News / Local
Chronicle offensive cartoon similar to spirit behind Gukurahundi genocide - Zwide Khumalo
10 Feb 2016 at 02:16hrs | Views
A descendant of the last Ndebele king, King Lobengula, Zwide Khumalo has condemned ta controversial cartoon published in the Chronicle last week saying it was an "insult to women and Ndebele people".
Khumalo likened the "spirit behind the cartoon" to the spirit behind the Gukurahundi genocide of the 1980s.
The cartoon by the now suspended Wellington Musapenda depicted two scantily dressed young women engaged in a conversation suggesting that for young girls in Matabeleland and Midlands, prostituting one's body is an alternative to education has been described as "un-Zimbabwean and abominable".
"As Zimbabweans, we should change our attitudes and respect each other and uphold value systems such as gender and nationhood," Khumalo told the Bulawayo Press Club on Monday.
"We cannot be proud of being Zimbabweans when some of us selectively fuel tribalism and discrimination in the name of being part of the majority in Zimbabwe," he said.
"I am sure there are so many members of the so-called majority that do not subscribe to this horrible behaviour."
"I am addressing the general interpretations picked by the people of Matabeleland.
"That cartoon is abominable. The young Ndebeles in Matabeleland are unhappy. It's not our responsibility to grope for interpretations.
"We are unhappy. The cartoon was wayward. It's not about his surname. I don't know him. I don't need to know him. I don't want to know him. Even if it was Ndabezinhle Khumalo, I would still be sitting here, saying what I am saying right now," he said referring to the cartoonist.
Khumalo likened the "spirit behind the cartoon" to the spirit behind the Gukurahundi genocide of the 1980s.
The cartoon by the now suspended Wellington Musapenda depicted two scantily dressed young women engaged in a conversation suggesting that for young girls in Matabeleland and Midlands, prostituting one's body is an alternative to education has been described as "un-Zimbabwean and abominable".
"As Zimbabweans, we should change our attitudes and respect each other and uphold value systems such as gender and nationhood," Khumalo told the Bulawayo Press Club on Monday.
"We cannot be proud of being Zimbabweans when some of us selectively fuel tribalism and discrimination in the name of being part of the majority in Zimbabwe," he said.
"I am sure there are so many members of the so-called majority that do not subscribe to this horrible behaviour."
"I am addressing the general interpretations picked by the people of Matabeleland.
"That cartoon is abominable. The young Ndebeles in Matabeleland are unhappy. It's not our responsibility to grope for interpretations.
"We are unhappy. The cartoon was wayward. It's not about his surname. I don't know him. I don't need to know him. I don't want to know him. Even if it was Ndabezinhle Khumalo, I would still be sitting here, saying what I am saying right now," he said referring to the cartoonist.
Source - Southern Eye
