- Dear Family and Friends,
-
- Yesteday morning, for the first time in 2 years, I simply
could not find any words for my weekly letter. I had succumbed and for
days wallowed in the horror of the blatant rigging of every stage of our
elections. With the help of your letters and a few close friends I finally
pulled myself together and decided I would not become another victim.
-
- Darlington, a young farm security guard was murdered
in Marondera on Friday and his employer was beaten with wooden pick handles
on his buttocks accused of having helped MDC polling agents during last
weekend's elections. Little is known about Darlington and although all
attempts were made to save his life, the young man died on his way to
Marondera hospital. It took a visit to the hospital and the sight of massive
black and purple bruising on his employer's buttocks to put things back
into perspective for me. A young man with a wife and two infant daughters
cannot lie on his back, he cannot sit down and is barely able to walk.
He is not broken though and we talked, laughed and cried together and
yet again I am humbled and ashamed at allowing myself four days of self-pity.
-
- This young man can still hear the thud of wood on his
backside, he can feel the excruciating agony and the sound of his own
voice begging them to stop is still screaming in his head, but he knows
that Darlington, moments away from death, said things that saved his employers
life.
-
- Across the country reports are pouring in of ruling
party youths engaged in witch hunts, searching out people suspected of
being MDC supporters, beating them, evicting them from their homes and
burning their posessions. Two people had died before the weekend even
began and there are reports of many farmers being given 6 hours to get
out of their homes.
-
- While this horror has unfolded President Mugabe prepared
to be sworn in and I watched the ceremony on ZBC television this morning.
A President whose entire election campaign has been an incessant slamming
of everything western and colonial, stood under a marquee on the lawn
of State House and was again sworn in as the leader of our country. He
was bedecked with medals as were his security forces in their white gloves
and the country's chiefs in their red and purble robes and spotless pith
helmets. The cermony could not have been more colonial if it had been
held on the lawn of Buckingham Palace. President Mugabe again swore to
"be faithful and true to Zimbabwe and to obseve the laws of Zimbabwe,
so help me God."
-
- Minister of Information Jonathan Moyo was the Master
of Ceremonies and the official guests of honour included Joseph Kabila
who is not even an elected Pesident. In his speech President Mugabe showed
us yet again the statesman. He called for unity of purpose, for brotherhood
and sisterhood. He called on Zimbabweans to come together and "work
joyantly to reconstruct our economy." He talked of rebuilding the
economy, increasing jobs, improved health care, vast agricultural outputs
and greatly improved fiscal policies. President Mugabe said not one word
about law and order in Zimbabwe but instead spoke of his "personal
joy and sense of humility" at having been re-elected President.
-
- My humility came from sitting with a man whose buttocks
are black and blue, who was not ashamed to let me see his tears. For the
moment the only hope we have is hope itself. Slowly we are coming to terms
with what has happened and bracing ourselves for what lies ahead. People
are starving and being beaten but they are not broken. I apologise for
my days of self-pity and for not answering any of your letters.
-
- I am back and will not be broken.
-
- With love, cathy
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