#WeAreNotIndependentZW

 By Alvina Chibhamu - 17th April 2021

18th April 1980, Rufaro Stadium saw international luminaries such as Indira Gandhi, Bob Marley,

Prince Charles, Seretse Khama join in the celebrations to commemorate the end of Zimbabwe’s colonial history. Zimbabwe had at last attained its independence from the clutches of British colonisation- heralding brave new dawn rich with potential. Robert Mugabe, the newly founded liberation hero of Zimbabwe, became its first prime minister. The country was deemed “ripe with possibility” and Prime Minister Robert Mugabe (as was his designation then) went on to build excellent education and health care systems that were the envy of Africa. Endowed with fertile lands Zimbabwe was soon to be famously coined “the breadbasket of Africa”. In a convoluted twist of fate, the country’s so-called liberator would later become Zimbabwe’s long-running President, who, for nearly 4 decades, presided over the spectacular decline of fortunes. His ruling party, Zanu-PF and indeed himself were reviled for political repression, corruption, gross human rights violations, incompetence and economic mismanagement.

This was until the peaceful coup that saw Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa (ED Mnangagwa) being sworn in in 2017. There was so much hope that the “new dispensation” would radically change things. There was fresh hope and renewed expectations of a transformative approach to the economic decline. However, it soon became obvious that the substitution of Mnangagwa for Mugabe, theatrics aside, was just another ruse by Zanu-PF to perpetuate its grip on power. Mnangagwa’s policies and actions were equally iniquitous, if not worse. Mnangagwa was a Zanu-PF stalwart who had been Mugabe’s right-hand man for more than four decades. Word has it that Emmerson Mnangagwa was the brains behind most of the violence, human rights abuses and corruption that became the hallmark of Mugabe’s reign.

“Thank you, ZDF (Zimbabwe Defence Forces),” and “Zimbabwe army: the voice of the people”. These were words chanted on the streets and written on thousands of placards as the citizenry celebrated ED Mnangagwa’s takeover. Fast forward 2years, those hailed for speaking and acting for the people are now the prime cause of the people’s suffering. The euphoric hope that had lit the streets and glowed across the country was short-lived. Hope and optimism soon turned into disillusionment.

As we approach yet another anniversary, we do not have any reason to celebrate. To the common man, there is nothing about Zimbabwe that is independent. The current regime is more brutal and more repressive than the Ian Smith settler regime before it. Every strategic institution in Zimbabwe is captured. The judiciary, media, military, etc. are now mere puppets of the Zanu-PF party. All systems are in decay – education, healthcare, transport, housing, you name it.

People are being displaced willy-nilly to make room for Mnangagwa’s cronies with no compensation whatsoever and without clear forward planning for their relocation. Homes in which most of the victims would have sunk their life savings are being demolished every other day. Human rights activists are being persecuted for merely speaking out and so are legal and media professionals. Political activists are equally fair game. The once enviable economy now records one of the highest rates of inflation. Standing at 785.55% as of May 2020, it could easily be the highest in the world in contemporary terms.

The “ruining” party’s corrosive prerogatives continue unabated - an ultimate betrayal of the country's dreams. ED Mnangagwa’s three-year stint has been a nightmare and there is no sign that things will change soon. The 18^th of April 2021 marks 41 years since ZANU assumed power. It later morphed into ZANU-PF through a Unity Accord that was forced upon a hapless ZAPU following the Gukurahundi genocide in the 80’s.

People are right to ask what independence is there to speak of in Zimbabwe. WE ARE NOT INDEPENDENT. We feel like prisoners in our own country. Zimbabweans are literally thrown in prison for speaking out against all these atrocities. We are a people under siege from our own government.

Let us continue to speak up for what is right and challenge the murderous corrupt regime.

The struggle continues. Let no one tell you otherwise.

About the author:-
Alvina Chibhamu is a Zimbabwean human rights activist based in the United Kingdom. She is the current Secretary of the UK Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe. She can be contacted via email - alvina80@yahoo.com