DUBLIN - The situation in Zimbabwe remains bleak. But there are people all over the world who care about the country and its people. This includes Ireland, home to many Zimbabwean exiles who retain contact with family members, colleagues and friends.
Recently, a group of well-known actors from North Wexford, South Wicklow and Dublin participated in an evening of entertainment at The Gorey Little Theatre, raising 1,700 (US$2,465) for desperately needed food in Zimbabwe. The audience was entertained by: Liz Lloyd, Scott Fredericks, Philip Judge, Suzi Slott, Garrett Keogh, Annie Kent, Tara Quirke, Rynagh OGrady and Frank Melia, all of whom read stories and poems they had written themselves. One of the stories featured a little Zimbabwean girl who became friends with her next-door neighbour an Irish woman who longed for a grandchild.
Liz Lloyds cousin, a priest, works at a mission in Zimbabwe. Through him she has learned of the hardship that so many people of all ages face. His message of thanks to the actors for their generosity and concern and to the people of Gorey for their support was read to the audience: We have a government made up of two parties pulling against each other: the one defeated in last years elections grimly holds onto power and will not allow the other, the winner to do what is needed to revive the economy (for fear the latter gain some credit). So the one refuses to allow a free media, justice before the law or anything that would threaten their grip on power while the other wanders Europe, cap in hand, to try inch by inch to make some tiny headway
Meanwhile, people are helpless to do anythingand just wait. We have been waiting for nine years now. Some urban areas are without water. The whole country is without electricity for hours on end. Telephones are a distant memory in many places including where I am But we laugh and we sing and we dance. The word RESILIENCE comes to me day after day. We may be in a kind of countrywide prison, but people are not crushed by it. Our world is coming together, bit by bit. Your solidarity is so moving. Thank you.
Post published in: Arts