Almost 17 years since l left Zimbabwe, Mugabe’s rule in Zimbabwe is finally over. I’m stunned, perplexed. Here we are in a country that is ‘Mugabe-less’ for the first time in 37 years. It’s extraordinary. I have mixed
emotions and feelings. As you are aware l lost my Dad and could not attend the funeral, maybe with time I will have a final closer to pay my respect to my hero Shadreck Dziyi Moyo.
I and my family and general Zimbabweans were in a limbo not knowing what will come of the ‘coup’. As you are aware we still have families in Zimbabwe some are so fragile it would have been practically impossible for them if there was need to run away from the not so called “coup”. We feared for the worse, the anxiety, and tension not knowing what will be the outcome. The worse fear was whenever the army is involved there’s always blood shed, thank God that when faced with difficulties Zimbabweans generally resort to praying, Thank God he answered our prayers instantly and there was “no loss of blood”.
I had long assumed that Mugabe – who “held 15 million people at ransom to the weird machinations of some depraved mind” – would die in power. I hope that Zimbabwe will get leadership that is worthy of the people.
The Zimbabwean people should say never again to someone like Mugabe. We can’t have a despot like that again. Never, never again. Zimbabweans deserve better.
And yet what replaces Mugabe’s regime in Zimbabwe remains uncertain. Mugabe’s successor, his former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa, “is cut from the same cloth,” “You could argue that this man was the leader or Intelligence Head when 20 000 defenceless people from my tribe were massacred in Matabeleland and Midlands. As a Christian l have learnt to forgive but not to forget.
There is still bitterness and anger in my region as the issues have never or the government not addressed them as some of us lost relatives to what the then President said was a moment of madness.
I still cannot help but be optimistic. You want to give someone the benefit of the doubt. If there’s the opportunity for them to bring better change for the country – well, you give them a chance.
Charity work, advocacy, mentoring asylum seekers, asylum seekers in detention and helping asylum and refugees in prisoners, are altogether more fulfilling and has kept me going.
What really shocked me most was the interest of my children especially those that are grown up, who were interested in the development at home. I never at any given time did envisage matters of this nature will or are so dear to their hearts, what this showed me is home is home, no matter where you are.
The sleepless nights, WhatsApp messages kept us abreast of what was happening in Zimbabwe both at work and night time messages were flowing with vital information, as the diaspora we were privileged to have first-hand information as opposed to people at home, we kept them updated of all the developments.
I said to some of my fellow countrymen both in the diaspora and in Zimbabwe, the internet providers are smiling all the way to the bank. People wanted to have ‘bundles’ or top up on their phones in order for them to be kept updated on development.
The day the terrain fell; l just couldn’t believe what l was seeing. I was witnessing history. Mugabe is gone. God is great. Sometimes I still think that this is too good to be true.
There’s a saying that goes, when you are a good dancer you should leave the stage while people are asking for more. Mugabe over stayed his.
I now believe my children will be afforded the chance to rebuild the lost relationship with their relatives at home. Our families are broken down. Grandmothers sing happy birthday to their grandchildren on skype and some children laugh at the way our parents pronounce words. This is a sad situation indeed, which will be very difficult to amend. Relatives don’t even know each other. Mugabe has destroyed the fabric of the
Zimbabwean society.
The Irish American has helped in building their country we hope to do the same as diaspora Zimbabweans doted all over the world. I can’t wait to visit my country and be part of rebuilding process.
Thank you Wales for been so accommodating and welcoming.
Thank you City United Reformed Church for prayers through it all.
Ngiyabonga UThixo alibusise.
Thank you God bless you.
Themba Moyo
