Harare Annual Ballroom Dancing Competition 2008

I'm slowly working on my photo journal backlog. This is one of them. 

Last year I witnessed the staging of the Harare National Ballroom Competition and this year I was fortunate enough to watch it (and shoot on the side) again. I found last years competition better organized and the venue was much better especially the lighting. I guess the economic situation of the country last year was far more better than it is this year. This years staging was simpler but had more representation from other areas in the country. The City of Bulawayo was able to field in several couples to join.

Safe Migration Photo Exhibit

As part of IOM's Safe Journey Information Campaign Program, an art competition was staged and was participated in by youths in Zimbabwe. Winning entries were exhibited in Harare (at the Harare National Art Gallery), in Bulawayo (Bulawayo National Art Gallery) and Mutare. Photos are samples of the art work done by the contestants.

This art work won 1st place in the competition.

Ewanrigg Botanical Garden

Located around 30 kms away from Harare center. Went for a walk around the garden one Saturday afternoon with friends. Judging from a brochure I saw of the garden, I would say that the garden is no longer well maintained. Its a pity considering that the garden could be a very good place for a Saturday or Sunday afternoon picnic with friends or family. The flora arrangement is not as well kept as what the photos on the brochure shows. Nevertheless, I had a good walk that afternoon. Instead of shooting landscapes, I decided to focus my attention on details.

Victoria Falls

Had the opportunity to visit Victoria Falls three weeks ago. Here is a shot of the falls taken from the Victoria Falls Bridge (Livingstone Bridge). The part of the falls seen in this photo is already part of the Zambia side. The main falls (located within the Zimbabwe side) is about 1+ kilometer in width. One side/bank of the river is in Zimbabwe while the other bank of the river is in the Zambia side.

Chiredzi Safe Zone

In the town of Chiredzi, Masvingo Province, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) operates a youth center called Safe Zone. This is one of the two youth centers that IOM operates in Zimbabwe. The second Safe Zone is located in the City of Bulawayo. The Safe Zone is a concept that provides for the youth (12-24 years old) a safe place to come together and learn from each other about the realities of irregular migration, HIV/AIDS and Gender-Based Violence and Human Trafficking.



Each center is managed by a team of young men and women headed by a Safe Zone Coordinator and ably assisted by 8-10 peer educators trained to facilitate discussions on issues about safe migration. In addition to peer messaging interventions, the Safe Zone offers various recreational and educational activities. The Safe Zone in Chiredzi has facilities for movie presentations, talk shows, sports and even art related activities. IOM is in the process of introducing Vocational Training courses to youths in the future.



The Safe Zones are currently in need of support for books (educational and recreational) to allow the youths that frequent the center to keep them reading.

The establishment of the Safe Zones in Zimbabwe is one of the major thrust of the Safe Journey Information Campaign Program of IOM. The town of Chiredzi was selected to be one of the areas for the implementation of the Safe Zone because of the high number of youths jumping the border to South Africa or Mozambique.

Waterfalls Weekend in Nyanga National Park

Spent a weekend in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe with friends and colleagues. We spent one whole day visiting three waterfalls in the Nyanga National Park. We visited the Mtarazi falls, the Pungwe falls and the Nyangombe falls.