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Renewal
of Hope: A Christmas Message from Sokwanele, Zimbabwe
Sokwanele
December 21, 2005
http://www.sokwanele.com/articles/sokwanele/christmasmessage_21dec2005.html
The year 2005
has certainly been one of the toughest yet in Zimbabwe. As we take
stock at year's end we must be ruthlessly honest about our situation.
For some the festive season provides an opportunity to escape from
the harsh realities and even to indulge in a little fantasy. We
take it rather as a time for reflection and clear-sighted realism
about how far the nation has progressed on the path towards freedom
and democracy, and how much farther we still have to go. On this
basis we have to acknowledge the following:
- For the vast
majority of Zimbabweans the struggle to survive has never been
more problematic. Leaving aside the tiny ruling elite who continue
to wallow in obscene wealth (stolen from the nation) for most
of us each of the last five years of the deepening crisis has
presented ever greater difficulties. 2005 was no exception. Spiralling
inflation, increasing homelessness and unemployment and the near
collapse of the health care and educational sectors have added
to the miseries. Millions now live on the verge of starvation.
Countless Zimbabweans have already succumbed to the deadly combination
of the AIDS pandemic and severe food deprivation. What family,
apart from those enjoying the dictator's patronage, is not now
struggling to survive?
- The year
2005 also brought a number of setbacks for the progressive, pro-democracy
forces in Zimbabwe. Nor are we referring to the outcome of either
the parliamentary elections in March or the senate elections in
November, for in both cases the further reduction in MDC representation
was entirely predicable, given the fatally flawed electoral process
and ZANU PF's expertise in gerrymandering. We refer rather to
the outbreak of civil war within the ranks of the MDC, ostensibly
over the contested decision whether to participate in the recent
senate elections. Tragically the party which at one time mustered
the most serious threat in 25 years to ZANU PF tyranny is no more.
Two warring factions and a small number of isolated individuals
who still stand for principle, remain of a party which once represented
the hopes of so many. A party and a cause also for which countless
brave men and women have sacrificed so much, including the hundreds
who have laid down their lives and many more who suffered torture
and abuse. This is a tragedy of immense proportions. Indeed in
the light of the huge damage inflicted on the cause of freedom
and democracy we find the cavalier attitude of Morgan Tsvangirai
truly astounding. In comparison to the fracturing of the anti-ZANU
PF opposition the retrogressive amendments to the constitution
and further shrinking of the little remaining democratic space
pale into insignificance.
- Directly
linked to these negative factors we have seen hope dip to an all-time
low. While the haemorrhage of many of the nation's most able and
experienced citizens into the vast Zimbabwean diaspora continues,
for those remaining it becomes increasingly difficult not to give
way to despair. Feeling defeated and deflated, what cause do we
have to celebrate this Christmas? Moreover even were we in the
mood for celebrating, which we are not, we would have precious
little to celebrate with.
Such is the
reality of present-day life in Zimbabwe. It is as if the country
was suffering a prolonged eclipse of the sun, leaving it in shadow
for so long that many Zimbabweans have come to believe that the
present suffering and misery is their inescapable lot - for ever.
In fact of course the suffering is neither natural nor inevitable.
It is rather the direct result of years of ZANU PF mis-rule. To
continue the metaphor of the eclipse, it is as if, in an act of
breath-taking arrogance, Robert Mugabe and his conniving, exploitative
and manipulative cohorts have deliberately placed themselves between
the sun and the earth - between the source of life, health and prosperity
and the people for whom that rich abundance was intended.
At such a time
as this it is very easy to give way to despair. Many will plan their
escape from the hell hole which Mugabe has created, to what they
imagine is the safe haven of life in South Africa, Europe or America.
Others will try to bury their heads in the sand, and some few, incredibly,
still try to strike a deal with the dictator - like the commercial
farmers and the few business tycoons who foolishly thought that
they could preserve their privileged way of life so long as they
paid their "dues" to the ruling party. It's called riding on the
back of the tiger and it never was recommended as a health sport
- never mind the moral implications of compromising with a thoroughly
corrupt (and corrupting) regime.
Yet every such
act of despair, escapism or compromise only strengthens the hand
of the dictator and prolongs the agony of those whom he holds hostage.
What this dark
hour in the nation's history calls for rather is an heroic spirit
of defiance. Rather than surrendering to Mugabe's brutal tyranny
(or accepting the solar eclipse as a permanent fact) let Zimbabweans
make a defiant stand for the truth, for freedom, justice and peace.
Let each one of us make our personal act of protest and defiance
- and let us take up our position, shoulder to shoulder, in the
struggle.
Nelson Mandela
reminds us that "there is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and
many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of
death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires."
That is a salutary
warning, but also a challenge to those who have glimpsed the mountaintop
and are simply not prepared to curl up and die in the "valley of
the shadow of death".
Given there
is no quick fix and therefore it will be a long haul to freedom,
and given also that the once-powerful MDC is in disarray, we have
to look to civic society to unite as never before and to show us
the way forwards. Up to this point, despite the heroic acts of some,
civic society has not demonstrated its true potential in mobilizing
the nation for change. This is because we have allowed ourselves
to be fragmented. The hand of the CIO can be seen everywhere, distracting
and diverting so many otherwise promising movements, and the ambitions
and private agendas of otherwise talented and able leaders have
aided the process. But if any group is to raise the standard of
integrity and principle and hold the politicians to account it must
surely be civic society - the churches, human rights campaigners,
trade unions, women's groups, students and others, co-ordinated
and organised so as to present a united front for freedom and democracy.
A united front, we would say, clearly and unambiguously committed
to achieving radical change by non-violent means.
This is our
vision and within these broad parameters we, Sokwanele, see our
own role as follows:
- In continuing
to expose abuses of power and privilege, injustice and oppression,
wherever we find them. Along with those brave journalists and
human rights activists who report fairly and objectively (and
at great risk to themselves), we see it as our primary role to
hold up a mirror to the nation of Zimbabwe so that we, and the
world, may see what we have allowed ourselves to become under
the corrupting and destructive hand of ZANU PF.
- In positively
and pro-actively promoting an open and public discourse about
the range of non-violent means to be employed to rid ourselves
of the present suffocating dictatorship and to manage the transition
to a democratic state under fully accountable leadership.
- In facilitating
the change through the use of bold and imaginative symbolic acts
which demonstrate the spirit of defiance to unjust rule and encourage
others to put aside their fears and commit to the struggle.
- In supporting
and encouraging those individuals and groups who will make common
cause with us in the (non-violent) struggle to win our freedom.
Others who share
the vision of a free and democratic Zimbabwe and share also our
passion to hasten the dawn of that new day, will no doubt have different
roles to play towards that end. We welcome the part each has to
play in the struggle. We affirm each individual and group walking
alongside us on "the long walk to freedom". We celebrate the diversity
of gifts to be found among our brothers and sisters equally engaged
in the struggle.
Sokwanele is
not a religious group. Within our ranks there are men and women
of different faiths and some who claim no particular faith allegiance.
Yet we are mindful that something in excess of 70 per cent of the
population of our country claim to be Christian and regular church
attendance is very high. Furthermore we are about to mark one of
the great Christian festivals. Accordingly we consider it appropriate
at this time to quote the words of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as
she exalted in the news of God's saving act about to be enacted
on the stage of humanity. Her song, often called the Magnificat,
reads in part:
"My
soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour
…
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up
the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich
away empty .."
There is a sharp
warning to tyrants! Let Mugabe and his accomplices take note. And
let the humble poor of Zimbabwe, including the hundreds of thousands
of victims of Operation Murambatsvina, rejoice.
Let all those
who, in Jesus words, "hunger and thirst to see right prevail" take
heart! The eclipse will not last for ever. Already the Light is
breaking through!
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fact sheet
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