An Injustice Called Vespers

Everyone would know her name by the summer of 2018. It would be uttered repeatedly, written in headlines. The center of nearly every conversation and even, the hook to grief ridden compositions. Just an attempt at uttering it would bring with it the throaty feeling of anger that demanded the answer to the question: Who is responsible for the death of Vespers? But as the months roll by, so too, does her name roll off our tongues much easier. The hashtag #JusticeforVespers almost forgotten and the probing questions from the public, scarce.

Where is the solidarity for Vespers Shimunzhila?

Photo Captured during student protest following incident

When a young woman in the prime of her life is killed, we must all be outraged. And when her death is as a result of the careless actions of a man in uniform; a police officer, swift action must be taken by our leaders. But as the days turn into weeks, and weeks into months, 8 months precisely, not a single person has been brought to book, not one suspect has been named. Absolute silence from the authorities is all there is and as usual, we maintain the same silence.

Is this how the story ends for a helpless young woman? A hopeful girl from an underprivileged home in the small Zambian village of Namwala, whose only goal was to change her narrative and that of her family by obtaining a tertiary education. Her sure-fire ticket to escape the land called poverty. We are left to wonder how her story would read had she not have painfully suffocated right within the confines of her hostel that night. Had the police officer not have carelessly shot the teargas canister right passed the rioting students and into her room. Had she not have subsequently lost her life, only four months before her anticipated final year graduation. But above everything, we are left to sympathize with her grieving mother who wept bitterly in the court room as the case was adjourned for the second time.

For how long will we let this silence prevail?

As two peasant farmers who had sacrificed all they possibly could to give their daughter an education laid her to rest, everyone except the very figures set to protect and stand for the people, mourned with them. The Government Spokesperson, Ms Dora Siliya who vehemently blamed the rioting students for the death of Vespers, sending shockwaves right through the media, and the president? Giving a rhetorical vague statement on the matter, accompanied by a confusing vernacular proverb which was concluded by the statement, “the police should do their job.” Must we be reminded that it is because of the police that there is a job to be done in the first place? That a 24 year old innocent young woman lays six feet under in her premature grave. Robbed of a future holding an abundance of promise. She shouldn’t be there. And this alone should be enough to keep us angered. So much so that for once, we dare hold authorities accountable, seeing that they do right by us.

Whenever we start to feel the memory of Vespers gradually slip away and the anger simmer down, may we picture a loved one having been the innocent young woman stifled under the heavy fumes on the fateful night of October the 5th 2018.

Maybe then, we wouldn’t be so silent.

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