Opinion / Columnist
Folly of anti-Mugabe birthday celebrations
24 Feb 2015 at 12:07hrs | Views
The anti-Gushungo birthday celebration touting and mantra is a vivid reflection on the attempt to rig people's opinion and freedom of expression.
The machinations are nothing short of the bid for political relevance by his contenders who have dismally failed to beat him at the game of politics. It is prudent to highlight more on the nature of the celebrations and save souls from both mis and disinformation by divisive elements.
One tends to wonder whether it is ignorance or deliberate omission of the fact that the celebrations are a token of appreciation to President Mugabe by Zimbabweans appreciative of his selfless sacrifice to the liberation cause of Zimbabwe and empowerment drive.
To then insinuate that, President Mugabe, called for celebrations himself is losing the plot altogether.
The man, whether the West and its surrogates like it or not, is a revolutionary icon seized to the cause of black empowerment. President Mugabe is no leader of SADC and AU by default but by merit. His detractors anticipated Africa will decide otherwise when it came to choosing their leader but the world shook as he emerged the leader of AU.
The European Union thus climbed down and temporarily lifted its travel ban on President Mugabe. Without sounding blasphemous, it is noble to take heed of the fact that the voice of many people is the voice God. President Mugabe is divine ordained as reflective of his double election as SADC and AU chairperson.
Africans across the board never contested the ascension of President Mugabe after he was made AU chairperson thereby depicting they are content with his leadership.
Drawing back to the birthday celebrations, it is then senseless not to celebrate such a living icon that has been accepted continentally. The shrinking voice of the West and its surrogates is thus undeniably making the ‘annoying' not ‘disturbing' noise under the guise of labelling the birthday celebrations extravagant and a violation of animal rights.
One funny point about the hullabaloo is, the plotters of the anti birthday celebrations forget that this is Africa, which is full of natural resources both fauna and flaura. We can afford to eat elephants and buffaloes in Zimbabwe everyday and manage to have a surplus to last for another millennium.
It is better to celebrate our leaders when they are still alive than have leaders and representatives such as Jacqueline Zwambila of MDC T who attends banquets of ex Rhodesian soldiers as they relive and commemorate the atrocities they committed in the then Rhodesia. The shameful ambassador had to be recalled home after exhibiting such a buffoonery.
Close home, South Africa now commemorates Mandela day in honour of the Late Nelson Mandela. Over the seas, down there in London nobody questions the accolades they render to the queen for whom they composed songs and hymns. She is like their goddess but when it comes to honouring African heroes they patronize us through our blindfolded brothers and sisters.
Certainly we cannot stop the nation from celebrating the life of President Mugabe. Let those who see the worthiness of a celebration go ahead. President Mugabe's leadership has tangible results on the ground. The land reform programme; university scholarships; black empowerment and indigenous drive to mention but a few of his people driven policies make him a darling of the nation. No one can ever take away that from him. Instead, Post-Mugabe Zimbabwe remains Mugabe's Zimbabwe because of his lifetime policies. Long live Gushungo.
The machinations are nothing short of the bid for political relevance by his contenders who have dismally failed to beat him at the game of politics. It is prudent to highlight more on the nature of the celebrations and save souls from both mis and disinformation by divisive elements.
One tends to wonder whether it is ignorance or deliberate omission of the fact that the celebrations are a token of appreciation to President Mugabe by Zimbabweans appreciative of his selfless sacrifice to the liberation cause of Zimbabwe and empowerment drive.
To then insinuate that, President Mugabe, called for celebrations himself is losing the plot altogether.
The man, whether the West and its surrogates like it or not, is a revolutionary icon seized to the cause of black empowerment. President Mugabe is no leader of SADC and AU by default but by merit. His detractors anticipated Africa will decide otherwise when it came to choosing their leader but the world shook as he emerged the leader of AU.
The European Union thus climbed down and temporarily lifted its travel ban on President Mugabe. Without sounding blasphemous, it is noble to take heed of the fact that the voice of many people is the voice God. President Mugabe is divine ordained as reflective of his double election as SADC and AU chairperson.
Africans across the board never contested the ascension of President Mugabe after he was made AU chairperson thereby depicting they are content with his leadership.
Drawing back to the birthday celebrations, it is then senseless not to celebrate such a living icon that has been accepted continentally. The shrinking voice of the West and its surrogates is thus undeniably making the ‘annoying' not ‘disturbing' noise under the guise of labelling the birthday celebrations extravagant and a violation of animal rights.
One funny point about the hullabaloo is, the plotters of the anti birthday celebrations forget that this is Africa, which is full of natural resources both fauna and flaura. We can afford to eat elephants and buffaloes in Zimbabwe everyday and manage to have a surplus to last for another millennium.
It is better to celebrate our leaders when they are still alive than have leaders and representatives such as Jacqueline Zwambila of MDC T who attends banquets of ex Rhodesian soldiers as they relive and commemorate the atrocities they committed in the then Rhodesia. The shameful ambassador had to be recalled home after exhibiting such a buffoonery.
Close home, South Africa now commemorates Mandela day in honour of the Late Nelson Mandela. Over the seas, down there in London nobody questions the accolades they render to the queen for whom they composed songs and hymns. She is like their goddess but when it comes to honouring African heroes they patronize us through our blindfolded brothers and sisters.
Certainly we cannot stop the nation from celebrating the life of President Mugabe. Let those who see the worthiness of a celebration go ahead. President Mugabe's leadership has tangible results on the ground. The land reform programme; university scholarships; black empowerment and indigenous drive to mention but a few of his people driven policies make him a darling of the nation. No one can ever take away that from him. Instead, Post-Mugabe Zimbabwe remains Mugabe's Zimbabwe because of his lifetime policies. Long live Gushungo.
Source - Caitlin Kamba
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.