Matabeleland not marginalised but too slow to take opportunities says Khutshwekhaya

Zanu-PF Politburo member Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu on Sunday said Matabeleland folk should stop saying they are marginalised and instead take their children to school,

Adding his voice to debate on the marginalisation of Matabeleland, Ndlovu said opportunities were equal to everyone in any part of the country but people from the region were "arrogant" to take them ahead of those from other regions.

Ndlovu said Matabeleland was not marginalised and likened those talking about underdevelopment in the region to otitisi (small breeds of dogs) that just make noise while real dogs do the actual hunting.

He said people from the region were their own enemies in terms of development, but just want to point fingers at others.

"We are always crying yet we are not doing anything. In an extended family, food is dished together with everyone watching, and there are some who would stop eating and accuse others of finishing the food yet they were there and watching when the food was being dished out," said Ndlovu.

"We are not being marginalised. What we need to do is to get down and encourage parents to motivate children to go to school and take advantage of opportunities in education for development.

"People from other regions are taking up positions in the region and that is not marginalisation, they are just filling in the gaps because we are leaving for South Africa.
"Let us all encourage our children to go to school because this country is led by educated people while our own children keep flocking to South Africa."

Ndlovu, who is also the Deputy President of the Senate, said no one was being whipped away from develop-ment.

"This is not a new thing. Who is marginalising the region? Those who say so are just talking to raise dust without kno-wing what is happening.

"When you go hunting, there are big dogs that chase after an animal and otitisi that will bark and make noise in the dust that would have been made by big dogs yet they do not see anything. Big dogs do not make noise but chase after their prey until they get it.

"These people are just otitisi, they do not see where big dogs are and do not know what they are talking about or want. Saying Matabeleland is marginalised is just a beerhall talk they are raising just to kill time and give themselves morale, otherwise without knowing what they are doing. The problem with this is that everyone will then lose direction because of the dust they are raising," said Ndlovu.

He challenged Zimbabweans to honour the Unity Accord that was signed in 1987 between PF-Zapu and Zanu-PF, saying it is the cornerstone of development in the whole country.

He said the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo was ironically talking to people from his grave every time he appears on television.

"The Unity Accord brought peace and an environment for people to work without fear. It is not a good thing to talk about regionalism.

"When we listen to Dr Nkomo's speeches we see him talking in the grave. During his last days he would ask questions about the land issue and encourage us to go ahead. He would encourage us to remain united as a nation lest we be asked by our forefathers King Mzilikazi and Mambo about what we did for the country as leaders," said Ndlovu.

Ndlovu, who was the first black mayor of Bulawayo soon after independence, challenged people to seek advice from their leaders in terms of development opportunities.

He said it was not true that there is a leadership vacuum in the region saying those, saying so were just raising the issue because they are not in power.

"I was the first black mayor of Bulawayo after independence. There were no jobs for blacks but we tried as leaders to create jobs in the council.

"The problem is that during that time no one from the region ever knocked at my door seeking advice yet those from other regions came every day. Our problem is that we only want to wake up owning a factory yet we are not taking up opportunities," he said.

MDC leader Professor Welshman Ncube recently said the Government should act decisively to stop the marginalisation of Matabeleland before people from the region lose patience, thereby raising a debate on the issue.

Vice-President Dr John Landa Nkomo urged people from Matabeleland to consign the term marginalisation to history and never use it on developmental issues.

Ndlovu said people from the region should not just sit and expect things to happen but should engage their leaders and take advice.

"These people balesidensi sokudelela izinto besithi mina, mina (are so proud and arrogant) to opportunities and do not want to move with development. If you see others doing something, strive to do better than them. Those from other provinces were also backward at some point but they worked hard to be where they are. Take for example in the music industry, the first musicians were from this region, the likes of Josiah Hadebe, George Sibanda, Sabelo Mathe among others but where are we now, you cannot get music from this region on radio or television and we say we are being marginalised yet we are sitting and letting chances go," said Ndlovu.

He said development was an ongoing thing hence the ups and downs people face.

Ndlovu said people should employ the popular slogan in the region that "ongafuniyo kayekele, ngenkani" and challenge those saying there is no development.
He urged people to work together with the Government towards development in their areas.