Zimbabwe

Re-building Trust in Politically Divided Zimbabwe

The hug said it all. In a field in north-eastern Zimbabwe, former political adversaries, Mike Chirivo, village head and a staunch Zanu-PF supporter, grinned broadly as he embraced fellow villager, Farmer Matope, the local representative of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The small crowd watching who'd gathered under a tree for shade in Chirivo village, Mbire district, near the border with Mozambique, smiled in approval. It was a public sign that despite political violence conducted by the two parties against rival supporters last year, when Zimbabwe was about to hold run-off presidential elections, reconciliation between former political rivals is possible, if not easy, to achieve.

The area is a traditional stronghold of Zanu-PF – the party headed by Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. Villagers in Chirivo describe the violence as a time of war, which pitted neighbour against neighbour. Houses were burnt; possessions destroyed; and people were beaten by rival gangs, some left disabled. Others fled into the forest for safety.

Mabodhoro Nyamangara, a father of three children, showed me marks on his shoulder left by gangs who attacked his house one night. “They used a stick with a circular head against me”, he said, pointing to the scars. “They were Zanu-PF supporters who accused me of being a supporter of the MDC, which I'm not. I back Zanu-PF. I shouted for help and then fights broke out.

“I thought I'd die; but I was saved by the grace of God.”

At national level, attempts are being made to unify a country that has been riven by political differences and deep mistrust. Zimbabwe's main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, of the MDC, has been sworn in as Prime Minister in a power-sharing government of national unity with his erstwhile political rival President Robert Mugabe, who has held power for nearly three decades.

It is a huge task. Opposition activists remain in prison. And in some parts of the country, there have been new reports of political violence, with rival political parties taking revenge for percived past injustices.

In Chirivo, and several other villages in Mbire district – a flood-prone, food-insecure region, lacking electricity, any telephone network and with just four kilometres of paved roads - efforts are underway to try to rebuild divided communities, both literally and psychologically. They're being implemented by a local non-governmental group, the Lower Guruve Development Association (LGDA), with support from the international aid organisation, Oxfam.

The project draws on the support of a local pastor, David Mupfumbira, a board member of the LGDA. He preaches non-denominational sermons highlighting the need for reconciliation and forgiveness, counsels individual villagers, and has enlisted the help of a local drama group, which incorporates educational messages in its work. Its already showing some positive results.

“There was political violence and a breakdown of communication among the villagers”, said Pastor Mupfumbira.

“Politicians from outside had come here before the election and were forcing people to support their parties; they were at loggerheads and fighting. Enmity grew up”, he said.

“Its not good for people to be like this. If people are divided, you cannot rebuild communities. “

Pschological and physical rebuilding has already taken place in one village, Mudzongachiso, home to around 600 people, where 17 houses were destroyed by rival political supporters last year. The community has been counselled by Pastor Mupfumbira. They've set aside their differences and rebuilt their homes together.

Similar steps towards reconciliation are now underway in the adjacent village of Chirivo.

“It was very courageous of us to begin this process”, admitted villager, 36 year-old Francisca Marume. “But when hunger struck Zimbabwe, when hardship came, it didn't just affect Zanu-PF supporters or MDC supporters; it affected us all. Crops were lost; people suffered.

“Before, if you needed help you could turn to your neighbour; but after all the political fighting, we couldn't do that; we were enemies. We came to realise, though, that we needed to unite, to share basic food stuffs together. “

Village head, Mike Chirivo, said the intervention was both necessary and timely. “We were living in a small village, but we were enemies. The pastor made us realise that we should let our enmity go; that we were neighbours.

“Thanks to his mediation things are getting better and people are happier. I've gone over to Farmer Matope's house to eat dinner. I've learnt that we have to forgive each other, that we are fellow comrades.”

But the process is fragile and tensions are not far from the surface. The atmosphere becomes more tense when Mr Chirivo complains that he only has one set of clothes to wear, since opposition MDC supporters burnt his possessions. Other villagers start to speak, saying they and others suffered more, as many had their homes destroyed.

The mood shifts again when others talk about new signs of cooperation between former foes. Zanu-PF supporter, Special Patsvuka, explained that MDC supporters from another village, wearing sacks over their heads as disguise, had burnt down his home. “When I was rebuilding my house, some MDC people here came to help me”, he said.

“I've told Farmer Matope that when he gets bricks to build his bedroom, which was destroyed in the violence, I will come and help him.

“People need to help each other. Although we destroyed each other's houses, we can also rebuild. We're very sorry about what has happened; but think we can also move forward together, as people from the same village.”

In the context of these local initiatives, it is imperative that leaders at the national level set the tone for healing, providing for the safety and rights of citizens and taking urgent actions to stem the humanitarian crises as well as the economic melt-down. Creating an enabling envronment and rebuilding trust at all levels is critical to increasing the inflow of much needed humanitarian and development assistance.

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