Opinion / Columnist
Tsvangirai's day in the Zambezi Valley
11 Feb 2015 at 16:10hrs | Views
MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai and his convoy slowly drove down the Mavhuradonha Mountain range into the Zambezi escarpment, the picturesque scenery slowly devouring us as we descended into the belly of this vast, desolate valley.
We entered amid the customary searing heat of the valley of Mahuwe in Mbire, inspired and spurred on only by the chastity of the mission of Morgan Tsvangirai - the mission to assist the victims of the floods that had ravaged this valley and wrecked people's livelihoods.
The convoy snaked its way through a dusty rugged road to Mushumbi Pools, and then turned right for about an hour towards Chikafa using what was at best a rough, wet, muddy and slippery pathway.
At Nyambudzi School, there was what was supposed to be a major Zanu-PF event with less than 10 people being presided over by Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs minister Martin Dinha.
At Nyambudzi Village, MDC president Tsvangirai was greeted by thousands of people who included traditional leaders and ordinary people in this desolate community whose livelihoods had been severely wrecked by floods.
Some non-governmental organisations such as the Red Cross Society had chipped in but were dismally failing to cope with the magnitude of this human catastrophe that even the elderly in the community have not seen since they were born.
Upon hearing of Tsvangirai's impending visit, the government, that had not assisted since disaster struck, suddenly sent one truck with some few food packs that were grossly inadequate considering the number of the distressed families.
The villagers complained about discrimination in the distribution of goodies, especially by government officials who were politicising this catastrophe and assisting people on partisan lines.
Only the previous day, the villagers said, a colonel from the army had threatened them with death if ever they accepted whatever assistance Tsvangirai would bring to the community.
The MDC leader brought blankets, tents and food packs for over 100 families.
"This disaster was not selective on whether one was MDC or Zanu-PF. No one should politicise any assistance brought here, which assistance should be given to everyone regardless of political affiliation.
"I know the traditional leaders here are going to do a good job to ensure that no one is discriminated against," Tsvangirai said, to thunderous applause from the villagers and the more than 25 traditional leaders who attended the ceremony.
From Nyambudzi Village, Tsvangirai visited the homes of victims of political violence, including MDC activist Misheck Simbi, whose house was destroyed by Zanu-PF thugs in the violence of 2008.
As we left Nyambudzi, I noted that the people's morale was low; that indeed their spirits were as low and desolate as the valley itself!
Their crops were destroyed and the economic strain of the country was palpable in this escarpment; the poverty so human with the rugged fields sending their own loud message of imminent starvation!
The crest-fallen and ashen faces of the villagers told their own story of penury, especially in the wake of this disaster where once again, the so-called Civil Protection Unit was exposed!
Towards nightfall, Tsvangirai and his aides drove out of this shattered community, the MDC leader having played his part as a patriotic Zimbabwean to bring back the smiles by assisting fellow countrymen in distress.
But as we drove up the Mavhuradonha Mountain, we knew very well that we were leaving a people with a broken spirit; the evidence of debilitating disaster and a fallen economy so palpable in the valley.
But there is so much spin nowadays to deny that anything has fallen; even the economy.
Yes, the economy has not just fallen; it has tripped over the poorly laid carpet of misgovernance, policy inconsistency and downright incompetence on the part of the party in government!
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Tamborinyoka doubles as the presidential spokesperson and director of information in the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai.
We entered amid the customary searing heat of the valley of Mahuwe in Mbire, inspired and spurred on only by the chastity of the mission of Morgan Tsvangirai - the mission to assist the victims of the floods that had ravaged this valley and wrecked people's livelihoods.
The convoy snaked its way through a dusty rugged road to Mushumbi Pools, and then turned right for about an hour towards Chikafa using what was at best a rough, wet, muddy and slippery pathway.
At Nyambudzi School, there was what was supposed to be a major Zanu-PF event with less than 10 people being presided over by Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs minister Martin Dinha.
At Nyambudzi Village, MDC president Tsvangirai was greeted by thousands of people who included traditional leaders and ordinary people in this desolate community whose livelihoods had been severely wrecked by floods.
Some non-governmental organisations such as the Red Cross Society had chipped in but were dismally failing to cope with the magnitude of this human catastrophe that even the elderly in the community have not seen since they were born.
Upon hearing of Tsvangirai's impending visit, the government, that had not assisted since disaster struck, suddenly sent one truck with some few food packs that were grossly inadequate considering the number of the distressed families.
The villagers complained about discrimination in the distribution of goodies, especially by government officials who were politicising this catastrophe and assisting people on partisan lines.
Only the previous day, the villagers said, a colonel from the army had threatened them with death if ever they accepted whatever assistance Tsvangirai would bring to the community.
The MDC leader brought blankets, tents and food packs for over 100 families.
"This disaster was not selective on whether one was MDC or Zanu-PF. No one should politicise any assistance brought here, which assistance should be given to everyone regardless of political affiliation.
"I know the traditional leaders here are going to do a good job to ensure that no one is discriminated against," Tsvangirai said, to thunderous applause from the villagers and the more than 25 traditional leaders who attended the ceremony.
From Nyambudzi Village, Tsvangirai visited the homes of victims of political violence, including MDC activist Misheck Simbi, whose house was destroyed by Zanu-PF thugs in the violence of 2008.
As we left Nyambudzi, I noted that the people's morale was low; that indeed their spirits were as low and desolate as the valley itself!
Their crops were destroyed and the economic strain of the country was palpable in this escarpment; the poverty so human with the rugged fields sending their own loud message of imminent starvation!
The crest-fallen and ashen faces of the villagers told their own story of penury, especially in the wake of this disaster where once again, the so-called Civil Protection Unit was exposed!
Towards nightfall, Tsvangirai and his aides drove out of this shattered community, the MDC leader having played his part as a patriotic Zimbabwean to bring back the smiles by assisting fellow countrymen in distress.
But as we drove up the Mavhuradonha Mountain, we knew very well that we were leaving a people with a broken spirit; the evidence of debilitating disaster and a fallen economy so palpable in the valley.
But there is so much spin nowadays to deny that anything has fallen; even the economy.
Yes, the economy has not just fallen; it has tripped over the poorly laid carpet of misgovernance, policy inconsistency and downright incompetence on the part of the party in government!
--------------
Tamborinyoka doubles as the presidential spokesperson and director of information in the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai.
Source - dailynews
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