Dr Sylvia Tamale holding a copy of African Sexualities: A Reader

Dr Tamale touched on sexualities and noted that people engaged in same sex relationships are widely castigated on the African continent. Some countries go as far as effectuating morals legislation that illegalizes such ‘Western’ practices. She highlighted that society has long dictated what is or isn’t normal despite sometimes the ‘freaks of nature’ that point out otherwise. She said that for instance, while one in seven babies are born with ambiguous genitalia worldwide; society goes out of its way to re-assign a sex for them to make them fit into one of those two neat little boxes of either male or female. Ironically, society then wonders why a lot of those kids grow up feeling trapped in the wrong bodies.

If a woman is in love with another woman; what business is it of yours? What does it take away from you, she challenged. Good questions.
Dr Tamale however also believes that there is a direct link between women’s sexuality and their subordinate positions in society. Men, she said, maintain dominance through reinforcing patriarchal societies in which they own and control resources, passing them on further to other men (sons). Through the capitalist system, they maintain patriarchy by subordinating women in the home where they are expected to provide cheap & unpaid for labour. The patriarchal state then maintains this arrangement through tools like the law, religion and culture to control women’s sexuality. For instance, it is not by accident that sellers of sex are called ‘prostitutes’ and persecuted, but the buyers of sex – who are mostly men, remain untouched. Or worse, she said that women’s clitorises (sic) have about 8000 pleasurable nerve endings while men’s organs have only half of that. How do the men in some societies seek to control that? By aiming straight at the heart and power of women’s sexuality and chopping the damn things off!

While I generally agree with Dr Tamale’s offerings, I believe that feminists give men too much credit. I know a lot of men who are surprised and feel honoured to be put on undeserved pedestals where they are made out as possessing such high levels of intelligence, calculation and connivance that have enabled them to sustain such a systematic conspiracy over decades.

Trying to establish the link in this ‘super conspiracy’ is hard, and can only be grist for academic discourse where it can be better digested. However, oppression of women comes on many fronts, including from fellow women themselves. Some women limit themselves, in their mindsets, and masquerading as victims of oppression – have remained entrenched in the hysteria of readymade reasons for all their failures – “because we are women!” With the advent of the 21st century came so many opportunities for women and success is out there for the taking. Whilst we pre-occupy ourselves with trying to dismantle men’s conspiracy theories both real and imagined, the opposite sex is busy developing themselves with productive occupation.

With people like Dr Tamale, feminism has become such a fundamentalism that it is small wonder why female human rights activists strain to dissociate themselves from this predatory dogma that sees nothing but evil in the opposite sex. She reminded so much of eccentric gender activism gladiators like Thoko Matshe and her infamous “I don’t do men, except in the bedroom” line.

Over the years, women have started to slowly take over the world and more and more, powerful women like Condoleeza Rice, Hilary Clinton, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and recently, Christine Lagarde have proven that anatomy has nothing to do with it. Hell, in Zimbabwe we have a ‘new phenomenon’ of women raping men.

But then again, if Tamale was referring to the ‘oppressed’ women in conservative rural areas; I cannot imagine that the woman down in Mutorashanga can even begin to understand or care that she is being systematically subjugated in order to sustain both patriarchy and capitalism; which begs the question, which women are we talking about?

The article basically sought to establish how ready Zimbabweans were to accept homosexuals and also discuss the fact that this is a hotly contested issue at this point while the country waits – with bated breath – for a new constitution. The likes of Dr Vimbai Chivaura (UZ) and Takudzwa Gutu (MSU) – labeled as social commentator and social expert (whatever that is) respectively – were interviewed and gave such crass and unjustifiably homophobic remarks you’d wonder why the journalist chose university personnel as sources in the first place. According to Chivaura, homosexuality is unAfrican (yeah, we’ve heard that before) and there is “need for a law which completely wipes it out from the face of the Zimbabwean cultural landscape”.

The social expert on the other hand believes that the rise in the number of children involved in homosexuality is as a result of them being exposed to ‘rabidly pro-gay foreign media’. These experts not only speak of homosexuality like it’s an epidemic – they also believe it is a foreign import and despite the fact that we have whole communities of gay people; it is ‘unAfrican’.

Apart from the usual and to be expected comments from the ‘social experts’, the article is a demonstration of what constitutes bad journalism and is not only an embarrassment to the media fraternity, but goes against the grain of what we are trying to achieve as a nation – responsible, balanced media freedom that recognizes democracy and lives its tenets. You get the feeling that oh, here is a problem, but what is the solution? You also get the urge to say STOP, wait a minute, these are human beings we are talking about here right? Surely legislation is not going to stop homosexuals from feeling the way they do?

Whether Zimbabwe is ready or not to accept homosexuality is inconsequential to the minority rights question. One gentleman commented on the GALZ website that: “when dealing with issues concerning minority rights (homosexuals) it’s not about what the majority thinks, because it is rare for the majority to think of any good out of a minority…homosexuals are a permanent minority group and can never secure legislation in their favor. Their rights are better protected by the courts in its jurisprudence. If we really claim to have democracy, then these rights should be enshrined in the new constitution as democracy entails accepting differences amongst ourselves so that we are equal on the application of law…” I couldn’t agree more.

On the part of the media, I think nothing is more tragic – or more common than unjustifiable homophobia, especially coming from a national paper. Evidently, their unbalanced editorial policy with regards to homosexuality is caused by ignorance or avoidance of the real facts. A bit of tolerance will go a long way in avoiding the terrible effects of sexual prejudices which demean millions of people who permit themselves to become entangled in foolish argument over this subject, thereby poisoning their own minds and closing the door to reason.

Intolerance – according to Napoleon Hill – closes the book of Knowledge and writes on the cover, “Finis! I have learned it all!” Intolerance makes enemies of those who should be friends. It destroys opportunity and fills the mind with doubt, mistrust, prejudice and indeed litters the world with crass self- claimed social experts! We demand responsible, factual and balanced journalism if the fraternity is going to retain any semblance of respect.

I had a problem however with the announcement in The Standard that Cabinet is seriously considering effectuating a policy that will regulate the selling of alcohol to between 6am and 7pm, while a ban would be put on beer selling after midday on Sunday. Also to be banned is the selling of alcohol to visibly pregnant women, people deemed to be already inebriated and minors. Seriously? How ridiculous is that. Unless they are saying ultrasound equipment will be placed alongside barcode-scanners – how can anyone honestly tell a pregnant woman apart from one who just has a big tummy? I foresee rotund women potentially suffering serious discrimination because of this policy. Imagine being held up in a supermarket queue where each obese woman buying alcohol has to first get an all-clear before buying beer. How often do you see ‘visibly pregnant’ women buying beer, anyway.

As for the till operator – their new job specification is to vet each beer buyer and determine their level of drunkenness before deciding whether or not to sell them the beer? So it would be like you sir, with the Castle, kindly blow into this breathalyzer first before we complete this transaction. Try denying one of these chapomba fellas and see if they won’t hit you right smack on the head with the bottle.

According to Dr Timothy Stamps – former Health and Child Welfare minister, now health advisor to President Mugabe; these laws are being put together to protect the young and those that ‘react badly to alcohol’. Really?

While I agree that alcohol should not under any circumstances be sold to children, it is laughable that somebody imagines that by limiting alcohol buying time – they can actually limit the amount of alcohol a person imbibes at a given time. I mean, how many people keep their refrigerators stacked with beers and their shelves lined with bottles of vodka and other spirits? In any case, we could end up with a scenario similar to 2008 where illegal beer sellers used to park their cars and sell from the boot. I imagine that real drinkers always find ways around stupid legislation, and will stock their poison well in advance. Now isn’t that risking having people get more tempted to drink when they have all the alcohol in their stocks?

I think more energy should rather be put into public education on the consequences of excessive drinking and the value of responsible drinking. And like what the South Africans are doing – perhaps mull the idea of banning alcohol adverts (not to say I believe that necessarily makes a big difference. Half the alcohol consumed in Zim – like the home brewed kachasu and now popular Mozambican Timbirani – is not advertised.)

The whole idea of legislating morality and using the coercive force of law to promote notions of virtue or express the moral convictions of a selfish few would be anathema to a majority of citizens. Alcohol may be unhealthy in the long run, but that does not justify the kind of patronization being touted here, or laws that prevent consenting adults from indulging in it. I think it is highly detestable to assume that adult people do not know that alcohol is harmful to their health and therefore need geriatrics like Stamps to take their hand and say, you can only drink between 6 and 7.

US$ quarter. Picture: Money of the World

Ever since I returned from the States, I have been carrying around a wallet full of what I realise now are essentially useless coins here. I just don’t get it. Yesterday evening while making a few purchases at the Bridge Spar, I tried my luck again with the coins. The till attendant looked at me squarely and said it was after 6pm therefore she could no longer accept US$ coins. I demanded an explanation as to what it being after 6pm had anything to do with what choice of coins was acceptable. The till attendant mumbled something along the lines of the shop being unable to give them to other customers as change or ‘cash’ them, whatever that means. I drew surprised stares when I thought aloud that that was one of the stupidest things I had heard all week.

It is bad enough we are not using our own currency, but to have selective use of the foreign currency that we do use is an unnecessary inconvenience. I think it is high time for whoever’s job it is to start working towards a more sustainable currency solution. I mean for how long can a country live under all sorts of speculation. The Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme (STERP) stipulates that the temporary use of multiple currencies terminates in 2012. Then what next? In last week’s Standard, the IMF was quoted in an article as having cautioned the Zimbabwean government against re-introducing the Zim-dollar. They said the country should rather extend the life span of the multi-currency system and also continue using the US dollar till 2014. The IMF Article IV report on Zimbabwe stipulates that the inclusive government has failed to put in place adequate conditions for the re-introduction of the Zim-dollar.

Last year there were speculations that the government attempted to join the Rand Monetary Union (currently consisting of Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa). Big wonder what happened to that idea. The media reported that Cabinet for the most part feared rejection. Now I hear old Zimbabwean coins are being purchased for long cash and selling like hot cakes on the streets. I wonder if like in 2008 the RBZ governor might just once again resuscitate old currency. I sure am holding on to whatever original Zimbabwean notes and coins I still have, all together with my currently useless US$ coins.

Recently I travelled to Washington DC via the dreaded Dakar route. The usual put-your-hand-luggage-through-the-scan-device-and-take-out-your-laptop was in order. So was the business of removing jewellery, belts and metal buckled shoes, and more. I stood in a long snaking ‘women only’ line at OR Tambo wondering what the hold-up was until I was about 10 people away from going past the scan myself.  There was a variety of interesting new security measures. People were not only taking off shoes, belts and jewellery – they were also taking off jackets in that biting cold, then handing themselves over to a burly female guard who would then conduct a pat-down similar to what I’ve seen ‘cops’ do in the movies. All out in the open. I mechanically went through the process, trying not to flinch at the thought of being groped and patted by those yellow-gloved hands. Next, a full body scan where you had to look directly ahead, legs apart and hands above your head. In about 5 seconds, the Rapid Scan 1000 device – informally known as the ‘backscatter’ – would then screen you for any hidden metallic and other potentially dangerous objects. Those in the know say this is the in-thing for all US bound travellers nowadays.

the notorious ‘backscatter’ Rapid Scan 1000 device that screens for metallic and other potentially dangerous objects. (Associated Press Photo/Matt York)

Then there were the smug police and other security personnel that seemed to intently observe traveller; some a little more than others – as they walked up and down the long queues. I heard they are called ‘behaviour detection officers’. Their open stares were peeled to pick out anything in the least suspicious-looking – like someone sweating with the aircon on perhaps.

The brief stopover in Dakar was also colourful. Security men and women methodically searched over and under, probed and almost tore apart all the seats that had been vacated by passengers whose final destination was Senegal. A little later, everyone was asked to take possession of their hand luggage. This would enable them to quickly spot any unattended bag and remove it in case it was a bomb or something. For a moment there was an unclaimed bag in one of the overhead lockers, which of course caused a bit of a flurry including the calling in of what looked like a stand-by bomb squad. It later emerged that the bag belonged to an elderly Russian who neither spoke nor understood English, and therefore had not understood the instruction to take possession of his bag.

Many hours later, we touched down at Dulles Airport. As I waited for the baggage to arrive, an announcement was repeated at almost 10 minute intervals warning travellers never to leave their bags unattended as they risked being ‘removed’ by the security detail with a great chance of them getting damaged in the process. I later discovered that bomb threats are a common, almost every day thing in Washington. One of the days our host was very late for a conference because she had had to go back to her house and fetch her car after there had been a bomb scare at one of the subway stations.

On my way back to Zim this week, I went through the now familiar processes. As we stood in the long queues, I could see all the frustrated and annoyed looks of travellers, some of whom really risked missing connecting flights. Security seemed to be taking a lot longer than usual.

Later I reflected to myself, what kind of life is this when it is punctuated by so much fear? Understandably, security is meant to protect us innocent civilians, but for a country to be constantly looking over its shoulder for fear of being attacked is indeed a sad way of life. They say in Shona kuvhunduka chati kwatara hunge uine katurikwa, loosely translated to mean that he who is uncharacteristically always jumpy knows what he is guilty of.

I have friends who firmly believe the Americans brought this upon themselves, bullying and sticking their nose into other people’s business; attempting to run the world. So many have a bone to chew with them including Iraqis, Afgans, Pakistanis, Somali’s and now Libyans. But more attacks certainly can be anticipated now that Bin Laden has been neutralised. I cannot help but recall the words of one Somali in Mark Bowden’s Black Hawk Down, a harrowing and somewhat fictionalised account of the happenings of October 3^rd, 1993 in Mogadishu when a US Delta Force military raid went terribly wrong resulting in the gruesome deaths of 18 soldiers. He said: “Didn’t the Americans realise that for every leader they arrested, there were dozens of brothers, cousins, sons and nephews to take his place? …they were trying to take down a clan, the most ancient and efficient social organization known to man.”

The question is; how long can a country keep this up? Obviously whoever it is they are afraid of, would attack when least expected and wouldn’t be so stupid as to attempt passing through all that security strapped with bombs? But I guess nothing can be left to chance.

Ordinarily, Machemedze was not entitled to receive asylum for his role in committing crimes against humanity. But his life was in danger.

If it were up to you, would you grant him asylum for his confession, which was clearly driven by anything other than remorse but by most likely a selfish goal in what Immanuel Kant refers to as the utilitarian motive?

Justice

Machemedze must have used the hypothetical imperative that if he wanted permanent residence in the UK, he should make a confession. This would most likely help his case as a means to attaining an asylum status not only through positioning himself as a potential key informant for the ICC and their alleged probe into Mugabe, but by also indicating the danger his life was in should he actually come back to Zimbabwe.

The action of confessing in this case cannot be viewed as a good in itself. It was not concerned with human dignity but rather with a careful calculation of what would produce the greatest happiness for himself.

But why would people care anything about a heartless former assassin’s black hide? What makes us even believe he is a changed man too?

Then again, when you consider the question of necessity vs poverty, being a CIO man is a job, albeit one where there is no forced conscription. Somebody had to do it, if not Machemedze then someone else had to obey the instruction to silence them dissenters. When he pulled out that victim’s teeth with pliers, does whether he wanted to do it or not matter in deciding his asylum status? Would it make a difference if he said he was forced to do it?

Consider this analogy in Michael Sandel’s Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do …which tells the story of a young boy who after passing a spelling test, moves on to a higher level but later realizes that he had after all, gotten one spelling wrong and none of the judges had noticed it. Not wanting to “feel like slime”, he went and told the judges and immediately got disqualified. Although he was applauded for his integrity, his confession did not stem from being honest because it was the right thing to do. He simply wanted to make himself feel better and hence in Kant’s view, his confession lacked moral worth.

Can the same be said about Machemedze? What then becomes the moral worth of Machemedze’s confession? Did he confess simply because it was the right thing to do or because he could no longer stand the weight on his conscience or because of the perceived benefits of going that route (both of which in each latter case in Kant’s view becomes an inclination)? In any event, if we spare a thought for the fact that he is going to live the rest of his life with people around him knowing this gory side of him, is that grounds enough to feel pity for him?

Perhaps we can conclude that all people are selfish, and The UK rulings protecting the ex-CIO operative are apparently because he supplied information about his colleagues and not because of a genuine concern for the fact that if he returned to Zimbabwe, he would face – as said by the judge in Newport – “death or inhuman or degrading treatment.”

No thanks to the Human Rights Act, Machemedze will continue to live and be treated for HIV in Britain at the expense of the British taxpayer, and by some macabre turn of events, a man who caused the death and inhuman treatment of many is himself being harbored by law from deservedly such.

Last Saturday I walked a record 16,8 km in just under five hours. This is the longest I have ever walked in my entire life. I participated in the acclaimed charity ‘power walk’ from Avondale to Chisipite facilitated by Bon Marche supermarket. I think at least 150 people, including children participated.

an excellent turn-out, I think. Stash images

The walk officially started from Avondale shopping centre at 6:30am and most people were actually punctual. We enthusiastically took off right on time and initially, people walked so fast to get in front. It soon became apparent in this walkathon who was fit and who was not as some began to fall back and push up the rear.

Milk for freebies!!? This lady was a sight for sore legs

We had each been previously asked to donate a dollar towards charity, and it was a pleasant surprise when we arrived in the morning to find the Bon Marche team generously dishing out white branded T-Shirts and bright green caps. There was also plenty to drink along the way, from water to maheu. Free apples were also being dished out. We were being accompanied by police (who sadly were also walking, probably not out of choice) and an ambulance was also on stand-by following slowly behind the walkers.

All sorts of people of different races participated. The variety included mostly women of child bearing ages, obese youths, single young women, elderly white folk and even saggers (young men who wear their pants hanging mid-butt or lower). The latter, I noticed, did not survive to the finish line. This was clearly not the platform to get a ‘catch’. I had the pleasure of finding my next door neighbour also participating in the walk, and we had the opportunity to bond.

The first 9km leg from Avondale to Borrowdale was a stroll. I mainly struggled from Sam Levi’s village onwards, but I was not about to give up when I was so close to the finish line. In any case, there was this very energetic elderly woman who kept teasing my neighbour and I for lagging behind an old woman, namely herself. We later found out she was a gym instructor.

Myself after the hellishly long walk...

Two of my friends whom I insist are wimps drove to Mt Pleasant and started their walk from there. But I was glad they even walked at all. I earlier invited more than 20 friends to join in and a majority of them never showed (including those who needed the walk the most!)

In the end everyone arrived safe and sound and I am glad to say the services of the ambulance were never required. My best friend couldn’t resist replacing a few lost calories and bought herself a nice juicy burger as soon as she crossed the finish line.  It was however, such a fantastic challenge. I participated simply because I was up to it and also because in the fast paced world of today, there is hardly enough time to exercise the heart.

Excuse me, but I like my curves so bugger off!

Although Bon Marche has not yet announced how much money was collected for Bumudzo Old People’s home, I know it was a lot because other sponsors including Coca Cola and Delta came in and matched every dollar donated.

I hear the next walk (this time hosted by Spar) will take place sometime next month. I encourage all my friends and colleagues to participate because one not only gets to do a good deed, but there is an excuse to work out and also meet new people.

This one I hear will not be for wimps.

we even got certificates!

Isn’t it such an interesting find that most people who appear seemingly tough and untouchable are actually soft like marshmallow inside? Recall how when the motley alliance of rebel forces dragged former Ivorian strongman – Laurent Gbagbo half naked from his bunker, his wife Simone just sat there with her eyes closed tight. Only her lips moved silently, possibly in prayer? And this was the same Simone who hurled unprintable insults to pro-Ouattara supporters. We should give her credit for resolutely holding up the ‘through thick and thin’ vow to her husband.

Then there was Hosni Mubarak, who soon after his ouster in February suffered a ‘massive’ heart attack during questioning. He was being investigated for abuse of public funds and the murder of protestors. Just recently, 70 year-old Mrs Mubarak was also reportedly admitted into hospital last Friday because of a heart attack. This was after being told that she would be detained in a corruption probe. Mrs Mubarak is the iron woman who used her husband’s influence to unlawfully amass wealth.

Up North, the media yesterday had a field day in court over the IMF chief Dominic Strauss-Kahn’s incarceration on sexual assault charges. Images of an unshaven, very disheveled and crestfallen Kahn were plastered all over the news. One of the world’s most powerful men is a pussycat after all. Real men don’t have to forcibly get it either.

The beleaguered Strauss-Khan in better days. Getty Images photo

Isn’t it just ironic how these rich and powerful people suddenly cannot withstand the nudge of the long arm of the law when it finally catches up with them? How is it that heart attacks and some such ailments conveniently inflict these people just at the point when justice is about to prevail?

One would have thought that dictators and those of their ilk are made of sterner stuff; some have even managed to sleep through the night after ordering the deaths of innocent civilians. Surely they can handle petty things like court trials?

Let us not be fooled.

Yoghurt sixpack costs anything between USD4-5 at Spars in Zim

I found for instance, that my favourite yoghurt – Nutriday, costs just over a dollar for a six pack. Here, I buy the same for $5 at Spar Athienitis specifically. Also notable was the fact that what costs R10 in Spar Randfontein also cost R10 in a Spar in say, Mpumalanga. In Zimbabwe, it is not uncommon for the Spar chain to have huge margins in the price differences for the same goods.

Upon return to Zimbabwe, I took time out to ask the shop-floor manager of my favourite supermarket how they arrived at some of the prices of goods. He explained something about having to factor in costs of import, vat and other things. I thought if this justifies a $3 dollar jump for yoghurt imported from South Africa, then our local industry ought to see this as an opportunity and improve the quality of local products. Fans of yoghurt for instance will agree with me that Nutriday is smoother, richer and less cloying than Dairiboard’s Yummy – which I have often observed nearing expiry sitting on the shelf while stocks for the former run out as soon as they hit the same shelf.

I have begun to understand why many a Zimbabwean is prepared to suffer the indignity of being taunted by South Africans at the Beitbridge border post for the heavy ‘changaan’ bags full of groceries.

I have always found the staff at Spar very friendly, a big motivation for shopping there. The till operators smile broadly, like they are extremely delighted to see you. Last time I shopped there and got hit with one of those smiles, it crossed my mind that of course, the thought of what I am about to fork out for a handful of groceries would make any retailer smile, bloody rip offs!

Due to growing concerns over the environment and increased pressure from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), the government recently issued a directive for supermarkets to stop issuing plastic bags to customers. As a result, plastic bags are now being sold as a measure to discourage their use. TM Avondale is among several other supermarkets that have not bothered to put up explanatory notices for the benefit of its customers.

The directive from government to ban plastic bags is praiseworthy, and Zimbabwe has joined a few other countries in the world who have implemented this. Although we applaud the bold move, it is interesting how there is very little public awareness over why certain directives such as this are being instituted. Unless I missed it – save for a few news articles in the press and Environment Minister Francis Nhema making an announcement broadcast one or two days on the news – there has hardly been any public awareness campaigns to explain things to ordinary people. But at least we know that at the end of this year when COP17 touches down in Durban, Zimbabwe would have demonstrated to the world that it has taken baby steps towards mitigation.

While I was in South Africa during my annual break, I noticed how companies like Eskom constantly run public campaigns in all forms imaginable – why and how citizens can consume less electricity. This is one company I have to go all out to beg its customers to buy less of its product. Just an aside. The point is; it takes little effort for government to spread the message more vigorously – especially on the state run broadcaster.

I think that just issuing out directives is not enough to get public cooperation or instil a sense of buy- in, unless this is viewed as immaterial. While R1 for a plastic bag is a deterrent for many and might in the long run achieve the objective of getting customers to bring own carrier bags – many people are still willing to forego small change that would have otherwise been given in the form of sweets or a credit note for a plastic bag. It is a small price to pay versus clutching all one’s purchases to one’s chest. In some quarters, the public perception is that this is just another ploy by the retailer to further fleece the customer of hard earned cash.

Perhaps it is indeed a long story, but one which I doubt the enforcers of the ban themselves really understand or care to explain further.

The long and short of the story is that hazards posed by plastics are numerous. The land gets littered by ugly and unhygienic plastic bag garbage. These bags eventually find their way into the city drainage system clogging drains and waterways and killing wildlife. Plastic beer can holders for instance have proved to be the nemesis of birds. Moreover plastic does not decompose. The main options available for its destruction are either burning or recycling, of which the former option contributes a lot to the carbon emissions largely responsible for the changes in climate. Recycling on the other hand has for some reason not been a very popular or viable business in Zimbabwe. However, more thought needs to be put in aside from banning plastic bags. Discarded plastic soft drink containers and cans also do not dispose easily and are other headaches the state needs to deal with. They are a big eyesore in Harare, especially the avenues area.

Bird caught in beer can holder ring chokes to death. Image courtesy of Save Our Seabirds Charitable Trust

On the flipside of things, it is worth exploring whether or not the ‘ban’ is actually working. What they have done essentially is to ban the free issuance of plastic bags rather than saying there should be no plastic bags at all. What this means is, a lot of people still forget to carry own carrier bags (me included) and only remember at the till point such that they have no choice but to purchase the R1 plastic bags. A total ban of plastic bags and concentrating on the manufacture and selling of recyclable eco-bags would ensure that customers remember to carry own shopping bags to the store. But I suppose this would be too drastic a measure at this point and perhaps the plan is to move in that direction in the near future

The other concerning thing is, there is no telling whether this directive somehow skipped clothing shops, because yesterday I bought a few t-shirts in a department store and again, only remembered at the till point that I had forgot to bring a carrier bag and would probably do the clutch-to-the-chest thing rather than part with R1. But the kind young man behind the counter silently packed the clothes in a nice thick plastic bag. I thought he had gone ahead to charge me without asking first, so I declined the bag. He looked at me in surprise; you don’t want a plastic bag? After a brief discussion, turned out the bag was for free.

As for the elderly customer buying beverages at TM Avondale, rather than part with R1, he preferred to scoop up all his bottles and clutch them precariously to his chest. Apart from thinking the directive is working to some extent, I hoped the old guy had a car waiting outside.