What is the #ZimbabweanLivesMatter campaign that is gaining momentum worldwide?

Team Udayavani, Aug 6, 2020, 3:07 PM IST

After the Black Lives Matter campaign in the US, a new campaign against the human rights abuses in Zimbabwe is gaining popularity.

The #ZimbabweanLivesMatter campaign originated in South Africa this week and is trending on twitter. The trend is in response to a particularly brutal, public, widespread, and on-going clampdown by security forces

Sources claim, For years South Africa has been accused of ‘Quiet Diplomacy” when it comes to political affairs in Zimbabwe. Condition is deteriorating as citizens flee to other countries to seek a better life.

It is said that the campaign comes after arrests, abductions and torture of high-profile political activists and journalists

Also, South African politician Julius Malema called on the South African government to close the Zimbabwean embassy in Pretoria to pressure Harare to respect human rights.

According to The guardian, the South African hip-hop star AKA, real name Kiernan Forbes, became one of the pioneers of the social media campaign after he tweeted a picture of himself draped in the Zimbabwean flag

Later, many musicians Ice Cube, Lecrae and Tinashe supported the movement. Other South African celebrities such as Zakes Bantwini, Dr Tumi, Boity Tulo, the actor Pearl Thusi, politicians Mmusi Maimane and Julius Malema are also pushing the hashtag