3 days in Zim

At the height of the political tensions in Zimbabwe, my friends and I were curious. What exactly was going on, what exactly was life like in this country where rumours and reports of extreme poverty, infringement of human rights and bizarre behaviour from those in power kept on shocking the entire world?
After weeks of internet research and one-on-one interviews with Zimbabweans living here in South Africa, Simon, Themba and I arrived at the Beit Bridge on November 4th 2011, with much trepidation and excitement as we left our home country for the first time. The boarder dividing these two countries is apparently one of the busiest in Africa, with desperate Zimbabweans leaving their home with hopes of a better life, and wit a fair amount who’d found some form of success in South Africa returning with truck-loads of goods such as mattresses, stoves and other home essentials. Before our departure we were told that Bulawayo, our destination, was one of the country’s more developed cities. Of course there was absolutely no evidence of this as the majority of the land was barren for miles on end. We were however amused and amazed to find that the warnings we’d been given did in fact hold merit. Whilst driving on Zimbabwean roads it is a prerequisite to indicate once a vehicle approaches yours. This is simply to show the on-coming driver where your car begins (by the front indicator) and where it ends (by the back indicator). A somewhat strange theory but, like the other motorists, we abided nonetheless.
Unfortunately there is not much to do or see in Zimbabwe; however I quickly reminded my two companions that we weren’t there to see buildings or great structures, we were there to see how the Zimbabwean people live. Fundamentally that’s what every travel experience is about isn’t it, seeing how other people live or make do with what they have. Local encounters are usually what change our preconceived notions.
With this philosophy firmly in mind we ingratiated ourselves with some locals and we happily spent the two days before our visas expired gallivanting around the city, cautious not to say anything politically motivated or controversial. Prison beckons anyone with strong ideas there. Nevertheless it was an extraordinary experience that made each of us appreciate what we have here at home.