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By: Rev Jacob Maforo, Acting National General Secretary of Zimbabwe YMCA
The Zimbabwe YMCA commemorated YMCA Peace Day one week later than scheduled, as police clearance for the event had not been granted for 14 November. We did not give up though because members felt very strongly about sending out a clear message of peace to Zimbabwean citizens, and especially those who hold key political office, and so Peace Day was commemorated last Saturday, 21 November 2009.
The Peace Day celebration had three components – a Peace March, speeches and Prayers for Peace. Participants braved the rains that had started before the event and lasted throughout. In fact, the rains were interpreted as a blessing for our commemoration!
The march was from the Africa Unity Square opposite the Parliament Building to the Town House. Speeches were led by myself and Zimbabwe YMCA’s Acting National Chairman, Mr Langton Mr Mabhanga, while Pastor Guvamombe led the participants through prayers for peace, unity and reconciliation.
It was gratifying to receive support from the police, churches and the Mayor’s office. The police provided escort and were on site – until conclusion. And there were no threatening incidents. Onlookers were the direct target of our peace messages. People were attracted by music from the Salvation Army, whose participants are from many churches.
The participation of youth from churches has continued to grow ever since the YMCA/YWCA Week of Prayer. It is important to maintain this level of support as we are guaranteed of a willing audience to the many issues awaiting our advocacy and initiatives.
The coalition government in Zimbabwe continues to be fragile. It needs handling with care. It needs organisations like the YMCA to support all genuine efforts towards the healing of the nation. The Zimbabwe YMCA will continuously seek to engage other stakeholders to collaborate towards the national healing process.
By: Rev Jacob Mafaro, Acting National General Secretary, Zimbabwe YMCA
This year's YMCA/YWCA Week of Prayer theme of ‘Striving for Global Citizenship for All’ is most relevant for the nation of Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans are struggling with issues of national healing. This is a term that has been adopted to try and thaw the vengeful feelings that gripped many at the height of the political crisis.
The topic for each day during this week (8-14 November) has addressed real issues affecting Zimbabweans. Dr Makoni, who is the Executive Secretary for SADC and was an independent presidential candidate in March 2008, will be speaking tomorrow. We are still hoping for police permission to hold a peace march on Saturday, 14 November 2009, which marks the culmination of this week’s activities.
Many Zimbabweans have migrated – or rather, fled the country. And of these, the majority are living as illegal immigrants. Each day they wake up to the possibility of deportation back to Zimbabwe. But they have had children who cannot be called Zimbabweans, because they were born out of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean law does not allow dual citizenship. So these children will first need to denounce their citizenship of the country they were born into. But at the same time, they have already assimilated into a culture which is alien to their parents.
Following the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) in Zimbabwe, some progress has been made. Living standards have improved and rampant inflation has been arrested. And at political level, three Government Ministers were appointed to push through an agenda of peace, unity and reconciliation.
During this week, we have been using the opportunity to initiate dialogue at various levels of society, including church leaders, politicians, traditional leaders and civic leaders. We are engaging with representatives from International Organization Migration (IOM), Zimbabwe Council of Churches and Environmental Africa Young people who attended the Africa YMCA Youth Summit in Ethiopia last week, spoke on ‘Young People and Globalisation’.
We invite prayers from the global YMCA family and all our friends and networks. May God be with Zimbabweans.
On Friday 30 January 2009, we witnessed a formal revival of the floundered political agreement for power-sharing in Zimbabwe, and we now wait to see the swearing in of Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister on 11 February and the formation of an all-party government on 13 February.
Despite the Zanu-PF and MDC having hardliners amongst their ranks, it is a good start to note that the two political leaders were open minded and gave each other some concessions to share power during the last round of discussions.
However, enormous challenges will test whether the marriage vows will stand the tough matrimonial times that lie ahead. Mugabe unilaterally appointed key positions of Attorney General and Reserve Bank Governor in December without MDC’s input.
The issue of provincial governors, ministerial allocations and the abduction of MDC’s activists continues. The altered provisions of the original agreement are a major test of sincerity on Zanu-PF’s part , who claimed they were typographical errors.
On Tsvangirai’s part, he assumes all responsibility while Mugabe has all authority at a prima facie glance of the document. Health, education, the economy and all sectors have collapsed. Will the west give Tsvangirai aid, while Mugabe remains branding the western imperialists? Is this finally the beginning of easing Mugabe out of office after a generation at the helm? Like any marriage, let us wait and see as only time will tell.
The Zimbabwe election impasse which began on 29 March 2008 and has continued to play itself out has claimed in its destructive wake a critical YMCA area: youth development and advancement. The first harmonised plebiscite which combined the presidential, municipal, parliamentary and senatorial votes was a logistical challenge. The electoral authorities targeted schools as voting centres and these were closed prematurely for a week, initially to pave the way for voting. In addition to primary and secondary schools, all tertiary institutions were also closed. The election debacle that was to follow later resulted in primary and secondary pupils going for two weeks without school. The crucial June ordinary and advanced level exams were not written this year for the first time in 28 years (since independence), destroying young people’s preparations, efforts and dreams.
When some schools finally did re-open, most teachers were forced to flee, mainly from the countryside as the militia began a retributive campaign against perceived opponents. This left many pupils, mainly the rural ones, to fend for themselves. Tertiary institutions remain closed, now going into the sixth month as authorities fear student protests.
The absence, at the time of writing, of a parliament and education minister to give direction and policy for this critical sector of youth development has created a ‘wasted’ year from which we may never recover.
The militia responsible for rape, torture, beatings and murder are young people. Instead of being an integral stakeholder and leader in the current political discourse on the future, the youth have been recruited, trained and armed to perpetrate violence. It is sad to see a young generation being used as cannon fodder in a conflict they neither created nor understand.
Youth are assuming roles and titles that are uproductive as they reflect an identity crisis. The so-called ‘war veterans’ are a political creation that has the youth fronting as the latter. Instead of engaging in production and youth advancement, they delight in brutality and disregard the law with impunity.
The circular in June suspending NGO operations has had a devastating effect on orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). Their supplementary feeding, school fee payment and welfare has been withdrawn as a result. Most children, not only OVC, are suffering from malnutrition from food shortages, courtesy of a haphazardly carried out land reform programme.
The political dialogue seems to be going nowhere slowly. But in reality, the past six months have seen rule by presidential decree without parliament and a legislature. Whether the education sector will recover lost time is open to debate, but what is certain is the damage done to the youth. The authorities of the militia and war vets have created a monster that will be difficult to reign in. Much hinges on whether a political settlement will emerge, and if it does, will this settlement take into account the role of the youth and remedy this rot eating into the moral and ethical fabric of Zimbabwe’s youth? I guess only time will tell.
* This article was written by a Zimbabwean who wishes to remain anonymous
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A recently launched sports programme run by the Zimbabwe YMCA is geared to make significant impact on youth sexuality, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention.
Funded by Unicef, 300 peer educators will be trained to work with 8 000 youth in five YMCA branches in Zimbabwe.
This project is an example of the faith and trust that partners have in Zimbabwe YMCA, which is operating under extremely difficult circumstances and whose staff have shown incredible commitment during this last year in particular.
“We are using sport as a way to reach out to youth who are struggling with their sexuality and who may be making decisions regarding unsafe sex based on peer pressure. Sport is a great equaliser and it paves the way for meaningful debate with the youth as well as provides opportunities for mindset and behavioural change,” said Norman Matepo, acting National General Secretary.
Part of this project involves bringing together other AIDS service organisations and governmental departments that work with young people. It is expected that this will put the local YMCA back on the map as we will be working with youth from different communities and backgrounds, but mostly from disadvantaged areas.
“An exciting aspect of this project is that the 300 peer promoters will also be trained in community sports administration as they are expected to continue driving this project beyond funding. This is when we know that we have truly made impact – when the project lives on beyond our intervention.”
As part of our effort to support our Zimbabwean movement, which is facing serious institutional and socio-political challenges, I visited the YMCA from 30 July to 2 August, 2008. The visit also served to gauge the progress made by the YMCA following the organisational assessment carried out in March this year. Unfortunately it was not possible to visit the branches due to transportation difficulties, so my visit was limited to Harare where I met with staff and some board members. A scheduled board meeting was cancelled due to the high cost involved.
First Impressions: Surprises
Most of my colleagues were anxious about my visit, following the statement we issued after the run-off result and its outcomes. Contrary to my previous visit where obtaining a visa was a real challenge, this time I got my visa in a week, without any external intervention. We were thinking it may be a trap and I could be harassed upon arrival or even deported, as was the case during my last visit to Angola.
Apart from a two-hour delay, nothing happened. I breezed through the immigration formalities, and was not even stopped at customs. No interrogation, no scrutiny of my items…
My first surprise was the good quality of the roads – no comparison to the pot-holed, disintegrating roads of Kenya or Togo. Some parts of the city were in darkness due to the electricity cut-off but most street and traffic lights were working. My YMCA Zimbabwean hosts lamented the power shortage when we nearly took a wrong turn at an unlit round-about. I explained that most African countries have power cuts, including South Africa where I experienced this in May.
I was astonished when we arrived at the hotel, which was decent and well stocked, although my credit card was not accepted as Zimbabwe has become a cash-based economy.
Billionaire for a Day: Hardship of Ordinary People
My hosts explained the reality of the two distinct worlds living side by side. The hotel is the world of those who have hard currency and can afford such a facility, and whose employees are paid in foreign currency. US$120 was more than Z$15 trillion. Trying to convert on a calculator is an exercise in futility as it will not absorb all the zeros. A bottle of coke is about Z$9 billion. In USD? First you have to know which rate to use: the official one or the parallel rate (they don't call it the black market in Harare). The price list in the hotel changes every day. I have been told that many quotes are now valid for two hours only.
The official cost of a loaf of bread is Z$80 million but on the market it costs Z$500 million and fluctuates all the time. Some goods can no longer be purchased with the Zim dollars, like petrol with is about US$3 per litre. At the bank, one can only withdraw Z$200 million per day, which is less than US$2. Norman lives 27km from the office and spends two hours in travelling, at a cost of Z$400 million one way. So you queue for hours to get Z$200 million which is not enough to cover your transportation to the bank. For board members to attend the meeting in Harare, they would have had to effect several transfers over a number of days for transportation money, only to have to do the same thing afterwards in order to travel back home. People are spending more time collecting their money than working.
The irony is that when you have foreign currency you can easily change it in the street. We changed US$100 for 13 trillion. This would take months of queuing to withdraw from a bank, so where is the money coming from? I have been told that many well-trained people are resigning from their jobs to get into this ‘money laundering’ on the streets. In the rural areas, the Zim dollar is less and less accepted and people are exchanging products instead of buying and selling. For instance, a bottle of soft drink can be exchanged for a ton of grain.
A Call for Mission: the YMCA
Since my last visit to the Zimbabwean YMCA in January 2007, the socio-political situation has worsened and most of the partners have suspended their relationship with the YMCA. I was thus expecting the YMCA to be in complete disarray, especially since there has been no telephone or internet connection in the last two months. That was not the case. I saw a different picture. While the four staff at the national office are working under extremely adverse conditions, they exhibit hope and determination. Salaries have not been paid since May as they are awaiting authorisation from the Reserve Bank. For some, the salary is, in any event, just enough to cover travel expenses to work.
There are now five branches: Harare, Tanda, Bulawayo, Chegutu and Kadoma, the first three being the most active. Tanda completed a Family Life Education Programme financed by the YMCA of Kitchener Waterloo. Funding is now finished but the programme is being extended to the Harare branch, and the YMCA and the community are running some low and zero cost activities such as sports and youth programmes in schools and churches.
I had a very positive meeting with UNICEF, whose representatives expressed their high regard for the YMCA and its willingness to partner in the areas of youth and sport. At the conclusion of the visit, the YMCA was asked to increase the budget of a submitted proposal concerning sport and HIV/AIDS education so we are hopeful of its approval.
Prior to the election, the government issued a ban suspending the activities of all organisations operating in the field. The concept ‘field’ is subject to interpretation, so most NGOs, including YMCA, are confined to office work. Visits and project monitoring are done ‘underground’ as they qualify it themselves. Even this underground work is almost impossible for the YMCA as they do not have a vehicle or the means to purchase one. Thus the UNICEF project would provide a much needed boost for the YMCA.
The real challenge for the YMCA is to mobilise membership as many members have left the country, others are focusing on survival and potential members are difficult to reach. I have recommended that during the planned branch audit to assess membership, the YMCA also assesses the situation of young people and identifies activities to mobilise youth, or explores ways to expand the UNICEF project to launch membership based programmes.
Witness in Time of Crisis: the YWCA
I had an eye-opening visit to the Zimbabwean YWCA. Contrary to the YMCA, the organisation is about 80% self-funded through their hostel and some income-generating activities. The YWCA in Zimbabwe has about 10 000 members in 250 branches. There are about 1 000 beneficiaries served yearly in vocational training centres, pre-school and hostels. The main programme areas are ? Education and training ? Income generating projects for members ? Appropriate technology ? Environment and sustainability ? Youth leadership development ? Family health such as HIV/AIDS.
The activities of the YWCA have been significant during the Zimbabwe crisis and despite the ban, the movement continues to be involved in major advocacy work.
The YWCA sponsored 10 women observers for the elections, two of whom were from the YMCA. Internally displaced women and children affected by the election violence were housed in the YWCA hostel and provided with child care as well as counselling and spiritual activities.
After being forcibly removed by the police, some of the women came back and the YWCA hid them in the basement until they were discovered again. During this difficult period, the leadership was threatened and the police invaded the premises several times, but the YWCA found strength in its networks with church and women’s organisations.
The YWCA participated at the pre-summit of the Africa Union held in Egypt this month. As a result, a high-level delegation of women, under the leadership of Graca Machel, plan to visit Zimbabwe for solidarity purposes, especially with the women. The YWCA is lobbying the government to authorise this visit.
New Initiative: Y's Men Club
I met with some former staff members, one of whom is also a former minister who is now not connected with the party. They are considering establishing a Ys Men Club with other former YMCA colleagues to support the movement.
Way Forward
We need to provide support to the leadership to develop a low-cost youth development project. This would involve leadership exchange visits and programmes in Zambia or Kenya as well as the formation of a new executive board, through the support and under the auspices of the Alliance.
By Carlos Sanvee, General Secretary, Africa Alliance of YMCAs
August 2008
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