Opinion / Columnist
Devolution of Power instills a sense of ownership of governance and Patriotism - ZAPU
24 May 2016 at 06:36hrs | Views
ZAPU held celebratory event to mark Culture day which was celebrated throughout the world on Saturday 21 May 2016, at which the party said embracing, appreciation and celebration of cultural diversity is the surest way to understanding Devolution of Power as a governance system.
The event was hosted by Matebeleland South and was held in Mzingwane District.
The event reminded the multitudes who attended how ZAPU has remained the only party in the country that has followed our culture since the time of the liberation struggle when ZAPU, under the leadership of Dr Joshua Nkomo went for consultation rituals at Njelele before embarking on the liberation struggle.
According to tradition one can't go straight through to Njelele without undergoing a cleansing period of at least a week. This led to the establishment of eMshasheni where people camp while undergoing the ritual cleansing.
Speakers at the event reminded ZAPU followers and the general public of the need to revert back and stick to our traditional cultures in order to avert some of the problems bedeviling the country.
Mrs Banda, Matabeleland South Secretary of Culture and Spiritual affairs bemoaned the dumping of our culture which has resulted in our people losing their identity. She said preservation of indigenous identities is the first step towards implementing sustainable Devolution of Power.
Mrs Banda said only if we know who we are could we be able to implement Devolution of Power successifully since the concept demands high levels of tolerance and accommodation of different peoples and cultures.
Speaking at the same event, Mrs Mildredth Mkandla, National Secretary for ZAWU, the party's women's wing urged tolerance and appreciation of diverse cultures while preserving ones own.
She educated the people on different other cultures in Africa which included Tshangani in the Low Veld of Zimbabwe, the Korekore in Zimbabwe's Mashonaland, Ethiopian, Masai in Kenya and Ghanaian.
She said it was important to know and interact with different other cultures since the world has become a global village whose citizens have become one huge family.
Mkandla took a swipe on those who are against Devolution saying they do not understand the concept of culture and diversity.
She said the way Devolution is being explained by the ruling elite is as if its all about resources and political power, while its multifaceted and has its roots in the celebration of multi cultures within closed geographical boarders.
She said Devolution instills a sense of ownership of a governance system and patriotism.
Mkandla rubbished the ruling elite's insinuations of secession and dismissed them as malicious and a desperate and deliberate ploy to deny Zimbabweans Devolution.
The event was hosted by Matebeleland South and was held in Mzingwane District.
The event reminded the multitudes who attended how ZAPU has remained the only party in the country that has followed our culture since the time of the liberation struggle when ZAPU, under the leadership of Dr Joshua Nkomo went for consultation rituals at Njelele before embarking on the liberation struggle.
According to tradition one can't go straight through to Njelele without undergoing a cleansing period of at least a week. This led to the establishment of eMshasheni where people camp while undergoing the ritual cleansing.
Speakers at the event reminded ZAPU followers and the general public of the need to revert back and stick to our traditional cultures in order to avert some of the problems bedeviling the country.
Mrs Banda, Matabeleland South Secretary of Culture and Spiritual affairs bemoaned the dumping of our culture which has resulted in our people losing their identity. She said preservation of indigenous identities is the first step towards implementing sustainable Devolution of Power.
Mrs Banda said only if we know who we are could we be able to implement Devolution of Power successifully since the concept demands high levels of tolerance and accommodation of different peoples and cultures.
She educated the people on different other cultures in Africa which included Tshangani in the Low Veld of Zimbabwe, the Korekore in Zimbabwe's Mashonaland, Ethiopian, Masai in Kenya and Ghanaian.
She said it was important to know and interact with different other cultures since the world has become a global village whose citizens have become one huge family.
Mkandla took a swipe on those who are against Devolution saying they do not understand the concept of culture and diversity.
She said the way Devolution is being explained by the ruling elite is as if its all about resources and political power, while its multifaceted and has its roots in the celebration of multi cultures within closed geographical boarders.
She said Devolution instills a sense of ownership of a governance system and patriotism.
Mkandla rubbished the ruling elite's insinuations of secession and dismissed them as malicious and a desperate and deliberate ploy to deny Zimbabweans Devolution.
Source - Iphithule Thembani kaMaphosa
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