tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2009-11-11:/Hi,Welcome to Mutimba Web 2.0, the online home of Mutimba Mazwi. I am a father of two, Thandiwe and Albright. I am married to Anne. Mutimba Web 2.0 is a platform for conversation and interaction with colleagues and interested readers. Enjoy your trip to my siteMokoFeed2009-11-11T05:18:52+01:00tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2009-08-06:/2009/08/06/boe-pumping-84-billion-pounds-as-recession-continues-6663799/Mutimba2009-08-06T13:58:07+02:002009-08-06T13:58:07+02:00 <p>Hello,</p> <p>The Bank of England is said to be pumping some GBP84 billion into the UK. Unlike quantitative easing, where a central bank actually pumps money into the economy, the 84 billion pound is being pumped into the economy via bond purchases.</p> <p>Bank of England governor Mervyn King <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aPwLrU0E47xI">says</a> interest rates will remain at 0.5 per cent and says the bond purchase program will go to about 175 billion pounds </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2009/08/06/boe-pumping-84-billion-pounds-as-recession-continues-6663799/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2009-05-30:/2009/05/30/the-cool-clintons-6203275/Mutimba2009-05-30T16:07:56+02:002009-05-30T16:12:52+02:00 <p>Hi,</p> <p>It's getting chilly, especially in the evenings. Yet, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her husband, Bill, are keeping me busy with their <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/09/27/us/politics/20081122_CLINTON_POSTPREZ_TIMELINE."> slideshow </a></p> <p>Hope you would it</p> <p>Cheers,</p> <p>MM </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2009/05/30/the-cool-clintons-6203275/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2009-05-29:/2009/05/29/manchester-united-have-a-historic-loss-as-ronaldo-takes-the-unusual-route-6199859/Mutimba2009-05-29T20:27:38+02:002009-05-29T20:27:38+02:00 <p>Hello there,</p> <p>I could do with some confessing: I am not a soccer fan! But when I took a bit of time to watch the Manchester United-Barcelona game, I did not have an idea I was preparing for the worst nightmare in terms of unprofessional football.</p> <p>The first ten minutes of the the match looked promising for the indomitable 'Man U' as it is fondly known by adoring fans. But the worst was yet to come!</p> <p>After a sudden goal by an enthusiastic Samuel Eto'o, the only hope for desperate soccer fans was a vigorous second half in which Manchester United could come back 'fully blown' to face Barcelona.</p> <p>Miracles started to happen: Manchester United lost touch with their opponents; Lionel Messi headed Barcelona's second goal into the net.</p> <p>At this moment, I could see Sir Alex Ferguson, known for his gum-chewing, looking worried and concerned.</p> <p>Major news channels ranging from CNN to Sky News analysed the game in varying ways and from a different angle,with some calling on Sir Alex to 'bring in Tevez'. A Manchester fan at the Old Trafold had spoken of his team being 'down but not out.' But with a second goal for Barcelona, there was no way Manchester United could equalize within a short period of time. And it looked like the best time to accept defeat with honour.</p> <p>But not for Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo behaved like a typical villager from a small rural team in Cameroun. For him, that was a moment for canterkerous football. He kicked the ball and whoever came closer as if his teams defeat had anything to with Barcelona players.</p> <p>I do not know if Manchester United should recruit psychologists to deal with such madness, but the fact is that for a star of Ronaldo's stature, there is need to understand that he is a role model: Young men (and some women!) look to him for inspiration. It may not be in football alone but from a different angle and sphere of life.</p> <p>It is high time Cristiano Ronaldo put his act together for the benefit of his club, himself and indeed the world of soccer.</p> <p>It is embarrassing for such a young mad to exhibit such behaviour as if he cannot be disciplined. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2009/05/29/manchester-united-have-a-historic-loss-as-ronaldo-takes-the-unusual-route-6199859/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2009-04-17:/2009/04/17/the-goldman-conspiracies-5960832/Mutimba2009-04-17T14:51:47+02:002009-04-17T15:22:31+02:00 <p>Hello there,</p> <p>Reports that Goldman Sachs have skipped one month from the recently submitted financial forecast will add to already growing feelings that accounting is most used by practitioners to cover frivolous criminal white collar activity.</p> <p>Financial Time's Alphaville <a href="http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2009/04/16/54744/goldman-creates-orphans-and-other-conspiracies/">reports</a> that Goldman Sachs created 'orphan' months and other conspiracies to justify a healthy balance sheet.</p> <p>That is on the back of news that the elite investment bank is increasing bonuses to its staffs to help them maintain their high lifestyle.</p> <p>Goldman Sach's chief executive Lloyd Blankfein is now popular on Wall Street for making about 70 million dollars in 2007</p> <p>Intenational accounting rules under the IASB and other related regulatory bodies will take time to react to what Goldman Sachs has done because, after all, Goldman produces senior civil servants for the US Administration!!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2009/04/17/the-goldman-conspiracies-5960832/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2009-03-05:/2009/03/05/eastern-europe-countries-get-world-bank-aid-5696293/Mutimba2009-03-05T05:53:00+01:002009-03-05T05:53:00+01:00 <p>Hello,</p> <p>Central and Eastern European countries got their share of aid aimed and giving them a new lease of life amidst the credit crisis.</p> <p>Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania got over $31 billion dollars in aid packages from the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank.</p> <p>Stocks, bonds and currencies plunged as investors fled riskier assets. Latvia, Hungary, Serbia, Ukraine and Balerus have already had their share of the bailout packages.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2009/03/05/eastern-europe-countries-get-world-bank-aid-5696293/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2009-02-13:/2009/02/13/stanford-group-inc-a-mardoff-like-scheme-in-the-making-5564970/Mutimba2009-02-13T09:59:08+01:002009-02-13T10:03:39+01:00 <p>Hi there,</p> <p>As if the Mardoff scandal were not enough for the financial world, Stanford Group Inc., caught regulators and the world unawares.</p> <p>What started off as a simple mention of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/regulators-examining-stanford-group-for-possible-fraud-2009-2">group as a fraud</a> by a guy called <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=printer_friendly&forum=102&topic_id=3734791">Alex Dalmady </a>and caught the attention of the SEC, the FBI and several regulatory agencies.</p> <p>Stanley Group is believed to be a shell-like organization: It's investment strategies seem to go against established investment principles.</p> <p>According to its <a href="http://www.stanfordfinancial.com/">website</a>: "We carefully consider asset classes, investment strategies, sectors, and regions of the world that most investors either don't have easy access to or rarely receive information about.</p> <p>That last bit caught everyone's attention. Little surprise Mr. Dalmady caught up with them and spread the word!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2009/02/13/stanford-group-inc-a-mardoff-like-scheme-in-the-making-5564970/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2009-02-11:/2009/02/11/zimbabwe-rivals-form-unity-government-5554171/Mutimba2009-02-11T19:16:15+01:002009-02-11T19:22:51+01:00 <p>Hello there,</p> <p>It's no longer news that bitter rivals on <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/world/africa/12zimbabwe.html?hp">Zimbabwe's political landscape have finally united.</a></p> <p>In what many hope will be a stable marriage, opposition Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change becomes prime minister. His secretary general, Tendai Biti, will be the finance minister.</p> <p><a href="http://" title="11zimbabwe2-600"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/277/3225277_37cef1ff31_s.jpeg" alt="11zimbabwe2-600" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>In yet another sign that foreign governments are following the situation closely, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued a statement calling for 'whole government to demonstrate, through its actions, a clear commitment to the reforms that the Zimbabwean people so deserve" according to a statement from w<a href="http://www.ATTA.travel">ww.ATTA.travel</a></p> <p>The hopes are high. Mugabe, for all the responsible statesmanship he has displayed so far, would have stepped back and taken the position of prime minister.</p> <p>I know this looks small in the political jungle, but for a government so keen to restore its tattered image, a President Tsvangirai wouldn't be a bad idea.</p> <p>Good luck to them. From now, the zeroes on the country's currency, the Zimbabwean dollar, are no longer Mugabe's baby: The two leaders carry a collective responsibility.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2009/02/11/zimbabwe-rivals-form-unity-government-5554171/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2009-01-29:/2009/01/29/post-newspaper-banned-from-covering-chiluba-s-trials-5470698/Mutimba2009-01-29T19:07:01+01:002009-02-11T19:25:24+01:00 Judge says the newspaper is misrepresenting information <p>The Post newspaper, perhaps the country's most outstanding and independent daily, is facing the wrath of the law, with a judge banning it from covering second Republican president Dr. Frederick Chiluba's trial.</p> <p>Whether or not that is a plus for justice remains to be seen. Dr. Chiluba has said he was not responsible for handling monies in the (ZAMTROP)intelligence account.</p> <p>Trial continues throughout the week </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2009/01/29/post-newspaper-banned-from-covering-chiluba-s-trials-5470698/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2009-01-25:/2009/01/25/playing-games-5442175/Mutimba2009-01-25T11:25:40+01:002009-01-25T11:25:40+01:00 <p>Hi,</p> <p>Enjoy HTML trials</p> <p><img src="stage.gif"></p> <p>Cheers,</p> <p>MM </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2009/01/25/playing-games-5442175/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2009-01-25:/2009/01/25/interesting-lessons-in-html-5442168/Mutimba2009-01-25T11:24:02+01:002009-01-25T11:24:02+01:00 <p>Hello,</p> <p>I thought I could share some interesting stuff with you readers. </p> <p><strong>In addition to the various tools one enjoys on blog.co.uk, you can actually have indented work and bold text using HTML, not the functions above.</strong></p> <p>Enjoy,</p> <p>MM </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2009/01/25/interesting-lessons-in-html-5442168/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2009-01-24:/2009/01/24/html2-5436724/Mutimba2009-01-24T11:59:42+01:002009-01-24T11:59:42+01:00 <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2009/01/24/html2-5436724/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2009-01-24:/2009/01/24/an-html-attempt-5436710/Mutimba2009-01-24T11:57:30+01:002009-01-24T11:57:30+01:00 <p>Hello there,</p> <p>HTML turns out to be a vital tool for the Web 2.0 audience, including bloggers and other social network users.</p> <p>Below is my attempt at the same:</p> <p>Thanks,</p> <p>MM <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2009/01/24/an-html-attempt-5436710/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2009-01-17:/2009/01/17/uth-mess-where-are-the-authorities-and-who-s-in-charge-5395482/Mutimba2009-01-17T19:52:05+01:002009-01-17T19:52:05+01:00 <p>Hello there,</p> <p>Between the wet season and me is the opening of Parliament by Republican President Rupiah Bwezani Banda.</p> <p>A prestigious opening parade was displayed for him: I thought the Queen of England was visiting!!</p> <p>But a few kilometers from parliament buildings, the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), an institution founded to help end health woes the country was facing after independence, faces urgent needs.</p> <p>But it looks like the UTH's days are over. Wherever you look, except the new cancer ward, everything else stinks. For example, to get a bed in the so-called 'filter' ward, you have to bribe someone.</p> <p>Everywhere you look, a person is laying down awaiting medical attention they won't receive. It's as if the hospital is about to be closed. Dead bodies lay on the floor unattended.</p> <p>I asked a friend of mine where doctors got their motivation from and all he could do was laugh.</p> <p>If what I saw at UTH on January 17, 2009 is the true meaning of responsible healthcare, I must then be living on borrowed times!!</p> <p>I am hoping someone, maybe the media or the donor community or some responsible person will walk into the corridors of UTH and grab the president's attention.</p> <p>How was Dr. Chituwo managing? Which parts of UTH re more important than others??</p> <p>MM </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2009/01/17/uth-mess-where-are-the-authorities-and-who-s-in-charge-5395482/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-12-29:/2008/12/29/satyam-directors-bow-out-as-pressure-mounts-5294343/Mutimba2008-12-29T18:10:47+01:002008-12-29T18:10:47+01:00 <p>Hi,</p> <p>Events at one of India's leading outsourcing giants are taking a new and bitter twist: <a href="http://http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a4Z8uwoy0vdw&refer=home">Three directors have quit</a> after a failed 1.6 billion dollar acquisition failed to materialize.</p> <p>Add insult to injury, the <a href="http://www.worldbank.org">World Bank</a> has banned the organization from doing any business with it, citing Satyams 'improper' benefits.</p> <p>Industry analysts have been quick to downplay the damage such action will have on the outsourcing giant, but recent events are an indication Satyam may have to do more to launder its image</p> <p>I hope to hear from fellow readers about how they see Satyam's future</p> <p>Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year</p> <p>Mutimba </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/12/29/satyam-directors-bow-out-as-pressure-mounts-5294343/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-12-25:/2008/12/25/the-credit-crisis-even-giants-are-not-immune-5277539/Mutimba2008-12-25T21:01:18+01:002008-12-25T21:28:18+01:00 <p>Hello there,</p> <p>Merry Christmas to all out there. Its been a long year, one whose main event of interest has seen the election of an African-American to the presidency of a superpower, America.</p> <p>Despite a lot of talk about his youth and lack of experience, Barack Obama defied the odds and rose to the leadership of the US empire.</p> <p>But maybe that's history: The latest news has been the credit crunch, which an Obama Administration has to face.</p> <p>Here in Zambia, an unpopular president, Rupiah Bwezani Banda, came to power. The outspoken Michael Sata, also known as King Cobra, lost an election that had to take place because of the death of Levy P. Mwanawasa.</p> <p>I am aware that in terms of local politics, there has been strong criticism of the president for taking a break for about 10 days. The argument is that with the nation in such a deep crisis of high mealie meal prices and miners losing jobs, no one should rest!!</p> <p>Wait a minute, this is Christmas, says the president. Every citizen should rest. </p> <p>Whether you agree with that or not depends on how you take the latest news from the technology giant <a href="http://www.google.com">Google</a>.</p> <p>The current economic crisis requires us to be more conservative about how we spend our money, says Google in a memo to its employees</p> <p>The giant is giving its employees Dreams in <a href="http://http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/23/cheaper-year-end-gifts-at-google/">lieu of the usual $1,000 year-end bonuses</a>. Those employees resident in countries where the Dream is not available shall be entitled to $400, which is the Dream's cost.</p> <p>When I say Google, I am not playing games. I am talking (or writing!) about a company with a market capitalisation of over <a href="http://http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/13/apple-market-value-exceeds-googles/">$150 billion dollars!</a></p> <p>Our president, on his way out to his Christmas holiday in Mfuwe, said that the government would ensure jobs were found for the 1,500 miners that would lose jobs after the closure of Luanshya Copper Mines. He did not elaborate.</p> <p>But pressure for explanations will grow. I am informed even Microsoft, which employs 91,000 people, is <a href="http://http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10128880-16.html?tag=rtcol;latest">planning to shed 10% of its workforce</a>.</p> <p>The crisis is global in nature. No politician has all the answers. Even Obama's promise of 'change you can believe in' will sit on deaf ears for a moment. People will need to be patient.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/12/25/the-credit-crisis-even-giants-are-not-immune-5277539/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-12-19:/2008/12/19/conflicting-stories-from-the-media-central-bank-on-kwacha-plunge-5245067/Mutimba2008-12-19T11:26:28+01:002008-12-19T11:26:28+01:00 <p>Hello there,</p> <p>With the central bank panicking due to a fast-depreciating kwacha, the two government owned papers have found themselves quoting the same source, but offering conflicting details.</p> <p>Initial reports in The Post of December 18 were that the central bank had injected about $5 million dollars in order to stabilise the the free-falling kwacha. </p> <p>The kwacha has been fast depreciating, not only due to market forces, but also weakening exports.</p> <p>In the Times of Zambia of December 19, 2008, the central bank governor is quoted as agreeing with media reports of December 18. Dr. Fundanga is quoted as saying despite the $5 million off-loaded on the market to rescue the falling kwacha, the rescue would have no impact. </p> <p>A sister newspaper, The Zambia Daily Mail, distances the central bank from the $5 million dollar injection. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/12/19/conflicting-stories-from-the-media-central-bank-on-kwacha-plunge-5245067/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-12-18:/2008/12/18/back-home-shoe-throwing-finds-imitators-5241845/Mutimba2008-12-18T17:23:47+01:002008-12-18T17:23:47+01:00 <p>Hello there,</p> <p>Outgoing US George W. Bush seems to attract foes wherever he goes.</p> <p>But the incident in Iraq in which a journalist, Muntader al-Zaidi, threw a pair of shoes at him could go down in the history of diplomacy as the worst experience of any head of state giving a press conference.</p> <p>Now, an American citizen, <a href="http://http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/nyregion/18sander.html">tried repeating the act by trying</a> to stone public officials at a hearing.</p> <blockquote><p>“I was very much inspired by that courageous Iraqi journalist who was protesting the occupation of his country by the American and British oil companies and their governments,” Mr. Millies said.</p> <p>I hope shoe-throwing does not get adopted as a way of airing grievances around the world.</p> <p>MM </p></blockquote> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/12/18/back-home-shoe-throwing-finds-imitators-5241845/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-12-08:/2008/12/08/the-false-and-flawed-prophecy-of-former-high-commission-harrison-5183252/Mutimba2008-12-08T21:01:10+01:002008-12-08T21:06:20+01:00 <p>Fellow Countrymen,</p> <p>It is almost a year since the former British High Commissioner to Zambia Alistair Harrison told a Radio Christian Voice programme, <em>Meet the</em> <em>Diplomat</em>, that the economy wouldn't suffer even when copper prices fell on the international market.</p> <p>"I think that the way in which the copper industry in Zambia is going about with its business suggests that if copper prices were to drop again, there would not be the same disaster to the Zambian economy due to a number of reasons. First, because I think the Zambian economy is not dependent on copper as it used to be," he said (The Post, Monday, February 12, 2007)</p> <p>Well, that has turns out to have been a false prophecy: The kwacha has actually been suffering the deepest plunge since 2005.</p> <p>Former High Commissioner Harrison's sentiments, if they were not diplomacy aimed at pleasing the host government, have taken a hard beating this year.</p> <p>The government, panicking and desperate to look responsible, has turned to asking mining companies to cut down on expatriate workers.</p> <p>The Minister of Labour and Social Security is quoted by the government media (Times of Zambia, Mon, December 8, 2008) saying the Government told mining companies that reducing on the number of expatriates would help maintain Zambians in their jobs as the salary of an individual expatriate would cater for more than 10 Zambians (Oops!! I did not know that expatriates made so much money!)</p> <p>And how can they even send their expatriates back home? The US <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/05/news/economy/jobs_november/index.htm">has shed some 533,000 jobs</a>, the worst in recent history.</p> <p><a href="http://www.credit-suisse.com/global/en/">Credit Suisse</a>, an elite investment bank, is cutting 5,300 jobs. What jobs will these miners find in their countries?</p> <p>The good news for now is that copper has risen to $3,315 per metric tonne in London trading, according to Bloomberg reports.</p> <p>Such reports may excite companies eager for quick economic recovery, but will disappoint producers, especially those that were starting addicted to the once-high price of about $6,700 per tonne.</p> <p>This are lessons even for economists: The world economy, in its currently globalised form,is prone to tectonic shifts.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/12/08/the-false-and-flawed-prophecy-of-former-high-commission-harrison-5183252/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-12-08:/2008/12/08/i-screwed-up-5183042/Mutimba2008-12-08T20:24:06+01:002008-12-08T20:24:06+01:00 <p>Hello,</p> <p>Now I see why I, in McCain's language, 'screwed up' Here is the link gives you access to interesting <a href="http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1794977202/bclid1815835600/bctid1856933378">Slate videos</a>.</p> <p>Thanks,</p> <p>Mutimba</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/12/08/i-screwed-up-5183042/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-12-08:/2008/12/08/slate-tv-summarises-it-all-5183002/Mutimba2008-12-08T20:15:42+01:002008-12-08T20:15:42+01:00 <p>Hello,</p> <p>I enjoyed this brief video by Slatetv.com. </p> <p>Frankly, efforts to embed the video proved futile.</p> <p>See the <a href="http://http://www.slatev.com/li_power_recap.html">link</a></p> <p>Thanks,</p> <p>MM </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/12/08/slate-tv-summarises-it-all-5183002/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-12-08:/2008/12/08/mark-penn-obama-s-win-just-own-up-5182004/Mutimba2008-12-08T16:48:46+01:002008-12-08T17:36:16+01:00 <p>Hello Readers,</p> <p>Mark Penn, the acclaimed US campaign strategist and publicist, insisted recently his favourite candidate for the US presidency, Hillary Clinton, was an electable choice than Barack Obama.</p> <p>Mr. Penn is also the chief executive of public relations firm, B<a href="http://www.burson-marsteller.com/Default.aspx">urson-Marsteller.</a></p> <p>In an <a href="http://http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/mark-penn-the-man-who-blew-the-presidency-1055699.html">interview</a> with the UK's Independent newspaper, Mr. Penn tries to come out as unapologetic.</p> <p>"The only thing I can tell you is that they [the Obama people] ran an excellent campaign," he says in the Independent interview</p> <p>But why the mess: Obama, until his election to the White House, kept raising doubts in the political establishment and among analysts about his chances of winning. Up to now, no one believes the opinions they had of and about Obama were wrong. But come November 4, Obama carried the day. It did not matter that the very <a href="http://http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/19/jackson.jena6/index.html">Rev. Jesse Jackson shed tears</a>, what matters is that that Obama made him do that.</p> <p>For example, a document doing rounds online and beyond, by an anonymous anti-Obama writer is wrongly entitled: Obama Presidency: Black President Or Irrational Exuberance.</p> <p>The document asks a lot of questions, but then leaves many unanswered. </p> <p>Mark Penn should not try to be exceptional for nothing: Flawed analysis and misleading strategy cost Mrs. Hillary Clinton the presidency, and Mr. Penn should accept he is the man behind the failure and try another round of 'microtrends' </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/12/08/mark-penn-obama-s-win-just-own-up-5182004/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-12-06:/2008/12/06/bill-ayers-defends-his-weather-undeground-5173191/Mutimba2008-12-06T20:20:25+01:002008-12-06T20:27:32+01:00 <p>Hello there,</p> <p>You have probably heard about Bill Ayers, the man who founded an organization called Weather Underground.</p> <p>The Republican Party had every idea that by linking Barack Obama to Bill Ayers, they would bring down Obama in November's general election</p> <p>At the height of the campaign and just when everyone thought Obama was losing momentum, the Republicans went on a major offensive, launching a negative public relations campaign linking then Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to Bill Ayers.</p> <p>Sarah Palin, Arkansas Governor and then McCain's running mate, said Obama was one <a href="http://http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/us/politics/12ayers.html">to 'pal around with terrorists who targeted their own country.'</a></p> <p>For an electorate that had been on a constant diet of 'change' and 'hope', the message did not seem to resonate with any cross-section of the American society, especially the young voters.</p> <p>But the interesting thing is a Cop-Ed in <a href="http://http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/06/opinion/06ayers.html?em">today's article on nytimes.com</a> in which Bill Ayers has hit back at his critics. Bill Ayers says he was thrust upon the stage and asked to play a role in a 'profoundly dishonest drama.'</p> <p>"I never killed or injured anyone. I did join the civil rights movement in the mid-1960s, and later resisted the draft and was arrested in nonviolent demonstrations. I became a full-time antiwar organizer for Students for a Democratic Society. In 1970, I co-founded the Weather Underground, an organization that was created after an accidental explosion that claimed the lives of three of our comrades in Greenwich Village. The Weather Underground went on to take responsibility for placing several small bombs in empty offices — the ones at the Pentagon and the United States Capitol were the most notorious — as an illegal and unpopular war consumed the nation."</p> <p>Mr. Ayers says his main reason for attacking empty buildings was to draw the government's and public's attention to a (Vietnam) war that would kill 3 million Vietnamese and 60,000 Americans.</p> <p>He further castigates the country's culture that is rooted in 'guilt by association.'</p> <p>Mr. Ayers is a professor of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the author of “Fugitive Days” and a co-author of the forthcoming “Race Course."</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/12/06/bill-ayers-defends-his-weather-undeground-5173191/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-12-04:/2008/12/04/nice-try-5162990/Mutimba2008-12-04T17:01:18+01:002008-12-04T17:08:30+01:00 <p>Hi there,</p> <p>Just giving my Facebook signature a try. Or yes, it actually works</p> <p>Regards,</p> <p>MM</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/12/04/nice-try-5162990/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-12-03:/2008/12/03/bill-clinton-eyes-own-role-in-obama-administration-5157106/Mutimba2008-12-03T17:51:12+01:002008-12-03T19:46:45+01:00 <p>Hello there,</p> <p>You probably have already read this: <a href="http://http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16156.html">Bill Clinton is reported to be eyeing a role in the Obama Administration in which his wife is already Secretary of State</a>. (See a <a href="http://http://www.kiwicollection.com/property/heritage-suites-hotel-angkor-wat">nice hotel</a> in Viet Nam this week)</p> <p>The internet and print media is already full of buzz about the possibility of Mrs Clinton curving her own agenda, escaping President Obama;s straitjacket. </p> <p>What happens if team Clinton and team Obama disagree over what to do when that 3am call comes in?, asks a columnist in the Economist.com</p> <p>The good news: One hopes a combination of experienced minds and Obama's amateurs will make a good blend when it comes to crafting a good US image abroad, including effective policy yo deal with growing discontent resulting from the credit crunch.</p> <p>Chief executives of the Big Three automakers seem to be likely to end at Obama's mercy, come what may.</p> <p>General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner has already indicated that <a href="http://http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/12/03/ap5773964.html?boxes=topstories">'failure is not an option for the auto industry.'</a></p> <p>Cheers,</p> <p>Mutimba Mazwi</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/12/03/bill-clinton-eyes-own-role-in-obama-administration-5157106/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-12-01:/2008/12/01/elon-musk-takes-his-electric-car-vision-to-washington-5143320/Mutimba2008-12-01T10:22:49+01:002008-12-03T16:40:48+01:00 <p>Hello there,</p> <p>Clean energy is every nations dream. The US always talks about divorcing itself from buying oil from rogue states.</p> <p>With all this on their minds, it should come as no surprise that Silicon Valley is stepping up its ambitions in lobbying Washington for more funds to fund innovation.</p> <p>Tesla Motors, founded by Elon Musk (founder of online payments company PayPal), is taking his ambitious plans to Washington, with an appeal for a 400 million dollar loan.</p> <p>Unfortunately, his plan has not been without its distractors. Anti-Washington campaigners, those who view the bail-out as nothing but an extension of financing to institutions that caused the credit crisis, or worsening it.</p> <p>Randall Stross has faced sharp criticism from a Silicon Valley veteran, Jason Calacanis. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/randallstross">Calacanis argues that the 400 million dollar bailout or loan for Tesla would be good for innovation because they help America stay at the pinnacle of technology and innovation</a>.</p> <p>The list of investors and buyers of Tesla Motors' Model S reads like Hollywood's Who is Who: Sergey Brin and Larry Page, among others.</p> <p>Martin Eberhard, once seen by many as Tesla's true visionary, was kicked out in top management reshuffle undertaken in order to streamline production and boost efficiency.</p> <p>Elon Musk kicked out Mr. Eberhard <a href="http://http://www.thedeal.com/techconfidential/behind-the-money/blog/behind-the-money/teslar-motors-founder-martin-e.php">around November 2007</a>. He was replaced by someone Elon Musk called an start-up veteran: Ze'ev Drori. Nowadays, Mr. Eberhard is happy to keep a colony of followers on his <a href="http://teslafounders.wordpress.com">blog</a>, with stories about the latest stories from Tesla Motors, including c<a href="http://http://teslafounders.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/cash-incentives-from-carb/#comment-4666">ash rebates from California Alternative Fuel Rebate Program</a></p> <p>The blog, when you read it, makes you wonder who exactly is in the driver's seat at Tesla.</p> <p>Surprisingly, those are the issues Elon Musk inherited. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/12/01/elon-musk-takes-his-electric-car-vision-to-washington-5143320/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-11-28:/2008/11/28/zanaco-ipo-no-new-surprises-5128600/Mutimba2008-11-28T21:22:30+01:002008-12-01T20:28:30+01:00 <p>Hello there, A lot has been going on lately. Among other things, the local Zambian currency, the kwacha, has been losing its value at the fastest speed possible. </p> <p>The <a href="http://www.zanaco.co.zm">Zambia National Commercial Bank</a>, a division of <a href="http://www.rabobank.com">Rabobank of Netherlands</a>, has floated shares on the Lusaka Stock Exchange. The <a href="http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPO">Initial Public Offering</a>, which is basically when a company issues common stock or shares to the public for the first time, has generated a lot of buzz and excitement. </p> <p>All this without reason. But the excitement is not necessary: ordinary Zambians did not participate significantly. Institutional investors carried the day. </p> <p>So, the talk of empowerment, especially when it is applied to such undertakings, can only be taken as meaningless!! </p> <p>See you later, </p> <p>MM</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/11/28/zanaco-ipo-no-new-surprises-5128600/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-10-31:/2008/10/31/the-long-wait-4963645/Mutimba2008-10-31T21:41:43+01:002008-10-31T21:41:43+01:00 <p>Hello there,</p> <p>I am going to bed 22.36 Zambian time, hopeful when I wake up there will be a new president.</p> <p>I even designed a spreadsheet detailing information on the various institutions. </p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/document/zambiaconsituencies/2949029" title="zambiaconsituencies"><img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/img/xls.gif" alt="zambiaconsituencies" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>I hope I have put all the 150 constituencies there</p> <p>See you,</p> <p>MM</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/10/31/the-long-wait-4963645/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-10-31:/2008/10/31/as-battle-for-state-house-intensifies-siulapya-comes-in-to-attack-4960217/Mutimba2008-10-31T09:51:42+01:002008-12-03T16:47:46+01:00 <p>Hello,</p> <p>In a world of fast-changing political fortunes, the MMD seems to have engaged <a href="http://www.electionguide.org/election.php?ID=1069">New Generation Party</a> Humphrey Siulapwa as a chief attacker of opponents, especially Micheal Chilufya Sata.</p> <p>The PF leader dominates the MMD's political events so much that in the end, one ceases to see what message the party is trying to communicate.</p> <p>At a rally on Wednesday in Mandevu constituency, the message was 'Sata is a fool' and nothing else.</p> <p>"Viva Mwanawasa. Viva RB (for Rupiah Banda), Viva Edith Nawakwi, Viva Christon Tembo."</p> <p>I recall listening to Humphrey some time in September during an interview with Muvi TV's Augustine Lungu in which he said they was nothing wrong with opposition political parties receiving money and related donations from the ruling party<br> <img src="http://i25.tinypic.com/2wqfrpd.jpg" alt="Zambia" title="Zambia"></p> <p>"I was offered 3 foreign service offers by Mwanawasa. Three!" he told Augustine. Humphrey then announced he would be <a href="http://allafrica.com/stories/200809290799.html">backing</a> the MMD's Rupiah Banda.</p> <p>I love the way Humphrey comes out, dating back to his Youth Forum for Democracy and Development launch at the Taj Pamodzi when I was a catering student at the Fairview Hotel.</p> <p>Talking about the future of youth politics and their role in Zambian politics, Humphrey sounded very optimistic. He said that he would be running in the 2011 tripartite elections. The only question was in which slots: presidential, parliamentary or local government.</p> <p>It remains to be seen what role Siulapwa will play in the new government, that is, if the MMD wins the October 30 presidential elections.</p> <p>I look forward to more news from the New Generation Party!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/10/31/as-battle-for-state-house-intensifies-siulapya-comes-in-to-attack-4960217/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-09-08:/2008/09/08/does-the-us-have-any-negative-disruptors-of-their-democracy-oh-of-course-4697645/Mutimba2008-09-08T10:53:39+02:002008-09-08T10:53:39+02:00 <p>Hello there,</p> <p>A story on the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/education/08students.html?_r=1&oref=slogin">NY Times website</a> today talks about the county registar's actions aimed at treating students registering at college addresses as full taxpayers.</p> <p>The legislation, which can be described as 'hot' in light of the critical nature of the upcoming elections, has attracted widespread concern from various circles of the US legal community.</p> <p>And those doing it are obviously negative and backward disruptors!</p> <p>Cheers,</p> <p>Mutimba </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/09/08/does-the-us-have-any-negative-disruptors-of-their-democracy-oh-of-course-4697645/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mutimba.blog.co.uk,2008-09-06:/2008/09/06/google-chrome-techcrunch-google-michael-arrington-4691113/Mutimba2008-09-06T20:12:17+02:002008-09-06T20:24:51+02:00 <p>Hello,</p> <p>As we have all been hearing lately, Google, that search giant known for everything from Android to search and email services has launched a browser called <a href="www.google.com/chrome">(Google) Chrome</a>.<br> <img src="http://3oceansrealestate.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/michael_arrington.jpg" alt="Mike Arrington" title="null"></p> <p>Chrome is currently enjoying a lot of buzz within the Web 2.0 community.</p> <p>Its features are summarised below by <a href="http://www.crunchbase.com">Crunchbase</a>, a division of <a href="www.techcrunch.com">TechCrunch</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>Features include:</p> <p>Tabbed browsing where each tab gets its own process, leading to faster and more stable browsing. If one tab crashes, the whole browser doesn’t go down with it</p> <p>A distinct user interface that places tabs on top of the browser window instead of right below the address bar</p> <p>An “incognito” mode that lets you browse the web in complete privacy because it doesn’t record any of your activity</p> <p>A new JavaScript engine built from the ground up for speed</p> <p>Malware and phishing lists that automatically update themselves and warn you of bad websites</p> <p>A default homepage that displays your most commonly used sites and other personalized information hi</p></blockquote> <p>Well there you go, I wish you a fantastic browsing time.</p> <p>And what do I think. Well, Google Chrome is, for now, trouble free. All I have to do is click the + button if I would like to open a new window and surf other locations online.</p> <p>See you,</p> <p>Mutimba</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mutimba.blog.co.uk/2008/09/06/google-chrome-techcrunch-google-michael-arrington-4691113/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>