ZIMBABWE

A NEW LEARNING
Year after year, decade after decade the same kind of international tensions, conflicts and sorrow fill the news channels of the world. I find it depressing.

I have paid attention to the horrific condition of Zimbabwe and its starving people. Christine's uncle and aunt and two cousins lived in Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) for many years before they were forced to leave. For three decades the country has been under the fist of its president Robert Mugabe. It was once one of the most prosperous African countries. Today millions of people depend on food aid and many tens of thousands are starving. Cholera has infected up to 100,000 people and thousands have died. The health, sanitation and educational systems have collapsed. The Zimbabwe dollar is almost worthless. Mugabe has been raped the country. I despise the reality that in this world so many people like him rise to power and thrive.

It’s a good thing that I have also found that the Bible gave advice long ago about how to filter this information. I need to employ the filters. “When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." NIV Luke 21:9

Making the news in 2008 was Zimbabwe’s national election in which the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), won 100 parliamentary seats, one more than Mugabe’s party, yet Mugabe retained power because he controls the military. Then in February of this year the Republic of South Africa brokered a deal for Mr. Tsvangirai to share power with Mr. Mugabe as his prime minister in a unity government. It’s not going well. Mugabe continues to take action unilaterally as he has always done.

Then a couple of weeks ago Mr. Tsvangirai’s wife was killed in a vehicle accident in which he himself was injured. His party immediately projected a plot by Mugabe but according to Tsvangirai himself it was a terrible accident involving a truck carrying American supplied antiretroviral AIDS drugs that lost control and struck his car.

In speaking about the cataclysmic times that unfold as earth’s civilization ages, scripture tells us “There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” Luke 21:11 So all of this is not unexpected it seems, but it is still difficult for me to accept. It makes me want to live a reclusive life somewhere. I am glad for the security of Christ’s love. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? NIV Romans 8:35