Tendai Biti's arrest expected to push the struggle to its boiling point

Past historical events in Zimbabwe have taught us that, the democratic struggle's objectives cannot be achieved by becoming lenient and submissive to the existing laws. These laws were created to silence democratic voices and keep dictators in power. The military coup of November 2017 was done outside the constitution of Zimbabwe. If General Chiwenga and SB Moyo were going to remain submissive to the constitution of Zimbabwe, R.G Mugabe could have been the president of Zimbabwe today.

The genuine democratic fighters should (at one point in time) move 'out of the box' and confront dictatorship and its dishonest for the good of the future generations. It is bad to violate the constitution of the country for the sake of evil deeds but good to break the constitution for the common good of the country's future.  At one point in time, Jesus broke the Sabbath law by working during the Sabbath because he wanted to serve lives.

There are allegations that Tendai Biti has just been arrested while trying to cross to Zambia, the news of his arrest resonates with the struggle for democracy and change. Joshua Nkomo was alleged to have crossed the border in a 'woman outfit' when ZANU was looking for his blood. ED too escaped Zimbabwe in 2017 when ZANU PF government was after his blood. That is the nature of the struggle, it is not a romantic affair and requires courageous men and women ready to donate their blood to the same it.

The political climate in Zimbabwe has not been normal since ZEC and ZANU PF deprived the Zimbabweans their much needed victory. Allegations from the media are that, the struggle for democratic change in Zimbabwe claimed the lives of six innocent civilians. It has also been confirmed that a significant number of innocent civilians reported or are in hospital nursing injuries sustained during the 'black Wednesday' when ZANU PF government unleashed military to kill innocent civilians. There has been also reports from the media of kidnappings of MDC alliance leadership by police and army.

In order for change to be achieved by the struggle, conflict should reach its boiling point. When the conflict between R.G Mugabe and the army reached the boiling point, Mugabe was forced to resign and he had no option because change cannot be changed. I am on record telling my fellows that change does not come through the 'African Constitutions' but through sufferings and or breaking these so called constitutions.
 
I am also on record telling the opposition leadership that change cannot come from their beds of ivory but is found in prisons, police cells  and sometimes death. I told them that Josiah Magama Tongogara and Herbert Chitepo donated their blood to the struggle because they wanted to be guaranteed of 'one woman one vote'. You should not also forget the Chinhoi seven battle that sparked the struggle for emancipation in Zimbabwe.

I feel for Nelson Chamisa, it is painful for his colleagues in the struggle to be killed, injured, kidnapped and arrested by police under his leadership. I urge Chamisa to take it easy and continue to push for the struggle for democracy. I am glad to note that President Nelson Chamisa has decided to put all his eggs in three different baskets, if the constitutional court is under siege, there will be two remaining options at his disposal. The court evidence is going to be embarrassing to ZEC, ZANU PF and the entire country at large. How can ZEC adopt 10 + 4 = 40 in elections?

This is the time for each and every Zimbabwean (serious about our future) to contribute to this struggle in any way whether through death, prison, injury, being kidnapped etc. The lawyers and the international community are doing their part but the overall bit should be played by Zimbabweans. I wish comrade Tendai Biti strength and courage to fight this regime head on and my thoughts goes to the six innocent civilians murdered by military, may their souls just like those of Tongogara and Chitepo rest in peace. There is no way ZANU PF and ZEC can go away with such massive rigging, just wait for the embarrassing evidence from the lawyers and watch the space.

Don Chigumba is a mixed methods research specialist can be found on twitter @Donchigumba