zim-canucks column

o announce the World Diamond Summit it is hosting next year and a consortium of West African mining companies also decided on the frozen Lake Ontario as a backdrop for this year’s West African Mining Investment Awards.
Zimbabwe, being one of Africa’s most lucrative mining destinations, would normally be represented at such a big do, with top government officials touting investor friendly policies and company executives negotiating deals. Well, you guessed right, there is nobody from Harare.
In the opening session of the black economic empowerment seminar on Saturday, there were three Zimbabweans though; Joel Mungoshi representing a South African company; Lungile Ncube, an exiled journalist working for the host of the seminar and yours truly.
And, oh! Zimbabwe was mentioned at least once when Noah Greenhill of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) lamented that all foreign companies that were listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) had delisted.
I used to report on the ZSE in the late 1990s until about 2001. It was considered among the best in the world and clearly the pride of Africa. Not anymore and it depresses me.
Talking about being depressed, about a week ago, I had one of those “feels like home” experiences.
I went to buy gas at the nearest Esso gas station and found the pumps blocked off. As I was wondering what was going on another driver shouted that there was no gas at all stations. I literally panicked.
For a while (in my mind) I was back in Harare, parked at an empty gas station. I was thinking what I would do without gas; how would I go to work, how would I pick up my son from school and if I get gas somewhere, can I get a container to hoard some, would they allow it here? Why was there a shortage anyway?
As I was pondering over this, a worker at the gas station, I am sure after seeing me parked there for a little while, approached and told me that there was no gas. I asked whether this was the case everywhere and he said no, just Esso outlets.
I was very relieved and moved on to another gas station, happy to know that in Toronto, unlike in Harare, if one facility has run out, the next one can still serve people.
The shortage, which is in its second week now, was caused by a fire at major supplier, Imperial Oil Refinery in London, Ontario.
Enough about depressing stuff. Hey, did you know that everyday we, Zim-Canucks actually eat what you eat in Murehwa, Kariba or Tsholotsho? Yeah, we eat sadza, mazondo, matumbu embudzi akamonwa, mutakura, mbambayira and all that. Ain’t that cool?
Anyway, I personally still miss muriwo webowora, although last summer I planted some in my small garden. I also miss mapudzi and some fruits that are uniquely Zimbabwean. Okay, okay, so I miss home. We all do.
Talking about planting mubowora, a reliable source of mine says there is idle land somewhere in the outskirts of Toronto and some Zim-Canucks are actually planning to “invade” that land and utilize it for market gardening. You bet I will find out about it and let you all know.
What? Cde Chinos is already packing his bags for Canada? I am outta here. Till next week, watch this space.