Opinion / Columnist
Chamisa's MDC-A are 'terrorists' smacks of 'Ndebeles are cockroaches'
13 Jun 2021 at 13:26hrs | Views
First, they came for the Ndebele people of Matabeleland and Midlands, I did not speak out because I was not Ndebele. Then they came for white Zimbabwean farmers, I did not speak out because I was not a white person. Then they came for the Shona people and there was no one left to speak for them.
In the words of a German Lutheran Minister: Martin Niemöller: "First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for trade unions, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me." These are powerful post WW2" words Niemöller preached when he survived the Nazi German prison.
It is surprising that this famous statement has global relevance in diverse social, religious, and political situations including in Zimbabwe.
Niemöller's famous words are befitting in our situation: Mnangagwa wants to bury Chamisa and MDC-A once and for all, best before the 2023 elections. Whoever has been following the Zanu killings and counter killings before independence and after, the elimination pattern of opponents is the same: gruesome killings. Both Zapu and Zanu guerrillas who survived the brutal inner-fightings in Mgagau and Morogoro in Tanzania have permanent physical and emotional scars.
Zanu identifies an enemy first because it feeds on the blood of its adversaries. Mnangagwa realizes the treat Chamisa is posing on the coming 2023 elections; In the same methods he used to eliminate the peoples of Matabeleland in 1983 -1987, he labels Chamisa's MDC-A a terrorist organisation first to legitimize his incarceration.
In 1983 Mnangagwa as minister of security massacred thousands of unarmed citizens of Matabeleland and Midlands labelling them as ticks and cockroaches first: it became easier to brutally massacre them because psychologically they are eliminating cockroaches: he had reduced them to sub-humans.
Mnangagwa called Chamisa a terrorist thereby creating reasons to arrest and incarcerate him.
Chamisa will rot in prison if he is lucky, will be released after elections. President Chamisa dared Mnangagwa in 2018. He staged rallies unparallel in second Millennium recent history of Zimbabwe thus giving Mnangagwa a run for his money. Mnangagwa suffers the defeat of 2018 elections to this day; he does not forgive his opponents including Grace Mugabe. The seething hate he harbours against Chamisa, its magnitude and intensity can be imagined in thunderbolts of lightning.
It is not enough for Mnangagwa that he has destroyed MDC-Alliance political base to non-existence: Mnangagwa still feels humiliated for having won the 2018 elections so thin if at all he won them! He is leaving nothing to chance this time around, so Chamisa must face prison for trumpt up charges of terrorism.
Nelson Chamisa has never been to the liberation war; was two years old when Zimbabwe became independent. He can manage to kill a mosquito that flies around his face because the mosquito is anopheles. The whole Mnangagwa, supposedly took part in the struggle for liberation, trained in China and elsewhere: 77 years old, stoops low and labels a 41 years old Chamisa a terrorist not for evident reasons but to eliminate him physically too from the political space of Zimbabwean politics.
At best we can say President Mnangagwa is daylight telling a lie that Chamisa is a terrorist.
The reader must be saying: where does Pastor Martin Niemöller's famous words fit into this discourse? His statement is relevant: The peoples of Mashonaland, just like the German population who voted for Hitler in the late 1930s, did not realize the danger of voting Zanu and Mugabe in power in 1980. The complicity of Shona people towards Zanu government approach to eliminate Ndebeles and those Shona people who were Zapu card carriers in the early years of independence haunts them to this day. They made a mistake of generations.
The Shona people were not silent when Mugabe made hate speeches at rallies, but he was cheered: at last the Shona people were having their day of revenge a Nguni/Shona conflict of 150 years. The hate speeches translated into action. The peoples of Mashonaland were aware of the cruel murders, rape, incarcerations of innocent citizens in western Zimbabwe but because they were mesmerized, in a trance, and in a drunk state of independence frenzy it did not matter much to them what was happening in Matabelelands and Midlands. Some of them to this day deny that genocide ever took place.
In the words of Martin Niemöller: first they came for Ndebele people, they did not speak out because they were not Ndebeles. Then they came for Zimbabwean white farmers; they did not speak out because they were not white people. Then they came for Shona people, there is no one to speak for the people of Mashonaland.
Who ever thought that Zanu can arrest young girls: Mamombe, Chinembiri and assault them sexually and having perpetrated gross human rights violations: they have forced them to make false statement and say they abducted themselves? This is state terrorism committed by Mnangagwa government, curiously he is looking for the wrong side to see terrorism and not in him. We do not know to this day what happened to Itai Dzamara, we shall never know how he met his death. How did General Solomon Mujuru meet his death: Who killed him and for what reason? We know how Dr. Edgar Madekurozva died in Zambia. We know how too that Advocate Herbert Chitepo was killed in a bomb blast made internally by Zanu freedom fighters.
In anger and frustration, the Ndebele people are inclined to say to Shona people to remove the monster Zanu PF; you and your parents are responsible for voting Zanu into power. There are no Ndebeles that voted for Zanu in 1980. Now Zanu PF is devouring its children because they have started smelling like goats. This nation is tribally at its crossroads, trying to redefine itself.
Zanu has not changed its colours: in the same pattern it eliminated the people it termed dangerous to the party existence, Mnangagwa is hell-bent to finish Chamisa. We see the same pattern of Zanu PF modus operandi in dealing with its adversaries.
Killing frenzy of thousands of people selectively from an ethnic group as was the case with Gukurahundi genocide is state terrorism. Gunning down people at a demonstration in 2018 elections is state terrorism. Killing frenzy in January 2019 of 17 demonstrators is state terrorism. Killing of white farmers in year 2000 is state terrorism. Murambatsvina in 2005 was state terrorism.
We shall never be silent when Zanu uses its shenanigans to legitimize the incarceration of Chamisa because he is an obvious political threat to him come 2023. Mnangagwa should smell his armpits to know where the stench terrorism comes from.
"Thus, whenever I chance to meet a Jew known to me before, then, as a Christian, I cannot but tell him: 'Dear Friend, I stand in front of you, but we can not get together, for there is guilt between us. I have sinned my people has sinned against thy people and against thyself". These are the words that Pastor Martin Niemöller preached after the WW", a message pelted with guilt because he was silent: not standing and speaking for justice, voicing against cruel regime of fascist Hitler; decimating 6 million Jews and Roma and Sinti minority groups in gas chambers.
I am not a member of MDC-Alliance and I do not support Chamisa as candidate of choice. However, I would fight in his corner if I realized he is accused of terrorism that he is not. This young man Chamisa has never killed a human being in his life. He may have made political mistakes that led to demonstrations and subsequently his supporters were gunned down cold blood by Zanu Army.
It pains one to realize that he can be scapegoated for crimes he did not commit. Killing mosquitos that bite Chamisa cannot make turn him into a terrorist; a terrorist is a murderer capable of abducting young Itai Dzamara, General Solomon Mujuru, General Tongogara, and several Zanu stalwarts we cannot count, murdered in mysterious circumstances.
Indeed, Pastor Martin Niemöller taught us to fight against fascism, stand firm for justice and human rights and never should our voices be silenced in situations where they are needed. We fight brutal regimes and fascist organisations not because we shall win but because they must be fought, we visibly stand for justice in given situations irrespective of gender, race, political affiliations, religion, ethnic belonging, and global diverse ideologies.
Realizing that courage is not the absence of fear, it is sinful to remain silent while Zanu PF Mnangagwa is telling all and sundry that Chamisa and MDC-Alliance are terrorists.
In the words of a German Lutheran Minister: Martin Niemöller: "First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for trade unions, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me." These are powerful post WW2" words Niemöller preached when he survived the Nazi German prison.
It is surprising that this famous statement has global relevance in diverse social, religious, and political situations including in Zimbabwe.
Niemöller's famous words are befitting in our situation: Mnangagwa wants to bury Chamisa and MDC-A once and for all, best before the 2023 elections. Whoever has been following the Zanu killings and counter killings before independence and after, the elimination pattern of opponents is the same: gruesome killings. Both Zapu and Zanu guerrillas who survived the brutal inner-fightings in Mgagau and Morogoro in Tanzania have permanent physical and emotional scars.
Zanu identifies an enemy first because it feeds on the blood of its adversaries. Mnangagwa realizes the treat Chamisa is posing on the coming 2023 elections; In the same methods he used to eliminate the peoples of Matabeleland in 1983 -1987, he labels Chamisa's MDC-A a terrorist organisation first to legitimize his incarceration.
In 1983 Mnangagwa as minister of security massacred thousands of unarmed citizens of Matabeleland and Midlands labelling them as ticks and cockroaches first: it became easier to brutally massacre them because psychologically they are eliminating cockroaches: he had reduced them to sub-humans.
Mnangagwa called Chamisa a terrorist thereby creating reasons to arrest and incarcerate him.
Chamisa will rot in prison if he is lucky, will be released after elections. President Chamisa dared Mnangagwa in 2018. He staged rallies unparallel in second Millennium recent history of Zimbabwe thus giving Mnangagwa a run for his money. Mnangagwa suffers the defeat of 2018 elections to this day; he does not forgive his opponents including Grace Mugabe. The seething hate he harbours against Chamisa, its magnitude and intensity can be imagined in thunderbolts of lightning.
It is not enough for Mnangagwa that he has destroyed MDC-Alliance political base to non-existence: Mnangagwa still feels humiliated for having won the 2018 elections so thin if at all he won them! He is leaving nothing to chance this time around, so Chamisa must face prison for trumpt up charges of terrorism.
Nelson Chamisa has never been to the liberation war; was two years old when Zimbabwe became independent. He can manage to kill a mosquito that flies around his face because the mosquito is anopheles. The whole Mnangagwa, supposedly took part in the struggle for liberation, trained in China and elsewhere: 77 years old, stoops low and labels a 41 years old Chamisa a terrorist not for evident reasons but to eliminate him physically too from the political space of Zimbabwean politics.
At best we can say President Mnangagwa is daylight telling a lie that Chamisa is a terrorist.
The reader must be saying: where does Pastor Martin Niemöller's famous words fit into this discourse? His statement is relevant: The peoples of Mashonaland, just like the German population who voted for Hitler in the late 1930s, did not realize the danger of voting Zanu and Mugabe in power in 1980. The complicity of Shona people towards Zanu government approach to eliminate Ndebeles and those Shona people who were Zapu card carriers in the early years of independence haunts them to this day. They made a mistake of generations.
The Shona people were not silent when Mugabe made hate speeches at rallies, but he was cheered: at last the Shona people were having their day of revenge a Nguni/Shona conflict of 150 years. The hate speeches translated into action. The peoples of Mashonaland were aware of the cruel murders, rape, incarcerations of innocent citizens in western Zimbabwe but because they were mesmerized, in a trance, and in a drunk state of independence frenzy it did not matter much to them what was happening in Matabelelands and Midlands. Some of them to this day deny that genocide ever took place.
In the words of Martin Niemöller: first they came for Ndebele people, they did not speak out because they were not Ndebeles. Then they came for Zimbabwean white farmers; they did not speak out because they were not white people. Then they came for Shona people, there is no one to speak for the people of Mashonaland.
Who ever thought that Zanu can arrest young girls: Mamombe, Chinembiri and assault them sexually and having perpetrated gross human rights violations: they have forced them to make false statement and say they abducted themselves? This is state terrorism committed by Mnangagwa government, curiously he is looking for the wrong side to see terrorism and not in him. We do not know to this day what happened to Itai Dzamara, we shall never know how he met his death. How did General Solomon Mujuru meet his death: Who killed him and for what reason? We know how Dr. Edgar Madekurozva died in Zambia. We know how too that Advocate Herbert Chitepo was killed in a bomb blast made internally by Zanu freedom fighters.
In anger and frustration, the Ndebele people are inclined to say to Shona people to remove the monster Zanu PF; you and your parents are responsible for voting Zanu into power. There are no Ndebeles that voted for Zanu in 1980. Now Zanu PF is devouring its children because they have started smelling like goats. This nation is tribally at its crossroads, trying to redefine itself.
Zanu has not changed its colours: in the same pattern it eliminated the people it termed dangerous to the party existence, Mnangagwa is hell-bent to finish Chamisa. We see the same pattern of Zanu PF modus operandi in dealing with its adversaries.
Killing frenzy of thousands of people selectively from an ethnic group as was the case with Gukurahundi genocide is state terrorism. Gunning down people at a demonstration in 2018 elections is state terrorism. Killing frenzy in January 2019 of 17 demonstrators is state terrorism. Killing of white farmers in year 2000 is state terrorism. Murambatsvina in 2005 was state terrorism.
We shall never be silent when Zanu uses its shenanigans to legitimize the incarceration of Chamisa because he is an obvious political threat to him come 2023. Mnangagwa should smell his armpits to know where the stench terrorism comes from.
"Thus, whenever I chance to meet a Jew known to me before, then, as a Christian, I cannot but tell him: 'Dear Friend, I stand in front of you, but we can not get together, for there is guilt between us. I have sinned my people has sinned against thy people and against thyself". These are the words that Pastor Martin Niemöller preached after the WW", a message pelted with guilt because he was silent: not standing and speaking for justice, voicing against cruel regime of fascist Hitler; decimating 6 million Jews and Roma and Sinti minority groups in gas chambers.
I am not a member of MDC-Alliance and I do not support Chamisa as candidate of choice. However, I would fight in his corner if I realized he is accused of terrorism that he is not. This young man Chamisa has never killed a human being in his life. He may have made political mistakes that led to demonstrations and subsequently his supporters were gunned down cold blood by Zanu Army.
It pains one to realize that he can be scapegoated for crimes he did not commit. Killing mosquitos that bite Chamisa cannot make turn him into a terrorist; a terrorist is a murderer capable of abducting young Itai Dzamara, General Solomon Mujuru, General Tongogara, and several Zanu stalwarts we cannot count, murdered in mysterious circumstances.
Indeed, Pastor Martin Niemöller taught us to fight against fascism, stand firm for justice and human rights and never should our voices be silenced in situations where they are needed. We fight brutal regimes and fascist organisations not because we shall win but because they must be fought, we visibly stand for justice in given situations irrespective of gender, race, political affiliations, religion, ethnic belonging, and global diverse ideologies.
Realizing that courage is not the absence of fear, it is sinful to remain silent while Zanu PF Mnangagwa is telling all and sundry that Chamisa and MDC-Alliance are terrorists.
Source - Nomazulu Thata
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