It has been said that suffering reveals the true character of a person, and this is surely as true of a community that is being tried and tested in the fires of adversity as it is of an individual. Like the assayer's fire revealing the glint of the metal among the dross so the suffering within the community highlights the resilience, the courage, the heroism - and sometimes just the sheer dogged refusal to give up hope. So it is in Zimbabwe today.
An incident that occurred on a farm near Marondera just a week ago (7th October) illustrates the point. Henry Faber, his wife Rosemary and son John have been farming in this district for many years. Given the violent farm invasions that have swept the country these past few years and the often brutal evictions of established commercial farmers, the fact that the Faber family is still on the land at all is testimony to their dogged perseverance. (Many times they have been threatened with what might happen to them if they did not leave). Add to this that they have a barley crop in the ground and are busy planting seed maize, and it is apparent that this family at least have not been crushed into submission or given up hope of a new dawn in Zimbabwe.
But on 7th October all of this came perilously close to extinction. Henry Faber was called to a meeting with the District Administrator at the far end of his property. While he was away - and the timing does not appear to have been coincidental - two armed men broke into his house and accosted his wife, Rosemary. The bandits were armed with military weapons, AK 47's and a pistol. They demanded from her money and weapons. They tied her hands very tightly and held a screwdriver to her throat, threatening to kill her instantly if she did not cooperate. Unexpectedly at that moment Mrs Faber's son John, aged 38, arrived at the property to see his father. He walked right in on the bandits surprising both them and himself. One of the bandits opened fire with his AK rifle set on automatic. Providentially there were only two bullets in the weapon at the time, and John Faber received but two hits, one in the lung and another in the stomach. Had there been more rounds in the magazine he would almost certainly have died on the spot. The intruders then ran away and Mrs Faber was able to radio for help.
As it was John Faber had sustained very severe injuries requiring urgent medical attention. An ambulance took him to the Marondera clinic but on arrival there the doctor said that he would have to be taken immediately to Harare because the clinic did not have the necessary medical facilities for his injuries. He was therefore taken on in the ambulance to the Avenues Clinic in Harare. The medical team attending him in the ambulance later admitted they did not think he was going to survive.
From Harare an urgent appeal was put out for RH A Negative blood and the response was overwhelming. No fewer than 200 donors turned out at the Blood Transfusion Centre in Harare. Some volunteers had to be turned away. A number of prayer chains were started and people from all over the world as well as around Zimbabwe kept in touch with the family by phone. And so from a critical condition Faber was gradually nursed back to better health. A week later he was due to be taken off the respirator and sedation and his family were hoping to talk to him. In the meantime many other farmers from the area forcibly driven off their own lands, had offered to assist in whatever way necessary to keep the Faber farm running while the family are recovering from this ordeal. Rosemary Faber has been offered trauma counseling by a friend.
Nor have the local police failed in their duty on this occasion. More often seen to be accomplices of those who perpetrate violent crime, or at the least unwilling to assist the victims in any so-called "political" matter, in this instance they responded promptly and in a professional manner. They have already arrested a man who, it is believed, has confessed his part in the crime and handed over the AK rifle used. It is understood the same suspect has confessed to looting John Faber's house two years ago and disclosed the whereabouts of some of the stolen items.
The tragic consequences which might have followed this brutal shooting have been averted. A critically injured man is off the danger list and hopefully on his way to a full recovery, thanks to the prompt action of the medical team. The police have done their job - or at least made a good start - by apprehending a vicious criminal. And the local community has responded magnificently to the crisis, bringing practical assistance to a traumatized family and surrounding them with their love and prayers. In short we have seen the glint of gold in the fiery crucible, a timely reminder that the people of Zimbabwe are not going to be cowed into submission or defeated by their present suffering. Rather out of that suffering a new, more caring, more united people are being forged. For all its negative and destructive effects, the present suffering may yet prove to be the midwife to a better future.