adminFarayi Matondo
I AM one of the estimated three million Zimbabweans believed to be residing in the Republic of South Africa, since the social and economic upheaval hyperinflation era in the early 2000.Relocating to this part of Africa has not been an easy journey for me, fellow countrymen.
Adjusting to yet a new culture of living, learning new languages and values has been systematically a new beginning of pains, sorrows, joys and tribulations.
Living in exile is the most difficult experience one can go through.
To learn the rudiments of being in exile one has to experience it.
In this new column your views, comments, contributions are most welcome as we shall undertake reflections, lessons learned, reminiscing in retrospect our beloved Great Zimbabwe.
“Things” have not been easy since post 2000 due to the social revolution, which was brought about by repossession of land heritage from the minority white counterparts.
The fallout of Bretton Woods institutions to support the country’s balance of payments in foreign aid result in a catastrophe to the young, middle age, our fathers, our mothers and our elderly.
The reparations of Western-funded economic principles grossly cause harm to the economy and society as a whole. That is the main reason I found myself with other millions, as none other — economic exiled Zimbos.
I shall not dwell much on political agendas as I’m neither a political expert nor genius.
The call here shall be more generally on social perspective and the effects of millions of Zimbabweans’ relocation to our families, communities and nation as a whole.
The fairy tales, real stories of Mzanzi Africa, the daily experiences across Limpopo River and other ideas alluded to earlier are interesting notes that I will highlight.
To start with when Mzanzi Africa attained its sovereignty in 1994,the coming of freedom opened new doors to Africans as people from all over the world descended to the new Republic of South Africa to find opportunities.
Africans from different nations are down here.
They have optimised and heeded the late President Nelson Mandela’s call,” . . . to be part of a Rainbow nation in which everyone who stays in it belongs to it.” I always wonder the extraordinary multi-cultural and diverse races from all over the world you can get from Mzanzi Africa today.
Historically, quite a few Zimbabweans were living in South Africa, working in mines, industries, doing cross-border buying and selling.
Majority seldom visited to do their shopping and returned home.
The privileged could be mere holiday tourists.
The rest of us were still confined to our beloved country.
In the hyperinflation economy, the worst performance of economy post Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (ESAP) is affecting our working class in manufacturing industries, multi national corporations, factories and civil servants. Taingoti zvichapera, but with recurrent droughts and poor harvests, life became unbearable for most households and the nation’s growth.
The social revolution preceded by Svosve people to reclaim land heritage ignited a global isolation of the country.
The economic war in turn affected everyone including; our parents, brothers and sisters who were unable to meet the economic needs of several households.
The State supported the Svosve people and eventually commenced the process to redistribute land to Zimbabweans.
That is where my story shall begin, not putting to rest the gains achieved as a one united nation, post 18 April 1980.
Life goes on!
Be courageous and strong . . . Tiritose
Farayi Matondo is a budding writer on current affairs, creative writing and music who was born in Sakubva and grew up in Mutare. He can be contacted on email [email protected]
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