By Farai Maguwu| The situation in Zimbabwe is imploding owing to a sharp rise in gang violence in the artisanal gold mining sector, widely referred to as Machete Wars. The gangsters, known as Mashurugwi, do not necessarily come from Shurugwi. Law enforcement agents have not been spared the violence as one Police officer was hacked to death recently whilst several others have been injured. So daring are the machete gangs that in Gokwe they stormed a Police station to release their fellow gangsters who had been arrested. The truth if the matter is the country is fast sliding into anarchy and lawlessness. This is a national security threat as the gangs are now attacking law enforcement agents, meaning its not only the citizens who are under attack, but the State itself.

In some jurisdictions leaders cut short foreign trips when an emergency arises at home. Only two days ago the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had to cut short his trip to Oman to return home following the deadly crash of a Ukrainian passenger jetliner near Tehran airport. When the Marikana massacre took place in South Africa former President Jacob Zuma ended his participation at the SADC Heads of State Summit in Maputo to return home and deal with the crisis. In March 2019 French President EMMANUEL MACRON was forced to cut short his skiing trip for an emergency meeting with ministers after yellow vest protesters ransacked shops and hurled smoke bombs and bricks at police officers across Paris. Citizens were at risk and the President didn’t see any reason enjoying skiing whilst the people he swore on oath to defend and protect were in jeopardy.

But in Zimbabwe as the machete gang violence is escalating the President announces that he is going on holiday? Surely? At such a time like this! How is it even possible for him to take some rest when the country is in flames like this?

Section 90 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe says the duties of the President are as follows:

1. The President must uphold, defend, obey and respect this Constitution as the supreme law of the nation and must ensure that this Constitution and all the other laws are faithfully observed.
• Duty to obey the constitution
2. The President must–
a. promote unity and peace in the nation for the benefit and well-being of all the people of Zimbabwe;
b. recognise and respect the ideals and values of the liberation struggle;
c. ensure protection of the fundamental human rights and freedoms and the rule of law; and
d. respect the diversity of the people and communities of Zimbabwe.

Thus by being silent when citizens are under attack, the President is failing to execute his constitutional duties of protecting the citizens and ensuring there is rule of law. The President need to take this matter seriously as the wheels are coming off faster than he might be thinking. If he doesn’t act now this issue might yield unintended results.