Listen to audio interview with Raymond Majongwe

On December 16 2005, outspoken Zimbabwean trade unionist and musician Raymond Majongwe, made his way back to Zimbabwe from Nigeria where he had been attending the 14th ICASA AIDS conference. Little did he know what the government had in store for him on arrival at Harare International Airport? When he landed the Zimbabwean authorities seized Majongwe’s passport accusing him of being a sellout and peddling lies about the country.

Majongwe, who has lost count of the number of times he has been arrested by the Zimbabwean authorities, said he couldn’t believe what happened to him. “I asked them: what is a sell out? How do I sell a commodity I do not control”?

To add insult to injury after getting his passport back from the Zimbabwean authorities, Majongwe was denied a visa to travel to the United Kingdom by the British Embassy in Harare.

In the song “Of Passports & Visas” on Majongwe’s new music album called I Speak What I Like, the activist musician said he was trying to make sense of the Zimbabwe and British governments. They are opposed to one another but together they, “connive and agree” in denying him an opportunity to travel.

The title of Majongwe’s new album is clear enough to scare some Zimbabwean musicians who have censored themselves from being the voice of the voiceless. Some say that musicians in Zimbabwe do not generally sing what they like because they want to make sure that they stay on the “right side” of the regime. However, he praised musicians like Leonard Zhakata who, despite the current political challenges, have not minced their words and continued to record songs that reflect the views of the people. Some of Zhakata’s songs have allegedly been banned on state radio.

One would expect that the release of Majongwe’s eighth album would see him entering the local music charts but for Majongwe, this is still a dream. His previous albums have not seen the light of day on the national airwaves.

“I will continue doing what I think is right and I will continue singing what I like at what ever cost, or price that has to be paid”, Majongwe said on being asked what had been the inspiration in recording his new album. He added, “I was trying to send a message that I am not going to apologize for what I believe in. I am not going to be apologetic about my thoughts, about my opinions and experience.”

In his song It’s Not Easy Majongwe warns that the road to freedom won’t be a walk in the park. The song Sekuseduze comments on the fact that it is always darkest before dawn. Majongwe said, “People must be reminded that no regime can have its hand on a boiling pot forever”.

The Truth is a song that warns people who “promote violence, brutality and barbarism” that they will be accountable someday and everyone will know the truth.

Majongwe describes Thomas Mapfumo as being his greatest influence. He also gets inspiration from the self proclaimed South African ‘people’s poet’ Mzwakhe Mbuli and the late legendary Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti. In a show of admiration for Fela, Majongwe recorded a song called Fela on his debut album titled Which Way Africa.

Speaking about the challenges he faces Majongwe said many promoters have not been keen to work with him for fear of government reprisals. He added that music shops and flea markets are reluctant to sell his music because they fear that state agents will come and confiscate everything.

But the jovial Majongwe is optimistic that Zimbabwe will one day be free. Having recently returned from a visit to the United States, he described the trip as an “eye-opener. “I was shocked that people can go to the president’s house and shout what they want,” he said laughing.

Yesterday I had to get some cash out of the bank to pay for an urgent electricity bill because I had been left in the lurch by a friend who had promised to repay his debt to me.

He told me he was suffering from January disease – this is street language for people who do not have a cent in their pockets because it’s all been spent during the festive season.

But even though I had about Z$8 000 in my account the ATM wouldn’t give me my money. I felt robbed. Here I am with cash in my bank but the ATM tells me I cannot get to my cash supposedly because I have too little cash.

However it’s their problem, not mine . . . the ATM could only cough out Z$10 000 notes even though Z$500 and Z$1000 notes should be available.

So instead of getting stranded again I think I’ll do what many people are doing and just keep my cash under my bed!

In 2006, I watched a play at Harare’s Theatre in the park called “All systems out of order”. It was a satirical play about how things were falling apart in an unamed African country.

In one of the scenes, a cleaner at a public toilet decides its time to make a quick buck in the toilets. He decides to charge people who are keen to ‘hire’ the toilet for their private operations.

In no time at all, the toilet is full of business; sex workers now bring their clients for a jolly good time in the dingy loos and thieves use the same place as a warehouse for stolen goods.

While this might sound like a noble idea for the underpaid cleaner to raise a few bucks, it is the ordinary people that suffered. They were often told that the toilet was out of order . . . unless they could pay a minimum charge to use it.

I was reminded about this play last week when I struggled to send an e-mail in the city.

There I was sitting in the Internet cafe along First Street not very far from a commercial bank that boasts about being fluent in finance. After 10 minutes, I was still trying to log into my e-mail account.

Having some knowledge on how the Internet works I realised the server was down while other people constantly sat helplessly waiting in vain to go on-line and without a word from the people manning the cafe.

I then approached the assistant at the till and told her their link was down but she was quick to say they do not refund cash. “But, your link is down and you want to charge me for a service I did not use”, I protested. She then said the only way she could help me was with a voucher which you are supposed to use within one week. I took the voucher which is still in my wallet and set off to look for another cafe.

I moved to more than five Internet cafes and they were all down. It was now after mid-day. I immediately knew something was wrong and the chances of sending my important e-mail before 1pm was fading. I then decided to SMS the recipient and tell them that the cafes are down and I could not send the e-mail on time. They just had to be patient.

This is how life has become in Harare. Things are falling apart, the systems are gradually going out of order.

After enquiries with an attendant at a cafe I was told that the fibre link was down because the workers at the state company that connects the link had gone on strike.

Strikes . . . strikes . . . strikes . . . have rung in 2007 in Zimbabwe. As I write the junior doctors are on strike and reports are coming in that the senior doctors are joining them soon. The doctors are demanding a pay increment. They currently earn Z$56 000 about $224 and have requested Z$5 million or they are not going back to work.

Meanwhile, Zimbabweans who cannot afford to go to private hospitals have been suffering during this crisis. In the article, “Zimbabwe’s health sector faces collapse“, a doctor from Parirenyatwa hospital is quoted as saying, “The system has literally collapsed and we are losing lives unnecessarily”.

In the same article, 3 year old Dexter Chipunza is reported to have been sent home with one of his eyes protruding and a lump that had blocked his nostrils. He died three weeks later from cancer.

There are many people like Dexter who will continue to die if the systems do not work.

Early this week, the Central Statistical Office announced that inflation had hit a new record of 1 281,1% – a clear indication that the systems are out of order.

I wonder how we are going to survive in 2007!

“Passport office closes“, screamed the Financial Gazette newspaper billboards along Samora Machel Avenue as I made my way to work. It’s just another day in Harare where we get to hear more news about what’s in short supply. We have had fuel shortages, forex shortages and now – passports! One wonders what’s next? I was thinking aloud what would happen if there was a shortage of condoms.

My passport issued in 1998 expires in February 2008 and I began using it in 2004. All along it was just one of those documents that you had to have because you never know when you are going to use it. A colleague has just told me to start applying for a new passport because you never know how long it will take to get a new passport issued! I can clearly state that one of my resolutions for 2007 is to apply for a new passport and make sure that it is issued by December.

Early this year one of my friends, whom I will call Jabulani got fed up with Zimbabwe and migrated to South Africa. Even though he had a passport, he left it behind. On asking him why he would not carry his passport he said; “If I overstay in South Africa, the South African government will look for me”. He went on to say; “If I just cross to South Africa with no passport, I’m not known to the authorities”.

Jabulani is one of the hundreds of people that every week risk life and limb to cross the crocodile infested Limpopo river into South Africa. For those that have money, you can travel on the cross border taxis and enter South Africa through the border even if you have no passport. It’s your money that speaks and gets things going.

Don’t you just love Friday? In our office, we have what we call Friday music. This is the kind of music that lifts our spirits and keeps us sane. Today, I played ‘my song’ again and again. The more I play it, the more I think about our situation in Zimbabwe. The song is by Tracy Chapman and it’s called – Talking ‘Bout A Revolution.

Don’t you know
They’re talkin’ about a revolution
It sounds like whisper
Don’t you know
They’re talkin’ about a revolution
It sounds like whisper

While they’re standing in the welfare lines
Crying at the doorsteps of those armies of salvation
Wasting time in the unemployment lines
Sitting around waiting for a promotion
Poor people gonna rise up
And get their share
Poor people gonna rise up
And take what’s theirs

Don’t you know
You better run…
Oh I said you better
Run
run
run…

Early this week Zephaniah Maseko Phiri, a 79 year old Zimbabwean peasant farmer made news worldwide by being the first African to win the prestigious National Geographic Society/Buffett Award for Leadership in Conservation.

Sadly, Maseko’s great achievement has not been reported in the local Zimbabwean media. The farmer is one of the many dedicated Zimbabweans who have put this country onto the international map but have received little recognition for their hard work at home.

Maseko who jointly won the award with Nicaraguan environmentalist Jaime Incer will receive a cash prize of US$25,000.

According to the National Geographic Society, Maseko founded the Zvishavane Water Project in 1986. It is said to have been one of Zimbabwe’s first indigenous NGOs.

The water project’s objectives are to educate others about water harvesting and conservation, promote sustainable farming and increase farm income.

In their citation, The Geographic Society stated:

This year’s awardees are being recognized and honored for their outstanding leadership and their vital role in managing and protecting the natural resources in their regions. They are inspirational conservation advocates, who serve as role models and mentors in their communities

Maseko has been farming for more than 50 years but has received little support from the government. He told the VOA’s Studio 7 News programme that the government was not forthcoming with funds to assist him in sharing his knowledge with the rest of Zimbabwean farmers.

Keep up the good work, Zephaniah Maseko Phiri.