Is the Zimbabwean community in North Cyprus Divided?

The presence of Zimbabweans in North Cyprus is well documented as they make up the second or third largest student community in the island. So much has been said about Zims in the island which may be true or false, but one question begging for answer is "Is the Zimbabwean community in North Cyprus Divided?

A well known Zim writer and poet in the island will take us through what he thinks about this question and some other things we need to know about Zims in Cyprus. 

“United we stand, divided we fall.” There is a lot of truth in the old proverb. In the case of the Zimbabwean population in North Cyprus, unity has proven elusive.

It is no secret that Zimbabwe has struggles of her own and her children outside her borders need each other now more than ever. But here is the thing: Zimbos in North Cyprus don’t feel like they need each other. This assertion is not empty and there are several reasons why it is so.

How many Zimbabweans are studying at Near East University? East Mediterranean University? CIU? EUL? Compare that figure to the number of Zimbabweans who attend events organized at university or inter-uni level for Zimbabweans by Zimbabweans. 

Now, there are a lot of reasons Zimbos throw around as to why this is so but the fact remains- most of these events have recorded a low attendance.

What makes a Zimbo comfortable with binge watching series while others are celebrating a national holiday in a hall a few yards from his hostel? Whether you agree with the government back home or not, shunning the efforts of your fellow compatriots to bring Zimbos together is unjustifiable.

Zim Students in CIU celebrating their independence day

Some will argue that events are organized without their input but the truth is that most people keep to themselves and then cry foul when their opinions they never expressed are not considered. There is a certain superiority complex that reigns over many a Zimbo that makes them feel like an idea isn’t fire unless they’re the ones who came up with it. With such a mentality, you end up with an abject lack of appreciation for anything coming from anyone else.

People look at events not as they are put together but how they should be according to them. That elitism has to fall. People criticize their representatives but never submit their own names for candidacy year in and out. The honest truth is that, dear Zimbo, you’re sowing a seed of non participation which will germinate when you also need others to come through for your vision to be a reality.

While we’re there, students societies should get off their high horses and propagate dialogue. I know that the Zimbabwean model of leadership makes leaders feel like they’re lords but in truth, it’s a privilege to serve people. Keep that mind.

Dialogue preserves relations. Zimbos on the island, myself included, have a lot to learn in that area. Do we ever talk to each other or we always talk at each other? Facebook posts are basically announcements and rarely initiators of conversation. It’s important to regularly interact because people develop as they take in new ideas and perspectives.

There’s a lot we don’t see eye to eye on because we seldom take time to listen to each other and develop empathy. As long as we don’t talk to each other, we’ll never come together to lift each other up as a people in a foreign land.

We relate to God in different ways as Christians and as such, we’re bound to belong to different denominations. And it’s only natural to find your denomination the most authentic and your pastor the best in the world. But what happens when you profile people from other churches.

I’ve heard people say Forward In Faith Cyprus is a legalistic church full of do’s and don’t’s and others say that Alight House is lax on sin and as such is full of sinners.

Now, I’ve been to both churches and can say that the above assumptions are simply untrue. But the honest truth is that there’s someone in Alight House who believes that’s how FIF is and vice versa. Before we knew it, we started judging the character of people based on the churches they go to on a Sunday. Humans are far too complex to be judged by such a benchmark and it’s counterproductive for Zimbabweans to look at each other that way. At the end of the day, God knows who’s real and who’s not and we should leave all the judgment to him.

This article is already looking long. I’ll continue on my subject but I’m sure you get my wish- Can’t we all just unite?

Republished with permission from the author: Ree Mwase- aka the talkative writer