One Flag, Many Colours

Experiences in a new movement

Everybody (I Know)wants to know what is going on Zimbabwe, chiko chirikuitika kuZimbabwe.

This is what is happening,

the manifestation of people’s thoughts and sentiments for decades has culminated into citizens voicing their opinions through various platforms mainly social media. All this kick-started by the #ThisFlag challenge (the finer deets.)

A series of events namely the nation-wide stay away on 6 Jully 2016 resulted in the state deciding to react and through a series of events Pastor Evan Mawarire (the man who sparked this movement) ended up being taken in by the police to face some legal charges. Up until that point the only thing I remember of this man is that he used to carry this huge, glazed Elephant’s dung with him whenever he would go speak at schools, churches etc.

The day of his court case was historic and epic to say the lest. When he we was acquitted there was a heavy weight taken of the whole land and for once in a long time civilians and citizens felt like they had a voice and could be counted (are these the clouds of the rain we have been expecting??)

I have worn my flag ever since that day, its been a month- this is what I have learnt and encountered…

1 Damn!! gotta keep this flag clean…

How often does Pastor E. clean his flag? Has he washed it since? Does he have a wardrobe of them??

2 Ucharowa, hameno hako (You are going to get persecuted, watch out)

My immediate/automatic response to these type of comments is:

Ndimi vanhu vaticha wongorora kana tamaWar Vet (When I am a war veteran in the new Zimbabwe I will remember your remarks)

Okay, on a more serious note a fractured or half-hearted attempt to raise an issue is worthless. Lets go in all the way, after all some of our esteemed MPs in government died for this country. There is life after death in Zimbabwe.

On a more human note, I pray for my bros and sisters sent to persecute. I ain’t no St Stephen but Lord let these enforces realize that unity and love will defeat hate…

3 Why do you wear a flag?

We need more accountability in our system, plus I am Zimbo. Do you love your country?

4 Heightened awareness and the new normal

The new normal is that I often forget I am wearing my flag until someone says “Asi waPastor?” (You’re a Pastor now?) or something like that.

Heightened awareness is that getting ready every morning now involves making a public opinion on an issue. Propaganda is now more audible and visible- there is more clarity somehow? I pick out and detect dated messages more and more clearly now (We still talking about Tony Blair and his refusal to release funds to compensate Rhodie farmers??)

Another thing you realize is this current government will argue that under the coalition government the economy was a bit more stable because the British and the West favour certain entities in the nation. I am thinking, a month or week doesn’t go by without state media making a huge fuss about some mega deal with China, Russia, Japan etc, where is that money going?

Are these mega-deals adding to our economy or the economy of the few? How can we make sure government is making progress?

Is this one bad example? Or is this the norm?

5 Where are the flags??

I don’t see many flags around, maybe you are all wearing some technicolor underwear instead??

6 Is that red or maroon on your flag?? That’s not a proper flag…

That is because I am bleeding for my nation so the red-ness has intensified…

7 Self reflection…

How long are u going to wear your flag??

I don’t know but its about to get deep fam.

Closing Remarks

-Sign the petiton

-Pray for your country

-Organise peaceful civil action, support your peers,

-Share opportunities and act on ideas to improve your communities economically and socially so we build a #NewZimbabwe

-Go register to vote in 2018 elections NOW!!.

These old men and women are stubborn but time is not loyal…