News / National
Zanu PF blamed for adulterating the national question.
30 Jan 2017 at 04:48hrs | Views
MDC-T official Tapiwa Mashakada has said the national question stands unresolved in Zimbabwe today and blamed Zanu PF for adulterating the national question.
"By national i mean the sense that iam a Zimbabwean first and foremost. Zanu PF has reduced some section of citizens to become second class citizens. In Zimbabwe today, access to resources depends on your political affiliation, tribe or race or even gender. I will cite some familiar examples: No Mdc people own farms. Of the 4500 beneficiaries of the land grab program i can vouch 99% are Zanu PF card holders," he said..
"Under the presidential input scheme almost 100% beneficiaries are Zanu PF. Some of the Brazilian equipment was donated at Zanu PF rallies. Command Agric is for Zanu PF farmers, the A2 farmers. If you are a known MDC activist you cannot be employed in Zimbabwe despite your qualifications. Companies are afraid to employ young MDC graduates or college leavers. Now what this means is that society is compatmentalized according to social and political strata."
He said people identify themselves according to their political parties or tribes first before they are Zimbabweans.
" In other words a person is party X first before they are Zimbabweans. This is what we are made to believe. Yet this is so wrong. We must all be patriots first. Zimbabweans first before we are party X or Y. Today if Morgan Tsvangirai or Joice Mujuru present themselves at a national function like heroes day or independence, i bet you they are chided and humiliated as if they are not Zimbabweans," he said.
"The tomb of the unknown soldier does not represent Zanu PF or MDC. It is a national symbol of victory and sacrifice for our independence . So really no one has got the monopoly of patriotism . The corollary of this is that the army, CIO, police and prison services must be professional and independent institutions which serve Zimbabwe not political parties or individuals. Look at the US. Recently their 45th President was inaugurated. The US army generals saluted him."
"By national i mean the sense that iam a Zimbabwean first and foremost. Zanu PF has reduced some section of citizens to become second class citizens. In Zimbabwe today, access to resources depends on your political affiliation, tribe or race or even gender. I will cite some familiar examples: No Mdc people own farms. Of the 4500 beneficiaries of the land grab program i can vouch 99% are Zanu PF card holders," he said..
"Under the presidential input scheme almost 100% beneficiaries are Zanu PF. Some of the Brazilian equipment was donated at Zanu PF rallies. Command Agric is for Zanu PF farmers, the A2 farmers. If you are a known MDC activist you cannot be employed in Zimbabwe despite your qualifications. Companies are afraid to employ young MDC graduates or college leavers. Now what this means is that society is compatmentalized according to social and political strata."
He said people identify themselves according to their political parties or tribes first before they are Zimbabweans.
" In other words a person is party X first before they are Zimbabweans. This is what we are made to believe. Yet this is so wrong. We must all be patriots first. Zimbabweans first before we are party X or Y. Today if Morgan Tsvangirai or Joice Mujuru present themselves at a national function like heroes day or independence, i bet you they are chided and humiliated as if they are not Zimbabweans," he said.
"The tomb of the unknown soldier does not represent Zanu PF or MDC. It is a national symbol of victory and sacrifice for our independence . So really no one has got the monopoly of patriotism . The corollary of this is that the army, CIO, police and prison services must be professional and independent institutions which serve Zimbabwe not political parties or individuals. Look at the US. Recently their 45th President was inaugurated. The US army generals saluted him."
Source - Byo24News
