Three weeks ago, a peaceful Father’s Day braai hosted by Senator Jameson Timba turned into a nightmare. The private event, held at his Avondale home to remember the 1976 Soweto Uprising, was violently shut down by armed riot police. With no warrant, no justification, and no shame, they stormed the gathering and turned a solemn, reflective moment into a blood-soaked display of state repression.

This was not a riot. It was not a protest. It was a simple barbecue with young people and families. And yet, 78 innocent people were beaten, tortured, and arrested like criminals. Eyewitnesses say riot police used tear gas on unarmed guests, dragged some into the pool, and forced others to kneel and crawl to the waiting police trucks. Broken bones. Bruised bodies. Deep trauma. All for attending a braai.

Among those arrested was Timba’s own son, who had come home to celebrate Father’s Day. His only crime? Being present in his father’s house. This raid was not about law enforcement. It was not about national security. It was about punishment. It was about intimidation. It was about silencing the opposition.

Senator Jameson Timba is not just another victim. He is a symbol of resistance. As a senior figure in the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), his arrest is a clear warning to anyone who dares to challenge the regime. This is political persecution—plain and simple.

The state has tried to cover up the incident with lies and trumped-up charges. But the truth is clear: no warrant was issued. No laws were broken by the attendees. Yet dozens of young people are now rotting in prison, denied bail, denied medical care, and denied justice.

This attack was not just on Timba and his guests. It was on all Zimbabweans who believe in freedom. It was a declaration by the state that even your private home is not safe if you dare to think differently. It tells us that under Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government, the constitution means nothing and that police brutality is now the regime’s standard response to peaceful gathering.

Let’s be honest. This was not an isolated incident. It is part of a growing pattern of repression. Opposition leaders are jailed. Civil society is harassed. Students are assaulted. Journalists are silenced. Even barbecues are not safe anymore.

This braai raid was not a mistake. It was a message: obey or suffer. But Zimbabweans have heard enough of these threats before. We have lived through Gukurahundi. We have lived through the 2008 violence. We will not forget. And we will not be silent.

The international community must also act. Human rights organizations, SADC, and global democratic governments must demand accountability. Silence is complicity. Zimbabwe is sliding fast into authoritarianism, and the world cannot look the other way.

We call for:

• The immediate release of Senator Jameson Timba, his son, and all others arrested during the braai.
• A public investigation into the actions of the riot police.
• An end to the use of state violence against peaceful gatherings and opposition figures.
• Legal action against those who authorized and carried out this raid.

This is not just about one event. This is about the soul of a nation. Zimbabwe was once a beacon of resistance and liberation. It must not become a police state where fear rules and freedom dies behind bars.

Now is the time to speak out. Now is the time to organize. Now is the time to demand justice—not just for Timba and the 78—but for every Zimbabwean who dares to dream of a free, fair, and democratic country.

We must not let tyranny win.