…encourages youth to register to vote
Thabiso Nxumalo
Human rights defender and political activist Makomborero Haruzivishe says if anything, prison made him more focused, defiant and vibrant than ever.
In an exclusive interview with TellZim News on February 8, 2022 in Masvingo, Haruzivishe narrated his 10 months and 22 days ordeal behind bars at Harare Central Prison and Harare Remand prison, where he said regardless of the ill-treatment, psychological abuse and delaying tactics the system implored to crush his spirit of fighting for a ‘democratic and free’ Zimbabwe, he is rather more defiant and vibrant.
“Painful, is one word I would use to describe my ordeal behind bars, the whole process was meant to discourage me and kill the democracy spirit within me, but it gave me more power and determination to fight more and fight harder.
“What is at stake is more than me, it is way beyond the individual but it is about the nation as a whole. There are more people who die from cholera than from human rights incarcerations and as a result we will as human rights defenders suffer in order to bring good governance that will stop hundreds of people from dying of diseases brought by ill-governance,” said Haruzivishe.
He added that prison gave him time to reflect without distractions and bias on the situation in the country and how the system works.
“As a matter of fact, prison gave me an opportunity to reflect and think without bias on the prevailing situation in Zimbabwe and made me understand the system that governs our country because I was locked up with various members of the security forces, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) officials—high ranking officials.
“Most of these people once held influential positions in these organizations but the system had spit them out and as we got to converse, I got to understand how the system works,” he added.
He said that he met a lot of young people in prison who, due to failure to access jobs and education ended up turning to petty crimes and drug abuse and as a result urged youths to register to vote for a government that will panacea the lack of employment and improve accessibility of education as a way of keeping youths out of prison.
“You would see that a good number of young people are in prison, thousands of them, most of them tried going the education way but it was expensive, they could not access education and those who managed to graduate at various levels, be it O’ level, A’ level or university, cannot get employment and they are being forced into drug abuse and petty crimes for survival.
“As such, my message to young people is that they must register to vote and help build a better Zimbabwe for all,” he said.
Haruzivishe is still undergoing trial and reports to the local police station as per his bail conditions.
