know Christian Dior the famous designer, the famous french designer

Christian Dior

 

Christian Dior , 1905-57, French fashion designer. He established his main house of couture in Paris (1946) and by 1958 had salons in 15 countries employing more than 2,000 people. Known particularly for the "New Look" of 1947 (a voluptuous style with narrow shoulders, constricted waist, emphasized bust, and long, wide skirt), his designs were nonfunctional but enormously popular as women abandoned wartime austerity in the post-World War II era. He created the short, waistless sack dress (early 1950s) and introduced the A-line dress (1956). His designs represented consistent classic elegance, stressing the feminine look. The Dior tradition of beautiful fabrics led to the creation of international merchandising labels for gloves, furs, and jewelry. An astute merchandiser, he also established ready-to-wear lines that were featured in his own boutiques, and he cultivated the fashion.

Who says recessions can't have a silver lining? When the 1929 stock market crash ran Christian Dior's art gallery out of business, the onetime political science student found a new way to earn his bread: selling sketches to Parisian couture houses and doing illustrations for the fashion pages of Le Figaro. Eventually, his talent was recognized by Marcel Boussac, a textile magnate, who financed Dior's own couture house, buying a mansion on the Avenue Montaigne and helping his protégé set up shop in 1946.

Dior's first collection, in 1947, was a shot heard round the world—without exaggeration probably the most famous single season in style history. The New Look—which harked back to the excesses of the Belle Époque and brushed away bad memories of wartime fabric rationing with a sweep of crinolines—featured wasp-waisted, full-skirted silhouettes nipped in by boned corsets and fleshed out with hip padding. While a few protesters took offense at Dior's decadent swaths upon swaths of material, it was an international sensation.

Over the next decade, Dior remained an oracle on the Right Bank, dictating nouvelle directions that trickled down to the masses, inking forward-thinking licensing deals, and appearing on the cover of Time magazine. In 1957, however, the world was shocked when he suddenly died. Proving to be as headline-making in death as in life, he had suffered a heart attack at an Italian spa at the age of 52.

Dior's 21-year-old assistant was left to "save fashion," as the newspapers shrieked. The understudy's name? Yves Saint Laurent, perhaps the only man of his day brilliant enough to fill such impressive chaussures. Saint Laurent's own first collection, the controversial Trapeze show, made waves almost as stormy as those of the New Look, but he pushed the envelope a little too far with his Beatnik collection a few years later, after which Saint Laurent left the house amid another firestorm of controversy.

Since then, a parade of boldfaced names (Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, and, most memorably, John Galliano, the house's current designer) has kept the flame burning—and the registers ringing with sales of It accessories. Bernard Arnault, who acquired Dior in 1985, brought the fabled house under the sheltering wing of LVMH, ensuring the lights will continue to burn brightly at 30 Avenue Montaigne.

what a tragged, when will these innocent lives be resqued

Limbless and lifeless bodies, pieces of strewed human flesh, twisted metal, torn pieces of mini-bus body, grief, silence. This was the scene at Kibamba Darajani, Kinondoni district in Dar es Salaam this morning where ten people including a pregnant woman died in a grisly road accident.
 The accident involved a Toyota Hiace with registration numbers T 615 AJW traveling to Ubungo from Kibamba and another truck with registration number T 192 ABP Fiat Iveco and its semi-trailer with registration number T 189 ABP.
The ‘Daily News’ witnessed the rescue exercise where ten bodies were salvaged from the Toyota Hiace which had been crushed flat by the semi-trailer. The cause of the accident was alleged to be failure of breaks of the semi trailer whose driver lost control and swerved to the other side of the road where it overran the commuter mini-bus.  According to an eye witness, Mr John Mrisho, the driver of the mini-bus and all the passengers who were in the Hiace died on the spot, but the driver of the truck who was identified as Kudra Adam disappeared soon after the accident.
Mr Mrisho claimed that some lives might have been saved had the breakdown arrived at the scene early to remove the trailer of the crushed mini-bus.
“The accident took place early in the morning but the breakdown vehicle came very late, I think the government needs to work on this,” he said.
Hundreds of people had gathered at the scene of the incident until 11.00 a.m when a breakdown truck from BMK Company was brought at the scene to do the work. Some of the salvaged remains were sickeningly horrifying to look at and some were limbless.
Two of the bodies were taken to Tumbi hospital in Kibaha for preservation while the rest were taken to Mwananyamala hospital in the city. Head of the Police traffic unit Mohammed Mpinga said preliminary investigations showed that the accident occurred at 5.30 in the morning. According to him, the semi-trailer was carrying 30,000 litres of kerosene.
He said that only five bodies had been identified and named them as Zainab Alli, Esther Paulo (who was pregnant), Abdul Twalib, Shukuru Hussein and Faraj Ngalamba. He said police were investigating the incident and urged the people to cooperate with them so that the driver who caused the accident could be found.
“He might have gone to hide in the village or anywhere else where he thinks he might not be found but if the people cooperate with us, we will get him,” he said.

Taifa stars yafanya mauaji leo yainyuka somalia mabao 6-0

Mshambuliaji wa Taifa Stars, Mrisho Ngasa akiwatoka mabeki wa timu ya Somalia, Mohamed Hassan Ali (kushoto) na Hussein Ali Robile wakati wa mchezo wa kusaka tiketi ya kucheza fainali za Afrika kwa wachezaji wanocheza ligi za ndani (CHAN) uliofanyika leo kwenye Uwanja wa Uhuru, Dar es Salaam. Stars imeshinda 6-0.

Kilimanjaro tops in financial sector countrywide

THE latest released survey conducted by FinScope Tanzania has ranked Kilimanjaro region number one in terms of number of people formally included in the financial sector countrywide.

The region has also the lowest proportion of totally excluded people who have no access to formal and informal financial services.

According to the survey, Kigoma has a higher proportion of formally included people in the financial sector than either Iringa or Tanga.

Financial Sector Deepening Trust Technical Manager, Mr Sosthenes Kewe said that Kilimanjaro's low percentage of totally excluded is partly the product of relatively high levels of semi-formal and informal financial access.

He said that FinScope surveys have helped to make policies that have been designed to improve financial services and encourage more people to use them to greater effects.

Regions with more than 14 per cent of their population formally included in financial services include Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Mjini Magharibi, Ruvuma, Kigoma, Iringa and Tanga.

The survey further revealed regions with 70 per cent or more of its population financially excluded as Kaskazini Pemba as the leading region followed by Manyara, Lindi, Dodoma, Tabora, Singida and Mtwara.

Mr Kewe said that these regions are the worst in terms of the percentage of people exluded from financial services and also may have very poor access to formal financial services.

He said that the survey has also revealed that the number of people excluded from financial services by age group have risen from 16 per cent in 2006 to 34 per cent last year and that young people are particularly vulnerable.

He called upon public and private sector to focus much of their efforts on the youth segment in order to enable them access formal or informal financial services.

Mr Kewe further said that there is a 22 per cent increase in number of people who used to use a bank but do not use banking services now and that this is more worrying and a lost opportunity for banks.

The survey further reveals that the number of people who are using formal financial services from banks and insurance companies have risen from 3 per cent to 12 per cent of the population.

He said that many more people are now taking out medical insurance than they were in 2006 and the number of people using mobile phones has soared by 130 per cent.

Train your brain

Keeping your brain healthy isn't simply about having good genes. A healthy lifestyle, optimistic outlook and enquiring mind have all been found to play a part. Find out what changes you need to make.

Brain food

What we eat and drink is vital in keeping our brains in tip-top condition.
'The nutrients in what we eat work together to nourish and protect the cells in our brain as well as our body,' says Catherine Collins, dietician at St George's Hospital in London.
Variety is essential: 'Eat a matrix of different nutrients that complement each other to promote good health.'

Mediterranean meals

Following a Mediterranean-style diet could be a good place to start.
Rich in colourful fruits and vegetables, fresh fish, olive oil and a smattering of red wine, this sun-soaked diet is packed with just about every nutrient you need.
A recent study from Columbia University found that people who followed a Mediterranean diet were less likely to develop Alzheimer's, while those with the disease who stuck to the diet tended to have a longer lifespan.
Tomatoes, one of the mainstays of the diet, are rich in lycopene.
Lycopene is an antioxidant that mops up the damaging free radicals that are thought to be a possible trigger for Alzheimer's.

Go low GI

Another much talked about diet is the low GI (glycaemic index) diet. This means sticking to foods that release their energy slowly to help maintain a stable blood sugar (glucose) level.
'The fuel of the brain is glucose and it needs a steady supply all the time - the body will sacrifice every other organ to make sure the brain gets enough,' says Ursula Arens of the British Dietetic Association.
'If blood sugar levels fall, the effects on the brain are obvious: you start to feel less alert, fuzzy, lethargic and even depressed.'
Low GI foods include complex carbohydrates such as wholewheat pasta, bread and brown rice.
White bread and sugary foods and drinks have a high GI, which means it can be difficult to avoid high GI foods altogether.
However, if you restrict sugary foods to mealtimes, you can lessen their impact on the body's blood sugar level.
This is because a balanced lunch or dinner typically includes wholegrains and vegetables that have a low GI. These cause blood sugar to rise more slowly and will help the body manage sugars from foods that have a high GI.
So if you fancy a fizzy drink or piece of cake, have it immediately after a meal rather than as a snack.

Up your omega-3

A number of studies have suggested that omega-3 can improve mental function.
A recent French study published in the journal Neurology found that people who regularly ate omega-3 rich oils such as flaxseed reduced their risk of dementia by 60 per cent.
These vital fats are also found in plentiful supply in oily fish like mackerel, salmon, tuna and sardines.
Most tinned oily fish is still a good source of omega-3, with tuna being the exception - the canning process reduces the levels of omega 3.

Keep hydrated

It may sound obvious, but drinking enough water can make a huge difference to our mental agility.
Every cell and organ in the body needs water to function and that includes brain cells.
As we get older, we tend to drink less as our thirst sensation diminishes. This can mean we become dehydrated.
The symptoms of severe dehydration include confusion, poor balance and memory loss.
'The amount of water that we need to drink every day varies from person to person and for most people taking fluid when thirsty is sufficient,' says dietician Catherine Collins.
'However as we get older we are more prone to dehydration - so if you find you are passing small amounts of concentrated urine and are drinking less than three or four cups a day, then you should think about increasing your fluid intake.'

Supplements

If you eat a healthy balanced diet there is no need to take supplements.
Otherwise, brain-boosting nutrients include the B-complex vitamins - particularly folic acid, vitamin B12 and B6. Research has found that people who are low in these nutrients are more prone to developing dementia.
However, there are some concerns that folic acid supplements can trigger symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. People over 50 should have their B12 status checked before taking the supplement.
Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E are important for brain function too. Antioxidants mop up free radicals - the damaging compounds that are thought to trigger diseases like cancer and dementia.
Ginkgo biloba has been linked to improving brain power, yet a recent study funded by the Alzheimer's Society found it didn't have any significant effect on dementia, cognitive function or quality of life.
If you are concerned about your diet, dietician Catherine Collins recommends taking a simple one-a-day multivitamin.
'This will have 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance of all the most important vitamins and minerals and will act as a kind of health insurance without the risk of overdosing on any particular nutrient.'

Exercise

Keeping physically active is vital for a healthy brain. Australian scientists have found that just an extra 20 minutes of moderate exercise a day could significantly improve mental functioning in people over 50.
And you don't have to start pounding the pavements or working out in the gym. Moderate activity includes anything from ballroom dancing to tennis or swimming. The simplest option is to take a brisk walk in your local park.
'If you have a spare 30 minutes, the best way to spend it is to get active,' says Neil Hunt, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer's Society.
'Regular exercise has an enormous impact on your general wellbeing and helps to ensure you have a healthy cardiovascular system. This helps maintain a good flow of blood to the brain that will nourish the cells and remove toxic substances that may cause damage.'
The Alzheimer's Society recommends taking 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week.

Brain games

Like any muscle, the brain needs regular exercise. Sudoko and crosswords in your local paper are a good place to start, but you could try the more high-tech computer programmes that will assess your level and track your progress.
Leading Japanese brain expert Dr Kawashima's 'How Old is Your Brain?' series for Nintendo is one of the most popular.
The games are designed to hone concentration, memory and maths skills, and the small size of the kit means you can train your brain on the move.
Cheaper alternatives include web-based brain training games such as Lumosity or Happy Neuron. A number of websites offer free interactive brain games like the Brainwaves Centre (www.brainwaves.com) and Braingle (www.braingle.com).
'Brain games are a relatively new development so, as far as clinical trials go, the jury is still out as to whether they can help stave off dementia,' says Neil Hunt from the Alzheimer's Society.
'However, if you enjoy mind games and puzzles, it isn't going to do you any harm and it could well do you some good.'

Social interaction

Good conversation and sharing a joke with friends isn't just good fun - regular interaction is good for the brain, too.
A Swedish study of more than 1200 people over the age of 75 found that having a strong social support network lowered the risk of developing dementia by as much as 60 per cent.
The study concluded that friends and family provided emotional and intellectual stimulation that helped keep the mind sharp.
'Maintaining a positive outlook is important for overall general health,' adds Neil Hunt. 'We want people to realise that there are reasons to be optimistic - there are many things that people can do to reduce their risk of developing dementia and it is never too late to start.'

1. Quit smoking: smoking not only damages the heart, lungs and blood system, it dramatically increases your risk of developing dementia too.
2. Keep blood pressure in check: one in three adults are at an increased risk of developing dementia because they have high blood pressure, according to the Alzheimer's Society. Get your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked by your GP so you know where you stand.
3. Slim down: if you are overweight at 60, you are twice as likely to get dementia by the time you turn 75.
4. Go easy on alcohol: the odd glass of wine is not going to do you any harm. However, heavy drinking is a sure-fire way to damage your brain cells and can lead to a rare form of dementia called Korsakoff's dementia.
5. Stay positive: a recent study from the Netherlands found that people with depression were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's than those who had never been depressed

Park Ji-sung gives Manchester United the edge over Liverpool

Park Ji-sung

Park Ji-sung, left, scores Manchester United's second goal against Liverpool at Old Trafford. Photograph: Martin Rickett/AP

It is exacting to pursue a national prize in the midst of a domestic feud. Liverpool could scarcely have known whether they were attempting to land a blow in the fight for the last Champions League place or daze opponents aiming to retain the Premier League title. All Manchester United would have known is that they were taken to the limits while seeing out a win that puts them back at the top of the table.

The stress and uncertainty was embodied in the 90th-minute incident when, after Fernando Torres had sliced his effort, the ball went to the Liverpool substitute Yossi Benayoun, who headed weakly into the hands of Edwin van  der  Sar. He should instead have deprived United of two of these three points. Sir Alex Ferguson's players felt the tension as they strove to call a halt to the sequences of three losses against Rafael Benítez's side.

Judgments get delicate at this stage of the campaign. In the previous weekend, the United manager had extolled the impact of Dimitar Berbatov in the 3-0 win against Fulham. The compliments sounded even then as they would have to double as consolations for the Bulgarian, who was indeed left on the sidelines against Liverpool. Ferguson would not countenance an extra centre-forward beside Wayne Rooney when so much depends on midfield in these confrontations.

 Darren Fletcher of Manchester United, right, praised their battling display to beat Liverpool at Old Trafford. Photograph: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted Liverpool's Javier Mascherano should have been sent off in the pivotal moment of Manchester United's comeback win.

Fernando Torres gave the visitors a fifth-minute lead, only for Wayne Rooney to equalise in controversial fashion. He tucked home the rebound from a penalty given for a Mascherano foul on Antonio Valencia which had started outside the area.

Ferguson said the foul warranted more than a booking: "I thought the penalty kick decision was a red card, because I do not see how anyone could have stopped Valencia from shooting. That is a goalscoring opportunity as far as I am concerned."

Regarding a tight battle for the title between United, Chelsea and Arsenal Ferguson said: "We have a very experienced back four, a very experienced goalkeeper and that gives us a real outstanding chance, albeit with seven difficult matches – but we have all got difficult matches, so what does it matter? It could very well go to the wire, if you look at the run-ins for the teams."

The Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez felt there was not much between the two sides. "It was very tight, they did not have too many chances, and neither did we," he said. "With two top sides, it is always the little things which are the difference, and they were the better in these.

"After the goal, I always said it is about how you can control the game, and we could not, as we conceded early. In the second half, you could see Manchester United are a good team, but they did not have too many options and with a bit of luck, it could have been a draw."

On the penalty incident, Benítez did not feel his player had merited a red card. "I have not seen the replay, but talking to people who have said it was inside and was a penalty, but Jamie Carragher was also there, so it was only a yellow card," the Spaniard said.

Liverpool are now well behind in the battle for fourth place, but Benítez insisted the battle goes on. "It will be difficult, but we still have to fight," he said. "You can see we can win against anyone. You have to improve when you play against a top side, but we created chances."

Ferguson said: "It was very tight today and Liverpool are good at stopping you playing. But you have got to be patient and we scored a tremendous goal from Park Ji-sung, who played another vital role for us today."

Ferguson accepted the match had not been a classic. "I am sure it wasn't, but it was so intense and you could not take your eyes off it – there was no one watching on television who went for a cup of tea, that is for sure."

United's midfielder Darren Fletcher praised the way they were able to grind out victory. In a second half of few clear-cut chances, Park Ji-sung headed home the winner after an hour when he came through a crowd of bodies to finish Fletcher's superb cross.

The Scotland international hailed the character of Ferguson's side, who are chasing a record fourth successive championship. "It was a difficult game, with not much football played," Fletcher told Sky Sports 1. "You want to win the title with flowing football, but sometimes you have to grind out results and show character – that is what we did."

Fletcher maintained that the referee Howard Webb was right to give the penalty. "I definitely thought it was a foul," said the United midfielder. "He was pulling Valencia and the contact with his legs was right on the edge of the box. The keeper saved it, but Wazza is so composed that he was able to tap it in afterwards."

"The team which puts the most consistent run together will probably be champions, and we are making a good fist of it," Fletcher added.

Dar presses for uniform varsity fees

Education and Vocational Training minister Prof Jumanne Maghembe, yesterday criticised East African Community (EAC) partner states over university tuition fees.

He said although the five countries in the regional bloc, had agreed to have uniform university entrance fees, only Tanzania has implemented the directive.

“We (Tanzania) have facilitated this, but the agreement has not been reciprocated by the other four partner states,“ he said when he opened the ninth annual general meeting of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA).

He said having uniform fees for all universities in the region, would increase mobility of students seeking education across the borders and hence foster the EA cooperation spirit.

Prof Maghembe, however, could not clarify what is the agreed standard fees for university students in the region and whether they covered both public and private universities.

Reliable sources close to IUCEA, an intergovernmental mandated institution to enhance collaboration among universities in EA, said higher education was more expensive in Kenya than in the other four partner states. For instance, out of the total student population of 36,000 at the Makerere University in Uganda, at least 25 per cent are from Kenya, while those from Tanzania are estimated to be about 200.

Currently, there are over 75 universities in the entire EA region from hardly 10 some 20 years ago and only three -Makerere, University of Dar es Salaam and University of Nairobi in 1970 when IUCEA was set up.

Prof Maghembe said student mobility within the region has increased tremendously in recent years “hence creating the need to institute mechanisms for comparability of the quality of education in EA universities.“ The target, he argued, should be to ensure academic programmes offered in the higher institutions of learning were of “international standards“ since education has become a tradable commodity across the borders.

He called on the universities to strike a strategic partnership with industry as well as invest heavily in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for better performance.

“Failure to embrace ICT will lead to increased exclusion from global education forums, thereby widening further the gap that exists between our region and the developed world,“ he pointed out. He also expressed concern on the inadequate infrastructure and research tools in most of the university campuses in the region, calling on policy makers in ministries responsible for higher education, to address the anomaly.

Earlier, Prof Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha, the IUCEA executive secretary, said efforts were underway to harmonise university education in the region to enable students to move to other university with their credits.

He added that the council was striving hard to ensure that academic staffs were highly motivated so that they are retained to serve in the region rather than absconding to work elsewhere.

By Zephania Ubwani, Arusha

Kakobe church billboards removed

By Alex Bitekeye and Beldina Nyakeke
The two huge billboards in front of the Full Gospel Bible Fellowship (FGBF) church, were removed yesterday by Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) technicians.

The move came after the church ignored a notice issued by the Tanzania Roads Agency (Tanroads) Dar es Salaam office to the church, institutions and individuals to remove all structures erected on the road reserve to pave the way for construction of high tension power line from Ubungo to Makumbusho.

Tanesco technicians yesterdaay met no resistance from church followers who had earlier this year blocked Tanesco from erecting electricity poles in the vicinity of the church premises.

The operation started at around 11am when two Tanesco lorries carrying technicians accompanied by four armed policemen and a crane from Ravji Construction Limited arrived at the church premises.

According to eye witnesses, a person with loud speaker warned that anyone who would attempt to block them, would be acting against the law. The technicians went to work and within minutes the two billboards were pulled down.

Few church followers who had started to converge at the site shortly after Tanesco technicians arrived, stood at a safe distance, looking at what was going on without commenting or protesting. A witness, Mr Juma Khamis, told this newspaper later that it was a peaceful exercise and none of FGBF members interfered with the exercise.

Bishop Zacharia Kakobe himself was not around and attempts to reach him through his phone failed. His cell phone was unanswered for long time before it was switched off.

Mid last week, the Dar es Salaam Tanroads regional manager, Mr James Nyabakari, told this newspaper that his office had issued a one-week notice to FGBF and other people to remove their objects in the road reserve.

He said the authorities might be forced to intervene and remove all objects interfering with the project, if owners will fail to heed the notice within the specified time.

He added that Tanesco has been given the go ahead to uproot the billboards on the expiry of the seven-day notice, warning that the owners of the structures would bear the cost of their demolition. He clarified that they had instructed Tanesco to uproot the billboards and take them to Tanroads office and send demolition cost bill to FGBF who should refund Tanesco.

For better part of this year, Bishop Kakobe followers took turns to guard the church premises to prevent Tanesco from constructing a power line near the church.

Bishop Kakobe argued that the high tension electricity routed through the area would pose danger to thousands of believers who gather outside the church everyday.

I'm running again for presidency, says Seif

                                                                                                              

[Maalim Seif] 'This year's election will be one of hope and peace...under unity government no political party will be sidelined'

The Civic United Front (CUF) secretary-general, Mr Seif Sharif Hamad, has declared his intention to contest the Zanzibar presidency in the October elections.

 He broke the news during an exclusive interview with The Citizen in a Dar es Salaam hotel yesterday, where he is recuperating following his discharge from hospital on Thursday last week. He assured the public that he was now in good health and that he was ready to resume his daily activities.

 He said he would dully present his name as the CUF flag bearer for the Isle's presidency when the party launches its nomination process slated for April.

 He said he was optimistic he would clinch his party's ticket for the highest political office in the Isles. If he were nominated, this would be his fourth attempt the presidency that CCM has held since the re-introduction of multiparty elections in 1995.

 “I am confirming that I will offer myself

to run for the post...I am ready for the party's endorsement," said Mr Hamad, who once served as chief minister before falling out with CCM.

he becomes the first person to declare his intention to run for the Zanzibari presidency in the election slated for October.

He said this would be the best opportunity yet for his party's participation in the General Election. He pointed out that the reconciliation between him and President Amani Abeid Karume would ensure both parties go into the elections with renewed confidence and optimism for a better outcome.

Mr Karume will not be eligible for re-election after the expiry of his two-term tenure.

 "This year's election will be one of hope and peace. The passing of the Act to facilitate formation of a government of national unity means all parties participating in the elections will be accommodated in the final analysis," he said.

 Commenting on political troubles that continue to haunt governments of national unity in Africa, Mr Hamad said the Zanzibar situation would be quite different.

 He said unlike Kenya or Zimbabwe, the Zanzibar unity government would not be one resulting from a disputed election outcome, but one formed out of a pre-planned and mutual agreement borne of recognition of national interest.

"You cannot compare our planned type of unity government with that of Kenya and Zimbabwe which resulted from immense pressure from outside ...we are not being pressured from any quarter," Mr Hamad declared.

 He added: "For many years since the introduction of multiparty politics in 1956, our country has been marred by political violence that impeded prosperity for our people; time has come that we forego that dark past."

 "Because there were forces between reconciliations in the other countries, then it's very obvious that quarrels are still rife in their governments, but that will not happen in Zanzibar because ours is going to involve wananchi who will give their consent through a referendum."

 On the recently formed opposition party, Chama Cha Jamii (CCJ), he described it as "a passing cloud" that he said rode on claims of big wigs in politics behind it to gain popularity. 

like his peers in the Opposition, he said CCJ does not bother him or threaten CUF.

 On the Isles' economy, he said: "To be honest, the Zanzibar political impasse has affected our economy...but Zanzibar has talents that would bring tremendous changes in a very short period as long as we are committed," he said.

 He said the Isles government has not done enough to improve their agriculture and fishing, adding that if these sectors are fully modernized, then wananchi would benefit from their resources.

 Zanzibar's major economic sectors include agriculture, trade, industries, and tourism.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy largely due to the clove industry, which is the main foreign currency earner.

 Mr Hamad said some Zanzibaris in the Diaspora have pledged full support in the effort to revive the Isles' economy. "We are going to fully utilize their skills and talents," he said.

New password-stealing virus targets Facebook

Hackers have flooded the Internet with virus-tainted spam that targets Facebook's estimated 400 million users in an effort to steal banking passwords and gather other sensitive information

The emails tell recipients that the passwords on their Facebook accounts have been reset, urging them to click on an attachment to obtain new login credentials, according to anti-virus software maker McAfee Inc.

If the attachment is opened, it downloads several types of malicious software, including a program that steals passwords, McAfee said on Wednesday.

Hackers have long targeted Facebook users, sending them tainted messages via the social networking company's own internal email system. With this new attack, they are using regular Internet email to spread their malicious software.

A Facebook spokesman said the company could not comment on the specific case, but pointed to a status update the company posted on its web site earlier on Wednesday warning users about the spoofed email and advising users to delete the email and to warn their friends.

McAfee estimates that hackers sent out tens of millions of spam across Europe, the United States and Asia since the campaign began on Tuesday.

Dave Marcus, McAfee's director of malware research and communications, said that he expects the hackers will succeed in infecting millions of computers.

"With Facebook as your lure, you potentially have 400 million people that can click on the attachment. If you get 10 percent success, that's 40 million," he said.

The email's subject line says "Facebook password reset confirmation customer support," according to Marcus.

(Additional reporting by Alexei Oreskovic; Editing by Bernard Orr)

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HATIMAYE AMETOKA LAKINI,,,

Mtoto wa Nguza Vicking aliyeachiwa kwa kushinda rufaa hivi karibuni, Nguza Mbangu ‘Mashine’, ametolea tamko kitendo cha kukuta mkewe, Milley Mbombo anaishi na mwanaume mwingine ambaye ni Pedeshee maarufu, Bongo, Amani lina kiini cha tatizo...

Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool - Match Report

Abou Diaby's second-half header helped raise the spirits of the Arsenal faithful as the Gunners won their first game in six matches to close in at the top of the Premiership with a 1-0 victory over Liverpool.

The fortunes between these two clubs have changed dramatically in recent weeks. The Gunners started the game looking for their first win in six, whereas, Liverpool, in fourth place, were looking to close the gap.

- Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool: As it happened

Liverpool were the first to go close after just three minutes when Steven Gerrard delivered a dangerous free-kick into the box that the Gunners defence failed to deal with and were thankful to Manuel Almunia for an acrobatic save.

At the other end William Gallas went close when he met Cesc Fabregas' free-kick with a powerful header, but his effort flew over the bar.

Nicklas Bendtner should have done better on 26 minutes when he was slipped in by Andrey Arshavin on the right side of the area. The tall Dane burst into the box, but his shot was high and wide, when he really should have tested an exposed Pepe Reina.

Arsenal were beginning to come to life. Samir Nasri had a goal-bound effort blocked when he pounced on a weak punch by the Liverpool keeper in the 27th minute and seconds later Thomas Vermaelen got the ball caught in his feet when unmarked in yards of space.

Liverpool were looking dangerous from set-pieces and on 31 minutes the Gunners failed to clear another Gerrard free-kick. The ball fell to Maxi Rodriguez whose shot cannoned off Vermaelan's arm for a corner. The penalty claims were waved away though.

Fabregas had Arsenal's first shot on target in first-half stoppage time but it was a tame effort from the edge of the area that Reina gathered with ease.

Both sides started the second half more brightly. Arshavin had a cross-cum-shot go just wide of Liverpool's left post and Lucas stole the ball from Gael Clichy before racing into the right side of the area to fire a shot just over the bar.

David N'Gog looked to be clear but William Gallas raced back to put in a brave and precise sliding tackle to clear the ball as the young striker was about the shoot.

Arsenal were beginning to take control, but the threat of a Liverpool counter-attack was a real possibility as the home side lost possession too easily.

Fabregas shaved the top of the bar with a shot from the edge of the area and that was the highlight of a sustained period of pressure.

Arsenal looked as though they had forgotten how to win but eventually took the lead on 72 minutes when Diaby ghosted in between the Liverpool central defence to head home Rosicky's cross from the right from close range.

Fabregas fired a volley just wide on 82 minutes, but the Gunners were once again in their keeper's debt two minutes later when he made a fantastic flying save to keep a fierce 25-yard drive by substitute Ryan Babel out.

Liverpool tried their best to pull a goal back, but a nervous looking Arsenal defence held on for the points and closed the gap at the top

A healthy sex life: 10 reasons to make love

·  Exercise. "Sexual activity is a form of physical exercise," according to Dr. Michael Cirigliano of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Making love three times a week burns around 7,500 calories in a year -- the equivalent of jogging 75 miles.

·  Heavy Breathing. A night of love can raise the amount of oxygen in cells, helping to keep organs and tissues functioning at their peak.

·  Strong Bones and Muscles. "Any kind of physical exercise is going to increase testosterone," states Dr. Karen Donahey, director of the Sex and Marital Therapy Program at Chicago's Northwestern University Medical Center. Testosterone is believed to help keep men's bones and muscles strong.

·  Lowered Cholesterol. Making love regularly can lower levels of the body's total cholesterol slightly, while positively changing the ratio of good-to-bad cholesterol.

·  Pain Relief. Sex can lower levels of "arthritic pain, whiplash pain and headache pain," according to Dr. Beverly Whipple, president-elect of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists. Hormones that are released during sexual excitement and orgasm can elevate pain thresholds.

·  DHEA -- Without Supplements. DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a popular supplemental hormone, is released naturally during lovemaking. "Just before orgasm and ejaculation," Crenshaw says, "DHEA spikes to levels three to five times higher than usual."

·  Prostate Protection. Researchers say prostate trouble may arise or be worsened by fluid buildup within the gland. Regular ejaculation will help wash out those fluids. Be cautious when suddenly changing frequency -- sudden changes may also trigger prostate problems.

·  Stress Relief. "Sex can be a very effective way of reducing stress levels," Donahey told Men's Health.

·  Love Will Keep Us Together. Crenshaw says affectionate touch will increase levels of oxytocin -- the "bonding hormone." Oxytocin is a desire-enhancing chemical secreted by the pituitary. Regular oxytocin release may help encourage frequent lovemaking.

·  Hormones -- Naturally. "Regular lovemaking can increase a woman's estrogen level, protect her heart and keep her vaginal tissues more supple," states Donahey

MINUTE DETAIL: CHELSEA 2 ARSENAL 0

Barclays Premier League, Sunday 7th February 2010 at Stamford Bridge.Chelsea (4-3-2-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack (Zhirkov 81), Mikel, Lampard; Anelka (J Cole 86), Malouda; Drogba (Kalou 90).
Manager Carlo Ancelotti
Arsenal (4-3-3): Almunia; Sagna (Eboué 73), Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy; Fábregas (c), Song, Diaby (Rosicky 63); Walcott (Bendtner 68), Arshavin, Nasri.
Manager Arsene Wenger.
Referee Mike Dean.
Environment Cold and drizzle. Kick-off 4pm. Live on Sky Sports.
Kit Chelsea - Blue shirts and shorts, white socks. Arsenal - red and white shirts, white shorts and socks.
Attendance 41,794.
First half
Kick off Chelsea.
7 CHELSEA GOAL The first chance for either side and who else but Drogba turns it in. Unbelievably left unmarked at the far post as Terry heads on a Malouda corner, he pokes it in from a yard out.
15 Intervention Cech does very well to hold up and push wide Nasri after the Arsenal man had got ahead of Terry on to a long ball. The Chelsea keeper then pushes the cross behind for a corner.
17 Save Cech stops brilliantly with his feet after Arshavin gets behind Ivanovic and volleys a cross.
22 CHELSEA GOAL Devastating counter-attack! Mikel sets Lampard on his way who draws the defence and slips the ball wide to Drogba. There is still plenty to do but the Ivorian cuts inside Clichy and smashes it in.
30 Foul Drogba in this form is literally unstoppable, unless it is by foul means, which is what Diaby is whistled up for after the Ivorian had burst past two tackles.
Stoppage time 2 mins.
Half time Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0

Second half
Kick off Arsenal.
50 Concern Drogba slips and turns his ankle as he shoots following a razor-sharp turn. He limps painfully off, has treatment and resumes.
54 Attack Drogba whips over a cross, Malouda's volley is more cross than shot and Lampard's audacious backheel is straight at Almunia.
59 Tackle Ashley Cole does very well to dispossess Nasri who was running into the area one-on-one with Cech.
65 Arsenal substitution Bendtner for Walcott.
68 Save Cech is up there with Drogba in performance, saving on the floor after Fabregas had drilled a free-kick through the wall, Carvalho having fouled on the edge of the area.
73 Arsenal substitutions Rosicky for Diaby, Eboue for Sagna.
80 Stretch Cech again does well to push the ball away for a throw as Bendtner closes on Fabregas's header down.
81 Chelsea substitution Zhirkov for Ballack.
82 Booked Song receives the first yellow card for kicking the back of Lampard's legs after the ball had gone.
83 Woodwork Drogba, with the free-kick that follows, smashes it 30 yards and onto the crossbar with Almunia rooted:
84 Booked Fabregas for getting involved with Drogba having just fouled him.
86 Chelsea substitution Joe Cole for Anelka.
87 Booked Zhirkov for a tackle from behind on Eboue.
Stoppage time 5 minutes

Unused subs Chelsea - Hilario, Ferreira, Alex, Deco. Arsenal - Fabianski, Campbell, Ramsey, Denilson.

Shots on target Chelsea 4 Arsenal 6
Corners  Chelsea 4 Arsenal 8
Fouls Chelsea 10 Arsenal 9
Offsides Chelsea 5 Arsenal 1
Comment Mikel plays for the first time since his Africa adventure. Ashley Cole reclaims left-back and Terry plays, as if that was ever in doubt. Cech makes his 250^th appearance. Ancelotti's 100 per cent record against the 'big four' continues as the Blues ran out very worthy winners in a thrilling and high octane derby. Drogba in power, skill and finishing is exceptional. He now has 12 goals in 12 appearances against Arsenal. It wasn't all plain sailing, the Gunners enjoy plenty of possession second half and it needs Cech to play one of his games of the season to earn his 100th Premier League clean sheet. As at the Emirates, we shut out our London rivals. Nine points clear we might have shut them up too. Back on top of the table by two points.

Manchester United drubs Arsenal in Premier League

LONDON (AP) — Manchester United beat Arsenal 3-1 on Sunday to stay within a point of leader Chelsea after its first ever Premier League win at Emirates Stadium.Nani set up two goals in five first-half minutes, one an own-goal by goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and the other by Wayne Rooney, before Park Ji-sung carried the ball half the length of the field to make it 3-0 in the 52nd minute.


United's second win of the season over Arsenal took its unbeaten record against the Gunners to five matches and pushed the defending champion to 53 points.United looked confident throughout after reaching the League Cup final this week with a 3-1 win over Manchester City.
"We had a very good game last Wednesday and everyone had their confidence for this game," Nani said. "The manager just said you have to have the same attitude for this game.



"If you want to be a champion, you have to play every game."Arsenal, which only scored with 10 minutes left when Thomas Vermaelen's shot deflected off defender Jonny Evans, is in third place on 49 points after its first Premier League defeat since November. Manchester City is eight points back from Arsenal in sixth place after beating last-place Portsmouth 2-0, although City could easily climb higher since it has played two fewer matches than the four sides immediately above it.

Arsenal was expected to give United a tough match in north London and Andrei Arshavin's attempts to isolate Wes Brown, who was playing alongside Evans in central defense because of the absence of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, gave the Gunners early hope.But United took control with its 33rd-minute opener and could have won by a bigger margin, with Nani and Rooney both going close to scoring more.
Arsenal only managed to exert sustained pressure on United in the last 10 minutes. Nani created United's first goal when he danced between two defenders on the right touchline, dodged a third on the edge of the area and floated a cross from a narrow angle toward the far post. With Park rushing in behind for what would have been an easy finish, Almunia tried to flick the ball over the bar but pushed it into the net. "I don't know how to explain that," Nani said of his skill. "I'm working every day hard to be fit to play in the team."
Nani then played an integral role in the length-of-the-field counterattack that ended with Rooney calmly shooting past Almunia for his 100th Premier League goal. Arsenal's defense disintegrated as Park charged from inside his own half to score before Vermaelen finally roused a dispirited home crowd with his late goal.
United has now won three straight Premier League matches and is in strong contention for a record fourth straight title, despite rarely hitting top form this season after the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.

2-inch-long toy gun nearly got this kid suspended from school

An irate Staten Island mom blasted a grade school principal Wednesday for treating her son like a pint-sized Plaxico Burress after he brought a 2-inch-long toy gun to school."This principal is a bully and a coward, and needs to be held accountable," said Laura Timoney, 44, after her teary fourth-grader was nearly suspended for playing with the tiny toy at lunch.

"The school should be embarrassed. This is a common-sense issue."Patrick Timoney, 9, was terrified when he was yanked into the principal's office to discuss the teeny-weeny plastic "weapon."  "The gun was so little," the boy said. "I don't understand why the principal got so upset. I was a little nervous. They made me sign a statement."


Patrick and a friend were playing with Lego figures in the school cafeteria on Tuesday when he pulled out the faux machine gun and stuck it in the hands of his plastic police officer.Boom! Trouble ensued, with Patrick's mom getting a phone call from Public School 52 Principal Evelyn Mastroianni saying her son had somehow gone from straight A's to the NRA.

"I was in disbelief," the still-fuming mother said. "Why didn't anyone step up with an ounce of common sense and put an end to the harassment of my child?"Timoney said her boy loved the toy figure because her husband is a retired police officer. The elder Patrick Timoney, a former 72nd Precinct cop, couldn't believe his son was nearly busted over something so obviously inauthentic."It's a 2-inch gun," he said. "She went overboard. She should have said, 'Put the toys away,' and that would have been the end of it."

After a meeting between the principal and the parents, the boy was spared any disciplinary action. City school officials said Patrick agreed to leave the "gun" at home. "I'm never bringing a toy to school again," said Patrick, whose favorite subject is math. Laura Timoney remained upset. Her son, a typically eager student, asked to stay home yesterday because he thought the principal was mad at him. The mother said she expects an apology and may sue. "The toy gun is not the issue," she said. "A lack of common sense is the issue."



Several parents at the school felt the principal overreacted, including Kim O'Rieley - whose son was playing with Patrick in the cafeteria. Her boy's Lego man was toting a tiny ax, which the principal deemed less threatening."It's ridiculous," said O'Rieley, 36. "He felt so bad for his friend. They're taking things way too far ... No one is saying guns are okay.

Rooney vs. Messi

There is some interesting banter today going on over on the always lively Argentina blog about comparisons being made between Argentina’s Lionel Messi and England’s Wayne Rooney. The expectations for each of these young forwards seem to be increasing each day we move closer to the World Cup. It is only natural that people are comparing the two. I personally think Rooney is a slightly more complete player at this point in time, but Messi will have a better career over the long run. I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking it would be very cool if the two young guns square off in Germany this summer. Argentina against England – that is one match you might be able to convince me to watch.

USAfrica View From Southern Africa Truth & Reconciliation in Southern Africa
by Peter Hodge, Contributing editor & Columnist
Summary of Essay:
Since the release of Nelson Mandela and the nation's first all race elections in 1994, much has been done in South Africa to heal old wounds. It was understood that the 'Rainbow Nation' dream would never come about unless all was revealed about the past. A tortured national psyche is not a sound foundation for nation building. So began a formal process of Truth and Reconcilliation, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu. The road has been a difficult one with testimony often so traumatic, as to move the audience to tears. The latest test sees the murderers of Chris Hani, pleaing for amnesty, arguing that the political motives of their actions entitles them to their freedom.

Beyond the horror of the war to achieve Zimbabwean independence in 1980, was a ray of light. Robert Mugabe, rather than chasing out the whites who had demonised and imprisoned him, invited them to stay. Seemingly, the worst of the redneck 'Rhodeys' emigrated with the rest of the Rhodesian diaspora. Clearly, the white Zimbabweans that remained felt a deep affinity with the land of their birth, sufficiently compelling to throw in their lot with the new black majority government. If those in power could tap the technical expertise and economic might of their white population, the nation would forge ahead as a beacon for other African nations.
Meanwhile, in South Africa, P.W. Botha led an apartheid regime backed ever futher by international opinion into a 'laager' mentality. The army had demonstrated its capacity to carry out operations in 'front-line states'. Enemies of apartheid filled the prisons, hoping not to pass away as a result of 'slipping on a bar of soap', 'falling down the stairs' or some other self inflicted condition. Special units were employed to eliminate elements of resistance. Others worked at dividing the African community, to the extent of arming and tr# aining Inkatha militias to fight A.N.C. supporters. Nelson Mandela, reluctantly, still called Robben Island his home. Yet, the breath of hope was borne on chilly Cape winds, whispering words of freedom.
Sadly, for Zimbabwe, it wasn't long before tribalism reared its ugly head. Mugabe employed North Korean instructors to train his 'Fifth Brigade', composed mainly of Shona recruits from Zanla, his independence struggle army. They were deployed in Matabeleland to crush the 'dissidents'. These were mainly ex-Zipra soldiers (the Ndebele equivalent of Zanla), reacting to the persecution of ZAPU (the political voice of the Ndebele people) supporters. Mugabe's ZANU party sought to portay the dissidents as a ZAPU attempt to seize what they had failed to achieve in earlier elections. Shona speaking people form a majority of Zimbabwe's population, with IsiNdebele speaking people at around fifteen percent. In March this year the Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice presented their report to Robert Mugabe, detailing the horror of the years 1982-87. While it's true that dissidents were responsible for atrocities of their own design, these were small in scale to the retribution taken by the Fifth Brigade forces. The report chronicles a trail of systematic murder of thousands, of sadistic torture, destruction of villages and crops leading to starvation. Mugabe has been loathe to comment on the period, warning of "mischief makers" who seek to "wreck our national unity"# . Nor is Joshua Nkomo eager to enter the debate. Following his power sharing agreement with Mugabe in 1987, the ZANU (PF) party was formed. In his senile dotage Nkomo remains vice-president of the nation. He and the ex-ZAPU men now in power are widely reviled by the Ndebele people for growing fat at their expense, and that of the truth. While working in Matabeleland I sensed that the population of those provinces are tired of war and in no hurry to renew the fighting of that period. The scars of the dissident period are near to invisible, yet they still burn. Within the culture of fear that continues to permeate that society, people are reluctant to discuss past events in too open a forum. In more private circumstances, the valves are loosened and the pain released.
One of the more respected figures in Matabeleland is ex-mayor of Bulawayo Joshua Malinga. "The word 'I'm sorry' or apology in Africa is not expressed in words only but also in actions", he said. "You don't do something wrong to me and say you are sorry like what whites do. We Africans don't do that. When you say you are sorry, I must see an expression in your face, voice and tone. Mugabe and his friends in ZANU should have apologised a long time ago by way of seeing chiefs and going around the country to apologise and setting up projects to help## the victims recover. What happened here in Matabeleland, people will not forgive until they get an apology"#.
Since the release of Nelson Mandela and the nation's first all race elections in 1994, much has been done in South Africa to heal old wounds. It was understood that the 'Rainbow Nation' dream would never come about unless all was revealed about the past. A tortured national psyche is not a sound foundation for nation building. So began a formal process of Truth and Reconcilliation, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu. The road has been a difficult one with testimony often so traumatic, as to move the audience to tears. The latest test sees the murderers of Chris Hani, pleaing for amnesty, arguing that the political motives of their actions #entitles them to their freedom.
Visiting South Africa in 1994 I found a country still grapling with its past. Apartheid related problems will continue to haunt South Africa for generations. But at least, I thought, people are talking candidly and generally with an open mind about the past. Therein lies the hope that the dream of a Rainbow nation may one day come to fruition.
I believe South Africa has come much further in the seven years since Nelson Mandela was released than Zimbabwe has since independence, in dealing with the past. Whites in Zimbabwe understand Africans no better than they did way back then, and vice-versa. As described, the tribal pot continues to simmer. Many would argue that Mugabe prefers it this way. By concentrating the people's attention on t#´heir mutual antagonisms and fears, his power and the bungling of his government remains less likely to be chalenged. This may well be true.
Still, I believe that Mugabe is a vain man with an eye to the history books. He may yet realise that future critics will judge him as another African despot, scarred by Fifth Brigade activities in Matabeleland. Apology, as Malinga suggests, or a process of Truth and Reconcilliation pose grave risks to those in power in Zimbabwe. But for Mugabe and Zimbabwe, such action remains the only way forward.
Hodge is an avid traveller who spent three years as an Australian Volunteer Abroad, teaching in Zimbabwe. Currently he teaches at an International School north of Melbourne. He will write this regular column exclusively for USAfricaonline.com and USAfrica The Newspaper.

Should boyfriend be your best friend?

On my very first date with my boyfriend, I didn't know if he was going to kiss me. I didn't know yet that he loves Concord grapes, plays the saxophone and has never seen a Woody Allen movie.

But I did know for certain that I wanted this person with whom I'd just eaten dinner to be in my life, somehow.

I remember sitting across from him at a table in a Portuguese restaurant, smiling, and thinking, "Whatever happens after this date, I really hope we become friends. You're cool."

Flash forward six intense, crazy-in-love months and this man is not only boyfriend -- he is my closest friend now, too, the one who knows everything about what goes on with my family, what goes on at work, what weird dreams woke me up in the middle of the night.

And I'm not entirely sure that's a good thing.

He is my boyfriend, he's my best friend, but he's also filling a vacancy that slowly opened up in my life recently. You see, I don't have a lot of friends. No, I'm not a complete nutter who can't keep any friends, I swear. It's just that, in the past two years, all my closest friends have scattered, literally, around the world:

Christiane was born in Germany and moved back there to be closer to her family; Stephanie joined the Army and right now is stationed in Iraq (at a prison, of all places); and Phil and Andrew are both in grad school in Boston, and it turns out people don't have much of a social life while they're attending Harvard Law School. Last, but not least, there's my best guy friend whom I had a pretty major falling-out with last year, and I've scarcely seen that guy since

Your boyfriend shouldn't hear everything that you would tell a girlfriend, columnist says.

VUVUZELA

The vuvuzela is making a noise again in South Africa – well people are making a noise about the vuvuzela, notably the Shembe’s or The Nazareth Baptist Church in KwaZulu-Natal.Never a quite instrument, the vuvuzela or stadium horn has elicited a lot of noise, mostly from European journalists during and after the Confederations Cup. Then the Vuvuzela was banned in Austria from their stadiums and after playing here the Japanese became unhappy… well the saga goes on and on. But we love Sepp Blatter and Sepp loves South African soccer!

INSIDE AFRICA

USAfrica View From Southern Africa Truth & Reconciliation in Southern Africa


Summary of Essay:
Since the release of Nelson Mandela and the nation's first all race elections in 1994, much has been done in South Africa to heal old wounds. It was understood that the 'Rainbow Nation' dream would never come about unless all was revealed about the past. A tortured national psyche is not a sound foundation for nation building. So began a formal process of Truth and Reconcilliation, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu. The road has been a difficult one with testimony often so traumatic, as to move the audience to tears. The latest test sees the murderers of Chris Hani, pleaing for amnesty, arguing that the political motives of their actions entitles them to their freedom.

Beyond the horror of the war to achieve Zimbabwean independence in 1980, was a ray of light. Robert Mugabe, rather than chasing out the whites who had demonised and imprisoned him, invited them to stay. Seemingly, the worst of the redneck 'Rhodeys' emigrated with the rest of the Rhodesian diaspora. Clearly, the white Zimbabweans that remained felt a deep affinity with the land of their birth, sufficiently compelling to throw in their lot with the new black majority government. If those in power could tap the technical expertise and economic might of their white population, the nation would forge ahead as a beacon for other African nations.
Meanwhile, in South Africa, P.W. Botha led an apartheid regime backed ever futher by international opinion into a 'laager' mentality. The army had demonstrated its capacity to carry out operations in 'front-line states'. Enemies of apartheid filled the prisons, hoping not to pass away as a result of 'slipping on a bar of soap', 'falling down the stairs' or some other self inflicted condition. Special units were employed to eliminate elements of resistance. Others worked at dividing the African community, to the extent of arming and tr# aining Inkatha militias to fight A.N.C. supporters. Nelson Mandela, reluctantly, still called Robben Island his home. Yet, the breath of hope was borne on chilly Cape winds, whispering words of freedom.
Sadly, for Zimbabwe, it wasn't long before tribalism reared its ugly head. Mugabe employed North Korean instructors to train his 'Fifth Brigade', composed mainly of Shona recruits from Zanla, his independence struggle army. They were deployed in Matabeleland to crush the 'dissidents'. These were mainly ex-Zipra soldiers (the Ndebele equivalent of Zanla), reacting to the persecution of ZAPU (the political voice of the Ndebele people) supporters. Mugabe's ZANU party sought to portay the dissidents as a ZAPU attempt to seize what they had failed to achieve in earlier elections. Shona speaking people form a majority of Zimbabwe's population, with IsiNdebele speaking people at around fifteen percent. In March this year the Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice presented their report to Robert Mugabe, detailing the horror of the years 1982-87. While it's true that dissidents were responsible for atrocities of their own design, these were small in scale to the retribution taken by the Fifth Brigade forces. The report chronicles a trail of systematic murder of thousands, of sadistic torture, destruction of villages and crops leading to starvation. Mugabe has been loathe to comment on the period, warning of "mischief makers" who seek to "wreck our national unity"# . Nor is Joshua Nkomo eager to enter the debate. Following his power sharing agreement with Mugabe in 1987, the ZANU (PF) party was formed. In his senile dotage Nkomo remains vice-president of the nation. He and the ex-ZAPU men now in power are widely reviled by the Ndebele people for growing fat at their expense, and that of the truth. While working in Matabeleland I sensed that the population of those provinces are tired of war and in no hurry to renew the fighting of that period. The scars of the dissident period are near to invisible, yet they still burn. Within the culture of fear that continues to permeate that society, people are reluctant to discuss past events in too open a forum. In more private circumstances, the valves are loosened and the pain released.
One of the more respected figures in Matabeleland is ex-mayor of Bulawayo Joshua Malinga. "The word 'I'm sorry' or apology in Africa is not expressed in words only but also in actions", he said. "You don't do something wrong to me and say you are sorry like what whites do. We Africans don't do that. When you say you are sorry, I must see an expression in your face, voice and tone. Mugabe and his friends in ZANU should have apologised a long time ago by way of seeing chiefs and going around the country to apologise and setting up projects to help## the victims recover. What happened here in Matabeleland, people will not forgive until they get an apology"#.
Since the release of Nelson Mandela and the nation's first all race elections in 1994, much has been done in South Africa to heal old wounds. It was understood that the 'Rainbow Nation' dream would never come about unless all was revealed about the past. A tortured national psyche is not a sound foundation for nation building. So began a formal process of Truth and Reconcilliation, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu. The road has been a difficult one with testimony often so traumatic, as to move the audience to tears. The latest test sees the murderers of Chris Hani, pleaing for amnesty, arguing that the political motives of their actions #entitles them to their freedom.
Visiting South Africa in 1994 I found a country still grapling with its past. Apartheid related problems will continue to haunt South Africa for generations. But at least, I thought, people are talking candidly and generally with an open mind about the past. Therein lies the hope that the dream of a Rainbow nation may one day come to fruition.
I believe South Africa has come much further in the seven years since Nelson Mandela was released than Zimbabwe has since independence, in dealing with the past. Whites in Zimbabwe understand Africans no better than they did way back then, and vice-versa. As described, the tribal pot continues to simmer. Many would argue that Mugabe prefers it this way. By concentrating the people's attention on t#´heir mutual antagonisms and fears, his power and the bungling of his government remains less likely to be chalenged. This may well be true.
Still, I believe that Mugabe is a vain man with an eye to the history books. He may yet realise that future critics will judge him as another African despot, scarred by Fifth Brigade activities in Matabeleland. Apology, as Malinga suggests, or a process of Truth and Reconcilliation pose grave risks to those in power in Zimbabwe. But for Mugabe and Zimbabwe, such action remains the only way forward.
Hodge is an avid traveller who spent three years as an Australian Volunteer Abroad, teaching in Zimbabwe. Currently he teaches at an International School north of Melbourne. He will write this regular column exclusively for USAfricaonline.com and USAfrica The Newspaper.

by Peter Hodge, Contributing editor & Columnist