Kobbler!

I had finished what I had to do in the UK. And then I finished what had to be done in Ghana. I came home. The Government of National Unity was a few months old. There was hope. Everyone seemed to be smiling. There was bread on the table. We had milk for breakfast. There was fuel at petrol stations. The sun was shining. And then our leaders began throwing dirt at each other. The harmony started sliding away. Pockets of violence emerged, albeit mildly. We all thought it was a passing phase. My friend Kobbler began to wonder. He would sit at his street corner where he has mended our dirty shoes for decades staring blankly at the decaying sun. He would ask what it is that politicians really wanted? Was it money, was it power, was it control, was it peace, was it development? We all could not answer him. He would also ask what it is that the population had done wrong? What had we done for God to punish us this much? Could it not be appeased? Or was it our ancestors that were angry with us? What was it? He would then take a deep sip from his opaque scud beer. Deeper sips as each day passed. Deeper than what I had ever seen him take. I could not dare ask him why. His eyes were now strange red balls of fire. He looked like he was on fire inside. Some friends told me he would sometimes cry. Crying so deeply like a pained child. Some said he was drinking too much. Some said he was losing it. How does one lose it? I wondered. His questions left us with other questions. Deeper questions. Where were we going as a country? Would this ever end? When? Where? How? Who would end it? How? When?

Then last week, a call came. Kobbler asked for me. I ran to his house. He was breathing high. He had lost strength. He looked wasted. He looked at me for a long time. He cluthched my hand weakly and said, "You must stop asking questions to yourself". I was beside myself with wonder. What had gotten into him? "You must demand what you want!" And then he violently died!

Alive!

I still am...

Infant mortality rates versus dictatorships!

And so they have gathered in Uganda, exchanging brilliant notes on how to reduce infant mortality rates and partenal mortality rates. A very good topic. Soft landing. Thats what they do, they can talk about anything else, as long as it doesnt threaten their stranglehold on power. Such is the calibre of our African leaders!

Its a Friday!

This is a day when I go out with friends and have a few chilled ones. See you on Monday!

Diamonds and life situation

You may be aware that Zimbabwe has finally been allowed by the Kimberly Process Diamond marketing syndicate to sell its stockpile of alluvial diamonds. It is estimated that Zimbabwe currently has diamond stocks worth about US2,5 Billion. It is also estimated that the diamond find in Zimbabwe at the moment is the biggest find in over a century. Basically, Zimbabwe's find rivals or perhaps exceeds the Kimberly (South Africa) diamond fields which largely built South Africa's economy to what it is now.

When the fields were discovered around 2007, villagers dug out huge trenches and sold diamonds literally on the streets. A few wise men instantly became millionaires. The government reacted swiftly and deployed the army. Rumours surfaced that there were brutalities and wanton human rights abuses. The international community immediately slammed us with a selling and marketing ban. Since then we have been stuck with the gems.

Our economy has been struggling for the past 10 years. Presently, our GDP was estimated at US2 Billion at the beginning of the year. It has since been revised downwards to US1,4 Billion. At peak, our GDP hovered around US6 Billion.

The question is, with our current situation, should we be allowed to sell or not?

Black Stars coming to Zimbabwe!

One of Zimbabwe's most flamboyant businessman Mr. Phillip Chiyangwa has announced that the Black Stars of Ghana will be coming to Zimbabwe in early August to play our national team, The Warriors. True to his style, Chiyangwa proclaimed that he is bankrolling everything from chatering an Air-Zimbabwe plane from Harare to pick up the boys in Accra and back to paying hotel bills and all other costs. In his own words, he would like to personally see Gyan in Zimbabwe dribbling past our national team players.

Mr. Chiyangwa is not short of controversies. He is known to own over a hundred cars and claims he is one of the richest guys on the continent. At one time, he invited journalists to his house and showed them a magnificent room filled to the bream with his stylish suits and designer shoes. He also claims that if he is driving a white car, he will wear a white suit, black car, black suit and so forth. Mr Chiyangwa is a property mogul in Zimbabwe. At present, Harare municipality is pleading with him to sell it back vast tracts of prime land which he has acquired over the years. His Company, Pinacle Investments has embarked on an ambitious project to build replica upmarket houses in Borrowdale (Harare's plushest surbub) known as Chisora Village.

It is also known that when Michael Jackson came to Zimbabwe around 2003, Mr. Chiyangwa personally drove him. He is also known to own a 2 Million Pound Rolce Royce which he does not hesitate to parade for anyone who cares. When the Brazillian organizers came to Zimbabwe last year as part of preparations for the friendly match that was later played this year between Brazil and Zimbabwe, Mr. Chiyangwa also personally drove them in his top of the range vehicle.

At one point, Mr. Chiyangwa sponsored the Premier League in Zimbabwe.

We remain steadfast as we watch what happens next. As they say, the only reason why some of us stick around these parts is to see what happens next!

Were the elephants at the waterhole black?

The whole of Africa is hung over. Its over now. The first ever Soccer World Cup on African soil. For once, we all stood united. African Unity. We rallied behind South Africa. We cheered for Ghana. We cried for Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria and Ivory Coast. But it was all capped yesterday. What a spectacle. Bright lights, magnificent images, wonderfull soccer. Spain took it. Iniesta broke the hearts of the Dutch. We got to know of Paul, the octopus.

Yet, after all is said and done, did we really feel part of it all. How much were black South Africans a part of this great indaba? Will black South Africans wake up today and feel better than they were before this soccer showcase? Will their lives have improved? Did they take anything away from the World Cup? Was the first ever World Cup held in Africa really African?

I think not.

In the townships of Soweto, Alexandra, Khayelitsha and others, today marks a return to the persistant problems. In fact, most black South Africans might from today turn against their brothers from other African countries in another episode of xenophobic attacks. The underlying point being that, nothing has changed. A few guys (read white) will pocket a few millions, whilst the crones in Khayelitsha must still struggle to put meagre food crumbs on their rotten tables. It is sad. It makes some of us angry. It is not fair.