18th April, 2024
The celebration of independence in Zimbabwe is complicated
by State-sponsored human rights violations, which include murders, enforced
disappearances, torture and general persecution of citizens. This is made worse
by the high levels of corruption whereby ZANU-PF leaders and their connections
are siphoning the resources for self-gain whilst the masses are suffering.
If it weren’t for these, I would be celebrating.
We waged a war of liberation from colonial rule with the
hope that we could have a fair and just society where everyone would be free to
participate in the country's affairs, have equal access to resources, and be protected by the law. We also hoped that everyone would be able to vote in
elections and choose political leaders without fear of reprisals from the State
or ruling party.
Sadly, the situation obtaining is such that it seems the war
of liberation was in vain.
All we achieved was the substitution of black oppressors for
white oppressors.
I am not going to celebrate this mirage of independence, and
I hope one day we will be truly independent,
About the author
Michelle Nokuthaba Mpofu is a human rights
activist and a member of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe based in
the United Kingdom. She can be contacted by email at michellempofu11@gmal.com
No comments:
Post a Comment