MEMORY loss is widely considered as one of the banes of old age, but a world-first Australian study suggests that people over 50 who walk for just 2 1/2 hours a week can halt and even reverse it.

West Australian researchers found that over-50s with mild memory problems experienced improved brain function after a six-month exercise program based on walking, compared with other people who lived their lives as normal.

In the same country as the study’s authors Queensland Premier Anna Bligh (who is only 48) can’t remember how more than a dozen children kidnapped from Indian slums have ended up being adopted in Australia during her time as Child Safety Minister.

“Not to the best of my recollection, but there is material being gathered by the department about the child concerned so there may well be something that I don’t recall, but as you’ll appreciate it is a long time ago,” she said.

In two years time researchers could be forcing her out for a few brief walks to see if they can get to the bottom of the controversy.

Meanwhile 66 year old Thabo Mbeki who does not remember meeting the bosses of Thomson CSF, the French arms company, despite the fact that his ambassador to France, Barbara Masekela said he did, could find his memory inconveniently improved with some pedestrian activity too.

And here in New Zealand Winston Peters (63) will be grateful that he has the excuse that he still has his ministerial limo to ride in so that walking won’t accidentally endanger him during any upcoming SFO or privileges committee questioning.

It’s a tough thing when you try to move from dictatorship to democracy.  And often it seems that people need to opt for halfway measures along the  way.  But my understanding of a unity government, such as the type South African President Thabo Mbeki is calling for, is that Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change would share power with Mugabe’s Zanu PF party.  This is despite Tsvangirai clearly winning the first round of the presidential vote in March.

I’m of two minds.  Peace will require a way to assure Zanu PF supporters and members that they will not suffer retribution for their violence and abuse.  But democracy requires that Mugabe and his discredited government make way for a new democratically elected government.  The role of unity governments ideally should be in healing a population that is deeply divided rather than sheltering a dictator from the winds of democracy.

Because I don’t know what the answer is I’m hoping Mbeki has guessed right, because it seems he is the person who now holds the most chance of averting more tragedy.