I moved to Zimbabwe in May 2019. There is something special about this country and I have been trying ever since to put my finger on what it actually is. Maybe the people, who are welcoming, easy going and easy to talk to. You can have a small talk with everyone at any time. You get randomly helped. One day, my tyre was flat at a parking lot and the security guard organised someone to help me change it. Or it is the beautiful weather. It rains but never too much. Its sunny and hot, but never too hot.
Harare is the capital city but it still has many places with open green fields. But when the country like everyone else closed down, it hit people hard. Many poor families depended on their small business selling vegetables, clothes and other items. They don’t have government systems to fall back on but rely on their extended families. If one member has a job, he carries the burden of supporting others.
Now in February 2021, we are still on lock down and will remain for a while. One critical aspect is health. People who live below the poverty line don’t have a health insurance and don’t pay attention to their health. I had a security guard who died of pancreatic cancer. It happened suddenly. From one week to the next, he didn’t come anymore. He had pain but never knew he had cancer until it killed him. This is not a rare case. People in Zimbabwe die 25 years earlier than in Europe.
We live in a world with stark differences. It all depends on which country you are born to, to which parents, that determines your fate. Not your IQ. This is why I believe, those who are rich, are not entitled to be rich, we should all come together and help each other to the best of our ability.
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