Desperate times for Zimbabweans in foreign capitals

Desperate times for Zimbabweans in foreign capitals

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By Thembie Mzanywa

I HAVE watched in disgust and sometimes in awe at the quality or sometimes lack of it, of the contribution by the political heavy weights, known and unknown, and others who have graced your stage.

While acknowledging that all our problems seem political, I will try not to get deep into the politics of the issues arising, but rather make a few observations on matters which some may believe are a consequence of decisions of the powers that be in their chosen countries of residence.

Let me start by stating the uncontroversial view that all persons seek their own happiness, and they tend to define it as that state of life in which our most important desires are satisfied. Ideally the right act must make everybody happy. But since this is impossible in any real social situation where often objectives conflict, I can conclude that the right act is the one that makes as many people as possible happy.

Perhaps in pursuit of that happiness or fulfilment, it is the reason why a lot of Zimbabweans abroad have sought solace in the church, some through weddings, kitchen top ups, baby showers and so on.

During the last Bank Holiday weekend in England, I somehow attended six parties in my area, within a radius of twenty miles. I failed to make it to the seventh and eight because of the distance and my commitments the following afternoon. Of these parties, three were weddings, another three farewell parties, and two baby showers.

Some may find this alarming but I believe it is the norm these days. “Rock bottom” has become a relative term, as the situation back home and here in the UK worsens.

People in their new chosen homes in European capitals are so stressed and depressed to the point that a multitude have given up hope of ever improving their lives and that of the families they left behind. Some have opted to pack their bags and continue the quest for greener pastures elsewhere, while others get hitched, fall pregnant and party their way to happiness. Well, just
maybe.

Never before have I seen an outbreak of so many weddings, baby showers, church conferences or meetings within a noticeable short space of time.

A million years is recent in geography. However, I am not stretching this
beyond the realms of human kind, I am merely referring to the last six to
twelve months.

Ever since the courts in the UK reversed a controversial decision by the Home Office making it mandagtory for foreigners getting married to seek permission from the Home Office secretary, the marriage flood gates seem to have opened.

Either we are witnessing couples desperately in love, consummating and
living happily ever after, or alternatively it is desperate times and
desperate measures are being taken to try and secure the future

They say a drowning man may clutch on a serpent, some of our brothers and sisters already are holding on to the slippery but venomous snakes, assuming they are marrying or have married for the wrong reasons. I got some suspicions of my own on that note, names will be withheld to protect the innocent, but you know who you are.

If you were the suspicious or cynical kind like me, you’d imagine all the kinds of skulduggery behind a lot of these events. I have never known having to pay to get to a wedding or an after party for a baby shower until I came to this country and more so recently. I have always thought that the coming of a new addition to a family by way of marriage or birth is a community celebration, attended by the close family and the invited, with presents by the willing.

I believe people will always bless a party with their presence, and maybe presents sometimes, if they so wish or see it fit. On the religious front, one would have thought Armageddon was tomorrow. One lady tried to convert me the other day, unbeknown to her that in some degree I am religious and a believer.

She reminded me of a famous saying that “the shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.” Nothing new for me there. But the next important issue that I was waiting to hear her raise, that somehow I felt she evaded, was how much I would be expected to contribute per month for the “Building Fund”.

Bless her.

It is not for me or anybody else for that matter to condemn, blame or pass judgement on whether the churches are bogus or somewhat irrelevant.

I won't say whether it is right or wrong that people ought to charge a fee to be witnessed exchanging vows, thereafter just playing ordinary music from a high powered stereo, known in some circles as a disco.

Either way, I believe it is our desire or quest to try and legitimise our right of abode or in simple terms, get papers, in whichever foreign land. Those with illegal statuses will marry the legal ones; the legal or illegal will fall pregnant to the other. As is usually the case, as a last resort, some will seek divine intervention through the church. Only a few remember the Lord during happier times.

Zimbabweans are a hard working lot, a lot of them are very focussed. However I believe a lot of Zimbos abroad, the UK in particular, seem vexed by a short term perspective, that appears likely to disappear before it has started. There is too much obsession with having to "shift" all the time. But for how long?

For me there is a need to look into the future. Somebody mentioned that, in the days of the American Wild West, the settlers pushed on aware of the dangers that beset them, but convinced that over that horizon lay prospects far greater than they could conjure at home. It is on the same basis and principle that a lot of Zimbabweans left Zimbabwe for greener pastures elsewhere. Pessimists believe the glass is always half empty, but there is a need to be optimistic and view it as being half full.

We must, therefore, educate ourselves to deal with the dangers or pitfalls that we come across or encounter, and still try to harness the opportunities that arise that may only bear fruit in the future. I think it is common knowledge that a lot of people can still make something of their lives this side of the world regardless of the "paper" status.

Let me just end by saying that, like anything in life, a strong desire is needed to achieve the end result. If your intention is to be successful, to be more spiritual, or have a great relationship, then the Universe will conspire with you to make this happen.

I am sure a lot of you will agree with me on that front. As the weekend approaches, I am sure the party boom will still be on the rise. One pleasing thing is that a lot of Zimbabweans throughout the UK continue to support each other. Keep up the spirit guys.

Sthembie is a social commentator and writes from Birmingham. She can be contacted on: sndlovu28@hotmail.com

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