Change to believe in?

On Wednesday February 11th 2009, a history was made. Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe by President Robert Mugabe. The winds of change were finally materializing in this long suffering country. The gravity of this occasion may not have been obvious around the world, but it was a massive day for all Zimbabweans, including myself. I was born and raised in Zimbabwe and a recent visit over winter break was one of the most harrowing experiences of my life. Much like the recent elections in the United States a new era of leadership was brought in. Indeed 2008 was a year of “change” in Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe has been president of Zimbabwe since the country acquired independence in 1980. Over that time period he has managed to lead the country on a most spectacular downward spiral. Some of the country’s problems include massive brain drain, the world’s highest inflation rate, unemployment of over 85%, starvation in some areas and a failing healthcare system. The country is on its knees and in need of some urgent help.

In March 2008 Tsvangirai won more votes than Mugabe in the Presidential elections but he failed to get over 50% of the vote. A run off was held, but he boycotted it due to incessant political violence. Mugabe won the run-off and declared himself the winner. Regional leaders contrived to create a coalition government; it has taken 10 months to get to the point where Mr. Tsvangirai can now officially be called Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. Meanwhile the suffering of Zimbabweans has continued, more people are too poor to travel to work, and the local currency has been abandoned. Getting sick in Zimbabwe is not advisable as there is severe shortage of nurses and doctors and for those available it is prohibitively expensive. Much like President Obama, Prime Minister Tsvangirai will be focused on fixing the economy. His job is to resurrect an economy that has been pillaged by corrupt politicians and opportunistic businessmen. Zimbabweans have every right to be slightly cynical at the very least. Their lives have not improved over the 10 months when South Africa was helping strike a deal between the ruling ZANU P.F and the opposition M.D.C. How useful is a coalition government in the first place? Can one really expect results from two leaders that can hardly stand each other? It is a marriage between a truly odd couple. A sort of planned union, whose success or failure depends on the willingness of either party to compromise. Compromise is the key word here. Without it, the marriage dies and the people suffer more.

Countries like the United States and Britain have been carefully monitoring the situation. To completely trust Mugabe would be erroneous. The most heartbreaking result of the political impasse of the last 10 months in Zimbabwe is the fact that ordinary people suffer the most. The breakdown in utilities and other government functions has inadvertently played a role in creating the Cholera outbreak which has seen the death of over 3,000 and the infection of thousands more. Each day a new challenge presents itself, whether it is the introduction of new stifling monetary policy, a lack of electricity, burst sewage, political abductions, police brutality, and a hike in the price of everything and all manner of things. When I went back home I could not believe that people carry on with their days even in the face of such unpredictability. People survive by sharing with each other, and having a sense of humor. When you face tragedy every week you need some way to go through the day. Despite the seeming lack of hope in Zimbabwe one is always encouraged by the stories of bravery, solidarity and survival which inspire hope for a better future . The challenge of rebuilding Zimbabwe is on the shoulders of the new government. One hopes that they harness the spirit that has kept Zimbabweans going in the face of disaster. One can only hope that Zimbabwe will finally see a change its people can truly believe in!