Three Men On a Boat
Saturday, November 29, 2008
mayhem in harare as rogue soldiers attack civilians
Harare is getting a bit scary now. And well it is because soldiers have been going around assaulting members of the public and taking money off them. Members of the military police were deployed to contain the situation.
To be honest I feel sorry for everyone here. The government is in a state of limbo. The country is broke and well the poor blokes are beginning to feel the pinch. And it is a nasty place to be. Because what do you do really?
All you can get is five hundred thousand dollars and that cant even get you public transport. And these loyal servants of the nation are then looked down upon by cash barons and dealers running around the country at the moment like they are the real heroes. It's a terrible place to be.
And meanwhile one of the political parties is acting as if we have eternity to fix things. It's a mess right now and you just wonder what will happen next.
And the sad thing is that for everyone else out there it is just a news story, when real lives are going are living through real hells. It is one thing to leave a bad taste in the mouth. This leaves no taste at all.
God have mercy on Zimbabwe.
To be honest I feel sorry for everyone here. The government is in a state of limbo. The country is broke and well the poor blokes are beginning to feel the pinch. And it is a nasty place to be. Because what do you do really?
All you can get is five hundred thousand dollars and that cant even get you public transport. And these loyal servants of the nation are then looked down upon by cash barons and dealers running around the country at the moment like they are the real heroes. It's a terrible place to be.
And meanwhile one of the political parties is acting as if we have eternity to fix things. It's a mess right now and you just wonder what will happen next.
And the sad thing is that for everyone else out there it is just a news story, when real lives are going are living through real hells. It is one thing to leave a bad taste in the mouth. This leaves no taste at all.
God have mercy on Zimbabwe.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
change is always coming
So it has been a bit since I last wrote and I meet people online and offline asking me where the next blog is and I am like well, it will be ready when it is ready.
Not as if I carry out extensive research when it comes to these things but orgasms are not the only ones that are meant to be faked. No sir there are a bunch of other things that must be faked as a matter of fact or else life is pointless. The reality is an excruciating pain that makes pain seem beautiful.
Of course there are new realities that I am facing and they are exciting, frustrating and somehow exciting.
I am in it for a reason that I am not sure I comprehended much before. But now I get it and it is startling. Well not really startling but it has my eyes wide open and listening. Watching they say but the sound is more thrilling.
The phases are no longer the same and the challenges have changed. Yes change has been knocking on the door and i had to open the door and guess what. It was a woman and she threw coal in my face.
AH but it would be better if she was real then you would see the devil right ? But she isnt. SO you are terminally screwed. What do you do? Do you just sit and hope? A very unattractive option right there.
Hate to admit and love the fact of it but something has changed. This was not evolution. This was violent.
Not as if I carry out extensive research when it comes to these things but orgasms are not the only ones that are meant to be faked. No sir there are a bunch of other things that must be faked as a matter of fact or else life is pointless. The reality is an excruciating pain that makes pain seem beautiful.
Of course there are new realities that I am facing and they are exciting, frustrating and somehow exciting.
I am in it for a reason that I am not sure I comprehended much before. But now I get it and it is startling. Well not really startling but it has my eyes wide open and listening. Watching they say but the sound is more thrilling.
The phases are no longer the same and the challenges have changed. Yes change has been knocking on the door and i had to open the door and guess what. It was a woman and she threw coal in my face.
AH but it would be better if she was real then you would see the devil right ? But she isnt. SO you are terminally screwed. What do you do? Do you just sit and hope? A very unattractive option right there.
Hate to admit and love the fact of it but something has changed. This was not evolution. This was violent.
Labels: change coming
Sunday, November 16, 2008
mdc-t flip-flops.. so what is new?
The MDC National Council released a statement after a meeting that they would join the government of national unity and then Nelson Chamisa who is just about as crazy as Bright Matonga comes out and says no that is not true. Which makes you wonder whether there is a discord of a serious nature between Tsvangirai and the rest of the leadership.
But then leadership is a word that is oftentimes loosely thrown about and therefore prostituted. We call them leaders but they are just followers in disguise. Now I am not sure they follow but they follow something that makes them unsure of themselves. The biggest weakness of leadership is the fact that trust neitherr its peers nor it's followers.
And therein lies the problem with the main protagonists. They believe that without them there will be no Zimbabwe. One because they won they brought liberation and the other because they think they represent the future...
That is why some always seek a perfect solution when they are imperfect and an imperfect world. It's like the answer is there but we need a complicated version of it for it to make sense dont we?
Daft blind and almosy stupid.
But then it is not the MDC alone that have behaved so indecorously. Immature people colonised that as a whole.
Democracy is a load of rubbish because it just causes an abdication from decision-making whiuch to some may seem a complete paradox from the earlier position but it isnt. Because in reality what we call democracy is nothing but a big sham. It;'s a circus and we love the illusion.
Everyone does it and so when I say MDC have done it, it is not a damning indictment on them. It is the society that just creates that space and opportunity.
Labels: mdc flip flops.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
could tsvangirai have gotten it so wrong?
In the unforgiving world of politics where everything is connected and therefore information whether accurate or otherwise is easily available there are special challenges that now exist.
The things that remain the same like any game are the strategy and the tactic. The vision remains the same but the missions can change from time to time. But of course if the vision which is of course the strategy in this instance is faulty then you are in a bit of a fix to say the least.
I am currently in the middle of Bill Clinton's My Life and of course he being one of the most brilliant politicians of his generation deserves a good listen. He speaks of the time when Judge Holt was running for office in Arkansas and exposes one of the fundamental flaws of that campaign. Judge Holt would get attacked and never hit back. In short his refusal to take off the gloves until late in the game lost him the vote with the progressive voters who really didnt know what he was all about. He lacked distinct policy and preached a general message. Not to say that he was not a good candidate. He just not a winning candidate.
Of course the opposite can be said of John McCain who spent too much time punching Barack Obama that he alienated the voters in the middle. Of course that he had Palin on the ticket and his campaign had a schizophrenic message was a big factor as well.
In both cases, the strategy was flawed and the tactics failed on the back of this. You see it is not enough to say that you want to win a seat but it is down is what political moves do you make? Who do you make your alliances and how do you win the undecided voters without alienating your base?
Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC was able to make inroads into the educated cities but then that was it because in their wisdom they thought that was enough. Of course it did not help them that they were initially denied access but even when given that access, the fact that he could not garner the 50%+1 vote against what looked like a party stuck in the past and on its knees praying for mercy was astounding.
The reality is that Tsvangirai is a master at making gaffes, taking the wrong turns and flying with the wrong agenda. You see he campaigned for change and he did not articulate what that meant. He lacked substance and the little he had could not even be disguised with style.
You have to understand that the biggest obstacle to modern politics is the lack of understanding of the route. Everything is instant like coffee, sex and booze. Nothing is prepared anymore and people just run and hope some form of momentum outside themselves would carry them home.
In the case of Tsvangirai he has pushed the same agenda for long in a directionless way hoping to happen upon an answer. And to date he remains in the same position he was when MDC was formed.
He has men of intelligence around him but very questionable intellect. He has read his messages often to his base and never really tried to expand his base. He thought the same message that worked in Harare would work in Mhondoro. And he was rather wrong. Maybe not slightly but spectacularly so.
Robert Mugabe skillfully managed his image from the man noone wanted to touch to the statesman in little time. Through some questionable but effective means his tactics were on point in every step of the way. He lured Tsvangirai and roped in Mutambara into an agreement in which he would concede only by gaining. This was the art of war personified par excellence.
He worked SADC into a corner and then set them loose on Tsvangirai and left the opposition leader looking a bit silly. Yes he wants to call AU but AU gave SADC the mandate so it is highly unlikely that position will change. Even David Coltart, a fierce critic of Mugabe was quoted as having said that there was 'very little option but to accept under protest what Sadc has ruled so that we can move forward'.
The significant position was that even Botswana and Tanzania who were at least sympathisers - Bostwana being a little more than that - all supported the SADC resolution passed in Sandton.
And in the heat of the moment coated with blind and ill-advised stupidity Tsvangirai and his gang have stood against this. To what end they know and I am not about to speculate but one does not see a way that is about the people out of this. But that is the populist argument and I am not about to get into that right now.
In short this episode has gone for way too long. SADC is weary, Zimbabweans are weary and just abotu everybody is fed up. In the midst of humanitarian crisis, the MDC tactics remain skewed and the strategy piss-poor!
Labels: tsvangirai strategy
Monday, November 10, 2008
tsvangirai shows his vagina off in public
So he walked away from the summit in a huff yesterday after he failed to agree a deal with Africa's leaders. Oh no he couldn't.
He says that he wasnt up to sharing because Bobby was treating him like one of those you pay for a moment's pleasure. In short he wanted to be treated like a wife.
Well Mr Tsvangirai, how about showing a little grace rather than throwing your fanny about. Zimbabwe sits in the middle of a humanitarian crisis and all you can think of is how you didn't get the same drapes as the woman next door.
Spare a thought without using history since you have become a major protagonist in this circus called Zimbabwean politics for the woman in guruve who last had sadza about for days ago and survives on the malt liquor her husband now gets because it is cheaper than a meal.
Spare a thought for the woman in Budiriro who last saw clean running water a few weeks ago and has drunk water taht she would not have taken a piss in a few months ago.
Blame it on Mr Mugabe? Yes. But add your name to that list now. You have now joined the band of those abuse the rights and liberties of the masses in search of personal glory. You make this about the people but the masses who do not care for how the ministry of home affairs works do not really care whether you get it or not.
There was a time we could have called you a hit and miss politician but now you miss the point altogether. Now you are just a circus freak like the band that you used to criticise before.
So please put your vagina away and make this be about the people for a change.
Labels: tsvangirai disgrace
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Martin Luther King Jnr is ressurected in Barack Obama
Everytime Barack Obama has spoken he has grabbed the world's attention in the fashion of a rockstar with corporate and political power.
In a world where there was so much despair for a few hours there was celebration. There was optimism and there was the feeling for a moment that anything was possible.
It had been a long struggle that had culminated in one of the most significant occasions in the history of the world. The most powerful country in the world was going to be led by a minority. Yes he would have limitiations while he was in power but in reality he had manouevered himself with skill into a position where he could run and capture the imaginations of not just a natiuo but the world at large.
A change has happened and the message of hope resonates throughout the world. Barack ran a very good campaign and if he has 3/4 of the organisation in his government as he had in the campaign then America will be better over it.
But that is just it isn't it. While the world celebrates with wreckless abandon this is all about America. Kenya may have set aside a day of celebration but in reality Barack is the president of the United States and his job is to defend the constitution of America. He has struck a blow for minorities there and inspired millions abroad but that is it.
He has the same effect on the world as MLK had on the movement in the States. He is the new face of the struggle and men will tell their children over fires years from now about how they cried when they saw Barack Obama take to the stage as the president-elect on 4 November 2008.
In Africa, a woman's life will depend on her leader while a man in Harare will hope that Mugabe and the oppostion figure it out.
Life will go on and the speeches will be sweet. Barack will be disillusioned a bit and moreso his supporters but the page in history will simply be that, a page.
For now we smile and celebrate. But change ? Well that is still in a room locked away in a cupboard and the conservatives have the jury in their pocket
Labels: Barack Obama Congrats, MLK
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
bank crisis hits zimbabwe, stock market under threat
There are very uncomfortable whispers in the business community at the moment in the halls of corporate Harare is the insolvency state of the banks and other institutions.
You see there individuals who in their account hold more than ten times what the bank can give it which means they could in reality get the banks closed down. You see there are people making trillions of dollars that the system cannot service. There is a cry for bank limits to be increased but reality is the money just isnt there is it?
Then with the news that you will now have to go to Fidelity Printers to get your chequebook printed even with the increase in daily limits the money you get from the bank is not worth the paper you write it on and it has been like that for a while.
You see the banking system has been crying foul about the fact that it has had to absorb the costs when it comes to charges for the printing of chequebooks. Currently they can only charge 2500 in fees but one cheque book was about 700 million the other day. The discrepancy is there for all to see. Only that you can't use cheque cause noone is accepting cheque payments.
Meanwhile a source says the stock market could be shut down for a while. Word is that the companies listed are getting a bit uncomfortable with the numbers and so for liquidity reasons they don't see it a good idea being in the stock market. Getting out is complicated because of the rules. So they are pushing for a suspension at least.
It's testing times...
Labels: Zimbabwe economy
Congratulations Mr Obama
What we had known for a while just happend this morning. Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States of America.
The team at 3mob wish him the best of luck... And at this point we will not delve too much into the analysis of the salient points of this vitory.
The strength of his personality - star power to be precise - as well David Axelrod's tactical genius carried the day for good old Barry.
That is where it was won and compliments to the whole engine that made it happen.
No buts in this article. It's bitter-sweet though I will say good on you mate.
Labels: Barack Obama Congrats
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
America tries to rig it in Obama's favour
While bags of people have been stopping me to ask me about the United States election poll I have disappointed many with the expression... I couldn't care less.
You see Obama winning this could just be a Pyrrhic victory for the minorities across the world. It shuts everybody up and says America has elected a minority so anything is possible. But is it really?
While giving Senator Obama the credit for how far he has come it must be said that he is riding on the fortunes of those with the power to elect. It might be said the he positioned himself well but the reality on the ground is that they set it up for him.
They looked him in the eye and said we will do our very best to elect you. The press treated him with kid gloves a lot of the time, giving him the benefit of the doubt for some of the things that would sink other candidates. Anyone with any sense will admit begrudgingly even that the stronger Democratic candidate lost the primary. History, the press, corporate America, the Kennedys, Rockerfellers and the like all threw their weight behind Obie.
But of course people would call this conspiracy theory but how many actually think about it. Very few but the sad thing is there is very little that can be done about it.
Your vote will only make the difference they want it to make. Maybe the idea is to make it look close and he loses. And then say ah well, he did come close. But they want him to win so they shut everyone up.
Cause that is the point isn't it?
Labels: Obama rigging
Monday, November 3, 2008
a day before, will there be change?
With a day to go before Americans go out to put in the final vote on who the next president of the United States of America a questions come to mind. Will it really change anything or are we going to have a disguised more of the same mission.
You see the idea that one man, Barack Obama in this instance can change the ideas that define a nation is ambitious. If there is to be a change he will merely be the poster child for that movement. Even that is hard to argue for because in reality, he can't do anything outside the template that he is given as the president of the country.
Cause you see, John McCain could become president tomorrow, and there is every chance he will and the country will still get in and out of recession. Cause like Zimbabweans, they will figure out that you have someone in office who has been voted in, so might as well deal with him.
Of course that doesnt mean that things won't be done differently because the powers will allow either man to appear to be making a difference, because the powers need that. The masses must feel that they have made a change and there is the minor matter of the hungry masses becoming agitated which could lead to pandemonium. And we can't have that. After all now we are down to four helpings of caviar instead of the standard 6. This is hard.
So anyway come Wednesday, America will have a new president in waiting. Thing is, will it make a chance. And if it is Obama, will he live long enough to get into office
You see the idea that one man, Barack Obama in this instance can change the ideas that define a nation is ambitious. If there is to be a change he will merely be the poster child for that movement. Even that is hard to argue for because in reality, he can't do anything outside the template that he is given as the president of the country.
Cause you see, John McCain could become president tomorrow, and there is every chance he will and the country will still get in and out of recession. Cause like Zimbabweans, they will figure out that you have someone in office who has been voted in, so might as well deal with him.
Of course that doesnt mean that things won't be done differently because the powers will allow either man to appear to be making a difference, because the powers need that. The masses must feel that they have made a change and there is the minor matter of the hungry masses becoming agitated which could lead to pandemonium. And we can't have that. After all now we are down to four helpings of caviar instead of the standard 6. This is hard.
So anyway come Wednesday, America will have a new president in waiting. Thing is, will it make a chance. And if it is Obama, will he live long enough to get into office
Labels: will there be change
