Iyasa wows media

By Patience Tandawa

TALENTED Bulawayo based dancing outfit, Iyasa, left journalists and exhibitors; clamouring for more after a series of spellbinding acts on Wednesday night.

It was a chilly night, with many of the revellers putting on heavy jerseys while others draped themselves with blanket-like jackets.

Most of the media practitioners appeared severely under the cold, especially when a sizable number of top Delta officials were making their speeches – blessing their new product, Chibuku Super, which has taken the country by storm.

Immediately after the speeches, it was time for some eats, to wash down the Chibuku Super, which everyone had been asked to sample by Delta officials so that they report about it from an informed point of view.

However, some journalists took long to join the food queue as Iyasa took to the stage, showing off their apparently natural dancing skills.

The dancing group first played “Umqombothi”, as if to baptise Chibuku Super, which should be found in abundance in Bulawayo in the next few days after a rise in production.

While others appeared to be vexed by the language in the song, they could not be deterred from shaking their mainly huge frames, trying unsuccessfully to mimic the vastly gifted Iyasa team.

Matters came to a head when the track “Mr DJ” was played. The song literally brought down the house and almost everyone, who is aware of the song, sang along.

The atmosphere was so electric that the huge jerseys had to be thrown away so that people could dance freely.

In the thick of excitement, most journalists ended up forgetting the initial instruction to “drink responsibly”, and took heavy doses of Chibuku Super and a number of other beverages available.

Others had to be ferried home by colleagues after taking one-too-many.

President Banda in Bulawayo ZITF

By Patience Tandawa

MALAWI President Joyce Hilda Banda is set to officially open the 54^th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) today.

President Banda arrived in the country on Tuesday and has been visiting a number of key places in the country such as the National Heroes Acre, Boka Tobacco Auction Floors and the Kuwadzana 4 Poly Clinic, among others.

Popularly known in the Malawi media as “JB”, President Banda is expected to tour a couple of exhibition stands at the ZITF in the morning before officially opening arguably the best trade show south of the Sahara in the afternoon.

President Banda joins a host of other Sadc leaders that have officially opened previous editions of the ZITF.

Last year, President Michael Sata officially opened the fair.

But the question among many people here is; who is Joyce Banda?

Born on April 12 1950, Banda has been Malawi President since April 7, 2012. She is the founder and leader of the People’s Party, which was created in 2011.

An educator and grassroots women’s rights activist, she was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2009 and Malawi Vice President from May 2009 to April 2012.

She took office as president following the sudden death of President Bingu wa Mutharika and is Malawi’s fourth president and its first female president.

Before becoming president, she served as the country’s first female vice president.

She was a Member of Parliament and Minister for Gender, Children’s Affairs and Community Services. Before her active career in politics, she was the founder of the Joyce Banda Foundation, founder of the National Association of Business Women (NABW), Young Women Leaders Network and the Hunger Project.

Forbes Magazine named President Banda as the 71st most powerful woman in the world and the most powerful woman in Africa.

Castle tankard 2013 launched

By Patience Tandawa

THE 51^st edition of the Castle Tankard Sponsorship has been officially launched with this year’s edition expected to be bigger and better.

The event has become associated with one of the biggest promotion of the year on the beer calendar, the Castle Tankard Promotion. In a statement, Delta Corporation Manager Mr Maxen Karombo said the promotion has grown from strength to strength over years and is billed to be a big event.

“Our theme for the running of the Castle Tankard this year is “Destination Perfection.” This theme re-affirms the Castel Tankard as the country’s most prestigious horse racing event and establish that the Castel Tankard horse racing event, only “Perfect Moments” take place that is the perfect race, the perfect finish, the perfect entertainment, the perfect beer, perfect prizes, the perfect lifestyle.

“We want to inspire consumers to achieve their own perfect moment, hence high consumer engagement through various activities on the race day and the national consumer promotion. Our commitment this year is to have the, Perfect Reward $50 000 stake money, Perfect Promotion over US$250 000 in prizes to be won by consumers, Perfect Entertainment Music, Fashion, Sky Droppers, Dash for cash, live bands, sharing perfect moments and trade promotion with over US$70 000,”said Mr Karombo.

The premier race run over 2, 000 meters will be the feature race on May 4 2013 at Borrowdale Park race track on a race track on a race card with 7 other races all sponsored by Delta’s brands namely Castle Milk Stout, Castle light, Golden Pilsner, Zambezi light, Bollinger’s Carling Black label.

Homosexuals on the loose

By Patience Tandawa

IT seems President Mugabe’s call to shun homosexuality is falling on deaf ears following the increased number of homosexuality cases in the country.

In Harare along Five Avenue every night at dusk, one sees quite a number of men manning five avenue street which according to Hararians is a replica of Sodom and Gomorrah. The men are believed to be of gay oriantsati9on and the trade seem to be paying up for them due to its hide and seek nature.

A Gays and Lesbians Association (GALZ) Representative who spoke on grounds of anonymity said the gay people deserve the right to express their love and affection just like anyone else who is believed to be of normal orientation.

“We also want to be heard and respected in society, we are what we are not gay by choice  but we were born like this. If the so called normal couples can show affection in public why can’t we?” said the official.

Early last year, two homosexual hideouts, Book Café and Manennberg were shut down by town authorities after residents in the neighbourhood had raised alarm over the continued indecency gays and lesbians were displaying in public.

Grannies turn tires for survival

By Patience Tandawa

THE elderly in Ebantwini, Bulawayo have turned to old tires for energy due to persistent power cuts being experienced in most parts of the country.

The grannies who are caring for the sick relatives and looking after their grandchildren said they are trying to make ends meet in the face of daily challenges. The elderly were in unison saying it was better to dabble with the health hazard that be killed by hunger.

“I am old and cannot walk long distances in the search of firewood. I also don’t have the money to buy firewood,” said Gogo Elizabeth Mlauzi 70, who stays with her two grandchildren.

She added that she will continue to use tires as her electricity has been cut due to ballooning ZESA arrears.

“ZESA told us to our bills were accruing interest and they cut us off. I stay alone as all my children are late and I look after their children so I prioritise food to anything,” she said.