Now is the Time for Running

Content Warning: This section of the guide describes politically motivated violence and mass murder. There are also several implications of sexual assault that take place “offstage.”

In the village of Gutu in Zimbabwe, Deo and his friends are playing soccer together while Deo’s brother, Innocent, watches from the sidelines. In the distance, Deo sees a convoy of soldiers in jeeps approaching the village. He wonders if the president has sent the soldiers because he has heard how hungry everyone is. Recently, Gutu has been without shipments of food from South Africa or from America. The children ignore the approaching soldiers and continue their game. Deo scores a goal.

Deo knows that the soldiers have been suppressing dissidents all over Zimbabwe. A soldier in a red beret asks Deo if there are any dissidents in the village and also asks who his father votes for in elections. Deo replies that his father does not live in Gutu. When the soldiers leave, Deo cannot find Innocent, which worries him.

The soldiers park their jeeps in the center of Gutu and gather all the villagers together. Deo meets his mother and his Grandpa Longdrop. His mother asks him where Innocent is and scolds him for not looking after his brother.