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Diamonds in the Sky
Sometimes I feel sorry for people who do not live in the drier regions
of
the world. In a place like Bulawayo we have zero humidity at this time
of
the year and it can get pretty chilly at night, with wonderful clear
blue
skies and mild temperatures during the day. In weather like this there
is
also the temptation to stay indoors after dusk. If you have a fire of
real
mopani wood, even more so! It is a mistake.
Last night for example, at about 19.30 hours my wife and I walked home
under
a sky that was ablaze with stars. Venus was near setting in the western
sky
and what a sight. It was so bright you could mistake it for a light in
a
passing aircraft only it flashed and sparkled like a 100-carat space
diamond. Absolutely beautiful and free to all of us who occupy planet
earth.
Right overhead was the Milky Way - spiraling across the night sky
like a
splash of diamonds. No moon, no clouds, no moisture, just the black
African
sky and the diamonds of space.
Sometimes I think of Africa in those same terms - beautiful, exotic
but with
a backdrop of darkness that sometimes overwhelms us. I have often
pondered
what it would mean to mankind if there were no stars, just black, empty
space going on into infinity. I am sure it would have profound
psychological
implications - let alone the philosophical questions it would pose!
We would
then be quite justified in asking how did we get here? Who was
responsible?
The possibility that there might be life somewhere 'out there' is
always a
consolation in a universe crowded with millions of planets, suns and
stars.
But we do have Venus and a plethora of other stars to keep us company
and to
force us out into space in an attempt to find life elsewhere. When he
was
President, Ronald Reagan had a programme under which he recognised
outstanding human achievement in the USA. He called those who were
recognised and rewarded under this programme Stars in the night sky of
America. I have always thought this was a great idea.
In any dark situation there are always stars that light up the sky and
give
us hope that we are not alone. Stars that illumine their universe in a
unique way and in the process light up our world. Here in Zimbabwe we
are no
exception. Last week I attended a small community meeting of 20 or so
individuals who have just taken a lease on 96 hectares surrounding two
small
dams known as the 'Hillside Dams'. There they are intending to
build a
restaurant, establish a botanical garden and aloe collection. They are
also
going to put in fences and security and create a small game park. All
work
carried out by volunteers and all costs met by donation.
In my sons church there is a remarkable woman who has taken it upon
herself
to help the children's wards in the local hospital. With over 3 500
beds,
the hospital is a giant medical facility but being State owned and
operated
is just about on its knees. The children's wards are freshly painted
and
clean and every child gets a toy when they are checked in. Drugs are
fully
available and supplied free of charge and nursing staff are assisted.
All
wards have television and visitors from the Church pay regular visits
to
children in the wards.
Another remarkable women in the same Church runs a massive programme
for the
absolute poor and destitute in Harare. She helps thousands in camps at
various rubbish dumps on the periphery of the City, has pastors
ministering
to their spiritual needs as well as food and clothing. Whole families
are
selected and sent out to a training farm where they are taught farm
skills
and then settled on vacant land as small-scale farmers.
Driving into Harare after 400 kilometers of empty farms and abandoned
homesteads you suddenly find yourself looking at a string of three
farms
where the fences are repaired, cattle graze the land and superb crops
grown
on well-prepared lands. All three have housed their staff well and
produce
milk on a large scale for the nearby City. How they have been able to
remain
on their farms and keep going is a mystery to me - one day I will
stop and
pull in to ask, but I already know that behind these islands of sanity
and
prosperity are individuals who have just stuck it out and have shown
every
determination not to give in and quit.
Of course there are many who do not contribute, many who in fact like
the
dark because it suits their purpose. But those who do struggle against
the
odds, who still plant trees and flowers and tend their lawns, they are
heroes in every way, bright stars in the night of our time. The marvel
of
this process, is that in becoming stars in our universe, we discover
light
always wins and that gives us hope.
It is really tough right now to give people hope and faith in the
future
because things look so grim. We now know that Tendai Biti and Welshman
Ncube
were actually in South Africa waiting for the Zanu PF representatives
to
pitch up for the meeting. They did not arrive and gave no apologies. On
Monday Zanu PF submitted their response to the request that they set
out
their basic position. We have now had sight of that and I am told it
resembles the ramblings of a lunatic - I am not surprised, we have
long
known this was an asylum with the inmates in charge.
The Zanu document in fact does not deal with any of the issues that are
on
the table. They ramble on about 'recognition of Mr. Mugabe as
President' and
the suspension of 'sanctions' as well as the well-known diatribe
about the
MDC as a 'violent Party'. As if it would make one iota of
difference to
anything if we did do those things! We do not control the standing of
Mr.
Mugabe in international circles - he does. We do not control the
imposition
of personal travel and financial restrictions on the 100 or so worst
offenders in terms of human and political rights abuse - those who
control
visa regulations and money markets do. I think we have shown quite
clearly
who sponsors political violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe - it is
Zanu
who holds degrees in violence!
I really do feel sorry for these Zanu PF types - they know now that
they are
really up against impossible odds. Their only way of avoiding the dip
tank
is to stay outside the holding pens. Once they are in, the only way out
is
either over the fence or through the dip. On the other side we wait
with
expectation - we have all the ingredients for a national braai and
celebration that will make the record books. I already have picked out
a
couple of fat, corrupt, lazy oxen to provide the nyama for my braai -
I am
sure everyone else is equally ready.
I am waiting to see just what Mbeki is going to do next. He has no
choice
now but to exercise leadership and get this process underway. The
deadline
for the SADC leadership is the end of June and this time I am sure we
are
going to see that cattle prod in action - all 10 000 volts applied in
the
appropriate place.
But for all of you who are in my universe and are little spots of light
against the night sky, hang in there, you give hope to all of us and
you
make this dark place a place of beauty.
Eddie Cross
Bulawayo June 10th 2007
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