Wilson Chipangura, Opinion
The name Makomborero Haruzivishe is familiar with the politically entrenched prisons in Zimbabwe, yet somehow less celebrated by many citizens.
It is painful to say this when one looks at the fact that Haruzivishe has spent the better part of his life at the forefront fighting for people power as one can simply put it.
The former Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) secretary general Haruzivishe was sentenced to 14 months in prison in April this year after being found guilty for inciting violence.
Authorities insisted during the trial that the 28-year-old blew a whistle to alert opposition protesters to pounce on police during a protest in February last year.
On the first count of incitement, as defined in section 187 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Harare Magistrate Judith Taruvinga sentenced Haruzivishe to serve 24 months in prison of which 10 months were suspended for a period of five years.
On the second count of resisting a peace officer as defined in section 176 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, the pro-democracy campaigner was sentenced to serve 12 months of which six months were suspended for a period of five years.
Isn’t this asinine in any way? It is the Zanu PF modus operandi to intimidate and silence citizens from demanding accountability after all.
Haruzivishe arguably holds the record of being in and out of prison on political grounds together with Zengesa West member of parliament Job Sikhala something that paints a bad colour on the image of the Zanu PF regime.
The regime doesn’t really care about its tainted image after all, in fact they want it that way so that they can find scapegoats. Whenever the sober ones call out these atrocious acts, the junta will happily blame saboteurs and sanctions.
The most worrying thing is the fact that Zanu PF has always been allowed to get away with some of these heinous acts by dumping the persecuted revolutionaries at their hour of need.
When he received his sentence in April, the MDC Alliance top brass was accused of turning its back on young activists whenever they fall prey into the hands of a brutal Zanu PF.
Not much noise is made whenever young activists standing up for a noble cause are trampled upon, which is utterly harrowing.
The likes of Namatai Kwekweza, Alan Moyo, Takudzwa Ngadziore, Tawanda Muchehiwa, Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri, Netsai Marova, Ngoni Danzwa among others have been left in darkness to be diced by the bogeyman.
The most ghastly thing in all this, is that there are others who have blamed the young generation of not doing enough to fight for change yet the few with the courage are left to scream and break.
Haruzivishe has since been locked up though in July this year a High Court judge Justice Webster Chinamora granted the young revolutionary bail – which was immediately revoked on separate charges.
All this was done to frustrate Mako and everyone who may have an idea to challenge certain acts that do not align with the rule of law.
The main issue though is where is the noise and voice of those with authority in this struggle for democratic change when all this is happening. What are you doing yourself? This has been a popular defensive line used by certain individuals whenever critical issues are brought to their attention.
The same solidarity and even pressure applied for ‘high profile’ individuals when they are targeted by the system why is it absent when the young guns are persecuted.
Only young people have dedicated their time to visit Mako in prison or maybe it is just unnecessary dust being raised in these sandy streets.
Dear comrades, are we forgetting our young revolutionaries like Haruzivishe and Alan Moyo or there is something we are missing as a nation.
Freedom is certainly coming but unity is the fundamental key to its attainment. Aluta Continua!
- Wilson Chipangura is a passionate writer, a member of the Pan Zimbabwe Society and Local Coordinator at Students For Liberty (SFL). He writes here in his personal capacity.
