#Freemako

By Admire Mutize, Chitungwiza Integrated Youth Survival Alternative Project

(Please Note: This article reflects the opinion of the author, a member of DemocracyMoves, and not the viewpoints of the entire coalition)

While the global village is seeing light at the end of the Covid19 pandemic with vaccinations programs gaining pace in many countries, the authoritarian and military backed government of Zimbabwe has weaponized Covid19 regulations to clamp down on civic and political activism as it seeks to a one party state republic. The case of Makomborero Haruzivishe, a former student leader turned democracy activist, graphically depicts the callous and paranoid nature of the Emerson Mnangagwa led regime in Harare.

Makomborero was arrested recently at the Harare Magistrate's court after attending a court session in solidarity with two leading women opposition leaders. After her comrades were denied bail, Mako was asked to give an interview by an international media correspondent and his cameraman. He dutifully complied and lambasted the captured judiciary for pandering to the regimes' will by denying bail to political opponents.

State security agents eavesdropping on the interview pounced on the group of three and accused them of violating COVID19 protocols by holding an unsanctioned gathering. The media workers were released and Mako was charged alone for convening a gathering of 3 people and violating COVID19 rules- a serious offence for which one can serve a jail term in Zimbabwe. COVID19 rules in Zimbabwe allow gatherings of up to ten people for short periods of time but have been further relaxed after the number of cases dropped at the beginning of March 2021. Travel restrictions no longer apply and it is business as usual in most economic and social sectors- with churches allowed to meet with less than 50 congregants while funeral vigils are limited to 30 people.

Mako was arrested and remanded in custody for meeting two journalists!

Mako is a victim of the toxic and polarized politics bedeviling Zimbabwe. His political identity as a member of the opposition and former student leader is the actual reason why he was arrested. He recently offered solidarity to students demonstrating against tuition fee hikes in colleges, polytechnics, and universities. Arresting Mako for giving an interview and supposedly violating social distancing rules is pathetic and unjustifiable.

We call on the free world to stand with Mako and condemn human rights violations perpetrated under the cover of enforcing COVID19 rules in Zimbabwe.

The cruel irony of Mako's arrest is that it exposes him to the Covid19 virus while in poorly resourced remand prison. Our greatest fear is Mako has no PPE in prison and access to water is restricted. We hope to get him PPE and visit him in remand prison to show solidarity. Due to Covid 19 induced financial strain it's difficult for families to provide for their jailed relatives and now rely on friends and well-wishers.

His bail hearing and sentencing has been postponed several times.