Zimpapers Logo

Rutendo Jiri

Correspondent

America and the United States Embassy in Harare last week celebrated the first day of African-American History or Black History Month.

Americans across the world celebrate the month of February in honour of the contributions African-Americans have made to their culture, politics, science and history.

Iconic among these celebrations is the declaration by the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, who declared that, “I’m a Black American. I’m proud to be a Black American. I’m proud of who I am.”

An op-ed titled, “Democracy Tested, Democracy Triumphs” by outgoing US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian A Nichols, first published in The Standard on January 31, 2021, reiterated the newly-elected American President, Joe Biden’s speech, where he committed to “ . . . protect human rights, celebrate diversity and inclusion . . . and abolish (ed) controversial bans on travellers from Muslim and African countries.”

The irony of Ambassador Nichols’ op-ed was an embarrassment and a mockery of what democracy stands for.

Democracy as the rule of the people by the people.

When a powerful minority rule the majority, that is not democracy and so is true of how the US government has continued to meddle in Zimbabwean politics.

It is a mockery for the American government to honour and celebrate the contributions of African Americans to the culture, politics, science and history, when the very same people continue to be oppressed to this day.

I am astonished to see Ambassador Nichols celebrate African Americans when everyday their lives are a target of gun trotting white police officers armed to the teeth, shooting and killing at will with no repercussions.

How does the US celebrate Black History month when the Kenosha police officer who shot an unarmed Jacob Blake seven times in the back in a shooting that sparked a nationwide firestorm won’t be facing criminal charges, as announced recently by the Kenosha County District Attorney?

Until the American government stops the innocent killing of African Americas they have nothing to say about American democracy and all efforts to foster it on other sovereign nations.

How can the lives of brothers and sisters in America and across the world celebrate anything when back home in Africa their counterparts are forever chained by Britain and American foreign policies that are nowhere near democracy?

Africa is still in chains and the pronouncement by the United Kingdom (UK), which recently left the European Union (EU), imposing its first autonomous sanctions on the Government of Zimbabwe is, but a glimpse of the contempt these white people have of black rule.

Black people around the world have nothing to celebrate when a sovereign black nation is treated in this off hand manner.

In the face of re-engagement efforts spearheaded by the Second Republic since 2017, Zimbabweans woke up to the surprise imposition of travel bans and asset freeze on State Security Minister Owen Ncube, Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) director-general Ambassador Isaac Moyo, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and former Presidential Guard Commander, now Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Anselem Sanyatwe.

As usual, the oppressor has to hide behind the rhetoric that sanctions are targeted travel restrictions and asset freezes when we know they are meant for regime change.

Come to think of it, does Minister Ncube, even Ambassador Moyo, Commissioner Matanga or Sanyatwe have any ambitions to travel to the UK or own significant property therein?

If your answer is as good as mine, a big no, then what does a whole UK government stand to benefit from sanctioning the four?

Again your answer is as good as mine.

Sanctions are a tool meant to remove the Second Republic and force it to reform just as they were unsuccessfully used against the First Republic.

It has long been established by researchers and scholars alike that sanctions affect the ordinary innocent citizens of Zimbabwe.

In fact, these are their targeted persons, to make the economy scream and force the people to revolt against a constitutionally-elected government.

This move must also be taken in the context of trying to force government to reform in the face of impending Presidential elections in 2023.

Whispers in the corridors of power are that the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance are softening towards dialogue with President Mnangagwa and sanctions could well be meant to force Government to dialogue with election losers.

Unfortunately for the UK government, sanctions have never worked and will not bend the hand of Zimbabweans to dance to their tune.

Black people anywhere in the world will never be free as long as we are treated like second-class citizens, by those who have appointed themselves masters over us.