Yay for Zim

Didn't get a chance to blog yesterday, so this is a little late. But how AWESOME was it that Zim beat Australia in the 20/20 World Cup!?! The arrogant world champions were seriously brought down to earth by Zimbabwe. I am elated anyway when ANYONE beats Australia, but this was just such an epic victory. Aus were so full of themselves that they totally underestimated the feisty Zimbabweans. I saw an interview with some Zimbabweans on the news, and they were saying how much this victory meant to them. With the royal mess that Zim is in at the moment, beating the world champions at cricket must have instilled a feeling of pride, togetherness and happiness in every Zimbabwean. Sport brings people together.




Speaking of Zim, I got this email today, entitled: Paying for lunch in Zimbabwe:

Zim revisited

I know I might be sounding redundant about this Zim issue, but I'm getting so sick of it falling on deaf ears.

Yesterday as my husband and I were approaching our house after a run, we spotted a guy who had studied with my husband in previous years (and had lectured me last year). We were really surprised to see him: he had left SA last year with his family to be a pastor in a congregation in Zimbabwe. This man is just so full of life, laughs and love for people. Even though he was smiling and laughing when we saw him, I could see he was strained.

He is here to drop off his wife and children, he told us. Then he would go back to Zim by himself. Another friend we know, who too is in Zim as a pastor, has sent his Norwegian wife and their child back home.

"The country in unlivable" our friend told us.

Unlivable.

And SADC leaders sit by and say that the Zim crisis has been exaggerated. They applaud Mugabe as if he's a hero. WHAT is going on here? What has this evil man done to manipulate these leaders over to his side? Anyone with 2 brain cells* can see that he is making a colossal mess of Zim.

We are worried about both our friends. Especially because they are not likely to keep quiet about the injustices going on. Who knows what could happen to them if they (too publicly) denounce the government.

Before we parted, our friend said: "The only way things will get better is if blood is spilt".

I think he's right.

All of you out there who believe in prayer: please pray.

*Perhaps I am giving SADC leaders too much credit by claiming that they have at least 2 brain cells.

The crisis in Zim

I have been putting off writing about this for a while. Partly I think because we hear about Zim all the time, and partly because we seem to be getting a little immune to this issue. We shake our heads and hope that it'll silently go away - like many other problems. I think we're just glad it's not our country this is happening to. I hear the words on the news about no petrol, the rising interest rate; I see the pictures of the empty shelves in the supermarkets; but somehow it's easier to forget than to dwell on it.

A friend went to Vic Falls on holiday recently and came back with some shocking reports which have forced me to think about Zim again. There is little flour in Zim. Even at the hotel they were staying at, the bread was mixed with mieliemeal. There is hardly any fruit - only the tinned version. Shops are empty. Hospitals have little or no staff, no medication. Ambulances aren't operating as there is no petrol. All of this while Mugabe lives an opulent life. There is no freedom of speech, public meetings have been banned... After all history has taught us, people (including me) are sitting around unable to help.

I just can't seem to wrap my mind around what this guy is thinking. Does he really believe he is running the country well? Is he just a power-hungry guy who can't face the fact that he messed up? Or is he just pure evil?

My husband says the only way the country will change is if the people themselves rise up and force Mugabe to step down. At the moment all we can do is pray.