The Zimbabwe Billboard Smorgasbord

A man changes a billboard in Harare, Zimbabwe, for Spar Grocery Stores.

Every time I drive past this Nando's ad, it makes me smile.

Although, it's hardly as controversial as a previous ad by the South African chain.

The massive overreaction to this ad had people threatening Nandos workers in Zimbabwe resulting in Nandos pulling the ad in Zim.
Here's the ad:

Zimbabwe is heading into election season.
This billboard was by the Constitutional Select Committee (COPAC) promoting the 16 March 2013 referendum vote on a new constitution.

There's a ridiculously large amount of ads for celebrity fragrances.  It feels really random. I suspect that
Usher, Justin Timberlake, Julia Roberts, etc., etc., have no idea they are flashed across Harare!

Air Zimbabwe, Zim's national airline, has gone under a few times, is trying to make a come back.
It's flying a few routes but millions and millions under, still fighting its struggle against financial troubles.

A billboard somewhere between Harare and Victoria Falls.
It seems a bit one sided in its target audience for the upcoming general elections....

Maybe this billboard was trying to make up for the previous billboard's clear gender bias?
(Translation of the Shona: Wives! Champion peace!!)
So, basically, men must vote and wives are relegated to championing peace,
vice being encouraged to participate also in the political process.
Peace and free and fair elections are everyone's responsibility and right.

Amen!!

A City of Stone

The Great Enclosure of Great Zimbabwe near Masvingo, Zimbabwe.

The walls of the Great Enclosure are as high as 36 feet (11 meters).  The height is overwhelming and awesome.

Inside the Great Enclosure is the Conical Tower.

If you look at the first photo above, the Conical Tower is just visible in the left corner of the enclosure.

The tower's purpose is unknown but there are some theories: representation of a grain bin, symbolizing

harvests and prosperity; a chief's residence; a court for the chief's wives; or a premarital initiation school (whatever that means...)

The Hill Complex as seen from just outside the Valley Complex.

For some photos of the Hill complex, go here.

How amazing is this?!! The Hill Complex blends so very perfectly into the landscape that if you didn't know there was an entire fortress and city at the top of this hill, you'd never know.  So very impressive.

Some more information on Great Zimbabwe: a really interesting article.

The ancient ruins of Great Zimbabwe

The Hill Complex of the Great Zimbabwe ruins near Masvingo, Zimbabwe.

Construction of Great Zimbabwe's stone buildings began in the 11th century and lasted for over 300 years.

The Hill Complex is the oldest part of the ruins, occupied from the 9th to the 13th centuries.

The view from one of the entrances of the Hill Complex onto the Valley where the Great Enclosure is.

These ruins were absolutely amazing.  I was stunned and freely admit it is one of the most amazing places I've ever visited.

After Rhodesia gained independence in 1980 from the British,

the country's name was changed to Zimbabwe and Great Zimbabwe has been adopted as a national monument.

It is also an UNESCO world heritage site!!

The Hill Complex was the palace.

The walls of Great Zimbabwe are as high as over 5 meters and are constructed without mortar.

There is literally nothing adhesive on these stones.  It is amazing and awe inspiring engineering.

It is the largest ancient structure south of the Sahara Desert and spans over 1,800 acres.

It was believed that the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe flourished from 1200 to 1500

although the area was settled as early as the 4th century.

In more recent colonial times, there was great controversy surrounding the ruins in the archaeological world as archaeologists were put under political pressure by the Rhodesian Government to deny that it could have been designed and built by indigenous Africans.

For more information on Great Zimbabwe.