Funeral Service for Zimbabwe Activist, Two Years After Murder
Enduring a gruesome two-year wait, Moreblessing Ali, a Zimbabwean opposition activist brutally murdered in 2022, was finally laid to rest in Chitungwiza, on the outskirts of Harare this past Saturday. A member of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Ali met a tragic fate when she was abducted outside a bar in Nyatsime, a neighborhood in Chitungwiza. The discovery of her dismembered body in a well two weeks later added to the horror of her demise.
The anguish of Ali’s family was compounded by the gruesome nature of her death, leading them to refuse her burial until the release of Joe Sikhala, a prominent CCC official and the family’s lawyer. Sikhala, who asserted that Ali was murdered by supporters of the ruling Zanu-PF party, spent close to two years in pre-trial detention. His release in January, with a suspended prison sentence, marked a turning point. Despite resigning from the CCC, Sikhala expressed a belief that Ali’s death could have a transformative impact on Zimbabwe’s political landscape, fostering resilience within the opposition.
Wellington Ali, Moreblessing’s brother, expressed the family’s relief at her final resting place, acknowledging the profound challenges they had faced. On the other hand, Mildred Ali, the slain activist’s sister, voiced anger at the perceived leniency of the jail sentence given to Pius Jamba, the individual convicted of her murder. She emphasized that while Jamba was imprisoned, others involved in the crime remained at large, intensifying the family’s grief.
Ali’s funeral was marred by clashes between factions within the Citizens Coalition for Change, which has been grappling with internal divisions since last year’s elections. Despite initially securing control of major cities and towns, the CCC has fragmented into numerous factions following the departure of its leader, Nelson Chamisa, in January.
The broader political landscape in Zimbabwe is cause for concern, particularly with ZANU-PF regaining a two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament. The ruling party’s dominance raises worries about the health of democracy in the country, as it effectively governs without significant opposition. The tragic death of Moreblessing Ali and the subsequent turmoil within the opposition underscore the multifaceted challenges facing Zimbabwe as it grapples with both political and social complexities.
