Respect our rights or else step down

By Mutsa Murenje

“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is how the founding fathers of the United States defined the highest values a government should protect. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (US Declaration of Independence written primarily by Thomas Jefferson).

The main object of this, my humble contribution, is to register my discontent or displeasure with present circumstances in our country especially with regards the observation of basic human rights. I lack satisfaction with present circumstances.

Africa to many people is the continent of armed conflicts and disasters. Some of these disasters are entirely man-made as is the case in Zimbabwe. We have been harassed and tormented by ZANU PF to such an extent that it became almost impossible for us to exercise our constitutional rights as provided for in the political system.

ZANU PF enjoys unchecked political domination through the gross abuse of state machinery. We are sick and tired of wanton arrests, banning of public meetings or gatherings, an extremely hostile and press coverage. These are no doubt the “weapons of mass destruction” that ZANU PF unleashes on the people of Zimbabwe particularly those closely associated with the MDC in order to politically castrate them.

I believe it is imprudent and impolitic for the ZANU PF president to allow this to continue. Aren’t we aware that: “Men hate each other because they do not know each other…They do not know each other because they do not communicate…They do not communicate because they are separated…” (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr). There is just no philosophical justification or rationale for us to fight against each other.

Why should we be fighting honestly? I am particularly worried about the role that young people play in human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. The majority of these are the very victims of the system we are fighting against. They are, in actual fact, the unemployed and unemployable youngsters who are undeniably an integral component of the Zimbabwean socio-economic political crisis. These disillusioned, misguided and abused brothers and sisters of ours need urgent help.

I am also dissatisfied with our national media. The national media must play a fair and unbiased role such as equal publicity to all political parties. It’s quite sad and sickening to learn that the national press has reduced itself to the role of a ZANU PF mouthpiece. Why should the national press engage in political commentary against the MDC and in favour of ZANU PF? Simply put to us what the political parties are saying or have on their political agenda and leave it to us to make our choice.

We want guaranteed freedom to assemble and associate as we wish, and to freely engage in political activities in a peaceful and orderly manner. Why should we seek permission or authority to hold a public meeting when we know in painful detail that it will be conducted in an orderly manner and in a way that does not disturb public peace? Why should we be denied the right to make up our own minds, to think what we like, to say what we think, and to share our ideas with other people?

Have we forgotten or we pretend to have forgotten the critical fact we all have the right to meet our friends and to work together in peace to defend our rights? Are we aware that nobody can make us join a group if we don’t want to? It is our inalienable right to take part in the government of our country. Allow us, Mr. President, to choose our own leaders. We want proper order so we can all enjoy rights and freedoms in our own country and all over the world. It is our duty, Mr. President, to respect people’s rights and freedoms. This is ostensibly because: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is an opportunity to increase awareness of the Declaration by the public, community leaders and government officials. I believe that the only positive solution to the intolerance and discrimination we see and hear daily is to make people much more aware of what human rights are and why they are important.

We vehemently and unreservedly condemn in the strongest of terms any rights abuses in the country. History demands that we be resilient and committed to a justified cause.

I rest my case and I put it to you.

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