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Showing posts from January, 2018

Zindoga: African Moses

Title: Death of the Commissar Author: Tichaona Zindoga Pages: 79 Publisher: Underclass Books & Films Year: 2017 There are always various perspectives in any human venture, but written records tend to be heavily skewed to the standpoint of the dominant culture. This is the case with the African story. The continent’s journey, successes and bravery are not glorified by Africans, but demeaned by writers from the Global West, who always try hard to attack and destroy the history of the continent, well known as the cradle of humanity. Writers from the West refer Africa as the Dark Continent. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is a good case. In the book, Conrad shows Africa through the perception of the colonising Europeans, who tend to portray all the natives as savages. Drawing an analogy, the best Biblical text that closely comes into mind is the Exodus story, principally Exodus 3:9-16, where the story of Israelites was told by Egyptians. Israelites were referred t

Technology promoting child and maternal nutrition

Lazarus Sauti Child undernutrition, which often results from poor quality diets in terms of diversity, nutrient content as well as food safety during infancy and childhood, still inflicts the most nutrition-related health lumber in developing countries. Children who are undernourished, are more vulnerable to communicable diseases and their cognitive growth is compromised, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), a specialised agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. “For pregnant women,” FAO added, “hunger and malnutrition, especially deficiencies of iron and calcium, contribute significantly to maternal deaths.” The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and young person’s potential is fulfilled, also says poor maternal and child nutrition is the principal conduit by which poverty is passed on from one generation

Poet adds voice on corruption

As the nation continues to fight corruption through various avenues, Harare based poet Lazarus Sauti has written a poem titled ‘ Kakonye ’ that calls for zero tolerance to corruption. Described in the title of the poem ‘ Kakonye ’, corruption is likened to a worm that obstructs a bumper harvest and cause hunger. Sauti brings out corruption as one of the major factors that cause underdevelopment in most African countries. The poem describes corruption and how it affects the nation as a whole. Lost in deep thoughts, Sauti explains how difficult situations have prompted some to engage into corruption. He further explained that his poem which is followed by a short story tries to address the corruption crisis and how it can be solved. The poet is motivated by the desire to inform the new generation on the need to support local languages and culture thus he came up with Shona short stories and poems published in his book titled ‘Nei?’ The book is a narration of

Families should tackle GBV: Fawezi

Lazarus Sauti The Forum for African Women Educationalists – Zimbabwe Chapter (Fawezi) director, Lydia Madyirapanze, has urged families to play a leading role in curbing gender based violence – a human rights infringement, public health confront as well as an obstruction to political, economic and social participation. She also encouraged churches as well as traditional leaders to fully engage families to change the negative attitudes towards gender based violence. “Churches and traditional leaders – custodians of our cultural values, are key driving forces not only in fighting gender based violence, but also in refocusing and redirecting our nation. “Accordingly, these key agents should engage families – the compass that guides us in tackling gender based violence,” said Madyirapanze. Furthermore, she said gender based violence should not be justified as it dents the health, dignity and security of its victims. “Victims of gender based violence can suffer sexua

‘Koshesai mitauro yemuno’

Daphne Machiri MUNYORI wemabhuku achiri kusimukira, Lazarus Sauti, anoti zvakakosha kuti veruzhinji vakoshese tsika nemagariro pamwe nemitauro yemuZimbabwe. Muhurukuro neKwayedza, Sauti anoti akatanga kunyora mabhuku nedonzvo rekusimudzira rurimi rwaamai. “Mitauro yedu yemuno iri kufa nekuti vanhu vazhinji havachina hanya nekuitaura, kuinyora, kuiverenga kana kuichengetedza. Izvi ndizvo zvakandituma kuti ndinyore bhuku rangu rinonzi ‘Nei?” anodaro. Anoti bhuku rake musanganiswa wenhetembo nenyaya pfupi uye riri pamusoro pezvinhu zvakawanda zvinoitika mumagariro evanhu. “Nei? ibhuku rine nhetembo makumi maviri nenomwe pamwe chete nenyaya pfupi shanu. Rinodonongodza zviri kuitika munyika yedu,” anodaro. Upenyu hwemunhu huzere mibvunzo saka imwe neimwe nhetembo mubvunzo kunyika nevanhu zvinova zvimwe chete nenyaya pfupi dziri mubhuku iri,” anodaro Sauti. Bhuku rake, anodaro Sauti, riripo zvakare pakudzidzisa vanhu kuti vasaite zvinhu zvinovasiya vari mumatambu