Red Alert! Red Alert! Red Alert!
Reddy for freedom, and reddy for peace!
Late this afternoon, residents of Bulawayo’s inner city population were treated to a glorious red show. Those who start their days very early - vendors, people walking long distances to work, those who get up early to have more time to find food - caught a glimpse of what was to come later in the day when red alert flyers carpeted some areas of the city.
This afternoon, thousands of ‘red alert flyers’ rained down on the inner city streets; people were speculating that they had been thrown from a plane. One person was overheard to say that maybe it was God himself, throwing them down as a reminder to Robert Mugabe that he still existed in Zimbabwe and was ready stand by the downtrodden and the oppressed and to remove him from power and deliver as all to freedom and peace.
A small group of singing supporters of the MDC also marched through the city while the flyers clouded the horizon.
As soon as they hit the ground the flyer were scooped up by excited pedestrians. People were seen in supermarkets afterwards discretely showing each other the flyers and laughing. This show of defiance after a time of terror has delighted those who were lucky enough to see them.
However, nobody is complacent in Zimbabwe. Everyone has had been touched by the regime’s terror tactics and no one believes that they regime will back down without a fight. While they use terror and fear and violent weapons, democratic forces are determined to spread words, and hope and bright colours in a dark period.
This City of Kings, renowned for its resistance to the Zanu PF regime despite gross terror tactics during the 1980s, wore its pink fingers like a badge of pride on the 29th March 2008 when we voted for change and brighter future. That resilience hasn’t diminished. One Bulawayo gentleman who was beaten and stabbed recently has said he has recovered enough to get ready to boycott.
We stand by everyone in our nation and especially those in the terrible areas where we know the regime will come out in their numbers and attempt to force citizens to vote for the geriatric dictator through a mixture of threat, intimidation, lies and violent force.
We pray for all of you.
Sokwanele - Zvakwana - Enough is Enough
Check out our Red Alert set on Flickr for lots more high resolution pictures
June 26th, 2008 20:20
God Bless All in Zimbabwe. My prayers will ask for justice and peace.Our thoughts are with you. You will be the ambassadors for democracy in Africa and will be remembered for a very long time in your new and democratic country.
June 26th, 2008 20:23
Hi Sokwanele
This is beautiful. I sincerely hope that change comes soon to Zimbabwe.
I found this on the internet an interesting and passionate analysis of you are interested.
http://www.eepa.be/wcm/content/view/742/152/
Nana
June 26th, 2008 21:38
Someone on an earlier post made a comment about hoping to restore the reputation of Zimbabwe by showing the world the people’s bravery.
I don’t think the reputation of Zimbabwe’s at all in doubt - or your bravery. The reputation of the cabal who call themselves your leaders may stink, but the reputation of Zimbabwe itself is getting stronger by the minute.
Good luck tomorrow.
June 27th, 2008 02:32
I am as ever amazed at the bravery of the people of Zimbabwe. Stand strong.
Good luck tomorrow.
June 27th, 2008 03:06
What powerful images. Our hearts are with you this Friday.
June 27th, 2008 05:45
I’m praying for you all today. The choices you in Zimbabwe have to make today are seemingly impossible.
Like all the others’ comments, I’m amazed and thrilled by the image of those red leaflets raining down in Bulawayo.
I saw a plea by Tvangari though, to vote Zanu rather than risk your lives. The world does have such respect for Zimbabweans, none for Mugabe, and however many votes he claims to receive.. will it make a difference? I can’t imagine so but I’m not the one the judge. It does seem though that the world has finally accepted this is a ludicrous game of a sham election now.
I don’t envy your choice today. All I can do is think of you all and pray.
With my deepest respect and admiration,
Lucy
P.S Sokwanele thank you for your reply, it meant a great deal to me.
June 27th, 2008 06:25
You are the real HEROs of liberation rather than those Mugabe dogs! The struggle continues until we are ale to live in our times rather the 14th century land fragmentation era where Mugabe is dragging us right back to.
June 27th, 2008 10:45
Sense of humor wins again!
June 27th, 2008 11:05
I can’t be in Zimbabwe today but my heart is there and my prayers are with you.
I have on a red ribbon.
June 27th, 2008 11:15
I am so proud to be Zimbabwean. This is why the fight is worth it - because the people of Zimbabwe will never lose hope, and will never be beaten into submission. We are a strong, resilient people, and nobody can take that away from us! We *will* win out; it’s just a question of when!
June 27th, 2008 16:18
Oh my goodness - you have really lifted my spirits! I just came from writing a very morose, frustrated blog post about the run-offs in Zimbabwe today and the feelings of helplessness that afflict those of us in the Caribbean who support our Zimbabwean brothers and sisters.
It is SO GOOD and heartening to see that you are still keeping hope alive. It was great seeing the photos of the flashes of red everywhere.
May God be with you all today. I pray for a miracle.
June 27th, 2008 17:03
May the Lord keep His hand firmly on the Zimbabwian people who want a free and fair election and democracy.