Calm amid the compelling drama

CAPE TOWN. - On the morning of November 15, a group of cricketers stood outside the pavilion at Harare Sports Club watching the light rainfall.

The fourth day of the Logan Cup match between the Mountaineers and Rising Stars was due to get underway, but for once inclement weather was not the concern. Zimbabwe had changed overnight. Tanks and armoured personnel vehicles had rolled into Harare, taking control of the capital.

Players and scorers traveling through town on their way to the ground had seen a tank outside Parliament, assuring them that the stories on social media were not fake news.

Zimbabwe was in the midst of a military intervention.

And yet, true to the nature of Zimbabwe, this was an intervention like no other.

“I even took my child to school that morning,” Vusi Sibanda, who was playing for the Mountaineers, told Cricbuzz.

“There weren’t many other parents there. Everything was dead quiet. It was still very safe to drive around.

‘‘There was a lot of talk going around about what might happen, that there was going to be a march, that there could be violence, but on the ground there was absolutely nothing. It was weird.

‘‘Even when the army was on the streets it was very peaceful. There were no problems whatsoever.”

Harare Sports Club is next door to State House, the President’s official residence.

Helicopters hovered nearby as the players, scorers and some support staff took stock of the situation.

“There was no sense that it was going to be dangerous for us to carry on playing. Basically, guys were waiting for some news on what was happening in town and to get some feedback from the office as to whether we should carry on,” said Sibanda.

“There was a message that went around saying that all ZC employees and staff members should work from home, so the people who normally assist us with the facilities and the catering weren’t there.

‘‘We had to open up the changing rooms ourselves.

‘‘The match referee and the umpires turned up, but they said they couldn’t make a call until they had official word from the office that the game should be abandoned.

‘‘In the end, all the guys who were meant to be there turned up, the rain stopped and the game went on. But during the game, there was obviously talk about whether it was safe for us to play because nobody knew what was going to happen.”

Zimbabwe cricket is no stranger to such uncertainty.

The country played in the Currie Cup during a civil war in the 1960s and 1970s, hosting South African opponents throughout that time.

Yet, threats of violence were absent over the past two weeks and, if anything, Zimbabweans enjoyed a growing sense of freedom.

On November 18, an estimated 100,000 people took to the streets of Harare and Bulawayo to support the military’s intervention amid calls for the resignation of the former President.

They smiled, danced, laughed, and flew flags.

They surrounded the tanks in the streets, fist-bumping the soldiers and on an historic, emotional day, the only forms of vandalism were the removal of signposts for Robert Mugabe Rd.

“The ironic thing is that the whole process was very peaceful,” Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak told Cricbuzz.

“None of the players were directly affected and I think it’s generally been very pleasant.

‘‘The army kept things peaceful and they’ve been very cordial. Even going into places like the airport, there was a heavy army presence, but not in an intimidating way - they were all very friendly and pleasant. So it’s been really good.”

Last Tuesday, was on his way home from the Mountaineers’ next Logan Cup match, against the Eagles at Harare Sports Club, when the streets began to fill again.

“I nearly got stuck in town - I just managed to squeeze through. When I got home I switched on the TV and it was all over the news.”

The former President had resigned, sparking a night of wild celebrations.

Now that the hangovers have cleared, the focus is shifting to the task of facing Zimbabwe under a new President.

Events of the past few weeks have already had some positive impacts.

“Everyone wanted a change and guys fought for it and got it,” said Sibanda. “The good thing is now I sense a bit of freedom with the way that guys are talking about politics, even on social media.

‘‘Everyone is passing on their views, which I haven’t seen before. We’ll see what happens now. There will be some changes but we just wait and see which direction we’re going to be taking.” cricbuzz.