A Mthwakazi's New Year Message: A Grief that must inspire grit!

By the time this article is flighted, Shonaist and Gukurahundist Zimbabwe's political parties - all Shonaist-led - will have probably put out a 'New Year's' message of one form or another, celebrating, flaunting tribal 'power', and making the usual assumptions about uMthwakazi that make uMthwakazi mere consumers or by-products of 'their' political processes and political whims.

Alongside, political parties that are Ndebele-led - as they prefer to say so rather than use the word 'uMthwakazi' - will likely also put out 'their' own New Year's messages, which while peripherally mournful of Mthwakazi's political plight at the hands of Shonaist and Gukurahundist Zimbabwe, are quick to extol and sing the 'oneness' of this Zimbabwe under that prostrating and shameful but politically digestable word - 'nation'. These political parties - squeezed to narrow slivers of Matebeleland spatially and ideationally - still insist on calling themselves 'national' and their leaders are 'national' leaders, even though they are mocked and relegated to sub-category by one-man 'tribal' parties of Harare regarded by Shonaist and Gukurahundist Zimbabwe - as 'national'. It is not that these Mthwakazi political parties do not see or know this tribally-enforced reduction and redaction, it is merely that they think - very wrongly - that they can make a political point; some political point. And that is the whole point: that they are not making any political point. None whatsoever! If you play with and within the system, you cannot at the same time bemoan what you are voluntarily (and happily!) making stronger and bolder to oppress and suppress you.

As many times as 36 times in the last 36 years, there will be no Mthwakazi 'New Year's' message this 37th time around also. This one is still not, though it is titled as one. But there is now a difference.

UMthwakazi has become impossible to ignore. UMthwakazi's restorationist agenda has become something for Shonaist and Gukurahundist Zimbabwe to fight, initially by mocking, and now increasingly, directly, through a variety of sponsored agents and other means which may not be immediately obvious to the undiscerning mind. State resources are being deployed to intimidate, harass, cajole, and deceptively nudge uMthwakazi into politically self-disarming herself. The 'invisible' hand of the Shonaist-Gukurahundist State is everywhere to see; across the strata of Mthwakazi society.

We have recently seen sponsored 'lone wolves' and controlled loose cannons try to provoke uMthwakazi into a reaction, a snoopy stratagem designed to help Shonaist and Gukurahundist Zimbabwe gauge the level and commitment of Mthwakazi to her agenda, and a snoopy move to check how this Zimbabwe's 'succession' issue must ultimately be determined. As if uMthwakazi does not already know all this, and as if the outcome of the 'succession' non-issue could be anything but!

The message to Shonaist and Gukurahundist Zimbabwe is now clear. Yes, what you are seeing and which you already knew of, is it. It is real. It is here. And it is for true. That sledge hammer of mass-murder and scotched earth operation against uMthwakazi - Gukurahundi - did not pre-determine the outcome of Zimbabwe, or pre-empt uMthwakazi seeking uMthwakaziness, or indeed, even end the argument, so to speak. Gukurahundi began it! Gukurahundi made sure the lie of a single State - made of uMthwakazi and the Shona - would not stand the test of a carved independence, but fail it. Gukurahundi would point - and pointed - to a future in an unresolved past, a concocted deception of the past, and a past betrayal that was bought. Gukurahundi re-wrote uMthwakazi as a nation founded on the sacrifice of its blood, that cannot today or tomorrow, be bought or deceived on less. This poignant point could not have been bitterly illustrated than by one of the most outstanding publications of our time, Bulawayo24.com, today.

As I write this article, this very publication, Bulawayo24.com, is already and currently flighting two videos on Gukurahundi, which purport to show that more than 20 000 Mthwakazians were killed by Gukurahundi. Many have said it over and over, that that figure of 20, 000 is a fictitious figure invented by an interested section of the media. In fact, Donald Telford puts the figure at 400, 000 (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/britain-has-bloody-hands-in-zimbabwe-1667537.html). And may people choose to conveniently forget that the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe report, Breaking the Silence - which many people continue to lazily quote as an exhaustive source - was ONLY a partial report, and said so.  

If Gukurahundi - with all its sadism and brutality - had beaten uMthwakazi to a permanent pulp for all time in 1988 (not 1987, as people sometimes claim: Gukurahundi continued to harvest Mthwakazians well into 1988), then how come it is not uMthwakazi on the run and hiding in political laagers called 'political office'? And why the fear of engaging uMthwakazi about the Mthwakazi Question? Or, the real fear is in fact not the Mthwakazi Question, but the Zimbabwe Question? For, many ask: can there be, or, is there a Zimbabwe that can exist outside uMthwakazi?

As I have suggested many times before, these two questions - contrary to false appearances of calm and 'ownership' of this Zimbabwe by Shonaists and Gukurahundists - subsume each other - directly. There is no Mthwakazi Question without a Zimbabwe Question. Shonaist and Gukurahundist Zimbabwe is far more scared of becoming 'nothing' after uMthwakazi restores, than uMthwakazi can ever be anxious about being a fledgling and restoring State. In any event, and for certain, this Zimbabwe cannot after partition claim better statehood than the United Kingdom of Matebeleland, as both assets and liabilities will have to be shared between the two emerged or re-emerged States.

So, Mthwakazi, a critical part of this year's message - if this can be called a New Year's message - is that, take the political fight to this Zimbabwe itself. And to do so, Mthwakazi, you only need to make uMthwakazi's restorationist agenda a serious, deliberative, and processual one; one that is both openly self-critical and externally politically audited. And both these goals cannot be achieved unless uMthwakazi made Mthwakazians the owners, custodians, stewards, and overseers of the entire restorationist agenda. With all these in place, it will not be long before the cantankerous debate and quarrels erupt inside Shonaist and Gukurahundist Zimbabwe itself, and this time, it will not be a secret and hushed debate about 'Mtwakhazi', but a public spat about Shonaism inside a now publicly 'Shonalised' Zimbabwe. Who rules? Zezurus, Karangas, Manyikas, Nyais etc? How etc?

To achieve this, the starting point is language tools - the verbal, written, and acted out codes we exhibit as uMthwakazi and as Mthwakaziness. That is crucial.

There are some Mthwakazians, either out of recklessness, youthful enthusiasm, carelessness or ignorance - or a combination of some or all of these things - who have not placed any premium on the importance of ways of communication. This is deeply regrettable. Granted, we are all learning. And to be sure - so I don't appear to be discounting these emotive energies for all time and all circumstance - recklessness, carelessness, and luck have their place and time, but that place and time is not now. Ignorance - particularly of the lazy and rampaging type - particularly in a political operation of this type, absolutely has no place and is unacceptable.

There are two things uMthwakazi has needed to do in relations to her restorationist agenda from inception, and this must never be lost sight of or downplayed.

First, uMthwakazi has needed to militarily disarm Shonaist and Gukurahundist Zimbabwe and politically arm both uMthwakazi and what will remain as Zimbabwe. To achieve that, uMthwakazi has needed to politicize rather than militarise the whole Mthwakazi Question and Zimbabwe Questions issues.

Secondly, uMthwakazi has needed to frame and articulate an agenda that is politically saleable to the world. Not that the world does not know and acknowledge the justifiability of uMthwakazi Question - but only that the world - which cannot self-act in favour of Mthwakazi - needs to be placed by uMthwakazi in a political position where it can (the world), quite openly and rightly, be seized of the Mthwakazi Question through processes designed to do so. With regard to both points, uMthwakazi could have messed up - and has in fact threatened to mess herself up - by various ways in the past, not least of which has been through wrong language and militaristic posturing (conduct).

Over a long period of time, therefore, we have tried - behind the scenes - to persuasively influence the acceptance of the right language tools and behaviours, usually in the face of rampaging 'radicalism' chasing instantaneous glory.

We have brought in the language of 'restoration' to disrupt the language of rapture - 'secession' - associated with and still being promoted by this Zimbabwe's media, government-owned and private-owned alike.

We have also 'invented' and put out to public consumption and use the language of 'Shonaism', 'Shonaists', 'Gukurahundism', 'Gukurahundaires', 'Mugabeism', 'Mnangagwaism', 'Nkomoism', and other associated terms. Of all these, only 'Gukurahundism' seems widely and increasingly used, with others, surprisingly less so, yet, these other terms are directly at the core of the restorationist agenda. Recently, we have seen 'Nkomoism' misapplied as some positive thing when in fact an 'ism' is often associated with negative things (eg 'tribalism,' 'nepotism', 'Nazism' etc), as we so defined 'Nkomoism' not so long ago. 'Gukurahundaire' is a direct derivation of a 'genocidaire', a person who actually commits a genocide (the actual hand) as opposed to the idea or policy - 'Gukurahundism'. We similarly defined 'Mugabeism' and 'Shonaism', though we have not, 'Mnangagwaism'. But when you have 'Mugabeism' already, there is no need to define 'Mnangagwaism', for obvious reasons.
So, what is the point?

The thing is, 'Shonaism', for example, and in particular, helps uMthwakazi's restorationist agenda avoid the traps and pitfalls of appearing to be attacking the Shona as a people by the reckless or uncircumscribed use of the word 'Shona'. 'Shonaism' and the 'Shona' are two different things. The major political here, obviously, being that uMthwakazi must not expect the world to listen to her if what she wants is to do exactly against the Shona what uMthwakazi is complaining about against Shonaist and Gukurahindist Zimbabwe. And that is a valid point. Yet, too often, some Mthwakazian groups (and individuals) have allowed themselves to be provoked by Shonaists and Gukurahundists and they have lashed out in a manner suggestive of an attack on the Shona as a people; as a whole. The truth remains - even as today as it was in the days of King Mzilikazi and as it will be in the future - uMthwakazi will always have Shona-speaking people as uMthwakazi. There are currently millions of Shona-speaking people who are Mthwakazians. Many people get to know the true ethnic identities of most people when there has been a bereavement of a 'Sibanda', a 'Nyoni' or a 'Dube' etc and the place of burial home is said to be Mrewa or Shamva or Gutu.

And that diversity is the beauty of Mthwakazi - umbuthwakazi - the nation that is woven together. Isizwe eselukiweyo, which is where the name 'Selukwe', now mis-named 'Shurugwi', comes from.

Another thing, these terms - this language - helps us deploy language that is definable, a-personal, and 'scientific', helping uMthwakazi'restorationist agenda have an objective language toolbox which she can deploy politically, and accurately. Language like 'Shonaist', 'Shonaism', 'Gukurahundist', 'Gukurahundaire', 'Mugabeism' and 'Mnangagwaism' is language that not only directly attacks and neutralises aspersions cast on uMthwakazi as 'secessionists', but is also a wonderful political sickle harvesting political hay from the other side in a manner that doesn't attack the person. Just why this language toolkit is not taking root or is taking so long to take root, is rather surprising.

Lastly, correct and appropriate language removes fear and needless self-censorship from Mthwakazians themselves, thus freeing uMthwakazi's restorationist politicians and enabling them to politically innovate the struggle.

And the last point about language. We have tried - very fervently - to promote the political toolkits of constitutionalism and political processes and procedures.

Out of this effort has arisen two unfortunate misconceptions from some Mthwakazi groups and individuals, particularly those who configure themselves as 'radicals', abangancengiyo. The first misconception is that such efforts are naïve, and they are dismissed as 'day-dreaming'. Critics ask, dismissively: 'Do you think Mugabe and the Shona are going to come to a negotiating table just like that, without war?' The second is that by being 'radicals' such people believe they are more effective.

To the first point, the simple answer is: 'Yes, Mugabe and the Shona (this terms as used by this type) will come to a negotiating table to negotiate uMthwakazi and Zimbabwe's respective independences at the appropriate time. And all that, depends on the political work uMthwakazi's restorationists will do to politically bring that about. And no one needs to point this type to 'independence movements'  guns that have fallen silent the world over, as we speak. Times have changed. The tools have changed. The game has changed.

Regarding being effective as 'radicals', these groups are in fact acting as irresponsible vandals mirroring themselves as they do against the same evil they are purporting to be fighting. Notice, I didn't say they are irresponsible vandals, but acting so! This political struggle is no child's play to be wagered on the fleeting speed of a political sprint, but is rather a serious matter to be secured on the political investment of a political marathon.
A political-constitutional route will deliver where a political drama will only hog spotlight but die down as quickly as it was a drama going up, as we perhaps have already seen. Again, 'radicalism' - where it not only promises to deliver but can deliver - has its place. A political-constitutional route, therefore, does not exclude or preclude such a 'radicalism'.
Another important point about a political-constitutional route! A political-constitutional route can never be something static. It will generate movements and shifts that change the political game and political issues all the time, and constantly, with each move, with the result that inconceivable become conceivables, impossibilities, possibilities, and unthinkables, thinkables. And all of this has nothing to do with where military power or military hardware or military weapons are located. Those will be distributed or bought when it is appropriate and right that all sides involved have them. Everything starts, goes, and ends with what uMthwakazi does politically. Those Mthwakazians in various Mthwakazi groups who have ears to listen, have heard and listened to this unequivocal message coming from others - friendly people - who may or may not be Mthwakazians!

So, as we enter 2017, let the New Year's message to be Mthwakazi and its restorationist politicians be: Let this new decade which starts today - 2017 - be the decade of uMthwakazi's restorationist politics, a decade that should supplant, substitute, and displace all of this Shonaist politics and all of this pretended 'national' politics of Mthwakazians who service and uphold a Shonaist system they say they want 'none of' but are part of. It can be done, it is doable; you only need self-belief and the capacity to remove these distractions brought about by unthought-through 'radicalism' and by unthought-through reactions to provocations thrown at uMthwakazi from time to time.

I can imagine there are some who are aghast at my talking of 'a decade' of Mthwakazi's new restorationist politics. This is deliberate, first, to force long-term planning on the part of uMthwakazi; and, secondly, to convey the enormity of the task ahead. Only those willing and prepared to make the political sacrifices and contributions to such a long-term project would commit. With such people, nothing is impossible. And they need not be many!

This stage - where uMthwakazi is and has arrived today - has not happened now, just like that! It has taken people who kept self-belief and dedication to get the restorationist agenda to where it has gotten today, often times, in the face of serious challenges - against enemy and friendly fire, often being taken simultaneously or alternately.

Your contribution - any Mthwakazian's contribution - is measureless, and will leave the struggle that much better and stronger and further upstream, way ahead, than it would had such a contribution never been made. No contribution is ever too small!

The game in town is political persuasion, making friends, building USEFUL and winning relationships and networks, and winning hearts. This frightened and fleeing Shonaist and Gukurahundist Zimbabwe, is doing the same now - in relation to the Mthwakazi Question - but won't tell you. It will shoot no gun because we will force it to shoot no gun. It is also in no illusions about the illusion of thinking on those terms. So, there you have it Mthwakazi!  

The screaming voices of Mthwakazi's mass-murdered - those hacked to premature deaths by this Shonaist and Gukurahundist Zimbabwe's Gukurahundi - are not pointing to hatred against a people or tribe, but to a political destination in which all who value life, freedom, happiness, and peace - a place without Shonaists, Gukurahundists, Ndebeleists, or Mthwakaziists - can live happily without the spectre of what snuffed their own lives out prematurely. And nothing guarantees uMthwakazi that - absolutely nothing - except the restored United Kingdom of Matebeleland!

The grief and pain that today inspires and drives uMthwakazi to turn her back on this Zimbabwe's failed experiment - a failed experience constantly reminded by the so-called 'Unity Accord' - must inspire grit, and a determination and unshakable resolve to prove who the fool is, and on whom the joke of the so-called 'Unity Accord' always was!  
Happy 2017 Mthwakazi! Happy 2017 Zimbabwe!