Designer Prison Garb
- 3/6/2008 <--Prev : Next-->
"Shehoo Must Sing" and I are designing a new range of "winter prison wear" for
Zimbabweans. .....
Half of the population has already been incarcerated for various spurious reasons and the
other half looks destined for the same treatment, so we thought a few hints on how to
"dress during detention" would go down really well ..... if you are interested in viewing our
range do let me know !!
While still on the prison theme, one of the most humbling experiences in my life was being
with my 20 cell mates when they began to pray during one of the long interminable
mornings.
One lady would start a prayer and talk unabated for a long time, and when she had
finished one of the others would take up prayer duty, and they were all kind enough to
speak in English so that I could understand what they were saying. Prayer is universal all
over the world but their prayers were different in many ways...
Not once did they ask God for anything ! They thanked Him copiously for their simple
blessings, for their families, their children, their meagre homes and belongings, they
thanked Him in fact for everything they had, which believe me, was not very much, and as
I said ... never once asked Him for anything...
How sad I feel for my Countrymen these cold winter days, for those who spend time in
prison for nothing at all, for those who live on pavements or in ditches, for those activists
who are running for their very lives, for who have been hurt or maimed or killed.
Across the Border, where millions have fled for safety and employment, life is just as
tough, since the Xenophobia attacks began earlier this month.
Totally incapable of staying out of trouble, last week while we were in Johannesburg
SheHoo Must Sing and I went with our Bodyguard Adam aka "Heehoo Must Tease" - to visit
Alexandra and Ramaposa townships.
We were actually chasing down Morgan Tsvangirai who was visiting the Xenophobic
trouble spots and being blond we did not think there might be problem with two blonds
in a Zim registered car !!
The cops soon spotted us and guided us to the safety of a nearby refugee camp in a
church where hundreds of displaced "foreigners" were being housed and fed, very
reminiscent of Murambatsvina in our own country....
Now our Bodyguard is fluent in Ndebele and pretty soon we were surrounded by dozens of
Zimbabweans with their own particular sad horrendous tales. The BodyGuard's Mum got
out her little black book and in no time at all we had pages of names of Zimbabweans,
living ...... nay...existing in Johannesburg, but with abounding trades and talents that need
to be publicised.
Most of these folk were degreed having qualified as doctors, accountants, chemists and
lawyers, but because of visa and work permit problems were reduced to working as
labourers to make ends meet.
If you need a good carpenter, painter, brick layer, domestic worker, seamstress,
electrician , motor mechanic, sales rep or anybody honest and hard working, I have
numerous names and phone numbers. e mail me on magskriel@mac. com
