AE News

Zimbabwe: The Stories We Need To Hear
Story by Adele Lo

Far too many of the images used in media reporting and in television fundraising only portray hopelessness in Africa. Even amongst Christians there can be some fatalism – ‘we can’t do anything to change it … that‘s how the world is anyway’.

Anyone on the street could tell you there is a development crisis in Africa, especially if you read the recent news headlines about Zimbabwe. 80% unemployment and inflation at over 1700% and rising – the economy is about to be ‘written off’ like an irreparable car. Women in Zimbabwe are only expected to live until they’re 34 years old and every fourth child is an orphan. It’s hard to imagine things could get much worse.

The statistics are heart wrenching – the real suffering behind the numbers is even worse. It’s understandable for us to experience some sense of hopelessness. But if we attune our ears to the voices of the local people, take the time to hear some of their stories and to look at their responses to the crisis, we’ll see a vision of the future where things can and do change. The people of Zimbabwe are not waiting passively for Western workers to solve their problems. They are coming up with their own active, sometimes ingenious, solutions to the issues they face.

The AE team in Zimbabwe is facing major roadblocks. Transport costs in the country are so high they can take more than 80% of a salary, so most of the team has begun walking the 10km return journey from home to the office each day to save on costs. Even the foxfires, who previously rode bicycles to reach rural areas for ministry, have traded them in to work on foot since the threat of the bikes being stolen has made using them too dangerous.

Yet they counter the difficulties with boldness and determination. The team has increased their weekend work in response to the renewed zeal within mainline churches for outreach. The foxfires are reaching isolated pastors in outlying areas on foot. Though churches are fearful of new visitors to their area because of the risk they could be government spies, the foxfires persevere and invest up to two months in each place to make sure their ministry is effective and the results are lasting.

Sometimes we need to make clear the reality of the difficulties our sisters and brothers in parts of the continent of Africa face in the hope that people will respond. But if we only let negative images in media and television fundraising tell the African story, the hopelessness of the message will put us out of action.

If we let our African friends tell their own story, we’ll see the determination and ingenuity with which they face trouble, and we’ll realise that things can and do change.

Let’s pray with boldness and determination alongside our Zimbabwean friends for justice, peace and resolution in the country; for suffering to be alleviated; and for God to convict the leaders to protect their people.

African Enterprise Canada is a part of the Micah Network. We encourage you to read the International Micah Challenge statement on Zimbabwe issued on the 30th March 2007

Adele is a supporter and faithful friend of AE’s ministry. She works for Jubilee Australia as a debt campaigner where she is primarily responsible for communication and fundraising. Adele’s passion is to work toward freeing people in underdeveloped nations from the traps of poverty and injustice.