ZANU PF FEARS CHANGE AS CRACKDOWN ON ACTIVISTS INTENSIFIES

The struggle for democracy in Zimbabwe continues, and the latest events prove that ZANU PF is not ready to let go of power. The arrest of Job Sikhala and 39 others in Penhalonga shows that the ruling party is afraid of anyone who dares to organize and speak out. The government knows that change is coming, but instead of listening to the people, it chooses to silence them.

Job Sikhala, a well-known activist, was arrested along with his colleagues during a National Democratic Working Group (NDWG) meeting. NDWG is not a political party but a movement that wants to engage citizens in discussions about the country’s future. The government, however, saw this as a threat. The arrest was not just about stopping this meeting. It was about sending a message to anyone who wants change in Zimbabwe.

Sikhala was released later with 39 others, but their chief national organiser, Engineer Joelson Mugari, remained in detention. He was denied his life-saving medication, and his health became critical. Activists had to push the police to rush him to Mutare General Hospital. This is the kind of cruelty that Zimbabweans face under ZANU PF. The regime does not care about the lives of the people; it only cares about power.

The arrest was brutal. It started when CIO officers arrived in a Toyota Hilux with dark windows. They observed the meeting and left. But soon after, another vehicle without number plates arrived, carrying members of the Police Intelligence and CID Law and Order. It was clear that something was about to happen. A few minutes later, truckloads of riot police armed with AK-47s stormed the venue. They started beating and kicking people without reason. This is what the ruling party does to those who want a better Zimbabwe.

One police officer even pointed his gun at Dr. Wurayayi Zembe and threatened to shoot him. But Dr. Zembe remained calm. Imagine the level of terror in a country where police can threaten to kill citizens just for gathering. Sikhala was also confronted by the Officer Commanding, who refused to shake hands with him, saying, “Ndakarombaka ini. Ko mhepo dzangu dzikazokubata?” This was meant to intimidate him, but Sikhala stood his ground.

The activists were accused of violating the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA), even though their meeting was private. The law does not require clearance for executive meetings. If ZANU PF can hold its politburo meetings without police approval, why should activists be treated differently? The ruling party is twisting the law to target its opponents.

The arrested activists were forced into pickup trucks under heavy rain. They were taken to Penhalonga Police Station, where they sat on a dirty floor for hours. Later, they were transferred to Mutare Central CID Law and Order, but no proper charges were brought against them. Instead, four of them, including Sikhala, Mugari, and Dr. Zembe, were taken for questioning. This is how ZANU PF tries to intimidate and silence voices of change.

The ruling party is desperate. It sees the cracks in its own system. The internal fights over succession are growing, and they fear that people are waking up. Instead of fixing the country, they arrest activists. Instead of solving the economic crisis, they deploy riot police. But this will not stop the people. Zimbabweans are tired of suffering. They are tired of corruption. They are tired of the lies.

ZANU PF is afraid because it knows that change is near. It knows that its time is running out. But no amount of arrests, beatings, or intimidation will stop the movement for democracy. The people of Zimbabwe will not be silenced forever.

The real question is, how long will ZANU PF continue to rule through fear? How long will they use violence instead of leadership? The world is watching. And history has shown that no dictatorship lasts forever.