This week I hang my head in shame over my homeland. I think about Mahatma Ghandi’s quote “a nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members” and I am ashamed. But first I rage.
Report by Thembe Khumalo
A child, a real child, (not a so-called youth) but a proper Fourth Grade child, is burnt to death while sleeping in his own home, and what do we do? What do the mothers all across our nation do? What do the leaders of our women’s groups do? What do the activists and agencies do? What do the churches and champions of causes do? What did you do?
You will no doubt start telling me about political violence. You will tell me about how this party or that party should be made accountable. You will blame politicians and their ruthless ambitions, but you would be wrong.
It’s not about politics. It’s about real human beings, some of them tiny and blameless. It’s about our ability as a society to protect the weakest among us.
Last year we read of babies dying in incubators at Parirenyatwa Hospital because of power outages. Apparently the paediatric intensive care unit was one of the wings affected by old Zesa cables prone to breakages (www.thestandard.co.zw). I am a mother and when a doctor or nurse tells me it’s safe for me to put my tiny premature baby in an incubator, I believe them. So when a baby dies in the one place that is meant to preserve its life, I have to ask questions. I have to get upset! I have to RAGE!
No, it’s not about politicians and political parties. It’s about taking responsibility for what happens to our children and asking ourselves: “How did I contribute to this child’s demise?” Because whether you like it or not, you did contribute! You contribute everytime you see something wrong and do nothing. You contribute every time you know what should be said and keep silent. You contribute with your daily acts of omission and your silences that serve to let down an entire generation of innocent children who are depending on you and I to keep them safe.
Where are the voices of the people of Zimbabwe when children are dying at the hands of those we put in charge? Where are the voices of the women’s groups, representing mothers? Where are the voices of church leaders, representing Christians. Where are the voices of teachers, representing pupils?
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Why don’t we call people to account over the things that really matter? We will happily call for the resignation of the Prime Minister over the details of his own love life, but can’t we call for the resignation of the head of Zesa when babies are dying because of power outages? What kind of a people are we and where are our priorities?
Last week 10-year-old Stacy Munjoma was killed after probably being raped on her way home from vising relatives. Such stories have become so commonplace that we don’t even blink when we read them.
Why aren’t we taking this personally? Why aren’t you and I calling our leaders to account?
When I put my babies to sleep at night, when I touch their velvety soft faces and see long lashes resting quietly on flawless cheeks, I know that I have a monumental responsibility towards them. If they wake up weeping and telling dreams of some unhappiness or fear, I wonder if I am failing them in some way.
But what about when your child doesn’t wake up at all? When his place of slumber becomes a place of ashes and death? That’s when you declare war! That’s when you take to the streets. That’s when you remove your clothes and pronounce yourself insane with rage!
Last month someone sent me a link on Twitter about a woman who disrobed before the American Ambassador, supposedly protesting about US sanctions against the leaders of Zanu PF. Ambassador Bruce Wharton is quoted describing the incident: “There was lot of shouting, chanting, jumping, pounding on tables, many angry voices, at least one person began to disrobe.” (washingtontimes.com)
Are these the things we prefer to preoccupy ourselves with while our children are dying? Why can’t we find energy to protest like this when our children are killed?
Why won’t we rage against a system that says it’s OK for babies to die after we’ve put them in places that their mothers believe are safe.
We call ourselves Christians. We call ourselves Africans.
Where then is that sense of collective responsibility that Africans are so highly famed for? Where is our famous ubuntu when children die and you prefer to turn the page and read about a new constitution?
lThembe Khumalo writes in her personal capacity. Readers’ comments can be sent to [email protected]. Follow Thembe on Twitter www.twitter/localdrummer or visit her facebook page www.facebook.com/localdrummerzw
