Wednesday April 4
I am writing this on the first day of the stayaway. The first part was written by hand on paper to be typed up later, because the day started with a power cut. There are power cuts every day now, and I consider this to be Robert Mugabe's personal way of telling me that I need to take action.
When the lights go out, I picture our President and say out loud "Thank you for reminding me!"
I'm getting mixed reports about the success of the stayaway. My REAL war vet friend confirmed that the shop next door to his is closed today. It feels like a small milestone because that guy was really very very scared. To think he held his nerve makes me proud of him. I felt like cheering.
The roads earlier this morning were much quieter than usual in the early part of the day. There was hardly any school rush hour between 7 and 7.30am, but today is also the last day of school term. Either our children are all enjoying a stayaway too, or their parents have taken the opportunity to have a long extended weekend? It's hard to tell.
At about 8am you usually see the work rush to town, with cars carrying executives. One friend reported that there were hardly any cars on the road at this time on his route into town, but he did see a rush of expensive 4x4 vehicles, twin cabs, and fancy cars heading along another route towards the industrial area.
His comment: "fat boys scared of losing their fat salary jobs."
Someone else I spoke to said that one of their colleagues had reported that all their workers had turned up for work and that they, the employer, was the only one staying away. So they gave up and went in.
In complete contrast, another friend said that absolutely no one where they worked arrived for work. Their boss had looked in to check but turned around and went home again.
One of my work colleagues was very depressed by the number of shop doors she saw standing open for business when she drove through town today, until she heard about a couple of shops that were open, but very badly staffed.
One shop, for example, which usually has around 40 employees, only had a couple of people arrive for work.
It does mean that we cannot make a real assessment of success based on the number of shop doors open in town, because all that really means is that the employers and managers decided to open the doors. It doesn't tell us how many workers turned up.
Everyone agrees that town was much much quieter this morning but seemed to slowly get busier as the morning dragged on. I hear from friends that Harare was also a lot quieter at the start of the morning, but got busier as the day wore on.
It's a familiar pattern: people start out by staying at home to 'wait and see'. If they think most people are staying closed then they continue staying away, but if they think most are opening, they're scared to be exposed by being one of the few to stay shut and so tend to go in.
But the quieter the day is at the start of a stayaway, the more indication there is of how much people WANT to participate. They only go in because they feel too exposed if they don't.
Intimidation is a real issue for many. For example, word of mouth talk in Harare is that many shop owners were visited in the days before and told to open up shops 'or else'. I didn't hear about a lot of that happening in our town, which makes me wonder whether the police here have the spirit for it
anymore?
I also heard about terrible acts of intimidation via an email message this morning, telling me that about 15 truck loads of riot police had descended on a high density area in Harare late the night before the stayaway started (Monday night).
The police apparently forced people out of their homes and beat many of them before forcing them to sweep and dig holes in the road with their bare hands. The residents were then told: "listen up you people, you are supposed to go to work tomorrow okay, otherwise we are going to beat the hell out of
you".
It is very difficult. I don't judge people for feeling fear, and I am confident that the time will come when they will feel more courage and I really do think that the time is sooner than we think. Examples like the guy working next door to my real war vet friend really give me a boost.
But the government is working hard to cultivate fear and divide people. The Chronicle - or 'The Chronic' as we all call it - today quotes the Minister of Information and Publicity asking people to inform on the organisers and anyone who supports the stayaway.
"The people must also cooperate with the law enforcement agents by reporting those who want to infringe on their rights or coerce them into committing acts of violence."
I can go along with that one! I would encourage everyone to honour his request, and write to the Minister and tell him about the Zanu PF government's infringement on virtually every single right Zimbabweans have and complain about the Zanu PF government's use of violence against us!
Tomorrow is another day of stayaway. Past experience tells me that the second day is the hardest: this is the day you really have to hold your nerve as more and more people trickle back to work. It's also usually when we start to hear the stories of threats and intimidation trickle down.
I have a terrible pain in my stomach ... I really don't think I'm going to be well enough to go to work tomorrow. What a shame.
Hope, a Sokwanele activist
Blogging for Sokwanele at 'This is Zimbabwe'
www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe
I was born in Zimbabwe and left the country just after independence in 1980 and had no idea back then what a terrible mess it would be in today. It is very easy for those of us, who have not experienced the intimidation and fear that ordinary Zimbaweans have to deal with on a daily basis, to suggest that they should stand up and protest (or in this case stay at home). All those who have joined the strike and stayed at home have shown enormous courage in doing so, but we should not be so quick to condemn those who had their reasons for ignoring the boycott.
I feel terrible for those who remain in the country, especially those who have no choice,so it should be up to people like me to pressure their local MPs and force the UK government into some positive action, instead of the hollow rhetoric that has been the substance of many a UK government statement on Zimbabwe.
I have to agree, though, with the simplistic argument that if Zimbabwe enjoyed abundant oil reserves, Mr Bush may well have not sat on his hands and invaded Zimbabwe instead of Iraq!
Posted by: Pauline, London 4 Apr 2007 13:55:54
It's quite sad about the response to the stayaway. Friends of mine both in Harare and Bulawayo tell me the call for a stayaway received a lukewarm reception, a lot of people just couldn't afford the loss of two days' wages. Unless the business fraternity is also brought into the fold of protest, these boycotts will be meaningless. People and the industry need money for food and other demands. This is not going to be a quick fix. There is need for serious dialogue involving the ruling party. Has anyone ever thought what would really happen when the opposition is dislodged unceremoniously? I do, and the future looks bleak. These guys are deep into trouble and they won't allow a new government that would certainly put them on trial, they would rather die fighting than allow that to happen
Posted by: Edward 4 Apr 2007 13:07:16
Yes, there is intimidation in areas where the shops are either open or closed. If your workers have opted to stay-away how can you operate a business without staff, so you close. If your staff have reported for work, you stay open. During previous stay-aways shopkeepers were investigated if they closed and had their shop-windows smashed. I feel a great sympathy for all businesses as they really are between 'a rock and a hard place as are the general populace, who are still employed.
As for the daily power cuts - we have Easter Sunday to look forward to. We've been advised that the whole country will be without power for sixteen hours, commencing 8:00a.m. and now we're informed there has been a 350% increase in tariff charges backdated to 1st April!!! Of course, there will be no compensation for spoiled foodstuffs should the weather be unfavourably hot during the sixteen hour shutdown.
To those of you who've indicated that we deserve everything that's come our way, speaking from the safety of another country, think again before you say we got what we deserve. Please don't judge us for staying. Some of us do, and did not, have the resources to leave. We're here whether we like it or not. To those of you who 'took the gap' and are living comfortably elsewhere, good luck to you - you were the lucky ones, but take a few moments to think about friends and family who are still here.
It is a very emotional time for us all - and there doesn't appear to be any light at the end of this present tunnel. If you have any compassion at all, you'll think of us here - trying to survive - not live - SURVIVE.
We need your blessings and prayers for the difficult times that are sure to follow.
SOON, MAY PEACE REIGN, IN ZIMBABWE.
Posted by: priyazim, Bulawayo 4 Apr 2007 12:23:55