Zimbabwe’s Fatal Silence - Who Do We Expect to Save Us?

There is a disturbing, heavy silence hanging over Zimbabwe, and it is time we confront it honestly. As a nation, we are witnessing the systematic dismantling of our remaining constitutional rights, yet our collective response has been a mix of paralyzing fear and self-centered docility. The ongoing imposition of Constitutional Amendment Bill 3 (CAB3) should have been the ultimate line in the sand. Instead, it has become a mirror reflecting a deeply troubling national complacency.

The handling of CAB3 is a blatant provocation that would drive any self-respecting, democratic society into the streets. By law, an amendment of this magnitude requires a public referendum—a direct consultation of the people’s will. Instead, it is being aggressively rammed through Parliament, completely bypassing the citizenry. Anyone brave enough to voice opposition or even ask critical questions is met with brutal assault.

To add insult to injury, our Parliament has been reduced to a theater of the absurd. We watch as parliamentarians are openly coached, handed pre-written talking points, and treated like puppets in a state-sponsored script. The entire citizenry sees these transparent machinations, yet we barely lift a finger.

What are we waiting for?

A dangerous illusion has taken root among Zimbabweans: the naive hope that Vice President Chiwenga or the military will miraculously intervene to halt this madness. This is a tragic delusion. Since ascending to power, President Mnangagwa has masterfully secured the absolute loyalty of the security apparatus. He systematically purged the security forces of any personnel with questionable allegiance, replacing them with a network bound by regional and ethnic ties. For those who remain, loyalty has been thoroughly bought and paid for with massive salary increases, new weaponry, lavish emoluments, and luxury vehicles. The army is not coming to save us; they are invested in the status quo.Meanwhile, the pillars of our democracy crumble around us. Why are we not outraged by the flagrant violations of human rights and the relentless government malfeasance? We have watched quietly as the traditional independent press has been systematically choked out, leaving us to rely on useless digital alternative spaces like Gambakwe Media as our primary independent voices. With the formal political opposition systematically rendered ineffective by state machinations, the responsibility of resistance falls squarely on the shoulders of ordinary citizens.

This brings me to a painful but necessary question: Who is Zimbabwe waiting for? Why are the youth and the male population of this country standing by as spectators while their future and their way of life are stripped away? Have the men of this nation been compressed into a corner so tight that they would rather wait to die in silence than speak truth to power?

An injury to the constitution is an injury to every single household. If we do not shake off this docility, stand up, and collectively demand accountability, we will have no one to blame but ourselves for the tyranny we inherit.

Sincere regards,

Sam Wezhira
Harare, Zimbabwe