The Paradise Lost podcast has picked up on one of our earlier posts (the three little pigs) in their recent show. We haven’t been able to listen to it properly on our unreliable dial-up lines – very frustrating! – but those with better connections can listen to it here
A few days before Christmas the front cover of one of our weekly newspapers carried the headline ‘Zim’s Bleakest Christmas Ever’. So true! This is one Christmas I hadn’t looked forward to at all; a festival that is supposed to be associated with joy and hope felt totally devoid of both. So I was very surprised when yesterday turned out to be one of the best Christmases I’ve had in a long time.
The few members of our family left in this country decided to make a special effort to get together this Christmas. But as plans evolved we found that we all knew other people who needed somewhere to go this Christmas – people who were probably dreading the day more than I was! So our small family group soon grew to include strangers whose last remaining relatives had left the country, or those who couldn’t join their other family members around the country because of fuel shortages.
We were a bizarre bunch of people, brought together only by circumstance, by inflation, and because of one man’s despotic rule. We pooled resources and shared food. Presents were irrelevant. I was struck by the oddness of it all several times through the course of the day – every time a complete stranger walked into my kitchen and offered to help with the dishes, or enquired where the fridge or toilet was.
The truth is, we all had a good time.
Inflation dominated the conversation yesterday, not politics. Normally people steer away from talk of politics when they’re in the company of strangers because no one knows whom they can trust in this country anymore. But talking about the economy is a real leveller in our society. Let’s face it, when a person vents about the power cuts, shortages of medicines, or lack of fuel, we all know that their anger traces back to one man and his government. It isn’t necessary to state which party is responsible and nor do we need to name names or point fingers.
But with a chorus of agreements and annoyance from a wide range of people responding to shared stories of corruption and incompetence, it felt as if we were all singing from the same political hymn sheet. Inflation has given us a vehicle to indirectly ‘talk politics’ freely, without fear.
It was very cathartic. Someone would start telling a story about their most recent story of government theft or corruption only to have someone else interject, ‘That’s nothing, let me tell you what happened to me…’ Talk naturally drifted to ways to deal with the corruption, or twist it back onto the corrupt and, as you can imagine, that’s when the evening started to get very funny.
There’s nothing more amusing or more enjoyable these days than hearing how some small-time opportunistic corrupt creep got his or her comeuppance. It seemed to me that every hilarious story we’d individually heard had been carefully stored away and privately enjoyed, waiting for the first chance it could be shared with others. We all laughed and laughed at the fools who think they have our lives in their hands. This wasn’t about fearing those more powerful than us; it was about mocking the corrupt, and ridiculing them for their short-sighted, short-term stupidity.
I have a renewed admiration for the strength of character of all Zimbabweans. I know that we all have our dark moments when we’re left alone with our private thoughts and fears, but no one yesterday seemed to be feeling sorry for themselves and there was no sign of bitterness or depression. We were simply a resolute group of people determined to make the very best of a very bad deal. I, for one, needed to be reminded of that extraordinary ability of Zimbabweans to ride out a storm and to endure hardship with humour – dark, dry humour, but hilarious and witty nevertheless.
It was clear to me that our spirit is far from destroyed by the machine-like unfeeling cruelty that mugabe and his henchmen use to try and control our minds and crush our hearts. Christmas is as good a day as any to go to bed thinking, ‘I think we’re going to be OK; I think we are a nation of people that can survive this evil’.
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The year 2005 has certainly been one of the toughest yet in Zimbabwe. As we take stock at year’s end we must be ruthlessly honest about our situation. For some the festive season provides an opportunity to escape from the harsh realities and even to indulge in a little fantasy. We take it rather as a time for reflection and clear-sighted realism about how far the nation has progressed on the path towards freedom and democracy, and how much farther we still have to go. On this basis we have to acknowledge the following:
1. For the vast majority of Zimbabweans the struggle to survive has never been more problematic. Leaving aside the tiny ruling elite who continue to wallow in obscene wealth (stolen from the nation) for most of us each of the last five years of the deepening crisis has presented ever greater difficulties. 2005 was no exception. Spiralling inflation, increasing homelessness and unemployment and the near collapse of the health care and educational sectors have added to the miseries. Millions now live on the verge of starvation. Countless Zimbabweans have already succumbed to the deadly combination of the AIDS pandemic and severe food deprivation. What family, apart from those enjoying the dictator’s patronage, is not now struggling to survive?
2. The year 2005 also brought a number of setbacks for the progressive, pro-democracy forces in Zimbabwe. Nor are we referring to the outcome of either the parliamentary elections in March or the senate elections in November, for in both cases the further reduction in MDC representation was entirely predicable, given the fatally flawed electoral process and ZANU PF’s expertise in gerrymandering. We refer rather to the outbreak of civil war within the ranks of the MDC, ostensibly over the contested decision whether to participate in the recent senate elections. Tragically the party which at one time mustered the most serious threat in 25 years to ZANU PF tyranny is no more. Two warring factions and a small number of isolated individuals who still stand for principle, remain of a party which once represented the hopes of so many. A party and a cause also for which countless brave men and women have sacrificed so much, including the hundreds who have laid down their lives and many more who suffered torture and abuse. This is a tragedy of immense proportions. Indeed in the light of the huge damage inflicted on the cause of freedom and democracy we find the cavalier attitude of Morgan Tsvangirai truly astounding. In comparison to the fracturing of the anti-ZANU PF opposition the retrogressive amendments to the constitution and further shrinking of the little remaining democratic space pale into insignificance.
3. Directly linked to these negative factors we have seen hope dip to an all-time low. While the haemorrhage of many of the nation’s most able and experienced citizens into the vast Zimbabwean diaspora continues, for those remaining it becomes increasingly difficult not to give way to despair. Feeling defeated and deflated, what cause do we have to celebrate this Christmas? Moreover even were we in the mood for celebrating, which we are not, we would have precious little to celebrate with.
Such is the reality of present-day life in Zimbabwe. It is as if the country was suffering a prolonged eclipse of the sun, leaving it in shadow for so long that many Zimbabweans have come to believe that the present suffering and misery is their inescapable lot – for ever. In fact of course the suffering is neither natural nor inevitable. It is rather the direct result of years of ZANU PF mis-rule. To continue the metaphor of the eclipse, it is as if, in an act of breath-taking arrogance, Robert Mugabe and his conniving, exploitative and manipulative cohorts have deliberately placed themselves between the sun and the earth – between the source of life, health and prosperity and the people for whom that rich abundance was intended.
At such a time as this it is very easy to give way to despair. Many will plan their escape from the hell hole which Mugabe has created, to what they imagine is the safe haven of life in South Africa, Europe or America. Others will try to bury their heads in the sand, and some few, incredibly, still try to strike a deal with the dictator – like the commercial farmers and the few business tycoons who foolishly thought that they could preserve their privileged way of life so long as they paid their “dues” to the ruling party. It’s called riding on the back of the tiger and it never was recommended as a health sport – never mind the moral implications of compromising with a thoroughly corrupt (and corrupting) regime.
Yet every such act of despair, escapism or compromise only strengthens the hand of the dictator and prolongs the agony of those whom he holds hostage.
What this dark hour in the nation’s history calls for rather is an heroic spirit of defiance. Rather than surrendering to Mugabe’s brutal tyranny (or accepting the solar eclipse as a permanent fact) let Zimbabweans make a defiant stand for the truth, for freedom, justice and peace. Let each one of us make our personal act of protest and defiance – and let us take up our position, shoulder to shoulder, in the struggle.
Nelson Mandela reminds us that “there is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.”
That is a salutary warning, but also a challenge to those who have glimpsed the mountaintop and are simply not prepared to curl up and die in the “valley of the shadow of death”.
Given there is no quick fix and therefore it will be a long haul to freedom, and given also that the once-powerful MDC is in disarray, we have to look to civic society to unite as never before and to show us the way forwards. Up to this point, despite the heroic acts of some, civic society has not demonstrated its true potential in mobilizing the nation for change. This is because we have allowed ourselves to be fragmented. The hand of the CIO can be seen everywhere, distracting and diverting so many otherwise promising movements, and the ambitions and private agendas of otherwise talented and able leaders have aided the process. But if any group is to raise the standard of integrity and principle and hold the politicians to account it must surely be civic society – the churches, human rights campaigners, trade unions, women’s groups, students and others, co-ordinated and organised so as to present a united front for freedom and democracy. A united front, we would say, clearly and unambiguously committed to achieving radical change by non-violent means.
This is our vision and within these broad parameters we, Sokwanele, see our own role as follows:
1. In continuing to expose abuses of power and privilege, injustice and oppression, wherever we find them. Along with those brave journalists and human rights activists who report fairly and objectively (and at great risk to themselves), we see it as our primary role to hold up a mirror to the nation of Zimbabwe so that we, and the world, may see what we have allowed ourselves to become under the corrupting and destructive hand of ZANU PF.
2. In positively and pro-actively promoting an open and public discourse about the range of non-violent means to be employed to rid ourselves of the present suffocating dictatorship and to manage the transition to a democratic state under fully accountable leadership.
3. In facilitating the change through the use of bold and imaginative symbolic acts which demonstrate the spirit of defiance to unjust rule and encourage others to put aside their fears and commit to the struggle.
4. In supporting and encouraging those individuals and groups who will make common cause with us in the (non-violent) struggle to win our freedom.
Others who share the vision of a free and democratic Zimbabwe and share also our passion to hasten the dawn of that new day, will no doubt have different roles to play towards that end. We welcome the part each has to play in the struggle. We affirm each individual and group walking alongside us on “the long walk to freedom”. We celebrate the diversity of gifts to be found among our brothers and sisters equally engaged in the struggle.
Sokwanele is not a religious group. Within our ranks there are men and women of different faiths and some who claim no particular faith allegiance. Yet we are mindful that something in excess of 70 per cent of the population of our country claim to be Christian and regular church attendance is very high. Furthermore we are about to mark one of the great Christian festivals. Accordingly we consider it appropriate at this time to quote the words of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she exalted in the news of God’s saving act about to be enacted on the stage of humanity. Her song, often called the Magnificat, reads in part:
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour …
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty ..”
There is a sharp warning to tyrants! Let Mugabe and his accomplices take note. And let the humble poor of Zimbabwe, including the hundreds of thousands of victims of Operation Murambatsvina, rejoice.
Let all those who, in Jesus words, “hunger and thirst to see right prevail” take heart! The eclipse will not last for ever. Already the Light is breaking through!
The print edition of the South African Mail and Guardian has called attention to an online petition against Robert Mugabe and has asked all its readers to sign it. It looks like signatures have been slow to start so please help to circulate this information widely, and sign it, of course!
The online petition can be found here at The Petition Site. The full url is: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/290921785.
The purpose of the petition is
To compel the United Nations Security Council to pass resolutions imposing economic sanctions on Zimbabwe and establisbing an International Tribunal for Crimes Against Humanity in Zimbabwe. Perpetrators of these crimes should be apprehended and then prosecuted.
The petition will be handed to Koffi Annan, the United Nations’ Secretary General.
Not long ago we posted up an article about the greedy zanu-pf delegates feasting at their recent confernce which was held in one of the poorest areas in Zimbabwe. It was a shocking display of insensitivity.
Well, nature had the last laugh – this from the The Standard (you may want to sit down, it’s quite funny!)
While for some, it was just a matter of adding spices to make the food more appetising and testier, several got more than they bargained for when they increasingly found concentration on the proceedings at hand difficult as the urge for frequenting the toilets became overwhelming.
[...]
Bicarbonate of soda, well known for its alkaline properties, is popular with shebeen queens as a tenderiser to speed up the cooking of cow hooves (mazondo), which would ordinarily take hours to cook. But applied in excess to any meal, it can cause havoc to tummies, as some of the delegates discovered to their embarrassment.
A total of 221 people, mostly suffering from stomach ailments, visited the refurbished Mzingwane High School Clinic between the 8 and 11 December. Insiders say some may have been sickened by the abundance of meat at the conference – 50 beasts, 48 goats, 17 impala, six pigs, four sheep, five red bucks, five buffaloes, 11 kudu and French salads and other foodstuffs. They took more than they could stomach, evidently resulting in the constant stream of visitors to the makeshift toilets provided at the venue.
Natural justice!
I had to buy a new ink cartridge last week for my printer. Price: Z$3,900,000. I phoned around and that’s the going price so I didn’t feel as if I was being ripped off.
The cartridge holds 19ml of ink.
That’s Z$205,263.16 dollars per millilitre.
The average monthly wage in Zimbabwe is about Z$3 million. Domestic workers get Z$850,000 and farm labourers get even less.
The preliminary results of the 2005 Weblog Awards are out. ‘This is Zimbabwe‘ is currently in third place, with 11.46% of the total vote. We’re 218 votes ahead of our nearest competitor.
The votes will be confirmed after they have been verified by the organiser. Votes that appear to be the result of irregular voting – cheating- will be deducated from the total votes. We’ve already had a bad experience with that, thinking we were doing better than we actually were, so we’re not celebrating coming third place until Monday 19 December when the final results will be announced. We’ll give you a final update then.
Thank you very much to all who have supported us!
I read an article on Zim Online (SA) recently titled ‘Dying in Zimbabwe now a luxury only afforded by the rich’. In the article they state the following:
Harare, with about two million people, has three main cemeteries at Warren Park, Granville and Greendale as well as several smaller ones scattered across the city. Charges at all the burial grounds will, beginning January 2006, soar more than 20-fold from $750 000 to $8.5 million for the grave of an adult. A further hike is planned mid-year to leave the cost of a grave at $17 million.
The average take home pay of a worker in Zimbabwe is about $3 million per month meaning many will find it extremely hard to pay for a relative’s or their own grave. It is many times cheaper for one to cremate a deceased loved one.
But cremation is an alternative acceptable only to Zimbabwe’s minority Asian and white communities and not among the black segment of the population.
“We, black Zimbabweans do not believe in cremating our departed ones. Burning the bodies of dead relatives is simply not an option,” said Sekai Mapusa of Highfiled suburb, a mother of four who vowed she would never forgive her children if they were to cremate her dead body.
Two people very close to me have died in the past few months and I was personally involved in the trauma of helping to make funeral arrangements on both occasions, I think it important to clarify the statement made on cremation as it gives the impression that cremation is a viable alternative. The facts are, that it is not. The fact is too that we had few choices on how to deal with our loved one’s body.
One of my relatives was tragically killed in a work-related accident. He was far from home and his body was taken to the nearest big town which had a mortuary. We could not afford to transport the body home so decided that a burial in or around that town would be best. When trying to arrange this, we were told that all burial grounds were full. Even though it was not what we wanted, the next decision was cremation.
We were told that the facilities for the closest crematorium were not operational. A few days later and now in a desperate panic (not to mention mortuary fees which were now adding up as they charge by the day) we decided to take our relative’s body to Harare where we were told that a cremation would be possible there. In fact, it was not! There again, the crematorium was not operational – at that time we were told that they needed gas to cremate the bodies and gas was in short supply (and still is) in the country.
After days of begging and pleading with various people we were finally given permission to purchase burial ground in Granville Cemetery on the outskirts of Harare. The experience was too terrible for words. The graves were so close together that people attending my relative’s funeral were stumbling over the soil mounded on the grave next door. And there were so many funerals going on that we could barely hear the minister over the sound of other people crying. Seconds after the coffin was placed in the ground, the minister approached one of the family members and asked for a massive cash payment and a lift back to town as he had another service to attend to.
Are we so used to death in our country now that we have become insensitive to grief and how to bury our loved ones with dignity?
Having been through this a few months before, when another person close to us passed away we were a bit more educated on how to deal with things. His family knew what we had gone through and wanted to avoid the terribleness of a similar graveside experience. We advised his family to very quickly contact the crematorium in Bulawayo, as this was their closest option. Again, non-operational, due to no gas.
So the family got together and made arrangements to transport the body back to the rural areas. Raising the money for fuel was very difficult, and finding enough fuel was even harder! Two days later a relative left in the very early hours of the morning, to avoid the heat, with the coffin in the back of a buckie. The grave had been prepared by friends beforehand. By mid-morning the burial was complete.
Neither of us will never be able to tend to either of these graves. Shortly after our Granville ordeal, we were told about how the graves in that cemetary are routinely vandalised. Poverty has driven people in our country to desperate lengths. Apparently, coffins are dug up and the brass handles and fittings are removed and sold. In extreme cases, we were told that the whole coffin gets stolen and that the body is tossed back into the ground and covered over.
We have not been back for fear of what we may or may not find. We try to hold the memory of our loved one in our hearts, but the memory of that day and what might have happened afterwards haunts us all. And as for the rural area burial, there is no petrol in the country so no one can travel that distance. We rely on the kindness of others to make sure the grave is ok.
Just last week a friend told me that the Bulawayo crematorium was not working again. They were advised to use the crematorium at Gweru, some 200km away.
More at Flickr.
