Harvey Thomas CBE

Show 11

I had the good fortune to interview Harvey Thomas CBE. Harvey is an International Public Relations and Presentation Consultant, specialising in Corporate and Personal Communication, Customer Relations and Event Management. He consulted for Margaret Thatcher’s government for a number of years, and masterminded the PR campaign for FW De Klerk in South Africa’s first democratic election. The discussion includes personal anecdotes of contact with Robert Mugabe, views on how long Mugabe and ZanuPF may hold onto power, and why Zimbabwe is of littel interest to the first world super powers.Mandebvhu brings you his Zimbabwe News Update: on PCN - the Podcast News Network.

WAXMAIL - go to http://www.waxmail.biz/ and you too could send me a voice comment.

The Paradise Lost podcast is a supporter of PodcastSA a website dedicated to podcasting from and about Southern Africa. Visit the website to discover more interesting podcasts from African podcasters.

Yellow Chickens and Bran Flakes

Show 10

I recorded this show's conversation with Dave and Tess, who have lived in Johannesburg for almost two years. In after-dinner conversation, they talk about adjusting, how to leave a country well, and have to put up with yellow chickens. Dave misses Charon's CASINO chocolates, can you believe, and Tess still thinks that Zimbo All Bran Flakes beat the Kellogs stuff any day. Some email comments back from a few fellas ... thanks! Our first ever audio comment from David Clapper in The Netherlands. The show intro mentions I would play some podsafe music, but as the show ran a little longer than normal, I dropped that idea.

WAXMAIL - go to www.waxmail.biz and you too could send me a voice comment.

A Mexican Wave

Show 9

I had a delightful conversation in a garden on a balmy summer night in Johannesburg. Maria (not her real name) a native of Mexico, works for an NGO in Harare. She has been in Zimbabwe for the last 14 years. She talks candidly about what she has seen in her years of work in the country, what she loves about the land, and the problems that beset the economy and political landscape. It’s an interesting point of view. Mandebvhu brings an update of news. Some podsafe music.

Nothing to say to Robert

Show 8

Rory & Paul talk frankly about leaving Zimbabwe and how they feel four years later. They have observed notable differences between Zimbos and South Africans. I play some more podsafe music and Mandebvhu has another news update from home, especially about the closure of the traditional markets at Mbare Musika and recent cases of cholera in Harare.

Make a Plan

Show 7

Mark interviews Maria who talks about the stress because every day she has ‘to make a plan’. She talks about never wanting to leave Zimbabwe, but thinking she might. Mandebvhu updates us on recent Zimbabwe news. Some podsafe music. 29 mins, 13.76 mb

In this show we mentioned:
Sue Lloyd Roberts, UK journalist - A Country Beyond Hope
Podsafe music - Visit the site
Matthew Ebel - Find his music here

Three Little Piggies

In this show we mentioned:

This is Zimbabwe (blog from Sokwenele). The particular story about Hope's Christmas experience can be found here

The Zimbabwe Pundit - another courageous blogger from within. The story about Minister Sithembiso Nyoni can be found here

The sound clip you here at the end of the tale about the three little piggies, is of Statler and Waldorf, the two old geysers up in the balcony in most episodes of The Muppet Show. You can find it and other clips, here

Show 005

In this show we mentioned:

http://www.zimonline.co.za/printme.asp?ID=11274

President Robert Mugabe is reportedly making moves toallow him to help himself to private Foreign Currency Accounts.

http://www.fingaz.co.zw/story.aspx?stid=391 Tichaona Jakonya has likened the independent journalists in Zimbabwe to “weapons of mass destruction”.

http://www.zimonline.co.za/printme.asp?ID=11284

Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono has begged the President to act urgently to stop farms invasions and to allow the farmers to grow food, or the country is heading for disaster

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/australia-guilty-of-genocide-mugabe/2005/12/12/1134236004061.html In a typical Mugabe-esque reaction to Australia’s expansion of the banned Zimbabwean list, the people of down-under were accused of carrying out genocide against the aborigines and pushing them aside in their bid for control.

http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/zones/sundaytimesNEW/basket17st/basket17st1134367891.aspx

Mugabe has made public his feelings that UN envoys are in actual fact clandestine British agents.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FCB91F60-F42B-4D7D-AAC7-6CBCF8EAD654.htm

Major-General Martin Chehondo 'issued a warning' at an army parade in the central town of Gweru , that supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would not be tolerated in military ranks.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/d4224e481499233828d735d6ba3bc1f0.htm

Last week, Zimbabwe High Court Judge Yunus Omerjee dismissed an application by the 'rebel' faction of the MDC seeking to remove Tsvangirai as party leader.

http://www.zimonline.co.za/printme.asp?ID=11279

So some white farmers in the Masvingo area have won a court order to repossess ‘seized’ farm equipment.

Podcast Alley to vote for the show. Your once per month vote helps raise the profile of this show in the listings of thousands of podcasts at Podcast Alley. Podcast Pickle to post your review about this show.The Paradise Lost podcast is a proud supporter of PodcastSA a website dedicated to podcasting from and about Southern Africa.

The Bearded Man blog ... for more news and views about Zimbabwe

Show 004

Mark chats in a Skype interview with Rob Ellis, about the blooper in last week's show about the year of the Entumbane uprising. Rob adds some personal memories from being in Bulawayo the week that Entumbane was at war. The book mentioned in the interview was "Not Quite A Soldier" by David Lemon - printed by College Press in Zimbabwe.

[Sorry that I have not tracked down much more about this book or author. Here is a longer article from sokwanele.com that includes commentary about Entumbane]

A conversation with Paxton Chivere of Homage Funeral Homes, and the way he is using pastors to drive his hearses, and provide a 'value added service' to families of the bereaved.

Some interesting links related to Homage here, here, and here.

The SUPERSONIC jingle is taken from the Rhodesia Was Super CD. Supersonic was once a highly profitable and exporting manufacturer of radios, based in Bulawayo. Little bits and pieces from my show intro also came from the same CD. I am looking for MP3 recordings of old radio ads and jingles by the way ...

The software I use to record Skype interviews currently, is SKYLOOK. It is easy to use, not that expensive, and I have had more than acceptable results for podcasting.

Please leave a comment, and especially leave a comment at any of the locations listed below. Short audio comments are also welcome, emailed to me directly. Want and easy way to email voice messages? Try WAXMAIL - it's fun and useful.

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Show 003

'Refugee Sizwe & Helping Pensioners'

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Sizwe, 20 year old living in Johannesburg for three years, talks about why he left Bulawayo, and risks being caught and mistreated as another Zimbabwe 'illegal' in South Africa. Maybe someone, somewhere will help Sizwe with his desire to become a journalist - he's a great youngster who could offer a better Zimbabwe a brighter future. Contact me if this gets you thinking.

Gary Cross, pastor of Northside Community Church in Harare discusses the plight of pensioners reliant on fixed incomes in these mega-inflationary times ... and what his church (and others) are doing to ease the stress and genuine needs that exist. This article in THE ZIMBABWE SITUATION is also full of helpful information about ways to get support to people caring for the pensioners.

In our next show ... Mark interviews a funeral home entreprenuer with a passion for life! His approach to dealing with the huge death rate from HV related illnesses is like a breath of fresh air. And more ...

If you would like to make a donation to the Northside Community Church PENSIONERS FUND, please email Gary direct and ask him for more information: gary.cross@northside.co.zw

• Email contact is mickaroony (at) gmail.com (typed this way to avoid spam)
• Skype contact: mark_d_taylor
• Your comments most welcome (and help me know what to do next!)
• Please help publicise this podcast ...and let me know so I can say thank you!
  

Show 002

Voices from Home

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Farai and Muyaradzi chat to me in a car driving down Borrowdale Road in Harare. Some editing to obscure their professions and employers done because freedom of speech is not exactly a hallmark of current Zimbabwean life. Some interesting ideas from these two fellas.

Charlie & Lynne spent a year trying to set up a new business and life in Botswana, but have 'come home' to Harare, and love it in spite of the problems. They talk about what it is like to be raising kids in Harare today.

Josh and Ben are talented little guys - listen to the harmonising as they sing grace at the table one Saturday morning recently.

In our next show....

Gary Cross Pastor of Northside Community Church in Borrowdale, Harare, talks about ways churches are helping senior citizens and pensioners. If you want to contact Gary with some help of your own, email him at this address: gary.cross (at) northside.co.zw (change the (at) to @ - we do this to reduce spam from these shownotes.

This article in THE ZIMBABWE SITUATION is also full of helpful information about ways to get support to people caring for the pensioners.

• Email contact is mickaroony (at) gmail.com (typed this way to avoid spam)
• Skype contact: mark_d_taylor
• Your comments most welcome (and help me know what to do next!)