I remember many years ago when I was an employee of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting
Corporation, I interviewed a "Farmer".!!
Bad word then, a most politically incorrect word way back in the late nineties, and still a
"bad word" today.
I interviewed Guy H.B. about how Farmers were the folk, in 1896, who started the schools.
They also started the clinics, the Women's Institutes, the Agricultural Shows, Clubs and
Associations.
They were the backbone of the fabric of infrastructure of this Country.
I recall getting an e-mail from an eminent fellow broadcaster, saying "you are brave, I have
been wanting to do something of that nature for a while but never dared".
Needless to say, my days with ZBC were numbered, and my interview with that dreaded
"Farmer" was probably one of the final nails in my broadcasting coffin.
Little has changed since then. The commercial farmers have taken a considerable beating.
Their awful, terrible, nightmare tales will be told one day, and widen Western eyes. It is
hard to believe that anyone could have lived through such atrocities. Raw nerves have
healed slightly with time, but the pain and desolation of losing not only ones livelihood,
possessions, farm equipment, crops and land; is nothing compared to the loss of lives of
parents, children, loyal staff, precious pets and livestock.
The numbing reality of having "forgotten" some of the worst debacles in the world, came
to me last week while reading Peter Godwin's book "When a Crocodile Eats the Sun".
I found, reading tale after tale of the stories of the hideous farm invasions, that I had
almost forgotten some of the tragic things that had happened to our farmers. I was
disgusted in myself. I had nearly forgotten the savage, brutal deaths of the Martin Olds,
Ian Kay, Terry Ford and all the others. I was ashamed to admit that power cuts, fuel prices
and water shortages had replaced what was really important in life.
But that is the communist doctrine, isn't it? Force people to queue. Force them to fight for
commodities. Make it such a trial to keep body and soul alive, that they have no time to
remember the real things that count.
But, I am proud to report that as life takes its many twists and turns for the farming folk,
all the more courage emerges. Today, there are more tales of bravery and tenacity than
ever, as Man triumphs over injustice, treachery and plain brazen theft.
Look at the erstwhile farmer who has made a plan to mow and bale the grass on school
fields, sports fields and roadside verges. He feeds his cattle and at the same time makes a
contribution to the sad state of affairs for which we pay our rates and taxes; keeping the
road verges trimmed.
Look at that most enterprising farming crew, "Boetie and The Gang", who drive up and
down the city roads in their faithful tractor, filling in the roadside dongas and ravines that
have now appeared with the recent rains.
Look at the young couple who came to Bulawayo recently from KweKwe. The whole family
needs counselling from their horrendous treatment, but instead they have opened up a
boarding hostel to make ends meet.
Look at the farmers who have become the most incredible entrepreneurs, simply doing
what they do best. They have opened butcheries, established feed lots, are buying and
selling cattle and opening market gardens.
Many have gone into transport: bringing in fuel; selling generators and inverters;
providing the services that should and used to be provided by the crumbling government
and municipal bodies.
Look at the farmers who have taken on the mantles of the aged and infirm, rounding up
financial and moral support for the destitute and the elderly.
It is they, who have had so much taken away from them, that bring new hope to folk who
thought that their world, our world, the world in which we have lived for so many happy
years, comes to a stumbling, grumbling, staggering halt.
Today: services fail, roads disintegrate, power fails and water supplies dry up. The
precious food source that the farmers once sought to produce for the masses is now too
expensive for the ordinary man in the street. Yet the circle turns, and the farmers are there
for us again.
GOOSEN - PETER AND NAN ARE SO PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE ENGAGEMENT OF THEIR
YOUNGEST DAUGHTER PETA-ANN TO DAVID DUNCAN ON 1ST MAY. THEY HAVE SET THEIR
WEDDING DATE FOR 23RD FEBRUARY 2008. GOD BLESS THIS UNION.
Everybody can be great because everybody can serve ... You only need a heart full of
grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant. --Martin Luther King Jr.
MY CHOICE
What makes man different to animals? God gave man a free will - CHOICE!
We can choose how we live - we can choose life or death - blessing or cursing !!
We can choose to-: love and not hate
We can choose to have peace and not fear
We can choose to have joy and not sorrow
We can choose to have faith and not doubt
We can choose to be kind and not harsh
We can choose to be givers and not be greedy
We can choose to walk in forgiveness and not bitterness
We can choose to walk in humbleness and not pride
We can choose to walk in hope and not despair
We can choose to walk in mercy and not cruelty
We can choose to walk in freedom and not condemnation and guilt
We can choose to walk in gratitude and thanks and not have a complaining and negative
spirit!
I can choose to cast my cares upon Him or I can choose to carry the burden and heavy
load myself. I can choose to speak positive and encouraging words, words of hope (life) or
I can choose to speak negative, critical, judgmental and slanderous words that will kill,
destroy and maim (death).
How can we then blame God for how our lives turn out when all along it was our choice
which path we tread? If we choose to follow the path of un-forgiveness it will most
assuredly and definitely lead down a road of death, self destruction, torment, depression
and isolation. But don't blame God for where you are, it was YOUR CHOICE!
For unlike animals God gave us a free will - the right to choose because He wanted an
intimate relationship and friendship with us. This kind of closeness cannot be forced - for
it to be real there has to be willingness on both sides. God is more than willing - He gave
the best part of Himself - His only Son to us and all He wants from us is to CHOOSE Him
and His ways!
Challenge (Put it to Work)
Lets take one of the above joy and put it into practice. Next time you feel depressed first
check to see what is the root of your depression (it could be because of strife, un-
forgiveness, anger, anxiety, worry, disappointment) deal with the root then choose
happiness and say to yourself "I will be joyful" - I will think of and focus on all the good
things in my life - I will be grateful and thankful for so many blessings in my life. This has
been an easy lesson for me to learn as I live opposite to a handicap school and every day
when I see these children some of whom are severely handicapped with partial limbs -
how can I not be thankful for being able to do the simple things in life which we all take
for granted.
What about un-forgiveness, next time someone offends or hurts you, you can choose and
decide to forgive that person or you can dwell and meditate on that offence! Think of a
bulbous weed, when it is young it is easy to pull up but the longer it is left to grow the
harder it is to pull and uproot that weed as the root grows deeper and deeper! And so it is
with un-forgiveness the longer you dwell on the hurt the harder it is to uproot and it will
continue to grow into bitterness, resentment and anger.
Then there is fear anxiety and worry which we all face living in this extremely difficult
environment. It is a known scientific fact that anxiety, worry and fear are the root causes
of certain diseases. We can choose not to allow fear into our lives, we can choose to cast
our cares on Him for He careth for you! We can choose to trust Him with our lives (even
when things look hopeless).
Sue Cowham
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