'Rotten' Ndebele billboard pulled down

BEITBRIDGE - THE billboard which triggered a public outcry at the border town after a picture of it depicting erroneous Ndebele phrases sparked Cyber-protest has been reportedly pulled down by unknown people suspected to be linked to the institution which mounted the board.

The poster which angered people from Matabeleland who felt the Ndebele language was being deliberately mutilated had been in the public domain for close to a month and was written "Ungayekheli udhlakela likuphazamise" instead of "Ungayekeli udlakela lukuphazamise."

A social network user, Mduduzi Khanye last week posted the picture of the flawed billboard on Facebook triggering a public outcry which went viral on Social Media.

Bulawayo24 News has it on good authority that the board was placed along the highway to the border opposite Beitbridge Express Hotel across the road but on September 7 a new board containing wrong spellings had been mounted triggering a public outcry.

However, today Bulawayo24 News learnt that the board has been pulled down following the social media protest.

"Today on my way to church l noticed it had been removed. It was removed yesterday afternoon. l think they removed it after the outcry on Facebook as well as people who were calling the numbers listed on it demanding that it be removed," Khanye said.

"l never at any one time think that post on Facebook would make such a huge difference but l think it is those who reposted, shared, tweeted, commented and published the banner who made the difference.

Now l realize the power of the social media and how a struggle can be fought and won without resorting to violence or demanding huge resources."

"The taking down of the billboard is an indication that Zimbabweans should not just seat and watch when authorities make mistakes. Now let's get the passport of Zimbabwe which for years has had mis-spelt IsiNdebele corrected," he added.

The passport issue has been raging with any changes being done.

Early this year, there was an outcry over a Ndebele examination paper which contained derogatory Ndebele phrases which sparked a public outcry prompting the Zimbabwe School Examinations authorities to issue a statement.

In parliament, some legislators from Matabeleland have been reportedly reprimanded for speaking IsiNdebele, a development that has exacerbated fears over the systematic annihilation of indigenous languages especially those found in Matabeleland.