My Defining Moments of Life Part I: Morgan High School 1997

“You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” - Steve Jobs

1997 was a defining year for me at Morgan, I wasn't a bad student but being raised by a single mom took its toll. The freedom turned into waywardness while mum was away from home fending for her children. The day God allowed the soul of my father to depart this earth was a defining one. Kenneth Hagin sums up well how his heart felt for his mum in one of his messages, the feeling is mutual.

So it happened that one day I was late for school with one guy who was in Form 4B2 called Kuda, to avoid punishment we went to Mukuvisi bridge which was close to the NRZ yard, we chilled there reading some magazine, bags on the floor looking into the water. One guy called Luberto a brother to my classmate Michael Luberto grabbed my bag and Kuda hassled his from him, we wanted to make a run for it but he quickly checked my bag saw a book with my name and class then said I'm brother to Michael and a member of the School Dev. Association, let's go to the Headmaster, I tried negotiation but this guy wouldn't budge. Kuda refused so we went, taken to Gundani Senior Master, lucky Nyaruviro was out as he was the Deputy at the time, Masanganise was on leave. Gundani gave me 3 canes, I refused knowing who the form 4 guy was, just said we met near the gate.

I was told I'm being suspended and must come back with my parent, I could not tell my mum this as it was too much. I went home and said levy arrears are needed and I must come after only I paid. My mom was broke so I had to stay home; it was about 3 weeks before school term ends. If I had not returned by closing day I would consider myself expelled from school. A classmate Givemore stayed close to my home in Chitown, he was sent with an ultimatum letter 7 days from closing day, I opened it and shred it to pieces. My form teacher Mr. Chikwanda was also not in good books with me, he was ecstatic, this was payback and he couldn't wait to rip me to shreds, Gundani also was happy that one of the naughty ones was caught offside, I was ready for the slaughter but not as a lamb but guilty as a fox cornered by sheep.

 

The money for levy was finally gathered but my mom wouldn't lose a day of chasing much needed money to attend some petty levy issue. I look back at these events and thank God, it's a major reason I turned to God and always insist on faith because I know what Grace looks like, how Grace operates and the how Grace does not condemn. I wouldn't say it was down to my wit that events turned out the way they did. On the day of closing school, I went with my sister to meet Gundani & Chikwanda, I was prepared for any eventuality, I was broken, scared and scarred, and I had resigned to fate. It so happened that we arrived late I think about 12 midday, saw a few students who grinned knowing my plight and marvelled, some had that look, "so long sucker, your luck ran dry". You see Mr. Nyaruviro had been telling classmates I was caught at Mankis Paradise, it had been reported earlier that students from Roosevelt, Cranborne and other schools were meeting at some places in Mukuvisi to have sex and do drugs. So the story was I was caught there with some ladies busy in drugs. This is one of the 2 reasons I never indulge in drugs because I was out to tell my story, to write my history which was already in tatters.

It turned out Mr. Chikwanda and Mr. Gundani had decided to leave early for home or were holed up somewhere in meetings, so it was straight to Mr. Masanganise the Headmaster. The story of levy was recited to him, my sister innocent as a nun busy parroting my line, if God was merciless, He would have sent an angel to rebuke me and tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth. The truth sets us free indeed, but the Grace of God qualifies us where we fall very short of qualification. Mr. Masanganise, bless his soul may he rest in eternal peace. He accepted the story, enquired, "is it why you have been suspended?” I muttered yyes sir. He said the case is solved; you can come back to school next term.

I was off the hang man's noose, declared not guilty! I said there must be a greater power up there. Went home and told my partners in crime that I'm sorted now. They could not believe it. You see the devil can drive you into a corner, see your life from the future and do all he can to derail it because when I join the dots looking back, many see a mess, I see Grace. Third term came, first day at school I was seated in my class and boy the classmates were having a go at me, asking about the drugs the girls and how Mukuvisi was. This world is cruel and many judgmental people are out there, if I was the violent type that day in B23 I would have committed murder or maimed some that I would have found myself back on suspension. Mr. Chikwanda came and ran his eyes over his class, saw me and wore a wide devilish grin, the Grim Reaper type, white turned into a probe, "urikutsvagei muclass mangu?" I said the Headmaster allowed me. He said no way under hell is it possible, declared it a lie. So was told "follow me" as the demon possessed classmates chuckled in glee, so down the corridor, down the stairs and right outside his door was Mr. Gundani, he was equally happy to see this hapless soul. He like Mr. Chikwanda dismissed my story as bullcrap.

 

The headmaster did not help my cause, pardon his old age, he had no recollection of seeing me on the last day, so off I went to bring evidence that I was there, my sister and when the Headmaster saw her he said I remember now, yes I solved this case he can go to class, I had won a match played in hell, Chikwanda was dejected. But this was my route to recovery, some months later I was receiving my O Level results, I had managed some As and Bs and few Cs, I had done better than most who had written me off. Life is tough, the people in life make it tougher but that also toughens you up. The struggles we go through eventually define the people we become. Steve Jobs was right about the dots, one day they will all connect and we can give back to the schools of hard knocks where we were knocked into the right paths.

Solution: Issues of BBM Display Picture Not Updating/Changing

Environment

BlackBerry 4.6, 5, 6, 7 & 10

BlackBerry Software/BBM Application

Overview

There have been users reporting that their display pictures are not changing as viewed from their contacts. On own handheld it will be possible to put a new BBM display picture but an old picture remains on the contacts handheld. The following solutions had been proposed albeit without resolving the problem:

• Battery pull for 2 minutes.
• Handheld software reinstall
• Security Wipe on the handheld
• Removing contact and re-adding the contact to BBM

Problem/Cause

This could be emanating from device switch, replacement of a BlackBerry phone with a new one, running concurrent sessions of BBM on two handhelds using one BlackBerry ID.

In my case I had BlackBerry Curve 8520 and replaced it with the BlackBerry Q10. After doing the device switch all data was moved to the Q10 with no problem. After sometime I noticed the display picture on the Q10 was not changing as viewed from my BlackBerry Z10. After trying out a few fixes the problem did not resolve, I was sceptical of doing the Security Wipe & software reinstall on the Q10 as data might be lost, after all this was just a display picture issue which didn’t really hinder functionality on handheld except that sometimes you want to show off or inform your contacts using the display picture to put the message across. Can imagine an engaged woman who puts a picture of her finger with a ring only to be told by the friends we are seeing an old picture on their contact list.

I realised that I had used to BlackBerry Curve via WIFI after doing a device switch, I had activated BBM/Email during that instance so it was one BlackBerry ID connected to 2 devices. On checking the Curve 8520 I realised the display picture on it was the one my contacts on the Q10 were stuck with and unable to see the changes done from the Q10.

Solution

• I took my Curve 8520 from where I had stored it, then did a SecurityWipe (I no longer used it and the data was moved to the Q10 already).
• After doing the security wipe, I checked and my Z10 was still showing the old Display picture on the Q10.
• I them removed the current display picture on the Q10, and instantly the display picture as viewed from the Z10 went to blank/no picture.
• I put another picture on the Q10 and it was updated on the Z10.
• So if you do this procedure and the picture seems not to change, don’t worry, after you put a new picture or remove and put it back this should resolve.

How to Prevent This Happening

We all know the adage, prevention is better than cure! Now to avoid having this problem recurring or happening the following must be done:

1. If you get a new BlackBerry and give the old one to a friend, cousin, child et al, do a security wipe first. If you give them as is, your BlackBerry ID remains attached to the phone, when they begin to use it BBM will restore on your BlackBerry ID can cause the problem.
2. If you are to use your old handheld after doing a switch, make sure you do not link it with your BlackBerry ID or you can create a new BlackBerry ID and link it so that there are no 2 devices sharing one ID.
3. If you lost your phone, make use of BlackBerry Protect so that you can do a remote wipe.

NB: If the proposed solution failed to work in your instance, comment below so we can continue to explore if there is another cause.

Sulu ft. Salma – Ruby Ruby Lyrics (Big Brother The Chase Song)

V-I-V-O, yogo, yogo eh, eh eh, yogo, yogo, eh
Honourableeeeeee!!!!

 

SULU
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Baby you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Honey you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Sweetie you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Baby you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Baby you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Salma you’re my Ruby *Ruby*

 

SALMA
Welibwe lyandi, you’re my precious stone
Welibwe lyandi, you’re my precious stone
I’ll never let you go, kukusiya noo!
I’ll never let you go, kukusiya noo!
You’re my African Man; you give me Shaka Zulu Loving
You’re my everything honey,   I’ll never let you go
You’re my African Man; you give me Shaka Zulu Loving
You’re my everything honey; I’ll never let you go Rubyyy

 

SALMA
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Baby you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Sweetie you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Honey you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Sulu you’re my Ruby *Ruby*

 

SULU
Sweetie come we dance eh, Ruby bwela tivine
Sweetie come we dance oww ah, Ruby Bwela tivine

 

SALMA
Wherever I go my sweetie darling, you’ll be my Ruby!
Pantu ichitemwiko chobe, chalilowa kwati buchi

 

You’ll always be my baby *Sulu*
You’ll always be my honey*Salma*
You’ll always be my baby*Sulu*
I’ll never let you go (both) X 2

 

SULU
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Baby you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Honey you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Sweetie you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Baby you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Baby you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Salma you’re my Ruby *Ruby*

 

SALMA
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Sweetie you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Honey you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Baby you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Wherever I go my sweetie darling, you’ll be my Ruby!
Wherever I go my sweetie darling, you’ll be my Ruby!

Image Courtesy of: blazingjamz.blogspot.com







SULU
Feza, she’s a Ruby
Biguesas, he’s a Ruby
LK4, he’s a Ruby
Koketso, he’s a Ruby
Pokello, she’s a Ruby
Angelo, he’s a Ruby
Elikem, he’s a Ruby
Neyll, he’s a Ruby

You’ll always be my baby *Sulu*
You’ll always be my honey*Salma*
You’ll always be my baby*Sulu*
I’ll never let you go (both)

 

SALMA
You’re my African Man; you give me Shaka Zulu Loving
You’re my everything honey; I’ll never let you go
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Baby you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Sweetie you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Honey you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Baby you’re my Ruby *Ruby*

 

SULU
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Baby you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby *Ruby*
Honey you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Sweetie you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Baby you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Baby you’re my Ruby *Ruby*
Salma you’re my Ruby *Ruby*

 

SULU
O’Neill, he’s a Ruby
Natasha, she’s a Ruby
Maria, he’s a Ruby
Fatima, she’s a Ruby
Eveva, she’s a Ruby
Dillish, she’s a Ruby
Cleo, she’s a Ruby
Even Bassey, he’s a Ruby
Annabel, she’s a Ruby
Melvin, he’s a Ruby
Biverly, she’s a Ruby
Suluuuu…..Even Selly that’s my Ruby
Honey you’re my Ruby *Salma*
I.K. you’re a Ruby
Biggy you’re a Ruby
Salma *booma-ye*

 

Africa, Africa, Africa I love you,
Africa, Afriii ooh!! Africa aaah
Zambia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania,
South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Siella Reone
Uganda, Uganda, Ethiopia, Ethiopia, Malawi, Malawi,
Keeenya, ah Botswana, Botswana,ah Namibia, Namibia…

 

Ahh, mmmh  ana Motamma, Huddah, Bolt…..
Hakeem, Denzel, Betty, JJ…..
Busi, Jazz, Alusa, Sophie
Hey Sulu what about also Bimp *Salma*
Ahh okay, he’s also a Ruby…

 

**ENDS**

 

Credit to Moses Phiri for the vernacular lines.



SADC: Mafia Grouping or a Genuine Grouping with Wananchi at Heart?

Ndugu na dada, the weekend came and went, so did the SADC summit. The high expectations of the citizens of SADC was met with nothing but despair more bitterly so for the citizens of Zimbabwe. Coming from a blatantly stolen vote, NIKUVED into what they call free & peaceful election, never ask where the “fair” went, this is Africa wananchi, things change so are the words to describe events like elections. But don’t fool yourself about things changing in as far as poverty is concerned, no, no, that one is a constant on this sun scorched continent where days are nevertheless always getting colder for the ordinary people with much expectation to rise from the hot dust of this unforgiving land. To add salt to the injury to the hearts of the multitude of Zimbabweans Mr. Mugabe was made the deputy chair of the SADC body, yes if you don’t believe me wait for the Communiqué to come today.  What this simply means is that he will be the next SADC Chairperson in August 2014! Can you stomach that? I see many puke with their mouth agape. Hitherto SADC seemed a credible body in whom Zimbabweans placed so much trust despite feeling Thabo Mbeki shoved them under the bus many times to give our seats of dignity to ZANUPF big egos. Now it seems this little trust has all but been erased. If any of you out there have faith in SADC well you must be one of those in its leadership. Many are asking themselves what happened. Is it a horrible dream the old hag type they call Madzikirira in Shona, no its reality you will only sleep from it but never wake up out of it. Questions are being asked as to why this can be, I will try to expound my own reasons from a man on the street perspective, and my reasons might be a result of the nightmarish situation we find ourselves but forgive me, if ever we wake up from this reality I will retract:

1. What Happened to SADC Election Guidelines?

The SADC bloc has nice looking principles for holding elections, 10 in all. Even for primary school kids they can tell you more than half were not in Zimbabwean elections but still SADC endorsed the elections. Well the reality which Africans must know is that our leaders have mastered the art of deceit. Those guidelines were never authored by you the ordinary men of SADC, neither were you ever consulted about them. Africa is the continent led by the blind and in most cases the blind in our world live off state social services/pension or as in African case, begging. So those guidelines are the top 10 nice songs our leaders sing to EU, USA, Japan, UN, World Bank et al when they extend the begging bowl. Yes the millions they need to fatten themselves come from that top 10. The guidelines are purely for that, nothing to do with you and me. So never cry foul about those guidelines again, they are not for you to use but for them to beg. That is why the rich nations were not invited to observe the elections in Zimbabwe, unlce Bob was just told behind the scenes not to invite them lest they report to the financiers of aid that only 3 songs were sung at the elections and result in reduced aid. The reason for SADC existence is found in the reason it came into being viz, “when the leaders of majority-ruled countries and national liberation movements coordinated their political, diplomatic and military struggles to bring an end to colonial and white-minority rule in southern Africa.” Nothing about democracy there or free and fair elections.

2. The Ripple Effect/The Perfect Alibi

The other SADC countries are going to be holding elections in less than a year notably Malawi and South Africa. EFF is making noise in South Africa, they are wearing red berets like MDCT of Zimbabwe, and this might be a bad omen to them. They must change to green maybe. Also NIKUV now has offices or a branch in South Africa, SA system of democracy seems to be water tight but think of one person not finding their name on the voters’ roll in Mpumalanga, who would care to listen to that cry of one man? But in a nation of about 60 million if 500,000 are missing can it be glaringly clear they were NIKUVED? Malema’s nationalisation/expropriation agenda puts him at opposite end with the predominantly powerful forces in the economy. Looking at the courts which side will they likely take between Malema vs. Owners? So the EFF might just be told to EF off with their cries of being shut out. When leadership is on the side of the powerful nations e.g UK, EU, USA then expect no justice even from courts, Gukurahundi happened when there were courts of law in Zimbabwe lest we forget. More interesting for Malawi is that by the time they go for polls the President Joyce Banda will still be at the helm of SADC, God help the opposition in Malawi because they might have to cry to their abuser for justice. Maybe the right things will be done in that nation but they must start praying now. So everyone in SADC can benefit from Mr. Mugabe leading the way to steal and be credible.

 

 

3. Something is Cooking Behind the Scenes?

The kind of shock elicited by the events of 31 July 2013 and the SADC meeting on 17 August 2013 can often lead to setting aside of our convictions in denial. Some are saying Mr. Mugabe has promised SADC to undo the stealing and give back the goods in some form or fashion. Others have had hallucinatory imagination that Morgan Tsvangirai would be made the first Vice President to take over from the man since he is old. This sounds outlandish but is it not a fact many a prophets give correct prophecies while in a state of trance, remember John begins the book of Revelation after preface saying, “I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day”. So dismiss the delusions at your own peril, we are Zimbos is anything too surprising? After all Mai. Mujuru is quoted as having hinted she is ready to lead because Gushungo might be recalled soon by the man above. This is before even the swearing in ceremony, does she know something or just making a claim like the Sea Gulls in Finding Nemo yelping “Mine”, “Mine”, “Mine” to the chagrin of the chaos faction as my leader Tendai Biti would say? We are made to believe a war for the throne is in full swing. Too bad the chaos faction is led by Emerson Mnangagwa who is rightly named Ngwena meaning crocodile, as you all know crocodiles have no voice, they never speak (ever heard a crocodile cry?). While the Zebras and Wildebeests talk the crocodile remains submerged & shows up at strike so we will never know what Ngwena is up to, might he sink Mujuru one way or the other?  If Mai. Mujuru is to sink one way or the other then be guaranteed the Zebras and Wildebeests in her entourage will feel it’s time to dry the pool and result in the crocodile facing death too. Now when that happens, you can expect that man from Humanikwa Morgan Tsvangirai to pounce and make a surprise shoot to the top. Apart from Mujuru and Mnangagwa ZANUPF has no other leader, the former can thrive on her good heart the latter from the mean tactics, the rest are just sheeple with the weakest spines, remember the scary one who was battered in the house by the small looking wife?

4. The Prophets have Spoken in Many Ways

This might sound farfetched or a non-reason at all. But Zimbabweans have seen many dark days that when prophets speak they take the word for fact. Never mind the many who dismiss these Men of God as fakes out to make a dollar, check most opponents of Prophecy use fake Facebook profiles. Yes, let me make it known to you here and now, a fake Facebook profile doing politics in support of ZANUPF is 9 out 10 times likely to be someone who calls themselves CIO. They are employed to do that to dilute opinion, if you think I lie, look for Zimbabwe news on websites like timeslive.co.za, mg.co.za, sowetanlive.co.za, newsday.co.zw, dailynews.co.zw check in comments sections you will see an alias that recurs many times and has all the time to post replies fighting in the regime’s corner. So don’t expect CIO to be always intelligent, some are just dumb with a laptop and earn for commenting 24 hours.

Back to the prophets, Maxillar Mumo, Emmanuel Makandiwa, Jordan House all came out with prophecies concerning Zimbabwe especially the time we are living in. For Makandiwa it was a hidden one which his close associates’ claims was about Zimbabwe. Jordan House and Maxillar have been specific. They both are explicit that Zimbabwe is poised for political change with the old leadership giving way to a new dispensation. So the manoeuvres by SADC can be seen in the light of these prophecies, God will do His own work and all the glory will be given to Him and Him alone. So maybe SADC have taken their stance to allow fulfilment of God’s work. Before Saturday Zimbabweans have been holding on to SADC and prophets, now it is clear they are only left holding on to God through the prophets. Many are asking how this can be fulfilled when on the ground all looks opposite. The children of Israel must have asked the same cornered before the Red Sea but then God did the unexpected. God is God so rather let Him be the only hope that remains in you when all else has collapsed and failed, for all things we can never give up on the man above. To those who do not believe in God, its end of the road for them, these avoid because they are angry and will take matters into their own hands without much thought.

So for now Wananchi, this is where we are, a reality we wish was a nightmare and wake up from, but we can only sleep from it and wake up to it. But stand firm; keep the flame of hope burning, darkness might seem to be vast know this, a small light in a dark place can be seen from great distances. One day you will forget the pain but never forget the lessons.