A Letter to My Fellow Zimbabweans: Standing Against Corruption and Injustice

3rd September 2024

Dear Zimbabweans, 

As I address you today, my name is Beauty Msimanga, I am a proud political activist, a member of the Citizens' Coalition for Change (CCC) and, a member of Restoration Of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe. Who I am is important only because I stand with you, representing the collective voice of our people who have suffered for too long. What drives me to write this letter is the unbearable state of our nation under the oppressive rule of ZANU-PF, led by Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. We must speak out now because our future—Zimbabwe’s future—is at stake.

The dreams of millions have turned into the nightmares we now live daily. Every day, ordinary Zimbabweans like you and me struggle to survive. Families go to bed hungry, not knowing where the next meal will come from, while those in power gorge themselves on the wealth that rightfully belongs to us all. Our schools are failing, our hospitals are crumbling, and our youth are fleeing in search of opportunities that should be available here at home. This is happening because Mnangagwa and his corrupt regime have systematically looted our resources, mismanaged our economy, and turned a blind eye to our suffering.

Where is the justice for Zimbabweans who dare to demand a better life? Look at the brutal treatment of our brothers, Job Sikhala and Jacob Ngarivhume. Job Sikhala, a fearless opposition leader and human rights lawyer, spent 595 days in pretrial detention—nearly two years—simply for standing up against the injustices inflicted upon our people. Jacob Ngarivhume, an activist and founder of the Transform Zimbabwe party, was unjustly detained for eight months because he dared to organize peaceful protests against the corruption that is suffocating our nation.

Our government has stopped being a servant of the people and has become a parasite feeding off our misery. This regime has betrayed the very people it claims to represent. Mnangagwa and his cronies have turned Zimbabwe into their personal fiefdom, where they live in luxury while the rest of us are left to fend for ourselves. They have destroyed our democracy, stripping away our rights and freedoms, all while pretending to govern. Zimbabwe is a nation where the rich get richer, and the poor are left to die.

Who are we as Zimbabweans if we allow this to continue? What kind of future can we expect if we do not fight back? When will enough be enough? The suffering we endure is not an accident—it is the direct result of Mnangagwa’s deliberate actions to enrich himself and his inner circle at the expense of the people. We can not stand by and watch as our nation is dragged further into the abyss. We must unite, rise together, and demand the change we deserve.

If we do not take a stand, the injustices will only grow, and our hope will die. As I have travelled across Zimbabwe, I have met countless brave souls who refuse to be silenced, who refuse to accept this as our fate. What gives me hope is you—the people of Zimbabwe. Together, we can create a movement powerful enough to challenge this corrupt regime and reclaim our country. We, the ordinary citizens, united in our struggle, will lead this initiative.

Our strength is in our unity, in the oneness of our voices, and we can no longer be ignored. Our demands for a democratic society, free from corruption and injustice, are not just rights; they are the foundation of the future we deserve. We must act now, for ourselves and for future generations.

I stand with you in this fight because I believe in a Zimbabwe where every citizen has the opportunity to thrive, where our government is accountable to the people, and where justice prevails. Together, we are stronger, and together, we will reclaim our future.

#MnangagwaMustGo 

#NoToViolence

#WeWantChange

#Zanu-PFMust Go

#NewGovernment 

#NewLeadership

#StopHumanRightsViolations

About the author

Beauty Msimanga is a political activist, a member of the Citizens' Coalition for Change (CCC) and, a member of Midlands Branch of the UK Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe.