SWRA this weekend

This week on Hot Seat, Alex stands in for Violet and speaks to the spokesperson of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Elinor Sisulu about the worsening humanitarian crisis. Sisulu expresses outrage at the desperate situation that she says is denying the country’s children a future. She explains that the ongoing political negotiations have implications for the future of peace, security and human rights in Southern Africa and says the region will suffer if the Zimbabwe crisis is left to continue spiralling out of control. The Appeal for Peace addresses those who are guilty of perpetrating violence, intimidation and torture in our country and comes from Zimbabweans from all walks of life. Today’s message is from Togara in Nembudziya. On Friday’s Callback Mhene in a rural area of Mashonaland West says that people are having to eat tree leaves and many of them are dying; Alien says that his faith has helped him endure the trials of Zimbabwe, and he talks about how people are struggling in the now US dollar based economy, then Themba complains about having to spend 12 hours in a bank queue to draw out money to buy food. In Cathy Buckle’s Letter from Zimbabwe she says the word being used to describe the government of national unity is ‘deadlocked’ and it couldn’t be more apt. We are locked in a death grip and things are falling apart at a dramatic pace. 

Saturday we have HEALTHbeat, which takes a holistic view of issues of health and well-being.  Chaka gives some sound advice on stress management. Nowadays with the economic and the health crises that most people are battling stress level are extreme, and he says that effective ways of managing stress are essential, and Gift talks about the availability of pain relief meds, and how despite the shortage of drugs, Zimbabwe is one of the first countries in Africa to embrace the concept of hospices and palliative care. Then it’s time for Reporter’s Forum where the team looks at the political drama surrounding the Mugabe regime’s withholding of Tsvangirai’s passport. A SADC troika meeting in Swaziland on Monday was meant to resolve the impasse over the cabinet in the country, but instead ZANU PF continued being obstructive. Lance is joined by Bekithemba Mhlanga and Msekiwa Makwanya in this no-holds barred panel discussion. Then it’s The Heart of the Matter where well-known journalist and broadcaster Tanonoka Whande shares his unique thoughts and insights on current events. On the programme Tanonoka focuses on the recent SADC Swazi summit debacle, which he describes as an indication of SADC’s disinterest in resolving the Zimbabwe crisis, and he highlights Mugabe’s total lack of commitment to the power sharing deal. He says while all this high level posturing is going on, people are dying from starvation and cholera. On Callback Chaka, who is self-employed, describes how, because of the bank cash withdrawal limit,  he has had to open 35 bank accounts and he spends his days going from bank queue to bank queue; Tachiona says the situation is unbearable and people are only surviving because of help from relatives in the Diaspora, then Calisto reports that the violence in Gutu seems to have abated and they are all hoping that the deal can bring about a solution to their problems. 

This Sunday on Through the Valley, Richard remembers the remarkable life of Dr Jean Pole-Evans, popularly known as ‘Dr Jenny’, who passed away on October 21st.  For over 50 years she gave expert medical care to poor people at her home at Old Mutare. Richard also looks at Bishop Sebastian Bakare article that talks about the State corruption and political patronage that has caused the collapse of social services in Zimbabwe. Then Tichaona presents the programme Rebuilding Zimbabwe where he speaks to the MDC’s chief representative in the UK, Hebson Makuvise, who believes that Robert Mugabe’s delaying tactics to seal the power sharing deal with Morgan Tsvangirai is ensuring that Zimbabwe degenerates into one of mankind’s greatest humanitarian tragedies, and that it will cost an unbelievable amount of money to ever rebuild the shattered nation. Democracy 101 is the programme that gives a beginners guide to democracy and the democratic process. Dominic and Willy discuss the interplay between ubuntu’ or chivanhu,’ and democracy. What were the people of Zimbabwe’s expectations from their elected leaders, and how is the current leadership going against the democratic process and the concept of chivanhu? 

Every weekday we bring you a Newsreel bulletin at both the opening and the closing of our weekday broadcasts with all the latest news concerning Zimbabwe, and on Saturday we have a News Roundup of the week’s events. 

Please note that on Sunday 26th October one of the frequencies that we broadcast on will be changing. You will no longer be able to find us on 12035 kHz – we will have moved to 11745 kHz. We will also still be broadcasting on 4880 kHz – and if the regime would kindly stop jamming us you should be able to hear us on that frequency. 

SW RADIO AFRICA – on line 24 hours a day at www.swradioafrica.com and daily broadcasts on 12035kHz in the 25m band; and 4880 kHz in the 60m band between 7 – 9 pm Zimbabwe time.