Handsen Chikowore, Zimbabwe. Bio: Handsen's poetry and articles have been published by Blackmail Press in an e-chapbook "Echoes of Africa". Handsens vision and hope for Zimbabwe, to become a democratic and developed nation shines through in his poetry and eloquently written articles. BMP are proud to feature Handsens work. - Doug Poole Handsen Writes: Firstly and foremost how is life in New Zealand? Here in Zimbabwe we are really struggling with poverty, unemployment, high cost of living and we pray and hope that things will be better in the near future... I write to inform, educate, entertain as well as raising my standard of living... God Bless, Handsen

Why war in DRC? People have perished Infrastructure have been destroyed Roads have been destroyed Buildings have been demolished Why fight in Democratic Republic of Congo? The economy have been paralysed Schools have been closed Investors confidence have disappeared Poverty is increasing Why do you fight in DRC? Africans unite Do not fight against each other Our rich land is becoming useless Stop civil war Start rebuilding the economy Why war in DRC? Please countries fighting in Africa Stop the bloody war For the sake of Africa's progress and prosperity We want cease fire we want development in Africa Please stop war in DRC A country full of mineral resources A country with diamonds A country with the potential Let's all unite towards peace in DRC Let's be part of solution to ceasefire in DRC Aids In Africa AIDS, AIDS, AIDS It is now a continental disaster for Africa Millions are perishing Daily thousands are dying Hospitals are full of AIDS patients Its shocking the rate which people are dying Medical facilities are over-stretched The African economy being paralysed Able bodied men and women are perishing Leaving the young and the old Without someone to care for them Orphans are found everywhere Africa is perishing Poverty is increasing daily Yet Africans a rich continent Destitute are found in cities and towns Street kids, mothers and fathers are increasing The breadwinners are being wiped out by AIDS Its sorrowful, pitiful about the impact of AIDS in Africa Many organisations are trying to assist But they are failing As more and more money is needed To assist AIDS victims Its now upon responsibility of everyone To assist in the prevention of AIDS The duty is not for governments alone But for all Africans to unite and fight against AIDS Let's all Africans promote sex after marriage And sing our daily motto "Stick to one partner" Let the message spread across Africa. So as to reduce the consequences of AIDS Education in Africa Let's all educate ourselves in Africa With education Sucess and prosperity is ours From Cape to Cairo Let's all educate our children As they will shape Africa tomorrow All children must go to school Despite their sex Being a girl child Does not mean being disabled Parents, Gaurdians let's all educate children As they will shape the economy of Africa Let us send them to school And fight against child labour All children should be educated Parents it's our duty to ensure that Let's all have a vision for our children Visions that will shape Africa Education is the grassroots of success Without it prosperity cannot be achieved Let's all fight against illiteracy Let's all have hope for the future With our children educated Let's all educate and educate Until we can educate no more! Echoes of Africa Africa, Africa, Africa Our beloved continent cries Problems, troubles haunt the continent This is the voice of Africans In Mozambique Floods destroyed infrastructure Outbreak of diseases haunt the nation Roads and bridges are non-exsistant Please help poor Mozambique In Zimbabwe We need investors We want employment creators Zimbabwe a country with resources For those who need real investments In South Africa Thousands are dying weekly We talk of AIDS daily Orphans are increasing daily We cry for God's mercy In DRC We talk of war Peace agreements being breached We cry for peace in Africa Peace peace in DRC In Kenya We talk of hunger and starvation Emanating from prolonged drought Food resources are scarce We really need urgent help This is the voice of Africa Poverty Day in day out I am always suffering No permanent place to sleep Hunger, hunger my stomach complains The mouth always dry Bins are the sources of my food Clothes are tattered and torn When I cry for help, no one come to my rescue Everyday I am always shouting Begging in the city centre streets Where the rich do thier shopping Sometimes I don't because of weakness and hunger They always scold me and neglect me I walk barefooted My teeth always dirty My hair scruffy No toothpaste and soap available I use water from public places My fellows go to school Whilst I am busy walking in the streets my relatives denied me I am an orphan I have no one to care for me When I seek help from churches They say we have no money They think I am insane I hope one day in my life God will rescue me From this bondage of poverty Cry African Girl Up in the azure sky Shoots the sun's rays Rises to meet another day Another promise To me it's not yet any hope As each day brings more problems Which trouble a thirteen year old girl Setting alight fire early morning Sweeping the sheets of dust and dirt early morning A beast of burden for firewood so I am bound All those long distances I have to walk A throbbing ever throbbing pain to my foot With the baby clinging on my yonder back Thorn infested forests The meandering long walks to boreholes and wells The back breaking dreary buckets full of water Its so tiresome my body sweats it's so punishing my body cannot endure All Afrcan girls Cry for your rights The rape, torture and victimisation Our life an errie furnace of denied paradise A sad song of denied education I am so weary, Oh weary, So weary A breath for fresh air cometh not don't fall African girls Up and fight Yearn for another life Another era. All works copyright .

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