1. #BoycottDenDairy has divided citizens into those who think it’s a great idea & those who think it isn’t. This is a natural & fair reflection of society. No one should force anyone to boycott. And those who don’t want to boycott must respect the choice of those who do.
2. Boycott is a legitimate, non-violent form of protest. It has been used countless times in history. Sometimes it has worked. Others it hasn’t. One of the most famous is the Montgomery Bus Boycott in the 1950s, a protest against racial segregation on the public transport system. 
3. In the 1980s there were loud calls to boycott South African products and businesses still operating or buying South African goods. There were also boycotts of Rhodesian goods. As far as Guyana political parties also used boycott to support our independence.
4. Long before our time Zimbabweans were using boycott to push their demands as is evident in this undated clip from years gone by. I can’t help but make the observation that they were far more organised than we are today! You will be lucky to get 50 people attending these days.
5. People boycott for several reasons: in protest over something they find disagreeable, to send a message or just simply as a matter of principle. It can be individual or collective. It’s a choice that one makes to disassociate themselves from something which is constitutional.
6. I boycott @Tesco because 2 years ago, I encountered a racist incident in 1 of their shops. They did nothing to protect me & did not bother follow up afterwards. I know my boycott will not affect them financially, but it gives me satisfaction that I don’t have to buy from them.
7. So boycott can be personal. If I consider that a company represents something that I disagree with such as violation of human rights, and if I can avoid them, I will do so. That’s what people were doing when they were calling for boycott of goods from racist regimes.
8. Of course, to achieve change you need to build large networks of cooperation among people. People have to believe in the cause & must be willing to make the sacrifices. This is not easy. You have to persuade them. But you don’t shout at them. Be persuasive.
9. I’m against the displacement of the people in Chiredzi to make way for @dendairy. There are lots of under-utilised farms which can be used without removing people from their ancestral homes. This is what used to happen in the 1930s after the draconian Land Apportionment Act.
10. That it is happening now, 41 years after independence & after the land reform program is a disgrace. But worse is that there are signs of cronyism at play, involving the highest office in the country. These people already own a lot of land. It’s a reactionary regime.
11. @dendairy and it’s owners know what they are doing. They are beneficiaries of crony capitalism which favours a few and is based on corruption and patronage. The commodification of things that people hold dear is abhorrent. Show some respect ✊🏿
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