Opinion / Columnist
No one elects 'Civil society' organisations
6 hrs ago |
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It is fascinating to observe the recent hand-wringing from certain continental quarters regarding the state of civil society in Zimbabwe. The sudden concern for our democratic space is both predictable and transparently self-serving. One must ask: why the sudden anxiety? The answer is simple: their old playbook is failing.
The truth is, the frustration emanating from this bloc has nothing to do with the welfare of the Zimbabwean people. It has everything to do with the fact that their vehicles for nefarious activities are struggling to gain a foothold. For years, what they termed "civil society" was often a convenient pipeline for funding spying operations and coordinating subversive agendas aimed at destabilizing a nation that refuses to be recolonized by proxy. Now that these structures are being rightfully scrutinized, the architects of chaos are, quite literally, at sixes and sevens. They are scrambling because their access is cut off, and their local proxies are no longer shielded from accountability.
Let's be clear about one fundamental democratic principle: No one elects a non-governmental organization. No one votes for a pressure group. In Zimbabwe, we have a distinct and clear process for choosing our leaders. We have an elected Government, placed in office by the will of the people of Zimbabwe. It is that Government, and that Government alone, that holds the mandate to determine the direction of our nation.
Interestingly, Zimbabweans are not complaining about this "diminished role" of civil society. So why is an ambassador representing foreign interests suddenly wailing louder than the bereaved? It is likely because they are the bereaved. Their conduit for interference is struggling to operate in a sovereign and highly organized state. While they mourn the loss of their influence, Zimbabweans are quietly focusing on building their lives and their nation. The people have not cried out for the restoration of unaccountable foreign-funded entities.
Therefore, this outcry is exposed for what it truly is: the frustration of those who wish ill on Zimbabwe. They are frustrated because their favorite tools for interference—the ones dressed up as human rights defenders but operating as agents of influence—are being neutralized. The only people who are "at sixes and sevens" are those who have lost their footing because the foundation of their regime change agenda has crumbled.
Zimbabwe is open for business, and Zimbabwe is open for genuine partnership. But we will never be open to subversion. The only tears being shed here are by those who can no longer exploit our people for their geopolitical games.
The truth is, the frustration emanating from this bloc has nothing to do with the welfare of the Zimbabwean people. It has everything to do with the fact that their vehicles for nefarious activities are struggling to gain a foothold. For years, what they termed "civil society" was often a convenient pipeline for funding spying operations and coordinating subversive agendas aimed at destabilizing a nation that refuses to be recolonized by proxy. Now that these structures are being rightfully scrutinized, the architects of chaos are, quite literally, at sixes and sevens. They are scrambling because their access is cut off, and their local proxies are no longer shielded from accountability.
Let's be clear about one fundamental democratic principle: No one elects a non-governmental organization. No one votes for a pressure group. In Zimbabwe, we have a distinct and clear process for choosing our leaders. We have an elected Government, placed in office by the will of the people of Zimbabwe. It is that Government, and that Government alone, that holds the mandate to determine the direction of our nation.
Interestingly, Zimbabweans are not complaining about this "diminished role" of civil society. So why is an ambassador representing foreign interests suddenly wailing louder than the bereaved? It is likely because they are the bereaved. Their conduit for interference is struggling to operate in a sovereign and highly organized state. While they mourn the loss of their influence, Zimbabweans are quietly focusing on building their lives and their nation. The people have not cried out for the restoration of unaccountable foreign-funded entities.
Therefore, this outcry is exposed for what it truly is: the frustration of those who wish ill on Zimbabwe. They are frustrated because their favorite tools for interference—the ones dressed up as human rights defenders but operating as agents of influence—are being neutralized. The only people who are "at sixes and sevens" are those who have lost their footing because the foundation of their regime change agenda has crumbled.
Zimbabwe is open for business, and Zimbabwe is open for genuine partnership. But we will never be open to subversion. The only tears being shed here are by those who can no longer exploit our people for their geopolitical games.
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