Wednesday 15 November 2017

Zimbabwe!

The current situation in Zimbabwe has reminded me of many conversations with my friend Michael.
He had been a fruit farmer. His parents owned their own farm which had failed after a storm of locusts had literally eaten everything.
He then worked as CEO of a huge area of citrus fruit.
After the takeover of the country he and his family left.
The new regime were taking over the farms, often killing the owners. My friend would talk of those years with tears in his eyes...he lost friends but got out before the worst happened....they arrived in this country and built new lives but his heart was still back there..
I carefully asked the questions I needed to try to find any suggestion of prejudice.
There was none. He described the political changes in South Africa with genuine pleasure...he had attended a boarding school there and then University. His admiration of Mandela was genuine... the way he assumed the role of elder statesman after years of imprisonment with no bitterness had shown him a different way of conducting a fair society.
He never spoke ill of Mugabe...but asserted that Mugabe's wife would want to take charge eventually.
I was in his company several times when a chance meeting with South African people brought about much back clapping and old memories.
It was apparent that his heart still belonged to that country. He often spoke of going back to visit the graves of loved ones...
He was a gentle quiet man who had never been politically involved with any of the events in Rhodesia....as he still called it.
He used to spread out the maps to show me where he had been brought up. His love of the country was evident.
I shall be watching the events as they unfold...I hope that whatever is happening is bloodless....


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3 comments:

UKViewer said...

Our diocese has a partnership with the Diocese of Harari so we are praying for them at the moment,hoping that the Church there can be a witness for peace. Given the trouble that the diocese had with a Bishops who having been banned, was allowed by the Zimbabwe courts to continue and to squander the assetts of the diocese, putting Priests out or their homes and generally dishonestly putting their own people into place - led to parishes meeting in the open air, deprived of their places of worship.

It was a time of violence against faithful Anglicans and deprivation. Thankfully, it was eventually, peacefully resolved, but it was emblematic of the regime of Mr Mugabi that he tolerated and even encouraged the bad Bishop.

We are praying for a peaceful transition and free and fair elections, which might allow the opposition to stand for election without being persecuted or imprisoned, which was the case in recent times.

Babs said...

My ex neighbours were both from Zimbabwe. Indeed his parents are still out there. He must be worried sick.
He said life was good under Mr Smith. His grandparents were in charge of a farm and were left to run it. They lived in a lovely bungalow on the estate. When Mugabe came to power they had to run for their lives! White collaborators they were called. I will contact them to day and see if their families are ok. Sad isn't it.

Babs said...

Just to say everyone is safe. She says the Army are for the people .