Christmas in Zimbabwe 2007
- 19/12/2007 <--Prev : Next-->
Christmas should be a time of joy. A time when all Zimbabweans should be looking
forward to spending their salaries and bonuses on food and small gifts for their families. A
time when Zimbabweans should be boarding buses, taxis, trains and commuters and
heading with excitement to their kumusha (rural homes) for the festive season. It is a time
when families should be together sharing gifts, food, love and spirituality, talking with
enthusiasm about the forthcoming year with hope, the new season and a bountiful
harvest. This is how it used to be.
This Christmas, the majority of Zimbabwean's won't even have enough food to feed
themselves. Over 80 % are unemployed. They won't be going back to the rural area
because they have no money for transport, and fuel is scarce. Families are scattered
across the country and the Diaspora, divided by borders, economic hardships, and political
hate speech. Children will be on their own while their parents are seeking employment in
neighbouring countries and overseas.
Child headed families (orphaned by HIV/AIDS) will be spending Christmas day just like any
other - foraging for food and sustenance, longing for that loving hug from their beloved
parents who are no more. Their parents who they have nursed, until, death stalked in and
released them from their pain. This is no fabrication for the sake of effect, I see it with my
own eyes on a regular basis and my heart is heavy with their pain and anguish. I see the
look in the eyes of the aged, the hopelessness and helplessness, the futility of living.
Suicide is often a way out and so many go unreported. Is life really so cheap in Zimbabwe?
I think not.
This is a man made disaster, one that was avoidable and could have been redeemable,
with a little humility and compassion. Justice may not prevail now, but it will do in due
course. Truth cannot be put on trial. The truth will prevail.
We as the legitimate opposition, who have been fighting for democracy for nine years,
pledge to the people of Zimbabwe our commitment to continue the struggle for peace and
prosperity for all. For the right to a roof over everyone's head, the right to medical
treatment, education, employment, the right to freedom of expression, association and
movement. Above all to be respected for what we are, citizens of Zimbabwe who love our
country. To be together once again, united as families. Not divided by economic, political,
ethnic or tribal turmoil.
May God be with you all and give you the strength and courage to continue in the face of
such adversity. Draw strength from the fact that there is only one true leader and that is
God, and with His divine Guidance, we will see a New Beginning.
GOD BLESS ZIMBABWE.
Kerry Kay,
Secretary for Welfare.
Movement for Democratic Change.
