The Story of Zimbabwe

The story of Zimbabwe is one that will always be contentious no matter which way we look at it. The events leading to its current state are complex and difficult to document in one article. My hope in writing this article is that you may gain an understanding of my country as well as get an idea of how great a God we serve and how He can use anyone to achieve His purposes. Any sentiments expressed here are based on discussions with fellow Zimbabweans, observation and research done by others who are too numerous for me to mention. To these unsung heroes I say thank you. Above all, may the Lord help you to realise your purpose in this world through reading this.

Zimbabwe is a land locked country located in the southern part of Africa. It, like Singapore is a former British colony. Zimbabwe gained its independence from Britain on 18 April 1980, a day that is forever ingrained in its history as the dawn of a new era and the birth of what was thought to be a model African state. From the scars of war, a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation was ushered in by the former guerilla leader now turned Prime Minister, Robert Mugabe. The former "terrorist" was now loved by the West, adored by fellow Africans and revered by his people as the man who had set Zimbabwe "free"... or so we thought...

The period 1980 to 1995 is filled with rapid development and growth with Zimbabwe's literacy level rising to 97% and its health care system being rated the best in Africa. A vibrant democracy (on paper), religious freedom (Christians make up more than 85% of population though), sporting success and a vibrant economy were only but icing on the cake. It was like a fairytale...the utopian African state at last! Or so we thought...

The situation on the ground was different though. The economy though resilient was beginning to feel the effects of the unplanned opening up of markets, as prescribed by the Bretton Woods Institutions. Inflation was rearing its ugly head and as a consequence, social tension. Multi-party democracy was on paper but not very apparent as one party had won nearly all parliamentary seats since independence. More importantly, the actual practicing Christians were less than those who professed to be (about 60%). As the 20th century came to an end, disgruntled and disillusioned former freedom fighters as well as the general populace began to voice their concerns. Food riots and demonstrations broke out and for the first time since independence, the government was facing opposition from the masses. The people were galvanised under the leadership of a trade unionist called Morgan Tsvangirai, a man whose future was forever to be entwined with Zimbabwe's politics.

In order to stop the violence damaging the image of a utopia, the nation's armed forces were called in. Unfortunately this had the opposite effect as pictures of tanks on the streets of the capital city, Harare, were beamed all over the world. As part of measures to pacify the disgruntled war veterans (and as some would say - a means of guaranteeing votes for the next election) it was agreed to make a one-off lump sum payment to all ex-combatants. This unbudgeted expense of close to US$1 billion in local currency caused a massive hole in the country's coffers. The day this decision was made, 13 November 1997, "Black Thursday" as most call it, was the beginning of the end as it were. The following day the Zimbabwe dollar lost value from ZW$14 for US$1 to ZW$26 for US$1 overnight. The stock market lost 40% of its value and the nation awoke to a new reality they unfortunately had little idea of.

From 1997 things went from bad to worse. Most analysts agree that the problem facing Zimbabwe from that time onwards is not a purely economic one but rather a political one. In year 2000 it was agreed that land be expropriated (taken) from white commercial farmers and handed over to landless blacks in order to right colonial wrongs once and for all. At the time about 4000 whites owned 70% of productive land while the 13 million strong black majority was squashed into the remaining 30%; a situation that President Mugabe said had to be corrected then in order to totally emancipate the masses. Admirable some may say, but it would also be wise to listen to other views that encourage us to consider the political landscape at the time. At this time, the ruling party had lost its first election to the opposition in the form of a national referendum on constitutional reform. Presidential elections were due in 2 years and the masses were feeling the pinch of the economic downturn. What better way to ensure victory and regain support than shifting blame to your predecessor (ie the colonialists) and providing FREE land to all those who need it, in this case some 13 odd million voters? (For those who do not understand the value of land, visit a country/city called Singapore and try to buy some!)

The period from 2000 to 2006 when the land invasions officially stopped is full of sordid tales of violence, abuse, corruption and economic upheaval last seen in post Soviet states. The transfer of land to the landless masses though admirable was economic suicide. Agriculture was/is the backbone of Zimbabwe's economy. With the death of commercial farming due to highly productive farm land being given to mostly subsistence farmers and politically well connected individuals, the economy went into tail spin. To use the value of the currency as an indicator, the Zimbabwe dollar had been eroded to the point that as of July 2006, US$1 was now equivalent to ZW$1,000,000 (one million). Thus the term hyperinflation. Hyperinflation does not mean that when you have reached the millions you have hit the ceiling of inflation, it simply means that the rate of inflation is out of control, literally. Several attempts were made to reign in inflation at this time such as debasing (removing zeros) the currency several times. This was all to no avail. The final nail in the coffin came with the controversial June 2008 Presidential elections in which President Mugabe won another 6 year term in office following a disputed re-run. From then on, hyperinflation hit overdrive to use a motoring term. From inflation in the millions of percentages in 2006 by November 2008 it had hit a world record of month on month inflation of 79 million%. Simply said, the price of goods changed by 100% everyday. A loaf of bread was now costing billions of Zimbabwe dollars and the amount of cash required to do a simple transaction was staggering in weight and in bulk. In terms of cumulative inflation, Zimbabwe hit a world record of 89.7 Sextillion% (twenty one zeros) over the 10yrs. By this time US$1 was equivalent to a mind boggling ZW$4Quintillion (eighteen zeros) and as you might expect the country finally shut down. Everything came to a standstill; hospitals closed, schools closed, industry ground to a halt and to add insult to injury, cholera broke loose. Just like the biblical Job, Zimbabwe had lost everything and was well and truly the scum of the earth. Or so we thought....

At this time Zimbabwe and its people were truly alone. Who could help at such a time as this? The Lord says that He causes all things to work together for the good. What good was there when the nation's teaching hospitals were closed? What good is there when starvation is rife? Students from all Universities were just sitted at home worried at what the future held. It is at such times that your faith is tested and your beliefs are questioned - Whose report will you believe? God or the news reporters? God never changes, age to age He stands - He said young people shall dream visions. Where were the visions (and visionaries) in all this mess? There were no visions and no dreams... Or so we thought....

Along came a visionary in the form a local church, Celebration Ministries International (CMI) and a local student dominated fellowship, the Christian Medical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (CMFZ).

Realizing the desperate situation Zimbabweans found themselves in, it was agreed to set up an independent local Christian organisation to work side by side with multinationals such as the United Nations (UN). From humble beginnings students within the CMFZ rallied to the call to help their fellow countrymen. CMI through its global networks sourced for funding while students within CMFZ provided the manpower and structure to build what was to become Celebration Health, one of the largest aid distributors in Zimbabwe at present. Students were drawn in from various faculties not just the Health Sciences. Engineers and lawyers found themselves working side to side with dentists, pharmacists and medical doctors. Though coming from different churches, fields of study and backgrounds all were galvanized under the banner of love for their fellow countrymen. The global nature of our Lord was also seen as other Christian Medical Fellowships around the globe (including CMF Singapore) rallied to the call to help Zimbabwe. Though they could not be there in person they provided financial support to CMFZ and CMI to enable the work of God to progress.For this,the people of Zimbabwe will forever be grateful.

Through the work of students and qualified staff, Celebration Health was able to treat 20% of the 100 000 Cholera cases reported. During this time students were put face to face with life's difficult situations such as the sudden death of an otherwise healthy child as cholera wrecked havoc in the nation. Through such experiences however, a new breed of Christian students arose. Students who are faithful to do what God has called them to do, students who do not look back once their hands are on the plough, students who have developed in their leadership and interpersonal skills such that they press on to the prize always. These students are but a tiny fraction of the total student population but God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. Six months into the fight against cholera,victory came as cases diminished as rapidly as they had come. As if by divine appointment, the hospitals re-opened,the university re-opened and the students went back to school.

Since the end of cholera, these same students have turned their focus to alleviating poverty in Zimbabwe through the provision of free health care to the poorest of the poor. In the last 3 months alone, 3000 Zimbabweans have received free medical care, 1500 school children have received biblically based career guidance and above all 500 people from all over Zimbabwe have given their lives to Christ. Amazingly, all of this has been done by students just like you in partnership with their qualified seniors. The interdenominational Christian Medical Fellowship of Zimbabwe has provided an avenue for them to utilise the talents that God has built up in them against all odds and at times in spite of the odds.

Can students be a force for good? I say a resounding YES! Why? Look at Zimbabwe... look at Singapore... Singapore sends out thousands of missions mostly comprising of young people to South-east Asia and beyond each year. Fellowships such as the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF) and the Christian Medical Fellowship of Singapore provide a platform for dialogue and interaction for all students from various nationalities. That can only be the Lord bringing young men's visions to pass in our generation. Do not get left out! The Jesus who is at work in Zimbabwe, Africa, is the same Jesus at work in Singapore. The question is... are we willing to be used of God? To be put in uncomfortable situations for the sake of His name? If so, like the sons of Issachar who understood the times, (1 Chronicles 12:40) we too must realise that the time to work for the Lord is now! How then can it be done? Talk to your VCF and/or CMF Singapore leadership and find out how YOU can be part of the change.

In closing, please remember Zimbabwe in your prayers. In His word the Lord says that He calls things that are not as if they were. What then should He call Zimbabwe? A present day Job? Well, God says Zimbabwe is the Switzerland of Africa! Yes, Switzerland. A prophesy was said over Zimbabwe in 1997 by Prophetess Cindy Jacobs that Zimbabwe shall suffer terribly for a long time but God has declared that it shall rise up again and be the Switzerland of Africa. It is difficult to believe looking at things now, but this word has been our hope in the many years of distress. It shall come to pass provided you and I become the change that we want to see in Zimbabwe. It has already started with the use of multiple currencies (US dollar, Pound, Euro, Rand etc) to do business transactions in Zimbabwe and the setting up of a vast informal network of Zimbabwe's economic refugees all over the world. On the political front, Zimbabwe's two most divergent politicians President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai are now working together for the betterment of the nation through an all inclusive Government of National Unity. The economy is still very much in distress, the people are still poor, the roads are still bad and the sanctions are still on, BUT can you see the cloud the size of a man's fist? Can it be that the rain is coming for Zimbabwe and Africa? Well.... I leave you with these verses, read it then decide... Psalms 102: 1-17.

By Tafadzwa Shuro
University of Zimbabwe Dental Surgery Student
Christian Medical Fellowship of Zimbabwe member