Bullish Thoughts is mildly satisfied that Zimbabweans are now
taking the cancer scourge seriously. Some corporates that have publicly taken a
stance include TM Supermarkets.
If anyone scanned through the Sunday Papers this past week they
would have noticed substantial health articles around Cancer.
Of interest was the warning against the use of various herbs
either tightening or enlarging which have seen women in particular suffer
silently.
As October comes to a close…ask yourself, what is it that you have
done to combat this scourge.
You can donate cash or kind to either Cancer Association of
Zimbabwe or Island Hospice who concentrate on dignified deaths.
Imagine if we could all donate at least $10 towards this cause…individually
it may be a small amount but collectively it can make a difference to society.
It’s time we upped our Corporate Social Investments!
Or if you have no cash or anything else to donate, just wear the
pink ribbon for the remaining days and raise as much awareness as possible.
The
landmark National Conference on Cancer Prevention and Control organized by the
Cancer Association of Zimbabwe held on the 16th of September
2011 under the theme; ‘Bringing the Cancer Burden on the National Health
Agenda’ and attended by over 80 delegates including political leaders, cancer
experts, government officials, cancer survivors, civil society organisations,
media, Non Governmental Organisations and the private sector noted that cancer
is now killing more people than HIV and AIDS, TB and Malaria combined globally.
It
also noted that Zimbabwe sees, on average, 7000 cancer cases each year and only
a fraction of these – some 700 to 1500 is treated and that the HIV and AIDS
pandemic is augmenting the rate of HIV-related cancers, with 60% of new cancers
in Zimbabwe being associated with HIV and AIDS.
What
is Cancer?
Cancer is a disease of cells. Cells are the smallest building
blocks in our bodies, invisible to the naked eye. Groups of cells form the
tissues and organs of the body (such as the lungs, brain, liver, kidneys or
heart); each of these have a very specific function. Cells normally reproduce
themselves by dividing in a regular fashion so that growth and repair of the
body tissues can take place. If the normal function is disrupted, there may be
an uncontrolled growth of cells causing a swelling or tumors. Tumors maybe
benign or malignant (cancerous).
The cells that develop into cancer can be a result of foreign or
harmful substances that penetrate the cell and its nucleus, damaging the DNA-
deoxyribonucleic acid. Cancer causing factors include the air we breathe, the
water we drink, diet, alcohol, tobacco and exercise we get, among other
factors. Cancer could be a result of faulty DNA which will be recreated every
time a cell divides.
The
Warning Signs of cancer...
- · Change in bowel or bladder habits
- · A sore that does not heal
- · Unusual bleeding or discharge
- · Thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere
- · Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
- · Obvious change in a wart or a mole
- · Nagging cough or hoarseness
Consult your doctor or nearest health facility if any of these
symptoms present.
Support
Fundraising...
The
Harare Cancer Centre is a welfare organization that relies on the support of
wishers and the public for funding in order to achieve its objectives.
Help
by participating in any of the following events:
·
Think
Pink Golf Tournament
·
Triathlon
·
Walk/Run
·
Dinner
Dances
·
Cuppa
for HCC
·
Shavathon
Become A Corporate Partner...
The Harare Cancer
Centre is extremely grateful to all the companies that have helped us one way
or another. We invite other companies to join us in educating and raising
cancer awareness. Invite us to your corporate wellness programs.
Investment Advice
Dear
Bullish Thoughts
I am a 39 year old man. I am currently troubled by my relationship
with my girlfriend who is 26 years old. Her parents died when she was 8 years
then she dropped out of school because no one could afford to pay her fees.
I then met her when she was 14 years and sent her back to school.
I was selling fruit by the street just to pay her fees. I then got
a job as a truck driver and sent the girl to university and now she is employed
as a Finance Manager.
My problem is that she now feels she can't continue with this
relationship because I am not her type.
She says she is grateful that I sent her to school but she can't
be in a relationship with me anymore. She wants somebody in her own class not a
truck driver.
My financial and emotional feelings are being hurt. I met to a
stockbroker who advised me that if I had bought some Delta and BAT shares 12
years ago, not only would I be making Roy Turner green with envy but I would
also have been a proud shareholder in African Sun, Pelhams, OK Zimbabwe and
perhaps even Dawn.
The stockbroker also said with the shares I could have bought with
the money I invested in her fees, I would actually be owning a truck company
nearer in size to SABOT, CARS or even Takrose.
Above all, I would have paid for my own further education with
dividends from Delta and OK Zim. I am also advised that the recent BAT dividend
of 23c would have been adequate to help me retire early. Please help, I am
hurting...Truck Driver.
Bullish
Thoughts replies…
Dear
“Could have been trucks owner”
Bullish Thoughts is not sure if he should feel pity for you. In
fact he has just recalculated the opportunity cost of your investment…to you
personally! It’s really humongous!
Though you did not explicitly say so, Bullish Thoughts is tempted
to think you went into this solely for a scrip dividend…or hand in marriage put simply.
From a legal perspective, such contracts are called social
contracts and are not easily enforceable at law as you cannot force someone to
marry you just like you cannot sue your girlfriend for failing to pitch up at a
rendezvous. You cannot approach the courts for performance by your almost “was”
fiancé especially regarding the scrip dividend. Unfortunately ignorantia
juris non excusat!
Next time when you want to do such investments or other such
ventures (which Bullish Thoughts you will), it is recommended that you don’t be
fixated solely on scrip dividend. What if it does not come? Or worse still,
what if it comes, and the price tanks!
You should continuously evaluate your investments, disinvest when
the risk starts to increase or take profit before the price falls or the stock
becomes illiquid.
However, also look on the brighter side of things. You helped
eradicate poverty and that woman certainly is paying tax (PAYE) that is enough
to pay the salary of one or two civil servants so the economy is benefiting
from your “social investment”.
If you have a potential investment case of similar nature again,
Bullish Thoughts suggests you immediately approach the closest financial
advisor.
Who knows, maybe another 10 years from now you will be in the
category of Nick Van Hoog, Roy Turner or a real owner of a trucking company or
vegetable processing company.
Alternatively, if you are still keen on scrip dividends, you may
want to go back to the roadside where tomatoes are sold and evaluate those
other stocks which are hidden from the eye of an ordinary marriage investor.
They probably are valuable and gems in the rough!
Lastly…
Bullish Thoughts is confused by the current bull run on the ZSE.
How big is the bag of cash out there? Are there many buyers or there is just
one using multiple stockbrokers? Are the price levels still sustainable? Your
little bullish thoughts are welcome
so that we educate potential investors fully!
Delta is at 92.4c, BAT
450c, Econet 491c, Innscor 81c and so forth. Should it be a buyers or sellers
market?
Invest Wisely!
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