Zanu PF UK discourages tribalism

The Zanu PF United Kingdom Chapter has warned politicians and the people in general to shun tribalism.

"This notion of several national languages is not restricted to Africa," said the Chapter.

"Belgium, Switzerland and Canada each have more than one national languages. Even the English of England have several dialects," said the chapter.

"Some even say that the so-called standard English is probably only spoken by the foreigners and at Westminster. Locals have different dialects and none of them is forced upon the other. The Scousers are never forced to speak in Cockney and a Geordie doesn't have to speak like a Scouser. With that everyone is employed anywhere and anybody can represent anyone and go and live anywhere. Likewise a Ndebele teacher should not feel like they need a work permit to go and work in, say Buhera."

The chapter said people should not create unnecessary ethno-tribal issues. " After all recruiting anybody through tribal lines even if it were a quarter system sometimes promotes mediocrity," Zanu PF UK said.."

If a Kalanga or Tonga is competent to run the country and they are the best candidate, by all means people should support that. Someone out there is already saying that this is idealism and not impinged on reality. Well, we have shown it before. Masvingo had mayor called Aphiri and Kadoma also had one with the surname Phiri. Now Kadoma has an MP named Phiri. That's what we mean by deploying the best available talent regardless of ethnicity?"

The Chapter questioned if the political elite need education on the dangers of galvanising their political positions using pointless tribal divisions?

"People must be loyal to the State of Zimbabwe and not to their ethnic groups," said the chpater.

"There are no and should be no contradictions on this. A Ndau person has a right to be Ndau-centric as long as it is not to the detriment of being Zimbabwean. The same applies to everyone else out there. Speaking in a strong Ndau dialect and accent should also not be interpreted as being tribal."

The chapter said it is simply being oneself and there is nothing wrong with tribal consciousness and solidarity as long as it is not to the negation of anybody else from outside that grouping.

"But Zimbabweans have to live with the fact that there is no such thing as dialectical superiority," said the chapter.

"A Karanga, Ndau , or Manyika or Korekore dialect is as great as a Zezuru dialect and vice versa. Once people have come to terms with this reality, then everyone can regain their sense of humour."

"To be honesty tribalism and regionalism has never been known to benefit anybody but the political leadership. Some campaign for leadership using divisive rhetoric of imagined marginalisation," Zanu PF UK said.

"Recently someone wrote that people of Mashonaland East were marginalised as they were the only province without a University. Now you see? Any province can do its own knit-picking and come up with what would clearly look and sound plausible."

The chapter said any region that decides to play a victim would not lack some contrived evidence to buttress their point.

"They would accuse the tribe or region where the leadership comes from of resource distributive injustice as a reason to balkanise the country under the guise of devolution. In most cases those calling for very autonomous regions are delving in parochialism. But of course if inequitable distribution of public investment is real, then that should be rectified. If its imagined, bigots should never be given a chance to divide the people," said Zanu PF UK.

"Zimbabwe has very few hardwired tribalists. Those that actually shade tears when their Shona son marries a Ndebele girl or vice versa. The rest of the people have started seeing beyond parochial ethnic lines."

The chapter it remains for politicians to stop playing the divisive role learned from the former colonial masters.

"The divide and conquer. It is only a politician with no programme to offer the people, no substantial policy who is also petty that would make someone's origin basis for a political attack. If only one can show the people which part of Zim Asset raises regionalism above nationalism," said the chapter.

"Our dialects, tribes or regional loyalties should not be our faultlines. People are who they are. Of course no language or dialect in Zimbabwe should die. It is always part of one's social identity but regional or ethnic consciousness should never come at the expense of national cohesion. We are Zimbabweans first and these other sub-national identities are secondary."