Against the Odds: A History of Zimbabwe Project

Foreword

— xv — The current ZimPro Board of Trustees decided there was merit in exploring the organisation’s origins and examining the projects with which it was first involved to see how this history relates to the work now being done Zimpro. Non-govermental organisations are often misunderstood and have relatively unknown and undocumented histories, the ZimPro Board decided that it should be pro-active in reversing this trend. The scope of Against the Odds: a history of Zimbabwe Project is essentially to capture key milestones in the organisation’s history from concept and formation, through activities undertaken during the Zimbabwean liberation struggle to the challenges of the post-independence period at its different stages, and then on to the difficulties caused by hyperinflation in the first decade of the 21st century; concluding with a brief overview of where ZimPro, the NGO, currently stands. We believe that this detailed overview will provide valuable lessons for all those involved in community development and humanitarian work, and will reveal how partnerships evolve at many different levels. The intention of this book project was never to capture every development that has taken place over the last three decades but to raise issues that the author, Mary Ndlovu, considered pertinent to the different periods. We hope that through this process we can show how ZimPro retained its relevance, and discovered the flexibility to survive a multiplicity of different challenges. Mary Ndlovu, a former member of the Board of Trustees was given a free hand to collect data, and review documents held in both Zimbabwe and the UK, and to interview people associated Foreword — xvi — Against the Odds: a history of Zimbabwe Project with the formation and functions of Zimbabwe Project Trust from its inception. More importantly, the current leadership of the organisation decided to allow the author to draw her own conclusions – not always flattering ones – because we appreciate that we learn from our mistakes as well as our successes. The fact that Against the Odds is not an encomium to ZimPro is what makes it a more profound and interesting read, and a work from which we can all benefit. Indeed, the book is far from being a dry historical document, but often makes exciting reading as we explore the background to extraordinary events and confrontations, brave decisions and complex political interventions, and learn about the hard work of many deeply committed members of staff, trustees and donors. The story began with a small group of exiled Zimbabweans and deported clerics; the venue was London; the year 1978 … Enjoy the reading. Edwin Murwira Chairperson of Board of Trustees October 2011 ...