MRP leader passionately pushing for human rights upholding - INTERVIEW

Mthwakazi Republic Party leader Mqondisi Moyo has been on several instances in and out of police cells when he was caught up in protests pushing for the labour rights particularly for the people of Matabeleland whom he views as being deprived by people from Mashonaland.

He has argued that some organisations and companies were importing labourers into the region while locals are in need of the same jobs. He has also challenged the government on the issues of Gukurahundi and is now pushing for the restoration of Mthwakazi state.

Bulawayo24.com's reporter Stephen Jakes (SJ) caught up with Moyo (MM) and had a long ranging interview. Below are the excerpts of the interview.

SJ: Who is Mqondisi Moyo?

MM: Mqondisi Moyo is a 39 year old man, a last born in a family of nine. I lost my father when I was still a toddler in 1978 and I was 3 months old , I was then raised by my mother and my elder brothers. I grew up in the rural Matabeleland South where I did my primary education at Gwandavale primary in Matobo North from grade one to six. I later went to Bulawayo where I did my grade seven at Rose camp primary, I then did my form one at Pumula High secondary school. After completing my form one at pumula High I then transferred to Mosi Oa Tunya where I did my form two up to four. I am a holder of a Diploma in accounting.

I grew up in a Christian family and I used to be an Evangelist by then, in fact I almost enrolled for Pastoral training in South Africa where I had been given a scholarship.

I worked as a general hand for three years at Belmor clothing industry between 1998 and 2001, in 2003 I went to work for a non-governmental organization in Harare, before I came back to do my own private business. I was permanently employed by Ministry of Agriculture at Mhlahlandlela government complex here in Bulawayo in 2010.

I am very passionate about Human Rights issues, and I am convinced that I am ful- filling my calling and purpose in life through what I am doing now as a political activist. I have since resigned from work to fulltime focus on politics, particularly Mthwakazi Restoration Agenda. I joined activism in 2006 as a member of Ibhetshu Lika Zulu, where I was recruited by my mentor, the late Matabeleland hero Qhubekani Dube where I ended up being its spokesperson, and I later joined ZAPU in 2009 and was one of the most active youths at the revived ZAPU.

While at ZAPU we formed Mthwakazi Youth Leaders Joint Resolution, which had many youths from different political parties and pressure groups in Bulawayo and I was its spokesperson. We came up with a thought of forming own political parties as youths then after ZAPU had issued a press statement in 2013 denouncing us as MYLJR for being tribalists after we had demonstrated against Zesa for importing over 500 employees to Bulawayo to come and do Manual jobs at our expense.

SJ: Would like to share with our readers what Mthwakazi stands for?

MM: Mthwakazi Republic Party stands for peace and justice in our life time. Our major focus is Mthwakazi Restoration. It is public knowledge that Mthwakazi was a Nation on its own before 1923 when the colonialists decided to merge Mashonaland and Matabeleland without our consent.

It is on record that Mthwakazi's last King, King Lobengula had sign for our borders which are recognized worldwide between 1887 and 1891.

SJ: You have made it a point that you want to cut Zimbabwe into two and create a separate Mthwakazi state, why did you choose that route?

MM: Firstly may I set the record straight it is malicious and a deliberate misrepresentation of facts for anyone to even suggest that we are cutting Zimbabwe. We are not cutting anything we are only Restoring Mthwakazi as it was before 1923. Matabeleland people have suffered a lot since 1893, when our King disappeared after a long and tiresome battle that left dozens of White colonialists dead together with the Shona batsmen who had accompanied the BSAC war mongers. Six thousands of our warriors perished at Gadade battle fields, as if that was not enough the trigger crazy BSAC further killed over 15 000 civilians and burnt Isigodlo se Nkosi here in Bulawayo. Hence the need to seek justice, peace and Restoration.

SJ: How are you going to undertake the whole process of secession, is it practical?

MM: If we didn't think that it was possible and practically we were not even bother ourselves with the process. Having said that I would like to state that we feel it is in the interest of peace to have Zimbabwe and Mthwakazi co existing as neighbors. We have studied many examples available in this World before even deciding to follow the Scotland National Party of Scotland's approach to their own independence.

We are fully convinced that the installation of a King is also key to our quest for self-determination, hence our support for the Khumalo family and the Chiefs' resolve to announce the heir to the thrown in August. This is the practicality of what we are doing, it won't be long before we got our independence, and all we need is unity of purpose as different stake holders.

We are pursuing different strategies firstly we are campaigning for elections in the Four provinces of Mthwakazi namely Matabeleland North and South, Midlands and Bulawayo with the intention of winning council and parliamentary elections, our second step will be international lobbying after election. We are also seeking justice for Gukurahundi justice.

SJ: In your approach you appear emotional why is that way?

MM: I am very passionate about Matabeleland and I find it strange that someone can kill over 50 000 innocent souls, maim and rape thousands and then displace millions. Only to come back and say it was time of madness, still won't allow us to mourn, or commemorate our loved ones without the risky of being arrested. The same perpetrators even have the guts to say Gukurahundi is now water under the bridge what nonsense, we are talking of people not animals here?

SJ: You have indicated that you are not part of Zimbabwe hence you will not take part in local activities, but in the contrary you recently announced that you want to take part in Zimbabwe elections, what does that mean?

MM: It is a fact that Mthwakazi is a dream yet to come true, we are still under the Zimbabwean government oppression, hence the need to free ourselves from ZANU PF and their 1979 satanic grand plan. Part of the process to free ourselves require us to go through the election process. In essence this means we are not yet free, if we were free we could be using our own National identity documents and passports etc. We could be having our own Independent election commission, the absence of all these explains why we are contesting the 2018 elections run by an untrusted ZEC, this is a painful but necessary decision.

SJ: In 2011, an organisation led by Siwela tried to push a similar agenda but their mission ended in a half, how confident are you that you will achieve yours?

MM: It won't be fair for me to speak on their behalf, though I doubt very much that their organization has ended. Let me talk about MRP, as a party we are hopeful that we will make an impact and we will be able to take our self-determination struggle to another level. We are bringing a new strategy all together, and we are giving our people an alternative and an opportunity to have their Bulawayo returned to them and the rest of Matabeleland towns and cities returned and run by them in a manner that serves their interest without having to rely on Harare. That can only be done through MRP. Together we can do it. If only each and every 18 year old person from Matabeleland regardless of gender register and vote, even if there are currently over 50 political parties in Zimbabwe, there is only one Revolutionary party in Mthwakazi and that is Mthwakazi Republic Party so it is up to our people to choose the status quo or take a new trajectory we are bringing forward.

We will be launching our Manifesto that is our five year Mthwakazi Master Plan that has pre and post-independence practical economic development commitments.

SJ: Given an opportunity to lay your demands to the sitting government for possible reunion, what could it be?

MM: The first demand would be justice for Gukurahundi genocide victims and survivors, the perpetrators must be immediately be arrested. Zambezi Water project be done immediately, all natural resources and land in Matabeleland be under the control of locals through the provincial councils and local government. Remove all Shona speaking teachers in Matabeleland schools, remove all civil servants from Mthwakazi who are not conversant with local languages. Allow Bulawayo City Council to run its affairs without any unduly influence, let it have commercial businesses that will help in revenue that will remove the burden from its citizens. 95percent of the revenue collected from our border posts, roads and taxes be returned to the provinces. Investments done by NSSA, Old mutual, NRZ pension fund, etc. be used to develop infrastructure equally across the provinces. Return all ZAPU and Zipra properties to the rightful owners.

SJ: You have been up in arms with education minister Dokora over his deployment of non-Ndebele speaking teachers, how far have you failed in that regard?

MM: There is no doubt that Dokora is pursuing the 1979grand plan that is meant to deprive Matabeleland children of a quality education. I cannot say we have failed so far, but I can say more needs to be done and pressure must be continue to be mounted by our parents, politicians, and the civil society. This is not a tribal issue but a genuine concern for the future of our Children and the need to preserve and protect our culture and the legacy of our rich history, which is a source of our pride united in our diversity. We cannot allow Dokora to bring in his Shona teachers who do not know what we stand for and who we are we will continue to resist that.

We are aware that out of the pressure from us the ministry of education took more than 300 teachers to go and study vernacular languages as part of the plan to silence us while he brings his own people. We will continue to reject such teachers, we want our own brothers, sisters, Aunties and parents teaching our own children, we have many qualified teachers and even nurses who are not working yet some people are coming from Mashonaland to take away their jobs we won't allow that.

SJ: You have on several occasions been accused of being a CIO operative, where did those allegations emanate from and how do you feel about that?

MM: This is just a myth,it is surprising that people never doubted or challenged leaders like Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe and other nationalists including my father who was a former teacher under Ian Smith regime, people like Mugabe who is so highly decorated was a teacher under Smith Regime, Joshua Nkomo a social worker at Rhodesian Railways but no one ever called them CIOs but today Mqondisi Moyo stand up to challenge Shona hegemony he is called a CIO by the cowards and people with selfish agendas trying to smear campaign me and soil my name. Zimbabwe history has to be rewritten because it means people like Robert Mugabe and Nkomo were also CIOs of that time.

There are people who believe that what they can't do, nobody else can do it. This is why anyone who raises up, whether in civil society or in politics is called a CIO. Those who are quick to point fingers are themselves doing nothing always waiting to criticize those who choose to stand up and be hands on in solving Matabeleland issues. The other reason being the impact of Gukurahundi, people was made to have fear, the people of Matabeleland fear even their own shadows, and there is no leader who is not a CIO suspect. We have learnt to leave with it and continue to pursue what we believe is right regardless of consequences and challenges involved.

SJ: You recently resigned from your job in government what was the reason?

MM: I was frustrated at work because of political motivated victimization, the ministry's bosses in 2015 unilaterally transferred me Mashonaland precisely to Bindura, to start work there and this was supposed to be done within eleven days, which I refused and challenged it. I believed that this was a political motivated case, the government seized my salary in January 2016 to date I have not received my money. As if that was not enough, after I had tendered my resignation letter they sort to have a disciplinary case against me which I felt was unconstitutional, unnecessary and a waste of tax payers' money, since I had already resigned.

They went on to conduct the hearing without me attending and they found me guilty of participating in the 2013 elections after four years without a hearing. The judgment meant that I won't be receiving a cent from my 15 months' salary arrears' as well as any benefits of my eight year service. I have since made it a labor court case.

SJ: You at one point were on a mission to exhume and rebury Gukurahundi remains, how did you fair and why did you choose to take it upon yourself considering how sensitive the matter is?

MM: The casual approach to Gukurahundi genocide issue by ZANU PF and its government is so sickening and shows lack of respect for the people of Matabeleland. It is inhumane, unAfrican and also uncultural that people can be buried like animals or any useless objects. It is unheard of that people can be denied the right to mourn and commemorate their loved ones, and yet be expected to forgive and forget. Ours is a protest against lack of will by Mugabe and his satanic party's continued oppression and demonization of our people.

SJ: We have Mphoko talking about reburial of Gukurahundi victims, is that practical?

MM: We are actually not worried about the practicality of it, our worry is about the sincerity of him and his government. Again the government cannot just go around Matabeleland burying people, without the consent of the families concerned, not only that the government should be able to tell the survivors why it killed its people? Who killed them? What crime did they commit, and where? What happened to the perpetrators? They have to explain all that before the burial, in any case thus the normal funeral procedure.

SJ: You have been arrested and dragged to court two or three times together with your team, what do you make of that?

MM: In fact I have been arrested more than seven times, all of which being trumped up charges by the state which usually uses state security to silence citizens and intimidate us. I have never committed any case, my crime is to defend the Rights of our people. Right now we still have pending cases in Lupane as well as Plumtree. We refuse to be intimidated anymore we will continue to seek right to self-determination and justice no matter the challenges.

SJ: What do you make of leaders from Matabeleland have they done enough in representing the interests of the people of this region?

MM: The so called Nationalism has killed and silenced our people. We no longer have men and women who can stand up for Matabeleland, because our MPs comes from ZANU PF and its replica party MDC-T who have no respect for our people. Hence those of our own in those parties fear that if they speak out against injustices in Matabeleland they might lose their ill-gotten positions and wealth. People of Matabeleland it's high time they look inward and vote one of their own which is Mthwakazi Republic Party MRP.