Posted on 04/04/2010 8:13:04 AM PDT by greyfoxx39
To learn or to teach
Saturday 2nd April 2010
Dear Family and Friends,
It has now been two years since the MDC won elections and were voted into power in Zimbabwe. There's not a lot to show for two years because every day and every week there's been another delay, excuse and stalling tactic to prevent real power being handed over to the MDC. To say that the MDC is in office but not in power is the most accurate description of our situation two years after elections.
Because there wasn't a referendum to ask the people of Zimbabwe if they wanted a Government of National Unity, we've had no choice but to put up with it. For two years we've been patient and lived from hand to mouth while the winners and losers of the election have squabbled over the basics. South Africa, called all manner of things from midwife to mediator, point man to facilitator, have been overseeing the squabbling.
This week South Africa's ANC youth leader, Julius Malema arrived in the country. He's been in the spotlight for some weeks for stirring up racial tensions in his own country and singing a revolutionary song translated as "shoot the Boer." The song has now been declared hate speech and a gagging order has been issued, so the arrival of Mr Malema in our very fragile and tense Zimbabwe, is cause for concern.
The usual fanfare awaited Mr Malema at Harare airport: people wearing Zanu PF clothes, their chests, backs and other places sporting pictures of Mr Mugabe. "Welcome to the Promised Land," one banner being carried by running, frenzied Zanu PF supporters read. Surrounded by bodyguards it wasn't long before Mr Malema made it quite clear that he wasn't playing the ANC impartiality game. He didn't mention young people in general in Zimbabwe but instead said he'd come to see Zanu PF youths and to talk to them about empowerment. Malema said he was going to visit farms and mines in Zimbabwe.
To learn, or to teach - it remains to be seen.
We have become very familiar with all manner of hate speech this last decade so rather than take in anymore, we look to nature to give us a bit of peace this Easter 2010. Summer is coming to an end and the grass is tall and golden and littered with pink and white Cosmos flowers along many of our roads. In the vleis the red hot pokers are in full bloom and in our gardens we compete with Mousebirds and Bulbuls to get to the guava trees first! The temptation to eat guavas straight off the trees is just too hard to resist; rain fed and sun ripened they are very more-ish, every mouthful watched by Mousebirds who sit nearby, scolding and fidgeting, impatient for you to go away.
Days end with golden sunsets, the call of a Heuglin Robin or a nightjar and then the evening star, clear and bright in the twilight. There's no place for hate speech here.
Until next week, thanks for reading,
love cathy.
"What a disgraceful insult these 2008 elections have become to the people of Zimbabwe who have suffered so much, lost so much and yet have remained peaceful and turned the other cheek despite the most extreme provocation and deprivation. As we stand now without a parliament, with no sworn in MP's and still not knowing who the newly elected President of Zimbabwe is, we find ourselves stuck in a frightening and barbaric No Man's Land.
Every day the reports of horror continue to emerge. Youngsters in uniform going door to door in villages at night; men with guns; beatings, house burnings and torture. People having burning, molten plastic dripped onto their backs and doctors treating patients who have been whipped with bicycle chains. The MDC reports that 10 of their supporters have been murdered, 3000 displaced from their homes and 500 hospitalized since the elections. Listed amongst the people murdered is a five year old boy, Brighton Mbwera from Manyika Village. This little boy, too young to read or write and a complete innocent in this month of hell, burnt to death in a house set on fire during the rampage of political vengeance that is tearing our country apart.
As each day has passed since the elections, Zimbabwe has drawn quieter and quieter - silenced by fear. No one knows who to trust, who they can talk to or who might be listening. One man described how he and his family eat a small plate of sadza at dusk and then go indoors and sit in silence in the dark just listening to the noises in the village. The slightest change, an unfamiliar sound, the alarming of a night bird, an unknown voice and the family immediately get outside and hide in the bush. People are living in constant fear of burnings and beatings and are ready, always, to take flight at a moments notice. This week even our own church leaders warned of genocide being a real possibility if these events are not stopped immediately."
Zimbabwe ping.
I read all her letters with great interest. She’s a wonderful writer and seems a lovely person. I can’t imagine how she and her family sustain themselves and how she manages to get this information out.
. . .
Yes, indeed. Same politics we know from the Left here; same hellish visions of 'hope, change'. . .
Mr. President?
Thank you for the ping.
I am always very grateful for your time.
I fear that will happen here in the USA as the left pit groups against each other.
Andre Visagie also vowed Sunday to avenge the death of Eugene Terreblanche and says his group will warn soccer teams to avoid the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He did not specify what form the vengeance will take."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.