I land in Harare on the day of the Million Man March. They were a quarter of a million by all acounts, not quite the million, but who would have thought that such a turn out would be there marching on hungry stomachs.
The last time I was home, a mere 6 months ago, the situation was not as desperate...a turn for the worse has been sudden (perhaps hidden from those of us who watch from a distance). I am immediately overcome by a sense of helplessness which slowly turns into a pervading darkness within me. I was there for all of 5 days, but there was no warmth in my heart, no joy in my laughter, even in seeing my mother. It's like when you receive news that someone dear to you has a terminal illness, and you just wait for that cancer to choke the lungs and stretch it's deadly tentacles to other vital organs. Watching, waiting, hoping...helplessly, patiently, but with no idea how long it will take to suck the air and life out of that person. This country, is that loved one, and her gurgles / curdles of blood and gasping of breath is distressing.
I have thought long and hard about what to do. Facebook has had the bright Facebook people with their Facebook ideas shared and re-shaped, and liked and re-shared. Solutions have been proffered by the tweets, some have cautioned, others hashtagged encouraging, patriotic nonsense. For nothing makes sense at the moment. How did we get to this spot; how did we get into the never-ending loop of nightmares? How did we check into Hotel California, where we can check out any time but never be able to leave?
At a braai over that weekend, the discussion veered (again) towards the crisis and solutions (if any). These were party men, patriots. Even they acknowledge that there is a crisis. They talked about the competing factions and the fight to the death. I was quiet, cautious for a long time. Fear stalls me when I am here...I keep my counsel.
Gentlemen, I said, at last, unable to continue to hold my silence, what is needed is a not party politics anymore!
We have now moved beyond the point when politics of the party, and party-led politics will help this country. Unfortunately no-one will admit that, because it is in the party that many can hide and continue the chaos which provides them with cover. What this country needs now, I said, in my foolishness (for these were party people) is a Government of National Salvation...an animal that will draw from all the expertise and skills of the sons and daughters of this land - local and foreign-based. And for a while, let us forget partisanship.
That is the solution...but does anyone see it that way, or care for the country more than for self? For such a thing to happen, those with the power will have to step back and sacrifice themselves for a greater good; commit an honorable hara kiri; find their servanthood, and their love for this land as it gasps...it's last.
The last time I was home, a mere 6 months ago, the situation was not as desperate...a turn for the worse has been sudden (perhaps hidden from those of us who watch from a distance). I am immediately overcome by a sense of helplessness which slowly turns into a pervading darkness within me. I was there for all of 5 days, but there was no warmth in my heart, no joy in my laughter, even in seeing my mother. It's like when you receive news that someone dear to you has a terminal illness, and you just wait for that cancer to choke the lungs and stretch it's deadly tentacles to other vital organs. Watching, waiting, hoping...helplessly, patiently, but with no idea how long it will take to suck the air and life out of that person. This country, is that loved one, and her gurgles / curdles of blood and gasping of breath is distressing.
I have thought long and hard about what to do. Facebook has had the bright Facebook people with their Facebook ideas shared and re-shaped, and liked and re-shared. Solutions have been proffered by the tweets, some have cautioned, others hashtagged encouraging, patriotic nonsense. For nothing makes sense at the moment. How did we get to this spot; how did we get into the never-ending loop of nightmares? How did we check into Hotel California, where we can check out any time but never be able to leave?
At a braai over that weekend, the discussion veered (again) towards the crisis and solutions (if any). These were party men, patriots. Even they acknowledge that there is a crisis. They talked about the competing factions and the fight to the death. I was quiet, cautious for a long time. Fear stalls me when I am here...I keep my counsel.
Gentlemen, I said, at last, unable to continue to hold my silence, what is needed is a not party politics anymore!
We have now moved beyond the point when politics of the party, and party-led politics will help this country. Unfortunately no-one will admit that, because it is in the party that many can hide and continue the chaos which provides them with cover. What this country needs now, I said, in my foolishness (for these were party people) is a Government of National Salvation...an animal that will draw from all the expertise and skills of the sons and daughters of this land - local and foreign-based. And for a while, let us forget partisanship.
That is the solution...but does anyone see it that way, or care for the country more than for self? For such a thing to happen, those with the power will have to step back and sacrifice themselves for a greater good; commit an honorable hara kiri; find their servanthood, and their love for this land as it gasps...it's last.
