By Masimba- I have decided to pen this article after carefully thinking about our future as Zimbabweans.

I was talking to a friend today, and I started the dialogue by saying ‘I wonder why a person who was earning $500usd in 2017 and today is earning $50usd still does not complain or show any dissatisfaction?’.

My friend told me that the reason for this is because of the brutality of security forces such that people cannot raise their voices. In addition, he said ‘It is a matter of time before God removes bad leadership from power’.

He continued to say ’Did you ever think that Mugabe would leave’? I told him that a person can be replaced but the system can continue with a new face.

I was thinking that what if the freedom fighters adopted the same thought of saying ‘Leave the brutal Smith regime alone and when his time comes, he will leave’. Today, we would still be governed by Smith’s son.

This made me think about why as Zimbabweans, we are docile and lack concern in things directly affecting our lives. We hear that US$10 billion was stolen from diamond mines, so and so millions were plundered by politicians in farm mechanization, US$60 million was stolen from Covid, but we feel like it is none of our business.

We are only concerned if our families are eating and we don’t have time to think about national issues. You hear people saying ‘In Zimbabwe demonstrations don’t work it will be wasting of ‘precious’ time’.

Are our problems purely emanating from security forces’ brutality? Why is it that in countries with even more security forces brutality people don’t fear even when they are facing death to the extent that many governments are even overthrown by people?

Then I concluded that we may be our own enemies and that is the reason why we are in this situation. God works with people, and even in the bible I read how he removed bad kings through people. But in Zimbabwe, we feel that we are too special and just want to wake up hearing that the president vacated state house and is hiding somewhere.

Why do the Zimbabwe security forces appear to be very brutal?

The reasons for our problems are mainly due to lack of unity, selfishness and boastfulness. People, especially those in the diaspora can testify that we are selfish, not united and not humble.

Listen when Zimbabweans are talking from Edson Zvobgo to Chinamasa and Matemadanda to Chamisa and the ordinary Zimbabwean then you realize our problem. Yet, the bible in 2 Chronicles 7:14 says ‘ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.’ So, besides our leadership we are also part of the problem.

The reason why Zimbabweans cannot sit down and talk as one people to resolve differences is still boastfulness, selfishness and lack of unity. Remember, the Israelites took 40 years to travel from Egypt to Canaan instead of 40 days and this was caused by their evil ways before God.

Zimbabweans, rather than just looking at the government, let us closely introspect ourselves and seek the real reason why our nation is not being healed for such a long time. Changing the state of the art requires a big sacrifice from many united and responsible citizens.

This is why no matter how hard we are pushed by the political and economic situation; we always adjust like a live frog being cooked in water. We would rather do some kiyakiya jobs to survive and are always reluctant to engage the leadership on unfulfilled promises.

We value to live even without integrity of being human beings. To show irresponsibility, some would pretend to like the bad system even those who are not benefiting from it. Just admiring those who are eating expecting that one day they will eat below their tables like what traitors used to do during Smith’s time.

Once people are not united for a common cause, it will be easy for the security forces to target individuals and instill fear in the whole population. We should know that it is possible for a lion to be killed by 1000 united zebras, but if they are not united then one lion will kill them one after the other whilst they are running away.

Once we are united, selfless and prepared to sacrifice our lives, then we can dream of change and be able to say enough is enough. Otherwise, for now we only think of our families and this is the definition of selfishness when we are not worried about those unemployed, those facing starvation, those leaving town for villages because of economic hardships and those who are eating once a day.

We are only worried about surviving with our families, but in the end we will all suffer. There is a biblical verse in Matthew 16:25 that says:

‘For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.’ Then, in that spirit if a demonstration is announced by our civic leaders you will see many of us buying groceries a day before the date to eat whilst watching television during the day of demonstration.

People will always be on the phone expecting to hear good news that freedom has come. In smaller cities you will hear people asking for news from Harare and Bulawayo expecting freedom. Even those churchical ones who seem not bothered about politics will always be asking about the results.

We are in a confused situation where the security forces who are brutalizing people are also expecting the same masses they are attacking to rescue them from their current problems. You hear the security forces who are brutalizing people on duty saying ‘vakomana nyika dai yanaka tarwadziwa’.

What should we do if we are serious about a better future?

Change will come at a time when many of us when talking with our wives and kids at home will say enough is enough. But, if our wives are still saying ‘Imi ndimi munoti mungazvigona zveZimbabwe moga here, vana nhingi vakafira mahara’ then let us know that for the one thousand years to come we will be like mice running from cats and always ululating for others.

It means that we are still enjoying and comfortable with the present situation. Then, let us know that each and every time when we will try to make some noise, then Matemadanda will just cough on TV and we will run back to our holes.

We have an estimated 10 million people currently living in Zimbabwe and if we say enough is enough and we go out during a demonstration, how will be police arrest all of us? Will they shoot all of us? Will they abduct all of us? Yes, we will gather in locations and march to town without retreating no matter what will come.

But, if 20 people go outside, then it will be very easy for security forces to demonstrate their military skills to them and also for state to label them hooligans and terrorists. If we take a risk whilst united, then the risk is not a risk but a revolution.

Lack of unity and the thinking that our situation is complicated is exposing only a few and putting them in danger yet we arethe solution to our problems. In the end Mrs Ngarivhume, Mrs Sikhala etc will think like ‘siyanai nazvo munofira mahara’ because of our inability to realize how powerful we are as Zimbabwean citizens. We are taking too long to respond to the message which was communicated on 31 July.

So, to conclude, security forces brutality is there and will always be there but we should not be selfish. We should unite and sacrifice together as a nation and God will assist us. If we seriously want freedom, even in one day we can get freedom, but if we are still not sure then we should wait.

If we want to go then this time lets go together and don’t return back home. If it means the world will hear that ten million civilians are killed in Zimbabwe, then we should be prepared without any person retreating.

Better to sacrifice and go into prison and die with our families than embracing our current situation. They say change is inevitable, but we should show that we are the people responsible for making that process. Chamisa alone will not bring change.