Comments on: Fleeing Zimbabwe means facing death

By: David.L

David.L — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:58:14 +0000

i suppose that if they would prefer to go through all of the danger and life threatening possibilities of getting into south africa, then it must be better than staying in zimbabwe. i wouldn’t know, as i have never been there. however, it must be a terrible situaton they are in.
it’s, like, a personal choice. if i felt it would be better for me and my family to escape zimbabwe and go through the terrible trek of getting to south america, i would probably go through the whole thing as well.

By: Jasmne

Jasmne — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 06:28:24 +0000

This blog entry just shows how fortunate Americans are. Yes we have our problems but we don’t need to leave out home land to feel safe. I think that this situation is really unfortunate. I don’t feel that anyone should haft to leave where they are from to feel safe. My heart goes out,, honestly it does.
Just imagining how scared these mothers and fathers must feel for the children’s safety, never knowing if they will ever see their children again alive and vise versa. America might have a few worries but nothing compared to the unseen dangers in Zimbabwe. Illegal immigrants? To whom. It seems as if they are illegal immigrants in their home land, what shall make a difference if they relocate. If I were in their shoes I would leave and find a safer location for my family as well, as soon as I could.
I rather die for fighting for my freedom, then to die living as a prisoner.

By: Virginia V.

Virginia V. — Tue, 06 May 2008 04:14:41 +0000

It is turmoil there. I’m taken back by the brutal reality but I haven’t a clue how to prevent it. Why is this happening? The reality of it all is the same people are killing eachother, and for what? Animals.
Its like being cornered to a cliff, either you jump or get a bullet in the head.
I don’t know how I’d take my chances, but its a terrible situation, you can’t really just state what its like or even imagine what these people face.

Its an ugly situation.

By: Annalise Petriello

Annalise Petriello — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:39:50 +0000

Hearing this story and others like it are instant reminders that all the bullshit in our lives is really meaningless in comparison. I wish I had the answers for any of this but I do not. I am frustrated and confused to know that we live somewhere that millions (bilions?) are being spent to bring up a nation not wanting our help, while this is going on elsewhere. While so many people are being displaced in Uganda and young men are becoming demented rageful soldiers without a choice. While only one rape case a year is pursued in the Congo and thousands of women are bearing children with 6 or 7 possible fathers whom they have been gang raped by. The situation must be improved but I have no idea what to do from across the ocean.

By: Judson A

Judson A — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:57:51 +0000

I know the danger within Both Zimbabwe and South Africa. A friend of mine who I played soccer with for three years moved to Tanzania and they email back and forth constantly telling us how dangerous it can be if you are not smart. My sister also spent six months in South Africa doing a Study Abroad Program through her college. We were always hearing all the horror stories of people getting kidnapped and raped so my parents and I were always worried about her saftey. I can’t imagine how much more the danger is escalated for those who actually live there in the outskirts of the major cities. With no lights or Government officials there to protect them. My sister relayed stories of Armed R.U.F. soldiers lining the streets and on every corner. Gangs are the Government in some places and it is all they can do to survive for some families.
Comparing what it is like for Mexican families to cross the border, facing miles of desert, armed, angry border patrole, and hopping a literal fence seems like childsplay. Families who want to cross into different borders in Africa must go through countless check points where your passport is checked, you must pay a fine, and they search your vehicle thouroughly. To get out and away from their towns and homes in Zimbabwe, like the article stated, families have to travel at night, take food, run from lions, jackels, leopards, and crocodiles, then have to “outwit ditches and razor wire fences, and that is the easy part.” Then comes the rouge gangs that patrol the borders all hours of the day. The “Guma-Guma” gang members steal all their money, rape the women, and beat the men. The Zimbabweans feel that going through all of this will be worth it and will provide a better life. The Guma-Guma kill for seemingly no reason.
The main reason people risk their lives, facing almost certain death, is because their is food in South Africa. I cannot imagine having to go through all of that and it be better than what was going on at my home. Living in the United States seems like a luxury after hearing stories like this. Where we DONT have to worry about our lives on a daily basis and we DONT have to run from lions and leopards, and armed gang members just to provide for our family.

By: Monica Solis

Monica Solis — Fri, 02 May 2008 06:23:13 +0000

read this one!!!!!!
This sounds to familiar…this is going around the world. Not only in Zimbabwean. It is happening in our own backyard. People are crossing face the dessert and the board control. And it is not only board control, but gangs like MS13 and even there own police. They kill and steal people for their money and goods. Rape women and other terrible things. They risk their lives just to flee poverty from there county’. People that just want to make a better life for their families and themselves.
When I hear new of people crossing illegally its always the something/news the dangers, which people face. Of course South Africa does not want them. Why would a country want more poor people to take care. They are only a extra load; sucking up there resources. money. It will always come down to money.
They want rich people to come to there country. People that are going to help with there economy…spend money….Its not just happening there. ALL OVER THE WORLD.

By: Monica Solis

Monica Solis — Fri, 02 May 2008 06:13:58 +0000

This sounds to familiar…this is going around the world. Not only in Zimbabwean. It is happening in our own county. People cross the dessert and the board control. And it is not only board control, but gangs like MS13 and even there own police that terrorizes people crossing over. They kill people for their money and rape women too. They risk their lives just to flee poverty that there countries have. People that just want to make a better life for them and their families.
When I hear new of people crossing illegally its always the something. Of course South Africa does not want them. Why would a country want more poor people to take care. There are only a extra load sucking up there resources. money. It will always come down to money. They want rich people to come to there country. People that are going to help with there economy and spend money….It is not just happening there. ALL OVER THE WORLD.

By: alexa m.

alexa m. — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:53:54 +0000

I can’t imagine what i would do. AS a person living in South Africa i would want to help the immigrants cross over safely, away from the gangs, but from what it seems the gangs have all the power.
I can’t blame anyone for trying, the one thing Zimbadwes know is that once over the South Africa boarder, pass the gangs, there is a better life, and it makes sense for them to continue. We live in a world of danger, decisions and hope. The gangs either have noting better to do in there lives than to kill and beat or they live in a life of just as much danger they put upon the imigrants and know no other way to live, but with distruction, coruption, and with wounded consouses. That is at least my opinion. I wonder if those who have made it across the border alive would ever do it again. Suggest to others in Zimbadwe to even go through the touble and danger. Those who have made it say that life is better, “i can feed my self and my child”, does that suggest that more should come and find a way over. I know our country cant help everyone in the world, but man!, We waste so much food here, when they are starving to death over there.
Someone should get an underground railroad going and fast.

By: Oscar

Oscar — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:38:26 +0000

That’s horrible. I can’t believe that’s happening. All they are trying to do is live and there are all these people trying to stop them from doing so. I had no idea that this was going on. I thought that having to outwit lions and other dangerous animals would be hard enough, but they also have to watch out for the gumaguma. That really sucks. I would have thought that the people fleeing would be given welcomed to south africa as refugees. I can’t believe that people could be so heartless and mean. It’s a load of crap.

By: Mike-West

Mike-West — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:11:32 +0000

It sucks that people have to leave their own country in order to live and survive. More things should be done in order to help these people so that they do not have to risk their own lives to cross the border. Obviously the poverty in Zimbabwe must be really bad for people to risk their lives from wildlife and all the other dangers. I really do not think enough is being done right now to help these people and something more needs to be done so that they have safe water and food to survive and not have to risk their lives to be somewhere better.