Harare SPCA about to close?

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The Harare SPCA will be unable to keep its doors open to the animals in need after December 2016. Everything in the power of the Volunteers, Council members and Management has been done to try and save the Society.

Established in 1911, the Harare SPCA is the oldest animal welfare organisation in the country.

The SPCA is a registered non -profit organisation (PVO 83/67) and receives no government or municipal funding. The SPCA relies entirely on the support of concerned individuals and corporates for funds to keep the Association running. Their role is to provide care for all animals in and around Harare and at the same time to prevent ill treatment and cruelty to animals.

They cover the whole of the Greater Harare area which includes Chitungwiza, all high density areas and Ruwa under sometimes rather difficult circumstances but never refuse any call for help. The SPCA inspector carries out investigations and deals with any cruelty cases, road traffic accidents and lost or stray animals.

The harsh economic climate has taken its toll on this non-profit making, Private Voluntary Organization. The Harare SPCA is overseen by a small group of people who have tried their utmost to keep offering succour to the hundreds of abused, neglected and abandoned cats and dogs that have, through no fault of their own, suffered physically and emotionally but have survived. Without the HSPCA there is no plan B.

A day in the life at HSPCA

In order to give you an idea of the challenges faced on a daily basis by the HSPCA, I will give you a brief description of a normal day for those dedicating their time and heart and soul for the welfare of animals in desperate need of help.

Opening time for the Harare SPCA is 0730. Before that, as early as 0600, one of the managers of the Hospital is already doing rounds, checking on the condition of the animals in the hospital wards, convalescence kennel blocks, quarantine kennels and Parvo wards. At the Kennels the supervisor is doubling up, stepping in for staff on their day off. The whining, crying and barking of caged dogs and the desperate mewing of cats is the greeting the staff receives. The day begins with checks on all the animals followed by cleaning of cages, preparation of food and filling of water bowls. Most animals beg for a pat, a stroke and the slightest acknowledgement that they exist.

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At the Hospital sick in-patients are attended to by Vets and out patients begin to arrive … the surgery waiting room fills up. Most owners cannot afford treatment for their pets. The HSPCA never turns an animal away.  The smallest donations are accepted for the treatment of sick and injured animals. Spays and neuters are often carried out free of charge to try and staunch the endless litters of unwanted puppies and kittens. Kennel hands endeavour to give as many animals as possible some exercise, a brush and some enriching games – especially with the kittens and pups .

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The phones ring incessantly, reports of cruelty abound. Which call needs the most urgent attention? Do we attend to the hit and run survivor dragging itself to hide away in fear and pain, do we collect the abandoned dog tethered with wire literally starving to death or rush to catch an animal which is behaving strangely and which could be rabid and a huge risk to the public? Strays and surrenders to collect, orphaned pups and kittens found in ditches and storm drains to retrieve. Feral cats are breeding out of control and humane traps need to be set in the evenings and checked in the mornings. One vehicle, one driver!   And so the day continues.

There is no electricity at the Kennels as the bills are un-affordable. There is no municipal water at the Kennels and there are at least 200 animals that need their cages washed down 3 times a day. Bulk water is bought as the borehole water is dwindling.  Some days there are no visitors, not one animal is booked for re-homing  – yet animals are admitted on a daily basis and decisions have to be made.

Many animal shelters around the world only keep animals for 7 days – the HSPCA tries to re-home its residents within 6 months.

Then of course we have to speak about humane euthanasia. There is no nice way of putting this. It is beyond the imagination of any person that hasn’t worked in a shelter. It is gut-wrenchingly sad to make the decision of which animals have to be put to sleep. The very sick, very old, the aggressive, the broken down and the injured beyond repair are the first to go. In some ways releasing them from pain and fear is a blessing to them but what about the ones we have nurtured, loved, played with…the plain dogs with the most incredible characters – ignored because they just aren’t quite what people are looking for. Nobody wants them.

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They spend months waiting, looking out for owners who never come, hoping to go out for a run – and then we take them, apologise for a lousy world and we hold them close as they take their last breath, hopefully feeling the love we have for them, probably more love than they have ever known in their short meaningless existence.

The day continues into afternoon. Phones ring, meals are fed, cages are cleaned, finances are juggled. What is needed the most at the end of this day – Food? Drugs? Fuel? Wages? Uniforms? There are phone bills , water and electricity bills to pay. Repairs and maintenance cannot be ignored.

THERE IS NO MONEY LEFT

Without significant and URGENT sponsorship and support there is no light at the end of the tunnel. There is nowhere else to send the animals and by the end of the year the HSPCA will not be able to accept any more animals for treatment or kennelling.

Their newly formed Fundraising Committee is endeavouring to raise funds for the ever increasing number of animals coming through the HSPCA doors. Please help them as much as you can. We simply cannot give up hope.

The following are the Harare SPCA Bank details:

BARCLAYS BANK, CRIPPS ROAD BRANCH, HARARE

Deposits :  Branch number  2199   Account number  1012419
Internet Banking:           Account number  099 101 2419
Ecocash:     #06326

E mail   : operations.harare@spca.org.zw or SMS 0712211900 giving your name and transaction reference for our records.

It may be worth emailing to confirm the bank details etc to prevent any chance of fraud.

HSPCA would like to sincerely thank their supports and donors who contribute and offer assistance in terms of cash or kind and assist on a voluntary basis.

WHAT WOULD THESE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS DO WITHOUT YOU ALL!

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Is Mugabe Dead?

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Rumours are rife that Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe has died. The Zimbabwean tyrant took off early from a key summit of African nations on Tuesday before flying to Singapore where the President has been before for medical treatment. However, the presidential jet made a sharp turn, rerouting for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates as his health rapidly deteriorated, Zimbabwe Newsday reported.

The 92 year old President’s spokesman refused to deny rumours that Mugabe was ill, further fuelling speculation that he had infact died. Now opposition leaders are calling for the old leader, who has held power since 1980, to stand down from his role.

Mugabe is still apparently holed up in a Dubai hospital, however, there’s no official comment on his condition. Claims that he had suffered a brain haemorrhage were ruled out by a family member, who told Zimbabwe Newsday he’d gone for a routine checkup. That said, we are not sure if this report can be believed or not.

The same website described rumours of Mugabe’s death as far-fetched, but conceded that the events surrounding his current movements made it a strong possibility.

Spokesman George Charamba told reporters: “Each time you people don’t know the purpose of the president’s visit, there is always a default explanation that he is ill. “If I don’t tell you the purpose, it should be illness. I will not give you the purpose of the president’s visit to run away from the default explanation. “This is not new. It is year in, year out; he is sick, he dies and resurrects. His life until the age of 92 revolves around illness and death.” I think it has been some time since Mugabe was reported as very ill so this is again, not exactly true but then you would expect a normal 92-year-old person to be not very healthy.

I think it has been some time since Mugabe was reported as very ill so this is again, not exactly true but then you would expect a normal 92-year-old person to be in and out of health.

A government official quoted by New Zimbabwe said the tyrant’s sudden flight was down to a long-term battle with prostate cancer. Yet another source reported he was picking up family en-route to Singapore, and another said he was in the Middle East on private business.

It is a bit odd that the infamous dictator’s overseas treatment trips have caused a storm among opposition leaders back in Zimbabwe, considering that he has probably racked up the most air miles of any human being, dead or alive.

It is interesting that after running down Zimbabwe’s health care system to the point he himself needs to travel overseas to get treatment.

A spokesman for opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said Mugabe’s numerous foreign travels were already a serious burden for the treasury. They said: “In as much as we sympathise with Mugabe over his health problems, we urge him to search his soul and conscience.” I think it is a bit late and extremely unlikely that a ruthless, murderous Dictator has spent and nor will ever spend any time searching his soul or conscience.

“He must see that in his current physical shape and going towards 93, it is not good to cling desperately onto power.”

We shall wait and see over the next few days what transpires but we do know that the Zanu PF party will try and keep his death a secret if it is true to prevent any sudden uprising, especially considering all the recent riots and civil unrest especially #thisflag

We’ve captured Robert Mugabe

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Harare – In one of the most unforgettable scenes witnessed in Zimbabwe this past week, an opposition protester struck the pose of a triumphant boxer, holding aloft a street sign emblazoned “Robert Mugabe Rd”.

“We’ve captured Robert Mugabe,” screamed the protester, as if displaying a word championship title belt.

The stone-throwing youths had just overpowered Harare’s much-feared riot police and barricaded roads leading to the city centre, declaring a liberated zone. When police used tear gas, the youths quickly picked up the canisters and threw them back, sending the terrified police officers scampering for cover.

The victory pose was an iconic moment, quite simple in execution but very humiliating in it’s statement. The victorious protesters were overjoyed with their war trophy and repeatedly proclaimed that, in a sense, they had “captured Robert Mugabe”.

Barely 1km from the protesting youths, the real Robert Mugabe was hosting Sierra Leone Vice-President Victor Bockarie Foh and as always trying to convince the world that all is well in Zimbabwe and there was nothing to worry about.  The Vice-President had come to officially open the annual Harare Agricultural Show, but tellingly the public terraces were empty.

Smarting from his humiliation, Mugabe issued a stern warning to the opposition, saying “They are thinking that what happened in the Arab Spring is going to happen in this country. That is not going to happen here,” said the 92-year-old Mugabe.

He was speaking after police had fired tear gas and beat up opposition protesters demanding electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 national elections.

A team of police were deployed to seal off the starting point of the planned protest. Despite a high court judge authorised the protest, police continued to violently disperse the opposition crowds. As footage of shocking violence went viral, the UN implored the Zimbabwean government to uphold constitutional rights to freedom of association and assembly.

Angered by the clampdown, the protesters threw stones at the riot police and set tyres ablaze. During this clash, the opposition protestors managed to bring down the signpost of a street named “Robert Mugabe Rd”.

Mugabe was furious as he once again accused foreign governments of fomenting the unrest, “What politics is that when you burn tyres? We want peace in the country,”

Friday’s battle was an escalation post, Wednesday’s violence when police clashed with opposition youths protesting police brutality. The Harare city centre turned into a war zone after police used tear gas and blue coloured water cannons on more than 200 protesters marching to hand a petition to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Unlike previous clashes, where protesters have run for cover once tear gas is deployed, the opposition protestors stood firm and fought back, taking the riot police by surprise. They accused police of sparking the violence by attacking peaceful marchers.

As the central business district turned into a battle zone, the angry protesters threw stones and tear gas canisters back at the police who had deployed them in the first place. In the escalating battle, the opposition burnt a police van and one other owned by the state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

A supermarket owned by Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko was ransacked, with groceries and $12 000 (R172 000) looted. A nearby electronic store was looted in the widening violence, with people sprinting off with laptops and TV sets.

Overpowered by the protesters, the frustrated police began randomly beating up passers-by and journalists they came across, blaming them for the violence. Despite pleas of innocence, a middle-aged man carrying a Bible was soundly beaten by truncheon-wielding officers. In a spine-chilling incident, police lobbed a tear gas canister into a commuter minibus full of passengers.

The dazed driver panicked and sped off, with terrified passengers jumping out of the moving minibus through windows.

Since the outbreak, over a 100 suspected protesters have been arrested on charges of public violence. The opposition MDC-T accused the government of planting “agents provocateurs” among protesters. George Charamba, believed to be Mugabe’s spokesman, declared war on opposition protesters, warning them the Zanu-PF government would pay scant regard to international opinion.

Leaders of the main opposition, Joice Mujuru of Zimbabwe People First and Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change, condemned the police brutality.

Robert Mugabe loosing grip on power as War veterans attack him!

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Having being president of Zimbabwe since 1980, Robert Mugabe appears to be finally losing his grip on power after a group of his staunchest allies denounced him as dictatorial. War veterans described how Mugabe and his allies had ‘devoured the values of the liberation struggle in utter disregard of the constitution’.

Thousands of Mugabe supporters gather at the party headquarters in Harare, Wednesday, July, 20, 2016. Tens of thousands of supporters of Zimbabwe's ruling party are marching in the capital in response to a series of recent protests against the government of 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe. The supporters sang and chanted slogans Wednesday in support of Mugabe, who has been in power for 36 years. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Thousands of Mugabe supporters gather at the party headquarters in Harare, Wednesday, July, 20, 2016. Tens of thousands of supporters of Zimbabwe’s ruling party are marching in the capital in response to a series of recent protests against the government of 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe. The supporters sang and chanted slogans Wednesday in support of Mugabe, who has been in power for 36 years. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Zimbabwe’s main opposition party (MDC) praised the war veterans for ‘finally seeing the light’. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) ‘would like to whole-heartedly thank and salute (the) war veterans for publicly acknowledging that Robert Mugabe has long outlived his relevance and should immediately proceed to resign,’ it said in a statement.

A political scientist from Masvingo State University, Takavafira Zhou said, ‘This is the beginning of the end for Mugabe.’

While we are bemused why it has taken so long, the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association said they had noted ‘with concern, shock and utter dismay the entrenchment of dictatorial tendencies, personified by the President and his cohorts which have slowly devoured the values of the liberation struggle in utter disregard of the constitution’.

FILE - In Wednesday, July 20, 2016 file photo, thousands of Mugabe supporters carry his portrait while gathering at the party headquarters in Harare. Veterans of Zimbabwe's independence war made a significant break with President Robert Mugabe for the first time Thursday, July 21, 2016, calling him dictatorial, manipulative and egocentric. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, File)

FILE – In Wednesday, July 20, 2016 file photo, thousands of Mugabe supporters carry his portrait while gathering at the party headquarters in Harare. Veterans of Zimbabwe’s independence war made a significant break with President Robert Mugabe for the first time Thursday, July 21, 2016, calling him dictatorial, manipulative and egocentric. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, File)

The war veterans have vowed not to support Mugabe if he seeks re-election. The government has described the statement as traitorous and treasonous which indicates a crucial divide between Mugabe and his biggest supporters. The last time the War veterans forced Mugabe into a corner and he had to begin the infamous land reforms involving the illegal leisure of farms throughout the country.

The land seizures have been blamed for the drastic slump in food production that contributed to the country’s economic collapse.

A rare surge of public demonstration has forced many onto the streets of the southern African country in recent weeks, triggered by an economic crisis that has left banks short of cash and the government struggling to pay its workers.

The MDC called on the 92-year-old leader ‘to take heed of the very clear advice that he has been given by his erstwhile comrades, the war veterans’.

Zimbabwe anti-riot police guard the entrance at the Harare magistrate's court where pastor Evan Mawarire was due to appear in court on charges of inciting public violence following his arrest ahead of a planned mass job stayaway on July 13, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Jekesai NjikizanaJEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP/Getty Images

Zimbabwe anti-riot police guard the entrance at the Harare magistrate’s court where pastor Evan Mawarire was due to appear in court on charges of inciting public violence following his arrest ahead of a planned mass job stayaway on July 13, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Jekesai NjikizanaJEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP/Getty Images

Opposition to Mugabe’s rule has grown in recent months as the country’s economic troubles mount while his ZANU-PF party is in turmoil over his succession.  The country has been hit by protests including a stay-away strike called by an evangelical pastor Evan Mawarire which shut offices and shops and crippled the public transport system a few weeks ago on the 6th of July.

Head of the Harare-based think-tank Southern African Political and Economic Series (SAPES) Ibbo Mandaza said Mugabe would be weaker without his once-dependable veterans who at times had resorted to violence to keep him in power.

Mandaza said, ‘Mugabe and his cohorts have a reason to be afraid.’

The ageing leader’s ZANU-PF party is divided over who will follow him, split between his wife Grace Mugabe and vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is currently widely seen as his successor.

Mandaza said the veterans, who fought in the 1972-1979 war of independence ‘have made it clear that their anointed successor is Mnangagwa’. Independent political analyst Ernest Mudzengi, said the war veterans’ rebellion was driven by the succession struggle.

‘They want to be influential in deciding who succeeds Mugabe, whom they think they made,’ said Mudzengi.

A drought that has ravaged southern Africa has added to Zimbabwe’s woes.

One thing is clear, the people of Zimbabwe have had enough. Numerous protests are happening in London as well as Zimbabwe and the stage is set for some interesting times ahead.

Pastor Evan set free

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HARARE, Zimbabwe — In a very surprise turn of events, a court in Zimbabwe has freed pastor Evan who organized the largest nationwide strike against the government in nearly a decade, ruling that police violated his rights.

Magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe told a packed courtroom that the decision to bring new charges in court against Evan Mawarire was unconstitutional.

Pastor Evan was charged with inciting violence when he was arrested on Tuesday the 12th of July, but prosecutors shortly before his court appearance Wednesday changed it to more serious charges of treason for attempting to overthrow a constitutionally elected government.

After what has been regarded as the biggest protest to ever occur in Zimbabwe in well over a decade, Pastor Evans Mawarire has been set free and all charges have been dropped. This has marked one of the most historic moments in Zimbabwe. Normally, the Government would throw the accused in a jail cell and throw the key away or worse would meet an untimely death in a car accident. Normally where the person in the back seat being the only casualty.

Zimbabweans all over the world are celebrating and those at the court house present at the time were singing and praising God for setting the man behind the campaign free.

Police keep guard outside the Harare Magistrates Court in Harare, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Zimbabwean pastor Evan Mawarire was charged Wednesday with attemp...

Police keep guard outside the Harare Magistrates Court in Harare, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Zimbabwean pastor Evan Mawarire was charged Wednesday with attempting to overthrow a constitutionally elected government for organizing a nationwide strike which shut the country down last week. Water cannons and riot police surrounded the Harare Magistrates Court to prevent protests over Mawarire’s court appearance. (AP Photo)

Pastor Evan’s lawyer protested that the last-minute change of the charges was unconstitutional, and incredibly the magistrate agreed.

Hundreds of singing supporters greeted the release of Pastor Evan Mawarire, who has rallied Zimbabweans with a social media campaign called #ThisFlag, encouraging them to reclaim their flag by urging President Robert Mugabe’s government to properly manage the country’s battered economy. This despite Whatsapp being shutdown last week.

“We will not relent until our demands are met. Corruption must end,” Pastor Evan Mawarire told the raucous crowd outside the court room with a Zimbabwe flag draped around his neck. Supporters, standing in the dark, held up candles and mobile phones to light him.

Dozens of supporters in the courtroom’s public gallery had laughed in derision when the prosecutor announced the new charges, which could have brought Mawarire at least 20 years in prison.

During the day, hundreds of supporters outside the Harare Magistrates Court, many wearing the Zimbabwe flag, sang in defiance. Activists chanted slogans and prayed. Riot police with water cannons surrounded the court house in Harare.

Many people last week answered Mawarire’s call on social media for a stay away on the 6th of July to protest dismal economic conditions. It was the largest such boycott in Zimbabwe in nearly a decade.

Another boycott had been called for Wednesday, but the response appeared muted. The government has warned organizers of further protests that “they will face the full wrath of the law.”

 

Protesters draped in Zimbabwean flags stand outside Harare Magistrates Court in Harare, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Zimbabwean pastor Evan Mawarire was charged...

Protesters draped in Zimbabwean flags stand outside Harare Magistrates Court in Harare, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Zimbabwean pastor Evan Mawarire was charged Wednesday with attempting to overthrow a constitutionally elected government for organizing a nationwide strike which shut the country down last week. Water cannons and riot police surrounded the Harare Magistrates Court to prevent protests over Mawarire’s court appearance. (AP Photo)

 

FILE - In this Tuesday May 3, 2016 file photo, shows Evans Mawarire, a young pastor, posing with a Zimbabwean flag in Harare, Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe police have ...

FILE – In this Tuesday May 3, 2016 file photo, shows Evans Mawarire, a young pastor, posing with a Zimbabwean flag in Harare, Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe police have charged Mawarire on Tuesday July 12, 2016, with inciting violence and disturbing the peace. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, File)

Econet forced to take down Whatsapp?

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The one thing that annoys me the most is when people are treated like they’re stupid. As a technical person, what you need to understand is that applications like whatsapp and Facebook etc are all simply based on the internet. All they need is internet access for them to function. For them to not work, means that someone has to physically block the application from working. It won’t stop on its own as it does not have any special requirements.

Econet, Zimbabwe’s largest internet provider, confirms WhatsApp outage TechZim Wednesday July 6 Harare – As you may know, WhatsApp is down on most internet networks in Zimbabwe right now. Several internet users have told us their internet stopped working around 7AM today. Ours too stopped working around that time.

We sent questions to the internet providers and mobile operators to understand why the internet is down. So far Econet has responded. They responded to confirm that WhatsApp is indeed down but wouldn’t answer the questions on how and why.

In our email, we asked:
1. Has Econet Zimbabwe blocked WhatsApp?
2. If this is a technical problem at Econet, how has it just affected WhatsApp and not other services like Google, Facebook, Telegram, YouTube and general websites?
3. hat is the position of Econet Zimbabwe on the blocking of access to some apps for users who have paid Econet money to access these very apps?
Econet responded:

Econet would like to confirm that WhatsApp is currently down. We will notify you once it is working again.

Clearly, they have refused to disclose the cause of the WhatsApp outage.

Again, the reasons are anyone’s guess. In the past though, when we have asked them about services being down, they have been clear about the cause (usually technical) and the likely time the service would be restored.

Several internet users in the country have confirmed that they are able bypass the problem of “WhatsApp not working” and use the app normally by simply installing a VPN app on their smartphones. This technically confirms that it’s not WhatsApp platform that is down, but that you cannot connect to it from the network you’re on.

Of course a stretched argument would be that WhatsApp itself has blocked Econet and the other internet providers in Zimbabwe from accessing its servers, but yes, this is a stretch.
Econet is largest internet provider in the country

A chilling warning to Zimbabweans

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I have just seen this message:

Dear Patrons of beautiful Zimbabwe it has come to our attention that the following schools and companies are refusing to close for our stay away peaceful campaign.  We understand there are negative comments been made by the heads of these establishments. They are stating their schools in suburbs and private business they don’t need to take action and will, therefore remain open.

Parents of the following schools St John St Georges Chisipiti Gateway Westridge and others who private establishments you may be in suburbs but we will be checking on you to make sure your schools are closed.  Bear in mind the safety of your children first. These schools need to be taught a lesson as they feel they in the suburbs. Your heads feel they white and have the right to do as they want. Keep your children at home for yours and their safety. Teachers those who choose to put their lives at risk because you teach in the suburbs rethink what your heads are requesting from you.

St John’s College

Fruit & Veg and Pick n Pay close your businesses tomorrow. This is for the safety of your staff and buildings.  Stay away tomorrow and keep the peace please. Let’s be a peaceful nation as we demonstrate.

Epworth

Those watching the news keep others informed of what is happening around you.  We are aware people are been informed there is no such activities of violence taking place. As we speak people are getting beaten up and tortured in Mabvuku and Epworth.

Let’s pray for peace in our country as we take to the streets tomorrow 6 July.

Zimbabwe Rebellion 6th July 2016

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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH .   6July 2016 REBELLION

This message is doing the rounds. Please stay safe. I implore people to not turn to violence or burning anyone’s property as this will not solve anything. Do not go to work tomorrow (Wed 6th of July) as there is a lot of unpredictability in the air. Please be careful and safe.

Zimbabweans its time to wake up . Let’s rise and save our beloved Zimbabwe . Our Government no longer cares for us  : No jobs, we are struggling to maintain our wellbeing to survive and Government is blocking all clean survival channels. They have banned the importation of goods, so that we buy their expensive, products The Government is failing to pay Civil servants , Which industry are we protecting ? Let that industry compete with imports  until it produces affordable goods and we will decide for ourselves which products to buy.

People were surviving by trading across borders to help themselves. Stop telling us about import Licences because we know they will be given to Mphoko , Kasukuwere , Obert Mpofu and other Ministers. Police are all over the roads stealing people’s money & products. We want the Government to Lift up the Ban on Imports  and to Remove or Reduce  the Zimbabwe Roadblock Police (ZRP) from our roads and to remove Spotfines until we have money  as a matter urgency before Wednesday 6th July 2016.

Fellow Zimbabweans, don’t go to work as from 6 July until this is solved. Burn every  Shop, Service Station or any Business that will open its Doors for trading.

Block all roads with whatever object you can. Block all traffic and if they resist Burn the Cars. No Cars on the Road by 6 July, if any one resists go & burn their property at night.

ZRP Just let us do the Demo in Peace and we will leave you in Peace  on 6th July. We can’t let people in South Africa or Botswana fight for us while we remain seated. All Youths please mobilise, this has no party politics it’s a national issue because whatever party you belong we suffer the same.

Please forward to All your  Contacts , facebook  , whatsapp ,email. tweeter, instagram, etc

Unrest in Zimbabwe’s capital

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Harare hit by Rioters

HARARE’s eastern suburbs have been rocked by violent protests that have left hundreds of city-bound commuters stranded as commuter omnibus drivers fought running battles with police over the increasing number of roadblocks,

Although there has no been much specific detail, initial reports indicate business in the agricultural town of Marondera, 70 kilometers east of Harare has also been brought to a halt.

Most affected places are Ruwa, Mabvuku/Tafara, Hatfield and Epworth in the south-east of the capital.

Zimbabwe is tottering on the brink of implosion with more and more protests breaking out. Last week, property worth thousands of dollars went up in smoke after riots broke out in Beit-Bridge over government’s decision to ban foreign imports of mainly foodstuffs. At least 71 people were arrested 17 of who appeared in court on Sunday in the border town.

The suspects, 16 men and a woman, were not asked to plead when they appeared before magistrate Gloria Takundwa. They were represented by human rights lawyer, Reason Mutimba.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Cross-border Traders’ Association leader, Killer Zivhu yesterday said he had offered to broker a peace deal with government to end the hostilities that sparked violent protests at Beitbrige Border Post last Friday.

Chitungwiza land invasions

A FRESH wave of urban land invasions has begun in Chitungwiza, with over 2550 desperate home seekers reportedly occupying open spaces while blaming the Zimbabwe government’s failure to provide them with housing.

The worst affected areas are Nyatsime and St Marys. When the invaders were interviewed, they said they were sick of waiting and had lost faith in the housing waiting list.

They land occupiers said they decided to follow the route taken by Zanu PF youths and land barons, who invade stands and build structures, before exerting political pressure on local authorities and the Ministry of Local Government to regularise their developments.

Last week, Zanu PF Harare provincial chairperson, Robert Kahanana distanced himself from the invaders.

 “We further state that all those who continue to involve themselves in such misdeeds will be doing so on their own volition and should not in any way involve or purport to drag the party into such illegal actions and activities,” he said.

“In the given circumstances, the law of Zimbabwe should be left to take its course and be applied accordingly and appropriately without fear or favor in order to redress the situation that has gone out of hand.”

Voice Chinake, MDC-T provincial chairman, was non-committal saying he needed more time to investigate if their members were involved in the alleged invasions. The Police held a meeting with the land invaders on Saturday, however, they refused to budge demanding to be addressed by council officials instead.

 

Minibus Taxi Drivers Clash with Police

Epwoerth 1

Running battles with Police in Epworth

The drivers are protesting against heavy police presence on the roads. There are currently running battles with the police in Epworth leaving hundreds of commuters stranded and without transport.

Police are using tear gas while the drivers are retaliating with missiles and blocking the roads.

One of the vehicles that was smashed. Picture by Tendai Mugabe

One of the vehicles that was smashed. Picture by Tendai Mugabe

Parts of the Harare-Mutare Highway has been blocked. Picture by Felex Share

Parts of the Harare-Mutare Highway has been blocked. Picture by Felex Share

 

Anal probe

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A friend of mine put a post on Facebook about a study at Coventry University involving cycling in a heat chamber and looking at the effects of taking various drinks including ice. Be someone who is always up for a challenge I thought why not so popped an email over.

I got a reply from Chris who is running the study giving me a run down of that the study involved. I was surprised to get a reply as you see these things on Facebook all the time but never get anything back when you reply. Expecting loads of people to respond, I have discovered why there are actually only two of us in the current study.

The study essentially involves doing 18 x 5-second sprints with a minute or so break in between so a total of about 37 minutes in a heat chamber at about 38 degrees centigrade. Sound tough? We are doing this twice a week. It starts with a 40-minute pre-cooling session involving drinking an unknown drink or eating ice. The drink will either be a placebo orange juice or orange juice with caffeine or orange juice with caffeine and carbohydrate.

Naturally, we will need numerous monitoring probes stuck to various body parts including a temperature probe. Apparently, the most comfortable place is rectally! (up your butt like a Jack Russell at the vet) Otherwise, it would need to be right down the throat. Yes, still discussing the temperature probe. So while I realised this would push my comfort zone, I decided I was man enough to give it a go.

Day 1

So, Tuesday 9.30am I pitched up at the strength and conditioning centre in Coventry. Phase one was some pre-trial testing so body composition, a series of squat jumps to test power and some other exercises. Then we headed across the road to the actual lab facility where the delightful heat tent is located. I say across the road but this little walk actually took 10 minutes and I got lost on the way back trying to find my car!

Again, we were doing some pre-trial stuff which involved a RAMP test in normal conditions. We do the test on Watt bikes which I must say are actually really cool. For the RAMP test,  i started riding at 200 watts for a minute and then you increase your output by 20 watts every minute until you can’t continue. I only got to 400 watts. Could possibly have got to 420 if I really wanted to completely kill myself but i wasn’t feeling awesome anyway.

On a positive note, there were no probes on day 1.

Day 2

Probe day! So after arriving we are attached to all our initial probes after having to strip off and take a naked weight. Then we are handed the black cable. We have to look after the black cable. That is all i am saying. We are (individually) sent off to the bathroom, clutching our precious black cable with very basic instructions. Lube was never mentioned. Post this little experience, I kinda wish it was. Walking to the toilet clutching my black cable was a work of horror. I felt like a dead man walking. Sad look on my face of impending doom.

Standing in the toilet with my not so little black cable, slightly terrified about what i have to do with it. Trying not to hyperventilate, trying to pull myself together and realising I don’t have a choice. I just have to do it. Pants down, bend over… I actually started sweating, elevated heart rate… This is going to skew any scientific results.

The walk back from the toilet was not pleasant. When you see people walking like they just shat themselves and don’t want to spill any more crap down their legs… felt a bit like that. Nasty. Back to the lab, slightly horrified look on my face, clutching one end of my little black cable, the other end disappearing into my cycle shorts.

The other poor guy hadn’t done his walk of shame yet. Was looking just as nervous and apprehensive as me and asking for any tips. Difficult conversation to have really. What is the best way to shove this thing up your butt? Pretend you’re a Jack Russell at the vet!

It does actually get slightly worse. All our probes are attached to the same box! So now, we are attached to each other, walking around with one of us holding the box and connected via our butts. We have to go sit in the pre-trial lab which is cooler than the heat lab and have our drinks over the next 40 minutes. Half a cup of some juice every 5 minutes. While sitting on a stool… attached to a little box… its not that comfortable.

So you are thinking, can this actually get any worse. Em, yeah. As part of this trial, we have to do some squat jumps before we start cycling. Still attached to our probes, we have to squat down with something up your butt and leap in the air. Seriously? I am sure this is some kind of experiment to see how far you can push the human mind before it snaps and you leap out the window.

First jump was very tentative as you can imagine. Felt a bit easier after that. Takes a bit of coordination as you can imagine as we maneuver ourselves towards the bikes. We are told that it is important if we have to bail out the test that we wait until we are detached first from the little box. Jumping off the bike and running out the room still attached to a box that your buddy is also attached to via his butt is not going to end well.

The Test

Sitting on a bike saddle with a probe in your rectal cavity so not that comfortable in case you are wondering. But you get used to it. We start with a warm up and then into our first sprint. You have to wack the resistance up with 5 seconds to go, sprint your little heart out for 5 seconds and then pedal easily after wacking the resistance back down. I probably tended to hit about 1100 watts for those few seconds which felt fine, however, a few seconds after the effort your heart rate spikes massively and you feel super crap. You have to wait for it to come down again and start feeling normal.

It is not actually that enjoyable. The temperature started off about 35 degrees which is warm. You can cope initially but as it climbed to 38 and the humidity increased drastically, it did become very hot and uncomfortable. Breathing is very difficult and when you are trying to recover after doing a sprint and your heart rate is racing and you are gasping for air, it feels challenging.

We continued with our sprints, easy pedaling at about 180 watts and then sprint again. I kept it pretty consistent until the last two and especially the last sprint itself where I was not in a good place and barely hit 600 watts. It became increasingly difficult, between trying to recover and the heat. When they said we were half way it was actually really depressing. It was hard going. You look at the watch and it says 12 minutes and you think, how on earth am I going to do 36 minutes of this.

Just before we start the next sprint we have to say how we feel in terms of legs, body, temperature and general comfort. There is a numbered chart so we just say, 18, 18, -4 and -3 for example.

By the time we hit 29 minutes I was done. I was wiped out and now it was just the power of the mind. My buddy was still going and I couldn’t quit while he carried on. It actually takes effort to quit and I simply didn’t have that energy available. I just kept pushing. Chris was a bit concerned about me but I know regardless, I just keeping going. Extreme Ironman events teaches you this.  He said I know my limits and I should stop if I need to. Dude, I was way past my limit. We passed that a number of minutes ago. This was just pure stubbornness.

Finally, we did the last sprint at 36 minutes and did a bit of a cool down. I was mashed, uncoordinated and weak. We were unplugged and I staggered over to the floor to lie down. I think it took me 20 minutes before I could even stand up again. I did start feeling a little more human but now we had to go back to the toilet clutching our black cable and do a naked weigh in and could at last extract a certain probe from a certain place.

I felt sort of ok after a shower although was very warm still. I then had to go back to work and must say felt a little depleted for the rest of the day. They did say, people don’t normally go to work after these kind of tests. I was contemplating doing a time trial in the evening but I don’t think they would have gone very well. You feel a bit strange after pushing yourself past your limits. Your body is a little confused as to what has just happened. However, as this is week 1 of 4. There will be more probing and suffering to come. Hopefully, report back next week…