Hope and Hunger

Jun 28, 2008 at 6:43 PM
5 comments

Things aren't always as they seem. The day after the bloodiest election Zimbabwe has ever seen a show of resistance can spring forth. Like a flower from shit.

'Hope and Hunger' was theme of the show put on by our youthful MAGAMBA! Network. Poems against sham elections spilled out from the mouths of young, angry poets. ZANU's election theme of 100% Empowerment was mocked in song. A crowd sick-of-more-of-the-same chanted and toyi toyi'd. "Life's Tough! Lets Take to the Streets!" A freedom space was created here at the Mannenberg Jazz Club in central Harare. Land was reclaimed. The future was here. Breathing. Today.

Now we wait for the Old Man to swear himself in to a power that he does not have. We wait for him to claim a throne that he stole one-dark-night-that-is-our-country. We wait for real international pressure and solidarity to force a transition. We wait to give birth to the future we held here today. In our arms. And hearts.

This is Comrade Fatso's Blog during the Zimbabwe Election period. See: www.comradefatso.vox.com. For blogs by other MAGAMBA! poets and activists see: www.myspace.com/magamba

To buy Comrade Fatso and Chabvondoka’s new album, House of Hunger, go to: www.comradefatso.com

To see Comrade Fatso’s Exclusive Blogs for CNN go to: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/05/14/zimbabwe.blog/index.html

To see Comrade Fatso and Chabvondoka live in concert go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cyv-ozu3JA

5 comments

Comments

http://comradefatso.vox.com/library/post/hope-and-hunger.html#comment-form

Amazing Sam...Good stuff, it's really exciting and wonderful to see your passion for Zim.

Now a question -- do you think that despite all this Zim people will just continue on with no resistence to this tyranny and hope for a better day? Or is there a possibility that people have just had enough? All I hear is a call for sanctions, but of course these never work - governments never really change from it, the only change can come from within the people.

Comrade Fatso replied to Dzukie’s comment:
Jul 1, 2008
Reply

Ndeipi na Dzukie?! How you doing?

People have had enough. They are worn out. They have shown their resistance through the ballot box. Now we need international solidarity and pressure to bring about negotiations that lead to a change in government. This needs to be backed up by civic action in Zimbabwe. Change is on the horizon. We need to hold our breath. Just a little longer.

I am very well -- how are you keeping besides doing great things?

I guess it is just that I have not really seen or read any indication that the international community is going to go further than denoucing the government and a call to impose sanctions. And my concern would be that in a couple of months this will be old news - just another failed government. But then again you can never under estimate the will of the people either so one can only hope for better days.