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Zimbabwe is a country full of contrasts and paradoxes. I visited it in July and August as a member of a Volunteer-in-Mission team to help establish a Skills Training Center in a village twelve miles south of Mutare. Being in Zimbabwe was wonderful, even though it made me acutely aware of the many serious problems people face there today.
Our mission was successful in that we helped erect a brick classroom building that is the nucleus of the center. Consisting of four large classrooms and a kitchen/cafeteria, it will offer a good venue for teaching. Roofing was completed on the last workday - a cause for major celebration! That’s not an over-statement, though it is a simple roof.
The difficulties encountered in the building process say a lot about problems confronting Zimbabwe. The foundation was poured two years ago. The walls were also partially raised, but then the entire project came to a halt because of the crumbling economy.
Zimbabwe’s economy began unraveling after the government imposed “Land Reform” on the country’s farmland a few years ago, turning farms over to politically affiliated people who knew little about farming. Agricultural production, once the mainstay of the economy, fell dramatically as the economy spiraled out of control.
With economic chaos prevailing throughout 2007 and 2008, most businesses came to a virtual halt. Basic staples became almost unobtainable and the country’s infrastructure, once among the best in Africa, deteriorated severely. The political situation also became more untenable. Many people fled to neighboring countries to find work, or as refugees.
So, what’s to celebrate in such an environment? The answer is that, in spite of it’s great problems and challenges, hope is still alive in Zimbabwe. Fragile though it is, the unity government established in February has generated cautious optimism. The economy, although still very weak, has stabilized, and runaway inflation is no longer a problem. Business is slowly growing as people are able to actually plan project costs and profits.
However, it’s in the faces of people, especially in rural areas and schools, that one can best see hope personified. We visited a primary school with over one thousand students in a rural area, and the joyous singing with which they greeted us was heart-warming. Similar scenarios took place in various churches that we visited. In spite of poverty and limited opportunities, hope and joy are beautifully expressed through their vibrant songs.
There is reason for cautious hope in Zimbabwe. When the tenuous political situation is eventually resolved, there is great potential for Zimbabwe. Its forested mountains, water resources, and mineral deposits are rich natural resources. Its farmlands have been very productive, and can become so again. Above all, its people are talented and hard-working, and if given the chance, will take good advantage of appropriate opportunities.
Clearly, in teaching villagers a variety of training skills, the Skills Training Center will be offering a valuable service. Yet, more than a place to teach skills, it is a symbol of hope. Zimbabwe taught me this year how powerful hope is as a force for good. That we were seen and welcomed as agents of hope is both humbling and exhilarating! |