News / International
ZAPU protest march in Ireland
28 Mar 2016 at 20:40hrs | Views
ZAPU has recently opened a branch in Belfast, Northern Ireland, we caught up with the brains behind the resurgence of ZAPU in Ireland, and her name is Sipho Sibanda. In addition to the work of the branch, the discussions touched on a number of initiatives and enterprising ideas aimed at propelling the party to another level. SS=Sipho Sibanda and TN=Thulani Nkala.
TN: I understand that Zapu has opened a branch structure in Ireland, could you please briefly tell us about it and what you aim to achieve?
SS: ZAPU Belfast which is in Northern Ireland is an extension of ZAPU Europe. The branch was started because there is a large Zimbabwean community in Belfast and we felt the need to start a group here as we had been part of ZAPU Europe and felt the distance was not necessary anymore seeing there are enough people in Belfast and there was room for growth. Some people had been a part of ZAPU in Zimbabwe before and because they now live here, they had lost out on that important part of their lives.
We hope to practise our rights and be vocal about what we want to see happen in our country which is something we could not do in our country.
Europe allows us to demonstrate freely and most of our rights we can practise.
We plan to send messages to the ZANU government and the world to let them know that we want our Zimbabwe back into the hands of the people, not this state capture by one old man who does not want to relinquish power.
TN: I have been informed that the ZAPU Ireland branch intends to have a march or demonstration on the 18th April 2016, could you please tell us more about it?
SS: Yes, it is true. We are planning a protest on the 18th of April 2016 at Belfast City Hall. The 18th of April is meant to signify Independence Day in Zimbabwe. This year is supposedly 36years of Independence for Zimbabweans, however, we all know that Zimbabwe is not free, power only changed hands in 1980 leaving the people still in the clutches of oppression and bondage.
We ZAPU Belfast say this is all a sham, people of Zimbabwe have never smelt freedom, well except for the president and his cronies. There is no freedom of expression or freedom of association. We as Zimbabweans are no free in our country and have never been free.
Our message for the day will be "Our country is independent but not free, akin to the message given by Dr Nkomo when he said he initially did not realise that a country can be independent but its citizens remain in bondage" It is our business to bring about the freedom which all our people deserve.
TN: Who will be invited or allowed to attend this demonstration?
SS: We as ZAPU have invited our fellow Zimbabweans that feel the same pain, even if they don't belong to ZAPU, and we opened our invitation to MDC & Mthwakazi as well.
We have opened the invite to the local community as well.
TN: Emmerson Mnangagwa has threatened to sue David Coltart regarding the gukukurahundi allegations, what is ZAPU's position on gukurahundi genocide and the ZANU PF end game being played out currently?
SS: The Gukurahundi genocide happened, make no mistake about this. People's lives were lost, daughters raped, homes burnt. This all happened in Matebelaland and Midlands, which were perceived as ZAPU strongholds by ZANU PF. This is not the first time Mnangagwa has said abominable things about gukurahundi, he first said it was a ‘closed chapter', what he was trying to do was to absolve himself from being culpable for the genocide. We cannot sweep that under the carpet, the culprits will be brought to book and the victims will be helped to heal.
ZAPU believes in spirit of togetherness, maintaining peace, proper sharing of commercial and communal land, respecting human rights.
We as ZAPU would like the truth to be told and culprits to be brought before the hand of justice, so that people can have some kind of closure. Many people lost loved ones and their livelihoods were turned upside down and nobody was held accountable for that. No, gukurahundi is not a closed chapter and shall never be until the victims say so.
TN: Thanks so much Sipho for your time, I hope I will be able to talk to you again after your demonstration on the 18th April.
SS: It was my pleasure talking to you.
Those who would like to support Sipho and the Ireland branch's protest march can contact her on 07492860772.
TN: I understand that Zapu has opened a branch structure in Ireland, could you please briefly tell us about it and what you aim to achieve?
SS: ZAPU Belfast which is in Northern Ireland is an extension of ZAPU Europe. The branch was started because there is a large Zimbabwean community in Belfast and we felt the need to start a group here as we had been part of ZAPU Europe and felt the distance was not necessary anymore seeing there are enough people in Belfast and there was room for growth. Some people had been a part of ZAPU in Zimbabwe before and because they now live here, they had lost out on that important part of their lives.
We hope to practise our rights and be vocal about what we want to see happen in our country which is something we could not do in our country.
Europe allows us to demonstrate freely and most of our rights we can practise.
We plan to send messages to the ZANU government and the world to let them know that we want our Zimbabwe back into the hands of the people, not this state capture by one old man who does not want to relinquish power.
TN: I have been informed that the ZAPU Ireland branch intends to have a march or demonstration on the 18th April 2016, could you please tell us more about it?
SS: Yes, it is true. We are planning a protest on the 18th of April 2016 at Belfast City Hall. The 18th of April is meant to signify Independence Day in Zimbabwe. This year is supposedly 36years of Independence for Zimbabweans, however, we all know that Zimbabwe is not free, power only changed hands in 1980 leaving the people still in the clutches of oppression and bondage.
We ZAPU Belfast say this is all a sham, people of Zimbabwe have never smelt freedom, well except for the president and his cronies. There is no freedom of expression or freedom of association. We as Zimbabweans are no free in our country and have never been free.
Our message for the day will be "Our country is independent but not free, akin to the message given by Dr Nkomo when he said he initially did not realise that a country can be independent but its citizens remain in bondage" It is our business to bring about the freedom which all our people deserve.
TN: Who will be invited or allowed to attend this demonstration?
SS: We as ZAPU have invited our fellow Zimbabweans that feel the same pain, even if they don't belong to ZAPU, and we opened our invitation to MDC & Mthwakazi as well.
We have opened the invite to the local community as well.
TN: Emmerson Mnangagwa has threatened to sue David Coltart regarding the gukukurahundi allegations, what is ZAPU's position on gukurahundi genocide and the ZANU PF end game being played out currently?
SS: The Gukurahundi genocide happened, make no mistake about this. People's lives were lost, daughters raped, homes burnt. This all happened in Matebelaland and Midlands, which were perceived as ZAPU strongholds by ZANU PF. This is not the first time Mnangagwa has said abominable things about gukurahundi, he first said it was a ‘closed chapter', what he was trying to do was to absolve himself from being culpable for the genocide. We cannot sweep that under the carpet, the culprits will be brought to book and the victims will be helped to heal.
ZAPU believes in spirit of togetherness, maintaining peace, proper sharing of commercial and communal land, respecting human rights.
We as ZAPU would like the truth to be told and culprits to be brought before the hand of justice, so that people can have some kind of closure. Many people lost loved ones and their livelihoods were turned upside down and nobody was held accountable for that. No, gukurahundi is not a closed chapter and shall never be until the victims say so.
TN: Thanks so much Sipho for your time, I hope I will be able to talk to you again after your demonstration on the 18th April.
SS: It was my pleasure talking to you.
Those who would like to support Sipho and the Ireland branch's protest march can contact her on 07492860772.
Source - Thulani Nkala
