Opinion / Columnist
What Independence, What Freedom
20 Apr 2017 at 12:14hrs | Views
What Independence can Zimbabwe talk of, when the liberators fought for themselves and their children?
When people preferred the Zanu-PF iron york to Smith's wooden york
When the 1970s chicken run of the whites is a drop in the ocean compared to 5 million Zimbabweans who have deserted a so called independent Zimbabwe
Indeed what Independence what freedom
What Independence what Freedom
When more than 20 000 of my peoples died after 18 April 1980
When Willogate scandal was known after 1980
When 15 billion evaporated and condensed somewhere after 1980
When Sydney Malunga died after his car hit a dog and his driver survived after 1980
When unemployment has reached more than 90% after 1980
When we have more vendors in all our CBDs than formal shops after 1980
When roasted mealies are sold in 1st Street after 1980
Indeed what Independence, what Freedom
What Freedom what Independence
When you are arrested for saying Mugabe is old when he is more than 93 years old
When you are arrested for demonstrating against corruption
When the president says we can only arrest small fish in corruption so that they do not grow big
When thieves can claim to be the Robin Hoods of Zimbabwe while plundering state resources
When activists disappear in broad daylight
When you are free to speak but are haunted by your speech and death brought upon you
What Independence what Freedom
What Independence What Freedom
When the first lady is busy evicting fellow black people from farms to expand her empire of opulence
When the police force has been privatised into an army of a political party
When the leaders are a bunch of sycophantic thieves and murderers scared of even their shadows
When you cannot travel for two kilometres without meeting moving tollgates in the form of police officers
When corruption is the norm in govt circles and professionalism is a pie in the sky
Indeed what Independence what Freedom
What Independence what Freedom
When we are frog marched to attend national events on empty stomachs and undressed bellies
When poverty has engulfed every sphere of life
When leaders chase out the whites and use their ill gotten wealth to build 50 roomed mansions instead of industries
When you are taken from industrial employment where you enjoyed pension savings, medical aid, insurance and other benefits
Into tomato selling where you enjoy municipal police brutality, sun heat, rains, alleyway toilets.
And you are told we are empowering you
Indeed what Independence what Freedom
What Independence what Freedom
When people prefer Xenophobia to Mugabe's rule
When our relatives are prepared to die in foreign lands rather than coming to a desert with no end in sight
A desert without an oasis of hope
When school fees can now be paid with goats, hens and cattle
I think zvihuta can also do
Oooooh what Independence What Freedom
When people preferred the Zanu-PF iron york to Smith's wooden york
When the 1970s chicken run of the whites is a drop in the ocean compared to 5 million Zimbabweans who have deserted a so called independent Zimbabwe
Indeed what Independence what freedom
What Independence what Freedom
When more than 20 000 of my peoples died after 18 April 1980
When Willogate scandal was known after 1980
When 15 billion evaporated and condensed somewhere after 1980
When Sydney Malunga died after his car hit a dog and his driver survived after 1980
When unemployment has reached more than 90% after 1980
When we have more vendors in all our CBDs than formal shops after 1980
When roasted mealies are sold in 1st Street after 1980
Indeed what Independence, what Freedom
What Freedom what Independence
When you are arrested for saying Mugabe is old when he is more than 93 years old
When you are arrested for demonstrating against corruption
When the president says we can only arrest small fish in corruption so that they do not grow big
When thieves can claim to be the Robin Hoods of Zimbabwe while plundering state resources
When activists disappear in broad daylight
When you are free to speak but are haunted by your speech and death brought upon you
What Independence what Freedom
When the first lady is busy evicting fellow black people from farms to expand her empire of opulence
When the police force has been privatised into an army of a political party
When the leaders are a bunch of sycophantic thieves and murderers scared of even their shadows
When you cannot travel for two kilometres without meeting moving tollgates in the form of police officers
When corruption is the norm in govt circles and professionalism is a pie in the sky
Indeed what Independence what Freedom
What Independence what Freedom
When we are frog marched to attend national events on empty stomachs and undressed bellies
When poverty has engulfed every sphere of life
When leaders chase out the whites and use their ill gotten wealth to build 50 roomed mansions instead of industries
When you are taken from industrial employment where you enjoyed pension savings, medical aid, insurance and other benefits
Into tomato selling where you enjoy municipal police brutality, sun heat, rains, alleyway toilets.
And you are told we are empowering you
Indeed what Independence what Freedom
What Independence what Freedom
When people prefer Xenophobia to Mugabe's rule
When our relatives are prepared to die in foreign lands rather than coming to a desert with no end in sight
A desert without an oasis of hope
When school fees can now be paid with goats, hens and cattle
I think zvihuta can also do
Oooooh what Independence What Freedom
Source - Brave Ndebele
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