203 people holding a country of 10 million to ransom.

Zimbabwe - Laughter, back slapping and prolonged hand shakes were the order of the day when I met a friend this week. His 13 year old daughter had passed her junior school exams and got enough points to be accepted into senior school. Dad's face was creased with smiles as he told me what subjects had been passed and how delighted he was that his little girl was on the way now, nearly a young woman. This momentous occasion, a time of considerable pride and achievement is particularly commendable after 10 years of economic collapse which left most schools virtually closed and without teachers, books or equipment. My congratulations to a proud Dad were short lived as now he, and hundreds of thousands of others like him, face the nightmare of getting their children through senior school and up to their O Levels.

Barely a fortnight into the new term at senior school, my friend's daughter was sent home. The shame and embarrassment were evident by the dusty tear stains on her face. Her father had only managed to pay half of the school fees and so the girl was told to go away until she could pay the full amount due - US$60. She knew her Dad didn't have any more money for school fees, he'd already spent another US$ 40 buying the required 18 exercise books, a new school dress, socks and satchel; luckily her old shoes were the right colour and still fitted. And so, for want of US$ 30, a 13 year old girl was turned away from school this week.

Even if my friend manages to get his daughter back into school, her education is far from secure as Zimbabwe's long suffering teachers have finally said enough is enough and are threatening to strike. Earning just US$ 160 a month, our teachers can't even afford to educate their own children, let alone teach others. Their monthly salary doesn't even cover the utilities bills charged by the same government they work for. With domestic household electricity averaging US 80 a month and water and municipal bills being another US 80 a month, there is nothing left from a teacher's pay to buy food, pay for transport, medical needs or even buy a teenage girl a pair of socks for school. The teachers say they want salaries increased to at least US $ 630 a month - which is what they could earn if they were teaching in countries in the region. Our government say they don't have the money and so a crisis is imminent.

Teachers, like everyone else, are saying the government should be using the Chiadzwa diamond money to fund the country's expenses and rebuild Zimbabwe. Diamonds which are estimated to be worth £125 million (US 205 million) every month. Human Rights groups say that when hundreds of soldiers were sent in to the Chiadzwa diamond fields to evict small scale miners in November 2008, between 200 and 400 people were shot by the soldiers.

Think of this: More people were killed by the army than are affected by sanctions. You have to say it again to understand the enormity of it: 200 - 400 diamond diggers were killed by soldiers in Chiadzwa in November; compared to only 203 powerful and already privileged Zanu PF individuals on a targeted sanctions list. 203 people holding a country of 10 million to ransom. So what's changed?

©Copyright cathy buckle 19 December 2009.

www.cathybuckle.com

For information on my new book: "INNOCENT VICTIMS" or my previous
books, "African Tears" and "Beyond Tears," or to
subscribe/unsubscribe to this newsletter, please write to: cbuckle@mango.zw

COMMENTS

View disclaimer

 

responses to this article

They took up arms against Ian Smith, but why not against the Zanu PF? In the past, Rhodesia was known as the breadbasket of Southern Africa. There was no starvation. Yet, the blacks took up arms against the Smith government. Today, many are starving, the economy has collapsed and millions have fled. Why . .more don't they rise up and take up arms like they did against the Smith government? Answer: because blacks seem to enjoy being oppressed and exploited, as long as the oppressor is black too. People get the government they deserve. This includes black Zimbos. God helps those who helps themselves. Until such time as they start resisting the Zanu-PF regime by taking up arms like they did against the Rhodesian government, I've got no sympathy with their plight whatsoever. At the moment, they deserve to eat rats while Grace Mugabe shops in the Champs-Elysees. . .less by Afrikaner on February 06 2010, 23:54 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

As the song says: "Find the cost of freedom buried in the ground". by Dave on February 07 2010, 01:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Afrikaner They prefer Robert to Ian Smith's shaft by African on February 07 2010, 01:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Cathy you are lucky actuallt because we have Zuma Zuma at 67 is still having unprotected exrtramarital sex and having even more kids and this is the best the ANC can produce. It is just horryfyingly embarrassing to have a President who behaves like an out of control sex mad irresponsible teenager. . .more He promotes AIDS, sex without condoms, breeding of ridiculous irresponsible numbers of kids, marrying as many woman as you want (not that his choices are of the Naomi Campbell quality but still), extra marital sex with girls about 30 years younger than him and this is the leader chosen by those representing some 50 million blacks. Presumably this behaviour is encouraged and supported by them otherwise he would be made to resign today. So we presume this is the typical accepted behaviour of black people after all their own leader promotes this by his actions. You think you have problems in Zim? . .less by Zuma at it yet again on February 07 2010, 04:38 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Another thought ... I know no one who will believe what he says ever again given his track record. Can this really be the very best the Blacks can offer the country? Imagine how the world leaders must be laughing? Zapiro bring back the shower. I only wish he somehow . .more becomes unavailable for any reason I do not care and dissappears to his harem today so he can do what he does best without us having to be exposed to it. . .less by Zuma at it again on February 07 2010, 04:41 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Those brave african heroes 204 terrorising 10 millions? I would have thought that soewhere, someone would have understood what is meant by the "Caucescu option". Alas, all that Africans can do is sing and dance and have culturally important sex with thousands of . .more partners. Yhey are pretty good at obeying their savage tribal ciefs and breaking down everything that the white man brought and which creates and builds nations elsewhere. In Africa,, as Caesear sadi, everything is different. Life expectancy in Zimbabwe now down to the low forties ( it's only 47 in SA for any of those moronic black mushrooms who think SA is doing just fine thanks). One has to hand it to mugabe. progress under him has been spectacular. Progress from Industrialized, urban society to a more australopithecine tree climnbing one. Who needs education in Africa? Everybody will pass and we will have brain surgeons who do not know how to use a knife and fork and yet will have university diplomas stating their competence for wielding scalpels. Truly a progressive continent. . .less by Plutarch on February 07 2010, 05:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

be realistic come on Guys, our country are much better of under Zuma than Mbeki ....his love for women does not impact his ability to govern by john on February 07 2010, 05:51 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

I have the same comment each time Zimbabwe is just plan pathetic. And by extension the Zimabweans themselves are just as pathetic for allowing it to happen. As one above said, take the "Caucescu option". Africans are great at fighting the colonialists, but when their own "chief" . .more does to to them they lie down and die quite easily. . .less by Dave on February 07 2010, 08:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Apologies - spelling mistake. Should be "plain pathetic" not plan of course. by Dave on February 07 2010, 08:18 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

They are useless They are fkn useless by Bok on February 07 2010, 12:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Cathy Your freind (like almost every other black Zimbabwean) does not want his daughter educated at all. The proof of this statement is that he (and his freinds) have neither shot landmined, raped, strangled or burnt any of the 203! If he did . .more want his daughter educated he would have voted for the Rhodesian front and Ian Smith in 1980 and all elections since instead of ZANU/PF and Robert Mugabe he and his freinds would also have desisted from shooting landmining, raping, strangling or burning those who were actually feeding educating and medicating him his family and his freinds. So he and his freinds have EXACTLY what they so desperately wanted. Why is he therefore not dancing in the streets with happiness? . .less by andrewa on February 07 2010, 12:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

BLACK AFRICA I TOLD YOU SO , SA UNDER BLACK RULE IS P HUKED . THE BLACKS ARE P HUKING SAVAGES , THE POLICE BLACK SAVAGE IN POLICE UNIFORM IS THE PERSON TO BE SCARED OF , POWER IS A BLACK SAVAGE OUT OF CONTROL . I TOLD YOU SO , VIVA SA VIVA . .more , VIVA RAPE BABY RAPE VIVA , VIVA NO JOBS FOR WHITES , INDIANS , COLOUREDS , POOR BLACKS VIVA . ONLY ELITE BLACKS AND FRIENDS GET JOB VIVA VIVA . BLACKS IN UNIFORM IN SA AND AFRICA WITH A GUN SCARE THE S*** OUT OF ME . . .less by Dilligaf on February 07 2010, 12:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

breaking news Zuma (the prancing P**** president) has said that it was the intensity of the armed struggle and not F.W. de Klerk's magnanimous gesture which "liberated" SA. I agree with Zuma 100%. I would add, though, that being a person who had a smattering . .more of education and the european notions (totally absent in africans) of embarrasment and morality de klerk realised that the maintenance of white rule was not worth millions of lives. Now translate this to Zimbabwe ( and shortly, to SA). There also, the "struggle" created notions of democracy in people who believe in witches and who hence do not have a clue about the requirements of democracy (but that's another story). Mugabe like his black thugs everywhere in Africa does not give a tinker's cuss about embarrasment and cannot spell morality let alone do it ( like Zuma and his ilk) and therefeore he cares not a jot for the deaths of tens of millions. If he was white he would be public enemy # 1 amongst blacks and brought before the Int Court of justice in The Hague. He is black and therefore a hero amongst blacks who seem lemming-like in their desire to die poor, miserable, and sick . .less by Plutarch (again) on February 07 2010, 12:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

HAITI FUNNY WHEN THE BLACKS ARE IN THE S*** THEY NEED THE WHITES , YET ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS KILL THE WHITES . THE BLACKS ARE A THOUSAND YEARS BACKWARDS . by DILLIGAF on February 07 2010, 12:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The TBVC states also ended up with dictators. It is senseless to introduce democracy where people have no regard for it. SA has also gone from a struggle for freedom to struggle to maintain some civilization. by RT on February 07 2010, 12:44 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

ANC UNDER ANC BLACK RULE THEY WILL BE NO CIVILIZATION IN 10 YEARS TIME . IT WILL BE ZIMBABWE AGAIN . ITS THE A FRICAN W AY OF DOING THINGS . by DILLIGAF on February 07 2010, 12:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@DILLIGAF spew spew spew... say something worthwhile... Here's a start for you - dont fear, its a wasted emotion... www.sagoodnews.co.za by Invictus on February 07 2010, 15:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ Invictus GOOD TRY , GET RID OF BEEE, BBBEEE,BBBEE ETC , AA AND OTHER RACIAL C*** FIRST .. YOU ARE BLIND AND STUPID JUST LIKE THE RACIST BLACKS ANC IN CHARGE OF SA . APARTHEID IN REVERSE , ONLY THE BLACKS , ANC KILLED MORE OF THERE OWN . .more PEOPLE THAN THE WHITES EVER DID . UNDER BLACK RULE IN SA THE BLACKS ARE DIEING LIKE FLY'S . VIVA ANC VIVA , VIVA BLACK RULE VIVA . PW BOTHA MUST BE PROUD OF THE ANC THE AMOUNT OF BLACKS THEY HAVE WIPED OUT . ITS THE AFRICAN W ay of thinking , the t ribal w ay of doing things in africa . viva . . .less by Dilligaf on February 07 2010, 18:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Afrikaner is right Having been through it all up there, I have to say Afrikaner you are dead right, and Plutarchs "lemming-like" description is very true. And from some of the black comments on M-W I see that even many educated blacks cannot see the precipice coming . .more closer as they race towards it. . .less by ex-Rhodie on February 08 2010, 00:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

no hope ... Amazing species - the african two legged mammal ... They hate the white man - want to kick him out of every country, do not give credit for any contribution that was made in africa, keep going on about colonialism/exploitation etc etc. . .more etc. but then why do tens of thousands of africans do everything in their power to get to europe - the place of the hated white colonialists? why when there is a disaster eg. haiti, do only the western european nations provide any assistance? Where was Jamaica, Trinidad offering to take orphans/refugees ... why does Nigeria not offer large amounts of cash? Basically africans do not give a damn about anyone ecept themselves ... hence the corruption lack of any form of delivery - just keep the money for myself, doesn't matter if people/children die? . .less by Colonialist on February 08 2010, 03:44 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

3rd world people create 3rd world countries It is very sad that even with the example of Zimbabwe right on our doorstep, the masses and their leaders will still insist on pushing South Africa ever further towards Zimbabwe. They refuse to understand cause & effect, that is why they . .more will get what they deserve, not what they want. . .less by Capitalist on February 08 2010, 08:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

SA is ruled by 20 people The NEC which runs the ANC and therefore the government has 20 people. Look at the individuals passed track record and you will understand that it is just a matter of time before we go the same route. by Realist on February 09 2010, 01:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zim Not having any food is bad, not having a job is even worse BUT not doing things the "white man's way" is priceless. Indeed it makes up for all the rest! For Zimbabwe the saying is really true: "it is better to reign in hell than to serve in . .more heaven." One can only shake your head in disbelief. . .less by R2D2 on February 09 2010, 03:51 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ R2D2 Well Said, Coming to a cinma near you (SA is going the exact same way) by Buddy on February 09 2010, 04:57 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

duck zimbos duck all u useless chicken liver zimbos u are all so pathetic import some Taliban, they can help u get rid of your despots by sudanstud on February 09 2010, 22:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Name
Subject
Comment

View disclaimer