Open Letter to the: The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe – E. D Mnangagwa
The Chair of the AU: President C. M Ramaphosa
The Chair of SADC:President J Magafuli
RE: Zimbabwe, the alleged corruption, Human Rights violations and Economic Meltdown
We write this as a public open letter and plea with issues that pertain to a sovereign state, the Republic of Zimbabwe. This is an open letter to the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, President E.D Mnangagwa. This letter is also addressed similarly to the Heads of the regional bodies that have some authority or are expected to intervene despite the protocols of these bodies which require minimal interference but a respect of state sovereignty.
We are not writing to the individual offices due to their occupancy of Presidential Offices in their individual countries. It is our convicted belief that in a continent of states, where stability is key, the free trade zone desirable and agreed upon, and the natural phenomenon that if a neighbour mismanages his home, the other neighbours will reap the rewards as well must apply.
Your excellency President Mnangagwa, it is common cause that corruption is not welcome anywhere in the world and a cancer that we all strive to eradicate if we are good citizens. Journalists Chin’ono and Mathuthu could not and cannot be arrested or victimised for raising the flag on corruption even if it involves the first family. Surely if these allegations are true, that, this is the cause of their arrest, this will diminish human value and sanctity. Our common sense must appeal to us to do the right thing, the world at large, ourselves as the African Diaspora, are littered the world over, in most of the cases thanks to the mismanagement of many sending African economies. We may not stand by and watch, be bystanders to such injustices, we are all duty bound to arrest corruption, poor governance, and human rights violations.
Your Excellency, your beautiful country has an estimated population of 3 to 6 million people in South Africa from the unofficial statistics we have, of all the countries surrounding South Africa even if these statistics are to be disputed, Zimbabwe has the highest number of people in South Africa. This is an indicator, an indicator that Zimbabwe cannot provide for its people in terms of Jobs, or there is political persecution of the people. The arrest of the Transform Zimbabwe leader comes to mind as he is still in custody violating his Chapter 4 rights and in particular section 44, 49, 50, 51, 53, 56, 58, 59, 60 and 61 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, such a wide array of rights. In this regard the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) comes strongly to mind in particular articles 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 14, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25 and 26.
Mr President, is it possible that Zimbabweans are the most delinquent citizens to such an extent that many of them are in prison for trying to overthrow a constitutional government as your government puts it? We doubt that. Ms Tsisti Dangarembwa, Adv Mahere were arrested and from the video footage the world is seeing some of these people were arrested within their premises where they could not be said to have been violating Covid19 regulations as they were not as many, adequate social distances was observed we would assert. Their Constitutional right to demonstrate as enshrined in the Zimbabwean Constitution of 2013 in Chapter 4, Section 59 is unambiguous. They were peaceful and that is the only qualification to exercise that right. The country is not in a state of emergency were rights are curtailed.
Your Excellency, with all honour and respect, the running and marching of soldiers and police singing and marching on the streets of Zimbabwean towns is worse than the colonial and apartheid era of the worst oppression on black Africans in Africa. It is not draconian, nor is it barbaric, it smacks of a new low for humanity and governance. The people of Zimbabwe deserve to stay in that country, not to be called names in other countries, not to be denied the right to express themselves by a government they elected, they should not fear their government, there must be mutual respect between those governing and the governed. If the governed want to withdraw their support from those they entrusted it to, then they must be allowed to, and no coercion is permissible to force it. It was free will when given, and indeed it is the genesis of the social compact, freely must it be taken back.
To Your Excellencies, the Chairpersons of the AU and SADC, you fail in your duties if an investigation to ascertain the allegations of the arbitrary arrests and oppression and violation of rights does immediately get launched. These two powerful, incidentally and by default and design, respected bodies, are duty bound to investigate and communicate their findings and assist Zimbabwe be a nation amongst nations that are governed on the principles of the rule of law, equality before the law and limited government. Nothing more is required to trigger such an act from these bodies, surely, we cannot wait to act when the UN or other countries outside of Africa raise their voices, where is the concept of being a brother’s keeper?
Your Excellencies, we call upon you as we represent many migrant communities that languish and perish in the diaspora not by choice but by reasons beyond their control, and chief amongst all seeking sustenance promised by their elected representatives and failed them and mainly due to corruption the seemingly elephant in the Zimbabwean room which is also an aspect fully enshrined in the Zimbabwean Constitution in Section 9(1)(b) thereto under good governance. Chin’ono and Mathuthu are arrested for this Constitutional right if the allegations be true unless proven otherwise. This is insufferable.
Your Excellencies, please call each other to order, may you sit in the closet and let all know that none is above the will of the people and surely the Zimbabwean situation is an affront to the modern society and modernity.
We pray that as authorities whose power and authority is derived from the people including these regional bodies which would not exist but for the African people, must rise to this occasion, and prove that the people’s trust is not misplaced. The oppressed sees all as enemies who watch and look aside when they are suffering and consider the bystander a friend of the oppressor. Is that how we want to be known as a continent? I Am, Because You Are? Does it ring bells, Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu, African powerhouse of all philosophies.
We will endeavour to send also this open letter to your esteemed offices as the President of Zimbabwe, the Chair of the AU and the Chair of SADC.
Penned in the spirit of Pan Africanism where Africa exists to nourish the African child, hoping for the birth of an era where Human Rights violations alleged or real or perceived are taken seriously, and the welfare of every African person are paramount.
Yours faithfully
Dr Vusumuzi Sibanda
ADGN President
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