Those Who Dare To Differ

Dear Family and Friends,

As winter fast approaches and the first orange aloes come into flower, there’s a cool wind tugging at the banners that have been hung across the highways in our towns. Winter is not the only thing sending a chill to our bones this May 2026.

The banners are promoting the ruling political party’s proposed Amendments to the Constitution. The banners are not saying: Protect our Constitution, Protect one man one vote, Protect democracy or Protect referendums, instead they are saying: ‘Constitutional Amendment Bill No 3. Putting development ahead of politics.’

‘Development ahead of politics’ they say, not mentioning they want to increase Presidential terms to 7 years and take away the right of 16 million people to vote for the President and give it to 300 MPs and Senators in parliament instead.

‘Development ahead of politics’ they say, while we say what about putting people ahead of politics. What about putting nurses ahead of politics, nurses who earn less than US$390 a month and are enduring chronic staff shortages which leaves them with a nurse to patient ratio of 1:20 or even 1:30 patients in some wards. Recommended nurse to patient ratios are 1:5 patients.

‘Development ahead of politics,’ they say while we say what about putting teachers ahead of politics, teachers who are earning salaries from US$320- 480 a month. Teachers who can’t even afford public transport to get to work. Teachers who are struggling with a teacher to pupil ratio of 1:45 children when the recommended rate is 1:25 students.

‘Development ahead of politics’ they say while we say what about putting ordinary people ahead of politics; people who still live in dusty villages without water or electricity 46 years after independence and still use donkey and ox carts for transport.

Ordinary people in urban and rural areas are struggling to find enough money for school fees when term opens in a week’s time. One Dad told me such a sad story this week. His son had done so well that he’d been chosen to be a School Captain, but with that honour came the need for a new school uniform. New colour trousers and shirt, new colour blazer and that was before the school fees. “I am so proud of my first born,” the Dad said to me, angrily wiping a tear from his eye, “but I don’t know how to afford it.”

The closing date for submissions on the proposed Constitutional Amendment is the 15^th May 2026. The government say they don’t need a Referendum but still they put up banners and they arrest, beat, intimidate and threaten those who dare to differ.

Please don’t forget about Zimbabwe and the ordinary people. Don’t forget about a nurse trying to look after 20 patients. A teacher trying to teach a class of 45 students. A Dad so proud of his first born son.

There is no charge for this Letter From Zimbabwe but if you would like to support my writing and donate please visit my website.

Until next time, thanks for reading this Letter From Zimbabwe now in its 26th year, and my books about life in Zimbabwe, a country in waiting.

Ndini shamwari yenyu (I am your friend)

Please visit my website to see all my Books, Photobooks and Calendars https://cathybuckle.co.zw/