Annie Sibanda speaks direct from Zimbabwe

Editor's note: Annie Sibanda of Women of Zimbabwe Arise described the current mood on the street as Robert Mugabe had himself sworn-in for a sixth presidential term on June 27 following a run-off election campaign marked by violence and intimidation, such that Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) candidate, was forced to withdraw. At least 70 MDC supporters have been killed. One hospital alone reported 2000 victims of violence and torture since the May elections. Mugabe has no credibility left and is feeling pressure from the African Union and the UN to negotiate with the MDC. This is a moment when profound solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe is called for. The responsibility shouldn't just be "kicked upstairs" to these international bodies and the interests that they may represent. Sibanda told News & Letters:

The mood of the people swings like a pendulum from hope to despair. However, now that the "election" has been held, there is little room for hope. The predominant mood is fear and uncertainty, extreme anxiety for everyone.

Anything can happen at any time. There can be violent retribution from government militias. There can be any kind of new policy or action by the government which disrupts lives, such as changing money, fixing prices, preventing people from traveling. No one can be sure they will be able to afford to buy food if it can be found. This mixture of fear and anxiety is extremely debilitating, especially for women. It forces people to concentrate on day to day survival.

There is and will increasingly be a flood of people out of the country, primarily to South Africa, but also to Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique and Namibia. No one expects that this situation is going to be resolved any time soon and meanwhile we have to survive. People feel helpless and desperate.

Civil organizations feel under threat. Three weeks ago the minister announced that all Non-Governmental Organizations must stop field operations. This produced an outcry and legal opinions that roundly rejected the legal capacity of the minister to take such a step. Later he retracted and said it only applied to those holding large meetings.

Nevertheless, it appears that in most places all food distribution has stopped, even for orphans and vulnerable children. The larger food distribution organizations--World Vision, Care International, Plan International--have closed their offices "temporarily."

We do not know what the position will be in the coming weeks, whether things will be allowed to return to "normal" or whether there will be increased retribution and repression.

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