News / Local
Opportunist Nyarota twisted my dead donkey (PF- Zapu) remark
19 Jul 2011 at 11:13hrs | Views
Dr Callistus Ndlovu has finally broken the silence on his now infamous comments he allegedly made about PF-Zapu when he described it as a "dead donkey".
The comments were made 27 years ago.
Dr Ndlovu said the comments he made were only blown out of proportion by political opportunists.
On 20 June 1984, Dr Ndlovu, addressing a rally at Madlambuzi in Bulilima, Matabeleland South, described Zapu as a "dead donkey."
According to a report carried by the Chronicle then, Dr Ndlovu: "Those who continue to support it (Zapu) are supporting a dead donkey which will never do or achieve anything for them besides creating confusion in Matabeleland."
Dr Ndlovu had just crossed the floor from PF-Zapu and was the Minister of Mines.
However, Dr Ndlovu said the "infamous" comments were as a result of "people" who could not distinguish direct speech and a metaphor. He said they went on to misquote him in the Chronicle published on 22 June 1984.
"That statement was deliberately manipulated by Geoffrey Nyarota (the then Chronicle editor) who twisted my remarks I made at that rally. For starters, I was speaking in SiNdebele and Kalanga saying that supporting Zapu was like ukusebenzela idonki efileyo (working in return for a dead donkey)," said Dr Ndlovu.
He said with those remarks he meant that the people were wasting their efforts by supporting PF-Zapu.
"The comment I reportedly made was a creation of Nyarota who twisted the words of the reporter Lincoln Nkala (now late) and Nkala even confessed to me," said Dr Ndlovu.
Dr Ndlovu said he approached Nyarota on the comment and he could not give him a valid explanation but promised him a retraction that never saw the light of the day.
"I pity all those who cannot distinguish a metaphor and a speech because it shows that they are of a fixated mindset, I used the metaphor to bring out a point that supporting Zapu in the 1985 election was a worthless effort," said Dr Ndlovu.
Dr Ndlovu said he used the metaphor during a heated campaign and "was not expected to pat the opposition (Zapu) on the back."
"Obviously I was not expected to sing praises of my opponents at that time, but for one Nyarota to say I likened the party with a dead donkey is a mere manipulation.
"I only used the metaphor to bring out the fact that they would not win that election and people should stop wasting their effort supporting that party," said Dr Ndlovu.
He said he explained what he meant by the "dead donkey" slur to Zapu leader at the time, the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo, and he understood.
"I know he was unhappy about the statements I had made about his party but he understood what I meant by it and where I was coming from and he had no problem with it," said Dr Ndlovu.
"It's sad that some politicians from the Matabeleland region have in the past used the 'dead donkey' comment against me to score a political advantage but I am not fazed," he said.
However, contacted for comment Nyarota said it was unfortunate that Nkala, the reporter who wrote the story, was no longer available to answer for himself.
"But, speaking as his editor at the material time, I have no recollection of giving an undertaking as now alleged by Dr Ndlovu to retract any story submitted by Nkala on this or any other matter," said Nyarota.
"If I did promise to retract the story about Dr Ndlovu it is unfortunate that he has allowed nearly three decades to pass without raising the issue or reminding me of my undertaking and now I have no power or authority to cause The Chronicle to publish a retraction in the circumstances, especially in the absence of Nkala."
He added: "If the statement that Dr Ndlovu referred to the then PF-Zapu at Madlambuzi in June 1984 as a 'dead donkey' has remained on record in the realm of the public domain, whether as a metaphor or as direct speech, for such a long period, when in fact it was a misquotation, Dr Ndlovu only has himself to blame."
It seems many people have not forgiven Dr Ndlovu for that statement as a few years ago he was booed when relating the history of the Ndebele State at Old Bulawayo.
The comments were made 27 years ago.
Dr Ndlovu said the comments he made were only blown out of proportion by political opportunists.
On 20 June 1984, Dr Ndlovu, addressing a rally at Madlambuzi in Bulilima, Matabeleland South, described Zapu as a "dead donkey."
According to a report carried by the Chronicle then, Dr Ndlovu: "Those who continue to support it (Zapu) are supporting a dead donkey which will never do or achieve anything for them besides creating confusion in Matabeleland."
Dr Ndlovu had just crossed the floor from PF-Zapu and was the Minister of Mines.
However, Dr Ndlovu said the "infamous" comments were as a result of "people" who could not distinguish direct speech and a metaphor. He said they went on to misquote him in the Chronicle published on 22 June 1984.
"That statement was deliberately manipulated by Geoffrey Nyarota (the then Chronicle editor) who twisted my remarks I made at that rally. For starters, I was speaking in SiNdebele and Kalanga saying that supporting Zapu was like ukusebenzela idonki efileyo (working in return for a dead donkey)," said Dr Ndlovu.
He said with those remarks he meant that the people were wasting their efforts by supporting PF-Zapu.
"The comment I reportedly made was a creation of Nyarota who twisted the words of the reporter Lincoln Nkala (now late) and Nkala even confessed to me," said Dr Ndlovu.
Dr Ndlovu said he approached Nyarota on the comment and he could not give him a valid explanation but promised him a retraction that never saw the light of the day.
Dr Ndlovu said he used the metaphor during a heated campaign and "was not expected to pat the opposition (Zapu) on the back."
"Obviously I was not expected to sing praises of my opponents at that time, but for one Nyarota to say I likened the party with a dead donkey is a mere manipulation.
"I only used the metaphor to bring out the fact that they would not win that election and people should stop wasting their effort supporting that party," said Dr Ndlovu.
He said he explained what he meant by the "dead donkey" slur to Zapu leader at the time, the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo, and he understood.
"I know he was unhappy about the statements I had made about his party but he understood what I meant by it and where I was coming from and he had no problem with it," said Dr Ndlovu.
"It's sad that some politicians from the Matabeleland region have in the past used the 'dead donkey' comment against me to score a political advantage but I am not fazed," he said.
However, contacted for comment Nyarota said it was unfortunate that Nkala, the reporter who wrote the story, was no longer available to answer for himself.
"But, speaking as his editor at the material time, I have no recollection of giving an undertaking as now alleged by Dr Ndlovu to retract any story submitted by Nkala on this or any other matter," said Nyarota.
"If I did promise to retract the story about Dr Ndlovu it is unfortunate that he has allowed nearly three decades to pass without raising the issue or reminding me of my undertaking and now I have no power or authority to cause The Chronicle to publish a retraction in the circumstances, especially in the absence of Nkala."
He added: "If the statement that Dr Ndlovu referred to the then PF-Zapu at Madlambuzi in June 1984 as a 'dead donkey' has remained on record in the realm of the public domain, whether as a metaphor or as direct speech, for such a long period, when in fact it was a misquotation, Dr Ndlovu only has himself to blame."
It seems many people have not forgiven Dr Ndlovu for that statement as a few years ago he was booed when relating the history of the Ndebele State at Old Bulawayo.
Source - Chronicle
