Opinion / Columnist
Why Ndebeles Must shield Jabulani Sibanda
17 Nov 2014 at 08:44hrs | Views
Background
The war veterans chairman was recently kicked out primarily because he spoke out against Robert Mugabe's manoeuvres to stealthily alter the republic that all Zimbabweans fought for into a monarchy. He dared say what a lot of Zimbabweans see and think but are terrified of vocalising - Grace Mugabe is being groomed to a position of influence in Zimbabwe while the country waits for one of her sons to come of age. It is clear that the president's protégé Mnangagwa has offered a deal to safeguard the first family for the old leader, which his rival Mujuru has not.
Sibanda's Ascension and tenure
A lot of people were surprised by JB's rise to the helm of Mugabe's most trusted militia against many odds. For one he was a Ndebele, a minority tribe relegated to deputy posts in most government and Zanu-pf institutions! Secondly his age did match that of the average war participant, officially having been born in 1970. Third by no means last, his war record was not clear. The last two have recently been used to undermine him resulting in his removal from the influential party organ.
Neighbours say they saw him burning bundles of that T-shirt over the weekend!
There is no doubt that JB has led the organisation well. One cannot stay at the helm of thugs without doing something right by them. He has led from the front in all their activities - to the point where it appeared like a one-man show….more like Lovemore Madhuku and his one-man NCA or that other one called MDC-99 whose only known member was Job Sikhala.
It seems the job of war vets has been altered to that of beating up people impeding implementation Zanu-pf policies. He did a good job of that - there are many unhappy people!
Protecting Jabu
While war vets operations in the last 14years have covered the whole country it appears those most aggrieved of JB are from the northern regions of the country. The writer attributes this to the fact that it was the first time since the war that serious organised violence touched these areas. On the other hand people in Matebeleland and the Midlands have had worse before when they had more than 5years of sustained Gukurahundi genocide. So it seems the 2008 post-election violence did not really phase them the same way. They do cry about it - but not as loud as vasahwira.
Is that a good reason to call for the shielding of JB from prosecution being called for by northern regions? It is definitely not. However a good reason is to allow for the northern regions to understand how it feels like for Matebeles to appear as if they are haluscinating and making up stories about the more than 20 000 civilian kith and kin murdered by Robert Mugabe's government in the 1980s in cold blood.
Southern regions have been calling for justice for decades. In the ballot box they have been known to be the hotbed of all opposition activities since time immemorial. They know fully well that Shona folk were duped by Mugabe into believing that there were 'dissidents' and that there was no ethnic purification agenda to extinctify them. Zimbabweans love each other but our leadership thrives on divide-and-rule, if not along tribal lines they will do it on racial lines or other exploitable differences.
If and when the aggrieved northern tribes bring out all the evidence they have in pursuit of the former war vet leader Ndebeles must ask them to bring Black Jesus aka Perence Shiri along with them. They must hide him in their wardrobes. Put him into their silos. If they have a big enough bed, get him under it. Let the other regions learn how painful it is to seek a criminal and have them shielded behind a stone wall of silence.
When the shouting for JB to be handed over is increased to ear-drum threatening level, squeeze him into your underwear if he fits in - the bum crack would be ideal for his kind! Dress him in old women's clothes and cover his face with muslim burka if needs be! Do whatever it takes.
After that come out and shout back asking for help in calling for the release of the Chihambakwe Commission's and justice Dumbutshena reports on Gukurahundi. If the Shona chaps start crying in frustration I say call for them to first join you in the call for Mugabe to face justice for his 1980s murders of innocents before they can have Mr Sibanda!
Chief suspects in Gukurahundi - Perence Shiri, Mugabe, Mnangagwa and Sydney Sekeramayi
The Lesson
This call for the infamous violent man who led war vets in murderous 'missions' targeting fellow Zimbabweans to be hidden is not to condone him or indeed to avenge Gukurahundi. It is for citizens to learn the simple unifying moto of 'an attack on one is an attack on us all'. When Mugabe recruited for the 5th brigade in Mashonaland most parents thought their children were getting a proper army job. Little did they know that in their name and using their children he was going to settle his tribal scores with his opponents. Mr Sibanda's appointment to head the war vets happened only because Mugabe approved it, maybe even recommended it. He needed men like him between 2000 and 2014 to crush pro-democracy opposition just like he needed 5th brigade to deal with Nkomo and his southern provinces stronghold.
Few videos survived the control of information on Gukurahundi by Mugabe
As Zimbabweans, we have a very long way to go in learning to be truly united.
When we sing the "Mugabe must go, Mugabe is a murderer" song as a nation, let us have Shonas sing the verse about Gukurahundi as loud as they sing the 2008 massacres, Murambatsvina and others that affected them. In turn when Ndebeles singing that song must sing the verses about Murambatsvina and operation Mavhoterapapi as loud as they do the Gukurahundi one. Shona muting when it comes to the Gukurahundi genocide is not helpful and has been the biggest shield for Mugabe, Shiri and others involved in that orgy of violence against fellow Zimbabwe.
The silence of the majority Shona and sometimes active denial has been the biggest shield that hides Mugabe and fellow gukurahundists. The wall of silence, literally.In frustration some Ndebeles lash out at fellow Shona citizens, often unjustifiably. But then what does a hunter do when looking for a snake hiding behind shrubs? Is it not logical to hit the shrubs too? It is beyond reasonable doubt that if the 80% Shona tribe were joining in the call for gukurahundi perpetrators' prosecution a lot of significant actions would have happened by now. But then lo and behold, it is like expecting Europe to lead in making noises for the reparations of blacks for slavery!
So MaNdeere, get making space for JB in your closets for the greater good of our nation!!!
(When you get tired or run out of places, pass him on to the whites).
Source - Shingai Mugochi, A lay concerned Zimbabwean
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