#ZimbabweanLivesMatter is a hashtag that has been trending from Monday the 3rd of August in a form of solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe. Its somewhat similar to the BlackLivesMatter #BLM protest against police brutality.
Whats going on in Zimbabwe?
ZIMBABWE IS GOING THROUGH A MASSIVE HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS
You may never heard much of the situation in Zimbabwe because the government silences those who would speak or protest. In the past week alone several arrests of activists, journalists, citizens on charges ranging from loitering during a lockdown to inciting public violence and subversion of a constitutionally elected government.
The State behaves like it is at war with its citizens and has a history of issuing out heavy handed responses to perceived threat.
Member States of the African Union and SADC (of which Zimbabwe President is the current chairperson for the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation) are deafening silent on the Zimabwean Situation be it the contested elections which they declared as free and fair or the post-election violence that followed thereafter or the violence after that or the abductions after that… and here we still are.
The hashtag #ZimbabweanLivesMatter has been used sporadically since the BLM movement and then an artist in South Africa AKA challenged fellow Africans and called out people for supporting a hashtag that’s 15000km away yet failing to notice next door.
From there the hashtag has blown up and gone global being used by several celebrities and social media influencers, Morgan Heritage, Thandie Newton, Ice Cube, Fuse ODG, Ay Poyoo and many others.
Some people will tell you that a hashtag cant change the world but believe me, there are no words for the solidarity and gratitude some of us have for those who can shout and amplify for us, the things we dare not say.
Reading through this blog you may have picked up a thing or two about the challenges we face, I say that I don’t write about politics yet I read and reread each word to make sure its politically correct as I post wondering if I have crossed a line and I should be listening for a knock in middle of the night, if my name will become another hashtag or if anyone will even notice I am gone and dare ask about me.
The secretary of information had this tweet in solidarity with the Hashtag
I am not sure to what extent sanctions have contributed to situation in the country but I do know that sanctions will not abduct and torture you for asking how come the former minister whose corrupt dealings may have prejudiced the state of 60 million dollars never spent a night in prison but the journalist who exposed the story has been in remand awaiting trial for over a fortnight.
The president is currently addressing the nation as I write this and he says “The dark forces, both inside and outside our borders, have tampered with our growth and prosperity for too long.“
~B
Wishing you and all those in Zimbabwe safety and recovery from all this
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Thank you
Amandla!!!
~B
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Sekuru. Please stay safe. Praying for and with you. ❤️
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Thank you Mable ^_^
~B
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When something that says Babies Matter Too gets you arrested, nothing is politically correct. Coughing might end up being inciting violence, you never know. These stories need to be told though. Someone has to it. We just pray and hopethat one day our voices are loud enough to be heard.
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Every word and action is suddenly politically charged..
Hopefully sanity will prevail before we wind up literally at war.
~B
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We can only hope and pray
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Dreams of brighter days
~B
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Every life is precious, we need to stand up and speak out. Thanks B
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Thank you
Appreciated
~B
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I had very little understanding of what’s happening at home and going on social media is difficult for me at the moment. My mind can’t process everything… thank you for this.
My heart goes out for our country and it’s people. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter
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Social Media can be a bit much and for all its faults it’s a place where people’s voice can be heard.
Asante Asana
~B
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😄😄🇿🇼
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Amandla!
~B
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Praying for you and your country.
Your neighbors here in Zambia are praying for you
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Appreciate this.
~B
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It’s one thing that discrimination is prevalent in interracial places but heck, it just sucks when your own people hurt you. This is heartbreaking, and honestly, I think that my country is on the verge of such doings too, the police brutality here is bothering, the scholar students having peaceful protests against the government’s incompetency and injustices, political special treatments, are being threatened and all politicians on the side of our president say nothing about it too. All this happening while virus cases increase for around 70K+. I pray for better days to come, especially for those countries continuously fighting for freedom. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter
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Thank you Elle
Sometimes it seems like the whole world is just about to lose its collective ish
I really don’t understand the things we do to each other.
Thank you and appreciate
~B
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Dear Beaton, please remain safe. We need you in this world to keep speak for us, to see. Your words are the action.
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Scary situation. Praying for justice and peace to come to your country. Stay safe and strong.
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Thank you Nancy…
It’s tense, each day I worry I will wake you find battle lines have been drawn… But still I remain hopeful that cool heads will prevail.
~B
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Awweeeeeh🇿🇼✊#ZimbabweanLivesMatter!
We are in this together.🇿🇼
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Amandla!!!!!!
~B
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Wishing for your safety and for the safety of everyone in Zimbabwe. The country and the people deserve better.
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Thank you Racheal
Dreaming of a better world.
~B
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Thank you for shedding more light and may the much needed change manifest soon. Y’all deserve to rise out of the ashes
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Thank you Connie
The struggle continues.
We need to rise from the ashes but first, we burn 😂😂😂
~B
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Hahaha atleast the burning has a silver lining that you rise😂😂🤝 praying for yall
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Hahaha Amen to that
~B
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Uncle , you’ve already seen the post. Now kindly here
I’ve nominated you for the Liebster award. Here’s the post: https://mydialectics.wordpress.com/2020/08/04/liebster-award-nomination-2020/
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Funny guy
~B
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I think the graphic you (?) created of the fence in the shape of your country is profound.
Thank you for sharing all of this with us. Thanks to you I know a little about what’s going on in Zim.
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Yes, I did, my original draft had prison bars but after some thought toned it down to a fence.
Its crazy I have been seeing how people source their information from everywhere else but those they should be asking… And the media is just out to spin a sensational story making volcanoes out of dormant mountains and surprised when they erupt.
~B
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Totally.
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Standing in solidarity with you.
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Praying for your safety and for the safety of everyone in Zimbabwe 🙏❤️ the country deserves better, people deserve better. Dreaming for a better world where peace and prosperity abound for everyone! Stay safe! 🙂
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Thank you
Yep we stay dreaming of brighter days to come… They must.
Appreciate
~B
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When people like Nick Mangwana weigh in on the hashtag with a completely false and skewed take on this cause, it makes me question whether these people are Zimbabweans, devil-sent or mercenaries. The way they deflect responsibility for ruining the lives of the general population is astounding.
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The way they will point the finger at everyone and everything else….
So no we are dark forces
~B
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I have nothing to say about our BLM movement other than to warn other to be careful who you associate yourself with. This is not a good thing for us in the US, and I doubt it would be good for anyone elsewhere.
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