The other week I was in Zimbabwe. Ian, who is taking over from me when I leave, and myself walked over from South Africa into Zimbabwe. It was quite a surreal experience. Getting into Zimbabwe was easy. I think from entering the South African border to exiting the gates into Zimbabwe the whole thing took like 30 mins. As Ian and I walked over the Limpopo River into Zimbabwe there was quite a sense of excitement and a fair bit of nerves in the two of us. We were no sure what was going to happen on the Zim side. Ian and I were to meet with one of the managers from the transport agents that had taken our container/ Wellness Centre to Beitbridge but we could not get hold of him as the cell (mobile) network was down in Zimbabwe. So we thought we would chance it and go over to see what happens. Maybe we would get lucky and Albert (the manager ) would be waiting for us on the other side.
What was on the other side was quite unexpected. Ian and I were very worried about the real threat of being mugged for money. Zimbabwe is in a state of “desperate times call for desperate measures” But this was not the case. A few black market traders tried to sell us some money and a few people asked us for money. But they did not hassle us. As soon as we said “Sorry can’t help you” they backed off and left us to it. We hung around a bit just out side the gates to the boarder and thought it might be best to walk into the town of Beitbridge. We did and saw loads of people around just being busy doing there thing. Informal traders aplenty. We stopped at one of the clearing agents to see if they could help us with directions to the depot that we were going to or if they could get hold of Albert for us. They were only too happy to arraign for someone to come and fetch us to take us to Albert.
While we waited out side for our lift Ian and I finished off our bottles of ice tea we had brought with us across the boarder. So we were standing there waiting and looking for a place to discard our empty bottles and a young boy came upto us to ask for our bottles. Happily we gave them to him but I think he was happier to have them than we were to be rid of them. Small things that we take for granted can make such a difference to others.
If you have been following the news in recent months you will know that things in Zimbabwe are not great. Inflation in Zimbabwe sits at just over 11,250,000% and 10 zeros were knocked off the currency just so as to make it manageable.
(Click on image for full size)
(Click on image for full size)But despite all this I saw happy people in Zimbabwe, happy people every where. Smiling and laughing. Yes things are very bleak in Zimbabwe but the people in Zimbabwe have not lost there soles or the will to live. They make the most of what they have and get on with life. People I have found in Africa will not be victims to any thing. The atrocities that happen against them seem to make them stronger. I am not just talking about Zimbabweans but all the people I have come across. Weather it be in South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe or Namibia. These people live in harsh environments, where it would be down to politics or just the environment they live in, it makes these people stronger and I have a lot of respect for them.
I guess the moral of the story that these people send out is don’t be the victim but stand strong and fight for your rights in the hope that things will get better. But at the same time I guess they have nothing else so they may as well try and stand strong and hope that the moral of this story comes true.
Getting back into South Africa was another story! Zimbabwe side of things were quick. I guess with no computers they just take your forms and stamp and send you on your way. I wished I had my camera with me but we did not take any thing like that in fear of it being confiscated but did see some truly amazing sights on the bridge as we crossed the Limpopo River. The river is dammed for some reason but you cant really see the dam as its just a little wall so as you look at down steam you have this very odd optical illusion type effect as the water just stops. But what this does do is give the 100’s of crocodiles we say plenty of water to get the 1000’s of fish we could see from the bridge. It was quite a sight.
My short trip into Zimbabwe has taught me that no matter where you are in the world you should be happy with what you have got and that it’s the simple things in life that are important. Be part of the solution not the problem oh and go hug a penguin!
(note – the go hug a penguin comment above kept Ian and I very amused on our 5hr drive to Zimbabwe – it was said in jest in a meeting we had just left earlier in the day and was used in the context that if you did not like something then go take a long walk of a short pier or “go hug a penguin!” – thanks to David P for making our drive so much more interesting for this simple but highly amusing phrase – the simple things in life hey !)
