Zimbabwe Report
Sokwanele Report
Friday, June 24, 2005Robert Mugabe may have created a police state in which all signs of dissent to his autocratic rule are ruthlessly suppressed, but beneath what appears to be a tranquil surface there is simmering discontent - and from time to time the lid on the pot, though firmly clamped down, lifts enough for us to see it. a spontaneous protest here, an angry outburst there, and the contours of a new and effective form of resistance to ZaNU PF tyranny are beginning to emerge within the troubled nation of Zimbabwe.
On Saturday (June 18) within a couple of hours two very effective protests were staged in the city of Bulawayo. The first was what may be called the traditional style of widely publicized street protest which ended, predictably, with a number of arrests. The second was of a different style altogether - a lightning strike in which the protesters appeared unexpectedly, executed a daring stunt and then disappeared from view before the forces of repression could respond. a problem from the protesters' point of view however is that under the oppressive media laws now in force it is always difficult to get the word out of any sign of dissent. Yet the people of Zimbabwe need to know, and be encouraged by the fact, that the groundswell of resistance is growing, for this gives the lie to the notion that all Zimbabweans have been cowed into submission by this brutal dictatorship. and herein lies Sokwanele's role in high-lighting these acts of civil disobedience which remind us that, however dark the present, one day Zimbabwe will be free.
The first protest was staged by the now battle-proved women of WOZa (Women of Zimbabwe arise) who already have many such brave acts of civil disobedience to their credit. They assembled on the corner of Herbert Chitepo Street and 13th avenue late in the morning. However careful the group might have been about security, word of the protest march inevitably reached the ears of the dreaded CIO (Central Intelligence agency) before the event, and their agents were seen milling around the venue throughout the morning. WOZa must have been well aware of this, which makes their decision to go ahead notwithstanding all the more remarkable. at the time appointed the women suddenly appeared on the street, bearing aloft their colourful banners calling for an end to ZaNU PF's hated "Murambatsvina" or clean-up campaign which over the last few weeks has seen hundreds of thousands of Zimbabwe's poorest rendered homeless and destitute. "are we the trash ?" their banners read.
The courageous protesters obviously knew that they might be arrested very quickly because they set off down Herbert Chitepo avenue at a brisk pace, distributing their protest leaflets along the way. an appreciative crowd of some 2,000 people watched the spectacle, some giving the opposition MDC open-palm salute. In the event the women had not walked more than a couple of blocks before baton-wielding members of the ZRP intercepted the group. a number of ZRP Defenders appeared and the police started to round up the women, packing them into the back of two of their vehicles. That was the end - an entirely predictable end - of their brief protest. But they had made their point, powerfully, not only to the surprised spectators along the route but to the nation. Those arrested spent an extremely uncomfortable weekend in the filthy police cells, appearing in court on Monday to be granted bail on charges which, if the regime runs true to form, will not be pursued.
The second and rather less conventional protest took place a few hours later at the Bradfield shopping centre. at about 2.00 pm. a group of between 20 and 30 young men suddenly appeared in the car park. Those hundred or so unsuspecting shoppers there at the time were treated to a most unusual spectacle as the youths unfurled banners and paraded them across the parking lot. "25 years is enough. We need change", the banners read, and again "We voted change", "Change is here". From the appreciative crowd there were smiles and a few shouts of support, as well as the MDC open-hand salute. None appeared to disapprove the brave stunt. and then, just as quickly as the youths had appeared, they left the scene. The police simply did not have time to respond. By the time news of the protest reached the local police station the youths were well on their way. The heavy curtain of state repression and sullen silence had been raised for just a few brief moments to remind those privileged spectators - and the nation - that no dictatorship lasts for ever, and that change is coming.
Let the nation salute the courage of these protesters and follow their brave example.
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