APART from gifting the world with ground-breaking innovations and inventions, the United States has offered humanity essential lessons vital for nourishing an enduring democracy.
Since its Independence from British colonial rule on July 4, 1776, the US has boldly asserted the importance of defending fundamental liberties to sustain its democracy.
This is succinctly captured in the Declaration of Independence, which states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Even in its darkest moments in history, including the slave trade era, the civil war, and the civil rights movement, America has always reminded itself of its founding principles, anchored on the need to protect human rights.
America’s revered founding fathers, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson, had the rare wisdom of understanding that the primary duty of the State in a democracy is to consistently renew and reinvigorate itself to ensure that these fundamental rights are preserved.
This is sadly the opposite in most autocracies in Africa, including Zimbabwe, where governments have inherited repressive legislation from colonial rulers to stifle basic human rights.
Oppressive regimes have further crafted harsh legislation, making it a nightmare to live in such countries.
Citizens living under the jackboot of dictatorship miraculously survive in fear, as heartless rulers preside over their subjects with terrifying brutality.
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These senseless overlords commit heinous crimes against their citizens in a futile bid to consolidate power.
Some of these states have ridiculous dictatorial laws such as strict censorship of media and information.
During my recent visit to the US, among nine journalists from Africa and Brazil, what impressed me most during that memorable tour is how the American government highly values the importance of defending human rights such as the freedom of expression, speech, assembly, and religion.
America’s first Constitutional amendment, which was ratified in 1791, acknowledges that freedom is enhanced with our capacity to share and access ideas, even, and maybe especially, the ones we disagree with.
It is therefore nerve-chilling that authorities this week arrested the Zimbabwe Independent editor, Faith Zaba, for “undermining the authority of President Emmerson Mnangagwa” over the publication of a satirical column in last week’s edition.
Zaba, one of Zimbabwe’s most decorated journalists, has been at the forefront of making diverse viewpoints available to everyone through this publication.
Indeed, journalism is not a crime!
