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2024 General Mgandani Human Rights Award
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2024 General Mgandani Human Rights Award Speech for Uloyiko: by Thembani Dube, 1893 Executive Director, delivered on 21.12.2024 by Deputy Executive Director, Greater Sibanda
Sons and daughters of Matebeleland, popularly known as children of the stars, our Movement is honoured to have you grace this special occasion.
Your being with us today is a special brotherhood and sisterhood honour, never to be taken for granted!
I acknowledge the presence of our Deputy Executive Director, Greater Sibanda, Uloyiko Rep, Beauty Sikhapha and our special guest and Dr Samkele Hadebe!
I also acknowledge and recognize the presence of Prince Ayanda Manala.
I also acknowledge the presence of Mbuso Fuzwayo, the leader of Matebeleland's indomitable human rights organization, Ibhetshu likaZulu.
Your presence speaks volumes to the unity of purpose that is much needed in our homeland!
That being said, our Movement is pleased to introduce a second prestigious award in the field of Human Rights in Matebeleland as a small gesture of appreciation to those championing our rights!
We have introduced these prestigious awards primarily because we are an organization that is firmly rooted in advancing and defending the human rights of the people of Matebeleland and Africans in general.
As you may well be aware, the first prestigious Human Rights Award that we introduced in November this year is The Revolutionary General Lookout Masuku Human Rights Award.
The first beneficiary of The Revolutionary General Lookout Masuku Human Rights Award was none other than Mr Moses Mzila Ndlovu, the Buffalo Soldier of Matebeleland.
Mr Mzila received this award for his consistent, outstanding and tireless contribution in advancing and defending the human rights of the people of Matebeleland in Zimbabwe.
The second prestigious award, which we are introducing to the people of Matebeleland today, is The General Mgandani Human Rights Award.
Fellow children of the stars, baka King Mzilikazi and The Original Mambo, you will realize that these awards are named after some of our greatest icons ever to emerge from Matebeleland, who distinguished
themselves in advancing and defending the collective rights of the diverse people of Matebeleland and the rights of Africans in general.
Put simply, these prestigious awards are meant to honour our distinguished human rights champions who are advancing and defending the human rights of the diverse people of Matebeleland and beyond.
As you are already aware, the first beneficiary of The General Mgandani Human Rights Award is none other than Uloyiko today, a South African theatre Production group, whose outstanding play on Matebeleland Gukurahundi Genocide has been phenomenal and ground-breaking.
Uloyiko theatre production has consistently, steadfastly, outstandingly and heroically publicized the Matebeleleand Gukurahundi Genocide in South Africa and beyond through live and powerful theatre performances.
This has been no mean feat for Uloyiko.
It is therefore in order that they be given this well-deserved Award.
Simply stated, Uloyiko has taken our human rights struggle to be their human rights struggle too!
Our collective burdens as a people of Matebeleland have become their collective burdens too!
Our collective trials and collective tribulations as a people of Matebeleland has become theirs too!
As we hear many skeletons of our departed rattle furiously in the wind and in each and every shallow mass grave, in every mineshaft and in every forest in Matebeleland and beyond, Uloyiko has been telepathically and sympathetically hearing them too!
As we hear the rivulets and rivers gurgle and gush the blood of our departed in Matebeleland, Uloyiko has been able to hear them too telepathically and sympathetically!
As we smell the blood of our departed in Matebeleland, Uloyiko has been telepathically smelling it too!
As the disturbed and tormented spirits of our dead roam aimlessly the length and breadth of
Matebeleland in agony, Uloyiko has been telepathically touched by their grave sense of disturbance, unsettledness and their wish to find peace and closure in our homeland!
Therefore, this Award to Uloyiko serves to remind us, the children of the stars, that the advancement and defence of Human Rights in Africa and the world have no borders.
It also serves to remind us that we are one people, cut from the same cloth, who deserve safety, development, equality and dignity as part of the human race.
The 1893 Mthwakazi Human Rights Restoration Movement is therefore honoured and humbled to Award Uloyiko this special Award, The General Mgandani Human Rights Award, for this ensemble's outstanding
and continuous contribution to the advancement and defence of Matebeleland's Human Rights.
Uloyiko's willingness to shoulder our trials and tribulations as a people remind us of one Cynthia Mckinney, an American activist who said:
"We are way more powerful when we turn to each other and not on each other, when we celebrate our diversity…and together tear down the mighty walls of injustice."
We say to Uloyiko:
We love You!
We honour You!
Keep the fire burning!
Do not tire!
We appreciate you and your sterling work!
Long live the brotherhood of Africans!
Long live the cousinhood of Africans!
Long live our generational mandate and duty!
The struggle for human rights continues!
God Bless!
Bayethe lina bakaMzilikazi loMambo, bantwana beziNkanyezi!
I thank you!
Sons and daughters of Matebeleland, popularly known as children of the stars, our Movement is honoured to have you grace this special occasion.
Your being with us today is a special brotherhood and sisterhood honour, never to be taken for granted!
I acknowledge the presence of our Deputy Executive Director, Greater Sibanda, Uloyiko Rep, Beauty Sikhapha and our special guest and Dr Samkele Hadebe!
I also acknowledge and recognize the presence of Prince Ayanda Manala.
I also acknowledge the presence of Mbuso Fuzwayo, the leader of Matebeleland's indomitable human rights organization, Ibhetshu likaZulu.
Your presence speaks volumes to the unity of purpose that is much needed in our homeland!
That being said, our Movement is pleased to introduce a second prestigious award in the field of Human Rights in Matebeleland as a small gesture of appreciation to those championing our rights!
We have introduced these prestigious awards primarily because we are an organization that is firmly rooted in advancing and defending the human rights of the people of Matebeleland and Africans in general.
As you may well be aware, the first prestigious Human Rights Award that we introduced in November this year is The Revolutionary General Lookout Masuku Human Rights Award.
The first beneficiary of The Revolutionary General Lookout Masuku Human Rights Award was none other than Mr Moses Mzila Ndlovu, the Buffalo Soldier of Matebeleland.
Mr Mzila received this award for his consistent, outstanding and tireless contribution in advancing and defending the human rights of the people of Matebeleland in Zimbabwe.
The second prestigious award, which we are introducing to the people of Matebeleland today, is The General Mgandani Human Rights Award.
Fellow children of the stars, baka King Mzilikazi and The Original Mambo, you will realize that these awards are named after some of our greatest icons ever to emerge from Matebeleland, who distinguished
themselves in advancing and defending the collective rights of the diverse people of Matebeleland and the rights of Africans in general.
Put simply, these prestigious awards are meant to honour our distinguished human rights champions who are advancing and defending the human rights of the diverse people of Matebeleland and beyond.
As you are already aware, the first beneficiary of The General Mgandani Human Rights Award is none other than Uloyiko today, a South African theatre Production group, whose outstanding play on Matebeleland Gukurahundi Genocide has been phenomenal and ground-breaking.
Uloyiko theatre production has consistently, steadfastly, outstandingly and heroically publicized the Matebeleleand Gukurahundi Genocide in South Africa and beyond through live and powerful theatre performances.
This has been no mean feat for Uloyiko.
It is therefore in order that they be given this well-deserved Award.
Simply stated, Uloyiko has taken our human rights struggle to be their human rights struggle too!
Our collective burdens as a people of Matebeleland have become their collective burdens too!
Our collective trials and collective tribulations as a people of Matebeleland has become theirs too!
As we hear many skeletons of our departed rattle furiously in the wind and in each and every shallow mass grave, in every mineshaft and in every forest in Matebeleland and beyond, Uloyiko has been telepathically and sympathetically hearing them too!
As we hear the rivulets and rivers gurgle and gush the blood of our departed in Matebeleland, Uloyiko has been able to hear them too telepathically and sympathetically!
As we smell the blood of our departed in Matebeleland, Uloyiko has been telepathically smelling it too!
As the disturbed and tormented spirits of our dead roam aimlessly the length and breadth of
Matebeleland in agony, Uloyiko has been telepathically touched by their grave sense of disturbance, unsettledness and their wish to find peace and closure in our homeland!
Therefore, this Award to Uloyiko serves to remind us, the children of the stars, that the advancement and defence of Human Rights in Africa and the world have no borders.
It also serves to remind us that we are one people, cut from the same cloth, who deserve safety, development, equality and dignity as part of the human race.
The 1893 Mthwakazi Human Rights Restoration Movement is therefore honoured and humbled to Award Uloyiko this special Award, The General Mgandani Human Rights Award, for this ensemble's outstanding
and continuous contribution to the advancement and defence of Matebeleland's Human Rights.
Uloyiko's willingness to shoulder our trials and tribulations as a people remind us of one Cynthia Mckinney, an American activist who said:
"We are way more powerful when we turn to each other and not on each other, when we celebrate our diversity…and together tear down the mighty walls of injustice."
We say to Uloyiko:
We love You!
We honour You!
Keep the fire burning!
Do not tire!
We appreciate you and your sterling work!
Long live the brotherhood of Africans!
Long live the cousinhood of Africans!
Long live our generational mandate and duty!
The struggle for human rights continues!
God Bless!
Bayethe lina bakaMzilikazi loMambo, bantwana beziNkanyezi!
I thank you!
Source - Thembani Dube
