By Tendai Ruben Mbofana HONESTLY l feel like screaming and banging my head against the wall, each time I hear the country’s ruling privileged clique make noise about “independence” that we, the people of Zimbabwe, are supposed to treasure, protect and enjoy.
Everytime we are reminded of how this “freedom” was sacrificed for — with the valiant sons and daughters of the soil placing their lives on the line, as they faced off with the colonial Rhodesia regime, in a bruising, gruelling and gruesome liberation armed struggle — I cannot help feeling like crying at why these intrepid men and women were prepared to die for a fallacy that was never to be.
Why did all those thousands of innocent Zimbabweans pay the ultimate sacrifice — most of them losing their lives, either in the middle of fierce battles with enemy forces, or were brutally butchered in cold blood, at the hands of both sides of the conflict, for “selling out” or “harbouring terrorists” (accusations that were seldom proven, but largely based on false reports motivated by personal hatred, vindictiveness or pure jealous, and even power ambitions)?
Yet, in all this, the those who were later to hijack the people’s struggle through the systematic elimination of genuine revolutionaries, thereafter, taking over the country’s leadership at “independence” — were primarily hiding and living relatively comfortably in neighbouring countries.
Where is this uhuru that was supposedly birthed from this horrendous bloodshed that was attained on April 18, 1980?
As I was reading some news headlines last week, the now usual storyline screamed out to me — political detainees continually being dragged before the courts in “independent” Zimbabwe — some spending nearly two years without ever being tried, yet the State adamantly refuses to strike them off remand, and drop the obviously senseless charges that are undeniably politically motivated.
What are we to say about renowned award-winning writer Tsitsi Dangarembga, who is being charged for holding a placard denouncing rampant corruption in the country whose trial has been in limbo since her arrest in July 2020?
Then there are those who are eventually granted bail, after weeks or months of languishing in remand prison (or, even thrown into maximum security prison) as both the prosecution and courts repeatedly deny them their constitutional right — in stark disregard of the principle that an accused person is considered innocent until proven guilty.
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This can be said for Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union president, Obert Masaraure, who was only released on $50 000 bail yesterday, after spending 27 days incarcerated at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, for posting a tweet considered to have the potential of inciting public violence, which questioned police impartiality in enforcing the law in Zimbabwe.
Similarly, opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) deputy chairperson, Job Sikhala, has been repeatedly denied bail having been arrested dozens of times over the past two decades, for activism yet, not once has he ever been convicted of any crime.
In the same news stories of last week, the country’s law enforcement agents were at pains to explain why the opposition CCC was being repeatedly denied the right to hold rallies and other peaceful gatherings yet the ruling Zanu PF is allowed to freely conduct huge assemblies, and even loudly or rowdily march and demonstrate around the country.
As I was going through these news stories, I found myself asking myself: “So, what is the difference between what we are witnessing today in “independent” Zimbabwe and what our heroes and heroines fought against in colonial Rhodesia?”
Surely, where is that “freedom and liberty”, when those who dare to speak out, and stand up openly raising their disdain and disgust at the wanton and pervasive looting of our national resources for the benefit of the ruling class (as well as their friends and families), while millions of ordinary Zimbabweans sink deeper into the dark abyss of economic hardships are continually arrested on spurious charges, that hardly result in any convictions?
Is this not merely political persecution whereby, opponents and voices of dissent are victimised and vilified, based on tramped up charges while at the same time, being denied the right to bail or removal from remand, with trials either never getting off the ground, or dragging for years without anything of substance being brought before the courts by the State?
Even the Rhodesians were better, because they actually charged nationalists for real violations of the then country’s laws, leading to convictions and prison sentences as much as they were maliciously oppressive and unjust towards the majority.
Nonetheless, in “independent” Zimbabwe, the arrests are predominantly premised on no discernable breaking of any known legal statutes but, based on pure malice and contempt of voices that expose and resist the undeniable systemic and institutionalised economic marginalisation, alienation and disenfranchisement of the people of Zimbabwe by those in power.
Again, I ask where is that “freedom” that we are endlessly reminded about which appears to be elusive, since the vast majority of Zimbabweans are not able to experience it… more like the legendary Nyami-Nyami, the elusive sasquatch (Big Foot), Abominable Snowman or Loch Ness monster?
What is it that we are expected to “jealously guard and protect” when we have never seen or experienced “independence” and its alleged “gains”?
Or, is it the tragic reality that, this supposed uhuru is only being enjoyed by the ruling elite who have literally plundered and pillaged the country dry, enriching themselves to fiethy levels, at the expense of the suffering and impoverished millions?
Which explains why they are the ones “protecting” this “independence” through brazen barbarity, and the brutal repression of anyone who may dare speak out or stand up!
The ruling privileged clique can “jealously guard” its ill-gotten wealth by savagely stifling any dissent but, frankly, the rest of us find nothing to protect, as we have absolutely nothing to call our own.
- Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice activist, writer, researcher and social commentator.
