My first vote: Voting for change in Zimbabwe

In a few hours I will vote for the first time. I will vote for change. The polling station at which I will cast my first vote is normally a clinic. I would like to think that it is significant that I will vote at a clinic – clinics are where the sick are treated…

No Ms Dlamini-Zuma, we are not fine at all

This week I was surprised to hear the chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Ms Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, tell the world that the situation in Zimbabwe is good enough to hold free and fair elections. I should point out at the beginning that I do not agree with Ms Zuma’s view. Of course, given the…

Zimbabweans, let’s be politically active and engage our leaders.

The liberation of African countries from colonialism was, by and large, bloody business. But aside from being a struggle of guns and other deadly arms; our struggle was also a contest of ideas. As some comrades fought the colonialists in battlefields, others were engaged in an equally important intellectual and educational campaign. The purpose of…

PM Tsvangirai’s face and other election issues

In Zimbabwe, as in other countries, election times are exciting times. As we get closer to the polling day on the 31st of July the stories and plots get more intricate and exciting. From free food and campaign rhetoric to rallies and blatant hypocrisy; election season is well and truly upon us. Our people would…

Interviewed by The Mail and Guardian

So I was interviewed by South Africa’s Mail and Guardian about the coming elections. They wanted to know how being a youth would influence my choice. I explained why I’d vote for the MDC and why youths should go out and vote. Most of it has been written here before but here’s the article: Zim…

Apolitical Intellectuals – Otto Rene Castillo

I have often been asked why we should risk life and limb by participating in politics, especially now when it can be really dangerous. Because it is election time I fervently hope that the words of a little known Guatemalan poet and revolutionary, one Otto Rene Castillo, can answer that question and encourage Zimbabwe- and…

The Herald is Poisonous

Speaking on SFM today morning the Minister of Tourism, Cde Walter Mzembi, said “the media in this country is very poisonous”. Whilst I am sure the honorable minister was speaking in relation to the media’s contribution to the generally negative perception of Zimbabwe by the international community, the statement is also equally true when applied…

Why I will vote for Morgan Tsvangirai

In an ideal world there would be no famines, no wars, no genocides, no crime and no poverty. All men would live freely, peacefully and with honour, our debates would not be characterized by lies and demagoguery, our media houses would report the truth and, of course, I would have more money. There would be…

Zimbabwe’s Elections – A Test of our Maturity

I must confess: I am afraid of elections. This may seem paranoid to some but those who were in Zimbabwe in 2008, the last time we had elections, probably share my fears. By and large Zimbabweans are a peace loving and friendly bunch- unless there are elections. I remember quite vividly the March 2008 election…