Zimbabwe: Zimbawe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) – ZLHR Statement on Africa Day (25.05.2023)

Zimbabwe: Mnangagwa got nothing new to offer…

There is an up-coming election this August 2023. The ones remembering 2019 and the changes after the ouster of Robert Mugabe. Will know that the internal squabble and change of guards within ZANU-PF haven’t offered anything substantial over the years.

The ZANU-PF of 2023 isn’t doing anyone a service, except for the inner-circle and the enriched elites. The ones who has several of farms, plots and businesses. The economy is tanking, yet again. The printing of ZWL is through the roof. The value of the RTGS or Bond Notes are ridiculous… and you are now trading with digital gold coins.

Well, President Emmerson Mnangagwa doesn’t care if he pays overprice or loots some cash out of a chopper deal. Neither did he care about the Gold Mafia or the Command Agriculture Scam. As long as his eating and his comrades in the Politburo is doing too. Everything will be fine and you can sleep like a baby at night.

That the ZANU-PF is weaponizing the courts. That activists, political leaders and others are targeted doesn’t matter either. The ZANU-PF is just walking ahead and steaming with confidence. Even if the crippled economy isn’t a good sign ahead.

Yes, the ZANU-PF can give away 4 Wheel Drives, SUVs to chiefs and promise a better tomorrow. They said they would fix schools, roads and the drinking water. Well, they never did and they never will. These people will only say these things, come with T-Shirts, gifts and empty promises during campaigns. While they will never set foot again in the outskirts, the rural areas or even consider to invest or develop these regions. No, they are not profitable and places where you can get-rich-schemes quickly.

Mnangagwa don’t mind use the army and using the authorities. He hoped that Mwonzora would break the back of the MDC. Just so he could be closer to a One-Party state. However, he wasn’t ready for the movement or the changes of Chamisa. That’s why he haven’t been able to defeat or conquer CCC just yet. His trying and he has succeeded to weaken it. While also mocking it and making attempts of hijacking whatever remaining fractions it has. Nevertheless, Mnangagwa and his team are running out of tricks.

Sooner or later, the brutality and the blood will be on the streets. We saw that the last election and how the ZANU-PF handled the post-election grievances. We know the courts and the authorities are following the command of Mnangagwa. There is no judicial freedom or liberties to denounce the rulers. No, they are in tandem and doing so accordingly. That’s why opposition and dissidents are charged on laws, which are non-existent and still they are left to rot in prison.

That’s why I know the second election in the second republic is futile. It is a mission and campaign of losing. There is little to nothing to gain. The PFee will use the machinery, the violence and intimidate the masses. While hoping their propaganda and shiny suits will bedazzle the crowds.

The truth is more sombre and grim. The realities are not hopeful and the enterprise is hopeless in itself. The game is rigged and there is no way the ZANU-PF will give way. That has been proven and the 2^nd Republic is much more vicious then the predecessor. Mnangagwa has less of a heart and he doesn’t consider anyone else.

That’s why August can just come. The results are pre-fixed and we know the game-plan. We have seen it all before. The ballots are maybe in the process of procurement, but the stats and the poll numbers are already tabulated. Peace.

Zimbabwe: Parliament of Zimbabwe – Memorandum – Proposed Enquiry into the Al Jazeera (12.05.2023)

Zimbabwe: Office of the President and Cabinet – Press Statement (10.05.2023)

Zimbabwe: Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) – End State-Sponsored Persecution of Government Critics (03.05.2023)

Zimbabwe: Anti-Corruption Court for the Northern Region – Held at the Harare Magistrates Court – The State Vs. Job Sikhala – Accused Person’s Written Statement in Mitigation (02.05.2023)

Zimbabwe: Weep nation, weep… another political prisoner… Job Sikhala MP

“Job Sikhala has been found guilty of obstructing the course of justice on allegations that he videoed a statement that interfered with ZRP’s investigation into the murder of Moreblessing Ali in 2022. Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa said Sikhala’s alibi that he said that he was in Gutu on 25 May, was only an afterthought because it was never mentioned to the police to investigate. The Magistrate added that evidence clearly shows that Sikhala’s utterances led the police to follow new leads in the murder of Moreblessing” (263Chat.com, 03.05.2023).

After 323 days in prison without a trial, Job Sikhala MP was convicted and will serve even more time in jail. A man who is clearly a target and a man the ZANU-PF government wants of the streets. That is so obvious, because they are using yet again a non-existing law to convict another political leader.

This time it’s the popular MP and CCC legislator Job Sikhala. His now a victim and a man who only stood up for justice. Because he was brave enough to question the regime and their monopolized violence. He had to carry the burden and is now detained. Sikhala MP will be barred from the next elections and will not be able to retain his seat. That’s the other price he pays for this conviction.

He has already been behind bars for over 300 days and he will continue to be a felon. This is what “democracy” and change the 2^nd Republic is offering. It is what President Mnangagwa is all about and he is proud of it too. He is silencing his critics by detaining and weaponizing the courts against them. That’s what he does, and it shows.

This should send cold chills down you spine. It is despicable and destructive. Just shows how blatant and how it disregards its dissidents. That the state is willing to do it and convict someone in this manner. They are willing to keep someone behind bars for close to a year before convicting them. It is just a political quagmire and planned efforts of stifling the opposition ahead of the polls. Taking out their leaders and making them criminals. Pinning crimes and making them stick.

Sikhala MP is a victim and a political prisoner. That is the legit the case here and ZANU-PF shows how vicious the regime is by doing this. They have targets and they ensure their demise. If you are vocal enough or dares to challenge it. They will bury you in the Courts and you will pay a hefty price. Peace.

Zimbabwe: Yesterday it was Jacob, tomorrow it could be you…

“The sentencing of opposition Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume to an effective three years, with 12 months conditionally suspended, has further shown that the country is now clearly an autocratic nation similar to the Rhodesian settler colonial state where people were jailed for merely exercising their basic constitutional rights, like the right to protest. Ngarivhume has been sent to prison for merely mobilising people to protest against government through a stayaway over economic problems and corruption” (The News Hawks, 28.04.2023).

Jacob Ngarivhume has been sentenced by the Court. He has to face time in detention and behind bars. Just for doing his civic duty and protest against the ills of the state. A civilian and a politician taking a stance for a righteous cause.

Ngarivhume, an opposition politician is now paying the costs for choosing to address his grievances in public. Engaging the public and asking them to join in his cause. That he wanted to protest and peacefully demonstrate in Harare is apparently “endangering society” and “inciting violence”.

It just shows what sort of regime that is in Office. This is the Second Republic, which wants to resemble as much as possible it’s predecessors. A Second Republic that wants to laud itself as Revolutionary and Comradely speak of liberation from Ian Smith. While using all the means and methods of oppression like Smith did. That’s why the Rotten Row and the ZANU-PF has become like the oppressors they fought to overthrow.

We know the 36 months conviction of the politician is extra stupid. When the magistrate and the courts are convicting someone on a non-existing law, which is in contrast to the rights given by the Republic’s constitution. You just know the gig is up and the state has used this “law” as a shield and a method to arraign dissidents. While also proving itself partisan without legal justification for arresting, detaining and convicting people on that “non-existing” law. It is just bloody brilliant and Jacob is the latest victim of it.

Yesterday it was Jacob’s turn and tomorrow it could be someone else. His just the latest victim and he will not be the final either. The ZANU-PF and the authorities will pin anyone who dares to challenge it. We have seen activists and opposition leaders vanish… we have seen MPs and other leaders linger in jail and not being released.

The tides are not turning. Under the reign of Mnangagwa things haven’t gotten better, but much worse actually. This is just ahead of elections and it’s telling. If they can do this to Jacob. So many others can follow in his stead. They would find people’s old tweets, videos and whatnot to justify the detention and the criminal charges. That’s what is going down and the opposition should be concerned.

Jacob is now facing years in jail. He is facing a life-time of trouble. His far from alone and anyone who has a platform and are active on social media. They should fear they could be next. No matter how peaceful or respectful of the laws you are. That doesn’t matter when you speak up against corruption, nepotism or the bad governance of ZANU-PF. You are not patriotic or within your rights to do so. You should only praise the government and it’s leaders. If you don’t do that… then you are obliged to get into trouble.

The crocodile are as vicious as the ones he was part of overthrowing. It is really tragic, but the new elite is as pitiful as the predecessors where. They are riding in expensive vehicles while people are struggling. The ZANU-PF has become what they fought against.

Jacob just said what was right and he has to pay the price for it. Jacob is not alone and there are plenty more who is paying a price too. There are more political prisoners in Zimbabwe. He is just the latest “big-fish” and a symbol of how the rulers are ruling the nation. Peace.

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum – Ngarivhume’s conviction and sentence an indictment on Zimbabwe’s democracy – A Forum Statement on the Conviction and Sentence of Jacob Ngarivhume (29.04.2023)

Zimbabwe: Government Press Statement on the “Gold Mafia” (04.04.2023)