Author Archives: Razi Azmi

Strange borders, arbitrary frontiers

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Razi Azmi

Chile has no “strategic depth” and yet it has won all its wars against its larger neighbours!  Poor Bolivia, with plenty of “strategic depth”, not only lost 120,000 mineral-rich square kilometres of its territory (an area about the size of … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Affairs | 1 Comment

North Korea – a nation or an abomination?

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Razi Azmi

There were murmurs in Japan about these abductions but the government did not take them seriously for “lack of evidence” until the late 1980s, when some North Korean defectors provided corroboration.  Finally, in 2002, after years of denial, Papa Kim … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Affairs | 5 Comments

Swaziland – tradition, autocracy and corruption – II

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Razi Azmi

A police spokeswoman said that women make it easier for rapists by wearing mini-skirts. “The act of the rapist is made easy because it would be easy to remove the half-cloth worn by the women,” she said.

Posted in Travelogues | 2 Comments

Swaziland – tradition, autocracy and corruption – I

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Razi Azmi

Ever since first reading, many long years ago, about the traditional dance ceremony where the Swazi king selects a new bride to join his harem, I had been fascinated by this obscure and exotic country.  But I found Swaziland to … Continue reading →

Posted in Travelogues | 5 Comments

Parties, Leagues and Gates

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Razi Azmi

The addition of the suffix “-gate” to any significant negative event or development, real or imagined, instantly transforms it into a national scandal and conspiracy, particularly if so desired by a couple of TV anchors and a lawyer or two.

Posted in Current Affairs | 4 Comments

Starving billionaires, thriving despot

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Razi Azmi

The ruling clique continues to harp on its role in the liberation war against colonialism and white minority rule, which ended in 1980, and squeeze it of every penny it is worth even after three decades of independence. The former … Continue reading →

Posted in Travelogues | 2 Comments

The “Smoke that Thunders”

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Razi Azmi

In the hierarchy of waterfalls, Victoria Falls ranks at the very top, perhaps second only to Iguazu Falls in South America. The spray from the falls is visible from 20 km away, reason why it is called Mosi-Oa-Tunya in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Travelogues | 3 Comments

Swahili, slavery, socialism and superstition – IV

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Razi Azmi

There is such strong belief in the magical powers of albino flesh that albino men, women and children are hunted down for their body parts. In Tanzania, an albino body part fetches $3,000, a full body or a full set … Continue reading →

Posted in Travelogues | 2 Comments

Swahili, slavery, socialism and superstition – III

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Razi Azmi

Not so long ago, one of the world’s great slave bazaars flourished here.  Stone Town was East Africa’s main port for the slave market between Africa and Asia (including the Middle East).  It is estimated that in the mid-19th century … Continue reading →

Posted in Travelogues | 3 Comments

Swahili, slavery, socialism and superstition – II

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Razi Azmi

I now asked myself if the pain of the journey would not far exceed the pleasure of travel. I had a couple of minutes to decide and I made a dash for the exit door, pulling my bag behind me, … Continue reading →

Posted in Travelogues | 3 Comments