Before destruction, God makes them mad

The Bible tells us a story of a King who, after diverting from God's will, was dethroned and his rule was destroyed. However, before the destruction on the wayward King came, the Holy Book tells us that he went mad to the extent of living and feeding like animals. I will search for my Bible to refresh so that I can give the name of the King and the Kingdom under the discussion.

I however do not need to read any history books or any holy books to know what is about to happen to Robert Gabriel Mugabe and his ZANU PF Regime that has held a beautiful nation of Zimbabwe hostage for decades since 1980.

Zimbabwe has been under the rule of Mugabe and ZANU PF since attaining independence but the regime, itself a reactionary creation of Western neo-imperialists in 1963, has taken away the freedom our people anticipated at the fall of independence and replaced it with a vicious dictatorship.

ZANU PF rule has been characterized by untold suffering of Zimbabweans. Chief among these is the victimization and abduction of those who dare speak against the dictator's policies, ills and actions. A long list makes the examples of those who fell victim to this unspeakable behavior by a supposed people's government. The economy was run down from day one in office. Today the country is ranked 150 out of 168 on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) published by Transparency International in 2015. Unemployment levels have hit highs of over 83% in a country with impressive literature levels. The people of Zimbabwe have never tasted freedom as their rights are trampled on day in and day out. The constitution was long thrown out of the window into the rain by a regime that has a total disregard to constitutionalism.

Roll back to the early days in office; one is met with the horrors of the 1980s Genocide in the Midlands and Matabeleland Provinces. Further down the line one is also met with the notorious Murambatsvina, Chaotic Land Reform and electoral violence-with the 2008 episode topping the notoriety index table. By any moral standards this is madness especially coming from a third world government that purports to represent its people who are wallowing in poverty.

The above ills by this regime, that always pop up whenever Mugabe and ZANU PF are mentioned, are only but a few pointers to the madness by those in authority. This madness moved a notch up in recent months when the ZANU PF regime dumped their responsibility of leading the people and embarked on stupid succession wars. Their filthy unending successionist tendencies have been prioritized ahead of the economy and social responsibilities that come with power.

Besides the internal fighting to succeed Mugabe, who himself is not showing any signs of intention to give up power despite his advanced age and ill health, the regime, through the police, confirmed my long held belief that surely, God makes mad a man before he destroys him and his system.

Today unconfirmed reports suggest that a toddler died on Saturday 9 July in Burombo Flats of Makhokhoba in Bulawayo as a result of suffocation from teargas that was shot into the house the toddler was in on Wednesday as Zimbabweans protested against the regime. When law enforcers take away lives they should be protecting, it is called madness of the highest order. When such happens, and the regime folds its lazy hands and watches, there is no other definition to give than madness.

When justice is substituted by fear, it is madness on the part of those in authority. When villagers in Lupane are arrested and denied bail for calling for the respect and promotion of their children's rights, that is madness by a regime which has forgotten that government policy should reflect the people's wishes.

 When minors fill up Khami Remand Prison, and their crime being merely asking for responsible leadership, that is called madness. When videos of criminals wearing police uniforms go viral as they assault women and children, beating them under the feet, and the ones in authority fold their blood stained hands and watch, it is called madness of alarming proportions.  When poverty of the masses is an opportunity for those in power to loot and get rich, it is madness of the highest order.   

We have witnessed the actions of the ZANU PF regime and it is undoubtedly clear they are not willing to reform. However, as we have seen before, this madness has come before the inevitable destruction of this regime, the system it has thrived on and all that it stands for. The arrogance often displayed by this regime is a sign that God has become fed up with them and is about to free the people of this nation from bondage and terror of a black government on black people.

The events from 2014 to date, both internal to ZANU PF and external, with the sporadic protests that swept across the country are clear signs the regime is up for God's .

Judgment. The panic by the regime shows it's really game over up. The temporary shutdown of internet services on the 6th July 2016 and subsequent threats on use of internet, especially facebook and whatsapp is testimony the regime is shaking and wetting their pants in fear of the people power. They however need to be reminded that the Almighty God the Creator is also on the people's side and yes, they must be afraid-very afraid, for before God destroys a man, he first makes them mad. We have seen the madness and the people await celebration time. Its time, as it is written, "….pride comes before a fall".

*Iphithule Thembani kaMaphosa is Director of Information, Publicity and Marketing for Zimbabwe African Peoples Union-ZAPU.