One of the worst scandals in Zimbabwe’s history has come to light. It involves US$100 million meant for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). This money was supposed to be used to prepare for elections. But instead of being used to serve the people, it was looted. Businessman Wicknell Chivhayo, together with Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, are accused of taking this money. They worked with powerful officials in government. What was meant to build democracy was turned into a private piggy bank.

Now, Chivhayo and his partners are sitting in jail for two corruption cases. But the question on every Zimbabwean’s mind is: will justice really be done? Or is this just another show to protect the powerful while ordinary people suffer?

At the same time this scandal is unfolding, Zimbabwe is preparing for elections. But these elections are already stained with fear. Instead of focusing on making the vote fair, ZANU PF is cracking down on its political opponents. The party is arresting anyone who dares to speak up against the regime.

One of the most painful examples is the continued jailing of Job Sikhala. He is not just an opposition leader. He is a man who has risked everything to speak for the poor, the voiceless, the forgotten. He is a senior figure in the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), and many people love him for his bravery. But instead of responding to his words with dialogue, ZANU PF put him in chains. They accuse him of crimes many believe are politically motivated.

Jacob Ngarivhume, leader of Transform Zimbabwe, is also behind bars. He may lead a smaller party, but his voice has always been loud and clear when it comes to justice and freedom. His calls for reform are now being silenced through jail bars. These arrests are not just attacks on two men. They are attacks on the entire democratic spirit of the country.

What kind of election is it when your opponents are locked away? What kind of democracy jails those who speak for the people? These arrests are not isolated. They are part of a pattern—one where fear, violence, and corruption replace dialogue, freedom, and fairness.

Human rights groups have warned us for years. Zimbabwe is sliding deeper into authoritarianism. The media is under attack. Civil society is being suffocated. Protesters are beaten. Journalists are arrested. And now, with elections around the corner, ZANU PF is turning to brute force to hold on to power.

The people are watching. They know that when leaders fear the ballot, they use the baton. And right now, the regime fears the people’s vote. That is why Sikhala and Ngarivhume are locked up. That is why the ZEC scandal has shaken the nation—because it reveals the rot at the heart of our electoral process.

And where is the international community? Will it continue to watch in silence as democracy dies in Zimbabwe? Or will it act? Sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and public condemnation are needed. The world must stand with the people of Zimbabwe, not with the corrupt elite stealing elections and silencing voices.

But more importantly, Zimbabweans must stand together. Civil society must not retreat. Activists must continue to speak out. Legal aid must be offered to those unfairly jailed. Peaceful protests must continue. We cannot allow ZANU PF to kill the dream of a free Zimbabwe.

The road to democracy is never easy. But it is the only road that leads to dignity, justice, and hope. Sikhala and Ngarivhume are behind bars, but their voices are still with us. Let us carry their message forward. Let us demand a fair election. Let us expose the thieves who steal not just money, but the future.

Zimbabwe belongs to its people—not to a corrupt few. It is time to rise and say: enough is enough.