Of clueless rulers and would-be emancipators

THROUGHOUT the history of independent Zimbabwe and indeed the world, the rulers have always sought to oppress those they superintend over. The privileged want to keep their advantages, even if it means that those advantages come at a cost to the vast majority of the disadvantaged.

Usually, the oppressed have no recourse because the law favours the oppressors and the privileged. This has led to revolutions and civil disobediences until the law or the situation is agreeable to those who felt its repressive reach.

In every struggle, heroes have emerged to give people hope that life could be better, if only we hold each other to account. So, in 2016, Zimbabweans worn from the toxic policies of then President Robert Mugabe (now late) and disillusioned with politics and politicians in general, saw a new hope in pastor Evan Mawarire, who became an unwitting leader of a civil movement dubbed #ThisFlag for going public with his struggles and disgruntlement with life under Mugabe.

Repression, abductions, arbitrary arrests, torture and harassment were a daily staple. The general public, going through the same struggles, but lacking either courage or the platform, embraced him.

He was charged with treason for his troubles. On a cold winter night in July 2016, thousands of Zimbabweans gathered outside Harare Magistrates Court in solidarity with Mawarire.

He was acquitted in what was an unexpected victory for the rule of law.

The people wanted a better life, that those who were the rulers listen and attend to their problems. They protested through non-violent action to make them listen. But Mugabe did not go, until his own military chiefs told him to in November 2017.

Repression, abductions, arbitrary arrests, torture and harassment have become a daily staple again under the regime that replaced Mugabe with his former right-hand man, Emmerson Mnangagwa in charge.

Zimbabweans are again suffering from leadership failure, corruption and currency mismanagement that has wiped out savings and salaries.

Those who superintend over them appear to have no clue on how to resolve the problems. Everyday, there is no evidence that the leaders even understand the challenges faced by the people they lead.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has further exposed their ineptitude. Instead of looking for solutions, the leaders see shadows and enemies everywhere. It is likely that they have removed mirrors, even from their homes or it would be clear where the problem lay.

So, some “civic and political leaders” have called for a mass demonstration on July 31. The leaders of this initiative are political lightweights Jacob Ngarivhume, leader of the opposition Transform Zimbabwe party, and Godfrey Tsenegamu, a former Zanu PF youth leader who now fronts the Front for Economic Emancipation Zimbabwe.

If these are the people offering hope to Zimbabweans, the country is a long way from emancipation.