#ZimbabweanLivesMatter: Calls for African Union to Respond to Zimbabwean Government’s Violence Against Citizens Strengthen

The hashtag #ZimbabweanLivesMatter is trending on Twitter, and has reached millions across the continent in a matter of hours. The movement is in support of ongoing protest action against the imprisonment of journalist Hopewell Chin'ono who exposed the alleged pilfering of coronavirus funds by government officials.

Enraged international online community has reacted with calls for South Africa, SADC and African Union to intervene in President Mnagagwa's violent actions against protesters.

Read: Deep Dive: Protest Movements Across the Continent

Zimbabwean activists wrote a public letter to the African Union earlier in the year condemning the 20 July 2020 arrest and subsequent bail denial for Chin'ono. The letter further goes on to condemn the silence of Afrian Union and SADC, pointing the hypocrisy of African Union's quick and public response to the #BlackLivesMatter movement sparked by the death of George Floyd.

"We fear that as long as Zimbabwe continues to violate its citizens' rights with impunity, we and fellow writers and journalists are in danger of having our rights violated in the different AU member states while the mother body stays silent," the letter states as reported by Africa Report.

Additionally, renowned Zimbabwean author and recent Booker Prize nominee, Tsitsi Dangarembga was arrested over the weekend and has been released on bail for her participation in the protests.

ZimEye reports that "President Emmerson Mnangagwa regime sought to thwart the planned anti-corruption march that had been planned for 31 July".

South African celebrities have rallied support for the movement and the rapper AKA leads in voicing his support.

Former leader of the DA, South Africa's official opposition party, Mmusi Maimane has also pressured South African President Cyril Ramaphosa who is the chairperson of the African Union to tell Mnangagwa to respect the rights of the media and opposition. He also reached out to Trevor Noah in a tweet.