By Nkosilathi Emmanuel Moyo, Snr.
Those who are criticizing Pastor Evan Mawarire for fleeing for his safety are facebook and whatsapp activists who have not yet tasted Robert Mugabe’s wrath. Vanhu vaya vasati vambotsvagwa chero nema neighbourhood ekumusha chaiwo.
The Pastor played a critical role in reviving citizen movements in Zimbabwe. We can argue about this but if we may want to be objective #ThisFlag movement took Zimbabwe by storm to an extent that I heard Robert Mugabe in one of his speeches repeating Mawarire’s name more than three times.
That was a sign that he was under very serious state surveillance and we are all aware of what ZANU PF will do when they realize that you are growing ‘too big’. Talk of ‘car accidents’, abductions, imprisonment on trumped charges to mention just a few.
Mawarire was no longer safe in Zimbabwe because no one knows what ZANU PF was brewing to silence him. Yes he has gone at a time when Zimbabwe needed him most I totally agree but sometimes going out for a while to re-strategize, rest and respite is very important in the struggle.
The worst thing we can do is to go home and relax leaving this wave dying. He pioneered it and we (as progressive Zimbabweans) can take it forward from where he left. Do you know that if Chris Hani lived to this day he would have ruled South Africa but the challenge is he was prematurely killed at a time the revolution needed him most.
The same with Steve Biko or even our own Learnmore Judah Jongwe imagine if he was alive to this day. So sometimes I think it’s strategic to go into hiding or to flee for safety whilst re-strategizing your next move and how you will continue with the struggle.
I am an activist myself but a community based one, I am from the small mining town of Kwekwe where my humble human rights activism is known almost in all the dusty streets of Kwekwe. I was subjected to death threats, arbitrary arrests, torture etc and I have been living a life being in and out of hiding for some years now.
Every time the storm calms I would return to my community to provide leadership. I am not saying people must be afraid of the brutal regime in Harare but am just advising you to be strategic and wise as a serpent especially if you are dealing with certified dictators like Robert Mugabe.
I respect Pastor Evan Mawarire he is an activist par excellence. He played a critical role in reviving activism in Zimbabwe which was almost dead due to monopolization of space by political parties and civil society organizations as well as lack of strategies to bring Zimbabweans together for a common cause.
Wherever the Pastor is I want to wish him well together with his family. Fleeing the country does not make one a coward read about almost all the great leaders of today’s world. At one point they went into exile. Also remaining in the country at the midst of the storm does not make you brave. At the end of the day what matters are your strategies of how you are going to swim and cross a crocodile infested river.
In conclusion I want to say I don’t see it necessary for us to spend all our precious time complaining about why the Pastor ‘fled’ rather let’s be progressive and show leadership by carrying the struggle forward, galvanizing all our efforts with other citizen movements like #Tajamuka,#ThisGown,#Mugabe must fall, NAVUZ, WOZA to mention but just a few.
‘Pastor Mawarire stay safe wherever you are. We need you in a new Zimbabwe verbally telling us your story rather than reading your obituary, hell NO. We need you live and kicking the day we shall all celebrate the fall of the banana republic which is oppressing our people in Zimbabwe.
God bless you Evan you played your part. Be safe.
Nkosilathi Emmanuel Moyo (29) fled Zimbabwe after sending President Mugabe a prisoners’ uniform marked ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ on his 92nd birthday in February this year (2016).He is reachable on his whatsapp +263775037579.
