‘Double’ take on all things Zimbabwean

WHEN you are so used to something and you believe it is best, then it changes for the good, it brings cheer to your heart. It certainly was time New Zimbabwe.com shaped up and gave Zimbabweans something to cheer about.

Having ramped up traffic and trounced old timers like the Herald, this brand new blogging section might well be that positive change. Look around you, most professional media outfits are complete with a multimedia homepage that places our Zimbabwean websites somewhere near the Stone Age.

It’s about time we had professionally-driven media platforms comparable by world standards.

Give it up for the Zimbabwean readers though, they are arguably the most active African group on the internet. The evidence shows it. So kudos New Zimbabwe.com for the new blog service, which one hopes precedes the long-promised total overhaul.

Now let’s get acquainted shall we? And lay down a few ground rules so we don’t step on each others carefully manicured toes. My friends call me “Ike”. Not the Nigerian “i–ke”, no! (no offence to my Nigerian brothers here]. Just a plane “aik”, short for Isaac. It gives me wings, so to speak. It’s “Ike” then from now on ‘hey’.

I am one of identical twins. It’s amazing being born twins. A few oft times I would use the plural we to refer to us. I love him to bits. We breathe the same oxygen. I mean literally. Even though he may be 10000 km away, we think, talk, walk, feel and sound, the same. If he is having a manic time in Harare, rest assured something is eating me in Belfast. My friends are his friends and vice-versa. Don’t ask me why, its God’s design.

Here are some home truths about a few does and donts though. Never be tempted to place a wedge between me and Esau (twin). You are sure to get your fingers burnt pretty badly. Basically I don’t like to see my twin hurt, full-stop. I get very animated about it and my brain stops. Instinctively, it’s like don’t hurt him or else!!

Experience is the best teacher, go ahead and have a go but I am warning you! I swear to improve on it in future (read: in afterlife).

My, (sorry, we forget, our) love for good music is legendary. You have to go back a few years in high school at St Faith’s (Rusape), Goromonzi and Marlborough to find out stuff. Forget Kanye West. Back then, it was Midas Touch (Midnight Star), Living In A Box (by Living In A Box), Silver Shadow (Atlantic Starr); I Wanna Be Your Man (Roger), Night Shift (Comodores); they don’t make music like that any more.

Which brings us to speed with the donts. Coming between us and our music is one argument you won’t win. The editor of this website will attest to that. It’s one of the many (although I say so) reasons he gave me this blog. I correctly predicted Eric Moyo’s win, and he actually won Idols East and Southern Africa last July. On both occasions, the stories made front page headline news.

My taste in music has matured over the years to take on local content including Urban Grooves. Which reminds me, where did that one-hit wonder Ronnie Huni go? Remember the song Mazuvaose ? There is no argument Leonard Dembo is the greatest muso to grace The Big House of Stone. Nuff said.

Frankly, I am just too happy to be blogging with you guys. Talk to me people. I love writing and its one of my pressure release valves. So expect a mixed bag from turning syngas using Fischer-Trospch into petrol, singing Obama praises to dissing Roki and his joy-stick (that-good-for-nothing-twenty-two-year-old-father-of-five!).