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Don't make us a statistic, we are Zimbabweans
The Zimbabwe Guardian
February 19, 2008

http://www.talkzimbabwe.com/news/130/ARTICLE/1658/2008-02-19.html

The following is a very touching letter from a Zimbabwe Guardian reader who sheds light on how the 'person on the ground' in Zimbabwe views the current problems facing the country.

Dear Editor,

I would like to call on all Zimbabweans to engage in constructive debate about the future of our country; especially the ones in the Diaspora. I live in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe and am saddened everytime I read an opinion piece from people living outside Zimbabwe. I am sorry to say this, but you people do not have a clue about the level of suffering that we witness on a daily basis. You make our situation an intellectual game where you try and parade your wisdom and show people how learned you are.

This is very sad as we need help fromthose in the Diaspora, but only at the pragmatic level, eg those who could come to vote could have come home, not just save their money and go in front of their computer and make comments that are out of touch with our reality here back home.

We suffer daily here and companies have closed down, we can't even get food or drink. Yet we hear many of your contributors saying the West should pile up pressure on Zimbabwe to make Mugabe fold. I do not understand the reasoning. You want your own people to die so that one person can fold.

Where is your decency and where is your love of your people? Some of you were lucky to go away, but some of us have to stay and try and change things from back home. You might have had your breakfast with eggs and bread. let me tell you something, I didn't have breakfast this morning and I walked 10 miles to get to where I board my ET (taxi). I did not brush ny teeth because I had no water or toothpaste. I relieved myself in a nearby bush very very early when it was still dark and used a newspaper to wipe.

I don't know what I'm going to eat for lunch or what my kids are going to eat today. They have stopped going to school, I can't afford it. Today I could only afford to give them sadza ne muriwo usina nyama (sadza with vegetables and no meat). I don't know if I'm going to get the same for tomorrow. I see my kids suffering daily and pray to God that one day someone somewhere will remember us.

The MDC guys have tried, but they don't have resources and they only come when they can afford it. Zanu PF helped us when they slashed prices although we knew it was not going to last. At least we had something to eat for the last month. Now the situation is getting back to where it was before.

I have a brother I live with who is HIV positive. I can't get him ARVs. I'm watching him 'eat away'. His family is back in Rusape. We can't all live together, they have to stay there and try and till the soil. We heard Zanu PF has provided some seed and fertiliser. At least something is going on there and his kids are eating, but they miss their father. I can't even drive my brother back to Rusape to see his kids. I have a parked car that hasn't moved in months. I can't repair it or put fuel in it. It's too expensive.

If it wasn't for my job, you will probably not have known about my situation. At least I have a computer and internet at work and electricity. But as I write I am shivering with hunger. I have constant headaches from hunger. I have to make ten-fifteen choices. I have to feed my three children, buy ARVs for my brother, buy food, get my own transport and food at work, buy clothes, buy necessities like toiletries etc.

What would you do if it was your child who didn't have anything to eat. We hear that in London you throw food away when it rots. Here it doesn't rot. We eat it before it does. You have the luxury and when you are fed you sit on your computers and tell us how to live our lives here in Zimbabwe.

Do not be surprised if you see us voting for those people you think are hurting us. It's because they are at least honest to us. Others come and make all these promises in their suits and ties. We are hungry we don't care what you wear. Tell us when this life will end. And please udzai (tell) Tsvangirai that he should not promise what he can't do. He knows what I'm talking about. He lied he will come back to see us.

If it's about voting we will stop voting and then we see what happens. We don't trust anyone anymore to help our children eat and go to school. We are eeven dreading the winter.

So next time you call for sanctions and pressure on the Mugabe government by the West, remember that you are killing your own people. Mugabe should also realise that he should sometimes tone down his language for his people to survive.

These are the choices we have not choices about Simba Makoni, Morgan Tsvangirai or Robert Mugabe. If we feel Mugabe will deliver this time we will vote him into power, and anyone for that matter.

So please be sensitive to us and don't make us a statistic, we are Zimbabweans.

Tatenda from Chitungwiza

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