Tensions between Zimbabweans who have been in SA for a long time…
Posted by Nxwala on December 23, 2009
…and those who have just arrived. Do these groups try and help each other?
Many Zimbabweans all over the world started migrating during the liberation struggle and later during the times of Gukurahundi, and the number rose to millions in the late nineties. Many civic organizations were then formed in a way to help refugees with food, health services and accommodation provisions. I believe much has been done but there is still a long way to go. Look at the situation in the Methodist church in Johannesburg, or the fact that more than three thousand refugees sleep in the streets, most of whom are youths who are supposed to be in schools and universities, yet not many organizations have done much help academically.
A serious issue is the tension between different groups in the Diaspora. Zimbabweans who came to South Africa recently often think that many of those who have been here for long do not participate in the elections, which is why Zanu is always in power. Those who are from Zimbabwe claim they are from the ground at home and know the MDC better than those who have been in South Africa for a long time. Most people who came long ago do not even have Zimbabwean documents. Instead, they got South African documents in 1994 when Nelson Mandela came into power. They do not believe in the vote to remove the regime and rather believe in the armed struggle. They claim they know that Mugabe will not give anybody the leadership of Zimbabwe unless if through an armed struggle. This is what he always emphasizes in every speech he addresses.
When it comes to demonstrations, the crowds will be full of who came recently because they believe in democracy, freedom of expression and protection of their rights. Those who came long back will first check the impact of the demonstration and what differences it will bring to their country Zimbabwe. According to them, demos will not change the regime as they have been done and nothing has changed. Instead, many Zimbabweans are still coming to South Africa, which means the method that is being used must be revisited. If voting is not effective, people must go back to the drawing board and plan something better. This is what the Zimbabweans who have been here a long time claim, and they love the statement made by Desmond Tutu and Tony Blair that Mugabe must be taken out by military force. But many of those who came recently are against this, which causes tensions between the two groups.
I think those who came long back saw how the liberation struggle was attained in Zimbabwe and now in South Africa, they’ve gotten used to violence and shooting, while those who came recently do not know much about using guns. Most of them did not witness Gukurahundi and only know of Murambatsvina. They were seriously victimized by armed forces in Zimbabwe so they do not want anything involving armed force.
When it comes to the election into positions, the ones who came recently become the majority and favor anybody that was at home during the year when MDC was being introduced. They become the majority in two ways: firstly, most of them are unemployed so are always at any gathering, be it an election or demo. Secondly, they have formed organizations, about fifty, and none of them assist those who came long back if they need some form of help. But the refugees who came long ago are also unhelpful to those who came recently. Many of those who came long back have jobs, some even good businesses, yet their hands are not open for suffering Zimbabweans because of all the conflict politically.
Comments
Submit Reply
12-28-2009
2:42 am
Vince
Our problem is that we were ultimately divided as peoples in our country. With a standard of living one of the highest in Africa in 1980 ,this idea that Harareans are better than Bulawayons etc began to manifest itself in many minds. Material wealth above all else became the norm . Zimbabweans enjoy the good life and sharing is hard for many especially if they do not know you . One can say Mugabe taught them well. What is mine is mine but what is yours is mine too.
01-15-2010
7:52 am
D'BONGZ
I WISH ZIM CAN BE A PLACE TO BE.