Chigwedere defends tribalistic history textbook

CONTROVERSIAL former minister of education, arts, sports, and culture, Aeneas Chigwedere has fervently defended his outrageous history text book that has caused a storm in the Matabeleland region.

The Southern Star published a story two weeks ago where Chigwedere was implicated as having written a book that political leaders and members of civic society in Matabeleland region felt was carrying opinionated historical facts about the Ndebele state and the people of Matabeleland's contribution to Zimbabwe's liberation struggle

Chigwedere, however, confirmed that he penned the book under the pseudonym S Mukanya.

The book, entitled Dynamics of History, also criticized the late vice president, Joshua Nkomo whom Chigwedere described as having been an indecisive leader.

Most people spoken to by this newspaper said Chigwedere's book should be removed from the school curriculum as it fed what they called poisoned history to school children.

In an interview at the sidelines of a Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs (ZCC) conference in Bulawayo this week, Chigwedere said he had no apologies to make over his book.

He further stirred another honest nest when he challenged the people of Matabeleland to swallow what he describes as hard facts contained in his book.

"They (Ndebeles) can't challenge that book. It is not even a debate. Besides I am not the first person to write on the Ndebele. There is so much literature tracing them back to when they left KwaZulu-Natal right up to their settling and all that has been written are facts.

"We know so much about them and it's not fiction. What they have to do is simple have the muscle to swallow these hard facts rather than just make noise and waste people's time," said Chigwedere.

He further claimed that his book was endorsed by other historians as a true reflection of history.

"That book was endorsed by the most qualified Ndebele historian, Ngwabi Bhebe. I wonder whether these people are qualified enough to make such utterances or they are just nobodies.

"Are they saying they are seeing what a qualified historian like Bhebhe did not see," Chigwedere asked.

The controversial former minister eventually put on his turncoat status when quizzed about historian, Phathisa Nyathi's misgivings on the book.

According to Chigwedere, Nyathi was one of the people who had had an opportunity to read through the book when it was a manuscript.

In the book, Chigwedere and the publishers of the book acknowledged Nyathi as one of the reviewers and contributors of the book.

However, Chigwedere claimed, during the interview, there was no need for Nyathi to have reviewed the book.

He did not give reasons why.

"You ask whether Phathisa Nyathi went through the book. Well, there was no need for him to. If he has anything to write or say about the Ndebele he is allowed to write his own history textbook," he said.

Chigwedere further said anyone who felt they had the "hard" facts to challenge his textbook should feel free to use the rightful channels and present them to the relevant authorities and publishing houses. He said he would be in a position to also fully defend his analysis.

"I was simply presenting my discoveries to the nation," he said.

"I also have been part of a history programme on ZTV for the past two years. So I can best say these people are cowards because if they had any grievances, they could have simple done so through that programme, the platform is there let them present to the nation their own discoveries," he said.

Last week, Zanu PF secretary for education in the politburo, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said Chigwedere must shut up about ZIPRA operations and the Ndebele history.

Chigwedere accused those that questioned his discoveries as people with ulterior motives.

"It is rather mischievous for someone to claim that I had ulterior motives when I wrote that book, besides when Bhebhe reviewed that book, I did not know him and it is College Press that seconded him to edit the book. I had had the book reviewed by the Curriculum Development Unit," said Chigwedere.

Questioned on why he wrote the book under a pseudonym, Chigwedere said by then he was the Provincial Education Director for Mashonaland East Province thus he and the publishers decided against the use of his own name.

"In January 1993 when the book was given to Bhebhe, I was appointed as the Provincial Education director. Therefore together with College Press, we felt it was professional if we did not put my name as it would seem as if I used my influence to force teachers and headmasters to use the book," said Chigwedere.