Do black lives really matter?

OF late, the world has witnessed a surge in “miracles” having allegedly taken place as pastors try to outdo each other to lure multitudes to their churches.

Regardless of life being precious, a lot of killings and murders have also been taking place from time immemorial. This has been in the form of wars, ethnic cleansing, political killings, drug-related violence and gender-based violence, among others.

Some of these killings have been widely condemned, while others have been ignored; thus portraying the mentality that it has already happened and there is nothing that can be done to undo the situation.

The recent murder of Afro-American George Floyd, a black man by white police officers in the US sparked worldwide protests as all and sundry condemned the act.

The social media has been abuzz with people of different social standing and background taking a knee. This action is commendable and must be consistent going forward.

However, these protests have been like a rugby match — two steps forward and throw the ball backwards.

A lot of noise has been generated in cases when a white man murders a black man with the reason being racism.

However, when people of the same race/colour massacre one another nothing is said or done promptly. This scenario is so common in African countries.

In Zimbabwe, the Gukurahundi massacre of the 1980s is still unresolved up to now and no one has accepted responsibility. The late former President Robert Mugabe described it as a moment of madness.

The question is what did the world do to condemn such acts? Did they take a knee for these acts?

Following the shooting of protesters after the August 2018 harmonised elections, the world was silent save for a few countries.

No worldwide demonstrations were held in solidarity with the murdered people and, of course, President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed the useless commission whose recommendations have not been implemented till now.

Most recently, the abduction and torture of three MDC Alliance activists leaves a lot to be desired. Again a few nations objected to this abuse of human rights while the world was mum.

In Ethiopia, a musician was murdered and people of that country who protested have also been seriously abused resulting in over 150 deaths.

While the Ethiopians were registering their disgust at the murder of a young man, the world was very conspicuous by its silence.

Above all, lots of murders and abuse of human rights have been a routine practice here in Africa with the perpetrators still walking scotfree.

The African Union and Southern African Development Community are just like old dogs that neither bark nor bite.

These organisations have censured any nation that has engaged in human rights abuses, but have joined the chorus of parroting the narrative that Africa is for Africans.

It is against this background that I am sceptical of this black lives matter movement. It seems black lives matter when a white man is involved in the abuse or torture of blacks.

Gheorghe, Checheche