TashandaNewsletter
Saturday December 1, 2007
Greetings to all our valued customers
It's so hard to believe that Christmas is already upon us! Where indeed has the time flown? I am back from a
second trip to Africa. This time I was in my beloved Zimbabwe. The country remains incredibly beautiful and our
people are trying to be strong during these tough economic times. I returned with a renewed determination to help
our artisans help themselves, and I also extended our work to charitable causes within the country. For detailed
information please read the Tashanda Blogspot which I will be updating slowly over the next several months..
I'm really excited to introduce our new line of bags called Afrobags. My sister & I love handbags and everytime we
visit home we only manage to find only tote bag styles. Last year we came up with the name Afrobag, and this
month we located two brothers who are skilled in the art of bag making. We explained that we wanted a
combination of leather and batik in a variety of hobo styles, then we provided them with the materials. Thanks so
much to the Menyere brothers for all their hard work - See our blogspot for the Menyere brothers story.. They
made a total of 30 bags & wallets for us within a space of two weeks and they were more than fairly compensated
for their efforts! Once they completed the Tashanda order they had no orders for the foreseeable future & they
asked me to help them find more work. A friend of mine who saw the bags has agreed to place an order for 1000
plain tote bags for an upcoming workshop sponsored by Stanbic bank in the victoria Falls. This is why I love our
Tashanda work! We can help people like Mr Menyere grow his business!!
Call me optimistic but life is not all doom and gloom in Zimbabwe. I saw many positive things going on and
sometimes I wonder if those of us in diaspora will one day wake up and wonder where we were when Zimbabwe
was developing itself? I saw road construction (e.g. Newlands bypass), residential construction, outreach programs
at clinics, the opening of one of Africa's first biodiesel plants in Glendale, solar traffic lights, entrepreneurs
working from home, and victims of murambastvina helping their children by voluntarily running 4 nursery schools
with at least 400 children in each school . I saw Zimbabweans at work. I saw determination and hope in the eyes of
many of the people I encountered and interviewed. I also saw some foreigners of different cultures in the country
& indeed on my plane from South Africa to Zimbabwe. At one point I thought I may have boarded the wrong
flight!! The fact of the matter is that tourism is slowly beginning to pick up again.
I sat next to a Japanese reporter & his crew on the plane & he was very excited to be visiting. He said he had to
get permission to shoot a documentary on Zimbabwe to be shown in Japan. I am not a reporter though. I did a lot
of these interviews just for me to come to my own conclusions about Zimbabwe. We get bombarded with news
from CNN, BBC etc.. and I was afraid to go home because of the picture painted in the news. I thought I would
see police with batons everywhere and slum like conditions all around. So I searched for it, and while I did see
poverty, I saw pride even in poverty. One of the so called "slums" I visited in Hatcliff was peppered with flowers
outside each shack. These gorgeous flowers were planted by the shack owners. I saw a lot of heartfelt love & joy
too - more than I have seen in the western world. I guess, in spite of our circumstances we still continue find things
to be grateful for as a people. I also felt safe. I visited the CBD almost daily and I even got stopped by the police
for my drivers licence which I didn't have on me - they very politely told me to hold onto it when I travel & they let
me through without a fine or a ticket.
To balance the scales a little i will admit that there were water cuts, power cuts and food shortages and inflation.
Fuel was available through the purchase of coupons. Many of the grocery stores have pulled their products from
the shelves because they are being asked to sell their goods for less than cost . I will also admit that the cost of
living appeared cheap because I came in with a stronger currency, but to the general public prices are outrageous.
The worst part for me was the poor telecommunications system. I had to use dial up to access the internet and
could never reach a person on the first call. If anything is going to hamper progress this is certainly one as it has
isolated the country from the rest of the world. Some people have resorted to using wireless telephones/landlines,
but even then you may not be able to get through to a cell phone. The country has regressed somewhat as a result
of sanctions, but those in the know are taking advantage of opportunities where they can. Real estate prices are
off the charts and property is being snapped up by savvy investors because they know... Entrepreneurs like Mr
Menyere above who lost his job to downsizing, are finding personal wealth in working for themselves. Mr Menyere
has managed to build his family a house which he owns free & clear, from sewing handbags. Even Lonrho can see
light at the end of the tunnel and has committed to invest millions in the Zimbabwean mining industry.
Africa is an unconventional place & not for the faint hearted. At the end of the day it comes down to how well
you can see opportunities & how much of a risk taker you are. There is much to be gained from investing in Africa.
I love our arts & crafts and this is where I see opportunities. I sincerely believe that with a little capital investment
Zimbabwe's crafts sector could become an even stronger force to be reckoned with in the SADC region. It's just
a matter of innovation & developing a product that the customer wants...Product development is an area we will
be focusing on over the next few years. The skills are there, just waiting to be directed. If you are ever interested
in collaborating with Tashanda, in any capacity, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Stay well & Happy Holidays !!
Tashanda Staff
It's so hard to believe that Christmas is already upon us! Where indeed has the time flown? I am back from a
second trip to Africa. This time I was in my beloved Zimbabwe. The country remains incredibly beautiful and our
people are trying to be strong during these tough economic times. I returned with a renewed determination to help
our artisans help themselves, and I also extended our work to charitable causes within the country. For detailed
information please read the Tashanda Blogspot which I will be updating slowly over the next several months..
I'm really excited to introduce our new line of bags called Afrobags. My sister & I love handbags and everytime we
visit home we only manage to find only tote bag styles. Last year we came up with the name Afrobag, and this
month we located two brothers who are skilled in the art of bag making. We explained that we wanted a
combination of leather and batik in a variety of hobo styles, then we provided them with the materials. Thanks so
much to the Menyere brothers for all their hard work - See our blogspot for the Menyere brothers story.. They
made a total of 30 bags & wallets for us within a space of two weeks and they were more than fairly compensated
for their efforts! Once they completed the Tashanda order they had no orders for the foreseeable future & they
asked me to help them find more work. A friend of mine who saw the bags has agreed to place an order for 1000
plain tote bags for an upcoming workshop sponsored by Stanbic bank in the victoria Falls. This is why I love our
Tashanda work! We can help people like Mr Menyere grow his business!!
Call me optimistic but life is not all doom and gloom in Zimbabwe. I saw many positive things going on and
sometimes I wonder if those of us in diaspora will one day wake up and wonder where we were when Zimbabwe
was developing itself? I saw road construction (e.g. Newlands bypass), residential construction, outreach programs
at clinics, the opening of one of Africa's first biodiesel plants in Glendale, solar traffic lights, entrepreneurs
working from home, and victims of murambastvina helping their children by voluntarily running 4 nursery schools
with at least 400 children in each school . I saw Zimbabweans at work. I saw determination and hope in the eyes of
many of the people I encountered and interviewed. I also saw some foreigners of different cultures in the country
& indeed on my plane from South Africa to Zimbabwe. At one point I thought I may have boarded the wrong
flight!! The fact of the matter is that tourism is slowly beginning to pick up again.
I sat next to a Japanese reporter & his crew on the plane & he was very excited to be visiting. He said he had to
get permission to shoot a documentary on Zimbabwe to be shown in Japan. I am not a reporter though. I did a lot
of these interviews just for me to come to my own conclusions about Zimbabwe. We get bombarded with news
from CNN, BBC etc.. and I was afraid to go home because of the picture painted in the news. I thought I would
see police with batons everywhere and slum like conditions all around. So I searched for it, and while I did see
poverty, I saw pride even in poverty. One of the so called "slums" I visited in Hatcliff was peppered with flowers
outside each shack. These gorgeous flowers were planted by the shack owners. I saw a lot of heartfelt love & joy
too - more than I have seen in the western world. I guess, in spite of our circumstances we still continue find things
to be grateful for as a people. I also felt safe. I visited the CBD almost daily and I even got stopped by the police
for my drivers licence which I didn't have on me - they very politely told me to hold onto it when I travel & they let
me through without a fine or a ticket.
To balance the scales a little i will admit that there were water cuts, power cuts and food shortages and inflation.
Fuel was available through the purchase of coupons. Many of the grocery stores have pulled their products from
the shelves because they are being asked to sell their goods for less than cost . I will also admit that the cost of
living appeared cheap because I came in with a stronger currency, but to the general public prices are outrageous.
The worst part for me was the poor telecommunications system. I had to use dial up to access the internet and
could never reach a person on the first call. If anything is going to hamper progress this is certainly one as it has
isolated the country from the rest of the world. Some people have resorted to using wireless telephones/landlines,
but even then you may not be able to get through to a cell phone. The country has regressed somewhat as a result
of sanctions, but those in the know are taking advantage of opportunities where they can. Real estate prices are
off the charts and property is being snapped up by savvy investors because they know... Entrepreneurs like Mr
Menyere above who lost his job to downsizing, are finding personal wealth in working for themselves. Mr Menyere
has managed to build his family a house which he owns free & clear, from sewing handbags. Even Lonrho can see
light at the end of the tunnel and has committed to invest millions in the Zimbabwean mining industry.
Africa is an unconventional place & not for the faint hearted. At the end of the day it comes down to how well
you can see opportunities & how much of a risk taker you are. There is much to be gained from investing in Africa.
I love our arts & crafts and this is where I see opportunities. I sincerely believe that with a little capital investment
Zimbabwe's crafts sector could become an even stronger force to be reckoned with in the SADC region. It's just
a matter of innovation & developing a product that the customer wants...Product development is an area we will
be focusing on over the next few years. The skills are there, just waiting to be directed. If you are ever interested
in collaborating with Tashanda, in any capacity, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Stay well & Happy Holidays !!
Tashanda Staff
June 22, 2007Sign Guestbook
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Mr Max Menyere & some of the bags
he and his brother made for Tashanda
he and his brother made for Tashanda
| Road Construction in Newlands, Harare |
Entrance to a classroom built
by a poor community. This is a
nursery school which caters to
children aged 6 and below.
Tashanda has committed to
help this school & will be
seeking donations after the
Tashanda blog has been
updated with pictures, videos
and stories.
by a poor community. This is a
nursery school which caters to
children aged 6 and below.
Tashanda has committed to
help this school & will be
seeking donations after the
Tashanda blog has been
updated with pictures, videos
and stories.
Afrobag travel bag...