Attitude and AIDS

By Caven Masuku

Take care-no need to share. Engaging in clean practices will reduce the risk of coming into contact with HIV. HIV is the virus that can develop into AIDS and may be transmitted in shared body fluids.
Condoms are available to avoid the unnecessary spread of the disease.

To lovers, one way of avoiding HIV is to practice safe sex and for the youth it is through abstinence. One can exercise safe sex by exploring and enjoying sexual activities which do not involve any exchange of body fluids.

Drinking alcohol may make it difficult to practice safer sex. Pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV result from unsafe sex.

Mixing alcohol and sex is a disaster. It weakens the decision to practice safe sex. Good advice is “always carry a condom and use it properly to avoid getting infected”.

HIV is a virus which can go on to develop into full blown AIDS.

The main way to stopping contracting HIV is by postponing sex till marriage. HIV is spread through having unprotected penetrative sex with an infected person or sharing needles/syringes with an infected person.
Abstinence especially among the young is the rule of the thumb.

HIV/AIDS and Children

By Caven masuku

The HIV/ AIDS pandemic have had an enormous impact on the world. The increasing rate of HIV infection affects children in countless ways and in nearly every aspect of their lives.
The number of children living with HIV/AIDS continues to grow daily as children are born to HIV infected mothers, contract the virus from their mother during pregnancy and during birth.
In addition, there are millions of orphans who have lost at least one parent to an HIV/AIDS related illness. Although the number of orphans is staggering its effects are only just begging. Children who suffer from or have died of AIDS related diseases, such as tuberculosis are stressed with additional related orphans
Girls are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and the negative effect of the virus. They face the possibility of both physical abuse and the exploitation of labour.
The effects of HIV/AIDS on the children’s lives can be economic, educational, social and psychological.
Economic effects on children can be in the form of savings used for medications/treatment and children must work to supplement the family’s income. Such illness reduces the economic performance of the household.
Economic hardship makes it necessary to look for alternatives sources of income for example through prostitution, street children, or early marriage. When both parents have died or are enable to care for their children, they are shifted into the homes of the extended family, often taxing the financial stability of those households.
Furthermore, lower nutritional status in house hold with less income and many children make the whole situation worse.
More so, the pandemic affects children educationally; other responsibilities may cause children to drop out from school. Unsolved psychological trauma caused by the HIV/AIDS can undermine the performance of children at school. This worsens the whole scenario as the traditional skills, passed through the generations, die with the parent before imparting it to the children.
Orphans face stigmatization by other children even at school and this sometimes thwart their performance.

HIV has social effects in some communities since taking non-related children into one’s home can cause social unrest. It is a taboo that dying should not be talked about to children, so children do not understand what will be happening until their parents die.
Most of the times when a will is written it is disregarded by greedy relatives who leave nothing for their orphans children. In some instances children become the head of households and can not provide all the necessities.
Poor families are affected since losing a family member may impoverish them, moving from poverty to destitute.
Married ones let us join hands and fight this pandemic before it is late. Single ones let us be responsible for whatever we do with our loved ones so as not to impede someone’s life.
For sure AIDS is there and is wiping the population day and night, hence people should fight tooth, nail and claws.

Zimbabwean government should respect our education sector

Education is the pillar and contributes immensely to the development of any given country. Quality education should be the priority and responsibility of any government. Education in this context refers to amassing of values and skills that suits industrial needs.
In Zimbabwe the provision of education is protected and enshrined in the Education Act and in our national constitution. Even in some of the home made Human rights conventions like the African Charter of human rights, Banjul and so forth it is clear that any government is solely responsible for its citizens.
Zimbabwe has something to smile at, especially looking at the universities that have been initiated after independent. In Zimbabwe we have 10 state universities of which 9 were established and build after our independence in 1980. Government constantly controls the provision of education for education is a way a political agent. Orienting education sector means controlling the masses in Zimbabwe
Our education system is crippled and is at the verge of doom if not in the brink of collapse, right from the top to the bottom. Schools from Primary, Secondary level and higher learning institutions from colleges to universities have been weakened. Drastically measure has to be taken immediately to bring sanity to these facilities. Teaching Staff has left the country enemass to neighboring countries for greener pastures. Maslow hierarchy theory of workers needs has to be recognized and respected for the education sector to regain its credibility. Universities remain unoperational due to the poor working conditions. They are no incentives and the remuneration is pathetic to suffice the teaching and other administrative universities staff. A few years ago Zimbabwe was a shinning African Jewel and its education was valid and recognized world wide. Today it is a shattered country.
As a nation we should live and learn, but by the time we learn, it seems it’s too late to live. Children’s rights to education have been violated and their future has been disrupted. As a nation and individuals per se we should have a heart for the youngsters who are the leaders of tomorrow. It pains me although I am incapacited and also that my bright future has been shattered, to work hard for my country. Yes student’s needs to be educated and their rights to education rights need to be observed by our leaders. All the time I spent at school is a wastered time if grade 7 could drive posh cars and a person of my age with his credentials is reduced to a destitute.
I wish if the government can compromise for the schools and tertiary institutions to resume so that learners are not disadvantaged. Our political scenario has been allowed to permeate to all spheres of all lives of which education is one. Parents are worried after sending their children to school to find out this negative development. Politics should not be allowed to ruin our lives and our children’s future.

South Africans you are civilized

I respect the South Africans for voting in peace without fighting each other. You have shown civilization and hope that my country will learn from what you have displayed in the southern region of Africa.
You have the weapons to fight against each other, but decided to show the world that you are not violent as most people thought they will be blood shed. You have displayed a good behavior and wish to congratulate you all for voting peacefully. I wish your President Jacob Zuma a good term of office and I know that God will guide him through out. Already he had the blessings as it rain when he was inaugurated.
It is my utmost hope that South African government will go a long way in respecting its people and delivering to their social needs and welfare. My country Zimbabwe last year in the harmonized election did not respect its people. I am happy that as for now the main political parties are working together towards restoring the lost glory. I wish to be in a peaceful country with good governance and economic environment.
Recently it rained heavily and in some other parts of Zimbabwe the storms caused destruction as some house window panes we cracked. It looks like it will be raining through out the whole of this country. South Africa is a lovely country just like Zimbabwe and shall pray so that in future even violence should not stay. A nation with multiple races and with good economic sounding is a blessed country.
In the Southern region of Africa we should do our politics and address bread and butter issues without infringing the rights of the people. I know that we are capable of doing that and the civilization that we now hold makes us a distinct people in entire Africa. I wish to get contacts in all South Africans who wish to cross pollinate ideas with myself from Zimbabwe.
Congratulation to all South Africans! God bless your new President, together with its citizens. You have shown civilization and hope that my country will learn from what you as a country have done.

MDC-M Suspends five Party members

MDC Mtambara yesterday supended five party members for undermining the top leadership.

In a press conference deliberated by Liason Mlambo the National Disciplinary Committee Member for Mutambara who is also the Midlands South Chaiperson briefed the press.

The five MDC Mutambara members of party includes Member of Parliement Abedinico Bhebhe ( Nkayi South), Njabuliso Mguni (Lupani Constituency), Norman Mpofu (Bulilimangwe), Alex Guseni, Job Sikala( Member of executive committee and Gift Nyandoro(National MP for Youth Assembly).

The National Disciplinary Committee Member ,Liason Mlambo told journalist in a press conference in Gweru that the five have been served with letters of suspension. The Five MDC Mutambara members denounced publicly last week, in a rally in Nkayi that they will ouster the Party President Professor Mutambara forceful. The five are accused for dismantling the process of the party and will be called before the disciplinary hearing in due course. "Justice delayed is not justice denied", said Mlambo.

There are some schools of thought that thinks Abedinico Bhebhe could be paying back for his appointment by the MDC-T President who also happen to be the Primew Minister of Zimbabwe for a ministrial post. Mlambo denied the claim and said that is mere talk without evidence.

The five are leveled against breaching the MDC Mutambara constitution subsection (10:17). The disciplinary which consist of Liason Mlambo, Tonderai Chitere, Trudy Stevenson, Mrs Gijima and Mr Jele saw it worth to suspend the five party members and let them appear before the disciplinary Committee.

Mlombo said that if the five had a contention they could have use propare party structure to table their complaints than criticising the Party President openly.

Responding to the question as to whether the five will be dismissed, Mlambo said it is too early to think along those line." In any case the accused persons are not guilty or found guilt until trial". Those who are members of Parliement will remain as MP's with pending decision whether they can be expelled in the party.

It is alleged that some of the party member are accusing their leaders who do not tolerate views from their fellows and discend upon them heavily when they hold contrary ideas. The five are accused agin for violating the GPA, which united all the three main political parties in Zimbabwe.

Learn to be a good partner

Learn to listen to the partnerIt is easy at time to lose touch with what is happening in the lives of our partners. If you wish to know the feeling, thinking and dreams of our loved one we have to give them space in our lives. Also try to keep in mind the difference between men and women and the way they express themselves. Men usually try to offer solution when their loved ones merely want to be listened with a sympathetic ear. Listening well will make you only gain relationship confidence, but also be able to relate better to everyone with whom you come into contact. Listening well will make you as thoughtful and supportive as you want your loved one to be and also will make you an effective worker, mother, husband, collegue and so forth.
CompromisePeople enter into a relationship with different background and personalities an try to share life. That per se is not an easy task. Do not expect to see things from your own perspective and doing things the way you want without an approval of your loved one.Finding a meeting point is a key skill to learn if you wish to be a better partner.
Have reasoned discussionConflict is a sign of health relationship especially if it is maintained to a certain level. When you are unhappy about about something say it out.Any hassels please get it off your chest before you bust.

Gweru World Press Freedom Day celebration (Zimbabwe)

By caven Masuku
Zimbabwe today join hands to commemorate the World Press freedom Day, a move which most media practitioners believe that it is yet to be reformed. The speech read on behalf of the Media Institute of Southern Africa in Zimbabwe (MISA) hinted that the inclusive government should repeal draconian media laws such as POSA, AIPPA and BSA. These laws cause severe challenges to media practioners.
Again MISA said that freedom of speech should be guided jealously for journalist to tell the truth and to work effectively. The invited guest honorable deputy minister Sisel Zvidzai said that inclusive government is not an accident. His party MDC T saw it necessary to solve political dispute through negotiation. People often talk about the inclusive government as a child product of rape case said the honorable Zvidzai.
Zvidzai said that inclusive government is there to give freedom to the people of Zimbabwe. However, Zvidzai admitted that inclusive government have a mammoth task since Zimbabwe had a high inflation rate. The unique babe which is a result of rape case needs to be breast feed and the press should play a pivotal role in telling the truth.
The honorable said that inclusive government has so far achieved certain issues which among include the availability of basic commodities, improved health conditions, better water purification, sewage improvement and the decline of cholera cases. As the media celebrated the press freedom, honorable said that this is another achievement which is about to be truly achieved. Media laws such as interception bill of communications which debugs mobile phone message, electronic mails, snail mails and so forth has to be repealed completely. Self regulation is the only responsibility that can guide the journalist to execute their duties effectively said Sisel Zvidzai.
“Economic stability which is still standing but is gradually addressed through short term economic recovery program (STEP), is likely to bring the positive development to Zimbabwe financial wellbeing”, said the honorable Zvidzai.
Furthermore, Zvidzai said that the move by America, Germany and other countries to remove travel ban will benefit Zimbabwe a lot and assist in reviving the international relationships. Britain’s move of donating fifteen million pounds for water purification and food staff will go a long way in improving the life style of the people of Zimbabwe said Zvidza. Gremmer Phiri the chapter Zimbabwe union of Journalism (ZUJ) read the speech on behalf of the ZUJ president Matthew Takaona. In the ZUJ speech the theme for 2009 press freedom day celebration is “reconstruction of media responsibility”. ZUJ expressed their happiness with the deal of inclusive government which was brokered by the three Zimbabwe main political parties as the best solution ever to the people of Zimbabwe.
ZUJ however, said that despite 81 day of inclusive government there is little achievement especially to the media fraternity. ZUJ said that they will be happy to see reforms in liberalization of air waves and that per ser will show the freedom of the press.
Again the other reform that ZUJ wish to see is plural media. More newspapers should be licensed to operate and Daily News should bounce back. Self regulation should be the best conduct of media practioners .
The Gweru Press Freedom Day was celebrated in style and all media practitioners were left in a jovial mood with lots of entertainment.