IT was during the French Revolution of the 1780s when a scholar noted that, “things must be bad in society for men to throw everything in violence. Men cannot risk everything for nothing.” The protest penned for July 31 is a culmination of lots, which by all means the government of the day must have seen coming. The argument to impute blame on the late former President Robert Mugabe's administration does not make sense anymore, the acceptance of a ballot mandate in 2018 and the promises in the ruling party manifesto are premises for accountability in themselves. What is it that Zimbabwe is getting wrong that other countries less endowed with natural and human resources are getting right, we all ask? July 31 is not of the opposition, it is about the populace holding their government to account. The impetus had long gathered on the ground while the opposition fought in the courts among themselves for leadership, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House, parliamentary posts and perks. This is a civil wave putting paid to how serious the emotions have boiled on the ground. This is a civil wave vying to influence political, economic and civic outcomes through constitutionally and legally recognised means. COVID-19 restrictions in their legal veil are subservient to the Constitution, which is a supreme manifest of the people’s voice. The same Constitution that seeks to guarantee the people’s survival in terms of governance and welfare. Therefore, any law of any nature that negates that constitutional call has limits on a yardstick of necessity, and sometimes bordering on unconstitutionality. South Africa has had the courts sitting to decide the constitutionality and rationale of restrictions. Before the pandemic and its restrictions, people were struggling to put food on the table in Zimbabwe, what more with restrictions amid such little economic activity that rewards less and less each day? Lives must be saved, social distancing restrictions, are alright, but people must have bread in their homes while under such restrictions. July 31 is about the people choosing to confront the bigger threat to their survival. Evan Mawarire organised the most effective mass stay-away in years, outside the process of any political or parliamentary scheme. MDC-T had majority in Parliament at some point but no real change came out of it. It is critical to emphasise that there must be neither support nor promotion of any illegal and undemocratic means to effect a change of neither government nor a political outcome. All what Zimbabweans yearn for is restoration of true democracy and legitimacy, a working and transparent economy for all. The use of available constitutional, diplomatic and other means to effect fundamental electoral adjustments that will safeguard the people’s vote seem to be failing. The creation and promotion of conditions that guarantee undisputable, clean, fair and free elections, separation of powers, rule of law, sanctity of the Constitution, independence of the institutions that superintend over democratic processes, free airwav