In a story that originated with the Zimbabwe Mail, Our Dear Leader is reportedly battling for his life in Singapore. The online news publication, owned and operated in the United Kingdom, quotes a ‘senior ZANU-PF’ official who conveniently cannot be named. As with anything concerning Our Dear Leader’s health, several supposedly reputable news outlets ignored their better journalistic instincts and regurgitated the story without first checking its veracity. A Google search produces 268 reproductions of the story based on what is essentially a rumour, founded no doubt, in drunken speculation in a London pub.

Meanwhile, back in Zimbabwe, several named senior ZANU PF officials are cited as sources by the Guardian who variously say that there is nothing wrong with Our Dear Leader, and he will be returning for his Easter Holiday/ Shopping Trip/ visit to supervise his daughter’s studies tomorrow. Minister of Information Webster Shamu is quoted as merely saying

“If anything like that had happened we would issue a statement.’

Our Dear Leader has died many times in online publications, especially those edited by Zimbabweans in the Diaspora. This speaks more to their own personal ambitions and failings as journalists than it does to Our Dear Leader’s health. No one is more aware of this that the subject of the rumours who earlier this year joked in an interview

“I have died many times. That’s where I have beaten Christ. Christ died once and resurrected once. I don’t know how many times I will die and resurrect.”

Until Minister Shamu’s statement is issued rumours of Our Dear Leader’s demise will always be greatly exaggerated.

My SMS to Paul – the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) technician who is our contact for Monavale repairs and who was working yesterday on the smoking electricity poles with his team:
‘Hello Paul.  I am afraid the Elec. pole on Onslow Lane (path down to Monavale Vlei) was smoking again just now.  elec is still on. Thank you.’

His to me:
‘Relax madam, we knw why its still behaving that violently, we had no permanent spares ystrday so u’re on a temp supply back feed until we get thoz spares, u’re safe jst ignore it will clear.’

Me:
‘Thank you so much Paul. we are relaxed. Happy Easter.’

PS … For any of you who wonder what Monavale Vlei is about  – look at www.monavalevlei.com

An Easter Saturday 42k (marathon) walk around Harare. On Kent Road, approaching home with 2ks to go.

Wake at first light with much scratching and scrabbling in the ceiling above our bed
(there has been a lot of ceiling and roof bouncing activity in the last few days)
is it rats – or is it?
is it … the bushbabies coming home?
(they moved out of Mel’s ceiling some weeks ago as it has become a nesting site for the wood hoopoes)
waking with a feeling of hopeful gratitude

AND

There is ZESA! (Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority)
–it has been in even more limited supply lately
bills to Mozambique not paid/ bills of officials not paid/whatever
I scurry outside to the washing machine
(so placed to access 3 different water supplies)
but all will be well
there is ZESA – and that runs the community borehole
(the Municipality water is still leaking into the vlei – we haven’t had that for months)

but no

for some other reason the borehole pump is not working
(water supply 1 and 2 not available!)

I scurry through the morning  ferns to switch on the Green Tank
(our backup supply – access 3)
all is well

Boil pot of tea with a great plan
the satellite supplying our daily dose of BBC delivered through the battery radio
seems to have dropped out of the sky in the last few days
but …
this morning there is ZESA – which means that the internet will be working
grab my laptop
fumble around in growing light to set up the World Radio news
aah – the familiar well-modulated, dulcet tones of BBC filter through the bedroom
with all the latest disasters, killings, outrage
pour cups of tea and settle into bed

but no
it is streaming and buffering and b****ing around and we catch an occasional word or two

ahh well, think about today

- have to pick up a tire being repaired at the garage (pot-hole puncture)
- Tony’s car dropped a something from the steering into something else in the engine
that also needs repairing
- then there is the invitation from yet another funder to apply for funding for they are very interested in what we do
just fill in the form and read the online 360 page – or alternatively a more detailed 1000 page – explanation
juggling
will this be another exercise in futility?
to get a one liner 3 weeks late inviting you to apply again next time as you didn’t make it this time

check the washing machine
the water pressure is so low it didn’t even wash the soap into bowl
its rinsed anyway

The light in the kitchen dims and wavers
perhaps the ZESA supply is so low that it merely switches things on
just doesn’t get them to work?

Its 9.30am
cloudy day
cold wind
at the traffic light my friend the newspaper vendor rushes to the car window
eyes on stalks
‘look at the headlines Gogo’ he instructs
President and Prime Minister agree to elections in June
the ugly specter of renewed violence floats in a dark cloud above our heads

April 3rd 2012
riding the waves