Opinion / Columnist
Zipra War Vets, a disappointment! General Dumiso Dabengwa disappoints!
17 Dec 2017 at 17:25hrs | Views
Zipra armed forces were once known for their political correctness, a disciplined army that was even admired the enemy of racist Smith. Peter Walls spoke highly of them: their training was outstanding, he said. Immediately after independence they are constituency that suffered untold state persecutions, murder, and torture in those barracks they shared with Zanla armies. When Zipra could not stand seeing the deaths of their Zipra comrades they fled leaving the barracks and went to rural areas for cover, fear of brutal death by the Zanla army that had the upper hand then and now.
Zipra war vets do not realize how much they been taken for a ride, mercilessly dubbed by ZNLWVA and Christopher Mutsvangwa. Immediately after the military take-over in Zimbabwe, General Dabengwa went live on South African media commending the coup, he supported the coup. Further he was quoted again expressing his wish to work in Mnangagwa's government. When we all thought that General Dabengwa learnt his lessons when he was imprisoned by the very Mnangagwa who dangled keys at his cell in Chikurubi: "either you join Zanu PF and leave the prison cell: here are the keys." We have not forgotten all those torture, humiliations and death General Lookout Masuku and him had to endure. General Masuku was murdered in jail, we have not forgotten all. Apparently General Dabengwa has forgotten. What is General Lookout Masuku saying in his grave, he is turning in his grave.
Christopher Mutsvangwa and Zanu PF Lacoste were smart in their dealings and negotiations prior to the coup d'état and thereafter. They made sure they engage Zipra and Dabengwa in their planning the coup to get recognition: a recognition they got from the top, from General Dabengwa. The article in the Bulawayo24 today about the Zipra War Vets is a disappointing development. Zipra has lost its noble values and noble principles they were imparted in the liberation struggle. They are just headless chickens. Do they, did they hope sincerely that Zanu PF Lacoste will include them in the "inclusive government?" Who in the opposition was included in the most anticipated government of national unity to this day? Ko ma Zipra War Vets chii panyama ye huku ye Zanu PF Lacoste in December 2017? General Dabengwa and Zipra War Vets have been cheated broad daylight by Mnangagwa and his cabal government: same story we have always known about Zanu PF. We feel this humiliation of Zipra War Vets and General Dabengwa even us outside Zapu membership following. Tirikuvanyarira zve sure! Inhloni bar!
It appears as if Zipra War Vets has not learnt anything at all when it comes to Zipra/Zanu PF conflicts dating back to the split that happened in the late fifties and early sixties. These two parties have never worked together successful ever since the struggle for independence of Zimbabwe. What makes Zipra War Vets think that they can MANAGE to form an inclusive government of national unity if it did not happen successfully before? We all know that Comrade Joshua Nkomo literally capitulated to serve lives that have been lost to unprecedented levels in 1987. That government of national unity between Zanu and Zapu in 1987 was necessary mainly to stop the butchering of unarmed civilians: the political matrix of yesteryear is different from the political trajectory of today. Nothing has changed in Zanu PF; it's the face that has changed. Zipra War Vets should know this better than me.
The evidence that Zanu PF has not shed its leopard colours is evident the way they used and abused the general population into thinking change has come just by removing Mugabe from power by hook and crook. It was not a coup D'état!" they said. The leopard has not removed its colours when the entire Zanu PF cabinet of former President Mugabe was reinstated once more in Mnangagwa government. Zipra War Vets, in the today's Byo 24 article talks about how they assisted to fight corrupt elements in G40: that is just laughable: how did they do it? Can't Zipra War Vets and General Dabengwa ask themselves pertinent questions: why is corruption so criminalized in G40 and the corrupt elements in Lacoste are left scot free, untouched? Who does not know that the money looted by Zanu PF Lacoste is in millions and billions: and not in hundreds and thousands by G40, except of course Mrs. Grace Mugabe together with her husband looted government revenues in billions of diamond revenues? Mugabe and his wife are even given a retirement package unimaginable by good thinking person.
The Zipra War Vets tell us in Bulawayo 24 social media today that they seek audience with President Mnangagwa. It is indeed desperation of the first order to ever engage with known thugs, criminals, murderers and looters of diamond finds from Democratic Republic of Congo, Mnangagwa, a man who is on the sanctions list of United Nations. The Zipra War Vets are going down in their knees begging to their once killer of the people of Mathebeleland, who called them cockroaches and must be gamatoxed. All those miseries and deaths and dehumanizing of "other ethnic" groups and "other people with different political convictions" (Zapu members of Shona ethnic groups) is forgotten because the empty stomach now dictates to them what to do, less noble convictions, no Zapu/Zipra liberation values, less Zapu/Zipra liberation principles.
When General Dabengwa left Zanu PF in 2009 to revive Zapu once more we were convinced he knew what he was doing and we thought he needed all the assistance from us former Zapu cadres and children of Zapu fathers and mothers. We are of the opinion that General Dabengwa should now leave the politics mainly because of his age and obvious political mistakes he is inclined to. He has served the nation and his legacy is indeed outstanding. He is not doing Zapu any favour to still wish to be part of a government that came through the back door, let alone endorsing a coup d'état there by legalising an illegal act of change of government by a military coup. Is General Dabengwa suffering from trauma of his incarceration in Chikurubi High Prison by the very Zanu PF of 1980s? It is just inconceivable to still wish to be part of the new Zanu PF Lacoste dispensation. What change was he going to effect in a Zanu PF government at 78 years of age: joining a government of geriatrics and evident criminals?
Our Manager: not a politician; by his own admission, Dr. Nkosana could be excused for wanting to be part of Mnangagwa's government. He was bringing with him a wide range of experience he acquired in those world finance institutions. Our Strive Masiyiwa who was touted to be the President's economic adviser in the new dispensation, if it is true, could have none of it, he stays aloof from the hullaballoo, as a result his world-famous-reputation remains intact. Amai Mujuru was sceptical from the onset. She distanced herself from the new government openly. Amai Mujuru apparently knows Zanu PF more than General Dumiso Dabengwa does. It is for this reason they are targeting her: this externalisation of foreign currency is directly targeting Amai Mujuru. We do not exonerate her from that, but why are opposition parties and those of G40 the target, not blanket approach to all those who criminally externalized foreign currency?
The Zipra War Vets could have done better if they denounced the coup d'état. The Zipra War Vets could have demanded the return to civilian government immediately after the coup. The Zipra War Vets could have advised the regional SADC and African Union that the government of Mnangagwa came to power through the back door and was unconstitutional and therefore illegal by all civilized standards. The Zipra War Vets should have been the ones to educate the masses that they were duped by the coup that has just happened; it was a war inside the Zanu PF- house that had nothing to do with the masses. It was a war that was openly sided by the Securocrat who made the final push, Mnangagwa and Lacoste had failed to remove Mugabe using those civilized and democratic means to change leadership within the party.
This flip-flopping of Zapu and the Zipra War Vets will cost them the elections again. Be it the War Vets or General Dabengwa has no mandate whatsoever to be put in any government without winning the elections in their territory: Bulawayo and Mathebeleland. Zapu Spokesperson tried to distance Zapu from the hullaballoo of the inauguration of the second President of Zimbabwe. General Dabengwa may have attended the circus; he was invisible in the crowd. That should have informed Zipra War Vets that Zipra and Zapu have no chance in the Mnangagwa government. If for argument sake, General Dabengwa is handpicked to become the second President, will that be appeasement strategy to silence the nation about the atrocities this government has committed all these 37 yearsn power? Are the Zipra War Vets singings for their supper to endorse a criminal called Mnangagwa and Lacoste government? When we hear the Zipra War Vets saying they want to take part in politics, are they going to harass the people of Mathebeleland to vote for Zanu PF?
Ncube the Zipra War Vet said in the today's article:
"We are calling on all the Zipra cadres regardless of tribe or political affiliation to work towards setting ourselves up politically in order to ensure we safeguard what we fought for. The main agenda today was to talk about our political position. We need to participate in the new political dispensation to unsure that what we fought for is safe guarded," said Ncube.
If that did not happen before all these years of liberation and independence, what tricks are the Zipra War Vets going to do to make this happen. Already Zanu has chosen its own, not even one opposition even technocrats from outside were included in the new dispensation. What makes the Zipra War Vets still dream again of being part of the new dispensation when the deal is already been done. Chinamasa said it loud and clear on the 21st of November that this is a Zanu PF Lacoste Day and none in the opposition. We know that the times are indeed very hard out there, but it is a grave mistake to overlook fundamental values of democracy my own parents: Mr Zephaniah Sihwa and Mrs. Louisa Sihwa fought for most of their precious lives. What are Zipra War Vets telling us about the masses of people that died victims of genocide and till today there was never a word of slender sorry, asking for pardon for all those atrocities of that magnitude: crimes against humanity of the Millennium, genocide of 1980s?
The war Vets should be reminded that all ethnic groups in Zimbabwe suffered under Zanu PF rule. There are all signs on the ground that informs us those crimes against humanity will happen again. Signs on the ground that tell us all will not be well in Zimbabwe until the elections of 2018. The army is still on the streets beating and harassing civilians. Christopher Mutsvangwa openly told the nation that the army is going to assist Zanu PF Lacoste to win the coming elections. Are we going to be harassed by the army to vote for their favoured candidate Mnangagwa in 2018 as it happened not long ago in 2008 general elections? Peoples of all ethnic groups in Zimbabwe will be targeted this time round.
Dear Zipra War Vets, with all due respect I have for you; let's not think with our stomachs in such painful times of our political developments. We need your constructive input and not that of the stomachs. If you want to sup with the devil: what will make you different in the whole circus unfolding in our national politics: do you want to be used in the coming campaigning of the 2018 elections: beat up our women and men for not voting for Mnangagwa and be dumped again after the elections. You assisted in fighting on the side of Lacoste to fight criminals called G40 you say. What we know and is evident that Zanu PF government does not know you anymore; you have been dumped and left irrelevant to whatever contributions you made before and after the coup. What is your next mission this time round to seek audience with President Mnangagwa either than getting humiliated again if Mnangagwa tells you he has no time for you? You will be lucky to meet Chris Mutsvangwa ever. There is serous infighting in Zanu PF Lacoste: they are jostling for posts, does it surprise you that till today there are no VP posts, it will be his luck if General Dabengwa was selected to be one of them in the "inclusive" government. He will be taking that post for himself and certainly not for the people of Mathebeleland and Midlands.
Zipra war vets do not realize how much they been taken for a ride, mercilessly dubbed by ZNLWVA and Christopher Mutsvangwa. Immediately after the military take-over in Zimbabwe, General Dabengwa went live on South African media commending the coup, he supported the coup. Further he was quoted again expressing his wish to work in Mnangagwa's government. When we all thought that General Dabengwa learnt his lessons when he was imprisoned by the very Mnangagwa who dangled keys at his cell in Chikurubi: "either you join Zanu PF and leave the prison cell: here are the keys." We have not forgotten all those torture, humiliations and death General Lookout Masuku and him had to endure. General Masuku was murdered in jail, we have not forgotten all. Apparently General Dabengwa has forgotten. What is General Lookout Masuku saying in his grave, he is turning in his grave.
Christopher Mutsvangwa and Zanu PF Lacoste were smart in their dealings and negotiations prior to the coup d'état and thereafter. They made sure they engage Zipra and Dabengwa in their planning the coup to get recognition: a recognition they got from the top, from General Dabengwa. The article in the Bulawayo24 today about the Zipra War Vets is a disappointing development. Zipra has lost its noble values and noble principles they were imparted in the liberation struggle. They are just headless chickens. Do they, did they hope sincerely that Zanu PF Lacoste will include them in the "inclusive government?" Who in the opposition was included in the most anticipated government of national unity to this day? Ko ma Zipra War Vets chii panyama ye huku ye Zanu PF Lacoste in December 2017? General Dabengwa and Zipra War Vets have been cheated broad daylight by Mnangagwa and his cabal government: same story we have always known about Zanu PF. We feel this humiliation of Zipra War Vets and General Dabengwa even us outside Zapu membership following. Tirikuvanyarira zve sure! Inhloni bar!
It appears as if Zipra War Vets has not learnt anything at all when it comes to Zipra/Zanu PF conflicts dating back to the split that happened in the late fifties and early sixties. These two parties have never worked together successful ever since the struggle for independence of Zimbabwe. What makes Zipra War Vets think that they can MANAGE to form an inclusive government of national unity if it did not happen successfully before? We all know that Comrade Joshua Nkomo literally capitulated to serve lives that have been lost to unprecedented levels in 1987. That government of national unity between Zanu and Zapu in 1987 was necessary mainly to stop the butchering of unarmed civilians: the political matrix of yesteryear is different from the political trajectory of today. Nothing has changed in Zanu PF; it's the face that has changed. Zipra War Vets should know this better than me.
The evidence that Zanu PF has not shed its leopard colours is evident the way they used and abused the general population into thinking change has come just by removing Mugabe from power by hook and crook. It was not a coup D'état!" they said. The leopard has not removed its colours when the entire Zanu PF cabinet of former President Mugabe was reinstated once more in Mnangagwa government. Zipra War Vets, in the today's Byo 24 article talks about how they assisted to fight corrupt elements in G40: that is just laughable: how did they do it? Can't Zipra War Vets and General Dabengwa ask themselves pertinent questions: why is corruption so criminalized in G40 and the corrupt elements in Lacoste are left scot free, untouched? Who does not know that the money looted by Zanu PF Lacoste is in millions and billions: and not in hundreds and thousands by G40, except of course Mrs. Grace Mugabe together with her husband looted government revenues in billions of diamond revenues? Mugabe and his wife are even given a retirement package unimaginable by good thinking person.
The Zipra War Vets tell us in Bulawayo 24 social media today that they seek audience with President Mnangagwa. It is indeed desperation of the first order to ever engage with known thugs, criminals, murderers and looters of diamond finds from Democratic Republic of Congo, Mnangagwa, a man who is on the sanctions list of United Nations. The Zipra War Vets are going down in their knees begging to their once killer of the people of Mathebeleland, who called them cockroaches and must be gamatoxed. All those miseries and deaths and dehumanizing of "other ethnic" groups and "other people with different political convictions" (Zapu members of Shona ethnic groups) is forgotten because the empty stomach now dictates to them what to do, less noble convictions, no Zapu/Zipra liberation values, less Zapu/Zipra liberation principles.
Our Manager: not a politician; by his own admission, Dr. Nkosana could be excused for wanting to be part of Mnangagwa's government. He was bringing with him a wide range of experience he acquired in those world finance institutions. Our Strive Masiyiwa who was touted to be the President's economic adviser in the new dispensation, if it is true, could have none of it, he stays aloof from the hullaballoo, as a result his world-famous-reputation remains intact. Amai Mujuru was sceptical from the onset. She distanced herself from the new government openly. Amai Mujuru apparently knows Zanu PF more than General Dumiso Dabengwa does. It is for this reason they are targeting her: this externalisation of foreign currency is directly targeting Amai Mujuru. We do not exonerate her from that, but why are opposition parties and those of G40 the target, not blanket approach to all those who criminally externalized foreign currency?
The Zipra War Vets could have done better if they denounced the coup d'état. The Zipra War Vets could have demanded the return to civilian government immediately after the coup. The Zipra War Vets could have advised the regional SADC and African Union that the government of Mnangagwa came to power through the back door and was unconstitutional and therefore illegal by all civilized standards. The Zipra War Vets should have been the ones to educate the masses that they were duped by the coup that has just happened; it was a war inside the Zanu PF- house that had nothing to do with the masses. It was a war that was openly sided by the Securocrat who made the final push, Mnangagwa and Lacoste had failed to remove Mugabe using those civilized and democratic means to change leadership within the party.
This flip-flopping of Zapu and the Zipra War Vets will cost them the elections again. Be it the War Vets or General Dabengwa has no mandate whatsoever to be put in any government without winning the elections in their territory: Bulawayo and Mathebeleland. Zapu Spokesperson tried to distance Zapu from the hullaballoo of the inauguration of the second President of Zimbabwe. General Dabengwa may have attended the circus; he was invisible in the crowd. That should have informed Zipra War Vets that Zipra and Zapu have no chance in the Mnangagwa government. If for argument sake, General Dabengwa is handpicked to become the second President, will that be appeasement strategy to silence the nation about the atrocities this government has committed all these 37 yearsn power? Are the Zipra War Vets singings for their supper to endorse a criminal called Mnangagwa and Lacoste government? When we hear the Zipra War Vets saying they want to take part in politics, are they going to harass the people of Mathebeleland to vote for Zanu PF?
Ncube the Zipra War Vet said in the today's article:
"We are calling on all the Zipra cadres regardless of tribe or political affiliation to work towards setting ourselves up politically in order to ensure we safeguard what we fought for. The main agenda today was to talk about our political position. We need to participate in the new political dispensation to unsure that what we fought for is safe guarded," said Ncube.
If that did not happen before all these years of liberation and independence, what tricks are the Zipra War Vets going to do to make this happen. Already Zanu has chosen its own, not even one opposition even technocrats from outside were included in the new dispensation. What makes the Zipra War Vets still dream again of being part of the new dispensation when the deal is already been done. Chinamasa said it loud and clear on the 21st of November that this is a Zanu PF Lacoste Day and none in the opposition. We know that the times are indeed very hard out there, but it is a grave mistake to overlook fundamental values of democracy my own parents: Mr Zephaniah Sihwa and Mrs. Louisa Sihwa fought for most of their precious lives. What are Zipra War Vets telling us about the masses of people that died victims of genocide and till today there was never a word of slender sorry, asking for pardon for all those atrocities of that magnitude: crimes against humanity of the Millennium, genocide of 1980s?
The war Vets should be reminded that all ethnic groups in Zimbabwe suffered under Zanu PF rule. There are all signs on the ground that informs us those crimes against humanity will happen again. Signs on the ground that tell us all will not be well in Zimbabwe until the elections of 2018. The army is still on the streets beating and harassing civilians. Christopher Mutsvangwa openly told the nation that the army is going to assist Zanu PF Lacoste to win the coming elections. Are we going to be harassed by the army to vote for their favoured candidate Mnangagwa in 2018 as it happened not long ago in 2008 general elections? Peoples of all ethnic groups in Zimbabwe will be targeted this time round.
Dear Zipra War Vets, with all due respect I have for you; let's not think with our stomachs in such painful times of our political developments. We need your constructive input and not that of the stomachs. If you want to sup with the devil: what will make you different in the whole circus unfolding in our national politics: do you want to be used in the coming campaigning of the 2018 elections: beat up our women and men for not voting for Mnangagwa and be dumped again after the elections. You assisted in fighting on the side of Lacoste to fight criminals called G40 you say. What we know and is evident that Zanu PF government does not know you anymore; you have been dumped and left irrelevant to whatever contributions you made before and after the coup. What is your next mission this time round to seek audience with President Mnangagwa either than getting humiliated again if Mnangagwa tells you he has no time for you? You will be lucky to meet Chris Mutsvangwa ever. There is serous infighting in Zanu PF Lacoste: they are jostling for posts, does it surprise you that till today there are no VP posts, it will be his luck if General Dabengwa was selected to be one of them in the "inclusive" government. He will be taking that post for himself and certainly not for the people of Mathebeleland and Midlands.
Source - Nomazulu Thata
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