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About me - Benhilda Chanetsa

I am a 46-year-old female freelance writer in Harare, Zimbabwe. I have been in the journalism profession for the past nine years, five of these as subeditor and then chief subeditor at a local weekly, The Standard. In the past four years as a freelance writer,

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Politics, News & Issues > International Politics (Other) The world and its presidents
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They fiddle while Zimbabwe burnsHow does President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe do it? How does he remain in power when inflation is over 4500% and the highest in the world; when most essential goods are unattainable or too expensive, and when unemployment is over 80%?The answer can only lie in his system of patronage which has ... More..

Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Adventure
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We would stand outside until the hearses came, sometimes four or five of them at a time. Then we'd make a beeline for those going to the west of the cemetery, where the rich people were buried. Our best time for business were between 11am and 4pm. Most burials took place then.We were careful not to follow directly behind the ... More..

Society & Lifestyle > African & Middle Eastern Culture A shocking cause of AIDS in Africa: Marriage
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Sadly, it's true. And the vital link between Aids and marriage in Africa is the bride price. It condemns women to a life of marital enslavement with little or no control over their own sexuality. It denies them the power to negotiate sex and they become prone to HIV/Aids infection from unfaithful husbands.Once bride price has... More..

Relationships & Family > Marriage & Intimacy How to keep your sex life alive
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Want to rev up a boring sex life? Try kitchen teas, African style. Women around the world regard them as boring, pointless affairs, which they only attend out of a sense obligation to the one getting married. But in life, every negative can have a positive. Kitchen teas can serve a purpose. In Zimbabwe, they have become healt... More..

Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Children's stories
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The price of being differentRalph always decided what games they played. But at the age of 10, Sam suddenly didn't want to play ball anymore, climb trees or hunt birds and rabbits. He wanted to help the maid in the kitchen, and spend time with Revai, the girl next door. For hours they'd play with her dolls, plaiting their hai... More..

Health & Fitness > Reproductive Health (Other) Reproductive health
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When abortion remains a contraceptive methodAccording to a UNICEF report, about 70,000 illegal abortions take place in Zimbabwe every year but there is a near absence of a national education drive on sexual and reproductive health matters. Abortion is a sensitive subject in this largely Christian and conservative nation with ... More..

Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Struggles in life
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She'd never met the guy, but he said he'd seen her before. "At the office," he insisted. She still had no recollection, but she didn't care. She was 23 years old and had never had that "great experience". Now felt like the right time. Besides, he seemed like a nice person. Once properly connected, she thought, everlasting hap... More..

Society & Lifestyle > Lifestyles How a strange birth name can harm your child
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When strange names are used to settle scoresWhat's in a name? On the surface, almost nothing. But in Zimbabwe they are a means by which the givers communicate messages to neighbours and families, while avoiding open confrontation with them. But how effective is this as a problem-solving technique? And what is the effect on th... More..

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