ZIMBABWE CRISIS
WALK FOR FREEDOM 9-10 AUGUST 2025 IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
We lift up our eyes and look into the distance, Latitude 17.9316 and longitude 25.8302. The Lozi Nation calls it Mosi-oa-Tunga (Thundering Smoke/Smoke that Rises/ Smoke that Thunders). The Tonga Nation calls it Shungu Namutitima (Boiling Water). The rest of the world knows this place as The Mighty Victoria Falls.
This is UNESCO’s One of the Seven Wonders of Nature. Lifted up so the whole world may take note of it.
It is the World’s largest falls with a width of 1,708 meters and a height of 108 meters. It has the World's largest sheet of falling water. The spray of the water rises up 400 meters and is visible from 50 km. Daily it has many rainbows and at night during a full moon it has a “Moonbow“ which is a rainbow at night, a “Luner Rainbow“.
This place is stranger than fiction, for those that levitate into the dark arts state that the waters that have not yet flown over the falls have a different spiritual quality than the waters that are now flowing over the falls. In this regard these waters are used for different purposes in their dark art.
Our gaze shifts to a silhouetted lone dancer next to a huge upside-down tree, the Baoba. This tree looks as if it has been uprooted and turned upside down with its roots in the air. It is a tree that can live for over three thousand years. Yes three thousand years! This place is cloaked in mystery, contradictions and unquantifiable forces.
The silhouetted dancer dances on his own to a single drum beat. The drum beat rhythm and tone immediately pulls at one’s heart to take note and to pay attention. The dance is a knee and feet dance with the upper body remaining ridged, like the Irish Traditional Dance. Every time the dances feet pound the ground, dust rises into the air. Today the dancer has been dancing for two hours non-stop. He is 86 years of age…..!!
The dancer dances and the drummer pounds the drum because they wish to take their spirits into the air, to levitate. They seek answers. They seek answers. They seek answers.
The question being asked is “How can it be that a place like this, a gift from The Almighty himself has failed to impact the world because of what the current Administration in Zimbabwe has done and continues to do!“
The people of this place and country are closely in touch with their inner self. They instinctively know that we do not just exist on this plane and in this realm only.
And so over 6,000 miles due north and a little west we arrived at the green and pleasant fields of the United Kingdom. The Royal House of Windsor has a new monarch, HRM Charles III. A biblical exodus of people from Zimbabwe to the United Kingdom occurred and continues to happen. As they leave the entity that is not in tune with their spirits behind. Hundreds of thousands have arrived seeking refuge and sanctuary. Whilst many were brought in by The UK government to work in its Primary Health Care in the NHS.
These people are the people of the open areas, peoples of the plains, like many First Nation people are. In this regard in 2016 a small group got together and set themselves a challenge. That is, to walk 100 kilometres from Brighton to London, through the English countryside. This is not just a walk but rather it is a cathartic experience to assist these ancient people, to also spiritually levitate and seek out the same answers, being sought by the 86 year old silhouetted dancer at Mosi-oa-Tunga. Each step they take on this 100 Kilometer walk assists this process. We are now in 2025 and the 100 Kilometer walk is growing in participants.
Many old faiths around the world have pilgrimages, similar to this 100 kilometer walk, where the individual seeks out “balance“ in their lives so as to rationalise and make sense of the world they find themselves in. Et tu, these people from Zimbabwe. Many cannot go back because of political reasons. Whist others cannot go back because their whole extended families totally depend upon their pay-slips here in the United Kingdom. It is therefore only right and proper that they seek out a pressure release valve in their lives. And this 100 Kilometer walk is part of that.
However, the 100 Kilometer walk is also an opportunity for them, to remove themselves from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, so as to look at the Zimbabwean conundrum from a different perspective.
For Zimbabwe will not change itself. Zimbabwe will only be changed by Zimbabweans themselves. This is a difficult but true reality.
Hence this this walk is called The “Walk For Freedom”!
It occurs every year in summer. They leave on Saturday morning on the 9th August , walk all day, walk through the night and arrive in London Hampton Court Station Sunday morning. Bravo, bravo, Bravo!
The Walk for Freedom by design coincides with the Zimbabwean holiday’s of Hero’s Day on the 11 August and also Zimbabwe Forces Day on the 12th August. In doing so the Walk For Freedom shines a bright light on the subject of “What was the point of The War For liberation and also what was the point of Independence in Zimbabwe and for Zimbabweans.
By all measurable criteria, the current Zimbabwean Administration has failed completely the people of The Republic of Zimbabwe. We say “Zimbabwean Administration“, because technically they did not meet the threshold to be called a government. Since the electorate in 2023 did not give them the electoral mandate to form a government. Hence in truth one can only refer to them as an administration.
What is a Hero? A hero is someone who has gone beyond the call of duty/obligation to assist their fellow human being. It is the public who identifies such individuals assisted by an independent “A-Political“ panel/committee. With great regret today the panel/committee is one hundred percent Zanu PF. By this token they only recognise Zanu PF members as being heroes. One then begs the question about what about ZAPU members in the War of Liberation, what of CCC, MDC, MRP - members and the public at large, in our age who have gone above and beyond the call of duty for their fellow citizens. This is the main reason why “Hero’s Day“ on the 11th August in Zimbabwe has lost its true meaning.
The Walk For Freedom seeks to remember the True Heroes of The Republic of Zimbabwe.
On the 12th August the following day we have Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day. The Zimbabwe Defence Forces, ZDF. This acronym, ZDF does not stand for Zanu Defence Forces as some in the current Administration seem to think. For the ZDF to view the citizens of the Republic of Zimbabwe as an enemy is an error. A profound error. The ZDF oath of allegiance is to the country and not to Zanu PF. The error begins here and then continues when the Administration makes its administration a “Military administration“. Like military governments around the world. These are classic signs of the erosion of democracy, erosion of the Rule of Law, and corruption on an industrial scale. The ZDF finds itself plunged into this mess of lack of governance.
We have witnessed it in the past and even currently, the ZDF turning its guns against the Zimbabwean citizens. Other Defence Forces in the Region like in Zambia, Botswana, Malawi and other countries around the world, refused to turn their guns on their own citizens during contested elections. Alas with great regret, the ZDF seems to have no difficulties in turning its guns against unarmed civilians. We are looking with hope towards a new breed of ZDF Officer that will one day break this chain of terrible events in Zimbabwe. That when it comes to Zimbabwean Elections, the ZDF formally takes no part in them. This one single act would transform the country overnight, for the better. Zimbabwe would accelerate in development and growth, the likes of which has not been witnessed before in other countries. For Zimbabwe holds a massive latent potential that is just awaiting this move by the ZDF.
In 2017 when the ZDF lead the charge in “Operation Restore Legacy“, that lead to the removal R.G.Mugabe, the people in their masses, and masses celebrated the ZDF. This was a high the ZDF last enjoyed in 1981 at independence. It is concerning that the ZDF has forgotten these peaks in their relationship with the ordinary public. Hence Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day is now viewed as being insignificant by the public at large.
The Walk For Freedom also reviews the conduct of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to date. Asking the questions of why is the ZDF holding onto and supporting a system that does not work, that has placed all of the people of Zimbabwe at a detriment and at a disadvantage.
The current administration has eroded the significance and meaning of the other national holidays in the country;-
● 21 February Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day
● 18 April Independence Day
● 1 May International Workers Day
● 26 May Africa Day
● December National Unity Day of Zimbabwe.
It is a sad state of affairs when the people of Zimbabwe no longer have any real meaning and reverence for all of these well intended National Holidays any more, because of the conduct of the current administration.
What gives us hope, comfort and reassurance, ie the knowledge that all developed countries in the world have all gone through what Zimbabwe is currently going through. And these countries come out the other side to tell the tale. All is not lost. Politics spins at the toss of a coin. It takes just one day and only one day and not two for everything to suddenly change. So let us be ready for that change.
The Walk For Freedom is part of that readiness. For bonds, friendships and relationships formed during the Walk For Freedom are for life and beyond. We will all sit down one day and over dinner say, “Do you remember the days of madness under Zanu PF“, and everyone at the table will laugh and joke about these days.
But for now, we need clarity of mind and focus of purpose for the road ahead. Physically speaking and also metaphorically speaking. The 100 Kilometer Walk For Freedom helps this. There is no doubt that this walk will continue to grow, especially whilst Zanu PF still stubbornly remains in Office. However even if we do attain our freedom, the Walk For Freedom will continue as a Right-of-Passage amongst these ancient people of Zimbabwe.
The drum beat continues next to the Baobab tree by Shungu Namutima, Mosi-oa-Tunga, Victoria Falls. The old man of 86 continues to dance in the mid-day sun of 40 degrees Celsius. The mystery of life continues all around us. Life has so much to offer. Where it is good or bad, it is still part of life.
We wholeheartedly thank the organisers and facilitators for the Walk For Freedom. May it continue indefinitely.
