Crocodile tears – by Thabani Muleya Dube

20th June 2021

Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa never ceases to amaze, albeit for the wrong reasons. He has this amazing affinity for the wrong company, all in pursuit of glory. The Twabams of this world if you know what I mean.

Then this penchant to pursue glory even at the expense of families in mourning. Remember the “cool mortuary” moment in KweKwe a year or so ago where he proudly offered a price for the first family to put a corpse in a refurbished morgue. Talk of a moral pervert. An unscrupulous zealot. A man without a conscience.

Then there was this zeal he displayed over the passing on of Soul Musaka, the youthful Zimbabwean musician popularly known as Soul Jah Love in February this year.

Who will awaken the power drunk Government of our dear nation, Zimbabwe from their loot induced slumber?  Sleep walking in the corridors of plenty having forsaken their high calling of shielding a highly troubled nation, a calling  solemnly answered to  in not so far yester years  of sobriety. A high pitched cymbal!

On the matter of corpses in refurbished morgues, surely the solution is to address the issues that lead to the high mortality rate and reduced life expectancy in our nation. In the case of Soul Jah Love what was needed was practical support for him and all those suffering from his medical condition whilst he was still alive. THE YOUNG PROMISING ARTIST DID NOT NEED TO DIE. HE NEEDED INSULIN. In a well-governed country, all he would have done was to ring emergency services on a dedicated number at his time of need and he would have been saved.

Same applies to the famous victims of fire following the Road traffic accident enroute to Domboshava. Yes I mean the late wealthy Ginimbi. In a well governed country, fire services would have been at the scene in time to save those poor souls who died a horrible death in the localised inferno. Same applies to the thousands who perish in road traffic accidents every year due to the poor state of our roads.

The same rationale can be applied to victims of the pandemic. The irony of this is it can happen to anyone any time. Jetting to China may be an inaccessible privilege sometimes. It might come too late for some. Life has a way of proving how linear we are in the equation of existence. Just thinking.

Back to the matter of Soul Jah Love, I question the logic of spending so much on his burial and conferment of such a heroic burial. It can only be because E.D. Mnangagwa sought to get political mileage out of a sad situation. “Kusanyara – ukungabi lenhloni” as they would say in vernacular. Mobilising thousands of citizens to the event in the middle of a pandemic. I wonder how much that cost the state coffers. I also wonder how much insulin would have been purchased to prevent this from happening to someone else. Some governments in the progressive world have taken over the treatment bill for diabetes from their citizens to sustain lives. In Zimbabwe this is wishful thinking – a pipe dream under a ZANU-PF led government which has a penchant for pursuing power at any cost at the expense of its meek citizenry.

E.D. Mnangagwa’s moral compass is evidently broken. Given a chance, he can feast whilst sitting on top of corpses. It’s not beyond him.

If there was to be a prize for nutters, E.D. Mnangagwa would take it. He has no competition in that space.

About the author:-

Thabani Muleya Dube is a Zimbabwean human rights activist and the Chairperson of the South Branch of the UK Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe and writes in her personal capacity in this instance.

She can be contacted by email; - tabb2mly@yahoo.co.uk

 

Vongayi Mufara #AfricaDay2021

AFRICA DAY 2021

May 25 holds an important celebration every year for the African continent “AFRICA DAY”. As we commemorate the African continent’s liberation from colonial imperialism and the beginning of the African Union it is also a perfect opportunity to acknowledge the changes that are happening in the present day. I will start with a brief history of this amazing journey of celebrating Africa Day. Many African nations gained independence from colonial rule between 1945 and 1965. Ghana was the first country to gain independence and became an inspiration to others in their fight for freedom. The first liberation conference in Africa was held by Ghana in 1958 and it created a lasting impression on the continent leading to the formation of Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on 25 May 1963. OAU united over 30 African nations with the common goal of decolonisation. OAU ran for 38 years and later became the African Union (AU) on 25 May 2001 The first meeting of OAU marked the beginning of Africa Day.

The AU theme of the year 2021 is Arts, Culture and Heritage, Levers for building the Africa we want, presents an opportunity to acknowledge the changes and challenges that the continent faces in the present day. I am going to focus more on efforts to reduce the risks and impacts of climate change at the same time achieving the goals in the Paris Agreement to enable us to build The Africa we want. Climate change will impact African continent more than other continents if we continue to neglect carbon emissions. It is important for African countries to take advantage and tap existing opportunities in Africa continent. The Paris Agreement is more beneficial to the African nation as it presents an opportunity to take advantage of existing resources that is currently not being used at a full scale, like the vast renewable energy sources in industrial development with zero or minimised emissions. Solar and wind energy can bridge the energy gap, support climate change adaptation and open income streams in Africa. The 2020 African progress report (APP) advocates for provision of infrastructure notably power and electricity measured by the availability of rural electricity. Approximately 70% of African population resides in the rural areas Most people in rural areas rely on unclean energy like the use of expensive fuel powered generators and lamps which contribute to high carbon emissions and further increases poverty. Climate financing will go a long way towards improving living standard and lead to environmental sustainability. Africa has abundant sunshine and yet more than 70% of the nation is energy poor. According to the African Progress Panel Report switching to clean energy the African governments can lift approximately up to 26 million of the African population out of poverty through creation of jobs and household savings.

The net gain for Africa could be increased through Agro-ecosystem , efficient irrigation and  soil conservation agriculture where soil is managed organically to avoid destroying its structure and reduce carbon emission from the usual chemicals that are used. Through applying eco based system in farming can boost yields and lower climate induced droughts which will in turn increase agricultural income. This will lead to food security, climate adaptation, income and job creation for the 70% rural poor African community.

As alluded earlier and in other places by economists and environmentalists, African continent is rich with natural resources. Progress to achieve significant low carbon emission in African is derailed by lack of sound leadership. Power and corruption have held the African continent at ransom for too long. The historical political events in Zimbabwe, Gambia, Libya, Mozambique and Tunisia in that past few years demonstrate the desire for political power. South Africa is a member of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) economies. The BRICS is undoubtedly influential and a global key player in climate change agenda. However, Nigeria has recently overtaken South Africa in GDP terms and it would be important to consider enlargement of the BRICS block. Nigeria has vast amounts of oil reserves and these reserves are assumed to be a desired resource causing civil instability. I only hope that having Nigeria and South Africa in the BRICS will help in the reforms for carbon emission reductions.

The UK is hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November 2021. It is important that on this conference, the African delegate make a case for COP27 to be held in an African state. African continent has the second highest population on the globe after Asia. The correlation between population density and climate change effects is well established in academic literature. Supported by developed countries, Africa should take a more leading role if we are to further cut down global carbon emissions. Coronavirus epidemic has taught the world that when countries cooperate, a solution can be found. The development and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines is a both regional and international cooperation. COP26 in UK should be used to intensify global efforts with more focus to Africa.

Despite the setbacks that Africa continues to face, lack of strong democratic institutions, high levels of poverty, economic hardships, we must work together as a nation to correct them so that Africa can rise & prosper. So that Peace can prevail. Africa will rise from ashes & become the beacon of hope if we work together as a nation.

#AfricaDay2021

 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

 

Malvern Dengu #WorldPressFreedomDay2021

Thabani Muleya #WorldPressFreedomDay2021

Post World Press Freedom day Celebrations 2021 reflections by Thabani Muleya (Dube)

What was this day really about? The 3rd of May was first declared in 1993 by the United Nations General Assembly as World Press Freedom Day.

This was observed  mainly as a universal reminder to uphold  good journalist ethics. It is a no brainer that such practice is   normally guaranteed by freedom and protection catered for by the  adherence to universal declarations of human rights and constitutions of democratic nations.

In view of the above as a Zimbabwean I find myself questioning if as a country should we have commemorated this day or not. Perhaps yes we could have on behalf of other nations and the post Zimbabwean era  especially bearing in mind the sombre aim to celebrate the people who have even lost their lives in persuit of information and truth. And yes we are world citizens as well!

Looking at this particular year's theme of the commemoration which has been "INFORMATION AS A PUBLIC GOOD" where do we stand as a country where dissent is a 'crime' punishable with custodial sentences even without trial. This is a lonely road which has been walked by a number of well meaning  professionals in the field of journalism including Hopewell Chinono. In a democratic culture which our country supposedly falls under, information, facts observations irrigardless of who it favours should be treated as sacred as it is 'public goods'  and as such to be freely and fearlessly disseminated to the Zimbabwean and even world citizenry for the welfare of the nation.

Persecution in every form  including shootings of the press have been seen in Zimbabwe. Journalists have experienced a gruelling life  being made  villains to the ruling machinery whose closets are not to be touched, harbouring collosal crimes against a nation on its knees due to mismanagement of funds and assets and a deep dark culture of curruption in every nook of overnment offices. 

In view of all the grim unsettling observations. Even without delving deep into the plight of other people like  Alan Moyo, Samuel Takawira and  Frank Chikoore we have no choice but to call for a rethink and a revaluation of the state of affairs in Zimbabwe.

The media is acclaimed to be the fourth pillar of democracy so let us go ahead and use the same measures to view the current state of  affairs in Zimbabwe. 

What are the codes of conducts in Zimbabwe as far as governance is concerned and what has been the plight of those who have made adverse observations and spoke about them?

• What is the quality of service delivery?

• Has the government investigated any allegations of corruption? 

• Are the citizens afforded a right to be transparent as far as the utilisation of public funds are concerned? 

Sad to say that many journalists, philanthropist and activists have fallen under this sword. Some of them into their deaths and some into oblivion as they are forced to close their eyes, mouths and ears by the efficient silencing mechanism that includes the  judiciary and other service such as the police. It is  also sad to say more of this will be seen with the amendment of the Constitution Al Bill Number 2  which gives more power to the president to chop and choose the Prosecutor General. 

#InformationAsAPublic 

#WorldPressFreedomDay2021 

About the author;-Thabani Muleya –nee-Dube is a human rights activist and a member of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe’s UK Chapter. She is based in the United Kingdom and can be contacted by email on tabb2mly@yahoo.co.uk