Jos Martens the centre of my heart is in Binga…

We recorded this interview in Jos’s office at the end of the day. It’s as quiet as it can be in the empty offices. I had just arrived in Johannesburg from Durban, and was flying out to Nairobi in a couple of days, perhaps I’d also travel to Zimbabwe; but I didn’t yet know… (in fact, this was two happen two year later….). Jos had recently re-visited Binga after many years; and after having worked in the Zambezi valley during the 1980s and 90s. I had asked him to tell his story of his work in Binga in the light of his fresh encounters and experiences… Jos, a teacher, and expert in Agriculture, was instrumental in the establishment of trade unions for farmers in the Binga district. He was also involved as he tells here – as the only “non-Tonga” – in the Tonga Development Association, a local advocacy initiative and organizational predecessor of the Basilwizi Trust. Jos Martens is now the deputy head of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in Johannesburg. http://www.rosalux.co.za/ http://www.rosalux.co.za/?page_id=292 (under: Sustainable Development) article by Jos Martens “How Zimbabwe Lost Its Food Sovereignty and Security”, Jan. 2012 The entire interview with Jos Martens is archived here: http://archive.org/details/JosMartins-zimbabwe From: http://both-sides-of-the-zambezi.tumblr.com/