Waiting to exhale
Last Wednesday I was really pleased with the heavy police presence in the city center. You will have to forgive me for praising an otherwise unfortunate situation but for me this was a day to exhale because with so many police around the street kids went on leave. Especially the little terrorists at the corner Leopold Takawira and Samora Machel Avenue.
If Robert Mukondiwa of Metro Talk (the supplement in the Sunday Mail) had been talking, instead of writing about the menace street kids have become, he would be hoarse by now. Recently he challenged Harare Commission chairperson, Sekesai Makwavarara to go to McAdams (a popular kebab restaurant in the city) on foot and buy a pie, and see if she could make it safely to Herald House. Because many women have been attacked and had her bag, food or necklace snatched by these rascals while our so-called ‘city fathers’ turn a blind eye to it all.
Speaking from personal experience there is one particular street ‘man’ who has taken an unusual and very scary liking to me when I get an omnibus at Parklane. On three occasions he has made a point of spotting me in the crowd along that road and menacingly coming straight at me or following me. On all occasions I have somehow managed to escape his filthy clutches; at one point a car packed with kind gentlemen stopped and they scared him away. At another point I nearly got myself bumped when I suddenly crossed the road just to move out of his path. I have no idea what his intentions are if he succeeds in getting close enough but I’d rather not find out.
Instead of the police flexing their muscles and threatening ordinary citizens under the guise of various ‘operations’, they should put themselves to good use by effectively dealing with these young thugs, maybe under “Operation Go-Away!”? But it honestly looks like the government doesn’t care about the wails of defenseless women in this country. How ironic – with all the fuss and clamor made over the passing of the Domestic Violence Bill, we women are still being abused on the streets of our own country.
As I mentioned earlier, was it merely coincidence that when there was a heavy police presence in town, the street kids were conspicuously absent? Do the police not realize the ‘amazing’ power their mere presence has over street kids? Will anybody do anything about this?
Friday, March 16th 2007 at 1:34 pm
i agree with you on the issue of street kids. Note that they are now a lot of street fathers and mothers as well. Check out the families that are sleeping at corner Samora and First Street; and corner First and Mandela. I would like to add to the people responsible for the decay the now Dark Moon settlement (let me not abuse the word city here). Its that old man at the State House messing up. Zimbabwe are now beggers in their own countries and are being exploited in other countries, Mbeki must rubbing his hands in glee waiting for the next batch of Zimbos swimming the crocodile infested Limpopo.
Of police operations; did you hear of ‘Operation Chipo Chiroorwa’, (Operation Chipo Get Married), to clear the ladies of the night. Someone needs to lets them know that the law does not work on its own. The economy has to be functioning as well to employ these poor sisters. I can assure you that all of them are not going for the fun of but to make a living. That basically sending their kids to school. I don’t condone prostitution, but if its going to make a difference between death and survival i can’t blame those people.
Friday, March 16th 2007 at 5:19 pm
God bless you and your efforts in Zimbabwe and we think of you!
More power to you.
Monday, March 19th 2007 at 12:16 pm
[...] Not 24 hours into my stay, a friend asked me what were my impressions of the place. And I felt defensively less than. Because a lot of my impression was how much the same it is – and largely because of a long host of experiences very similar to those Natasha writes about. [...]
Wednesday, July 25th 2007 at 9:40 am
I am currently enjoying occasional winter sun in Sydney Australia and was pretty chuffed to see myself quoted on your site in the streetkids story. Its great to know that someone used to read my column, although sadly i have been forced to discontinue it. Regards
Robert