Zimbabwe, once known as the “breadbasket of Africa”, is now a country struggling under the weight of political mismanagement, corruption and economic collapse.

As citizens face deepening poverty, crumbling infrastructure and blatant human rights abuses, the question many of us are asking ourselves is: Why are Zimbabweans reluctant to rise up against the regime ZANU-PF kleptocrat?

Lately, I have noticed a rising tide of frustration in the Zimbabwean diaspora and at home.

Many people point the finger at the political climate, condemning the regime’s abuses and blaming an oppressive system that brutally punishes dissidents.

However, there is an underlying critical factor that often goes unnoticed – selfishness.

While fear undoubtedly plays a role in inhibiting political action, I argue that at the heart of Zimbabwe’s passivity lies a deeper and more troubling issue: a profound selfishness that cuts across different sectors of society, from academics to business people , religious leaders and even those with substantial wealth.

This is the issue that must be addressed if we are ever to hope for meaningful change.

Zimbabweans are not resisting the regime because they are too busy helping their own interests at the expense of the collective good.

If we examine the current landscape, it is clear that Zimbabweans, especially those with influence and resources, have largely chosen to remain silent.

And their silence is not born of mere fear – it is driven by a selfish desire to protect their own position, privilege and material wealth.

The Myth of Fear: The Selfishness Behind the Silence

It is a common refrain among Zimbabweans to attribute the lack of resistance against the regime to fear, and there is some truth to this.

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The ZANU-PF regime is notorious for its brutality, using tactics of violence, intimidation and imprisonment to silence critics.

Opposition leaders, civil society activists, journalists and ordinary citizens who dare to challenge the status quo face serious repercussions, including torture, imprisonment and sometimes even death.

There is no denying the real danger that comes with speaking up.

However, fear alone cannot explain the extent of inaction.

Fear, after all, is not absolute.

Courage is not the absence of fear; it means acting in spite of it.

A mother who rushes into a burning building to save her child, even as the flames threaten to engulf her, is not fearless – but her love for her child overcomes her fear.

She is motivated by a sense of duty and sacrifice that transcends her own safety.

This is the question Zimbabweans must ask: why are they not motivated enough to act in the face of such misery and oppression?

Why, despite grave injustices, do they remain passive?

Why are academics, business leaders, religious figures and other influential figures so conspicuously absent from the fight against this tyrannical regime?

The answer lies in the hard truth that most of these individuals are driven by self-interest, a selfish desire to preserve their own status and material wealth, rather than a collective sense of responsibility to their fellow citizens.

The Selfishness of the Privileged: Business, Academia, and Religion

In every society, there are individuals who hold power, privilege or influence, and their actions can have a significant impact on the wider social and political landscape.

Zimbabwe is no different.

Businessmen, academics, religious leaders and others in positions of power have the potential to lead the charge against the corruption, inequality and mismanagement plaguing the country.

They possess the means, knowledge and platforms to challenge the status quo and amplify the voices of the oppressed.

And yet, many of them choose not to.

Let us first consider the business community.

In a country where corruption is rampant, where politicians line their pockets at the expense of the public, and where the economy continues to collapse, the role of business leaders should be to speak out against such injustices.

However, what we see instead is a disturbing trend.

Zimbabwean businessmen are not rallying against the system; they actively participate in it.

However, shouldn’t he understand the effects of corruption on the economy, business viability and job creation more than anyone else in the country?

Many prefer to come and dine with the ruling elite, doing profitable business that serves their own interests, even if it means turning a blind eye to the corruption and mismanagement that undermines the country’s future.

Take for example the recent scandal involving Mike Chimonde and Moses Mpofu, two businessmen who are now seeking public sympathy after being arrested for corruption.

Chimonde, Mpofu and other such figures were once part of the inner circle, benefiting from their connections with the ruling party.

They may now claim to be victims of a system that supposedly persecutes them, but where were they when opposition leaders like Job Sikhala, Jacob Ngarivhume, as well as trade union activists like Obert Masaraure and Robson Chere were thrown behind bars for supporting ordinary Zimbabweans?

Where were they when the police brutalized citizens who dared to speak out against the regime?

Their sudden shift in narrative once they find themselves on the wrong side of the law reveals the selfishness at play.

When they benefited from the system, they said nothing.

Now that they have been personally affected, they are speaking out.

The same can be said of the academic community.

Zimbabwean academics are among the most educated and influential people in the country.

They are the ones who have the knowledge to understand the gravity of the situation and have the ability to educate the public and challenge the government.

However, we see very little meaningful opposition from them.

Instead of using their platforms to speak truth to power, many academics remain soft-spoken because they want their research, books and workshops to receive support and funding from the ruling elite.

They are content to have their photos taken with those in power instead of holding them to account.

Their silence is deafening.

The same culture of selfishness extends to the religious community.

Zimbabwe has a rich religious heritage and many of its leaders are in positions of immense influence.

In theory, religious figures should be the first to speak out against injustice because their teachings emphasize compassion, love, and the duty to stand with the oppressed.

However, many of Zimbabwe’s religious leaders chose to remain neutral or, worse, aligned themselves with the regime for personal gain.

Instead of advocating for the poor and marginalized, many are more concerned with maintaining their own status and wealth, often at the expense of the people they claim to serve.

The role of selfishness in maintaining the status quo

When we examine the attitudes of the privileged in Zimbabwe, it becomes clear that their reluctance to challenge the regime is born not of fear, but of a calculated decision to prioritize their own self-interest.

The fear of losing one’s wealth, status, and position is far greater than the fear of standing up for what is right.

They understand that taking a stand against the regime could cost them their businesses, academic endorsements or access to power.

So they remain silent.

This selfishness is not limited to those who have wealth or influence.

It runs through all levels of Zimbabwean society, from high-ranking officials to the common citizen.

The desire for personal gain, whether in the form of money, status, or protection, is a powerful motivator that prevents people from taking action.

Zimbabweans, as a collective group, have become so consumed with self-interest that they are willing to ignore the suffering of their countrymen.

Would they talk if their positions were changed?

A critical question we must ask is: Would these people, who today remain silent, suddenly find their voice if they lost their wealth and status and found themselves in the position of the oppressed?

The answer, unfortunately, is probably yes.

Many of those who are now complicit in the regime’s abuses would no doubt speak out if they were on the receiving end of such injustice.

Isn’t that what we are witnessing with Chimombe and Mpofu?

This emphasizes the selfish nature of their silence – it is not the fear of rejection that keeps them silent, but the fear of losing what they have.

Imagine if Zimbabwe’s wealthy elite, business leaders and academia took a stand, united in condemning the regime’s corruption.

Imagine if doctors were to take the lead in calling out the deplorable standards in our public health institutions.

Imagine if lawyers were the most vocal not only in condemning human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, but also in capturing and abusing the criminal justice system to silence dissent.

Imagine if all journalists gave voice to the voiceless and oppressed to tell their horrific stories at the hands of a cold-hearted regime.

Imagine if they used their platforms to expose government wrongdoing, demand transparency and demand accountability.

The impact would be huge.

Their voices would carry weight.

The public would listen.

And yet this does not happen because ultimately their selfish desire to maintain their privileges overrides any moral imperative to act.

Conclusion: The need for selflessness and solidarity

The crisis in Zimbabwe is not just a political one; it is a moral one.

The selfishness that pervades all levels of society is the main reason why the country continues to descend into chaos.

Until Zimbabweans, especially those in positions of power, are willing to look beyond their own self-interest and take a stand for the collective good, the country will remain in the grip of a regime that thrives on greed and corruption.

What Zimbabwe needs is a radical change in mindset.

We need a culture of selflessness, of solidarity, where individuals are willing to sacrifice their own comfort for the greater good of the nation.

Only then will we see what kind of courage and action it takes to remove a regime that has brought the country to its knees.

Until then, the selfishness that has become ingrained in the fabric of Zimbabwean society will continue to be the biggest obstacle to meaningful change.

Zimbabweans must remember that courage does not mean the absence of fear.

It means acting in spite of it, driven by a higher moral purpose.

If the privileged in Zimbabwe can find the courage to stand up for what is right despite the dangers to their own well-being, then the rest of the country will follow.

But until that happens, we will continue to be trapped in a cycle of selfishness and silence that only benefits those in power.

● Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice lawyer and writer. Please feel free to WhatsApp or call: +263715667700 | +263782283975 or email: (email protected), or visit the website: