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Things are changing in Uzumba, Harare and maybe Zimbabwe as a whole
Simba Muyevedzwa, zimbabwejournalists.com
March 26, 2008

http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=3755&cat=4

Chisingaperi chinoshura musoro wegudo chava chinokoro is a Shona saying, which when literally translated means that everything comes to an end or everything that flies has to land at some stage or the other. My dearest Zimbabweans, this is what I have been noticing in the past few days as we go through this last stretch towards crucial elections in our country.

I was born in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe, President Robert Mugabe's stronghold in Mashonaland East Pronvince. As I write this, I have just come back from home where I had gone to after a long, long time due to the high costs of travelling. This time I had no choice, I had to go and give my people food, rather than sending bus drivers to drop parcels off. I thought anything could happen after the election results are announced so let me go and see my mother and siblings.

My sister, my brother the humanitarian crisis in my home area is beyond comprehension. No words can best describe the debilitating effects of food shortages and the hopelessness that have hit rural Zimbabwe and this week things have gone from bad to worse. The few days I spent at home were painful. Because I came from Harare neighbours start trickling in as soon as they see smoke billowing through my mother's thatched roof because they think she is preparing some tea - her son has just come from Harare so he has brought tea leaves, sugar and bread.

Our dignity has been taken away as Zimbabweans by this crisis in our country. The reason I started with the Shona saying is because the things I noticed while I was on my way home a week ago and back on Sunday are history in the making.

First on the bus as I went home, I discovered the people of Zimbabwe vatindivara - they no longer care who Robert Mugabe is. They are no longer scared. They were saying what they want about the "old man" and the need for him to retire as soon as possible and the need for people to know where to put their X come March 29. Yes there have been stories of one or two people being arrested for attacking the person of the president but let me tell you, the CIO are also fed up. We live with their mothers, their sisters etc and they are all crying. Only those who meet the dyed-in-wool operatives will get apprehended and the majority will not be touched.

What shocked me most is the fact that Mugabe has been on a campaign nationwide buying votes using the state machinery to boost his campaign but in my home area and in Murehwa in particular, I was astonished to learn that the ploughs and scotch carts that Mugabe and Zanu PF have been donating lie idle because the people in his supposed stronghold have abandoned him. They no longer want anything to do with him because they are suffering, they crave for change.

Food shortages in villages have become so acute that it is difficult to do anything. Everything has changed, things are no longer the same - the funeral wakes, the weddings, the parties - everything is so sad because of the economic crisis. People no longer go to church service in their numbers because of the crisis - lack of food, sanitary products for women and many other essentials.

In neighbouring farms taken by the government (for the record I support the taking of land from the white commercial farmers because they really never wanted to let go but remain owning vast tracts of land stolen from our forefathers) I see for myself that indeed new black farmers resettled on formerly white-owned land are among those in dire need of food aid. All this because of poor planning by the Zanu PF government, which did not support the black farmers with the implements and finance as were the white farmers back then.

My dear brethren, what I'm saying is that if the people of Uzumba are changing then why can't we all change and vote for Morgan Tsvangirai or Simba Makoni.

I discovered that in my area, people prefer to vote Tsvangirai because they still fear that Makoni may be part of the state machinery to divide the opposition vote. If it is not true then his campaign has left it until too late to dispel the rumour. I think he would have made a great president but then most people are sceptical of his links with Zanu PF.

When I eventually return to my base in Harare, what do I find - a pleasant surprise that what is happening in Uzumba has also started to happen in Harare. What with Morgan Tsvangirai's rally at the showgrounds being attended by thousands and with our mothers, sisters and brothers wearing in the open MDC party regalia like caps, mazambia, t-shirts and even Simba Makoni's as well. The only party regalia missing from the streets of Harare is that of Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF. For fear of being lynched by the hungry and angry mobs, the few Zanu PF faithful prefer to keep theirs under the pillow and wear when they are bussed to Mugabe's rallies. For the record, I have noticed this year almost everyone - MDC, Zanu PF, Makoni - is bussing supporters to rallies but the point is, Mugabe's zambias, caps, t-shirts are nowhere to be seen, meaning Tsvangirai is going to sweep clean and win overwhelmingly. Anything less would cause mayhem on the streets of Harare.

The lingo is all "vote chematama" as Morgan is affectionately known - the president in waiting, that's what his people are saying. I just thought I should share this with you. The fear is going away. I sense with all that is happening, the people of Zimbabwe are ready to stand and defend their vote. I am not an MDC supporter but I'm tired of Mugabe. I would have preferred Makoni but I have to be realistic, his chances are slim and will obviously for me, come out a distant third in the presidential race to state house.

Things are certainly changing in Uzumba, in Harare - that is what i have seen - but it may well be that things are also changing in the whole of Zimbabwe. We are living in dire times but also exciting times. In the combi yesterday i could not believe the freedom of speech being enjoyed by Zimbabweans. People poking fun at Mugabe, his team and all openly for that matter. Vanhu vaneta, people are tired and hungry. They need salvation and I have no doubt on Saturday they will turn out in huge numbers to cast their ballots.

We all wait to see the outcome of the elections but one thing is for sure, if Mugabe comes back he must know that Zimbabweans are getting hardened. With the visible opposition support that I am seeing on the streets of the townships in Harare, things are certainly changing and history is being made for sure. We have not seen anything like this in Zimbabwe before. It has always been Zanu PF, Zanu PF, something is happening and Mugabe must be quacking in his boots.

*Simba Muyevedzwa is an ordinary Zimbabwean who writes here about what he has observed in his home area ahead of the March 29 polls.

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