Posted on 06/14/2003 5:19:31 AM PDT by Clive
Dear Family and Friends,
Don't wear red ! This week in Zimbabwe everyone is whispering to their friends and neighbours not to wear red clothes because if you do you will be beaten by government supporters.
It's happening in the capital city and the little towns and this week in Marondera workers at a prominent butchery in the town were beaten by unknown men for wearing red clothes because this is a colour associated with the opposition.
In fact Marondera has been like a town out of Alice in Wonderland this week. Aside from people being beaten for wearing red clothes, scores of others have had their windows broken and been pulled out of their houses at night and been beaten for being opposition supporters.
For two weeks we've not had a single independent newspaper in the town. The vendors have been threatened, the papers seized and on one ludicrous occasion people seen reading the Daily News were forced to stuff pieces of the paper into their mouths and eat it.
Our one and only sports club, which offers golf, tennis, squash and hockey to people of all colours, ages and sexes has been taken over by militant youths. The boom over the road has been closed off and no one is allowed in, the youths guarding the gate say we may no longer go there as it is now their club.
They have undoubtedly got their inspiration from the almost daily pronouncements by Zimbabwe's President as he has toured around the country addressing rally's and threatening everyone and everything.
There is no doubt that the ruling party got a very rude awakening with the recent attempts by the opposition to hold protests and demonstrations around the country and the only way to silence a nation is by massive intimidation.
This week the President has said that companies which closed down during the strike will be taken away from the owners and given to the workers.
He has said that expatriate company owners will have their work permits withdrawn and will be deported.
He has said that the British High Commissioner will be expelled from the country because he believes Mr Donnelly is supporting the opposition.
And while all the threatening and intimidation has gone on, nothing has changed and our daily lives continue to deteriorate.
This week, for the first time in six months, I had to go to Harare for medical reasons and was utterly devastated at what I saw.
Using preciously saved petrol and driving slowly to conserve fuel, the view from the window was a nightmare.
Three years after farms were seized by our government, there is still nothing to see. On a 70 kilometre journey there is still only one farm along the road with a small crop of perhaps 10 hectares.
Aside from this one little patch of green, there is nothing to see. Every now and again there are a few cows but nothing else, no fruit, vegetables, wheat or winter crops. Vast fields lie empty, huge trees being felled and sold for firewood on the edge of the road.
Arriving in the capital itself the commonest two sights are police and army road blocks and stationary petrol queues which double and triple back on themselves.
With such sights it is hard to find hope but buying my first newspaper in a fortnight I was suddenly reduced to tears of humility as I read the words of the wife of imprisoned opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
She said: "He says there is no surrender and that he is paying the price for the struggle. He says there is no gain without pain and that he is ready to sacrifice his life for the cause of Zimbabweans."
Without the bravery and determination of our unstoppable opposition party, I believe Zimbabwe would indeed be doomed but they continue to give us hope.
Until next week, with love, cathy.
Brave man. I hope he is also a good and competent man, and that he will prevail.
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