Thursday

Zimbabweans are in the dark and powerless, and I mean that literally: we often have no power and the lights are often out.

Last year we'd have a power cut about once a week depending where you lived, and we had a vague idea when they'd be coming.

'Load shedding' as it is called, was staggered across different areas on a more or less regular basis. If Tuesday was the night the lights went out for two or three hours, you could plan ahead and cook in advance.

This year the power cuts come with no warning and several times a week.

I rent a two-roomed cottage on a larger property. I have candleholders and matches in all the rooms, including the toilet. When the cut comes I walk around lighting candles.

The quality of the candles we get in Zimbabwe is appalling. Cheap Chinese imports that foam and froth rather than smoothly melt down like our Zimbabwe-made candles used to do.

The matches are just as bad; they break off and spit out a spark rather than strike and burn. It can take ten matches to light one candle.

As well as lighting the candles, I also (and this is very important) go around switching off all the lights at the wall, and I disconnect my TV from the wall. There is nothing worse than being woken up in the middle of the night by a sudden blaze of light when the power comes back on!

The only thing worse is when you find your TV no longer works because a power surge blew out its delicate electrics.

My mother has stopped going to her Bible Studies group because the power cuts are unpredictable. The church cannot afford to pay for candles.

She said that at her last meeting, when they were forced to stop reading their Bibles, her group sat and talked in the dark, mostly about how much we needed our government to be changed so solutions could be found.

When I heard that, I thought to myself that that was a true sign that God was on the side of the people! I have started to pray for more power cuts at meetings so people sit and talk together about the need for change.

When the electricity goes off during the night there is a sense of stillness and total silence that is hard to explain.

I am not a brave person during power cuts, so rather than enjoying the silence my ears strain for the sounds of burglars who I am convinced like to use the blackout to creep about undetected!

Last year my ears would be trying to hear thuds and clinks of burglar tools in between the loud clatter of someone's petrol generator a few blocks down. But I've not been hearing as much of the generator recently - I suspect the price and scarcity of petrol has put an end to that solution.

Power cuts are a supermarkets' worst nightmare. The shop where I buy my groceries stopped stocking certain kinds of groceries a long time ago. Ice cream - a luxury I couldn't afford anyway - was the first to go. Essentials like milk are a bit risky. Sometimes the shop leaves them in the fridge and just waits for it to re-chill when the fridge comes on.

I buy it and often don't know that it's sour until I get home. Forget about refunds in this economy; besides, how do you prove it was the power cut in the shop fridge that made it go sour rather than a power cut affecting your fridge?

We have had three power cuts so far this week. My aunt's son works at ZESA (Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority) and he told me yesterday that South Africa have not supplied electricity to Zimbabwe for three weeks now.

He said we used to get about 40% of our electricity from them, but because Zimbabwe can no longer pay its bills and we owe them a lot of money, they have started to switch us off. Is this about money or is it maybe 'quiet diplomacy' in action?

My 'freezer' is a tiny compartment over my very old fridge that has managed to keep going through it all. If the power cut is longer than a few hours, and it often is, I'm mopping water off the floor. Any longer than that and the meat defrosts and starts to smell funny, especially during the hot months. So I don't store meat and perishables anymore; I can't afford to throw things away.

I was moaning about this at the butchery where I occasionally buy meat. The person serving me just laughed and pointed to their large freezers: only one out of the three they had was working. Two had 'blown out' due to power surges and they can't get spare parts to repair them. The third stocked frozen chickens and cuts of meat packed in plastic. "How do you think we feel when all that goes off?" he said. He has a point.

Hope, a Sokwanele activist

Comments

[Keith Mears, Gauteng, South Africa 30 Mar 2007 06:30:52]

By their decision to give carte blanche to the Mugabe regime the SADC conference has chosen to swap the genuine needs of the Zimbabwean people for the self serving anti western rhetoric that categorises politics in Africa, the whole problem in Zimbabwe is not about Robert Mugabe, it is about the plight of the Zimbabwean people, once again the countries surrounding this sorry nation have deserted the people, the crisis in Zimbabwe was not precipitated by the western powers nor is it anything to do with Mugabes confiscation of white owned land, these are merely symptoms of a corrupt african regime that has once again failed the people it is supposed to represent to enrich a ruling elite, the very thing that was supposed to be the essence of colonialism, it would appear that if you have a dark skin in African politics you are allowed to do anything to other people of a similar complexion and any criticisms by people of a paler complexion are dismissed as racist. The time for talking about Zimbabwe is long past, while the Southern African leaders are enjoying the luxury of their conference more people in Zimbabwe are dying, dying because their "leaders" choose to play politics instead of doing something.

[andy Zambia 29 Mar 2007 21:53:46]

you got what you voted for

[Pete of swadlincote 29 Mar 2007 21:32:03]

Message for sarah.

Don't ask me to come up with the answer here. That is what we pay politicians a fortune to do. I am merely commenting that their mess will lead me to pay for it as usual.
We always try to look for solutions when a bit of preventative action is always better. Zimbabwe has been brewing for years.

[Tammi, Alberta, Canada 29 Mar 2007 19:34:41]

Hi Hope, Thank you for the insider's look into the terrible life Zimbabweans are suffering under 'Comrade' Mugabe. Although I'm sure he never expected it to happen, Bob really put his foot in it when he tried to stop the prayer meeting by dispensing his usual brutal treatment, and this has the world focussed (for the moment) on your unfortunate situation. Hopefully this time they will take action, or SADC will realise that they cannot allow this to continue. Whatever might happen, my thoughts and prayers are with all of you battling to get through each and every day.

Khalid, I'd be most interested in hearing exactly HOW the WESTERN WORLD forced this inhumane life on Zimbabwe! Perhaps we inhabit different worlds, because as far as I am aware it is the WESTERN WORLD (through various aid agencies) which has been feeding Zimbabwe throught their 'drought' years and the past 8 years of recession.

[Andre Engelbrecht-Haverhill, UK 29 Mar 2007 16:49:15]

I was born in Zimbabwe and went through the times of change from Rhodesia and into independence to the now informous Zimbabwe. The country had unity, prosperity, wealth and most importantly we loved our country and our neighbours. It saddens me to see now what has happened to this once most beautiful country in the world and how 27 years ago the world took part in its transformation to independence. Why now has the world turned their backs on all those millions of Zimbabweans leaving them to a life of poverty and dictatership. I pray everyday for the people of Zimbabwe that one you will have that freedom you once enjoyed, remember where you came from and rememebr your brothers around the world have not forgotten you, remain strong and never give up on hope, because hope is a powerful thing that will see you to freedom once again. God bless.

[Patience, Zimbabwean girl out of my country 29 Mar 2007 16:31:40]

I am 13 years old. Last year my family had to run away from Zimbabwe and leave my father there. My mother and my sisters were threatened that we will all die if my father supports the MDC anymore. But my father is very brave and he has stayed in our country to fight Mugabes army even if he is beaten and killed. I wish Mugabe will die so we can all go back home and my father will be safe. Mugabe is a terrible terrible man. what can we do.

[South African in Switzerland 29 Mar 2007 16:11:43]

The situation in Zimbabwe which is being so conveniently ignored is an absolute outrage! I hope and pray that the media coverage of the situation will FORCE the rest of the world to take action. Keep this blog alive until Mugabe gets axed along with all his corrupt supporters...........Mr Thabo Mbeki, you're one of those!
I am all for "Brute Force" in order to bring an end to the Zimbabweans suffering.

[Dave S 29 Mar 2007 16:11:08]

Hang in there Hope. For there is Hope. His day will come. Lets keep the media in this, lets keep beating the drums. Zimbabwe will be free (no help from the Blair Gov)Zimbabwe will be free. I too have family still in Zimbabwe and it is just too harsh for words. Pamberi ne Zimbabwe.
a white zimbabwean. London

[Andre Engelbrecht-Haverhill, UK 29 Mar 2007 15:13:51]

I was born in Zimbabwe and went through the times of change from Rhodesia and into independence to the now informous Zimbabwe. The country had unity, prosperity, wealth and most importantly we loved our country and our neighbours. It saddens me to see now what has happened to this once most beautiful country in the world and how 27 years ago the world took part in its transformation to independence. Why now has the world turned their backs on all those millions of Zimbabweans leaving them to a life of poverty and dictatership. I pray everyday for the people of Zimbabwe that one you will have that freedom you once enjoyed, remember where you came from and remember your brothers around the world have not forgotten you. Remain strong and never give up on hope, because "HOPE" is a powerful thing that will see you to freedom once again. God bless.

[anne of Horsham 29 Mar 2007 13:14:48]

I have been reading this all week and HOPE to read again tommorrow. What is happening is brutal and unjustified. Mugabe has no shame and no soul. Once he is gone it will take years to repair the damage, and if that means giving money to Zimbabwe, so be it. We in Europe have stood back and allowed this to happen, like a lot of people in comments have already pointed out - No oil? No help!
Hope, I would love for your blog to here continue longer than a week, but stay safe.

[Excited and scared - in Harare 29 Mar 2007 12:49:23]

One of the mixed blessings of the brutality of this government is that finally, with the recent government initiated violence, we are back in the news! Its easier for me to log on to the internet and read about whats happening in the city i live in, then it is to hear about it on the news here, be it radio or tv etc. It is of huge importance for us that we remain as a presence on your and other news channels - to be kept in mind, so to speak. As long as we remain in the news the pressure remains on the government and Mugabe, and the SADC leaders around us. We live in fear of another 'more dramatic' or newsworthy story kicking us out of the news and out of the minds of our neighbours and the rest of the world. Thank you for the blogging space on your website and your efforts to keep us public. The people in our country need to be present in all of your minds as we tackle this ferocious and ruthless regime.

[Nokthula, Zimbabwean in London 29 Mar 2007 12:35:06]

I remember the days when we could buy a screw driver and it worked, instead of snapping in half in your hand. Or a plastic toy that lasted longer than a week. Or a shirt that didn't unravel at the seams after wearing it for three days. Or a candle that burned. Or a pot that could cope with the heat on a fire.

The Chinese goods are TERRIBLE. My family complain about them all the time.

And the Chinese airplanes mugabe bought !!!! I am very scared of them.

Every time I'm about to fly back to Zimbabwe I get told another story of how yet another one was grounded and going nowhere or needing repair or forced to land. I'd rather walk than get on one of those!

But the best story I heard was about how one plane load of passengers was forced off a flight they were on (an old plane) and onto one of the new 'zhing zhong' planes instead. Why? Because even Mugabe is scared to fly 'zhing zhong' and he wanted the old plane to go somewhere.

Lets all bring about change and bring back Zimbabwe's manufacturing and production and say No No No to chinese rubbish in our country.

[Sarah, Birmingham 29 Mar 2007 11:41:53]

Message for Pete of swadlincote - nice to see you being so supportive and understanding.
Being so wise, exactly how you you suggest "we" go about tackling this situation when we are unable to, other than by brutal force, get in to the country to help.

[Pete of swadlincote 29 Mar 2007 09:52:39]

As always, we let it happen, then wring our hands. No doubt the british taxpayer will have to stump up more funds to bail out this mess. Obviously not enough oil in Zimbabwe to consider preventative action.

[Khalid 29 Mar 2007 09:34:08]

Hope, reading your blog today makes me quite ashamed that the western world has enforced such inhumane life on Zimbabwe.

We hear day in day out about the UN, the IMF, the EU and the US, whom so deploy funds to projects of destruction without any hesitation.

Yet when it comes to preserving life, politics comes before pleasure.

Here's living on hope!

[priyazim, bulawayo 29 Mar 2007 09:07:48]

Speaking of candles - the infamous, locally made or cheap(?) Chinese imports are hazards waiting to cause a disaster. Last evening there was another power cut - unannounced as usual, but I knew I would be 'powerless' on my way home as the traffic lights weren't operating, but that's another story.
Trying to light the candles requires patience and tolerance, two qualities that appear to be on the wane at the moment. A box of local matches, containing approximately 45 'sticks' is priced between $500 and $800 - most of which break or don't light at all. Once you've had success in lighting your candles, you sit and wait, in the ominous silence, except for the buzzing of mosquitoes, waiting for the power to return; only the spluttering of the candles for company. Unlike Insider, I unplug all my electrical appliances, switch ON my non-existent lights and, if the power outage appears to be a long one, head off to bed, only to be awakened by lights being switched on when power has been restored. It's then a case of getting out of bed, plugging in your electrical appliances, switching off the lights and returning to bed with the thought of what the morrow has in store. I wonder whether today will bring good news or bad. I have a feeling it'll be indifferent!