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The Next 4 Months

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Written by: John C Burke

Published: 28 March 2023

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He is the face of the opposition to the ruling party in Zimbabwe. Mukomana in Shona or the young man is Nelson Chamina. The 45-year-old lawyer leads the Coalition for Change party.

In four months, Zimbabweans will vote in presidential and legislative elections. Chamisa is ready for a 'tough' campaign. "It's going to be a rough campaign, hard hat equipment is necessary," said Chamisa in his office in the centre of the capital, Harare. "It's quite a hostile environment, we need to be equipped for it." Four months before the next election in Zimbabwe, many avoid uttering the name "Nelson Chamisa" in public when talking about the main rival to President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The southern African country is more and more like a "dictatorship", the 45-year-old lawyer told AFP. His Citizens' Coalition for Change (CCC) party is bracing for a "rough" presidential and legislative election campaign against President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The man who is known as "the Crocodile" was chosen in October 2022 as the Zanu-PF candidate.

A date has yet to be set for the votes, which are expected to be early in August. But the odds are stacked up against the opposition. An electoral process littered with 'manipulation' Sitting in a leather armchair much larger than him, Chamisa puts up a determined and combative face. But he admitted that his room to manoeuvre is narrowing in the face of a regime he described as a corrupt dictatorship. Zimbabwe's electoral process has "always attracted controversy" and is "littered with rigging, manipulation", he said. Typically the ruling Zanu-PF -- which has been in power since independence in 1980 -- distributes land or food aid to rural communities that vote for it to ensure continued loyalty, Chamisa claimed. And in towns, mostly controlled by the opposition, Zanu-PF uses "all sorts of strategies" to discredit local municipalities as is "typical of tyrannies and dictatorships all around the world", Chamisa added. "It's the DNA of Zanu-PF, they don't believe in service delivery, in performance, in accountability and responsibility," he claimed. Intimidation tactics But Chamisa is "determined to win against all odds" despite coming under criticism, including from within his own camp.

"We've had over 63 of our meetings cancelled over the past week," said Chamisa, adding that hundreds of others have been obstructed by police or by Zanu-PF supporters in recent months. The government strenuously deny the allegations, with Mnangagwa saying earlier this month that Zimbabwe is a democracy that has held elections without fail over the past four decades. "The contest is open to everyone," said Mnangagwa, adding "the more we have people who want to become president, the merrier it is."

The CCC, however, is absent from state media. "I have not appeared on state media, radio or newspaper for the past seven years," said Chamisa, since the coup that ousted longtime leader Robert Mugabe in 2017 in favour of Mnangagwa. "I only appear when they are saying something on my behalf, but they don't give me an opportunity to say... my side of the story". Chamisa was a target of what he calls an assassination plot in 2021 when shots were fired at his convoy. A bullet ripped through the left rear seat of his car where he normally sits. "I'm lucky to be alive," he said. A senior and outspoken CCC lawmaker, Job Sikhala, has been in prison for nine months without trial for allegedly inciting violence. His numerous applications for bail have been refused. Two other members of parliament were arrested in January, along with two dozen people who were at a meeting at a private house. The "persecution continues", Chamisa said.

Zexit History

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Written by: John C Burke

Published: 28 March 2023

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Historical Context

"As Zimbabwe celebrates its Independence Day this Tuesday {18th April 2023}, the Zimbabwe annual holiday will come with an added layer of meaning". This marks 43 years since the achievement of 'hard-fought' nationhood. British Crown rule in Zimbabwe dated all the way back to 1896, but by the 1960s it was ended, thanks to the sacrifices of many freedom fighters, who laid down their lives on the line. Zimbabwe Independence Day Zimbabweans will never forget that on 11 November 1965 the Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) Prime Minister Ian Smith had made a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from Britain declaring that: “I don’t believe in black majority rule ever in Rhodesia in a thousand years.”

But now in 2023 it's all gone horribly wrong; the efforts of those in the past, up until 1980 have not only been squandered, but they have been evicerated! "Gold Mafia", is a mere consequence of the level of depravity the Zanu PF regime has sunk to. But let's continue with the HISTORY, below to contrast then and now.

United Nations backed sanctions were then imposed on the Ian Smith government making it difficult for him to source military equipment and hardware.

This made his regime more vulnerable although they would occasionally use the then apartheid South Africa as a proxy to acquire modern military equipment. It was clear then that, despite the many grand statements made to the contrary over the years, the system would not endure forever. Genuine freedom fighters, led by veterans of the struggle like the late Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), the late Joshua Nkomo, the late Josiah Tongogara, Robert Mugabe and the late Nikita Mangena among others, had become convinced that the Ian Smith-led Rhodesia government would never willingly give the country even partial self-rule, and began a struggle known as the Second Chimurenga (War) with seven Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) freedom fighters taking up arms against the colonizers on 28 April 1966. Sadly, all seven were killed by the police.

The end of British colonial rule in 1980 marked the creation of Zimbabwe. Independence Day, on 18 April, is celebrated widely with flags hoisted in schools and colleges, and at government buildings and major landmarks. The nation celebrates its 43th year with numerous events in Zimbabwe and all around the world. On 18 April, flags fly high and the concerts and parades takes place throughout the country, the main festivities takes place at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa officiating. Zimbabwe Independence Day One of the leaders of the Patriotic Front in Rhodesia, Joshua Nkomo – While the 43 years forms the perfect opportunity for a great party, being that it is the first without former president Robert Mugabe who was forced to resign after a coup and impeachment proceedings. It’s also an occasion for contemplation and insight.

Zimbabwe’s 43th year of independence offers a chance for people to look back to understand the way the nation emerged, but also to gaze ahead to the future to see what Zimbabwe can still become. It is important to remember that on the eve of independence in 1980, Robert Mugabe, about to become the first Prime Minister in a democratic Zimbabwe delivered his speech at Rufaro Stadium in Harare that was witnessed by other world leaders and political leaders including Prince Charles who was personally on hand to lower the British (Union Jack) flag whilst the new Zimbabwean flag was hoisted. On the eve of Independence Day in 1980, Mugabe in his speech noted that: “The final countdown before the launching of the new State of Zimbabwe has now begun.” This holds true today. “Only a few hours from now, Zimbabwe will have become a free, independent and sovereign state, free to choose its own flight path and chart its own course to its chosen destiny.

Its people have made a democratic choice of those who as their legitimate Government, they wish to govern them and take policy decisions as to their future,” he said. In today’s case, the country is free to charter a new course without him on the helm as we have become accustomed to in the past 42 years. Zimbabwe Independence Day Robert Mugabe – link “The march to our national independence has been hazardous one. On this march, countless lives have been lost and many sacrifices made. Death and suffering has been the prize we have been called upon to pay for the final priceless reward of freedom and national independence. May l thank all of you who have had to suffer and sacrifice for the reward we are now getting”, he continued. Mugabe aptly continued and said: “Tomorrow is thus our birthday, the birth of a great Zimbabwe, and the birth of its nation. Tomorrow we shall cease to be men and women of the future.

It’s tomorrow then, not yesterday, which bears our destiny. As we become a new people (without the rule of Robert Mugabe) we are called to be constructive, progressive and forever forward looking for we cannot afford to be men of yesterday, backward looking, retrogressive and destructive. Our new nation requires of every one of us to be a new man, with a new mind, a new heart and a new vision and our hearts a new love that spurns hate and a new spirit that must unite and not divide.” Yes, Zimbabwe’s removal of Mugabe in 2017 was a tryst with destiny, as the struggle for renewed freedom has already been a long and tiresome one, witnessing the sacrifices of many freedom and democracy fighters, who laid down their lives on the line.

But we must not forget that there is a long road ahead with poverty and with employment hovering over 95 percent, both endemic. Cash shortages, a galloping domestic debt of US$6 billion, paralyzed health care, education, and road networks all need require urgent attention. The lives of many Zimbabweans mainly depend on agriculture, so there is need to return to the highly efficient and labor-intensive use of land to restore production of maize, wheat, tobacco and gold and other minerals. This will increase job opportunities in rural areas, and also increase export receipts. As Mugabe said, “tomorrow is thus our birthday, the birth of a great Zimbabwe, and the birth of its nation.”

It certainly has all gone horribly wrong. Mnangagwa has presided over the steep decline in all aspects of Zimbabwe, the economy, the infrastructure, the currency, their international reputation! Only the cynical propaganda has kept the regime in a {favourable??} light - but now the internal squabbles have emerged. Zanu PF is not a political party, it is a fungus, a virus, consuming the patient {Zimbabwe} - this fungus, however is plagued by factions, uncertailty, but most, is the greed and averice for power. For power without, consequence - without the honour of being "elected". The 2018 Elections were a sham - a device to maintain a stranglehold {litterally} upon the ever suffering population.

It cannot continue. Zanu PF MUST GO!