Grace Mutandwa

We will rise and be great again - insha'Allah

The mood was electrifying. The setting was Harare's Glamis stadium, once popular in the early 80s for horse riding/jumping shows. Crowds had started gathering in the early hours of Wednesday 11 February to witness Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), leader Morgan Richard Tsvangirai's inauguration speech.

On the other side of the capital at the residence of the state president, a smaller group of prominent people and diplomats was also gathering for the swearing in ceremony, that was initially slated for 11am but only happened much later. This was a by invitation only ceremony.

I watched the proceedings from the office television set. Both Tsvangirai and Mugabe looked tense and like they had been dragged screaming and kicking to the ceremony. The MDC leader took his oaths of office followed by the leader of the other faction of the  MDC, Arthur Mutambara who smiled and looked more at home with Mugabe as they bantered amicably. Next was Tsvangirai's deputy Thokozani Khupe who has now become one of the two deputy prime ministers.

The ceremony was dry and lacked the excitement expected at such occasions. For the first time in many years, western diplomats normally shunned and vilified were invited to state house. This was indeed turning out to be an important day - a day on the political calendar remembered as the day South Africa's Nelson Mandela was freed from prison over a decade ago.

Back at the stadium crowds continued pouring in. Accompanied by colleagues, I went to join the crowds and witness the closest Zimbabwe could hope to get to a "Barack Obama" moment.

By mid-day it was getting hot and sticky but more and more people were determined to bear witness to the new political dispensation. They thronged the stadium, stood  or sat patiently while others danced to the blaring music.

Even when it started raining, they waited patiently for their leader. A few colourful umbrellas popped open and those without shared with fellow supporters. Others just remained standing or sitting in the downpour.

Sitting in the shade I was amazed at their resilience. Still the music continued and the dancing carried on. I have not seen so many happy faces in one place for a very long time. It was moving. Black and white people sat and chatted animatedlywith a touching comaraderie.

When MDC secretary general Tendai Biti (tipped to be next finance minister) arrived at  the stadium, the crowd erupted, waving their hands they chanted Gono, Gono, in reference to the central bank governor, whom people blame for the country's economic malaise andexpect MDC to get rid of. The party spokesman, the youthful Nelson Chamisa also sent the supporters wild.

The arrival of the man himself, Tsvangirai was a moment to behold. The crowd that had earlier endured the heat and later the rain was ecstatic. Emotions ran high. Journalists normally unseen in this country where journalism was almost barred, scrambled to take a peak and photographers jostled to get the best picture.

And when he stood to speak, Tsvangirai was a far cry from the man who took the first steps towards change in September 1999. He was confident and spoke eloquently about the challenges ahead.

"To my fellow African leaders, there can be no turning back on the political agreement, which each party has signed, knowing this is not a perfect agreement, buta workable one, an agreement that, if implemented with good faith, will deliver a peaceful way forward - towards a stable economy, new constitution and free and fair elections," he told the crowd.

As prime minister, he promised to help restore the rule of law, respect of human rights. In the heat of the moment  apart from promising an independent media, the new prime minister promised Zimbabwe's workforce foreign currency denominated salaries.

Politicians have a tendency to get carried away. Unless Tsvangirai is privy tosomething we are not aware of, I am quite convinced in this instance he got drunk on the adoration of his supporters and promised an undeliverable. Unless he has his own foreign currency printing press, I do not know where he will get the money.

He raised people's hopes and my sincere hope is that he will deliver for his own sake and more importantly for the sake of all Zimbabweans who stood by the MDC through thick and thin. Political prisoners still locked behind bars will also hold him to his promise. Wherever this new road takes him, may the force be with him.

Posted at 13:27 16 February 2009 by Grace Mutandwa  |  Comments[6]

Inspired but deeply sad

Watching American President elect, Barack Obama, speak after winning, brought tears to my eyes. Earlier I had watched John Mcain concede defeat graciously and I said to myself, "democracy is truly amazing. Here is democracy at work."

I felt greatly inspired but sad too. Inspired that Americans could elect a president without killing each other and embracing each other and be mature enough to concede defeat and pledge to work together. Deeply sad because something that big would never happen in Zimbabwe, where those who rule believe that only they should rule forever. Sad because in Zimbabwe as in most African countries rivalry is not tolerated, it is reviled and seen as treachery.

For nine months now we have gone without a government. Robert Mugabe believes his ZANU PF should continue to call the shots, while Morgan Tsvangirai would like to see his Movement for Democratic Change bring in change. Here you can and you will certainly be bashed and abused for your believing in change.

We are a sad long way from democracy. We are struggling in the wilderness, with no hope in sight that we will get a government that believes in and trusts and respects its people.

Inflation continues to soar at an alarming hourly rate now. Hospitals stand as a reminder of our past glory when the sick actually used to visit and get proper treatment. Cases of cholera are on the rise!

Water taps have become a home design appendage that helps make the house look attractive. No water comes out of our water taps. Whoever designed the water tap, had a vision. That person had a dream that people in a more civilised world should never have to scrap the ground for murky water to drink.

Schools hope to provide decent education again another day but for now they provide space for poorly paid teachers to sell sweets or engage in various money-making schemes in order to put food on the table one more day.

We have political leaders who refuse to take responsibility for their failures. They heap blame on countries that have thriving democracies and economies. They see enemies everywhere. Paranoid does not even start to describe their state of mind.

Thousands of hapless Zimbabweans flock into neighbouring countries everyday in search of jobs and food. The only country that appreciates how dangerous our situation is, is Botswana, which has given refuge to thousands of Zimbabweans.

Botswana is the only country in our region that has the courage to speak out. For that trouble, Botswana has now been accused of training opposition youth so that they can effect violent regime change. ZANU PF leaders have a very fertile imagination. They are capable of coming up with conspiracy theories that no sane person could ever dream up. 

They revile western leaders and yet we are now allowed to buy food from local shops using American dollars. They take every opportunity to tell us how brutal America is, but now their money is good enough for almost all our transactions. The streets of Zimbabwe have more American and South African money than the worthless Zimbabwean dollars.

I know I paint a story of dark and gloom but that is the way it is. This could easily be the story of any one of our neighbours. 

Driving down from South Africa my partner was recently twice asked for a bribe. First a South African policeman stopped him and told him he had to pay a 500 Rand fine for  abscuring his rear view mirror. The car was packed to the gills and the mirror was indeed obscured. If you live in Zimbabwe, you learn to shop and pack your car as if your life depends on it and in most cases it does.

My partner was told that since his car was registered in Zimbabwe he would have to drive  to the nearest police station to pay. This was on the highway and the nearest police station was several kilometres back. He was offered an alternative, pay 300 Rands instead and continue on his way.

When he got to the border on the South African side towards the exit to Zimbabwe, he once again got hit for money. Tucked between lorries and cars of various shapes and sizes, he was asked if he had a declaration form for the groceries he had bought in South Africa. This was the first time this had been demanded of him. He was told to turn around and go back to the offices of the South African Customs and pay R500.

He was blocked an could not make the necessary turn so he was offered an alternative - pay R400 and proceed.

Both times he felt cornered and paid but was angry. Getting into Zimbabwe he expected the usual pain of waiting several hours, being harassed by louts and lack of co-opeartion from customs officials.

Imagine his surprise when he went through all the necessary processes without any problems. There were short queues and the attendants were actually smiling and quite chatty. Driving all the way from the border, he was amazed to go through several roadblocks where no one hit him for money but actually told him to drive carefully as the roads are bad. This was refreshing as normally some of the roadblocks are set up as personal fundraising ventures for some of the policemen.

Zimbabwe got to where it is today because people got greedy and started asking for bribes. For simple tasks to be carried out one has to pay a bribe. My landline at home has not  worked for several months and it will remain defective because I refuse to pay a bribe. I have been told point blank that I must pay up or forget about having a phone.

I have two mobile phones, an office issue and a private one. Both used to be contract lines, with bills paid on a monthly basis. As of this week they have both ceased to run as contract lines. The mobile service provider says it is economically unsustainable for them to continue providing that service. Both my lines are now pay as you go.

With no phone at home and two mobiles that are likely to run out of credit while I am talking, I am not even going to try and communicate with anyone. I am mentally and emotionally drained. Zimbabwe is a country that can make you feel that way. And I guess so many other Zimbabweans hungry for change feel that way too.

So many times people ask me why Zimbabweans are so docile and why Zimbabweans do not stand up to riot police when they get beaten for marching against ZANU PF. And so many times I have had to tell people that Zimbabweans by nature loathe violence but that does not mean they are docile.

Zimbabweans would never have fought a liberation struggle if they had been docile. Today Zimbabweans seem cowed but this is only because they would like a peaceful solution to their  political problems. They have witnessed firsthand blood being spilt and if Zimbabweans can find a way of getting out of this madness without spilling blood they will do it.

Like the Americans, Zimbabweans too would like to stand up and say; "Yes we can". And do so without maiming or killing each other. Do so without looking at colour, race or tribe. We too, like Martin Luther King before us, have a dream. We want  true democracy in our time. We want our children to be inspired by selfless leadership.

Posted at 12:21 12 November 2008 by Grace Mutandwa  |  Comments[4]