A Rural Experience to Remember...
Our journey begins...
It starts with a bumpy ride, in an area roughly 2 hrs from our base in Mutare, Zimbabwe. Yesterday one of our clients needed us to capture the successful group work of some of the rural farmers. The short videos we produce will hopefully go towards further education of new business ventures and can illustrate the benefits of working as a group and their innovations. Something that we support and wish to see for this amazing country.
As we drive out it becomes drier than in our mountain forest landscape, and is stunning in its own way with these impressive sized "Candelabra Tree" (Euphorbia ingens) very prominent, the mountains more bare and steely grey in their stark beauty against the clear blue sky. I try to think of what they remind me of and realise with a giggle that could be the heads of bald men, with their bald rocky outcrop clear of vegetation until half way down where a ring of shrubs and trees start to materialise like hair.
Our first stop...
The Rural District Council of the area is our first stop, and a short wait illustrates the benefits of having people like our clients staff members, well versed in the ways of this place. Once we get our clearance sorted from the local district council and promise to show our raw and edited videos, we sensibly offer a ride to our next stop, and are safe to go on. It serves another reminder of the caution one must practice here...
As we keep driving, the feeling of real remoteness hits you as there are no vehicles anywhere, with very little people around that time of day (unlike on our way home) with no more power lines and the last of the telephone lines, and still we keep on driving. My phone also loses all signal and thankfully I get some positioning from my GPS.
Our Arrival
What left us feeling somewhat embarrassed, yet enchanted, was the beautiful sound that greeted us as we arrived. The group welcomed us with a song that was so well harmonised and sweet, that I couldn't believe it was coming from this mix of men and women waiting by the car as we disembarked. They could have been a grand choir performing at the Opera House! It always feels like true old world hospitality, and to me its something I feel honoured to receive as this is not some hotel or lodge but a community welcoming us.
The next thing we knew, we are sitting under a mango tree in their communal area, the only real shaded place with the groups dried produce spread out carefully on tables, and seats placed out for us in the shade. Formal introductions are made, more singing and a prayer, and I think to myself, how lucky we are to be able to be here so far away from the rat race, a real cultural experience.
The work begins...
Once we begin our work, their personalities start to show and for the most part, they are light-hearted folk and easy to laughter, especially the women. What was impressive was how well organised they were and how well they really did work as a group. They were good at acting too! We finished the work well within time and happily purchased some of their lovely produce, after which we were invited to a hearty meal of locally grown mixed beans and ground nuts, and the local fermented maize drink called maheu which I quite liked. Thankfully not the really alcoholic version which can knock you out for days. They all had a laugh at my enjoyment of the drink. Their generosity and thoughtfulness was so endearing and it leaves me once again so happy to be here.
ALthough this is probably our fifth or even 6th experience working in the rural areas of Zimbabwe, we always look forward to them and the great experiences they offer us.
