Beggars in Zimbabwe used to be so gentle and they would ask for ‘rubatsiro’ (help), and it was so touching you would be moved to give them something. You would give away a dollar or think of the meal you threw away last night or the clothes in your wardrobe that you no longer wear. Gone are those days. Begging is more of a profession in Zimbabwe now because not only do the beggars stand at traffic lights but they are also roaming shopping malls in the car parks. They beg using various stories to lure potential donors. Of late they have become fiercer when they demand, and you are scared into giving. They even demand the drink you are having. Anything they see in you car or holding, they want. It’s inevitable . . . in the future they are just going to grab.

I am moved by beggars because I feel most of us Zimbabweans have a ‘beggar being’ in them. We beg for human security. We beg to have the security to know that if one is to fall ill today, they can afford to pay their medical bills. University graduates beg to have jobs in the different sectors of their field of study and expertise. Individuals beg to move freely in the streets of downtown Harare and not fear pocket snatchers. Journalists and activists beg to have a voice that can be heard and their freedom of expression. Citizens beg to have a decent roof over their heads and have the basic life needs, like water and electricity.

And today I beg for human rights to be respected in Zimbabwe.

When you have never had your basic human rights violated, you are quick to say whatever and brush it aside with some pity. But when it gets to you or your loved ones or someone you know it gets disturbing and worrisome. I received a text message from a colleague telling me they were arrested at a meeting they had attended. I was then shocked to learn that all 46 students and union members, who were attending the academic discussion of the International Socialist Organization (ISO) Zimbabwe, had been arrested and detained at a police station. They are being charged with trying to throw out the government by unconstitutional means.

Freedom of speech, the right to assemble and hold a discussion is a fundamental democratic right. But this seems not to apply to Zimbabwe. The arrest of the organizer and the people attending this meeting is a violation of internationally recognised democratic and human rights.

News from Tunisia and Egypt is available on mainstream media to be seen and read 46% of Zimbabweans view satellite channels as revealed by the ZAMPS survey released this month. The same survey also showed an increase in the use of Internet in Zimbabwe.

So honestly what is the big deal if 46 people gathered to watch what everyone else has been watching?

This entry was posted on February 22nd, 2011 at 12:48 pm by Elizabeth Nyamuda and is filed under Activism, Governance, Reflections, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.