By Trevor Makonyonga
It was a frustrating Wednesday night not only for this writer but for every basketball lover as the playoffs were postponed because teams were protesting.
The Gianis Antetekounmpo led Milwaukee Bucks had initiated a protest they would not leave the locker room although their opponents, Orlando Magic had taken to the floor.
In a sweet turn of events the Magic would not agree to a forfeit and at other venues teams followed what the Bucks had done which prompted the NBA to suspend all game 5 matches.
“The NBA and the NBPA today announced that in light of the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to not take the floor today for Game 5 against the Orlando Magic, today’s three games – MIL-ORL, HOU-OKC and LAL-POR have been postponed. Game 5 of each series will be rescheduled,” the NBA posted.
The whole NBA had to stop matches to allow players to send a #BlackLivesMatter message.
Yet another black man, Jacob Blake was shot seven times by the police from the back prompting protests.
During the protests, a 17 year old came and opened fire killing two people in the act agitating NBA teams that they had to forfeit the matches.
The message sent by the NBA teams is clear, no amount of fame, money or entertainment can ever replace the lives of the people.
Back here in Zimbabwe, Patson Dzamara, a well loved activist has passed on during the peak of the #ZimbabweanLivesMatter movement. His death has brought many mind boggling thoughts about Zimbabwe’s political, economical and social situation. Hospitals in Zimbabwe are almost non existent.
It has to be known that everything will come to an end under the sun and whilst we live, a legacy is definitely built. The issue of looking in the nearest future while disregarding the long run has made the greedy to try and discourage genuine demands of proper dialogue. The Dzamaras led in demanding the freedoms which have for so long been taken away by the political elite in the country. These same elite pay the artists the most hence the very prominent artists would rather show off their investments that join the cries of the people.
It is not an opposition call when the citizens cry because of hunger, it doesn’t warrant arrest to demand to be heard, it doesn’t mean that because there is an ideological disagreement when has to be tortured or to lose their lives. What is simply necessary is to join up forces in building a Zimbabwe that all can enjoy. Name calling, stifling voices and propaganda should be put aside and allow genuine dialogue to take place.
As it seems impossible that someone relevant will listen, it will be important keep on pressing on the message that the majority cannot breath. The people are suffering but maybe not enough people have raised their voices that is why no serious action is being taken.
The seed of standing up to speak is what the Dzamaras left but that seed will not germinate because the system exterminated it hence one hopes that one day, maybe, one day the government will strive to make everything right and maybe they will see the genuine cries of the people for what they are and not foreign sponsored. The lives of the people of the hungry, poor and underpaid Zimbabweans matter. Something has to be done immediately to make it right.
Politicians and the people both have a part to play and inorder for the playbook to go well, they both have to listen to each other.
