Dr. Edward Antonio Speaks on Being Human in Zimbabwe

Dr. Edward Antonio, a professor at the Iliff School of Theology, opened the “Being Human in Zimbabwe” conference introducing topics to be discussed the next few days.

The tightly packed room was full of intent listeners sitting in a whispered expectation that quickly turned to quiet reverence as Antonio stepped up to the podium.

Antonio expresses his purpose

During the lecture, Antonio spoke of the different kinds of shortages affecting Zimbabwe and how difficult they make everyday life.

“Shortage destroys life,” said Antonio who explained how the shortages of food, health services, money, electricity, housing, and almost all essential commodities have led to a social unrest in Zimbabwe.

He said that peace does not exist there and the legal system, through corruption and the inability of government officials to manage the situation at hand, has lost its integrity.

“It is not that the state does not have the resources to meet the needs,” said Antonio. “They just lack the ability to manage these resources.”

When asked why he focused on Zimbabwe, Antonio, who is originally from Zimbabwe, replied that it is going through a social, economic, and political crisis that is a matter of life and death to many Zimbabweans.

So, is it possible to be human in Zimbabwe?

Antonio expressed that he is interested in the everyday life of the people and it is the everyday in Zimbabwe that is marked by an economic collapse that has led to the many shortages plaguing the country and problematizing what it means to be human. He continued to explain that if what is lacking or fundamentally non-existent is what makes life possible in other places then are Zimbabweans truly human?

“Can one be a human being if one has no human rights?” Antonio asked the audience. He continued, “There are humans in Zimbabwe which is why there is such an outcry.”

Cause and effect of the social crisis in Zimbabwe

According to Antonio, the situation in Zimbabwe is not the result of a “natural evil,” but is the work of men.

“Sometimes shortages are caused by nature, but not in Zimbabwe,” he said. “The shortage in Zimbabwe is not natural.”

He continued to explain the extent of the crisis in Zimbabwe where, according to Antonio, some professional women are turning to prostitution to supplement their salaries and pets are surrendered or eaten as food because people are unable to afford them. People rely on traditional healers instead of medicine, and the number of HIV and AIDS cases is among one of the worst in the world at about 20 percent, he stated.

Antonio is concerned that the Zimbabwean government has lost a sense of the sacredness of life and of the dignity and the inalienable rights of humans.

Antonio’s thoughts on the solution to the problem

When asked by an audience member why he is not out there putting a solution into action, Antonio replied with a chuckle: “It’s not that I don’t want to do it. It’s that I’m humble.”

“It’s a complex situation,” he continued. “There are people doing that, and my purpose is a different one. I want to honor those who are dropping dead in Zimbabwe.”

To learn and read about other insights on the issues in Zimbabwe visit:

www.Zimbabwesituation.com
http://allafrica.com/zimbabwe/
www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/
http://zimpundit.blogspot.com/