One who strode the western capitals, riding the Queen's horse drawn
carriage, and winning awards and recognition world wide. Discussion on
this characterisation today might be as controversial as when it was
first put out into the public arena. Many who thought otherwise then,
might as well be convinced the other way, now. This however is not the
subject of my writing.
This week we saw another terrorist' being granted bail and freedom
after three months of torture. This is a terrorist' with a difference,
one wholly created by President Robert Mugabe's government out of the
blue and to serve political ends. For those who have read Frantz Fanon,
Wretched of the earth (Pitfalls of National Consciousness), Jestina's
travails might aid a better understanding of the psychology of the post
independent African nation state. Especially the behaviour of a
visionless and clueless leadership, one that seeks power for its sake.
Fanon explains in vivid language how the formerly oppressed outdo the
former oppressor at oppressing, the majority of people.
Jestina Mukoko is free at last, but battered to breaking point. Jestina
was a legend in broadcasting in Zimbabwe the time I was growing up. She
remained one in civic society. More so because many others were not
prepared to do the work she was doing. Talking openly about the
violence in Zimbabwe. She today, by a twist, not of fate, but of
deliberate planning, became one such victim of this state orchestrated
violence. Having had the chance to work with her and the group of civic
activists in the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), the organisation that
she leads, one is left wondering how on earth such a grouping can, of
all things, be accused of terrorism. The grouping involves old men and
women, who at some point, I struggled with the whole day, discussing
how to compile reports on politically motivated violence, identify and
talk to ring leaders from all parties, and act as peacemakers.
These are men and women, who in the best of times would rather concern
themselves with their farming, their goats and cattle and in the
wildest of dreams, hold a gun. Jestina humbled herself to work with the
so called ordinary women and men and ZPP never conducted business in
the cover of darkness but what ever activities ZPP carried out where
out in the open.
Their reports and work accessible to all who wanted to see. Their
office out in the open. Apart from vile sadism one cannot put any
explanation to the three months of torture, denial of freedom that she
went through. We had senior government officials, the likes of AG
Johannes Tomana, portray Jestina as one of the most dangerous persons
in Zimbabwe, a terrorist. I dare say Jestina has never held a gun in
her hand, and I bet she does not know the shape of a grenade.
In the struggle over meaning making and making the stupid sound
sensible and common sensical, the world terrorism is unfortunately
accorded a new meaning by the Zimbabwe government, to mean anyone who
opposes its policies. A terrorist in Zimbabwe is either an opposition
supporter, a human rights activists or a white farmer. The skills in
torture and propaganda that the Mugabe government learnt in Ian Smith's
jail are being put to good use, albeit against their own citizens.
Whatever the freedom that Jestina might have now, will not take away
the scars that she physically and emotionally will live with for the
rest of her life. This trauma has not only been confined to her but her
family and colleagues. It seems within ZANU PFs scheme of things the
message has hit home. What more ace is there to play now and who is
next? We can only wonder.