Friends in Jordans know that a member of the meeting has gone to Zimbabwe to teach in a local school.  Here are Simon’s comments ............

 

21 February

 

The Visa, A Zimbabwean Adventure.

 

Part the First, Background. (pay close attention, this is complex,and I WILL be asking Questions later!) Prior to arrival, I was told that on entry, I would get a visa for 3 months but would have to nip out of country every month to get it rewewed on re-entry. Not a problem, Mozambique only 5 miles away But, at airport only given 1 month told to come back to Harare in 30 days. He asked purpose of visit, I said holiday having already written it on form. He stamped passport, wrote (I assumed) his initials,and date.

3 days before due,we go to immigration in Mutare,and ask for renewal. No! have to go to Harare, besides this is a business visa, which he cannot deal with.

Now no  choice

 

Part the Second.

Nev decides to do it in a day, so set off at 5 am. Get to Harare by 8.30, Nev does some business, get to office by 9.30 Office very shabby wallpaper peeling light in stairwell out most of parquet missing. Counter with 4 cubicles, with people. Behind 4 men sit chatting, doing nothing all else. We go to slot for renewals. Girl shifts papers, files for about 3 minutes, looks up and points to next cubicle. We move. This girl does the paper, pen, file thing, but is more expert and adds sorting commodious handbag. After 5 minutes looks up. I say "Mangwanani" She bestows a look of infinite contempt."Passport!" I proffer my passport with completed form. She asks for my letter. Turns out that I should write to tell them why I want renewal. Then she gleefully points out that my visa is Business and cannot be renewed today. We very politely point out that we are from Mutare, and any way this is a mistake at airport. She allows us to write letter to explain. We find a table and I write that I wish to stay longer in Wonderful Zimbabwe and want to visit Nyanga, and Victoria Falls.  Also DO NOT mention Cecil.

We return to counter. She does the pen etc thing again, and holds her hand out.I hand over letter, which she scrutinizes closely. She looks up, "You wait" It is 10.30.

Nev has things to do, so she goes off. I sit and wait . With a book and  water which I sip (bet no WC available) I watch people being dealt with. I notice whites seem to take longer. I wait. At 12 she appears from behind counter. I look up, hopefully. She deigns to notice me. "You come back after lunch,2 o’clock"

I go away meet Nev. We eat sandwiches, drink tea. At 2 I return. She is not back so I ask someone else seems, more senior. He of course will not deal so I have to wait for Madam who eventually arrives at 2.17. She does the paper file pen hadbag thing. At 2.22 she looks up and SMILES!!!I wonder about the nature of her lunch. She says "PASSPORT" I pass it, she stamps,initials,dates. Before another Kafkaesque clerk can say anything, I grab it and run.

Yes I am wondering that as well, Why couldn't she have done that at 9.30, or at least before lunch? I suppose a combination of boring, poorly paid job in desperately depressing environment, then she gets a white man! From UK! on the wrong end of a minor clerical error. Oh the opportunity to demonstrate her importance, POWER. Pray for her,she must have a difficult life.

All my Love

Simon.   

                                  

16 March.

Hi all, seem to be back in contact,though phone network still down and net has been down for nearly a week apart from very short window on Saturday. Nev reckons a bill was not paid.

News. Last Sunday we went for picnic and tromp through the Penalonga valley to see disused and still operating gold mines.In bush met 2 men who quite openly admitted to illegal panning. Lovely countryside,views,birds,butterflies etc.

School still in strange state. State schools FOR CERTAIN to reopen 9/3 but still few teachers, so kids still come to us in am This week we are going to open in pm, as always envisaged see what happens, plan was always that kids went to school in am, received some teaching, came to us in pm for more, better. We will see.

Am talking to Nev about my part. She is keen for me to stay as long as poss,esp as she is going away for a time over Easter and needs me to be in charge. Some money paid in will fund me for another 2 months, and I can help to fund Nev somewhat. She is short, and we have a way of getting money from my account more or less instantly.

Love, Simon