#WeAreNotIndependentZW

By Vongayi Mufara 22 April 2021

The 18th of April 1980 officially marked the end of British colonial rule in what was Rhodesia and the establishment of a nation called Zimbabwe. This year Zimbabwe turns 41, yet for the ordinary Zimbabwean citizen, the promise of independence remains a dream and spell betrayal by ZANU-PF. The liberation, freedom, peace and prosperity promise remain unfulfilled leading to many citizens asking whether we are independent or not. My fellow Zimbabweans #WeAreNotIndependent.

The years of colonialism were characterised by state-sanctioned violence, racial discrimination and a rule by force. The majority, black people, were designated as subjects and not citizens, with only a few rights were able to practice. The law was used as an instrument of coercion to consolidate British control and proved a more effective means of colonial administrative control. Four decades later, Zimbabwe has witnessed growing repression, abuse of human rights and closure of democratic space. It is tragic therefore that in independent Zimbabwe, the rulers have continued using the colonial legal system to suppress citizens.

As we reflect on the journey travelled over the past 41 years, we realise that we are not independent, what changed is just the colour of the oppressor. We are now colonised by ZANU-PF elites. Several activists, opposition political leaders and journalists continue to suffer the state’s heavy-handedness. On the 9^th of March 2015 Itai Dzamara, a Zimbabwean journalist, peaceful pro-democracy activist and leader of the protest group Occupy Africa Unity Square disappeared and he has never been found. His family and citizens have asked the government to make public the findings of the commission of inquiry and those implicated to be brought to justice in fair trials to no avail.  Itai Dzamara had previously been targeted by state security agents, beaten, abducted and unlawfully detained. The question remains- where is Itai Dzamara in a so-called Independent Zimbabwe?

In November 2017, there was a military coup, the new government, led by military under Emmerson Mnangagwa. He has increasingly deployed the army to conduct policing especially during protests with no hesitation to shoot to kill unarmed civilians. On the 1^st of August 2018, the Zimbabwe military used unjustifiable force against protesters, they shot and killed at least a dozen of unarmed peaceful protesters in Harare. Section 59 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe states, “Every person has the right to demonstrate and to present petitions, but these rights must be exercised peacefully.”  Zimbabwe security forces still enjoy impunity despite calls from human rights groups to bring them to justice after murdering civilians in broad day light.

Prominent freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono was arrested on spurious charges by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) of publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State. He exposed government corruption involving coronavirus supplies. Hopewell was arrested three times within 6 months, denied bail and stayed in prison for more than 3 weeks. The arrest reflected the muzzling of free expression, digital or internet rights and continued harassment of media personnel by the state just like what used to happen in the colonial era.

In July 2020, the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed concerns over allegations that Zimbabwean authorities may have used the Covid-19 crisis as a pretext to suppress freedom of expression and peaceful assembly on the streets. The arresting and persecution of Human Rights Activists during the pandemic was designed to intimidate and silence dissent. 31 July protesters were arrested, among them was the prominent Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga and MDCA National Spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere, on charges of unnecessary movement and inciting violence. The party Vice-Chairperson Hon Job Sikhala and Jacob Ngarivhume were arrested on trumped up charges and detained for several weeks in an effort for them to serve sentence without being tried in court.

The state has also upped its gear in terms of persecution of student leaders and numerous arrests have been recorded over the past months. On 26th February 2021, Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) leader, Takudzwa Ngadziore was arrested together with the ZINASU Secretary-General, Tapiwanashe Chiriga, on charges of convening a press conference in solidarity with incarcerated opposition activist Makomborero Haruzivishe. On 1 March 2021, police arrested three students; Richard Paradzayi, Paidamoyo Masaraure and Lean Kanengoni on charges of unnecessary movement after they had attended court in solidarity with Haruzivishe. On 5 March 2021, opposition MDC Alliance activists Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri were arrested at the Magistrates Courts where they had also attended court in solidarity with Haruzivishe, and they continue to languish in remand prison. Mamombe and Chimbiri are victims of torture and sexual abuse at the hands of state security agents. The state continues to entrench authoritarian rule through persecution by prosecution. 

A few days before independence an MDCA activist Lengwani Mavhunga sustained facial burns in policy custody after being sprayed a substance by a state security agent. The substance is believed to be sulphuric acid. Police brutality and torture is an endemic in Zimbabwe law enforcement just like in the colonial era despite that Section 53 of the constitution guarantees every citizen freedom from torture or any degrading treatment.

We are also now seeing a growing trend where the law, as in the colonial era, is being systematically used to suppress citizens and Human Rights Defenders. The amendment of the constitution without proper consultation with the public. The consultations were done during covid 19 lockdown. The amendment of the bill with the intention to make the president less accountable, weakening the parliament, compromising the judiciary, and undermining its independence. When a bill advantages the president at the expense of citizens, where is the independence?

Zimbabwe at 41, citizens continue to experience rigged elections, political intolerance, police brutality, judicial capture and genocide.  At 41, poverty is at highest point due to looting of public funds by the regime. Unemployment is at 95%, no decent wages and salaries, corruption continue to derail the national liberation streams, no solid infrastructure, roads are dilapidated and no safe drinking water. The education system has deteriorated and majority of talented citizens are in the diaspora. Senior citizens have nothing to show, their hard-earned pension was looted by the regime. At 41 citizens have no land entitlement, land is for ZANU-PF elites. It is ZANU-PF independence not Zimbabwean independence.

 #NotYetUhuru

#WeAreNotIndependentZW

Author: Vongayi Mufara is a human rights activist and the Information and Publicity Secretary of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe’s UK Chapter. She is based in the United Kingdom and can be contacted by email on vongayimufara@gmail.com