Zimbabwe marked 45 years of independence in 2025,
- but many citizens feel there is little to celebrate due to ongoing crises:
- *Economic Collapse* – Hyperinflation, unemployment, and currency instability persist, with failed attempts to revive the Zimbabwean dollar.
- *Political Repression* – The ruling ZANU-PF party maintains power through disputed elections, crackdowns on opposition, and suppression of dissent.
- *Corruption & Mismanagement* – Elite corruption and looting of resources have worsened poverty and inequality.
- *Mass Migration & Brain Drain* – Millions have fled due to lack of opportunities, weakening the country’s skilled workforce.
- *Humanitarian Crises* – Food shortages, droughts, and a broken healthcare system keep Zimbabwe dependent on aid.
Despite independence from colonial rule, Zimbabwe remains trapped in economic and political turmoil, leaving many citizens disillusioned. Without major reforms or leadership change, true freedom and prosperity remain out of reach.
On April 18, Zimbabwe is "apparently" commemorating its forty-five years of freedom from the colonial rule as Independence Day draws near.
Emmerson Mnangangwa became president when Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's long-time leader who had ruled since the country's independence in 1980, was overthrown by a military coup. However, 45 years later, many Zimbabweans feel there is little to celebrate. Instead of prosperity and freedom, the country has been plagued by economic collapse, political repression, and widespread corruption, leaving citizens disillusioned with the promises of independence.
President Emmerson Mnangangwa has failed to bring meaningful reform. The economy remains in shambles, with unemployment soaring, currency instability, and basic services like healthcare and education in decline. Political leaders and activists jailed and elections marred by allegations of fraud.
The only people who are enjoying independence in Zimbabwe are Mnangangwa and his corrupt Zanu-Pf government, who are looting the country’s funds for their gain and pleasure.
For ordinary Zimbabweans, independence has not translated into better lives. The dream of a free, prosperous Zimbabwe remains unfulfilled, leaving citizens to ever wonder whether true liberation was ever achieved. After 45 years, there's no independence to celebrate only a legacy of broken promises.
A Call to Action: 45 Years of Stagnation – The “Walk to Nowhere” Campaign
On 18th April 2025, Zimbabwe will mark 45 years since its historic Independence, a hard-won victory achieved through the sacrifices of the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) and the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA). This milestone should be a time of celebration, reflection, and pride in the promise of a free and prosperous nation. Yet, for many Zimbabweans—both at home and in the diaspora—the reality of independence feels hollow.
Decades of misrule, corruption, and repression have left the country in a state of stagnation, where the dreams of 1980 have faded into a "nowhere" of unfulfilled potential.
To mark this bittersweet anniversary, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO) is launching a bold new campaign: the “Walk to Nowhere”—a combined Independence protest and a symbolic 45-mile (or 45-kilometre) walk. This initiative builds on ZHRO’s established “Walk for Freedom” campaign, which, since 2017, has seen activists cover gruelling distances—such as the 105km trek from Brighton to London—to highlight the ongoing human rights abuses and lack of democratic progress in Zimbabwe. Now, on this 45th anniversary, we invite Zimbabweans and their supporters worldwide to join us in a poignant demonstration that mirrors the nation’s journey: 45 years, 45 miles, and still nowhere near true freedom.
Why 45?
The number 45 is more than just a marker of years since Independence. It is a stark symbol of Zimbabwe’s arrested development. After 45 years, millions of Zimbabweans endure poverty, unemployment, and repression under a regime that has clung to power since 1980, led by the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). The liberation armies fought for self-determination, equality, and justice, yet today’s Zimbabwe is plagued by economic collapse, rampant corruption, and a ruling elite that prioritizes power over the people. The “Walk to Nowhere” reflects this paradox—a long, arduous journey that has led not to progress, but to a dead end.
The “Walk to Nowhere” Campaign
The “Walk to Nowhere” is both a physical and symbolic act of protest. From 18th April 2025, for a YEAR, ZHRO calls on activists, diaspora communities, and allies to participate in walks spanning 45 miles (approximately 72 kilometres) or 45 kilometres (approximately 28 miles)—distances that echo and reflect upon the 45 years since Independence. These walks will take place across the globe, from the streets of Harare (given sensible precautions see below) to the countryside of the UK, South Africa, Europe, USA and beyond, wherever Zimbabweans and their supporters reside.