guest column:Danmore Sithole In life there is only one constant; that is change. But for Zimbabweans of different generations from that of Father Zimbabwe, through to the born “frees” and the millenniums the common constant is the lack of freedoms. These freedoms have been elusive due to Zanu PF’s deceit and misinformation. As the intergenerations of Zimbabweans are coming together for the July 31, 2020 protests, Zanu PF misinformation machinery is now on overdrive. But lies have short legs. In democracies the July 31, 2020 protests would be viewed just like the elections in terms of citizen engagement, not as a terrorist act as the government is insinuating. In democracies there are a plethora of activities that the citizens can use to hold their governments to account, these are elections, referendums, protests, constitution-making process among others. Such activities are enshrined in powerful symbols of democracy and rule of law worldwide such as the Magna Carta, and the code of Napoleon. The activities also manifest informally at local level. Therefore, it is not due to the benevolence of Zanu PF and its government that sections 58, 59 and 61 of our Constitution provides Zimbabweans with the right and responsibility to demand accountability and ensure that government acts in the best interest of the people through protests. Constitutionally guaranteed rights are not tokens, neither are they privileges that are given and withdrawn whenever Zanu PF deems fit. Contrary to the demonisation of the NGOs by Zanu PF, research has it that civil society through NGOs is instrumental in channelling citizens’ voice, the 31 July style through engaging with political parties, elected representatives and relevant actors. Zanu PF acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa refers to the civil society as the evil society, but the world over, civil society is respected for its role of ensuring accountability. In the last 50 years the world has seen an exponential growth of NGOs. The presence and growth of NGOs in Zimbabwe cannot be attributed to the so-called country’s detractors. The Zanu PF narrative peddled by its gurus and their “hired” sympathisers is totally out of sync with worldwide trends. The war veteran leader Christopher Mutsvangwa refers to the organisers of the July 31 protests as instigators. He vows that the so-called triangle of power, comprising the people, the security establishment and the war veterans is in support of the government and as a result, it will not allow the demonstration to take place. As usual he blames sanctions for the state of the economy. This so-called triangle of power is exactly what is wrong with Zimbabwe not sanctions. In democracies governments derive their authority and power from the people not from the security establishment, war veterans or some other pressure group. Zimbabweans know very well that it is the top-down diktat of Zanu PF that has brought Zimbabwe to its knees. Zimbabweans on July 31 will be demanding their freedom to hold the government to account. Zanu PF youths have joine
