Opinion / Columnist
How the Shona eat themselves to death
13 Jun 2016 at 23:21hrs | Views
A self consuming process is difficult to imagine or can easily be described as impossible by an average thinker. An average thinker will imagine a snake swallowing its tail, progressing slowly towards its stomach to its head until it is an unsolvable circle. And yet this is how the Shona people are in Zimbabwe. Please do not be confused and start thinking in controversial terms, I the writer of this article, am a Mbire.
Being a Mbire, I am a Royal and not just an ordinary Karanga. I am therefor at liberty to educate my fellow countrymen about a diabolic cycle which results in Zimbabwe becoming one of the poorest countries in the World and yet it boast quality education. Education only, without works, cannot bring about prosperity.
My job, as a Designer, is to stand at a distance, and study a system, and identify a problem and solve the problem. If I found a problem in a machine or the way it was designed, I redesign the machine and sell the prototype to make a living. As a designer, I am not only limited to physical products, I am trained to design anything including invisible things like Democracy.
In Zimbabwe, there is an old problem. The Zimbabwean problem comes from my own culture or its axiology. We are hindered from economic progress by a corrosive Shona culture which does not know how to add value, but is excellent in reducing value. For those who are beginning to see what I mean, take a drive on Zimbabwean road and tell me how it is now as compared to what it was in 1980.
The fact that highways of 1980 now have grass show that we are moving from a civilised Nation we were in 1980 to an uncivilised country we were in 1870. Our arrow is pointing backwards. I have just used a Highway as an example, but, everyone, including President Mugabe, is my witness to say that our hospitals, currency, schools, factories, farms, mines or just everything is being eaten away by moulds.
My job, as a University Degree holder in Design, is to point out and show the user how his machine can be improved. The Methodology of how I do this, is totally my own prerogative. No one should teach me how to effectively communicate my idea and yet, as a designer, I am open for criticism. Criticism improves design and nothing that was designed in this life is not subject to improvement.
My findings in corrosive problems of Zimbabwe are because of a stagnant Shona Culture. Again, be very reminded that I am a Shona. Long before Mzilikazi came to Zimbabwe, we had Mutota as our ruler. I mention Mutota because I did not see anything in history which shows that Mutota had factions and a backward leadership during his reign. After Mutota came Matope. From Matope downwards, we had nucleus Shona people leaders who were not co-ordinated to effect a strong Governmental model. It was small groups like Zanu PF, Mavambo, Zapu, MDC, People First, Mtwakazi, etc. These were just many polarised and weak groups which could not raise National Pride. In KwaZulu Natal at that time, there was Chaka the Zulu King. He was strong and his Nation was feared, successful, impenetrable, and even the English lost sweat and blood to temper with the Zulu.
What was wrong with the Shona when the Zulu were so successful then?
What was wrong with the Shona in 1840, is what is wrong with the Shona today and my job is to show, criticise and provide modern tools to effect paradigm shift. As a designer, I know that criticism is a painful tool to any human being. If you criticise an average person, you attract a fight. But, if you criticise yourself, you attract civilisation and very few people are capable to criticise themselves which is why we have many people who quit School after being told that they had FAILED.
People who are a niche and can positively criticise themselves are able to raise from failing form 4 three times and end up with a PhD and millions of dollars under their name. It is this niche that I am trying to conscientise.
Democracy works on numbers. In Zimbabwe, the Karanga, of whom I am, have the highest group followed by the Ndebele, then the Manyika, Zezuru, Ndau etc. Shortly to define the Ndebele, the Ndebele in 1896 when Rhodes crushed us, comprised of Zulu, Xhosa, Karanga, Tonga,Rozvi, Kalanga, Venda, Nambya, Tswana etc. They collectively assumed the name of Ndebele which was not there in 1819. The Karanga being the largest group, are also very diverse in terms of intermarriages with the Manyika and Ndebele. Any matric that seeks to bring Democratic change should think closely with the numbers that the Karanga and the Ndebele hold.
As a Designer who wants to see a product of Governance which can make Zimbabwe a competent Nation among Nations, I cannot stop dwelling on integrals which matter the most. You change the Kalanga and the Ndebele, you change Zimbabwe! This does not mean that all else are chaff, but, what it means that if the majority of people think alike, the rest will fall into place.
In many Karanga homes, it is rare to find people fixing the fence or doing maintenance work on their mud house. This is because culturally, we never used to maintain things. If the hut became so bad, we would build another hut and leave the old to decay until its all covered in grass. Maintenance or innovation is not part of our culture. This is why we cannot see the decaying walls of the Cold Storage Commission or the decaying of the railways or the loss of our National Currency which we did not have anywhere in 1820. It is not a problem to the majority if bridges have collapsed because we can live without them. When Doctors migrate, we can still use our own N'angas and when GMB collapse we can still use our trusted Tsapi/isiphala.
It is my job to draw your attention to a slow decay that no one is co-ordinated to fix. This is my Job as a Designer, to show you why I should use abrasive tools to invoke your anger now and create spare time to solitudely think about it in the quietness of the night.
The culture of failing to foster change has made some Karanga parents die without ever seeing their English speaking teenage grandchildren in England.
It is my job to controversially tell you that the Shona are a culture that eats itself to death.
In 1956, oppressed Zimbabweans, in their diversity ORGINISED themselves and fought against Colonial oppression. Every Zimbabwean was under equal pressure regardless off being Ndau or Tonga. African Rebellion was strong and some wind-blown elements, with ulterior motives also joined the struggle in 1961. Because of these windblown materials which had a history of following where ever there was wind whether ii meant migrating from Malawi to Zimbabwe the Singapore, the material followed the wind where there is gain, and Zimbabwe's National Dream was stolen.
During the liberation struggle in Pungwes, the freedom fighters taught us that we were fighting for a Zimbabwe where we would be able to control how the Government works. Today, the Police steal from poor villagers. Our infrastructure is dilapidated and families have never seen each other for decades and we cannot change the useless Government.
The Robert Mugabe Government noticed as long back as in 1963 that the Shona people still have the exploitable mindset of 1815 where a treat of death brought deafening silence. Even Mzilikazi noticed that if he lifted his spear once, the Shona would disappear and he would ask "BaShonephi laba bantu" "Where have these people disappeared to" Mzilikazi then gave us the name Shona from our cowardice of hiding away and dispacing at the threat of death.
Mugabe noticed these "baShon-ephi" cowards. For him to take absolute control of every frightened coward, between 1977 and 1980, Mugabe's guerrillas killed more than 60 000 Shona villagers and only 3 000 colonialists. Mugabe knows the "BaShon-ephi" people and he knows that once he shows his spear, or just mention it, they will "Shona"!
No any other Nation in Southern Africa does that. Other Nations demand freedom. And for Zimbabwe to get to that, one has to speak to the "BaShona" and show them how they have eaten themselves by allegiance with a man who takes them for nothing. Three days ago, the son of a Malawian threatened another Gukurahundi, this time, against the BaShona, for threatening his South African wife's G40 project. The old Malawian seems to have been told by his South African wife to stop the Zambian's Lacoste project so that the South African can take over after the Malawian.
All these foreigners use the BaShona and yet the generality of Zimbabweans have no part to play. Zimbabweans just have to watch from the British who handed over to Malawians and we watch when Malawians hand over to South Africans or Zambians who ever or which ever foreigner can kill more Zimbabweans.
Why do we eat ourselves?
Please, take serious, its time to ORGINISE!!!! And yet it is the BaShona who are quick to shoot those who ORGINISE our people to go to Harare and use Zimbabweans to claim back our country. It takes 24 Hrs for nine million Zimbabweans to occupy the Blue Roof and all Airports. Do not be a tool of spreading cowardice and doubts when we want our people to take back our country.
Being a Mbire, I am a Royal and not just an ordinary Karanga. I am therefor at liberty to educate my fellow countrymen about a diabolic cycle which results in Zimbabwe becoming one of the poorest countries in the World and yet it boast quality education. Education only, without works, cannot bring about prosperity.
My job, as a Designer, is to stand at a distance, and study a system, and identify a problem and solve the problem. If I found a problem in a machine or the way it was designed, I redesign the machine and sell the prototype to make a living. As a designer, I am not only limited to physical products, I am trained to design anything including invisible things like Democracy.
In Zimbabwe, there is an old problem. The Zimbabwean problem comes from my own culture or its axiology. We are hindered from economic progress by a corrosive Shona culture which does not know how to add value, but is excellent in reducing value. For those who are beginning to see what I mean, take a drive on Zimbabwean road and tell me how it is now as compared to what it was in 1980.
The fact that highways of 1980 now have grass show that we are moving from a civilised Nation we were in 1980 to an uncivilised country we were in 1870. Our arrow is pointing backwards. I have just used a Highway as an example, but, everyone, including President Mugabe, is my witness to say that our hospitals, currency, schools, factories, farms, mines or just everything is being eaten away by moulds.
My job, as a University Degree holder in Design, is to point out and show the user how his machine can be improved. The Methodology of how I do this, is totally my own prerogative. No one should teach me how to effectively communicate my idea and yet, as a designer, I am open for criticism. Criticism improves design and nothing that was designed in this life is not subject to improvement.
My findings in corrosive problems of Zimbabwe are because of a stagnant Shona Culture. Again, be very reminded that I am a Shona. Long before Mzilikazi came to Zimbabwe, we had Mutota as our ruler. I mention Mutota because I did not see anything in history which shows that Mutota had factions and a backward leadership during his reign. After Mutota came Matope. From Matope downwards, we had nucleus Shona people leaders who were not co-ordinated to effect a strong Governmental model. It was small groups like Zanu PF, Mavambo, Zapu, MDC, People First, Mtwakazi, etc. These were just many polarised and weak groups which could not raise National Pride. In KwaZulu Natal at that time, there was Chaka the Zulu King. He was strong and his Nation was feared, successful, impenetrable, and even the English lost sweat and blood to temper with the Zulu.
What was wrong with the Shona when the Zulu were so successful then?
What was wrong with the Shona in 1840, is what is wrong with the Shona today and my job is to show, criticise and provide modern tools to effect paradigm shift. As a designer, I know that criticism is a painful tool to any human being. If you criticise an average person, you attract a fight. But, if you criticise yourself, you attract civilisation and very few people are capable to criticise themselves which is why we have many people who quit School after being told that they had FAILED.
People who are a niche and can positively criticise themselves are able to raise from failing form 4 three times and end up with a PhD and millions of dollars under their name. It is this niche that I am trying to conscientise.
Democracy works on numbers. In Zimbabwe, the Karanga, of whom I am, have the highest group followed by the Ndebele, then the Manyika, Zezuru, Ndau etc. Shortly to define the Ndebele, the Ndebele in 1896 when Rhodes crushed us, comprised of Zulu, Xhosa, Karanga, Tonga,Rozvi, Kalanga, Venda, Nambya, Tswana etc. They collectively assumed the name of Ndebele which was not there in 1819. The Karanga being the largest group, are also very diverse in terms of intermarriages with the Manyika and Ndebele. Any matric that seeks to bring Democratic change should think closely with the numbers that the Karanga and the Ndebele hold.
As a Designer who wants to see a product of Governance which can make Zimbabwe a competent Nation among Nations, I cannot stop dwelling on integrals which matter the most. You change the Kalanga and the Ndebele, you change Zimbabwe! This does not mean that all else are chaff, but, what it means that if the majority of people think alike, the rest will fall into place.
In many Karanga homes, it is rare to find people fixing the fence or doing maintenance work on their mud house. This is because culturally, we never used to maintain things. If the hut became so bad, we would build another hut and leave the old to decay until its all covered in grass. Maintenance or innovation is not part of our culture. This is why we cannot see the decaying walls of the Cold Storage Commission or the decaying of the railways or the loss of our National Currency which we did not have anywhere in 1820. It is not a problem to the majority if bridges have collapsed because we can live without them. When Doctors migrate, we can still use our own N'angas and when GMB collapse we can still use our trusted Tsapi/isiphala.
It is my job to draw your attention to a slow decay that no one is co-ordinated to fix. This is my Job as a Designer, to show you why I should use abrasive tools to invoke your anger now and create spare time to solitudely think about it in the quietness of the night.
The culture of failing to foster change has made some Karanga parents die without ever seeing their English speaking teenage grandchildren in England.
It is my job to controversially tell you that the Shona are a culture that eats itself to death.
In 1956, oppressed Zimbabweans, in their diversity ORGINISED themselves and fought against Colonial oppression. Every Zimbabwean was under equal pressure regardless off being Ndau or Tonga. African Rebellion was strong and some wind-blown elements, with ulterior motives also joined the struggle in 1961. Because of these windblown materials which had a history of following where ever there was wind whether ii meant migrating from Malawi to Zimbabwe the Singapore, the material followed the wind where there is gain, and Zimbabwe's National Dream was stolen.
During the liberation struggle in Pungwes, the freedom fighters taught us that we were fighting for a Zimbabwe where we would be able to control how the Government works. Today, the Police steal from poor villagers. Our infrastructure is dilapidated and families have never seen each other for decades and we cannot change the useless Government.
The Robert Mugabe Government noticed as long back as in 1963 that the Shona people still have the exploitable mindset of 1815 where a treat of death brought deafening silence. Even Mzilikazi noticed that if he lifted his spear once, the Shona would disappear and he would ask "BaShonephi laba bantu" "Where have these people disappeared to" Mzilikazi then gave us the name Shona from our cowardice of hiding away and dispacing at the threat of death.
Mugabe noticed these "baShon-ephi" cowards. For him to take absolute control of every frightened coward, between 1977 and 1980, Mugabe's guerrillas killed more than 60 000 Shona villagers and only 3 000 colonialists. Mugabe knows the "BaShon-ephi" people and he knows that once he shows his spear, or just mention it, they will "Shona"!
No any other Nation in Southern Africa does that. Other Nations demand freedom. And for Zimbabwe to get to that, one has to speak to the "BaShona" and show them how they have eaten themselves by allegiance with a man who takes them for nothing. Three days ago, the son of a Malawian threatened another Gukurahundi, this time, against the BaShona, for threatening his South African wife's G40 project. The old Malawian seems to have been told by his South African wife to stop the Zambian's Lacoste project so that the South African can take over after the Malawian.
All these foreigners use the BaShona and yet the generality of Zimbabweans have no part to play. Zimbabweans just have to watch from the British who handed over to Malawians and we watch when Malawians hand over to South Africans or Zambians who ever or which ever foreigner can kill more Zimbabweans.
Why do we eat ourselves?
Please, take serious, its time to ORGINISE!!!! And yet it is the BaShona who are quick to shoot those who ORGINISE our people to go to Harare and use Zimbabweans to claim back our country. It takes 24 Hrs for nine million Zimbabweans to occupy the Blue Roof and all Airports. Do not be a tool of spreading cowardice and doubts when we want our people to take back our country.
Source - Rakanga Danble
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