Effective Communication quest

By Caven Masuku Communication is a process of giving and taking messages between or among the individuals in order to reach a mutual understanding. On the other hand, communication can be defined as a process where “A” sends information to “B” upon which it has an impact. We communicate all the time to create a common understanding. At times we communicate to maintain “emphatic communion”, that is social relationship. For instance someone can start by saying; “oh it is hot today and am feeling weak”. If the next person respond maybe by saying; “Me too am feeling weak because of this unfriendly weather”, that’s the beginning of it. Here you can agree with me that communication would have been used to open up the channels. Like art, words should be used to entice, to invite and to comfort the second person. At time people do not communicate the way they intended because of lack of communication quests and skills. You can cause an individual to do what you want through the word of mouth. I can be loved, hate, get sympathy, remembered and respected through the verbal message. Anyone who wishes to be an active and competent communicator should be an active listener, sensitive, be prepared, honest and perspicacity. Effective communicators put emphasis on the necessity of being prepared. Preparation in communication includes properly researching, organizing and practicing the presentation of information in advance. People should learn to give themselves time to gather as much information in order to deliver effectively. Reading extensively and searching for the melodious and effective diction which will not be boredom and offend people is most important. Structuring messages provides a couple of benefits to the communicator. First, it helps the communicator ensure they have not forgotten or misplaced any information, aiding in the development of a robust message. Second, the more prepared a communicator is, the more credible they appear, and the more likely the recipients of their message are to accept the information. There are some individuals who are learned, but who could not communicate effectively. So communication is a talent which should be blended with voracious reading. The world today is more connected than it ever has been. This has created more and more opportunities for people from various walks of life to interact on a regular basis. However, as Hosftede, a leading researcher in intercultural communication, explains, different cultures view the importance of things like time, individualism and assertiveness very differently. Time is precious and is important hence in communication need not to be wasted. Use simple words with less confusion especially in meaning making. Effective communicators take these differences into account, which helps to prevent unnecessary offenses and conflict. Effective communicators understand the importance of honesty. Open, honest communications facilitate trust and lead to more productive conversation. On the other hand, dishonest communication can lead to confusion, frustration and a large amount of conflict. Effective communicators do their best to be as honest and open as possible when they engage with other individuals. People should learn to be as pellucid as the manner as it demands. Try not to rush and misguide people with your speech, but rather move with them and understand their concern through your words. Individuals should note the difference between listening and hearing. The former is more important than the latter. The University of Missouri found that over 80 percent of our waking hours are spent communicating, and 45 percent of that time, we are listening. Most people aren't very good listeners. They espouse bad or passive listening habits such as false listening, allowing their environments to distract them, or defensively coming up with arguments against the message instead of actually processing it. Effective communicators use active listening habits, including making a mental summary of the points presented, and paraphrasing the information after it is presented to ensure they understand what has been said. You can stop the speaker and find out whether what he intend to communicate with you correspond well with your understanding. Communication expert John Borg found that 93 percent of communication is based on nonverbal behaviours. This means that the way you present a message is likely more important than what the message is when it comes to determining whether or not it will be accepted by the listener. Nonverbal behaviours may include facial expressions, posture, gestures, eye contact and vocal variations. Effective communicators will use nonverbal behaviours to compliment, and not detract from, their message. For example, crossing your arms and avoiding eye contact makes you look defensive and untrustworthy, while putting your hands on your hips and speaking in a high pitched voice makes you seem aggressive. Using selective, open palmed gestures, smiling and maintaining consistent eye contact can make you seem confident and honest. Colours of our cloth also add to the message we decipher to the listeners. Those intending to be in the profession of Public relation, Communications, Marketing, Advertising and Politics should master the art of communication well in order not to misguide their followers. Communication is an art that everyone should master in life. Most people I have been communicating with ended up asking for more than I intended not because I am good , but just because I know what to say, how to say it and when to say it. Oh! , timing again is more important in communication. You need to disseminate the right message at the right time to the right people. Please for any comments you are welcome and I promise to take your suggestion and comments serious. I hope this will find you all well.

Communication through colours

At time people communicate through colours knowingly or unknowingly. It is important to find out the meaning of certain colours as part of non verbal communication. Colours have been an integral part of our lives for a very long time and so perhaps we are not aware of the profound impact that colours can have on our emotions and our psyche. Across the world various cultures have different meanings associated with these colours and that in turn has shaped our traditions and practices in many ways. In this modern time what we call culture is diluted because of the global community that we are involved in. In fact researchers and psychologists have also tried to understand the impact that colours can have on our life and our emotions so that these can perhaps be used as a way of therapy and enhancing the well being among people. Over a period of time humans have been able to identify the different colours and their meanings. The colour Black Black has always been regarded as a powerful colour and therefore has been associated with authority and power. This could be the reason why all executives wear black suites it is because of the powers they engross. In fact fashion experts often advise professionals to wear black since it is inordinately stylish and has a timeless elegance. Black however also signifies mystery and therefore has its association with the darker forces or negative forces and the unknown. A seemingly contrasting aspect of this colour is that it also symbolizes submission in many ways and perhaps that is why it is worn by priests as a symbol of their complete submission towards God. People who wear black also carry an air of aloofness around them and therefore this colour may also mean sophistication and an overpowering attitude. Black also evokes emotions of mystery and emptiness. Black also has a deep relationship with grief and loss. The colour black is important for professionals and reflect how much power an individual amasses. Black is authoritative and powerful; because black can evoke strong emotions too much can be overwhelming. A classic colour for clothing possibly because it makes the wearer appear thinner and more sophisticated. How the colour black affects us physically and mentally * feeling inconspicuous * a restful emptiness * mysterious evoking a sense of potential and possibility. The colour White White is a neutral colour that has always been associated with purity, innocence and freshness. Most people who wear white cloths are the un-touchable ones and people who are purer in every sense though sometimes people do not literally wear it to depict who there are. Perhaps this is why white is worn by brides as it symbolizes virginity and a new beginning. It also implies sterility and safety and is therefore worn by doctors for its association with healing. Houses also have white picket fences signifying safety. This colour symbolizes fresh beginnings and is supposed to help in clear thinking and purification of thoughts. How the colour white affects us mentally and physically * aids mental clarity * encourages us to clear clutter or obstacles * evokes purification of thoughts or actions * enables fresh beginnings The Colour Red Red is an extremely intense colour that immediately evokes passionate emotions. This colour is associated with the heart and perhaps that is why it symbolizes matters of the heart or love, passion and desire. But since this colour is so intense it also can mean danger and is therefore used in stop signs and lights. This colour is recognized as a stimulant and immediately draws attention. This colour is also associated with enthusiasm and energy and helps in increasing confidence. Pink which is a derivation of this colour symbolizes romance and is considered tranquilizing. Red has more personal associations than any other colour. Recognized as a stimulant red is inherently exciting and the amount of red is directly related to the level of energy perceived. Red draws attention and a keen use of red as an accent can immediately focus attention on a particular element. How the colour red affects us mentally and physically * Increases enthusiasm * Stimulates energy * Encourages action and confidence * A sense of protection from fears and anxiety The colour Blue Blue is among the most popular colours and can be seen generously in nature. Blue is associated with peace and tranquillity. This colour also symbolizes loyalty and is often painted in bedrooms as contact with it makes the human body produce chemicals that have a calming effect. Blue also signifies dependability and commitment along with trustworthiness. The expansiveness and constancy of this colour can be seen from the fact that the sky and the ocean are both blue. It therefore symbolizes serenity and calmness and can evoke a feeling of resting among people. However blue is also sometimes associated with depressing and cold feelings. Electric or brilliant blue colour is dramatic and has an exhilarating effect. Blue is a favourite among many people and is the least gender specific among all the colours. Blue can have a calming effect and is supposed to increase the quality of intuition among people. As the collective colour of the spirit, it invokes rest and can cause the body to produce chemicals that are calming; however not all blues are serene and sedate. Electric or brilliant blues become dynamic and dramatic, an engaging colour that expresses exhilaration. Some shades or the overuse of blue may come across as cold or uncaring. Blue is the least "gender specific" colour, having equal appeal to both men and women. How the colour blue affects us physically and mentally * Calming and sedate * Cooling * Aids intuition The colour Green As soon as someone talks about green the one most common association that everyone can notice is that green is the symbol of nature. It therefore has relaxing qualities. Green also has the meaning of fertility and in many cultures brides wear green. The darker shade of green is considered rather masculine and signifies wealth and a conservative attitude. It also signifies tranquillity and is regarded as a symbol of freshness since the greenery of nature is rather refreshing. Green also means peace and is a symbol of the ecosystem but green is also associated negatively with the feeling of jealousy. Green can be used for relaxation and harmony as well as to heal from depression, nervousness and other physical problems. How the colour green affects us physically and mentally * Soothing * Relaxing mentally as well as physically * Helps alleviate depression, nervousness and anxiety * Offers a sense of renewal, self-control and harmony The colour Yellow Yellow is a colour that easily attracts attention and is regarded as a positive colour. However, it can be rather overpowering and irritating. Yellow can enhance concentration and help increase the speed of the metabolism. It also symbolizes enlightenment, happiness and an optimistic attitude. It also signals towards a positive future and energy along with creativity. This colour can stimulate the nervous system and aid in communication and creativity. Yellow shines with optimism, enlightenment, and happiness. Shades of golden yellow carry the promise of a positive future. Yellow will advance from surrounding colours and instils optimism and energy, as well as spark creative thoughts. How the colour yellow affects us mentally and physically * Mentally stimulating * Stimulates the nervous system * Activates memory * Encourages communication The colour Orange Orange which is a relative of red has a strong positive as well as a negative association. This colour signifies warmth and a lot of energy and can stimulate activity and encourage socialization. Fun and flamboyant orange radiates warmth and energy. Interestingly, some of the tones of orange such as terra cotta, peach or rust have very broad appeal. How the colour orange affects us mentally and physically * Stimulates activity * Stimulates appetite * Encourages socialization The colour Purple This colour is often regarded as the colour that signifies royalty and wealth. It also has a very large feminine appeal to it and is therefore closely associated with romance. It however seems artificial at times. This colour signifies balance and mystical qualities. It can calm the mind and encourage creativity. This dichotomy can cause unrest or uneasiness unless the undertone is clearly defined at which point the purple takes on the characteristics of its undertone. A sense of mystic and royal qualities, purple is a colour often well liked by very creative or eccentric types and is the favourite colour of adolescent girls. How the colour purple affects us mentally and physically * Uplifting * Calming to mind and nerves * Offers a sense of spirituality * Encourages creativity The colour Brown Brown can be seen everywhere in the form of the ground and is an earthy colour thereby implying qualities of dependability. It also symbolizes sadness and wistfulness. Brown can bring about a feeling of connection with everything organic and has a sense of orderliness and stability around it. Brown says stability, reliability, and approachability. It is the colour of our earth and is associated with all things natural or organic. How the colour brown affects us physically and mentally * Feeling of wholesomeness * Stability * Connection with the earth * Offers a sense orderliness The colour Gray Gray is the colour that is most associated with depression of loss. Gray is timeless, practical, and solid. A longstanding favourite suit colour, gray can mix well with any colour. Although well like and often worn, people rarely name gray as a favourite colour possibly because Gray also is associated with loss or depression. How the colour gray affects us physically and mentally * unsettling * expectant When shopping around your clothing you should know which colour to buy and for what reasons. As part of non verbal communication you can communicate to the masses through the colour of your clothes. People should not buy for the sake of buying but should buy for some reasons. We know that there are some colours that are good for women and colours that are good for men. Children also have their special colours be it a baby boy or a baby girl. What is amazing these days is that adults can wear bright colours that are meant for the children which is interesting. This is not a crime because we are living in modern times and culture is not static it is dynamic. When someone is attending some interviews you should ask around the best colours that will not put off the appetite of your prospective employer. Certain professions have certain colours that go along with.

LOVE ISSUES: Winning someone’s heart

Enticing and winning someone’s heart is a torrid task that needs patience and cunning. Human beings are always complex and you have to blend your strategies for someone to yield willingly to your philosophies. You have to smile, you whisper, your wink and pat and spank a bit to trigger the emotions. You have to be a bit of naught but without taking it to the extremes The first phase is to make sure that the person you choose to be with suites all your desire and is genuine. Is he/she really very important to you and can you spend a day or two hours without thinking about the person? How badly do you want his/her loyalty and trust? What are your wishes and how do you feel if you are with the person. Do you feel elated, jolly or you can feel the burden and uncomfortable. It is very important that your desire to be with that someone stems from respect, admiration, and love for that person. That is the only way the person will feel genuine care. For example, does the person advance your knowledge, does the person make you feel good and laugh. What atmosphere do you sense in the present of the person? Is the person an introvert, extrovert what about the selection of words in a conversation? Is the person charming and challenges your mental faculty a bit? If the response is a big YES then that is the person to be with all the time. Again it is important to sense whether the person is stingy or can share the resources with you. Because your gifts have no strings attached to them, you won’t hold a grudge. In the long run, this will show through in your actions so that you would not feel manipulative to the other person. In the “getting attention” example above, you might become pushier and pushier as you don’t get what you want. The other person would start to feel this neediness and wonder what you want from them so badly. Whereas respecting that person would be more along the lines of “Here’s something to help you, don’t trouble yourself to respond”. If you do not actually respect or admire a person, then why would you even want to be near him/her? The only conclusion is that you want something, which means your motivation isn’t genuine care, but something else. This’ll make you go away fairly quickly if the person doesn’t give you what you want as you have no other reason to be around him/her. However, if you actually respect and admire the person, then you would be glad to be around, Therefore, it is important to express your care in ways that the other person understands and appreciates. You need to offer him/her something of value, as perceived by that person, not by you! Any gift no matter how expensive it is, if it is not given to your partner in good spirit it is worthless. You want to make it easy for the other person to be with you. If you are deeply concerned with your other, you seize to be conservative and you give and take what is on offer. In love there is reciprocity what they call “Give and Take’. In a way you both recharge your batteries and leave the vicinity with high voltage of it. You should avoid thinking negatively about the other person, all you do should be for the positive and goodies of both ends. The idea here is to offer the other person something of value, without encroaching on his/her freedoms or time. From time to time, you are saying, “here’s something I thought you might want, feel free have it or not have it”. It should be spontaneously, and you do not attach value that the other person should return to you. If you keep offering things that the other person wants but ask for nothing in return, why wouldn’t they want to be with you? But this should be done by both ends. If that person continually rejects your offers, then take a hint that this is not something he/she wants. A big part of your will is to keep trying to find something despite these failures, because you feel that gaining this person’s trust and loyalty is worth the effort. Be very careful that you are not trying the same thing over and over again, especially if it bothers or angers the other person. Remember that you are trying to continuously offer something the other person wants and to be open and honest with them, not trying to force that person to like what you’re giving! Some people take time to open up and to develop a liking. So move at their pace and do not expedite the process. Also, make sure that you actually do like doing the giving! If you truly feel the other person is worth the effort, then the giving should feel satisfying and sincere. In summary the more you give the higher the chances of winning. Kikikiki1 but this should not be used as a weapon to force someone to relinquish the pride against you. By the way pride should not find place or its way in trying to lure someone heart. Words are very important, and have to be accompanied by action. Be clever enough to sense what should come before the other and how it should be shooed. Otherwise, you’re just entering into a very one sided relationship that is not in your favour! Just remember, give because you want to, not because you want something in return! Sometimes love can be ready in somebody’s eyes, face and body’s posture. Non verbal communication is very important when displaying your endearment feeling towards the other person. Always wear a smile though you are not appealing in the face, but a smile will kill and bury all the tension and cultivate passion and love PLEASE READ AND PASS COMMENTS! YOU CAN EMAIL ME ON masuku.caven@gmail.com or call me in 0773210607

HIV/AIDS among college students in Zimbabwe

In a social chat with students who preferred anonymity for security reasons said that their first encounter in sex when they were at college left them HIV positive a move that left me disheartened as I could notice the sad and wilting faces they all wear as they spilled their secrecy to the reporter Caven Masuku. One female student who was at liberty to share her ordeal with me said she could protect her boyfriend at college by using the condom, but one of the days when they were having sex the condom broke and that is how she infected her boyfriend. Another male student I asked about how he contracted HIV told me that his girlfriend who was HIV positive lied in order not to lose him. “She was double crossing me with one of the sugar daddy who could give her money to buy denims and to spoil herself. At times she use could give me the money and I was not aware that she was indulging in unprotected sex” , said Denny who refused to give his real name for security reasons Most students leave college with HIV and a graduate certificate which is a shame especially to developing countries like Zimbabwe. Students suffer to STD for some time and do not rush to near clinics to seek medication so as to avoid HIV. Research’s conducted in Zimbabwe about the spread of HIV among students at colleges shows that they is need for a critical part of the effort to get students to realize that they are at risk if they engage in unprotected sex. Most students who have a special name for sex at college calls it a “core module”. Both male and female students over weekends visit night clubs where they met their sex partners and indulge in sex without wearing condoms and make them vulnerable to HIV. One student from a local college said that “even though they were engaging in relatively high-risk sexual behaviour, most students at college which is roughly about 40 to 50% of them are engaging in unprotected receptive anal intercourse, probably the highest risk activity you can engage in. Yet none of them thought they were likely or very likely to contract HIV." In Zimbabwe I suggest that it is high time relevant authority should create some plays or drama that discourages college students from being wield about sexual escapade said one of the concerned college student. College authorities should use traditional facet things to get Persuasive messages should be created and circulated among the students to educate them that , it can happen to anybody, whether they are pretty or not, whether they are smart or not; it does not matter. It does not have a preference. Anybody can catch that disease. Students should know that it is not one campus, not even one part of the country, and not just one demographic. Anyone who is having unprotected sex in any of the local colleges in Zimbabwe can be at risk. Health workers together with volunteers once a month should hit the streets and college hostels to pass out safe sex kits to anyone who ‘will take them. Each kit handed to both female and male students at colleges should contain condoms, along with instructions on how to use them and information about healthy relationships, abstinence, and HIV testing. Research conducted elsewhere indicates that educators should make an effort to prevent all the others on college campuses because lives are at stake. In Zimbabwe and across the continent and even global, HIV is a disease that is taking the lives of young adults. It is claiming in masses and volumes the lives of our next generation of leaders, taking the lives of those who will contribute to the country’s development. In Zimbabwe if we do not work hard to address this plight, we will lose a generation and where will we be left limping said Gorden Mbizi one of the male students People especially students, have to stand up, take responsibility for their lives and behaviour to avoid the spread of HIV, he said

STYLE FOR NEWS WRITING Inverted Pyramid,Literal Allusion, Champagna Glass, Stack of Blocks and Nut Graph

Most news stories are written in a traditional form it puts most important details first. The form is called an INVERTED PYRAMID. It begins with a terse/short opening paragraph called LEAD that summarizes the principal items of a news event. The second paragraph and each succeeding paragraph contain secondary or supporting details in order of decreasing importance. NB All the paragraphs of the story contain newsworthy information, but each paragraph is less vital than the one before it. The writing form puts the punch of a story at the beginning. This writing form is different from the writing form used for novels, short stories, drama and some news features, where an author begins with background and works to a climax. Guideline for using the Inverted Pyramid 1. Avoid a “buried lead”. The ingredients of an inverted pyramid are the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW of news event. For example: X“Police Chief John Jones discussed Riversdale crime problem with interested town’s people at a meeting Monday night. Jones agreed to meet with residents who have grown increasingly concerned about the safety of their neighbors’. The Chief said there were more serious crimes reported in the last 12 months in Riverdale than during any year in the city’s history” “Police Chief John Jones said Monday night that there were more serious crimes reported in Riverdale last year than during any 12 months in the city’s history” (Anderson and Itule 1984) 2. Keep the lead as brief as possible: If you can do it in 25 words or fewer, fine, but never write a lead with more than 35 words. The writer should not have attempted to put two ideas into one sentence. Effective Leads: “ZIMBABWE Prime Minister Morgarn Tsvangirai warned SADC yesterday that is has two weeks to settle the pending issues in the Global Political Agreement among the Main Political parties”. 3. Keep all sentences as simple as possible: Trim superfluous or hard-to-understand words. Do not clutter sentences with un-necessary adjectives, advertisements or subordinate Clauses. 4. Write in an active voice (Subject acting upon object) rather than passive voice (subject is acted upon). -Active voice is considered more direct and vigorous. Lead: “Chicago firefighters battled dense smoke for nearly six hours Saturday to bring a multi-alarm blaze in a downtown frozen foods storage building under control. WHO……Firefighters WHAT….Battle dense smoke in a multi-alarm blaze WHEN….Saturday WHERE...Downtown Chicago WHY……To control a fire (Anderson and Itule 1984:19) NB: Hard News uses INVERTED PYRAMID as well as SOFT NEWS use literary lead Champagne glass The style takes a similar form to the Inverted Pyramid with the first top/ first half of the story containing a strong lead and all the important facts. There is a strong transition to a chronological retelling of the story from beginning to end The style ends with a great kicker It is important to give your readers a “reward” for staying with you for the whole story. Complex events are simplified in narrative order and it keeps the story in context NB The only problem though is that this kind of story is much harder to edit. Stack of block This style takes the form of a lead followed by several distinct and separate sections and a strong ending. The advantage of grouping information into specific sections is that it allows for easier explanation and helps readers remember the major points and explanations. The major disadvantage is that a reader has to scan an entire story to get all the points. Editing is easy and less important information can be removed without the rest of the story not being affected Anecdote and nut graph It can lead the reader easily into difficult subjects and complex analyses. Story written under this style starts with a long soft lead. The paragraph following the SOFT LEAD is called the “NUT GRAPH”. Nut Graph tells the reader what the story is all about (ie) it gives essential facts which show why the story is so important The style takes a similar form to the Inverted Pyramid with the first top/ first half of the story containing a strong lead and all the important facts. There is a strong transition to a chronological retelling of the story from beginning to end The style ends with a great kicker It is important to give your readers a “reward” for staying with you for the whole story. Complex events are simplified in narrative order and it keeps the story in context NB The only problem though is that this kind of story is much harder to edit. REFERENCES Anderson D.A and Itule B.D (1984) Contemporary News Writing. New York. USA, Random House. Brooks et al (1998) News Reporting and Writing. USA. St Martins Press. Day (2000) Ethics in Media Communications; Cases and Controversies 3rd Edition. Belmont, CA.Wadsworth. Fry,D.(2009) Champagne Glass http://donfry.wordpress.com/2009/06/24champagne-glass/Accessedon20/08/12 Greer G (1999) A New introduction to Journalism . South Africa. Cape Town . Juta Hohenburg J (1976) The professional Journalists Fourth Edition. London. University of Kansas. r />

Assertive Communication

Communication is a process that requires various styles to put across the message to the audiences. As such we embellishes our speech with decorative words and expression so as to persuade and entice the listeners. At this moment in time am going to discuss with you on “assertive” as a style of communication. Language and facts have to be dressed in style just like fashion. Watson (1998) quotes Charle's Dickens in his book “Hard Times” “ Just like in Life, in education facts! facts and more facts are important”. Therefore any communication made should be based on facts and I mean valid and strong facts. Facts are star-born and difficult if not impossible to delete and make sense to the intended audiences. Time is precious and as such it is important not to waste peoples time by waffling. Get to the subject topic with clear facts to decipher the message. As a lecturer and avid reader, l always insist that facts should be allowed to manifest itself whenever need be. Be it a speech, conversation and social chat let facts stand and be counted to the interpreter. Facts are based on clear ideas that can be counted assessed , evaluated and quantified by whoever. Facts gives us confidence and are time effective. You gain respect, love and audience by issuing them in numbers. In a conversation facts are effective and healthiest form of communication that can lead one to what is termed “ assertive style of communication”. It is the mannerism in which we spontaneously select terms and shoo them to express ourselves when our self-esteem is intact. Assertive Communication often giving us the confidence to communicate without games and manipulation. Be it that your audience will be left clicking their tongs, in stitches, shading off tears or smiling, admiring your language command or carelessness, facts should be counted and be heard straight from the speakers mouths. Speakers who are assertive, work hard to create mutually satisfying solutions. This enable both the decipher and interpreter to decode the message with less effort which fosters effective communications. Who ever is speaking or communicating should make his or here needs clearly and forthrightly understood. Assertive communicators strive to create and maintain a strong which enhances a win/win negotiations. As an assertive communicator you know your limits and refuse to be pushed beyond them just because someone else wants or needs something from us. For example if you want your car to be serviced in time and get to work. It should be said out clearly, simple that you expect the service to be down in your anticipated time. You give reasons why it should be like that. I have noted with concern in every day life that people especially in Africa avoid assertive style of communication in fear that they will be called names or that they will be perceived as arrogant yet this is the most effective and powerful style of putting the message across to your work mate, friends and relatives. In my tribe and community in Zimbabwe l observed that people use assertive style of communication less than other styles of communication such as aggressive and passive communication.

Female communication through their body language

Caven Masuku Communication is a process where two or more people constantly exchange codes and signal verbal or non-verbal in order to create a mutual understanding. It need two or more people to rightly interpret the codes and signal without missing it. In this article, though I will touch on men in passing my major discussion will be on how female uses their body language to send codes and signal to male counterparts especially those they would have loved. With the knowledge that I have acquired and the wisdom that I gain almost on daily basis I found out that non-verbal communication can be clearly defined by the sex. Male communicate differently with their bodies as compared to women. I find women bodies more interesting to analyse the way they communicate to men without uttering a word. It is magnetic and is one attempt that men can not resist despite how strong, moral or faithful one is. I can testify this through the manner I yielded to my wife when I first saw her. In Zimbabwe most men of my age have admitted that they cherish the way women communicate through their physical stature without moving their lips to utter a single word. The world is fascinating because we have beautiful, soft spoken and natural talented creatures who can use all the God given assets to send the message around to the opposite sex. Women body language as compared to men body language are more submissive. A woman’s body language provides a non-verbal way to say “Don’t worry, it’s safe to approach me. I won’t resist you.” This is one message that I always fall trap of when I meet someone of opposite sex. Be it at work, church, home, social gathering women always display that submissive body language that invite men. Femininity is an element that draws men closer to women and make them feel great through their macho egoism. Her language reflects a time when females needed to choose the best possible mate to father their children and ensure continuation of the species. With the new generation females can got to an extend of displaying such element at close range with conditions set for the targeted audience to fall the trap. Not to mention mass communication through advertisement on day to day basis we have been experiencing some of these. As some one with an academic spirit I wish if communicologist's can study the use of body language by women to entice their male counterparts. They is too much science that I can not be able to discuss on how women magnetic body attracts male counterparts. The next time you want to show someone you are interested, remember the important connection between attraction and body language. Men just like women should learn to use confident body language to increase their chances of success with the opposite sex. It is common sense that women too fall he trap to men's body language. Most of my female friends including my wife have shared with me how males can cause rolling heads to female counterparts through body language. In addition, it is salient to recognize the various signals that men and women use to reveal whether they are interested in someone. Many a times I have found women gazing men uncontrollable. The opposite is true with men to women. Both men and women should know that the rest of their body can speak louder than any words they say. A body is a weapon through which commands can be issued. Communication is all about exchange of codes or signal by two or more people in order to reach mutual understanding. So give your mouth a break and let your body language do the talking!

Children’s rights in Zimbabwe

By Caven Masuku

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS in Zimbabwe are human rights for children and people under the age of 18. In Zimbabwe children rights issue though talked about are not taken serious by the media practitioners,

In 1989, the United Nations agreed that children need a special convention for their own. It states that people under 18 have all the rights whatever their race, religion, sex and abilities.

However, in Zimbabwe children are particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Some are employed as cattle headman or maids and the money they are paid is far below poverty datum line. Samuel Moyo told Caven Masuku that physical or emotional abuse can scar children.

Media portrayal of children has an impact to their attitude. Media portrayal provides role model for youngsters to influence their expectations.

Children should be given an opportunity to speak for themselves. Media especially in Zimbabwe should remind the public to respect children as individual human beings.

In most articles in newspapers children are portrayed as helpless and inactive. In feature articles they are depicted as irresponsible teenagers.

There is need to urge journalists and media houses to set an agenda on children’s issues. Both rural and urban children should be allowed to air their views on the abuse they face in everyday life.

Journalist should protect children when reporting about them by avoiding naming them and exposing them to hatred.

Again ethical concerns should be observed. Children have the right to protection, education and healthcare said Sam Mudiwa.

In Zimbabwe despite the government’s effort to fulfill the right to basic primary education, many children especially in rural areas are facing challenges to attain primary education.

Education in Zimbabwe is expensive and beyond reach to many. Children’s with peasant background struggle to complete their primary education. Let it alone with secondary education which sometime remains beyond their imagination.

It is painful to read about a girl child immoral behavior at tertiary institutions with providing solution he added.

It is the role of the media to open up for children to discuss their rights and share with the rest on how their rights can be improved.