South Africa

Back in '96 I made my first visit to Zimbabwe. I was extremely impressed by how good race-relations were and at the general goodwill of all the people there. The feelings of most people I met seemed to be of cautious optimism for the future and an abiding understanding of what had happened in the not too distant past. Over the next few years I met a mixed bag of Zimbo's - black, white, indian, coloured. Although I used to make fun of their little cricket team and atrocious sense of fashion sense (shorts - the 80's kind - were apparently still in style), all of them were a good laugh and great to have round for a few beers. Then of course "the situation" started in Zim and things started going to hell in a handbasket, gradually this same group of characters I had got to know were put under great stress - businesses destroyed, families split-up, racial prejudices inflamed etc etc. It was heartbreaking to see.   

More than anything though, what happened in Zim shook my faith in our newly formed democratic government. Surely, I thought at the time, our government with its foundation built on popular resistance to injustice and a respect for human rights will raise its voice against what is happening? Right? However I was in for a very long wait... The outrages that took place in Zim and continue to this very day are greeted by our government with an insulting silence which doesn't border on but is in my opinion criminal indifference and callousness. What I saw in Zim all those years ago amongst its people was how I hoped SA race relations may develop. With people achnowledging there differences in the past but moving forward together. The fish, as they say, rots from the head down and so it was to be as the power-crazed, tyrant Mugabe lied, cheated, assaulted, murdered, betrayed his way into electoral "triumph", thus ending this period of unity.

I have tried to look at the SA governments stance logically and attempted to decrypt its motivations strategically, but after all these years I have come up with nothing! It hurts to watch, to hear. Sometimes I feel like a child of a policeman, the policeman is proud and strong, but while he struts his stuff in our living room through the walls of our house I can hear the neighbour beating his wife senseless - Dad the policeman does nothing and ignores the screams, the pleading, the crying.... Screams for help are ignored as the TV's volume is turned up and Dad takes care of his own little problems...

Anyway enough of my ramblings, for a great analysis on what is happening in Zim today you should visit this blog. I do occasionally, but not very often because usually it is too painful to read and brings out feeling of both impotence and rage. 

Maybe post-Thabo we can talk?