https://mbofanatendairuben.news.blog/2025/02/21/zimbabwes-rulers-have-become-what-they-fought-against-under-colonial-rule/ *_PLEASE SHARE_* *Zimbabwe’s rulers have become what they fought against under colonial rule* _BY Tendai Ruben Mbofana_ *THE irony of post-independence Zimbabwe is glaring.* Those who once suffered under colonial repression have, in turn, adopted the very same brutal tactics they once condemned. Liberation leaders, once the victims of arbitrary arrests, imprisonment, and abductions, now stand as the perpetrators of these acts against their own people. The question is not why they do this, but rather how they justify it despite their own painful experiences. Take the case of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose supporters are now calling for an extension of his tenure beyond the constitutional limit of two five-year terms. *_To directly receive articles from Tendai Ruben Mbofana, please join his WhatsApp Channel on: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaqprWCIyPtRnKpkHe08_* Among those resisting this unconstitutional maneuver is war veterans’ leader Blessed Geza, who has openly called for Mnangagwa to step down, citing corruption, nepotism, and failure to deliver on promises to Zimbabweans. In response, state apparatuses have been weaponized against him. Geza is now being sought by police on dubious charges of insulting the president, inciting violence, and even theft. Additionally, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has revived an old, previously ignored murder accusation against Geza, revealing the depths to which the regime is willing to go to silence dissent. Even journalists are not spared. Blessed Mhlanga, who interviewed Geza, has been harassed repeatedly by law enforcement. He has been summoned three times for questioning and is now wanted by police for supposedly inciting violence through his journalistic work. It is evident that his only crime was doing his job: giving a platform to voices critical of the ruling elite. This is reminiscent of how colonial authorities criminalized journalists and activists who sought to expose the injustices of the Rhodesian regime. The most tragic aspect of this repression is the hypocrisy it exposes. These leaders, having endured similar abuses under colonial rule, should be the last to inflict such suffering upon their own people. They should know the pain of unjust imprisonment, of living in fear, of being persecuted for merely speaking out. Instead of ensuring that no Zimbabwean endures the oppression they once faced, they have chosen to wield power in the same manner as their former oppressors. This hypocrisy is further underscored by the ideals upon which the liberation struggle was founded. Those who fought against colonial rule claimed to do so in the name of freedom, justice, and self-determination. They declared that never again would Zimbabweans be subjected to tyranny. Yet, more than four decades after independence, their promises have proven hollow. The methods of governance have not changed; only the faces in power have. One of the starkest examples of this betrayal is the continued use of politically motivated abductions. During the colonial era, nationalist leaders such as Joshua Nkomo, Robert Mugabe, and Edgar Tekere were frequently arrested, harassed, and forced into exile for daring to challenge white minority rule. Today, opposition activists, journalists, and civil society leaders face the same fate. The abductions of individuals such as Itai Dzamara, who disappeared in 2015 after calling for Mugabe’s resignation, serve as chilling reminders of how the state continues to use fear as a tool of control. Another parallel can be drawn in the misuse of the legal system. The Rhodesian regime deployed draconian laws such as the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act to suppress dissent, while today, the Zimbabwean government has weaponized similar laws under the guise of maintaining peace and security. The arrest and prosecution of critics under vague charges such as “inciting violence” or “insulting the president” illustrate how little has changed in Zimbabwe’s political landscape. Cases of Job Sikhala, Jacob Ngarivhume, and Jameson Timba readily come to mind. Beyond individual cases, this cycle of repression has had dire consequences for Zimbabwe’s democratic institutions. The ruling party, ZANU-PF, has maintained an iron grip on power through a combination of electoral manipulation, intimidation, and control of state institutions. The opposition, despite making gains in various elections, has repeatedly been undermined through arrests, internal sabotage, and violent crackdowns on protests. What we are witnessing is not a government driven by the ideals of liberation but one consumed by the desire to cling to power at any cost. The use of repressive laws to silence critics, the arbitrary persecution of opponents, and the suffocation of press freedom are all tools lifted straight from the colonial playbook. Yet, these are the very same individuals who once preached against tyranny, who once demanded justice and freedom. The economic consequences of this political repression are equally devastating. Under colonial rule, economic policies were designed to benefit the white minority at the expense of the black majority. Today, Zimbabwe’s economy remains in the hands of a select elite, with rampant corruption and cronyism ensuring that wealth circulates within a small political class while the majority continue to suffer. The promises of economic emancipation made during the liberation struggle have not materialized for the ordinary citizen, as evidenced by high unemployment, inflation, and widespread poverty. The betrayal of the liberation struggle extends beyond Zimbabwe’s borders. The rise of post-independence autocratic regimes in Africa suggests that this is a broader continental problem. Many liberation movements—once seen as the beacons of freedom—have transformed into authoritarian entities, unwilling to relinquish power. The situation in Zimbabwe mirrors that of Angola under the MPLA, Mozambique under FRELIMO, and South Africa’s ANC, where political elites have enriched themselves while failing to uplift the masses. Zimbabweans must refuse to accept this tragic irony. Those who claim to have fought for independence cannot be allowed to trample upon the very freedoms they once demanded. The struggle for justice and democracy did not end in 1980. It continues today, as long as those in power refuse to uphold the fundamental rights of the people they purport to serve. The lesson that should have been learned from history is that oppression breeds resistance. If Zimbabwe’s leaders do not change course, they too will find themselves facing the same fate as the regime they once fought to overthrow. *_● Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice advocate and writer. Please feel free to WhatsApp or Call: +263715667700 | +263782283975, or email: [email protected], or visit website: https://mbofanatendairuben.news.blog/_*