When the government oversteps its mandate by arresting citizens for highlighting their inadequacies and for them wanting to see a better Zimbabwe....that is called gross abuse of power.
Over and over again this Zimbabwean government has violated citizens' rights all in the name of governing and this is totally unacceptable. The country is falling apart and instead of fixing these problems they try to suppress anyone who highlights what everyone else can plainly see. I don't think we can be any clearer that we no longer want this Mugabe led government to remain in power.
We will no longer be intimidated into silence and be forced to applaud incompetence. To pastor Evan Mawarire I say, I stand with you and as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 'We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.'
Sunday, 24 September 2017
Friday, 8 September 2017
Only in Zimbababwe can a 9 year old girl get into prostitution and the government not intervene
This week the shocking story of a 9 year old prostitute called Lady B living in the Epworth area of Zimbabwe emerged. My heart bled when I listened to her interview about how she was led into prostitution as a way of sustaining herself and her 5 year old sister.
It is criminal that such an act is going on right under the nose of the government. Lady B in her interview spoke about how she takes drugs and alcohol so that she can have the courage to perform these acts. Not only is she at risk of being violently abused physically but also at risk of getting HIV and other infectious diseases, not to mention the emotional damage to her well being. A 9 year old is still very much a child herself and on top of that she is also a mother to her 5 year old sibling. I cant understand why the Zimbabwean government is not doing anything to help this little girl and other children in her position. Zalera Makari, who is the MP for Epworth, in an interview this year spoke about how she was empowering her constituents...Is this what she meant??
Any sexual act with a minor is statutory rape under the law but the government is not doing anything to help Lady B. One of the women interviewing Lady B approached the government so that they could rescue Lady B from this terrible life that she is living but they told her that the only help they could afford Lady B was to give her contraceptives....really??? We say we have a government in place and yet they are putting a stamp of approval on the statutory rape of Lady B.
These children are orphans and they have no one in government to stand up for them, Grace Mugabe on the other hand was alleged to have beaten up Gabrielle Engels for giving drugs to her ADULT son. If she can fight for her son why can't she as First Lady fight for 9 year old Lady B?
It is criminal that such an act is going on right under the nose of the government. Lady B in her interview spoke about how she takes drugs and alcohol so that she can have the courage to perform these acts. Not only is she at risk of being violently abused physically but also at risk of getting HIV and other infectious diseases, not to mention the emotional damage to her well being. A 9 year old is still very much a child herself and on top of that she is also a mother to her 5 year old sibling. I cant understand why the Zimbabwean government is not doing anything to help this little girl and other children in her position. Zalera Makari, who is the MP for Epworth, in an interview this year spoke about how she was empowering her constituents...Is this what she meant??
Any sexual act with a minor is statutory rape under the law but the government is not doing anything to help Lady B. One of the women interviewing Lady B approached the government so that they could rescue Lady B from this terrible life that she is living but they told her that the only help they could afford Lady B was to give her contraceptives....really??? We say we have a government in place and yet they are putting a stamp of approval on the statutory rape of Lady B.
These children are orphans and they have no one in government to stand up for them, Grace Mugabe on the other hand was alleged to have beaten up Gabrielle Engels for giving drugs to her ADULT son. If she can fight for her son why can't she as First Lady fight for 9 year old Lady B?
Tuesday, 29 August 2017
Is the upgraded Computer Crime and Cyber Crime Bill another suppression tool by the ZANU PF led Zimbabwean government?
I don't support cyber bullying and intimidation but I wonder at the timing of this upgraded bill. I am not belittling the need to protect people from this horrific crime but in light of the grave problems that Zimbabwe is currently facing I wouldn't have thought this particular crime in Zimbabwe would rank highest among all the problems that Zimbabwe currently has.
In the past year the Zimbabwean government has threatened people using social media to spread protest information with fines of $200 or imprisonment for 6 months and now that we are heading towards the 2018 elections they have upped the antics by increasing the fine up to a couple of thousand dollars and imprisonment of up to 10 years. Maybe I am being cynical but the government has a history of suppressing individuals from speaking out against them. In my mind I see this just as another ploy to intimidate and instil fear in anyone who stands up against them. Section IV of this amended bill is vague enough that anyone who speaks out against the government could be found guilty.
In a country where women are being raped and people robbed in broad daylight without the perpetrators being brought to justice the Zimbabwean government is willing to spend money to have people whom they deem to have broken this Cyber Law to be extradited to face persecution. Clearly their priorities are not right. They cannot solve the problems of unemployment, money shortages, lack of proper education and health facilities and yet cyber crime is a priority for them...this is ridiculous to say the least.
I want to see a change in Zimbabwe and this bill is one of the risks that I am willing to take to continue highlighting the human rights violations that are being perpetrated by the Zimbabwean government....I refuse to be suppressed!
In the past year the Zimbabwean government has threatened people using social media to spread protest information with fines of $200 or imprisonment for 6 months and now that we are heading towards the 2018 elections they have upped the antics by increasing the fine up to a couple of thousand dollars and imprisonment of up to 10 years. Maybe I am being cynical but the government has a history of suppressing individuals from speaking out against them. In my mind I see this just as another ploy to intimidate and instil fear in anyone who stands up against them. Section IV of this amended bill is vague enough that anyone who speaks out against the government could be found guilty.
In a country where women are being raped and people robbed in broad daylight without the perpetrators being brought to justice the Zimbabwean government is willing to spend money to have people whom they deem to have broken this Cyber Law to be extradited to face persecution. Clearly their priorities are not right. They cannot solve the problems of unemployment, money shortages, lack of proper education and health facilities and yet cyber crime is a priority for them...this is ridiculous to say the least.
I want to see a change in Zimbabwe and this bill is one of the risks that I am willing to take to continue highlighting the human rights violations that are being perpetrated by the Zimbabwean government....I refuse to be suppressed!
Tuesday, 15 August 2017
Grace Mugabe the bully
Grace Mugabe was once quoted saying, ''As head of women's league Zimbabwe, my number one goal is to endeavour that no woman ever suffers from assault or violence of any kind and those who use violence against women shall face the full power of the law.'' In light of her attack on Sunday on a 20 year old defenceless woman this definitely indicates that she did not mean her words to apply to herself. The world is only now seeing the real Grace Mugabe that we the Zimbabwean people have always known.
The beating of Gabriella Engels by Grace Mugabe, whilst Grace's security forces stood by and watched, is a mirror image of what the Zimbabwean citizens are facing on a daily basis at the hands of those in government whilst those who are charged with protecting the citizens stand by and watch and in some instances take part in the abuse of people. Unlike other abuse incidents that have happened in Zimbabwe and have been suppressed by the government, Sunday's incident must have been a rude awakening to Grace, as she could not intimidate the young lady into not saying anything and also she could not control the narrative on how the information on the incident was disseminated. I as a Zimbabwean am sickened by the level of abuse against women in Zimbabwe. Women are being threatened, beaten and raped whilst those in authority stand by and watch. If those in authority cannot protect the citizens and are themselves the perpetrators of these heinous acts, then where can people turn to for help?
My prayer is that the incident in South Africa will also highlight the human rights abuses that have been perpetrated by Grace Mugabe and the Zimbabwean government. Now that the spotlight is on her my hope is that her day of reckoning is here and she will now, 'face the full power of the law.'
The beating of Gabriella Engels by Grace Mugabe, whilst Grace's security forces stood by and watched, is a mirror image of what the Zimbabwean citizens are facing on a daily basis at the hands of those in government whilst those who are charged with protecting the citizens stand by and watch and in some instances take part in the abuse of people. Unlike other abuse incidents that have happened in Zimbabwe and have been suppressed by the government, Sunday's incident must have been a rude awakening to Grace, as she could not intimidate the young lady into not saying anything and also she could not control the narrative on how the information on the incident was disseminated. I as a Zimbabwean am sickened by the level of abuse against women in Zimbabwe. Women are being threatened, beaten and raped whilst those in authority stand by and watch. If those in authority cannot protect the citizens and are themselves the perpetrators of these heinous acts, then where can people turn to for help?
My prayer is that the incident in South Africa will also highlight the human rights abuses that have been perpetrated by Grace Mugabe and the Zimbabwean government. Now that the spotlight is on her my hope is that her day of reckoning is here and she will now, 'face the full power of the law.'
Sunday, 6 August 2017
Grace Mugabe a tyrant in her own right!
In our Zimbabwean local dialect we say, 'Imba mukadzi' which when translated means that 'the home is a woman'. As first lady Grace is that woman that we as a country should be looking to as a mother figure but she has failed in that duty by abusing the power of her position by brow beating the poor out of their homes, manipulating her way to get ahead and by ignoring her duty of care towards the citizens of Zimbabwe.
Despite already owning hectares of land that she took from the white farmers she has continued to displace vulnerable families in the bid to own more land and to increase her wealth. This year the residents of Arnold Farm in Mazowe found themselves homeless all because Grace Mugabe wanted that farm. Even though there was a court order saying that these evictions were unlawful, Grace proved that she is above the law and still had these families removed from that farm, with no consequences against her, from the government for such action. Are these the actions of someone who cares for her people?. She built a high school on what used to be the Mazowe Citrus Estate, that she claimed was for the poor and orphaned children and yet charges a staggering US$3500 per term. Most people in Zimbabwe can hardly afford to feed themselves let alone pay such amounts to cover for school fees. In displacing families for her own gain not only has she shown herself to be selfish but also greedy.
Grace Mugabe is well known for her political manoeuvring and public tirades against people who she deems to be against her and President Robert Mugabe. At one of the political rallies some years ago whilst Joice Mujuru was still Vice President and a favourite to take over as President upon Mugabe's death, she accused her of plotting to assassinate President Mugabe. She then used her influence to convince her husband to expel Joice Mujuru and her supporters from the ZANU PF party and this resulted in Joice Mujuru losing her post as Vice President. She is also linked to the G40 faction that is said to be opposed to the current Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa succeeding President Mugabe. To my way of thinking it seems like she is trying to push aside anyone other than herself who could become President after Robert Mugabe's death.
Grace Mugabe has definitely shown aspirations that she wants to become Zimbabwe's next president as she was quoted at a rally outside of Harare in 2014 as saying, 'They say I want to be President, why not? Am I not Zimbabwean?' That's a very scary thought! Under her leadership as first lady there has been nothing but destruction and I shudder to think what our beautiful Zimbabwe would look like under her full leadership. Some people are born to lead and others are followers....Grace is definitely a follower!
Despite already owning hectares of land that she took from the white farmers she has continued to displace vulnerable families in the bid to own more land and to increase her wealth. This year the residents of Arnold Farm in Mazowe found themselves homeless all because Grace Mugabe wanted that farm. Even though there was a court order saying that these evictions were unlawful, Grace proved that she is above the law and still had these families removed from that farm, with no consequences against her, from the government for such action. Are these the actions of someone who cares for her people?. She built a high school on what used to be the Mazowe Citrus Estate, that she claimed was for the poor and orphaned children and yet charges a staggering US$3500 per term. Most people in Zimbabwe can hardly afford to feed themselves let alone pay such amounts to cover for school fees. In displacing families for her own gain not only has she shown herself to be selfish but also greedy.
Grace Mugabe is well known for her political manoeuvring and public tirades against people who she deems to be against her and President Robert Mugabe. At one of the political rallies some years ago whilst Joice Mujuru was still Vice President and a favourite to take over as President upon Mugabe's death, she accused her of plotting to assassinate President Mugabe. She then used her influence to convince her husband to expel Joice Mujuru and her supporters from the ZANU PF party and this resulted in Joice Mujuru losing her post as Vice President. She is also linked to the G40 faction that is said to be opposed to the current Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa succeeding President Mugabe. To my way of thinking it seems like she is trying to push aside anyone other than herself who could become President after Robert Mugabe's death.
Grace Mugabe has definitely shown aspirations that she wants to become Zimbabwe's next president as she was quoted at a rally outside of Harare in 2014 as saying, 'They say I want to be President, why not? Am I not Zimbabwean?' That's a very scary thought! Under her leadership as first lady there has been nothing but destruction and I shudder to think what our beautiful Zimbabwe would look like under her full leadership. Some people are born to lead and others are followers....Grace is definitely a follower!
Wednesday, 19 July 2017
Torture under the Mugabe Regime
When one tenaciously clings to power to the extent that he sanctions torture and brutality against any opponents to his regime, that is the height of evil and his name is President Robert Mugabe.
Fanuel Kaseke a 23 year old student at the University of Zimbabwe was abducted on Thursday the 29th of June and held against his will for four days, all because he chose to stand up and address how the government is failing its people.Whilst in captivity he was tortured and questioned about his political activities and who his associates were. This brave young man now has to overcome emotional trauma all because President Mugabe cannot acknowledge the fact that 'we' as the Zimbabwean people don't want him in power anymore.
This is not the first time that President Mugabe's government have targeted people who oppose him and have subjected them to brutality and torture. Patson Dzamara a prominent activist was abducted and beaten in 2016 and had to be hospitalised after his captors released him due to the seriousness of his injuries. Sylvanos Mudzvova a prominent activist was also abducted and tortured in September 2016, he also had to be hospitalised and now has a life altering injury as a result of the brutality that he was subjected to. Itai Dzamara also a prominent activist was abducted in March 2015 and has not been heard from since. I cannot imagine the pain that all those who have been tortured and beaten have endured as they fought not only for themselves but for every Zimbabwean, so that we can have a better Zimbabwean....to you brave people I salute you.
It's a mockery that whilst other young men are putting their lives at risk by standing up and fighting for a better Zimbabwe, Mugabe's own son's aged 20 and 27 are spending ridiculous amounts of money carousing and getting into drunken fights. Whilst the President and his wife have indulged their children with every whim they are like the bully in the playground who target other people's children. The bully might be stronger but we will not cower and we will not stop fighting...one day we will topple you to the ground.
Fanuel Kaseke a 23 year old student at the University of Zimbabwe was abducted on Thursday the 29th of June and held against his will for four days, all because he chose to stand up and address how the government is failing its people.Whilst in captivity he was tortured and questioned about his political activities and who his associates were. This brave young man now has to overcome emotional trauma all because President Mugabe cannot acknowledge the fact that 'we' as the Zimbabwean people don't want him in power anymore.
This is not the first time that President Mugabe's government have targeted people who oppose him and have subjected them to brutality and torture. Patson Dzamara a prominent activist was abducted and beaten in 2016 and had to be hospitalised after his captors released him due to the seriousness of his injuries. Sylvanos Mudzvova a prominent activist was also abducted and tortured in September 2016, he also had to be hospitalised and now has a life altering injury as a result of the brutality that he was subjected to. Itai Dzamara also a prominent activist was abducted in March 2015 and has not been heard from since. I cannot imagine the pain that all those who have been tortured and beaten have endured as they fought not only for themselves but for every Zimbabwean, so that we can have a better Zimbabwean....to you brave people I salute you.
It's a mockery that whilst other young men are putting their lives at risk by standing up and fighting for a better Zimbabwe, Mugabe's own son's aged 20 and 27 are spending ridiculous amounts of money carousing and getting into drunken fights. Whilst the President and his wife have indulged their children with every whim they are like the bully in the playground who target other people's children. The bully might be stronger but we will not cower and we will not stop fighting...one day we will topple you to the ground.
Sunday, 2 July 2017
President Mugabe and 'your people' we see you!
When all those in authority continue to watch as the police brutalises the citizens without any repercussions, this is a clear indication that the government is no longer standing for the greater good of the people.
Over the last week University of Zimbabwe medical students were beaten by the riot police for holding a peaceful demonstration, against an increase of about 35% of tuition fees. Every Zimbabwean has a constitutional right to hold peaceful demonstrations but the government is not allowing anyone to exercise this right as is evidenced by the arrest of Pastor Evan Mawarire who attended this demonstration. He was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and spent two days in prison before being released on bail. Is it a crime to pray and stand together with the students against this increase?...the government clearly thinks so. This kind of injustice continues to happen because the leadership allows it to continue happening. Pastor Evan Mawarire and Linda Masarira have had so many charges thrown at them to the point of ridiculousness. It is clear that the government is looking for ways to silence anyone who opposes or stands up against them and will create whatever charges they can to ensure that those who are vocal in their opposition are kept in a legal quagmire. Shame on you President Mugabe for allowing these injustices to continue happening.
It amazes me that the government has the time and money to spend targeting activists and yet they overlook the real criminals in government who have robbed the economy blind. Millions of dollars went missing from the diamonds mined in Marange and nothing has been done about that. How can millions of dollars disappear without anyone knowing what happened to the money and without anyone being brought to account for this disappearance? This is one of the incidents that highlights that the government is petty and rotten to the core. People are suffering in the country with barely enough food to eat but the government prioritises chasing after people who are advocating for a better Zimbabwe instead of the criminals in government who have stolen millions of dollars.
Given that things are continuing to deteriorate in Zimbabwe this current government cannot be allowed to continue to rule as they have proved that they are not concerned about their people. We have our very own Hitler in Zimbabwe and unlike Hitler, President Mugabe and his party are persecuting and killing the Zimbabwean people. We as Zimbabweans are a resilient people and just as we fought in the Chimurenga war to gain independence and prevailed we will now fight against this new breed of monster and in the end we will once again prevail...the government can threaten and try to intimidate us but they cannot silence us.
Over the last week University of Zimbabwe medical students were beaten by the riot police for holding a peaceful demonstration, against an increase of about 35% of tuition fees. Every Zimbabwean has a constitutional right to hold peaceful demonstrations but the government is not allowing anyone to exercise this right as is evidenced by the arrest of Pastor Evan Mawarire who attended this demonstration. He was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and spent two days in prison before being released on bail. Is it a crime to pray and stand together with the students against this increase?...the government clearly thinks so. This kind of injustice continues to happen because the leadership allows it to continue happening. Pastor Evan Mawarire and Linda Masarira have had so many charges thrown at them to the point of ridiculousness. It is clear that the government is looking for ways to silence anyone who opposes or stands up against them and will create whatever charges they can to ensure that those who are vocal in their opposition are kept in a legal quagmire. Shame on you President Mugabe for allowing these injustices to continue happening.
It amazes me that the government has the time and money to spend targeting activists and yet they overlook the real criminals in government who have robbed the economy blind. Millions of dollars went missing from the diamonds mined in Marange and nothing has been done about that. How can millions of dollars disappear without anyone knowing what happened to the money and without anyone being brought to account for this disappearance? This is one of the incidents that highlights that the government is petty and rotten to the core. People are suffering in the country with barely enough food to eat but the government prioritises chasing after people who are advocating for a better Zimbabwe instead of the criminals in government who have stolen millions of dollars.
Given that things are continuing to deteriorate in Zimbabwe this current government cannot be allowed to continue to rule as they have proved that they are not concerned about their people. We have our very own Hitler in Zimbabwe and unlike Hitler, President Mugabe and his party are persecuting and killing the Zimbabwean people. We as Zimbabweans are a resilient people and just as we fought in the Chimurenga war to gain independence and prevailed we will now fight against this new breed of monster and in the end we will once again prevail...the government can threaten and try to intimidate us but they cannot silence us.
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