Paradise Lost

I am sad that I have just not been able to give much time to Paradise Lost over the past year (too much work I guess) but as this has been a pretty momentous week with the elections, and as the clip from the BBC is really very funny, here is something for you … and all acknowledgements to the BBC for this material – they are brilliant.

Show 16 I was very happy and privileged to get time to interview Henry Olonga, currently in southern England on a speaking tour. He talks about his cricket, his singing, and how he feels today about the ‘black armband incident’ during the 2003 World Cup Cricket, which forced him into an exile from Zimbabwe. This man is a role model par excellence, and now that I know he can be lured back by the smell of a fine oxtail stew, I hope it will not be the last time Paradise Lost listeners get to hear from him. Music played in this show: Rise Again, Henry Olonga, off the CD AURELIA A Perfect World, Sun Palace off the CD A PERFECT WORLD Valley, Reza Manzoor off the CD RESTRUNG

Show 15 Happy New Year to Paradise Lost listeners. This show features two short interviews: Rita Gibb, who has been living in the UK for nearly two years, and my brother Rogan, who only left Zimbabwe a month ago. Also included is a clip from the BBCs Radio 4 programme, ‘UK Confidential’ which was dealing with hitherto secret papers from 1976. Something about the way the Labour government dealt with ‘the Rhodesia problem’, I found interesting. I end with a little bit of nostalgia and music some may remember from the RBC days of Radio Jacaranda.

Show 14 Phew, moving is pretty hard work! I have arrived in the UK, but my wife Rose is still in South Africa for a little longer. But from my very empty house in Worthing, I finally complete the show with an interview recorded a couple of months ago with ‘Temba Ngazimbe’ who served 30 years with the National Railways of Zimbabwe. This Matabele gentleman has some different, perhaps interesting views. I enjoyed chatting to him when he visited Johannesburg to see two of his children who have lived ‘south of the border’ for several years. Temba is not his real name of course – he requested the anonymity. One day, that will no longer be necessary.

Show 13 I interviewed Eddie Cross, spokesperson for the MDC, in Harare. The interview was in early July. This podcast was edited and put together on the fly, whilst we are in England looking for a house to rent. We relocate from Johannesburg in a couple of months, to Worthing in West Sussex. I will be keen to get some new and different interviews once we are settled and have some decent broadband, so give me a buzz if interested. And no, I don’t think Eddie is cross! At least not with me.

Show 12 Recently visiting in KZN (KwaZulu Natal) I chatted with Bill & Christine Theron, who farmed in the Marandellas (Marondera) area in the 60’s and 70’s. South African Bill was on a trek north to Kenya, when the life and people of Rhodesia captured his heart. He married Christine, and they farmed in Rhodesia until deciding to call it quits towards the end of the bush war. They reflect on memories of days they still think were amongst the best of their lives. WAXMAIL – go to http://www.waxmail.biz/ and you could send me a voice comment. Links mentioned: This is Zimbabwe blog (Sokwenele blog) The Zimbabwe Situation The Zimbabwe Pundit The Bearded Man blog

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.

What’s coming up next on Paradise Lost podcasts? Why has Mark not posted a new show since #10? A 5 minute update … and fret not, there are some great interviews in the bag, and being edited … they will be up soon. (The happy photo for this show is 10 month old Rhys, proud grandson of this show’s presenter … at least that’s what his grandpa thinks. He lives near Pietermaritzburg, KZN, with his mommy Michelle and daddy, Jason)

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.

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.

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.

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

A Zimbo version of the Three Little Piggies, discussion about some good Zimbabwean blogs, news update from The Bearded Man blog. 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

Another voice from home (Clive) talks about why he stays in Zimbabwe. The Bearded Man blog’s Mandebvhu presents the first Zimbabwe News Update, to become a regular feature in the podcast. Are journalists ‘weapons of mass destruction’ as a Zim cabinet minister incredulously said last week? Tichaona Jakonya – his first name means “we will see” ... in case you don’t get the pun! All links to stories in the shownotes: www.paradiselostpodcast.blogspot.com

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. 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. READ THE SHOWNOTES at www.paradiselostpodcast.blogspot.com