31 August 2007

Sorcerer dies in failed underwater spirit stunt

A TRADITIONAL medicine man in Tanzania drowned after jumping in a river and promising to resurface three days later with relevations from ancestral spirits, police said Tuesday.
The local witch doctor, named as Nyasio Alfonso, staged his ill-fated stunt last week at the village of Masingo in the western Mpanda district near Lake Tanganyika, Rukwa regional police commander Daudi Siadi told AFP.

Dozens of villagers chanted and drummed as the fortune-teller dived to confer with the riverine spirits, he said.

"The incident was reported to us by the village leadership on Sunday, four days after Alfonso threw himself into the river," he said. "His decomposing body was fished out several metres downstream."

The police officer said the incident was the first of its kind in the region. "We are not aware of such practices although belief in witchcraft is widespread in Rukwa region," he said. — AFP

Reprinted from The Zimbabwe Independent

29 August 2007

Zimbabwe Out of Control

BBC has a very informative report on how Zimbabwe came to be in the state it is and what the future may hold. Listen to:


21 August 2007

Why I'm fleeing South Africa

This is one of the saddest articles I've read in some time. The widow of Alan Paton is leaving South Africa. To leave the land one loves because of fear must be one of the most difficult things in life. How can things be turned around? That is the challenge not only for South Africa, but for the rest of the world corrupted by greed and hatred. I believe the greed gives birth to the hatred. Read

by Anne Paton (widow of Alan Paton)

All for Sugar

Cathy Buckle reports another farm theft in Cathy Buckle's Letter from Zimbabwe.

16 August 2007

Beautiful Africa - 3rd edition!

A great blog on all of Africa is Beautiful Africa. It is a "carnival" and has regular collections of postings from all over Africa. Check out the latest:

03 August 2007

02 August 2007

'Witchcraft' arrest in Mozambique

'Witchcraft' arrest in Mozambique

This problem was widespread in Zimbabwe when I lived there. It was less publicized in Cabo Delgado when I lived there, although the "wizards" of Cabo Delgado were reputedly some of the most powerful. These beliefs are a great problem in Southern Africa.

"Rural Life for All" Becoming A Reality


From ZimOnline



01 August 2007

Clear as Mud

Cathy Buckle's Letter from Zimbabwe

Cry for the Beloved Country. Will there be anyone to rebuild Zimbabwe after Mugabe is gone? Will anyone even try for fear that the next leader will be a Mugabe reincarnate?

I weep.