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
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