, warriors of Ethiopia, harassed the enemy by cutting his communications, by harrying him and restricting him to his fortifications. In spite of the great numbers of troops in which he put his trust, he realized that the Ethiopian people from one end to the other hated him and his rule. He knew also that it was impossible for him to live in such a country and in the midst of such a people. Even by using poison gas and bombs and by his atrocities he could no longer hope to enjoy an overlordship of a country the inside of which was undermined. He realized that the soldiers who surrounded him were adversaries more powerful than he was. He spent the daring and the money that were left to him to meet his adversaries. Then he looked around, if perchance he could find somewhere where he could take shelter in Ethiopia, but he could find no shelter.

When the time came, our great ally, the British Government, prepared to launch a proper attack against our enemy. As soon as I knew this I left for the distant land of the Sudan which borders us in the west, and entered central Gojjam. In Gojjam our enemy had strong fortified positions, powerful troops, aeroplanes and artillery. On comparing the number of our soldiers with that of the enemy we found that we had one soldier for every 20 of his. Moreover, we had no artillery and aircraft that we could dispose of at will. The fact that I was found in the midst of my warriors at once attracted many thousands of men. And the fear and anxiety of our enemy increased to that extent. While my soldiers were harassing and cutting the enemy's communications and after having driven his troops across the Abbai (Blue Nile), were pursuing them towards Shoa and Begamder, I heard the good news that the British Imperial troops had, with incomparable speed, occupied our capital city and were pushing towards Dessie in the North and Jimma in the South. In the same way, the troops who started from the Sudan destroyed the fortress at Keren with wonderful force and utterly defeated the enemy. And as the time came for my return to my capital I mustered my soldiers who were scattered in every direction in pursuit of our enemies, and find myself in my capital today. I am exceedingly happy that I have been able to arrive here at the head of my soldiers, the enemy who was found on my path being defeated, and to break the power of the common foe. I am deeply thankful to Almighty God that I stand today in your midst in my Palace, from which the fascist government has fled.

A New Day

People of my country, Ethiopia!

Today is a day on which Ethiopia is stretching her hands to God in joy and thankfulness and revealing her happiness to her children.

This day, on which the people of Ethiopia are freed from oppressive foreign yoke and eternal servitude and on which I am enabled to rejoin my people, whom I love and have longed for, will be honoured as a holiday to be commemorated annually as a Great Ethiopian Anniversary. On this day we shall remember those heroic warriors who, determined not to surrender the great charge passed on to them by their Father, became sacrifices, shedding their blood and breaking their bones for the freedom of the land they loved and for the honour of their Emperor and their flag. The history of Ethiopia will be witness for these our warriors.

The tribulations and afflictions which befell us during the past five years and which cannot be recounted and numbered in detail will be a great lesson to us all, and with industry, unity, co-operation and love engraved in your hearts, will be a great incentive to you to be my helpers in the affairs of Ethiopia which I have in mind. In the New Ethiopia I want you to be a people undivided and endowed with freedom and equality before the law.

You will have to join me in my efforts for the prosperity of the country, for the riches of the people, for the development of agriculture, commerce, education and learning, for the protection of the life and resources of our people, and for the perfection on modern lines of administration of the country.

It is my firm wish and purpose to merit the blessing with which God in His mercy has visited us, first, by showing our gratitude to our Allies, the British, by the release of the Imperial troops to fight the common enemy on other fronts, and by supplying them with troops whenever they may be needed; secondly, to do work beneficial to the people and the country by establishing in our Ethiopia a Government which will protect the Faith and cause it to be respected, and by guaranteeing liberty of the people and Freedom of conscience.

What I would finally announce to you, my people, is that today is a day of rejoicing for us all. Today is a day on which we defeated our enemy. Therefore, when we say let us all rejoice with our hearts let not our rejoicing be in any other way but in the spirit of Christ. Do not return evil for evil. Do not indulge in the atrocities which the enemy has been practising in his usual way, even up to the last moment.

Take care not to spoil the good name of Ethiopia by acts which are worthy of the enemy. We shall see that our enemies are disarmed and sent the same way they came. As St. George who killed the dragon is the Patron Saint of our army as well as of our allies, let us unite with our allies in everlasting friendship and amity in order to be able to stand against the godless and cruel dragon which has newly risen and which is oppressing mankind. I charge you to consider them as a brother and a friend and to show them kindness and consideration.
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The Pope's right, you know

2009-03-19T15:32:00.000-07:00

It is not often that a Rastafarian will applaud the remarks of a Catholic Pope, but we have a saying in ChiShona which goes Chati homu chareva. Literally, the adage is stating that when a baboon makes its grunting noise, it has communicated something. No, I am not suggesting that the Pontifex Maximus of the Roman Church is a baboon-although he is, of course, a, um...Primate. I am taking the deeper meaning of this little gem of my forebear's wisdom and wit, which is that anyone has something to say and we should at least grant them an audience. (These Pope-related puns keep popping up!)

That the Pope was speaking in defence of the Catholic Church's intransigence over a controversial issue prompts another proverb of yore;Muridzo wembwa ndomumwe. Literally, the same whistling call is used to call all dogs, meaning words of advice can be taken by anyone and be as useful.

Pope Benedict (16th of that name) is on a tour of Africa, to highlight some of the problems the continent is facing. One of them is Aids. Zimbabwe is one of the hardest hit African nations, as if we do not have enough problems already. Our approach to the pandemic has been prevention-mostly spreading the message that condoms are the solution. The donor-countries have been helpful in this matter, sponsoring free distribution of the little rubbers,funding the production of movies and adverts where the catchword was that the condom is your Friend for Life! Yes, sir, you won't get Aids if you use a condom.

I am a product of that culture- I have never had sex without a condom before. I am turning 33 at the end of the month. As one who has worked in the movie industry-where you get laid more than you actually do any work, I should be dead by now or at least coughing and wasting away or getting a heart-attack every time I hear that some wannabe starlet died last year or I run in to them on the street and they look like a screen-test for an Oxfam advert. So, yes, I have to say that rolling down those rubbers has saved my life for now.

Now this old German bloke in a robe who bears a passing resemblance to Darth Sidius/Emperor Palpatine steps on to my continent and starts telling that not only will condoms save us from Aids, but may in fact be part of the problem. He's already upset a few Africans over this matter. You'd think upsetting the Jews-and many other people-by forgiving the Holocaust-Denier was courting public anger enough.

But I agree with the Pope on this one! And I have my reasons.

A long time ago, a doctor struck up a conversation with me on the bus. A few other people joined in, and the subject drifted towards Aids. He told me something which prompted much arguement from the other passengers, but made perfect sense to me at the time. "You know what, you are a lot safer picking up a prostitute at Makoni Shopping Centre for $20 than you are with your steady girlfriend," the good doctor said. By the way, I am not saying that Makoni Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza is neccessarily a Red Light District-that's what we have the whole of Unit D, Unit G, Unit N and St Mary's for. But there are a lot of drinking places there, and at night the girls line the streets but take their business to Unit G and other nearby neighbourhoods, so technically it is not a Red Light District.

I don't know if the girls are for $20, or indeed any other sum.

When the "aahs" died down, this disciple of Imhotep elaborated; "When you pick up a prostitute, chances are you are mindful of the risk. It's something that you have to do, but the message is out there that there is danger. So, you will use a condom. If she has Aids, the greater chance is that you won't catch it. Same applies if you're the one with the Aids, she won't get it. With your steady however, you use the rubber for a couple days and then you trust her without going for a test. But after a five-year period, how many girls have you trusted? How many guys has she trusted?"

For a moment there was only the drone of the engine, and a baby crying a few seats down the aisle. Hard as it was for most of us to swallow it, the medic had given us the word. "I have the statistics to show it," he added, but he was now preaching to the converted. "Most people your age who I am treating for Aids-related symptoms have been in long-term relationships."

The doctor was not advising us to get our rocks off the $20/short-time hookers lurking in the shadows in front of Makoni Nightclub. He was showing us that while using a condom may get you passed that "phase" that the average Zimbabwean youth goes through in this day and age, it will not help you in the long run.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things -I Corinthians 13:11

So said the Apostle Paulos. So while a condom was a friend for life with Chipo from down the block because she may also have been an alternative source of energy for her older sister's HIV+husband at the same time that she was showing me the greatest secret of coming of age, a different approach is required at this point in time when I am looking to settle down.

Does anyone remember the furore that the then Minister of Health, Dr Timoty Stamps, caused when he said that the biggest problem with Zimbabwe was the need for behaviour change? He was accused of exaggerating the situation, Zimbabweans could not possibly be the biggest culprits in the wanton sinners department because we are mainly Christian and based on our "culture". The insinuation was that Dr Stamps himself was the one who had his head in the sand. After all, he was of European extraction, how could he possibly understand the moral values of the Black majority? The View from the Gazebo, a column in Parade dubbed him Dr Kill-joy.

At the turn of the century, Zimbabweans had to admit that maybe things were out of hand. With so many famous names dying, and the reason being given in the media as "short illness", and virtually all of them being regarded as paragons of virtue. There's even a few gospel singers in the list. Then you had those cabinet ministers, then ordinary people. In 2002, I attended a funeral every week from around May, and at one time we had to split the family so that some had to remain at one and others proceed to the next as our presence was indispensible to both. Yet, the statistics were showing that while the number of people dying of Aids had risen sharply, the infection rate was slowing down. All these deaths could be traced to the infections of those denial-days when Stamps was the sole Jeremiah in the wilderness. It seemed as if we were, like Uganda, finally getting on top of things.

Today, a different picture emerges. There is a an upsurge in prostitution, caused by the political and economic spiral. There is an upsurge in the sexual abuse of minors-linked to a belief that sex with a virgin is a cure. There are many couples torn apart by economic migration. Such a situation will see temporary but long-term relationships-long enough for the parties to such relationships to begin "trusting" each other. There is also an upsurge in forced marriages of minors, especially among certain religious sects that live in isolated communities where the country's laws on such matters cannot help the girl. If you arrest some 40 year old for raping a 9 year-old girl, will that remove the virus from her body? Chances are she will end up being abused again, or she will pass on the virus to someone in a consensual relationship, when that man decides that he trusts her....

What the Pope is saying that struck a chord with me is "a responsible and moral attitude toward sex would help fight the disease." This is where the fight should be directed- against a culture of child sexual abuse, of small houses, sex-for-jobs and all other such behaviour that is fuelling the spread of the virus. Marriage on its own is not the solution, most of my friends are married and some of them have small-houses. Our values regarding marriage must be reviewed if we are to survive.

Distinguished Rastafarian Scholar, Ras Feqade had this to say:

"When I-man visited Zion (Ethiopia) in the 1992 Centennial of HIM, I saw in the capital city, Addis Ababa, one "Selamawee Self" (Peaceful parade), which was a mass popular demonstration in favour of AIDS awareness and prevention. The slogan of these thousands of Ethiopian marchers, and that they carried on their signs, was not "Prevent AIDS - wear a condom and do what you like". Nor yet was it "Prevent AIDS - be abstinent".Rather, their slogan for correctly preventing AIDS was, in the Amharic language, "AND BAND". Translated into the Queen English, "And band" ( 'and be 'and) are rendered as: "One by one" or "one on one". In other words, monogamy - one male, one female. One Adam, one Eve. A strictly monogamous couple should have nothing to fear from outside diseases coming in sexually, and can rear a family. This demonstration and this slogan were supported by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.I could not help but notice that in contrast with this massive show of popular support in favour of AND BAND (monogamy) as JAH solution for AIDS, the opposing message "Wear a condom and do whatever you like" in 1992 was like a tiny, barely audible pipsqueak in Ethiopia, represented only by a few dismal-looking mimeographed bulletins, clearly translated from English, and posted in places like the Filwoha public bath house (Note such bath houses were quite necessary to public hygiene, given the lack of widespread plumbing there.) AND BAND are also one of the ways in which the Orthodox Christian Church has always defined itself in contradistinction to other doctrines that preach (or have preached) "polygamy". Whether ina the East or West, seen...Accordin to Kufale (Jubilees) in the Ethiopian Bible, there are evil spirits of those before Noah, who will mislead InI Noah's childran of all races with false doctrines.Every so often, an uneducated man here or there will commune with these same spirits, an will become a false prophet, with false revelations of "JAH Word" based on totally wrong etymologies and histories, and with doctrines that preach polygamy, and hatred toward the Body of Christ (Christian churches). This is a recurring problem, although their children do tend to become more polite with the passage of time, at least superficially. This problem is not just for Ethiopia, but worldwide InI must be aware an avoid becoming complacent or deceived, for widespread misapplication of such doctrines could have led to a "Brave New World" (a book by Aldous Huxley) where random pairings are arranged by a temple or state; family and love is abolished or lose meaning whatsoever. Of course, disease are another obstacle preventing this evil vision. But let InI be guided in Life by the True JAH, who is our Iternal King of Kings, and in prayer until Shiloh call InI fe Zion Iternal Kingdom. SELAH

Ras Feqade Tebbaqi I"

The disease is killing Catholics and non-Catholics alike, and the solution that I am calling for applies to all people on the planet. All the major religions preach the same message of abstinence prior to and sex in marriage only. But most civilisations today have diminished the role of religion in society-at the behest of politicians who have recently freed themselves from its paradoxical civilising influence/reactionary burden role.

Can behaviour change? Can we change the liberal view towards marriage? Cannibalism, incest,child rape,slavery, racism. These are some of the evils that humanity has adopted and renounced during the course of history, yet they were acceptable even in civilisations that we today recall with admiration. So, it can be done.

For survival (a human urge much stronger than sex), it MUST be done.

Obvious to everyone else except Mahoso and other sycophants.

2009-02-02T14:41:00.000-08:00

One day, I'm walking with the Father (of blessed memory) in downtown Harare when we run in to this old man with a goatee and the miserable look of one of those chiefs captured by the BSAC in the first Chimurenga/Umvukela, whose pictures graced the pages of history text books. He exchanged pleasantries with my old man(of blessed memory)briefly, before continuing. I had seen his face on TV a few times. My father seemed to know a lot of people. I think this was because of his job with the Ministry of Lands's Rural State Land Office.

"Who was that?"I asked Musodza Snr. "Dr Tafataona Mahoso," he replied."Bloody academic. Reading has made him mad, he's out of touch with the world. Interesting things he has to say, but he is so out of touch, they are as valuable as dialogue in a cartoon show. Contradicts himself too."

I reminded the Father that Mahoso walked, whereas everyone else flashed the latest Benz if they could. Surely, that meant he identified with the common man/woman? My Father smiled. "American and British academics do the same, they will have their eccentricities. But they still think they are more intelligent than the common man/woman. That too makes them useless to the cause of the common man/woman. Sheer hypocrisy."

My father made me promise never to be like Mahoso. "Us Musodzas are made of more solid material."

It would be easy to assume that I inherited my contempt for this smug, ghastly little man from my late father. But Mahoso, as any media practitioner in Zimbabwe knows, has-in the true tradition of the ZANU gravy train- made a career of fomenting our revulsion.

I get to be reminded what an absolute prick the man is every time I peruse the Sunday Mail newspaper, where his myopic ravings are accorded the Orwellian double-speak appellation African Focus. In his last instalment, he is miffed that while his master has contrived to do a Zimbabwe-Rhodesia on Tsvangirai (yes, on Tsvangirai NOT THE ZIMBABWEAN PEOPLE.)there are still writers, commentators etc still "Mugabe-bashing".

"Article 19 of the Zimbabwe inter-party agreement says that those who have been working for the more than 100 hate channels and media outlets directed against Zimbabwe in the name of illegal regime change must stop and come home (if they are outside the country) and apply for registration or accreditation.

The hate channels have not stopped nor have the Zimbabwean journalists operating them heeded the call to stop. Many of them are not only embedded in the Western denial industry (Studio Seven for instance), but they also belong to one or the other of the MDC formations who signed the September 15 inter-party agreement with Zanu-PF.

In other words, as the country braces itself for the formation of a coalition government for Zimbabwe, at least two issues remain unresolved in the media and information sector.

The first issue is that the hate channels helping Britain, the US and EU in their regime change onslaught on Zimbabwe have not stopped broadcasting illegally into Zimbabwe or distributing various products of regime change propaganda aimed at directing the thought of most Zimbabweans against the people’s interests as outlined in Article 19 of the interparty agreement."

I would be exaggerating my own (still not insignificant) status in the Diaspora media by presuming that I am on that list "100 hate channels". Of course, there aren't 100 channels, and there certainly are not "hate". He is using hate the way a demon would describe the work of a Catholic priest with holy water and exorcist prayers. I'm guessing he is talking about SW Radio Africa, NewZimbabwe.com etc.

Dr Mahoso cites Article 19 of what again? Were any of the "hate channels" signatory to it? Then why the bloody hell should they abide by it? And come home and do what? What for? What a short memory this sycopant has; the whole accreditation thing was dreamed up by another delusional and even more turgid but ingrating academic for the purpose of muzzling alternative voices to the Zanoid choruses. No media practitioner-except those who know they can't prevent being relocated to the bottom of a lake somewhere in Marondera or those who don't have to worry about buying their own cars-is actually in favour of accreditation.

I'm not going to get accredited,Mahoso. I am not going to stop writing about what your masters are doing until they pack it in. It's funny you like to say that we are being used by the West. Every thing that I have acquired in this land, I worked for it. You, on the other hand, who provides for you? This nonsense about helping Britain and the US! The people we are helping are the ones your master unleashed hunger,violence, disease and every other atrocity just so he can stay in office.

Mahoso is trying to paint the Zimbabwean media abroad as parts of the M.D.C. He is trying to fit M.D.C. in to the Zanoid paradim where control of media is anatomically correct. So, let me spell this out again: Working with the MDC is not neccessarily working for the MDC!! We are not MDC mouthpieces the way The Herald and the ZBC etc are for ZANU. It has nothing to do with the fact that MDC has not splashed out 4x4s etc on us. We write because we want to. Can you understand that, Mr Mahoso or are you so used to being someone else's bitch that you wouldn't understand what it's like to have any prowess of your own let alone what to do with them?

It would appear, then Mahoso, that while Mugabe thinks he has tamed the MDC as a party-you as the media hangman-have failed to silence us! This is not a battle you can expect to win, sir. Not in this day and age of bluetooth and podcasting and stuff.

Pick on your own size. Get one of those Herald Grade 5-level English essayists.

Biti got balls!!

2009-01-27T15:24:00.000-08:00

The Herald has rushed out to announce that MDC has finally agreed to Mugabe's GNU. I call it Mugabe's GNU because while it will be a Government, only in his warped thinking can we describe it as one of "National Unity".

The Herald has been at pains to depict the ordinary person as impatient with the continued talks and blaming these same talks (read blaming Tsvangirai)as the source of Zimbabwe's problems. Small wonder they are a bit miffed that MDC secretary general Tendai Biti has expressed reservations about the so-called agreement.

I am not sure why Tendai Biti opposed to the proposed GNU agreement, effectively cancelling his first class ticket for the Gravy Train. But he can share my reasons:

1. The agreement spits on the millions of Zimbabweans who have been killed, raped, beaten, displaced, dispossessed etc as a punishment for asking Mugabe's regime to be accountable to them. The idea has always been to remove Mugabe because he is an evil tyrant and has no plans to share power with anyone, not even his cronies. This is what we suffered for-to get rid of Mugabe, not sit down with him.

2.There are clear precedents in Zimbabwe's history; Smith/Muzorewa's Zimbabwe-Rhodesia farce and Mugabe's own Unity Accord. All they achieved was a bloated Government. They did not stop media censorship, intimidation of dissenting voices and other violations of human rights.

3.A GNU will not turn around the economy. The kleptocrats are still in charge of that. Why would Mugabe allow the MDC-assuming that it can under the circumstances-revive the economy? That would only make him look bad, and isn't the whole thing about saving face? See what they did with the MDC-run local authorities.

4.The long talks preceding this phoney agreement gave Mugabe time to weaken the opposition base. Kidnappings, the most prominent being that of Jestina Mukoko, have continued. By the time the MDC leadership realises what is happening, much of the grassroots structures will have vanished. At least when Mugabe next calls for elections, he won't have to send in the Green Bombers.

Mr Biti, if you are ready to do something really brave, count me in. I have no doubt there are many out there who can tell the difference between a bona fide settlement and what amounts to the repression of any opposition to Mugabe's rule. Hand me that GNU agreement and I will piss on it.

Only till Zimbabwe is really free!!

What a Dis-Grace

2009-01-19T06:42:00.000-08:00

The only real news about this story is that Grace Mugabe (acclaimed author of Which Spice-Girl do I resemble the most? and numerous other works) has outdone herself in the Crass, Vulgar, Horrendous Lush Department.

The Herald is yet to react to this story, I guess not even they can come up with something to prop up this PR disaster. Except maybe another denunciation of the imperialists harrassing our first lady as she minds her own business. And once again, they will miss the point or try to take away attention from the point; rather like the sheep in Animal Farm bleating FOUR LEGS GOOD, TWO LEGS BAD.

The point is not about Grace Mugabe's behaviour- I think everyone in Zimbabwe can agree with me that she is not the first and she is no lady. She is the embodiment of all that ZANU and the Mugabe regime has degenerated in to: common, flashy, big on spending yet lacking in taste. I would be ashamed to be related to her. (Didn't one of her brothers steal some of the wedding gifts? Even so, what kind of a Zimbabwean prosecutes their own brother over such a matter?) Remember that uncle of hers telling the nation on television that now that their daughter had married the President, "tagara muhupfu". Could there be a phrase more telling about her background?

Then came the scandal involving the looting of the Housing Fund. She built herself a huge mansion-dubbed Graceland-while the average Zimbabwean, who had voted her husband back in office despite growing misgivings and unease because he had promised to meet the Independence target of Housing for all by the year 2000, was seeing slums sprout all over our urban areas.Way to go, Grace.

Oh, the list goes on. There's the times the national airline was commandeered to carry her shopping (one time it made the journey thrice). My friend who worked in a bank told me about the accounts in her children's names and the huge amounts pouring in. (This was CBZ, then under Gideon Gono-the same Gono who thinks the Reserve Bank is Grace Mugabe's personal expense account. The question is why? Could he be getting his reward the same way Pamire, Makamba and that guard who was buried at Heroes' Acre are reputed to have got theirs?)She is reputed to have owned the land where there was a flea market in front of the mosque on Julius Nyerere Way.

And the gaffes. Like laughing while Mugabe delivered one of his tirades, this time over striking workers. Or looking positively bored during the opening of Parliament. And the Spice-Girls thing.

Bitch please!!

I would like to see how the Herald, or bizarre nonsensical sycophants like (un)Reason Rwafarwarova who battles Western Imperialism by living in Australia a life far removed from that of the ordinary Zimbabwean, Steven Gowans (who pretends to be some sort of tame Whitey when all he is doing is using Zimbabwe as a stick to beat up the American Government and capitalism with) and Ayinde Hotep/Trinidad/Trinicenter or whatever his name is can explain spending so much money in Hong Kong (our own shops not good enough, eh?)when the economy is what it is can be considered consistent with the idea that the Mugabe regime is for the people.

Someone's taking a piss

2009-01-07T08:52:00.001-08:00

7 January 2009

ATTENTION: Ms Rosalind Franklin
Diggory Press Ltd,
Three Rivers, Minions,
Liskeard,
Cornwall,
PL14 5LE

Dear Madam

RE: THE MAN WHO TURNED INTO A RASTAFARIAN (ISBN-10 1846855373)

I have communicated to you several time via e-mail my growing unease at your failure to respond to my queries about sales figures, due royalties etc relating to the above named book and also the £280, manuscript and artwork that I sent you for a new project.

However, it wasn't until I noticed that your website has been taken down that I made enquiries and have found out that there are several complaints against you and the prospect of legal proceedings.

I tried calling you the day before yesterday to seek clarification from you on the matter. First, I left a message because nobody picked up. Then, in the evening, you hung up on me. I still left a message.

Under the circumstances, I hereby withdraw from our contract. You may not print or distribute or cause to be printed or distributed further copies of any of my work. I understand that the only thing you own is the ISBN which you assigned to the book(s) and I state that I will not be using them to print or distribute the book(s).

I am still demanding a satisfatory response from you regarding the issues I have raised in my e-mail correspondence to you. Should you continue to ignore my queries, I shall be left with no option but initiate legal proceedings against you.

Yours Sincerely

Masimba Musodza.

There's no plot to overthrow Mugabe, but, by God, there ought to be!!!!

2008-12-26T10:15:00.000-08:00

When it was reported that Jestina Mukoko was taken away by unidentified men from her home in the early hours of the morning, most Zimbabweans said it was the work of Mugabe's security agents. Jestina Mukoko was only the most famous of a large number of activists who have vanished over the months that Tsvangirai and Mugabe have been holding talks towards a GNU. Mugabe's tactic is clear in this matter- remove the MDC's activist base, and the party would have no leg to stand on. One of MDC's strengths- that it is an amalgamation of different groups bound by the belief that Mugabe should go- can often be its weakness.

The Herald reported that the police were treating Mukoko's disappearance as a kidnapping.(Ko, vaigoti chii?)Then, it leaked that Mukoko was being held in a house in Kariba as part of a plan to coerce Tsvangirai in to accepting whatever terms Mugabe dicated in the formation of a GNU. Anyone who remembers how Joshua Nkomo was transformed from a Nationalist stalwart, to a rival, then a Nationalist ally, then an enemy of the State (i.e. Mugabe as in etat ce moi) and leader of a band of bandits that were a bunch of boy scouts at a jamboree compared to the Fifth Brigade that was deployed to deal with them before being bullied in to joining a GNU will see the pattern being played out here.

So, if Mukoko was kidnapped, how come a few weeks later she is now being charged with plotting to overthrow the Government of Mugabe? When did she make the transition? Am I having a Rip Van Winkle moment here?

Does anyone believe that there are bases in Botswana where Zimbabweans are being trained in guerilla warfare? Most of us wish they existed, so we could go there and learn how to free our country.

Human Rights for Zimbabwe

2008-12-11T13:08:00.000-08:00

Anyone celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? That much translated document which is not legally binding as law, but has had a profound effect on cultures and civilisations.

I memorised much of it (just like I memorised much of the Magna Carta), and then I discovered that our own Lancaster House Constitution also has a chapter on Human Rights. I will never forget the first time I used it, to challenge the legality of a roadblock mounted by the police on the Mutare Road. Looking back, it was a dumb-ass thing to do- they could have beaten the shit out of me and none of my fellow passengers would have so much as blinked to help me.

It has been argued by Mugabe's apologists among Black activists in the West that Africa's concept of Human Rights is different and should not be evaluated by Western standards. But who said they are Western standards in the first place? Isn't it convenient, to name something as Western in order to reject it outright?

I celebrate the UDHR's Anniversary, but I am mindful that all over the world, even in those countries that believe themselves to be the standard by which all other nations are measured- there is yet to be achieved not only a culture of human rights, but an assurance of its continuance. The recent arrest of a British MP is greeted by some that this country, which gave us the Magna Carta, is degenerating in to a Stalinist state. It is to be noted that some of the placards protestors held over the incident read:THIS IS NOT ZIMBABWE......

But are we that bad? Yes, and then some. Yesterday, someone called me to say that a friend of his worked on a police operation to recover the body of a drowned man in a lake in Marondera. They found 18 bodies in that lake. CIO people arrived on the scene and advised them to focus their attention on just the one they were looking for and forget about these others. When Idi Amin took people he did not like for swimming lessons, the world said that it was because he wasn't educated. What excuse do we have for a man who has several degrees?

I could go on with examples of Zimbabwe's serious human rights problem. What has never been explored though, is the apathy of the average person. We know what is going on, and yet we do not speak out. What have we got to lose? Our lives? What lives? If they could come for the man down the street for a careless remark on the bus, is there any guarantee they won't come for you and me? The problem is not that some people don't know when to shut the fuck up, but that there are people who think they can get away with visiting other people at night and taking them away. If we think this is wrong, we have to stop it.

I thought I'd start with a little reminder of what basic human rights are. Please read below, and understand.

SINDEBELE

AMALUNGELO OMUNTU WONKE EMHLABENI WONKE JIKELELE
[Preamble]
Loba isimilo lenhlonipho lamalungelo agcweleyo oluntu kuyisisekelo senkululeko, lesokulunga lokuthula emhlabeni,
Loba ukunganaki lokungahloniphi amalungelo abantu kubangele izenzo zocuku oludabula inhliziyo lenembeza, kwadala umhlaba lapha abantu abangathola khona injabulo lenkululeko yokuthi bakhulume bekhululekile bengesabi njalo kungekho ubuyanga, konke lokhu kuphakanyiswa njengento eqakathekileyo ngabantu bonke,
Loba ukuze umuntu angavuki umphenyana ngenxa yokucindezelwa, kufanele ukuthi amalungelo abantu asekelwe ngumthetho,
Loba kufanele ukukhulisa ubudlelwano phakathi kwezizwe,
Loba abantu baMazwe aManyaneyo betshengise ukholo lwabo kumalungelo oluntu lokuhlonipha lokuqakathekisa umuntu emalungelweni alingeneyo lamalungelo alinganayo phakathi kwamadoda labafazi, lokuzimisela ukuthuthukisa ingqubelaphambili lokuhlala kuhle kwabantu,
Loba amazwe ami wodwa ezimisela uKumanyana laMazwe aManyaneyo ukuze aqakathekise ukuhlonitshwa kwamalungelo abantu,
Lobanje ulwazi lwamalungelo blwenkululeko kuyinto eqakathekileyo, ukuze amalungelo lenkululeko kwaziwe,
INKUNDLA YEZIZWE ITHI
Lesisivumelwano samalungelo oluntu silotshiwe ukuze umuntu lezigaba zabantu jikelele zigcine lesi sivumelwano engqondweni, yizizwe zonke lamazwe asabuswa ngamanye.

Isivumelwano
Abantu bonke bazalwa bekhululekile njalo belingana kumalungelo abo. Balesipho sikanembeza, ngakho bamele baphathane ngomoya otshengisa ubuhlobo lobunye.

Isivumelwano 2
Wonke umuntu ulelungelo lokuthola inkululeko lamalungelo alotshwe kulesi sivumelwano hngokupheleleyo kunganakwa ubuhlobo, umbala, ukuthi uyindoda kumbe ngumfazi, ulimi, ukholo, ezimayelana lombangazwe, lenotho kanye lasipi lasiphi isimo phakathi kwabantu.
Njalo kakusoze kube lomahluko ekuphathweni kwabantu emthethweni loba ngowaliphi ilizwe loba yisiphi lesimo selizwe lapho umuntu avela khona - lanxa lelolizwe lizibusa kumbe libuswa ngelinye.

Isivumelwano 3
Wonke umuntu ulelungelo lempilo, lelenkululeko lelenhlalakahle.

Isivumelwano 4
Kakho umuntu ozakwenziwa isigqili, kumbe isithunjwa; ubugqili lokuthengisa izichaka kuzanqatshelwa ngazo zonke indlela.

Isivumelwano 5
Akula muntu ozahlutshwa ahlukuluzwe loba aphathwe ngesihluku langendlela eyangisayo kumbe elocuku.

Isivumelwano 6
Wonke umuntu ulelungelo emthethweni lokuphathwa njengomuntu.

Isivumelwano 7
Bonke abantu bayalingana phambi komthetho, kungekho bandlululo. Abantu bonke bayavikelwa ekubandlululweni. Ubandlululo luvunyelwa yisivumelwano lesi njalo akuvunyelwa ukubasela ubandlululo.

Isivumelwano 8
Omunye lomunye umuntu ulelungelo lokuvikelwa ngababusi lomthethwandaba uma kulezenzo ezephula amalungelo akhe asemthethweni.

Isivumelwano 9
Akumelanga ukuthi umuntu abotshwe okungekho emthethweni, loba abotshwe mahlayana, loba axotshwe elizweni lakubo.

Isivumelwano 10
Omunye lomunye umuntu ulelungelo lokuthi athoniselwe icala phambi kwenkundla ezimeleyo kumbe agwetshwe yinkundla engabandlululiyo ekuthetheni amacala.

Isivumelwano 11
Omunye lomunye umuntu owetheswe icala ulelungelo lokuthi aphathwe njengomuntu ongela cala aze adliwe licala emthethwandaba. Kumele njalo aphiwe ithuba lokuthola umeli.
Kakho umuntu ongajeziswa emthethweni ngenxa yecala alenzayo uma icala leli lenziwa umthetho owenza lokho akwenzayo kube licala wawungekho ngaleso sikhathi. Isijeziso salelo cala akumelanga sedlule isijesiso esasifanele icala lelo umthetho omutsha ungakabekwa.

Isivumelwano 12
Omunye lomunye umuntu ulelungelo lokuhlonitshwa - ubuntu bakhe, imuli yakhe, umuzi wakhe lezincwadi zakhe. Omunye lomunye umuntu kumele avikelwe ngumthetho ezintweni ezinje.

Isivumelwano 13
Wonke umuntu ulelungelo lokuhamba lokuhlala kuwo wonke amazwe.
Wonke umuntu ulelungelo lokuthutha loba kuliphi ilizwe, ngitsho laselizweni lakhe, lelokubuyela elizweni lakhe.

Isivumelwano 14
Wonke umuntu ulelungelo lokubalekela kwelinye ilizwe ukuze abe yisiphepheli khona nxa ehlutshwa elizweni lakubo.
Leli lungelo alikhululi umuntu obotshiweyo ngaphandle kokuba ebotshelwe izindaba zombangazwe kumbe okungavunyelwa ngaMazwe aManyaneyo.

Isivumelwano 15
Wonke umuntu ulelungelo lokuba yisakhamuzi ezweni lakhe.
Kakho ongathathelwa ilungelo leli loba alelwe ukuba yisakhumuzi selinye ilizwe.

Isivumelwano 16
Amadoda labafazi asebekhulilwe, balelungelo lokuthatha lokuthathwa babe lemizi yabo, kungenani ukuthiukholo lomuntu yiluphi lokuthi ungumhlobo bani. Balamalungelo alinganayo ekuthathaneni kwabo lasekwehlukaneniekeni kwaho.
Umendo kumele ubotshwe ngukuvumelana kwabathathanayo.
Imuli yisisekelo sezizwe, ngakho kumele isekelwe yizakhamizi languHulumende.

Isivumelwano 17
Omunye lomunye ulelungelo lokuba lezimphala zakhe yedwa lokuba lezimpahla ndawonye labanye.
Kakho umuntu ongahluthunelwa indawo kanye lempahla engeyakhe.

Isivumelwano 18
Omunye lomunye ulelungelo lokucabanga njengokuthanda kwakhe, lelokukhonza ngentando yakhe, ekhokhelwa ngunembaza wakhe. Leli lungelo lipha umuntu imvumo yokutshintsha ukholo lwakhe, lemvumo yokuthi yena yedwa kumbe elabanye atshengise ukholo lwakhe kumphakathi ngezenzo, ngokukhonza, ngokufundisa kunye Tokuziphatha kwakhe kunye lokufundisa ukholo lwakhe.

Isivumelwano 19
Omunye lomunye ulelungelo lokukhuluma izifiso zakhe lokusengqondweni yakhe. Leli lungelo lipha umuntu inkululeko yokudinga lokwamukela lokwazisa akwaziyo lokusengqondweni yakhe ngayiphi layiphi indlela lakwamanye amazwe.

Isivumelwano 20
Wonke umuntu ulelungelo lokumanyana kanye lokuhlangana labanye.
Akula muntu ozabanjwa ngamandla ukuthi abelilunga lenhlanganiso iphi layiphi.

Isivumelwano 21
Omunye lomunye ulelungelo lokuphathisana lohulumende wakhe yena ngokwakhe kumbe amelwe ngabakhethiweyo.
Omunye lomunye ulelungelo loncedo lwelizwe lakhe.
Izifiso zabantu yizo okumele ziphe uhulumende amandla okubusa. Lezi zifiso zizatshengiswa lukhetho oluzakwenziwa ngezikhathi ezifaneleyo, oluzavumela njalo wonke umuntu ukukhetha ngendlela engasoze itshengise abanye ukuthi ukhethe bani.

Isivumelwano 22
Omunye lomunye umuntu, njengesakhamuzi, ulelungelo lokusekelwa yilizwe lakhe lelokusuthiseka. Lokhu kuzavela ezenzweni zesizwe sakhe lasencedweni oluvela kwamanye amazwe, ukuze kuthuthukiswe amalungelo akhe empilweni lasemasikweni akhe ukuze kumlethele inhonipho lentuthuko yobuntu bakhe.

Isivumelwano 23
Omunye lomunye ulelungelo lokusebenza lelokukhetha umsebenzi awufunayo, lelokuphathwa kuhle emsebenzini, lelokuncedwa nxa umsebenzi udingakala
Omunye lomunye ulelungelo lokwamukela imbandalo elingene lomsebenzi wakhe.
Wonke umuntu osebenzayo ulelungelo lokuthola imbadalo efaneleyo ezokwenza ukuthi yena labantwana bakhe bathole impilo lenhalakahle ehloniphekayo njengabantu, lelokusekelwa ngezinye izindlela.
Omunye lomunye ulelungelo lokuba lilunga lomhlangano wezisebenzi ukuze asekele izifiso zakhe.

Isivumelwano 24
Omunye lomunye ulelungelo lokuthatha ikhefu engephulelwa imbadalo yakhe, njalo ulelungelo lokusebenza amahora angamanengi kakhulukazi.

Isivumelwano 25
Omunye lomunye ulelungelo lempilo lenhlalakahle yakhe labantwana bakhe. Lokhu kuhlanganisa ukudla, izembatho, indawo yokuhlala kanye lempilo enhle, ukugcinwa kuhle uma engasebenzi. Lokhu kuhlanganisa abafelwaokazi, abadala, abalimeleyo labehlulekayo ukuzonga.
Ababelethileyo labantwana kumele bagcinwe njalo bancediswe. Abantwana bonke abazalelwe emendweni kumbe ngaphandle kwawo, kumele basekelwe ngokufanayo.

Isivumelwano 26
Omunye lomunye ulelungelo lemfundo. Imfundo ayizukuba lembadalo, kusukela phansi kuze kufike esigabeni esithe thuthu. Imfundo ephansi (elementary) ngeyomuntu wonke, ngakho omunye lomunye uzabanjwa ngamandla ukuthi ayithole. Imfundo ephezulu yezandla (technical) lenye njalo eyolwazi olwehlukeneyo olwezigaba ezehlukeneyo kumele ibe khona, lemfundo ephakemeyo kumele itholwe yilabo abayifaneleyo ngolwazi abalalo.
Imfundo kuzamela ithuthukise ubuntu lokuhlonipha amalungelo obuntu lenkululeko engcweleyo. Kufanele ikhulise ukuzwelana, ukuzwisisa lobudlelwano phakathi kwezizwe zonke, kwemihlobo yonke lakwabenkonzo ezehlukeneyo, isekele njalo imisebenzi yeZizwe eziManyeneyo (UN) yokuletha ukuthula emhlabeni.
Abazali balelungelo lokukhetha imfundo yabantwana babo.

Isivumelwano 27
Wonke umuntu ulelungelo lokumanyana labanye lokukhululeka ekuphathisaneni labanye kwezemvelo lakwezamasiko lelokuvuna kukho konke okuvezwa yizifundo zemvelo.
Omunye lomunye ulelungelo lokusekelwa empilweni yakhe lelokuqiniswa ebuntwini bakhe mayelana lokwemvelo lokwezombukiso.

Isivumelwano 28
Umuntu munye lamunye ulelungelo lokuthola indawo lapha okuhlonitshwa lokugcinwa khona izimiso zezivumelwano lezi.

Isivumelwano 29
Wonke umuntu ulemisebenzi okumele ayenze njengesakhamuzi okuyiyo ezagcwalisa ubuntu bakhe.
Kukho konke akwenzayo, uzakhokhelwa yikuhlonipha lokwethula ingowane yakhe kumalungelo abanye, ananzelele ukuqakatheka kombuso wabanengi (UN).
La amalungelo lenkululeko akumelanga kuphambane lezimiso zeZizwe eziManyaneyo.

Izivumelwano 30
Akukho kuleziZivumelwano okungavumela umuntu loba abantu ukubhidliza amalungelo lenkululeko ezilotshwe lapha.

CHISHONA

KURUDZIRO YEKUCHENGETEDZVA KWEKODZERO DZEVANHU PASI POSE

ZARURO

Sezvo kucherechedza hunhu nekodzero yakayenzana yomunhu wese pasi pose iriyo mviromviro yomutongero uri pachokwadi norunyararo panyika.
Sezvo kusatevera nekusvora kodzero dzevanhu zvakamboita kuti kuve noutsinye hwakarwadza pfungwa dzevanhu pasi pose, nokuuya kwenyika inevanhu vachafadzwa norusununguko nokutaura zvavanoda zvakapikirwa sezvinangwa zvinodiwa kuvanhu vese vese.
Sezvo chiri chinhu chinokosha, kana munhu asingazomanikidzirwa kuita somukana wokupedzisira, kupandukira hutongi hwakaipa kana hudzvanyiriri, kuti, kodzero dzevanhu dzichengetedzwe nohutongi hwomutemo.

Sezvo vanhu vese veMubatanidzwa weNyika, muchisununguko ichi, varatidzazve chitendero chavo mukodzero dzavanhu dzinokosha, uyewo muhunhu nohukoshi homunhu wega wega, munezvekodzero yakayenzana yavanhurume navanhukadzi, zvekare vazvishingisa kukurudzira budiriro mumagariro nokusimudzirwa kohupenyu huri nani murusununguko rwunokosha rwakawedzerwa.
Sezvo kunzwisisa pamwechete kodzero idzi norusununguko zvichikosha zvakanyanya kuti chisungo chibudirire.

Saka Nokudaro

GUNGANO ROMUBATA - NIDZWA WENYIKA DZEPASI POSE rinozivisa NEZVEKURUDZIRO INO YEKUCHENGETEDZVA KWEKODZERO DZEVANHU PASI POSE sechiratidzo chokubudirira pamwechete kwavanhu vese nemarudzi ese, pedzisire munhu wese nenhengo dzese dzemunyika vavekuchengetedza kurudziro ino, vachishingirira nokudzidzisa uyewo kuita mabasa ekudzidzisa nokukurudzira kuremekedzwa kwekodzero dzino nerusununguko namatanho okubudirira munyika kana pasi pose, kuita kuti kodzero idzi dzicherechedzwe zvakakwana nokuchengetedzwa pasi pose nevanhu vemunyika dzinova nhengo uyewo vanhu vanogara mumatunhu ari pasi penyika idzodzo.

1. Chisungo cheKutanga
Vanhu vese vanoberekwa vakasununguka uyewo vakaenzana pahunhu nekodzero dzavo. Vanhu vese vanechipo chokufunga nekuziva chakaipa nechakanaka saka vanofanira kubatana nomweya wohusahwira.

2. Chisungo cheChipiri
Munhu wese anofanirwa kuwana kodzero norusununguko samataurirwo azvakaitwa mukurudziro ino, pasina kusarura kupi zvako, kwakaita sekwerudzi rwake, ruvara rwake kana kuti munhurume kana kuti munhukadzi here, mutauro wake, svondo yake, kana kuti mafungiro ake munezvematongerwo enyika kana zvipi zvazvo.

Zvekare, hapana kusarura kuchaitwa nokuda kwemamiriro munezvematongerwo enyika, mutongero kana kuti mamiriro enyika kana dunhu raanogara muneipi zvayo nyika pasi pose, ingava nyika yakasununguka, nyika iri kufanotongwa, kana nyika isati yawana kuzvitonga kuzere kana chipi zvacho chipingidzo pakuzvitonga.

3. Chisungo cheChitatu
Munhu wese anekodzero yokurarama, kuvanerusununguko nokuzvichengetedza iye omene.

4. Chisungo cheChina
Hapana munhu achachengetwa muhuranda kana kuitwa semuranda, huranda nekutengeswa kwevanhu neipi zvayo nzira hazvizotenderwi.

5. Chisungo cheChishanu
Hapana munhu anofanirwa kurwadziswa kana kuitirwa hutsinye, kubatwa semhuka kana kuitwa zvinoderedza, kana upi zvawo murangiro wakadaro.

6. Chisungo cheChitanhatu
Vanhu vese vakayenzana pamberi pomutemo uye vanekodzero, pasina rusarura, yokuchengetedzwa zvakayenzana nomutemo.

7. Chisungo cheChinomwe
Munhu wese anekodzero yokuenzanisirwa chichemo chake zvakakwana namatare ari pachokwadi emunyika make apo anenge aitirwa zvinotyora kodzero dzinokosha dzaanopiwa nebumbiro remitemo kana iwo mutemo pachawo. Munhu wese anenzira yekudzivirirwa yakafanana neyavamwe kubva murusarurwo rwose zvarwo runotyora mitemo yekurudziro ino.

8. Chisungo cheChisere
Munhu wese anekodzero yekumirirwa nematare kana akatyorerwa kodzero dzake dzaainadzo pasi pebumbiro remitemo kana mitemo pachayo.

9. Chisungo cheChipfumbamwe
Hapana munhu achasungwa, kupfigirwa mutorongo kana kudzingwa munyika make zvisiri pamutemo.

10. Chisungo cheGumi
Munhu wese anofanirwa kuwana mukana wakaenzana uri pachokwadi wokumira pamberi pedare remhosva rakasununguka, risinadivi rarinorerekera, apo kodzero yake nezvaanotarisirwa kuti aite zvinenge zvichivhenekwa, uyewo kana achinge achipomerwa mhosva ipi zvayo.

11. Chisungo cheGumi nemwe
(Chekutanga) Munhu wese anenge apomerwa mhosva iyo ingaita kuti apiwe chirango, anekodzero yokubatwa somunhu asina mhosva kusvikira pawanikwa umbowo hokuti anemhosva, achizobatwa nayo pamberi poruzhinji nedare, apo paanenge apihwa mukana wezvose zvaangade pakuzvimirira.
(Chechipiri) - Hapana munhu anofanirwa kunzi anemhosva pamutemo wenyika kana mutemo wenyika dzepasi pose, panguva yechiitiko ichocho. Uyewo hapana chirango chakapfurikidza chinofanirwa kutemerwa munhu chisingawirirani nechirango chaikodzera panguva yokuparwa kwemhosva yacho inenge iripadare.

12. Chisungo cheGumi neMbiri
Hakuna munhu achafanirwa kuongororwa zvisiripamutemo munezvemagariro ake, zvemhuri yake, musha wake kana matsamba ake, uyewo kushorwa nokuderedzerwa pahunhu, nechimiro chake. Munhu wese anekodzero yokudzivirirwa nemutemo kubva mukuderedzerwa nekutadzikirwa kwakadaro.

13. Chisungo cheGumi neNhatu
(Chekutanga) - Munhu wese anekodzero yokuva norusununguko rwokufamba nokugara mukati menyika imwe neimwe.
(Chechipiri) - Munhu wese anekodzero yokubuda muneipi zvayo nyika, zvichibatanidza nyika yake, uyewo kudzokerazve kunyika yake.

14. Chisungo cheGumi nena
(Chekutanga) - Munhu wese anekodzero yokutsvaga nekupiwa pekupotera kunedzimwe nyika kana ari kuvhundutsirwa.
(Chechipiri) - Iyi kodzero haigone kushandiswa kana asungwa pachokwadi nemhosva dziri pachena kuti hadzisi dzezvematongerwo enyika mushure mokuita mabasa anotyora zvinangwa nemitemo yeMubatanidzwa wenyika dzepasi pose.

15. Chisungo cheGumi neShanu
(Chekutanga) - Munhu wese anekodzero yokuva nenyika yaanobva.
(Chechipiri) - Hapana munhu achashaiswa nyika yake yaanogara kana kurambidzwa kuenda kundogara kuneimwe nyika.

16. Chisungo cheGumi neNhanhatu
(Chekutanga) Vanhurume nevanhukadzi vabvezero, vanekodzero yokuroorana nokuumba mhuri, pasina kudziviswa nokuda kwerudzi, nyika yechizvarwa kana svondo yavanopinda. Vanhu ava vanekodzero dzakaenzana munyaya dzezvekuvaka imba, pakuchata nemukuparadzwa kwawo.
(Chechipiri) - Wanano ichaitwa chete kana paine tenderano yakakwana pakati paavo vanoda kuwanana.
(Chechitatu) - Mhuri ndiyo musimboti womubatanidzwa unokosha mumusha uye inekodzero yokuchengetedzwa omene.

17. Chisungo cheGumi neChinomwe
(Chokutanga) - Munhu wese anekodzero yekuita pfuma ariega kana kuti akabatana nevamwe.
(Chechipiri) - Hakuna munhu achatorerwa pfuma yake.

18. Chisungo cheGumi neSere
Munhu wese anekodzero yorusununguko mupfungwa, mumaonero, nemumanamatiro ake; kodzero iyi inobatanidza rusununguko rwokuchinja svondo kana mafungiro, zvekare kuva norusununguko pachake kana navamwe, pachena kana muchivande, rwokunamata kana rwomumafungiro ake muzvidzidziswa, kuitwa kwazvo, munamatirwo kana mumacherechedzerwo azvo.

19. Chisungo cheGumi nePfumbamwe
Munhu wese anekodzero yokuva norusununguko rwemaonero ake pasina kukanganiswa, rwekutsvaga, rwekuudzwa kana rwekuzivisa mashoko nemafungiro neipi zvayo nzira zvisineyi nezvemiganhu yenyika.

20. Chisungo cheChimakumi maviri
(Chekutanga) Munhu wese anekodzero yokuva norusununguko rwokusangana nokuvanamwe murunyararo
(Chechipiri) - Hapana munhu anofanirwa kumanikidzwa kuvenhengo yeripi zvaro bato.

21. Chisungo cheChimakumi maviri nemwe
(Chekutanga) - Munhu wese anekodzero yokubatsira mukutongwa kwenyika yake, pachake kana kuburikidza nekuvamiriri vakasarudzwa zviri pachena.
(Chechipiri) - Munhu wese anekodzero yakaenzana yokushandira hurumende yomunyika yake.
(Chechitatu) - Zvido zvevanhu ndizvo zvchava musimboti wemasimba okutonganawo hurumende: zvido izvi zvicharatidzwa nguva nenguva nesarudzo iri pachokwadi iyo ichange ichizoitwa nomunhu wese anekodzero yokuvhota, sarudzo iyi ichaitwa vanhu vakasununguka uye zvisina kubiridzira .

22. Chisungo chechimakumi maviri nembiri
Munhu wese, senhengo yorudzi, anekodzero yokuwana magariro akanaka, uye anofanirwa kuwana kubva mumushandira pamwe wenyika dzepasi pose zvichitevera marongerwo ohupfumi hwenyika imwe neimwe, hupfumi, magariro nekodzero, dzetsika dzemagariro ake nokuita munhu anova zvaanoda kuva.

23. Chisungo chechimakumi maviri nenhatu
(Chekutanga) - Munhu wese anekodzero yokushanda, kusarudza basa raanoda kuita, nekuva nomushandiro wakanaka uyewo nekudzivirirwa kuti asaite rovha.
(Chechipiri) - Munhu wese, pasina kusarura kupi zvako, anekodzero yokuwana mugove wakaenzana nowomunhu wese anoita basa serake.
(Chechitatu) - Munhu wese anoshanda anekodzero yokuwana mugove wakanaka zvichiita kuti iye pachake nemhuri yake vawane magariro anokodzera ehunhu uchiwederwa, kana zvichikodzera nedzimwe nzira dzokuchengetedzwa kwemagaririo akanaka.
(Chechina) - Munhu wese anekodzero yokuumba nokuvanhengo yemasangano anomirira vashandi kuti agone kuchengetedza zvido zvake.

24. Chisungo chechimakumi maviri nena
Munhu wese anekodzero yokuzorora nokuzvivaraidza, zvichibatanidza kukamurwa kwenguva yokushanda nokuwana zororo nguva nenguva pabasa achipihwa mugove wakakwana.

25. Chisungo chechimakumi makumi maviri neshanu
(Chekutanga) - Munhu wese anekodzero yokuva nemagariro akakwana kuti ave nohutano hwakanaka nokurarama zvakanaka iye pachake nemhuri yake achiwana kudya, zvipfeko, imba, kurapwa nezvose zvinodikanwa pamagariro omunhu nekodzero yokuchengetwa panguva yokushaiwa basa, hurwere, kuremara, kufirwa, kukwegura kana chipi zvacho chipingidzo muupenyu.
(Chechipiri) - Huzvere kana nguva yohwana hudiki inguva yokubatwa zvakanaka nokubatsirwa. Vana vese, zvisinei kuti vakaberekwa zvakaita sei, vachachengetwa zvakayenzana.

26. Chisungo chechimakumi maviri nenhanhatu
(Chekutanga) - Munhu wese anekodzero yokuwana dzidzo iyo ichange iri pachena , zvikuru panguva yehwana hudiki, inova ndiyo nguva yakakosha. Dzidzo panguva iyi ichamanikidzirwa. Dzidzo dzezvemibato yemaoko neyemumahofisi ichaitwa kuti ivepo zvekare, dzidzo iripamusoro ichawanikwa maererano nemagonero emunhu.
(Chechipiri) - Dzidzo ichanangiswa kusimudzira zvakakwana munhu nokusimbaradza kuremekedzwa kwekodzero dzavanhu uyewo nerusununguko rwavo runokosha. Dzidzo ichakuridzira kunzwisisa, kuregererana nohusahwira pakati penyika, marudzi kana mapoka ezvedzisvondo, uyewo ichatungamidza mabasa emubatanidzwa weNyika dzepasi pose ekuchengetedzwa kwerunyararo.
(Chechitatu) - Vabereki vanekodzero yokusarudza dzidzo ichapihwa kuvana vavo.

27. Chisungo chechimakumi maviri nenomwe
(Chekutanga) - Munhu wese anekodzero yokuteedza akasungunuka tsika dzemunzvimbo maanogara kufadzwa nezvemitambo nokubatidzawo mumabasa ebudiriro.
(Chechipiri) - Munhu wese anekodzero yokuwana kuchengetedzwa kwemararamiro nezvido zvake zvinobva munezvaanamazvi- kokota, zvemitambo, nemuzvinyorwa izvo anenge akanyora ega.

28. Chisungo chechimakumi maviri nesere
Munhu wese anofanirwa kugara muruwa nemunyika umo munozova nokucherechedzwa zvakakwana kwekodzero norusununguko sekutaurwa kwazvakaitwa mukurudziro ino.

29. Chisungo chechimakumi maviri nepfumbamwe
(Chekutanga) - Munhu wese ane zvinhu zvaanofanirwa kuita munzvimbo maanogara umo munozoita kuti iye pachake, agone kuzvisimudzira akasununguka pahunhu hwake zvakakwana.
(Chechipiri)- Achishandisa kodzero dzake norusununguko rwake munhu wese achavanomwero wakatarwa nomutemo chete, ndokunge izvi zvichiitirwa kupa cherechedzo noruremekedzo rwunodiwa kukodzero norusununguko rwunodiwa rwavamwe nokuita zvido zvevanhu.
(Chechitatu) - Kodzero iyi norusununguko urwu hazvigone kushandiswa nenzira inotyora zvinangwa nedonzvo reMubatanidzwa weNyika dzepasi pose.

30. Chisungo chechimakumi Matatu
Hapana chinhu chiri mukurudziro ino chichazotsanangurwa sechinoreva kuti chero ipi zvayo nyika, bato, kana munhu pachake, anekodzero yokuita mabasa kana zviito zvinopwanya ipi zvayo kodzero kana rusununguko zviri mukurudziro ino.

KURUDZIRO YEKUCHENGETEDZVA KWEKODZERO DZEVANHU PASI POSE
Nezuva reGumi munaZvita mugore ra 1948 Gungano roMubatanidzwa weNyika dzepasi pose rakasarudza ndokuzivisa "Nezvekurudziro yekuchengetedzva kwekodzero dzevanhu pasi pose". Mashoko akakwana ari mumashizha anotevera muchinyorwa chino. Mushure meichi chiitiko chinokosha, Gungano roMubatanidzwa weNyika dzepasi pose rakakumbira nyika dzose dzinova nhengo kuti dzishambadzire zvinyorwa zve Kurudziro ino, kuitira kuti zvinyorwa zvekurudziro iyi zvive zvino ziviswa, zvoshambadzirwa nokuverengwa zvichitsanangurwa, kunyanya muzvikoro nedzimwe nzvimbo dzokudzidzira, zvisinei nemamiriro enyika kana matunhu munezvematongerwo enyika.
Hechinoyi chinyorwa Chakabvumiranwa
HOFISI YESANGANO ROMBATANIDZVA WENYIKA DZEPASI POSE -YEKUTUMIRWA KWEMASHOKO KURUZHINJI.

Another betrayal of the Zimbabwean people

2008-11-24T15:11:00.000-08:00

It is my unpleasant duty to denounce the Movement for Democratic Change as a traitor to the people of Zimbabwe, who had reposed hope in it for a way out of the quagmire that our country is in.

There is no Movement, certainly no Democracy- the people want Mugabe to go and he is still there!!-and there is no change. There is, however, meetings in hotels, trips abroad, handshakes with people who orchestrate mass-murder, rape and muzzling of the media, and communiques. There is also a total breakdown of service delivery, a cholera epidemic. There are also rumours that much of what was happening in March is still happening in the rural areas.

I think our M.D.C leadership is more interested in ministerial posts than in removing the depraved Mugabe regime- which was the primary objective when Zimbabweans began to create an opposition.

Speaking of Zimbabweans, our collective attitude towards M.D.C's glaringly obvious short-comings is indicative of what someone once described as a lack of a sense of outrage. Zimbabweans have tolerated Matibli's evil regime, I suppose we can endure an opposition that we are becoming less and less in need of.

But at what cost?

Instead of feeling betrayed and angry, we clutch at straws. An even earlier bunch of traitors has suddenly woken up to the fact that they have not benefitted from the Unity Accord. (Notice how they have woken up to how they, not Zimbabwe's people, have not benefitted from the Unity Accord. No prize for guessing who's interests they will be fighting for when they canvass for your vote) Some are sure Obama will send troops. These are some of the relatively saner lines of thought Zimbabweans are pursuing.

But at what cost?

Coronation Day Greetings

2008-11-01T18:28:00.000-07:00

And the Spirit of Prophecy answered and said unto him, "Why art thou thus sorrowful? For this hath happened by the Will of God. And [ZION] hath not been given to an alien, but to thy firstborn son who shall p. 95 sit upon the throne of DAVID thy Father. For God swore unto DAVID in truth, and He repenteth not, that of the fruit of his body He would make to sit upon his throne for ever, in the Tabernacle of His Covenant, the Holy ZION. And I will set him above the kings of the earth, and his throne shall be like the days of heaven and like the ordinance of the moon for ever.1 And He who sitteth upon the throne of the Godhead in the heavens shall rule the living and the dead in the flesh for ever. And angels and men shall serve Him, and every tongue shall praise Him, and every knee shall bow to Him in the abysses and in the rivers. Comfort thyself with this [word], and get thee back to thy house, and let not thy heart be wholly sad."- The Kebra Naghast, chapter 60 (the Lamentation of Solomon)

In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them-Zechariah 12:8

Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne-Acts 2:29-30

Coronation Day Greetings to you all in the name of the Most High Rastafari!!!!

Malkam Addis Amet

2008-09-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

He that has made all beautiful in His time: also He has set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that RASTAFARI makes from beginning unto the end- Matsahafe Mekbib 3:11

Praise be to the Almighty Ras Tafarai Emperor Haile Selassie for the passing of another year, and the coming of another!! The 2001st Year of Mercty.

When I look back, I have plenty to be thankful. Health, increasing wealth even in these tough times. I have seen my horde of nephews and nieces grow- making my own childlessness more apparent and wagging tongues bolder. Like with past years, I pray that this will the the year that the Almighty will grant me that great wish of my heart- a woman who loves and fears the Most High Rastafari and walks in His ways because only her shall be the mother of my children. I cannot set His time, but I feel a sense of urgency (and loneliness..)

This past year has seen me make many friends in the Faith across the world. One day, we will all celebrate New Year together. May that day come soon, and may it be the first of many.

To all my people around the world, Happy New Year!!!!

Do we need the Bear for a friend?

2008-08-14T16:49:00.000-07:00

Declare among the nations,Proclaim, and set up a standard; Proclaim--do not conceal it-Say, 'Babylon is taken, Bel is shamed.Merodach is broken in pieces;Her idols are humiliated,Her images are broken in pieces.' For out of the north a nation comes up against her,Which shall make her land desolate, And no one shall dwell therein.They shall move, they shall depart, Both man and beast

Did the Prophet Ermiyas predict the rise of Russia as the power that will overthrow that of Euro-America as the successor to Babylon? I'll leave that for another discussion.

Like most Zimbabweans, I am horrifed at the conduct of Russia in Georgia. Yes, NATO has found itself lacking the moral authority it needs to react. What an embarrassing position for the West. The papers have chosen to blame Georgia's President, saying that he started a war that he cannot fight and has left NATO in an awkward position. But what was the man to do, one way or the other he was doomed.

How does any of this affect us Zimbabweans? Surely, we have enough on our own plate? Well, I haven't forgotten how Russia blocked a bid for tighter sanctions against the Mugabe regime. The arguement given sounded solid enough, and was much aired in the Herald and other instruments of misinformation. Russia was hailed as a principled nation.

Principled? Does what is happening in Georgia fit any civilised person's understanding of the word? Do we really need such a nation on our side? A bully and thug. That the West is no better is beside the point. I am concerned that us siding with this rising- and ambitious- power out of a desperate desire to spite the West will be costly to us in the not too distant future. Russia is not our friend, any more than a jackal that comes rushing when he hears a lamb bleating is a friend. Russia has already shown that she does not care about Zimbabwean people by supporting a government that is oppressing Zimbabwean people.

Maybe Russia will bring down the West, as the prophecy appears to show. But that still does not make her a saviour. What is happening in Southern Ossetia is proof enough.

We are alone

2008-07-01T15:32:00.000-07:00

If anyone had clutched on the hope that African leaders who met in Egypt would "do something", well, I think it is time we bring in reality. Considering that some African governments (including Mugabe's ancestral Malawi) were represented at the "inaugeration", it was really a desperate hope by any standard.

Think about it, expecting a single African leader to condemn what is happening in Zimbabwe is like expecting Ike Turner to denounce Mike Tyson for beating up Robin Givens. Or George Bush to complain about religious fanatics with bombs.

For starters, the host country is in the same situation. Mubarak (his name means Blessed, so he would be Bule if he was a Zimba) also likes to host critics in the country's jails. Not only that, but Mubarak doesn't even think his country is in Africa. This opinion was also shared by the other Mugabe-fan, Muammar Qaddafi, until he realised that only African states were prepared to defy American sanctions against him, while the Arabs were most certainly not.

Kenya's Prime Minister did have some words, but what are they in the face of much congratulating and applauding by the other African rulers? Conspiracy theorists are going to speculate on why the other African leader who has also raised a voice of reason, Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia, suddenly fell ill and could not attend the summit. Remember something like that happened at Lancaster House, and that is how we ended up with Mugabe?

More fodder for conspiracy theorists; Omar Bongo of Gabon is a Freemason, as is Mubarak himself.

Back to the real world, where does this summit leave us? With the realisation that we are on our own. No one is going to come to our rescue, not the African Union. With its decision is sealed the fate of not only Zimbabwe, but all the other parts of this continent that are feeling the boot of a dictator.

Nelson's Party-Pooper

2008-06-26T15:17:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who turns 90. He plans to celebrate in style in London, where he is enjoys unsurpassed iconic status.

As he parties with America and Europe's jet set, far from the grim reality of post-apartheid South Africa, Mandela may find it easy to forget his own people. However, poor Nelson has had to spare a thought for Zimbabwe. He ha
d no choice, the media has been hounding him about it. I bet he is fuming, his big day set to be spoiled by Mugabe- a man whose jealousy of Mandela's international standing is evident. The British media have been asking him about it, joining the politicians in calling on Madiba to condemn what is happening north of the Limpopo. The threat to strip him of the esteem they hold him in is thinly veiled.

I can understand Mandela's reluctance to acquiesce to the clamour of the chattering classes of British institutions. There's his image and credibility as an African stalwart- it would not do to appear as though he is being told what to say. And what short memories the British have; aren't they the same nation that were reluctant to confront the apartheid regime that incarcerated Mandela, and Thabo Mbeki's father?

Not to say that Madiba is a big fan of Mugabe. Until Thabo Mbeki, the ANC was never close to ZANU-PF. It's ally in Zimbabwe was ZAPU, the two parties and their founding leadership belong to the same generation of African nationalists. ZANU's South African friend was the P.A.C.

And at any rate, the Zimbabwean issue has been happening for years. I can understand Mandela's resentment at it being raised up at a time like this.

So, Mandela is in London, where he did finally say something about Zimbabwe. But his statements just add water to the Mugabe propaganda apparatus' claim- that anyone criticising him is simply saying what they have been told to by Varungu. Meanwhile, it emerges that Queen Elizabeth approved of the Foreign Office's decision to strip Mugabe of the knighthood she awarded him in 1994. Brian Matonga- who has said that he would not be where he is now were it not for the British and is married to a white woman- issued a statement to say that Mugabe doesn't care about the knighthood blah-blah as he has his own degrees etc. Mugabe's own statement was more reconcilatory- he said he respected the Queen, but didn't like the lot at 10 Downing Street. But the Queen is the glue that binds the various polities that make up the British Empire, sorry, Commonwealth. For all his posturing, I think Mugabe admires the Queen and the Empire, and would not refuse a chance to kiss the ass of a woman who refused to acknowledge the role played by her family in the Slave Trade.

At any rate, none of that is going to give us an economy, political stability, infrastructure and all the other stuff we badly need.

Oh, and by the way, only one other head of state has been stripped of a British knighthood; Romania's Nicolae Ceauşescu, who was executed a few days later. Hmm.

So, Zimbabwe went to vote. Most Zimbabweans did not want to vote. But there are thugs going around checking every one for the indelible ink. In some places, they want to see the reference number of your ballot paper. You don't want to not have it. It's not that the regime is encouraging us to vote, but a massive voter turnout- all of it voting for Mugabe- would perpetuate the delusion that he is popular.

Tsvangirai, pulling out of the elections did not stop the violence. But it did lose Matibili his knighthood, and we can hope that this will in turn bring on him what a similar loss did to Nick of Bucharest. We don't have much else to bank our hopes on. Maybe the Queen has special powers and can be the doom of an errant dictator in her Empire.

You know, I never though that I would use any swear word in reference to a Canadian, but there is this dickhead named Stephen Gowans. You may have read him in The Herald, as one of many non-Zimbabweans the desperate propaganda ropes in to maintain the delusion that Matibili enjoys international respectability. Still remember those bizarre nonsensical creatures called December 12 Movement or something telling us that Mugabe's was the "correct" government. Ghastly smile that woman had, they should ban transplanting horses' teeth to humans.

But back to my Canuck. Gowans is not a Black American, he's white. Normally, Ayinde Trinidad/Hotep/Whatever and co like to gripe about Whitey taking on the Black man's struggle- they won't even tolerate a bit of the tar brush, you have to totally Black before they let you in to their piss-house- but they have been pasting this man's blog pieces enthusiastically. Shows you how desperate they are;there's not enough Black people willing to write good things about Matibili, so let's relax the rules a little, just like chaps at The Herald have no choice but to bring in Ugandans and others to lecture us Zimbabweans about our own politics. I have nothing against Ugandans, but give us someone even the Ugandans have heard of.

Is Gowans sympathetic to the Black man's struggle? Like Osama Bin Laden, only when he can use it as a stick to beat up George Bush and western capitalists with. Is he a big fan of Mugabe? Only because the West has denounced him. So deep is his hatred for western capitalism that he ignores strong points of disagreements between himself and the depot he is lauding, such as the latter's declared belief that gays are "worse than pigs and dogs". I mean, I am no big fan of western capitalism, but that should not blind me to the fact that there is much being done in the Third World to weaken our capacity to confront the corporate onslaught.

Does he know what he is talking about? Well, you decide for yourself.

"The American revolutionaries, Thomas Jefferson among them, answered similar questions through harsh repression of the monarchists who threatened to reverse the gains of the American Revolution. There were 600,000 to 700,000 Tories, loyal to the king and hostile to the revolutionaries, who stood as a threat to the revolution. To neutralize the threat, the new government denied the Tories any platform from which to organize a counter-revolution. They were forbidden to own a press, to teach, to mount a pulpit. The professions were closed to them. They were denied the right to vote and hold political office. The property of wealthy Tories was confiscated. Many loyalists were beaten, others jailed without trial. Some were summarily executed. And 100,000 were driven into exile. Hundreds of thousands of people were denied advocacy rights, rights to property, and suffrage rights, in order to enlarge the liberties of a larger number of people who had been oppressed"

In his sick mind, Gowans finds in this justification for what Mugabe is doing to us. It is neccessary for the Revolution. How this account of America's Revolution can be compared to the situation in Zimbabwe is beyond any right thinking Zimbabwean. In America, people rose up against the elite and the uprising was violent. In Zimbabwe, the elite has risen up against the people and it has been a very violent uprising. You cannot compare these Tories to Michael Dube, Ngoni Knight, Headman Chitsungo, 4-year old Brighton Mambwera and so many others. The people in Zimbabwe who are being killed, raped, tortured and oppressed are not rich plutocrats determined to hold on to privileges assured by links with an unpopular regime. Not, that would be the Chinotimbas, the Mnangagwas, the Davieses-whose daughter is seeing Britain's Prince Harry-the Rautenbachs, the Briedenkamps.

If there are any parallels to be drawn, Gukurahundi comes to mind. The people of Matebeleland suffered this same massacre and brutality because they formed the base of Joshua Nkomo's support. Likewise, Matibili's terror has been unleashed on other parts of the country as punishment for not voting "wisely".

Gowans goes beyond the capabilities of Zimbabwean Mugabe-apologists. Most have chosen to pretend that there is any violence in the country at all. Some, like Mahoso, have gone on to invent thousands of "Rhodesians" waiting at the Zambian side of the border to invade our country. Before he started spewing such verbal diaorrhea, Mahoso used to walk. He used to eat in the canteen at the Polytechnic. Now he has a cushy job, employed at the expense of a tax-paying public who have made it clear enough times that they don't need his post, and he drives. This is the stuff Gowan's "Revolutionaries" are made of.

"When the MDC started in 2000, what a pity that they were addressing people in Sandton, mostly white people in Sandton north of Johannesburg instead of being in Dar es Salaam or Ghana or Abuja. They failed to make contact with Africa for so long. They were in London, we’ve just seen it again, Morgan Tsvangirai’s just been in America. Why isn’t he in Cairo? Maybe he needs financial support and he can’t get it outside of America or the UK and the same would go for (leader of an alternative MDC faction, Arthur) Mutambara. They have not done enough in Africa."

The reason Morgan is not in Cairo is because the Registrar-General has refused to issue him a new passport. The R.G. is a staunch Matibili supporter, remember during the Referendum how he told reporters he had to check with the President first before announcing the results? (Mind you, apparently, he tells his son in the U.K. that the situation in Zimbabwe is a disaster) Every bit of this article is flawed, and does not lend to the idea that Mr Gowans has a fucking clue what he is talking about.

This is a war between revolutionaries and counter-revolutionaries; between nationalists and quislings; between Zimbabwean patriots and the US and Britain.

This wild claim, steeped in schizophrenia as with every thing else about this regime and its handpicked praise-singers from beyond the seas, goes against reality. That is not just my opinion. Indeed, if there was any thing like a revolution happening in Zimbabwe, it seems to have escaped the notice of the following people;Angelique Kidjo, Wole Soyinka, Wangari Maathai, Thomas Mapfumo, Salim Ahmed Salim, Boutros Boutros Ghali, Kofi Annan. Former and incumbent Presidents of many African nations, including Mugabe's peers such as Kaunda, have also said nothing about a Revolution, but expressed outrage at Mugabe's brutality towards Zimbabweans.

Who, who would you believe then? Some Doink-the-clown-faced Canuck or a growing panel of Africa's most distinguished sons and daughters?

Don't pull out, Tsvangison!!!

2008-06-20T14:52:00.000-07:00

President Mugabe holding guns to innocent bodies
In Zimbabwe
They make John Pope seem Godly
Sacrilegious and blasphemous
-Damian Marley & Nas, Road to Zion

It has been reported that Morgan Tsvangirai is thinking of withdrawing from next week's elections. His reason is logical- there is no hope of a free and fair election when state sponsored violence has stepped up. Not when the government has ordered that the satellite dishes be removed from people's homes. Not when some parts of the country are now no-go areas unless you have a ZANU-PF membership card.

I can see where the man is coming from. No one seriously believes that there will be free and fair elections any more than there will be flying carpets. In some villages, people have been warned that if there is a single MDC vote in the ballot box, then the war vets and their thugs will return to burn the whole village down. Some have been commanded to write down the number of the ballet paper they use, for collation by the party militia.

Not only that, but the number of international observers is so small, that many parts of the country will be subject to the militia. All this we have seen in 2002, and before. So, yes, I can understand the reluctance of the MDC leadership to take part in elections which will serve no purpose except lend substance to the regime's claim that we have regular elections in Zimbabwe and are therefore a democracy and anyone who suggests otherwise is part of a lurid Western plot to subvert that same democracy.

But if anyone in the MDC heirarchy ever reads my blog, they may consider my arguement against taking this decision.

First, most people I have spoken to are determined more than ever to vote. The more they are being beaten, the more they feel they have to make their position clear- that Mr Mugabe and his band of villains (and that crass wife of his) must go. The widespread feeling is that there is nothing we can do about the beatings, the rapings, the burning of homes- and even if we could we would not for that will be sinking to their level- but if they give us the ballot paper we will not give them the answer they think they can terrorise out of us!!!! Mugabe should have learnt from his pogrom in Matebeleland.

Speaking of Matebeleland brings up another point. Most people see similarities between this present campaign and Gukurahundi. I think Matibiri is hoping to achieve what he got out of the slaughter of 20000 of our compatriots, whose only crime was they were from the same region as his political rival, Joshua Nkomo. Mugabe is hoping to bully the opposition in to accepting a government of "national unity", like the one he arm-twisted Nkomo in to, the only alternatibe being that the violence will continue. This is what happened, old Nkomo had little choice and it is starting to look like Tsvangirai feels that he to has to do the unthinkable if only to stop the wholesale rampage.

Mr Tsvangirai, we have not always agreed on methods, and you have not been established as decisive. But you must understand what I have just said- that the people are committed to achieving democracy and want to cast their vote as many times as it will take Matibiri to get the message.

Hang in there, we are all hanging in there. Tendai Biti is hanging in there. The families of Tonderai Ndira, Abigail Chiroto and all the other people of Zimbabwe are hanging in there. We have no other choice.

Freedom is coming tomorrow.

Did they talk about Zimbabwe at Chantilly?

2008-06-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

The 2008 Bilderberg Meeting in Chantilly, VA
Uploaded by neverknwo

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I have just learnt that this year's Bilderberg Conference was held at a place called Chantilly, Virginia, United States from the 5th to the 8th of June.

For the millions of Zimbabweans who have never heard of Bilderberg, I quote from Wikipedia.

"The Bilderberg Group, Bilderberg conference, or Bilderberg Club is an unofficial annual invitation-only conference of around 130 guests, most of whom are persons of influence in the fields of business, media and politics.The elite group meets annually at luxury hotels or resorts throughout the world — normally in Europe — and once every four years in the United States or Canada. It has an office in Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands."

It is a sort of club of the powerful in the Western world meet in a "relaxed" atmosphere, i.e. where they will speak in their personal capacities rather than the roles they play in their countries or corporations. The meetings are always held in secrecy, assured by the fact that most of the information in the world is controlled by a handful of corporations-whose bosses also attend the meetings. Even Google's boss is said to have attended one.

The Bilderberg meetings have been charged with subverting democracy and creating conditions where the media and governments fall under the sway of international corporations. They are also the subject of much conspiracy-theorist speculation, and are accused of plotting to create the Global Government.

It is known that African politics is discussed, although I am not aware of any Africans who attend. I have read somewhere that Thabo Mbeki has attended...

I wonder if he went this time. But what I am really curious to know is....was the subject of Zimbabwe brought up? I know the corporations are interested; Standard Chartered, Rio Tinto, the Rothschilds etc all feature in Zimbabwe's history, as do the likes of Lord Carrington (thank you so much for giving us Robert Mugabe) who has chaired such meetings.

If anyone has even a clue, I'd love to hear it!!!

African Unity-Holding on to the dream

2008-05-25T14:32:00.000-07:00

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"We stand today on the stage of world affairs, before the audience of world opinion. We have come together to assert our role in the direction of world affairs and to discharge our duty to the great continent whose two hundred and fifty million people we lead. Africa is today at mid-course in transition from the Africa of Yesterday to the Africa of Tomorrow. Even as we stand here, we move from the past into the future. The task on which we have embarked, the making of Africa, will not wait. We must act, to shape and mould the future and leave our imprint on events as they slip past into history." His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, 1963.

Oh, that all Africans were cognisant of this! More than ever in our history as the collective victims of injustice and dehumanisation do we need to have this outlook, this vision.

But, alas, it is not so. I look around and I see so much that needs to be fixed. I start with my own country, which has been held hostage by its own liberators. African leaders have reacted with an admission (often tacit) that Mr Mugabe no longer has the free support of the Zimbabwean people, they have been united in refraining from openly voicing their views for fear of appearing disloyal to the African dream. Meanwhile, Africans in South Africa reacted to the presence of Africans from other parts of the continent in a most savage manner. We are all shocked by their behaviour, especially at this occasion when we commemorate the founding of the O.A.U. However, one has to remember that the presence of these Africans in South Africa is not pursuant to the African Dream, but a by-product of the African Nightmare unleashed on the continent.

On the cultural front, progress has been minimal. Even in this world of Internet and Skype and Facebook, most Africans are more aware of the Western world than their own. Thus, a Nigerian who could not name a single Malawian author or a single Mauritian singer would only find common ground with these other Africans if they too like Beyonce or Kanye West. While the various nations of the Western world see themselves as the off-shoots of the Graeco-Roman civilisation, African peoples cannot see the common history.

So, what to do then? Surrender? For me, this is not an option. Not yet, any way. I think that those of us who have a vision for Africa should hold on to it, if only to pass it on to the next generation until there is one that will arise above the obstacles and bring it to reality. That is what I shall do.

Africa Day Greetings to all!!

2008-05-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

You must remember this is Africa...This isn't Little-Puddleton-on-the-Marsh and they behave differently here. They think nothing of sticking tent poles up each others whatnots and doing filthy, beastly things to each other. It does happen, I'm afraid. Its a very wild thing, an election

-Lord Soames, last British Govenor of Rhodesia

These are the words of the British Empire's man as he presided over elections that were to sweep Robert Mugabe to power in 1980. Nobody listened, because Lord Soames represented the bad guys, the guys we had been fighting in the Bush. Robert Mugabe was the future. And if anyone was in doubt, when he came to power, Mugabe gave us that Reconciliation Speech which moved Alec Smith, son of his late rival Ian Smith.

Nearly three decades later, these words are being remembered by our generation as the country once again becomes engulfed in politically-motivated violence. This is the question that some are beginning to ask; was this imperialist right about Black people in Zimbabwean politics?

But why are we even going back to the utterances of the sort of people we fought against so that we could have Zimbabwe?

The answer is there for all to see in the manner in which The Herald and other of the regime's media apparatus -including hordes of ideologically challenged peripheral Black groups roped in from the U.S. and United Kingdom- have handled the issue of elections in Zimbabwe. Do these people really think that anyone out there takes them seriously?

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that it is time we listened to the voices of colonialism just because Zimbabwe's media has proved to be anti-Zimbabwe. What I am saying is that it is ironic that out of all that has been said about the situation in Zimbabwe- the only person that seems to have insight in to it is a dead British lord.

Men of Straw

2008-04-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

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"Hagos, I said, "things are so different in Axum since you expelled the government troops. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the atmosphere's completely changed."

"It is because no one is afraid any more," the TPLF official replied a moment later.

"Not even of the bombing and the air raids?"

"We fear those things, of course. But they are more of a nuisance than a terror- and we have found a way to avoid them. In the past, when the government was here, we could not avoid the cruelty of the garrisons, the tortures, the random arrests. That was the terror that oppressed us for so long. yet when we confronted it, do you know what happened?"

"No. Not exactly."

"We discovered that it had been spread by men of straw and that freedom had always been within our grasp."
- Graham Hancock, The Sign and the Seal

To Run-Off or not to Run-Off.

2008-04-09T12:20:00.000-07:00

Robert Mugabe (or Matibiri as he is now widely referred to in opposition cyberspace)has finally reared his head- having garnered enough support in his camp-to challenge the will of the people and has begun to fight back.

My own sources in the C.I.O. say he was thrashed in the Presidential elections, "real bad" according to one. This is why they won't release the results. Instead, they have taken a most unexpected stance: the elections were rigged. Imagine, Zanu PF complaining about rigged elections!!!! How else, Zanu reasons, could Mugabe have lost. (Try an electorate where even the die-hard Zanu supporters have come to realise that Mr Matibiri and his bunch have nothing more to deliver)

But Zanu is taking this rigged elections thing seriously, to the point of arresting some of the Zimbabwe Election Commission officials and charging them with working against Mugabe, the result being that elections were not free and fair. If I were Matibiri, I would also pass by the Israeli Embassy near Barclays Bank on Jason Moyo Ave and demand my money back from Mossad. Come to think of it, if Mossad could take the dictator's money (actually our money, but that is another arguement)and still not save him from getting his ass whupped in the elections, what would stop the Z.E.C officials from, um, not helping him? Reports abounded of soldiers who openly campaigned for either Makoni or Tsvangirai. One told me that they were doing this despite the rigid "orientation" in the military because they too bought at the same shops as civilians, went to the same hospitals etc.

Face it, Matibiri, people are trying to tell you that they have had enough of you. Where they rigged for you, they now rig against you. Whether rigging is right or wrong is another matter all together- the point people are making is that they want you to leave State House.

Oh, and take Mengistu with you.

Mugabe is going, but not just yet. He wants to have another election, where he will ensure he wins. This will entail printing more money in Germany, further inflation, basically more of the shit that constitutes Zanu's style of running things.

What should Tsvangirai do? Take part in the elections or boycott them? This has been the problem of all opposition in Zimbabwe under the present environment. To take part would be tacit endorsement of a political processs that is not democratic. This is why there was apathy in some areas. But, at the same time, to stay away would send accross the message that there is no opposition in Zimbabwe.

I think Tsvangirai should go ahead and take part in the elections. My reason is the belief that there are more elements to the whole process than in previous elections. There is dissent in Mugabe's own camp, and the strong possibility that whatever apparatus he chooses to put in place to assure him "victory" will work against him. Just before the last elections, they passed a law allowing a policeman to enter a polling booth to help an illiterate voter. Many felt the idea was to intimidate voters, but it may have seen the police actually encouraging, may be even intimidating the voters in to choosing Tsvangirayi.

Get the message, Matibiri?

If the elections fail, the regime has another ace up its sleeve. "I have degrees in violence," Mugabe once boasted. There have been reports of white farmers grouping in Zambia. How far true are they? I wouldn't put it past some of the white farmers, after a couple of lagers and the whole Rhodesia thing floods their memories. But isn't rather convenient that the Rhodies resurface to scare those of us who may have started to doubt Mugabe's wild conspiracy claims? Even if there were whites plotting to return Zimbabwe to their understanding of the "good old days" i cahoots with Tsvangirayi, then surely they could have waited till he was actually in State House?

Do you want Mr Jones to return?

The violence option will not work, because there is no one to fight except non-violent, long-suffering Zimbabweans who still believe that the ballot will bring them the change they need. No, when I say the violence option, I forget for a moment that violence has always been an option for Zanu PF. But it is not for us. (us being ordinary Zimbabweans)

Let's have the second round of elections. And you will get your ass whupped again. Even if you disregard the results, you will know in your heart that the people don't like you any more.

The long wait

2008-04-02T14:27:00.000-07:00

......Or is it the long goodbye?

Since last week, when we had the elections, it's like a whole blanket is over the country. The Government has never been big on information, but this time they outdid themselves. Even the propaganda apparatus, the Mahosos and our friends and raceandhistory.com had nothing to say. Almost as if there was no election happening.

Yet, people have been talking. Those with access to the Internet and satellite TV (when the power is on) have been passing on what they have seen through texts.)It has been reported that Mugabe's sister, Sabina, died. She had been ill, but the word on the street is that this an omen. Remember the other Mugabe sister's performance at Heroes Acre?

There was also a rumour about flying that Elliot Manyika shot his rival in the MDC, and one that Bob himself had left the country.

These are just some of the rumours on interest to me, but there are loads of stories going round.

Seems to me though, it looks like the writing's on the wall for Mugabe. He could get the elections rigged, like what has been the case over the years. As in the past, he has had to print more money to fund the campaign. Ironcially, this time the printing has been done by a company in a country whose chancellor the Mugabe regime denounced as a Nazi. Despite the anti-semitic rants of this regime, they have roped in Mossad as well.

What it seems he cannot count on is his own coterie. Members of the armed forces have been openly campaigning for Makoni and Tsvangirai. It is said that even the Zanu MP candidates were telling people to vote for the party in the Parliamentary elections, but choose anyone other than Mugabe in the Presidential. A law enacted allowing a policeman to enter the booth to help an illiterate voter may have been meant to have them intimidate people in to voting for Mugabe, but it in many instances it may have seen the police telling people not to vote for Mugabe. Many in the C.I.O have also been working against the regime. I learnt recently from some that Mugabe got thrashed, and there was rejoicing when the results came in.

So what now? Rumours of talks, rumours that even now Mugabe may have already gone. I wonder if he'll take Mengistu with him. And where would he go? There can't be that many places where he will be welcome, not China, not Libya or any of the so-called allies. Certainly not Trinidad, even if Ayinde & co were in charge of that country.

Speculation centres on the following possibilities.

1. Mugabe will reject the results of the elections, but needs to be sure the army and politicians will back him.

2. Mugabe will accept the results, but there comes the problem of what happens to his cronies.

3. The army will take over. Imagine having Chiwengwa in charge of the country......

4. Mugabe will go quietly, and we enter a new era for our country. (No, seriously, this may happen.)

Some of the Text Messages I got on my phone today

2008-03-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

01 April 08 News Headlines: "The leader of the Main opposition Robert Mugabe has started preparing for the 2013 elections & has vowed to fight back into power "

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - -

Grace to Bob..."Baba vemwana moto mama necampaigne 'cause ini handisikuzobuda muStatehouse, anenge ahwina ndiye wandinogara naye'

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Don't talk to me anymore or even tell your friends that you know me.
Wandinyadzisa wena shamwari, kurota here wavhotera Zanu PF!

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Do u know munhu ane pick up? Ndawana mhene iri kuda kutamiswa anobhadhara neUS plus anodira juice, ari kutama wkend 29 march from State HOUSe to ZVIMBA.

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Musi wa29 munhu nemunhu panzvimbo yake.Mugabe kumunda, Simba kufinance, Morgan kuState house. Vote wisely. Pas this sms 2 as many ppl as psbl.

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Headlines after elections

1. Makoni admits he was sent by Mugabe

2. Perence Shiri commits suicide

3. Chihuri escapes to South Africa

4. Kwayedza:
Chinotimba we kuporisha shangu kuMozambique

5. Joceline Chiwengwa rave hure remakoko

6. First lady Mai Tsvangirai visits displaced murambatsvina victims

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Tatoveko na mai Tsvangirayi ku State House. Tirikutsvaira tsvaira nekugeza ma window. Grace ndiye ave sisi mutsva webasa becoz aramba kuenda namudhara

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Make sure kuti mudhara asiya maKeys ekuState House asati aenda next week.Kana achinyara anosiya parobot cnr.7th & S. Machel on his way to the airport.

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Grace anokumbirwa kuti anyatsotsvaira zvinoitawo vanhu kana vachishifta. Cobra nemutsvairo anosiya aisa kuseri kwedoor vasati vaenda kwazvimba.

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Happy Birthday Emmaye!!

2008-03-26T15:04:00.001-07:00

Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Zimbabwe. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou HIM.-Psalm (Mazmur yaDawit)45:6-11
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No greater example of the deplorable state of the Rastafarian community can be contemplated than the fact that it appears that no one remembered the Birthday of our beloved Emmaye, Her Imperial Majesty Empress Woleite Giorgis Manan Assefaw of Ethiopia, Queen of Queens. Not even the sister who rang me up to whinge about how all the other sisters have gone astray, even though she herself is to be found wanting because of her own passiveness.

That we have elections around the corner is not an excuse.

I asked around, and it seems that many people do not even know who Empress Manan is and cannot connect her to the "Queen Omega" they parrot from the reggae records. Manje so.

Could this lack of knowledge of Empress Manan be behind what I see as a total failure of the Zimbabwean Rastafarian woman to stand up? Surely, any one reading Psalm 45 would see that Her Imperial Majesty is attired in the gold of Ophir....which land we now call Zimbabwe/Southern Africa. Gold is a symbol of wealth, it is also a symbol of purity. The Amharic word for gold is sometimes written in English as work. And this is what I would like to see- the work of the Rastafarian woman in Zimbabwe, the glorious mantle that adorns the Queen of Queens.

I would so much like to see this that I have pledged a sum of money for women's projects. That was nearly 3 years ago, and to date no one has approached me for it.

So what does the Birthday of Her Imperial Majesty mean to me? It is a time to reflect on the meaning of Rastafari Womanhood, and my own role as a man to relate to this. There may not be any Rastafarian women for miles around, but Empress Manan keeps me clear in the knowledge of what a Rastafarian woman is all about. When I do come across one,I will know.

blessed art thou among women......

Why did they allow this....Sacrilege?!!!

2008-03-15T01:20:00.000-07:00

I am stunned by images such as these. Prince Charles and Camilla playing Nyahbinghi drums with Rastafarians as part of their tour of the Caribbean. To non-Rastafarians, this event seems harmless enough, typical of the British Royalty's image as diplomats. Well-meaning, but, alas, ignorant liberals in every country will laud this as proof that the Establishment is reaching out to accommodate the diversity of the people it leads. And Prince Charles will one day be King of Jamaica and therefore King of all those Rastafarians who welcomed him and his wife and allowed them to have a go at the drums. After years of griping that Rastafarians are discriminated and pushed to the edge of respectable society, surely we should be rejoicing that British Royalty have favoured us with a patina of approval?

No, and the reasons lie in the fundamental teachings of Rastafari.

In Rastafari, Queen Elizabeth II is denounced as the Whore of Babylon and is often referred to as "Elizabitch" in songs chanted to.....Nyahbinghi Drums, the same that Charlie and his darling wife were playing to the delight of many including themselves. When my sister, the beloved Cleo, took me to Buckingham Palace, I stood at the gates and recited Isayas 47 in its entirety. That same evening, I had a dream in which I saw many Rastafarians standing outside the palace gates, singing songs denouncing Elizabeth. I scanned the faces, and noted that the ones I recognised were those of people who had died. (I saw the Ancient Nyahbinghi Patriarch, Bongo Wattu, but did not know at the time that he had departed this life some time earlier.....)

That Prince Charles is regarded by some as destined to be the anti-Christ and the last King of England before Babylon falls. His name means, a man, which means that a well known verse in the Bible can be rendered in English as thus.

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of.....Charles; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.-Revelation 13:18.

Have a look at the video that I have embedded. I would also be pleased to share my DVD copy with anyone who would like to see it- I know a lot of Zimbabweans cannot watch videos online because of speed limitations.

Further more, Prince Charles is reputed to have a keen interest in the occult, especially how it ties in with his family's claim to the throne of not only Briatin, but all Europe, Jerusalem and the whole world. He is, like George Bush, a descendant of Prince Vlad Drakul of Wallachia, the historical/real-life Dracula. The Prince is aware of the connection, including the vampire one-and was in the papers recently about a plan to buy Dracula's castle.

There is a woman who claims to know all about Prince Charles's occult activities, because she says she was the priestess officiating at these rituals. Here's what she said about them:

"...I have seen (Prince Charles) shape-shift into a reptilian and do all of the things the Queen does. I have seen him sacrifice children. There is a lot of rivalry between them for who gets to eat eat what part of the body and who gets to absorb the victim's last breath and steal their soul. I have seen Andrew participate and I have seen Prince Phillip and Charles sister (Anne) at the rituals, but they didn't participate when I was there. When Andrew shape-shifts, he looks more like one of the lizards. The royals are some of the worst. Ok, as far as enjoying the killing, enjoying the sacrifice, and eating the flesh, they are some of the worst of all of them. They don't care if you see it. Who are you going to tell, who is going to believe you? They feel that it is their birthright and they love it. They love it."

Prince Charles is really a reptilian shape-shifter may seem far-fetched. But I have seen the articles in British newspapers about his appearance; sometimes he seems much older and haggard, then he is rejuvenated again. In one article, which appeared in the Daily Mail, a spokesperson denied that the Prince undergoes plastic surgery. Even so, Prince Charles is reputed in Conspiracy Theory circles as something other than he appears to be. Check out this Link.

May be the thing about reptilian shape-shifter may be a little far-fetched, but the fact remains that Prince Charles is not a very nice person at all. His hand is in many things that are not good- the environment, the economy, politics etc. No one can believe all that PR stuff about organic farming and this and that Trust, and still call themselves "conscious".

The monarchy's role in the Slave Trade, and Queen Elizabeth's refusal to apologise to descendants of Slaves are still sore points.

Elizabitch have to move, she have to move
she haf fe move, she haf fe move.
When Rastafari get ready, she have to move.

These are lines from a Nyahbingi chant, a religious invective on the Queen of Babylon sung to the sound of Nyahbinghi drums. It captures the teaching of Rastafari, that at a time designated by the Almighty, the Monarchy will be swept away and with it all those that it holds in its sway. It is known that His Imperial Majesty gave Prince Charles a watch- so that he could watch the time? ...art thou come hither to torment us before the time?-Matthew 8:29

Surely Prince Charles is aware or was made aware of his place in Rastafarian theology. So, why did he take part in Nyahbinghi drumming? Would the Pope turn up at a Seventh Day Adventist rally and get a warm welcome? How about Louis Farrakhan at a synagogue? Yet the whole world expected Prince Charles to be well received by Rastafarians.

And he was.

The Nyahbinghi Guidlines clearly state that a woman cannot attend the gathering if she is attired in a short dress or trousers or has a her hair uncovered. I've seen women denigrated in the most ungodly vocabulary for turning up incorrectly dressed, Black women at that. This adultererss comes round, and everyone is tripping over themselves and all they purport to stand for in accommodating her. So, this means we reserve all the "Fiyah b'un!!!" for all those vulnerable Black sisters from the community, and much love and tolerance from the highest ornamental of Babylon Whoredom? Can self-hatred be more manifest? Can there be a more patent negation of all that Rastafari is said to stand for?

Not only is there a strict rule about dress, but women aren't allowed to play the drums at all. This is stipulated in the Guidelines.

There cannot be an excuse for the royal couple's behaviour. Elsewhere they have been, they have shown respect for the sensibilities of adherents of other faiths. There are pictures of Prince Charles donning a yarmulke, Camilla in a sari or headscarf etc. Rastafari must be the only religion you make a mockery off and get away with it.

It is said that Prince Charles takes an interest in world faiths. Conspiracy theorists have it that he is working to unite these faiths under him- a return to the Imperial Roman institution of Pontifex Maximus, i.e. the Head of the Roman Empire accommodating all religions in his domain, and in return receives the adulation of their adherents as the High Priest of all these religions.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.- II Thessalonians 2:3-4

To this end, Prince Charles is reputed to be a convert to Judaism, Islam etc. Does this event show that he has also conquered Rastafari, and there will be no more "bu'n Elizabitch" and demands for an apology for the Slave Trade? It is significant that he went to this occasion attended by a woman named Camilla, a name that "May possibly be traced back to the young girls who assisted at pagan religious ceremonies". Should we also read something in Rita Marley's own rumoured occult connections (I have to dig up the article again, but recently she is featured in a song called....Voodoo Doll). This is the same Rita Marley who attended the Emperor's "funeral".

Would her husband, the Rt Hon. Birhane Selassie Robert Nesta Marley of blessed memory, have welcomed Prince Charles at their house? There is an account of the two an encounter between the two. One version places the meeting in Nairobi,while most have it that it happened in our Harare at our Independence when Charles came to take back to his mother the Union Jack after it was lowered for the last time.(He came with Camilla from London, but her husband had been stationed in what was then Rhodesia as aide-de-camp to the Governor-General...)

I quote from one source:

" Bob took a commercial flight to Nairobi. As he waited in the transit lounge for his plane, he received an unexpected message from a royal enquerry: Prince Charles was waiting in the VIP suite; would Bob care to come and join him and pay his respects?

Bob's reply was immediate:

If Prince Charles wanted to meet him, he should come out there and check him with all the people. Needless to say, Bob's invitation was not accepted.

Some time later, as Bob and the Wailers sat by the window of the departure lounge, they saw the royal party crossing the tarmac in the direction of the royal jet. When Prince Charles had walked only a few yards, however, he turned and looked up at the window where Bob was sitting. Looking directly into Bob Marley's eyes, Prince Charles smiled broadly. Then he continued on his way."

No, I am not going to suggest that Prince Charles has the basililk stare, but fact remains that Bob Marley did not live long after this incident. Perhaps this is what Charles was smiling about.

How different from Rita's conduct, slobbering all over a pair of lizards as they make a mockery of religious practices that are associated with her husband's legacy!!!

Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.- Psalm 22:21 (the lion and unicorn are part of the British monarchy's Coat of Arms)

The Nyahbinghi Lions that we see in the picture have become acquiescent dogs before the Colonial master.
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2008-02-29T13:32:00.000-08:00

For my Friends

Change not a friend for any good by no means; neither a faithful brother for the gold of Zimbabwe

Sirach 7:18

I was going to rant about politics again. Then, I realised that the sun had gone down and there were three stars in the sky. That means that the Sabbath is here. A time to pause, unwind, pray. Zimbabwe's problems will still be waiting. Let them wait for now.

My thoughts go out to my friends, particularly those of my youth. Each one in their own home now with their wives and children. Zimbabwe may be a mess now, but life is still beautiful. The children born to my friends are a sure reminder of this.

Surfing the internet, I was surpirsed to find a sketch from our childhood. Have a laugh guys, for old time's sake. There'll be more days of laughter, like those of yore. With all that has happened since the time we first saw this one, we haven't forgotten to laugh.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, Rastafari hath done great things for them....They that sow in tears shall reap in joy

Psalm 126:5

YeSenbet Selamte

2008-02-24T11:48:00.000-08:00

Going somewhere?

According to a story in The Zimbabwean newspaper, these helicopters are on standby to fly Robert Mugabe and family if he loses the forthcoming elections.

If this report is true, then it means that Mugabe knows that he will not be able to rig the elections as well as he would like- not with all the rats realising what they have feared for some time now- that they could stay on his edifice and slide towards the precipice with it, or jump off now and find somewhere else to infest. He also knows that even if he wins, it will be difficult to control the masses, not with many officials becoming bolder in their defiance.

I still won't vote for Makoni, though.

It's not the first time that Mugabe has prepared to leave the country at election time. He is rumoured to have done so the last time. Does this reveal the reason why he doesn't to give up power- he's scared for his personal future if someone else takes over? What is he scared off? Much speculation is on the Matebeleland Massacre, but the list of atrocities is supposed to go back to the time of the Chimurenga.

If I were Mugabe, and I got the choppers ready, I'd say, fuck it and pack my bags and fly off to somewhere. There are still plenty of places an evil tyrant can find a home- and not all of them in Asia. Why not the United Kingdom- he's alleged to have bought a castle in Scotland, earning the nickname Mcgabe. There's something about African dictators and Scotland, Idi Amin loved the place too. Of course, the rest of us Africans love Scotland as well.

Another good reason to go to the U.K. is that he is liked by the Royal Family there, and by far more Black people in London alone than in Zimbabwe.

Speaking of places where more Blacks love Mugabe than those of us in Zimbabwe, there is another place I would suggest. Trinidad & Tobago. Average Zimba's never heard of it, but there is some sort of organisation there devoted to Mugabe ( or maybe they were just another lot of beneficiaries of the reported £3m the regime dished out to recondite "Pan-Africanist" and "Black Liberation" outfits in the West to whip up support and paint Mugabe as some sort of hero a la Garvey, Nkrumah etc) led by some chap who thinks he speaks for all Trinidadians, such that he even calls himself Trinidad (or hotep, which is also a greeting amongst these people, as in Peace and Hotep to you. And you thought A.F.M. members praying to Mwari waEzekiel Guti was absurd.

So, there's lots of places he can go to. So, there really isn't any reason to hang about any longer.

Hark, is that the drone of helicopters I hear?

2008-02-15T01:14:00.000-08:00

Thanks, Steve

Steven Spielberg announced that he is stepping down from the role of adviser to the Beijing Olympics over China's role as the economic power behind Sudan's continuing slaughter of people in Darfur.

Let's put aside for another day the fact that he hasn't been so prominent in his criticism of the United States' own genocidal atrocities or complicity in genocidal atrocities around the world. And let's put aside the fact that he has not said much on Israel's treatment of Palestinians- I resent the widely-held view that non-Israeli Jews should either be or for Zionism and must state their position and stick with it, just like I resented the way white people sometimes turn and stare at you on the bus if a black person's misbehaving.

People are dying in Darfur. A superpower like China has ignored this, because it needs the oil and it doesn't give a monkey's about Black people, as exemplified by this article. A superpower like the States has also ignored this, because confrontation would only foment Islamic solidarity and hurt successes that Washington has scored in the Middle-East and it doesn't give a monkey's about Black people.

Which leaves us with...Africa. But Africa has done little for Darfur. Our own regime has received surveillance gadgetry from China, to make it as good as the Zhings at suppressing dissenting voices, and there's all this talk of "Look East Policy", which basically means that us proud Zimbabweans have to kneel before them and suck Zhing dick. Same treat is in store for all Africa- as long as we keep thinking that China is an alternative to our relationship with our former colonisers and do not wake up to the fact that we don't need relationships of this sort but should be a superpower in our own right.

I just want to salute Mr Spielberg for this one gesture- it means that there are some people out there who too think of Darfur and are prepared to sacrifice personal advancement to draw attention to the plight of the Sudanese. Perhaps more people around the world will be goaded in to action.

Far more than we've been getting from the so-called African Union.

2008-01-31T07:01:00.000-08:00

To the Blessed Memory of Martha Muramba (nee Masenda)

27 May 1927-30 January 2008

_________________________________________________________________________

She has been ill for a while now but I doubt that anyone who knew her was prepared for Gogo ("Grandma") Muramba's departure from this life. She was too large a figure, too lively a character. Not only that, but with several great-grandchildren already in their twenties and the elevation to the status of great-great-grandmother around the corner, we all assumed that she would live forever. In a country where the average lifespan is such that few will live to see their own children in seventh grade, Gogo Muramba was a throwback to the days when our people either enjoyed good health or when they fell sick, it was so serious that they died from it a few days later; a sharp contrast from the modern Zimbabwean who is plagued by something or the other if not AIDS. Her own mother passed away about two years before I was born, she was a young girl when the first British settled here.

While a throwback from a bygone era, Gogo was very much with our hight-tech online world. I remember watching Star Trek with her, while even today some of her grandkids, my cousins, can barely follow an intelligent TV show.

Her relationship with her grandkids was exemplary. She loved us all, and saw the good in us- even when the rest of the family, let alone the world, made it quite clear that it did not see any. There was, to her, no difference between the grandchild by a so or daughter. For many reasons, most mothers have a problem with their daughters-in-law and often this dislike extends to the daughter-in-law's children. Not so with Gogo Muramba, who would give a daughter-in-law an earful, and sling that same woman's child on to her back and take her to her bedroom.

Many are the anecdotes from the times we shared with Gogo. I remember one time, on a visit to the countryside. I wasn't really an outdoor person, preferring to find a tree to sit under and read, while my siblings and cousins went off exploring etc. Gogo called me, and pressed a handful of sweets in to my palms. It was our little secret, she said and I was not to show them to anyone otherwise they'd all want some and God knew how many kids there were. However, later that night I decided I wasn't going to be selfish and told the other boys that I had been especially favoured. I was anxious that it be understood that it was only because I happened to be the only grandchild around, and not because I was a favourite. Then, I realised that I was indeed the favourite grandchild- and so were the others. Because each and every one of them had also received secret handouts of sweets and warned against telling the others.........

I cannot imagine anyone who can quite fill Gogo Muramba's shoes. And when I look at her legacy, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, I earnestly believe that she lived a blessed life, even as the Psalmist said,

The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.-Psalm 128:5-6 (KJV)

There is no peace upon Israel, but that is not her fault, is it? But she did see her children's children and her children's children's children, and enriched their lives till this day when the Most High did see it fit to call her to His Mercy.

Comfort all those who weep.....(from the Enda Kidane Meherit)

Yihun inji

2008-01-25T08:42:00.000-08:00

Simba Makoni for President?

Word has been going around that Simba Makoni, one time Finance Minister, is plotting to lead a faction of Zanu-PF and challenge Robert Mugabe in the up-coming "elections". There have been denials, and speculation and anticipation. Even the West took a keen interest, sending a BBC journalist on a covert operation in to Zimbabwe despite the risks. I say he got help from high up within the regime's growing malcontents, just like that business with the Sky news crew who were brought in by Moyo. Could this developement also indicate that Makoni's presidential ambitions have the support of the West?

But this hope that Makoni will challenge Mugabe is not new. When he was running SADC, it was widely aired by the rumour-mill that he had simply been put out of the way as he already was a threat to Mugabe and his cronies. Then, it was said that in fact he had been considered a successor by Mugabe himself. In fact, legend has it that Bob brought this up in a Cabinet meeting in 1990 that he wanted to step down and pave way for new blood. It is said that the late Enos Chikowore wailed, "Nhai, shefu, munofunga kuti kwatakabva tichitambura tose, kwanga kuri kupasada here pachinzvimbo ichi?" Translation: O, Chief, did you think that we would come a long way with you without any aspirations of our own?". It was then that Mugabe came face to face with the fact that the cronyistic political apparatus of patronage and purges where expedient would not serve any possible change of leadership.

Even so, rumours that Mugabe would one day give the reins to Makoni persisted. When the latter announced that he would run for Executive Mayor of Harare, it is said that Mugabe rang him up and asked him, "Unotsvagirei usabhuku uhwo umambo uri hwako?" Translation; Why do you strive for a regional governorship when the kingdom is to be yours?

There are many of these urban legends. Whether they are true or not, they attest to the general feeling among people that Mugabe will one day get tired of fucking up the country and give authority to someone educated, progressive and enlightened- as opposed to all those gerontocrats who still fight Ian Smith and his Rhodesian rabble. Someone like Makoni.

Wait just a minute!!!!!!!

Simba Makoni is very much a Zanu-PF person. Why the hell should we even be thinking of him as Mugabe's successor? What about the one we chose for ourself, the one who got cheated out of the elections in 2002? If we let Makoni take over from Mugabe, we will have taken the political process back to the 80s when Mugabe was swept to power on a wave of Independence euphoria and the mistaken belief that because he could speak good English, he could talk to the West on our behalf.

We have seen Simba Makoni's legacy at SADC. Regional intergration is a joke, despite a few visas being scrapped here and there. In fact, wasn't it during his tenure that Botswana, the very country where the SADC Secretariat is based, signed a defence agreement with the United States, ensuring that the Yanks are never too far away from us and can do an Afghanistan on us any time they want?

Then, when he became Minister of Finance, what did he do? Nothing!!!

Most importantly, he has been a member of Zanu-PF's politiburo. The supreme organ that voted Mugabe back in to power time and time again, and plotted this Scorched-Earth policy that we are seeing in our country. Every atrocity that Mugabe's government has committed, he has been a part of him. And now we should hail him as our new hope?

I must go and puke now.

2008-01-07T09:39:00.000-08:00

Malkam Genna Hulu!!!

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.- yeMattewos Wangel 2:1-2 ( as translated by King James)

Zimbabwe is in a mess, but I think all Rastafarians cannot let that stop them from even a few minutes to reflect on the meaning of this day. We join Rastafarians around the world, and Orthodox Christians in celebrating the Feast of the Three Kings, also known to English-speakers as "Ethiopian Christmas".

Last year, I had the chance to explain in a local paper to Zimbabweans why we Rastafarians regard this day as sacred, and why we reject the Christmas Day of most other people. So, I am not going to do that again.

I am going to call on all Rastafarians to reflect on the meaning of this day; a celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour Iyesus Krestos, the forerunner of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I. On this day, the three Kings did find the Infant Christ and His Mother, and paid homage to Him, bringing Him the same gifts that our Father Adam was first given as his first worldly goods.

After these things God said to Adam, "You asked Me for something from the garden, to be comforted therewith, and I have given you these three tokens as a consolation to you; that you trust in Me and in My covenant with you. For I will come and save you; and kings shall bring me when in the flesh, gold, incense and myrrh; gold as a token of My kingdom; incense as a token of My divinity; and myrrh as a token of My suffering and of My death. But, O Adam, put these by you in the cave; the gold that it may shed light over you by night; the incense, that you smell its sweet savor; and the myrrh, to comfort you in your sorrow." When Adam heard these words from God, he worshipped before Him. He and Eve worshipped Him and gave Him thanks, because He had dealt mercifully with them. Then God commanded the three angels, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, each to bring what he had brought, and give it to Adam. And they did so, one by one. And God commanded Suriyel and Salathiel to bear up Adam and Eve, and bring them down from the top of the high mountain, and to take them to the Cave of Treasures. There they laid the gold on the south side of the cave, the incense on the eastern side, and the myrrh on the western side. For the mouth of the cave was on the north side. The angels then comforted Adam and Eve, and departed. The gold was seventy rods; the incense, twelve pounds; and the myrrh, three pounds. These remained by Adam in the Cave of Treasures. God gave these three things to Adam on the third day after he had come out of the garden, in token of the three days the Lord should remain in the heart of the earth. And these three things, as they continued with Adam in the cave, gave him light by night; and by day they gave him a little relief from his sorrow.- I Adam & Eve 31: 1-12

How I long for there to be a conducive environment in Zimbabwe for Rastafarian people to continue in the direction we had begun to chart around 1998 when the congregation of the Holy Sanctuary/Senaah/Ophir was revived. We would have plenty to celebrate then, and there would be plenty food, and freedom and security. I forsee those days returning imminently.

All Rastafarians, in Zimbabwe and elsewhere, this is a day of joy still- a joy that becomes more profound as the meaning becomes clearer. I pray that we will have more joy, and that our hearts and minds will be opened up to an even greater understanding. Yihun inji, amen.

As with previous occasions, I offered the fervent prayer that the next Genna, I will celebrate with a life-partner that will share its meaning.

2007-12-26T11:40:00.000-08:00

Kwanzaa is not Rastafarian

People think it's African, but it's not. I came up with Kwanzaa because black people wouldn't celebrate it if they knew it was American. Also, I put it around Christmas because I knew that's when a lot of Bloods were partying

It's that time of the year again. For most Zimbabweans, Christian and non-Christian alike, it's Christmas. But not as we know it, or as we knew it. How many remember going kumusha/ekhaya? I never understood why harvest time was around the time of the end of the first term because even at Christmas, there was plenty of grain, pulse etc in the countryside. And the forests were teeming with hute, matunduru (Oh yes, I still remember the names)- fruits which those of us from the city attacked ravenously, even though our stomachs would give us grief later.

That was Christmas then. And everywhere you went, you were stuffed with food. For those that liked ( or were allowed) their drink, there was plenty of the traditional brew. Those from the city would also bring the White man's firewater as well.

Christmas in the city was not so bad either. People liked to complain, but ZBC did try to deliver good shows. I should know, having lived in England and suffered from BBC's total lack of taste. To folks at Pockets Hill, I am sorry for being so harsh on you then, I should have saved it for now when you've degraded yourself to the status of a shameless mind-control tool- and a not very good one at that. But then, in those days I did not know what a telescreen was.....I do remember the Christmas after my Grade 5. One of my aunts came to the country later, and she was telling my mother that Prime Minister Mugabe was going to be an Executive President. No one seemed to know exactly what that meant. Oh, we all do now.

I digress. You cannot believe the hunger. My family is alright- most can afford to go shopping in South Africa or Botswana, but for most other families, it doesn't seem like suburbia at all. Not the old suburbia when we moved in to what was an exclusively White area. So, one can imagine what it must be like for places where there wasn't a lot of money to begin with ( but there was plenty of food, this much I remember, there was always plenty of food even in the townships. Not even a trip to Room 101 is going to erase such vivid memories.)

The Rastafarian community is hit worst by what is going on. This is what concerns me the most, that we are at our lowest possible (it cannot get lower than when a larger proportion of Rastafarian females has no other means of earning a crust than her own body and the average male makes Worzel Gummidge look like a fop in comparison) and we cannot lift a finger to help ourselves. We never seem to have problems organising for useless, meaningless things like turning out en masse to cheer Luciano. But organising for our collective progress, well, I am fast reaching a point where I too will abandon the dream of a vigorous Rastafarian community in a free Zimbabwe.

I was trying to talk to some brethren about economic activities that they can engage in when they brought up the subject of something called Kwanzaa. Most Rastafarians in the urban areas have heard of it now. It is supposed to be this great African festival that is celebrated instead of Christmas. Talking to several Rastafarians, I have come to the conclusion that very little is known of it. So, here goes.

Kwanzaa was dreamed up by someone called Maulana Karenga, nee Ron Everett, described as a "controversial African-American author, political activist and a .......criminal." He appears to be quite big in the States, and imagines himself some sort of chosen teacher to people of African descent there about their heritage. (If I was someone of African descent living in the States and I wanted to tap in to my heritage, well, Africa may be facing wars, famine etc, but it is still there and there are flights daily from all over the USA. There are also thousands of websites etc)

What his admirers won't tell you is that he has been linked to a C.I.A. plot to counter the emergence of groups like the Black Panthers. In fact, two of his cohorts shot Black Panther leaders as a debate over who should lead the Black Studies faculty at an American University descended in to violence. They were upset over some home-truths- a bit like Zimbabwean politics. When they were arrested, it turned out the two assassins were escaped felons. Karenga then went on to imprison and torture two women members of his group because he did not trust them any more. Not bad for a "great teacher".

I am not going to recycle what others have written, I'll let the readers check out my sources themselves. These are whites, so the first reaction is to dismiss the article as "propaganda". Well, I challenge anyone to show me that this so called Karenga chap did not torture these women. I also challenge anyone to show me that he is not linked to the C.I.A's program to manipulate African nationalism in America and here on the motherland by pushing forward megalomaniacs whose only virtue is their peseverence to drown out those Black people who were actually doing something yet keeping their feet on the ground (such as the Panthers)

OK, what of the Kwanzaa festival itself? It has been brought to Zimbabwe by.....Rastafarians from the West and eagerly embraced by locals who always seem to think that it is the brethren from the West who have the knowledge and the "more teachings".

But I feel that Kwanzaa has no place whatsoever in Rastafari. It makes no mention of His Imperial Majesty. Not surprising, since its inventor is disdainful of Rastafari and the entire Judaic tradition on which it is based. His disdain, however, did not prevent him from plagiarising from the Jewish Channukah festival, which by the way was unknown to most African Jews until fairly recently because the African Jewish presence in Africa largely predates the Dispersion that followed the Maccabean/Hasmonian period when Channukah was instituted. But as you can see from the above picture, one of the features of Kwanzaa is something called a Kinara, which is just the word menorah with the Swahili/Bantu prefix ki-. Had he done his research, Dr Karenga would have been aware that corn is not an African crop, but a Native American one, a gift from the Portuguese (who also gave the Indians the chilli)

We already have first fruit festivals in Zimbabwe, with names like inxwala (let's see you get your tongue around that, if you really are fit to teach people about Africa!!!) Now why a Zimbabwean can abandon that, replace it with what appears to be no more two-dimensional than the paper it has been written on, is a mystery to me. But then, when I see the "Rastafarians" sitting at the street corners "reasoning" in affected Jamaican accents, I can understand why one more piece of mumbo-jumbo from the USA would be taken up with such enthusiasm under the much trumpeted banner of "recovering our lost heritage". To all the Rastafarians in Zimbabwe and other places who think that by doing Kwanzaa they are making a bold statement to Babylon, I say; Grow up. A bold statement to Babylon is when you've organised for your bread, places where you can worship and you look after your children etc.

Oh, Judah, keep your feasts.

2007-12-20T08:38:00.000-08:00

Still there!!

Just not been posting, swamped with the feeling that I am accomplishing little. The country still marches towards the precipice.

Something happened to me today that made me realise that I have much to live for. So, I am back.

2007-10-19T11:25:00.000-07:00

The passing of Lucky Dube

The word spread by mobile text message- I got mine from Uganda. Then later, Raphael Chikukwa also sent me a text. Reggae legend Lucky Dube is no more. He was gunned down yesterday in front of his children.

Last I heard of his whereabouts, Lucky had moved to America where he felt safer than crime-ridden South Africa. It appears he moved back and the one thing that he was afraid of happened to him.

Just a few days ago, I was thinking about searching for a copy of Getting Lucky, the movie that he starred in. Thinking of Lucky Dube always brings a smile on my face, because one of my nephews was convinced that I was in fact that worthy. The one time his mother asked me to babysit him, the little brat insisted that I do the stomping/toy-toyig dance routine on the video to Dube's That's the way it is. Tatenda's day was made when I was asked to pick him up from nursery school- he had told his mates that his uncle was Lucky Dube and they hadn't believed him, of course. They certainly did then, and their teacher humoured them. Tatenda and his family now live in South Africa, it has been nearly half a decade since I last saw them. I know his father was a Lucky Dube fan, and so no doubt he would be one too. If he still thinks Sekuru ("uncle") Masimba is Lucky Dube, I hope he doesn't think it's me that's been shot!

Lucky Dube's death is a tragedy that outrages not only the Rastafarian community, but the entire civilised world. It comes in the wake of the recent killings of other South African artists, all in similar circumstances. It also exposes as a lie the image that South Africa is what the rest of Africa isn't but should be- wealthy, prosperous, secure, just. Oh, no, the plain truth emerging is that South Africa is no different from the killing fields of the Congo, Liberia etc. Mbeki and his government- basking in their smug little image of the "New South Africa" seem to think that this will all go way if they pretend that it is not there, or, if it is, it's not that bad. But then again, isn't that Mbeki's approach to things- look at the way he's handling Aids in his country, or his role as a mediator in Zimbabwe's crisis.

Nelson Mandela was no better. So busy being celebrated as a symbol to the point of intertia. Recently, he went to London to see a statue of himself put up in Parliament Square. There, he lectured the Black community on violence and crime and was given column inches by all the papers. Look in your own backyard, Madiba!

And whatever happened to Pagad? If they are taking donations, give me a call!

Rest in peace, Lucky Dube. Your music will live on. Those of us who remain must strive even harder for a world where there is not only security, but also the assurance of it.

2007-10-13T04:45:00.000-07:00

A victory for our children

O sing unto Igziabeher a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

Psalm ( Mazmur) 98:1

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith

I John (Yohannes) 5:4

I almost jumped up and down like a lunatic in the cafe when I read this article. The Supreme Court of Zimbabwe ruled in favour of the Dzvova family and said that no school should bar children with dreadlocks from attending. Heinous Anus Chigwedere, Minister for Education & Culture (which portfolio he has messed up so badly that he won't let his own children attend Zimbabwean schools and ships them abroad to the very countries that are supposed to be his regime's enemies), ReWriter of Zimbabwean and African History a la Malachi York et al and all round prick will just have to find someone else to harrass.

Heinous Anus' views on Rastafarians are well-known. I remember that business with Mai Tawanda ( Sister Sophia of the Nyahbingi House in Chitungwiza) and her children. T.K. Tsodzo, the Permanent Secretary, was equally hostile. The ridiculous arguement offered is that Rastafari is a foreign culture and so has no place in Zimbabwe. There was even an article in a textbook used by Grade 6 children admonishing them against admiring and consequently emulating foreign cultures, such as the practice of wearing dreadlocks, which was brought to Zimbabwe by Jamaican reggae singer Bob Marley.

This assertion, which passes as "education" flies in the face of evidence: I will cite researcher Philbert Muzungaire (who is not a Rastafarian):

"About dreadlocks, Chigwedere must not have read Theodere Bent's "The Ruined Cities of Mashonaland" page 270, written in the 1890s, and I quote: "crowds of men and women from Zamopera... the men with long matted hair hanging like a fringe over their faces and hung with beads and cowrie shells..". Point: dreadlocks were not unknown in the old days. I also remember reading something written by David Livingstone that mentions long hair among some groups in the Zambezi valley, again dreadlocks by another name. If you are in New York, books such as the above are available at the Schomburg Library of the City of New York, in the UK at the British Museum. Some good libraries do inter-library loans where you can request books like the above. It may take weeks to receive a copy. "

In other words, a minister for Education and at the same time widely esteemed in Zimbabwe as a historian, and many other people in the Ministry of Education and Culture, are trying to blot out the existence of people with a Rastafarian appearance from the pages of Zimbabwean history in order to push us Rastafarians out of the picture. This would be genocide elsewhere. Whatever it may be called in Zimbabwe, it is still vile and deplorable.

One cannot contemplate the actions of these people without recalling Haman- the official who tried to use his high position to prey on those people he hated. Perhaps we Rastafarians should also start celebrating Purim, if only as to remind us that there are people out there who wish to see us wiped out, and that our God will come to our rescue.

These two's repugnant behaviour is in stark contrast to that of other people in the Ministry of Education. St Aidan's School and Seke 7 Primary in Chitungwiza have been open to dreadlocked Rastafarian children. I call on the community to support these schools in kind as a gesture of appreciation. They are proof that Zimbabwe's educators are largely civilised and uphold the inherent Zimbabwean respect for other people's religious practices; it is only Heinous Anus and a few who imagine that it is their place to use taxpayers' money to further their genocidal inclinations.

I sincerely hope that all Rastafarian children will be able to learn in peace and security now. A tall order at the moment- but I believe that now we have a leg in, a chance arises for us to dispel the prejudice. Once Zimbabweans see that our children are the same as theirs, just long-haired, much of the mistrust and fear will go away.

But who am I kidding. I fear that we will have a struggle on our hands before our kids can go to school like any other. In 2002, President Mugabe told a party meeting, "They will rush to the courts and say it is their right (to have their hair like that).....Let them go the Courts, we do not care about the Courts. .....(there''ll be) no dreadlocks in the schools and colleges!" And before all the political mafikizolos and arm-chair activists in the mould of ayinde and other delusionals scream anti-Mugabe, let it be known that the struggle for Rastafarian rights predates the present political problems that engulf Zimbabwe. I haven't forgotten another Minister for Education & Culture, the late Joseph Culverwell ordering a student to leave the auditorium at the Harare Polytechnic for not depciting "the true Zimbabwean culture". This student is now a lecturer at the Polytech. He is not a Rastafarian, in fact his beliefs and culture are more akin to those of the crowds of men and women from Zamopera, which can hardly be said of someone with a name like Culverwell.

Nor are problems with schools unique to Zimbabwe- we are not liked around the world. Even so, there have been victories elsewhere, and there should be victories in Zimbabwe. I have no children of my own, but this is something I feel strongly abou.

I also call on all Rastafarians to assert their rights, even in the face of such powerful opponents as heinous Anus Chigwedere or some under-compensated headmaster. Fear only the Almighty. This the winning side.

And for Mr Chigwedere, I will say this, And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

Watch the time.........

2007-09-18T04:16:00.000-07:00

A thousand years of the Mercy of God

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with Rastafari is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. II Petros 3:8 ( as translated by King James)

11 September 2007 is 1 Miskaram 2000 of the Ethiopian calendar. Rastafarians regard the existence of another calendar supposedly dating from the birth of Christ- yet in reality imposed on Christendom by the Pope- as further proof that the West is that kingdom of Daniel's Prophecy, and revealed as Babylon in the Apocalypse of Yohannes.

And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time - Daniel 7:25

Should one be amazed how the world around one can actually provide more solid conviction than the Bible of the fundamental teachings of the Rastafarian Faith?

Yet, when the day of the Advent of the Millenium arrived, I could not go out there and celebrate with others. I still don't know if there are any Zimbabwean Rastafarians who have celebrated the occasion.

Instead of great joy, I was hung up, overcome by great depression and misery. Well, Zimbabwe is a pretty depressing place at the moment. But the occasion was one for me to reflect that even if democracy returned to my country and the tyranny occupying it packed its bags, I would still be sitting in my room feeling sorry for myself.

In looking forward to this day, I had hoped to celebrate it with my family- as in wife and kids. Fat chance of that, I can't think of a single female in my circle who even knew that it was the Millenium. There are a lot of things that I haven't achieved by the date that I said to myself I would, but nothing can compare with the sorrow of solitude on a day that is meant for families. I really looked forward to picking up my daughter or son and explaining to them that this was our millenium.

So, it has been business as usual. In the single week, I achieved much- acquired property, bought in to a business, finished another book.

It may not be our millenium yet, but it certainly is beginning to look like mine.

Blessed be the Most High Deity Rastafari Haile Selassie for this Millenium, and may He grant all Rastafarians the power and the ability to perform works in it to His glory. Yihun inji. Amen.

2007-08-15T04:02:00.000-07:00

Zimbabwe's Heroes according to Masimba Musodza

The MDC has announced a list of Zimbabweans it regards as real heroes of Zimbabwe, as opposed to the politically-nominated ones that rest at Heroes' Acre and provincial shrines around the country. I quite agree with the party on this matter- there is something wrong with having "National Heroes" named by the ZANU-PF Politiburo. My great-uncle, despite being a staunch ZANU-PF supporter at the time of his death, was not considered for hero's status because he once joined one of the smaller parties that talked to Ian Smith during the Chimurenga.

I sat down and compiled my own list of Zimbabweans and non-Zimbabweans that I think have done much for this country and should be honoured for it. I avoided politicians, but some you just have to mention. Aside from the Mugabe lot, the likes of Pius Ncube will not be listed. The bonking bonkers bishop committed the unforgivable crime of calling for British troops to invade Zimbabwe- no patriot says shit like that.

Here goes. (Not in any order).

GREAT ZIMBABWEANS

Morgan Tsvangirai- for daring to raise his head when the whole country was ready to be sheep before Mugabe's regime.
Edgar Tekere- for doing the same when Mugabe was going to have a one-party state.
Joshua Nkomo- a true Pan-Africanist. Unlike certain people, he was ready to accept that the Zimbabwean nation is made up of different tribes, etc, and that the nationalist struggle presented many ideologies.
Herbert Chitepo- another Nationalist
Kubi Chaza-Indi- Businesswoman, film maker, actress ( She was in a Bond movie, and she came up with hair-care products for Black people.)
Thomas Mapfumo- A champion of not only democracy in a political sense, but in a cultural and intellectual one.
Alick Macheso- a cultural giant. I haven't forgotten how he would pull his window down to wave at me even though I am sure he did not have a clue who I was.
Oliver Mtukudzi- another luminary who has brought fame to Zimbabwe.
Rozalla- a great singer.
Masasa Moyo- Zimbabwe's contribution to Star Wars.
Stella Chiweshe- not only a great singer, but a champion of women's lib for going in to what is still largely a no-go field for women except as dancing girls.
Leonard Dembo- another cultural icon
System Tazvida- ditto
Leonard Zhakata- never thought much of his music, but he has showed courage in speaking out about what is happening in Zimbabwe.
George Shaya- I think he was the first Black Zimbabwean soccer star
Peter Ndlovu, or Unlove as he his known in the UK
Bruce Grobelaar. Peter Ndlovu's contemporary. You did not have to be a soccer-fan to know these people.
Kirsty Coventry- she has won us our first Olympic gold in a long time.
Proud Chinembiri, aka Kilimanjaro, Zimbabwe's boxing legend
Simon Chimbetu
Moses Chunga.
Viomak
Geoff Nyarota
Wilf Mbanga
Trish Mbanga
Christopher Chetsanga
Nick Price- The screams in every home on a Thursday evening when the Zimbabwean flag would appear next to his name on Gillete World Sport Special.
The Blacks- Wayne, Byron and Cara Black. Tennis champions.
Jairos Jiri- a great philanthropist.
Dumisani Maraire. Not only did he give us Chi, he contributed towards church music in the Shona language.
Tsitsi Dangarembga-
Kutamadzoka I ( to those who do not know their history, he founded the Munhumutapa dynasty)
Changamire Dombo
Joyce Simango
Kristina Rungano
King Lobengula of the Ndebele
King Nohureka of the Buja ( Great x13-granddaddy to me......)
Betty Makoni- I cannot imagine a greater philanthropist since Jairos Jiri. Apart from the millions of grandmothers who are looking after their grandkids, orphaned by Aids.
Michael Raeburn
Nechangwe ( "Mbuya Nehanda")-
Roger Boka
Strive Masiyiwa
Nigel Chanakira.

This is not the full list, so those I have met who I have told that I regard them as luminaries, yes you are included.

I must also mention non-Zimbabweans who have done something for our country, even if it is only getting us mentioned. They are

H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I
Getrude Caton-Thompson
Bob Marley & the Wailers
President Samora Machel
President Kenneth Kaunda
President Julius Nyerere
Damian Marley & Nas -Damian is very much his father's son.
Hugh Masekela
Thandie Newton
Jamelia

2007-08-03T08:34:00.001-07:00

Haile Selassie, King of Kings of Malawi

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when IGZIABEHER shall bring again Zion Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for IGZIABEHER hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.IGZIABEHER hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. -Esayas 52:7-10

On this day in 1965, the three Kings of the major nations that make up the people of Malawi crowned His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I the Paramount King of Malawi.

This was revealed by one Paliani Chingowo in his forthcoming book. As one who has been priveledged to see an advance copy, I can tell you that Malawi is very much a Rastafarian nation.

2007-07-23T05:26:00.000-07:00

Lidat Greetings

Malkam baal Hullu!!! inkwan lalidatu badahina adarrasaw!!!

2007-07-19T04:26:00.000-07:00

Bonkers Bishop or Bonking Bishop?

So, Archbishop Pius Ncube is an adulterer? He's been banging other men's wives. Totally outrageous for a Catholic cleric. (Perhaps there's an acute shortage of altar boys in his parish)

The Herald had a field day with this one ( I can't get links because their site is down for some reason.) As has been ZBC. By the way, this is the same Herald, ZBC etc that looked the other way when a certain President had an affair with his secretary and had three kids with her, to the despair of his ailing wife. Oh, and what about what all the ministers have been up to over the years? And that Permanent Secretary ( the term does not mean quite what it does in other countries) who nearly killed his wife for expressing her concern that he was exposing her to Aids with his, um, adultery.

Oh, no, this lot making noise about adultery is about as ridiculous as China lecturing Iraq over the invasion of Kuwait.

Don't get me wrong, if Ncube's been sleeping with other men's wives then he deserves not only whatever punishment the Law Courts will mete out, but the censure of his Church. ( This, for those with short memories, is the same Roman Catholic Church that sanctioned the marriage of Robert Mugabe, a widower, and Grace Marufu, a divorcee.) I admire Ncube's defiance, but I find some of his utterances totally ill-advised to the point of insane. And the fact that nothing seems to happen him for saying such things, whereas people do vanish for a careless or misconstrued remark on the way home on the bus.

Well, maybe something has. People are asking how this man- the one whose wife was getting done by the archbishop-could possibly afford surveillance equipment of the sort that has delivered these lurid pictures. (You know what, Archbishop, if you are going to do something adventurous like get some tail when you are under a vow of celibacy, might as well go all the way. You don't need to hide what's happening under a duvet. You and the women concerned could make quite a bit in the West) Of course, it is all speculation. As is the word around the campfire that this would not be the first time our Charlie Tens found out something about a high-profile cleric and used it in the service of the regime. Only difference is that in the other case, the good reverend was prevailed upon to review his political beliefs and next we see him on television he is telling us to be good little Christians subject ourselves to authority......

So, if the CIO did dig up dirt on the Archbishop, this raises the question; is he that much a threat to the regime? My impression of him is that of an attention-craver, someone on a crusade in front of the itv and BBC cameras. And then there's all those stupid things he says like calling on the Brits to invade Zimbabwe ( they did not need an invitation in the 1890s and they do not need one now). Yet, whatever we may say of him, it seems he was scary enough to the regime to prod them in to finding his smelly side and exposing it to the rest of the world instead of extorting him in to blessing their continued occupation of our country as they are rumoured to have done with a certain Apostle. What other explanation could there be? That they are appalled at adultery by a public figure?

2007-07-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

Eyes closed, till Dawn........

There's this really lovely girl I saw the other day. Saw her again today, she's really nice to look at. Tall, dark with curves that would put Keira Knightley on the same level with J.Lo. And that is her hair cascading over her shoulders, like Diana Ross in the video for Experience. I think she has noticed that I do watch her, and she may be wondering when I will make my move.

I think she'll have to wait a long time. How long depends on how long I can sustain my new approach to relationships. It has finally dawned on me that if a girl is not Rastafarian when we start courting, she is not going to be Rastafarian when we are married. Yes, Gilbert, you've told me this millions of times and you can cackle I Told You Sos till you find something else to be smug about.

A certain Rasta elder-I will call him E- told me the same thing, and he was talking from experience. I thought the whole thing about getting a haircut in order to have a Church of England wedding in that big cathedral near Africa Unity Square was the first mistake, as it gave the impression that if the right pressure is applied, a Rastafarian could be made to bend, no matter how much he has said about "principles". Might as well have a slice of pork and join a coven while you are at it. It wasn't long before the woman- I will call her H- stops wearing the long skirts and headscarf, and while he became more blatantly Rastafarian, she took the opposite side. She started to attend this elder's parent's Methodist Church ( the Muzorewa one) While the Zimbabwean convention (not the rule, it's just something done) is that a woman joins her husband's church, no one seemed to see anything wrong with H going to the Methodist Church that her husband had turned his back on. Reason being that Rastafari is not really a religion, and the various Rastafarian Churches are not valid- when someone asks you what church you belong to and you answer Chitungwiza Rastafarian Assembly they either laugh at you or put down something that translates to "heathen" or "atheist".

So E and H fight, but the only people on his side are Rastafarians, and as far as their families see the matter we do not count because we are as decadent. The fact that my parents are also Methodists- my mother is friends with E's mother- only meant they could compare notes. Sure enough, when I too married, my woman also started to attend Methodist Church with my mother. The old girl did not see anything wrong with this.

Marriage did not last as long as E's, but the script was the same- mine also suddenly woke up to the poverty, the public mistrust, persecution and ridicule that Rastafarians suffer etc. She also readily submitted to my family's attempts to bring me back to the "Christian" church, believing as they do that I am lost and that it is upon her to remedy the situation. Had she demonstrated this attitude, I don't think I would ever even started talking to her. (Yet, amazingly, she was to tell the world that she had no idea I was serious about Rastafari, she had assumed I liked having a beard and locks)

Another Rastafarian brother- I will call him G- is in a similar situation. The woman he married revealed her true colours when she thought her position was clear.They had the arguements. However, unlike H and Grace, she appears to have successfully changed G.

It would be so easy to believe that there is some sort of conspiracy to prevent the emergence of Rastafarian families. When people ask me why I gave up on Grace, I always point out that either way, it was a lost battle. Damned if I live with her, and damned if I don't. Because of the environment that we as Rastafari find ourselves in. The System fighting us.

But there has to be something to be said about us Rastafarian men; why are we courting these Christians? OK, one only has to see the girl on the bus walk away, nay, swish and wiggle away, to find good grounds to doubt my sanity for not going for her the first time I laid eyes on her.

But, seriously, I have my own experience, and that of so many brethren. A non-Rastafarian woman is a no-no even if she has lips, hips and ass like woh!. I would have learnt nothing at all if I once again found myself in such a situation.

Anyway, what about what I stand for? It is hypocritical, isn't it, to find beauty in the sort of women that look nothing like the Rastafarian woman? That act nothing like the Rastafarian woman? That are nothing like the Rastafarian woman? And, isn't it just sheer arrogance to assume that any girl is going to reinvent herself for me? OK, girls would do that for any other man- but if no girl will embrace the Rastafarian way of life for me, I should just accept that and not have any expectations.

So, what if there are no Rastafarian women of my age in Zimbabwe, then? Well, perhaps the Almighty in his wisdom, wants people like me to first accomplish the work that would benefit the entire nation before bestowing on us more personal blessings. I firmly believe it to be unnatural for a man to be without a woman. But there is no point in pursuing a relationship if you already know from experience- and that of so many brethren- how it will end. And end it will. Badly. The last time I allowed that to happen was the last time I let it happen.

Next time I see the girl on the bus, I'll just nod and carry on reading. Not only do I save myself a world of hurt, but I think I will be able to let go of the past too.

P.S. If I may delve in to politics; who are Tsvangirai & company kidding when they say that things are so bad now they will precipitate a revolution? Themselves, may be. Another Zimbabwean writer once said that one of the biggest problems our country faces is a lack of collective sense of outrage. Things were bad in the early 90s, when there was talk of a one-party state and an MP thanked "God for sending us his only other son, Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe". Things were bad before then, just ask our people in Matebeleland. The Mugabe regime has continued to pile outrage after outrage on us, and we generally put up with it even when we tell ourselves and each other that it is too much now. It makes me wonder if it was our idea to fight the Second Chimurenga in the first place.

2007-07-09T13:32:00.000-07:00

Now, they come for the business people

( what's left of them)

Are our businesses plotting to bring down the Government (which itself long ago lost the legitimacy to run our country) by deliberately pushing prices beyond the reach of the public?

This is what the same Government would like us to believe. Amazing thing, paranoia. I found the Sunday Mail "rationale" quite unpalatable. But if anyone was ever in doubt about the method to the Government's madness, it was made plain in this article. Mugabe's regime is not content with all the damage it has done to our country.

Personally, I think this whole thing about taking over businesses is so that they can loot them for the much needed forex to pay off the IMF. It is too simplistic an arguement for me that they are destroying what is left of commerce for the sheer hell of it.

As with all things that this evil regime has done, I always ask my compatriots; when will our collective sense of outrage reach a point when we will act to save our country?

2007-07-02T13:21:00.000-07:00

You're losing the plot, Archbishop!

What the hell has possessed Rev Pius Ncube? Is it that he has underestimated the intelligence of the millions of Zimbabweans who want to see the back of Mr Mugabe? Or is it that those of us who wish to free Zimbabwe and need a strong leader to rally around overestimated the intelligence of this man of the cloth?

Oh, these are tricky questions, think for a bit. It is very easy to underestimate the collective intelligence of the Zimbabwean nation. Very easy. At the same time, Archbishop Ncube has managed to stay in the limelight as a key opposition figure despite his many acts of imprudence. Oh, yes, we must talk about them. They have made us uncomfortable, but many of us have let them slide because we thought they did not really matter in the bigger scheme of things.

Like when he said he would pray for Robert Mugabe to die. Plenty of ammo for the dictator. The media apparatus harped on it for days, almost as if there was a real fear in the regime that Archbishop Ncube could get the Almighty to send Mugabe to That Place. Instead, it was Archbishop Ncube's own boss, Pope John Paul II who kicked the bucket a few days later, prompting Mugabe to joke that the cleric had been misheard by God, who thought he had said "Pope" when he meant "Bob".

I remember seeing Archbishop Ncube on BBC. He had flown in to talk about the situation in the UK. This is where part of the problem is- since around 1998, we have had every one who has had the chance tell the world ( read the West) how bad and intolerable it is in Zimbabwe and how the regime will soon collapse because there is nothing more to plunder and how every body will die of hunger. A child born in 1998 would be nearly 10 now. He or she may not know the Zimbabwe I grew up in, but that child is still alive. And Zimbabwe is still there.

Did Archbishop Ncube think the West really cares? I thought to myself- why doesn't he engage Zimbabweans? It seemed he was putting too much effort for a few tsk! tsk!s from the Europeans, who happen to have their own issues. And that is all we have had from the Europeans, a few tsk! tsk!s. Remember, these are the same people who stood by while the Hutu and Tutsi ( which same "tribes" they invented) slaughtered each other, and who are standing by while Americans bomb Somalia and Janjaweed rape and kill non-Arabs in Darfur.

Now, the cleric is asking for the US and UK to invade Zimbabwe? Hasn't anyone told him of Iraq, Afghanistan and all those other places that these imperialist gangsters have set up tent and are giving them political, economic and other grief? Why should they rush to save Zimbabwe?

It has always been the arguement in favour of Western imperialism that non-white nations are incapable of governing themselves and need to be governed, nurtured like children until they can one day rule themselves. This was the arguement Smith presented against Majority rule- that it would be at least a full Millenium before Blacks could govern themselves.

This is the same thing that Archbishop Ncube is saying when he joins Morgan Tsvangirai in calling for Western intervention. Ian Smith must be feeling vindicated when he hears this- substance is being given to his philosophy in his own lifetime!

No, listen, Archbishop Pius Ncube. I think you are a nice guy, I admire the way you reached out to that girl who had been raped by Zanu youths and brought her story to public attention. But when you start actually calling our former colonisers to show up their ugly faces in Zimbabwe, you'll soon find yourself alone. The last thing we need at this stage is disunity among the anti-Mugabe ranks, but I am prepared to expend some of the much needed energy to fight you as well.

Perhaps you have lost focus. We don't want Mugabe gone so we can bring back the UK. We want Mugabe gone so Zimbabwe can be free. Perhaps you should just move to there, join those who think Zimbabwe will be liberated by getting as much publicity in the British media as one can get, and leave those who are serious about liberating Zimbabwe to carry out our mission without noiseome, pointless distractions.

2007-06-25T14:01:00.000-07:00

I am someone's brother, even though I am a Rasta guy as well.

It has been a long time since I last logged on and I apologise to all those who have become regular readers.

The dawn of the Millenium approaches and I am yet to come across the Zimbabwean Rastafarian who has concrete plans to travel to Ethiopia. I am pleased to note that there greater efforts collectively to revive those of our institutions that we had begun to build as a community- despite our country’s continued slide towards the precipice. Every one else is working towards a post-Mugabe era, there is no reason why we shouldn’t.

One of my sisters ran in to my ex at some car sales firm, where she is the receptionist. They exchanged pleasantries, of course. My sister has friends at this same firm, and naturally they asked where she knew their receptionist from. One of these friends mentioned it to the boss that the receptionist used to be my sister’s sister-in-law. “No, that can’t be,” he said. “I heard she was married to this Rastafarian guy, but it did not work out.” This is the typical Zimbabwean mentality-this Rastafarian guy could not possibly be anyone’s brother…… Well, I could not be anyone’s in-law either. Food for thought next time someone brings up the subject of racism.

Rastafari Blessings to you all.

2007-03-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

Tsvangison gets fubar

O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save![3] Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.[4] Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

Habakkuk

About two days ago, someone I know who got locked up at Mabvuku told me that he shared the cells with MDC activists from Highfield. Apparently, the police are moving them around. He, a petty crook, ended up joining in the singing.

What does it mean for me, seeing Tsvangirai's face all swollen up like that, with stitches in his head? It is outrageous, but this sort of thing has been happening to Zimbabweans for a long time now. I would not wish it on anyone. When I was in danger of getting fubar by the armed forces myself I ran like hell. One time when there was no where to run, I mentioned the name of a tame CIO operative. The other time I used my wallet.

Fact is they will do it to you first chance they get. So far I have been lucky. Zimababwe is a country where the ordinary person is in danger of violence from the very people that are supposed to protect him/her.

There are many Zimbabweans who had started to feel that Tsvangirai cannot deliver anything more than calls for boycotts and sanctions. Perhaps what has happened to him will jolt him to the reality- that we are in a war for our freedom, and he has to gird his loins about him. Masangana nazvo pamunho sefodya, motoshinga semurume!! This, by the way, is the same man who once said "We are here to tell Mugabe that he must go peacefully, or be removed violently!" His pronunciation of peacefully ( coming accross like Pissy-fully) is popular with the State media.

Mr Tsvangirai also needs to understand that calling on the West to act is ill-advised. Isn't this the same West that is upsetting a lot of people over its intervention in places like Iraq. I want to see Mugabe gone, but I don't want to see American soldiers in Harare or anywhere else in Zimbabwe. There is a certain hypocrisy about such calls, I have no doubt that many of the people abroad who are saying the West should intervene are just jumping on the bandwagon- they know fully well that America will not send troops. Which would be even better for their careers ( "We tried to get the Bush administration to act, but they don't care. However, we do, and if you vote for us, you'll see just how much we care!"

And, he'll be surprised that beyond the jibbering posturing academics and intellectuals so wrongly called that surround him, the ordinary person in the street is ready to fight for his freedom.

I know I am. How many years has it been since Bob stole the elections, and we have all been too scared to act or hoped someone else would? I will no longer put my life on hold.

2007-03-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

Economic Developement Revisited.

I always return to this topic because it is one of the most dearest to my heart. We, the Rastafarian people, need to strive to attain a measure of economic self-reliance and influence. If only to meet our basic needs.

A lot has been done, but much more needs to be done. I can name a few projects that have come to my attention, and one of them is a peri-urban agricultural one.

The one cultivating his ground will himself be satisfied with the bread, but the one pursuing valueless things is in want of heart- Proverbs 12:11

As for me, I am in the process of reviving Light & Peace House of Publishing and Printing Press.

It is discouraging to note that more Rastafarians are leaving the Chitungwiza area, presumably in search of employment in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and further afield. The impact on our community is not just economic but social. Many of our women are being left alone to fend themselves with the children. Not only do they face material hardships, but the religious services have virtually ceased and this will certainly have a detrimental effect on a nation that has been fledgling for a very long time now.

We also have many brethren and sistren who are too busy feeling sorry for themselves, or too busy singing, smoking and dancing in the clubs or memorising the words of Marcus Garvey, or waiting for Rastas from the West to bring money, to realise that time is marching on and we are all getting older. The Master is coming, Pay Day is around the corner, and He will want to see the work before He hands out the Birr.

My sister in Minnesota is also giving attention to these things. Many of the ideas that she has are the same as mine, which means that I am not alone with this outlook. I can see us being able to assist in international networking of Rastafarian businesses. She asks the same question: why should Rastafarian businesses only offer reggae CDs and woollen tams? And she is interested in the peri-urban produce.

I am going to feature some of the projects that best illustrate what I would like to see in the Rastafarian community. If there are any that brethren and sistren out there would like to draw my attention to, please let me know.

He that is cultivating his own ground will have sufficiency of bread, and he that is pursuing valueless things will have his sufficiency of poverty. Proverbs 28:19

2007-02-23T12:45:00.000-08:00

YourBirthday, Bob!!!

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor- Qoheleth 4:13-14

I will never forget being one of the few chosen to represent Avondale Primary School at the February 21st Movement celebrations at the Rufaro Stadium. No one told us what was happening, just our names called out and we were asked to leave the class and make our way to the quadrangle.

There the headmaster asked us if we knew what day the 21st of February was. Someone, I think it was Godfrey, knew whose birthday it was. And so we were told that we were to join other school children from around the country in celebrating His Exellency President R.G. Mugabe, Zimbabwe's first executive President's birthday.

I am trying to remember my feelings at the time. While Bob was still popular (apartheid was still alive in neighbouring South Africa and there was Renamo bandits in Mozambique), I don't think any of us felt the euphoria of partaking in the celebration of what was becoming increasingly a Kim Il Sung type of leader. The year before, he had only been the Prime Minister. The cult personality thing was very much a novelty for those of us who attended what was then known as a Group A school, one that had formerly been for whites only.

I do recall noting that kids from the so-called Group B schools and the rural schools seemed to be all for cheering and praising and ululating. I also recall that Godfrey, one of the other boys from my class, led in a short-lived demonstration about the food we were given. Or, rather, not given, for we were nearly starved. Young as we were, we suspected that someone had revised the budget alloted to catering. The demonstration was swiftly crushed by a glare from one of our teachers.

I only attended one other 21st Frebruary occasion before I entered Secondary school. 1990 was the year that saw the emergence of Edgar Tekere in the face of a threat of the country becoming a one-party state. The first time I began to listen to grown ups talk about what was happening. A relative who was an activist for Tekere's ZUM. Another who took part in the counting of votes and new for a fact that there was something fishy about the way the elections were held. I also began to read Moto magazine. 1990 was also the year that I came across a copy of the report on the enquiry in to the death of Herbert Chitepo by the Zambian Government.

Yes, that was the year that I began to see things. Rapper Turbo B articulated my new outlook- Not political, but aware! The following year, I would start to read the Bible and come to the knowledge that Emperor Haile Selassie is the Living God.

When I look back, I am like many Zimbabweans who were around at that time, from all walks of life, who are now asking themselves: how did it come to this? How did we get to where we are now? The highest inflation in the world, industrialisation levels from over 60 years back, millions starving, collapsing infrastructure. Not only that, but we have seen increasing repression of dissenting voices, violence against defenceless citizens by the very forces that are meant to protect them, and the creation of a propaganda apparatus that challenges the tongue-in-cheek English expression; you couldn't make it up. You most certainly can, for whatever it is they are paying Tafataona Mahoso, George Charamba (aka Nathaniel Manheru) Caesar Zvayi and those hordes of "Conscious" Black Americans and West Indians from shadowy organisations with names like December 21st Movement? And that sickening interview with Tazzen Mandizvidza? Word has it that it was censored.

Because this is precisely what Mugabe's birthday means. Failure, denial of failure. Moreover, it means the continance of this failure. Another year gone by, and Zimbabwe is still occupied by a regime it rejected a long time ago.

A birthday it may be, but I most certainly will not be celebrating.

2007-02-20T09:47:00.000-08:00

Riots in Highfield.

I missed out on the riots in Fio the other day. Many people are excited, and drawing their own interpretations about what they mean at this stage of our struggle.

For some, the feeling is that the armed forces are using such heavy, brutal methods in the desperate hope that the people will snap, all hell will break loose and then Mugabe can be booted out by the military. Of course, others just think it is sheer stupidity on the part of a Government that wants to convince the world that all is OK in Zimbabwe.

The riots take me back to the ones we had in 1998, sparked by the increase in the price of bread. As now, talk of a military intervention was in the air. Some of it crept into the papers, and we know what happened to the reporters that crept it in.

But for me, the memories are evoked by the looting, the destruction of property by people who are supposed to be fighting for freedom. I remember local shops being burned down and looted by local people. Local people beaten up by local people.

Are the demonstrations intended to overthrow Mugabe or for us to get real savage with each other? If it is the former, they have failed. As for the latter, to what end?

This is why I no longer take part in demonstrations. I go out there thinking I'm doing my bit for freedom, only to find myself surrounded by madness.

When will we ever get it right?

2007-02-14T16:35:00.000-08:00

Moi? Blasphemous? You have got to be kidding!

It has been brought to my attention that certain of the female membership of the Church of Haile Selassie in England are upset over the use of the Emperor's portrait on the jacket of my book. They strongly feel that this is disrespectful to His Imperial Majesty and the Rastafari Faith because of the explicit content in my writing.

I was utterly gobsmacked, to say the least. I did not know what to respond to first: the fact that some people had actually taken offence at my use of the Emperor's image, or that they had arrived at a meaning of this that had offended them without first checking with me, or that they had the cheek to assume that I would give consideration to their sentiments when they had not been as indulgent?

To those who haven't yet read The Man who turned into a Rastafarian, I will quote from it the passage that struck at these women's sensibilities.

It was dark when they got to the township. From the car, they could see that all the lights in the house were off. Jessica delightedly opened the gate for him to park the vehicle. When he came out, they clung together and lurched towards the door. He let her go, so she could open it.

“Boy, I am so hard now I could open that door with it!” he gasped.

She yelped as she felt his manhood prod the cleft of her ass. She was laughing as she entered, snapping on the lights. She heard him unzip his trousers. When she turned round, he was hopping on one leg as he took them off.

She peeled off her own trousers and panties quickly, and stood there, allowing him a long appraisal of her naked lower body. He sucked in breath as he beheld silky, golden thighs, and a black sporran guarding purple labia, the dark fur glistening as her juices caught the electric light overhead.

“I still have my top on,” she cooed. He approached her. Jessica had expected him to be armed with one mother of a weapon. She was still to meet the man that matched Kudit in size and skill. She hoped her disappointment did not show, and she hoped he had some viable compensation to this, um, short-coming.

He was pawing her breasts as if trying to remove them. She hated it when they did that, but that seemed to be about the only foreplay all the men were capable of. Except for Kudit. He knew everything, hadn’t he written a song called The Rastafarian Kama Sutra?

She snapped back to the present tense, as she realised that Eugene had removed her top. He was still trying the mastectomy, first on one breast then the other. She was feeling really horny and he was killing the moment. “Fuck me!” she mouthed. “Fuck me hard!”

Seizing her hips, he turned her round. Oh, he wanted doggy style, did he? She laughed, projected her bottom towards him. She heard him open the condom wrapper with his teeth. She felt rough hands seize her shoulders, forcing her to lean over lower. She moaned as she felt him slide into her, reaching for the wall for support. He was slamming into her with quick, hard strokes, his nails digging into her hips. There was that animal slapping sound of flesh against flesh. She felt the pleasure rise towards her head, threatening her very sanity.
For a moment, her soul was floating out of her body, then it was suddenly brought back with a crashing sound. Grunting, she pushed back against him, desperately, but he had withdrawn. She whirled round to face him, puzzled, and saw his look of shame and regret.

“I’m sorry, honey,” he said in a small voice. “It’s never happened before.”

Men said that the same way women said, “You’re the second man I’ve ever slept with,” or “yours is the first dick I’ve ever sucked.”

“You got me started!” she began. “You can’t leave me like this!”

“Please, I’m sorry,” he pleaded. One hand worked the small, limp grub between his legs, and she realised that it was bare, and smeared with a viscous substance. She reached a hand to her own crotch, and saw to her disgust that he had left the condom stuck in her. Semen dripped onto the carpet. Clicking her tongue, she whipped out the condom, and entered the bathroom.

She reappeared, put on her clothes. He was still massaging his little member desperately, a look of incredulity and great discomfort on his face. She marched into the kitchen, and returned with a wet cloth.

“I’m sorry, honey,” he apologised again. “I don’t know, maybe it’s the idea of doing it in another man’s house!”

“This is my house!” she snapped. She went on her knees and began to clean up the mess on the carpet.

“Perhaps, if you, sort of, um, encouraged me?” he proposed nervously. She looked up at him, he tried to laugh.He saw at once that it was a bad idea. He got up quickly.

OK, so this is not quite bed-time reading for the children. The last time my mother heard me use any of the language above was quite literally the last time she heard me use any of the language above. This she saw to with the generous application of a switch stripped off the peach tree that grew outside the kitchen. But that was a long time ago, and not even she can entertain the belief any longer that I am naive and that it's the kids from the flats who put such ideas in my head. She knows she raised me right, and if these are subjects that I encounter in life, she trusts me to handle them with the right approach. I am a trained writer, I would not depict sex acts unless they moved the story forward.

I write not these things to shame you.....

I Corinthians 4:14

When I put the book together, I expected to offend some people. The Mugabe regime and its supporters abroad, yes. I would take it as a compliment if they got their knickers in a twist- I would be pleased if Kwabena went on the attack like he did with my sister Viomak. Non-Rastafarians from all walks of life, who would naturally be upset at anything that indicates that the Rastafarians thrive in Zimbabwe. But fellow Rastafarians? Especially over something as trivial as the description of a sex act!!!!

These women may not know it but it was the tradition for all books published in Ethiopia to have the Emperor's portrait on the jacket. This is the reason why I have one on mine, on a work that is being hailed by some as a milestone in Rastafarian literature. To construe any other meaning to the gesture would be ill-advised. It would be raising issues that should not be raised in the first place.

It must be noted that none of these women actually read the entire book.

So, no, I will not remove the Emperor's portrait as I believe that my book edifies the Rastafarian Faith.

One of the women pointed out that a similar book with the Prophet Muhammad's picture would cause an uproar. I think it deplorable if us Rastafarians should begin to model our outrage along the lines of the Islamic world's lunatic fringe, with the same selectivity and sheer lack of objectivity. How far would it go? An attempt to blow up the shops that are now stocking my book? Death threats? Because I am not backing down, not unless a resolution was made by a competent Tribunal of the most erudite of Rastafarian scholars declaring my display of the Emperor's picture to be improper.

Lionesses, put away your claws. There is nothing to fight about here.

2007-02-07T23:52:00.000-08:00

Reply to Saints Unit

Once in a while, I overcome my restraint and respond to the utterances of some of the most idiotic people that are to be found on this planet. My uncle Wonder always said, "Never argue with a fool, people may not know the difference". I don't know if he's the one who came up with it, but I heard from him first, then many times after that.

But, like I said, sometimes you just have to wade in and maybe put some sense in to some of these half-wits.

It was a tough choice, with the strongest contenders being closer to home. There was Caesar Zvayi, who cannot understand why Zimbabweans do not feel like celebrating independence any more. Yes, it would puzzle anyone who did not have control of his own mind. And, the Minister of State Security telling reporters that his regime would do what any "constitutionally-elected" government would to quell the opposition's defiance campaign. We all know what functions as the Government of Zimbabwe, but to describe it as "constitutinally-elected" is like describing Makosi as an actress.

But the privelege of a counter-assault has been conferred on a religious sect calling itself Children of the Saints Unit. An odd mixture of the Black Hebrew movement in America and British-Israelism. Unlike many groups of these two persuasions, these people have developed serious delusions about their teachings and have started to attack other religious groups, such as Rastafari and the European Jewish movements.

Look at this article http://saintsunit.wordpress.com/2006/08/25/lion-of-judah/ Any one with bird shit for brains would see its desperate dearth of facts. The only value this article has lies in its capacity as a gauge to measure the intellectual vigor of the writer and the people that subscribe to this drivel. I should not be too amazed, I am after all a compatriot of the other two above-named contenders for the Half-wit of the Week Award.

Let's examine this article. See how the writer opens with the assumption that the Rastafari Faith has risen unchecked or unchallenged and that he now poses a serious challenge to it. Well, we all know what the mouse said to the female elephant.

For a long time now, there has been a small percentage of people that are completely convinced that Tafari Makonnen is the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and he alone can claim the title “the Lion of Judah”. For those who are wondering just who is this Tafari character, you may be more familiar with Ras Tafari (Ras - meaning duke or chief). I would like to make it clear, that there are Israelites living in every continent on earth..and as you will see…our people are drawn to Ethiopia as if it is somehow a holy land of God. Come out of her my people!

Had this writer been to school long enough, he would know of Ethiopia's status as a holy land of God long before even the Judaeo-Christian dispensation. Consider this passage from Homer's The Iliad, dating from the 8th Century B.C. I want to thank my father for exposing me to such literature at an early age.

Then Thetis answered him as she wept: "Ah me, my child, why did I rear you, cursed in my child-bearing? Would that it had been your lot to remain by your ships without tears and without grief, since your span of life is brief and endures no long time; but now you are doomed to a speedy death and are laden with sorrow above all men; therefore to an evil fate I bore you in our halls. Yet in order to tell this your word to Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt I will myself go to snowy Olympus, in hope that he may be persuaded. But remain by your swift, sea-faring ships, and continue your wrath against the Achaeans, and refrain utterly from battle; for Zeus went yesterday to Oceanus, to the blameless Ethiopians for a feast, and all the gods followed with him; but on the twelfth day he will come back again to Olympus, and then will I go to the house of Zeus with threshold of bronze, and will clasp his knees in prayer, and I think I shall win him. ( From Line 413 of Book 1)

To the ancient Greeks, Ethiopia was the land where their gods obtained their knowledge and power from. They ruled from Mt Olympus, but they had to travel to Ethiopia to commune with the blameless Ethiopians. Greek historian Herodotus names Ethiopia as the birthplace of some of the gods. (Book II, Chapater 146 of his Histories. I have a print copy, so could not paste the passage in question) Herodotus states that he got his information about Ethiopia from the Egyptians, who regarded it as their cultural parent.

Ethiopia is mentioned several times in the Hadith and the Quran. Bilal, the first convert to Islam was from Ethiopia. The Prophet Muhammad advised his followers to seek refuge in Ethiopia, telling them that there lived a Christian King who would accommodate them. In fact, it was purely by a turn of events that it was Mecca and not Ethiopia which became the place of refuge for the followers of the then fledgeling religion. To this date, Ethiopia remains the only part of Christendom that is to be exempt from the Jihad. Harar, the city of Haile Selassie's Governorate prior to His ascension to the Imperial Throne is regarded as the fourth holiest city of Islam, preceded only by Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.

Of all the African nations today, Ethiopia is the most steeped in the Old Testament traditions, and also a form of Christianity that can be traced directly to the Apostles. There are to be found there versions of the Scripture- including books regarded elsewhere as non-canonical- that are not found anywhere else. Whatever wild delusions the Children of the Saints Unit have about themselves, their link with the Apostles, therefore Christ Himself is tenuous.

Speaking of Scriptures, there is in Ethiopia a book called The Kebra Naghast, or the Honour of Kings. It was compiled in the year 1225 of the Western calendar, under the Bishopric of Abba Giorgis. I have a copy in the original Ge'ez and Amharic. There have been many English translations made to date, but the most famous is the one made in 1922 by Sir E.A. Wallis Budge, M.A., LITT.D., D.LITT., LIT.D. F.S.A. The foreword to it reads as follows.

THE 'BOOK OF THE GLORY OF KINGS' (KEBRANAGAST) A WORK WHICH IS ALIKE THE TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RELIGION OF THE HEBREWS IN ETHIOPIA, AND THE PATENT OF SOVEREIGNTY WHICH IS NOW UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED IN ABYSSINIA AS THE SYMBOL OF THE DIVINE AUTHORITY TO RULE WHICH THE KINGS OF THE SOLOMONIC LINE CLAIMED TO HAVE RECEIVED THROUGH THEIR DESCENT FROM THE HOUSE OF DAVID

In the preface to the online edition, it is stated that when Sir Wallis' version came out, it sold out immediately, attracting the attention of scholars, and that " but a few of them raised the question of the historicity of the Book of the Glory of Kings". Contrary to what the Saints Unit author would have his followers believe, the descent of the Imperial House of Ethiopia is widely considered a fact. The British monarchy sometimes claims descent from King David, yet if they were to openly say this they would be laughed out of town because there is nothing to support that belief. Would the Emperor have used this motif or motto, Moa Anbessa Yimnagada yahuda- the Conquering Lion of Judah- if it were likely to meet not only dispute but ridicule for want of substance? Yet this is what the writer would have us believe, based on his "tons of research".

In Ethiopia is to be found the last piece of wood from the Cross on which our Lord and Saviour was crucified. In Ethiopia is to be found the Ark of the Covenant. There is no need to produce "tons of research" to support the idea that Ethiopia is a land holy not only to Judaism, but Christianity, Islam and more recently, Rastafari!! Ethiopia is also a holy land to religions that are no longer current, such as the ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman, but whose influence pervades over much of the global culture that we have. Even the pantheon of ancestral spirits venerated by many Zimbabweans today, Chaminuka and Nehanda etc were Ethiopians. Chaminuka is known to have converted to Christianity and worked closely with a missionary from Palestine named Ngauza. See the book Birth of the Bantu by Dr Aenias Chigwedere (currently Minister for Education)

I suggest that people read for themselves the Kebra Naghast. There they will find the narrative of the union of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba and the establishment of the Davidic line in Ethiopia. One doesn't have to believe it, but one can clearly see that the idea that Emperor Haile Selassie is the descendant of King David is an integral part of Ethiopia's psyche.

So after Marcus Garvey procalimed (sic) Makonnen as the Conquring (sic) lion of Judah, he (Makonnen) was embraced by many West Indian brothers and sisters as the Messiah incarnate

For someone with tons of research, it seems strange that he has reverted to the much-recycled although inaccurate claim that Marcus Garvey proclaimed Emperor Haile Selassie as the Conquering Lion of Judah. The Title is Haile Selassie's, by virtue of His descent from King David. Marcus Garvey did speak of Ethiopia a lot, and drew attention to this last independent African state, such that when the Emperor was crowned, Black people all over the world were aware of this event. It was those who saw it as a fulfilment of Biblical prophecy who embraced the Emperor as the Messiah and became the first Rastafarians. And it was not just in the West Indies.

By the way, in the Ethiopian naming system, it is incorrect to refer to Emperor Haile Selassie as "Makonnen" as this is not His surname as the term is understood in the West and in other cultures. "tons of research" should have made this clear.

Marcus Garvey..false witness.. Selassie was a nobody..not the king of Judah! (well..that’s not entirely true…Selassie was a dictator and he did steal most of the money out of his own country..and ..he was a coward that ran when his country got invaded)

Having already established that Marcus Garvey did not advocate for the idea that the Emperor is God or Christ, he is not a witness then, is he? Having sifted through "tons of research", the writer fails to recognise the winner of the Times Best Dressed Gentleman for 3 consecutive years, the first Head of State to address a World Body ( the League of Nations), the most photographed person, the founder of the Organisation of African Unity, a world statesman, and describes Him as a "nobody". Is this ignorance or malice? When did the Emperor steal money from His own country? Isn't it a fact that Ethiopia did not have the kind of money the lies-peddlers have been telling us the Emperor stole. Did not the Military that assumed power conduct their own search and find that the only money that found its way to a Swiss bank was in fact for the Crown Prince, whose stay in that country for medical reasons had been prolonged? Surely, your "tons of research" would have included Ethiopia's economic statistics etc?

Did the Emperor run away when Ethiopia got invaded, or He discussed with His officials and it was decided that He should take Ethiopia's case to the international community? And to call His Imperial Majesty, whose regime is from an age that has never heard of presidents, military juntas etc, a dictator is to demonstrate a deplorable lack of knowledge on the subject.

The writer goes on to deny the existence of Mennelik, the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. He decides to support himself by sticking to the story of the encounter of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba as it is written in the book of Kings, where no mention is made of Mennelik. But he makes the error of naming her Makeda, which is what she is called in the Kebra Naghast. In other words, this half-wit knows of the story of Mennelik, but is selective in how he uses it. This is not knowledge, it is concocting propaganda.

The Ethiopian flag with the Pentagram dates only from 1996. It is based on earlier Ethiopian flags, all of which have the red-gold-green bands. Now associated with Pan-Africanism (red for the blood of Africans shed, gold for Africa's wealth etc), originally they were the flag for.......the Imperial Solomonic dynasty of Ethiopia! See the Wikipedia entry. The writer is going all the way with his campaign for misinformation or display of ignorance, not sure which at this stage by telling us that the Pentagram is associated with Satan worship. The above cited Wikipedia entry elucidates on the meaning of the Pentagram on the present Ethiopian flag. I would also draw people's attention to an entry on the Christian use of the Pentagram. Having quoted extensively from Wikipedia, I must express the hope that this online repository is not run by Jews, otherwise this debate will be taken by my not-so-learned friend towards his other pastime; anti-Semitism. By the way, anti-Semitism is also popular with the lunatic-fringe of just about every cause you can think of from Japanese anti-Article 9ers to Muslim jihadists and everything in between.

The writer is at pains to depict the Ethiopians as descendants of Nimrod. The Ethiopians call themselves HABESHA, meaning MIXED, because they represent a mixture of peoples from both sides of the Red Sea. While they are Cushitic elements in their make-up, as there are elsewhere in Africa, the Ethiopians have never identified themselves with Nimrod.

There is an African people who point to Nimrod as their forebear. That is, the Yoruba people of West Africa. Their descendants are to be found in their millions in the Western hemisphere. Many Blacks in the West, including the same people that the Saints Unit teaches are the children of Israel. Still want to paint your own granddaddy as a devil-worshipper?

Then he starts quoting Scriptures, conveniently neglecting Revelation 3:12. It is interesting to note that under FALSE PROPHET he has a picture of the Kwerata Reyesu and the Coronation portrait of the Emperor. Something else his "tons of research" may have missed, or something he decided should be overlooked but the Kwerata Reyesu- the depiction of Jesus as a dreadlocked Black man- is the oldest representation of Christ. The original painting, reputed to be the work of one of the Apostles, was so sacred that the Emperors exacted an oath of fealty on it. (It was looted by the British at Magdala) So, Mr Saints Unit spin-doctor has unwittingly contrived to have the true likeness of Jesus and the Emperor on the same picture!!! A picture speaks a thousand words, certainly more than his caption The Lion of Judah?

Mr Saints Unit, surely you must have noticed that not once does Jesus actually say that he is the Lion of Judah?

And when he starts denigrating the Ethiopians, he overlooks verses such as Amos 9:7. He overlooks the fact that Ethiopia is the location of the Garden of Eden. He overlooks the fact that the Ethiopian official (Acts 8:27) was coming from Jerusalem to worship- only Jews were allowed to worship there. Nothing too explosive, stuff that would have turned up in even an ounce of research.

Oh, and by the way, Emperor Haile Selassie traces his decent from Ori the son of Cush to Makeda, who bore the son of King Solomon, and from that time the dynasty became Davidic. The Ethiopians have never denied their Cushite heritage.

I liked the pictures of the Ethiopians "shopping for food". A picture says a thousand words, but these ones say that Saints Unit is a lousy propagandist.

I particularly like

But I think you’ve got the point…The Lord our God does not recognize these children of Babylon..Come out of her my people!

Because this goes against what the Bible itself has to say on the matter. I am quoting from the King James Version, which seems to be the only one the Saints Unit are aware of. I doubt if anyone in their group can read Hebrew, Ge'ez or Amharic or even Greek. There are plenty of Rastafarians who do. In their youtube video, members of the Saints Unit are seen picking on less knowledgeable Rastafarians. This is how they operate, this is how they make themselves appear bigger than they are, by picking on easy prey. I challenged the writer to a debate on his article, and he has been stalling. I don't suppose he has engaged any of the erudite Rastafarians in his country.

Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. Psalm 68:31

I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.

Psalm 87:4

Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? saith the LORD. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?

Amos 9:7

From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.

Zephaniah 3:10

2007-02-03T21:13:00.000-08:00

Miss H, you are a star!!!

Someone very special to me is reading my book. She lives out there in the Us, in the State of Minnesota, what I call the set of Little House on the Prairie. Those of us who grew up in Zimbabwe in the 1980s will remember the Friday evenings when families would gather round the TV, munching on boiled mealies, to watch this really beautiful show. It has been a while since we've seen this side of America, this was before MTV, gangsta rap and warmongering Bush. Miss H, for that is what I shall call her here, has unwittingly shown me the America that I had forgotten.

She will also be remembered and loved by all for inventing spoken ChiShona with an American accent......

Not many people have had a chance to see my book yet, because not many Zimbabweans can purchase things online. So, there haven't been that many people known to me who have as yet seen it. I have been getting a lot of tribute, which I appreciate. But I am sure we all agree that it means so much more when it comes from your own folks. And Miss H certainly falls in this category.

Her initial appraisal of the whole book reminds me of a comment from Heinemman when that great literary giant Dambudzo Marechera first submitted his writing to them. It is reported that they saw the difficulty of distinguishing between what was from the author's own feelings and experiences and what was just him being clever. Miss H appears to be saying the same thing. She is a Rastafarian, a woman at that, and some of the issues I raised are not new to her. So, she would know what I am talking about.

I can't wait for her full review. I just wanted to say to her thanks so much for all the comments. After these, I can handle the scathing reaction that awaits me from some corners.

How many Zimbabweans get to be read on Little House on the Prairie?!!!!

2007-01-26T12:26:00.000-08:00

Another Rastafarian child expelled from school

http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=14511&cat=1

Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

Markos 9:37

yeSenbete Selamte hulu. I've just been reading a story in the Herald about yet another Rastafarian child having problems with the school authorities. Most grievous reading, I must say.

But, am I making much ado about nothing by reacting to this report? After all, this sort of thing happens all the time. It's not just the pupils, teachers that are Rastafarians or look like Rastafarians are also barred from schools and colleges. Even "President" R.G. Mugabe, in a speech broadcast in May of 2002, said, "Let them go to the Courts, and say that it is their right....we do not care about the Courts..." (It was from this very speech that my opposition to the Mugabe regime became more than my disagreement with the man's politics, it became personal.)

My heart goes out to the children who have to face this. Hloni, my friend, who appraised my book, suggested I tell the story of what is blatantly anti-Rastafarian persecution from the perspective of a child. I didn't, of course, but I agree with her. Someone has to tell the story of our children and what they go through in hostile Zimbabwe.

Perhaps I should succumb to increasing calls to rally the Rastafarian community for our collective security. I cannot remain a mere commentator when I am so deeply concerned. However, there has to be a clear consensus about what all Rastafarians can do about this.

My first thought was to mobilise as many of us to write to the Minister of Education, Mr Aenias Chigwedere and the Permanent Secretary, Thompson Tsodzo, both of whom have been open in their dislike of Rastafarians, and tell them what we think of them. But that would have little effect, especially in the current political climate. It would only target us for further repression, it would be a case of the turkeys voting for an early Christmas. Our cause would be taken up by that horrendous lot that go by the generic euphemism "civic society".

and on the side of their oppressors there was power;

Qoheleth 4:1

The idea of a Rastafarian school has been mooted for a long time now. I have always said that I am prepared to do my bit, but I am yet to see the next Rastafarian that is.

I want to pay tribute to the schools that have allowed Rastafarian children to attend. Avondale Primary, where I went to, is one. In Chitungwiza, there is also St Aidans and Seke 7 Primary Schools. St Aidans is associated with the Musodza family, my dear sister attended the school in the 90s. I call upon all Rastafarians to make a gesture of appreciation for this act of kindness to these schools. I am already thinking of how I can do this personally, but a collective gesture is in order.

2007-01-15T15:55:00.000-08:00

One law for the ordinary folks.....

There is a law in this country which outlaws remarks that insult the President. Never mind the fact that he is in fact a political leader and people may be expressing a political opinion. Never mind the fact that most people do not have nice things to say about him.

The result is that people are being marched off the jail for shooting their mouth off in public. A careless remark on the bus, in the pub, and you will be in trouble.

It seems to me that this is yet another demonstration of State-sponsored terrorism against the people. Ordinary people are the targets of this law. High profile personages, such as Rev. Pius Ncube, who made even the staunchest of the anti-Mugabe movement cringe when he said he would pray for Mugabe's death seem to literally get away with it.

A more poignant example is that of nationalist and former Mugabe crony, Edgar Tekere, who has recently published his biography. Instead of having him jailed, the regime has had its spin doctors shitting bricks trying to refute his story. They are not doing a good job of it, but that is beside the point.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the Catholic cleric should be nabbed for his remarks. If anything, he is proof that no one is going to give you your right to free speech. Perhaps these cops drag people from bars and stuff because they know they can get away with it. A single cop grabbing someone on a bus full of people, and no one utters so much as a moan of protest. Even chickens raise up a raucus when a fox enters their run and takes off with one of their own. Ordinary Zimbabweans are patently lower than chickens in a run. Perhaps this is why we get this sort of treatment. What was that Shakespearian line about Wotshisname not being a wolf where the people not sheep?

Hm.........

2007-01-14T02:46:00.000-08:00

Of Beasts and Men

I will return to the subject of beauty, but I had to have my say on a recent developement. I would like to thank all those who have become regular visitors to the site.

The above image is a sculpture, but it attests to the growing apprehension accross the world as scientists come out in the open about their work to mix animal genes with humans- to literally create human-animal hybrids. This has been happening for years, but the rest of society has only really come face to face with it as a result of the campaign by British scientists to have the Government legalise their activities.

Prior to the recent media attention, human-hybrid creation has been the subject of fringe conspiracy theory groups such as Dr Malachi York's and White racists, as exemplified by the image above of the so-called Bassou Man, a purpoted Black-Ape (like there's a difference in these sickos' eyes) hybrid. Many claims of human-animal mixing have been found by scientific investigation to have been deliberately faked or the evidence misconstrued. It is all too tempting to cite the hairiness of certain ethnic groups as proof of part-simian ancestry.

Cryptozoology aside, a medical explanation could be found for the fact that the baby in the above picture has a tail. Oliver, the famous chimpanzee with remarkably human characteristics was found to be 100% ape. The rest of us have always felt that the mixing of human and animal genes was impossible. The biggest fear that we allowed ourselves to have over recent advances in genetics was the cloning of humans.

Few of us noticed then the report which appeared in the late 90s, about one Dr Jose Cibelli who inserted his DNA in to the egg of a cow. This is the same standard cloning technique as outlined in my "O" Level science textbook. Cibelli destroyed the embyro, but the point I'm making is that he did in fact make a human-animal hybrid- the life-form created would have had cow mtDNA. It's not the stuff of science-fiction any more. Read the articles by Dr Patrick Dixon.

The reason I have chosen to touch on the subject is that the past week, there has been media coverage over requests by scientists in the United Kingdom for permission from the country's regulatory body, the Human (not for long!!) Fertilisation and Embryology Authority do what Dr Cibelli has already done- fuse human and cow DNA. Is this because scientists in this field want to go by the book, or that they feel that people have been conditioned enough by the media to able to let this happen without so much as a peep? There are other things ready to take our minds of things- Posh and Becks' planned baby, Saddam's excecution, Jade's presence in Big Brother.

What is to stop these latter-day Dr Mengeles from conducting these experiments anyway? Have you seen these strange-looking fish from Korea? The Scriptures have made reference to animal-human hybrids as a matter of fact.

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:

II Samuel 23:20

And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

Daniel 2:43

The Kebra Naghast speaks of ancient hybrid experiments as well. Some say this was how certain animals came to be classified as "unclean", because they were made not by God in their present form but were the results of experiments. The book also records that Nebuchadnezzar, to whom this prophecy was told, was in fact a secret replacement for the beast-like creature that his mother had given birth.

As Rastafarians, we condemn these developements for what they are. We have a weapon against them, and that is money. The people who are doing this are commercial organisations, they think we are ready to buy human milk from cows etc! Well, are we?

What about all the claims that this research is neccessary for medical research? Really? Are the most urgent medical issues of the day to be tackled with stem-cell harvesting or something so basic as the supply of clean water to each and every human being on this planet, something which even the poorest nation in terms of GDP is quite capable of accomplishing?

We cannot keep shaking our heads and carrying on with our lives as if everything is normal because it's not.

2007-01-12T16:26:00.000-08:00

Stuff I came accross on the net. Someone just asked me if I preferred blondes. I am going to write a longer article, but the following struck me and I had to share it

Beautiful Women

Did you know that if shop mannequins were real women they'd be too thin to menstruate?

There are 3 billion women who don't look like supermodels and only eight who do.

Marilyn Monroe wore a size 14.

If Barbie was a real woman, she'd have to walk on all fours due to her proportions.

The average woman weighs 144 lbs. and wears between a 12-14.

The models in the magazines are airbrushed - not perfect!

A psychological study in 1995 found that three minutes spent looking at a fashion magazine
caused 70% of women to feel depressed, guilty and shameful.

Models twenty years ago weighed 8% less than the average woman. Today they weigh 23% less.

2007-01-10T06:13:00.000-08:00

There's still hope for Zimbabwe's women in the media

Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness

I don't know if the woman who wrote this article is the same Kahari who interviewed visiting Rastafarians, Sipho Mthethwa and his Empress Anna, Chaminuka House of Nyahbinghi leaders Ephraim Chinyamunzore and Ras Jabulani and myself on ZBC's A.M Zimbabwe in 1997. I remember the way she stared at Sister Anna, two women from different planets.

I just had to post it here, because as a Rastafarian working in Zimbabwe's media industry, I have always been appalled by the male-female relationships. All the while, I had assumed that it was something that ALL the women in the industry wanted- that they are too stupid and lazy to work hard so they get ahead by selling their bodies to men in positions of power. Oh, yes, us Rastafarians have our prejudices.

I just had to post it and salute this Tambu Kahari for writing it.

http://www.zimdaily.com/news/126/ARTICLE/1197/2007-01-08.html

2007-01-06T10:53:00.000-08:00

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, "He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me."' And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Yohanes 1:14-17

Inkwan lalidätu baal badahna adarrasaw !

On the 7th of January 2007, Rastafarians join Orthodox Christians in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. A time to reflect on the birth of the Saviour. This year's observance of this feast are extra-special; this year according to the Ethiopian calendar is the last of the Millenium. 2000 years of the Lord's Mercy! ( just as dates in the European calendar are designated Anno Domini or Before Christ, the Ethiopian calendar uses A.M, Amete Meherit- the Year of Mercy)

Many Zimbabweans, of course, are totally unaware of this Feast. Still, the Father's mercy has been poured out on them. He favoured me to tell the people of Ophir about the birth of Christ, through an article that appeared in the Sunday Mirror. I would like to thank the editor of the Sunday Mirror for giving me the chance to make this aspect of the Rastafarian culture known.

The main reason for this post is to send greetings to all the wonderful people who have enriched my life, people I have met. Far too many to mention. However, it is my pleasure to make special mention of the lady Heather Osterman, who has also started her website.

Malkam Baal hulu.

2006-12-18T19:45:00.000-08:00

Marriage of the Dread

The most crucial trick is to keep the Rastafari Woman, from ascending to her spiritual heights as Queen Omega and African Queen, Mother Earth, Mother Nature Herself! This was accomplished by stealing away the majority of woman who entered into the Rastafari Way of life during its early days, back into Babylon through the jailing of many Rastafari and leaving the woman unprotected, the
starting of a whispering campaign leading to the scorn of the Rastafari woman by her family and society and the denial of the Rastafari of a land base and Woman and youths being stability to a Movement. The overlords, therefore encouraged the Rastafari Movement to be nomadic, in order to discourage women from entering
it and stablizing it.- Fariak Birhan, Who is the Rastafari woman?

Mandisa at SW Radio Africa started me thinking about this by asking all those questions about women in the Rastafarian society. No doubt, she has read all that drivel by self-styled experts- I hear there is even a whole book about the Rastafarian woman is oppressed but I haven't read it myself. What she did not delve in to is why there are not that many Rastafarian women in Zimbabwe. Most people have never even seen one.

Could such horror stories- contrived to misinform- be the real reason why there are few Zimbabwean Rastafarian women? Well, I think that they are only part of the reason. It is not paranoid to say that there is a concerted, tacit conspiracy to prevent women from entering the movement. And these tales are just a part of that.

A backbiting tongue hath cast out virtuous women, and deprived them of their labours.
Sirach 28:15

The media has tended to avoid fostering the idea that the Rastafarian culture is wholesome, family-oriented, the sort of thing that a decent girl can take up. With the established stereotype of the Rastafarian male as unkempt, vagrant apostate from the established religion and given to all manner of criminal activity the fact that no well-brought up girl would want to have anything to do with this went without saying. Look at that video by gospel singer Fungisayi- and she is the symbol of the perfect Zimbabwean girl. A girl announcing to her parents that she was going to be a Rastafarian from now on, why that was the same as coming out as gay or something. Certainly a lot worse than having baby out of wedlock.

My non-Rastafarian friend Gilbert would often express his exasperation that I did not seem to be aware of this as we began to get in to relationships. And in retrospect, I think he was right; I should not have been so naive as to assume that I could walk up to any man and say, Hello, I would like to marry your daughter. Perhaps the shock at the battle I had to put up for the woman I entered in to a customary-law marriage with- a battle I was doomed to lose anyway- would not have been so great, so scarring. But as I always said to him, one way or the other, I am damned already. I could let my sense of damnation get to me, or show a brave countenance for there is always hope.

And damned I was. My in-laws reluctantly agreed to the marriage- it emerges that circumstances had more to do with it than a genuine change of heart. There was also the feeling that in getting married, I was abandoning the Rastafarian way of life- how this is worked out is beyond me, and Gil long gave up trying to explain that one. It also emerges that while the girl had told me of her willingness to convert, this was not what she told her folks. Was she afraid of their reaction? They would have been disappointed, surely. But since the problems we had had were down to my Rastafarianness, a more logical guess would be that she had told them I was ready to reform.

This would make sense of the conduct of my own family in the matter. Boldly they came in, in my absence, and made it clear to her that they did not approve of my being Rastafarian. She was taken to the family church, even though I do not go there. Many years before, exactly the same thing had happened to an elder of the Nyahbinghi House in Chitungwiza and he had finally poured out his heart to me on the matter, with a warning against marrying outside the Faith. One of my brothers, who is learning to be a pastor or something at one of these clap-hands churches, would take time to have what he called "Bible lessons" with her. I suppose she took priority over all the fornicators, drunks, paedophiles, fraudsters and so on that make up the bulk of our relatives- she was on her way to becoming a Rastafarian.

For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
II Timothy 3:6

To cut that part of a long story short, the marriage ended before it began. The official version is that this is further proof that Rastafari is all about urombe- Masimba cannot even keep a woman. For me, it heightened my awareness of damnation. On the one hand, I could have remained in the relationship and watched her become a total stranger and take the kids with her. I have seen that happen to many times in the Rastafarian community, and it tore me up every time I saw it. I don't know why I never thought I would one day confront the same prospect. On the other, I am 30 years old, unmarried and with no foreseeable chance of ever getting married. I am also the eldest in the family. The brother who comes after me got married two weeks ago- not a peep of protest over his decision not to have the wedding in the family church, although I am sure I would not be similarly indulged if I were to find someone and have the Rastafarian crowning ceremony as pictured above- which is based on the Orthodox tradition. I can visualise them all cringing at having to explain to people. Which is what it's all about, isn't it- what will people say, the Musodza Son is a Rastafarian!! Already, people are saying that the Musodza Son doesn't want to get married, he prefers this pursuit of subcultures.

This tacit conspiracy to prevent Rastafarian unions is a more effective weapon against us than all the police brutality, the discrimination in recruitment and all these other things they do to us. It is tantamount to genocide- how does that sound, brother, when you snuck up behind me and literally seduced my wife you might as well have been one of Pharaoh's hatchet-men trying to keep the population of Israel at manageable levels? But that is what happened.

Am I bitter? There isn't a clear answer. I am bitter that being bitter won't help me. Won't get her back. Nor will it prevent the same thing happening again, as it surely will. Maybe this is why I sort of keep to myself now- I meet a lot of attractive girls, but I erase their numbers as soon as they've given them to me. If there was a way to fight back, get people to back off, I would.

I sometimes tell myself that there are Rastafarian girls out there. Probably facing the same adversity, nay, a million times worse. Zimbabweans have taken the victimisation of women to dizzying heights. I met this lady once at one "hotel" in the Avenues, next to Kaguvi Building. She was a prostitute, but I could see she was a Rastafarian- I can tell the difference between someone with locks and the real thing. I asked her how she had come to this. She had married a Rastafarian, against her parents' wishes and they had disowned her. When he had died suddenly, she had no where to go and no means to take care of her children. Rage boiled in me, rage not only at how anti-Rastafarian prejudice had done this to her, but the collective Rastafarian community's failure to defend the vulnerable. In those days, I was too much of a coward to have been able to live with a woman that I knew I had met selling her body in the city. And Idid not have the financial means to assist, for I feel that she was entitled to my assistance, whether we were in a relationship or not. Whatever fate has befallen her, I doubt that it is a happy one.

Meanwhile, all those Zimbabwean girls who are intrigued by Rastafari and look around for role models find these wretched, defeated souls.

But going back to my marital problems, I am still of the belief that I am entitled to have a family on purely Rastafarian terms. Mindful of the challenges, I can see that the other half of this envisaged marriage would have to be just like me- resolved to fight for our lebensraum. She would also have to be aware that much of the adversity will be targetted at her, because of the perception that she is weaker. She would also be confident that I am ready to defend her.

In the meantime, well, I guess I am going to be the one who writes that book about cold showers. As Arrested Developement says in their song, I patiently wait for someone I can reachMany sisters don't understand my styleI live my life in an outcast tribeA tribe that strives to see a brighter dayI forsee that I'll walk with closed eyes... until Dawn, Dawn of the Dreads

Apart from Mandisa's questioning, why am I bringing all this up? Well, maybe I am tired of pretending out of pride that I walked away unscathed. Maybe I just realised that it is perfectly normal for a Zimbabwean Rastafarian man to be in this situation, and so can now talk about it freely.

See you on my wedding day.

2006-12-13T13:29:00.000-08:00

On the radio today!!!

I am overwhelmed at the response I am getting as I put the word out about my book. I got a call from none other a distinguished personage than Mandisa of SW Radio Africa for the Callback programme. SW Radio Africa, for those who do not know, is only the premier alternative broadcast service for Zimbabwe by Zimbabweans.

We talked for about 10 minutes, but I was deeply touched by her interest in my work. Given the work that SW Radio does, it is indeed humbling that they would find time for a spokesperson of a small minority. But then, the response from many non-Rastafarian Zimbabweans has been phenomenal. Many thanks, Mandisa, for the publicity op.

I wonder how many people in Zimbabwe heard the interview. Those that haven't, those that have always wondered what I sounded like, have a listen in on
mms://swradioafrica.streamuk.com/swradioafrica_archive/callback131206.wma

Rastafari be praised.