
“We should certainly know by now that it is one thing to overthrow a dictator or repel an invader and quite another thing really to achieve a revolution. Time and time and time again, the people discover that they have merely betrayed themselves into the hands of yet another Pharaoh who, since he was necessary to put the broken country together, will not let them go.” – James Baldwin
Today, yet another where the Internet is blocked. Social Media is blocked. This is done after orders from above high. However, that isn’t the worse, that the state has put its tech savvy citizens on VPN. No, what is worse is the state of affairs in Zimbabwe.
The former Henchmen of Robert Mugabe is now acting all out. While President Emmerson Mnangagwa just opened the internet up for a few hours yesterday, because he couldn’t leave Russia without paying the company flying his luxury private yet. That is why the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe was ordered to open the internet for that transaction alone. While, the same state, had no issues shutting it down again when the transaction was done.
This just show how sinister and without any concern they are. There are already reports of several hundred arrested up to 600. Many of the high ranking in Movement for Democratic Change – Alliance has been apprehended. Several activists have been put behind bars. The leaders of Unions has been taken and not been since in the last few days. After the announcement of the Shutdown. Like there is no sign of ZCTU President Peter Mutesa.
Today, it has further escalated, as the activist and This Flag Movement Head Pastor Evans Mawarire, was at Rotten Row in Harare charged with treason, as the state are looking into discovery to finalize the investigation into him. As they took him from his home yesterday without any warning, as they first charging him with inciting violence. However, he was just spreading messages of peaceful protest against unfair pricing of fuel and destruction of the livelihood of the people, because of it. By 16th January, the ZADHR reported that there was 172 people in severe condition and 68 cases with gun-shot wounds.
Just to make the situation worse, Povo News reported: “police are raiding medical facilities looking for victms of their own brutality so that they can arrest them. Significant number of victims now fearing to get treatment for injuries because of possibility of being arrested” (Povo News, 17.01.2019).
This is the fourth day, there are some reports of soldiers going door to door in some townships and beating people up. Hard to verify, but wouldn’t be surprising, as the levels of people hurt and wounded. Also, the need for lawyers and medical personnel all over the country to the people in need. Therefore, the full picture of these few days atrocities will surface sooner or later. The sadness is for all the fallen, all the innocent people touched by the authorities that is supposed to guard them, not hurt them.
They have lost their sense of care and governance, as they have retaliated and attacked them. Instead of governing them, they are detaining them as prisoners to their rule. A fully transparent military dictatorship with no mercy for the civilians nor civic duties.
Operation Restore Legacy and the November Coup d’etat in 2017 didn’t bring any significant changes. As Mnangagwa and Gen. Constantino Chiwenga is doing the same thing as before. Even more brazen and more harsher. As they are enforcing no tolerance and no mercy on their citizens. As they are not accepting the Stay Away or Shutdown protests. They are going violent and assaulted for standing up for their rights and the new insane prices on fuel, which will destroy livelihood of the citizens and the businesses. However, the ZANU-PF promised to be Republic open for business, but this actions are showing there are closed. The ZANU-PF is showing that they are not keen on transparent or a just society for all people. They are willing to arrest, detain, hurt and kill the ones who are in their pathway. That is what has been reported, we just don’t know to what extent.
The Zimbabweans got rid of Mugabe, but they got a incarnated and younger version of him. Who has no care for them either. He will use the same methods and destruction,
The ones fighting to lift the sanctions against Zimbabwe before and during this is foolish. As long as the state is killing civilians, silencing protesters, arresting activists, union leaders and opposition leaders. The International Community will not be interesting to lift anything, as they see the same rouge state as before. Just with another head and PR Machine, but no intent of making changes. The Mnangagwa Presidency has been marred with economic difficulties and no utter atrocities, which is not sending signals of hope, but instead despair.
Mnangagwa was another Pharaoh, he wasn’t the great hope. Instead, more Mugabeisms. Peace.















