Today (Friday) was meant to be a day of protest in Zimbabwe.
At the time of going to print, the planned mass march was gathering momentum on social media with people vowing ‘ no retreat no surrender’ despite lockdown rules that limit the movement of people.
While the protests may not go accordingly for one reason or the other, more especially intimidation and the fact that security forces may not allow anyone into the central business districts, the truth of the matter is that the majority of Zimbos are fed up!
As some would say, we literally jumped from the frying pan and straight into the fire as we are now in far worse socio-economic condition compared to times under the late former President, Robert Mugabe.
Perhaps what is even more revolting about our situation is that most had this illusion or hope that life would be better after Mugabe. We were so wrong!
Zimbabwe is currently grappling with the worst economic contraction in 10 years and sharp price increases of basic commodities.
Angry, frustrated, and disillusioned Zimbos have thus been in support of July 31 protests so they could register their anger at the current administration for not only failing to lead the country but for brazenly looting the country’s resources at the expense of the majority.
And surprisingly, the powers that be think that those who want to take to the streets are being sponsored by enemies of the state.
In their cloud cuckoo land, all is well in Zimbabwe despite the fact that our public hospitals have been described as ‘human abattoirs’ as the health system is now dysfunctional.
Nothing good seems to be coming out of this country and the majority are feeling the pain hence the desire to take to the streets.
As already indicated, July 31 may not go according to plan but at least the powers that be seem to be quacking in their boots because of what the masses could do.
Why would they arrest a journalist for exposing corruption and then come up with trumped-up charges? Why would they go after politicians and activists if they had nothing to fear or if these planned protests didn’t mean anything?
And by the way, journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and opposition leader Jacob Ngarivume are still languishing in jail following their arrests for ‘inciting people to violently overthrow the government’.
They claim Zimbabwe is a democratic country yet they arrest people for exercising their democratic right to speak out.