My mind goes back to the year Zimbabweans last took it to the ballots, 2008. Arguably, the most storied year “my” people have had to endure.This writer’s idea of life hinges on two elements, enjoy or endure. After the first bout which saw a clear turn on the political tide, since independence, however, the result was said to be indecisive. A re-run was calendered 27 days after the last hour of the polls, and all hell broke loose.
I remember remembering my history lessons on the French Revolution; Danton, Marat and Robespiere unleashed a “reign of terror” on their political opponents in 1793-1794, the sympathisers of the Bourbon monarch. I had thought these days were long gone or archived as “bygones” as they brought nothing but misery on the hoi polloi. Similarly, and sadly, 8 years after we graced the second millenium I was awed to see such primitive bickering for electorate’s favours in my own backyard-Zimbabwe.
Innocent and defenceless citizens were massacred by their own neighbours or kinfolk if they were somehow alleged to be affiliated to the MDC, the opposition, which had proved to be a tougher contender to the revolutionary and geriatric incumbent.I expected the so-called “long arm of the law” to take its stand and bring those who had orcheastrated the “injustices” to book, but everyone acted as nothing had happened. Thats when I start questioning the justice system in my motherland, the place I call home.
The debacle which ensured saw uncalculated risks being taken, compromises agreed to to form a government of national unity which ridiculously epitomised the fact that the biggest losers in a plebiscite is the electorate. As if it wasn’t enough Zimbabwe saw obsolete ministries like the one led by 3 ministers put in place, the Organ for National Healing and Reconciliation. I seriously thought my country’s leaders needed shots of whisky each for this madness. Expecting a mere sorry from a government official for my cattle stolen, body parts dismembered, kinfolks murdered, and property vandalised is not only ludicrous, but insane.
As the shona say, “kugona ngozi kuiripa”. This writer thinks pertrators and orchestrators of this unjustifiable and primitive system which forces political coherence must pay. Please give democracy and justice a chance because at the moment it is blind.
This has been a submission by James Chiwoko.
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