British hypocrisy and why Zimbabwe must determine its own fate
Nevanji Munyaradzi Chiondegwa
“My Government will ensure the constitution is defended. My Ministers will restore the balance of power between the legislature and the courts by introducing a Bill of Rights [Bill of Rights]. Legislation will prevent public bodies engaging in boycotts that undermine community cohesion [Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions Bill].”
This was part of the speech which the United Kingdom government website titled, “Her Majesty’s most gracious speech to both Houses of Parliament.”
It was read on behalf of Queen Elizabeth, the Constitutional Monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Never mind that the UK doesn’t have an actual written Constitution but it`s Her Majesty’s Will.
Zimbabwe is busy crafting the Patriotic Act and recently enacted the Data Protection Act.
Interestingly, part of the queen’s speech ready, “The United Kingdom’s data protection regime will be reformed [Data Reform Bill].” Now I wont bother with the other parts of the speech but focus on these issues raised here.
Zimbabwe has been bombarded with demands and requests to allow demonstrations and what is called the freedom of expression and been told to allow anything and everything the Western Embassies deem to be human rights. Unfortunately of course their definition of human rights means opposition activists rights to cause mayhem, disruption, chaos and destruction of public and private property. In fact they define that as peaceful protests never mind all the evidence that point to the contrary.
In fact, they will sit as the case in the two UK Parliaments and debate about how Zimbabwe has responded to ‘peaceful protests’ but never make mention of the disturbances they would have caused.
They wont mention any of their reaction to protests in their countries. They will speak of draconian laws crafted by the Harare regime and even go as far as suggest recolonizing our country! What a condescending attitude!
When they, the so called luminaries of democracy are enacting laws like the above mentioned “….Legislation will prevent public bodies engaging in boycotts that undermine community cohesion [Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions Bill] that seek to crackdown on disruptive protests we do not hear the United States Embassy in Zimbabwe issue any statement condemning that.
The BBC, and the UK parliament of course including one Lord Peter hain and Lord Oates clapped hands as their Queen has declared war of terror on protests.
It sounded most normal to them that Regina Elizabeth II was declaring boycotts (shutdowns/ stay-ways) as undermining community cohesion.
They did not remind her that these are the liberties that they demand from Zimbabwe to be allowed to the opposition. Oh no, they seemed perfectly contend with being told by an unelected person that it is ok to curb human rights! Suddenly human rights did not matter because the actions sought to undermine community cohesion!
Does Africa and Zimbabwe not have community cohesion that must not be undermined?
Why cannot Zimbabwe which had Tendai Biti the then Finance Minister during GNU stating that sanction are not helping anyone and must be lifted being the one to say, “we will mobilise for more sanctions” after losing elections enact a Patriotic Act barring such persons from holding public office?
Is British data more important than Zimbabwean data such that there is an outcry over Zimbabwe enacting a Data Protection Act but Britain can do so with impunity?
All the noise they make about freedoms of one thing or the other in Zimbabwe, they trample on it in their own countries with no consequences at all. Julian Assange is rotting in jail with no real criminal charges except exposing the truth. He is a journalist and media personality so let no one be fooled by the claims of press freedom!
Africa must wake up and mostly our local opposition face reality, all the shouts of freedoms they hear are about regime change and nothing else. There is nothing like rights which they want to preach to us!
One day we will wake up as Zimbabweans!
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