Zimbabwean Human Rights Matter

A reminder why Human Rights Matter and how they are being abused in Zimbabwe by Mnangagwa and Zanu PF

#ZimbabweanLivesMatter

Human rights are important because they protect the weak from the more powerful. In most countries, especially those in Africa, Government have tremendous power over the public because they make policy, control funding and make the rules and laws which people are expected to abide by. As such, a Government that is out of control can use it’s power to do horrible things to the masses. This is exactly what is happening in Zimbabwe – the tyranny of a "Government".

As most people will know Zanu PF is the political party that has been ruling Zimbabwe since the country got its independence in 1980. Zanu PF have been abusing this power everytime anyone or any group of people questions the actions of the junta [a more appropriate description than Government] including its legitimacy. They also abuse this power by their shameless corruptions that trickles down from the President's Office down to Government Officials, police, military and courts. This corruption is what is depriving millions of Zimbabweans of basic things like water, food, security, decent health and public services.

When Emmerson Mnangagwa declared himself President after removing Mugabe in a military coup, he promised a lot of 'positive' things for the country. Some people believed him including highly respected intellectuals from around the world. However, those who know the man's history knew Zimbabwe was going to go even more backwards in terms of human rights abuses. I think people should have refused to endorse the military coup because it was an illegal act, treason in fact.

Ever since he became president, Mnangagwa has presided over some of the most shameless human rights abuses of the Zimbabwean people particularly those who oppose his illegitimate rule of the country. Everytime the MDC Alliance or any group of people want to express their grievances, the Zanu PF 'junta' arrests them. Not only that, the regime sends state agents to abduct political activists, the military to go into the ghettos to beat up and shoot innocent people including raping women. All this is done to inflict fear in people. This Zanu PF regime really does not recognise the human rights of the Zimbabwe public. The right to free assembly, freedom of expression, democracy, right to life, right to basic needs, right to have a private life; all these human rights are habitually abused by this government. They do not recognise the Zimbabwean people as free individuals, to them, it appears that the public are like an inconvenience the regime has to deal with. It’s a dreadful situation. Zanu PF like to claim that they freed Zimbabweans from the Rhodesians, but it’s clear now that they only freed themselves.

By

Sindile Ncube
@sindiscorner