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Inside/Out with Father Brian MacGarry
Kubatana.net
May 11, 2008

Describe yourself in five words?
[That would be too like the labelling I resent when others try it]

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Chinonyenga chinowarira; chotomutsa musoro chawana.

What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever done?
Lent kitenges on the steps of St.Peter's, Rome to women tourists barred from the church because their skirts were judged too short.

What is your most treasured possession?
Once or twice I had such, but they were lost or stolen.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Having no purpose in life.

Do you have any strange hobbies?
Depends what you consider strange

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
On the contrary, when I see a photo of myself I am sometimes surprised how well-preserved and impressive I look and wonder why I forget that most of the time.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Single malt whisky.

What have you got in your fridge?
Mainly meat, bread, stewed fruit (especially guavas off our tree) and a bottle of beer.

What is your greatest fear?
Losing a sense that things have meaning. Death runs a close second.

What have you got in your pockets right now?
Notebooks/address book, keys, 'burial cheques' and bicycle clips.

What is your favourite journey?
The Lake Kariba shore, on the DDF boat that doesn't run any more between Binga and Kariba. Given the time, I'd enjoy it by canoe.

Who are your heroes in real life?
Not a word I use, but once you recognise that every idol has clay feet, a few unnameable (wouldn't be safe for them) survivors of the last few years' horrors, Pius Ncube who stuck his neck out when he knew he was vulnerable.

When and where were you happiest?
Lodging in the outside flat of a house full of former 'street boys' in Harare, 2001-5. High points could be small things like when one shook or tore all he could off the mango tree and remembered to give some to sekuru (me).

What’s your biggest vice?
Snap judgements.

What were you like at school?
Shy, bookish and stubborn if pushed.

What are you doing next?
Finish mending my bike - yet again.

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