Opinion / Letters
'Mnangagwa infringes on white people's rights'
23 Oct 2016 at 14:14hrs | Views
Dear Editor
I refer to the article below published in Newsday on Friday 21 October with the headline ZANU PF must win Norton at all costs; VP . I presume their report is true and factual.
As a white Zimbabwean committed to this country I am appalled by the language attributed to Vice President Munanagwa. He has clearly used racist and threatening language. In his view white people remain excluded from farming ,and should "go back where they came from". If they challenge him they will be " thrashed".
He is clearly determined to copy the attitude of the Smith regime who treated blacks as second class citizens in their own land. The political vision of Smith and the RF was discriminatory and wrong. Now 36 years after the end of the war we need to rise above an attitude of "pay back". Two wrongs do not make a right. Development requires an inclusive approach to all citizens of Zimbabwe and we need to be guided by our constitution.
The vice-President, in my view, has infringed on white people's rights in terms of section 56 (3)of the Constitution which states that " Every person has the right not to be treated in an unfairly discriminatory manner….
His threatening language is clearly discriminatory and he needs to retract it.
This kind of language will also chase away investors. Above all they need to feel that the RULE OF LAW will protect their investments and they should not feel they will be "thrashed" if they stand up for their rights.
Yours sincerely
Senator M. Carter
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Zanu PF must win Norton at 'all costs': VP
VICE-PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday declared that the Norton seat was a "must-win" for Zanu PF, saying President Robert Mugabe had directed him to ensure the party is victorios in the by-election slated for tomorrow "at all costs".
Source: Zanu PF must win Norton at 'all costs': VP – NewsDay Zimbabwe October 21, 2016
BY Everson Mushava
Addressing a Zanu PF rally to drum up support for the ruling party's candidate, Ronald Chindedza, Mnangagwa said the electorate should not waste their votes on a non-Zanu PF candidate, as that person would not access State resources to develop the constituency.
"You should vote for the rulers, not for the ruled. Vote to be part of the rulers, not the ruled," he said.
"Even if you are asleep and you dream of Zimbabwe under another government, which is not Zanu PF, you should wake up, brew beer and ask your ancestors why they have forsaken you."
Chindedza is contesting against independent candidate, Temba Mliswa and National Constitutional Assembly's David Choga.
The seat fell vacant following the recall of expelled Zanu PF legislator, Christopher Mutsvangwa.
Mnangagwa said after doling out agricultural land, the Zanu PF government was now into provision of residential stands to economically empower its supporters.
The Vice-President said Zanu PF was firmly in control of the affairs of the country and threatened to deal decisively with white commercial farmers still opposed to the land reform programme.
"We produce our food, we have our wives and make children, so where does the white man come in?" he said.
"The white man should go back were he came from, we will keep our Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe will never be as colony again.
"If they dare challenge us, we will thrash them. But I am not saying people should go around taking land willy-nilly. There are procedures to follow, so that there is no chaos."
I refer to the article below published in Newsday on Friday 21 October with the headline ZANU PF must win Norton at all costs; VP . I presume their report is true and factual.
As a white Zimbabwean committed to this country I am appalled by the language attributed to Vice President Munanagwa. He has clearly used racist and threatening language. In his view white people remain excluded from farming ,and should "go back where they came from". If they challenge him they will be " thrashed".
He is clearly determined to copy the attitude of the Smith regime who treated blacks as second class citizens in their own land. The political vision of Smith and the RF was discriminatory and wrong. Now 36 years after the end of the war we need to rise above an attitude of "pay back". Two wrongs do not make a right. Development requires an inclusive approach to all citizens of Zimbabwe and we need to be guided by our constitution.
The vice-President, in my view, has infringed on white people's rights in terms of section 56 (3)of the Constitution which states that " Every person has the right not to be treated in an unfairly discriminatory manner….
His threatening language is clearly discriminatory and he needs to retract it.
This kind of language will also chase away investors. Above all they need to feel that the RULE OF LAW will protect their investments and they should not feel they will be "thrashed" if they stand up for their rights.
Yours sincerely
Senator M. Carter
-------
Zanu PF must win Norton at 'all costs': VP
VICE-PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday declared that the Norton seat was a "must-win" for Zanu PF, saying President Robert Mugabe had directed him to ensure the party is victorios in the by-election slated for tomorrow "at all costs".
BY Everson Mushava
Addressing a Zanu PF rally to drum up support for the ruling party's candidate, Ronald Chindedza, Mnangagwa said the electorate should not waste their votes on a non-Zanu PF candidate, as that person would not access State resources to develop the constituency.
"You should vote for the rulers, not for the ruled. Vote to be part of the rulers, not the ruled," he said.
"Even if you are asleep and you dream of Zimbabwe under another government, which is not Zanu PF, you should wake up, brew beer and ask your ancestors why they have forsaken you."
Chindedza is contesting against independent candidate, Temba Mliswa and National Constitutional Assembly's David Choga.
The seat fell vacant following the recall of expelled Zanu PF legislator, Christopher Mutsvangwa.
Mnangagwa said after doling out agricultural land, the Zanu PF government was now into provision of residential stands to economically empower its supporters.
The Vice-President said Zanu PF was firmly in control of the affairs of the country and threatened to deal decisively with white commercial farmers still opposed to the land reform programme.
"We produce our food, we have our wives and make children, so where does the white man come in?" he said.
"The white man should go back were he came from, we will keep our Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe will never be as colony again.
"If they dare challenge us, we will thrash them. But I am not saying people should go around taking land willy-nilly. There are procedures to follow, so that there is no chaos."
Source - Senator M. Carter
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