Opinion / Columnist
Egypt did it, Zimbabwe when will this day be
12 Feb 2011 at 10:54hrs | Views
The whole world watched on Friday, all eyes were riveted by the spectacle that just weeks ago seemed impossible: the toppling of Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak after nearly 30 years in power.
The collapse in Egypt took just 18 days of bold protest, powered by the modern-day internet's social networks like Facebook and Twitter. All inspired by the overthrow of Tunisia's long-standing strongman just weeks before.
For Africans used to a heavy hand and little hope, Egypt's revolution has redefined the possible, before their very eyes.
Africa is never going to go back to what it was. Egyptians wake up to a new Egypt today, in fact Africans wake up to a new Africa.
What has changed is that as Africans we now know that we can change our own situation without the help of the international community, we can just go out on the streets and do it on our own and no one can take that away from us.
Across the Africa, Africans have watched transformative events unfold on Friday, first in Tunisia where a single self-immolation in protest in mid-December sparked weeks of demonstrations and finally regime change.
Then Egyptians began gathering strength on the streets, battled Mr. Mubarak's security forces, clung on in Tahrir Square in the face of mob attacks, and then simply took over when the regime began losing its ability to control or intimidate the crowds.
If this can happen in Egypt, why can't it happen in Zimbabwe? Egypt was seen as unlikely a month ago: The regime seemed more unified, more ruthless, with a broader base of support.
The regime appeared way stronger than the Mugabe regime – it seemed like Egypt would be very challenging. But the Egyptian people pulled it off. As Zimbabweans we now know that if we all take it to the streets in numbers we can accomplish amazing things.
The Egyptian uprising has been relayed to the whole world not just live on television and radio, it has been spread even farther and faster via Twitter and Facebook.
REMEMBER Mugabe will always say 'by the barrel of the gun', while that was 30 years ago. Now through the internet we are way stronger than back then when all they could do was write letters. Letters which lead to the death of people like JZ Moyo in Zambia.
Political parties have for the past 30 years tried to remove Mugabe from power but none have managed to do so. Now is the time, people of Zimbabwe lets do it.
ONLY THE ZIMBABWEAN PEOPLE CAN FREE ZIMBABWE.
The collapse in Egypt took just 18 days of bold protest, powered by the modern-day internet's social networks like Facebook and Twitter. All inspired by the overthrow of Tunisia's long-standing strongman just weeks before.
For Africans used to a heavy hand and little hope, Egypt's revolution has redefined the possible, before their very eyes.
Africa is never going to go back to what it was. Egyptians wake up to a new Egypt today, in fact Africans wake up to a new Africa.
What has changed is that as Africans we now know that we can change our own situation without the help of the international community, we can just go out on the streets and do it on our own and no one can take that away from us.
Across the Africa, Africans have watched transformative events unfold on Friday, first in Tunisia where a single self-immolation in protest in mid-December sparked weeks of demonstrations and finally regime change.
Then Egyptians began gathering strength on the streets, battled Mr. Mubarak's security forces, clung on in Tahrir Square in the face of mob attacks, and then simply took over when the regime began losing its ability to control or intimidate the crowds.
If this can happen in Egypt, why can't it happen in Zimbabwe? Egypt was seen as unlikely a month ago: The regime seemed more unified, more ruthless, with a broader base of support.
The regime appeared way stronger than the Mugabe regime – it seemed like Egypt would be very challenging. But the Egyptian people pulled it off. As Zimbabweans we now know that if we all take it to the streets in numbers we can accomplish amazing things.
The Egyptian uprising has been relayed to the whole world not just live on television and radio, it has been spread even farther and faster via Twitter and Facebook.
REMEMBER Mugabe will always say 'by the barrel of the gun', while that was 30 years ago. Now through the internet we are way stronger than back then when all they could do was write letters. Letters which lead to the death of people like JZ Moyo in Zambia.
Political parties have for the past 30 years tried to remove Mugabe from power but none have managed to do so. Now is the time, people of Zimbabwe lets do it.
ONLY THE ZIMBABWEAN PEOPLE CAN FREE ZIMBABWE.
Source - Byo24NEWS
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