By Correspondent
After the August 2018 shootings in Harare’s CBD one can safely argue that there is no longer that much appetite for a public uprising in Zimbabwe.
The violence of 1 August 2018 followed the country’s elections on 30 July which combined Presidential, Parliamentary and local authority elections.
The shootings left 6 confirmed fatalities with some people shot in the back as they fled.
No one has ever been held responsible.
“Zimbabwe authorities should under no circumstances allow further impunity and cover ups for the killings.
“If Zimbabwe is to become a human rights respecting society, no one, including the army, should be untouchable for violating human rights”, said Amnesty International.
Time As A Washing Machine
Ironically, seven years down the line the frustrated community of young people now looks up to former Army General Constantino Chiwenga, now Vice President, to rescue them.
From rumors and snatches of evidence Chiwenga is whispered to be seeking for ways to upend the political status quo and install himself.
More explicitly he is against the current 2030 agenda which seeks to extend the tenure of President Mnangagwa’s time in office.
Mnangagwa wants to stay in power up to 2030 beyond the prescribed 2028 when elections are supposed to be held.
One of Chiwenga’s closest allies is Rtd Brigadier General Anselem Sanyatwe.
Another, irony is that Sanyatwe was the Commander of the deployed Presidential Guard troops accused of shooting dead the fleeing people in Harare’s streets.
However, seven years and a tottering economy have both managed to whitewash all that.
Many have shifted from the zealotry against anything ZANU PF and now see the Chiwenga camp as a likely door through which to remove Mnangagwa.
Too Many Ironies
The third irony is the reductionist approach which the people are applying to the country’s problems.
Many have chiselled everything away retaining only the core target of removing Mnangagwa, not even ZANU PF!
It’s the same approach which led to Mugabe’s removal and emergence of President Mnangagwa.
The failure of that method to produce better results and economic situation has not been reason enough for caution for many.
Caution has been thrown to the wind and the very men who oversaw the shootings are believed to have repented and become new.
Tired and fearful to mount up public demonstrations against the current regime many youths acquiesce to any alternative method with a hinted chance of success.
As long as it doesn’t require them to step into the streets!
When the Chiwenga camp, through War Veteran Blessed Bombshell Geza, misdirected itself and called for demonstrations, it was a total failure.
The demonstrations were a complete dud in the clearest reflection how the young people are now completely against that idea.
Once the task and onus was placed squarely on the shoulders of the youths and people of Zimbabwe the Chiwenga project fizzled out.
A Long List Of Losses
Since the failure of the last demonstration the Chiwenga project has appeared to be wheezing to a tired death.
His bid to block the ascension of his rival Kudakwashe Tagwirei into the ZANU PF Central Committee failed.
The target to mount up resistance against Resolution Number, one which advances the 2030 agenda, at the Mutare Party Conference also failed as it sailed through.
So far all the vacancies for Central Committee seats which have opened up have been claimed by politicians aligned to Chiwenga’s rivals.
A dossier on corruption which the VP had smuggled into the party’s Politburo to try and turn the heat on Tagwirei and the cartel of his rivals, was also thrown away.
Such have been the consistent losses that many within political circles have begun to doubt if the former military General possess power in any form.
For the youths of the country, eager to press a reset button and place hope in a new leader, the future doesn’t look bright.
Unless they muster up new energy to take the initiative and not wait upon tainted and very suspect heroes.
