Zimbabwean Father Builds PlayStation Console for son
0 Comments
Harare, Aug. 2007 - Like most people living in Zimbabwe today, Perseverance Mudubiwa is a man of meager means. With inflation rampant at 7251% (this month) and unemployment at 88%, most people have to resort to unconventional means to get basic necessities, such as food and water. The grim circumstances of the economy were not enough to dampen the spirits of this father, as he strives to give his children the best things in life. Mr. Mudubiwa, or “Percy”, as he prefers to be called, recounts how his odyssey began.
“My son saw a PlayStation in a magazine when were strolling through town, looking for something productive to do. He said to me ‘Dad, one day when they bring electricity back to Harare, I would like a PlayStation too!‘“ Percy stroked his hand lovingly over the equipment he had fashioned. “But why should my son have to wait for electricity? He is a good student, and I want to reward him now!”
He proudly showed off the console he had constructed from banana leaves, coat hangers and bits of cardboard. “Isn’t it magnificent? I can’t wait to show Determination.”
Having bartered his television set long ago to provide food for his family, Percy drew a square on the wall using charcoal to simulate a TV.
“At first, I was quite perplexed about what I would use as a cartridge, but then I remembered that the government was kind enough to give all the residents of the city an autographed picture of President Mugabe, to gaze upon in hard times. I used this very picture to create ‘Benevolent Dictator’. I move the picture back and forth across our TV, and provide the sound effects for the game.”
Percy has another child, a daughter named Mercy, whom he is working on a special project for too. He beams as he talks about it.
“I saved this Carnation milk tin from 4 years ago. It’s a bit rusty, but I think it will make an excellent tea kettle for her dollies.”
0 comments so far...
Leave a comment
Use the form below to add comments, suggestions, and the inevitable off-topic banter (please keep to a minimum). Feel free to use HTML code (optional), and be aware that we reserve the right to edit any raw language or banter that's too far off topic.
