Opinion / Columnist
Viciousness and brutality have never defeated a people's revolution
26 Jul 2016 at 09:27hrs | Views
I had no plans of writing an article today, but what spurred me to do so was that I have just been watching Sarafina, a touching 1990s movie on the ordinary people's fight against apartheid in South Africa - and was nearly driven to tears by stack similarities between the viciousness and brutality by which the apartheid regime treated the people of that country and how the ZANU PF government is treats the people of Zimbabwe.
It is so scary!
In fact, the similarities are so glaringly vile that, at times, it would seem as if the movie was on Zimbabwe.
However, what inspired me - and should also inspire the people of Zimbabwe - is the unrelenting bravery of the people of South Africa, not matter what the apartheid regime threw their way - from arrests, beatings up, torturing of obscene proportions, abductions, and assassinations of all magnitudes.
The people suffered immensely, but they never gave up.
What even touched me the most was the fighting spirit of the school pupils, whose bravery in the face of untold atrocities - including police brutality and even shootings - stood firm in their beliefs for a better country for themselves and their future children.
This got me thinking as to whether this generation of school children could ever be replicated.
However, despite all this very bloody and deadly oppression by the apartheid regime, the people's revolution could not be stopped - and, needless to say, they eventually won, amid all odds.
What stood out to me in the people's revolution in SA was that, it was mainly peaceful, in spite of the gruesome brutality that they faced at the hands of the apartheid regime - meaning that, a peaceful revolution by the people can actually yield results, as long as they do not become subdued and crumble.
The people need to remain united, without any desire for personal glory - this is a people's struggle not an individual and organisation's struggle, as such, there is always need for a united front in everything.
Furthermore, the people's suffering, in itself, should be enough to spur people into action onto the streets in peaceful protests, without waiting for anyone to organise them.
There is virtually no need for the suffering people of Zimbabwe to wait for another hashtag this or that to organise them into action - their suffering should be enough to get, for example, people standing in a long queue at a bank to just become so agitated and disenchanted that they simply start marching in the streets.
The ZANU PF government can no longer be treated with kids' gloves anymore - as they will never treat the suffering people with the same kids' gloves - the gloves are off.
The ZANU PF government is fully aware of the people's suffering, and have no excuse not to, at least listen to the people's cries.
However, what the people are getting is arrogance, arrogance, and more arrogance.
How do they honestly think the people will react?
Yet, they blame France, or some other Western power, when the inevitable happens.
Whether France is indeed paying one or two individuals - as this can be expected in global geo-politics, as every country has vested interests - but that does not override the genuine suffering and anger of the people of Zimbabwe.
The people of Zimbabwe want their grievances addressed by their government, and if not, their anger will boil over.
What will that have to do with France?
Furthermore, the suffering people of Zimbabwe have had enough of lame excuses by the government.
Whether the suffering inflicted on them is the government's fault or not, it does not matter - the people have suffered enough, they are angry, and they want a new government.
They do not need a foreign power to tell them that.
I am a father and husband, and everyone in my family expects me to put food on the table, a roof over their heads, send my son to school, and clothe them.
They know fully well that the economic situation in Zimbabwe is dire, yet that will never be acceptable to them as an excuse for my failure to provide what is expected of me - as that is my role.
To make matters worse, if they know that I do get some money, but I choose to spend it in revelry with friends and 'small houses', then any ounce of pity that they may have still had for me would instantly completely disappear and replaced by repulsion and downright anger.
If I fail to deliver, my family has every right to demand it, or else, they are completely justified in leaving me.
Resorting to beating them up will not force them to understand, but will only add fuel to an already raging inferno.
They expect me not to make excuses, but to make a plan - and if I fail, then I would have failed as a father and husband.
Furthermore, I can not turn around and blame my neighbour, if my family crumbles - it would have been entirely my fault.
If is so happens that there would be 'vultures' lingering about to take them, that is very unfortunate, but that does not take away the fact that it was entirely my fault that I failed to provide for them, and I can not blame the 'vulture'.
In the same vein, the ZANU PF government has no one else to blame for the misery and suffering of Zimbabweans.
Therefore, instead of making excuses and blaming others, the ZANU PF government is better advised to sit down and seriously discuss these matters with the people, instead of brutalising them - as that will only lead to further uncontrollable fury that will result in chaos in the country.
A government that oppresses its own people is as dishonourable and shameful - if not worse - than a man who abuses his own wife and children.
It is downright bullying - coming out with guns, whips, tear gas, water canons, and dogs against defenceless unarmed innocent people, who are merely expressing their dissatisfaction with their government.
Bullies are nothing more than cowards - and we all know what inevitably happens to cowards.
As with apartheid, the people's power will always triumph, no matter what atrocities they have to endure, and it is a battle that the oppressor can never hope to win - as history is on the side of the oppressed.
° Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice activist and commentator, writer, and journalist. He writes in his personal capacity, and welcomes any feedback. Please WhatsApp/call: +263782283975, or email: tendaiandtinta.mbofana@gmail.com. Follow on Twitter: @Tendai_Mbofana
It is so scary!
In fact, the similarities are so glaringly vile that, at times, it would seem as if the movie was on Zimbabwe.
However, what inspired me - and should also inspire the people of Zimbabwe - is the unrelenting bravery of the people of South Africa, not matter what the apartheid regime threw their way - from arrests, beatings up, torturing of obscene proportions, abductions, and assassinations of all magnitudes.
The people suffered immensely, but they never gave up.
What even touched me the most was the fighting spirit of the school pupils, whose bravery in the face of untold atrocities - including police brutality and even shootings - stood firm in their beliefs for a better country for themselves and their future children.
This got me thinking as to whether this generation of school children could ever be replicated.
However, despite all this very bloody and deadly oppression by the apartheid regime, the people's revolution could not be stopped - and, needless to say, they eventually won, amid all odds.
What stood out to me in the people's revolution in SA was that, it was mainly peaceful, in spite of the gruesome brutality that they faced at the hands of the apartheid regime - meaning that, a peaceful revolution by the people can actually yield results, as long as they do not become subdued and crumble.
The people need to remain united, without any desire for personal glory - this is a people's struggle not an individual and organisation's struggle, as such, there is always need for a united front in everything.
Furthermore, the people's suffering, in itself, should be enough to spur people into action onto the streets in peaceful protests, without waiting for anyone to organise them.
There is virtually no need for the suffering people of Zimbabwe to wait for another hashtag this or that to organise them into action - their suffering should be enough to get, for example, people standing in a long queue at a bank to just become so agitated and disenchanted that they simply start marching in the streets.
The ZANU PF government can no longer be treated with kids' gloves anymore - as they will never treat the suffering people with the same kids' gloves - the gloves are off.
The ZANU PF government is fully aware of the people's suffering, and have no excuse not to, at least listen to the people's cries.
However, what the people are getting is arrogance, arrogance, and more arrogance.
How do they honestly think the people will react?
Yet, they blame France, or some other Western power, when the inevitable happens.
Whether France is indeed paying one or two individuals - as this can be expected in global geo-politics, as every country has vested interests - but that does not override the genuine suffering and anger of the people of Zimbabwe.
The people of Zimbabwe want their grievances addressed by their government, and if not, their anger will boil over.
What will that have to do with France?
Furthermore, the suffering people of Zimbabwe have had enough of lame excuses by the government.
Whether the suffering inflicted on them is the government's fault or not, it does not matter - the people have suffered enough, they are angry, and they want a new government.
They do not need a foreign power to tell them that.
I am a father and husband, and everyone in my family expects me to put food on the table, a roof over their heads, send my son to school, and clothe them.
They know fully well that the economic situation in Zimbabwe is dire, yet that will never be acceptable to them as an excuse for my failure to provide what is expected of me - as that is my role.
To make matters worse, if they know that I do get some money, but I choose to spend it in revelry with friends and 'small houses', then any ounce of pity that they may have still had for me would instantly completely disappear and replaced by repulsion and downright anger.
If I fail to deliver, my family has every right to demand it, or else, they are completely justified in leaving me.
Resorting to beating them up will not force them to understand, but will only add fuel to an already raging inferno.
They expect me not to make excuses, but to make a plan - and if I fail, then I would have failed as a father and husband.
Furthermore, I can not turn around and blame my neighbour, if my family crumbles - it would have been entirely my fault.
If is so happens that there would be 'vultures' lingering about to take them, that is very unfortunate, but that does not take away the fact that it was entirely my fault that I failed to provide for them, and I can not blame the 'vulture'.
In the same vein, the ZANU PF government has no one else to blame for the misery and suffering of Zimbabweans.
Therefore, instead of making excuses and blaming others, the ZANU PF government is better advised to sit down and seriously discuss these matters with the people, instead of brutalising them - as that will only lead to further uncontrollable fury that will result in chaos in the country.
A government that oppresses its own people is as dishonourable and shameful - if not worse - than a man who abuses his own wife and children.
It is downright bullying - coming out with guns, whips, tear gas, water canons, and dogs against defenceless unarmed innocent people, who are merely expressing their dissatisfaction with their government.
Bullies are nothing more than cowards - and we all know what inevitably happens to cowards.
As with apartheid, the people's power will always triumph, no matter what atrocities they have to endure, and it is a battle that the oppressor can never hope to win - as history is on the side of the oppressed.
° Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice activist and commentator, writer, and journalist. He writes in his personal capacity, and welcomes any feedback. Please WhatsApp/call: +263782283975, or email: tendaiandtinta.mbofana@gmail.com. Follow on Twitter: @Tendai_Mbofana
Source - Tendai Ruben Mbofana
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