Opinion / Columnist
Ignorant Sylvia Utete-Masango
29 Jun 2016 at 15:48hrs | Views
The arrogance that is continued to be displayed by the government and its functionaries that it continues to deploy in Matabeleland against the wishes of the people of Matabeleland rose to new heights in the aftermath of the showdown between the community of Lupane and the Ministry of Education.
The government is accountable to its people, not the other way round. So it is dismaying to hear a high ranking government official arrogantly saying they will educate and counsel the people of Matabeleland on government policy following their rejection of one Mrs. Bonyongwe from their school and community. Sylvia Utete Masango, the Permanent Secretary in the Education Ministry seems determined to ignore the people's wishes and sounds adamant that they will continue with their deployments and educating until the people accept government policy.
Her statements and pronouncements shows that she and her government do not care what the people want but are hell-bent on imposing their functionaries in the name of government deployments.
Government policy should reflect the wishes of the people, that is what Devolution is all about. That is what the people of Lupane demanded when they included Devolution in the Constitution and subsequently voted YES for it, not for some lowly political deployee to come and force feed them on a repressive policy which they rejected by voting for Devolution of Power.
The reasons for the rejection of the deployment by the ,community are not tribal or vindictive. Education of our children is a holistic exercise which includes culture, language on top of the new life concepts that the child will be receiving at school. It is enshrined in the National Constitution that Cultural Rights of all citizens should be protected, respected and promoted by the government.
It is dismaying then to find the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education ignorant of such rights. It is highly arrogant and insulting of her to even suggest counseling when she and her Ministry should listen to the wishes of the same people.
Sylvia Utete-Masango is the one who needs education on the parameters of her job and terms of reference. The Permanent Secretary should take time to read and understand the Constitution, especially on Children's Rights and Devolution of Power. It is the Permanent Secretary who will benefit much from the prescription she is so generously giving to the ordinary Matabeleland people.
The people of Lupane and Matabeleland at large should remain steadfast in demanding both their constitutional rights and respect from the current regime in Harare. They should not give up fighting for their children's rights as provided for in the constitution.
Iphithule Thembani kaMaphosa
Director of Information, Publicity and Marketing
Zimbabwe African Peoples Union.
ZAPU
The government is accountable to its people, not the other way round. So it is dismaying to hear a high ranking government official arrogantly saying they will educate and counsel the people of Matabeleland on government policy following their rejection of one Mrs. Bonyongwe from their school and community. Sylvia Utete Masango, the Permanent Secretary in the Education Ministry seems determined to ignore the people's wishes and sounds adamant that they will continue with their deployments and educating until the people accept government policy.
Her statements and pronouncements shows that she and her government do not care what the people want but are hell-bent on imposing their functionaries in the name of government deployments.
Government policy should reflect the wishes of the people, that is what Devolution is all about. That is what the people of Lupane demanded when they included Devolution in the Constitution and subsequently voted YES for it, not for some lowly political deployee to come and force feed them on a repressive policy which they rejected by voting for Devolution of Power.
The reasons for the rejection of the deployment by the ,community are not tribal or vindictive. Education of our children is a holistic exercise which includes culture, language on top of the new life concepts that the child will be receiving at school. It is enshrined in the National Constitution that Cultural Rights of all citizens should be protected, respected and promoted by the government.
Sylvia Utete-Masango is the one who needs education on the parameters of her job and terms of reference. The Permanent Secretary should take time to read and understand the Constitution, especially on Children's Rights and Devolution of Power. It is the Permanent Secretary who will benefit much from the prescription she is so generously giving to the ordinary Matabeleland people.
The people of Lupane and Matabeleland at large should remain steadfast in demanding both their constitutional rights and respect from the current regime in Harare. They should not give up fighting for their children's rights as provided for in the constitution.
Iphithule Thembani kaMaphosa
Director of Information, Publicity and Marketing
Zimbabwe African Peoples Union.
ZAPU
Source - Iphithule Thembani kaMaphosa
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