Whither thou goest – Zim arts?

By Tomson Phiri
Present day Zimbabwe is the extreme version of its own former self if one goes down not very far though along memory lane. Space for dissent; intellectual debate and artistic production has literary been shut since the turn of the century. Great odds exist for any attempts at producing any objective and independent artefacts whilst opening up of such space for debate is akin to going even where angels fear to tread. History is replete with what has happened to many an artist since the turn of the twentieth century who have dared told truth to power. The majority are harassed by state agents whilst others are disillusioned by the glaring reality of the constricted and protected public space and hence have to cow to the elitist demand of acceptable truth. As one protest artist puts it and rightly so, “In Zimbabwe, you can have freedom of expression but you may not have the freedom after expression.”

However, artists in Zimbabwe have not been massaged into a condition of acquiescence by the demands for acceptable orientations. If anything these artists have established themselves as independent and objective thinkers who have used art as a medium to communicate their philosophical and intellectual take on the forces that shape contemporary Zimbabwean cultural and artistic creations. Apparent in contemporary Zimbabwe today is the growing crop of defiant artists who do not mind state harassment. Some artists have moved from merely showing contemporary Zimbabwean life but even proceeded to condemning the post independence establishment on issues of governance; social and economic policy. Because contemporary Zimbabwe poetry is conceived in a politically volatile social space and in equally difficult economic circumstances that have a bearing on the creative imagination, the resultant art naturally becomes an epitome of art imitating life. As a result, writing becomes a process of participation in national politics. It is a serious form of art which functions as an indispensable site of resistance with the potential to function as the prime instrument in the imperative process of creating a counter discourse that opens up the public sphere and confronts the vicissitudes of contemporary Zimbabwe life in an independent manner. As Michael “Stones” Mabwe, the Coordinator of Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights avers, “We do not seek to incite anyone, neither do we set out to excite anyone. Rather, we seek to give people insight.” But that is before he adds, “However, we do not care whether you get incited!!” Talk of using a comic vision to contend with tragedy.

It is this process of performing against the permissible patriotic narratives that is a strong indication of significant steps towards opening up the space for public debate and freedom of expression. The ability to gather an audience for poetry recitals is not only an act of great courage, but also a stunt rarely pulled because of the insurmountable odds that always pull you down. In effect the attempt to still beat the drum and let the music play in spite of the political odds to the contrary demonstrates these artists’ commitment to participate in the process of public contestation and making of the contemporary cultural artefact. The artistic productions’ attempts to dismantle things such as the falsified versions of patriotism and such other identities whilst replacing them with more inclusive socially produced definitions of the phenomena mark the dawn of a new questioning era in Zimbabwean arts. What is clear though is that the political situation has contributed immensely to the dearth of creative and intellectual space in Zimbabwe and Doris Lessing, the 2007 Nobel Literature Prize winner has summed it up thus: “Writers are not made in Zimbabwe. Not easily, not under Mugabe”, what remains to be seen though is what the arts can in turn do to the crisis?

GenderJustice, Equality and Equity

Gender Justice, Equality and Equity
By Ronald Jongwe

Redifining Masculinity:" Are we getting any closer to attaining a gender equal society in Africa?"
This article was written by Ronald Jongwe a Zimbabwean poet. He advocates for the respect recognition and observance of human rights for all including women.


While I was in hospital a few weeks ago I overheard an argument that made me ask a lot of questions. The feamale nurses in one of the wards were mocking one male nurse and "accusing" him of having taken up a ladies' job. I felt sorry for the poor fellow as he could not say much to justify why he had chosen the profession. His only arguement was that this was a new world where eqaul opportunities should be granted to all irregardless of sex or gender. As the arguement went on I wished I could jump out of my bed and help the brother but unfortunately my health condition could not allow me. When the arguement finally eneded one question that kept on recurring in my mind was, "Are we getting any closer to attaining a gender just society in Africa or we are still a thousand miles away?"

Most people will agree with me that if we are serious about creating a gender just society where man and women are seen as eqauls in all spectrums of the society then such an agenda should not only be a women's agenda but a society's agenda that should start to be pushed at early stages of life such as the primary socialisation phase. As long as our African society continues to raise the boy child and girl child differently keeping them from engaging the same opportunities to pursue their self determination and to decide the best options to attaining individual accomplishements, then our quest torwards redifined masculinities and gender assertive societies might remain a futile chase after the wind.

Over the past years if not decades gender activists have offered and proposed numerous solutions aimed not only at ending poverty but also redeeming African women from the yoke of patriachal exploitation and dormination. While there are notable victories in as far as the emancipation of women in africa is concerned the reality is that much work still needs to be done as such victories might remain theoretical.

Given the current nature of our African societies where the total humanity of women is still being denied people who push for positive changes towards the current gender relations will find themselves faced with a big obstacle on their way. Personal expiriences complimented by stories and happennings from all over the continent are barely adeqaute and clear evidence that creating a gender just society in Africa is possible but it will require a lot of hard work, patience, resources and willingness not only from women but also from governments, men, NGOs, the youth and other interested parties. I'm not being chauvinistic nor am I being persimistic but a total transformation of the society's norms, values, ethos and attitudes towards the way we see our female conterparts is not an event or a strall in the park but an ongoing process that requires total commitment from all concerned parties and stake holders.

Over the years women groups, gender activists, pressure groups and some NGOs have proposed various intervention strategies that can be used in attaining a gender just society. These strategies include but are not limited to the following: peer education, constitutional amendments and policy reforms at company, government, regional, continental and international level amongst others. In reference to the last strategy most African governments are signatories to these protocols, conventions, declarations and charters that aim at emancipating women and creating a gender assretive society, such as The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Beijing Platform of Action, Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women(CEDAW) and The Protocol of The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.

When ever such instruments are signed there is ululation, celebration and jubilation from different organisations and individuals from different member countries as such signings are seen as positive steps towards the attainment of total gender eqaulity. However the patriachal set-ups and systems which are still inherent in most governments have resulted in most of these instruments being signed and never put into practice at country level. While there are other reasons behind the failure of attaining total gender equity, the failure and inability by most governments to translate international instruments into local laws can be seen as a majoor hinderance towards attaining gender just societies. As long as there is no domestication of these international and continental charters and protocols then our efforts could still be hitting a brick wall as these instruments will just pile and no action will be unfolding on the ground.

All having been said and done it should be borne in mind that it is not only the responsibilty of governments and NGOs to work towards the attainment of gender equity but everyones' responsibility because until and unless we accept that men and women are eqaul in every aspect we will never ever succeed in curbing social practices that degrade women and totally eradicate cultural practices that discriminate women such as virginity testing, pledging of girls for the appeasing of spirits and genital mutilation among other practices. In the fight for a gender just society men should thus be engaged at all levels and as eqaul partners if we are to make any ,meaningful change. However gender equity in Africa can remain a pipe dream if there are no combined efforts from all sectors of the society and if people do not walk the talk and translate their words into action. Furthermore governments have large role to play as they should ensure that there are adeqaute systems to enforce gender equity related reforms and effective domestication and implementation of international instruments. Given that the youth are tomorrows leaders we should also be seen to be playing a pivotal role towards the attainment of a gender just Africa, as such we should also demand that resources be alocated towards the domestication and implemantation of these international and continental instuments that our countries are signatories to. Furthermore we should openly condemn and denounce discriminating practices and values that constantly put at risk the physical and moral integrity of women. Lastly while much has been written and said and declarations, conventions, charters and protocols have been attended and signed with the aim of emancipating not only the African woman but the global women lot, the biggest stride is in translating words into action if we are to make any meaningful change.Let's walk the talk and talk the walk.
(Ronald Tapfuma Jongwe is a member of ZPHR and a civil rights advocate based in Zimbabwe)

Top poets speak on power sharing agreement

Top Poets Speak on power-sharing agreement
ZIMBABWEAN poets last Tuesday challenged the current political situation in a poetry session. Popular with young poets based in Harare and Chitungwiza the poetry slam, which ran under the theme "What next after GNU", saw poets being critical of the "complex" power-sharing agreement.

Most poets argued in their verses that the GNU concept was "disrespectful of the will of the people who voted against Zanu PF on March 29 2008". Anesu Katerere, who recited the poem Mother and Child, argued that the MDC-T was just a junior partner in this inclusive government as the Prime Minister is neither a head of state nor government. He said the future of the ordinary people -- "the grassroots mother and child" -- was not guaranteed in the power-sharing deal signed by the parties. The poem also ignited the issue of the national youth training programme which the parties recognised as desirable to inculcate values of patriotism, discipline, tolerance, non-violence, openness, democracy, equality, justice and respect.

Another poet, Acme Chinyani in his verse Anything Can Happen raised uncertainty over the result of the marriage between the three parties which the audience thought was a "pain-ease rather than a pain-killer". Poet Ishkold brought a new dimension to the poetry slam when he recited a poem on the black snake (a reference to corruption). "This black snake is not viper, adder or python or human. This black snake is greed. . ." Ishkold said. He attributed the woes the country faces to corruption by greedy politicians. In the spirit of entrenching accountability values in our leaders the poet suggested the black snake should be killed to realise national benefits for all rather than the elite few. This was complemented by Ticha Muzavazi's Chitima CheBhuruwayo, which satirically explored the history of past coalition governments in Zimbabwe from the Muzorewa/Smith Zimbabwe Rhodesia coalition of 1978 to the compromise government of 1980 and the Zanu PF/PF Zapu Unity accord government of 1987.

"Poets are not only wordsmiths but also vital stakeholders in shaping the destiny of Zimbabwe," said Shoes Robson, session convener. The poetry session was facilitated by the Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights (ZPHR). ZPHR holds the human rights poetry forums once every month and aspires to create a genuine and sustainable national solution that will eventually pave the way for economic prosperity and creation of democratic space for all citizens. "The secret mode of the talks posed major flaws to the whole process," Robson said. "As a result the agreement is an inadequate tool in addressing the national crisis and other major issues like transitional justice and restoration of human rights." Relevant Links Southern Africa Zimbabwe The next poetry session is on October 29 at the US Embassy's Public Affairs auditorium in Harare