HARARE - Every working day that I return home from work be it early evening or late, whether I’m beat or not, there is only one thing that instantly revitalises me — the sight of my sweet little children and my wife.
Just seeing them waiting for me at home makes me glow with happiness.
The elder one could be doing her homework, the other one could be watching his favourite Sponge Bob cartoon while the little one, full of energy, would be running all over the place upsetting anything in his way and keeping his mother on her toes.
Upon entering my home, shrieks and squeaks of joy followed by hugs are what I get.
Occasionally and whenever I can afford, I bring a thing or two for my children and the shrieks and squeaks are noticeably louder. Then we talk. It can be about their day at school; if there’s any homework I’m lucky because my wife usually takes care of that much earlier, it can be about other issues and then we watch TV a little as each one of them slowly dozes off and then I have to carry the little one and tuck him into bed.
The sight of him tucked safely and warmly in bed with those slow motions of breath are enough to melt even the most hard-hearted men.
Every day of the week, this is one of the moments I look forward to. In essence; this is what family does to you, it gives you meaning, stature, happiness, and purpose in life, direction; simply put, it gives you wings.
And I have not mentioned the times I get to take my family to my parents’ home where grandma and grandpa get to see their grandchildren or when I take them to my brother’s place where they mingle with their cousins or to my sister’s place.
The joy, the happiness, the fulfilment, the pleasure, the memories, the very special moments such opportunities present are priceless and irreplaceable.
That’s family for you; that is when it’s complete and all of you are there
But my heart bleeds for the Dzamara family, for his wife Sheffra, for his two children who are constantly asking for him, for Itai’s brother Partson and the other family members and for the mother who brought Itai himself to the world.
This one dear reader, while it is meant for you, it is especially meant for Itai Dzamara’s abductors.
These people must have families, I wouldn’t know but by God I hope you do and I kindly ask you to take a moment and put yourselves in Itai’s shoes; how would that boy of yours whom you adore so much take it if you just suddenly disappeared from his life, yes you, his provider, his protector and his beloved father.
How about that girl you so much love the one whom you probably are sending to one of the best schools around, the one who melts your heart; what would she do if you just vanished like that?
And of course your loving and adoring wife who gave you those two little ones; how would she take it? I know you are all human just like all of us and I know deep inside you there is a soul that drives your conscience and in there is a flicker of human compassion.
I plead with you to search and find it within yourselves to return this man dead or alive to his family so they can have closure.
We are all human.
The dictates of Ubuntu say; your family my family, your children my children, we are one human race and should live to protect, support, love and respect one another.
If you can do that to a human being, where does that leave the beasts of the jungle?
Itai’s children are crying for him daily just as your own children would and his wife is in grief just as would your own families — had you been in the same situation.
If the motive is political, even in politics compassion is allowed.
The beauty of politics is about agreeing to disagree, compromise and be able to go home holding hands.
Itai is just human, after all, he has his opinions just like all of us which must be respected as well.
Let politics be, let hatred be, let enmity be, let the essence and values of family prevail, let kindness and compassion prevail, let Ubuntu prevail but above all let God’s love prevail.
His love for you yourselves, despite your bad deeds, I know He is willing to forgive. Even you, would be free.
I pray to God you are all reading this. It’s an appeal from one family man to another. For the sake of your own families, of Itai’s family, of love, of Ubuntu and humanity. LET ITAI GO AND BE WITH HIS FAMILY.