Sir, – The political temperature in Zimbabwe is heating up as the country’s 2023 general elections draw closer.
Serious electioneering is ongoing across the country, but opposition activists are bearing the brunt of politicised state security and the judiciary as President Emmerson Mnangagwa seeks re-election.
The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), led by Nelson Chamisa, has suffered the most and the pressure on its activists seem not to be relenting.
There are over 20 activists in prison for charges that range from inciting public violence to obstruction of the course of justice.
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Most prominent among the CCC leadership in prison or on bail include legislators Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole who are remanded at Chikurubi maximum security prison just outside the capital, Harare.
The duo have now clocked over 80 days in detention and their trial is only slated for November 21st.
Another outspoken legislator and former finance minister Tendai Biti is on bail on allegations of assaulting a Russian investor at the courts in Harare. CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere is also out on bail on two charges: participating in an illegal demonstration during the COVID-19 lockdown and “communicating falsehoods”.
There is another group of 13 activists from the populous Chitungwiza, a dormitory town of Harare, on remand in prison on charges of public violence.
Most worryingly is the fact that opposition activists on average spend 30 days in custody before they get bail, while activists from Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF are immediately allowed to post bail on their initial remand hearing at the courts.
In the past week, Zanu PF members beat up an opposition member in Gokwe. So far, no arrests have been made and it seems unlikely that any would be made soon.
These scenes of violence and the bellicose statements from the ruling regime are similar to what has become the norm during general elections in Zimbabwe since 2000.
The most vicious polls were in 2000, 2002 and 2008. Many opposition activists have been killed or maimed and this spurred a great trek to South Africa and Botswana by locals fleeing violence and the deteriorating economy.
Can the world do something to save Zimbabweans from the Zanu PF regime? – Yours, etc,
BLESSING GORONGA,
Swindon,
UK.