By Trevor Makonyonga
Monday saw the arrests of nine students who were protesting against the arrest of their leader, Takudzwa Ngadziore who was later granted bail.
There is always a #freesomeone hashtag which ultimately led to the much bigger #ZimbabweanLivesMatter hashtag which brought about the current conversation on whether there is a crisis in Zimbabwe or not.
Of course the power bearers will always contrast with those they govern on the crisis issue but the biggest matter of concern is that of these multiple incarcerations.
The arrests have come out as senseless and sometimes they seem to be just persecutions of the principles of freedom and humanity but what they could be really meant for is the systematic silencing of the people.
History has it that no government wants to have protests in their country and even for the current Zimbabwean regime, this rule applies.
In all the propaganda, the spinning of truths, the countless social media justifications, provocations and ultimately the arrests, the biggest goal is to ensure that people do not revolt in the streets.
Back tracking a little bit will show that people have been at a psychological warfare with the regime.
The August 1 and January 2019 shootings, the alleged abductions and now the arrests are all well calculated in consolidating power. It is only the shootings that have come out as a new phenomenon as abductions and arrests have all been experienced before in the country.
Last week a CCTV video was shown on national television supposedly confirming that the MDC trio of Cecila Chimbiri, Johanna Mamombe and Netsai Marova ‘faked’ their abduction. In the same manner this video was shown also has been the Ari Ben Menashe and Archbishop Pius Ncube videos in the past.
Adopting the nation in the state it was, the ‘Second Republic’ was faced with a mammoth task to restore confidence in the people. When they came in, they really sounded sincere but in trying to balance delivery and maintaining the peace enjoyed in the country, the ugly hand of oppression reigned supreme involuntarily.
The only sensible thing that remains now for the country to move forward is to accept that there is a crisis in the country.
South African opposition party, South African Communist Party (SACP) have through their secretary general, Blade Nzimande voiced their concern over the Zimbabwean situation.
“Denials that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe are nothing but a denial of the self-evident truth. In fact you do not even have to go to Zimbabwe to see the crisis. You only have to go to our own informal settlements in South Africa to see how many Zimbabweans who would have a good life who a trying to make an honest living for their families have had to come to south Africa in order to have a ling because of the crisis that you have there. Therefore, the accessions that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe are nothing but a denial of the self-evident truth. That’s the SACP’s very strong view. The people of Zimbabwe should independently solve the problems affecting their country.”
The South African ruling party, Africa National Congress (ANC) met with their Zimbabwean counterparts, ZANU PF and concluded that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe.
ZANU PF thorough acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa seemed to question South Africa’s credentials in waging into Zimbabwe’s affairs.
Chinamasa said, “I would like to put in on record that and I am also speaking as a former Minister of Finance, Zimbabwe has not received any assistance of whatever nature from South Africa, from the South African economy, other than us selling and importing from South Africa maybe. But if you are talking about direct assistance, Zimbabwe has not received a cent since independence. Zimbabwe wasted a lot of resources in harbouring our colleagues the ANC’s cadres who were fighting the apartheid but also being subjective negative approach by the apartheid regime. I want to repeat we have not received a cent from the apartheid reigime or the post-apartheid government.”
The challenge that faces the nation now is that there seems to be no genuine willingness to engage. Whenever people try to peacefully protest to register discontent they get arrested, calling out on foreign countries to help does not have that much of an effect and trying to pin all the responsibilities of this country on politicians will not work and is what gotten us where we are.
The most important thing to do at this juncture is to have a proper dialogue between all stakeholders. Heal the nation, move forward and stop politicking.
Everyone deserves a better life. What is the use of having or clinging to power when people are suffering? It is also important to note that in the current situation no one might be able to know what the right thing to do is but it certainly is not arresting, abducting and shooting. How about sitting on one big table with all those contrasting mind like what was done when writing the constitution. There is always power in unity.
