- Dear Family and Friends,
-
- A couple of years ago when there was still a daily independent
newspaper and I was privileged to be able to write a weekly column for
that paper, I wrote many times about the destruction of agriculture and
the inevitable effects that it would have on Zimbabwe. I wrote about the
illegalities of farm seizures, the disregard for legal and constitutional
rights, the horrific violence being inflicted on farm workers, the shortages
of food and spiralling inflation, the massive assaults on the opposition
and the impact I could see all these events having on every aspect of life
in Zimbabwe. One night a friend told me to stop banging on the same tired
old drum and lately his words have kept coming back to me. I wonder how
often people who receive my letter think "Oh God, another horror story
from cathy!" I wonder if my letters about events in Zimbabwe have
become just an annoying tired old drum beat in the background. A rhythm
which never changes, telling a story which never varies.
-
- I must admit to finding it increasingly difficult to
find or see any hope in Zimbabwe's situation. I know I am not alone in
these thoughts. Our opposition party seem to be paralysed into a state
of inaction. Protests, mass action and demonstrations have stopped, the
violence, torture and terror to their leaders and supporters seems to have
crippled them. Our regional neighbours, like me, continue to just bang
the same tired old drum. They say that the only way forward is through
talks, talks about talks and quiet diplomacy. The outside world say the
only way it can get involved is when Zimbabweans rise up and fight back
and so the vicious circle goes round and round, throbbing to the same old
drum beat.
-
- This week I could write about the farmer who was "roughed
up" in my home town or about thousands of farm workers living in the
bush after being violently evicted from Kondozi Farm in Odzi. I could also
write about the violent assault that took place at the University of Zimbabwe
but there are just no words left to describe these horrors. Instead I sit
here on a Saturday morning listening to the music of Oliver Mutukudzi and
my eyes are filled with tears. "Do you have to die to be a Hero?"
he sings. It is a gentle, incredibly moving song which, strangely enough,
has no drumming in it at all and ends with the words: " What does
it take to be a Hero? Can anyone answer my question?"
-
- Until next week, with love, cathy.
-
- Copyright cathy buckle 2004 http://africantears.netfirms.com
My books on the Zimbabwean crisis, "African Tears" and "Beyond
Tears" are available outside Africa from: orders@africabookcentre.com
; www.africabookcentre.com ; www.amazon.co.uk ; in Australia and New Zealand:
johnmreed@johnreedbooks.com.au ; Africa: www.kalahari.net www.exclusivebooks.com
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