Chipinge Community Cup: Uniting Communities Through Soccer

Chipinge Community Cup - 2016

Soccer is by far one of the greatest sports that unite communities. The absence of formal sporting structures and less sporting activity a Community Cup for Chipinge will be a noble idea to celebrate and unite people. The event is targeted to involve all community and structures so as to foster community cohesion. As we engage with other stakeholders, we will continue to update.

The even will seek to celebrate the soccer legends of Chipinge, encourage current talent and rop in women soccer. The scope of the project will soon be expanded to include other sporting disciplines in order to include other talents outside soccer. Chipinge has talent and this can not just go down the drain thus the efforts of this project is to make sure that talent is not lost but rather cultivated to reach great heights. 

Community Gardens: One Way To Improve Household Income and Health

Community Gardens, A reflection of Togetherness

The concept of Household (HH) economy dates back to the days of Genesis when Joseph tapped into the land of Goshen. During this time, focus was given on storing enough food into the next season. While the idea of storage is synonymous with food that can last long, the other dimension is to focus on the perishables. One of the models I have seen working for some communities to improve their HH dynamics in as far as improving income, nutrition and variability.

In Zimbabwe I have had the privilege to work for some non-governmental organisations that spearheaded the model of community gardens. Apart from the said benefits, community gardens have the power to unite communities through working together, educate and uplift other families and thus improving community cohesion.

Community leadership structures have a critical role to play for this model to succeed. Chiefs who are usually the custodians of land are the apex decision makers of the communities and come in handy where awarding the land is concerned. Other leaders then come in play to assign roles, dividing the land, providing security and getting the needed assistance in terms of expertise. I look forward for more of such programs in Zimbabwe but most importantly in Chipinge where community projects seem to remain behind the curve. Lets unite to succeed.

Underdevelopment, Who Is To Blame?

Voters Queuing To Decide Their Future

Neil Padmore, a friend of mine and an environmental enthusiast always echoes the words; “Do not ask what Zimbabwe can do for you but rather ask what you can do for Zimbabwe”. This statement always inspires me to question my contribution to the development of Zimbabwe or at least to those around you. Many times particularly in some constituencies in Zimbabwe, I hear people complaining of how the government is not helping to develop their areas. As I reflect on the statement of John F. Kennedy, who really is supposed to help who? For a long time I also use to believe that it was the role of the government to foster development in these areas. 

Government’s contribution in a community follows certain protocols and in most instances it does not come where there is no need or at least where the invitation is not available. Members of the House of Assembly are the first pot of call in the Zimbabwean’s political landscape and these should come in handy to catalyst development. For so long in many constituencies, I think the choices we make about who represents us are a true reflection of the choices we committed regards our future at least for the years the incumbent is in office. A House of Assembly member reflects the ideals a Society lives by and to a greater extent a replication of their aspirations. 

Chipinge: How About A Public Library?

Public Library Bringing Smiles  To Communities

I remember very much growing up in the little town of Chipinge. Whilst farming was the backbone of this little economy, there was another hive of activity for the great population of the people's of Chipinge. The Town Council had its plan well crafted and one thing that amazed me was the existence of the Public Library facilities in both Chipinge's Town Centre and another in Gaza Township. 

I am not sure what happened to these facilities and I think its time we resume that noble part of Societal development. While Zimbabwe's library facilities seem to diminish, there is more that needs to be done to preserve this once vibrant part of the Society; that apart from enhancing community knowledge, these centers acted as hubs for meeting and thus aiding community cohesion. I have a DREAM, to see this happening again. LET'S READ AGAIN, LET'S MIX AGAIN !!!

Mugabe On Voting...

Quotable Quote

People are free to campaign and they will be free to vote. There won't be any soldiers, you know, at the queues. Anyone who has the right to vote is free to go and cast his vote anywhere in his own area, in his own constituency.

I quote Reverend T. Vutabwashe when he applauded the President for a great vision for 100% black empowerment. More and more we see that the idea or vision behind this leadership has good intentions whose overall benefits should benefit the ordinary citizen. The missing link is somewhere between the Vision and the ordinary person.

Robert Mugabe

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Chinese Bamboo Tree

The Chinese Bamboo

This story inspires me and more and more i learn a lot from the simple story of the Chinese Bamboo. Many authors have written a lot of lessons about this unique tree and we can relate it to our every day life. Its a story full of inspiration. Dan Miller is one author who also wrote a simple story about this Super Grass Tree !!! I like the story of the Chinese bamboo tree: You take a little seed, plant it, water it, and fertilize it for a whole year, and nothing happens.

The second year you water it and fertilize it, and nothing happens.

The third year you water it and fertilize it, and nothing happens. How discouraging this becomes! The fifth year you continue to water and fertilize the seed and then---take note. Sometime during the fifth year, the Chinese bamboo tree sprouts and grows NINETY FEET IN SIX WEEKS!!!! 

Life is much akin to the growing process of the Chinese bamboo tree.

It is often discouraging. We seemingly do things right, and nothing happens. But for those who do things right and are not discouraged and are persistent, things will happen. Finally we begin to receive the rewards.

I am now receiving the rewards of seeds that were planted 5 years ago. You are as well. Are you getting the results you want? If not, begin today to sow the seeds of what you want 5 years from now.

By Simba Mwaingeni

What is Pan Africanism?

"There is not a set definition of Pan-Africanism...[It] is an idea. Pan-Africanism grew out of 19th century efforts to end slavery and the slave trade. At this time blacks worldwide were being oppressed. Slavery existed in America, South America, and the Carribean. Also the colonization of Africa (born out of the Berlin Conference of 1884 & 85) had begun. As a result of these events black people world wide began to realize that they faced common problems (slavery, colonization, and racism), and that it would be to their benefit to work together in an effort to solve these problems. Out of this realization came the Pan African Conferences of 1900 (London), 1919 (Paris), 1921 (London, Brussels, Paris), 1923 (London), 1927 (New York), and the last official one was in 1949. Some of the most influential blacks of the time participated in these meetings: Slyvester Williams, W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, Kwame Nkrumah, etc. 

The belief that people of African descent throughout the Diaspora (meaning spread throughout the world) share a common history, culture, and experience and should stick together. This belief is the principle idea behind Panafricanism. Bringing black people throughout the world together because of our common culture. Pan-Africanism can be expressed through history, literature, music, art, film, clothing,etc