http://mozambique.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://.tigblog.org/post/518271 My current visa status in Mozambique requires that I leave the country every 30 days to maintain my status. So, Monday (Nov. 3) Manuel and I planed to drive to Nelspruit, South Africa to have the car serviced and fulfill my visa requirement of leaving the county.

We left our house around 3pm and made it half a block before the car completely died. After several failed attempts to restart the car, some of the guards from the surrounding homes helped push our car back to our complex.

Since the car was no longer an option, we decided we would take the Intercape bus leaving Maputo at 7pm (which always leaves late). Manuel's cousin brought us to the office and we were soon on our way to the border. Well, sort of....

We only made it a few miles from our starting point before the bus completely died in the middle of the highway. With no AC and limited deodorant use on the bus, we all moved to the center divider in the highway to get some fresh air until it began to rain and we moved back inside. There we sat in the hot, humid, somewhat stinky bus for almost 4 hours until they finally realized the bus could not be fixed and they sent a second bus to rescue us.

The big issue now was that by the time the new bus arrived it was 10:45pm with an an hour and twenty minute drive to the border. If we did not reach the border gate before midnight --when it closes with out mercy--we would have to sleep in the bus until it reopened at 6am.

At 11:51pm we arrived at the border. They rushed us off the bus to got through immigration on the Mozambique side, while the bus drove to safety on the South African side. After immigration in Mozambique, we had to sprint about 200 meters to cross the South African Border before the gates closed.

Relived to have made it past the border, we had dinner at a quick gas station stop and finally arrived to Nelspruit at 2am. The bus dropped us off in the middle of a deserted street with 4 German tourists and 3 South Africans. We soon learned that all the taxi services were closed and had to walk to a nearby hotel to ask for help finding transportation. Luckily the security guards had a friend with a Taxi and one of them walked to his house to wake him up. In the end we reached our guest house at 3am after waiting our turn for the taxi.

The next morning we returned to Maputo where we almost got left again at the border waiting for my visa. Luckily they stamped it at the last minute and we made it across with no problems.]]> Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:11:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/518271 -25.9652778 32.5891667-25.965277832.5891667 http://.tigblog.org/post/519569
Most mornings I get visits from the four young monkeys who live in the complex. They are now old enough that the parents seem to let them wander off on their own and they come to eat fruit from the trees in my yard. Since they are still young they are very playful throwing things, attacking branches, and each other. I can't help but feel happy when they come visit.

Whenever I tell people that we have monkeys in our complex they always get this look of dread on their face and say "you don't feed them, do you?!"

Evidently monkeys and gremlins have somethings in common. The both seem cute, fuzzy and nice, but once you feed them (with monkeys it doesn't have to be after midnight) they turn evil and terrorize people. Or at least that is the impression I have been given.

So as tempting as it may be at times, I am going to heed the
warning given to me from just about every one, and not feed the monkeys.

]]> Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:11:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/519569 -25.9652778 32.5891667-25.965277832.5891667 http://.tigblog.org/post/513833 This is the entrance to our complex and one of the many guards at our complex who opens the gate when you arrive. The street that passes in front of our complex is called Rua Tenente General Oswaldo Tazama. He was one of Mozambiques military heros that fought to liberate Mozabique from the Portugues and just recently had this street named after him.






Our neighborhood consists almost entirely of condominium complexes for expatriates and a few influential and important people from the Mozambican government. It is pretty much nice fancy houses with guards, electric fences and dogs with the exception of a plot belonging to the opposition party. There lot is still surrounded by barbed wire and walls, but they are left over from what ever existed before. There are a million small kids with no shoes running around, chickens, garden plots and colorful laundry drying on the lines.

Our house is walking distance from all sorts of things. We have several restaurants and bars near by, a night club, a casino, the fish market, GAME (sells everything), a gym, gas station, salon, cafe, etc...

We even have a small plant nursery and pet store a block from our house. Although I am tempted, I am restraining from acquiring any pets.
All along the streets you can find people selling the most random things. All along the beach road are ice chests that people will sell you cold drinks from. They sell beer, soda, and some scary looking hard liquor in plastic flasks.
The division between the rich and poor is every where you look. It is not uncommon to find small shacks and trash dumps right across the street from up scale condominums.






]]> Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:10:00 EDT http://.tigblog.org/post/513833 -25.9652778 32.5891667-25.965277832.5891667 http://.tigblog.org/post/508559 The house we live in was built in the early 90's by a Swedish organization. The interior of our house reflects this. We have two bathrooms--one mauve and one blue. Every fixture matches (tub, sink, toilet, bidet, and floor and wall tile).

One unique bathroom feature is the toilet frog. I accidentally killed the first toilet frog we had when I forgot to flush the bowl cleaner. However, it seems a replacement has quickly shown up. He usually swims down the hole when you lift the lid, but I was lucky enough to get this photo of him.

I don't know how they get in the toilet, but flushing doesn't work to get rid of them. I really don't like killing the toilet frogs, so I guess I will just have to learn to live with them. The main issue is going to the bathroom in
the middle of the night. I no longer feel comfortable sitting on the toilet, or even lifting the lid to the toilet without the light on. ]]> Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:10:00 EDT http://.tigblog.org/post/508559 -25.9652778 32.5891667-25.965277832.5891667 http://.tigblog.org/post/508561 The car that we ordered from Japan arrived in early September. Unfortunately we are still getting the paperwork together so we can actually drive it. We are hoping to be able to drive it at the end of this week.

I am hoping to save up and buy a Toyota starlet, or some other small, fuel efficient car that I don't mind putting a few dents in. Driving here is a little chaotic and I am sure that my first car is likely to turn into a piñata.

Here is a view of the pool from our back porch. The weather is still a little cool for swimming (by Mozambican standards), but it should be getting very hot now that we're moving into summer.




















While the weather is not too hot, we have been spending a lot of time outside enjoying the nice weather. This is Manuel in our backyard enjoying some Imperial (one of the Mozambican beers).







Here is a photo of the beach front near our home. It is one of the popular areas for people to sell fresh fish, produce, plants, furniture, crafts, etc. You can find just about anything along this road. In the evening it is also where all the young Mozambican teenagers come to hang out and drink. It causes quite a traffic jam on the weekends.




]]> Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:10:00 EDT http://.tigblog.org/post/508561 -25.9652778 32.5891667-25.965277832.5891667 http://.tigblog.org/post/508563 So I have finally discovered that I am a mazungu. This is the South East African (I think Swahili) word for a white person. Although there are plenty of mazungus in Maputo.

As a mazungu, I have the privilege of living in a special mazungu reserve. Our reserves are surrounded by walls, barbed wire and electric fences and protected by guards. Mazungus are incapable of doing physical or strenuous work and therefore must have others care for them.

Everyday native Mozambicans come to the mazungu reserves to maintain our homes and gardens. Because mazungus need so much space, their homes are also attractive to the local macaco who is not so welcome in other parts of the city.

Here is a picture of the macaco family that lives in our compound. There are about six of them that I have counted. The mother (who is the first monkey in the picture) and her four children who are nearing adolescents. The father monkey hangs out on his own. They are very uncooperative when it comes to getting them to pose for pictures, but I was lucky enough to get this one. The young monkeys seem to enjoy watching mazungos, but the parents don't really care for us.]]> Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:10:00 EDT http://.tigblog.org/post/508563 -25.9652778 32.5891667-25.965277832.5891667 http://.tigblog.org/post/505637 O Encontro tem por objectivo avaliar os problemas da juventude Moçambicana na nova conjuntura social, política e económica do País, bem como criar oportunidade de diálogo entre jovens, comunidades e dirigentes governamentais.
Com cerca de 500 participantes representando várias sensibilidades do movimento associativo juvenil Moçambicano, o 2º Encontro nacional da Juventude de Moçambique é Organizado pelo Ministério da Juventude e Desportos de Moçambique em colaboração com o Conselho Nacional da Juventude de Moçambique (CNJ).]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2008 03:06:00 EDT http://.tigblog.org/post/505637 http://.tigblog.org/post/503053 So I have finally arrived to Mozambique!!! I was beginning to think I would never make it. I began my trip on Friday, October 3rd and finally arrived in Maputo on Sunday, October 5th. Manuel surprised me my meeting me in Johannesburg so that he could help me with my luggage. We flew South African Airways from Johannesburg and the former president of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano, was on the plane waving to us when we got on. I thought that was pretty exciting.









I had a ton of bags, so it was nice that Manuel was there to help me push them all to the curb. Here I am waiting for the ILLRI driver to come and pick us up.










Here is a photo of my beautiful house. We are near the city, but about two blocks from the public beach. There are lots of plumaria, trees blooming around the complex right now, which makes everything smell nice. We also have a family of ververt monkeys living near us although I have only seen one. There are also lots of cool lizards, birds and frogs for me to make friends with while Manuel is at work.





During the week Dona Matilde, the housekeeper, comes and helps with what ever I need. I love this woman!!!











This is the view of the pool from my front yard. There are 10 houses in the complex, but there are so many trees and plants it feels very private and secluded.










Last Wednesday Manuel had to go to the rural area, but our neighbor was nice enough to take me out and give me a tour of the city. She is from the Netherlands and has been living in Africa for over 15 years. Her and her husband have been in Mozambique for 5 and she has been wonderful in helping me get adjusted. This photo is a statue in down town Maputo.












Here is a picture of the Maputo train station. It was built by the Portuguese during colonial times and was also where they filmed some scenes from the movie Blood Diamond.










Saturday Manuel and I went to Belene Beach with a colleague of his. We met his cousin Tanya and her boyfriend for lunch and enjoyed the day by the sea.















All the kids were excited to have there pictures taken and wanted us to take pictures of the fish they caught. This is a picture I took while they were distracted taking a picture for someone else.










The stuff that I shipped in August should be arriving on October 21. I don't know how long it will take to get out of customs, but I will be excited to see it again!

]]> Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:10:00 EDT http://.tigblog.org/post/503053 -25.9652778 32.5891667-25.965277832.5891667 http://.tigblog.org/post/429561 As in many parts of the world, crime, drugs, HIV-AIDS (AIDS) are a consequence of poverty and lead young people to take a big challenge: The COMBAT POVERTY.
Here is once again the question: Is the youth is prepared to lead this challenge and embrace these countries as Mozambique?]]> Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:10:00 EDT http://.tigblog.org/post/429561 http://.tigblog.org/post/414759 Tal como em várias partes do mundo, a criminalidade, a droga, o HIV-SIDA (AIDS) são consequência da pobreza e levam os jovens a assumir um grande desafio: O COMBATE À POBREZA.
Ai voltamos a questão: Será que a juventude está preparada para abraçar e liderar este desafio destes países como Moçambique ??]]> Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:59:00 EDT http://.tigblog.org/post/414759 http://.tigblog.org/post/318457
No Meu País, Moçambique, as taxas de desemprego rondam em pouco mais de 35 por cento nos principais centros urbanos, apesar de ainda não haverem estudos e pesquisas mais profundas sobre o emprego, sobre as taxas de desemprego em Moçambique.

No entanto, há esforços tanto do Governo, bem como do empresariado e sociedade civil no sentido de criar mais postos de trabalho, gerar fundos de empreendedorismo juvenil, e outras oportunidades de geração de emprego...

Isto são apenas dados iniciais sobre o debate que pretendo que seja continuado por si caro jovem leitor.



In English:
It would like in this post to search commentaries, ideias, you criticize and everything what if it judges important on the young and the market of work.

Also we can change impressions on the self employement, on as it is that here the young can search auto-job, and which is the paper of the governments, the private sector one and the other intervening ones in these sectors.

In My Country, Mozambique, the unemployment taxes make the rounds little in more than 35 percent in the main urban centers, although still not to have studies and deeper research on the job, on the taxes of unemployment in Moçambique. However, it has efforts of the Government in such a way, as well as of empresariado and the civil society in the direction creating more ranks of work, generating deep of youthful empreendedorismo, and other chances of job generation...

This only is given initial on the debate that I intend that he is continued by itself expensive reader...



Muhate
www.basiliomuhate.blogspot.com
]]> Thu, 03 Jan 2008 05:58:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/318457 http://.tigblog.org/post/159797 O Evento está previsto para o próximo dia 24 de fevereiro, em maputo, capital da república de Moçambique.
Neste grande encontro a associação vai reafirmar o seu comprometimento com a causa da cidadania, com o apoio a participação dos cidadãos na vida pública do país.]]> Tue, 30 Jan 2007 04:40:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/159797 http://.tigblog.org/post/65395 No primeiro dia ao amanhacer comecei a ver as diferencas existentes entre nos: fomos servidos uma bacia com quase 1 litro de agua, sabao e toalha que era para fazer o banho, nao foi tao assustador eu ja tinha ouvido falar desse tipo de banho entao peguei na toalha e comecei a limpar me e na realidade era um banho totalimente diferente e que nunca tinha provado antes.a nossa amiga Dudu, vivi na familia com 2 irmaos, o Mandla e Sibonguile ainda com a Filha, Nkonsi e o sobrinho filho do Mandla. a Dudu e a mais velha en casa ela conhece a idade dela porque os pais eram muito pobres e nao puderam lhe fazer estudar assim ela apenas conhece as idades dos irmaos, chegada a hora do cafe da manha notei outra coisa que eles tem panelas separadas como se fossem familias diferentes na mesma casa cada um faz a sua cozinha particular isto nao porque nao ha entendimento nao mas sim e a tradicao que pede assim e e normalissimo naquela regiao este tipo de convivencia, no final da tarde o Mandla convidou me para tomarmos uma cerveja com amigos, fomos a uma casa ali perto para comprar a cerveja quando tirei o dinheiro para partilhar a conta ela quese chorou disse nao e assim pela tradicao deles o hospede nao pode gastar dinheiro porque ja fez muito ate chegar a eles, perante esta desculpa aceitei e respeitando a tradicao dos outros mas outros dias nao aceitei para tomar a cerveja porque achava que ele estava fazer um grende sacrificio para alegrar me enquanto que Eu alegre ja estava porque eles receberam nos muito bem e em nunhum minuto sintimo-nos mal, Enquanto eu saia com o Mandla a Candy ficava com a Dudu. a semana passou muito rapido aprendemos algumas palavras para saudacao em dialeto local ex:saubonani(alo) responde se yebo(alo/a) u ndzani (como esta) responde se Ni yaphile nine? (estou bem e voce?)e mais outras palavras.No domingo fomos a igreja da Dudu fomos recebidos com muitos louvores,canticos mais canticos apesar de nao percebermos a lingua mas para os discursos tinhamos uma pessoa ao lado que fazia a traducao para o ingles para pudermos perceber a mensagem dirigida. por volta das 15 horas terminou o culto que comecou as 09h da manha e tomamos o almoco juntos e despedimos de regresso a Maputo, para dier a verdade foi fantastico o tempo passado por poucos dias com eles mesmos com os famosos comerciantes de origem asiatica em Mbabane trataram-nos bem e fizemos uma grande amizade assim com disse o father prister na igreja ''esta e a vossa segunda casa sejam bem vindos para sempre'' prometo voltar ao reino da Swaziland.um forte braco para todos.
]]> Sun, 12 Nov 2006 12:30:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/65395 -25.9272222 32.6158333-25.927222232.6158333 http://.tigblog.org/post/42986 A imagem nao retrata nada de mau apenas queria vos dizer queridos amigos que tambem gostaria de acabar com trabalho infantil.na foto esta um menino que devia estar na escola mas esta a vender lanhos(cocunuts)na avenida marginal em Maputo-Mocambique.


um abraco

Aurelio ]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2006 00:28:00 EDT http://.tigblog.org/post/42986 -25.9272222 32.6158333-25.927222232.6158333 http://.tigblog.org/post/32622 Este evento ocorre pouco tempo depois da realização da 5ª Conferência Nacional da OJM, que elegeu os novos órgãos directivos da Organização.
As festividades tiveram como actividades a deposição de uma coroa de flores no monumento aos heróis Moçambicanos e um almoço dos Camaradas na cidade de Maputo.

Basílio Muhate ]]> Wed, 30 Nov 2005 17:20:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/32622 http://.tigblog.org/post/26273 Está ainda em preparação a realização do Parlamento Juvenil Moçambicano.]]> Mon, 18 Jul 2005 14:05:00 EDT http://.tigblog.org/post/26273 http://.tigblog.org/post/18299 Fri, 23 Jul 2004 22:54:00 EDT http://.tigblog.org/post/18299 -25.9652778 32.5891667-25.965277832.5891667 http://.tigblog.org/post/18284 Thu, 22 Jul 2004 22:30:00 EDT http://.tigblog.org/post/18284 -25.9652778 32.5891667-25.965277832.5891667