Why I will vote MRP

There is no doubt that this party called Mthwakazi Republic Party is the party of the moment in their own right. It doesn't matter whether you agree with them or not, support them or not. The young guys have so far defied all odds in the Zimbabwean politics though they call themselves non Zimbabweans. As a Journalist myself operating in Bulawayo I have had an opportunity to interact with a lot of politicians in the city as well as the civic society.

At first ZANU PF politicians I spoke to about the political situation in the country, they use to say their major threat in Bulawayo and the rest of Matabeleland is MDC-T. The officials I spoke to insisted that MDC and ZAPU are dead and selling an unsaleable product therefore they can never be a threat to them. They used to say MRP is just a bunch of bitter youths who are not going anywhere, a politburo member told me that those boys will fade away just like ZAPU 2000, Imbovane and likeminded youths who discovered that they were just chasing the goose and wasting time for nothing, arguing that most of the youths who tried the MRP activism, some ended up joining ZANU PF.

 While others have since left the country and the rest are either working in private or public companies or are in civic society and they have completely forgotten and abandon the so called Mthwakazi thing.

I also spoke to many opposition politicians and civic organizations leaders in the city of Kings and any time we talk about Mthwakazi secessionism, most of them tell me that those boys are state agents and wants to disturb us and shift our attention, others simply said the secessionism agenda will fall away, it won't affect any one.

Even most of us Journalists didn't want to write stories about them, because we didn't take them serious.

Things started to change last year, when everyone started to take MRP serious and most of the people now respect Mqondisi Moyo and his team. Thanks to part's spin Doctor Mbonisi Gumbo, that guy Mbonisi looks simple but most of us have since realized that he is the chief advisor to Mqondisi Moyo, and knows how to deal with the press, everyone in Bulawayo is yet to understand how the young boys managed to attract the international media, everyone was shocked to see them on ANN7 and ENCA news channels.

The guy (Gumbo) used to come to our news room bringing their press statements and we used to lough our lungs out.

 Asking ourselves what exactly are the guys trying, none of them has a vehicle, their party has no vehicle, they don't seem fancy, some of them when watching highlanders they seat at the popular Soweto stand, where ordinary people seat, yet they are making a lot of impact. What is their secret?

Recently I met with the party's secretary for information and publicity Mbonisi Gumbo whom I call the spin doctor and Ackim Gasela their secretary for foreign affairs, and discussed a lot some of which I won't publish.

Their response was that, we are inspired by our poverty to do what we do, we are also inspired by the Word of God. God doesn't use the obvious people or those that are expected by society to lead. If you know the Bible you will understand this, there were more deserving people during the time of Soul, David, Moses, or Mary and Joseph the list is endless but God chose them instead.

Thus favor of God said Mr Gumbo. When asked why some people think you are CIO, Gumbo said, we have some of our people who are full of jealousy and believes that what they can't do nobody can. But we believe in Christ so we have nothing to lose. We just play our part and live the rest to Christ, whether we win or lose it's none of our business we live it to Christ to decide.   

Let me be clear that I don't support the Mthwakazi Restoration Agenda, though I will vote for Mthwakazi Republic Party for the following reasons;  

My belief is that the raise of the so called Mthwakazi Restorationists movements, is exacerbated by the failure by the central government to deal with the Gukurahundi genocide issue, people of Matabeleland are still hurting. Economic marginalization where employment opportunities, business, education, and land opportunities are taken by none Ndebele people in Matabeleland, making Ndebeles second class citizens.

     

A political party like MRP if elected by the majority in Matabeleland, most of the above can be resolved. The party has capacity to negotiate for Federalism that is a win for all, I say so because of their militant approach.

 Which I believe these guys if they continue like this they cannot compromise the same way MDC-N did with its Devolution of power during the GNU. Those guys coasted Matabeleland a lot.

The government of Zimbabwe has shown that it has no clue how to deal with Zimbabweans based in South Africa mostly Ndebeles, especially now that South Africa is continuously getting impatience with the majority illegal immigrants in that country mostly from Matabeleland, we have seen in recent times influential people being deported.

 A more reason why a party like MRP must exist to represent the interest of Matabeleland people both locally and abroad, just like IFP and NSP are doing, in South Africa and Britain respectively.

Finally I believe the success of the Restoration Agenda of Matabeleland largely will be determined by the failure by the National government to compromise in as far as Matabeleland is concerned.

A win by MRP in Parliamentary and Council elections in Matabeleland will certainly make the Central government to compromise and that will be good for all of us. I say good luck to Mqondisi Moyo and his team. We don't wish to see the Mthwakazi secessionists taking it upon themselves going to war or starting xenophobia.

 I will suggest that everyone in Matabeleland vote for MRP Councilors and MPs as well as an opposition leader for presidency.