Human Rights are Rights

Mr President

Echoes of discord reverberate
In the vicinity of animosity!
The music of hate plays
To the audience of its victims!

The hate-filled morons strings
The violins setting the agenda of humanity!
Slaughtered human flesh gives taste
To the buds of the cannibals!

Without free freedom
Tensions abound,
Brutality consolidates!
Spears sharpen!
And daggers are drawn
For what,
Whose war?
In this sweet democracy!

In this remoteness and emptiness
Of free movement
Hymns and rhymes of dissent dwell!
Recitation long curtailed!

In this bankruptcy of humanity
Human blood from the canals of
Slit open veins flow!
Washing away the records of mischief
Into the oceans of history!

In the Goromonzi palace of torture
A bird of peace languishes!
With a battered soul
And a determination
To expose the junta for what it is!

In this dumbness and deafness of society
The rule of man takes over that of law!
The noose tightens
On the throat of freedom
And with it freedom disappears!

Weeks on end
Soldiers miscount the numbers
Of a plebiscite in dispute

In the shrewdness of autocracy
Souls and emotions are chained!
To the whip that restrict!
Self emancipation!

Written jointly by Chinofunga Ndoga and Tendai Gakanje who both are human right activists with ROHR (Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe) Yorkshire branch

Child of our time

By Vimbainashe Mangoma

Child of our time in a world full of technology not one to help you;
How do I help thee when I cannot help myself?
In a system with no direction, no erection or injection;
Full of frustration, impatience and greed; How are you to grow?

Full stop, an exclamation not even a comma,
Came to that fundamental road or to the rescue
Who am I to trust and put all our energies and pride?
When dear child of evolution whose growth has been stunted
Sensibility and sensitivity come from knowing,
Now who will teach thy tender mind?

As with greater the sacrifices come with greater gains
Through those people we cherish the most
Mother, father, brother; woman or man,
Only love and honesty will prevail
But even then, they are fighting for their dear lives!

It is not the action that makes things right or wrong
But the purpose behind the action
For a dream not pursued is a dream forsaken

The difference between ordinary and extra-ordinary is a little extra
With no logic! Nothing makes sense anymore; with endless agony time passes
Wisdom is only as wise as knowledge as there is always more to learn!

Who will nurture? Who will teach?
As they all flock out in their masses,
Child of out time with no chance!
Only the hand of healing will save.
Intervention will not stand!

Waiting to soar at the next opportunity!
What break? Or make? As you take and make!
Wake the sores of endless agony?
Have I seen the shining?

Feeling choked and poked,
Caged in a world you cannot break out of,
What kind of world is this with no compassion, with no remorse?
Breeding dependency then death, being on someone’s conscience!
Life with no purpose, born to suffer and of suffering!

Tireless with no power! Tower
You run the race standing still!
Time moves but the rest is still!
There is no point! No hope! No strength! No faith! No joy!
No success, just failure!
No value! Like the “Zim” dollar!

I have had enough! …but Wait! …we laugh!
There is a new day dawning, in mourning, corny?
As history, a mystery to a straight visionary

Forward marching with no destination,
No direction! Erection or injection!
Far-sightedness with no substance!
Prediction with no matter; what a tatter!
No essence! No spirit!
Just effervescence, eating you in the core!

Vimbainashe is a volunteer Community Reporter and co-editor of HAT news based in Nottingham. In July 2009, she graduated in BA Honours Mixed Media Textiles design at De Montfort University Leicester. Her most prominent work called ‘Child of our time’ was exhibited at the 2009 Graduate show at the same university.

Youth Seek Partnership to Boost Democracy and Development

By Saratu Abiola and Carine Umuhumuza

Washington, DC — The Obama administration this week commemorated Africa’s historical achievements by engaging youth leaders in a dialogue on the continent’s future.

“You are the heirs of the independence generation that we celebrate this year,” Obama said during a town hall meeting at the White House on Tuesday. “You represent the great part of Africa that is often overlooked, the great progress that many Africans have achieved and the unlimited potential that you’ve got going forward into the 21st century.”

The U.S. government brought about 113 leaders from 46 countries representing civil society organizations, the faith community and the private sector for a three-day conference convened, in part, to highlight the fact that this year “people in 17 nations across sub-Saharan Africa are proudly celebrating 50 years of independence,” Obama said.

“I called this forum for a simple reason,” he said. “I don’t see Africa as a world apart; I see Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world.”

During a 50-minute question-and-answer session, the president answered questions about HIV/Aids funding and various governance issues and challenged delegates to take an integral role in their countries’ growth and development. He urged accountability and openness in leadership and openness to new ideas within their own organizations.

“We are rooting for your success, and we want to work with you to achieve that success, but ultimately success is going to be in your hands,” the president said. “Being a partner means that we can be there by your side, but we can’t do it for you.”

After meeting the youth, Obama addressed officials from 32 African countries and regional organizations taking part in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum, which is convened each year to encourage ties between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa.

The youth conference included sessions at the State Department examining a range of issues and highlighting Africa-based initiatives such as Ushahidi and Apps for Africa.

“We have an administration that has said from the beginning that the focus on Africa is a real priority for them,” said Rosann Wisman, director of Ministerial Leadership Initiative for Global Health at the Aspen Institute, co-host of the welcome reception. She applauded the State Department for the focus on youth. “It was a fantastic opportunity for these young people,” she said. “These young people are the future.”

The sentiment was echoed by Randall Kempner, Executive Director of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) at the Aspen Institute, in an address to a reception at the National Museum of African Art. Entrepreneurship in every sector is key, Kempner said, challenging the youth leaders to continue and expand their efforts in such diverse arenas as youth advocacy, agriculture, and micro-finance.

Edwin Sabuhoro, who works in community empowerment in Rwanda, commended the organizers for bringing youth together to talk with each other. “They have not given us a talk or lecture,” he said. The U.S. hosts listened as the youth talked and discussed ways to work together in the future, he said.

One concern expressed by young leaders was the level of support they could expect from the United States. They were especially concerned with receiving support for nations that had little to offer the United States in exchange. Obama responded saying that although all countries look out for their interests, Africa’s interests do not clash with those of the United States.

Abigail Kaindu, a Zambian filmmaker and leadership trainer, said in an interview that she hopes the United States will follow through on the promise of partnership. “We may have the skills, but we need resources,” she said.

Another Zambian, Brenda Phiri, who works for the multinational consulting firm Deloitte, agreed that more assistance is needed. “The government developed a national youth policy to address some of the challenges that we youth are facing,” she said. “But they can’t afford it on their own; they need partnerships from different sectors of the economy [and] donor funding to really help address so many challenges that we are facing.”

Many of the youth leaders said they hope to see pressure applied on their governments to enable them to do their jobs more effectively.

Paulo Alculeto Lopes de Araujo from Mozambique spoke about the obstacles youth leaders in his country face when dealing with the government. “It’s challenging especially because doing volunteer is something not very recognized by our government because they still do not acknowledge the value of volunteer work.”

Isiloketshi Anzuluni, a retail risk manager for Ecobank in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said his government has been helpful to banks opening branches across the country, but he said more efficiency and a clearer economic vision is needed. “We have 20 banks in DRC, but I think those banks are not really active.”

Anzuluni hopes something concrete will come out of the forum. “The more important thing is to have real follow-up after this meeting. It should not be just a one-time thing.”

For Araujo from Mozambique, networking and interactions are the most valuable aspect of being in Washington this week. “We don’t know what other young leaders are doing in their countries,” he said. “I believe there are a lot of good works being done but people don’t have the chance to share the experience.”

For a complete list of the names of the youth leaders at the event and information about their work, click here.

Years of Hope and Despair

A British Diplomat’s account of Mugabe’s Zimbabwe is a chilling potrait of  a nation mired in horror and injustice.

When I was moving to and from Zimbabwe for The Sunday Times between 1997 and 2008, the British embassy in Harare was a byword among hacks for its pusillanimity. Mugabe hurled every imaginable insult at the British and it made no reply. Even when the regime committed horrendous human-rights abuses the embassy generally said little, in sharp contrast to the Americans who were furiously outspoken. This was probably less to do with colonial guilt than an unwillingness to give Mugabe — who repeatedly insisted that Britain wished to recolonise Zimbabwe — any bigger a target than absolutely necessary. There may have been less honourable motives, too. When Mugabe was massacring 20,000 Ndebeles in the mid-1980s Britain’s representative, Sir Martin Evans, did nothing: “It wasn’t pleasant and people were being killed but…I don’t think anything was to be gained by protesting to Mugabe about it.”

Philip Barclay’s book gives an altogether better impression. A junior British diplomat in Harare in 2006-9, Barclay took full advantage of his position to become immersed in Zimbabwe’s frightening and violent political life and he seems to have kept a diary, for he is able to draw on many vivid experiences to convey the detail and atmosphere of a country that has a deadly beauty. (Under a pseudonym he also wrote for The Sunday Times.)

Read full article

Zim’s democracy ‘insufficient’: EU ministers

IOL – A year into a power-sharing agreement that was supposed to put an end to President Robert Mugabe’s autocratic rule, Zimbabwe has made “insufficient” moves towards democracy, European Union foreign ministers said on Monday.

Last week the EU extended sanctions against the country for another year, renewing an arms embargo and a visa ban and asset freeze against Mugabe and his acolytes.

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Solidarity and Support for Calais Seekers of Sanctuary

By Rahila Gupta

The Guardian - For all those who have been depressed by increasingly harsh measures against asylum seekers by Britain, France and other European countries, here is a glimmer of hope. The transnational No Borders network and SôS Soutien aux Sans Papiers in France have come together to open a centre in Calais, a “self-organising” space to provide practical support, solidarity and information sharing for asylum seekers. Last summer we were subjected to pictures of people being chased like animals in brutal search and destroy missions by the French police in the woods near Calais, cheered on by the British government. The police dragged away 278 campers, nearly half of whom were minors from places like Afghanistan.

According to Sylvie from Calais Migrants Solidarity, opening this centre is an act of resistance to immigration laws and an attempt to draw attention to the plight of migrants. The No Borders network believes that “in a real democracy, every person enriches society in myriad ways, and no one is surplus to requirements; neither the unemployed, the young, the old, or the foreign”. A spokesperson from London No Borders said it will also operate like a drop-in centre, providing clothes, blankets, food and general cheer to those sleeping rough. It will be run mainly by No Borders activists who have been operating on the ground since last year.

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Solidarity with other progressive forces panacea to march towards real democracy

Press Statement 24 October 2009

Communities Point believes that only solidarity with other progressive forces can bring meaningful change where people are struggling for democracy. Having been founded by comrades who were founding members of the Movement for Democratic Change and its predecessors in opposition politics in Zimbabwe, we have long held that the struggle for democracy in Zimbabwe need be protracted.

The current status quo in Zimbabwe is a vindication of our collective fears that the people of Zimbabwe would be short-changed in elitist agreements that would forestall the concerted march towards real democracy.  However we have realised the inescapable truth of the complicity of all the forces in the Government of National Unity, both MDCs included, in forestalling this march towards democracy.

The existing political cultures in all the three parties to the GNU have always been countervailing to a real march towards tangible democracy. Without prejudice to the liberation struggle we think the current petit bourgeoisies’ leadership of ZANU PF has distanced itself from the aims of the people based struggle by its single-mindedness in the promotion of aristocrats and political dynasties. We have seen the clear attempt to position an organisation, ZANU PF ahead of the State. Examples abound which are evidential to this sighting: the Open Door Policy of ZANU PF that pardons those who have at one point been labelled enemies of the State and Party only extends to them if they are willing to “repent” and re-join ZANU PF but we have seen people who could otherwise been useful to the country pushed to the peripheries.

In the Movement for Democratic Change we are seeing the gullibility of the people of Zimbabwe played at. We have seen the Party consulting people only for the sake of it and only whenever ZANU PF refuses to budge. MDC uses Zimbabweans as a blackmail bait to get what it wants from ZANU PF but when the table has been sorted the MDC leadership invites those with identical genotypes and those with almost the same DNA sequencing to their table. In the GNU we are seeing an MDC that has failed to position itself beyond the stereotypes that have been stuck to the ZANU PF Government in particular and African leadership in general which puts nepotism ahead of meritocracy.

The recent appointment of Ambassador Designate to Germany Hebson Makuvise, who was virtually unknown to any MDC activist anywhere in the world until two years ago, ahead of known activists such as Grace Kwinjeh and Emily Madamombe who have better credibility in the mind of any truth-seeking person in Zimbabwe, is a complete betrayal to the trust that people have invested in the change agenda that the Party ought to represent. Hebson Makuvise lacks the merit and the experience held by both Emily Madamombe and Grace Kwinjeh but he has the correct genetic set-up which identifies him with PM Morgan Tsvangirai’s maternal DNA. As an uncle of the Prime Minister the position goes to him, something even ZANU PF did not do so openly.

To make matters worse we saw the appointment of Reverend Chisvo, another handpicking that some say is influenced by religious affiliation. The MDC appointments circumvent around Mhondoro, Njanja/Buhera, Chivhu, and the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe and in Matebeleland those who have allegiance to Lovemore Moyo, most of whom are Moyos themselves. Both Makuvise and Lovemore Moyo are implicated in corruption involving the misappropriation of party cards’ money. Moyo’s glutton even extends to extravagance in hotels in Zimbabwe without even looking at the strife that the people around him are going through. All previous Parliamentary Speakers lived either in rented accommodation or their own houses.  In fact Cyril Ndebele, the best among them, lived in a relative’s house before maybe acquiring or renting his own house and he came from Bulawayo which makes us wonder why Moyo is that special. Although he has the right to be gluttonous at least he must use his conscience and look at where the country is. Nelson Chamisa once accused ZANU PF of kleptomania, “stealing very little things”, it is kleptomaniac for Lovemore Moyo and Hebson Makuvise to have taken part in the stealing Party card money.

We have also seen the attempt by the MDC to silence internal opposition; it’s sad that the letter that terminated Emily Madamombe’s appointment as Deputy Chief Representative in the UK and Ireland was only served on her when she decided to add her voice against alleged corruption involving the Party’s UK and Ireland structure and some very senior members of its National Executive. The clear evidence is that the position of the MDC UK and Ireland Chief Representative had been there to accommodate Morgan Tsvangirai’s uncle and when he had acquired a better position, all was accomplished and the post was abolished. That the same Grace Kwinjeh who opened all these diplomatic avenues in Europe and with her own funding most of the time, left to starve and to her own peril, arrested, imprisoned, humiliated, tortured, praised and venerated when her services where still needed, labelled brave, intelligent and hardworking is suddenly lacking in experience, unintelligent and not fit for an ambassadorial appointment must send shivers down the spines of those looking for genuine change. The same Emily Madamombe who organised funding for the party in Zimbabwe from very meagre resources when the party coffers were dry is suddenly a nuisance and undeserving of any appointment. I doubt that some of us will even be mentioned in dispatch!!!!

If MDC was an army the best rank Grace Kwinjeh, an influential commander during a liberation struggle, would have been awarded in a post-liberation integrated army would have been a medal for her service and would not even have been a private in that army! Imagine if Brigadier Mutasa [the wife of Minister Mutasa], who was deservedly made a Lt. Colonel at independence for her part in ZANLA after Nyadzonya, had only received an independence medal and be declared “persona non grata” in army barracks.

Its early days yes, but it is the correct time to voice our concerns, the country can no longer afford costly experiments such as nepotism just because it is being done by people we identify as our heroes. True heroism is accountable, it looks beyond our regions, our totems and our tribes and emphasises on correcting marginalisation. It looks at Esigodini and such other areas, left behind during the war of liberation, penalised during the Gukurahundi era, forgotten during the Unity Accord years, voted MDC but forgotten soon after. The only meaningful thing they got from independence is an FM Antenna which they got together with Madzivazvido and Copper Queen and an unending advert about this “achievement”.

With this kind of attitude it will not surprise us if Zimbabweans start asking Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC who they have in mind for the Reserve Bank Governor and Attorney General as it seems they are preoccupied with appointing for the sake of aristocracy and to prop up their dynasty and that the noise that we hear from them is only for the purpose of fulfilling nepotistic allegiance and has nothing to do with Zimbabwe and merit. Communities Point challenges Zimbabweans to challenge such shameful appointments as they are the recipe for disaster in future. Zimbabwe is where it is because a liberation party that we trusted abandoned its principles because of the comfort they were receiving in the very warm blanket of governance, a decision not to challenge MDC when we still have time to do so will lead us to the same situation we are in ten years from now. We have now taken a position to challenge this kind of behaviour regardless of who does it, and this will not spare those we have in the past identified as our own friends in the struggle because they seem to be distancing themselves from the core principles of the struggle.

ENDS

JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA: COMMUNITIES POINT

[email protected] or 07529705413 or 07984254830

Zimbabweans Need a Radical Transformation of the Mind

By Dewa Mavhinga

It has often been said that the greatest battles are fought in the mind. This is certainly true in the case of Zimbabwe, particularly in our tortured struggle for democracy, good governance and human rights. If the struggle is approached with a mind already defeated and not open to possibilities, as is often the case, then there is small wonder how a very small group of predominantly old and frail men can subjugate millions of people for decades without as much as a whimper from the long-suffering masses.

Much like a bird caged and kept in captivity for most of its life, even when the cage is removed, the bird refuses to fly away, because, in its mind, the cage remains, making the physical absence of a cage irrelevant.

The Zimbabwean education system further compounds the crisis of a defeated mindset by lacking the ability to produce people who are critical and analytical, but perfect academics who regurgitate what they are fed by the teacher who is supposed to know all, but remain blinkered to the world around them. I will explain, lest one take offence at what, at first, may seem a reckless statement.

Our education system and socialisation has broken our collective spine, and prepared us to be meek subjects who shall obey authority without question and not empowered citizens with rights and ability to challenge authority. The MDC in government should seriously consider putting forward a proposal to inject civic education and critical thinking into our educations system from primary school level.

Back in the days as a student activist at the University of Zimbabwe I was often exposed to this attitude that to question authority is sheer madness, foolishness or utter stupidity. Whenever I pointed out the shortcomings of the then ZANU-PF government, often I would be dismissed with the following words: Ndivo vafana veku univhesiti vanoitira weti mumafiriji, havatendi hurumende inovapinza chikoro, musavatevedzere (These are the university boys who urinate in fridges, they are an ungrateful lot, do not listen to them) – this was in apparent reference to a students demonstration at the university of Zimbabwe where some students had, according to the State run Herald newspaper, overturned fridges at the institution and urinated in them in protest against poor catering services there.

To be fairly critical of authority’s misdeeds is to label oneself a pariah. Everyone must conform to the norm. Do not put your head above the parapet, or it will be chopped off, or so the advice goes. To many in Zimbabwe, decency is about being careful not to rock the boat, not to ruffle feathers, but to avoid any confrontation and get through life quietly, meekly.

The late iconic Zimbabwean singer Leornard Dembo, perfectly captured this mindset in one of his songs entitled Manager, where he admonishes those who confront the manager at work because they forget they have families to feed. A relative of mine also reflected this mindset during my days at the university when she advised me thus: “Don’t you forget your background. Your parents struggled in abject poverty to send you to school, and you have seven siblings – don’t you start trouble at university. The moment other students start demonstrating, take the first bus out of campus and come home and lie low until it’s over.” It is advice I gladly ignored, but which, I am sure, was not uncommon.

This mindset focuses on short term gains of being safe in the crowd but, sadly, compromises on the bigger picture. It normalises the abnormal and celebrates fear and mediocrity. The few people who keep trashing our rights can do so with impunity because the majority have accepted as normal that which is obscene. Joseph Chinotimba can boast, with all the audacity, that he “farms people” and no-one bats an eyelid. Muchadeyi Masunda, Harare Mayor on a Movement of Democratic Change ticket can use government resources, in such difficult times, to buy himself a US$152 000 luxury vehicle – and that is normal! To make matters worse, there are people within the purportedly progressive democracy movement who will be upset when the issue is raised. Why? Because leaders should not be questioned, they are always right! Or some such load of rubbish.

But what I find most astounding about this mindset that has crippled Zimbabwe’s democracy and human rights movement is the quite illogical expectation that someone must fight on their behalf to bring about change. In beer halls, in churches, in schools, at work, Zimbabweans analyse, they know exactly what is wrong with governance, they are fully aware of the root causes of our multilayered crisis. But that is as far as it goes. A learned colleague has found a term for this phenomenon: paralysis of analysis. They do not want to take action themselves, at an individual level. But moan that not enough is being done to liberate Zimbabwe! Of what use is your thorough and superior understanding of the crisis if you are not prepared to act on it?

Sometimes I come to the conclusion that we get the leaders and type of governance we deserve. Do we honestly believe that ZANU-PF, so comfortable in the seat of power, will voluntarily give up power? Or that democracy and fundamental rights will be presented to us on a silver platter? To entertain such hopes is to dream in broad daylight. We must say, “Enough is Enough,” and then, at an individual level, commit to playing each his or her part to liberate the country. I will borrow this statement from the English and say, “Zimbabwe expects each man to do his duty.” Be the change that you want to see in Zimbabwe. The mantra should be, “None but ourselves!” If not yourself, then who should act on your behalf while you remain in your comfort zone?

For democracy, good governance and a culture of respect for human rights to thrive it does not just happen. There must be a critical mass of people prepared to advance and defend these ideals at all costs. The collective mindset must accept that it is right, a sacred duty even, for one to defend principles and ideals of democracy and to openly declare that position without having to look over the shoulder. The collective mindset should focus on the greater goal of justice and freedom for all ahead of short-term personal security which, in any case, cannot be guaranteed even if one thinks that the safest way out is to collaborate with the oppressor.

Unless there is a radical transformation of the mind, individually and collectively, which leads to action from within Zimbabwe, then victory for democracy and human rights will be postponed indefinitely. Even if new leaders or new political formations come on board, without a change of mindset, which catapults us from meek subjects to bold citizens with rights and who know and stand up for their rights, the result will be the same. That is, a few people in power will continue to trample on the dreams   and rights of the majority and get away with it.

Already Muchadeyi Masunda, the rogue Harare Mayor, has shown that his MDC jacket does not stop him from taking people for granted, but, is it not with the implicit consent of Harare residents?

As you reflect on our individual role and contribution, to either aiding or resolving the crisis in Zimbabwe, ask yourself: Am I a subject or a citizen? What action will I take as my personal contribution to the development of a new Zimbabwe?

Source: Kubatana.net

Restoring dignity to Zimbabwe

By Loius Belanger|Huffington Post

See below a blog by my colleague Nicole Johnston on the difficulties and challenges that average Zimbabweans face, especially the elderly. Nicole is a native of Zimbabwe herself.

****************
“I am actually seeing myself as a human being again.”

When I heard these words at a food distribution point in Bulawayo’s Mzilikazi township yesterday, I was jolted as I understood for the first time the impact that Zimbabwe’s economic crisis has had on human dignity. While there is much talk about physical suffering like hunger and illness, we often overlook the psychological impact, particularly on the elderly and people with disabilities.

The source of this revelation was 80 year old Evelyne Mandizvidza, as she queued for her monthly food basket at a Joint Initiative for Urban Zimbabwe project run by Oxfam’s partner organisation Lead Trust. “Before I joined this scheme last November there were times when I had no food at all for days. Then I would just boil water and drink it while it was warm to fill my stomach. My skin was hanging off me.”

She now receives a monthly assistance package that includes maize meal, corn soya blend, cooking oil, peanut butter, soap and cotton wool. “Before, we didn’t have soap for a long time so I was just removing sweat with water instead of washing properly.”

The cotton wool included in the relief packages is a boon for younger women who have had to face the indignity of coping with menstruation without sanitary towels.

And while there is a sense of cautious optimism among most people about the government of national unity, the most vulnerable Zimbabweans are not yet experiencing any benefits. For them the bickering about the appointment of ambassadors and control of ministries is academic: day-to-day survival continues to be the issue.

The “dollarization” of the economy – which has seen foreign currencies replace the Zim dollar – has helped to curb inflation and shelves in shops are now full. But for people who have no access to currency particularly orphans, the elderly and people with disabilities, this has actually made life harder.

“Things are now available in shops but the problem is in getting cash to buy those things,” explained Mandizvidza. “At my age it is impossible to get a job and earn cash, and I don’t have anything to sell.” Even those in formal employment such as civil servants are only earning a $100 a month allowance – not a lot in an economy where a newspaper costs $2 and a loaf of bread $1. For the elderly their precarious situation has been exacerbated by the fact that pensions have not been paid out since December.

Many have joined the urban gardening project run by the Joint Initiative which provides seeds, watering cans and training, allowing people to grow vegetables and fruit in their backyards.

Mpanywa Siwela (83) is a member of the food committee in Mzilikazi, growing carrots, garlic and spinach in his yard. He exchanges gardening tips with Mandizvidza, his wizened face wrinkling even further in consternation as he tells her “I need something to spray those red spiders that are attacking my tomatoes.” The success of his crop is not just a matter of pride – it is also about putting food on the table. But there are things he can’t grow and can’t afford to buy: “I can’t tell you when I last drank tea…” he says longingly. “But where can we old people get rands or dollars?”

The lucky few have cash remittances sent home from relatives working abroad, but in a country in which HIV/Aids has decimated the economically active population and where unemployment stands at 90%, they are not in the majority.

Sixty six year old Christopher Ndabambe has signed up for the pilot cash transfer project, an offshoot of the food distribution programme.

Admire Chinjekure of the Lead Trust explains that the cash transfer project in which participants are given $25 a month aims to allow people to access hard currency: “Some people prefer to get the cash so they can pay their rent or for medical services. Some reinvest the money – for instance they buy firewood which they sell.”

“I have diabetes, high blood pressure and a heart problem,” says Ndabambe. “Dollarization is good because it means there are drugs available now, but it is quite difficult for me if I can’t get currency. We need a better health system and to be able to get drugs from our hospitals. I opted out of the food programme and joined the cash transfer project so I can buy my medicines.”

Ndabambe is regularly forced to make a choice between buying food and buying medicine. “I have to go into town to buy my heart tablets and that costs a lot of money for transport. So then I can only buy a one-week supply. If there is anything left over I buy some food”.

It’s a choice no one should have to make.

For more information on Oxfam’s work click here

Louis Belanger is Oxfam International Spokesman in New York

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