The Charges Poem by Jabulani Mzinyathi

you are brought before this court
you are charged with serious offences
multiple counts of not speaking
not speaking for the voiceless
not speaking against their profligacy
not speaking against shameless propaganda
thus perpetuating dangerous lies
not speaking against violence
violence meant for political gains
you are brought before this court
as a co-principal offender
your silence perpetuated evil schemes
your inaction aided and abetted misrule
you turned a blind eye to the sufferers
you chose to be indifferent
you did not extinguish the run away fire
you sang songs of praise in place of dirges
how do you plead? guilty or not guilty?