News / National
'There is nothing called Matabeleland Voter' Leading academic says
30 Mar 2022 at 10:42hrs | Views
United Kingdom based academic Dr. Innocent Batsani Ncube has weighed in on the ongoing debate about the ZANU PF win in Tsholotsho South by-election arguing that the presupposition that Gukurahundi victims will not vote for ZANU PF was a fallacy.
Dr. Ncube was responding to journalist Hopewell Chin'ono who had said, "A South African academic asked me why Matebeleland votes for ZANUPF with the history of Gukurahundi & marginalization evident? My answer was that those who were leading ZAPU during Gukurahundi like Kembo Muhadi, are now in ZANUPF. What is your answer to the academic's question? (sic)"
Answering, Ncube said, "Tell that academic to first familiarize themselves with voter behaviour literature. When doing so they will discover that there is no voter called Matabeleland because voters are first and foremost individuals who are self-interested!"
The Twitter discussion was joined by former MDC Treasurer David Coltart who argued that people of Matabeleland were voting for ZANU PF because they were starving.
"I respectfully disagree - Dabengwa (far senior to Mohadi) was in ZANU PF in 2000 when it lost virtually the whole of Matland. I think the people are particularly vulnerable to starvation and so heavily dependent on food handouts. They know to get food they have to vote ZANU PF."
Another academic Professor Jonathan Moyo said Coltart's words were an insult to accuse the people of Matabeleland for voting for ZANU PF because of handouts.
"I agree with your first point David Coltart but respectfully disagree with your second. It's insulting to say people in Matabeleland vote for food handouts; when most get their food from their kids in the Diaspora. Let's think harder and better about the Matabeleland situation!"
Social media users have been debating how ZANU PF managed to win the Tsholotsho South constituency.
Dr. Ncube was responding to journalist Hopewell Chin'ono who had said, "A South African academic asked me why Matebeleland votes for ZANUPF with the history of Gukurahundi & marginalization evident? My answer was that those who were leading ZAPU during Gukurahundi like Kembo Muhadi, are now in ZANUPF. What is your answer to the academic's question? (sic)"
Answering, Ncube said, "Tell that academic to first familiarize themselves with voter behaviour literature. When doing so they will discover that there is no voter called Matabeleland because voters are first and foremost individuals who are self-interested!"
Tell that academic to first familiarize themselves with voter behaviour literature. When doing so they will discover that there is no voter called Matabeleland because voters are first and foremost individuals who are self-interested!
— Innocent Batsani (@ibkimba) March 28, 2022
The Twitter discussion was joined by former MDC Treasurer David Coltart who argued that people of Matabeleland were voting for ZANU PF because they were starving.
"I respectfully disagree - Dabengwa (far senior to Mohadi) was in ZANU PF in 2000 when it lost virtually the whole of Matland. I think the people are particularly vulnerable to starvation and so heavily dependent on food handouts. They know to get food they have to vote ZANU PF."
Another academic Professor Jonathan Moyo said Coltart's words were an insult to accuse the people of Matabeleland for voting for ZANU PF because of handouts.
"I agree with your first point David Coltart but respectfully disagree with your second. It's insulting to say people in Matabeleland vote for food handouts; when most get their food from their kids in the Diaspora. Let's think harder and better about the Matabeleland situation!"
Social media users have been debating how ZANU PF managed to win the Tsholotsho South constituency.
Source - Byo24News
