IN THE PRESS

LAST week, businessman Mr Strive Masiyiwa made the headlines again, as he continued to call for the removal of sanctions that have been asphyxiating the economy for the past 19 years.

Surprisingly, the same constituency that continues whingeing about Coca-Cola shortages and rising beer prices found their voice and slammed the billionaire.

To them, Masiyiwa’s principled stand is tacit support for President Mnangagwa’s Government.

And most of the trolls are self-proclaimed democrats.

But Masiyiwa is never one to walk away from a challenge.

“I am with the people of Zimbabwe and my record is there for over 30 years of real activism, in which I put my life and property and risk. . .

“Time and again, not the twitter stuff of the Dewas of the world. Clearly you never saw Wikileaks cables,” he retorted.

First, any constitutionalist supports the right to freedom of association and, therefore, Masiyiwa’s political affiliation is his democratic right.

Second, supporting the current political administration, which resoundingly won the recent elections, cannot be a crime.

Perhaps what is most nauseating is fact that there are some Zimbabweans who support the current sanctions. It really boggles the mind. Every Zimbabwean — whether directly or indirectly — has been, and will continue to be, affected by sanctions.

Surely, patriotism cannot be conditional or subjective.