An analysis whether the objectives of exchanging ideas has been met.
By Olivia Phiri and Kiss Abrahams

The second Southern Africa Social Forum has been a platform for sharing of many issues affecting people of the southern African regions from various backgrounds, the participation at this forum has shown evidence of the participation of the grassroots with ordinary citizens and technocrats from NGO’s meeting in workshops to debate issues.
Nelson Banda from the Zambian National Women’s lobby said the was an eye opener for many activists such as myself who believe in bringing the interests of the sub region’s people’s to the fore.
‘ I’m particularly impressed that issues tackled border on the advancement of women which my organization advocates for, it would be ideal for government officials to attend the event so that they learn from the people at the event,’ said Banda
Briggs Bomba a Zimbabwean youth said, “There is need for the social forum process to move away from its image of being a talk shop, it must transform itself into an action oriented platform”.
These sentiments are constantly being echoed at social forum events by proponents of the restructuring of the forum space, it is a contentious issue among participants because many argue that the principal of the forum which states that The World Social Forum (WSF) is not an organization, not a united front platform, but “…an open meeting place for reflective thinking, democratic debate of ideas, formulation of proposals, free exchange of experiences and inter-linking for effective action, by groups and movements of civil society that are opposed to neo-liberalism and to domination of the world by capital and any form of imperialism, and are committed to building a society centered on the human person”.
Is not enough for the benefit of social change which is desired of the governments by the civil society, they are of the view that the forum should shift to being an action centered entity.
The event on the whole seems to have achieved the objective of getting the people to share their experiences.

Nightmares of cross border traders


Zimbabwe Cross Border traders are stripped and violated at borders every time they leave to trade with other countries such as Zambia, Mozambique or South Africa as a standard requirement to ensure that they adhere to the requirement of only having 2 million Zimbabwean Dollars.

This is a sad but harsh reality of the many dilemmas CBT go through. Tendayi Jiri is 51 years old. She is a single mother of two and supports her family through the same.
Tendayi complained of the random nudity checks.

‘When we give them out passports, the next procedure is going through a toilet were a female police woman asks you to take off all your clothes and forces you to insert your finger into your vagina to check if you are not hiding any other money other than that which is stipulated,’ Tendayi narrates.

This is purely an act of human dignity violation and has lead to many women stopping the business and therefore contributing to the growing poverty levels in the country.

Another restricting factor to cross border trade are the currency exchange rate fluctuations and the ever increasing bus fares from Zimbabwe.

Anilliah Masaraure aged 46 has been a CBT since 1984. through her business she has managed to support 10 dependants under her roof as a widow. She travels to Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia and South Africa.

Anilliah complained over the currency acquirement procedures and the lack of foreign money in the country.

‘I travel to Mozambique to buy Rice and Beans, corruption is rampant there and it is perpetuated by the immigration officers due to the stringent money requirements and the absurd laws when applying for a double entry Visa, they say one has to carry a letter from an Organization, but they forget that most of us are individuals trying to survive,’ narrates Anilliah.

The Immigration Department seems to be on an urgent campaign to deter the trade. Traders have to have at least 1000 Rands for Visa fees and one has to apply for traveler’s cheques and the Bank charges 500,000 Zimbabwe Dollars for the Bank to process the request when traveling to South Africa.

The SASF gathering should ways of facilitating for the change of such laws that only promote poverty, corruption, fraud and human rights abuses. The Social forum gathering should from here provide alternatives for making another world possible.

Voiceless speak out at SASF

The impact of HIV/AIDS has a far reaching effect than that reflected by the statistics and media. The voiceless people affected and not infected by the pandemic are most often the victims and not survivors.

No one has taken time to consider the effects the disease has had on families and communities overall, emotionally, financially and psychologically.

The following are personal stories collected from the on going Southern African Social Forum at the Garden Park.

Joyline Chimbadzo aged 41 is a mother of six. She lost her husband in 2000 and has had the burden of providing food, school fees and paying for rent since then. Soon after her husbands death she lost her sister whose children are now her dependents.
She says because of her husbands death to AIDS, she has become emotionally hardened to life and she dreads her situation even more when she thinks of how the death has affected her eldest son who has recently lost concentration and interest in improving his education or finding suitable employment.

Douglas Muzanenhama, 40 is HIV positive but has had an immense psychological strain ever since he discovered his status in 1996.

‘I don’t want to get married, I hate the idea of getting together with another person, I think it is wrong, especially considering my status,’ Muzanenhama said.
Muzanenhama is admitted that he needs consistent counseling because of how he feels.

Memory Tshalibi 24, has witnessed a community leader’s health worsen over a period of 3 years.
‘He was person who everyone especially us the youth looked up to and solicited advise from,’ Memory explained.

Through his death Memory has become more aware of the disease and just how dangerous it is. But more retrogressively, she finds herself setting a standard for every man who proposes to her to go for voluntary counseling. This had lead to men in her community shunning her.

Jabusile Shumba, 24 has a girlfriend of almost five years. He has lost two Sisters to HIV/AIDS. Ever since Jabusile has developed a habit to go for HIV testing every six months. He referred to his habit as confidence building, but the truth is that he has been traumatized and has uncontrollable fear of the illness.

If at any time I found out my girlfriend to be HIV positive I would surely leave her, because it would mean, it’s a breach of trust,’ Jabusile explained.




Josephine, who refused to give her last name is a mother of two girl children is HIV/AIDS positive. She is a working woman who has been put on Anti Retroviral drugs for the past three years.
Josephine’s children however have not responded very well to her situation, the first born ‘Brenda’ has unfortunately started illicit drugs, Heroine.
Lucy her second born is unfortunately become spiritual and involved in a cult movement which is suspected to be Satanical.

These are just about a pinch of the many cases or situations happening behind closed doors in our communities and around the world.
The psychological effect of HIV/AIDS on the affected is a subject that needs to be examined and looked over. Children and spouses are merely expected by the public to accept and deal with the situation as it comes.
Medical practioners and counselors should develop the policy of involving close family members in counseling sessions on how to cope with the disease and the mental pressure that comes with it.
HIV/AIDS experts according to the book the AIDS Reader, says that treatment of people with the disease is treatment that requires long term care, it places a burden on families and communities. PWAs attempts at parenting, at partnership, at life continuity are thwarted not only by their illness but the grief that comes with medical obligations and their effects.
There is need to realize the urgent need for fostering the attitude for including family members in counseling.
The main cause of this situation could be the lack of education about the disease. It is almost common knowledge about the contraction modes and prevention as well, but the stigma surrounding the disease and myths created by communities which are not well informed but are openly influential can be identified as one of the causes.
HIV/AIDS has been projected as a killer, words such as Deadly disease to this point have been over emphasized to the point where children and relatives only think of death once a member of the family has been diagnosed with the infection even in instances where ARVs are made available.
Language should be made friendlier to create a sustainable environment even for those not suffering from the disease but affected by it.
Pictures should not hide the reality of the impact or result of the disease but should also show a positive picture of people living with the virus but looking good and managing their lives on a positive perspective.
There should be continuous lectures and programs by concerned community based organizations, CBOs on the disease in a satirical, creative and illustrative manner in order to cut out the monotony of how HIV/AIDS information as been taught to the people again and again.
Finally relief centers should be established to look into the psychological needs of the voiceless affected millions.

Internet Cafes

Interesting my day has been. My dear friend has just come back. we should toast to her return and thank the Gods on her safe return.
Its almost 21.30 and the cafe owner wants to leave and close that store but my presence stops him, so do o wait till he says, go? I will leave soon. Not just yet.
Fuel in Zed is a hassle, a night mere
Rumours of a demo are looming
Will wait for the next day to check out outcome of this terrible situation