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economic hardships and alleged political persecution, other nationals are trudging thousands of kilometres in search of peace and tranquillity here.
Refugees form different countries have over the last three decades been streaming here, with some settling in the country while others use Zimbabwe as a transit point into South Africa.
Countless tales have been told about the refugees, some from those who regard the refugees as the “other” while some have come from the horse’s mouth.
But each refugee has his own story to tell.
Sadly, much of it cannot be so relished.
This pushed documentary photographer TAWANDA MUDIMU to get closer and observe the refugees’ lifestyle and document what they go through in their daily lives as they struggle everyday in order to prolong their biological existence on the face of the earth. A camp set up by 45 Ethiopian and Somali refugees in Waterfalls, Harare, provides a glimpse into the world of refugees, some of whom now regard this place as their second home.
Not that the place could be anywhere near a modest home in any peaceful environment, being a collection of grass makeshift structures surrounded by a swathe of veld grass.
Twenty-eight-year-old Ethiopian Testaye Abraham is the group leader of the Ethiopian and Somali’s refugees.
He speaks on behalf of his group.
“We were running away from politics; that’s why we are here. Our government was forcing us to join the army.
“I have a degree in pharmacy but l am now a beggar. Zimbabwe is very peaceful I like to stay here, there is no war.
“It’s now three months of travelling by foot. But I cannot say here it’s bad because there is peace, I can go where ever I feel like going. The only problem is I can’t work in Zimbabwe because I don’t have legal papers. I don’t have my qualification documents here because of the way I skipped my country.” The long journey began in May in his native Ethiopia, through Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique eventually taking them to Zimbabwe.
But its not all of us who hoped to see the peace of Zimbabwe were able to.
“We were about 20 in our group but only 13 of us managed to reach Harare alive,” mourns Abraham, “seven of our members perished on the way.”
He said there was need for peace in his homeland and the Government here could help the fellow African countries to achieve peace for the better of its people.
He says: “We are appealing to Zimbabwean Government to talk to their counterparts so that our country can get peace. If things continue like this we may all die here and never return home.”
It will be quite sad indeed for a family man like Abraham who says that for all the relief he has found here, he misses his family.
“What pains me most is that I left behind my wife Mexta Abebe and daughter Helen Abraham who is eight,” he says.
“I miss them a lot. If God permits I will be with them very soon. I pray to God to protect my family. As for me, I don’t care because I have seen so many people die on my way here and some were dying due to hardships back home. I’ve buried my friends with my own hands, it pains, we just left them in the bush, its just more than war.
“But am happy because I am here and alive,” he says.
The day here is characterised by sleeping during the day and staying awake at night, keeping warm at small fires of maize stalks.
One cannot find sleep during the night on account of weather.
And when the new day arrives it does not come with the smell of coffee or the aroma of the kitchen. Sitting in the sun, praying, begging, doing laundry or any other things that whiles away time the men see the sun climb up and wind down in the evening.
Around 4pm it is time for the day’s meal.
The meal usually is roasted grain that is baked over a fire on a rudimentary, hand-made pan.
Says Abraham: “We normally get food and clothes from Waterfalls residents; they are very kind.”
However, in the camp there are occasional clashes among Somalis and Ethiopians when there is perceived unfairness in the sharing of food.
The group camped here represents a fairly diverse membership. The youngest is 13-year-old Abdikadiv Gadri while the oldest is Haciso who is 40.
Abdikadiv, the last born in a family of five, says his parents are not aware that he is in Zimbabwe,
He does not know of the whereabouts of his siblings.
Most probably, they too, are on the move – which is the price that his people have to pay until their country stabilises.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu