[Zaire] Call to Zimbabwe

[JJSmithJr]

Zairian Minister of the Interior Joseph Kabila would place an encrypted call from his private office to a representative of the provisional council of Zimbabwe.

J.Hyde

 

[J.Hyde]

JJSmithJr

Trevor Hawkins picked up the phone and put it to his ear.

"Hello? Trevor Hawkins, Chairman of The Provisional Executive Council of Zimbabwe speaking."

 

[JJSmithJr]

"Hello Mr. Hawkins. It is Joseph Kabila, Interior Minister, Zaire, my government is very intent on making sure yours does not descend into chaos and bush warfare which has a tendency to spread.

We are prepared to send aid supplies, allow the Lubumbashi International Airport to serve as a Forward Operating Base for other foreign agents in your country, as well as dispatch 1000 Gendarme and 10000 Police Officers to the ground in your nation, but we will need some information before we do so.

Firstly are you interested in our aid?"

 

[JJSmithJr]

J.Hyde

 

[J.Hyde]

"We most definitely are," Trevor replied. "Zimbabwe is on the precipice of descending into total anarchy, along with famine, thirst, and pestilence being aggravating factors that will do more than just instigate a new bush war. It will, undoubtedly, mean hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of deaths. We are accepting all the help we can get to stabilise the situation here."

 

[J.Hyde]

JJSmithJr

 

[JJSmithJr]

"Can you tell me the state of the North West of the country? Especially around Lake Victoria and the Victoria Falls? I can dispatch a unit of Gendarme and Police to secure Victoria Falls Airport if the airstrip and area are still relatively calm. We will be able to supply water, food, and pharmaceuticals, as emergency aid, and we can support any foreign operations currently taking place in Zimbabwe. Where else has aid been coming in from?"

J.Hyde

 

[J.Hyde]

JJSmithJr

"Since the collapse of ZESA, the country's aviation authority, the airports have gone dark. The only airport in the entire country that's being operated right now is Mugabe International. The operators are Argentinian military, who have offered support. As for Victoria Falls and the lake, we have no idea what's going on over there. All government structures have dissolved, and, as far as we know, the locals are being lead by local mayors, tribal chieftains, and clergy. Whether that's the reality on the ground, we don't know. The official government strength stands at just 4 people right now. Myself, and the other three members of the council.

We have, so far, received support from France, Canada, Argentina, yourself, and Ireland. It's a start, but we need more. Zimbabwe is a nation that's 390,757 square kilometres large, with around 12 to 13 million people. Before Mugabe's removal, around half of the population were getting clean water. That's dropped to zero percent now that the water pumps have shut down. Electricity was never in regular supply due to the crumbling electrical infrastructure, that's gone too. The only parts of the entire country that have telephone and internet access at this moment are the parliament building and Mugabe International Airport. You can thank the Argentinians for providing satellite phones and such for ensuring that I have the ability to speak to you right now."

 

[JJSmithJr]

"With no information and no ability to get aid to Harare as it is too far from any of our operational air strips, we do not see it as possible to send aid to you at this time. It would essentially be a blind mission with high risk for the pilots, equipment, and men involved. We hope you understand our situation, and we wish you all the luck."

J.Hyde

 

[J.Hyde]

JJSmithJr

"We understand perfectly, sir. I thank you for at least trying to establish whether you could help or not. Would you be open to reconsidering if the situation changes in the future?"

 

[JJSmithJr]

Some shuffling would be heard on the Zaire side of the phone as well as a discussion in hurried French, followed by a shorter more annoyed response from Kabila to someone in his office in a native Congolese tongue.

"Hmmm, oh yes sir, I'm sorry I was given some faulty information about our air capabilities, we are in the process of restructuring our own armed forces you see and somehow some vital information hadn't made its way to me. While we wait a few days for our own Airlift aircraft to enter full service, we would be willing to offer to Zaire as a stop over and forward operating base for any other foreign nations wishing to aid Zimbabwe. The flight from Lubumbashi International Airport to Harare is only 432 nautical miles, just over 2 hours of flight time, much more manageable than a flight from France, Ireland, Canada, or even Argentina.

As we wait for our own airfleet to finish construction, we will offer logistical and organizational support to any international partner also aiding your nation, then in a few days time we will begin our own aid missions to Harare and hopefully to the rest of the country. Further, Zaire can promise to bankroll the staff of any of the power stations that would still be operable to bring power to any areas that would pledge their loyalty to your provisional government and allow your government to begin to establish control over the countryside."

J.Hyde

 

[J.Hyde]

"I honestly didn't expect the circumstances to change that quickly," Trevor replied with a short laugh. "We will take all the help you can give. The people need it, and we were tasked by the French to be international representatives of Zimbabwe in the absence of a proper government. Frankly, our focus is on ensuring that there are people in the country who are alive to see a new government form, that's how dire the situation is."

 

[J.Hyde]

JJSmithJr

 

[JJSmithJr]

"There are still several issues that will need sorted out, firstly, by what mandate are you ruling Zimbabwe? Is there a popular movement round you since you are the ones who ousted Mugabe, or are the French seen as heroes despite that they have basically left the scene from what we can tell? The legitimacy of your government and establishing it as so, will be the first of many steps in bringing true stability back to your people. Further, Zaire cannot afford an entanglement with a fringe group claiming a mandate, we must be sure that you speak for the people of your nation."

J.Hyde

 

[J.Hyde]

JJSmithJr

"Allow me to be completely honest with you, sir," Trevor replied, his chin being propped up by his fist. "The PEC consists of volunteers. The French said; 'who will lead until a proper government can be elected?' The four of us were the only volunteers.

Politics-wise, Myself and my friend and fellow leader of The Rhodesian Renaissance Coalition, Rudo Matchaba, have only been involved with politics for about two weeks. We met by sheer chance outside of a bar. Rudo was talking about how horrible things were in Zimbabwe, and asked the patrons; 'if you care, come outside so we can talk more.' I was the only person who bothered to turn up. Admittedly, I heard him from outside, the bar didn't permit whites to enter, but what he said was true. We fought on opposing sides of The Bush War. I fought as a soldier in The Rhodesian Army, he fought as a member of Mugabe's ZANU-PF militants. We both wanted a better country, and Mugabe wasn't delivering. Rudo and I decided a march would be a way to stir up some fire in the hearts of our fellow Zimbabweans, that was our first action as The RRC. That single march precipitated the collapse of Mugabe, courtesy of the international community. The pair of us are just two people who want a better country to live in, and we will do everything we can to do it.

As for the other two, Bishop Muzorewa was the leader of The United African National Council during The Bush War, and afterwards. He's the most politically experienced among us. He was even Prime Minister of Rhodesia for a year in 1979, but lost the election of 1980 to Mugabe. After that, The UANC was sidelined like everyone else by Mugabe through various means. Meanwhile, Bishop Ndlovu, I do not know why he was included. I've never heard of him before, but The French were eager to have him onboard. He's a catholic, and there are quite a few in Zimbabwe, while Muzorewa is United Methodist. So, having both protestant and catholic priests involved would help garner support along religious lines."

The chairman then inhaled deeply and released a heavy sigh.

"I'm sorry for disappointing you, sir. I'm not a world leader, I don't even know if I have the support of the people. I'm just a white man in a black country begging people with power to help my country, because I love it. It's literal hell right now, but I know how beautiful it can be. I lived in the countryside on a farm. My family were getting by financially, life was idyllic for me in my childhood, I don't recall anything that was remotely bad during it. I grew up, became a soldier, and ended up fighting to keep the country I grew up in together. I stayed, even after Mugabe came to power and started harassing the white population. Where could I flee to? I was born here. This land IS my home. I hope to grow old and be buried here." Trevor continued, tears beginning to well up in his eyes and his voice becoming more strained as he tried to choke back sobs. "I just want my homeland to be better... And I know I can't do it without help. Rudo and the bishops are black, so they can connect to the population better than I can. Which means I'm stuck here... In an office that reeks of human excrement, because the sewers don't work and they've overflowed into the streets, everything's stopped, the people are running low on food, the water they drink is contaminated... And I don't know what to do. I'm just a man with a satellite phone and a laptop that was given to me by the Argentinians. I'm not an elected official, I'm not a general, I'm not a police chief or a civil servant, I'm just some white man, a nobody. A nobody crying for help."

At that point, Trevor was unable to hold back and began sobbing openly.

 

[JJSmithJr]

Kabila, a Veteran of the 2nd Congo War, an experience that had hardened him had a hard time listen to this man cry on the other end of the phone.

"Sir, your country requires you to be a leader, there is a reason the men appointed you to be the head of the executive council, and there is a reason that powerful forces have placed you here now, do not be foolish and wallow in self pity, do not get caught up reminiscing about the past. You must now move yourself, your government, and your people forward, or Zimbabwe and her beauty will burn in a fire that will take generations to put out.

You must set up a radio station and broadcast messages to your people, you must recruit a cadre of bureaucrats from the old government who can be reformed, you must do these things, and for the love of God pull yourself together.

If you keep blubbering like this than your country is indeed doomed, but if you gather yourself and you make a plan and execute it than there is hope yet.

How are you coordinating foreign aid? Inform the Argentinean delegation running the airport that we are sending 1000 men from the Zairian National Gendarme Immediately, supplies, including more food, electrical, water, and then Zairian National Police can follow those men.

You must get your government off that airport and you must get that city under control, and send a unit down to secure the sanitation plants."

J.Hyde

 

[J.Hyde]

JJSmithJr

Trevor took a moment to clear his throat and wipes his eyes clear of tears. After a few deep breaths to calm himself, he picked the satellite phone back up.

"I'm sorry. Things have just been so hard. You just think everything will magically be okay, but it's not. You're right though, I've tried my best to keep myself together, but it's been hard. I never thought things would get this bad." He said, while grabbing a pencil and paper. "Anyway, I have taken steps to unify the various countries under one banner. UZACOM, Unified Zimbabwe Aid COMmittee. I hope to coordinate our collective efforts through that. I moved the council to Mugabe international, because the stench was overwhelming. The Argentinian security detachment there didn't deserve to stand out in that miasma all day. I hope to move back into the parliament building as soon as possible though.

Meanwhile, radio station for broadcasting messages to the public, establish bureaucracy, secure water treatment plants."

Trevor scribbled down the suggestions given to him by the Zairian for later reference.

"Would they actually be able to hear these radio messages though? The civilian power infrastructure is out at the moment, and the only places currently with power have dedicated generators either already installed by the Mugabe Regime to survive the frequent blackouts, or Argentinian ones to get hospitals open again."

 

[JJSmithJr]

"We will bring the full extent of Zaire's resources to help you with these tasks, by my defense departments estimates if we are running both airlift squadrons on two sorties a day that is over 120,000 kilos of supplies per day. We will bring mostly ready to prepare or eat food, that is enriched white rice and soybean tofu, which is fairly shelf stable and packed with protein. We will also bring canned and potted meats.

We can also include gear to equip a new police force and gendarme, including riot gear, riot shields, and tear gas to improve any security situation and enhance your ability to respond to threats. We will also bring with us batteries, and cheap FM radios which can be dispersed to the population en masse. This will greatly enhance your communication abilities. Hand crank radios are common in the bush, do not doubt your peoples ability to find alternative ways to get information you are spreading.

If it is authorized by you I will coordinate the immediate dispatching of our Gendarme and the first round of supplies, Our men can be there by nightfall if all goes well, with batteries, and most importantly tons of ready to prepare or eat food.

Things often get harder before they get easier. Send a message to all people of Zimbabwe via the FM radio, target those in Harare, tell them you offer food and water in exchange for registration and work. Assign the young men to building and security and begin to sort out your specialists, find those who can get the power and the water going.

The Europeans may talk of sending aid, but your African brothers will be there in a fortnight. Solidarity for Africa is more than skin color."

J.Hyde

 

[J.Hyde]

JJSmithJr

Trevor quickly scribbled down the suggestions made by Kabila.

"Right, I shall inform the Argentinians as soon as this call is over, I'll ask if they can help you with transporting your personnel and aid over. Naturally, you have my full permission and blessing to dispatch forces and so forth to Zimbabwe whenever you please." He said. "Is there anything else I can do for you to make your assistance easier to do?"

 

[JJSmithJr]

"Our forces and aid are on their way, we will send the specific information as the actions are carried out, I will ensure the defense ministry keeps you fully up to date on any deployments obviously.

There is nothing else for now on my end. Good luck sir."

Kabila would end the call, sighing deeply

J.Hyde