Harare News by Harare News

2 Harare News

Issue 13 August 2014

General news

Goat markets go unregulated Kundai Marunya

eyond the havoc and commotion of travellers waiting for transport and the vibrant flea markets that serve the tobacco farmers at Boka Auction Floors, all characterised by touting, pushing and shoving, lies a vibrant livestock market. Hundreds of goats with ropes tied around their legs and necks mill around. Sometimes they stray onto the busy Harare-Masvingo highway, disrupting traffic mostly coming from or headed towards the Beitbridge border post. It’s chaos at its worst, as much as it is business at its best. Located at the well-known Mbudzi roundabout, Harare’s goat market not only provides employment for the youth but also ensures the constant availability of the animals. Though not a major source of meat compared to pork, chicken and beef, goats have always held an important role in our society, espe-

cially when it comes to conducting traditional rituals such as kurovaguva (a Shona ritual for calling the spirit of the dead back to protect the living) and masungiro (a ritual for the first pregnancy) among other special ceremonies. Trader Tapiwa Makunya* explains, “We go into the surrounding rural areas to buy these goats for resale.” He says they transport the livestock in the middle of the night. “This way we can avoid the traffic police who are always looking for handouts for safe passage,” he laments. When they finally get to their trading place sellers are not troubled by any authorities. Makunya said, “As much as Veterinary Services and the police are concerned about stock theft, our market goes uninterrupted because our livestock is small and the demand for goats is not as high as that for other livestock.” He said the officials do not view the booming business in goats as seriously as cattle trading. Law enforcement officers have in

the recent years imposed harsh penalties for livestock theft. Health expert Todd Nyakudyara said, “Failure to enforce laws that govern the movement and sale of livestock can result in catastrophic outbreaks of diseases. Many diseases which affect both livestock and human beings can spread quickly and widely if we do not check and monitor our goat market.” Though the most popular, Mbudzi is not the only goat market in Harare. Some traders have set up business on Kirkman Road, at the open space between the National Sports Stadium and Tynwald Gardens. Farai Sikwenda who operates from there said, “We attract customers from nearby suburbs such as Belvedere, Dzivarasekwa, Kuwadzana and Westgate.” Sikwenda said business is good, “On a good day I pocket as much as $100 while sometimes I go home without selling anything.” Prices of goats range from $30 to $60 depending on the

GirlsRUs Trust reaches out Staff Writer

eople are called to change the lives of others in different ways. Some are motivated simply by observation while for others it takes a tragedy to realise need. For Sandra Moyo, founder and trustee of GirlsRUs, an organisation that helps girls in dealing with their menstruation cycles, it took an eight month long menstruation period to make her realise the need for affordable sanitary wear in under-privileged communities. Moyo explains, “I had a continuous menstruation period from December 2012 up to July last year. When I was going through my periods I realised that sanitary wear was very expensive and I sometimes had to borrow money to buy pads.” She started doing research on the difficulties of accessing sanitary wear. “After I started my research my menstruation period stopped and I think that was a sign of God’s calling so I pursued it,” said Moyo. Moyo carried out her research, identifying communities most affected. She said, “My first donation was in June last year when I bought sanitary pads which I donated to young girls in the Honde Valley.”

Realising the great need in high density and rural communities she then came up with an idea to register the GirlsRUs Trust (GRUT) which is run by four trustees and a board of directors. Moyo said, “We run on a voluntary basis with most of our volunteers being young people in tertiary institutions.” In June this year GRUT donated sanitary wear to Revelation Trust, an orphanage in Kuwadzana. “Our donation went to 57 girls who each received nine packets of sanitary wear which will last them three months,” said Moyo. After Revelation Trust, GRUT visited Chihota village last month, 80km south of Harare. This is a community where even a proper school uniform is a rare privilege only a few can afford. The GRUT team managed to source 288 packs of sanitary pads and 96 bars of soap (also expected to last three months) from different well-wishers. GRUT’s first target was Marondera Secondary School, which consists of 96 girls. Moyo said, “We were fortunate to get a donation from the outgoing Miss Black Opal, Betty Moyo, while the other donation came from a national team cricket player who preferred anonymity.” She said that

the trustees also chipped in where they could. Moyo said, “Some girls end up skipping school during their menstruation period because they lack sanitary wear.” She said as an alternative some girls may end up using material that may endanger their health. “Parents should always budget for sanitary pads because if they don’t their children end up using tissue paper, cotton or even torn cloth which is not safe and has been deemed among the causes of cervical cancer,” she said. The lack of sanitary pads has been of great concern in the recent past with many media houses reporting the use of unthinkable alternatives such as cow dung and newspapers. Last month a local company My Pads and Pearls, Heels and Dreams (PHND) launched a new line of reusable sanitary wear to cater for disadvantaged girls and women who cannot afford a new set of pads. The company director Jenny Wall said her organisation conducted independent surveys which revealed that 45% of girls used cloth, 19% use cotton wool, and 18% could afford pads while the other 3% relied on newspapers, tree leaves and bark.

Photo: Luckie Aaroni

A man butchers a goat at Mbudzi Market. size of the animal. Since the market is informal the prices are negotiable. *Not his real name

104th Agri Show Lovemore Lubinda

he 104th Harare Agricultural show is set to run for nine days from Friday 22 to Saturday 30 August. Running under the theme Sustaining and Transforming Agricultural Growth, this year’s edition will open on a positive note by giving back to the community. The first day of the show, 22 August, will be the Hosia Mapondera Cultural Day. Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) Public Relations Officer, Heather Madombwe, said that the day was set to honour the late Hosia Mapondera, Deputy President and Life Vice President of the Society who passed away last year, for his great passion on the promotion of culture. “On this day, school children who are below 18 years old and in their school uniforms will enter into the show free of charge,” she said. She added that there will be some cultural performances such as traditional dances, marimba and mbira on the day as part of the entertainment. She urged school children to think outside the box and see other opportunities presented during the show, saying there is more to it than just face painting. “School children should

Deposit for Budiriro houses too high Photo: Luckie Aaroni

CLEARANCE SALE

take this advantage to interact with professionals in various fields and acquaint themselves with what it takes to succeed and how to get attachments, among other areas of concern,” said Madombwe. A big change this year will be the fireworks display which is now scheduled for day one between six and seven in the evening, rather than as a closing finale. The 2014 show will also see the relaunch of the Zimbabwe Institute of Public Relations (ZIPR) trophy. It is awarded to a stallholder in recognition of public relations excellence during the show, and encourages stallholders to interact with visitors. On security, Madombwe said there will be officers in plain clothes, private security company Guard Alert, ZAS guards and CCTV cameras. She added that they will also work hand in hand with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), and urged the public to come in their numbers and be part of the fun, while taking the chance to develop business relationships. “The show will be officially opened on 29 August by a respectable guest of honour who will be announced at the appropriate time,” added Madombwe.

Continued from page 1 there was nothing happening yet. “There are no negotiations yet as the current demand for houses is high. Councillors still want to discuss a genuinely pro-poor deal with the next phase. I have met with CABS and we will be discussing again,” said Mayor Manyenyeni. Over the years council has failed to provide affordable housing to residents. Housing co-operatives and private land developers have played a major role in providing homes, but the prices attached to this have remained exorbitant for many, leading to the mushrooming of illegal settlements in the city. With the City’s vision of becoming world class by 2025, the housing shortage is something that needs to be addressed urgently.

8 Harare News

Issue 13 August 2014

Environment

Doctor endangers public in Mabelreign Martina Kwenda

he corner of Kirkman Road and Sherwood Drive in Mabelreign is the site of an offence clearly committed by someone in the medical profession – almost certainly a doctor. As an advocate and agent for people’s health it might come as a surprise for many that a doctor would be responsible for the dumping of waste that is hazardous to the environment and human health, but a site visit by Harare News revealed a disgusting and dangerous pile of used syringes and other medical waste at this location. The discovery was first made by local resident Jimmy Muropa, who was prompt in alerting Environmental Management Agency (EMA). Muropa told Harare News that this was not the first time that such hazardous waste had been dumped at this location. The syringes and boxes were tossed into the bushes, not far from the regular police patrol route, so the dumping was likely done when they were not around,

in the early hours of the morning or later at night. EMA were, at first, slow to react. Asked on why there was a delay in their response to such a hazardous crime, EMA spokesperson Steady Kangata said EMA’s position underneath the collateral authority of City of Harare prohibited a quick response. After a closer inspection however it was deemed urgent and

action was taken. “We could see that there was still some medicine in the syringes which is toxic, and the syringes were closer to the river meaning the medicine could flow into the city’s water source”, Kangata told Harare News. He also highlighted the risk of nearby children who might end up playing with the used needles, the consequences of which could

be illness, paralysis or even death. With these factors in mind, EMA determined that as an environmental hazard, it was within their jurisdiction and sent workers to clear the area. An examination of the refuse revealed that although there were no invoices within, the supplier’s branding was still displayed on the boxes, and was identified as New Avakash International operating from Msasa. EMA representative Alletta Shoko followed up with the company to try and get answers, but was told that with a distribution network of 84 clinics, pharmacies and doctors surgeries, it was impossible to identify the culprit. New Avakash International employee, Stan Muengwa from the disposal department, had this to say: “We do not know who did this, nor have we ever improperly disposed of our damaged or expired products. We respect the environment.” The Health Professions Authority (HPA) of Zimbabwe is responsible for the control of medical waste

disposal. All medical practitioners and dispensaries are required to submit a letter confirming a disposal agreement with professional incinerators who are qualified to dispose of such hazardous waste. HPA Public Relations Officer, Linda Nkala, told Harare News that “if it’s a small clinic or a doctor practising single handedly, they can make arrangements with a bigger hospital to incinerate as one body, thereby bringing down the cost.” She added that if found to be unregistered, the doctor responsible for the Kirkman Road hazard could face legal proceedings and likely be shut down. For now at least, the area is clear and safe again for the children of Mabelreign. Concerned residents such as Jimmy Muropa do well to report and follow up on such incidences, since without such action cleanup and investigation will not happen. For the sake of the Mabelreign community, Muropa and others hope that the doctor responsible is eventually caught and suspended for his actions.

Why was Councillor Mbanga handed a box of roots? Kudzayi Zvinavashe

ouncillor Chris Mbanga was presented with a box of tree roots at a council meeting last month by Ward 8 constituent, Mrs Reenie Ager. Ager presented the roots to Cllr. Mbanga to demonstrate the damage done by a major telecoms company that was trenching in her neighbourhood to lay fibre optic cable. The box of roots, some of which were more than 10 cm in diameter, had been cut from one side of trees

on the road where Ager lives, raising her concern that this would render them unhealthy and unstable. When confronting the diggers and their supervisor, Ager’s concerns were not heard, and her gathering of tree roots was met first with suspicion and then irritation. “They did not care about chopping off the roots and they were so spiteful that they only left one root to support the tree. Their supervisor on the scene was arrogant and ignorant of the issue,” she said. Many trees in the city are already

unstable as evidenced by a very dangerous fall in May of this year. Chinese nationals Nan Lee and his daughter narrowly escaped death as an enormous jacaranda on Josiah Chinamano Avenue crashed onto their car. His efforts to get compensation from council have been unsuccessful to date. Incidents like this raise questions about the wellbeing of our trees, the city’s lungs, and as pointed out by Ager, indiscriminately chopping their roots will surely contribute to future tree falls whilst ultimately

affecting our city’s air and aesthetics too. Head of engineering at City of Harare, Engineer Philip Pfukwa said, “we are coming up with ways to regulate the trenching and one of the rules for telecoms companies is to lay four or more vacant fibre cables that will be used by any telecoms company. By so doing we will be avoiding the re-trenching of one place several times.” On the cutting of tree roots he had this to say: “We had not thought of the environmental impact to that

extent but we are putting up measures that will safeguard our nature, we are exploring options of thrust boring and making it an obligation to the telecoms company that they should avoid cutting off roots.” While telecoms companies avoided official comment, one employee who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “fibre cables don’t have a limit on the amount of data that they can carry so telecoms companies should make a system where they share one fibre cable in a certain area to avoid trenching again.”

Professor Magadza: crusader for wetlands Photo: Harry Davies

Stephen Tsoroti

rofessor Christopher Magadza has been labelled a professor of doom and gloom because of his bleak outlook on the future of water supply in this country. But his research into water supply and wetlands has not been taken seriously as evidenced by the fast disappearing vleis in Harare and its neighbouring towns, poor water quality resulting from incessant pollution and the feeble national response to the issue of climate change. “There is a lot of misconception and misinformation about issues of water in Harare and the country at large. Many people think rain water that ends up as run-off is our lifeline, but it is more than that. Recent studies have shown that boreholes, which supply much of Harare’s northern suburbs, are drying up, while rivers like Marimba, Mukuvisi and Manyame now have low levels of flow owing to massive human activities,” says Professor Magadza. “Based on conclusive studies done at the University of Zimbabwe, cli-

mate change is a reality and so is the drying up of areas that used to be our water reservoirs. When our cities and villages begin to dry up, only then will this stark reality shock us,” suggests Professor Magadza. Professor Christopher Magadza was born in 1939 in a village in Chief Kaswas’s area, now called Burma Valley, in Manicaland, Zimbabwe. He was educated at St Augustine’s Mission, Penhalonga, near Mutare, and Fletcher High School in Gweru and read for a B.Sc. and M.Sc. at the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Magadza completed his PhD in New Zealand where his renowned study in 1978, on the phytoplankton in six hydro-electric lakes on the Waikato River, which was threatened with massive pollution that came close to decimating its riverine life, earned him international acclaim. He reminisces about his days at the UZ, “I was interested in studying Bilharzia, but one semester we happened to be five students studying limnology (the study of freshwater bodies). Kariba had just been

finished and Dr Mitchell, who was building a lake station at Kariba, asked if there was someone who wanted to accompany him there. My four colleagues declined the offer. As a black student then the offer was not extended to me but as Dr Mitchell was leaving the room I followed him and asked if I could accompany him. He answered yes, so I went with him to Kariba and came back with a draft paper that became my thesis for my B.Sc. degree programme and so my history with the

Kariba Lake Station started.” Professor Magadza later taught at UZ and in 1986 he began his long stint with the Kariba Research Station. In an interview with Parade magazine in April 2013, Professor Magadza, who is still a member of the International Lake Environment Forum, explained, “After all, the only constant is change – and what we do in the face of this change will make all the difference.” He says the level of destruction in

the fragile wetlands rivals the devastation of tropical forests. “If people don’t change the way they are doing things, these water charging systems will be gone by 2045.” Magadza says of his receipt of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize as part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), “The Alfred Nobel Prize was actually a surprise to me. I am not a climatologist, but here I was receiving the most prestigious prize on earth.” “I give credit to Zimbabwe for highlighting issues of climate change to the world. Though you know a prophet is not always recognised in his own country,” adds the retired UZ professor. Professor Magadza is credited with the setting up of the first Zambian Water Quality Unit. He was also involved with the initial programme to wipe out Tsetse flies in the Zambezi Valley. Recently, he campaigned vigorously to establish the Middle Zambezi Biosphere Reserve in the Global family of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves after twentythree years of work in the area.

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Features Photo courtesy of the World Dommination Summit

Visionary on a mission Introducing Saki Mafundikwa Saki Mafundikwa has been making waves in the creative world at home and abroad for many years. He addressed the audience at the highly regarded TED Talks in 2013, and was a keynote speaker at the World Domination Summit that took place in Portland, Oregon last month. His presentation at TED titled ‘Ingenuity and elegance in ancient African alphabets,’ has been viewed more than half a million times online. It was his appearance in Portland however that led to his conversation with author and Huffington Post writer Beverley Gordon, who dug deeper into Mafundikwa’s mind and history, unearthing the creative roots that led to the opening of the Zimbabwe Institute of Vigital Arts (ZIVA) in Mount Pleasant here in Harare. This article is published with thanks to Beverley Gordon and Huffington Post. Who says you can’t go home again? here are people who believe you can’t go home again. Saki Mafundikwa isn’t one of them. Born in Zimbabwe, he exhibited an extraordinary talent for drawing from an early age, yet his options appeared limited, as the idea of “design” was unknown. Forced to flee to Zimbabwe in the late 1970s at the height of the civil war, he found asylum in neighbouring Botswana. He lived there for a year as a refugee, aware that he may never be able to go home again. His drawing talents and high academic achievements landed him an undergraduate scholarship to study at Indiana University, choosing the double major of telecommunications and fine art. Two professors in the design department recognised his unusual talent and rich design heritage and invited him to study graphic design, a direction he willingly embraced. Less is more Yale, with its Swiss sensibilities and “less is more” modernist approach beckoned, and Saki received a full scholarship, earning his MFA. New York was his next stop and the unfolding media boom made this the right place at the right time for his career to flourish. His varied experiences included stints at Random House plus time at Cooper Union teaching Experimental Typography. Saki’s renewed discovery and love of native African languages and its script, led him to collaborate on the team developing the Fodor’s website. Life was very good indeed. Time to go home After 12 years in New York, Mafundikwa intuitively knew it was time to finally go home again. At the end of 1997, leaving a very comfortable life in the US, he packed up his family and went back to Zimbabwe to open ZIVA, the Zimbabwe Institute of Vigital Arts. Why “Vigital”? It’s a word of his own creation, visual arts taught with digital tools. Embodying the motto “evolve or die,” he believed the digital age was a way for his country to catch up with the world and jump-start an African renewal. Interestingly, ZIVA in his native Shona language means “knowledge.” His former CEO at Random House generously offered to help, sending a 20-foot container filled with books and old computers back to Zimbabwe to support his new school. No accidents in life During our conversation, I quickly knew that we speak the same language. The language of belief in something higher than coincidences or accidents. A belief and trust that we are being led synchronistically where we are meant to go. In an impassioned voice, he told me he’s always followed his inner instinct, staying open to unseen frequencies that make him aware of something grander than himself. When I told him that I see his journey as a spiritual quest, he agreed. This path is something he was born to live. The turning point So what was the turning point that had him

Photo: Graham van de Ruit

finally choose to return home after 20 years away? He told me that somewhere within the depths of his being, he always knew he would go back home. Not just return, but be someone who contributed solutions to the country’s continuing problems. While reflecting further on his journey, he admitted that had he not left home to discover himself, he would never have become a graphic designer, or discovered the African alphabets which have become so integral to his work. And he would never have written his anecdotal and entertaining book Afrikan Alphabets, which combines his fascination with technology and interest in the rich cultural and artistic history of the native African languages. Zimbabwe Institute of Vigital Arts ZIVA is small. It currently has 12 staff members and 18 new students each year, its maximum student base always 36. At first, the parents of black youth remained skeptical about their children embarking on a design career. His ratio of white to black students, 95 percent white to 5 percent black. That’s evolved over the years and completely reversed. For many students, it’s the first time they’ve ever sat side by side with someone of a different race. And the talent ZIVA is turning out is gaining recognition, particularly in South Africa, who frequently offers praise for his outstanding graduates. Through the school, he’s managed to illuminate graphic arts as a viable career path for talented Zimbabwe youth who possibly would never have found it on their own. Saki himself had only discovered it by leaving home and going to the US. Now they learn design on their home turf, and are encouraged to venture out, discover themselves and their passions as he did, to bring their experiences back home. Cartoons, comic books and animation When Saki noticed that many young Zimbabwe children are keenly interested in cartoons and comic books, he envisioned expanding ZIVA’s curriculum. He understood that steering his students in a direction where they created their own way of storytelling was highly possible through animation. How would he manage to do that? Synchronistically, at his 2013 Ted talk, someone who admired his work suggested an introduction to the people at AutoDesk, a world leader in animation software. Saki had longed for their Maya software for ZIVA, however, with no funding and money scarce, this had seemed virtually out of the question. AutoDesk to the rescue AutoDesk to the rescue. They donated not only the much desired Maya software to ZIVA, but full access to all their professional 3D design software and learning content, as they now do to all middle schools, high schools and higher education institutions in Africa. This partnership has proven invaluable, allowing ZIVA to build a full-fledged animation department, propelling its students into potentially the same league as millions of professionals who currently use AutoDesk software. His belief that animation has a universal

Above: Students in the ZIVA first year class of 2014. Right: Saki Mafundikwa at the World Domination Summit in Portland, Oregon, in July 2014. way of communicating to people, keeps him excited about the possibility that his students’ work will reach farther and wider. He inspires them to craft stories and feature films with their own African characters. Projects that can make waves globally, yet are uniquely African in content. What’s your vision for the future? When I asked what his dream or vision for the future of ZIVA is, he laughed, saying “To become a fully-fledged university with inter-

national recognition.” I laughed with him. Of course. Visionaries on a mission see a bigger picture and manifest on a larger scale. As a man, Saki wears many hats. He finally recognises how they interconnect and contribute to each other. Who is Saki Mafundikwa? Graphic Designer, Teacher, Design Thinker, Author, Filmmaker and Organic Farmer. Marry them together and you have Saki the man, and Saki the visionary.

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Harare News 13

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Restaurants & food

Hats off to Café Nush Mystery Eater

’m something of a regular at Café Nush, often grabbing takeaway coffee and a pastry on the way to work, or best of all the smoky beef quiche, fresh from the oven. I readily vouch for it as a café, their coffee is good, and the bakery pumps out excellence every day. Nush has more than filled the space left by the Italian Bakery, which had a special place in the hearts and routines of businesspeople, socialites and coffee drinkers from all over the city. Sweeping aside sentiment with the broom of fact, I have to say it… I prefer Nush! Nush has a squeaky clean, modern feel to it, and would be at home in a Joburg mall or London high street. Not in just its decor and lighting, but the bold white crockery and the menu too. It has certainly set itself apart from most in Harare. They have a diverse menu, though mostly breakfast and lunch oriented. It hits all the right notes for Harare’s diners, with sandwiches, wraps, hamburgers and chicken and chips, but has interesting variations coming out from what must be the owners’ middle Eastern heritage, in particular a section titled ‘Taste of Persia’ which includes kebab offerings. On the confident and well informed advice of our very friendly waiter, I opted for the bakhtiyari ($14), a mixed beef and chicken ke-

I felt self conscious with it swinging in the breeze.

bab. We also ordered the buttered chicken curry ($10), and the mushroom and spinach fettuccini ($8). To warm up our palettes (and because we were ravenous), we started with the vegetable soup ($5) and a chicken Niçoise salad ($7). Nush doesn’t actually have starters on the menu, but we decided to share in order to try healthier options of which there are several, and vegetarians will certainly find something to enjoy as well. The chicken in the salad was still warm and succulent. It came with

olives, butter beans, green beans, egg and lettuce, all dressed in a delicious, piquant dressing. The soup had unusual tangy undertones, but was also delectable and hearty. It came with a huge white roll, baked on site, crispy crust, fluffy inners, just right. All our food was as fresh as could be. The mains came soon after, and were presented beautifully. My kebab option was fairly unwieldy, with alternating cubes of chicken and beef dangling from a long skewer over saffron rice and roasted veggies. I de-skewered it promptly to stop it going cold and since the restaurant was almost at capacity, I felt self conscious with it swinging in the breeze. The meat had obviously spent a long time marinating, having complex and delicious flavours, and though perhaps a bit dry and overcooked for me, was improved by the tzatziki. I was most impressed by the perfume of the rice and some

sweetly tender roasted tomatoes. The pasta was simple, and well put together – nothing to wax lyrical about, but as good as any I’ve had in Harare and at $8, a very good deal. I usually don’t order dishes that I can cook well myself – bolognaise, stir fries, fish pie, roasts and a few other bits and pieces, but I don’t think I could recreate the richness and balance of that bowl, and would consider it for next time. Expecting an Indian style curry, the butter-chicken eater at our table was at first perplexed by what he was served with. Again the middle eastern influence and spice combinations were at play. But all in all it was delicious. What emerged from the main courses for me, was that a great deal of thought and care has gone into their menu. Nush management have clearly spent a long time crafting, tasting, and refashioning menu items to achieve a great deal of flavour and poise in all

their dishes. All in all, the prices at Nush are pretty much on par with most eateries in Harare, but the service, presentation and flavours of the food mean that they offer better value. Their competence in delivering a comprehensive hot meal menu AND the café-style patisserie selection will delight any diner in any mood. Service Ambience Food Value Overall Average: $10 Shop 1, Vera Mall Avondale Shopping Centre 335201 Open every day:

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14 Harare News

Issue 13 August 2014

Lifestyle

Two new airlines enter Zimbabwean market Sharon Mazingaizo

he airline industry in Zimbabwe has experienced many challenges, in particular the high cost of air travel and few international airlines choosing Zimbabwe as a destination. At its peak in the period 1999–2003, 34 airlines were flying here. This number dwindled drastically due to the ongoing economic crisis and currently only 14 airlines are active. Recent news of KLM’s intention to halt flights into Harare has brought frustration upon locals looking to go overseas. Thus it is a welcome relief that two new budget airlines, namely Fastjet and FlyAfrica, have entered the Zimbabwean market. Fastjet will from 5 August 2014 launch two weekly flights on the Harare-Dar es Salaam route with tickets available from US$50.00 (one-way, excluding tax). Flyafrica began ticket sales in mid June 2014 for three weekly flights between Victoria Falls and Johannesburg which, starting 23rd July 2014 will be from R99.00 (one-way, excluding taxes and fuel surcharges). The FlyAfrica route from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls will boost tourism in the resort town. Speaking during the recently ended Routes Africa 2014 Conference in Victoria Falls, Richard Bodin, Chief Commercial Officer for Fastjet said, “As a low-cost airline we try to use a low price to stimulate traffic so that more people fly more often and more people view aviation as a more accessible mode of transport rather than the long bus rides that some Africans have to endure.” Harare residents shared their delight at

FlyAfrica and Fastjet coming into the Zimbabwean market, a great development for the business sector and the tourism industry. Kudakwashe Matyokurebwa, a local entrepreneur in the car dealership business, spoke to Harare News, welcoming the new budget airline Fastjet to Zimbabwe, as he frequently travels to Dar es Salaam to purchase vehicles. Matyokurebwa said “Flying will be a good option depending on the cost of the flight. For most people in the car dealership business the profit margin is very small. It will be better to go by plane if the price is affordable.” The Harare – Dar es Salaam route is mostly used by business passengers, mainly cross border traders and car dealers. There are about 200 bus passengers per day on the route, even though the bus costs US$120 and takes three days. For most business passengers the new budget airline Fastjet is a great leap forward for business as it is a more affordable and faster option. Harare News also spoke to Luke Brown from the tour company Vayeni, who said, “FlyAfrica is a very welcome addition to the skies over Zimbabwe. I hope that soon we will see an extension to their route network following the viability of the initial route between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls. Access options have been limited so there is a lot of expectation that this will help alleviate the challenge. Tour operators will look to capitalise on the competitive rates offered by FlyAfrica to sell on to their guests and help them package the destination in such a way that they compete well within the region.”

Zimbabwe Fashion Week Sharon Mazingaizo

“A

frocentrica” is the theme for this year’s Zimbabwe Fashion Week which runs from 26 September to 29 September. Zimbabwe Fashion Week will host 20 local designers and some international designers from South Africa and Zambia will also grace the event. For the first time ever, Zimbabwe Fashion Week will host buyers both from the African region and internationally, boosting our local fashion industry and the designers themselves. Among the international delegation coming to Zimbabwe Fashion Week is British actor and model Joseph Gatt, who stars in the TV series Game of Thrones and has had a successful career as a model in Europe and the United Kingdom. Young designers can look forward to Fashion Week, as they have the Young Designers Programme, a series of workshops conducted by professionals in the industry which will see them share their expertise with aspiring designers. Speaking to Harare News on the meaning behind this year’s theme “Afrocentrica”, the founder of Zimbabwe Fashion Week, Priscilla Chigariro, said, “Over the past few centuries Africa has been a net recipient of global technological and artistic innovation. At Zimbabwe Fashion Week we see the trend emerging where the traditional ways of Africa, the values, the organic fruit, the natural fabrics, the practical utilitarian designs begin to replace the genetically modified

organisms that have been dominating innovation in recent years. This year Zimbabwe Fashion Week wants to celebrate the return to the naturally sustainable ways, Africa that repays debts, Africa that becomes a net exporter of its cultural ways. Back to the roots and forward to the future.” In addition to fashion shows, Zimbabwe Fashion Week will host an awards ceremony in categories of Young Designer of the Year, Emerging Designer of the Year, Fashion Blogger of the Year, Fashion Photographer of the Year and Accessories Designer of the Year. Among the challenges faced this year in hosting fashion week is the venue. At the time of writing, Zimbabwe Fashion Week had not yet confirmed where this year’s event will be held.

Images from Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2013: Top left & bottom right: Gavin Raja Top right: Ndau Collection Photos: Simon Deiner / SDR Photo

What to do in August Saturday 2 August House of Hunger Poetry Slam Book Café 2pm Free Monday 4 August Evening of Words-William Shakespeare Reps Theatre 6.30pm Free Friday 8 August – Sunday 10 Chimanimani Festival Chimanimani Town

Saturday 9 August – Wednesday 13 Zim v. SA Test Cricket Harare Sports Club All day Friday 22 August – Saturday 30 Zimbabwe Agricultural show Exhibition Park (Show Grounds) 9am to 8pm (everyday) $3 to $5 Saturday 30 August Bring it on Concert Northside Community Church 8 Edinburgh Road, Pomona 6pm to 8.30pm Free

Harare News 19

www.hararenews.co.zw

Schools

Speech and Drama Eisteddfod ends on a high Kundai Marunya

he National Institute of Allied Arts (NIAA) annual Speech and Drama Eisteddfod ended on a high note with a wonderful display of talent selected from the best of the festival at a final concert held at the Harare International School. The concert held on 12 July had children as young as seven years of age showcasing their talents. Three choral speaking groups performed with Grade 1 students from Heritage School reciting Fly and Building a Dragon to a delighted audience. Heritage School won the Deloitte Choral Speaking Cup for gaining the most points in this section. However, the best entry in Choral Speaking went to Grade 5 students of the Dominican Convent Primary in Harare. NIAA festival director Gavin Peter said, “We are impressed that 12 schools entered every

Above: Amira Naik and Sam Brakarsh performing a duologue ‘Christmas in NW 1’ Left: Andile Sibanda and Zoleka Sibanda reciting a duo poem ‘My Dad, Your Dad’.

Ramah Cricket Academy producing excellence Stephen Tsoroti

youthful Harare cricket academy is becoming a force to be reckoned with in Zimbabwean cricket circles. The Ramah Sports Academy has been scouting for young talent and setting up clubs in Harare’s marginalised areas. “We have been able to set-up clubs in up and coming private schools like Cornwall Hill in Westgate,” said Sylvester Mutusva. Mutusva is a founding member and coach at Ramah Sports Academy. The academy, situated in Belvedere, was established in 2004, after identifying the need to take youths off the streets and away from drugs through sport. He said Ramah Sports Academy provides professional coaching incorporating technical expertise, the tactics of the sport and spiritual enhancement. In 2005 Ramah Sports Academy was instrumental in founding the Royal Cricket Club,

We aim to fly high the flag of the Republic of Zimbabwe and we are going to make sure that every talent is given an equal opportunity of exposure.

which won the Mashonaland Eagles provincial Vigne Cup League 2008-9 season and the inaugural Abid Hamid Memorial Twenty20 Shield in 2009. It has produced notable players like Admire Manyumwa (national team rep), Tinashe Chimbambo (under U19, 2008), Tendai Mashonganyika (U19, 2008), Ngoni Mupamba (2010) and the Christabel Chatonzwa National Ladies Team that travelled to Ireland recently. In 2012 the Academy hosted the under 16’s team from the Alpha Cricket Academy of Zambia and trounced the Zambians in a friendly series of two ODI’s and three Twenty20s at Sunrise Sports Club in Harare. Soon after hosting the Zambian academy Ramah Sports Academy officials were approached by Mr Ishfaq Zameer Jalal who is the Administrative Officer of the Asia Twenty20 Cricket Federation. This is an affiliated continental

unit of the International Twenty20 Cricket Federation (ITCF-USA). He proposed that the academy should register Zimbabwe Twenty20 Cricket Federation (ZTCF-Zimbabwe) and become an affiliate country unit and lead Africa Twenty20 Cricket Federation (ATCF-Africa) as a continental unit. ITCF-USA is an independent international board running Twenty20 cricket and Twenty plus Twenty innings cricket separate from ICC. ITCF-USA founded the Twenty20 concept in 2001 and is aiming to have 200 countries on its platform to globalise the sport. ITCF does not look at the test cricket status of other cricket playing nations. A country like India, which is a cricket powerhouse, can play a nation like Botswana, for example, which has no test cricket status. The academy recently won accolades in India where three of its members won awards when they participated in the annual event of the Indian Twenty20 Cricket Federation (ITCF-India), the Indian Premier Corporate League (IPCL) Season 4 held from the 12th to the 16th of November 2013 at the International Sirdar Patel Cricket Stadium. National team players in the organisation, Chamu Chibhabha and Tinotenda Mawoyo, were voted players of the tournament after they led the Indian Blues team to claim the IPCL 4th edition 2013 title. They beat the Indian Jawans team by 3 wickets, with Ngoni Mupamba scoring 52 runs off 39 balls in the final, while companion Admire Manyumwa claimed the fielder of the tournament accolade. Sylvester Mutusva led the Indian Blues team who were the previous year’s semi-final losers. In his team were the other Zimbabwean cricketers, Admire Manyumwa, Ngoni Mupamba and Mohamed S Bala. “This is the beginning of greater things to come in cricket circles in Zimbabwe as we aim to fly high the flag of the Republic of Zimbabwe on an international scale and we are going to make sure that every talent is given an equal opportunity of exposure,” said Cromen Zinyama, co-founder and liason officer of Ramah Sports Academy.” We we are hoping to take cricket to a new level and strongly believe that Zimbabwe will one day be a vibrant sporting destination,” he added. Zinyama said they have roped in former captain of Zimbabwe Cricket, Heath Streak for cricket matches with the Heath Streak Cricket Academy, a similar project in Matabeleland also aimed at developing cricket in disadvantaged sections of society.

class in the choral speaking section – a huge undertaking for individual schools as choirs can consist of up to 50 students.” Approximately 630 children participated in choral speaking at the Midlands festival in Gweru, while a staggering 4,140 took part in Harare. Other performances in the final concert included three junior poetry recitals as well as a duet by Andile and Zoleka Sibanda of Midlands Christian School. Ariel Primary thrilled the audience with a recital from work by Charles Mungoshi. Laura Van Schie and Maona Manyau from Chisipite Senior School presented a news bulletin while students from various other schools presented prose items, monologues, duologues, senior poetry, mime and Shakespearean pieces. The curtain came

down after the M & M Dance Factory presented a short dance piece entitled ‘Life’. After the trophies had been presented to candidates selected for their outstanding work during the festival the adjudicators, Claire Wilson and Victoria Bryan, entertained the crowd with a duet poem written especially for the concert. Bryan said, “I enjoyed watching the faces of the candidates, the anticipation as they waited for their marks and the excitement when they heard them. I love the way in which the festival brings kids together, the way they overcome their stage fright and the way they shine! Thank you so much for inviting me to work with such an exciting group of young people.” Both Wilson and Bryan have offered to help the Allied Arts team to prepare material for the outreach program that the institute runs to help teachers and students prepare for the annual festival.

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