For once, Zimbabweans from across the divide were united and gave their beloved country a chance under the new leadership of Emmerson Mnangagwa \u2013 only to be disappointed by the continuation of corruption, human rights abuses and a clampdown on dissent from Mugabe\u2019s days.<\/p>\n
The post-Mugabe era was punctuated by massive corruption scandals like the US$3 billion Command Agriculture money which disappeared without trace from the national treasury; and pensioners lost their life savings after the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) failed to account for US$200 million.<\/p>\n
The recent Covid-19 procurement scandal involving US$60m (R1,017-billion) was amplified on social media by award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker, Hopewell Chin\u2019ono, prompting an increase in dissenting voices. Politicians like Jacob Ngarivhume of Transform Zimbabwe and MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, called and supported for nationwide protests which were scheduled under the hashtag #31stJuly.<\/p>\n
Chin\u2019ono is the latest journalist to be arbitrarily arrested after exposing corruption and continues to be incarcerated without trial on charges of \u201cinciting public violence\u201d.<\/p>\n
To this day, many journalists have not been formally accredited and are still using 2019 accreditation cards \u2013 following a High Court order which barred government from discriminating against journalists during the accreditation process.<\/p>\n
This month, prominent human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa was barred by a Magistrate court from representing Chin\u2019ono as lead lawyer, on charges of contempt. Lawyer Jeremiah Bhamu was arrested for allegedly loitering at court while waiting to represent MDC Alliance Vice Chairman, Job Sikhala.<\/p>\n
More than 65 local and global organisations, including the latest call by the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Foundation, have condemned Zimbabweans Authorities for the ongoing human rights abuses.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, supporters of arrested Zengeza member of parliament, Job Sikhala, were detained for demonstrating outside court against his incarceration.<\/p>\n
The question for many Zimbabweans is why those involved in all major scandals have been arrested and given bail, while those speaking against corruption are all in jail?<\/p>\n
The ongoing crisis has invited the sympathy of neighbouring South Africans who among them \u2013 politicians, musicians and influencers \u2013 called for #ZimbabweanLivesMatter<\/p>\n
The call was joined by others across the globe, while authorities denied there is \u201cno crisis in Zimbabwe.\u201d President Cyril Ramaphosa sent a delegation to Zimbabwe earlier this month in acknowledgement of the crisis, but was restricted to a meeting with President Mnangagwa alone, excluding other stakeholders like opposition parties, churches and civic originations.<\/p>\n
Zimbabwe\u2019s post-colonial state was characterised by massive human rights abuses like the Gukurahundi massacre, farm seizures, and Operation Murambatsvina. Yet while Zimbabweans are known for their resilience, the current crisis seems to be testing the limits of whether or not there is any light at the end of the tunnel. DM168<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For once, Zimbabweans from across the divide were united and gave their beloved country a chance under the new leadership of Emmerson Mnangagwa \u2013 only to be disappointed by the continuation of corruption, human rights abuses and a clampdown on dissent from Mugabe\u2019s days. The post-Mugabe era was punctuated by massive corruption scandals like the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":26236,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,8,12],"tags":[1449,965],"class_list":["post-27085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-head-lines","category-policy","tag-chinono","tag-human-rights"],"yoast_head":"\n