When do you know the time is ripe for a revolution?
The events in Zimbabwe clearly point to the absolute meltdown in every imaginable sector - food security, the economy, health, education, transport, housing, social services, unemployment, the list is endless. So what’s happening?
Well, the past couple of weeks has seen Zimbabweans more galvanized than ever before to make their voices heard by the regime. These voices are not the rantings of the MDC with their political road shows and empty rhetoric, but of the people on the ground. WOZA woman, students, the NCA all arrested for their expressions of despair at the ruin of our nation.
The problem is that the rising force of discontent is rudderless, with a gaping hole in leadership. The MDC dithers in its normal fashion, more intent on posturing and allowing personality clashes to occupy their energy than with dealing with the crisis that faces us. The population now regards the “opposition†with extreme skepticism, and I fear that once again a window of opportunity to once and for all mobilize our disenfranchised masses will quickly slip away.
I do not for one moment wish to promote violent confrontation, my dream is to see another Belgrade right here in Zim. The outside world regards Zimbabweans as a somewhat weak people, both allowing themselves to be treated and acting like victims. But, finally, the murmurings on the ground indicate people are ready to take matters into their own hands. This country’s ills can only be cured from within, no outside force will drop in from the sky to make things better.
I wander if and where the momentum will come from? Could it be any of these?
The women of Zimbabwe who hold a powerful position to effect change? The Churches who are at last coming to the party (80% of Zimbabweans belong to one church or another)? Civic groups and NGO’s who are severely hamstrung but still play a major role in society? Our unemployed masses who are fast slipping way below the poverty datum line? Our students who are stamping their feet in frustration over eroded standards in education and reeling over rocketing fees? The disenchanted and underpaid army, police force and civil service? The so called “war vets†starving on ‘their’ unproductive seized farms?
Zimbabwe stands ready to bear witness to thousands, if not millions, of its vulnerable people staggering on the brink of starvation, homeless, without access to education and living in filth and squalor.
I am tired of waiting for the revolution.
How do we make it happen faster, before there is nothing left to save?
March 4th, 2006 15:07
I think we need to encourage all forces of change to be one first before the REVOLUTION.COZ AS IT stands right now the force we have is better than nothing.Pane Zvichaitika.
March 5th, 2006 00:29
As an American, I wish we could drop food, meds, and firearms in Zim. A revolution is necessary because Mugabe won’t be sharing your pain anytime soon.
March 5th, 2006 01:07
Successful revolutions (France, England, U.S., Russia, Zanu-PF, etc) are never mounted by a majority, but by a dedicated and organized minority. Is there a dedicated and organized minority in Zimbabwe? If not, then a popular ‘majority’ revolution seems problematic.
Also, where is the center-right in Zimbabwe? Does it even exist? The oldest democratic republic in the world (the United States) had a revolution where the organized minority promoting revolt consisted of both center-right and center-left thinkers. Without a viable center-right participating in a revolt, the result becomes simply one repressive regime replacing another, as apparently has happened in Zimbabwe with the Zanu-PF.
March 7th, 2006 17:27
When 1 or 2% of the population is ready to just start killing, the State falls … like clockwork.
This progress can be accelerated in two ways:
Breed contempt for the State ( public ridicule is very good for this ).
Get away with random acts against the state to show others the State’s supporters are not omnipotent or omniscient.
But until you get that 1% of angry people together, you are spinning your wheels.
March 7th, 2006 18:13
As our writer said:
Sokwanele supports non violent action and peaceful change.
March 8th, 2006 00:39
Non-violence revolution requires your opponent to have some respect for human life.
Ghandi’s tactics worked against the British. These same tactics would not work against the Nazis.
You’ll need to make your own call here … it’s your country, not mine.
March 14th, 2006 12:34
Quit moaning about it and get it done, it is your country take it back from that evil man.
The time for revolution is now, who will lead?
March 9th, 2006 04:12
Who are we responsible for?
When we do see faults in the USA or Israel, it is far better that we point them out, than keep quiet out of some misplaced sense of loyalty. I am a vocal critic of the United States government, not because I wish to see its power eroded, but because …
March 9th, 2006 04:21
[...] Why waste more breath on the USA, or Israel? Because we have a shared language, a shared culture, we believe their policy-makers will listen. We believe they will take into account the things we say. We must ensure our big brother, the mighty USA, or our kid brother, little Israel, always has the absolute moral high ground. That means scrutinising and challenging them at every step. Only then we can support them with a clear conscience when they take on a radioactive Iran, or any of the tin-pot dictators (Mugabe, oh please God Mugabe) that stain the earth. [...]