The Story from APM

Waiting on Mugabe

Tuesday, April 15 2008

WAITING ON MUGABE

Dewa Mavhinga

Tensions are mounting in Zimbabwe as people continue to wait for the government to release the results of last month's presidential election.

Dewa Mavhinga visited his family in Harare just before the vote. His mother—who had never voted before—became so fed up with the lack of medicine and food that even she decided to vote. But when President Robert Mugabe withheld the results, things only got worse: more deprivation, more suffering, and more refugees leaving Zimbabwe.

Dick Gordon talks with Dewa about what he saw on his last visit home, and how his friends and family are faring in this moment of instability.

• Read about the organization Dewa works for as a human rights lawyer

Music heard in this story: Rivers of Zimbabwe performed by Jorge Alfano for the album Healing Music Project: Radiance

Jackie and Me

Ron Rabinovitz (photo: Star-Tribune) - larger >>

April 15 is Jackie Robinson Day, a celebration of the player who broke the color barrier and ended nearly 80 years of segregation in baseball.

When Ron Rabinovitz was a boy, he wrote a fan letter to Jackie Robinson. Then in the spring of 1954, "Ronnie" got the chance to meet Jackie, and his idol actually remembered getting the letter.

It was the beginning of a lifelong friendship. Ron talks to Dick about the softer side of a man who faced tremendous bigotry, and how Jackie Robinson taught him what it truly means to be a man.

• Read an article about Ronnie and Jack's relationship
• Read an article about Ron's visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame

Music heard in this story: Take Me Out to the Ballgame performed by Pascal Bonniere for the album Wood Wind and Steel