{UAH} Witches Roundup: A New Zimbabwe Amid Witches and Sex Tapes

Witches Roundup: A New Zimbabwe Amid Witches and Sex Tapes

By Ratidzo Zinyama

Published: September 16, 2013

In case you missed it, a number of articles made interesting reading this last week.

The screaming headline on Zimeye's Thursday's edition that the City of Mutare had run out of dogs was both funny and sad. According to the report, a Chinese man had been caught roasting the very last remaining puppy in town. No barking anywhere in Mutare? Have we, in our desperation, turned on man's best friend to ward off starvation? With the mushrooming of Chinese restaurants, it appears dogs are fast becoming endangered animals. SPCA where art thou?

Exposed…Tinopona Katsande

As if all this was not peculiar enough, our obsession with witchcraft came to the fore again this last week. The witches story seemed hardly surprising in a week of strange events occurring in Zimbabwe. The residents of Harare were stunned to learn that two witches had made an unscheduled air drop in Budiriro, stark naked. The two hapless women from Gokwe had been 'flying' in their baskets from Mtorashanga when they crash landed. The pair was found in possession of strange objects, two winnowing baskets containing an owl, tiny-decorated beads, animal skins, gourd and talisman, among other witchcraft related items. What a weird story that was. What is without a doubt is that If such a flight can be organised, it will certainly save millions of dollars in taxi fares and do wonders with transport congestion in the country. Perhaps the new minister of transport should explore further.

These two stories were a welcome diversion from the usual politics that have dominated news and social media since before elections. The new cabinet was finally unveiled early last week, five weeks after the July 31st elections, ending the speculation frenzy that had gripped some media outlets. To the disappointment of many myself included, only a few women managed to muscle in among the predominantly male cabinet. But then again disappointment seems to be our forte lately. That Zimbabwe has capable women who only need to be given a chance goes without saying.

Whether each and everyone of the appointed Ministers will be able to deliver is debatable, only time will tell. Many may have felt an infusion of new blood was the life saving injection the country needed and would definitely have inspired more confidence. It is a shame that MDC ministers could not be integrated into the new governent. It would have been beneficial rather than detrimental to have opposing voices in government. The focus should now be on progress. Combating mass unemployment and providing food aid for millions of people in need, among other issues.

According to the Sunday Mail, the Government has begun importing grain from Zambia to feed people in drought-hit areas in fulfilment of Zanu PF's election promise that no one will starve. Last Thursday, Zimbabwe reportedly took delivery of over 3 000 metric tonnes of grain from Zambia which is being distributed to the southern parts of the country.

On another disappointing note, Tino Katsande made headlines for the wrong reasons after a sex tape she featured in was made public. Tino had endeared herself to us after bravely speaking out against gender based violence following an assault by her patner. One can only hope Tino is not setting a trend among millions of adoring young listeners who look up to her as a role model.
In God l trust

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower