Stanley Talks

Lessons in Fundamentalz Everyday (L.I.F.E).

2011-02-10T18:09:00.002+02:00

Lesson 1: Giving Up in Life vis-à-vis Giving up on Life: Is’t worth’t?

Objective(s)
1. At the end of the lesson one must fully comprehend that giving up is never worth it, whatever circumstances!

Why do we some of us continuously do this to ourselves? Day in, and day out, there is a soul out there, dripping with beautiful promise, but where are they and what are they now? Where has all that promise gone? How do their prospects as citizens of a “good” future look? Do they need shades to look at or they are dull and depressing enough, you might as well close your eyes to look at them?

“Giving up in life”, and “giving up on life” and what it means? I know its phrase you might be well at home with, but let me break them down a little, what do they mean?

“Giving up, in life” means giving in to the seduction of failure; you fully embrace the possibility of some things never happening in your life, one can make't a habit, their lifestyle.

Whereas, "giving up on life", you completely throw the towel on this God-given art, your life, such that you might as well die (it would make no difference, would't), you feel there is nothing worth living for at all, incognizant of the presence of a loving family, and all possible dreams, friends don’t feel left out, hopefully, I’ll include you in the next note, will write in 2015, neh?, I know you understand;)!

Remember that lot, I talked about in my opening lines (others call’t the introduction, obviously…aint they boring?)? Well, if you don’t, you might wanna revisit it, please!

Those folks gave up in all hope and promise their lives had, endowed with great brains, terrifyingly good futures, but where are they now? Well, others were victims of circumstances, but still, one believes a willing heart and mind can conquer all.

Why?

When one has this thirst from hell on something, no matter how distant the nearest river might be to quench it, they will walk down to it, and quench the hell out of that thirst. Likewise, if it’s a general thirst, they’ll just let it slide. The latter is the unfortunate thirsts, the thirst that makes you say; “Anyways, I can live with this, it won’t kill me!” I believe life should be made of the thirsts that should make one fight, endure all pains, and drink their own tears and all. Have something to hunt down until you get!

Lol, I’m still on “giving up”!

Anywho, one thing we all deserve in life is fulfillment, that sense of achievement; I mean those moments that make you smile in your solitude every time you reminisce about them. Question then is, how do you deliver them to yourself?
It’s easy, dream, and strive to see that dream live! Set a target and revel in seeing that target fall down at your feet! Finish all you start. Whatever circumstances are set before, go all out to get all that you want, invest all your capabilities and all other resources needed to see that thing you want at your lap. You owe yourself that much.

I know, right now you’re saying; “But, eish, circumstances s’khokho!” Well, screw them! Who are they to your driven heart and focused mind? What are they before the engineer that services your life? God?

One thing we continuously fail to understand about circumstances is that they exercise our hunger and desire for whatever it is that we want. Imagine, going to bed because you are hungry, and you hoping to wake up with a full stomach? That’s why you gotta endure that heat in the kitchen to get food ready! And, yes, to the junkies, that’s why you gotta walk down a coupla kilometers (or metres) down to that eatery! Well, whatever, but might point is, you gotta do something to do something! Don’t let fear and circumstances get in the way of your wants, dreams and all!

Let the adrenalin rush of fighting those challenges make you trip to achievement fun, let that sweat and tears be the oils that lubricate your system. Imagine, courting a girl and she gives in there and there? How boring can that be? Utom’balisela nini about all those rejected calls, unreplied SMS’s and all that silent treatment she gave you during the courtship? Yah, my point exactly!

And, how can I forget, let those circumstances who pose as human beings in disbelief of you and your capabilities be your cheerleaders on that way up! These are the folks who believe there’s zilch you can’t achieve! LOL at them, bobani bona and who mandated them to be your fortune-tellers? Now, don’t let those folks’ opinion of you influence you and all you think of you! Even more reason, to live your life by your own confidence in yourself and abilities! The only time a second opinion comes to need is at the hospital, when there’s need for verifications for certainty on results and all, but never in your life. Remember, the only truth that is truthful enough is that which you constantly think of yourself, to yourself!

The easiest way to rock this attitude well, is to define YOURSELF, YOURSELF, WHAT YOU WANT, HOW YOU’LL SET OUT TO ACHIEVE, AND HOW BADLY YOU WANT IT! Don’t seek anybody’s help on that! Not even the world’s most highly revered dictionary should help you define yourself, only YOU YOURSELF are well-equipped to do. Once you’ve done that, answer that; “What do I want in my life question?”. Next step; “How do I go about accomplishing it?”. Then reinforce on that attitude! After that, set out to achieve!

Obviously, there’ll be hard times, you’ll be tempted to give in to giving up, there’ll be people pull you down and all, but here’s the trick; those circumstances and people pull you down once, double-up your fighting spirit, that travesty befalls twice, take your fighting spirit to four…in short, double’t up!

Kinda reminded of a line from one of my pastor’s sermons a coupla weeks ago, he said, at times, we give up just when whatever we were fighting for is about to come to pass, those trials and tribulations you ago to achieve are just sampling your hunger! So, how do you find out, if indeed, it’s about to come to pass? Just hang in there…DON’T GIVE UP!

Lastly, to share a line that kinda made me chuckle (so pregnant with truth); “Things usually work out well at the end, so, if after several attempts and trials you still fail or things aint working out for you, it simply means that, “the end” aint come by yet…when it finally decides to come around, things will work out well.”, from a friend, I don’t know where he stole the quote, it’s unlike him to spew such genius…oh, I kinda remixed the line, you know, adding that personalized the line…for just nje! But being the smart folk you are, I know you get the drift ;)!

Lastly (well, uhm...for real this time); whatever the case and circumstances, DON’T GIVE UP, your glory might just be around the corner…a little patience goes a long in seeing all you want and ever-wanted in life come to pass! Don’t be one of those folks I mentioned at the “intro”, just be you, a fighter with dreams to achieve and a world to conquer. Turn your everyday doubters into your every minute cheer-leaders, turn those tears they bring into into the fuel that fires you up…don’t ask me how, figure’t out, YOURSELF (it’s called “tough-love, lol)!

Was that long?

*sigh*

Inspired by no one in particular, she knows herself.

Credits: My Pastor and my friend…&myself (LOL!).

You Change the Meaning of the World

2010-09-13T09:26:00.000+02:00

There comes a time when we need to stop doubting ourselves. I have heard and seen so many people who are so convinced that they are not adding anything of value to society.

I believe that because you are alive, God sees you as an individual not as a member of a particular society. As an individual you have an effect to your environment and what you have to be focusing on is making a good impact.

As I am pressing on this keyboard writing this message I have a problem with the key 'Y' - it's not functioning properly. See the world as the board and you as the key. Your absence changes the meaning of your world. This one letter can change the whole message. Consider these two sentences:

1) I CAN'T STOP EARNING FOR A BETTER LIFE
2) I CAN'T STOP YEARNING FOR A BETTER LIFE

Only the letter Y makes so much difference. That's how valuable you are as an individual. Value yourself as a person who is valuable in this world and then consider every other person as valuable individuals as well.

Enjoy your day!

How To Make Her Love You, Preciously!

2010-09-05T17:40:00.005+02:00

The aim is not to be monotonous and predictable...but spontaneous, fun and interesting...remember they say boredom killed a nun!

This is my take on what a brother has to do keep't interesting and spicy...read between the lines, surely they aint that blurred, if you feel they are, see your gynaecologist (that's a doctor who deals with eyes, right? Well, I hope so!) like yesterday!

And here's my winning formula;

1. Make't a point to keep her intellectually stimulated.

In simpler terms, always leave her with something to think about...the idea is not bore her!

For instance; "Baby, do you think Zuma and his cronies are justified by their proposed Protection of Information Bill?" Or on a more local context, will Swaziland ever achieve her lusted after First World Status, noma kutsandza tintfo nje at the cost of more important objectives!

Get her thinking...tlitli!

2. Make her laugh.

In my few years in the game, I've come to appreciate that our better-halves love us even worse if we make them laugh regularly...try't!

For instance; When the two of you eat out, make sure that as you eat and talk at the same time. That will make her laugh. Or better yet, when given some folk and knife at this posh restaurant, put those time wasters aside, and go at it with your bare hands, remember you are an African man, not an agent of Western Civilisation!

That should get her laughing her eyes off!

3. Make't a point that she always comes, ALWAYS...and in many beautiful ways!

For instance, when you guys have set out to meet, do not give her a reason to stand you up! Give her a reason to come and meet you for dates and you can do this best by telling her that if she don't come you'll dump her...that way it's guaranteed, she'll come! Ask me, I know!

What were you thinking? Oh, that? I know, try it, it works too!

4. Treat her like a Queen!

For instance; when she emerges out of the corner or wherever and you too are about to meet, sing her clan praises. If she's a Dlamini m'bonge; Nkhosi, Dlamini, Gwalagwala, Mali Yek'tsenga...that kinda thing!

Lie to her every now and then...even if her hairstyle looks like a vulture's nest, tell her; "Wow, Baby you look like Kim Kardashian, you know her mosi? That lady I always fantasize about nang'nawe!

Yeah...try'!

5. Tell her she's beautiful, every now and then!

Every lady deserves to feel like a princess every now and then, and it is up to you (her object of affections to make her feel special).

For instance, tell her that she looks sexy (not beautiful, no, no, no, that's usual and everyday), tell her that she gives you goose-bumps, but she don't match your ex...lol!

"Cha, umuhle baby, but awufaki kuRose leleng'male last week!

6. Pamper her, every once in a while (and make her know you doing't 'cause she's your queen).

You see needn't worry about those things, wena you are loaded, uhamba phansi!

For instance; when you eat out, tell her she won't afford, and wena you have money, so you'll sort the bill out!

7. Never underestimate the power of chocolate and sexy lingerie!

Well, well, well...what am I saying here? Yes, get her those MaMhlongos, those Eclair Pops! For variety, get her some Brooklax, tell her you it's the new Swiss staff taking the world by storm, make her munch them all at once, 'cause they are so special they expire within three hours! On the lingerie, forget the expensive brands...hint hint!

8. Make her feel loved and let her know you do, always!

Well, this one is obvious, angitsi uyamtsandza vele!

For instance, well, uhm...send her her an SMS every thirty minutes tell her you love and without her you are nothing and if she can leave you, you can commit that thing, or preferably call her every fifteen minutes, ask her where she's at, with whom and what are they doing, and if there any males around, when she asks why all these questions, tell her, it's all because you love her!

9. Regularly give her money and remember the power of a "thank you"!

Actually just give the darn ATM card, tell her you are a very nice person phela wena, and nje you are huge on charity and God said we must give to the needy, so, you are just doing that!

For instance; after that "act" (sigh), give her a coupla bucks, as a thank you, or just say "Thank You Boo-Boo, waze wang'zama, solo ngagcina that night with that lady I picked kuMahhala!"

It works like a charm!

10. Talk about yourself, what you have (and how much you have't)...BRAG!

Well, this one is all about confidence...and more of't!

For instance, Gentleman, what better way, to display your confidence, that talking about yourself non-stop, like you are on some hallucinant. Treat her like she isn't there at all. Tell her about your salary, the brands you wear, the perfumes you use...lie if you have to...do that bragging!

Oh, and remind her that you are on demand wena...uyinganwa like hhele and you are just doing her a favour!

Bonus Track

11. Be open to her.

Tell her about your previous harem of girlfriends and how you've played't unsafe with them!

12. Is just that...twelve!

I want to say "LOL"...but, ah, stuff't!

A Journey to Self

2010-03-31T10:35:00.005+02:00

When I was a baby I had all to myself.
I never struggled to get what I wanted.
I had all the attention.
When I felt ignored I would just cry and somebody would run to to take care of me.
The more I grow, the more I learn to take care of myself, the more I get the freedom to explore the world.... the more I drift away from myself. Then there comes a point when I stop and ask WHO AM I?
That's when I realize I have lost touch with myself.
That's when I realize I have been lost to the world I have been exploring. That's when I begin the JOURNEY (back) TO SELF.
That's when I re-discover WHO AM I!

This was inspired by an invitation to a facebook group called A Journey to Self "Who Am I"

THINKING OUT LOUD ABOUT LIFE

2010-03-07T19:39:00.004+02:00

It obviously is nothing much of a life lived, just a couple of years down the clock, but in my rich inexperience kiyo, there are a few lessons I have learnt…some emanate from the entrepreneur in me, some the singer (chorister, yebo phela!) in me, the writer in me (chances are very high, I’m one, lol!) and most of all, the person living amongst others in me. What I have here are some pointers I have managed to take as I made my footsteps in life …and being the “unstingy” person I am, I thought I’d think out loud, so you might “hear” the thoughts;

1. FAITH.

It has to be the one guiding principle in all we do, if success is what we want. Forget the odds stacked against and the voices of the skeptics directed at you, or the queer glances leveled at you. Focus on what you have set out to achieve, keep the faith that it will succeed, long before you even start out on it. Faith itself should be the “silent” investment in whatever endeavor one has set out to undertake.

Point in case; during the 2010 Intervarsity Games held at UNISWA, I had me a young stall, selling t-shirts, just that. I had planned to start the hustle on second day, (27 February) our “friends” from Botswana and Lesotho arrived, I just displayed the stuff at the tuck-shop (for “just” nje kwasho umngami Zorro), and guess what, the obvious happened, the sales were whack. I only found myself erecting a stall on the fourth day (01 March), simply because of a funny fear and some doubt that I had done the biggest mistake of my brief entrepreneurship, I’m not sure what came over me to delay the plan, but the one thing I’m sure of now is that, had I started on my plan earlier (say on the second day), the possibilities were endless, I would have surely made way more than what I made in the days I served, not that I’m complaining though.

When I finally drummed sense unto myself, I told myself that the merchandise was ready to go and it will go, in one or the other. It wasn’t heading back to my room in the bulk it was, I was going to accommodate only at less than three there, not more! On the afternoon of the forth day mentioned above, I got a table, positioned it by the tuck-shop, and vowed to myself that I was going to sell the t-shirts like they were going out of fashion, I had faith that this was going to be a success story, out of nothing. That night, at around 22hrs00 or so, I went back to the room, a happy man appreciative of the few sales I had made, it dawned on me that it was possible, and the resources to realize those possibilities were within my being. My experience on the 01st pumped me up for the next day, and the next, up to the last, the 04th.

Analyzing the whole experience on the night of my last day at the stall, I got to realize that I had done it by faith, I replaced the initial fear with confidence that all was going to work out fine, no matter what, and as set the moment I told myself I was going make this work, at the end it did just that; WORK OUT JUST FINE. I realized that faith had made it possible, and without it the merchandise would still be a depressing pile in the room. Honestly, I felt tears seducing my tear glands at the humility this experience brought upon me. It was truly humbling what an optimistic mind and driven soul can do.

From there, I vowed to invest faith in everything I do, put aside all fear and doubt that may creep unto me to derail my eyes of the goal, no matter what I may consider to odds…hleze kube tanya leti, or better yet; props which God has put along the way, so you may learn something from whatever undertaking is before you.

My point being? Let us have FAITH in all we do, ALWAYS; Its absence is what has made people fail to do what they have set out to do even before they do whatever that is they want to do. We owe it to no one but ourselves to keep it, otherwise there world would have not even one success story, and within us all is a success story,a waiting to be read.

2. CONFIDENCE.

The above experience (amongst many others) also made me appreciate the significant role confidence should play in one does; this is the confidence in your abilities and all that pertains you as an individual in your own space. I got to understand that if you believe in yourself, (I might say nothing is impossible), but I’ll say it tends to rub off onto the people who are doubtful of you, and you find them close to admitting that they never believed in you. Besides, it kind of feels good to know that you got your own back, such is what propels you to extremes you never even foresaw, you might have to pinch yourself every now and at having done it.

In short, on this, kuningi kukhobosana sibantfu, and here, it comes very much in handy to know your place under the sun, otherwise one would always be driven what people think of them. For whatever reason kunebantfu lebatikhandza bancono kunalabanye, one can’t complain about the prevalence of these, we need them after all, to keep us motivated and headed for the goal, and besides they need the ego boosts, usually bantfu labanjena have a very sad inferiority complex, hence the only way for them to feel big is to keep others on the down. Use these to your utmost best; let them be the wind that keeps your flight afloat. Through all that the individual ought to remain inspired to appreciate, embrace and love themselves, not for anyone but yourself, it comes in handy in all you do…trust me (or try to!)

3. EMBRACE YOUR PAST AND LET IT SPUR YOU TO A FUTURE WITH ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.

Even though I won’t dwell much on the intricacies of the past that made me feel this worth writing about (not because I’m ashamed of it but it can eat up much space here, my past besides my mother, remains my other greatest love, it has made me who I am today, and thanks to it I am what I am now, and will be what I will be what I want to be in the future), I strongly believe that an underprivileged past is not a bar to a great and perhaps “overpriviliged” future, we need to stop being apologetic and stuck up on the past, oftentimes it is laden with technicalities we had no control of, which luckily does not go for the future; it is still within our grasp, we can mould to whatever we want out of it...I believe!

At times I find myself wondering where I’d be now if I had committed myself to whining and sulking about what my parents couldn’t afford or the state of financial affairs ekhaya, luckily what I think happened is that I made my present back then a strong part of who I am, it was my reality and probably the next person (who wasn’t who I was and from where I was from’s)’ curiosity. It was easy like that, still is and forever will be!

4. DASH HUMILITY WITH RESPECT, EVERYDAY, AND ALWAYS!

Accord this to every one around you, irrespective of societal status,awenteli muntfu kodvwa utentela wena.

Noma ngabe unani in life, there remains a need to be humble, I’m not going to say; "when you fall from that high tree the people lobadvalele in your way up are the first ones to meet you on your down", we all know that that line has been thoroughly overused now, but what I will say is; "For an obvious reason; on the objective side of life, vices like kudvwala and kubukelana phansi awaletselani lutfo, think about it. Imagine the most arrogant and disrespectful person you know utibute kutsi what that person has benefitted because of those vices that is worth the society’s envy, compare that with what the humbliest and most respectful person you know has, it might not be anything materialistic, but those folks have earned everyone’s love, respect and surely a couple blessings from Longehla, which are then key to earning whatever things, material one may want.

UNGAKHOHLWA NALAWUCHAMUKA KHONA!

5. LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE, BY YOUR OWN RULES...AND NEVER COMPROMISE( EVEN IF THEY BRIBED YOU TOO!)

I won’t give any in-depth expatiations on this one, it’s a long story you can cut short by the mantra; “DON’T TRY TO FIT IN WITH THE CROWDS YOU CONSIDER “COOL”. CHANCES ARE YOU’D BE DOING NOTHING BUT PUSHING AHEAD THE TIME FOR YOU TO START LIVING YOUR OWN LIFE...DEPRIVING YOURSELF THE CHANCE TO START CELEBRATING YOUR OWN BEAUTIFUL AND BLESSED LIFE!”

Shiya ngeBantfu…yiya ngawe 24/7, suze wajabha, nakwentekile kwaba nekujabha, knowing that it was by your own doing should be consolation enough.

6. NEVER DEPRIVE YOURSELF, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A STRONG CONVICTION THAT YOU STRONGLY WANT WHATEVER IT IS THAT IS AT STAKE HERE.

There usually is induced a funny feeling after seeing another person wearing that shoe you so wanted, but couldn’t buy for whatever reason outside finances. I won’t lie here, with me this happened with girls, mostly back in high school. If you want that girl, approach her, mane wehluleke khona, kubuhlungu kakhulu kuva sewuva her friends telling you that she also had a thing (or things) for you, but by then abe asahlekisana nalomunye bhuti…kubuhlungu, it’s not me talking now, but experience…*sob*!

7. HARNESS YOUR TALENT(S) WHATEVER THEY ARE, AND USE THEM WHENEVER A CHANCE AVAILS ITSELF (REMEMBER TO SHARE THEM, UNGAFEHLI NAWO.)

The one thing this has brought upon me is an escape from whatever problems or stresses I might be going. Using your talent can be your shrink, your best friend and most ultimately your biggest source of motivation and inspiration even during your darkest hours.

So, if you can sing, sing, if you can write poetry, write that poetry, if you suspect the existence of an entrepreneur deep downside inside you, explore that suspicion, it might work to you good. You will discover that the moment you are at work courtesy of that talent, it’s when you feel best, even when you were down at first. Keep on working on it and do not stop once you start. In our talents is usually hidden one’s greatest source of pride in one’s self and definition of the being!

8. GROW A SENSE OF HUMOR (IF YOU CAN’T PURCHASE ONE FOR YOURSELF), THEN USE IT BEFORE IT “ROTS” BEFORE YOUR EYES, DON’T BE SHY TO SHARE IT WITH THOSE AROUND YOU.

It is often said “humor is the best doctor”, I have found this to be true, personally I have grown to make my humorous side my sixth sense, and it has worked very well for me. We ought to learn the art of loosening up and stop being serious even on things that call for laughter; it’s not that expensive a commodity now is it, and luckily enough for us, you can never complain about being broke to afford a sense of humor. Kuyekumangalise kukhandza labanye bantfu questioning EVERYTHING around them, no matter how jovial and light a moment is, bona nje bahlale babhashe sipikili, kutsi leni ungakhandza kutsi nabo abati? Ubese ke uyamangala kutsi ke umuntfu lonjena asimshayi ngani stroke! Chances are high that God blessed us humor as a means of lubricating our lives from the stresses that tend to make them rusty at times.

It begins with being able to laugh at yourself; it makes things easy and light for you even under the most stressful of times. At times nakubhedza in your space learn to find that that one thing that can cheer you up ungakahlanyi! Loosen up already, naku kwehlula reminisce about the jolly good times you had or always have negenge yasekhaya, mine kuvamisile kung’sita loku or just think about your youngest folk in their life’s innocence, this is bound to take your soul to the laundry, kuwushiye ushaywa ngumoya!

9. READING. I HAVE COME TO CONCLUDE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST TREATS ONE CAN OFFER THEIR MINDS.

To some this may seem a blatant waste of time, but it isn’t so if you seriously think about it. Kufundza kuyayivula ingcondvo, kakhulu and the more you do it, you get to fall in love over and over and again, and herein is formed a relationship that will never end in heartbreak. So, whatever readable you may commit to, rock it, it could be a magazine, newspaper, book, novel, etc (forget the readable’s age, its message never expires and the grammar very timeless!)...keep reading and while at it remember to encourage the younger folks ekhaya, (it could be your younger siblings or bashana) to do it too, and the sooner they start the better, besides coming in handy for them at school, it does great therapy to the brain, takes it some of one’s greatest and most memorable shopping sprees; lakudayiswa khona emaIdeas and insights. So, khutsata boTwana ekhaya kutsi bafundze, bayibukele iCartoon Network, but while at it uhle ubatsengela the comic books aboBen Ten and the likes, make them fall in love with reading, a few years down the line, you will be proud of what that reading you encouraged them to do will do for them.

10. WONDERS OF THE MOTHER TONGUE.

Let us do all we can sisaphila, but while at it singayikhohlwa imvelaphi yetfu elulwimini, no matter what the trends dictate, let us stick by our ingegenous guns, kute lotosijezisela loko, rather respect and envy will come our way. The mother-tongue is one’s identity, image and being, imagine a life without cognizant of these, “great”, neh?. Ngalamafisha; Kumele kutsi loyo naloyo atichenye ngeLulwimi lwakhe lwekutala, and kuye kuvise buhlungu kubona umuntfu wekuhamba atikhandla ngelulwimi lwalesinye sive, bese ukhandza kutsi labo bantfu lengabe bayalukhangisa lolo lulwimi, babhizi bayalushintjashintja to fit it in with the times.

Asisikhulumeni lesiSwati, singadliwa mahloni ngako, uma kungentiwa ngitsi sibheke bani kutsi asentele. Kutsi kusenjalo sikhutsate nalabancane bakitsi kutsi balukhulume, while encouraging them on the English side, for obvious reasons. You might take your to Google this up, but research has repeatedly proven that bilingual kids tend to do better in school than monolingual kids, so, asibakhutsateni, and while at it, sati that kucala ngatsi, bona ke batawulandzela etinyatselweni tetfu.

Seng’cedzile!

“GET ESTABLISHED EVERYDAY…AFTER EVERY FALL, REMEMBER TO PICK YOURSELF UP…IN WHATEVER THEY SAY, KNOW (AND MOST OF ALL KEEP ON REMINDING YOURSELF THAT YOU ROCK!)…AND LASTLY; “NEVER FORGET THAT THE ONE TRUTH THAT WILL REMAIN “THEE” TRUTH AND DO WONDERS FOR YOU, ALWAYS, IS THAT TRUTH WHICH YOU TELL YOURSELF!”

PS: DO EXCUSE THE LENGTH, THING IS; WHEN I THINK, I DON'T TASTE THE THOUGHTS, BUT VEHEMENTLY MUNCH ON THE ENTIRE THOUGHT-BOWL...UNSPARRINGLY!

Mock Exam Questions and Answers

2010-02-21T18:12:00.002+02:00

...as a nephew would best understand. I give U the best of the best...READ ON(ANSWERS IN BRACKETS;-):::

SISWATI.
Umbuto 1. Cedzela letisho letilandzelako.
(a). Liso lewela umfula...(Medem, aw'kacondzi kutsi umkhumbi noma s'kebhe?).
(b). Salakutjelwa sibona...(Ng'cabanga kutsi njengoba naso sing'muntfu sibona NGEMEHLO).
(c). Indvuku lenhle...(ng'cabanga kutsi nguleyaMkhulu, nayo yinhle, ha!)
(d). Kubona kanye...(Hhaw', medemu, kubona kanye kubona kanye nje, ngci!)
(e). Intsambo lemfisha...(Ngeyeticatfulo tabhut'wam' lona3, Phila.)
(f). Sisu semhambi...(site i6pack njengesaBatista.)
(g). Ingoto seyengce...(Spelling sakho siWrong Medemu, bofuna kutsi "Ingoti", hhayi "Ingoto").(h). Intsandzane lenhle...(YiFro yemnganam' Philani lefundza eAssembly's, yinhle, medem, ha!, Batal'bayo sebashona shem.)
(i). Lala lulata...(ng'tok'vusa).
(j). Alishisi li...(ncibilikisa i-Ice Cream yami eFrijini.).

MATHEMATICS.
Question 2.(a). Assuming that x=2, y=3 and z=4, calculate; 2x+3y-z. (Teacher, the last time I assumed my girlfriend left me, so I'm scared to assume now!)

SCIENCE.
Question 2. Who were the following?;
(a). Sir Isaac Newton? (But Madam, this is Science, not Religious Knowledge?)
(b). Marie Curie.(Jesus' mother, bt I didn't know she has a surname.)
(c). Albert Einstein. Briefly discuss the gist of his "E=mc2". (Daddy's namesake. But I didn't know he produced one of Mariah Carey's albums?, kambe?).

HISTORY
Question 1. Who were the following?;
(a). Barack Obama? (My sister says he is her man, she has pictures of him all over her room and 8 t-shirts, so I'd say he's my brother-in-law!).
(b). George Bush Jr. (I think it's that guy who drove the world straight into the bush, then went to hide in his farm in Texas.)
(c). Nelson Mandela. (Teacher, I am speechless!).
(d). Jacob Zuma. (He is one of Cupid's best students, apparently he's the South African President too.)
(e). Julius Malema. (All I know is that he is my style icon.).
(f). Sarah Palin. (She is a retired Playboy Bunnies that relocated to Alaska, she tried her hand in politics too.)
(g).Dick Cheney. (Ewu, teacher, I'm very young for this kind of language. Are you trying to corrupt my innocent mind?).
(h). Kim Jong Il. (It's that Korean guy, who thinks it's cool to be a male airhead).
(i). Robert Mugabe. (Zimbabwean president. He made it cool to be an African rebel in an age where the British thought they were demi-gods, that's all I know teacher.)
(j). Thabo Mbeki. (One of South Africa's leading poets/literary figures, he's known for works like "I am an African" "An Elegy to Zuma" and the best-selling novel "The Day Pigs Flew".)

BUSINESS STUDIES
Question 1.Define the following terms.
(a). Capital.( A big town, like Mbabane).2.
(b). Give 3 examples of security. (V.I.P, Guard Alert, Black Mamba Security).

Question 3.
(a). Explain the concept of "feasibility".
(This simply explains the impossibility of running some businesses at night.).

MUSIC.
Question 1. Write a brief synopsis of your favorite song in contemporary pop music.

(Beyonce Knowles' "Ego". With lines like; "It's too wide, it won't feet..." I strongly believe what inspired the multi award winning singer to pen down this song was seeing her husband Sean "Jay-Z" Carter" in the shower for the first time, after which she sulked; "It's too big, it's too wide It's too strong, it won't fit It's too much, it's too tough...such a huge..., it's too much...".

Titjulo taS'bali: A Play in One Act

2010-02-21T18:04:00.002+02:00

KuseMtapeni wetincwadzi eSiteki, kuthule cwaka, ungeva ngisho intfutfwane isuta, sitfola lijaha, liyangena nje, litse lingena, emehlo alo avele atsi nhla kulenye ingabisa, leshisa tikhotsa ngebuhle, itimonyongisisile nasebusweni. Lijaha leli, likhangeke kakhulu kulengabisa, litame kutibamba, kwale mani, ligcine lisivumele silingo, liye kiyo; "Saw'bona sisi, unjan' vele?" Sisi; "Ebo bhuti, ng'yaphila, unjani wena?" Bhuti; "Ewu, ng'philile nami sisi, kakhulu ngoba naku nawe uyaphila, kepha s'tsini l'gama?!" Sisi; "Hhaw', bhuti, wang'buta l'gama nje, ufuna kulentani singatani nekwatana?" Bhuti; "Hhay', k'tsini sisi, ng'suke ngakhohlwa lami l'gama&besides, k'khona long'khumbuta yena!" Sisi(abamba luhleko, ngalokukhulu k'tfuka); Hha, manje ligama lakho nelami kuhlangana njani ke, &nje ng'bani leleng'kukhumbuta yena?"

Bhuti; "Hawu, kahle ngemawala sisi, kutsi nje ng'nenkinga yek'khohlwa, bt ng'Sure ligama lentfombi lenhle njengawe kungang'khumbuta lelami, hhay', kabi!" Sisi(anikina inhloko); "Mhh, wang'cedza emagama ke, anyways, nging'Tsakasile mine, wena? &ng'kukhumbuta bani vele?" Bhuti; "Ng'bonge ke sis' Tsakasile! Mine, nginguS'catseko, &eish, mmh, hhayi k'tsini, bt, seriously, ung'khumbuta my next galfriend!" Tsakasile; "Ini? Your nxt girlfriend? Usho k'tsini ye...ye...eish, lel'gama lakho mani, yeS'catseko?"

S'catseko(enta kwasa kukhalelwa lucingo, ludledletela/vibrate); "Eish, ncesi, kancane; *Sakulubamba*, "Hello...mmm...oh, ok! Ng'yeta nyalo, ng'cela ning'mele!" Ewu, ng'va b'hlungu yati, sebayang'bita ekhaya, ng'cela ung'nike inombolo yakho s'tokhona kucedza kahle inkhulumo yetfu, uyabo?!" Tsakasile (Ngeluhleko loluphukutako); "Tehehe s'bali, wate wang'hlekisa ke, hahaha, uboy'cela kusis'Prudence inombolo yam'!" S'catseko (ahlahla emehlo kwangatsi yimbuti iphekwe netimphondvo); "Ha, kubani ke?" Tsaka(nodding); "Enh, enh Sbali, kusis'Pru, mine nginguJabu, lololama yena?!" S'ca; Hawu, s'bali, kani nguwe?, eish, kwasha, ngunay'Make-up yakho man', iyoh, yati bengingakuboni mbamba s'bali! Tsakasile: "Ya, s'bali kuyatisho, nakuphela uvele wakhululeka nje ngami wakhohlwa ngemntfwana kitsi." S'catskeko; "Hhay' mani s'bali wena uy'tsatsa kabi lentfo, mine, mine bengi...eish...(ancenga)...phela s'bali ungamtjeli sis'wakho, ng'tawukunika nome ngabe yini loy'funako ng'yak'ncenga s'bali lomuhle...vele yeS'bali uyati kutsi wena umule nngisho kunaMiss Swaziland walakaNgwane?"

Tsakasile(asamandzatela lokungapheli); "Hawu s'bali, soyang'yashafisa kemanje, ha,wena s'bali uyaganga, ha, hhayi s'bali! Kepha ke, ngive ngatsi unagangentela nome ngayini lengiy'funako angitsi? *akhipha loluphukutako luhleko*...Tehehe!" S'catseko (naye amandzatela); Chake s'bali, ang'gangi, ng'yadvumisa nje, bekuyini...ene ng'cin'sile umuhle vele. So, ufuna ng'kwentele ini keS'bali kuze ungangibhidliteli umuti?" Tsakasile (anoma); Mmm, cha, ng'yeva s'bali ak'senani, ngibonge iCompliment...kulelengikufunako, kukhona langitjela kona ngawe sisi, solo ng'tfukile namanje s'bali, beng'ngacabangi kutsi labadvuna basakwenta kulamalnga, kahle futsi njengoba ang'tjela ngawe sisi, nami ke s'bali ng'funa kutivela, kutsi vele mbamba?!"

Nyalo keS'catseko sofome umanti nte kwasaliduku lemfomo wemholeli,, luvalo bi, umlomo kheshe koma, (athule s'khashana) ;"Hawu, s'bali manje loko kwaSis'wakho k'phela ke, kute lokunye longamane uk'cele?" Tsakasile; "Ngiyati s'bali, kepha nami ngifuna kuva kutsi umntfwana kitsi yini lalahlala ang'gab'sela ngayo kangaka, ang'kuniki iChoice, uyeva?(agcizelela)!" S'catseko; "Ewu, s'bali, ng'yeva, akusenani, s'tosebenta njani ke?!". Tsakasile; "Ok ke s'bali, here are my terms and sitisebenta ngawo, ngingajabula kutfola i"Delivery" of your BEST everyday for two weeks STRAIGHT!" S'catseko; "Inyandzaleyo, ha s'bali, kani uyang'bulala yini, everyday for two weeks, ene, nakas'bamba sis'wakho ke??" Tsakasile; "Seng'shito s'bali, unenkinga? *akhipha iFon alokotsa kushaya!*...awume kancane ng'shayele maPru!. S'catseko; "Mani, mani s'bali, hawu as'khulume!" Tsakasile (abuyisele lucingo ekhikhini); "Ok, s'bali, ng'lalele, &I want your best, hhayi kuphukuta nje, uyeva?!" S'catseko (ngekuphulelwa mandla!); "Ewu, ok s'bali nx, s'cala nini ke, kuphi?"Tsakasile (mandzateliyane); "Ang'satikhoni s'bali, kusasa loku, ekhaya, nayi inombolo yami, *amnika* S'catseko; "Ewu s'bali, vele uyang'bulala, nje, kanjalo?"

Tsakasile; "Cha ke s'bali, ang'kubulali sifundvo lengingafuni us'khohlwe lesi, phela watsi nakang'tjela sisi what a good cook U are, ngavele nganambitsa there and there,ngafuna kutivela nami, so nje wena sewunginikile indlela yekufeza that dream of mine, utawucala ngeRice&Chicken keS'bali, ukhokhe lunyawo nesandla, ukhumbule ng'yachwensa kemine, so, nje nong'caphata bhidli indzaba!" S'catseko (ngalokukhulu kwetfuka, tinyembeti tihlengetela); "Hawu, s'bali...kani ukhuluma ngekudla? Sengetfuke kangaka, ngasangana ngaphetsa, iyoh? Tsakasile (ngalel'phasi); "Hawu s'bali, soyakhala? Kani bocabanga ini wena?" S'catseko (speechless);...! Tsakasile; "Ewu, s'bali, whatever lobok'cabanga, kwangatsi akusiko. Mine sisi wang'tjela kutsi uyalishaya libhodo wena, naye uze adliwe mahloni! Kani...kani...hha! Bocabanga kutsi ng'funa u...hha, no ways s'bali! But ke ngoba sewutfuke kakhulu, nayo inombolo yami, asale ng'kushiya ubuyise umoya ngoba sewulimele kakhulu...ngitogadza!"

Wamshiya lapho esitulweni umise umlomo, solo tihlengetele njalo tinyembeti S'catseko...

Just Keep On Walking

2010-02-08T12:52:00.003+02:00

In my short living years I have learned to keep on walking...
When the odds are against you, just keep on walking...
When people think you are crazy,just keep on walking...
When you still see the way, just keep on walking...
When the road seems to be less travelled, just keep on walking...
When you have the faith, just keep on walking...
You will see, you will never walk alone...
When you find your treasure, look back and stop walking...
You will see, people will start walking and stop talking...
Keep on walking again,there is more treasure for you waiting...
Just keep on walking!

(www.stanleytalks.blogspot.com)

That Defining Moment!

2010-01-11T10:44:00.002+02:00

Some things happen in a flash and they leave a long lasting image that keeps on replaying in your mind. When such is still happening you hardly notice its significance. You just let it pass until it resurfaces probably for the second or third time in your mind.

This is what I call the defining moment. Sometimes it comes in a dream, sometimes when you are enjoying your 'me time', sometimes when you are celebrating a certain achievement, sometimes when you have lost a loved one and sometimes it comes from nowhere. This is the moment that shapes your thinking. This is the moment that changes the way you do certain things. This is the moment that inspires you to do certain things. This is the moment that changes your life.

The funny thing is that when it comes back into your mind it's easy to press the ignore button. Like an alarm clock, it becomes a constant reminder that you have to WAKE UP. We are quick to press the snooze button. It doesn't go away forever until you press STOP. If you think about it, how many defining moments have we stopped? All we had to do was to wake up and let those moments define the purpose of our existence but we chose to let them slip away.

As I write this piece one particular defining moment flashes back. It is now my source of inspiration. When I go about the business of my day sometimes I play it back. It happened over seven years ago. Sadly it came as a result of the loss of a loved one.

When we received news of the sudden death of my father, my then seven year old sister was away kagogo (granny's place) with my mother. When they came back people were flocking in to mourn. I was solemnly seated under an avocado tree when she came to enquire "Mhleli kunani lakhaya?" (Mhleli what's happening here?). I didn't know what to say, I simply said "Batakutjela sisi!" (they will tell you my sister!). Later an elderly relative explained to her what happened.

She then left to join her agemates to play but she came back to re-join me under that tree. She said she was irritated by the kids who kept on lamenting how life would be after father's death ("Ngidzinwa ngunaba bantfwana baphekungibuta kutsi sitawuphila kanjani").

Like an excited seven year old she was, she began narrating stories of her trip to granny's place. I listened and conversed with a smile forgetting what had happened for a while. That moment I learnt to listen to people in whatever situation they or I am experiencing. Most importantly that moment created a bond between us and that taught me to play the 'big brother' role.

When I see the results of that particular moment I feel the joy and satisfaction inside. I've learnt that God won't send Angel Gabriel and them to come down on earth but uses the ordinary person like me and you as his angels.

PS: this note was inspired by a defining moment that happened yesterday and I can't stop it from playing over and over again. An old man came to me after church to shake my hand with the other hand on my shoulder, with a sincere smile he said "Cina enkhosini nasemandleni ayo lamakhulu!" That's Ephesians 6 : 10, my favourite verse when I was young!!

'Some People Come Into Your Life For A Season For A Reason'

2010-01-09T17:00:00.002+02:00

We went to the same high school but I don't recall if we ever passed a word to each other. Our paths intersected again in 2002 when we were at the university. We became the best of friends.

We spent most of our times together. We shared almost everything. We shared friends, we shared food, we shared secrets, we shared even a bed. We shared our dreams, we shared the qualities of our ideal life partners, we shared our love lives and even shared our darkest sides. More than anything we shared precious moments filled with laughter. We laughed at everything even our own misfortunes. I began to understand the adage that says laughter is the best medicine.

I came to a conclusion that no one else in this world understands and knows me better than you. Our friendship was out of the ordinary. Some thought we were lovers and we laughed at them because they would never understand what we had and explaining ourselves would never help. With time some people began to see physical similarities in us that they thought we were siblings. I remember one man who never stopped joking 'tadibana emahlangeni' (meaning that our parents might have 'met' at some point). Again we would laugh that off. We used to walk hand in hand without feeling any guilt. Life was fun.

As fate would have it, we had to be separated by school and work. Slowly our lives drifted apart.....and then one fateful day you told me over the phone never to call you again.

My heart sank as you struggled in between sobs to utter those words. My only sin was calling a friend I had not heard from in weeks but that was the harsh reality. A bitter pill to swallow, but that was the end of a wonderful, worthwhile, eye-opening, lovely and life changing five-year journey. As I remember my long lost friend today, almost three years later, I reaffirm, some people come into your life for a season for a reason. Learn to appreciate that.

"The real contest is always between what you've done and what you're capable of doing"

2009-12-29T12:45:00.001+02:00

Today I stumbled upon an essay I read three years ago by one BT Costantinos. Within that essay there is a portion about EXCELLENCE that inspired me and thought I can share with you...

"Good enough never is - do a little more: No matter how common the task, it should be done uncommonly well. Such a choice is always wise; after all, the path of excellence is never crowded and is a highway that leads to the top. We can all benefit from aspiring to excellence.

Excellence is not a destination we reach, but is an unending process of constant improvement. What better way to live than growing better each day? Those who pursue excellence aren't in direct competition with others, for they measure themselves against their own accomplishments. The real contest is always between what you have done and what you're capable of doing. You measure yourself against yourself and nobody else.

Excellence is not a coincidence: Excellence is deliberate, not an accident that we stumble upon. It is about harbouring thoughts of excellence in our breast. As long as we aim for a more ideal self, success will naturally follow. And the good news is excellence is within the grasp of all, for it is merely about doing our best at every moment. It is not about perfection, which is an unattainable goal, but about becoming what we are capable of being. Those who stand by the sidelines and watch others suceed, know what is necessary, but are unwilling to devote the time and effort to bettering themselves. So, each of us have to make a decision.

To do the right thing, at the right time, in the right way; to do some things better than they were ever done before; to eliminate errors; to know both sides of the question; to be courteous; to be an example; to anticipate requirements; to develop resources; to recognize no impediments; to master circumstances; to act from reason rather than rule; to be satisfied with nothing short of perfection.

Those who are successful in their quest for excellence simply do what they do better and do more of it. They go about life always alert for better ways of doing things. Every endeavour they engage in is imprinted with their mark of excellence. They understand that if you do a job quickly, people will forget about it. But if you do it well, people will remember."

< "IF A MAN IS A STREET SWEEPER, HE SHOULD SWEEP STREETS EVEN AS MICHEALANGELO PAINTED, OR BEETHOVEN COMPOSED MUSIC OR SHAKESPEAR WROTE POETRY. HE SHOULD SWEEP STREETS SO WELL THAT ALL THE HOSTS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL PAUSE TO SAY, HERE LIVED A GREAT STREET SWEEPER WHO DID HIS JOB WELL." - Martin Luther King Jr. >

Challenges Prepare Us For Greater Responsibilities

2009-11-30T19:32:00.001+02:00

I have always maintained that life has a way of preparing us for greater things. There are times when you feel you are down and out. These are the times when you feel the world has turned its back on you. These are the times when you discover the truth in the saying 'when days are dark friends are few'.

We all have been hurt, disappointed and hopeless at some point. It is even worse when the people you trust turn around and mistrust you.

I have advised a lot of people to keep going no matter what they are going through. My reasoning has always been that challenges are meant to make us discover our strengths and prepare us to handle the GREATER blessings God has prepared for us.

If you read some of my notes on facebook posted around this time last you will realise that I was in a bad space. Things were just not working out and I was on the verge of losing my job. On the public face I was looking fine but inside I was slowly dying.

I believe God had a way to show me that I should not be depressed. Being the good listener that I am, people pour their hearts to me and I always realise that what I consider as a challenge is far better than what other people are experiencing.

Life has taught me that you are an important being in this world. Your presence in this world is not to add numbers but to play a specific role...

Today I look back and say thank you. I have discovered my strengths and I am even more convinced that all the difficulties I went through were sharpening me for greater responsibilities!

Life is too precious, spend it with precious people

2009-05-11T10:56:00.004+02:00

It has taken me sometime to get the courage to write about this. Earlier this year I posted a blog about my encounter with thugs (see http://stanleytalks.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-encounter-with-crimeanother-lesson.html ). I came out unscathed although I lost a few items in the process.

About a month ago (16 April), someone special and very close to me almost lost her life. Some thugs attacked and stabbed my mother with a knife 6 times (thrice on the head, twice on the back and once on the chest). She just alighted from a bus and this young man came from behind and without saying a word stabbed her before taking her handbag and cell phone and fled.

God being great none of these wounds were deep and she survived. Today she is going strong. The good thing police caught the criminals within a week and will be answering in court next week.

This was a traumatic experience for my family. Speculations were rife on the motive (s) behind the attacks but since the truth is not yet out I can't talk about the speculations. For days I was mad. I was angry to the world - including myself.

One thing that clicked to me is that life is too precious and short. It is very important to spend it with the most precious people in our lives. I have not been able to do so in the last few months and I am making means to do so going forward. We do not need life threatening situations to remind us that.

Lost Soul

2009-04-14T09:21:00.005+02:00

Sometimes I struggle to find my position in this life. These are the times when I feel a vacuum in my soul. My spiritual being seems to be located somewhere away from me. I get confused, frustrated and distanced. I find myself locked in a dark closet.

I feel like a bird flying without wings. I feel like a bat hitting hard against the wall even though the light is on. I am looking for answers where there are no questions. I am fighting invisible opponents yet they seem invincible.

Today I seem to be on top of the world, tomorrow I'm swimming under the bridge trying to regain my footing. I'm a disappointment to those around me.Even though my soul is not at peace, I can hear the silent voice cheering me on. I can hear that voice assuring me, "This is your life, live it."

EVERYTHING IS PERMISSIBLE - BUT NOT EVERYTHING IS BENEFICIAL. EVERYTHING IS PERMISSIBLE BUT NOT EVERYTHING IS CONSTRUCTIVE (I Cor 11:23)

"We have learned from our mistakes"

2009-03-25T11:54:00.002+02:00

[Published on 19 December 2008, http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=4004]

He made history by becoming the first Believe Begin Become grand prize winner when TechnoServe inaugurated the business plan competition in Swaziland, back in 2006.

For his efforts, he received E150 000 as prize money to invest in setting up his business. However, he needed a further E150 000 in the form of a bank loan to successfully make his dream come true.

Phila Msibi started operating SG Power Products and Services, which is based in Nhlangano in August 2007. In November the same year, the US Ambassador to Swaziland Maurice Parker officially opened the business, in an event that brought together his suppliers, customers and other business stakeholders.

SG specialises in the supply of quality power tools mainly required by the forestry contractors such as chainsaws, bush cutters and lawnmowers for the domestic market. It also provides the backup spares and repair services for the full range of products that the business stocks.

Msibi was motivated to start such a business because of a gap in the market. Contractors in his region had to travel to South Africa in order to get such products and services. The business immediately established itself into the market. During the official launch of the business last year, Msibi pointed out, "We have already secured 60 percent share of the Shiselweni market. We also have plans to expand the business to other parts of Swaziland."

Revealed

Ever since then, he revealed that SG has continued to gain recognition outside the Shiselweni region, from areas as far as Simunye in the Lubombo region. He observed that being a winner in the business plan competition has played an integral part in marketing the business.

Offering credit to your customers is sometimes an option to remain competitive and get more orders but there are adverse effects if this is not undertaken with care. Msibi can attest to an experience with offering credit to his customers.

"We made a mistake by starting at an early stage of the business to offer credit facilities to our customers. It started off very well as the customers would pay on time and we considered some as loyal customers and credit worthy," he explained. "Since we had confidence in them, we allowed them to take up large stocks and that’s when the problem started. They could not pay the full amounts owed and this badly affected our cashflow."

As experts observe, the damage caused by non payment (bad debts) can be significant, and the longer the period of credit that is offered the more opportunity there is for the customer’s circumstances to change, and hence payment to be delayed - in some cases permanently.

Msibi had to curb the situation by stopping offering any credit facility. "Although this did not go down well with some of our customers, the business is back on its feet and stabilising. The good thing is that we can ensure that we have money coming in and we can pay our suppliers without hassles," he said.

Msibi said maintaining high quality standard especially in the service aspect of the business has kept his business going. Currently the company is employing three full time employees and two others are on a part time basis.

ActivQuest On Road To Success

2009-03-25T11:49:00.006+02:00

[Published on 12 December 2008, http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=3854 ]

ActivQuest is a local Market and Social Research agency with less than two years in the industry, but it is already gaining recognition from international research companies.

Based at Ezulwini, ActivQuest started operating in February 2007, about two months after winning the Import Substitution Category for the inaugural Believe Begin Become Business Plan Competition in 2006, funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The Managing Director, Sipho Kunene, said breaking into the market was the first challenge the company faced and for the first two months they did not have any job secured.

"Our relationship with Africa’s leading market research company, Steadman Group (which has since been acquired by Synovate), landed us our first job in April 2007. Steadman gave us a brand tracking assignment for South African Brewers (SAB) in Swaziland," disclosed Kunene.

However, Kunene said they still struggled to get a sizeable contract and there was a time where they went three months without doing business. In September 2007, ActivQuest got business from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to do an awareness study on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Poverty Reduction Strategy and Action Plan (PRSAP).

This year has been an eventful year for Kunene’s business. "One of the lessons we have learned is to maintain customer relations. You need to deliver as expected and meet set deadlines. We have learnt to work under pressure and manage multiple projects running at the same time," he said.

Leading

Early in the year ActivQuest retained the SAB project, which included taking over Lesotho this time around. Ongoing projects include an enterprise and employment survey, also in Lesotho commissioned by the World Bank. This project is managed by the world’s leading market research company, TNS Opinion, which contracted ActivQuest through Steadman to do the Lesotho chapter.
Locally, ActivQuest is currently doing a customer satisfaction measurement study for Nedbank and has also done work for MTN.

Given the amount of work, Kunene said that being a small company, there was a need to bring in more people to strengthen his team. He said, "At the moment there are three of us and with more projects we find ourselves strained. Fortunately we have a trained a pool of 25 research assistants from which we draw people to assist in our projects. We are hoping to hire a couple to boost our fulltime staff."

Strengthen
Kunene revealed that one of the challenges they were facing was cracking into the Swazi market. Kunene said they had not presented themselves fully to the Swazi market. He concedes that their marketing had not been broad enough, "we are known by the people we deal or want to deal with and there is a need to strengthen our marketing strategies," he said.

Kunene used the prize money of E75 000 mainly towards setting up the office, buying office furniture and equipment. In addition to the prize money he received business development services vouchers worth E30 000 which played a major part in developing marketing material for ActivQuest.

Although the company seems to be holding up well, Kunene acknowledged that they needed to get more business than they currently had. "At this stage we are able to cope, but we have not reached a stage where we can say we are making money," he said. "Therefore there is a need to go back to the drawing board and work on our marketing strategy. Our goal is that when people talk of research in Swaziland, ActivQuest should come up as one of the giants."

Apart from ActivQuest, Kunene has played an active role as the Executive Committee Secretary in the BBB Alumni club, an organisation comprising of graduates from the Believe Begin Become programme.

He views the Alumni club as a vehicle to business opportunities. "This is a network of business people who can give us business and open doors for other business opportunities. The Alumni should give validation and a good reference for my business," he said.

Challenges faced by Swazi entrepreneurs (a couple of success stories)

2009-03-25T11:16:00.011+02:00

The nature of my work enables me to interact with entrepreneurs and observe all the struggles they go through as they try to start their business in Swaziland. It is not all the time that we share their inspiring stories as they overcome challenges to make their dreams come true. I decided to share with you a couple of articles I wrote and published in Times of Swaziland. Be inspired...

My untold story as a journalism student

2009-02-26T16:40:00.006+02:00

Two days ago the University of Swaziland (UNISWA) Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) department held a seminar with media stakeholders in the country to solicit views on the proposed upgrade of the JMC course. Currently UNISWA offers a Diploma certificate and there are moves to upgrade that to a degree level.

I did not attend and therefore rely on media reports on what transpired in that seminar. First the degree offering is now long overdue. Since I was a student at the same university, it has been all talk and no significant action. However, that is not my point today.

Media reports indicate that media practictioners (editors to be more precise) are concerned about the level of competence exhibited by journalism graduates from UNISWA. This is not new to me. I vividly recall a headline by one former weekend newspaper editor insinuating that "journalism graduates are unemployable." I took offence at that because I was still an ambitious, aspiring journalist.

The reality is that journalism students do not get adequate practical training to horn their skills. I stand to be corrected, but as far as I know to this day there is no campus newspaper, let alone a radio station. When I graduated, a radio studio had been set up and that raised hopes that the establishment of a campus radio station was imminent... blame that on bureaucracy and perhaps the political orientation of the UNISWA administration.

The only time students get an opportunity to get a feel of the real journalism world is during the holiday internships (about two months). In my opinion, this is definitely not enough. I must say though that the internship was useful for me to learn a few things.

My passion for the profession never let me sitback. I explored means of empowering myself and sadly there was little I could do. I started off with an online publication I called Mvasi Bizz, and it created a buzz especially among the students who frequented the computer centre. I covered students' issues from politics to entertainment. It was just an experimental exercise which unfortunately drained my energy and I had to stop writing to re-strategize.

That break illustrated to me that students really needed something like this. People were enquiring why I had stopped writing my online newsletter. An idea came up and I had to do something overnight.

I was a member of the executive committee of the JMC Society (a journalism students organisation) for two consecutive years and I was in touch (if not friends) with most of the journalism students. I approached my colleagues with the idea of setting up a campus newsletter - a hardcopy this time. They were reticent but I was determined not to give up.

An opportunity availed itself to test my hardcopy newsletter idea. It was one of the times when there was an impasse between the student body and the university administration. That night the students had a meeting whereby they resolved to boycott classes the following day. There was no way I could miss breaking such news the following morning!

I worked all night, with minimal assistance from a couple of journalism students. I produced something on your nomal A4 "Typek" paper (printed on one side for that matter). It was only four, full coloured pages, no fancy design but I was pleased with the content. I printed A4 sized posters with bold headline "We are not going to class today" and posted them all over the campus.

A part of me was so anxious that students will ridicule my efforts and a part of me was positive. The anxious part of me dominated my reasoning and I printed about 50 copies. I had made arrangements to place them at the tuck shop. They were retailing at a "special price" of 50 cents (this shows how negative I was). To my surprise or shock, in half an hour I had run out of stock. I went to town (Manzini) which is about 10-15 minutes drive to make more copies. My little budget allowed me to make 30 more copies, which again were out of stock in ten minutes.

Obviously there were many factors that led to the overwhelming response. I had planned to continue with my newsletter but the campus closed and by the time we came back, exam time was knocking at the door. I was pleased with my efforts and the feedback I received after that was awesome - students needed this.

On the flipside of the coin, I realised that journalism students needed this in order to gain practise. I was majoring in broadcast reporting and had done print up to the introductory level. I taught myself some basic writing skills through the internet. This was an opportunity to practice. I look at the copy of Mvasi Bizz today and see all the loopholes in my writing. I console myself by saying "this was just the beginning and an experiment".

To quote Canadian Country Music Singer and Song Writer Carolyn Dawn Johnson, "I think writing is like dancing, or playing the piano, the more you do it, the more you keep up with it, the better you get. Also writing is one of those things where if you stay practiced you'll be ready when those great ideas come along."

I believe that if UNISWA is serious about providing an efficient journalism degree programme, then the should seriously consider this, i.e. vibrant students' media. What I was doing was illegal according to UNISWA regulations. Never mind that I realised that afterwards when I laid my hands on one document (which I cannot locate today) that detailed all the processes to follow when you want to publish a campus publication. The procedure and sign-offs required were just impractical.

In the interim the media have a crucial role to play here. Today's Times of Swaziland has a story on page 15 headlined "UNISWA, newsrooms 'marriage' good for the public." I would be more excited if the media owners are of the same mind. In that case the 'marriage' would produce healthy 'offsprings'.

Sometime ago I was pleased to see an insert in the Times of Swaziland, a four-page pull out produced by UNISWA journalism students called Varsity Pulse. However, that was just the end of it and I do not have an idea of what happened. That's the kind of marriage I would be excited about because it would empower and motivate the students. Until then, I remain indifferent.

Get involved....

2009-02-26T09:57:00.002+02:00

Dear reader,

I am in the process of putting together a series of articles to be published on this blog. In as much as these will be my thoughts, I am more interested on what you want to read about. Please vote on the poll and let me know what subjects you are interested in. You can also send me your comments to this email address: stanleytalks@gmail.com.

All the best!

Stanleytalks

Quite a busy time

2009-02-05T18:38:00.002+02:00

So much to write about... so little (or no) time to write.... These days I am quite a busy person. Every weekend we are running the Believe Begin Become road shows, trying to push for young people to get into business and make their lives better.

Just to let you know, I am back on radio and presenting the Believe Begin Become radio show. Today I recorded the first episode on SBIS and the programme will be on air every Saturday at 1:15pm on the English Channel. This is a discussion programme and I will be bringing young people who have gone through the hassles of starting and running a business.

This was just to update you on what I am busy with these days.....

My encounter with crime.....another lesson for me

2009-01-12T13:29:00.009+02:00

You turn on the radio, TV or you read a newspaper, there is a very high likelihood that you will be exposed to some form of criminal activity reported. As an aspiring journalist, crime reporting was never an appealing field for me. I looked at it as some kind of a subordinate piece of job good for cub reporters. I always wished I could report the real stuff such as politics.

The point I'm trying to highlight here is that we tend to demean some things in life just because they do not interest you. One of the things I have learnt in life is that everything is important to someone and you have to respect that. Sometimes it takes difficult or heartbreaking events to make you realize that. Fortunately for me I learnt some things without negative inspiration.

Swaziland is known to be a country with a relatively low crime rate. However, there are places that are known to be no go zones. What do you do if one of such places is a place you can call home? What do you do if you cannot walk freely after sunset in an area you spent a certain time of your life with ease? For several years since my high school days I spent my life growing up in the notorious Ka-Khoza location (ekasi) in Manzini. It's known to be a crime infested township but I do not recall a time when I was attacked. I saw people robbed and heard of some victims but I could walk freely, besides being bugged by the boys you will find sitting under a tree or at the entrance of a shop asking for coins to buy cigarettes.

As life would dictate, I had move on and stay in other places. I still pay regular visits ekasi. As the years go by, the less and less people you know live where you used to live. I experience that even in my home area, Madlangampisi. With so many unfamiliar faces, you become an unfamiliar face too. (Think of the kids you used to play with in those dusty grounds when you were a kid, some of them you can't even recognize now).

Given the changing circumstances, I realized that I am now susceptible to being mugged. Yes, I am a victim of crime (shall I add - festive crime). I've seen the past two years going through wailing eyes - not only because of my taken possessions like mobile phone and money but because I had survived death.

Let me narrate the recent incident. On the 5th December 2008 I went out clubbing (after a long break). A friend of mine dropped me at ka-Kakhoza at about 4am the following morning. Immediately he drove off I went towards the house and I had to do something by the window first. When I went to the door, two men were advancing towards my direction. After a very brief skirmish they managed to get hold of me and I lost the battle. They ordered me to stop screaming for help or they stab me, pointing at me with their sharpened knives. It happened so quickly and I had lot my cell phone (which was recovered a week later by the police) and a couple of notes.

A lot of questions begging answers from I don't know who flowed through my mind. How did I come out unhurt for the second time in a space of a year? Will I be lucky the next time around? What do you do when you are no longer safe even in your own yard? Why does it have to be me? Questions, questions, questions!!! My mind went further than that. How many people survived similar incidents? Why would people resort to crime? Is poverty to blame for this? Do these people have what we call a conscience?

Enough of the questions….. There is a lesson to be learnt in all events taking place in our lives. Since I subscribe to the Christian doctrine, I would like to believe that God has allowed me to live in order to serve a certain purpose. The beat reporter covering little crime stories is also serving his purpose. The criminals wielding knives and guns attacking harmless and innocent citizens are serving a certain purpose. In this case they served as a stimulant to my realization that I have to serve my purpose in this planet. The trick is in realizing the purpose of your existence.

Swazi musicians need to realise that this is business

2008-08-10T18:33:00.003+02:00

I was a bit disturbed by an emotionally charged article written by one Pius ‘Pie Pie’ Rinto in the Times of Swaziland SUNDAY (10 August 2008) titled “I will die if musicians won’t unite.”

Judging from the tone of the article Pius (fortunately I know he is a talented rapper in SiSwati lingo) is obviously frustrated that Swazi musicians are not given the recognition and respect they deserve. That is how harsh the entertainment industry can be and all I can do is to sympathise with them.

However, the article touched on certain issues that prompted me to say something about local artists.

National radio station not giving local artists enough airplay

To put the issue into perspective, the national radio station gives more than enough time to local artists but this refers to one genre, which is gospel music. For the purposes of this discussion I will exclude gospel musicians and put my focus on the other genres such as Hip Hop, R&B, Kwaito etc. which local artists are increasingly venturing into.

I have observed that there are a lot of talented youngsters who have the potential to make it big in the country. The Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Services (SBIS) is the only national radio station and it would be expected that it plays a major role in promoting local talent.

It is unfortunate that there is no regulation of how much radio airtime SBIS should dedicate to local music that I am aware of. It is also important to note that SBIS has not yet reached a professional level whereby the station compiles its playlist that DJs have to adhere to when on air.

What this means is that it is upon the DJs prerogative to play music of his/her choice and taste. Therefore we should commend the radio DJs who are doing their best to promote local artists. One DJ who has taken the initiative to do something for Swazi artists is Lindelwa “DJ Lindz” Mafah. She initiated the Swazi Rhythm show which plays strictly locally produced music and local artists should be grateful for that opportunity.

Artists should not forget that the music industry is still at its infancy and breaking into radio airtime would not be an easy task. The starting point is the quality of the product. If I was a radio DJ, I would not be comfortable to play a song that I do not ‘feel’ on the pretext of promoting locals. A demo would be a no-go zone for me for one simple reason – I should play something that is available for the listener to get hold of.

I am not implying that Swazi artists produce poor quality. In fact, I am a fan of local music and I have observed that there is a vast improvement in terms of the quality of music by Swazis. Working in a multi-cultural environment, it pleases me when my international colleagues are mesmerised by local sounds. It is an indication that we have a potential to match international standards.

Having said that, there is a great deal of work that some of our emerging artists need to do. They have to have a good product to sell in order to fairly demand airplay. Produce something that would be appreciated by your target audience and if it is good enough, radio DJs would be obliged to play your music on air (due to popular demand).

Employ a business approach

In the same article, Pius mourns that the Swaziland National Youth Council (SNYC) and the Arts and Culture Council neglect local artists. He further castigates promoters for letting local artists perform without pay, claiming that they are giving them ‘exposure’. That is sheer exploitation which should not be condoned!

He observed, “With regards to promoters the Vibemo (a local group) boys put it clear when they said that promoters are a problem as they seem not to realise that it is business and that promoters should understand how much stress and loss of money artists go through in preparing for a show.”

Whilst fully I agree with these sentiments, I throw the ball back to the artists – they themselves need to understand that music is business these days and therefore they need to employ business tactics.

Preparing and producing a full album is a huge investment for the average artist. Before you go into that route you should clearly understand how you are going to gain the benefits of your investment.

Many artists tumble because they do not have comprehensive and distinct marketing plans for their projects. Sitting back and hope that the media or promoters will do the marketing is definitely not the way to go. This is business and you need to devise creative and aggressive strategies to get your product to your target market.

Taking to the streets to force recognition and support is certainly not on and immature. I was quite disappointed by Pius’ idea of united power, which resembles that of our political progressives. Man, I would understand if he was talking of artists coming together and mapping a way forward on how they would collectively deal with the problems they are facing.

Nonetheless, I am getting the sense that there is some movement to the right direction in some quarters of the local music industry…. Swazis rock!

Volunteer Tourism

2008-08-08T19:55:00.004+02:00

Published in the Times of Swaziland - 08 August 2008

Tourism is a fascinating industry in the sense that it involves many other sectors. Last week we discussed a combination of sports and tourism. In most cases tourism is about how a tourist can benefit in that particular destination. However, today we take a look at another growing phenomenon in the tourism industry, which focuses on bringing something to the destination.

People in developed countries increasingly spend their vacations making significant contributions to disadvantaged people in other countries. This has given birth to what is known as volunteer tourism (voluntourism). The intention of such tourists (as described by VolunTourism.org) is to have a holistic travel experience that includes voluntary service – giving back to the destination and its residents in some way – and the traditional elements of travel and tourism.

Rise of Volunteer Tourism

A recent survey of over 300 volunteer tourism organisations worldwide by Atlas Tourism Research and Marketing estimated that the overall market has grown to a total of 1.6 million volunteer tourists a year, with a value of between about E12.58 billion – E19.24 billion.

The survey also observed that the main destinations for volunteers are Latin America, Asia and Africa and together these regions account for almost 90% of the locations offered by volunteer service organisations. This demonstrates the link between volunteering and development and many volunteers prefer to travel from developed to poorer countries.

Benefits

As stated earlier, voluntourists are more passionate about what there are bringing into the destination. It has been observed that their activities have a considerable impact on the countries served not only in terms of the fees paid directly to them by participants, but also because the volunteer travellers spend much larger sums of money funding their total travel plans.

According to Voluntourism.org, “volunteer tourism seeks to provide resources that are directed toward the community and the needs they have identified as important for their development. But, volunteer tourism is not just ideas, values, and aspirations for a better world in a broad sense. In many circumstances it concerns itself with how tourism in destination areas can be used to support and enhance the local community.”

These are some ways in which this approach to tourism is beneficial:

Volunteer tourism is, in many cases, enabling and exploring ways of enhancing the sustainability of tourism, often eliminating or ameliorating negative consequences
Volunteer tourism is aligned with a wider range of values and behaviours than mainstream tourism. It has degrees of altruism and conservation of community benefits and generally acts positively for both the environment and the local community.
Volunteer tourism can be seen as an approach to tourism that moves it beyond the mainstream and into the ideas that support general volunteering, but where it engages generally with a host community and/or projects that help to the wider global community.
Careful analysis, organisation, and planning can help enhance the positive aspects of volunteer tourism development and alleviate the negative. Because each community is unique, each must make its decision based upon local circumstances. What has worked in one community may not apply in another.

Different studies on this aspect of tourism indicate that there are many voluntourists who are willing to travel and contribute to developing countries. Interestingly, most of the young people are much more interested to African countries. There are several organisations or agencies for such tourists and it’s a matter of tapping into them. These can be valuable resources especially for community tourism projects.

Media have a duty to report responsibly

2008-08-08T17:30:00.003+02:00

A friend of mine who is now a prime time broadcast media journalist once commented about the two of us; "We didn't choose journalism, journalism chose us"

Luckily for him he is a making good progress in the field and I am on the other side of the fence. However, that does not take away my love for journalism and I will always remain a 'journo at heart'. That is why I follow what is happening in the media and keep check of my friends who are practising in the different media houses. That is the reason people around me are quick to approach me and scream "uyababona labangani bakho bemaphepha bentani?" (You see what your journalism friends are doing?) whenever there is something they are not happy about.

I have had to try and make them understand the journalist's perspective and explain how the media operate. There are times when I find myself defenceless. I remember one time one newspaper reported information that was not meant for publishing and in the process mixed some facts. To make matters worse I was quoted as the source of information. I could hear silent screams of "mudle'ngwe yakhe!" (same meaning as 'taste of your own medicine'!). However, I still respect the profession I love.

Having declared my interest in media issues, my journalistic instincts popped up when I read the Swazi Observer's lead story "Criminals are coming!" (yes with an exclamation mark) (8 August 2008). It is an attention grabbing headline from a distance and I was curious to read about the criminals. Just next to the 'big' headline, the newspaper put the story into context - "Prisoners to be released for 40/40 celebrations."

The whole story was that a number of prisoners will be granted clemency as part of the 40/40 celebrations.

My gripe is on the tone of the article. Labelling prisoners as criminals is grossly unfair and disparaging in my books. For starters, prisons are nowadays called correctional services. For me this means one is housed in such facilities after being convicted of criminal offence(s) and this is where that particular person is taught to correct his wayward behaviour. Expectations are that a person should come out of such facilities transformed into a responsible citizen and we should accept him/her as such.

Secondly, I want to believe that for one to be granted clemency he/she has to exhibit characteristics of remorse and good behaviour. This means they have shred their criminal traits and are worthy to be part of society. In return, society has an obligation to embrace them, let them forget their past and start a new life.

What agenda is being set by the media if they brand these people as criminals? I have heard many journalists say "before I am a journalist, I am a human being" - where is the humanity when perpetrating stigmatisation against (would be) ex-convicts? Where do journalism code of ethics stand on this? These are the questions that ran through my mind when I read the story in question.

I would like to deliberately exonerate the journalist who wrote the story and put the blame on the editors. How does an editor, whose role is to make sure that the reader is not fed with inappropriate information by his/her reporters, allows such a story to be in the front page? Yes, it's true that a headline has to be catchy, but the editor has to consider the effects of that headline and the story in general.

I am not trying to discredit the publication, editor or the reporter, but what I am trying to highlight is that the media have a duty to report responsibly. Bear in mind at the time the report was published there was no certainty on when the prisoners (am still looking for a better word here) were going to be released. I would not be surprised if they are eventually not released because of the story. Who would want to release criminals to the public?

Let them come and play

2008-08-01T18:10:00.004+02:00

Published in the Times of Swaziland - 01 August 2008

Sport is one activity that has a large following all over the world. It is a universal language that is understood by different people from different cultures. In modern times, sporting activities or events are money spinners that boost the economy at the end.

For instance, the recent Euro 2008 soccer tournament co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland is reported to have generated a net profit of about E2.875 billion.

Most importantly, such sporting events propel other activities and developments. Most people travel to watch these games and some people travel to participate. Whilst academics and industry practitioners struggle to come up with a definition of sports tourism, they all agree that it involves both types of travellers.

When FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced that South Africa will host the 2010 Soccer World Cup, most of us in the African continent - and better - Southern African region cherished the prospects of getting a share of the big cake. Soccer lovers looked forward to the opportunity to watch their stars live.

Those doing business in the tourism industry started to gear themselves up to the opportunities this event avails.
To use the words of Ross Biddiscombe of Sport Business Group, "The intriguing nature of the business of sport and tourism comes from the fact that it knows no barriers of language or culture; it spans every sport imaginable, every age group and every demographic; and it includes both those who travel to play or watch their sport of choice."

Passionate
Thousands travel distances for specific sports activities. A report released by Sport Business, (a leading England based sports information, media and marketing service provider) indicated that sports tourists are passionate, high spending and enjoy new sporting experiences. It further states that their direct benefit to a destination is cash – their indirect benefit can be years of follow-on tourists.

When talking of sports tourism there is always the temptation to focus on the international mega events such as World Cups, Olympics etc. In as much as tourism benefits from hosting such events, there is a huge investment that goes into it. For instance, China is reported to have spent at least E296 billion on venues, facilities and a range of construction projects towards staging the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games yet a recent study projects that tourism would bring just under E7.5 billion into Beijing this year.

Whilst staging mega international events is not yet a premise for a developing country like Swaziland, domestic and regional sports events can be used to promote sports tourism. Such events can go a long way to address some of the challenges facing the industry such as the time spent by tourists in the country. According to the Swaziland Tourism Authority (STA), the length of stay in the country averaged 2.2 nights in 2007 and formal accommodation securing an average of one night stays. An event such as the King’s Golf Cup spanning over three days ensures that sports tourists stay longer in formal accommodation.

Examined

An interesting aspect with the King’s Golf Cup is that it adds another dimension to the subject matter, which is business. The event attracts business people mainly from the neighbouring countries, who may not be necessarily professional golf players to participate. There is evidence of thriving businesses born out of this event.

The trend towards sports tourism is being taken seriously by Commonwealth countries. In May this year, the 1st Commonwealth Conference on Sports Tourism was held in Malaysia, whereby delegates examined key themes such as sport tourism development, sport tourism issues, impacts and opportunities and case studies of sport tourism in practice.

Perhaps the questions to think about are; does Swaziland have sports activities to package as tourism products? Can Swaziland be a sport tourism destination? With the Soccer World Cup coming to neighbouring South Africa in 2010, what can the tourism industry benefit as well?