After my husband left for work this morning around 6am, I snuggled up in bed and went back to sleep. I had a strange dream, about all my family members that have sadly passed on.
In the dream, I was hugging my dad, that felt so good, as he died little more than a year ago. My mother and father-in-law, also featured prominently. My two late brothers and a nephew were there. They all died when very young, age 22 and 31 and 15months old respectively. Other people standing around were friends of my parents and aunts and uncles of my husband. All were dressed up, as we were attending a funeral. I don't know whose funeral.
I woke up at about 8am, realising I was the only living person in my dream. None of my living relatives were there to attend this funeral. I had a hollow feeling in my chest. I have had a few dreams before, always in the morning after waking and going back to sleep, that have come true, although the dream has always been very exaggerated in relation to the real life experience.
A little later, I came to my favourite place, the computer. I was going to work the hollow feeling away. I read the news, and the hollow feeling got worse.
The editor of an independent Zimbabwean news service, based in South Africa is in a serious condition after being shot in Johannesburg. Abel Mutsakani was the managing editor of Zimbabwe's best-selling daily newspaper, The Daily News, when it was banned in September 2003 under Zimbabwe's tough media laws.
Mutsakani, then moved to Johannesburg and set up ZimOnline with fellow Zimbabwean journalists, providing, often critical coverage of the social and economic meltdown and political repression in Zimbabwe, where most of the remaining media is state-controlled, with lots of journalists being arrested, threatened, assaulted and murdered.
South Africa is well known for it's violent crime, with 19 202 murders and 20 142 attempted murders, reported by police last year. It is suspected the figures are higher. Armed robberies and carjackings are now just a common occurrence. Everyone has been affected by the 'minor' crimes, in one way or another. The person living in South Africa, has either been 'hit' or a member of their family has, or a friend. But every single person living here can relate to crime in some way.
ZimOnline said,
Three assailants approached Abel Mutsakani as he parked his car at home in western Johannesburg on Monday night. One of the assailants pulled a gun and shot him, rupturing a lung and leaving a bullet lodged near his heart. He is in a critical but stable condition.
The motive for the attack is unclear, as nothing was stolen.
A freelance television cameraman, was found murdered after he went missing from his home in Harare, Zimbabwe, earlier this year, although there is no evidence to prove that authorities were behind his death.
Which brings me back to the title of this article. Am I, as a citizen journalist, reporting on some horrendous crimes, in South Africa and Zimbabwe, in line for a bullet. We are easily traced via our computers. It might sound like I am being a little paranoid here, but I admit, I am feeling very anxious. Especially, after my dream this morning. As I said earlier, the dreams are always exaggerated. I pray this dream was just that, and not a warning.
