Nontando Hadebe is a senior lecturer at St. Augustine University in Johannesburg, South Africa, a member of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians, and a former Sojourners intern.
Posts By This Author
International Inauguration Congratulations
In Zimbabwe, a Picture is Worth One Hundred Billion Words
A friend sent me these pictures and they capture the reality of mind boggling inflation in Zimbabwe!
My Four Weeks in Zimbabwe
'Elders' Refused Entry to Zimbabwe as Cholera Claims Lives
"Either they don't know or they don't care."
-Gracia Machel, referring to the government attitude on the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.
Deadly Delays as Zimbabwe's Talks Drag On
Back to Square One in Zimbabwe and the 'Obama Effect' in South Africa
As the World Watches
You Touch a Woman, You Touch a Rock
"Wathinta abafazi, wathinta imbhokodo." (You touch a woman, you touch a rock.)
Mugabe's Unilateralism Obstructs Power-Sharing in Zimbabwe
Power Struggles Continue in Zimbabwe and South Africa
A Historic Week for South Africa
Zimbabwe's Leaders Sign Compromise Agreement
The agreement we sign today is a product of painful compromise.
Cakes, Crumbs, and Surprises in Zimbabwe
The "cake" vs. "crumbs" power-sharing struggle continues in Zimbabwe. One of the reasons for the breakdown in the talks is that the government (ZANU-PF) wants the "whole power cake" and wants to give the opposition "crumbs." The intention of negotiations was to divide the "power cake" evenly so that a transitional government could be installed to stabilize the country and pave the way for fresh elections in two years. The memorandum of agreement signed by all parties agreed to this [...]
Death of Zambia's President -- and Zimbabwe's Negotiations
On Aug. 19, 2008, Zambia President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa died. His death was a loss not only to his nation but to the region. He was outspoken about the situation in Zimbabwe. It is ironic that his death was followed in a few days by the "death" of negotiations in Zimbabwe. The government has refused to concede power and will be opening parliament next week --"back to business." It is not clear at the moment what options the opposition party has [...]
Something is Brewing
The combined outcome of events happening at the moment is hard to predict, but something is brewing in the southern African region around the issue of Zimbabwe. Here are "the key ingredients" in this pot:
1. The Southern African Development Community (SADC), a group of regional leaders representing 14 countries in southern Africa, are meeting this weekend. Top on the agenda is the situation in Zimbabwe.
2. At this meeting there will be a change of leadership from the president of Zambia to [...]
Power-Sharing in Zimbabwe
It is Tuesday, August 12, and the leaders of the political parties are still locked in talks of power sharing -- it was expected that a deal would be struck on Sunday, but to no avail, so the talks continue. Most of us are still digesting and coming to terms with the content of the proposed new deal -- some parts are hard to swallow, but I think the model of power-sharing being used by chief mediator Thabo Mbeki is modeled on the South African experience.
If you can recall, [...]
Slicing the Cake of Power in Zimbabwe
The latest development on talks between the opposition party -- the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) -- and ZANU-PF President Robert Mugabe is that they have produced a 50-page document as a way forward in power-sharing and the installation of a transitional government. The duration of the transitional government is still being debated -- the opposition wants two years and ZANU-PF wants five. The plan is to eventually dissolve the transitional government and hold fresh [...]
Seeking Wisdom in Zimbabwe's Peace Talks
I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
Making Sense of Zimbabwe's Violence
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows (Luke 12:6-7).
He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight (Psalm 72:14).
My friends and I were discussing the ongoing violence in Zimbabwe -- it [...]
Back to Square One for Zimbabwe's Ubiquitous Billionaires
I was in Zimbabwe from June 21 to 28. I traveled by bus, and my experience is typical of what has become the norm for road travel between South Africa and Zimbabwe -- long queues and delays at the border posts and police-controlled roadblocks.
Almost all vehicles going to Zimbabwe are loaded to maximum capacity with goods from South Africa -- mostly basic foodstuff. With ever-rising inflation currently at 3 million percent, the Zimbabwean dollar cannot keep up, and the government [...]