TWO FACES ONE WOMAN: JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA

ACT ONE, SCENE 1

This scene is set at a Youth Forum. It is called the Reconciliation and Harmony Forum. The meeting is officially opened by the Convener.
Ok, my name is Joshua Borg, I am a Danish national. As the Convener of this conference I urge you to openly discuss but I still expect a mature debate. As you know racism together with xenophobia are some of the most enduring threats to globalisation in the new millennium. You are the new generation and you have responsibilities on your shoulders to take the matter forward. It is my expectation that some of you will participate at the World Economic Forum that is on the cards.
[he pauses]
And for the ground rules, you will sit in groups of eight and brainstorm. You will choose a moderator amongst yourselves who will chair the debates. You will have to write your set of points and then choose a rappotteur who will report for your group and answer questions that will be asked from the floor by the audience.
[someone lifts his arm wanting to make a contribution]
Yes, sir. Please if you have any contributions to make lift your hand and the microphone will be brought to you. Before you talk please identify yourself so that we all know who you are and who you represent. Sir, you!
Takubona Mapembwe
My name is Takubona Mapembwe, I am the son of a veteran of Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence. My question is, will the moderator be the rappotteur or it will be two different individuals?


Convener:
Thanks sir, that’s a very good question. The moderator and the rappotteur must be two different individuals. Ok, I can see another hand, madam?


Debbie Scott:
My name is Debbie Scott, my father is a white farmer in Zimbabwe and my mother is deceased. She was the daughter of a Roman Catholic priest. My question is what’s the meaning of “different individuals”?

Convener:
Thank you very much. By different individuals we mean if a man is the rappotteur a woman will have to be chosen as the moderator.
[Applause from the floor: Gender, gender, gender!]
Thank you very much, if we do not have any other point of discussion we may get into the groups of eight.



ACT 1, SCENE 2

[They get into groups of eight and group discussions immediately ensue. They are sat in different groups and both Takubona and Debbie are made rappotteur for their two groups. Debbie talks about how white people in Africa have failed to identify with the continent and assume and African identity. She praises white South Africans who although they have a long and very infamous history of apartheid, consider themselves South African first before their race and has a go at white Zimbabweans whom she thinks consider themselves to be British and not Zimbabwean. Midway through her speech she speaks in both Shona and Ndebele which surprises the Zimbabwean delegation and uses this to further explore the difference between white South Africans as a permanent feature of Africa and white Zimbabweans as being withdrawn. She says the fact that people were still surprised to hear a white person speaking in vernacular was enough evidence that all was not well.
[Meanwhile Takubona's speech borders on reconciliation. Again citing the South African scenario he says the race relations there are being helped by the fact that the black government does not view reconciliation as a favour but an attitude. He gives the example of the participation of whites in sport and also the role that is given to the Afrikaans language and Afrikaner culture which in comparison was not the same attitude in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Angola which are all countries with a similar history. He says whites in Zimbabwe have continued to be viewed as foreigners and are blamed at whatever opportunity by the government. He says the decline of Zimbabwe was due to its failure to live in harmony with all its peoples. He then talks about the UK and the British and how they view their own defeat and colonisation. He reminds the meeting that Britain had been colonised by different nations until the 13th century and that as a society the British are unique in that they see the positive in both defeat and colonisation and says it is when people start to a accept the contributions made by history both positive and negative that they will start to move forward. They both receive thunderous standing ovations at the end of their speeches. We now meet them after their presentations].

Takubona
Good speech. Touching, intelligent, unexpected and fulfilling.

Debbie
Thanks but why unexpected. Because I am white.

Takubona
Yes. You and I know that. The same with the Shona and Ndebele.

Debbie
I know.

Takubona
And from such a very beautiful woman too. It becomes even more touching.

Debbie
Come on Takubona I expect better from you. Every other man will tell me that I am beautiful. I don’t know what you will tell me you will buy me or build for me but I guess that’s your next line.

Takubona [laughing]
Oh no, I am different. I wasn’t going to say that. That wastes my time. I was going to tell you straight away that I have fallen for you.

Debbie
And what did you think I would say to that? Tell me, why these kind of relationships do not happen often back home.

Takubona
I won’t tell you that because you have not yet answered me.

Debbie
I know you want me to prolong it but I won’t do that. I know what I want and I have fallen for you too. But what will happen if we start experiencing problems. Let’s not pretend that this will be acceptable.
Takubona

I know. It’s going to be difficult no one is denying that but we are both adults; educated for that matter.

Debbie
Takubona education has nothing to do with this. Its one of those things in life that do not need anyone to be. We have to be practical. To know that we are entering into a relationship which may be thwarted on irrelevant considerations.

Takubona
Stupid considerations.

Debbie
They may be stupid considerations but they are considerations and they may end up affecting us. You have to know that it is a possibility that one day your daddy may lead some of their comrades to my father’s farm. What will you do?

Takubona
I will reject my father. I will tell him you are not my father anymore.

Debbie
Come on, Takubona let’s be mature about it. This is a practical consideration. In the same vein my father may pre-empt that attack and shoot your father; what will I do? Have you thought about all that?

Takubona....
We have to be strong baby. These are our parents but it does not mean we cannot go against them if their interference threatens our happiness. With love its the two of us who matter in the first instance. We have to be firm babes, and all of them should only support us. If they interfere we will still go ahead and do it our own way.

Debbie
Sure?

Takubona
Sure.

Debbie
You better mean it baby, you have fallen in love with a woman who will be loyal to you and whose love is larger than life.

Takubona
I like what I am hearing.

[THEY ENTER THEIR HOTEL HAND IN HAND SILENTLY BUT HEARTILY CELEBRATING THEIR NEWLY FOUND UNION]


-ACT TWO AND SCENE 1-

This is set at the Scotts Farm in Zimbabwe. It is set at the servants [labourers] quarters and Debbie later visits there. She is generally appreciated by the workers partly because she speaks Shona the main language in the compound. They are merry-making and singing Malawian folk lore which is popular with Zimbabwe’s farm workers.
[Debbie approaches from the farm house and the revellers together at the same time greet her]
Muri bwanji a Debbie kambada.

Debbie [she is also known as Debbie Kambada to the farm workers]
Hiya, I am fine, I am okay. Good music but I have never heard this one before. It goes mbulu mbudumbu, you guys its almost obscene in Shona though, what are playing at? [she laughs and there is an explosion of laughter that fills the room].
Imi a Debbie simuchidziwa ciYao tu? [Debbie, you don’t understand Yao language]. Anyway many people say the same even......

Debbie [interjecting]
You see so I am not alone there. You guys say I have a dirty mind but you can see I am not alone in picking that mischief.

Rade [emphasising]
Well at least this time you have other naughty persons joining you...but you are right its almost there. [and another explosion of laughter in the room].

Rade: [continuing]
It is a new release. Just off the charts [laughter].

Debbie:
Has gule wankulu been around recently?

Rade:
Yes he came.....[interjection]

Debbie:
But guy, I thought we were friends....why didn’t you tell me?
[The revellers simultaneously]
You were not here Debbie and Mandebvu was also very much on our case. Anyway he stayed for just one day. [Mandebvu is the nickname of Daniel Scott, Debbie’s father because he is heavily bearded].

Debbie:[nodding and taking a seat]
Aha-a, teach me the song then. But before I proceed, you are avoiding the first question, what does mbulu mbu dhumbu mean? [and all laugh].

Rade: [with a light smile and flinch]
Park it, well it goes; mbulu mbu dumbu is a bird, ananditolela [has taken from me], cimbalamoto my motor-bike, ndalila-lila ndinde ndalila [oh I am crying and crying]. You see, not what you were thinking. [ And again they all join in laughter].
The singing ensues, Debbie joins in as drums are being played together with clattering of hands. Beer is being served together with meat and ncima. The room is eclipsed in discussion, song and dance. It is a partying mood.



-ACT TWO SCENE 2-
Music and dancing has continued into the night. The mood is suddenly interrupted by a boastful, voice from an equally boastful and commanding white male, Bill Morgan, the farm manager.

Bill Morgan [commanding]
Hey quiet.......Debbie there? There is a sudden lull, uniform lull as the revellers conform obviously scared of the person behind the voice.
You people, someone to answer.
[with very subdued voices]
Vari kubwela Bhasi shuwa........[but before they finish]

Bill:
Shut up, you bastards should not be making noise with your shit-filled, pathetic, disjointed, erratic, ancient songs which have no harmony at all. Damn your stupid.........

Debbie: [interjecting loudly]
Enough Bill, enough, you have no right to say that.

Bill:
Come on, I pay their wages...I am their God, they eat because of me.

Debbie [standing up and walking away from the revellers]
Liar, my father pays their wages and your wages too. You are a worker Bill, that’s what you are. Forget the title you are a worker surviving on my father’s sweat too. [Subdued laughter from the revellers].


Bill [protesting]
I guess your father would love to hear that you are now finding warmth among ka.....

Debbie: [frowning]
So, I should find warmth under your burly? And stop there or I will expose you, stupid racist!. My father is not like you, in fact I don’t know from which dumpsite he picked you. This is Zimbabwe and the new millennium not the 17th century.

Rade[interjecting in low voice]
But, Bhasi Bill......................

Bill:
Shut up, stupid.....what nonsense do you want to tell me......all of you leave at once!
[There are grumblings in the background as the revellers leave for their quarters and Bill and Debbie to theirs amidst arm throwing and quarrelling].

One reveller shouts:
It’s not Rhodesia anymore!!!

Bill:
And it’s not yet Zimbabwe!

-ACT 2 SCENE 3-

In this scene we see some of the farm labourers talking to one another about the problems and in particular, they are discussing about the working conditions on the farm.

Rade:
This farm has kept us for quite a long time now. Generations of my family have worked here. But something seems very amiss now, with this manager that we have.

Oliver:
I must say I really don’t like Bill. He treats us as if we are his small babies. I don’t think Kambanje knows it.

Rade:
You see this is where the problem is because looking at our boss, especially his daughter Kambada, they seem to be different from what we see from Bill. He does not like our kind.

Kupara:
That’s why I always say that we must not let them do what they want with us. We have to stand our ground. Xavier is our representative here with the Union, and we should always air our grievances.

Oliver:
Ah, Moyo, what are you talking about? Union? We all know that our Union has never represented us against our employers. We know that Xavier drinks the same wine and eats the same food they eat. Since the Union was formed, how many farmers have been brought before a labour court? Look at our wages, our working conditions, our living conditions......the union does not do anything about that. The Union is only interested in barking the wrong tree, the Government, and not the farmers who are our employers.

Kupara
They work together with the farmers. But the government too has never really liked us. They too eat from the same place with Kambanje. If they were serious they should have forced him to build schools and clinics on this farm. They haven’t done so because they get kickbacks from our exploitation. In fact it is the work of the Government to build schools.

Oliver
True but these people are making lots of money. I had sympathy for them but after yesterday I am convinced that they are not keen on our welfare. My father and mother worked in the same capacity so did his own parents. My children have begun working for them too. There are no schools here making me think that the intention is to purposefully manipulate the future of our children as future Debbie’s workers. They are being groomed to be vassals in our own free country.

Rade
Yes but can we see what is happening around us? You see we don’t eat independence. We eat from our salaries. Surrounding farms are being invaded and nothing is going to farm workers such as us. After a farm is taken over, they call their relatives from Harare and Bulawayo and give them land and then say they have empowered poor black people. Those who are getting the farms will throw the workers away and make the farms derelict land where no real farming happens.

Kupara
That’s true, Mbewe, but after yesterday, I am ready for a takeover of this farm if it is to happen. We were reminded that we are still vassals in our country and I am feeling the emptiness to this day. You see if we allow this to continue, we should be prepared to have them enter our bedrooms to steal our wives as well.

Rade
White men don’t marry black, poorly-educated, poorly dressed, farm women!

Kupara
I never said they will marry them. I said they will take you off your bed and do the unthinkable with your wife. After that they will abandon her without you even saying anything.

Rade
White men don’t know how to make love. Our women will never love a white man.

Oliver
Come on, let’s not be naive. If white men cannot make love where are all these white children coming from? Did you ever talk to a white lady and she told you that her husband cannot make love? Let’s not wait for them to come to our bedrooms. We have to stop them before it’s too late.

Kupara
I will talk to some people from the neighbourhood who have the ear of the government. They too have been watching this farm and they are unhappy.

Oliver
Bring it on.

Rade
I would rather urge caution. You see our mouths can cross oceans for us but a wise person will always favour a cautious approach.

Kupara
We owe it to our consciences to do the right thing for our children. Let’s go, sleep and see what our dreams tell us.

Oliver and Rade
Tomorrow always comes the next hour. Let’s think about it and decide as responsible men. Good night.