'Only God can bring change to Zimbabwe now'
23 March 2008, 12:47
By Mzwanele Mkalipi
Zimbabwean refugees living in Cape Town view the March 29 presidential elections in their home country with profound cynicism.
Asked who they believe will win, they answer wearily: "It's obvious" and "Mugabe will win".
They have already given up and some feel without the intervention of God nothing will change in their country.
Some go so far as to say the third candidate, Simba Makoni, who is standing as an independent, is "just one of Mugabe's tactics to split the Tsvangirai vote".
Morgan Tsvangirai is the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Shelton Hadebe, 40, used to be a tour guide in Zimbabwe, but now survives on handouts in Cape Town. He crossed into South Africa illegally, leaving his wife and two children behind in pursuit of a better life. "I didn't leave my country of my own accord, I was forced to. I had to run for dear life because the police were after me. Not because I was a thug but because I was inciting the young people about their rights," he said.
"When you vote a president into office you are deploying him or her to serve you, the citizens. And if that same person you have voted for does not serve you it just shows he has failed.
"I'm deeply hurt at what African presidents are doing to their own people - they are not trustworthy."
Hadebe cast his vote in the last election and was bitterly disappointed at the outcome.
"I thought that was the time when we would remove the wall because that wall has been a barrier between my family and my country. It was very disappointing not to accomplish that.
"We need an intervention from God. With the rigging and buying of votes, the chances of winning are slim for opposition candidates."
Hadebe would love to bring his family to South Africa, but said it would be difficult because of his lack of means and the current economic climate.
Farikai Tsaisi, 38, worked as a sergeant in a private security company in Zimbabwe and arrived in Cape Town three weeks ago.
Why did he leave so close to an election?
"There's no law and order in our country and if they know that you are for the opposition you are under fire. It's not free. I would have loved to attend and be part of voting for what I want," Tsaisi said.
The Zimbabweans - who sleep on the ground at the Foreshore - say they have had enough of President Robert Mugabe.
"We need new blood to rule our country. The state of education and health has gone down," said Tsaisi. The father of two says Zimbabwe needs someone who can build relations with other countries and not make enemies.
A group of women are seated on the floor of the crowded Foreshore building.
Ustina Charakupa, 24, says there is no point even thinking of voting next week because "they already have a winner".
"It's obvious, Mugabe will win. He cheats all the time and the election will be 100 percent not fair."
Charakupa is lucky - unlike her countrywomen she lives with her husband and two children in Harare, Khayelitsha. They are now seeking asylum in South Africa.
Caroline Chakupa, 24, says vehemently: "I hate Mugabe. Now he is using the puppet Makoni to split Tsvangirai's vote."
The Zimbabweans have a single message for the South African government. "Publish the truth about Zimbabwe and don't hide the facts."
Zimbabwean refugees living in Cape Town view the March 29 presidential elections in their home country with profound cynicism.
Asked who they believe will win, they answer wearily: "It's obvious" and "Mugabe will win".
They have already given up and some feel without the intervention of God nothing will change in their country.
Some go so far as to say the third candidate, Simba Makoni, who is standing as an independent, is "just one of Mugabe's tactics to split the Tsvangirai vote".
Morgan Tsvangirai is the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Shelton Hadebe, 40, used to be a tour guide in Zimbabwe, but now survives on handouts in Cape Town. He crossed into South Africa illegally, leaving his wife and two children behind in pursuit of a better life. "I didn't leave my country of my own accord, I was forced to. I had to run for dear life because the police were after me. Not because I was a thug but because I was inciting the young people about their rights," he said.
"When you vote a president into office you are deploying him or her to serve you, the citizens. And if that same person you have voted for does not serve you it just shows he has failed.
"I'm deeply hurt at what African presidents are doing to their own people - they are not trustworthy."
Hadebe cast his vote in the last election and was bitterly disappointed at the outcome.
"I thought that was the time when we would remove the wall because that wall has been a barrier between my family and my country. It was very disappointing not to accomplish that.
"We need an intervention from God. With the rigging and buying of votes, the chances of winning are slim for opposition candidates."
Hadebe would love to bring his family to South Africa, but said it would be difficult because of his lack of means and the current economic climate.
Farikai Tsaisi, 38, worked as a sergeant in a private security company in Zimbabwe and arrived in Cape Town three weeks ago.
Why did he leave so close to an election?
"There's no law and order in our country and if they know that you are for the opposition you are under fire. It's not free. I would have loved to attend and be part of voting for what I want," Tsaisi said.
The Zimbabweans - who sleep on the ground at the Foreshore - say they have had enough of President Robert Mugabe.
"We need new blood to rule our country. The state of education and health has gone down," said Tsaisi. The father of two says Zimbabwe needs someone who can build relations with other countries and not make enemies.
A group of women are seated on the floor of the crowded Foreshore building.
Ustina Charakupa, 24, says there is no point even thinking of voting next week because "they already have a winner".
"It's obvious, Mugabe will win. He cheats all the time and the election will be 100 percent not fair."
Charakupa is lucky - unlike her countrywomen she lives with her husband and two children in Harare, Khayelitsha. They are now seeking asylum in South Africa.
Caroline Chakupa, 24, says vehemently: "I hate Mugabe. Now he is using the puppet Makoni to split Tsvangirai's vote."
The Zimbabweans have a single message for the South African government. "Publish the truth about Zimbabwe and don't hide the facts."
- This article was originally published on page 13 of The Cape Argus on March 23, 2008
Pretoria
