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SCMZ
launches "I" stories booklet
Student Christian
Movement of Zimbabwe (SCMZ)
February 19, 2010
The Student
Christian Movement of Zimbabwe launched its new publication titled
- "I" stories
- Students Experiences in Times of Governance Crisis: "Had
we stayed in a closet" on the 17th of February at the
Book Café. The event was attended by more than ninety representatives
from different progressive civic organizations, student bodies,
tertiary institutions, arts movement, donor agencies as well as
Government institutions. Mr. Jonah Gokova, the SCMZ Advisory Board
Chairperson and a celebrated gender and human rights activist officially
launched the booklet. The 22-paged booklet chronicles first hand
experiences of students in times of governance crisis. The booklet
carries eight stories of young Christians who have faced various
challenges in their lives as students in Zimbabwe. As SCMZ we understand
and acknowledge that these are not the only and best stories we
can ever share, but they give a true picture of what young people
in Zimbabwe have for long endured.
The "I"
Stories booklet is coming in the face of a multifaceted Zimbabwean
crisis which has culminated in a spate of violence as a result of
political intolerance and political polarization. For long, the
young people of Zimbabwe have been subjected to a violent-infested
political playfield. In actual fact, the Zimbabwean political ground
has been tainted by a deeply disturbing picture of a systematic
and organized campaign of violence and senseless brutality, which
has left thousands of people beaten, tortured and displaced while
others had their livestock confiscated and their homes razed. All
of the cases recorded are linked to young people in one way or another
either as perpetrators or as victims.
Students at
tertiary institutions were not spared either, in fact they have
been subjected to a myriad of unbearable challenges; namely the
downturn spiral of the education system which is being exacerbated
by dollarization of tuition fees which has made education inaccessible
and unaffordable to many students, mass exodus of teaching staff,
never-ending strikes by teaching staff, indefinite and erratic closure
of institutions, dilapidating infrastructural facilities, mass eviction
of students perceived to be dissent, assault, torture, arrests and
abduction of student activists by state agents using draconian pieces
of legislature like Public
Order and Security Act (POSA). These challenges have consequentially
made the student populace even more vulnerable to HIV and AIDS as
they grapple to survive in such economic hardships. More so, due
to poverty many have been forced to resort to transactional sex
in return for mere food staffs, tuition fees and rentals as many
are not resided at the institutions. Hence with the coming in of
the Government of National Unit (GNU) there is need for documentation
of students experiences for the purpose of sharing as a tool to
conscientise and mobilize young people to desist from any violent
activities and actively participate in non-violent means to conflict
transformation, reconciliation and national healing.
Why
the Booklet?
In many times
conflicts and violence begets long-standing cycles of hatred, internal
bruises and a desire for revenge. However it is our belief as SCMZ,
that unveiling of the truth through first hand testimonies is a
critical component in the process of healing. We understand that
most students in tertiary institutions have faced a lot of hurdles
in their academic lives due to the current governance crisis and
as such by giving them a platform to say out their anger and bitterness
through 'I' Story Telling; we help them to heal, accept
and forgive. It has been proved that the process of giving first
hand account of one's unbearable life experience is therapeutic.
The current political and governance crisis has pushed the student
populace to the extremes of abject poverty as they struggle with
their daily survival, HIV and AIDS and poor education facilities.
It is quite disturbing to note that there are a number of brilliant
students who had promising lives, who have succumbed to HIV and
AIDS simply as a result of bad governance which is being worsened
by few power mongering individuals. Therefore, the booklet will
also give a platform for these students to enlighten each other
through sharing of experiences. As SCMZ, we strongly believe that
this booklet will go a long way in engaging young people who have
gone through torrid experiences to accept and heal for the development
of their lives regardless of their situation.
Therefore we
believe that this booklet will ignite a propitious process hinged
on openness to correct history and purifying it of all events, abuses
and painful memories of violence endured by the students. This will
aid in mending torn relations in tertiary institution; between students
and institutions authority as well as between students themselves.
We strongly believe that most of the governance and leadership crisis
bedeviling Zimbabwe is as a result of a leadership which does not
know God. Hence we look forward grooming a new generation of leadership
which fears the Lord. For the scriptures say in Proverbs 1 Verse
1 verse 7 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:
but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
We would also
want to thank everyone who has made this innovative project a success,
that includes all the young people who were brave enough to break
away from their fear cocoons and share their experiences. To our
valued partners Christian Aid, no words can suffice thanking you
for the unwavering support that you have shown us in this project.
May the good Lord bless you abundantly. To all the progressive forces
and everyone who has made it to the launch we say remain resilient,
and know that the works of the righteous does not go unnoticed.
Visit the SCMZ
fact
sheet
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