By Vince Musewe
OPINION – As Europe gathered around the slaughter at Charlie Hebdo and declared as a society that “I am Charlie Hedbo”, they ensured that no matter the consequences and the cost, they would deliver to those responsible one clear message-they would not accept their way of life and freedom of speech to be compromised by the warped interests of a few.
And so should we now, as progressive Zimbabweans, stand up now and declare that “I am Itai Dzamara” and that we will not countenance the abduction of one of us who sees and dreams of a better Zimbabwe as most of us do.
I remember having a conversation recently with Itai on the fact that, when one is on his life purpose, all fear and imagined limitations melt away and are replaced by a burning desire to do that which we must despite the personal cost.
Martin Luther King did that, Nelson Mandela did that, Steve Biko and many of our prominent leaders and heroes, did that
If there is one thing I have learned, it is that the journey in the pursuit of liberty, freedom and the common good for many is lonely and littered with cowards who stand beside you and pretend. It is littered with schemers, deceivers, insincere relatives and friends who become few and will even disown you. It also has incalculable personal costs and inconveniences than no one can imagine.
Added to that, the system you are fighting against does everything to weaken and try to stop you mostly because you are right and it fears what you might become. As Gandhi one said; first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, and then you win.
I sincerely pray at this moment, that my friend and brother in the struggle for freedom Itai Dzamara is alive and well. I know that the journey he has chosen will bear much fruit and result in the freedom of many and yet he must suffer for it and bear the pain alone.
Despite the dangers he might face at this moment, I know that it is his choice. I am also comforted by the knowledge that wherever he might be right now, the last thing on his mind is fear.
In my opinion, if there is any time that Zimbabweans should be united in purpose and intent to protect our freedom as Europe did, it is today, not tomorrow.
Where are our pastors and our bishops? Where are our churches, civic organisation, human rights activists and our NGO’s, our prophets and prophetesses, our community leaders , our opposition political party leaders and all those amongst us and in the Diaspora who claim that they stand our freedom?
Where are you all now because words alone will not do?