Will they ever go back?

Will They Ever Go Back?: The crowd at the Southwark Cathedral for Tsvangirai’s address

ONE Saturday morning in the summer of 2003, Farai went to the local barber shop in Coventry. He usually went there for his monthly hair-cut.

Old Joe, known to many locals as the “resident expert”, always sat in his chair located in the corner of the shop, having a cider and chatting with clients on all manner of subjects.

Old Joe was one of those people with a talent of managing to strike a conversation with anyone on any subject.

Perhaps it was the manner of his speech – gradual, calculated with a tone that suggested some form of wisdom and authority. It was difficult to be annoyed by his questions. He never allowed you to ignore him anyway. He liked to talk and he always had his way. The barbers tolerated him; he was the resident entertainer of sorts.

So on that occasion, while the barber was cutting Farai’s hair, Old Joe began to talk.

“So, where’re you from, young man?” he demanded to know. If it were someone else such an enquiry might have been rude, but not from Old Joe.

“Zimbabwe,” answered Farai. He was quick and brief, suggesting no interest in a lengthy conversation with the old fella.

But Old Joe was not one to be easily deterred.

“That’s a long way, man,” remarked Old Joe with a mischievous chuckle, before asking: “So, how do you find England?”

“It’s alright,” replied Farai. He paused for a moment before continuing, “but things could be better. I miss home. Home is beautiful but things have been tight.”

“So I hear,” said Old Joe, “So what are you doing in this cold place?”

“I’m here to make money,” answered Farai with confidence. He had arrived barely a year before.

“And then what will you do when you make money?” probed the old man in a rather sarcastic tone.

“I came here to make money and once I have got enough, I will go home,” Farai explained.

At that point the old man took a healthy gulp of his cider, a pint of Strongbow. It was early in the day but Old Joe was a veteran. He looked at the young man pointedly and then began.

“Young man, let me tell you something. I came here from the Caribbean in 1960. I was 20. Young, energetic and very hopeful, see?” Old Joe’s head was now tilted to the side as he looked at Farai intently, his eyes ready to bolt out of their sockets.

Farai wasn’t sure whether that was a question or a statement so he thought it best not to respond. “You know what I wanted, young man?” Old Joe continued.

This time Farai figured this one required an answer. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t know Sir,” he said.

There was a lengthy pause during which Old Joe’s eyes appeared to say many things – they seemed to ask more questions but at the same time appeared to pity this young fellow who seemed to have very little experience of life.

“Money,” the old man eventually declared with the sure emphasis of one who had seen it all. He shook his head sideways.

With his stare still fixed on Farai, Old Joe continued, “I was looking for money, young man”.

He paused again as he administered a long pull on his cigarette and watched for a while as the smoke slowly made its way toward the barber’s aged ceiling. At last Old Joe returned his gaze toward Farai and then he remarked with a tone of resignation, “I am still looking for it.”

The barber finished and Farai paid for the service. As he left, Old Joe had a parting shot, “I hope you find it quicker, young man. I hope Jah looks after you and gets you home soon.”

Farai was in the crowd at Southwark Cathedral in London last Saturday. He listened as the new Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai called for Zimbabweans to think about returning home to Zimbabwe.

He listened as part of the crowd displayed unhappiness at that call. He was not sure what to make of it. Then he thought of Old Joe and that conversation in 2003.

Perhaps in 2050, when he would be well into the seventies, Farai will be sitting in a barber-shop somewhere in England, telling another newly-arrived young hopeful with dreams of making money and making a quick return home that he too came looking for money at the turn of the century and like Old Joe before him. He would have to deliver the news that he is still looking for it. Farai fought a tear. He was not sure what the future holds.

(For pictures from the Prime Minister’s address at the Southwark Cathedral, CLICK HERE)