The first day of August 2018 will go down in history as one of country’s darkest days which will never be forgotten. On that fateful day, some Zimbabweans took to the streets to peacefully register their disquiet with the way an important election was being conducted. The demonstrators were met with a hail of bullets from our own defenders, the Zimbabwe National Army. The guns which were supposed to protect the country and the people of Zimbabwe ended up being used against the same people. The people’s only crime was to exercise their constitutionally enshrined right to protest. The blame for what happened on that day goes squarely to the president because he is the commander-in-chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. The president’s hands, therefore, drip with the blood of the innocent citizens who were murdered in broad daylight by his regime. Considering the scars that the incident left on the national conscience and the horrific devastation it caused to the affected families, one would have expected a caring president to at least issue an unqualified apology to the nation and the families who lost their loved ones. That the president has still not apologised for that brutal massacre of innocent civilians speaks volumes about the kind of regime we have.
How can closure to that sad episode be brought about if those that were responsible remain mum as if nothing happened? Does the nation not need assurance that such savagery will never again be witnessed in this country? Closure can only come through constructive engagement with the people. The government must allay the fears held by the generality of Zimbabweans, that the only weapon of control that this government has in its toolkit is brutality. We demand an apology for the extra-judicial killings of innocent citizens by the state. Brutalizing the people does not benefit the government in any way. Incessant suppression of the people’s will only create a monster which no one will ever be able to control.
The duty of the army is to protect the republic and its citizens. All Zimbabweans regardless of political affiliation need the protection of the state. It is not criminal to have different views on government matters. It is not a crime to be in opposition to government. A good president listens to the collective and walks in lockstep with those who brought him to power. However, our president closes his ears to people’s voices and only opens them when his criminal friends are talking. He must never forget that power can deceive, but history never forgets. Every day he refuses to heed the advice of the people, but every day he shoves his lies about progress down our throats. He must beware of the wrath of history.
Nothing is more humiliating for any national than a president who fails to carry himself with dignity. It is very embarrassing for Zimbabweans to see the president being assisted by his aides to stand up on his two feet because of being heavily drunk. If the president gets drunk in public like that, definitely the whole country will literally get drunk with him (Nyika inodhakwa). He is sending a wrong message to our children who are leaders of today and tomorrow. Such carelessness in front of the citizens of this country is shameful. The president must be a role model to many of us. But if he behaves in such a careless way he can only be respected by his family and friends. Of course, his friends will continue to cheer him on because all they treasure most is proximity to him to cover up their nefarious activities. Who are the president’s advisers? Why are they not doing their work diligently? President Boris Yeltsin was a habitual drunkard and a liability to the image of Russia as a whole. His judgement was always impaired by alcohol. Leaders like him contributed to the demise of the mighty Soviet Union. The mighty and good image of Russia was only restored when President Vladimir Putin came on board. We will only be taken seriously when our president behaves well.
Recently, I read a statement attributed to Mr. Josep Borrell who is the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Borrel described the global south as a jungle and Europe as a garden. How do our leaders feel when they go to Europe after being told that their space is not worth talking about? If our leaders in Africa are not disturbed by such candid and blunt speech, then what will jolt them into life? Accuse him of racism or anything you want, at last Africa has been told where it stands in world politics, leadership styles, differences in life styles, life expectancy, education, health care and infrastructure development. Our sorry situation results from the fact that we are not proud of who we are. If our leaders truly believed in Africa, they would work round the clock to develop our countries. Given our resource endowments Africa would become the world’s paradise. Instead, our leaders’ actions reveal deep-seated self-hate which was fostered by colonialism. Anything to come out of Africa is inferior to those who claim to be leaders in Africa. Thus, the leaders shop and go on holiday in Europe while neglecting to develop their countries. They don’t live within their means and end up stealing from the poor in order to satisfy their expensive appetites. Zimbabwe, particularly, has the most corrupt MPs who cannot even support local producers by choosing to flaunt their ill-gotten wealth buying expensive foreign products.
Musicians in Zimbabwe have been trapped by criminals to sing praise songs for the president. If you are a musician and you agree that the current leader is the best for the job, you are automatically given a luxury car, latest model. Life has become so easy for collaborators and very difficult for the majority. Criminals have devised an easy tactic to reach out to the president. Thieves are running the show at statehouse. It’s happening while we watch helplessly. Not so long ago, I advised musicians not to beg for free cars, especially the prominent musicians are expected to stand with the suffering masses of Zimbabwe. Some musicians who had worked very hard to build their brands of music and have many fans failed to listen to me and to the voices of reason coming from Dr Thomas Mapfumo, Winky D and Baba Harare. We all saw them being bribed to keep quiet about people’s suffering. Dr Thomas Mapfumo, Winky D and Baba Harare are real role models. Those three think before they act. They worry about protecting their brands of music more than getting temporary benefits while alienating themselves from their legions of fans. They flatly refused to be bought.
It has now become clear that the money used to buy the cars was stolen from the public purse. How are the musicians feeling when their fans start saying that they are driving classy cars which were bought from money stolen from Zimbabweans? All musicians who begged for cars sold out the masses of Zimbabwe for personal gain. What is a car compared to the feelings of the fans? Would you not mind destroying your huge fan base because of being greedy and selfish? Musicians who are responsible should jump out of this stinking space for they deserve better. During the Ian Smith regime, we had many sellouts who sold their country for a tin of beef. It doesn’t surprise me when I see history repeating itself. All those who begged for cars instead of campaigning for the emancipation of all citizens in a liberated Zimbabwe are sell-outs. Why couldn’t they learn from Dr Thomas Mapfumo who has always been a voice of the oppressed? During the Smith regime he was arrested for demanding an end to racism and the total liberation of our motherland. Ian Smith and Abel Muzorewa wanted to bribe him to denounce the liberation struggle but he preferred going to jail than selling his soul for silver and gold. He has always been a staunch fighter for equal rights, dignity and happiness for all Zimbabweans. Very recently, he refused to be bought when a car and house were dangled to him in a bid to persuade him to ditch the people’s struggle.
Artists have a responsibility to contribute towards building the nation and shaping its discourse through their God-given talents. Musicians belong to the people, come from the people and must sing for the people. I was so happy and touched when I heard that Baba Harare distanced himself from the free car bonanza. Because of that, he is worthy my praise and respect (ane chiremerera).
I want to thank Zimbabweans for supporting Winky D. He is the man of the moment. His shows are packed to capacity. I thank Zimbabweans for sending the supportive signal. The government wants to cancel Winky D but his die-hard supporters have stood by him. Their numbers are increasing in thousands to support the artist who has stood on the correct side of history. Baba Harare deserves the same support. I beg music fans to support those who stand for justice.
As we continue our fight against the status quo, many of us will suffer reprisals from the regime. Many may lose their precious lives, get injured or imprisoned on trumped-up charges. Right now Timba and seventy-six others are in prison. We demand that they be freed unconditionally because they are innocent citizens.
I hope that the president is sincere when he says he will not contest the 2028 elections. I, like most Zimbabweans, wish that his era passes on. His continued occupation of the presidency beyond 2028 will be utmost cruelty to the masses of Zimbabwe. I am still skeptical about his sincerity and will only believe when I don’t see his name among candidates contesting the 2028 elections. Mnangagwa must not be like President Joe Biden who is suffering from dementia but wants to hang on to power despite the health challenges, “Alas! he has finally agreed to step down from the presidential race.” We are tired of declarations by foolish men that the ruling party is going to rule until donkeys grow horns. Only Jehovah can make such declarations. Change must come. Change will come. We want a lighter yoke than the one Mnangagwa has put on our necks.