WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY AROUND THE CORNER come lets celebrate and morn the journalists who die for freedom

World Press Freedom Day
3 May  

Press Freedom

Freedom of Expression, a Human Right

Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right as stated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."

Media freedom and access to information feed into the wider development objective of empowering people. Empowerment is a multi-dimensional social and political process that helps people gain control over their own lives. This can only be achieved through access to accurate, fair and unbiased information, representing a plurality of opinions, and the means to actively communicate vertically and horizontally, thereby participating in the active life of the community.However, in order to make freedom of expression a reality, there must be:

• a legal and regulatory environment that allows for an open and pluralistic media sector to emerge;
• a political will to support the sector and rule of law to protect it;
• laws ensuring access to information, especially information in the public domain; and
• the necessary media literacy skills among news consumers to critically analyze and synthesize the information they receive to use it in their daily lives and to hold the media accountable for its actions.

These elements, along with media professionals adhering to the highest ethical and professional standards designed by practitioners, serve as the fundamental infrastructure on which freedom of expression can prevail. On this basis media serves as a watchdog, civil society engages with authorities and decision-makers, information flows through and between communities.

The amazing young singers in the house

The two that sang ‘Zvekupenga’, one of Zimbabwe’s biggest hit songs in 2014 have never met. For the first time ever Chashe Musarurwa McTaggart and Tinashe Makura will be  performing  at HIFA this year.
Chashe and Tinashe will have their anticipated show at the HIFA Lay’s Global Stage this Saturday, May 2, 2015, at 12:30pm. The two met for the first time on 27 April on their rehearsals ahead of the concert.

When they did their hit song Chashe, now based in the United Kingdom, was living in Boston, USA and Tinashe was in Zimbabwe, having just returned from Malaysia where he’d made a number of useful connections. One of these was Anton Morgan, who is based in  Asian,he put together the separate recordings they sent him to produce ‘Zvekupenga’.

The collaboration happened almost entirely over the Internet – Facebook and WhatsApp helping them record their catchy, world-class tune.
Perhaps appropriately, Zimbo Jam interviewed these two on Facebook Messenger, in anticipation of their concert.
Chashe says,  "We first got in touch over Facebook actually. A mutual friend put us in touch, Mr Munya Dodo We talked about maybe doing a song together as we both felt that collaborating with other Zimbabwean musicians is a great way to support each other."

Tinashe listened to her music and loved it and this lead to the collaboration.On their interview on how they  manage to release a song while they were in different countries this is what they have to say,Chashe,
"
"Well, we liaised over Skype and email a lot for pre- and post- production, sending audio files back and forth. I went into the studio with Anton Morgan on Skype for the whole session! I wasn't entirely convinced it would work, recording from another country, but we were pleasantly surprised by the turn out!"

"We definitely used the technology that was at our disposal. We sent tracks back and forth via the Internet. Anton (our producer) was in Malaysia, Chashe was in Boston, and I was in Harare. I remember bouncing off the first concept of the song over WhatsApp messages" that's according to Tinashe.

The Afro-Pop Star in Town be there guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Salif Keita for HIFA

International music icon and Afro-pop star, Salif Keita will this year be the major attraction at the Harare International Festival of Arts (HIFA). A direct descendent of the founder of the Mali empire, Sundiata Keita, Salif is famed for being ‘the golden voice of Africa.’ At this year’s HIFA, Salif will close the ZOL Festival main stage programme. HIFA Associate Director, Tafadzwa Simba, and founder and director Manuel Bagorro said a lot of entertainment awaits the people of Zimbabwe with Salif keita being the main attraction. “We are bringing in Salif Keita from Mali to be our major centre of attraction. This edition of HIFA is unique in that we continue bringing in new people and new things,” said Simba. HIFA sponsors say the internet has become central in today’s world hence the decision to be part of the event that supports the local arts industry. “Music and internet have become so inseparable, hence we have seen it befitting to support HIFA,” said Denny Marandure. Some of the artists billed to perform at HIFA 2015 include Hope Masike, Victor Kunonga, Dancehall Alliance and Global Resonance, among others. HIFA runs between the 28th of April and the 3rd of May.

the greatest Dj in zimbabwe.............PRESENTED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION IN ASSOCIATION WITH NEVERLAND ZIMBABWE A night of electronic music on ZOL Main Stage. For the first time at HIFA, an event to celebrate the expansive global electronic musical landscape, proudly featuring some astounding local and international talent. A major, expectation defying music event at HIFA 2015 featuring: BASSJACKERS One DJ and one producer, sharing a great passion for house music, Bassjackers are Marlon Flohr and Ralph van Hilst. After getting noticed by Fedde le Grand, a solid stream of releases and remixes followed which received massive support from all the top global DJs. Their big break came in 2011, when their dancefloor bomb Mush Mush got picked up by Tiësto and was released on his imprint Musical Free-dom. It dominated the Beatport top 10 for over 2 months and eventually became one of the biggest club/festival tracks of 2011. Since then Bassjackers have remixed for A-list artists like Rihanna, Enrique Iglesias and Moby. They performed in Ibiza alongside Tiësto, and in Las Vegas alongside Afrojack, and continue to tour around the globe. Jackin the Bass at HIFA 2015. Let's Get Weird! BLINDERS Already heavily backed by some of dance music's biggest stars like David Guetta, Martin Garrix and legendary BBC Radio 1 tastemaker Pete Tong, BLINDERS is a producer on the rise and his booming, melody-rich productions are a testament to his potential. Best known for his massive remix of Axwell's Centre of the universe and the number 1 Buzz Chart smash Riffter, Blinders is taking the world by storm. JASON LE ROUX Regarded as Zimbabwe's most skillful mix master and widely respected by colleagues and players in the industry, Jason le Roux has been devastating dance floors around the world for well over a decade. As well as a PRO DJ Jason le Roux is also a talented musician and producer, playing the piano since age 5 and performing in various fusion bands.

ULULATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                                                                                                          

Wednesday 29 April 2015

ULULATION @ NJELELE vol.1 will take place on 29 April 2015 at Njelele Art Station. Join us for an exciting all-day live A/V show that includes the IN/FLUX I-III series by SPARCK & Lowave, Brown Core Fly Stream by Tabita Rezaire, and Povo Crate Digging by Pungwe Nights with special guests...

Ululation is a distinctive sound of Africa. It is a traditional vocal practice that forms a powerful form of expression, accompanied by live music and dancing, performed to the excitement, delight and encouragement of participants in celebration.

ULULATION @ NJELELE vol.1 aims to activate the cultural restructuring of urban space. It will produce an experimental and experiential audio-visual landscape that generates an alternative dialogue between past and present in real and virtual space. ULULATION will amplify the unheard, untold and unseen. It is a public call to attention, action and response. ULULATION is inescapable, unmistakable… it cannot be ignored.

Only two weeks to go!!!! Remind your friends to register today mothersdayclassic.com.au

PRESENTED BY THE ROYAL NORWEGIAN EMBASSY Tangram skillfully redraws the boundaries between classical dance and circus. Tangram marks the beginning of the very busy HIFA 2015 schedule. If you missed their performance today , catch them on 30th April and Golden Pilsener Day. For more information visit here

Grand Opening With Mokoomba and Guests:: You can still get tickets for our Grand Opening tonight. Mokoomba featuring guests and collaborators . You certainly do not want to miss this spectacle at 730 pm tonight at the ZOL Mainstage. PRESENTED BY THE ROYAL NORWEGIAN EMBASSY IN ASSOCIATION WITH Bancabc

This is exciting..

The annual Wild Geese Art Festival date has been set for Sunday 7th June 2015 Would artists who would like to participate kindly contact Leslie Johnson - mawenjeleslie@gmail.com to register. To all the art lovers out there save the date! It is an amazing day where we celebrate Zimbabwe’s artistic creativity. % of all art sold goes to charity

Jilted GZU students stabs girlfriend

By Shingirirai Chinondo

MASHAVA - Blessing Chibangure, a Development Studies student at Great Zimbabwe University based at Mashava campus escaped death by a whisker after she was allegedly stabbed with a knife by her boyfriend following a misunderstanding on Wednesday afternoon.

Sherpard Jojo who is also a Development Studies (Part 1;2) student allegedly broke up with Chibangure few hours before he allegedly stabbed her several times on the neck at his place near GZU Mashava clinic. The two, who have been going out since last semester, allegedly had a misunderstanding that led to the separation which Jojo, however, could not take lightly.

Though Masvingo Police provincial spokesperson could not confirm the development by the time of going to the press, eye witnesses confirmed the development and said Jojo immediately bolted out of the room and disappeared before he surrendered himself to Mashava police few hours later.

Sources said Chibangure had gone to Jojo’s house to give back his laptop and cell phone which she was given before they broke up.

Chibangure confirmed the development before she was rushed to Masvingo General Hospital where she is currently receiving treatment.