How to solve Matabeleland question?

I have been following the unfolding events in Zimbabwe particularly Matabeleland, and I have since concluded that there is a crisis in the country.

Tribalism is real, I am fully convinced that it is a single largest security threat to peace in Zimbabwe. It may be true that all Zimbabweans are suffering, and everyone wants a change of direction, economic development, peace and tranquility.

But I assure you even if ZANU PF go today and a new government come in, it will fail as long as Matabeleland issues are not yet resolved. Of late there has been an emergency of Matabeleland based parties talking about self determination. We have the most Vocal MRP, MLF, ANSA, MLO, etc.

The Kingship issue is now a major issue now. What are Matabeleland issues? First of all the issue of Gukurahundi genocide comes on top of the agenda.

I understand the people of Matabeleland's argument, you can't deliberately kill over 30 000 people unprovoked and then you comeback and say thus a closed chapter, you don't allow people to mourn and commemorate their loved ones. People have never been explained to, as to why their people were killed, maimed, raped, displaced and made to dance on top of mass graves in a so called free country?

I recently came across an open letter written by Mthwakazi Republic Party's secretary for Foreign Affairs Ackim Mhlanga to the South African Home Affairs Minister. That was a true reflection of what is happening in Zimbabwe, people of Matabeleland are discriminated when it comes to employment, I regardless of one's qualifications. Millions of people of Matabeleland are scattered all over the world in search of greener pastures.

Yet they can't be employed back home. It has become the norm that government only employees people of Shona origin. You hardly can find a director, manager, CEO, university vice chancellor etc. from Matabeleland. With the argument that Ndebele people are uneducated yet there are thousands and thousands of influential people from Matabeleland well qualified, within Africa and beyond especially South Africa and Botswana as Mhlanga said.

I can go on and on I wish I could attach the MRP letter to South African home affairs Minister here because it carries all the complaints of Matabeleland people. But thus not my point, my point is Matabeleland people are bitter and needs to be listened to now, before it is too late to reconcile. Proposed Solutions Though I grew up in Zimbabwe's second capital city Bulawayo I am now based in Britain. I still follow my country's political developments, I also interact a lot with many of my people both local and abroad.

I have since concluded that Matabeleland is an angry Nation that needs healing. I intend to use simple English because I wish to open a public debate over Matabeleland issue in Zimbabwe.

My belief is that if Zimbabwe is to remain a unitary state as it is now, then Mthwakazi issue cannot be ignored. It will need real statesmen after Mugabe to unite the country. The first step is to acknowledge and take responsibility of Matabeleland Gukurahundi genocide as government, accept the existence of tribalism and the systematic elimination of Ndebeles from employment and in any productive economic programs.

The Zimbabwe government must as a matter of agency adopt Federalism as opposed to the yet to be implemented Devolution of power. Reduce the current provinces from ten to five, with five directly elected Governors. All the languages be treated as equal and be taught at schools where there are majority speakers of that particular language in that district or province.

Allow Matabeleland to have their own King, Zambezi water project be fulfilled, and Bulawayo retain its industrial hub status. 70% of income from each and every province be retained back to that particular province. Deployment of none Ndebeles in Matabeleland be totally banned.

I also propose that the name Zimbabwe be changed to a more neutral name like Rhodesia or anything else.

The proposal by PDP President Dr Tendai Biti to remove one's particular district number is a BIG NO, because the problem is not the district where one comes from its the identity Surnames to be precisely.

All public employees be local people, I mean all civil servants be deployed within their provinces of origin. I believe this way it will work and there will be less tension amongst Shonas and Ndebeles. Let's discuss Dr MR Mguni based in United Kingdom, writing in his personal capacity. He is a former Zipra cadre and a MRP sympathizer.