The State of Affairs in Zimbabwe
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André van Belkum has just written to us from South Africa. Attached was a letter from one of our members, Gill Heathcote in Harare, Zimbabwe asking for our prayer regarding conditions they live in.
Hello Victor,
I am sending you a report from Mrs. Gill Heathcote about the situation in Zimbabwe. It is serious, and they would appreciate our prayers.
Andre and Elize aevb@mweb.co.za
March 6, 2000
Dear Mr Van Belkum
Hope you and Mrs van Belkum are doing well. Mom has sent a message below filling you in on the horrors going on here at the present time. Take care, we think of you often.
Love,
Mandy
Hi Andre
Mike and Primrose have now decided to come up for Passover, fuel permitting and say that Steve will too if he has assistance with his travel expenses. There will be 7 of us, 8 if Mrs Chichaya comes, (she is in Zambia at the moment I think with Shirley) Either way we will need instructions as to what we must do and how to go about it and I will have to get it out to Elsie, Mike and Steve if the fuel situation has not improved.
This fuel situation is very bad, Elsie says they have to go to town weekly to collect cattle feed and it is becoming more and more difficult. people are now sleeping in their cars at filling stations rather than go and miss out on petrol. There is no illuminating paraffin which most people cook with and the wood is soaking wet from the rains. We then have twice weekly power cuts, in our area it is Monday morning and Wednesday evening. Today's Herald says that it will cost approx $10bn to repair damage by cyclone Eline, we weren't as badly hit as Mozambique and SA but to a country already on it's knees economically this is a great disaster. The people most affected were told by a visiting delegation that they were "not a priority" when the plane landed with not a crust of bread for them nor any shelter from the rain. Their watermelons were then loaded up on the plane as the dignitaries left. The paper says government will today start seeing international assistance for food, shelter and health facilities for these people!!!!!
The pictures on the world news re Mozambique are heartbreaking in the extreme but at least they are receiving aid and assistance.
We do try to focus above all this tragedy and suffering but it is hard - our little group needs each other more than ever before and I must say that we are closer than we have ever been.
I am not sure if people in the first world can truly equate with the suffering in Africa, se seem to get closer to it daily.
The country is in a state of anarchy with so called "War Vets" taking over all the farms, some are 18 years old! The farmer is warned to be off the next day, I am sure in many cases there has been no warning and some have been assaulted. They were all supposed to leave the farms yesterday but we hear than more and more are being invaded all around the country. Farms today, homes and businesses tomorrow???
The government on a win at all costs mission after their defeat in the referendum. The result of all this will bring this country to it's knees and we still have the elections to face next month and already the opposition is being mobbed and beaten up by bus loads being sent in to "do the job".
How utterly blessed we are to have our great God and His mercy and protection and to know His plan of salvation despite whatever may come. We do ask you all to pray for us, we need it more than ever.
Love from us all,
Gill