The Zimbabwean army firing at protesters using live ammunition
By Alice Nyamande
The 1st of August is not merely another date on Zimbabwe’s calendar. It is a painful reminder of one of the darkest moments in our nation’s democratic journey — a day when the hopes of ordinary citizens collided with the force of the state, leaving behind grief, unanswered questions, broken families, and a wound that has never fully healed.
On this anniversary, Zimbabweans remember those who lost their lives during the events of 1 August 2018. We remember the families who buried their loved ones instead of welcoming them home. We remember those who were injured, those who were traumatised, and those whose faith in the institutions of the state was deeply shaken.
A nation cannot truly move forward while the pain of its people remains unacknowledged.
The tragedy of that day was not simply about the deaths of innocent people. It was about the erosion of trust between citizens and the institutions established to protect them. The deployment of soldiers into a civilian political environment raised profound constitutional, legal and moral questions that Zimbabwe must continue to confront — honestly and without evasion. Our defence forces exist to defend national sovereignty and protect citizens from external threats. They should never become instruments through which citizens fear expressing themselves or participating in democratic processes.
The consequences extended far beyond the streets where the violence occurred. Families lost breadwinners. Children lost parents. Communities lost neighbours. Businesses suffered. Zimbabwe’s international reputation took a severe blow, and investor confidence weakened. The dream of a peaceful democratic transition suffered yet another painful setback.
Even today, many Zimbabweans carry emotional scars from that morning. Some still await justice. Others continue to seek accountability, truth and closure. Healing cannot be achieved through silence. Reconciliation cannot be built upon forgotten victims.
As President of the Action Democratic Movement (ADM), I believe Zimbabwe must learn from its painful history rather than be condemned to repeat it. Our nation deserves politics without bloodshed. It deserves elections where political competition is decided by the ballot box, not by bullets. It deserves security services that are respected because they faithfully uphold the Constitution and protect every citizen equally, regardless of political affiliation.
Preventing another national tragedy requires genuine institutional reform. ADM advocates for professional, constitutionally accountable security services that remain politically impartial and operate strictly within the law. We believe independent institutions must be empowered to investigate allegations of excessive force transparently and without political interference. We support dialogue over confrontation, constitutionalism over repression, accountability over impunity, and democratic participation over fear.
Every Zimbabwean life matters. Whether one supports the ruling party or the opposition, every citizen possesses equal dignity and equal constitutional protection. No mother should ever again bury a child because of political tensions. No father should fear returning home after exercising his constitutional rights. No child should grow up believing that politics and violence are the same thing.
The ADM envisions a Zimbabwe where elections unite rather than divide the nation; where state institutions serve the Constitution rather than political interests; where disagreements are resolved through democratic processes; and where peace is protected through justice rather than fear.
As we remember the victims of 1 August 2018, we bow our heads in honour of their memory. We extend our deepest condolences to every family that continues to live with unimaginable loss. Their pain remains part of our national conscience. Their memory should inspire every leader, every institution and every citizen to reject political violence in all its forms.
History should never be erased. It should be remembered so that its mistakes are never repeated.
May Zimbabwe become a nation where justice heals wounds, accountability restores public confidence, democracy flourishes without fear, and no citizen ever again loses their life in the pursuit of constitutional freedoms. The greatest tribute we can offer the victims of 1 August is to build a Zimbabwe in which such a tragedy is never repeated.
Alice Nyamande is President of the Action Democratic Movement (ADM).
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