Watch out for Chiringiro?

Watch out for Chiringiro and what is it? Don’t be baffled, 
Chiringiro is not Chidumo (notorious criminal of the early 1990s) but it is the paper that is set to create ripples across the media landscape.

Chiringiro is the first independent weekly paper in vernacular language that will be published in the near future under Maendeleo media in Zimbabwe. Maendeleo media founder, Dr Charlton Tsodzo said the idea behind the paper was borne from the preservation of Zimbabwe’s local languages, stressing on the need of having incentives in the preservation of local languages.

 Tsodzo informed audiences at a Food or Thought discussion, held at the US Embassy Public Affairs Section to be vigilant of the paper as it would likely outrun, Kwayedza, once it began circulation.

“When we look at Kwayedza, they are better financed than ourselves but in terms of the concept, what we want, we consider ourselves way ahead of these guys in terms of thinking,” said Tsodzo.  He highlighted that the production house was thinking on creating an application for the newspaper, to embrace the new technology and set it apart from the rest.

The paper will focus mainly on developmental issues and reflecting issues affecting society. “Chiringiro means mirror or lens, so we are trying to mirror society in terms of news, local, regional and international news and also give critical thinking into news as well,” he said.

I believe if Chiringiro does get the funding, the paper will be successful, Tsodzo seemed to have brilliant ideas about the paper and hopefully, it will see the time of day.

The Zimbabwean a foreign owned newspaper and the Observer, a local weekly paper were newspapers licensed in August this year.

Personal Branding



Thembe Khumalo mentors ZWJ mentees

A month ago, I got the privilege to attend a WJMP mentoring session facilitated by Thembe Khumalo, Alpha Media Holdings Columnist. The topic for the day was ‘Branding’; branding being the total experience of the product and as human beings we are our own Personal Brands. What we do, say, defines who we are, we are our own marketers, and therefore one should be able to package ourselves distinctively,  we have to brand ourselves.

The way we brand ourselves determines how the world will know us and there lies our reputation- how others view you ultimately shapes your career and your life. A brand should be purpose powered, should leave a legacy and should be values driven. Have a choice that will determine what legacy you want to leave behind, your habits will be your character.

ZWJ mentees listening to Thembe Sachikonye



ZWJ mentees listening to Thembe Sachikonye

A values driven brand is important as values help you remain consistent; consistency is the bedrock of brand building. This will ultimately enable you to build winning relationships. Utilise opportunities, we usually never believe in taking risks but sometimes plunging in the crocodile pool, maybe the door way. Hence grab the opportunity, always be vigilant and alert, so you can see it coming.

“Do not be afraid to make mistakes- Set out to act recover quickly move on, Don’t make the same mistake again.

Acting empowers you, reacting empowers others.”- Thembe Khumalo

(pictures courtesy of  US Embassy Harare PAS)



Zimbabwean Women Journalists graduate

 

From caterpillar cocoons 14 women have metamorphosed to brilliant butterflies that are now ready to fly. After a yearlong Women Journalist Mentoring Programme, the ladies were on Friday graduated at the prestigious Deputy Ambassador’s residence in Highlands. This might be the end of the program but it is definitely the beginning of a new chapter, hoping that whatever they took from this will be useful to them and will be able to channel them into more opportunities.
 
The 14 mentees were chosen from a field of 45 applicants, from different media fields across the country in September 2011 and has ended after a full year of travelling, battling mentoring classes and work.

The graduation was adorned by media specialist from across the media fraternity, such as Shehnilla Mohamed of HIVOS, Virginia Muwanigwa director of HIFC, Thembe Sachikonye columnist from Alpha Media Holdings, Nhlanhla Ngwenya, from MISA-Zim and a whole lot of other media personnel, some who were also part of the program as mentors.


Shehnilla Mohamed of HIVOS

 The Zimbabwe Women’s Mentoring Programme is an initiative by the United States Embassy Public Affairs Section Harare and  Humanitarian Information Facilitation Centre(HIFC ) to promote female journalist in Zimbabwe. To the 14 graduated mentees, Well done, Congratulations and continue to be prosperous!

(In top pics, Sharon hands out certificates to mentees- pictures courtesy of US Embassy PAS Harare)

Africa new development frontier - Wharton



Incoming US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Bruce Wharton
(picture courtesy of harare.usembassy.gov)

Incoming US ambassador to Zimbabwe Bruce Wharton has acclaimed Africa as a continent with a lot of potential for development, in an interview on Initiative Africa.

Wharton was in Paris to promote the 50^th anniversary of the Africa Regional Services, where he acknowledged, Africa to be a rich continent with a lot of potential for development, citing that Africa was the new frontier for development.

“I see another side of Africa, which is much more positive and making progress at a much faster rate. There is much more hope, dynamism and opportunity in Africa than any place in the world,” he said.

Wharton applauded the work done by the Africa Regional Services, in building understanding and relationships between America and Africa.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs believes engaging Africa in constructive mechanisms could propel the continent to greater heights highlighting that Ghana, South Africa and Kenya had done well.

“Demographics in Africa are compelling, it’s vital that they be given the tools, voices and the platform to talk about their dreams” highlighting that AGOA was the primary platform for development investors in Africa.

One of the mechanisms, Wharton referred to was the Fulbright program, an international educational program sponsored by the United States government.

Wharton shares the same sentiments on youth development as his predecessor Charles Ray, "We have great relationships with most of the African leaders, but we need to reach out to the next generation of African leaders,” he said.

Asked about his interest in Africa, Wharton responded saying that he has family roots where in Africa, his father was born in the former Belgian Congo. He added that it was about being useful to the planet and his own country as well.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a United States Trade Act that significantly enhances U.S. market access for (currently) 40 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries.

Ray inspiration among youth

Outgoing Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray
(picture courtesy of  harare.usembassy.gov)

Every good thing comes to an end, and this month marks the end of Ambassador Ray's duties as American ambassador to Zimbabwe. The ambassador has shared a vision that many elder diplomats and politicians have never exercised, that is cultivating the youth and nurturing them in every possible way.He has smoothly weaved himself into the youths and now seems like a part of us, through his concern. Since coming into office in 2009, the ambassador has been vigorously involved with youth initiatives throughout the country and more recently the English Access Microscholarship Program for disadvantaged children in Mbare. With this kind of vision it is only reasonable to show gratitude, because youths in society nowadays are viewed as a lost cause. As a youth my self, I am grateful that someone came through for us, particularly an outsider paying attention to the youths in Zimbabwe. Although all he can do is encourage because he cannot hold each and everyones hand, that is enough, the concern is enough.This then raises eyebrows and wakes us from our slumber that we the youth have ben bathing in and this is what needs to happen, to wake up and be active. Ambassador Ray said at one point,"Youth should be a time of wonder and exploration; the young should be allowed to enjoy this all too brief period of their lives. At the same time, they should be aided in preparing themselves for the great responsibility they will have to shoulder when childhood has ended and they put away the things of youth.Young people can and should take a more active role in the development of their country, but that must start with self." These are words of wisdom from an experienced "youth"which we must take heed.

Quote taken from and for more of Ambassador Ray's speech visit http://harare.usembassy.gov/ray_on_youth.html

Promoting youth participation in politics

'Youths are the leaders of tommorrow' echos the ever sung out cliche but the most sound advise to be said. It is therefore pertinent for youth to be active and take charge and with the advent of ICT's it has given youths the power to be take charge.The most invigorating youth discussion I've attended would be the one facilitated by Grace Chung and Michael Caldwell, two American students at a Food for Thought session at the U.S Embassy auditorium. Caldwell and Grace gave valid points highlighting that promoting youth participation through social media is the best way to reach out to youths in a world where the new media has become the nucleus of every youths social life. Although this may not seem possible in Africa, research has shown that Africa has twice as many mobile phones as in America. Thus political participation should not apply to America only but to Africa as well. Although the process is an ongoing issue, digital divide is still one of the problems  affecting the information age in Africa . They highlighted that youths are the larger percentage in the population and this plays a part in the political landscape when it comes to voting particularly. Ideological differences also play a part in politics, lately governments have not been striving well under the support of the older generation, ever wondered why? I presume the answer is no, this is because as Grace and Caldwell noted, the older generation is usually angry with the government and are also not comfortable with change and where is development without change!  Youths in Zimbabwe resort to violence and have been usually used as puppets of political parties. Why not use the older generation as the puppets and lets take charge. 

  

Indigenisation to affect education

Children at a rural school use the floor to write
(Picture courtesy of garyschapman.photoshelter.com)

Over the past 10 years the government has vigorously engaged in indigenisation programmes, from the discredited land reform progarmme to the current grab asset programme. The government has proposed to include privately-owned schools to the programme , which they have justified under the indigenisation law.With every educational institution at the mercy of the governmnt it will advently plummet the education system to the ground. The government has shown little or no condsideration for the civil servants particulalry teachers who are constantly at the governments throat over their peanut wages. This then confirms the poor perfomance statndards by many of the government schools which are constantly docked by  the civil strikes and therefore children have to go for weeks without teachers. 




Indigenisation minister Saviour Kasukuwere
(Picture courtesy of google.co.zw)

The government is not committed in the educational sector and the poor perfoming government schools have plummeted to the ground due to the governments lack of committment. In the fight to promote black sovereignity, it has however become a much more aggressive approach, that is instead not benefiting the ordinary Zimbabwe whose income is below the datum line, it will not benefit the rural child without a book or classroom. The indigenisation programme is instead discriminating it's own indigenous people. Instead the government should concentrate on improving their own government schools before they can pull other institutions to their household. How will they manage when they cannot even manage at present?



GNU one man party: Mugabe gives COPAC deadline

Zimbabwe Government of National Unity

 Mugabe has given the constitution making body (COPAC) a deadline to finish drafting the constitution. It may well be agreed or debated that Zimbabwe is being governed by three parties under the GNU, unfortunately though most of the decisions are made by a single party. The decision to give COPAC he deadline should not be from one person but rather from the government governing Zimbabwe not  a party. MDC T and MDC Mutambara should also agree on the decision, they should be considered as they are representatives of the people. Thus ignoring them simply means that some members of the public are annihilated. The constitution making process affects all the three parties, and  their existence after the elections will be determined by the constitution.The elections are there to determine centrality of power and the dissolution of the GNU . It not only affects the leaders of the three parties but also the general public. Thus the other parties should be consulted as they are representatives of Zimbabweans in the country. One party does not represent all Zimbabweans, rather Zimbabwe has become a multi party country (in theory of course) but this multi party system should be enforced not only in speech but also in the actions.