There are moments in life when your spirit aches to step forward, to answer a call that feels deeply rooted in your conscience. For me, that call has always been the desire to be involved in the political and social life of our country — not for power, not for recognition, but simply to serve. To try, in whatever small way, to give back to the land that shaped me and to honour the example of those who came before me.

But the truth is… the past is not always gentle.

The controversial events that touched my family and eventually cast a shadow over my parents’ legacy has never been easy to carry. Their story which was once a story of dedication, sacrifice, and hope became entangled with things far beyond their true character. However although I know the heart they had, and the intentions they lived by, the weight of that history has often felt too heavy, too loud, and too overbearing for anyone genuinely trying to walk a sincere path in public service.

I have spent years wrestling with that inner conflict and the conscience that says “serve” and the reality that says “your family name has already been used, twisted, and misunderstood.” Eventually, I had to accept something difficult that sometimes the world doesn’t allow you to continue a legacy in the same form. Sometimes honouring those who came before you means choosing a different road.

So I have made peace with stepping away from politics and the public space, not out of fear or defeat, but out of clarity. I have decided to direct my energy into other forms of service and  work that still strengthens our communities, empowers our people, and contributes to the socioeconomic development of our beloved Zimbabwe… but without the noise, without the suspicion, and without the political baggage that can suffocate genuine intention.

I believe service is not limited to holding office or speaking on stages. Service can be felt in building families, in farming the land, in creating jobs, in empowering young people, in protecting our history, and in planting seeds of generational wealth and identity.

And that is the journey I am on.

I may not serve in the way many expected, but I am serving in the way that feels most honest to my spirit and most respectful of the complex history I carry. And perhaps, in its own quiet way, this path too will honour my parents and not by repeating their footsteps, but by continuing their values of dignity, purpose, community, and the courage to do good even when no one is clapping.

If my story resonates with anyone carrying the weight of a complicated family past, please  may you also find peace in choosing the path that builds you, not the one that breaks you.

🧐 Who is really fighting corruption, and who is playing politics?

Fellow Zimbabweans, we must ask ourselves when a public figure raises allegations of graft, are they acting out of genuine principle or are they jockeying for advantage in the corridors of power?

Take the case of Themba Mliswa. 

On the one hand, he has long argued that corruption (“zvigananda”) is Zimbabwe’s greatest threat, not sanctions.He publicly accused Minister Marian Chombo and senior security officials of illegal land deals and protected mining syndicates.

On the other hand his recent focus on Vice President Chiwenga and related controversies raises questions:

• He claims that Chiwenga’s anti-corruption crusade is not about national reform but personal vendetta. For example: “From day one I argued that the VP’s move was steeped in politics and a revenge move rather than actually fighting corruption.”

• He accused Chiwenga of being influenced by his wife, and of overestimating his influence in the military. 

• He publicly declared that businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei is President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s natural successor thereby implicitly dismissing Chiwenga’s chances. 

If we map the action:

1. Chiwenga positions himself publicly as a “clean-up” figure, targeting cartels and contracting scandals (which is admirable in principle).

2. Mliswa attacks Chiwenga’s moral authority, questions the motives behind specific actions, and emphasises that no one in the political elite is untainted. (True, but the selective focus is telling.)

3. Meanwhile, the succession struggle inside the ruling party (ZANU-PF) looms large as the public ask themselves "who will be next?" "Whose faction will prevail?"

This raises a critical question that "Is Mliswa acting as a whistle-blower or as a strategist in a succession game?"

Let me highlight three red flags for us to consider:

 Selective targeting – Mliswa goes hard on Chiwenga, but does he do the same to all major power players? He supports some figures (Tagwirei) and critiques others (Chiwenga). That differential suggests more than impartial moral outrage. 

 Personalisation of anti-corruption – The narrative sticks to one individual (Chiwenga) being “the problem”, rather than systemic reform. For instance: Mliswa says: “The fight against corruption should not be weaponised as a political gadget against rivals.” 

Coordinated media messaging – While less directly verifiable, observers note how online news channels are amplifying discord within ZANU-PF and focusing heavily on this internal feud. A well-timed commentary like “the mirage of power” on Mliswa’s attacks suggests a broader campaign. 

So what does this mean for the rest of us?

• If the agenda is genuine national reform, we should see an inclusive, transparent campaign across the board but not a one-man (or one-figure) spotlight.

• If the agenda is factional, we end up with a theatre of “anti-corruption” used as a tool to sideline rivals, while the system remains untouched.

• Real accountability demands strong institutions not just personalities pointing fingers. As Mliswa himself said: “Corruption is a national problem … cannot be hijacked for a few political points.” 

In conclusion: 

Yes, we must applaud any citizen willing to speak truth to power. But we must also remain vigilant. When the truth is wielded as a weapon in a power struggle, we risk trading one elite capture for another.

So the question we ask ourselves: "Is Themba Mliswa exposing corruption or is he playing politics with a different aim?"

Let us stay focused on principle, institution, and reform rather than personality, faction, and spectacle.

#Zimbabwe #Corruption #Accountability #ZANUPF

If Only the Universe Knew

Sipho N Banana aka Voice of Freedom

If only the universe knew

how hard I’ve been trying

how much faith I’ve poured into each sunrise,

how I keep speaking light into dark days,

even when the silence feels heavier than hope.

Sometimes I wonder

if my prayers get lost between the clouds,

or if the universe is just waiting

for me to learn something deeper

than what comfort could ever teach.

Coming back home (Zimbabwe )has been

both grounding and humbling.

Zimbabwe a land of beauty and burden

teaches you patience the hard way.

It tests your will, your faith, your belief

that effort still matters when results feel so far away.

But I’ve learned

that the soil doesn’t forget the seed,

even when the rain delays.

The universe moves in rhythms we can’t always hear

it answers in silence,

it builds in stillness,

and sometimes, it blesses us through endurance.

So I keep breathing hope into each moment,

trusting that one day my efforts will echo back as answered prayers.

And when that day comes,

I’ll look back on this season of struggle

and finally understand

the universe was never ignoring me but

it was preparing me.

I’m still here, still believing, still becoming.

Beyond Politics: Building the Zimbabwe We Deserve

A Zimbabwe for All

It has become painfully clear that the kind of politics we have today in Zimbabwe does not serve the interests of the majority. Instead, it benefits a small circle that survives by singing praises to politicians who have placed self-interest and party preservation above the needs of the people.

We can no longer expect a fair democracy from a system where almost every state institution has been politicized and captured to protect the powerful. The time has come for us to shift our energy from hoping politicians will save us, to empowering ourselves and each other.

Let’s start focusing on economic empowerment initiatives and strategic networks that strengthen our capacity to grow, trade, create, and innovate together. Through unity, skill-sharing, and collaboration, we can build strong foundations that make us less dependent on a failing political system.

At the same time, we must continue to demand accountability and transparency in how public resources and services are managed. Our voices, when organized and focused, can become powerful tools for change.

Real transformation won’t come from those who broke the system but it will come from citizens who refuse to be broken by it.

Let’s rise, rebuild, and take charge of the Zimbabwe we all deserve.