God Hears The Cries of The Oppressed

 A democratically elected government should not use its institutions, such as the police, the army, and the CID department, to unleash harassment and horror on innocent and unarmed civilians, simply because they are suspected of supporting the opposition. In a democracy, people’s choices have to be respected.The other thing is that Zimbabweans must be encouraged to vote, and desist from voter apathy, which will in the end not work in their favour. These elections are critical, because by their nature, they have the capacity of providing a turning point, and give the real picture of the proceedings in Zimbabwe. I want to believe also that an arrangement would be put in place for those people outside Zimbabwe to be allowed to vote in the country constituencies where they are staying, making use of the Zimbabwean Embassy offices in various countries.International observers should be allowed to come in and monitor Zimbabwean elections, both from Africa and Europe, Asia or Latin America. Let the world get involved in these elections as much as possible, because Zimbabwe’s future life depends on the outcome of these elections. They are as good as the elections of 1980 when we got our first independence.         

 Church cannot ignore politics

Things have been allowed to dangerously drift by Government, creating an obscure future for Zimbabwe’s life pattern. All initiatives that have been channelled towards change in Zimbabwe by the Reserve Bank have reaped virtually nothing. The root cause, politics, has remained unresolved. President Mugabe is on record for warning the Catholic Bishops that they tread a dangerous path.  But the Church cannot be divorced from politics because it is surrounded by politics.Government has betrayed its own people and has swayed from the liberation motif of the revolutionary struggle. In their dire desire to search for means of survival, Zimbabweans are living as refugees in countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia. Females have also joined the race and quite often they face the risk of rape. A few of them have secured employment in the countries they have gone to settle. But, others have resorted to unethical sexual practices, namely, prostitution. For men, stealing has become means of survival.One needs to assess with empathy the ugly side of the situation in Zimbabwe. Besides loss of human resources as people continue to migrate to other countries, there is also the danger to marriage institutions and family structures, which in certain cases, are on the verge of cracking. Now, in the context of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the situation becomes more frightening. It must be understood that this is not necessarily due to sexual laxity, but more due to economic gain down the line and the separations created by the economic environment in Zimbabwe.In view of that, when all these people have returned home, Zimbabwe must be prepared for the loss of lives as the level of HIV/AIDS cases increases; the loss of critical skills and professional personnel, and the introduction of thugs, as young people mix up with undesirable elements in the lands where they are staying.

 Lost expertise

Among the people who are leaving the country at an alarming rate are those who can afford the air tickets in search of fortune in Europe and the Americas. Most Zimbabwean exiles have obtained specialised skills from various tertiary institutions dotted in the country: technical and teacher training colleges, polytechnics and universities. Their expertise is lost, and the countries they are serving are benefiting immensely from Zimbabwean doctors, teachers, nurses, engineers, lawyers, managers, accountants and many other professionals.The question is: will all these people return home to serve their motherland once again and what is it that will lure them to return? As stated earlier on, a shift in politics by the present or the future government, and working towards improving international relations, will provide a big share of the answer, in providing a fertile ground for a positive change in Zimbabwe.It is unquestionable that many people are longing for home, particularly when they continue to be exploited and discriminated against by the people of foreign nations where they are exchanging their hard-won skills and cheap labour for meagre earnings in return. At the same time, when they reflect on their previous experiences of torture and physical abuse by their own Government, they choose to continue to be tethered to the arrogant employer of foreign lands.The idea to return is entertained quite often, but it is usually aborted and overshadowed by the temptation to stay in preference for the foreign currency, which will make a difference to the people back home. For many it has become difficult to divorce themselves from these powerful currencies.Zimbabweans are not only exploited in their workplaces, but they are also discriminated against in many respects. In Pretoria’s squatter camp of Itereleng, many foreigners, including Zimbabweans, were left homeless when native South African squatters, allegedly accusing these foreigners of stealing, demolished and burnt down houses’ and small businesses they had established there to make ends meet.This was not an exercise carried out by South African police, but by ordinary people. This is typical of the general occurrence in many situations where Zimbabweans have gone to sojourn. Maybe for some Zimbabweans that was no big deal, having experienced horror during Operation Murambatsvina back home. On the other hand, the Zimbabwean Government would not be shaken by that incident, having set a bad precedence for Africa that a government of the people can subjugate its own citizens by destroying their shelters without providing an alternative arrangement for people.

 Anything to stay in power

As Makoni has stated, when a government is under siege from both known and unknown enemies, it will do anything to stay in power. When bulldozers worked overnight tearing apart buildings and people’s possessions, while security agents were on guard, sources of livelihood were shattered and some people were only left with the clothes that they were wearing. However, Zimbabwean citizens are trapped between the flooded Red Sea’ and the pursuing pharaoh’ (Ex. 14:8-9). Their only hope is to look up to the heavens and hope that God will usher in some great fortune in the new day. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:25, for the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.When God looks at Zimbabwe, he sees an abundance of life in the near future, and the shore is not far; what is needed is to regain strength and keep afloat in our tiredness until we reach the promised land. What is needed is to regain strength and keep afloat in our tiredness until we reach the promised land.