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Independence that never was
Mutsa Murenje
February 17, 2012

Each time that we have independence celebrations we are constantly and consistently reminded that gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe sacrificed their lives and other essential opportunities on account of the struggle for independence. But bwana, when I look around, I don-t see that which people fought for. Are we really independent?

More than in most cases, my writing career is inseparable from my life experience. I comment very directly on the society and times in which I live and my strong feelings against social injustice and oppression are the main motivating force behind all my writings. Evident in all my contributions is the fact that I speak for the silent majority (the voiceless), those who seem to have forgotten that those above us seldom look down to see where they put their feet. The silent majority have, as a result, become a compost heap upon which criminal tyranny flourishes.

I have gradually come to realise, largely through my daily experiences that supporting such an evil regime as Robert Mugabe-s is entirely misplaced. I know, just like any other concerned citizen, that the state was established on the basis of an impossible dream which has simply misled the people and that a group of clever leaders are controlling, manipulating and exploiting the common people simply to keep themselves in power and ease. I have seen too that out of that ruling oligarchy has emerged a single dictator-Robert Mugabe-who has become a tyrant and is organising the whole state simply for his own aggrandisement.

I can-t help wondering why Zimbabwe, having set itself politically free from its colonial masters, has adopted many of the oppressive methods brought about by the same masters. That the British had an interest in suppressing the black population is beyond argument. But why does the Zimbabwean government continue this exercise 32 years after independence? We don-t want people who are trained to obey without questioning, to learn by heart, to abandon curiosity and to avoid independent thinking because they are easier to manipulate.

Oppression of the majority by the minority is not only inhuman, but acts as a brake on progress. All citizens must take part in politics and decision making concerning affairs of state. What we, the oppressed and suffering people of Zimbabwe, are struggling for is a just social order. We are, forever, against injustice, the domination of the minority over the majority.

And yet we all know, don-t we, that the Mugabe administration was quite attractive at first. Democratic demands were directed against the arbitrary rule of the colonial masters and were consonant with the aspirations of the vast majority of the people. As Mugabe gradually took the reins of power in his own hands, however, he began to represent and defend his narrow class interests, those of the minority. Freedom was thus reduced to freedom for the minority to oppress the majority.

It-s poignantly painful dear Zimbabweans that the present-day crisis has sent us to countries that initially were poorer than ours. They soon found out our poverty and gave us hell because of it. Probably the greatest cruelty one can inflict on his children is to send them to countries richer than theirs. Children conscious of poverty will suffer snobbish agonies such as grown-up persons can scarcely imagine.

I know of people today who only possess their hands and intellect; they have the right to look for a job and then apply their abilities. The evil regime does not guarantee them a job, however, so the army of unemployed is constantly growing. I also know, today, people in our society who enjoy the right to receive an education; but if they have no money to pay for it, this right, too, remains on paper. Our rights and duties as laid down in the constitution should be aimed at creating all the opportunities and conditions necessary to ensure the individual-s all-round, harmonious development, stimulate his/her activity in labour and in government, and raise his/her cultural level.

Mugabe claims to represent the interests of several classes or social strata simultaneously. It is at times difficult to see his true essence, particularly as he conceals his objectives, and camouflages his activities with nationalistic slogans and religious dogmas. In order to evaluate the goals and substance of his actions, one must not take words at their face value but must study his actual history, must study not so much what he says about himself as his deeds, the way in which he goes about solving various political problems, and his behaviour in matters affecting the vital interests of the various classes of society. In short, the role of responsible leadership is to move our focus away from the backward glance and direct it forward. Aluta continua! The struggle continues unabated!

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