A tribute to Itai Dzamara

By Ben Semwayo

On Saturday (17 January 2015) Zimbabweans in the U.K. converged at Zimbabwe House to register their unwavering support for Itai Dzamara, the Zimbabwean journalist who made history when he dared to stage a one-man demonstration challenging Mugabe to step down as President on account of his gross ineptitude to deliver as the President of a once-top African country.

Itai, who was not able to avail himself at the protest, asked Tendai Kwari, a fellow political activist, to read his message for him.

When Zimbabwe became independent in 1980 it inherited a vibrant economy from Ian Smith’s UDI government, which ironically was under a plethora of stringent economic sanctions, nothing compared to the recent restrictive measures imposed on Mugabe and his errant gang, which have caused so much nuisance whinging from grown up men pretending not to know why they deserved the stiffest sanctions.

The Zimbabwe dollar was one-to-one with the British pound and was the strongest in Africa and one of the strongest in the whole world. No-one lacked food and the vast majority even afforded a wide miscellany of luxuries.

Industries were producing goods in overdrive, exports abundant and consequently unemployment very low.

The country’s coffers were overflowing and as a result the health delivery system was fully functional, roads were the envy of Africa, railways rivaled those in the first world countries, with Botswana’s railways even fully owned and operated by the National Railways of Zimbabwe.

It now seems a gross exaggeration when people reminisce nostalgically about those times.

The only thing that was lacking was equality of the races, a necessary condition for majority rule. That was achieved after a protracted war of independence, then Mugabe and his gang appeared on the stage. Inflation went from near zero to 6.5 quindecillion novemdecillion percent (Only accountants knew that number existed.) in 2008.

The national coffers dried up and government officials began globe-trotting, begging bowls in their hands. It was utterly unheard of for Ian Smith to go begging, despite the afore-mentioned all-out sanctions.

While Ian Smith’s government officials drove ordinary vehicles, it now seems to be a rule set in stone that a Zimbabwean government official must own several top-of-the-range vehicles, especially Mercedes, funds permitting or not.

Ian Smith had no money-squandering motorcade manned by almost two hundred people, enough to be employed by four reasonably-sized firms creating wealth rather than pouring it down the drain. This writer personally saw Ian Smith driving a Peugeot 504 station wagon, unguarded.

The entire Zanu PF leadership has a penchant for the high life, paid for from the national purse and outright thieving. While billions vanished from state coffers, Zanu PF government officials, Mugabe included, became billionaires overnight.

The big question is where did all the country’s wealth go, and where did Mugabe and his cronies get their billions, safely stashed way in foreign bank accounts? A simple addition of their salaries spanning their time in office shows that it could not have been from their salaries. This question provides the answer.

Zimbabweans have been aware of Zanu PF’s shenanigans for a long time and have voted the party out on many occasions, only to be brutalized, murdered and have the elections rigged. It is this rot in government that Itai and many other Zimbabweans are saying no to.

As Zimbabweans we should stand by our patriotic fellow men such as Itai Dzamara, who have put their lives in harm’s way for the liberation of their country from the clutches of a brutal, repressive regime. Many have been maimed for life, and many others have lost but that did not deter him from speaking his mind on behalf of all patriotic Zimbabweans.

The demonstrating Zimbabweans in London spoke with one voice, loud and clear: we want our constitutional rights and we want them now! Itai Dzamara, you can count on our support!

Full text of Itai Dzamara’s message:

A new Zimbabwe is within our reach. London Ready for Action 17/01/2015.

Fellow Colleagues,

It is with a mixture of apprehension and joy that I send this short message to you.

Apprehension, because clearly, the matter of our Zimbabwe’s national crisis has become even more urgent and compelling. It is undoubtedly a huge challenge on our hands for all of us and we cannot escape the responsibility. Zimbabwe is not what we want and what it should be. Both the current status of failure and the task of rescuing and rebuilding our beloved country are our inescapable responsibilities.

Yet, joy brought about by the fact that we are capable and committed to stopping the cycles of failure and move towards creating a new Zimbabwe, we all desire. We are willing and ready for the task.

You are ample evidence and testimony that that reality, as you brave the cold weather of London to stand up and be counted for the national demand to the failed Zanu PF regime to admit failure, step down and pave the way for a new arrangement involving all national stakeholders, and, towards the nation holding free and fair elections.

Your protest today is not in vain.

You are not alone fellow comrades because here in Zimbabwe we have made a lot of progress in rallying national forces, players and stakeholders for collaboration and collective standing up for an end to the national crisis and taking steps towards creating a better Zimbabwe.

Colleagues in other parts of the world are also seriously committed and more protests will follow your sterling effort of today in other countries across the world.

May I conclude by urging you to continue playing a role and supporting the national struggle for a better Zimbabwe in all forms necessary and possible.

Together for a new Zimbabwe.

Itai Dzamara is an activist based in Harare who has been badly beaten up by the Zimbabwe police for protesting publicly.