Opinion / Columnist
We cannot abandon Matabeleland restoration cause for meaningless regime change
08 Aug 2016 at 02:14hrs | Views
Call it regime Change, removal of Mugabe from office or whatever it is, the uncomfortable truth is it will only serve the interests of the people of Mashonaland, Matebeles do not stand to benefit from it.
The removal of President Mugabe or Zanupf from power will not solve Matabeleland grievances which are: genocide, oppression, marginalisation, self determination, tribal segregation and hegemony.
What makes things worse is that the current crop of politicians from Mashonaland and Shonas at large do not recognise our complaints as grievances at all. They think of them as tribalism. How they arrive at that conclusion is not very difficult to tell.
It must be remembered that every oppressive system has its own beneficiaries and supporters. The white oppressive system had whites as its beneficiaries. Zimbabwe is no exception. Zanu-pf is the architect of the Shona supremacist system and all Shonas are beneficiaries regardless of political affiliation. Like all beneficiaries of oppressive systems in the world, Shonas do not wish the oppressive set up in Matabeleland to go.
The above answers the question why Shonas deny the existence of Matebeleland genocide. Why Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights refused to represent Paul Siwela, John Gazi and Charles Thomas who were charged with treason for advocating for the restoration of the statehood of Matabeleland. Reason for refusal were based on tribal grounds.
But 200 of them flooded Harare Magistrate's Court to represent one man, Evans Mawarire, simply because he is their kith and kin, and he represents what they regard as the correct political ideology. The same happened when war vets, Victor Matematanda and Douglas Mahiya were arrested for writing a treasonous communique. War vets are well known human rights abusers popular for forcing people to join Zanupf and grabbing farms from white people.
We strongly believe that by now, Matebeles understand why Morgan Tsvangirai, Evans Mawarire and organisations like Tajamuka and war vets parrot that Mugabe started off as a good leader and that he must step down and save his legacy. What legacy? Mugabe started his career by spilling innocent blood in Matebeleland. Is that good leadership?
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights is heavily dominated by Shona people. Like the government of Zimbabwe and many other Shonas, they believe that Matebeles are second class citizens who have no rights to legal representation, no rights to resources, no rights to education, no rights to employment, no rights to economic opportunities, no rights to leadership positions and no rights to self determination.
It is vividly clear that Mashonaland's grievances are not our grievances and ours are not theirs so why do they make their problems ours?
We helped them get their independence in the 1980s but what did we get in return? People we thought were fellow Africans and comrades are more brutal and more wicked than white oppressors!
They have never helped us in any way. Unless if destroying our state and our nation is some kind of help. In 1893 they assisted the colonialists in destroying the Kingdom of Matabeleland as they provided 652 soldiers to fight alongside 652 BSA Co mercenaries. Shona soldiers grabbed more than 39 000 cows looted from Matebeleland.
In the 1980s they attempted to wipe out Matebele nation through genocide and continue to murder our identity, culture, languages, dignity and pride through subtle means.
Why should we assist them to remove Mugabe, what are we going to get in return this time? A burnt child dreads fire! Isintu sakithi sithi ikhotha eyikhothayo engayikhothiyo iyayikhahlela.
During the dark period of the 1980s when Zanupf was killing Matebeles like flies we needed the help of our so called brothers and sisters from Mashonaland. But what they did then is shocking. They were singing and dancing in support of the genocide praising the same Mugabe they want us to help remove. Cheering National Army 5 brigade which was on the ground terrorising, brutally murdering, rapping, burning homes and torturing innocent civilians in Matebeleland.
We still need them now to denounce Matabeleland genocide and shame the perpetrators. The responses we get are equally shocking: "You are tribalists...why do you bring up this divisive subject, don't dig graves, let bygones be bygones" they say. An indication that they do not value the life of a "Ndeere" as they call us. Anyone who believes that Shonas have now changed their mindset must have their head examined by a competent psychiatrist.
Mugabe shall go as there is nothing that lasts forever but as long as Shonas remain our problems will remain. They want Mugabe to go but not the oppressive system he created.
We are not saying Shonas must not dethrone their king Mugabe no no no! If they have just discovered that he is a bad leader they have all the rights to remove him we would not be stumbling blocks. We in Matabeleland found out that he is a devil as early as the 1980s. We wish Shonas well in their political endeavours. Mugabe must go!
Matebeles are good people guided by the spirit of ubuntu. We will not organise massive rallies to dance, praise and cheer Mugabe as you (the people of Mashonaland) did in the 1980s when he killed our relatives. We will not deny that he is persecuting you and that he cut some of your relatives hands during operation short sleeve.
As you are fighting to remove President Mugabe from office we are also fighting to remove the Shona oppressive system from Matabeleland which was created by the same devil and his henchmen, with the help of Shona.
Fighting for one's independence and speaking out against genocide is not tribalism. Zapu fought racism they were not racist and no one called them as such. ANC in South Africa fought racism, were they racists? People of Eritrea and South Sudan fought for self determination and won, are they tribalists? Matebeles cannot be labeled as tribalists for fighting for their right to self determination and speaking against genocide.
There is no other name for oppression, there is no other name for genocide, there is no other name for hatred as there is no other name for a spade. MLO will continue to call a spade a spade not something like a shovel.
What is disturbing is that the Shona people refuse to reason or see logic in what we are saying. They would only believe and accept reality after some unpleasant situation characterised by dreadful inevitable circumstances which would be very costly and painful.
We at MLO see reason and desire for dialogue to separate our two countries. This would be amicable and less costly and is our preferred and chosen path. If the shona apartheid government behaves like white colonialist then they would pay an enormous price and statistics may include you who is reading this article. Are you and your loved ones prepared to be part of the statistics? Think again!
The Republic of Matabeleland by 2018!
Izenzo Kungemazwi!
Israel Dube
MLO Secretary for Information and Public Affairs Contact: infomlo13@gmail.com
The removal of President Mugabe or Zanupf from power will not solve Matabeleland grievances which are: genocide, oppression, marginalisation, self determination, tribal segregation and hegemony.
What makes things worse is that the current crop of politicians from Mashonaland and Shonas at large do not recognise our complaints as grievances at all. They think of them as tribalism. How they arrive at that conclusion is not very difficult to tell.
It must be remembered that every oppressive system has its own beneficiaries and supporters. The white oppressive system had whites as its beneficiaries. Zimbabwe is no exception. Zanu-pf is the architect of the Shona supremacist system and all Shonas are beneficiaries regardless of political affiliation. Like all beneficiaries of oppressive systems in the world, Shonas do not wish the oppressive set up in Matabeleland to go.
The above answers the question why Shonas deny the existence of Matebeleland genocide. Why Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights refused to represent Paul Siwela, John Gazi and Charles Thomas who were charged with treason for advocating for the restoration of the statehood of Matabeleland. Reason for refusal were based on tribal grounds.
But 200 of them flooded Harare Magistrate's Court to represent one man, Evans Mawarire, simply because he is their kith and kin, and he represents what they regard as the correct political ideology. The same happened when war vets, Victor Matematanda and Douglas Mahiya were arrested for writing a treasonous communique. War vets are well known human rights abusers popular for forcing people to join Zanupf and grabbing farms from white people.
We strongly believe that by now, Matebeles understand why Morgan Tsvangirai, Evans Mawarire and organisations like Tajamuka and war vets parrot that Mugabe started off as a good leader and that he must step down and save his legacy. What legacy? Mugabe started his career by spilling innocent blood in Matebeleland. Is that good leadership?
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights is heavily dominated by Shona people. Like the government of Zimbabwe and many other Shonas, they believe that Matebeles are second class citizens who have no rights to legal representation, no rights to resources, no rights to education, no rights to employment, no rights to economic opportunities, no rights to leadership positions and no rights to self determination.
It is vividly clear that Mashonaland's grievances are not our grievances and ours are not theirs so why do they make their problems ours?
We helped them get their independence in the 1980s but what did we get in return? People we thought were fellow Africans and comrades are more brutal and more wicked than white oppressors!
They have never helped us in any way. Unless if destroying our state and our nation is some kind of help. In 1893 they assisted the colonialists in destroying the Kingdom of Matabeleland as they provided 652 soldiers to fight alongside 652 BSA Co mercenaries. Shona soldiers grabbed more than 39 000 cows looted from Matebeleland.
In the 1980s they attempted to wipe out Matebele nation through genocide and continue to murder our identity, culture, languages, dignity and pride through subtle means.
Why should we assist them to remove Mugabe, what are we going to get in return this time? A burnt child dreads fire! Isintu sakithi sithi ikhotha eyikhothayo engayikhothiyo iyayikhahlela.
We still need them now to denounce Matabeleland genocide and shame the perpetrators. The responses we get are equally shocking: "You are tribalists...why do you bring up this divisive subject, don't dig graves, let bygones be bygones" they say. An indication that they do not value the life of a "Ndeere" as they call us. Anyone who believes that Shonas have now changed their mindset must have their head examined by a competent psychiatrist.
Mugabe shall go as there is nothing that lasts forever but as long as Shonas remain our problems will remain. They want Mugabe to go but not the oppressive system he created.
We are not saying Shonas must not dethrone their king Mugabe no no no! If they have just discovered that he is a bad leader they have all the rights to remove him we would not be stumbling blocks. We in Matabeleland found out that he is a devil as early as the 1980s. We wish Shonas well in their political endeavours. Mugabe must go!
Matebeles are good people guided by the spirit of ubuntu. We will not organise massive rallies to dance, praise and cheer Mugabe as you (the people of Mashonaland) did in the 1980s when he killed our relatives. We will not deny that he is persecuting you and that he cut some of your relatives hands during operation short sleeve.
As you are fighting to remove President Mugabe from office we are also fighting to remove the Shona oppressive system from Matabeleland which was created by the same devil and his henchmen, with the help of Shona.
Fighting for one's independence and speaking out against genocide is not tribalism. Zapu fought racism they were not racist and no one called them as such. ANC in South Africa fought racism, were they racists? People of Eritrea and South Sudan fought for self determination and won, are they tribalists? Matebeles cannot be labeled as tribalists for fighting for their right to self determination and speaking against genocide.
There is no other name for oppression, there is no other name for genocide, there is no other name for hatred as there is no other name for a spade. MLO will continue to call a spade a spade not something like a shovel.
What is disturbing is that the Shona people refuse to reason or see logic in what we are saying. They would only believe and accept reality after some unpleasant situation characterised by dreadful inevitable circumstances which would be very costly and painful.
We at MLO see reason and desire for dialogue to separate our two countries. This would be amicable and less costly and is our preferred and chosen path. If the shona apartheid government behaves like white colonialist then they would pay an enormous price and statistics may include you who is reading this article. Are you and your loved ones prepared to be part of the statistics? Think again!
The Republic of Matabeleland by 2018!
Izenzo Kungemazwi!
Israel Dube
MLO Secretary for Information and Public Affairs Contact: infomlo13@gmail.com
Source - Israel Dube
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