Opinion / Columnist
Ndebele, Shona thoughtline versus Morden British tribal relations
18 Dec 2016 at 16:35hrs | Views
Has anyone ever wondered why there is no English tribe? What about a Welsh, Scottish or Irish Tribe? Has anyone ever wondered why the pink skin colour of the English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish people is strictly referred to as "white", not the pink it is? Has anyone ever wondered how the English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish ever managed to colonise Rhodesia, Australia, America, New Zealand, India, South Africa, and almost the whole world?
A powerful Nation is one that is always willing to learn from tried systems that work! This is the Model that Britain has excelled in and a Model that gives Britain the edge over "all else". Britain is a country that has excelled in education. Britain is capable to perpetuate theory into practical.
I, the writer, hold a Master of Science Degree in Design. I was awarded this Degree after an evolutionary five year cooking at a reputable British University where I initially graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Mechanical and Manufacturing. At the end of my MSc, I came to realise how much I do not know. Education taught me how much I do not know? How little I have learnt and how much more I will have to learn and how much I will never learn until my death.
For anyone to come up and say that they are educated and they know everything, I am the first person to shoot their pomposity as an empty claim. Do not resist learning by claiming that you are educated.
Zimbabwe needs to stop being pompous about education and learn to learn. Zimbabwe needs to learn to translate theoretical education into gainful practice. As a learned Designer, I can reveal that design is not just limited to Engineering products. Design is a broad subject which also entails designing ideas. "Democracy" is a Greek designed theory which has now been adopted worldwide. The Iraq war was designed by an American Master's student. Design has no limitation.
For Zimbabwe, it is worthwhile to look at our history as a country and look at where we are strong and where we are weak. First and foremost, we need to look at how we can harness inspiration to map our way forward. If we are sure that we are inspired by the Hutu and Tutsi of Rwanda, then, we are in a sorry state. If we do not like the state in which we are now, and we are in pursuit for Excellency, then, let us learn to learn from those whom have excelled in the direction of what we define as success.
As an accredited Designer, I am allowed to express my hypothesis and communicate it effectively especially to an educated lot. Zimbabwe is my country and nobody can ever be more Zimbabwean than me as much as I can never be more Zimbabwean than anyone.
Our country needs to emulate some of British values. -Abolition of segregative terms. Terms like "tribe". Tribe is a story of the past and the past is a confused infinity.
Can I ask Zimbabweans this question:- "When is the past?" "Where does it start?"
As a designer, my answer is that the past is infinite and this answer is an educated, irrefutable objectivity. For a little scheming mind, the past is what is convenient for you to draw your inferior line and use that line for self-aggrandisement where you assert yourself as being more Zimbabwean than all else. After that, you will die and leave Zimbabwe to Zimbabweans.
Shona people emphasize the year AD 900 as the year they came into Zimbabwe and that makes them feel more Zimbabwean than all else. Ndebele Nationals emphasize year 1830 when Mzilikazi conquered the Shona and see it as the beginning of Zimbabwe. Ian Smith saw year 1896 as the year Zimbabwe begun because the British conquered Lobengula's country now called Zimbabwe.
The current British Government says Zimbabwe was a "breadbasket" meaning between 1896 and 1980 where they used to loot from a basket full of poor, defenceless and oppressed Black Zimbabweans. Everyone seems interested in their own mental schema which they use to assert themselves as being the most genuine Zimbabwean while Zimbabwe will continue after their death.
As a designer aiming to bring Zimbabweans to a uniting objective in which our country can gain rather than loose from its inhabitants, I wind up my dates back to 6000 years ago. I deliberately select this date as a useful tool to get Zimbabweans valuing their country more than the destructive manner they have exhibited now.
All history books tell us that 6000 years ago, all tribes of Africa were living in North and Central Africa along the Nile. There is archaeological evidence though, that the San were already habitat in Southern Africa by then.
History says tribes moved further South from Central Africa. We then know that the Zulu were living in South Africa by the time the Mbire moved to Zimbabwe. We know that the Mbire found the San people and conquered them in AD 900. But we also know that the Zulu tribes (under other unrecorded names) were, by then, already habitant in South Africa having migrated from Central Africa.
From this information, we know that to get to South Africa from Central Africa, the Zulu did not use British Airways 6 or 7000 years ago. We know the Zulu walked from Central Africa through Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique until they were stopped by the sea in Cape-Town.
If we use the model of "who came into Zimbabwe first the Shona or the Ndebele?" the correct answer is that the Ndebele came first. Can anyone see that it is better to be a humble Zimbabwean who respects the existence of all others, than to make divisive viral internet videos claiming to be more Zimbabwean than all else?
We are not the only country in the World that has a history, but the difference is that we are stuck in divisive history which we have very little explanation about.
We must therefore be receptive to learning from other Nation to get inspired into developing our lives. Britain is my choice of country to learn from. They went through all these Welsh, Scottish and English divisions hundreds of years ago and they used educated theories to knit their multi-tribal country into one powerful Britain. Once they realised the power endowed in their unity, they used their knowledge to divide and gainfully loot from tribally susceptible countries like Zimbabwe. They hypnotised Lobengula and got permission to settle. They studied tribal vulnerability and used the Shona to unseat Lobengula. They then ruled and looted from all of us, Shona and Ndebele, for a century.
We learnt a lot from the British. They named our roads in Zimbabwe in Welsh, Scottish, Irish and English. The Welsh, Scottish, English and Irish ruled upon us and gained from our resources and cheap labour. At Independence, Britain refused to deal with Gugurahundi Shona-perpetrated genocide in revenge of British lives that had been lost when the Zipra shot down planes with British lives in 1978. The divide and rule advanced tactic was at work after Independence as, during those years, the British were allowed to continue holding all economic drivers in Zimbabwe for ten years. Once the ten years expired in 1990, the British switched sides, they started to talk about Gukurahundi so that the tribal perpetuation continues. When Mugabe realised very late in 1999 that he had been used, he tried to jump out of a British trap-box, into which he had jumped in in 1979, and they sanctioned him. With the sanctions, they don't care whether the Ndebele or the Shona multiply their entry into Luveve Cemetery.
It is the Shona and the Ndebele who suffer. It is pathetic for a sufferer to perpetuate the same tool that led him into poverty. Tribal thinking is an ancient divisive and incorrectible tool. Unless we abolish tribal thinking, we won't see prosperity.
For us to overcome, let's not just learn how to speak and write the English Language. We have already learnt how to dress English. Let's also learn to ban divisive ancient tools like tribalism. Like the English refusing to be called pink and preferring to be called White, let's also refuse to be given colour, be given tribe, be penetrated by divide and rule tools.
Let us create rotational Governance which accommodates all tribes as head of State for our own National Confidence and cohesion. Let us send to jail Ministers whose departments do not employ equitable tribal workforce in their ministry. Let us enforce equal representation which is genuine. Let us think before we deploy Police, Teachers, Judges and employees.
It is counterproductive to divide our people on ancient tribal lines and expect National Satisfaction. Let us learn that force is not sustainable. Force does not create economic growth. We are where we are today because we failed to use education as a tool to put theory into practice. We lived with the English for a century, but we failed to learn their source of strength. From them, we just learnt how to swap our 1890 animal skin apparel for an English neck-tie. We wear this tie on public places addressing people in advanced English Language while we divide them back to Stone Age. We failed to put education into practice. Our courts have never prosecuted any company for failing to employ other tribes.
It is my view, as a designer, that whoever will take us as our new and trusted Head of State must institute a tough law, to punish any dynamical ethics which are proven to orient our Nation into being judged by tribe. Let us be British in conduct, not only British by speaking English and wearing a tie. Let us learn to learn. Let us understand that the British also learnt from others to get strong. They learnt the "Horn Formation" battle tactic from King Tshaka. They learnt to use gun-powder from the Chinese. They learnt the Government System from Mesopotamia, now Iraq. They learnt to build education Institution and writing from Africa, Egypt to be particular.
No one is exempt from learning and Zimbabwe must learn to learn good methods from others.
A powerful Nation is one that is always willing to learn from tried systems that work! This is the Model that Britain has excelled in and a Model that gives Britain the edge over "all else". Britain is a country that has excelled in education. Britain is capable to perpetuate theory into practical.
I, the writer, hold a Master of Science Degree in Design. I was awarded this Degree after an evolutionary five year cooking at a reputable British University where I initially graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Mechanical and Manufacturing. At the end of my MSc, I came to realise how much I do not know. Education taught me how much I do not know? How little I have learnt and how much more I will have to learn and how much I will never learn until my death.
For anyone to come up and say that they are educated and they know everything, I am the first person to shoot their pomposity as an empty claim. Do not resist learning by claiming that you are educated.
Zimbabwe needs to stop being pompous about education and learn to learn. Zimbabwe needs to learn to translate theoretical education into gainful practice. As a learned Designer, I can reveal that design is not just limited to Engineering products. Design is a broad subject which also entails designing ideas. "Democracy" is a Greek designed theory which has now been adopted worldwide. The Iraq war was designed by an American Master's student. Design has no limitation.
For Zimbabwe, it is worthwhile to look at our history as a country and look at where we are strong and where we are weak. First and foremost, we need to look at how we can harness inspiration to map our way forward. If we are sure that we are inspired by the Hutu and Tutsi of Rwanda, then, we are in a sorry state. If we do not like the state in which we are now, and we are in pursuit for Excellency, then, let us learn to learn from those whom have excelled in the direction of what we define as success.
As an accredited Designer, I am allowed to express my hypothesis and communicate it effectively especially to an educated lot. Zimbabwe is my country and nobody can ever be more Zimbabwean than me as much as I can never be more Zimbabwean than anyone.
Our country needs to emulate some of British values. -Abolition of segregative terms. Terms like "tribe". Tribe is a story of the past and the past is a confused infinity.
Can I ask Zimbabweans this question:- "When is the past?" "Where does it start?"
As a designer, my answer is that the past is infinite and this answer is an educated, irrefutable objectivity. For a little scheming mind, the past is what is convenient for you to draw your inferior line and use that line for self-aggrandisement where you assert yourself as being more Zimbabwean than all else. After that, you will die and leave Zimbabwe to Zimbabweans.
Shona people emphasize the year AD 900 as the year they came into Zimbabwe and that makes them feel more Zimbabwean than all else. Ndebele Nationals emphasize year 1830 when Mzilikazi conquered the Shona and see it as the beginning of Zimbabwe. Ian Smith saw year 1896 as the year Zimbabwe begun because the British conquered Lobengula's country now called Zimbabwe.
The current British Government says Zimbabwe was a "breadbasket" meaning between 1896 and 1980 where they used to loot from a basket full of poor, defenceless and oppressed Black Zimbabweans. Everyone seems interested in their own mental schema which they use to assert themselves as being the most genuine Zimbabwean while Zimbabwe will continue after their death.
As a designer aiming to bring Zimbabweans to a uniting objective in which our country can gain rather than loose from its inhabitants, I wind up my dates back to 6000 years ago. I deliberately select this date as a useful tool to get Zimbabweans valuing their country more than the destructive manner they have exhibited now.
All history books tell us that 6000 years ago, all tribes of Africa were living in North and Central Africa along the Nile. There is archaeological evidence though, that the San were already habitat in Southern Africa by then.
History says tribes moved further South from Central Africa. We then know that the Zulu were living in South Africa by the time the Mbire moved to Zimbabwe. We know that the Mbire found the San people and conquered them in AD 900. But we also know that the Zulu tribes (under other unrecorded names) were, by then, already habitant in South Africa having migrated from Central Africa.
From this information, we know that to get to South Africa from Central Africa, the Zulu did not use British Airways 6 or 7000 years ago. We know the Zulu walked from Central Africa through Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique until they were stopped by the sea in Cape-Town.
If we use the model of "who came into Zimbabwe first the Shona or the Ndebele?" the correct answer is that the Ndebele came first. Can anyone see that it is better to be a humble Zimbabwean who respects the existence of all others, than to make divisive viral internet videos claiming to be more Zimbabwean than all else?
We are not the only country in the World that has a history, but the difference is that we are stuck in divisive history which we have very little explanation about.
We must therefore be receptive to learning from other Nation to get inspired into developing our lives. Britain is my choice of country to learn from. They went through all these Welsh, Scottish and English divisions hundreds of years ago and they used educated theories to knit their multi-tribal country into one powerful Britain. Once they realised the power endowed in their unity, they used their knowledge to divide and gainfully loot from tribally susceptible countries like Zimbabwe. They hypnotised Lobengula and got permission to settle. They studied tribal vulnerability and used the Shona to unseat Lobengula. They then ruled and looted from all of us, Shona and Ndebele, for a century.
We learnt a lot from the British. They named our roads in Zimbabwe in Welsh, Scottish, Irish and English. The Welsh, Scottish, English and Irish ruled upon us and gained from our resources and cheap labour. At Independence, Britain refused to deal with Gugurahundi Shona-perpetrated genocide in revenge of British lives that had been lost when the Zipra shot down planes with British lives in 1978. The divide and rule advanced tactic was at work after Independence as, during those years, the British were allowed to continue holding all economic drivers in Zimbabwe for ten years. Once the ten years expired in 1990, the British switched sides, they started to talk about Gukurahundi so that the tribal perpetuation continues. When Mugabe realised very late in 1999 that he had been used, he tried to jump out of a British trap-box, into which he had jumped in in 1979, and they sanctioned him. With the sanctions, they don't care whether the Ndebele or the Shona multiply their entry into Luveve Cemetery.
It is the Shona and the Ndebele who suffer. It is pathetic for a sufferer to perpetuate the same tool that led him into poverty. Tribal thinking is an ancient divisive and incorrectible tool. Unless we abolish tribal thinking, we won't see prosperity.
For us to overcome, let's not just learn how to speak and write the English Language. We have already learnt how to dress English. Let's also learn to ban divisive ancient tools like tribalism. Like the English refusing to be called pink and preferring to be called White, let's also refuse to be given colour, be given tribe, be penetrated by divide and rule tools.
Let us create rotational Governance which accommodates all tribes as head of State for our own National Confidence and cohesion. Let us send to jail Ministers whose departments do not employ equitable tribal workforce in their ministry. Let us enforce equal representation which is genuine. Let us think before we deploy Police, Teachers, Judges and employees.
It is counterproductive to divide our people on ancient tribal lines and expect National Satisfaction. Let us learn that force is not sustainable. Force does not create economic growth. We are where we are today because we failed to use education as a tool to put theory into practice. We lived with the English for a century, but we failed to learn their source of strength. From them, we just learnt how to swap our 1890 animal skin apparel for an English neck-tie. We wear this tie on public places addressing people in advanced English Language while we divide them back to Stone Age. We failed to put education into practice. Our courts have never prosecuted any company for failing to employ other tribes.
It is my view, as a designer, that whoever will take us as our new and trusted Head of State must institute a tough law, to punish any dynamical ethics which are proven to orient our Nation into being judged by tribe. Let us be British in conduct, not only British by speaking English and wearing a tie. Let us learn to learn. Let us understand that the British also learnt from others to get strong. They learnt the "Horn Formation" battle tactic from King Tshaka. They learnt to use gun-powder from the Chinese. They learnt the Government System from Mesopotamia, now Iraq. They learnt to build education Institution and writing from Africa, Egypt to be particular.
No one is exempt from learning and Zimbabwe must learn to learn good methods from others.
Source - Ryton Dzimiri
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
