It is crooked wood that shows the best sculptor

Abstract

As I write this editorial, #ZimbabweanLivesMatter has been trending on South Africa’s social media
platforms for close to 48 hours. Both local and international celebrities have spoken against human
rights abuses, said to be on the increase in that country. With the COVID-19 pandemic regulations
against social gatherings in full force, people have taken to social media to voice their displeasure.
While politicians in the SADC region have, in the main, remained silent on the latest developments
in that country, a growing civil society voice appears to be gaining traction with possibilities of
straining international relations in the region. The issues in Zimbabwe are multifaceted; they cut
across several sectors, administrative regimes and political ideologies. Such issues are also not
unique to Zimbabwe since many African countries have had their share of inefficiencies, abuse of
human rights and widespread public protests. This phenomenon encapsulates some of the issues
explored in this July issue of the African Journal of Governance and Development.