Let's talk about #31July2020.

Prince Gora | The day has been trending since the beginning of the month when Mr. Jacob Ngarivhume declared it as yet another D-Day for the future of our beloved country. The response has been overwhelming, key opposition and civic society figures have endorsed the scheduled demonstration but critics and nay-sayers have dismissed it and expressed worries pointing out to previous "D-Days". They argue that these produced nothing but more suffering for the majority of the citizenry, many of whom were beaten, tortured, abducted or even murdered following such days.

The government, having learnt the hard way about the power of social media from previous cases, has not been slow in responding. Various ZANU PF and government officials have come out guns blazing warning Zimbabweans to not participate in the demonstration and labelling it's own kith and kin as terrorists. We've even started debating on "the real reason for the tightening of the lockdown restrictions". Some of my comrades have even began to cast doubts on the recent surge in Covid-19 cases - Is it just coincidence?

As the day approaches, I feel that it is pertinent to have discussions around the things that will make July 31st a success or failure.

1. Kutenda kusina mabasa kwakafa - action matters!

There has been much tough talk from both ends of the political divide during the month of July. Ultimately, what is going to seperate the boys from men is the action that is going to be implemented on July 31st. We're not new to tough talk, we've heard it all before and many a time, some of us have really believed that "ZANU PF will surely not escape this time around". It's a pity that we've been disappointed time after time, again and again. Hopefully, #31July2020 will be different.

Another thing we need to address is the myth that action doesn't matter. The myth that by taking action we're simply courting more atrocities from the regime. Well, if you believe that action doesn't matter then you haven't been reading between the lines. Let me challenge you to go to Zanu PF's Facebook or twitter page and tell them the truth, the truth they have failed and must leave the government and see what response you get. You can even record a video or write a personal letter to the president. Having done that, and keeping in mind whatever response you would have gotten, I would then challenge you to carry a placard and go to read it (while seating) in front of the ruling/ruining party's headquarters and see what response you will get.

There's a reason, comrades and friends, why many people talk tough and even insult the president and get away with it while anyone who dares to take any form of action, no matter how small or petty, is dealt with in a matter of minutes. Haven't you come across the qoute that says "Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never harm me"? Action matters my fellow countrymen and women. Each time we've tried to take decisive action, the state has responded devastingly, that should tell you something...maybe we just need to be a little bit braver, a little bit more resilent and a little bit more determined.

2. Will the masses show up?

This is a question that is, by all accounts, being avoided by many. It is easy and understandable for someone to be overwhelmingly confident that the masses will show up given the response the scheduled demo has received on social media but I am still sceptical.

Lessons from the past.

I learnt this lesson the hard way. In November last year seven of my collegemates were served with suspension letters on a late Friday afternoon. Exams were scheduled to begin the following Monday. To say the least, I was outraged and immediately halted all last minute examination preps I was undertaking to stand up for my brothers. Among other things that I did in an endeavour to have the suspensions reversed was organising a demo in solidarity with these guys. After talking to a few comrades about the idea we decided to open a Whatsapp group. 20 minutes later, the group was full and we had to open another. I delegated this responsibility to other comrades and was told that a few more groups were created. Solidarity messages poured in their thousands and I had so much confidence that our demo was perhaps going to be the greatest college demo of all time.

Fast forward to midday Saturday, when the demonstration was scheduled to start. Our fellow students did stop their exam preps, came out of their hostels, hallrooms and classrooms but only less than 50 arrived at the actual venue. The rest took nice spots nearby and became spectators. Phones were out and people gossiped around.

I had another dance with this sad reality recently but because of legal complexities and for the sake of my comrades, I will not talk about it today.

 Masses failing to show up isn't new on the national scale, various D-Days have either flopped or turned violent because of this very fact so I will ask again, will the masses show up?

3. Expectations

A major talking point in the lead up to #31July2020 has been why not now? Why should we wait for that long? The arrest of Hopewell and Ngarivhume, if anything, should have been the signal and the perfect excuse to bring forward the revolution. The idea has been tossed around but I will wait for it's implementation.

The idea of waiting a whole month to stage a peaceful protest raises questions of goals and expectations. What exactly should happen for revolution to kickstart? Is it just the date? What are we expecting to achieve? And when are we going, if ever, to stop?

We need clear goals because only then can we truly rise as a people and pursue the goal until it is achieved!

©2020 P. Gora