Issue and Opponent: Many citizens in Zimbabwe have suffered from the failure of political representation, corruption, human rights issues, freedom of speech, and assembly. Due to this, there was an increase of violations during COVID-19 where political figures and higher authority figures were using COVID as a way to prevent freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. Zimbabwe is suffering one of its worst economic crises in more than 10 years where more than 90 percent of the citizens are without formal employment.
Dilemma Action: Award-winning author and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga posted an image on her Twitter account where she was calling all protestors to make a placard with the viral #ZimbaweanLivesMatter hashtag on it. The tweet outlined that solo protestors should take pictures with the flag of Zimbabwe and placards to post online to raise awareness. In many of these posts, many protestors covered their faces or submitted photos to a trusted account where it was posted on their behalf.
Outcome: The #ZimbabweanLivesMatter social movement has continued to grow and grow sympathy from many people around the world it has also gained attention from celebrities including rappers AKA, Ice Cube, actress Pearl Thusi, and Thandie Newton. The former president of Botswana also joined the campaign to give light on the current situation in Zimbabwe. Although the movement was successful there was also a ton of backlash specifically Dangarembga, the opposition party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere, and 60 other individuals were arrested.