Opinion / Columnist
Matebele nation too rich to beg money from financially broke Zimbabwe
09 Jun 2016 at 07:09hrs | Views
Zimbabwe as we know it, is a failed state that has lost its financial sovereignty and international reputation due to hyper inflation, economic mismanagement and institutionalised corruption.
The pertinent question to be asked is: can the segregative Shona supremacist government of Zimbabwe that has been deliberately marginalising Matabeleland since 1980, start developing it now when it is clear that its economy is in a comatose state?
It is laughable to even think about it. Anyone who believes this kind of joke can also believe that President Mugabe will rule from the grave.
From the beginning, that is, in 1980. The brutal leaders of a make-shift state called Zimbabwe, itself an image of another mythical setup named Rhodesia, could not hide the intention to obliterate Matebele nation. It was all put in black and white in the evil document known as The Grand Plan of 1979.
The aim has always been to completely destroy life, infrastructure, identity, culture, language and everything else that has to do with Matabele nation. But through the grace of God, we survived gukurahundi genocide and we will survive the on going subtle genocide.
Before we sing the national anthem of Zimbabwe or allow our kids to worship the flag of Zimbabwe or recite the so called national pledge, we should ask ourselves the following questions:
a) Why Bulawayo Zambezi Water Project remains a pipe dream since 1912?
b) Why Bulawayo Nkayi Road is yet to be finished after 36 years?
c) Why the renovation of Bulawayo Airport which is now known as Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport took more than a decade to complete?
d) Why rural areas in Matabeleland North where thermal electricity is produced have no electricity while far away Zvimba in Mashonaland rural is connected?
e) Why an NRZ train bound for Bulawayo uses the electric system from Harare up to Gwelo in Midlands where it changes and takes an old fashioned diesel engine when electricity comes from Matabeleland?
f) Why companies are being relocated from Bulawayo to Harare?
g) Why the Gwayi Shangani project has been suspended indefinitely?
h) Why Egodini Mall Project is being stalled?
i) Why 95% jobs both in the private and public sector in Matabeleland are occupied by Zimbabweans/ Shonas?
j) Why US $20 million DIMAF funds meant to revive collapsed industries in Bulawayo which was invested with Interfin Bank disappeared into thin air?
A poor country that is now a "vendor economy", that has 85% unemployment rate, that is failing to settle its debts, that is failing to pay its civil servants, whose citizens survive by doing odd jobs in the neighbouring countries and places very far from home, can only wish to develop Matabeleland. But the painful truth is, it cannot afford. Put in other words Zimbabwe is too poor and too broke to develop Matabeleland.
MLO would like to advise the citizens of Matabeleland against Zimbabwean "political conmen" who pretend to be sympathetic and claim to posses financial power and know how to restore the glory of Bulawayo in a few years. Come on bantu bakithi, those are the same people who failed to develop it in 36 years! Ukubona kanye yikubona kabili. It is not our first time to hear of Zanupf political ploys like Zim Asset. In the 1990s we had the much parroted Economic Structural Adjustment Program which was a total failure.
Beware of wolfs in the sheep clothing who pretend to love you at the time when you are demanding your freedom.
According to IMF, Zimbabwe is saddled with an 11 billion swelling debt and is owing almost every money lender in the world. It does not come as a surprise that the Global Finance Magazine also listed it at the bottom of the poorest countries in the world together with war torn DRC.
The foul smell of corruption has escaped through the contested and uncontested boundaries of the country into the whole world as Transparency International has also placed Zimbabwe in the 5th spot of most corrupt countries. Which means Zimbabwe is a highly corrupt country.
Who can be surprised? We are forced to live in a country where government officials and MPs loot tax payers money and get away with it. This is a country where it is openly said that if you want your project to be successful you must grease the hands of the leaders.
In 2010 almost all Zanupf and MDC T MPs from Mashonaland converted Constituency Development Funds (CDF) into their own personal use and there were no consequences even though the cases were reported to the anti corruption commission and the police. Each of them were allocated US $50 000 which was meant for development of their constituencies.
In a shocking and humiliating situation, President Mbeki in 2010 revealed and provided evidence to President Mugabe that senior Zanu pf ministers had demanded a US $10 million bribe to facilitate a US $1 billion investment by ANC linked investors. Nothing was done about it. Investors were scared away just like that but not even one minister was reprimanded or brought to book.
Matabeleland is rich with vast mineral resources. An independent and sovereign state of Matabeleland has a potential of being a $60 billion economy. Currently Matabeleland contributes 80% of gold output in Zimbabwe, 90% tourism, 90% wildlife, 100% electricity, 100% Zinc, 100% hard timber, 100% coal, 100% methane gas, 100% Chrome, 100% Asbestos, 100% Iron Ore, 100% tin and 100% Emerald. We have Beit Bridge border post that generates $2 million a day.
We produce enough food, we have the best beef and we used to be top suppliers of best beef but corrupt Zimbaweans have killed this industry. We have two major Airports ie Joshua Mqabuko International Airport in Bulawayo and Victoria Falls International Airport in Vic Falls.
As it is, the citizens of Matabeleland are not benefiting from the money generated out of their vast minerals resources, tourism industry border posts and others. They are even discriminated against when it comes to employment and that leaves Zimbabweans/ Shonas reaping all the benefits. The money goes to develop provinces in Mashonaland or disappears into the hands of the very corrupt Zimbabwe government officials.
We are physically and mentally fit to run our own affairs and do not need corrupt and heartless Zimbabweans as leaders.
Matabeleland is too rich to beg money from poor and broke Zimbabwe. If anything Matabeleland is now ruled on borrowed time. MLO is aware that oppressors do not voluntarily pack and leave the oppressed alone. In the event that the oppressors refuse to leave MLO will be happy to help them pack. Lets unite and remove the unclean spirit of genocide, corruption and tribalism out of Matabeleland.
Izenzo Kungemazwi!
Israel Dube
MLO Secretary For Information and Public Affairs
Contact: infomlo13@gmail.com
The pertinent question to be asked is: can the segregative Shona supremacist government of Zimbabwe that has been deliberately marginalising Matabeleland since 1980, start developing it now when it is clear that its economy is in a comatose state?
It is laughable to even think about it. Anyone who believes this kind of joke can also believe that President Mugabe will rule from the grave.
From the beginning, that is, in 1980. The brutal leaders of a make-shift state called Zimbabwe, itself an image of another mythical setup named Rhodesia, could not hide the intention to obliterate Matebele nation. It was all put in black and white in the evil document known as The Grand Plan of 1979.
The aim has always been to completely destroy life, infrastructure, identity, culture, language and everything else that has to do with Matabele nation. But through the grace of God, we survived gukurahundi genocide and we will survive the on going subtle genocide.
Before we sing the national anthem of Zimbabwe or allow our kids to worship the flag of Zimbabwe or recite the so called national pledge, we should ask ourselves the following questions:
a) Why Bulawayo Zambezi Water Project remains a pipe dream since 1912?
b) Why Bulawayo Nkayi Road is yet to be finished after 36 years?
c) Why the renovation of Bulawayo Airport which is now known as Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport took more than a decade to complete?
d) Why rural areas in Matabeleland North where thermal electricity is produced have no electricity while far away Zvimba in Mashonaland rural is connected?
e) Why an NRZ train bound for Bulawayo uses the electric system from Harare up to Gwelo in Midlands where it changes and takes an old fashioned diesel engine when electricity comes from Matabeleland?
f) Why companies are being relocated from Bulawayo to Harare?
g) Why the Gwayi Shangani project has been suspended indefinitely?
h) Why Egodini Mall Project is being stalled?
i) Why 95% jobs both in the private and public sector in Matabeleland are occupied by Zimbabweans/ Shonas?
j) Why US $20 million DIMAF funds meant to revive collapsed industries in Bulawayo which was invested with Interfin Bank disappeared into thin air?
A poor country that is now a "vendor economy", that has 85% unemployment rate, that is failing to settle its debts, that is failing to pay its civil servants, whose citizens survive by doing odd jobs in the neighbouring countries and places very far from home, can only wish to develop Matabeleland. But the painful truth is, it cannot afford. Put in other words Zimbabwe is too poor and too broke to develop Matabeleland.
MLO would like to advise the citizens of Matabeleland against Zimbabwean "political conmen" who pretend to be sympathetic and claim to posses financial power and know how to restore the glory of Bulawayo in a few years. Come on bantu bakithi, those are the same people who failed to develop it in 36 years! Ukubona kanye yikubona kabili. It is not our first time to hear of Zanupf political ploys like Zim Asset. In the 1990s we had the much parroted Economic Structural Adjustment Program which was a total failure.
Beware of wolfs in the sheep clothing who pretend to love you at the time when you are demanding your freedom.
According to IMF, Zimbabwe is saddled with an 11 billion swelling debt and is owing almost every money lender in the world. It does not come as a surprise that the Global Finance Magazine also listed it at the bottom of the poorest countries in the world together with war torn DRC.
Who can be surprised? We are forced to live in a country where government officials and MPs loot tax payers money and get away with it. This is a country where it is openly said that if you want your project to be successful you must grease the hands of the leaders.
In 2010 almost all Zanupf and MDC T MPs from Mashonaland converted Constituency Development Funds (CDF) into their own personal use and there were no consequences even though the cases were reported to the anti corruption commission and the police. Each of them were allocated US $50 000 which was meant for development of their constituencies.
In a shocking and humiliating situation, President Mbeki in 2010 revealed and provided evidence to President Mugabe that senior Zanu pf ministers had demanded a US $10 million bribe to facilitate a US $1 billion investment by ANC linked investors. Nothing was done about it. Investors were scared away just like that but not even one minister was reprimanded or brought to book.
Matabeleland is rich with vast mineral resources. An independent and sovereign state of Matabeleland has a potential of being a $60 billion economy. Currently Matabeleland contributes 80% of gold output in Zimbabwe, 90% tourism, 90% wildlife, 100% electricity, 100% Zinc, 100% hard timber, 100% coal, 100% methane gas, 100% Chrome, 100% Asbestos, 100% Iron Ore, 100% tin and 100% Emerald. We have Beit Bridge border post that generates $2 million a day.
We produce enough food, we have the best beef and we used to be top suppliers of best beef but corrupt Zimbaweans have killed this industry. We have two major Airports ie Joshua Mqabuko International Airport in Bulawayo and Victoria Falls International Airport in Vic Falls.
As it is, the citizens of Matabeleland are not benefiting from the money generated out of their vast minerals resources, tourism industry border posts and others. They are even discriminated against when it comes to employment and that leaves Zimbabweans/ Shonas reaping all the benefits. The money goes to develop provinces in Mashonaland or disappears into the hands of the very corrupt Zimbabwe government officials.
We are physically and mentally fit to run our own affairs and do not need corrupt and heartless Zimbabweans as leaders.
Matabeleland is too rich to beg money from poor and broke Zimbabwe. If anything Matabeleland is now ruled on borrowed time. MLO is aware that oppressors do not voluntarily pack and leave the oppressed alone. In the event that the oppressors refuse to leave MLO will be happy to help them pack. Lets unite and remove the unclean spirit of genocide, corruption and tribalism out of Matabeleland.
Izenzo Kungemazwi!
Israel Dube
MLO Secretary For Information and Public Affairs
Contact: infomlo13@gmail.com
Source - Israel Dube
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