SPRING TRUST’S RECENT SELFLESS ACT

This last Sunday on the 8^th of September, Spring Trust did something amazing on the streets of Harare. The organisation is a Christian youth institution founded some two or three years ago, and then unfortunately, went silent for a while. But in the last four months, they have come back to life and they do not seem to be planning on putting on a disappearing act again.

So on Sunday, the Spring people met in town early morning and divided themselves up into two groups, so that they would better cover most of town where the homeless are found. Each group would go to hot spots of where most are found, have them call their friends and come together to the car where the food was served. They had prepared a variety of sandwiches plus drink.

True African Woman went along for the ride and to say the experience was touching would be the understatement of the century! After being part of such a beautiful thing, I was left humbled and extremely touched – more than the people who were being helped even. We had to wake some of them and I wish you could have been there to see the joy on their faces. I have always been afraid of the homeless, I do not know why; perhaps it is the wrong kind of socialisation I got. But on Sunday, I realised that they are also people - with feelings, and oh so very polite – some of them even funny.

One old man almost had me in tears. He came walking extremely slowly, back slouched. When he got to where the food was being served, he hesitantly accepted the food and asked how much the food was. The girl who had handed him his plate smilingly assured him that the food was free. He was so relieved and appreciative; his expression touched my heart. When he sat down, and started on his breakfast, it is a scene I shall forever cherish.

By around eleven, they were rounding up. However, they kept getting delayed because just as they were packing up, more people would come. By this time, they were in the Harare Gardens. Finally, it was time to go and I really felt that it was a Sunday morning well spent. One man said something that got me thinking that if someone who is homeless and has every reason to be bitter can still have something to be thankful to God for, then how could I, in my right senses, complain about anything?

Spring hopes to continue doing this on a more regular basis. True African Woman wishes them all the best and hopes that they can get support. Because of everything that one can do in this life, making a positive difference in someone’s life is the best thing one can ever do in his/her life span. Thank you Spring.

BLACK OPAL ZIMBABWE WELCOME BACK PARTY

Early on this year, Betty Moyo won the title Black Opal Face of Zimbabwe 2013. So as part of her prize, she went to the New York for a week, and last Friday on the 30^th of August, Black Opal hosted a welcome back party for her in Masasa at Mabvazuva Village.

So the party was scheduled to start sometime around 3pm, but you know Africans being Africans, people never arrive on time hence, things never begin in time. What amused me the most was that the organisers did not seem to mind at all. So as the guests trickled in, refreshments were served, people mingled and photos were being taken – a sort of “red carpet” kind of thing, really nice. And speaking of red, red was THE colour on Friday. Everyone had something red going on, a handbag, heels, dress, jacket – I even had a red shirt, lol.

The party finally officially began when Dee Mutseyekwa gave us an overview of what Black Opal Face of Zimbabwe is all about. Afterwards, Tatenda Mutseyekwa gave us the detail of what Black Opal Face of Zimbabwe is all about. Apparently, one of the main reasons is so that we have a local face being the brand face for the Zimbabwean market, giving opportunity to all women to get in to the modelling business and achieve their ambitions.

After the speeches, Betty gave us a testimony of her experience in the States. Among the so many activities she did, she went to where Black Opal is manufactured, had a shopping spree, went to Broadway, Times Square, the Empire State… Don’t you just want to be part of Black Opal Face of Zim 2014? I know I do, you never know, this time one might just get to spend a whole month in the States! J

Apparently Betty was just coming from high school when she entered the contest. Having seen her in person, I liked Betty. She is humble, sweet, bubbly, real and a total mama’s baby – the normal Zim girl having an A list experience. Her mom was with her as well and we could tell she gets her personality from her.

I totally loved the audience – we had a lot of comic people it seemed. Then the audience was given time to ask Betty questions and she answered them so well! True African Woman was especially proud of one of the continent’s finest! In conclusion, she urged us ladies to put importance on skin care so that with or without make up, our skin should be flawless and beautiful. Black Opal could not have chosen a better ambassador for their product. After that, it was more refreshments, music and mingling.

IT’S A GUY THING?

Men! I have laboured to understand what makes them tick, but, not surprisingly at all, I have failed dismally! I have a theory. If they did not all come from the same woman, they most definitely came from the same woman. Seriously, have you noticed their behaviour? Regardless of their race, tribe, religion or class, men are men at the end of the day. Their behaviour with regards to us women is just unbelievable and they stick up for each other in the most ridiculous of ways!

One thing I have not yet decided how to feel about is how these guys break up with us. I am not sure if I should find it hilarious or just plain infuriating. Here is why; when a guy sees you probably for the first time, or when he realises that he is madly attracted to you, not even a fire hail storm could stop him from getting you. He will do all that a mortal man can do just to get you. But just you wait and see what he will do and say when he does not want you anymore. Because this article is about how guys are unbelievable, we are going to be biased and not talk of when we women break their hearts. Yes we can be heartless at times, but the guys take the cup!

I did a small survey among my guy friends and you will not believe some of the nasty break-up lines they have used on their past girlfriends! It’s not you - it’s me; you deserve better than me; I can’t do this anymore; I don’t deserve you; I need a break; I think we should see other people… But then, how could you not? I am pretty sure one in every two of your past boyfriends most probably said or did something worse. One guy was like “I don’t break up with girls. I just go quiet”. Seriously?     

The most ideal and romantic of notions would be that people should never break up, or that if it comes to that point, it is consensual. Granted, there is no easy way of breaking up with someone, but these guys should at least try to put some heart in to it! Personally, what infuriates me the most is when at first I did not even like the pig. And then he probably wormed his way into my life and then after what I would have thought was a wonderful time together he says “I can’t do this anymore, it’s not you it’s me, I need some space”, ah! UNBELIEVABLE! And you are left thinking, “where did all this come from? How did I miss the signs? What did I do wrong? What happened?” In the meantime, the prick is already having the time of his life with someone else, and poor you is devastated for days.

Nxa! Men! We cannot live with them, and we cannot live without them either. Argh!

MISS DIAMOND QUEEN OF AFRICA 2013

Over the weekend, the grand finale of the continent’s first ever Miss Diamond Queen of Africa was happening at the Harare International Conference Centre. And if you were not there, I feel for you, because the Conference Centre was hosting some of Africa’s finest! A more apt title could not have been chosen for the pageant because the queens definitely had diamond shaped figures. True African women flaunting what their mamas gave them. I like the concept. Why should we only celebrate size zero when talking of the ideal woman’s body? Size zero is beautiful yes, but so is plus size. After this experience, I am convinced that beauty definitely comes in all shapes and sizes.

The event started with the cultural segment, where the girls show cased their talents and at the same time sharing with us their culture. There was dancing and singing, and in this category, the Zambian belle was the crowd favourite as she showed us what true belly dancing is. After the photogenic category, High Definition came on stage and blew us all away. Everything suddenly became larger than life. Their dancing was just mad crazy. The ladies could not stop screaming and it was over just way too soon. Orchid came up next and the ladies meant business. No joking around when it’s time for dancing.

 Apparently, the queens had gone for Zumba lessons, where they had been prejudged for the title of Miss Fitness. The top five and their instructor gave us a taste of what Zumba is all about. After what I saw, Zumba is most definitely up on number one on my to-do list! I mean if the instructor is super-hott eye-candy, who am I to deny myself the pleasure of keeping fit? 

As we waited for the judges to deliberate, BaShupi took the stage with such force that to say the room was literally on fire would be an understatement! One has so got to love the way the paparazzi was all over the place. Felt like we were in Hollywood! Finally the judges made their decision and: Nancy from Mozambique was 2^nd princess, Boitumelo from South Africa 1^st princess and our very own Zimbabwean Chiedza Gwanda won the title and is now reigning Miss Diamond Queen of Africa 2013. And with that, the evening came to a beautiful end.

SUMMER IS HERE!

Summer is the warmest season of the year; a period of fruition, fulfilment, happiness and beauty. When the sun comes up, it brightens up everything. Even the birds and the butterflies know that summer is here. How could they not, when the roses, lilies, orchids, forget-me-nots and the hibiscuses are blooming – declaring that with no doubt, summer is here!

So if nature knows that summer is here, do you? What shows that you do? Because when it was winter; dark, dull and boring clothes made the most sense and staying indoors was logical. But now that winter is over and the happy season is back again, there is just no reason for you to be left behind in Gloomyville.

I know shopping is a favourite for most women. So here is an excuse to go on a spree. Go with your girlfriends and get yourselves some colourful sandals, shorts, short skirts and dresses. Get yourselves those veranda sun hats and shades that will most definitely make you traffic stoppers! Its summer - carefree season! So shed off all that up tightness and get into the spirit of the moment!

Now that it is nice and hot, all the swimming pools are open, and ice-cream parlours are definitely making the best ice-cream that can be made. This is also the time that most sports are in season. Take up a new hobby and go watch a game of something you have never watched – basketball, cricket, volleyball… Live for today ladies. And today being summer time, enjoy it like it is your last!

ONLY IN AFRICA!

I love being an African because there is just no place like the motherland. If there ever was anything that the continent was generously endowed with, doing the unbelievable has to be it. Seriously! Sometimes I wonder if people even stop to think before they do what they do or if they just go with the flow and unwittingly provide content for humour for us poor souls.

Take our English names for example. I am pretty sure it is only in Africa where you will find people with mean parents giving their children names that are just unbelievingly comical. Take Liberty, Honesty, Godknows, Needmore, Nomatter, Norest, Reason, Moreblessing, Lovemore, Intergrity, Nomore and Givemore for instance. My favourite is our Nigerian president’s name – Goodluck Jonathan. Really? These are not even the worst of them. Ever heard of Moreboys, Chemistry, Forward, Atonement, Fact, Trust, January, Trymore, Wisdom, Only, Thanks, Takesure, Amazing, Nevilite, Tryness, Kindness, Reality and Kingdom? Like I said, only in Africa!

Brand names are another object of abuse by our fellow peoples. You hear people referring to all types of toothpaste as Colgate, all types of washing powder as Surf, all types of fabric softeners as Sta Soft, all types of scouring powder as Vim, all types of floor polish as Cobra and all types of juice as Mazoe. Unbelievable! The funny thing would be when you find yourself doing just that. One of the main reasons is usually that if you try to use the proper product name, you might find yourself having a serious communication breakdown. Only in Africa my friend!

I might say that incredibly wrong English statements are becoming the continent’s specialty. Ever heard people say “please borrow me…” when in actual fact they want to say “please lend me…”, or “I will borrow you” when they mean that they want to lend you. My skin still crawls every time I hear “cousin brother” and “cousin sister”, regardless of how many times I have heard it already. “He bored me” is by all means the most classic. What this individual means is that he/she was annoyed. And where in the world people got laughicious, conscientise and irregardless, I can only wonder.

You also know that you are definitely in Africa when you hear an “err” sound in the middle of a word. Like, “berrg” for bag, “ferrct” for fact. My favourite, is when people put the “ey” sound. Like “heyd” for heard, “cheych” for church, and “teyn” for ten. The logic totally defies me, but perhaps to the person saying it, it sounds very right.

That is our beloved Africa for you. No place like it.

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE MONTH OF AUGUST

·         August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars.

·          It is also one of seven months with a length of 31 days.

·         The Anglo-Saxons called August by the name Weod-monath (weed month) as it is the month when weeds grow most rapidly.

·         In the Southern Hemisphere, August is the seasonal equivalent of February in the Northern Hemisphere.

·         Twenty-two per cent of Norwegians named August were born in August.

·         In common years no other month starts on the same day of the week as August.

·         August ends on the same day of the week as November every year.

·         Henry VI Part 1 and The Tempest are the only Shakespeare plays that mention August.

·         This month was originally named Sextilis in Latin, because it was the sixth month in the original ten-month Roman calendar under Romulus in 753 BC, when March was the first month of the year.

·         About 700 BC it became the eighth month when January and February were added to the year before March by King Numa Pompilius, who also gave it 29 days.

·         Julius Caesar added two days when he created the Julian calendar in 45 BC giving it its modern length of 31 days.

·         In 8 BC it was renamed in honor of Augustus (despite common belief, he did not take a day from February).

·         On the 21^st of August 1911, Leornado de Vinci’s Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre Gallery.

·         In 1963 on the 28^th of August, Martin Luther King made his famous “I have a dream” speech.

·         On the 31^st of this same month in 1997, Princess Dianna was killed.