TRANSFORM Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume has revealed that his 43 day long detention has made him stronger and more determined to fight for a government that respects the will of the people, Zim Morning Post can report.
Ngarivhume registered his sentiments Thursday on his official Facebook page, a day after he was granted bail accompanied with stringent conditions.
The opposition leader said challenging the government to respect constitutional rights should not be a crime.
“What we want is simple; a government that is truly for and by the people. The right to life, freedom and happiness. Challenging the government to that end is not a crime but a great commission for this generation. A commission we have accepted and one we will not fail,” Ngarivhume said.
Ngarivhume said the government was paranoid and fearful of the people hence it had chosen to deny them their constitutional rights.
“There is no greater admission of guilt or self-implication than denying citizens of their constitutional rights on the basis of fear,” Ngarivhume said.
“Hopewell (Chin’ono), Job Sikhala and myself along with many others were stripped of our civil rights in front of the whole world in order to protect the secrets of a few who are profiting during our nation’s period of crisis,” he added.
He further said the trio was not ashamed of being arrested since their demands were simple and noble.
“We have nothing to be ashamed of for our demands are simple and noble. For 40 years we have lived as prisoners in our own land denied of basic rights that many in this world enjoy without restriction” Ngarivhume explained.
The Transform Zimbabwe leader and investigative journalist Chin’ono were arrested on July 20, charged with inciting public violence for allegedly calling for removal of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
The planned protest was thwarted by police and the military which kept people off the streets of Harare and other cities on July 31.
The duo has been denied bail on several freedom bids.
Chin’ono who was released from remand prison on his fourth attempt at bail, was gagged from posting messages using his specific twitter handle.
Chin’ono paid a ZWL 10 000 bail while Ngarivhume paid ZWL 50 000, and they were both barred from using their Twitter handles or to create other handles which they might use to incite public violence.
