Remembering Covid19 from a Zimbabwean Perspective.

By Takura Zhangazha*

This may be a very sensitive subject matter so please read-on with caution. Based on your own individual experience(s).

It is sensitive because it is a conversation we rarely now have in contemporary Zimbabwe. 

Almost as though we refuse to remember that  the Covid19 in 2019 pandemic ever historically occurred. In our lifetimes. 

Or that lives, many lives, were lost.  And families were affected. From the immediate to the extended. 

Inclusive of our health, education and working environments.

We no longer talk about it formally in relation to the state and its expected roles. Or how global pharmaceutical companies reacted to the same said pandemic. Including limiting supplies of vaccines or in other instances gatekeeping knowledge on equitable global solutions. 

Or even within our own families and the ostracisation that came with coughs , flues, sneezes and requirements for oxygen which was almost like gold at that time. 

It was a very painful national period. We lost many relatives, friends and work colleagues at that time. 

And we will never forget the very real pain we went through. Nationally or personally. 

But the Covid19 pandemic occurred. We could not control it 100%. Nor could we foresee its full impact on society. 

What we could not do is walk away as if it never occurred. 

Tragically and regretably, it did. 

In its occurrence it changed who we thought we were and now who we are. 

Both societally and within the the ambit of medicinal and epidemiological science. 

This being a reality we still refuse to embrace until it hits us from China, the United States of America (USA) or the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 

As popularly argued as sources of major biological epidemics or pandemics globally. Via Hollywood and social media as it is expanding to create awkward global hegemonic contestations. 

What we, in Zimbabwe, have not nationally discussed is the aftermath of what the pandemic of Covid19 meant to all of us.

Politically, economically and socially. Or in some instances in relation to mental health challenges at an individual or collective workplace level. 

Covid19 changed as is generally now given our ways of working, formally. More so if you were in a white collar job. It also changed how the work on the 'ground' differed from work 'online'. 

While at the same time, in its aftermath, pushing us toward a cheapening of both physical and online (internet based) labour.

With the latter being more preferable.  

What we, as Zimbabweans have not come to terms with, officially and unofficially is the fact of the aftermath of Covid19. 

And this is not about healing from loss of lives. It is beyond that. 

Instead it is about the gaps that have ignored the fact of our national being. 

Indeed we lost lives but we did not learn from that experience.  

We did not react with a necessary urgency to our health services for the people. We claimed that China was key in our recovery yet we still hear stories from the mainstream media of a delipidated health system. 

We still have children that are disadvantaged in the national education system as was the case during the pandemic

And we still yet have war veterans that cannot tell the difference of our before and after the pandemic. 

In the long and short of any argument we have not reflected enough on what the Covid19 pandemic has meant to our country. 

And what lessons we should draw from it. Whether you are rich or poor. 

Or in a rural or an urban-peri-urban area as your primary source of livelihood. 

What I know is that we need to sit down as a country to assess what Covid19 meant. And where want to go. 

From the shutdowns we had to encounter and in part evade In order to shop or visit the local bar. 

Through to the re-opening of our commercial society and assumptions of a return to normalcy as backed by national government. 

After the re-opening of society after Covid19 we half thought we were going to have better health services, education, public transport and access to water. 

This has not turned out to be true. 

We have a greater concerted attempt at privatising the state, state resources as if Covid19 never happened. 

It's almost like wiping out an historical epoch. 

But as we say, sing, "tungamirai tondosangana ikoko". 

The people will recover.

*Takura Zhangazha writes here in his personal capacity. 

Social-Humanities Studies Remain Key for Zimbabwe’s Progressive Future.

By Takura Zhangazha*

Whenever there are contemporary discussions about for example Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Zimbabwe, Africa and most of the Global South, there is always the question of ‘language’.  Both as an historical identity theme but also its algorithmic implications where and when it concerns the internet, social media and new technologies. 

These discussions tend to be somewhat lopsided in favour of what we now know to be very real technology.  Mainly because you cannot quite beat electricity, technological gadgets (computers, televisions, mobile phones, tablets) by word of mouth.  We tend to react to them more than they react to us and our contextual societal/cultural and in part, political-economic needs.

This is also dovetailed with what we know formally as the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in our current and many other’s educational curriculums. 

Because its priority is what is obtaining largely in the physics realm. Where life is determined largely by given geophysical and technological facts.

While at the same time assuming a specific (global) universality of  physical/natural sciences as they relate to their ironic cultural origins in Western countries.

It is from this key point that we need to examine the status of social science studies in Zimbabwe.  

With an initially regrettable point being that they are being placed on an academic national backfoot. 

Almost as a repetition of our national academic history where social sciences, education, arts (music, theatre, painting, sculpturing), journalism, political science, economics, anthropology, sociological, religious and historical studies were frowned upon.

Whether as promotable professional qualifications for primary and secondary level education young Zimbabweans. 

Or within our current economic context, again based on technological and economic livelihood trends, for those that pursued these social science related qualifications and are faced with the dilemma of being caricatured for having them (kushoorwa).

The reality of the matter is that social sciences are in deep trouble.  Not in relation to their epistemological/ knowledge production importance.  

But more because they are less recognized as nodes of knowledge significance professionally or otherwise by Zimbabwean society.  More so by the state and private business/capital. 

This point requires a throwback moment. 

When, for example the Chiadzwa diamond rush occurred in Manicaland in the mid 2000s, young cdes abandoned school to seek fortunes in the now same said infamous diamond fields. 

Some of them would find these fortunes via arduous physical circumstances and return to the village to laugh at their former struggling teachers.  

Thereby demeaning the all-important teaching profession in Zimbabwe.

Or to give another example.  Those that were studying the ‘arts’ in high school were generally derided for pursuing potential careers in which no major money could be made. Hence most high schools have changed a pure arts curriculum to mix it up with business and science.  

With the key argument being that it is a ‘global trend’ for students to be eligible to go to universities abroad.

The truth of the matter is that in those educational systems that are ‘abroad’ they have never and most likely will never abandon their social sciences.  Be it in the teaching profession, history, journalism, political science or anthropology among others.

Contradict this with our newfound over-enthusiasm for STEM. Without cultural and historical context.  

And at the clear expense of social sciences that independently and academically investigate our national historical political and economic culture. 

Without the propaganda that we are witnessing today where even music, art, religion and history all appear to be for sale to the highest political bidder!

As a penultimate point, I once had a fairly deep but non-academic discussion on this matter of the undying importance of the social sciences with a colleague.

We argued about the meaning of African culture, its metamorphosis in the age of the demeaning of social science studies and the expansion of captive AI.  

We could not come to an agreement on the fact of how we are interacting, as Africans, with technology. 

The key differences we had were on matters to do with, as ridiculous as it may seem, the impact of the ‘light bulb’ or the ‘medium is the message' moment as argued by a Canadian- British academic, McLuhan.

I argued that we need to contextualize technology and assumptions of a more advanced global West.  He argued, in retort, that all of this doesn’t matter anymore because the world will invariably become one global technological village. 

I still disagreed as did he with me. 

I only sort of won him over where and when I assiduously referred to Antonio Gramsci and the theory of ‘hegemony’ while at the same time referring to Kwame Nkrumah’s argument on Neo-Colonialism as the last stage of Imperialism.   

Key to the discussion however was the fact that we cannot abandon our social sciences as though we are throwing out the proverbial baby with the bathwater. Or to put it into context, ‘kuramwira munda kumakudo’ (to abandon your fields to the baboons)

I am a firm beliver in the importance, necessity and historic importance of our social sciences. 

And I am not a fan of STEM within our national and African contexts.  Indeed while we may be able to compete haphazardly on this (STEM), we need to retain a grounded understanding of our own being. As Zimbabweans and as Africans.

And this comes from your local geography, history, literature teacher. Your local anthropologist who explains Great Zimbabwe.  

Or your historian who tells you of the liberation struggle, the working peoples struggle. 

Including your teacher, journalist, spirit medium, pastor/priest who helps explain events as they occur in the contemporary.

Lastly, my colleague and I joked that the last social science standing in this convoluted age of STEM and AI, is probably religion. Though we (finally) agreed that everything does not belong to Jesus.  It belongs to progressive human consciousness.

*Takura Zhangazha writes here in his personal capacity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rural Laughing at the Urban: Zimbabwe's Reverse Development

By Takura Zhangazha*

A close relative of mine, after a recent family function and a couple of the inebriating waters (maSuper) jokingly said,

 " Sekuru, munotiseka varikuno kumamisha asi hatina zvatinoshaya!...Tine mombe, mbudzi, huku, minda, mvura nerugare rwamusingawani kumadhorobha!"

Translated and paraphrased he basically said in good humour, 

"You laugh at us here in the 'reserves' but there are many things we have here. We have cattle, goats, chickens, ploughing fields, water and rural peace which you do not have in urban centres." 

Additional conversations centered around toilets, running water wherein he countered with arguments on how even in Harare we do not have running water on a regular basis. And asked about the difference with him and his well. 

He also boasted about his solar system and how it at least charges his phones and how after he affords a television and satellite television he will be able to watch football. 

His was a general comparative lifestyle analysis. In the midst of inebriation. But he knew what he was saying would stab at my own urban consciousness. 

Though he did not know that his humour driven input also had the double edged sword of a potentially catastrophic wish for an uncontrollable urbanisation of his (and my own) rural area. 

But his own personal experience of raising children who would eventually depart for Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, Masvingo and Johannesburg taught him a key lesson. Moreso when the only return from their departures were grandchildren. Ones he had to look after, send to school and only watch them depart as they also came of age into the same cauldrons of the urban. 

There is however a shift, hence the humour of it. 

There is a new rural-urban prioritisation of Zimbabwean existence. Not necessarily because of its proximity to home but more because rural lifestyles can be modernised. 

And this is not a difficult point to make. The urban lifestyles are increasingly ephemeral for many young (majority) Zimbabweans. 

They argue that they need to retain a home where they are not asked about rent, bills beyond what the local traditional authority wants. Or also beyond the political party expects. 

Outside of the ambit of the urban municipality until a point where they feel they are comfortable with its rules and regulations.  

So there is a scramble for this type of land without too many questions asked. Inclusive of land barons after the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP). 

 With the latter having taken control of new peri-urban residential settlements based on their proximity to major cities. And also their ability to weave their way through local councils (opposition or ruling party ones). 

Either way our property business boomed as a result of our default nationalisation of urban land for individual profit. 

What this urban planning mess has created however is an observatory angle from the rural. Not only because it is not sustainable but more because of the real social welfare back up problems it causes. 

Whereas the rural to urban problems were more significant, it is the urban to rural ones that are more significant now. 

Young Zimbabweans, due to the competitive nature or urban life are sending their offspring back 'kumusha'. Even as they live in new sprawling urban settlements in various urban corners of the country. 

Now, I gave the anecdotal example of my relative laughing at us 'urbans' struggling with everyday life.  

The main reason I did that is because the rural Zimbabwean is correct to laugh at the rest of us. Moreso those that think the urban lifestyle is always superior. 

It is evidently preferable as we were taught in geography about what was then referred to as the 'bright lights syndrome'. 

Except that with solar power the bright lights, after a struggle can be at your home or local shopping centre. 

So that's why the rural can easily laugh at the urban now. There are no inferiority complexes as of old. 

The key difference is in understanding national consciousness. 

We are all equal. Even if though in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru, Masvingo, Kwekwe and Marondera (I love that town) we were aspirants.

The question that arises is the sustainability of our lifestyles. 

The cdes in the rural are awaiting our return. Dead or alive (mostly dead) to prove a point. This being that we needed to balance both and not look at the rural as 'escapism'. But more a sense of belonging. 

*Takura Zhangazha writes here in his personal capacity 

When Tanzania Politically Sneezes, the Rest of Africa/Southern Africa Coughs.

Historically and in the Present.

By Takura Zhangazha*

In a very recent online discussion concerning democracy and governance with colleagues based in the Diaspora I was asked to talk about the Southern African Development Community (SADC).  This was in relation to the historical role the regional body had in the liberation struggles of as its name suggests of Southern Africa. 

It was a difficult question given the fact that we are no longer fighting liberation wars in the same said Southern African region. 

We are now more electoral in our political questions and contestations for power.  History may remain important but it is no longer central to any notions of retaining popular political support during elections.

Ditto Tanzania. 

That is one of the most liberatory countries in Southern and broader Africa.   There is no singular Southern African country that cannot claim that it did not receive help in both civilian and military struggles against direct settler colonialism from the people of the then Tanganyika which became the United Peoples Republic of Tanzania and Zanzibar.  Under the leadership of the now still ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCMP) party and through the years from Julius Nyerere, Al Hassan Mwinyi, Benjamin Mkapa, Jakaya Kikwete and John Magufuli. 

 Not only was it one of the founding countries of the the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now the African Union (AU).  It was also a founding member of the Southern African liberation oriented Frontline States (FS) together with Zambia and Mozambique.   The FS were to eventually become the historical precursor to two regional organizations.  These were the Southern African Development Coordination Committee (SADCC) and eventually what we now know as SADC.  

So whenever Tanzania politically sneezes the rest of Southern and broader Africa coughs.

This has been the case in the most recent disputed Tanzanian general election that saw the still controversial election of incumbent president Samia Saluhu and the parliamentary victory of the CCMP in both the mainland and also the island of Zanzibar. 

A decent number of Pan Africanists like myself are in shock at how the narrative of these recent elections have turned out.   Their elections have never been this controversial.  But as argued by some it was always going to come to a head. At some point.  Particularly after the discovery of rare earth minerals, gas and oil in the country and the death of former president John Magufuli who was keen on centralized control of the state.

The key question that is emerging is that what has changed in Tanzania beyond what we already knew about its electoral tendencies. 

The reality of the matter is that it is a society that has changed in its political outlook mainly based, as most African states are now, on a change of national consciousness. Contrived (foreign economic interests) or even if by default.  With the default element relating more to urban and rural divides and the rise of not only a new African cultural materialism.

But more importantly a generational praxis gap about the liberation struggle and contemporary lived political and economic realities of many young Africans.

Three things therefore come back into vogue when we reflect in a Pan Africanist sense on Tanzania and its recent political events and elections.

The first one is how its founding president Julius Nyerere once argued about the ambiguity of the meaning of democracy.  He once intoned, writing a Foreword for Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni’s biography that the ‘mechanisms of democracy are not the meaning of democracy’.    He also, in an address to the South Africna Parliament as invited by Nelson Mandela that ‘democracy is not like Coca Cola’.  And I am paraphrasing here, he probably said something that it cannot just be exported everywhere like a commodity.

In the second instance we have to reflect on our own continually disputed African elections and their cycles.  Or in South Africa’s case, their increasing conservatism despite having fought a protracted African liberation struggle.  

As Nyerere argued, we have to think beyond elections in their occurrence.  What matters most is what happens in-between them.

We cant think of elections as weather cyclones that occur every five or six years simply in order to share a populist national cake. We have to reflect more deeply on this and how younger generations understand the meaning of elections beyond mimicry of what happens in the global north that creates the likes of Trump and chainsaw totting Argentinian president Javier Milei. 

In the third and final instance, we have to understand the internal complexities of each our Southern African countries. Tanzania included. Beyond the internet and globalized media narratives.  For example I do not speak Swahili, nor if I was to go to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lingala. What the majority of cdes in these two aforementioned countries perceive as democratic progress may not be as universal as we deem. Or prefer.  Not because we are better educated not only in English languages but because we are sadly increasingly ahistorical in our understanding of universalism.

To conclude, the recent elections in Tanzania are indeed a blight on Southern Africa.  Not only because of the significant historicity of that country to the region and the African continent.   They can and should have been done better.  But it will never take away the importance of Tanzania and its iconic role in a people centered Pan Africanism.  No matter the undercurrents of global international relations, geo-political private capital economic interests.

All that matters for now, and it is sad it has come to this, is that Tanzania recovers. And that its people return to safety, security, solidarity across rural and urban divides.

*Takura Zhangazha writes here in his personal capacity