BY TENDAI RUBEN MBOFANA YOUR Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa. At times I believe the main reason Zimbabweans are still standing today, in spite of the political, economic, physical, and emotional brutalisation they have endured at the blood-dripping hands of their own abusive government — which is expected to be the protector, provider, and enabler for a respectable, dignified, and prosperous nation — is as a result of their positive outlook of life, perseverance, and ability to adapt to whatever situation they find themselves forced into — nonetheless, assuming that they are foolish enough to stand with their tormentors by helping them cover up their numerous sins, portraying a false image of a caring leadership that should be re-admitted into the international community as a civilised and responsible member, would not only be foolhardy, but exceedingly delusional. What manner of a people would we be, if we were to, endure the untold pain and suffering meted out on us by this regime, mostly in worrying and unsettling silence, while patiently praying for God’s immediate intervention, and strength in finally bravely standing up for our rights — at the danger of an obvious barbaric, savage, and murderous response (which has become all too familiar) — yet, expect us to behave as the perpetually fearful abused wife, who ends up lying that the bruises on her face were due to falling down, or bumping into the cupboard? We may be typically, but disturbingly, quiet and docile, in the face of unprecedented political State-sponsored brutality and persecution (characterised by the stifling of democratic expression — usually met with the full wrath of State machinery, as well as political, social justice, anti-corruption, and labour rights activists being arrested on spurious charges, with rarely any convictions, in addition to reports of abductions, torture, and sexual abuse), and economic injustices and alienation due to rampant corruption (whereby, the powerful ruling elite loot every wealth that this abundantly endowed nation has been blessed with, leaving millions of Zimbabweans without enough to manage sustainable livelihoods, afford basic commodities, and die in their homes for failure to access essential medication)… but, we are definitely not idiots. The Harare administration may have miscalculated, and deceived it self into believing that our silence and passive nature — of which, we pray for God’s grace everyday, that His strength may be made perfect in our weakness, so as to eventually be able to fearlessly and relentlessly stand up against these gross crimes against humanity — was a sign of foolishness, nonetheless, we will never unite with them in painting a deceptive picture of “all is well with us”, so that the regime can finally be regarded as civilised, and welcomed with warm arms back into the family of nations. Your Excellency, let us make it abundantly clear — the Zimbabwean military-backed junta is still an atrocious, ruthless, and callous rogue regime, which should be regarded as the pariah State that i
