Zimbabwe

Tafara Sewing Co-op

Our first contact with Zimbabwe was with the Tafara Sewing Co-op. These were a group of young people from a school established by Maryknoll to shelter orphaned escapees from RENAMO masacres in Moçambique. Beyond the regular curriculum the school taught economic skills such as sewing so the pupils could become economically independent. When the young people were old enough, the Tafara Co-op was formed where they would sew clothing from the eye catching 'Java prints' available in Africa. Before the Tafara Co-op became independently viable the Maryknolls returned to the US, the Bishop confiscated their sewing machines and we lost contact with them.

Mutare Hospital

Our next contact came through Irene MacIlwaine of Nelson who, with her husband (Dr.) Colin, were working in The Mutare Hospital. An HIV/AIDS group had been organized and we assisted them to sell craft items made by their members. Eventually, the organiser returned to London, UK, and we lost contact with them. One of their members, however, found our address and wrote to us.

She is an HIV positive widow whose husband had died of AIDS leaving her infected and with three young girls to raise. This scenario is all to common. Societally, women don't count for very much in Zimbabwe, family connections are through males. This left our friend entirely to her own resources. They have access to a small plot of land and they live the life of the rural poor. Well enough, if the rains come. And we have ensured that the children will stay fed and get through school.

Recently, her family expanded with the addition of another girl. Her husband's brother had died of AIDS leaving his wife infected. The wife died and our friend inherited a niece. The new 'sister' is melded in and life goes on. The ready acceptance of the cousin into the family as a new sister speaks to the resilience of their culture.

Zuwa Weaving Co-op

The Zuwa Co-op is a group of about twenty women in Nyanga who weave woolen and cotton items. They also have hand knit woolen gloves, which is how we came into contact with them. A friend who visited Zimbabwe bought a pair of their gloves, which subsequently wore out, asked us to see about getting her another pair.

The current situation in Zimbabwe is particularly pernicious to those whose income depends on the tourist trade. The Zuwa Weaving Co-op depends on tourism so they are effectively unemployed at present. Inflation is now running unchecked with limited effect on our previous contact, she lives outside the money economy for the most part, but the women of Zuwa are very much affected.

A unique offering by this group are rugs woven in wool where the warp consists of homespun and the weft is inserted unspun sheep wool. This makes a thick, soft rug. Although a bulky package to send by post, these rugs have been very popular.